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

Chapter 59 The Second Emperor of the Ming Dynasty Died? Zhu Kai Became the Financial Backer of Luo Guanzhong! ?

"Oh, ahem..."

Zhu Yuanzhang was taught a lesson again. He remembered what Zhu Kai said and prepared to go back to learn more about the business rules. At the same time, he said to Zhu Kai: "30% to 70%, you 30% and I 70%, that's the price, take it or not, if you don't want it, get out of here."

"Yes, how can I not?"

Zhu Kai smiled like a successful fox, very cunning.

I used to think that getting 10% from Zhu Yuanzhang was already a great achievement, but I didn't expect to get 30%.

This business is making a lot of money.

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang said.

His business is this palace, and his own business is just a Fengxian Palace.

The 30% profit he squeezed out of Zhu Yuanzhang was much more money than what he could earn by buying grain at a low price and selling it at a high price.

Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Kai thought to himself, this is the biggest leek in the world.

Just from cutting one leek, you can earn more than cutting a bunch of leeks outside.

Seeing Zhu Kai grinning, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had a piece of flesh cut off, was very unhappy and looked at Zhu Kai with disdain: "It's just a small amount of money, and you are so proud of it, you have no future!"

"If you have no future, then you have no future. Dad, you are right."

Zhu Kai didn't care at all. He had already got 30% of the profit, so what was there to worry about the rest?
After being scolded by Zhu Yuanzhang, two pieces of meat were indispensable.

He picked up a piece of duck leg and handed it to Ma Xiuying: "Mom, you eat the duck leg."

"Kai'er eats too."

The other duck leg was put into Zhu Kai's bowl.

Looking at the light and clear old duck soup, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were speechless.

Forget it, just drink the soup.

Zhu Biao seemed to be worried. He sat in his seat and ate quietly. After the meal, Zhu Biao said to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Kai: "Second brother, Dad, I heard from you that this business is quite interesting. How about... I also get involved?"

Zhu Kai and Zhu Yuanzhang looked at each other and both understood what was in each other's eyes.

Then they looked at Zhu Biao and asked in unison, "How much did you pay?"

Zhu Biao extended a finger mysteriously.

Zhu Kai and Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up: "One hundred thousand taels?"

There is still fun to be had.

"No."

Zhu Biao was a little embarrassed and said, "One thousand taels."

"One thousand taels?"

Zhu Kai and Zhu Yuanzhang were both very disappointed and did not look at Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao, who felt that he was being looked down upon, was immediately dissatisfied and said hurriedly: "Gold, this is one thousand taels of gold, if converted into silver, it would be ten thousand taels, right? Ten thousand taels of silver, my second brother, you two can eat the meat, but leave me some soup, right?"

"Brother, don't even think about it."

Zhu Kai advised kindly, "One thousand taels of gold, my father and I will save some soup, which is thicker than this gold."

Want a piece of the pie?

no way!

There are no windows, and the cracks in the walls have been welded shut.

Seeing that Zhu Kai refused to give in, Zhu Biao had no choice but to look at Zhu Yuanzhang: "Dad, look..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's answer was much ruder than Zhu Kai's, "I don't want to watch it, get out!"

"..."

Zhu Biao felt insulted and said angrily:

"I'm going to be eighteen soon. Dad, didn't you say that I would be allowed to pay for the expenses of the Eastern Palace when I turned eighteen? Now that you make money without me, how can I earn money to spend on my own?"

"What does it have to do with us? If you don't have money to support yourself, it's because you can't. You're seventeen years old, can't you figure out a way yourself?"

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Biao and said, "Money, money, money. You only know how to ask for money. Get out of here. Don't bother me with such trivial matters in the future."

"..."

Zhu Biao sat in the chair speechlessly, feeling aggrieved and unable to speak.

Not long after, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Kai gathered together and whispered, and from time to time they laughed with joy as if they were cutting leeks... Zhu Biao felt even more depressed when he heard this.

……

Fengyang, the palace of Li Shanchang, Duke of Korea.

Li Shanchang resigned and returned home. He originally wanted to stay in his hometown Dingyuan, but Zhu Yuanzhang would not let him go. He directly put him in charge of the construction of the Fengyang Imperial City and built the Korean Palace in Fengyang.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew very well that Li Shanchang left the court reluctantly. Such a reluctant and capable person could not live under his nose, so he had to live in a place he could control.

Therefore, Li Shanchang was arranged by Zhu Yuanzhang to go to his hometown and be monitored by Zhang Long, Marquis of Fengxiang.

Li Qi came to Fengyang and met Li Shanchang.

At this moment, he was feeling uneasy and prepared to face his father's reprimand.

But Li Shanchang did not do so. Instead, he picked up the letter from Feng Sheng and handed it to Li Qi:
"This is the reply letter Feng Sheng sent me. Take a look."

Li Qi took the letter and after reading the contents, a guilty look appeared on his face:
"I'm sorry, father. I shouldn't have caused trouble for Feng Sheng. I will take responsibility for the loss of these lands."

"Whether you admit it or not, you will lose money anyway."

Li Shanchang shook his head, indicating that Li Qi did not understand what he meant: "I mean, take another look at this letter."

Look again...it's still these words.

Li Qi knows them all, there's no need to look.

Li Shanchang looked at Li Qi and said, "What I mean is, take a close look at this letter, especially the words on the envelope."

Words on the envelope.

After Li Qi read it carefully and compared it with Feng Sheng's reply, his face immediately changed color!
Pointing to the words on the envelope, he said, "This is not Feng Sheng's handwriting."

"Yes."

Li Shanchang took out another letter and said, "This is a letter from His Majesty to me."

Li Qi took it quickly, and now he finally understood...the words on the envelope were from Zhu Yuanzhang.

However, what puzzled Li Qi was why the envelope of Feng Sheng's reply letter to Li Shanchang was from Zhu Yuanzhang?

Li Shanchang explained to Li Qi: "Our emperor has a very powerful force in his hands. They are responsible for helping his majesty to monitor the civil and military officials and the whole world."

Apparently, Li Shanchang knew more:
"Back then, His Majesty intended to let Yang Xian lead this team, but he was an outsider after all, and he had his own selfish motives. Now this team has been handed over to the two brothers Guo Xing and Guo Ying."

Li Qi knew Guo Xing and Guo Ying very well, or rather, he knew all those old men who had fought with Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the world:

"The Imperial Guard Commander's Office? Yiluansi?"

"That's right." Li Shanchang replied.

After receiving Li Shanchang's affirmation, Li Qi panicked: "Your Majesty is even keeping an eye on Feng Sheng, then Dad..."

"Me too."

Li Shanchang answered calmly, not at all like a person under surveillance should be calm. He looked at Li Qi and said, "Our emperor has never believed in us from beginning to end, nor did he believe in the nobles who followed him to conquer the world. Do you know why this is so?"

Li Qi looked like he wanted to be taught. He bowed and said to Li Shanchang sincerely, "Please help me, father."

"Because Zhu Yuanzhang had low self-esteem, he always felt that he was born in the countryside and was not worthy of being the emperor! He was afraid that the court officials who followed him to conquer the world would refuse to obey his son in the future, so he asked the nobles to train him since he was young, hoping that Zhu Biao could be recognized by the nobles."

Li Shanchang patted his chair and snorted, "This is really ridiculous. If he is not capable, why would I follow him? And why would those nobles be willing to follow him until death? Just because he is not confident now, he wants to take away the power that originally belonged to me? Don't even think about it!"

The more he spoke, the louder Li Shanchang's voice became.

Li Qi was very frightened and hurriedly interrupted Li Shanchang, asking him to speak in a low voice:
"Dad, be careful with what you say! Be careful with what you say! Walls may have ears! Dad!"

If they were chatting about family matters, Li Shanchang could say whatever he wanted and he would not be afraid. But now Li Shanchang was talking about treason, criticizing Zhu Yuanzhang's faults and was very dissatisfied with Zhu Yuanzhang. How could he say such things?

Li Shanchang clearly knew that he was being monitored by Zhu Yuanzhang, yet he still dared to speak so loudly. Wasn't he just asking for trouble?

"Don't worry, Qi'er."

Li Shanchang seemed very confident and said to Li Qi with confidence:

"He has spies monitoring the world, and so do I. His spies cannot penetrate the Korean Palace."

Glancing at Li Qi who was gradually relaxing, Li Shanchang continued:

"Qi'er, do you know who proposed this spying on the world?"

"Uh……"

Li Qi looked at his father!

"Dad, it can't be you?"

"it's me."

Li Shanchang stroked his beard and said:
"Back then, Dad assisted Zhu Yuanzhang in order to gain the power he deserved. But Zhu Yuanzhang not only refused to give it to him, but also wanted to take back the power he had now! Dad has worked hard all his life, how could he be controlled by him?"

After listening to Li Shanchang's words, Li Qi finally understood.

My father was not content to stay idle at home, but wanted to do something big.

Although Li Shanchang did not say it explicitly, Li Qi already had a vague feeling about what he was going to do.

Li Qi asked tremblingly: "Dad, are you sure?"

"I'm not rebelling, so what do I need to be sure of?"

Li Shanchang smiled and said to Li Qi:

"I called you here because I have something to tell you. I want you to get close to Qin Wang Zhu Chong and gain his trust."

Li Shanchang never thought of rebelling, he just wanted to get the power that he deserved.

Zhu Biao had a group of close confidants around him, as well as people who had followed Zhu Yuanzhang to conquer the world. It would not make much sense for Li Shanchang to join him at this time.

Moreover, Li Shanchang knew that Zhu Yuanzhang told Zhu Biao everything he knew!

Zhu Biao must have known the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang drove him away.

Even if he served under Zhu Biao, he would not be trusted by Zhu Biao.

Of course, Li Shanchang wanted to choose Zhu Kai. He had the same idea as Hu Weiyong, believing that Zhu Kai was an emperor who could delegate power. However, Zhu Kai had never shown his desire for power, and he was very ambitious. Li Shanchang liked to deal with ambitious people, and Zhu Kai was a candidate who met his standards very well.

However, now Hu Weiyong has taken the lead and closely united with Zhu Kai, becoming the "number one lackey of the second prince". Li Shanchang is not worried that he will lose in a duel with Hu Weiyong.

However, Li Shanchang couldn't bring himself to compete for power and profit with a junior.

Therefore, the only choice left for Li Shanchang now is Zhu Chong. Of course... Zhu Gang is also an option, but Zhu Gang is Zhu Chong's younger brother and not the first choice.

"King Qin? Zhu Chong?"

When Li Qi heard the person Li Shanchang had chosen, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed:

"Dad, the King of Qin is bullied by Zhu Kai all day and can't even fight back. Isn't it a bad idea to choose him?"

"Prince Qin is intelligent, but he has a peculiar personality. He will be a good candidate. Just go for it."

Li Shanchang asked Li Qi to do it, and continued: "Moreover, whether the emperor can succeed does not depend on how wise he is. The key is whether he can listen to us. We can express what we want to show through him."

Li Qi was very puzzled: "Why is it so troublesome? Since we have the opportunity, why don't we rebel? Wouldn't it be better for us to be the emperor ourselves?"

Become the emperor himself...To be honest, Li Shanchang really considered Li Qi's proposal.

But thinking about my son, I decided to give up.

He didn't want to overthrow the Ming Dynasty and establish a new dynasty that would perish after only two generations.

"Do as I tell you."

Li Shanchang did not look at Li Qi. "You can do whatever you want. If you surrender to the King of Qin, don't think about digging into his ambitions. We just need to let nature take its course. When he wants to be the emperor, that's when he needs us."

"Okay, I'll follow Dad's instructions."

Li Qi agreed verbally, but he still had a question in his mind.

His father is much older than Zhu Yuanzhang. Can he survive Zhu Yuanzhang?

However, I didn't dare to ask and could only follow Li Shanchang's instructions.

Li Qi only stayed in Fengyang for two days and then left and returned to Yingtian.

But when Li Qi thought that the person he was going to assist was a prince who was oppressed by Zhu Kai and could not stand up, he was filled with reluctance.

But, my dad has told me to do something, and I have to do it even if I don’t want to.

Li Qi even had a vague expectation that when his father returned to the court, he would take his lackeys to find Zhu Kai.

Zhu Kai, my father is the prime minister of this dynasty, what do you have to compete with me?

……

Palace of Caution.

At this time, there were only Zhu Yuanzhang and Yuan Qi, and they were calculating the profits from buying low and selling high for grain.

Look at your own income, then look at Zhu Kai’s income.

Zhu Yuanzhang's blood pressure started to rise, and then he slammed the account book on the table angrily.

"Humph! This rebellious son has been messing around for so many days, but he still hasn't earned more than 30% of what I gave him. Have I become his biggest leeks?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious. How could he not be angry when his own son made so much money that it ended up in his head?

Yuan Qi kept silent, he knew... Zhu Yuanzhang would soon blame him.

"It's all your fault!"

Zhu Yuanzhang threw the account book on the table towards Yuan Qi:

"If you hadn't revealed how much money we had in our treasury in advance, how could we have let that rebellious son make money from us?"

Yuan Qi: Yes, yes, it’s all my fault.

"No, you can't give him so much."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately came up with an idea and said to Yuan Qi, "Recalculate the account book and calculate it based on 30% interest. Didn't that guy say that I am a ruthless person? Humph... We must be fair to him."

Yuan Qi didn't expect that Zhu Yuanzhang would be able to do such a thing, and was very surprised.

It seems that what His Royal Highness the Second Prince said is correct. His Majesty is indeed extremely stingy, a black-hearted businessman!
Zhu Yuanzhang felt very proud of himself for having plotted against Zhu Kai!

However, the smile on Zhu Yuanzhang's face froze before long.

"Yuan Qi, you say... The Ming Dynasty is so big, with so many places, will there be local officials who will give us two sets of account books?"

When asking Yuan Qi, Zhu Yuanzhang's voice had gradually become colder.

Yuan Qi realized that Zhu Yuanzhang had become angry, and was so scared that he immediately knelt on the ground and dared not speak.

"If you don't tell me, then it must be there."

Zhu Yuanzhang sat up straight, his eyes already showing a cold murderous intent: "Yes, there will definitely be!"

As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly thought of something and began to mutter:

"When I was in Jiangxi, Raozhou Prefecture was able to hand in 1 million dan of grain and fodder a year. At that time, it was still Raozhou Prefecture when I fought against Chen Youliang. After so many years, Raozhou Prefecture only increased by 500,000 dan? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

This is only the Raozhou Prefecture he knows, what about other places?

What about those other places he didn't know about?

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately became alert. He realized that... in the four years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, a lot of parasites had already emerged.

"You, go and call Guo Xing over to us!"

"We should ask him how he helps us monitor the world!"

"Yes!"

Yuan Qi stood up, ran outside and called Guo Xing.

Guo Xing heard Zhu Yuanzhang's urgent summons.

I rushed to Jinshen Hall without stopping, and as soon as I entered the door, I felt like I had entered an ice cave.

There was a gloomy look of terror on Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

Guo Xing didn't know the reason, but realized something big was going to happen, so he hurriedly asked:

"Your Majesty, what happened?"

From the time Yuan Qi went to call Guo Xing to the time Guo Xing came, Zhu Yuanzhang had calmed down.

He knew that neither Guo Xing nor Guo Ying was to blame for this incident.

Guo Xing was responsible for monitoring the nobles who were granted fiefs to prevent them from colluding and plotting rebellion.

Guo Ying was in Peking at the time dealing with the remnant Yuan forces, so they had no time to care about the local officials.

He did not immediately mention his concerns, but asked Guo Xing: "Guo Xing, I heard that there are several merchants in Yingtian Prefecture who will buy grain with us this time, right?"

"Yes."

Guo Xing was very clear about the affairs of Yingtianfu, and he was the one who helped Zhu Yuanzhang collect grain, so when Zhu Yuanzhang asked about it, Guo Xing could answer immediately: "Several of them were servants of senior officials in the court. Another was a merchant from Wujiang named Shen Rong. He and his son Shen Sen were collecting grain. It is said that they collected 500,000 dan of grain and grass, which helped Shen Rong win the title of marquis. I have already found out that Shen Rong did not collude with senior officials in the court."

"Shen? From Wujiang?" Upon hearing this name, Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes: "A descendant of Shen Wansan, the one who sent food to the Yuan Dynasty?"

Guo Xing immediately said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked again: "Did they just guess it themselves?"

"Yes, I have found out. They came to Yingtian Prefecture for their own business. On the way, they heard that there was a grain yield of dozens of dan per mu, so they planned to buy low and sell high to make some money in other places. Who would have thought that His Majesty would issue an imperial decree, giving the father and son the opportunity to obtain the title, so they held on to the grain and refused to let go."

Guo Xing spoke in great detail, checking every detail of the incident involving Shen Rong and his son Shen Sen.

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction. Kai'er said that luck is also a part of strength, which allowed them to catch up with the timing of the imperial edict issued by him.

Moreover, they have a family tradition of doing business and some stains on their bodies, so it is safer to employ such people.

Good, this is exactly the talent we need.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately said to Guo Xing: "Bring them here, they will be useful to us!"

Guo Xing didn't know what Zhu Yuanzhang wanted them to do, but he agreed anyway and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Your Majesty, I have found Luo Guanzhong, the one you asked me to find, but his master Shi Naian has died of old age, so he cannot be brought back."

"Ah."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand. He was thinking about using Shen Rong and Shen Sen and didn't want to hear these little things. "Once you find someone, send him to Kai'er."

"As ordered!"

Guo Xing took the order and left, thinking that it had been more than a year since he last saw Zhu Kai?

Thinking of the tall Zhu Kai, Guo Xing couldn't help but feel happy... I wonder how much taller that boy has grown now.

"Master Guo Xing, why are you here?"

Zhu Kai was very happy to see Guo Xing.

The list of people selecting Mao Xiang and Jiang Li was sent by Guo Xing.

Moreover, he was also one of the Twenty-Four Generals of Huaixi, and Zhu Kai was very close to them.

Guo Xing was also very happy to see Zhu Kai. He knew that Zhu Kai was very respectful, so he liked Zhu Kai very much.

There was no etiquette for subordinates to pay respect to the prince, it was just a very casual meeting.

If someone whom Zhu Kai agrees with is polite to him, Zhu Kai will be unhappy.

Seeing Zhu Kai walking towards him quickly like a bear, Guo Xing felt both happy and overwhelmed.

This...he is so tall, what did he eat?
"Good boy, you have grown taller again."

Guo Xing raised his fist high, punched Zhu Kai on the shoulder and said, "Like a piece of iron, you've gotten stronger again, kid."

"Haha."

Zhu Kai likes people praising him for being strong, and he also likes his current body.

The current aesthetic view is that tall, big and strong are still considered beautiful.

It was far from the future world he traveled to, an era that loved pretty boys.

Pulling Guo Xing towards his palace:

"Old Guo, you are no longer my opponent, but I am a man who repays favors. I still remember you taking me to the training ground to practice shooting. I will treat you to meat today."

"Second Prince, goodbye. I have something important to do and I have to go and do it quickly."

Guo Xing refused with a smile, and then said to Zhu Kai:

"I came here today to send someone to you on the orders of His Majesty."

As he spoke, Guo Xing waved his hand back and said, "Luo Guanzhong, come here!"

Luo Guanzhong?
Looking at the man in front of me who was in his fifties, thin and looked a little haggard, I felt a little skeptical.

Is this Luo Guanzhong?
Tsk...it doesn't look like a novel at all.

Oh, he’s not making money now?

That’s okay, that’s how novelists should be!
Otherwise, how can one understand the sufferings of the people and write down-to-earth novels?

Guo Xing was not polite to Luo Guanzhong at all and introduced him as follows:
"This is the Second Prince, your master. You must listen to him, or I will not forgive you."

Luo Guanzhong was so frightened by Guo Xing that he couldn't help but tremble all over.

He did not dare to hesitate at all and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, yes."

Seeing Luo Guanzhong being so timid, Zhu Kai was somewhat dissatisfied. What was wrong with this novelist? Was he so spineless?
If Luo Guanzhong knew Zhu Kai's first impression of him, he would definitely cry.

Second Prince, it’s not that I’m spineless, I’m just really scared.

In the past, Luo Guanzhong was a counselor under Zhang Shicheng.

Later he was defeated by Zhu Yuanzhang, but he escaped because he ran fast.

After so many years, Zhu Yuanzhang became the emperor again, and those who fought Zhang Shicheng back then had become nobles of the Ming Dynasty. Luo Guanzhong felt that no one would bother him anymore. After packing up, he was preparing to write a book in peace, but he was called to Yingtian Prefecture by people from the Yiluansi. How could Luo Guanzhong not be afraid?
Luo Guanzhong was especially afraid when he saw Guo Xing. He had represented Zhang Shicheng in a diplomatic mission to Zhu's army, hoping to take this opportunity to recruit Zhu Yuanzhang...

Guo Xing was the person who received him. He was very cruel and full of murderous aura.

This time, it was Guo Xing who met him again.

He thought Zhu Yuanzhang was going to settle the score with him later, but he didn't expect that it was the second prince who was looking for him.

Luo Guanzhong was terrified!
But he had heard that the second prince was cruel and violent, and that he ate a child for every meal. He was a complete devil.

Luo Guanzhong did not believe the rumors among the people at that time, but now seeing Zhu Kai who was as handsome as a bear, Luo Guanzhong began to believe the rumors among the people.

Luo Guanzhong was more frightened by the thought of such a vicious person coming to him than by Zhu Yuanzhang.

He's not going to eat himself, is he?
When he arrived at the Fengxian Hall, Luo Guanzhong couldn't help but start to associate things.

Fengxian Hall...

The character Lu Bu, the slave of three surnames whom I wrote about, has the courtesy name Fengxian.

Could it be that there is some story behind this?
The second prince wants to be like Lu Bu?
Luo Guanzhong thought it was unlikely.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang was still alive, and he would never allow the palace his son lived in to be called Fengxian Hall.

"Are you Luo Guanzhong?"

Zhu Kai sat in the main seat and looked down at Luo Guanzhong: "Are you a novelist?"

Hearing Zhu Kai's question, Luo Guanzhong said hurriedly:
"My Lord, I am a writer of novels. My master is Shi Naian. I used to be his servant and served as a counselor under the traitor Zhang Shicheng."

After hearing what Luo Guanzhong said, Zhu Kai believed it a little more.

In just a few words, Luo Guanzhong pushed the responsibility of following Zhang Shicheng onto Shi Naian.

Back then, I was just a book boy, following Shi Naian to beg for food, so naturally I followed him wherever he went. In fact, deep down I didn't want to follow Zhang Shicheng.

Now, Shi Naian is dead, how could he come out to prove it?

Isn't it all thanks to Luo Guanzhong?
Luo Guanzhong's words made Guo Xing, who was standing next to him, frown.

He is a man of steel and a straightforward person. He hates people who curry favor with the powerful and flatter others. Now, Luo Guanzhong is one of the people Guo Xing hates.

Guo Xing had met Luo Guanzhong, who still had some backbone back then.

He was quite tough in his words, so I thought highly of Luo Guanzhong. Who would have thought...

Luo Guanzhong, who used to have some backbone, has become a coward.

It is a disaster to have such a flattering and sycophantic person around you.

I really don't know why the second prince would look for such a person. He might as well just kill him with a knife and be done with it.

Guo Xing listened to Luo Guanzhong with murderous intent. As long as Zhu Kai frowned, he would break Luo Guanzhong's neck!
"What happened back then is in the past. No one knows where Zhang Shicheng is buried. Why should I still care about those things?"

Zhu Kai's words made Luo Guanzhong breathe a sigh of relief.

But Zhu Kai's next words made Luo Guanzhong's heart, which had just been put at ease, suddenly become tense again.

"But now we have to settle the accounts carefully."

What accounts are there now?

Your Highness the Second Prince, we don’t know each other, okay?
Luo Guanzhong was very panicked as he had been writing books in Kuaiji for years.

He had only heard about Zhu Kai's deeds from hearsay, and he had only listened but had never commented on Zhu Kai.

Could it be that hearsay is also wrong?
"Your Highness, Second Prince, I, I don't know you."

Luo Guanzhong looked at Zhu Kai with a sad face, "Besides, I have been studying at home all these years, never leaving the house, how could I offend the Second Prince?"

Zhu Kai looked at Luo Guanzhong and said, "Let me ask you, didn't Shi Naian write a book called "Water Margin"? In the story, Wu Song got drunk and killed a tiger with three punches. Wasn't that borrowed from our story of killing a tiger?"

"No...I don't know, Your Highness."

Luo Guanzhong had a sad face, and then said: "The front of Water Margin was written by Master Shi, it has nothing to do with me, Your Highness."

Even if you, Zhu Kai, want revenge, you should go find Shi Nai'an. What does it have to do with me, Luo Guanzhong?
"You don't know? Then you must be using my name."

Zhu Kai stood up, looked at Luo Guanzhong with a fierce look, and said, "You actually said that I drank alcohol when I was thirteen?"

"No, no!"

Luo Guanzhong suddenly remembered and hurriedly explained to Zhu Kai: "Your Highness, I remember that the prototype of Wu Song written by Master Shi was Bian Yuanheng, who was under the traitor Zhang Shicheng, and... not you, Your Highness."

"What?! You actually want to use the rebels instead of me?"

Zhu Kai seemed even angrier, looking at Luo Guanzhong angrily: "Where is Bian Yuanheng now? Let's have a fight!"

"Uh……"

Guo Xing clearly remembered that Bian Yuanheng refused Zhu Yuanzhang's call and was exiled to Liaodong.

Luo Guanzhong was about to cry.

Should I use you or not?
Faced with the ferocious Zhu Kai, Luo Guanzhong was really at a loss. He didn't even know what to say.

However, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and distance himself from Shi Naian: "Your Highness, Shi Naian is dead. I have nothing to do with him anymore. Your Highness, you may not know that when I was young, my family was very poor and I was about to starve to death, so I became Shi Naian's disciple. Please don't..."

"You little bastard, once a teacher, always a father. I understand this principle, but you don't understand it?" Guo Xing was so angry that he wanted to kill someone. He glared at Luo Guanzhong and said, "You are the Second Prince's man now. You should do whatever the Second Prince tells you to do. Why are you talking so much nonsense? If you keep talking nonsense, do you believe I will chop off your head, the remnant of Zhang Shicheng?"

Speaking of murder, Luo Guanzhong immediately sensed the murderous aura in Guo Xing and trembled with fear.

He finally understood.

Zhu Kai wanted to use him, so he called himself from Kuaiji to Yingtian.

This...what else can I say?

Luo Guanzhong spinelessly knelt before Zhu Kai and made an impassioned speech to him:

"I, Luo Guanzhong, pay my respects to the Lord! From now on, I will serve the Lord and will not hesitate to sacrifice my life for him."

Zhu Kai glanced at Guo Xing unhappily: "Old Guo, can't you see that I'm very excited? Why are you interrupting him? I don't plan to take him as my subordinate. He still owes me copyright fees and mental damages."

Luo Guanzhong finally saw through it!

Zhu Kai made his attitude clear and asked him to admit that the prototype of Wu Song fighting the tiger was taken from him!

He also admitted that "Water Margin" had ruined Zhu Kai's reputation and that he had to pay the debt on behalf of his master.

It's just like when he writes a script for an opera troupe. They pay him, and he has to produce the script. The word for this seems to be... sponsor.

To the Lord of Gold!

Give gold...

Luo Guanzhong's eyes lit up. How could he make money by following Zhu Kai?

Ever since he and Shi Naian withdrew from Zhang Shicheng's team, Luo Guanzhong has been living a poor life. Now his luck has turned around and Zhu Kai actually took a fancy to him and wanted to recruit him.

Is this what it means to be lucky after bad times?

Luo Guanzhong felt like he was about to cry.

After waiting for so many years, I finally found a master who is willing to appreciate my talent.

Without saying anything, Luo Guanzhong immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Sir, please accept my greetings!"

"Ok?"

Zhu Kai seemed to have discovered a new world, "You also know the sponsor?"

Luo Guanzhong nodded and said, "My Lord, I know that when my master was seriously ill, I had no choice but to join the opera troupe and write scripts for them to support my master's medicine expenses."

It seems like I respect my teachers so much.

When useful, he is the master; when useless, he is Shi Naian.

Now, in order to establish his image of respecting teachers, he shamelessly calls Shi Nai'an "Master".

This guy is really shameless.

Zhu Kai didn't care whether he had backbone or not, as long as he could make money for himself, looking at Luo Guanzhong kneeling on the ground, Zhu Kai said:

"Novel writers, call me the sponsor daddy!"

"what?"

Luo Guanzhong and Guo Xing were stunned.

They didn't expect that Zhu Kai liked this tune.

After walking out of Fengxian Hall, Guo Xing was still a little dazed, feeling that his three views had been endlessly refreshed.

Luo Guanzhong is truly shameless, he actually shouted out those four words!
How shameless!
If Zhu Kai hadn't wanted to use Luo Guanzhong, Guo Xing would have twisted his head off.

This guy is so shameless.

"He, he actually acknowledged, acknowledged... acknowledged the Second Prince as his father! Shameless, shameless!"

"Hahaha...Uncle Guo Xing, there are all kinds of birds in this big forest, and Luo Guanzhong is also a practical man."

Zhu Kai felt quite proud when the novel writer called him "sponsor daddy"!
I hate people who break their rules the most in my life, and now I have finally fulfilled my wish.

Zhu Kai said to Guo Xing with a smile: "I can use this person, and he is very useful to me, so... you have to keep him for me, and you can't kill him."

"Ah."

Guo Xing hummed in a depressed tone, and it was obvious that he was still very dissatisfied with Zhu Kai for using a spineless person like Luo Guanzhong.

But if Zhu Kai needs help, Guo Xing will unconditionally help him find the person: "I'm leaving first. If the Second Prince needs anything from me, just let me know."

"it is good!"

"If Luo Guanzhong dares not to obey your orders, tell me too."

"Haha, okay Uncle Guo Xing."

……

Zhu Kai used Luo Guanzhong simply to satisfy his own evil taste. He wanted Luo Guanzhong to write a good novel.

Not to mention "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Luo Guanzhong had to write it.

But in his spare time, he also had to help Zhu Kai write some novels to make money.

Generally speaking, Zhu Kai would make the outline and Luo Guanzhong would write according to the outline. If the writing was not good, he would send it back for rewriting, and he would continue to write until Zhu Kai was satisfied.

This is Zhu Kai's bad taste. He makes money just to have fun.

What’s even more interesting is that now, not only can you make money, but you can also bully historical celebrities. Zhu Kai finds it very interesting just thinking about such a good thing.

That's Luo Guanzhong. The "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" written by this guy has influenced countless people's understanding of the real Three Kingdoms.

If it is not written well, delete it and write it again!

Now Zhu Kai is Luo Guanzhong's financial backer, so he has to write the way Luo Guanzhong wants him to write.

……

After a few days, Zhu Biao came to find Zhu Kai.

As for making money, although Zhu Biao was angry that Zhu Kai and Zhu Yuanzhang did not take him with them, he was not really short of money. Moreover, when Zhu Kai took over the shops before, he gave him several cloth shops in Suzhou and Hangzhou. It would not be a problem for him to support the Eastern Palace after he turned 18.

Besides, he was the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, and Zhu Yuanzhang could not really ignore him. It was just that Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Kai were angry with each other at that time, and he could not defeat his second brother, so he could only vent his anger on himself.

That's it.

As for money, Zhu Biao had no shortage of it.

As time passed, the weather gradually turned cooler. After an autumn rain, Yingtian Prefecture became sunny. Zhu Kai was a restless person. He was bored staying in the palace, so he decided to go out for a walk.

Coincidentally, Zhu Biao came to Zhu Kai and asked him about taking Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang out to play.

"Take them out to play? Big brother, didn't our father agree to let the prince go out for two days every seven days? Why do you need me to take them?"

At this point, Zhu Kai looked at Zhu Biao and said warily, "Brother, you are not going to take this opportunity to take away the two thousand taels of gold you lent me, are you? I'm telling you, this is impossible!"

"Who asked you for money? Anything else." Zhu Biao then remembered that Zhu Yuanzhang had already promised to let Zhu Chong, Zhu Gang and his brothers go out to play, so he quickly interrupted: "If you don't take them out, what's the point of them playing?"

Speaking of playing, Zhu Biao thinks Zhu Kai is the best: "I heard from my second uncle that my third brother has some kind of hysteria. He always goes to his vegetable garden whenever he has time and asks him for some tips on farming. He is worried that my third brother will have no future and end up guarding a vegetable garden of several hundred acres like him for the rest of his life."

"Third brother wants to farm?"

Zhu Kai's eyes lit up. "There is such a good thing? Hahahaha... Big brother, congratulations, you have an agronomist. Let me tell you, big brother, don't look down on farming. There is a lot of knowledge in it. If my third brother really wants to study this, it will be a good thing for him."

"Well, that's a good thing..."

Zhu Biao felt that everything was good when it came out of Zhu Kai's mouth.

Forget it. From now on, my second brother will be the head of the Zhu family, and he won’t have to worry about family matters anymore.

"I came to you for something else, which is what you said about selling official positions and titles..."

Zhu Kai said, "Isn't this good? Our father doesn't have to worry about too many nobles. After he dies, he will worry that you can't control those nobles. Now we only need to make one move to solve the problem of future unrest in the world. This is a good thing."

This is another good thing...

"It's a good thing, but it's a huge stain on our father's reputation. When historians write history books, our father will be regarded as a tyrant who sold official positions and titles."

Zhu Biao spread his hands and said to Zhu Kai, "Second brother, can you think of a compromise to eliminate the negative impact on Dad? Now those nobles outside are all furious. Many of them are ready to meet with the old man and ask for an explanation."

"The right and wrong, merits and demerits are up to future generations to judge. Can we control the world's gossip? Do you think Emperor Yang of Sui built the Grand Canal? Was it a merit or a demerit? Did the Grand Canal benefit the people?"

Zhu Kai put down the magnifying glass in his hand, and then said to Zhu Biao: "Brother, you have been led astray by those sour scholars in the court. How can an emperor only listen to the reports of his ministers? Naturally, he must keep an eye on all directions and listen to all sides. Forget it... It's useless to tell you all this. I'm going to go out for a walk tomorrow. Do you want to go?"

"I?"

Zhu Biao was somewhat tempted, but finally chose to give up:
"I'll just forget about it, okay? My father has given me a lot of things to do."

"He can handle those things himself. He's just saving himself the trouble by handing them over to you."

Zhu Kai felt that if there was no Zhu Biao, Zhu Yuanzhang might not have had the energy to have 44 descendants.

(End of this chapter)