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

This is a memorial from Yunnan and Guizhou. The malaria situation in Yunnan and Guizhou has basically improved. The people expressed their gratitude to the emperor and prayed to know who the "miracle doctor" who saved them is.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Xiongying with a half-smile: "It's all thanks to you, the people."

Zhu Xiongying smiled and nodded: "Yes."

Zhu Yuanzhang gently put the memorial aside, looked at Zhu Xiongying and said, "I told you last time that you should tell the people about your golden chicken tree. If there is malaria in the future, they can treat it themselves and save a lot of trouble. But you just refused to do so. You even specifically told Mr. Jie not to tell anyone about this tree. Anyone who violates the rules will be killed."

"I just can't understand it. This is obviously a great thing for the people. Why? Why can't we tell them?"

Zhu Xiongying knew that the old man was most worried about the people. He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Grandpa, when I told you that the court should hold a lottery, you disagreed. Why?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him and said, "People's hearts are driven by profit. We can't even control people's hearts. How can you expect to control the hearts of the people?"

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "It's the same principle. You were the one who taught me this principle at that time."

"We cannot control people's hearts, and the court does not have the ability to do so."

“What would happen if people knew that cinchona can cure malaria?”

"Champa is also a country prone to malaria, and they also need this kind of tree."

"Then the people of Jiaozhi, Yunnan and Guizhou will know that this thing can be sold for money. In the end, the number of cinchona trees will become less and less. When the trees are cut down to the point of extinction, what will we do if malaria breaks out again?"

"Some things may benefit the people in the short term, but we should not underestimate the people's desire for profit."

"At that time, the imperial court was helpless in the face of malaria. Who did the people blame?"

"Our court cares about the people and must think long-term. Blindly being nice to the people and doting on them too much will only lead to disaster!"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Zhu Xiongying with eyes wide open: "No one has ever dared to teach me like this in my life. You kid, are you here to teach me a lesson? And you're going to return the words I taught you exactly as they were?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "If you are wrong, you must admit it, and if you are beaten, you must stand at attention."

Zhu Yuanzhang smacked his lips and cursed, "You little bastard! You're always talking nonsense!"

Zhu Xiongying smiled, chatted with the old man for a while, and continued to review memorials.

Reviewing memorials to the emperor is boring. Governing a country does not involve so many major events involving fighting and killing, but mostly involves trivial matters.

It's more about money.

Zhu Xiongying knew that the imperial court was not wealthy. Although the post station made money, the old man spent most of the income on road construction and military expenses, and there was not much left.

As he put on the clothes, Zhu Xiongying hesitated again, his brows slowly furrowed.

Zhu Yuanzhang said in boredom: "Why stop again? You are a lazy donkey! So you start to get excited for a while? This batch of memorials is so boring. You will experience it every day in the future."

Zhu Xiongying didn't care about the old man's implication. He turned around and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang steadily, and said suddenly: "Japanese pirates looted a village along the coast of Jiaxing, killing and injuring 36 sea dwellers."

The old man was smiling just now, but now his face is full of gloom!
It is March now, and there is a westerly wind at sea, which is favorable for the Japanese pirates to sail.

March and April of each year in the Ming Dynasty were the flood seasons for defending against the Japanese pirates.

When Zhu Xiongying saw the memorial from the magistrate of Haiyan County, Jiaxing, Zhu Huai's face became extremely gloomy.

Regardless of his purpose, he hated and despised the Japanese.

He lived in a peaceful era in the future, but he dared not forget the sufferings his ancestors had endured.

He could not accept the Japanese, whether in his previous life or this life. When he saw the faces of these dwarfs and heard their so-called Bushido spirit, the flame in Zhu Xiongying's heart began to burn.

He has no power to forgive that cruel history on behalf of his ancestors and hundreds of thousands of Chinese people!

He is not qualified!

After hearing this from Master, I thought, why not let them feel the suffering that my Han ancestors have endured!
Let them know what it feels like to be buried alive, to be experimented on while still alive, to be raped and murdered, etc.!

The old man's face was also gloomy, but he certainly didn't think as much as Zhu Xiongying, nor did he know as much as Zhu Xiongying.

He thought that if the old man knew how hard the Han people had to go through because of these dwarfs, he would be furious!
"Bastard!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly: "The little Japanese barbarians in the East China Sea, our emperor has sent letters to them three times, but they have refused to change their ways. Do you really think we can't spare a hand to deal with them?"

"You're criticizing me! Why are you being so soft-hearted? We're mobilizing the Southeast Navy to lure you into a trap and kill you mercilessly!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little annoyed.

Zhu Xiongying looked at him helplessly and said, "Old man, I don't know how to approve it! Southeast Navy, I don't even know who can use it, how can I approve it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang patted his forehead and said, "Hey! I forgot that you are not familiar with the local generals of the military."

"The person in charge of defending the southeast against the Japanese was Tang Ding, the son of Duke Xinguo, who was the commander-in-chief of the southeast against the Japanese at the time."

"Tell him we want the heads of three hundred Japanese pirates!"

"Don't they like to kill our coastal people? Let's make them pay back tenfold!"

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Okay!"

After a pause, he looked at the old man and asked, "Do you need the court to deploy any tactics?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Zhu Xiongying blankly: "What are you trying to control? Tang Ding has been in the southeast for ten years, and he can't even kill the Japanese pirates. What's the use of him?"

Zhu Xiongying glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

"Why are you always hesitating with me, kid? Just say what you want to say? Would you be biased and not trust our grandson?"

Zhu Xiongying said worriedly: "Grandpa, the court has issued a death order, requiring only 300 Japanese pirates' heads. I am worried that someone might take credit for it, or be too eager for quick success, and use other people's heads as Japanese pirates..."

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned. "Who dares? If you are not afraid of exterminating your entire clan, just do what these beasts do!"

Zhu Xiongying nodded without saying anything more.

In fact, the high-pressure policy of the imperial court will lead to things like what Zhu Xiongying said in the middle and late stages.

But now it is the early Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Xiongying is thinking too far ahead.

"That's fine! It depends on whether Tang Ding has the ability to do it!"

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes: "There must be!"

Zhu Xiongying asked suspiciously: "Grandpa, are you so confident?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Grandson! Just wait and see! The local generals of our Ming Dynasty are all selected by us personally!"

"it is good!"

Zhu Xiongying didn't say any more and directly gave his reply to the Haiyan County Magistrate.

As the night grew deeper, Zhu Xiongying still wanted to continue criticizing.

The old man said, "Okay, you can't eat a fat man in one bite. You must be tired of approving for so long, right? I won't approve it anymore!"

Zhu Yuanzhang worked diligently all his life, but he couldn't bear to see his grandson suffer too much.

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Oh, that's fine, then I'll go back and rest first."

After thinking for a while, he went to pour a pot of goat milk for the old man: "Drink some before going to bed, it will help you sleep."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "Go and have a rest!"

After Zhu Xiongying left, Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the armchair in the study. Under the dim light, the old man continued to write furiously.

Zhu Yuanzhang would feel uneasy if the memorials that had been piling up for three days were not dealt with promptly.

It is not easy to govern a country, and it is even more difficult to be an emperor.

Early morning, breeze.

The birds chirped softly on the branches, heralding the beginning of a new morning.

……

Xu Mansion.

After being stripped of power, the Xu family was no different from ordinary people.

They have no access to many core information of the imperial court.

Even if there are still some connections, the Xu family does not dare to take the initiative to contact them.

As for knowing that the old man was infected with malaria, I only found out about it belatedly.

At this time, the Xu family was completely clueless about everything going on in the palace.

This is the sadness of the people who fight against the enemy, because they can no longer get in touch with any matters from the upper echelons, and everything becomes mysterious in their eyes.

"The Emperor has malaria?"

Xu Miaojin asked Xu Huizu curiously. At this time, the Xu brothers and sisters were eating breakfast around the eight-immortal table.

Xu Huizu nodded: "Yes! I heard it was quite serious, but somehow it was cured."

Xu Miaojin said suspiciously: "But isn't malaria common in Yunnan and Guizhou? I haven't heard that it also occurs in Yingtian City!"

Xu Huizu shook his head: "That's unknown. Anyway, the court is very mysterious and there are all kinds of rumors."

Xu Miaojin casually asked, "Is the emperor the only one in Yingtian City who has malaria?"

Xu Huizu thought for a moment and said, "That should be the case. I haven't heard of anyone else contracting malaria."

Xu Miaojin uttered an "oh" and continued to eat her breakfast.

"I haven't been out for a while. Big brother, second brother, fourth brother, take your time to eat. I'm going out for an outing."

After saying that, Xu Miaojin walked away with a blushing face.

The three brothers looked stunned.

Xu Zengshou murmured, "She... the fifth sister... went outing?"

Xu Yingxu knocked on his head: "You were born in the Year of the Pig? Why are you stepping on the green grass? You're obviously thinking of someone else."

Xu Zengshou said: "Who are you thinking about? Uh..."

He was speechless.

There is no place for women to stay in college!

But now the Xu family is idle, and the two brothers don't care about Xu Miaojin's affairs.

Xu Miaojin was walking on the street of Yingtian, panting, her heart beating fast.

Isn't this excuse of 'going for an outing' a bit lame?
Well, never mind!
As she spoke, she slowly walked to Zhu Xiongying's residence.

There was a gentle breeze in the early morning sunshine.

Zhu Xiongying and the old man were eating breakfast at the stone table in the courtyard.

"Morning."

Xu Miaojin walked over and sat down.

Zhu Xiongying and Zhu Yuanzhang were both stunned, watching Xu Miaojin walking towards them with his hands behind his back and tapping his feet.

Zhu Xiongying was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Miss Xu, have you had breakfast?"

Xu Miaojin shook her head: "Oh, not yet."

Zhu Xiongying said: "That's perfect, let's eat together?"

"Oh."

The old man glanced at Xu Miaojin and said, "Girl, why are you lying with your eyes open?"

"What?"

Xu Miaojin asked in confusion.

"You haven't wiped the rice out of your mouth yet."

"ah!"

Xu Miaojin quickly reached out to wipe it, but found her mouth was empty. She looked at Zhu Yuanzhang in confusion.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed.

Zhu Xiongying was stunned for a moment, and looked at Xu Miaojin: "You were fooled by the old man, he was testing you. So you have eaten it?"

Xu Miaojin finally reacted and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with some resentment.

"Eat, I ate a little, but I'm not full."

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "Then eat some more."

"All right!"

Xu Miaojin smiled shyly, "Oh, by the way, why did you have time to come here today, old man? The court is not busy anymore?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "I have been here for a long time. I contracted malaria and rested here for several days before I recovered."

Zhu Xiongying finished speaking.

Seeing Xu Miaojin suddenly froze.

"what happened?"

Xu Miaojin glanced at the old man who was eating breakfast with gusto and shook his head, "Oh, nothing."

Although she said it calmly, ripples had already begun in Xu Miaojin's heart.

Old man... malaria...

Xu Miaojin's heart beat faster. She looked up again and glanced silently at Zhu Yuanzhang, then lowered her head and began to eat the buns absent-mindedly.

"What's wrong with you?" Zhu Xiongying asked Xu Miaojin.

"Ah? Nothing."

Zhu Xiongying scratched his head: "But you took my bun, and I just took a bite of it."

"Ah? Ah!!! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Xu Miaojin's cheeks turned red instantly.

Under the old locust tree in the Zhu Mansion, three people were leisurely eating breakfast.

However, Xu Miaojin's mind was not on breakfast.

Before coming, the three brothers of the Xu family had just mentioned the malaria in Yingtian.

At that time, Xu Miaojin also asked Xu Huizu who in the capital had contracted malaria and how serious the disease was.

But Xu Huizu’s answer was: there is only one emperor!
But now, Zhu Xiongying just said casually that his grandfather had contracted malaria and had just recovered, which made Xu Miaojin unable to help but look at the old man a few more times.

Ever since Xu Miaojin heard that the old man was a palace scholar, she felt something was strange.

After Prime Ministers Hu Weiyong and Li Shanchang were killed, the Palace Academicians became a mere formality, and the prime minister system completely disappeared under the rule of Emperor Hongwu.

But when Xu Miaojin looked at the old man's aura, how could it be the aura that an old scholar in the palace should have?

Xu Miaojin didn't think much about it at the time, but now, her heart skipped a beat.

Could it be... that he is not a palace scholar at all?
Thinking of this, Xu Miaojin's expression became more complicated. Not a palace scholar, and contracted malaria... Xu Miaojin suddenly thought of a crazy possibility!

OMG!

Zhu Xiongying looked at Xu Miaojin, who was absent-minded and had a strange expression, and said softly, "What's wrong with you? You seem absent-minded. Do you have anything to say?"

Xu Miaojin finally pulled herself back from her horrifying thoughts and smiled and shook her head: "No, do I have any?"

"No?" Zhu Xiongying asked suspiciously.

"Is there?" Xu Miaojin replied.

"Oh."

Zhu Xiongying ignored the weird Xu Miaojin and continued eating breakfast.

"Old man."

Xu Miaojin raised her head, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, and asked with concern: "Is the malaria better?"

Zhu Yuanzhang hummed, "It got better a few days ago."

Xu Miaojin nodded: "That's good, but... I heard that malaria mostly occurs in southern Xinjiang, how come it also occurs in Yingtian City?"

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "I went to the Firearms Bureau a few days ago. The Jiaozhi army was escorting Tielimu here. I happened to come into contact with them. The old man is weak, so I guess he got infected there." Firearms Bureau?"

Xu Miaojin looked up at Zhu Xiongying again and said calmly, "So that's it!"

The Firearms Bureau was the most secret of the Ming Dynasty. Even the top dignitaries and Zhu Yuanzhang’s confidants might not be qualified to enter that kind of government office.

Why can you and the old man go to the Firearms Depot so easily?
Xu Miaojin became more and more suspicious.

(End of this chapter)