Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 420: Am I harsh on businessmen?

April of the 32nd year of Qianxi reign.

Spring is bright and cloudless.

Guangzhou Palace.

Under the pavilion under the lotus pond in the back garden.

Zhu Gaoxu and Zhang Fu sat opposite each other.

"I have been fighting for most of my life, and you have been fighting for your whole life, but in the end, when I think about it, the methods of warfare are ever-changing, and they are just two words: one is right and the other is strange!"

Zhu Gaoxu was playing with a palm-sized swivel gun while talking to Zhang Fu.

Zhang Fu then said: "Yes, according to Cao Gong's new book, if there are two people against one, then one technique is correct and one technique is miraculous. If there are five people against one, then three techniques are correct and two techniques are miraculous." .”

Zhu Gaoxu turned sideways and raised his blunderbuss, aiming at the rocks on a rockery in the distance, and said at the same time: "I am different from them. When I go out of my way to make the enemy think it is strange, I go out of my way to make the enemy think it is right. What is strange is right, and what is right is strange. It changes. It’s unpredictable and no one can see through it.”

Zhang Fu said: "Your Majesty is so sacred that he is so different from the ancients that I can't reach him."

Zhu Gaoxu pulled the trigger and fired a shot. When he saw the rocks on the rockery in the distance being smashed, he put down his gun with satisfaction and said to Zhang Fu with a smile: "This is a bit exaggerated. In fact, I have learned a lot of knowledge from you. Learned."

Zhang Fu waved his hand hurriedly and said: "Your Majesty is so complimentary."

Zhu Gaoxu laughed.

Then he began to pour the bullets out of the gun, and at the same time said: "Now everyone says that I am such a god, but I know in my heart, how can it be wrong? I am also a mortal. I am not as good as Gu Zuo in solving cases, and I am not as good as managing money. Xia Yuanji, when it comes to generals, I am not as good as you."

"Your Majesty is too modest."

Zhang Fu cupped his fists and bowed his hands in salute.

"I have asked someone to record the conversations and letters I have had with you over the years about military affairs and give them to the prince. To be an emperor, you must not only be able to govern the country, but also be able to manage the military."

Zhu Gaoxu put down his blunderbuss, sighed and said: "Oh, it's a pity that time is not forgiving, and I can't help you to teach the prince personally. Wen Bi (Zhang Fu's name), is he ninety-nine years old this year?"

He asked because he was not sure whether Zhang Fu was four or five years older than him.

"Your Majesty, I am eighty years old."

Zhang Fu said slightly proudly.

Zhu Gaoxu stroked his beard and smiled: "Okay, okay! Eighty is good!"

Historically, in the 14th year of Zhengtong, Zhang Fu, the first nobleman of the Ming Dynasty at that time, accompanied Ming Yingzong in the northern expedition to Oara, and was killed in the Civil War at the age of 75.

Now, the 80-year-old Zhang Fu is sitting in front of Zhu Gaoxu. How can he be unhappy?
"Your Majesty, I am old and decrepit, but our Ming Dynasty still has a younger generation of generals. They are better than me."

Zhang Fu thought that the "good" in Zhu Gaoxu's mouth was a relief for his old age, so he deliberately reminded Zhu Gaoxu: "For example, Wang Yue and Wang Shichang, a native of Jun County, Daming Prefecture, are a rising star in the army. He is slender, powerful and good at shooting. , dabbled in books and history, and was quite strategic. He won first place in several martial arts exercises in the army."

"There is something I want to ask you."

Zhu Gaoxu naturally knew who Wang Yue was, but what he wanted to say was not about the selection of military generals, but about the governor of Xizhou, Gong Shiheng of Wuqing County, who was currently guarding Hanzhou in the far west.

"Please, Your Majesty."

Zhang Fu said respectfully.

"You once told me that Shi Heng is good at war, but it is difficult for others to control him except me. In the future, the world will always be governed by the prince. How will the prince control it by then?"

Zhu Gaoxu wanted to nip trouble in the bud, so he asked this question.

"This means we can't use regular soldiers, we can only use surprise soldiers."

Zhang Fu also spoke frankly.

"I understand."

Zhu Gaoxu said thoughtfully.

In June, the 32nd year of Qianxi reign.

A large blue-white cloud blocked the scorching sun and made the temperature in Myanmar City slightly lower.

In the British Government House.

Zhang Mao, who was fishing with his father in the back garden, suddenly noticed something was wrong with the father next to him.

He hurriedly dropped the fishing rod, rushed to Zhang Fu's side, leaned over and called: "Dad? Dad?!"

At this time, Zhang Fu was sitting on the stool, his eyelids drooped, and he seemed to be asleep.

"father?"

Zhang Mao was so anxious that he didn't care so much. He hugged Zhang Fu's shoulders, shook him from side to side, and called loudly: "Dad?"

It's a pity that Zhang Fu still didn't respond at all, he was still silent and motionless.Zhang Mao's face turned pale. He stretched out his left index finger tremblingly and placed it on Fu Zhang's middle to test his breath. The next moment, he fell to the ground in shock, crying and howling: "Dad! My dad!" !”

In July of the 33rd year of Qianxi reign.

Beijing.

Royal Palace.

Kaihai Pavilion.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhang Fu's full-length portrait and said with tears in his eyes: "What happened in the past few years? Xue Lu and Zheng He left, then Qingyao, and now Zhang Fu is gone again. Fortunately, Yang Hong and Chen Mao are still alive." , otherwise there won’t even be anyone left to discuss the art of war with me.”

Chen Mao and Xue Lushi controlled Liangsiam, and Yang Hongshi controlled Lelang.

Chen Mao and Yang Hong, who are still alive today, regularly write memorials and private messages to Zhu Gaoxu.

Kaihai Pavilion was originally a secluded small building in the palace. After Yao Guangxiao passed away, Zhu Di missed him very much and ordered a painter to paint his portrait and hang it in this building.

Whenever Zhu Di missed Yao Guangxiao, he would come to this building to view Yao Guangxiao's portrait.

After Zhu Di passed away, Zhu Gaoxu was grateful for the many loyal and important ministers of the Yongle Dynasty who had made a lot of contributions to the imperial court's opening of the sea, so he ordered a painter to draw the twelve greatest contributors of the Yongle Dynasty in this building, and officially named this building Kaihai. Hailou.

From then on, whenever a civil servant or general who contributed to the development of the Ming Dynasty passed away, if Zhu Gaoxu felt that the person's achievements were sufficient, he would order a painter to draw a portrait of the hero and hang it in Kaihai Pavilion.

"I didn't expect that the British Duke had fought all his life and was the most murderous person in the world, yet he left so quietly. Your Majesty, the British Duke walked away sitting on a chair next to the lotus pond and did not suffer at all. You should be happy for him. yes."

Bai Xiaoyun held Zhu Gaoxu's arm and said.

She is Bai Jinfu's only legitimate daughter and the youngest of Bai Jinfu's two sons and three daughters.

Sixteen years ago, the imperial court held a talent show, and she was selected into the palace at the age of 16.

Because of her talent and beauty, she was promoted to Cai Nv. She was favored by Zhu Gaoxu at the age of 20, and gave birth to a son for Zhu Gaoxu at the age of 21.

When she was 24 and 27 years old, she gave birth to a son for Zhu Gaoxu respectively, so she was named a concubine by Zhu Gaoxu when she was 28 years old.

Zhu Gaoxu saw that she had a quiet and peaceful temperament, so he gave his concubine the name "Ding".

Everything went well for her in the palace, but her father and brother died because of their wealth.

Her father Bai Jinfu and his eldest brother Bai Zijian were involved in a major smuggling case last year. They were executed for the crime and their family property was confiscated. The ship went out to sea and disappeared without a trace, and her life and death are still uncertain.

"Everyone will break up sooner or later. Everyone knows this."

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhang Fu's portrait and said slowly: "However, after being together for so long, it's really time to say goodbye, and I just can't let go."

“Coming may not be a blessing, and going may not be a disaster.”

Bai Xiaoyun said calmly.

"Dingbin, you have been hiding more and more Zen intentions in your recent conversations."

Zhu Gaoxu first joked, then changed the subject and said: "I heard that your second brother Bai Zicheng is not dead and is working as a Taoist priest at the Zhenwu Temple in Borneo City, Nansha Province."

"Even if he is not dead, then he is no longer Bai Zicheng. Now that he has entered the Zhenwu Temple, even if it is the Zhenwu Temple on Borneo, as long as he is still in the Ming Dynasty, he can only be a true Taoist priest now. ."

Of course Bai Xiaoyun understood that if Zhu Gaoxu knew it so clearly, it would definitely not be a rumor, so she had to accurately express her attitude towards her second brother.

"Your father, Bai Jinfu, turned out to be such a good businessman, but he was involved in a smuggling case because of a mistake and greed in his later years. But he is a meritorious service to me, because he married a good wife and gave birth to a man like you. Good daughter."

Zhu Gaoxu comforted Bai Xiaoyun.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Bai Xiaoyun said softly.

"What?"

Zhu Gaoxu said slowly.

He could ask this, which meant that Bai Xiaoyun could say it.

Bai Xiaoyun said: "My father and eldest brother were greedy and violated the imperial ban. They were punished for the crime. It is their own fault. The imperial court did not pursue my nephews and sisters-in-law. It is your majesty's mercy."

"However, the world is so big, and there are countless businessmen like my father and brother. They violated the ban, were punished for their crimes, and their property was confiscated. But how innocent are their wives and children? Although they were only exiled to Mobei pastures for two years to atone for their sins, It’s freezing cold in Mobei, how many innocent people will be killed or injured during the work?”

"I would like to ask for a favor from Your Majesty, to give these merchants' wives and children who have violated the ban a place to work and atone for their sins. Even if the years of labor and atonement are longer, I just want these poor people to have fewer casualties."

After hearing what Bai Xiaoyun said, Zhu Gaoxu was silent for a moment, then stroked his beard and said, "Farmers and workers all say that I am lenient to businessmen."

"I said that I issued a fishing ticket to the fishermen, allowing them to go fishing, and also issued a silk tea ticket to the silk tea merchants, allowing them to go overseas to trade silk, pottery, tea, cloth, etc., and also gave me The grocers issued ironware invoices, allowing them to go to sea to trade iron pots, iron bowls and chopsticks, hoes, sickles and other tableware and agricultural tools.”

He frowned and said sternly: "But the businessmen say that I am strict with them."

(End of this chapter)