Ming Dynasty: The ghost betrays the Confucian sage, my son Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 184 Lao Zhu: First be the king, then be the emperor
Prime Minister's House.

Hu Weiyong came to see Li Shanchang, and the two had a secret conversation in the quiet study. Li Shanchang's face was solemn and his brows were furrowed, as if there were many worries lingering in his heart. He sighed softly and expressed his troubles to Hu Weiyong: "Weiyong, the emperor has paid a lot of attention to my eldest son Li Qi recently, and his words showed his intention to use him seriously."

When Hu Weiyong heard this, he clasped his fists in congratulations and said, "Xiangguo, this is the emperor's high regard for you, and it is also Mr. Li Qi's blessing."

Li Shanchang shook his head, thoughtfully, and then said slowly: "No, the emperor has other deep intentions. I probably guessed it."

"What is it?" Hu Weiyong was surprised.

"The second prince, the third prince, and the fourth prince will soon grow up. The emperor is considering how to arrange them." Li Shanchang's eyes flashed sharply, "The emperor wants to make all the princes kings."

When Hu Weiyong heard this, he was shocked and his expression suddenly changed. Conferring the prince the title of vassal king is an extremely sensitive topic.

However, Li Shanchang seemed calm and composed. He slowly sipped the tea and his eyes twinkled: "The emperor wants to make the prince king, but he is worried about the opposition of the courtiers. After all, there is the Eight Kings Rebellion in Han Dynasty. It seems that it is up to me. Let’s say what the emperor wants to say.”

After hearing this, Hu Weiyong was full of admiration: "The Prime Minister's memorial can be described as a family feeling, and I admire it."

Li Shanchang said no more, immediately walked to the desk, spread out the paper, splashed ink, and began to draft the memorial.

All four nodded. The government and the public are talking about it, and they must know it. Zhu Yuanzhang gave them an affirmative answer: "Yes, we will make you king, and when you come of age, we will become a vassal."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head slightly and glanced at the three sons with a smile: "Actually, you don't understand. Let me ask you three questions: First, why do we make you king? Second, your king is related to the kings of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States, Qin, Han, Tang and Song Dynasties. What's the difference? Thirdly, why did we give you vassal territory and military power? Are Xu Da, Li Wenzhong and other generals inferior to you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned. He didn't expect that the youngest Zhu Di would come up with such a domineering answer. He laughed loudly after hearing this: "The fourth child is right. The word "Wang" is very simple, with three horizontal lines and one vertical line, and the upper horizontal line represents the sky. , the horizontal line below represents the earth, and the horizontal line in the middle represents the people. The king is the vertical line in the middle. He stands upright and rules the people. "

……

The three brothers Zhu Xi, Zhu Fan and Zhu Di frowned, as if they were thinking about the answer. Zhu Di raised his head with an excited expression: "The king will not be confused, the king will not obey, the king will not yield, the king will not support, the king will not give up, wherever I go will be the king's way."

Since Li Shanchang petitioned the prince to be crowned queen, ministers have followed suit. However, surprisingly, Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed all these rumors and did not mention this matter.

"We are old. If one day we get sick or die, how will you deal with it? At that time, will you know whether we will live or die?"

The three brothers all looked puzzled.

"See you, Father." The four of them knelt down to greet him.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his three sons and asked continuously:
"When you arrive in the vassal territory, how will you deal with military and civil affairs, and how will you negotiate with the local government?"

The next day, Wenhua Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang is indeed waiting. He is not in a hurry at this moment, although he has made up his mind to make the princes kings. When he came to the East Palace, Zhu Xi, Zhu Fan and Zhu Di were all there.

Therefore, I have the courage to submit a report and ask Your Majesty to make all the princes vassal kings in order to protect the Ming Dynasty. This move is in line with the will of God and the will of the people.

Li Shanchang knew in his heart that the emperor was observing and waiting for the right time.

The three brothers bowed together: "My son, I understand!"

"Thank you father for your kindness." The third son was overjoyed when he heard this.

"You are all here, so let me talk to you today." Zhu Yuanzhang sat down on the chair and glanced at his four sons, "Have you heard about the title of king?"

The prince is descended from His Majesty's dragon lineage. He is talented and possesses both political integrity and talent. If the princes were granted the title of vassal kings and divided into four areas, it would not only demonstrate the royal dignity but also consolidate the foundation of the country. If the vassal kings protect the imperial court, support each other, and jointly resist foreign aggression, then the country of Ming Dynasty will be as solid as gold and there will be no danger for ever.

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw Li Shanchang's explanation, he was amazed: "Li Shanchang is still sensible, hahaha, Biao'er, your brothers' business is done."

Zhu Biao on the side took the fold and took a look:
When I hear my destiny, I will return to the royal family, and the royal bloodline will be inherited. The vassals will be everywhere. This is the foundation for the long-term peace and stability of the country. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, his virtuous administration has shone brightly throughout the world, the people have lived and worked in peace and contentment, and the culture has prospered. This is indeed a blessing to the Ming Dynasty and a blessing to all people. However, I secretly believe that if we want to protect the great cause of the Ming Dynasty for thousands of years, we need to plan far-sightedly and consolidate the foundation.

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression became serious, and he asked in a deep voice: "Do you know what a king is?"

"What if there are traitors and rebels in the court? What should we do if we encounter powerful officials who appear to be loyal but are actually treacherous?"

The three sons looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice suddenly rose: "What should your descendants do if they follow the Eight Kings' Rebellion during the Han Dynasty and have evil intentions?"

After several consecutive questions, the third prince and the prince Zhu Biao were sweating profusely and feeling anxious. But Zhu Yuanzhang already had a plan in mind and said solemnly: "We are different from the previous kings. They can make kings but cannot control them. Not only do we make you kings, but we also set the "Huang Ming Ancestor Instructions" to bind you. You and your descendants will all You must follow this instruction. Anyone who violates the rule will be deposed and severely punished, and no mercy will be given lightly."

The three kings obeyed the order in unison and nodded to show their obedience.

……

At night, there is a small building on the mountain behind the academy.

The moonlight fell on the room, and the soft bed was shaking violently. Fourth Master Zhu carried Zhao Xuanzhen's long snow-white legs and let out a long roar before falling down on the soft couch.

Zhao Xuanzhen, who had turned into a puddle of mud, curled up in his arms, her flushed cheeks looked delicate and charming, her beautiful eyes opened, her eyes seemed to be filled with mist, and her eyes were full of charm, and the corners of her small mouth opened and closed slightly.

Soon, she fell into a deep sleep.

Fourth Master Zhu was very energetic and not sleepy at all. In order not to wake up Zhao Xuanzhen, he simply got up and left the room. At this moment, the entire back mountain was completely silent, and the cool breeze blew, making him feel refreshed.

He moved and landed lightly on a boulder in front of the small building. He sat cross-legged and began to immerse himself in cultivation. Soon, the Book of Luck in his mind shone brightly, and an aura of awe-inspiring energy flowed out, nourishing every inch of his skin.

As his practice deepened, he gradually entered a state of trance. The awe-inspiring aura emitted by the Book of Luck blends into the night and slowly spreads with the night wind. His consciousness also expanded, and he could feel the pulse of the entire mountain forest.

He saw birds jumping on the treetops looking for food, and wild beasts walking through the grass. All life becomes clear to his perception.

Suddenly, his consciousness was attracted by a cave. In that cave, a fierce and awe-inspiring aura soared into the sky, like bright stars piercing the night sky.

At that moment, he saw two big characters above the cave: Ruzang!
The awe-inspiring aura surged upward like a giant dragon, seeming to break through the shackles of the sky.

"Fourth Master!" At this moment, a familiar voice sounded in his ears. Fourth Master Zhu suddenly opened his eyes and saw Zhao Xuanzhen standing in front of him, a long skirt fluttering gently in the night wind. She pointed to the night sky with a shocked look on her face: "There was a dazzling light that shot into the sky just now."

Fourth Master Zhu looked in the direction she pointed, and saw that the trace of light did remain in the night sky. He thought, could it be that Ruzang is in the back mountain?
……

At this moment, in the Wuying Hall of the Imperial Palace, Mr. Li in purple clothes stood on the top of the hall, looking at the night sky. He stayed there for a long time, and finally looked in the direction of the mountain behind the academy.

"Could it be that Confucianism is hiding in the back hill of the academy?" He said to himself, "The powerful aura of aura that just soared into the sky must have been left by the Confucian saint Wen Tianxiang. Only his aura of aura can compete with the sky."

He stared at the direction of the mountain behind the academy for a long time, thoughtfully.

At the same time, in a quiet courtyard in the north of the city, Wu Yu also witnessed the awe-inspiring energy rising into the sky. A strange color flashed in her eyes, and there was also a turmoil in her heart.

Ao Gu flew over, landed next to her, and asked eagerly: "Is Ruzang now alive? What should we do?"

Wu Yu turned her head slightly and looked in the direction of the mountain behind the academy. A meaningful chuckle appeared on her lips: "It seems that our fourth master is really a man of unlucky luck. Confucianism and Tibet should be hidden in him. In the mountains behind the academy.”

"Then shall we rush there now?" Ao Gu asked anxiously, fearing that things might change later.

Wu Yu seemed unusually calm, and she shook her head slightly: "There is no need to rush. Although Ruzang flashed, it is not that easy to find it. It will not help if we rush there now."

"But what if other forces get there first?" Ao Gu asked worriedly.

A confident sneer appeared on Wu Yu's lips: "Don't forget that our eldest princess is in the mountains behind the academy. If she needs help, she will naturally come to us. Let the forces that are ready to move take action first. , we just need to wait for the opportunity, and the mantis will catch the cicada and the oriole will follow."

After listening to Wu Yu's words, Ao Gu gradually calmed down and nodded slowly.

Indeed, as Wu Yu said, the aura of awe-inspiring energy that shot up into the sky just now had alarmed several forces in the city. They all set their sights in the direction of the mountain behind the academy.

……

Fourth Master Zhu stood under the night sky, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

Zhao Xuanzhen nestled in his arms, wearing a thin gauze skirt that fluttered in the wind. She wrapped her arms around his neck and raised her eyebrows slightly, with a bit of curiosity and inquiry.

"The vision just now was not caused by you, was it?" There was a hint of disbelief in her tone.

Fourth Master Zhu gently stroked her long hair and tucked it behind her ears. His fingers slowly slid down her soft cheeks, and finally gently pinched her chin and lifted her face. He stared at her deeply: "It's true, I just saw Ru Zang."

Zhao Xuanzhen was shocked when she heard this. Her mature eyes shone with surprise: "Really? Where is it?"

Fourth Master Zhu lightly shrugged, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes: "It's just a brief glance, it should be hidden somewhere in our back mountain. We need to search carefully to find it."

He already had a plan in mind and decided to summon Zhang Xuansu, Zhu Di and others tomorrow to search for Ru Zang's whereabouts.

A strange look flashed across Zhao Xuanzhen's face, and then she smiled charmingly: "Fourth Master, you are so lucky. The Confucian scholar that all the major forces are looking for is actually hiding behind our academy. "In the mountains."

Fourth Master Zhu held his forehead.

He also thought it was such a coincidence that he chose to build the academy here. How could he have thought that Confucianism and Tibet would be here?
"Every man is not guilty of carrying a jade." He frowned slightly, "I'm afraid there will be no peace in the back mountain."

"Who dares to offend you?" Zhao Xuanzhen glared, "Can't your six-foot-long sword defend the back mountain?"

"Yes, I will kill anyone who dares to come." Fourth Master Zhu put his arms around Zhao Xuanzhen's waist and returned to the room.

……

The next day.

Fourth Master Zhu summoned all four disciples up the mountain and wanted to lead them to search for Confucianism and Zang. Zhang Xuansu in linen Taoist robes, Shen Wansan in brocade robes, Zhu Di, a domineering streetwalker, and Xu Miaoyun who has become quite popular.

Zhu Di was the first to speak, with furrowed brows and looming anger: "Master, when I went up the mountain, I found some Japanese people wandering down the mountain. They were acting sneakily. They must have bad intentions."

Xu Miaoyun also added: "I also saw people from the Great Guangming Palace in the Western Regions. They are obviously also here for Confucianism and Tibet."

Shen Wansan interrupted: "Not only these, there are many unidentified people gathering towards us. Master, do we need to take measures?"

Zhang Xuansu seemed more calm. He made a suggestion: "Master, do you want me to go down the mountain and drive them away?"

Fourth Master Zhu smiled slightly and glanced at the four disciples one by one. Finally, he waved his hand and said, "No, let them do it. There is strength in numbers, and maybe they can help us find Confucianism. Of course." , If Ruzang is finally found, it must be handed over to us, because this is our territory and no outsiders are allowed to run wild. "

The four apprentices knew that this master would not be kind. However, they searched for a day and found nothing.

……

Kunning Palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang had a great appetite in recent days. He drank a bowl of hot porridge in one go, then turned to Queen Ma beside him and said: "Li Shanchang knows my intentions well. He took the initiative to mention the matter of making the princes king. It is indeed for the good." I solved a lot of problems and made this matter go more smoothly.”

When Queen Ma heard this, she frowned slightly, and there was a hint of urging in her tone: "In that case, why don't Your Majesty take the opportunity to cut the knot quickly? What are you waiting for?"

A cold light flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, and he snorted: "Liu Bowen has remained silent, and those civil servants in eastern Zhejiang must also be dissatisfied. They rely on their familiarity with history books and are well aware of the historical allusions such as the Eight Kings Rebellion. Wang’s move must be strongly opposed.”

While Queen Ma was making tea, she also fell into deep thought. She was also worried about conferring princes as kings, worrying that future generations of kings would endanger the Ming Dynasty.

"Let's make our son king first." Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip of tea and said, "When the time comes that we recognize our father, we will still respect an emperor!"

……

Ps: The first volume is about to end, and the marriage is about to be recognized. Brothers, please vote.

(End of this chapter)