Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 688 Life and death do not matter

  The New Year's Eve has arrived.

   It is rare that there is no snow on this day.

  In the Nuan Pavilion, Emperor Hongzhi sighed, gambling... It's today.

  He originally wanted to ignore it.

  But early in the morning, all the scholars from the cabinet were called into the palace, and Emperor Hongzhi ordered someone to open the window to take a look at the sky outside the Nuan Pavilion.

  The sky is gloomy, and it is early in the morning. Emperor Hongzhi suddenly sighed, and said: "Fang Jifan and others are waiting for the arrow competition, is it today?"

   Regarding this matter, the entire capital is full of uproar, and there is a lot of movement. It is impossible for Liu Jian and others to ignore it even if they want to ignore it.

  People always have a natural enthusiasm for competition.

   What's more, Daming and Tatar were also involved.

  The entertainment in this era is too poor, even if it is something indescribable, it is impossible to go all day long, it will hurt the kidneys.

  In this world, is there anything more eye-catching than an arrow?

"Yes, Your Majesty, it's today." Liu Jian said, "Because it involves the envoy of the state and Xishan Academy, the presiding officer this time is Shuntian Fu Yin. The barracks have been abandoned for a long time, and have been refurbished."

  Emperor Hongzhi said: "Hey, this is to indulge their nonsense."

  Even though he said this in his mouth, Emperor Hongzhi said: "Do you think that if Fang Jifan loses, he will commit suicide?"

  This is what Emperor Hongzhi worried about.

  Liu Jian thought for a while, and said: "The old minister thinks, it shouldn't be possible."

  Emperor Hongzhi looked at Xie Qian.

  Xie Qian said firmly: "No."

  Li Dongyang was silent for a moment: "Fang Jifan is a witty person, the minister also expected...no..."

   "..."

  All the princes in the cabinet speak with certainty.

  Emperor Hongzhi felt relieved, he couldn't make Xiurong a widow, right?

  But...Since Fang Jifan will not commit suicide, but insists on gambling, this...is really hard to say.

  Emperor Hongzhi pretended not to care: "Order Zhang Sheng, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, to preside over the arrow test, and let him proceed with caution."

  Zhang Sheng's illness has recovered, and now he is on duty in the Ministry Hall. Emperor Hongzhi asked the Ministry of Rites to go, and he hoped that both sides would abide by the rules in this competition and that no accidents would happen.

  Liu Jian nodded: "I obey the order."

  …

  An imperial edict arrived at the Ministry of Rites, Zhang Sheng accepted the order, and then went to Wengcheng. In this Wengcheng tower, officials from Shuntian Mansion had already arrived to maintain order.

  On the tower, many people came, crowded.

  Zhang Sheng was in a very bad mood these days. He frowned, and couldn't help scolding Shuntian Fu Yin: "How come there are so many people, the fewer bystanders in this matter, the better!"

  Zhang Sheng has his own ideas. The Ming Dynasty respected literature and did not favor martial arts. This matter has already caused a lot of noise. Now that so many people come to watch, it is inevitable that it is not solemn enough, and it is easy to cause troubles. Things may be uncontrollable.

  Shuntian Mansion Yin wryly smiled and said: "Zhang Butang, the lower officials are also helpless. All the princes and noble families in the capital are coming, how can the lower officials stop them?"

  He looked aggrieved: "Besides, even if you want to drive people away now, I'm afraid you won't be able to drive them away."

In fact, there is still one thing that the governor did not say, not only the Duke and some people who should not be offended came, but the Shuntian Mansion did not dare to stop them, there were also many merchants or wealthy families who secretly bribed the people of the Shuntian Mansion, etc. Also opened the net and let it in.

  This Shuntian Mansion already had close contact with the three schools of thought in Beijing, so it was inevitable that many 'relationship households' would come in as the Shuntian Mansion assisted in hosting this arrow competition.

  Zhang Sheng didn't continue to entangle, he just took a deep look at Shuntian Fu Yin, and sat down, looking down from the tower, the barn below was extremely empty, and the surrounding walls were already overcrowded.

   After a while, Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan came.

  The two of them boarded the gate tower, and Zhang Sheng and others led others to salute Zhu Houzhao.

  Zhu Houzhao glanced at Zhang Sheng with a smile: "Zhang Qing's family, don't be too polite."

  Zhang Sheng invited Zhu Houzhao to take the seat.

  Zhu Houzhao shook his head: "I want to cheer my disciples, so I don't want to sit down. Master Zhang can do whatever he wants."

  Zhang Sheng always felt that Zhu Houzhao's eyes were weird.

  Fang Jifan looked at Zhang Sheng with a pleasant smile: "Mr. Zhang, you are polite."

  Fang Jifan is also very polite today, this is not like Fang Jifan's style.

   Forget it, his son is studying in Xishan Academy now, and he doesn’t know what’s going on now. Zhang Sheng wants to inquire about it, but he can’t bear to inquire about it. Fortunately, there is an academy, at most, let my son take some anger, his life will be fine. He is in a complicated mood. These days, he is thinking whether his son will be bullied by others, whether he will...

  He was so distraught that he simply ignored the prince.

  Actually, many times, he wanted to ask Fang Jifan how Zhang Yuanxi was doing now, but he wanted to speak, under the watchful eyes of everyone, but he swallowed it in the end.

   After a while, Abu Hua, the envoy of the Tatar Kingdom, arrived. His face was full of red. When he climbed up the tower, several officials from the Ministry of Rituals greeted him.

  Fang Jifan didn't expect that Abuhua was calling him, turned around, and looked at him strangely: "What's the matter?"

"I am ordered by the fifth prince to make it clear that if the arrow competition is just an ordinary archery target, it is meaningless. We Tatars compare arrows and shoot at each other. The fifth prince heard that Daming actually made arrows specially. Target, let the two sides shoot arrows and compare their strengths. I am not very satisfied with this. The captain, the people on the grassland, has the tradition on the grassland. This time the victory and defeat are so big, it is better to shoot each other, so that the two sides of the competition can fight with all their strength. for."

   Shooting...

  After Zhang Sheng heard this, his face turned cold immediately: "If this is the case, what should I do if I hurt someone? Why are you making these demands now without warning in advance?"

Abu Hua said with a smile: "At first, we also thought we were shooting at each other. Who would have thought that after learning about the arrangement of the Ming court, we would realize that it was just an archery target. In the desert, only children with yellow mouths held it. Arrows, go to the archery target, the fifth prince is a hero, how can he still play the tricks of Huangkou Xiaoer?"

   Suddenly, there was an uproar in the tower.

Abu Hua said: "In a duel on the prairie, life and death are important. Whoever wins will take everything from the opponent. Of course, the fifth prince also knows that you Han people like literary comparisons, but if it's just an archery target, then The fifth prince simply doesn’t want to compete. Of course, if there is a competition, if there is any death or injury on both sides, it will be their own fault. Here, it is a life and death contract written by the fifth prince. You Han people call it the life and death contract. The fifth prince has already signed it. Fingerprints, but I don’t know if the Ming court dared it or not.”

   "..."

Zhang Sheng frowned, he knew in his heart that this was a trick of Abuhua and the fifth crown prince, Zhuchi, they kept quiet for a while, but only after everyone knew about it and everything was arranged, did they say they would shoot at each other. They will be ridiculed as being ashamed of themselves, and dare not fight a duel with the Tatars.

  Zhang Sheng snorted coldly.

"Okay, okay, let's shoot at each other, I like to watch it the most." Zhu Houzhao said with a smile: "I will sign this life and death contract with you on behalf of my apprentice. If he dies, it will be a skill." Not as good as human beings, you have to blame yourself."

  Zhu Houzhao rushed to draw a bet.

  Fang Jifan was also excited, and rolled up his sleeves: "Your Highness, let me come. After all, I made an appointment with them. It is most appropriate for me to sign and pledge."

   "Bengong is his master, who will come if I don't come?"

Zhu Houzhao pushed Fang Jifan away, very excited, and signed the life and death contract. Zhu Houzhao liked it. To him, these two people only shoot arrows at the target. up.

  He took the life and death deed in a hurry and signed it.

All the officials in the city tower were stunned, and they all looked at Zhang Sheng. Zhang Sheng felt helpless, but he had no choice but to say in his heart, Your Highness, Your Highness, you make up your own mind. Your Highness...too capricious.

  It's just that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has made the decision, and the rest of the people have nothing to say.

   Seeing that Zhu Houzhao had signed the life-and-death contract, Abu Hua blushed even more, and said, "His Royal Highness is indeed a warrior, and I admire him very much."

  Zhu Houzhao said loudly: "If you shoot the fifth prince to death, don't cry."

  Abuhua laughed heartily: "We Tatars are the most faithful, and the matter of duels, life and death are arranged by Changshengtian, I will never cry, no matter what the result is, I am willing to accept it."

  Abuhua was smiling.

  I thought to myself, let the fifth prince show you how powerful the Tatars are at riding and shooting today, just to avenge their revenge!

   Seeing that he was full of confidence, Zhang Sheng and the others felt a little guilty.

  Na Shuntian Fu Yin dared not speak in front of His Highness the Crown Prince, but he had no idea, and kept looking at Zhang Sheng.

  Zhang Sheng's face was livid, but he didn't say a word.

  As soon as the drum was finished, the gate connecting the inner city and the outer city was opened at the same time.

  From the outer city, I saw the fifth prince, Chishu, walking out at the pace of a dragon, with a bow and arrow on his back, full of ambition.

  When he walked step by step from the doorway outside the city into the urn, the spectators on the surrounding walls were extremely quiet.

  Countless people whispered and discussed in a low voice. This person is Na Chiju, who is said to be the Tatar archer, and even the Tatar prince...

   "Hey, why did someone want to remove the archery targets in Urn City?"

   Recently, the binoculars were out of stock. Many people bought this expensive binoculars, and they came here for this competition. Countless people lifted up the binoculars one after another, and saw that there were servants from the Shuntian Mansion inside the Wengcheng, and began to dismantle the archery targets.

   "I heard that they will shoot at each other, life or death will not matter!"

   "Ah, what happened now, this Tatar is probably trying to justifiably kill the scholars of our Xishan Academy."

   At the same time, the gate of the inner city was also opened. After waiting for a long time, there was no one in the gate.

Ok? People... haven't come out yet?

  (end of this chapter)