Daming: My boss Zhu Yuanzhang

Although Li Wei is the Duke of the country, he has no actual duties. This is also the practice in the court.

The Dukes usually held temporary positions assigned to them by Zhu Yuanzhang. Needless to say, when they went out to fight, they had to return their seals when they came back from the battle. Other affairs were also done according to the Holy Orders, and they were done after they were done.

Of course, even if he does not hold any actual position, his current status is extremely noble, and his influence has penetrated into all aspects of the court. Wang Jie, Wu Chen and others, including the Ministry of War and Rites, will often inform him and ask for his opinions, but Li Wei usually doesn't interfere.

Time flies by and another year passes. Today, Li Wei is in great glory, and at the end of the year, the Prince Consort's Mansion is even more crowded.

After so many years, he has gradually gotten used to it, and often personally receives people who come to congratulate him.

Of course, he can still avoid as many people as he can. It's not that he treats them differently, there are just too many people, so he has to do this.

Duan Yu, who stayed in the mansion, was glad for her original decision. Nowadays, Li Wei is really not someone you can meet if you want. Without her relationship, local officials in remote places like the Duan family in Dali would really not be qualified. Let the big boss of the DPRK meet him.

Li Wei's infinite glory is in sharp contrast to the decline of the old nobles. Although Feng Sheng and Fu Youde are older than Li Wei, they are inferior in terms of power.

Li Shanchang and others who can be compared with Li Wei have all been recuperated. The remaining founder of the country, Xu Da, also fell ill last year. Although Zhu Yuanzhang specially sent someone to take him back to the capital for treatment, he still remains ill today. It's not getting better.

Just when everyone was focusing on him, Zhu Yuanzhang did something unexpected: marrying Lan Yu!

At the consort's house, Chen Su, Wang Jie, Wu Chen and others reported the matter to Li Wei.

"The King of Shu is only fourteen years old this year. His Majesty's move may have a deeper meaning." Wang Jie frowned and said with a serious expression.

Chen Su also nodded slightly and looked at Li Wei.

They all understood that His Majesty's move was intended to support Lan Yu, and the officials were well aware of Lan Yu's relationship with Li Wei.

Li Wei sighed inwardly, of course he understood this. In fact, ever since he returned from Japan, he had clearly felt that Zhu Yuanzhang's attitude towards him had become distant, and he even began to be vaguely wary of him.

He knew that this kind of thing would come sooner or later. Regardless of whether he had his own little thoughts or not, when he reached a certain height, he would face this situation. He had no other choice, and Zhu Yuanzhang did not give him any other choice.

"You guys, don't always come to me. It's serious to learn from Wu Bozong and Ru Taisu and do your job honestly!" Li Wei changed the subject.

"Well, the Duke taught you a lesson!"

Wang Jie and others were slightly stunned and respectfully accepted the instruction.

Of course, they didn't really take Li Wei's words seriously, it was all just talk.

Li Wei glanced at them and said: "Okay, if you have nothing to do, go back as soon as possible. You are not a idle person like me. Don't delay government affairs."

"Yes, then I'll take my leave first."

Wang Jie and Wu Chen stood up to leave, and Chen Su also wanted to leave. Li Wei raised his hand and waved to him, leaving him behind.

After Wang Jie and the others left, Li Weicai said to him calmly: "When you come back, please submit a letter to His Majesty as soon as possible to resign. Don't stay in Jinyiwei anymore."

Chen Su was a little surprised: "Why? Does the Duke want to arrange for me to do other things?"

Li Wei glanced at him and sighed: "Have you forgotten what I told you?"

Chen Su paused for a moment, then immediately remembered what Li Wei said to him that time, his expression changed slightly and he said, "Don't forget your humble position!"

"Huh, just don't forget. If you don't want to stay here, leave quickly. Don't lose your life in the end. I can't save you!" Li Wei snorted.

He had long told Chen Su that Jinyiwei was His Majesty's sword and asked him to be honest, but obviously Chen Su didn't listen at all. Not to mention the fact that he concealed Lin Xian's spy during the previous expedition to Japan. In the past few days since his return, He keeps running to him every day. If he doesn't show any sense, he should resign and get out. Sooner or later, Zhu Yuanzhang will take action on him.

Chen Su thought for a moment and understood what Li Wei meant. Although he was still unwilling to accept it, he also understood that Li Wei was thinking about him, so he could only grit his teeth and agree: "Yes, I will resign as soon as I return from my humble position!"

"Well, go back."

Li Wei nodded lightly and then asked him to step back.

Chen Su bowed respectfully before turning and leaving.

After Chen Su left, Li Wei's expression gradually became serious.

He is not worried about Lan Yu, he is worried about Zhu Yuanzhang.

He no longer takes people like Lan Yu seriously. Although Lan Yu is very good at fighting, he is far inferior to Xu Da, Tang and other veteran generals. He can only play when the wind is in his favor, but not necessarily when the wind is against him.

As for political wisdom, this guy is even worse. Not to mention compared to an old man like Tang He, he is even inferior to a political novice like himself. At least he knows how to play dumb.

But it was okay to pretend to be stupid in the early stage, but it will definitely not work now. If he dares to act recklessly again, Zhu Yuanzhang will definitely seize the excuse and punish him immediately. This is real punishment and not a joke!

"Hey……"

Li Wei sighed leisurely, feeling more urgent in his heart.

Zhu Yuanzhang's change in attitude made many courtiers smell the change in the direction of the wind. Many outsiders quickly stopped flattering Li Wei and chose to wait and see.

Li Wei didn't care about this and concentrated on spending time in the Ordnance Bureau, studying new things and teaching students at the same time.

He knew very well that the only things he could really rely on were these students, craftsmen, and technology that was ahead of this era.

As long as his firearms can make further progress, he will be able to completely widen the gap with this era. Even if he faces an army of more than 100,000, he will be able to break out of the siege with a few thousand soldiers and horses.

Today's muskets and artillery have almost reached their limits. If you want to go further, you need more efficient springs and more powerful gunpowder.

All of these require the advancement of basic industry, including qualified alloy spring steel and new gunpowder.

Black gunpowder is the simplest mixture. Anyone can make it as long as they master the method, but this cannot be done with the new gunpowders of later generations, which require complex chemical processes.

In terms of gunpowder, he did not intend to develop slowly step by step. Chemistry was different from other things. There was no need to take those detours. He could just make the most advanced collodion explosives and lead azide detonators directly.

To make two things, you need basic acid-base raw materials such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Similarly, these acids are also needed to make mercury fulminate and nitroglycerin.

In addition to researching these, he also specially sent people to sail to the Americas again on a newly built ship. The rubber there was an industrial necessity, and people had to be sent to continue harvesting and transporting it back to the Ming Dynasty. It would be best to establish a stronghold directly in the Americas.

While Li Wei was obsessed with research and development, Lan Yu was not idle either. Under the arrangement of Zhu Yuanzhang, he fought two small-scale wars. After returning, he immediately received a reward. Not only did he chase the Duke with his salary, but he also He was promoted to the governor of the Zuo Army Governor's Mansion. He truly held military power, and his status was completely different from before.

Now the ministers saw the situation clearly. Although one was a prince, he hung out with craftsmen all day long and had no official position. The other was prosperous and held military power. His Majesty's attitude was very obvious.

Within a few months, Li Wei's Prince Consort's Mansion seemed to have experienced a period of prosperity and decline, and it quickly became deserted.

On the one hand, those officials who acted according to the prevailing situation stopped coming. On the other hand, he also specifically told Wang Jie and others to come less often.

As for Wu Bozong and those people, they would never come to him all the time. As winter turns to autumn and the weather gets warmer, Li Wei seems to be back to his old days. Apart from staying at home, he also goes to the Ordnance Bureau or the academy, just like the old Li Shanchang, who looks indifferent to worldly affairs.

After being entangled with An Qing and Xiao Qing for two months, Li Wei finally calmed down. Remembering his secret determination, he spent more time with his eldest son, but he didn't seem to be very good at it. Happy to have him accompany you.

In the backyard of the Prince Consort's Mansion, Li Wei and An Qing were sitting in the pavilion together, holding little Keqin, who already weighed twenty kilograms, and stretched out their fingers to tease him.

Xiao Keqin stared at his big shining eyes and pushed his fingers away with his little hands over and over again.

After these days of getting along, the little guy has reluctantly accepted this dad and stopped crying when he held him in his arms. However, from his innocent eyes, he can still see his affection for this dad. dislike.

"Oh, okay, just give it to me."

Just when Li Wei was having a hard time playing and was about to make the little guy cry, An Qing quickly spoke up and asked for his son back.

"Oh Well."

Li Wei chuckled, handed the child back to her, shook his aching arm, and said with emotion: "This little guy is growing up so fast, he looks different every day."

"Of course, children are like this. Don't go out and not come back for half a year, otherwise your son will definitely not recognize you again."

An Qing complained as he took the child.

"Okay, from now on I will stay at home with you and your child every day." Li Wei smiled, and after speaking, he glanced at Xiaoqing next to him, pulled her to his side and sat down, holding her little hand with his left hand. His right hand hugged An Qing's slender waist.

An Qing hugged his son and glanced at him angrily, but didn't say anything more.

Since having her son, she has matured a lot, and occasionally takes care of other people's feelings, and her attitude towards Xiao Qing is much better than before.

Xiaoqing sat next to Li Wei and looked at An Qing uneasily. Seeing that she didn't mean to blame him, she relaxed a little.

While Li Wei was enjoying the blessings of everyone, Xiaoyue hurriedly came to report:

"Master, there is someone outside the mansion asking to see you. He claims to be from the Duke of Wei's mansion."

Li Wei was a little surprised after hearing this. He had no contact with Xu Da, so why did the people from Wei Guogong's mansion want to see him?
"What happened?" Li Wei asked.

Xiaoyue replied respectfully: "I said I wanted to ask for something, but I didn't say it clearly."

Li Wei frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and vaguely guessed the purpose of this person's visit.

After hesitating for a long time, Li Weicai said: "Take him to the front lobby to wait for me. I will be there later."

"Yes." Xiaoyue bowed and turned to leave.

Li Wei also stood up and said to An Qing: "I'll go for a while and I'll be back in a while."

An Qinghe nodded to him while coaxing the child.

Li Wei patted Xiaoqing's hand again before turning and leaving.

In the front hall, when Li Wei arrived, the man from Duke Wei's mansion had been waiting for a while.

Seeing him come in, this man immediately stood up and bowed his hands respectfully: "Junior Xu Huizu, I have met Duke Han."

"Xu Huizu?" Li Wei was slightly surprised when he heard this and looked him up and down.

This man was in his twenties, handsome in appearance, and over 1.8 meters tall. He was a rare and handsome man in later generations.

"Are you the eldest son of Duke Wei?" Li Wei asked softly.

After all, he had been in the Ming Dynasty for so many years. Although he had never seen the eldest son of the first meritorious minister of the founding of the country, he had heard of his name.

"It's the junior."

Xu Huizu's attitude was humble and he had no intention of fighting for his father.

Li Wei nodded lightly and said: "It turns out to be the eldest young master. I wonder why the eldest young master is here?"

Xu Huizu looked worried and said: "My father is seriously ill. I am here to seek medical treatment for my father. I hope Duke Han can help me. I am very grateful!"

"Young Master, I'm afraid you are asking the wrong person. I am not a doctor. You should go to the palace and ask His Majesty to send an imperial doctor to treat Wei Guogong!" Li Wei had a look of surprise on his face, but he already knew it in his heart.

Xu Huizu hurriedly said: "The imperial doctor has already diagnosed and treated me, but my father's condition has not improved. I heard that you treated the Queen's stubborn illness with miraculous effects, so I came to ask you for help!"

Li Wei sighed with regret: "Hey, what's the use? Didn't the Queen pass away in the end? Moreover, my method is just a risk. I really don't understand medical skills."

Xu Huizu became anxious when he saw what he said, and without caring about anything else, he knelt down and begged: "I hope Duke Han will try his best. Regardless of success or failure, I will be grateful! If Duke Han has any requests, please speak up. The juniors will do their best!”

"Master, what are you doing? Get up!"

Seeing him like this, Li Wei was also shocked and quickly stepped forward and stretched out his hand to help him up. However, Xu Huizu couldn't hold on and continued to plead: "I hope Duke Han will agree!"

Li Wei stared at him and couldn't help but frown.

It's not that he doesn't want to save Xu Da, it's just that his situation is a bit delicate now. Zhu Yuanzhang is already trying every means to weaken his power. If he saves Xu Da, the first hero of the founding of the country, at this time, what's the point?
With such a great kindness, Xu Da will probably have to take good care of him in the future, including Xu Huizu in front of him, and he will also have to be grateful to him in the future. If this is the case, let alone Lan Yu, let alone the other two, don't even think about competing with him!
He now has three thousand guards, as well as the soldiers and horses stationed in the Japanese country by Lu Tang and the navy who conquered the Japanese. These are enough. As long as he upgrades the firearms and replaces them with these troops, he can follow Lao Zhu showed his cards.

When the time comes, he will set sail and be free, and no one will be able to control him.

Of course, in addition to taking away the whole family, he also has to take away the craftsmen of the Ordnance Bureau and the families of these soldiers. As for whether they are willing to leave their hometown with him, he is already making arrangements.

As long as these craftsmen and soldiers continue to go to sea to work, or even stay overseas for a long time, over time, they will become familiar with the outside world and see the vast land and wealth there, and these people will naturally be willing to follow him.

At this juncture, if his power suddenly takes a further step, it will be a disaster rather than a blessing for him.

Xu Huizu looked at him expectantly, hoping that he would agree.

Li Wei hesitated for a long time and then said: "You'd better go and beg His Majesty."

When Xu Huizu heard this, his face suddenly turned pale and he said anxiously: "But your Majesty has already sent an imperial doctor to treat me, but it has no effect at all. Please help me save my father!"

Li Wei looked at it and shook his head gently: "That's it for now. Sir, please come back."

After saying that, Li Wei ignored him, turned around and left the main room. (End of chapter)