Chapter 138: Not Knowing When to Advance or Retreat, Not Understanding What to Hold Onto or Let Go

Unlike before, when Zhu Gaoxu practiced the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Palm at this time, he no longer experienced the exhaustion that made even moving a finger difficult as he had in the beginning.

After practicing for about an hour or so, Zhu Gaoxu felt it was enough, so he finished his practice and stopped; after washing up a little, he lay down.

The next morning, after Zhu Gaoxu got up and washed up, he went to Song Lian's large tent.

By this time, Song Lian had long since recovered from the matter of Hu Weiyong's suicide.

After all, he and Hu Weiyong had no real friendship; he was merely shocked that an acquaintance who served in the same court had rebelled and committed suicide.

During this long period, Zhu Gaoxu had basically not come to look for Song Lian.

He had been hiding in his own large tent playing Mahjong.

And Song Lian had not looked for Zhu Gaoxu either, which could be considered giving Zhu Gaoxu a little break.

Finding Song Lian, the man still did not know that his own grandson was already on the list of those to be executed.

And Zhu Gaoxu did not intend to tell Song Lian about this matter.

At such an advanced age, it was better for him to worry less; he would handle this matter when he returned to the capital and found an opportunity.

Coming to Song Lian's side was mainly because Zhu Gaoxu really could not play Mahjong anymore.

No matter who it was, playing every day from morning till night was unbearable for anyone.

Although he was winning money, Zhu Gaoxu no longer cared for such small change at this point.

There were tens of thousands of taels of silver waiting for him in the palace.

Thinking this way, Zhu Gaoxu wanted to return to the capital even more quickly.

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu come to find him, Song Lian did not say much; he nodded and took out a chessboard, clearly intending to play chess with Zhu Gaoxu as the activity for the day.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu sighed in his heart.

He had just stopped playing cards, and now they were starting to play chess.

This Military Camp of his was truly about to turn into a senior citizens' activity center.

But who could help it when the person before him was his teacher.

Although Zhu Gaoxu was not very interested today, he still accompanied the old man and began to play.

While playing chess, neither Song Lian nor Zhu Gaoxu kept their mouths idle.

After setting up the chessboard, Song Lian followed his usual custom and gave Zhu Gaoxu a four-piece handicap, then said, "Regarding this Hu Weiyong affair, I fear the imperial court will once again be awash in blood."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu muttered a complaint in his heart.

It's more than just being awash in blood; your grandson is involved in it too.

Of course, on the surface, Zhu Gaoxu still nodded, playing along with Song Lian.

Song Lian naturally did not know that Zhu Gaoxu was complaining about him in his heart; he spent his days entirely in this large tent in the Military Camp.

Either he was drinking tea, playing chess, or, if nothing else, reading books.

He stayed behind closed doors all day long, not knowing what he was fussing over inside his own bedroom.

If he had even the slightest inkling that his own grandson was also implicated, how would he have the heart to play chess with Zhu Gaoxu?

Unaware of the truth, Song Lian continued, "In this Hu Weiyong affair, where do you think he failed?"

As soon as Zhu Gaoxu heard this, he knew his teacher was testing him again; after pondering slightly, he said, "This student feels that Hu Weiyong failed because he did not know when to advance or retreat, and did not understand what to hold onto or let go."

Song Lian clearly had not expected Zhu Gaoxu to say this, and immediately asked, "How do you see it?"

"Looking at Hu Weiyong's life now, ever since he followed Li Shanzhang, he had been left idle at home by the Imperial Grandfather since the founding of the nation; with his pride, he was naturally unwilling to accept it."

"In order to return to the imperial court, he exhausted every means and spent every ounce of effort."

"Having finally outlasted Li Shanzhang, then came Wang Guangyang and others; once he finally took office, he naturally wanted to accomplish something."

Speaking of this, Zhu Gaoxu placed a piece and simultaneously picked up his teacup to take a sip.

And Song Lian also nodded, indicating that what Zhu Gaoxu said was correct.

After finishing his tea, Zhu Gaoxu continued, "But he was too greedy; having finally obtained what he wanted, he wished to use this to gain even more."

"Once the desire for greed is unleashed, it becomes uncontrollable; it devours one's reason, cowardice, and timidity, making one fearless while simultaneously preventing rational thought."

"Forming cliques, engaging in factionalism, secretly approving memorials, deceiving those above and below, disposing of prisoners at his own discretion, ignoring the Emperor—the ever-rising power blinded his eyes."

"Slowly, he actually dared to arm-wrestle with the Imperial Grandfather; when he should have retreated, he insisted on advancing, and when he should have let go, he insisted on taking. He was too greedy."

"Every government office, every army, had to have his Huai-Xi faction members in it; if they didn't, he would suppress them. The entire court was secretly turned into a foul mess by him. Fortunately, our Great Ming has an enlightened ruler like the Imperial Grandfather; otherwise, I fear this treacherous minister would have truly seized power."

Having said this, Zhu Gaoxu stopped and said no more.

And Song Lian naturally understood Zhu Gaoxu's meaning.

Nodding, a flash of appreciation appeared in Song Lian's eyes.

In truth, Hu Weiyong's death was entirely of his own making.

If he could have had the detachment of Li Shanzhang, he could at least have enjoyed his later years in peace.

The reason Li Shanzhang died later was entirely because of the harm caused by Hu Weiyong.

Without Hu Weiyong's reckless actions implicating so many people, many of the founding or meritorious ministers of the Ming Dynasty would not have died at all.

The reason they died was mostly because they were labeled with the name of the Huai-Xi faction.

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