Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

Chapter 26 Zhu Yuanzhang: You must learn to treat everyone equally

Zhu Kai boasted about his abilities to Ma Xiuying, and told her the story he told Zhu Biao yesterday, and then said proudly:
"Mom, there is a book called "Water Margin", written by an old man named Shi Naian and his apprentice Luo Guanzhong. The story of Wu Song fighting the tiger was based on me, but that guy wrote me so badly. He even drank 18 bowls of wine before he dared to go up the mountain to fight the tiger. It doesn't look heroic at all! I will tie that old man up and bring him to Yingtian Prefecture. This old guy used the material I used to fight the tiger, but he hasn't paid me yet."

"Shi Naian? Luo Guanzhong?"

Ma Xiuying felt these two names sounded familiar.

After thinking for a while, he asked Zhu Kai: "Were they Zhang Shicheng's advisers in the past?"

Zhang Shicheng was a general in the anti-Yuan righteous army. He was born a salt merchant and conquered the world with 18 carrying poles. He later established the Great Zhou regime. He was Zhu Yuanzhang's biggest opponent in the early days. Later, he was defeated and captured, and Zhu Yuanzhang strangled him to death.

Ma Xiuying was very familiar with this person, including the military commanders and counselors under him. Ma Xiuying remembered them clearly:
"Back then, Luo Guanzhong even came to win over your father on behalf of Zhang Shicheng."

"I know, but I was young at that time and didn't meet him." Zhu Kai seemed a little disappointed and said, "If I knew him, I would definitely keep him by my side as my historian. Now... I don't know where he is hiding and writing a novel about the history of the late Eastern Han Dynasty."

If he had known that Luo Guanzhong was coming, he would definitely have brought Luo Guanzhong with him.

Keep him as the historian responsible for recording words and deeds.

Luo Guanzhong was a novelist with a brilliant pen. A hundred years later, the image of Zhu Kai left in historical texts must be that of a great and glorious person.

A historian is equivalent to a personal secretary of the emperor or prince, an official responsible for recording the monarch's words and deeds. Sima Qian's ancestors did this job. To be a historian responsible for recording the emperor or prince's words and deeds, one must have a spirit of fearlessness of death.

Whether good or bad, record it truthfully.

But Luo Guanzhong is just a novelist, how can he have any backbone?

For Zhu Kai, history is the victor's autobiography that glorifies himself.

If the emperor can beautify himself, then why can't Zhu Kai beautify himself?
If Luo Guanzhong were the historian, Zhu Kai would definitely be the most wise and intelligent prince in history!
Luo Guanzhong is a spineless man. He has to write whatever his financial sponsor pays him to write.

It's just a way to make money, not shameful!
Zhu Kai didn't like Shi Naian and Luo Guanzhong very much.

Although the backgrounds of "Water Margin" and "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" written by these two people are not the Ming Dynasty, many battle examples were taken from the wars fought by Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the world.

For example, the most famous Battle of Red Cliffs in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms was borrowed from the Battle of Poyang Lake between Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang. This guy shamelessly plagiarized it and didn't even pay the original author any fees.

But even though he doesn't like it, it doesn't stop Zhu Kai from appreciating it, and it's normal for him to use it.

Thinking of this, Zhu Kai became more and more excited: "No, I have to ask my father to help find Luo Guanzhong and let him be my historian."

"What are you thinking?"

Ma Xiuying patted Zhu Kai on the head and then said:

"Luo Guanzhong is already over fifty years old. How old are you? How can he be your historian?"

Zhu Kai retorted at the time: "If he dies, let his son record it. If his son dies, let his grandson record it. Luo Guanzhong can write novels, so can't he teach a good son and a good grandson?"

Ma Xiuying was helpless: "You guys, you really do whatever you want."

Although he criticized Zhu Kai's strange ideas, he did not stop Zhu Kai from looking for Luo Guanzhong.

It's just finding someone, no big deal.

So what does it matter even if he was once a subordinate of Zhang Shicheng?

How many people in this world can still remember Zhang Shicheng?
Zhu Kai leaned on Ma Xiuying's shoulder to rest, enjoying the peace of mind he got from Ma Xiuying.

As long as my mother is around, this place where my heart is at peace is my home.

"Lan Yu is not a bad person, but he does things in the wrong way. Mother... I can't let him threaten my elder brother and make him do things he doesn't want to do. If he doesn't change his ways, I don't mind him and his soldiers ending up like him." "And Chang Mao is not a good guy."

"Li Qi from Li Shanchang's family is also evil. He is full of evil intentions. What a humble gentleman... He is just a liar. Last time I went out, he actually grabbed a beautiful girl on the street and said he wanted to marry her as a concubine. The girl was only sixteen years old. He is a shameless beast!"

"However, the wontons from that woman's house are really delicious. I named her wonton stand 'Xi Shi Wontons'. Now it has become a scenic spot in Yingtian Prefecture..."

In front of Ma Xiuying, Zhu Kai said whatever he thought of without thinking. This was the most relaxed time for him. Even when he was chatting with Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Kai had never been so relaxed.

The main thing is that when talking with Zhu Yuanzhang, you must always be wary of him hitting people. Ma Xiuying is better and you don't have to care about anything.

Ma Xiuying seemed to be influenced by Zhu Kai. While Zhu Kai was talking, she suddenly said, "Your elder brother said that you are more suitable to be the emperor."

"Nonsense!"

Zhu Kai immediately retorted: "If I want to be the emperor, the second emperor of the Ming Dynasty will perish. Mother, please stop lying to me. How could my elder brother be willing to betray his younger brother?"

"You kid..."

Ma Xiuying was speechless. This boy was good in every way except that he could not be made emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang became furious countless times because of his disregard for the throne.

However, since Kai'er doesn't want to be an emperor, let him be a happy prince who can go wherever he wants.

Obviously, Ma Xiuying has already made up her mind about Zhu Kai's future.

Perhaps she had already reached an agreement with Zhu Yuanzhang.

……

The next day, Zhu Yuanzhang came out of Kunning Palace and went to find Zhu Kai again.

This time Zhu Yuanzhang did not go to comfort Zhu Kai, but to ask Zhu Kai for something:
"Kai'er, where did you get that latex mattress? Do you still have it?"

"Yes, I have."

Zhu Kai only answered half of Zhu Yuanzhang's question.

He has latex mattresses. He came back last night and opened two containers of latex mattresses. Zhu Kai did not continue to open containers, as there might be many more boxes in the unopened containers.

Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Kai teased with a smile: "In the entire Ming Dynasty, I am the only one who has a latex mattress. Dad, what do you want a latex mattress for? Do you want to install one in the study? I can send it to you."

"Ahem...why am I installing him in the study? It's not as good as a hardwood board."

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little embarrassed to answer Zhu Kai's question. He coughed awkwardly twice and then said, "Kai'er, you are the young tiger of our Zhu family. You are the one that your father thinks will be the future head of the Zhu family. Let me tell you, the head of the family must treat everyone equally. Do you understand? It means fairness."

"Fair, of course I am fair."

Zhu Kai said with a smile, "Dad, if you say that I am unfair, then you are really wronging me. I, Zhu Kai, have only done one thing in my life: fairness! Fairness! Or...or fairness!"

As he spoke, Zhu Kai counted on his fingers and said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Dad, please calculate, your son didn't keep any of these mattresses. You gave two to mom and one to your eldest brother. You and mom live together, right? A family has everything they should have. Isn't this unfair?"

Before Zhu Yuanzhang could speak, Zhu Kai pretended to be enlightened:

"Oh, I understand, Dad. You want me to send a mattress to my brothers and sisters, right? No problem. I'll go and send it right away. I'll make sure my brothers and sisters can sleep on latex mattresses."

(End of this chapter)