Ming Dynasty: A hundred-year-old immortal cultivator, Zhu Yuanzhang’s biological father

That thing is finally over.

After that incident,
Zhu Changye told Zhu Xiongying that everyone he helped should remember the favor, and this is also what he, as the crown prince, must do.

Ever since.

Zhu Xiongying also wanted to thank Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru first.

Those days,
Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru had spoken a lot for him at the court meeting, so it was time for him to thank them.

Zhu Xiongying thought about it, then took some meat and noodles from the imperial kitchen and went to Liu Sanwu's residence with the gifts.

The Liu family’s house is very shabby and not very big.

In the courtyard, Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru were playing military chess.

The two of them were talking and laughing, and from time to time they expressed their feelings about how military chess tests one's wisdom.

I don't know when, but playing military chess has become popular among the powerful and wealthy.

Many carpenters on the streets also began to make money by carving chess pieces.

From the initial wooden chess pieces to jade chess pieces and so on, the scale of commercial development in the Ming Dynasty was very strong.

In other words, Zhu Yuanzhang's policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce was too restrictive. Otherwise, the commercial development of the Ming Dynasty would have continued to grow like mushrooms after rain.

When Liu Sanwu saw Zhu Xiongying, he was stunned for a moment, then stood up quickly and asked, "Why is Mr. Zhu here?"

Fang Xiaoru also stood up and bowed.

Zhu Xiongying said: "So Master Fang is here too. That means we don't have to go to Fang's house to visit him."

They were both puzzled.

Zhu Xiongying said: "Sheep kneel to thank their mothers for feeding them, and crows repay their parents by feeding them. You two gentlemen helped me and spoke up for justice in the court. I am grateful."

"This is just a small gift to show my respect. I hope you two gentlemen will accept it."

Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru waved their hands: "We are not speaking for Mr. Zhu in the court, we are just speaking for justice."

Fang Xiaoru even said: "If Mr. Zhu makes a mistake in the future, we will stand up and speak out as always, so why should Mr. Zhu send a gift to express his gratitude?"

"We are honest people, why would we covet a few pieces of silver in the world?"

Zhu Xiongying was solemn.

He asked Fang Xiaoru at that time why he studied, and Fang Xiaoru told Zhu Xiongying the Four Sentences of Hengqu.

To establish a mind for heaven and earth, to establish a mission for the people, to carry on the lost knowledge of the ancient sages, and to bring peace to the world for all generations, Fang Xiaoru was also a firm practitioner in this regard.

He was not a mere literati, but a scholar-official who was strict with himself.

Different from some shameless scholars, this group of scholars have great ambitions and aspirations. They have no stance and have never thought about trying to please or flatter anyone.

They are not old bureaucrats, and there is no deception or fraud in officialdom. They are all upright and clear about gratitude and resentment.

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said: "Then may I ask, why did you collect a tuition fee when you established the academy?"

Fang Xiaoru said: "The gift of tuition is not a gift, it is just some simple things."

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Yes, celery, longan, longan, etc. But I didn't give you two masters anything too expensive. It's just meat and noodles. How is it different from a gift?"

Giving gifts is a science, and you should give different things to different people.

It’s not that Zhu Xiongying is stingy or shabby, but that Zhu Xiongying has already understood the social customs and practices of the Ming Dynasty society.

Seeing the basket Zhu Xiongying was carrying, Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru suddenly realized what was going on and smiled: "Mr. Zhu is thoughtful."

This time the two of them did not refuse.

In fact, it is difficult to deal with this group of scholars, and Zhu Xiongying doesn't like dealing with them very much.

In their world, there is no political power, nor any dirty struggles or tactics.

But Zhu Xiongying does.

Zhu Xiongying is an out-and-out speculator, power holder, and controller.

He is also trying to become an emperor in this area and learn from him.

This requires Zhu Xiongying to be tactful and weigh the pros and cons when doing things and looking at problems, rather than taking into account both right and wrong.

Like Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Xiongying is a politician. There is no right or wrong in their world.

No matter how strong the character of a scholar is, his greatest achievement will always be being a loyal minister or a minister of remonstration, and he will never become a powerful official.

Liu Sanwu smiled and asked Zhu Xiongying to sit down, and asked: "Do you know how to play military chess?"

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "I made it for my grandfather to play with, but I'm not proficient in it. However, my grandfather is an expert."

Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru all said: "You kid! I didn't expect you to have this ability."

Fang Xiaoru smiled and said, "Do you still have a grandfather? I would like to meet him."

Zhu Xiongying said: "Ahem, well, he is also in the court, he is a Palace Academician. Master Fang can go and ask for his advice when you have time."

Zhu Xiongying then said perfunctorily.

Fang Xiaoru was stunned: "Palace? Bachelor?"

He was thinking, what old scholars are there in the palace? It seems that the older ones have retired recently.

He asked Zhu Xiongying curiously: "I wonder who your grandfather is..."

Before he finished speaking, Liu Sanwu interrupted and asked, "Mr. Zhu, have you had lunch?"

As he said this, he secretly pulled Fang Xiaoru.

Fang Xiaoru frowned, but when he saw Liu Sanwu giving him a look, he couldn't help feeling suspicious, but he knew better than to ask any further questions.

Zhu Xiongying said: "I just finished eating, and I came here to thank you two masters. I won't bother you two from playing chess."

He was just about to leave.

Three men who looked like teachers came outside the door.

Zhu Xiongying bowed to him.

When the three saw Zhu Xiongying, they were stunned for a moment and returned the greeting.

Then he angrily found Fang Xiaoru and Liu Sanwu.

"It's the other way around!"

"This is really against the will of heaven!"

Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru asked in confusion: "Why are the three masters so generous?"

"Oh! You don't know yet?"

"Old Master Hong Xuebin was chopped to pieces by that little bastard Xie Jin in Jiaozhi!"

"Mr. Hong has been compiling the history of the Yuan Dynasty in the Hanlin Academy. He has made great contributions to the restoration of historical materials and played a vital role in the literary and cultural history of our dynasty!"

"Such a great scholar! He was killed by that little bastard Xie Jin!"

"We are here today to ask you two gentlemen to follow us to the Emperor and impeach Jie Jin! His death is not enough to set an example!"

Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru were also shocked.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Zhu Xiongying stop and walk over.

He bowed to the three masters.

Then he said earnestly: "Three masters, Mr. Xie had his reasons for killing people in Jiaozhi."

"I ask the three teachers not to cause trouble, or you may end up getting into trouble."

The three of them were stunned for a moment, looked at Zhu Xiongying, and said sternly: "How dare you talk nonsense?!"

"If we are afraid of getting into trouble, we won't have to be editors for the Imperial Academy!"

"That's right! It's our job to speak up for what is right!"

"..."

Zhu Xiongying shook his head and said, "Oh, OK, you guys chat."

Having said that, Zhu Xiongying bowed and left.

The three of them were somewhat disappointed with Zhu Xiongying. How could a young man who spoke like an old bureaucrat, afraid of this and that, achieve anything great?
However, they didn't care much about Zhu Xiongying and continued to invite Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru.

Fang Xiaoru was very angry and shouted: "Mr. Jie also graduated from the Imperial Academy, but now he has done such a cruel thing to his colleagues. Don't worry! I will definitely stand with you and speak for justice!"

"it is good!"

The three looked at Liu Sanwu: "Master Liu?"

Liu Sanwu smiled and waved his hand: "Haha, of course."

The three of them were delighted, clasped their fists and said, "Let's go find other colleagues! It's unfair for this beast Xie Jin to live!"

After the three people left.

Liu Sanwu said to Fang Xiaoru: "Master Fang, do you believe me?"

Fang Xiaoru was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Liu Sanwu said: "If you believe me, don't mess around with them!"

"What?" Fang Xiaoru couldn't believe it. "Mr. Liu wants to break his promise?"

Liu Sanwu said: "No, I am not feeling well and cannot go. Mr. Fang, you are not feeling well either, so don't go either."

"Why?" Fang Xiaoru was still puzzled.

Liu Sanwu said: "Just now, Mr. Zhu said that you should trust me. If you go and mess with them, you will not end well!"

Fang Xiaoru was even more puzzled: "Just now you said something ambiguous and even pulled me aside. What's going on?"

Liu Sanwu said: "You may not believe me now. Wait until later, when they are done making trouble, and then you can see what I am saying. Then you will understand everything."

"What I can tell you is that you won't go wrong if you listen to Master Zhu. Let's just wait and see!"

……

the other side.

A fast horse galloped rapidly on the official road.

These are official horses coming from Chuzhou Prefecture to Yingtian City, and there are marks of the Ming Dynasty Post Station on all the horses.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not issue an imperial decree to summon Wu Zhen, the deputy commander of Changguo Guard, but asked Tang He to convey the message.

I don’t know if it was a coincidence, but after Zhu Xiongying came out of Liu Sanwu’s mansion, he came to Mr. Tang’s mansion.

A group of naval forces need to be trained to garrison Jiaozhi.

The person Zhu Xiongying liked was Wu Zhen, the former deputy commander of Changguo Guard.

Before the beginning of the year, Zhu Xiongying asked Wu Zhen to return to Chuzhou and wait for orders.

At that time, Wu Zhen would never have imagined that Zhu Xiongying would have such great power.

Until now, he still doesn't know who Zhu Xiongying is, and why he could make the emperor of the time personally issue an imperial edict to his hometown in Chuzhou before the end of the year!

Zhu Xiongying was not worried about the army construction in Jiaozhi. With the Mu Palace of Yunnan stationed in Jiaozhi, Jiaozhi would not be in chaos.

What I’m afraid of is the sea.

Because Jiaozhi is close to the sea in the southeast, there are pirate groups such as Srivijaya and Luzon overseas.

There is nothing worth robbing in Jiaozhi now, and it is not in the eyes of these Chinese pirates.

But according to Zhu Xiongying's goal, Jiaozhi must reach a new level this year, especially in the second half of the year. The task Zhu Xiongying gave to Xie Jin was to stabilize agriculture in the first half of the year and vigorously develop commerce in the second half of the year.

As business develops, Jiaozhi, a popular spot, will definitely be favored by coastal pirate groups.

Without a reliable navy, the security of Jiaozhi cannot be guaranteed!
The coastal defense forces must keep pace and must not lag behind!
"Hello, old Duke."

Zhu Xiongying gathered his thoughts and found Duke Xin Tang He lying in a rocking chair.

"Hey! You kid are here?"

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Come and thank the old Duke."

Tang He waved his hand: "Nonsense! What are you thanking me for? I didn't do anything. Being filial to your grandfather is the biggest thank you for me."

Zhu Xiongying knew that Tang He was on good terms with his old man. He smiled and replied, "If the old man wants to be filial, the old Duke can't be left out either."

As he spoke, he took out a pair of glasses from his arms, the same as Zhu Yuanzhang's and handed them to Tang He.

Tang He's eyes widened, he stood up from the rocking chair excitedly, and asked happily: "For us?"

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "After leaving the Ministry of Justice, I also took a job, it's not worth much, it's just to kill time, so I came to see the old Duke now."

Tang He was deeply moved and hurriedly took the glasses. He put them on his nose happily, looked left and right, with a broad smile on his face.

"Hahaha!"

"We have this thing too!"

"Good boy! So filial, hahaha!"

He pulled Zhu Xiongying to sit down, looked up at the sky, and said, "Since you are here, you can wait here with us for a while. It's a coincidence that you will be here soon."

"what?"

Zhu Xiongying was a little puzzled: "Who is it?"

Tang He said: "The emperor has assigned the person you want to you."

……

royal palace.

Jinshen Palace.

The sunset in the west slowly engulfed the earth, and the golden afterglow of the setting sun illuminated the solemn and ancient imperial palace magnificently.

"Your Majesty."

Zheng He said to Zhu Yuanzhang cautiously: "Several scholars from the History Institute of the Hanlin Academy are here."

"Ok?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little puzzled, but still said: "Go and see him."

Zhang Shutong was a Jinshi, and was a classmate and fellow townsman of Hong Xuebin.

The two entered the Hanlin Academy and the Museum of History together many years ago.

No one was sadder than Zhang Shutong. Hong Xuebin's death made Zhang Shutong extremely angry.

In the afternoon, he began to actively contact scholars from various fields such as the History Museum, Hanlin Academy, and Imperial College.

Now there are as many as eight Ming Dynasty scholars around me!
Tonight, they came to Zhu Yuanzhang to seek justice!

Liu Sanwu and Fang Xiaoru had agreed to come together, but Liu Sanwu suddenly fell ill.

Zhang Shutong didn't care whether they were really ill or didn't dare to come. He couldn't care less at this moment!
A group of eight people entered the Jinshen Hall together.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up indifferently, glanced at the eight teachers, and asked calmly: "It's so late, what's the matter?"

Zhang Shutong bowed and said, "Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty! Impeach the Left Minister of Jiaozhi, Jie Jin, and the great gentry for three crimes!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. He probably knew that there would be some ignorant scholars in Yingtian who would stand up and speak for Hong Xuebin.

"Power is the tool that the emperor uses to rule the world, and it cannot be transferred to others. The ministers should not overstep their authority. The emperor ordered Jin to handle the affairs of Jiaozhi, which was a sincere intention to appoint someone to govern the country. Who would have thought that once Jin was appointed as a frontier official, he would steal the power of authority. This is his first crime!"

"The great power of a monarch cannot be monopolized and taken for personal use by his subjects. Punishment is the foundation of a monarch's power. However, Jin acted arbitrarily and on his own will, without consulting the court, and arbitrarily killed important officials of the country! This is the second crime of monopolizing the power of promotion and demotion."

"If it were not for the great benevolence of the Emperor and the good laws of our ancestors, the world would have been in turmoil for a long time. Since the hearts of the army and the people are resentful and want to cause chaos, I am afraid that the danger of the world is not outside the borders but within the borders. This has lost the hearts of the people of the world and the people of Jiaozhi, which is the three major sins."

Zhang Shutong shouted loudly, one sentence louder than the other, his eyes bulging as if they were about to burst. The three statements directly pointed out Jie Jin's crimes, and every word was heart-wrenching!

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang uttered an "oh" and said expressionlessly: "What do you want to do?"

Zhang Shutong was stunned.

He thought that the three charges against Xie Jin were enough to make the emperor furious.

(End of this chapter)