Chapter 121: Zhu Di: Perhaps in the eyes of the Father Emperor, only the eldest brother

At this moment!

The atmosphere in the discussion hall was heavy and oppressive, the heavy hall doors were tightly closed, isolating the noise from the outside.

These Huaixi generals had close relationships with each other, and years of fighting together made them look like one body.

Chang Mao was not a reckless person on weekdays, but in this discussion hall full of Huaixi lineage, the dissatisfaction suppressed for a long time was like a bursting dam, unable to be suppressed anymore.

Seeing him with wide eyes, his hands involuntarily clenched into fists, he poured out the resentment in his heart fiercely, his voice echoing in the hall. If there were outsiders present, with his caution, he would never be so presumptuous.

But now there were no outsiders, so Chang Mao naturally had fewer scruples.

Feng Sheng sat quietly on the main seat, his body leaning forward slightly, his hands folded on the table, listening to Chang Mao's words very calmly.

After Chang Mao finished speaking, he did not get angry as others thought, but tilted his head slightly, looking at the distant past.

After a long time.

A look of melancholy, or even sorrow, slowly appeared on Feng Sheng's face. It was the helplessness of having experienced vicissitudes and understanding the world.

"Li Shanzhang is also Huaixi."

Feng Sheng's voice was low and hoarse, as if coming from the depths of time, carrying a trace of undetectable sigh.

After a slight pause, his Adam's apple rolled, and he said slowly again: "Hu Weiyong is also Huaixi."

Speaking of this!

Feng Sheng sighed deeply, leaned back on the chair, and asked rhetorically with an earnest tone: "And then?"

These simple words were like a thunderbolt, exploding in the hall.

The faces of the several generals who originally had different expressions turned pale instantly.

Chang Mao was even more like being struck by lightning, his originally endless mouth closed instantly, his face stiffened, and he stood still, his eyes full of shock and fear, as if he had been fixed by these two sentences.

"Chang Mao."

Feng Sheng sat up straight again, looking at Chang Mao with a serious gaze, but his voice was very gentle.

"In terms of seniority, I am your uncle's generation. I know you are impulsive, so I won't blame you for what you said today."

But after these words fell.

Feng Sheng paused slightly, his expression became more serious, and his gaze slowly swept over everyone in the hall.

"But you must know that we Huaixi are not the masters, but the subjects."

"The current Emperor is not the superior of the past, and the current Great Ming is not the Wu of the past."

"The future is changing rapidly, and the Emperor and the Crown Prince will not tolerate us forever."

Speaking of this, Feng Sheng's voice gradually increased, carrying a hint of warning.

"Don't think that because we Huaixi have the merit of founding the country, we can act recklessly, and don't think that we meritorious officials and their families can be exempted from slaughter."

"Imperial power is above, if you really lose your awe, the consequences..." Feng Sheng's tone suddenly became incomparably serious, word by word, as if hitting everyone's heart like a heavy hammer: "Death!"

As soon as these words came out!

The hall instantly fell into dead silence.

Everyone's breathing seemed to stop at this moment, and the quiet atmosphere appeared particularly strange.

And.

The faces of the Huaixi generals in the hall turned pale as paper instantly, and some even swallowed involuntarily.

Clearly, Feng Sheng's words were like a sharp sword, piercing straight into their hearts, making their hearts shake violently.

They thought of the once arrogant Li Shanzhang, and the once powerful Hu Weiyong.

But what happened in the end?

Everything is gone.

The family was slaughtered.

At the same time!

The Prince of Yan's Mansion in Beiping.

The main hall of the Prince's Mansion was spacious and majestic, with carved beams and painted buildings, showing the royal style.

There were Prince's Mansion guards standing everywhere.

Guarding.

Inside the Prince's Mansion hall!

An official belonging to the Prince of Yan's Mansion wearing an official uniform, with a respectful expression, walked into the hall with hurried steps.

When he walked to the hall, only a few steps away from Zhu Di on the throne, he stopped, bowed, and reported loudly: "Your Highness, General Zhang has sent back news that Liaodong is settled, and the army will prepare for the return date in the near future."

"And the Ministry of War also wants to contact our Beiping Prefecture to discuss the pension for the casualties of our Beiping Army soldiers."

On the throne.

Zhu Di was wearing a Prince's robe. He had a majestic face, deep and sharp eyes, as if he could see through everything.

Hearing this.

Zhu Di nodded slightly, his movements steady and majestic, and said: "En! Let the military camp prepare enough wine, meat, and food. This time on the Liaodong battlefield, our Beiping Army soldiers were all brave and fearless, making merits for the country. After returning to the camp, I will personally go to the military camp to reward the entire army."

The official's face immediately showed a smile, and he said loudly: "Your Highness is wise. When the expeditionary soldiers return and see Your Highness personally arrive, they will be very happy."

"Jin Zhong." Zhu Di turned his gaze to the official in front of him, his eyes revealing a trace of majesty: "Contacting the Ministry of War is the top priority."

"You are personally responsible for this matter, and you must make the pension issued quickly."

"I don't want the families of the soldiers who died for the country to suffer because of the pension."

Jin Zhong immediately took a step forward, knelt on one knee, his movements quick and neat, bowed respectfully, and said: "Please rest assured, Your Highness, this subordinate will definitely treat it seriously."

Zhu Di nodded with satisfaction, then seemed to suddenly think of something, his eyes flashed with a trace of concern, and asked: "By the way, how is the matter I asked you to investigate secretly?"

Hearing this!

Jin Zhong's expression instantly became serious, he turned slightly, reached into his bosom with his right hand, and carefully took out a memorial.

Then Jin Zhong held the memorial with both hands, walked slowly to Zhu Di, bent down slightly, and handed it up gently, saying: "Your Highness! All the investigations regarding Zhu Ying are here."

Zhu Di's eyes moved instantly, revealing a thick look of concern, and he reached out to take the memorial immediately.

His gaze quickly scanned the handwriting on it. As he watched the content, Zhu Di's expression gradually changed. A trace of shock appeared on his originally peaceful face, and then turned into anger.

But at this moment in front of the minister, he seemed to be trying his best to suppress the anger in his heart.

"Is it true?" Zhu Di closed the memorial, raised his head, and stared tightly at Jin Zhong, his eyes carrying a trace of scrutiny.

"This subordinate personally verified it, and it is all true."

Jin Zhong lowered his head slightly, his tone was firm, without any hesitation: "Zhu Ying was originally from our Beiping Prefecture! He still has a residence in Beiping City. The reason why he went to Daning to join the army was because of an operation by a recruitment officer in our Beiping Prefecture recruitment office."

Zhu Di's face turned cold as frost instantly, his eyes filled with coldness, and he slapped the table fiercely, a loud bang echoing in the hall.

"Sure enough! Zhu Ying was originally from our Beiping Prefecture. If there was no operation by this recruitment officer, this Zhu Ying would definitely be a general of our Beiping Army."

"This person deserves to die!"

"Because of what he did, our Beiping Army lost a fierce general."

"Your Highness."

Jin Zhong saw this and said quickly: "This recruitment officer has already been taken down. For the crime of dereliction of duty. Does Your Highness want to see him?"

"Has everything that should be asked been asked?" Zhu Di raised his head and looked at Jin Zhong, his voice carrying a trace of unquestionable majesty.

"Asked."

Jin Zhong reported truthfully: "He also confessed everything! He accepted a hundred taels of gold from the Shen family, so he changed Zhu Ying's recruitment place to the Daning Border Army."

"Besides that, he also burned Zhu Ying's original household registration information. Zhu Ying's original age seemed to be a little short, and he was raised to sixteen by him to join the army."

"Shen family?"

Zhu Di frowned, his eyes revealing confusion, he tilted his head slightly, and fell into a short thought: "This Shen family is the number one giant merchant in our Beiping Prefecture, and even in the north. Why do they target Zhu Ying?"

"Could it be that Zhu Ying has some involvement with the Shen family?"

Jin Zhong nodded and said: "According to the investigation, Zhu Ying's family seems to have old ties with the Shen family, it seems that Zhu Ying's grandmother and the Shen family once set a marriage contract!!"

Hearing this.

Zhu Di's eyes flashed with a trace of realization. He immediately associated the cause and effect, and a look of understanding appeared on his face, saying: "It seems that the Shen family does not want to marry their daughter to Zhu Ying, so they want to send Zhu Ying to Daning, intending to kill Zhu Ying."

"When the Liaodong war had not started, Daning was the most chaotic among the border prefectures, with the Yuan court, Jianzhou Jurchens, and mountain bandits! As long as Zhu Ying joined the army, there was a high probability that he would die on the battlefield."

"The Shen family is really ruthless. Merchants pursue profit and forget righteousness, it is really so."

It can be seen that Zhu Di's attitude towards merchants is in the same line as Zhu Yuanzhang's, and his eyes reveal deep disgust.

"Just as Your Highness said."

Jin Zhong continued: "The Shen family just didn't want to fulfill the marriage contract with Zhu Ying, so they pitted Zhu Ying to the most dangerous Daning Prefecture, wanting Zhu Ying to die in Daning."

"And after pitting Zhu Ying to Daning, the Shen family daughter married out, and she was a concubine to someone, and the family that married the Shen family daughter was the Lu family."

"Which Lu family?" Zhu Di asked, his eyes revealing a trace of curiosity.

"Ying Tianfu, the eldest son of the Minister of Rites Lu Ben, Lu Hao." Jin Zhong said in a low voice, his voice low and powerful.

Hearing this.

Zhu Di had a thoughtful expression, placed his right hand on the armrest of the chair, and tapped rhythmically, making a slight sound.

After a while, Zhu Di said coldly: "Shen family, these years seem to have made many marriages."

"Huaixi generals, and now the Lu family again."

"Merchants! Their hands are stretched too long."

At this time, Zhu Di's face was already full of displeasure, his brows locked, and his eyes revealed a trace of worry.

"Your Highness."

Jin Zhong continued: "Through this recruitment officer, I sent people to search for evidence of the Shen family colluding with officials to disrupt government."

"But the Shen family is very cautious, and the person who contacted the recruitment officer before has disappeared."

"And... the Shen family seems to have realized that something was wrong. Now most of the Shen family members have moved to Ying Tianfu, leaving only the second son of the Shen family in Beiping."

"Now relying on the words of the recruitment officer alone, there is no evidence to convict the Shen family."

Hearing this.

"If the Shen family could be caught so easily, they would not become the giant merchant of our Great Ming."

"Shen Wansan is old and cunning."

Zhu Di said very calmly, his face showing no waves.

Clearly, the person the Shen family sent to contact the recruitment officer had already been secretly dealt with by the Shen family.

In this era, deaths happen from time to time, and if the people don't sue, the officials don't investigate.

If everything is investigated, the government will have no peace.

Perhaps it is dark, but perhaps every era is like this.

"But why would the Shen family leave our Beiping Prefecture?"

Jin Zhong looked puzzled and asked: "Without evidence, are they afraid too?"

"The Shen family intermarried with many powerful people, the fundamental reason is to make their Shen family develop more prosperously."

Zhu Di sat up straight, and then said slowly: "The Lu family is now extraordinary."

"Minister's family, and his daughter is the concubine most favored by the Crown Prince."

"If the Shen family doesn't use this path, then they are not merchants."

"As for why they moved to Ying Tianfu so quickly, it is clearly because of Zhu Ying."

"It seems they also know that Zhu Ying not only didn't suffer from them, but was promoted."

Zhu Di sneered, the laughter carrying a trace of mockery. With his status and vision, it was naturally very easy to see through the essence of things.

"Then Your Highness." Jin Zhong asked tentatively: "Should we do something to the Shen family?"

"No evidence, no proof. What can be done?"

Zhu Di said slowly, shaking his head slightly: "Besides, this matter is not my business, but Zhu Ying's business."

"What I want to do is to give a handy favor to Zhu Ying, not to give it directly."

"Then Your Highness, should we give the investigated news to Zhu Ying, or what?" Jin Zhong asked respectfully, his eyes revealing a trace of anticipation.

"Send that recruitment officer to Daning."

Zhu Di's eyes flashed with a murderous intent, and then said: "This person accepted bribes from merchants, ignored the law! And ignored military regulations, and should be punished with capital punishment."

"In addition, relay all the investigated things to Zhu Ying."

Hearing this.

Jin Zhong bowed and said: "This subordinate understands."

"However..." Jin Zhong had a thoughtful expression, wanting to speak but stopping, his eyes revealing a trace of hesitation.

"Speak if you have something to say." Zhu Di turned his gaze to Jin Zhong.

"Your Highness's status is noble, this Zhu Ying is outstanding, but he shouldn't be worth Your Highness's such importance." Jin Zhong asked puzzled: "In the end, he is just a Regional Military Commissioner."

"You, looking at problems is still too simple."

Zhu Di shook his head with a smile, the smile carrying a trace of deep meaning, but his expression was very serious: "If this Zhu Ying was really just a Regional Military Commissioner, it wouldn't be worth my importance, and I wouldn't hesitate to give a favor. But he was promoted to Regional Military Commissioner in one year, and was promoted to Earl."

"This is worth my importance."

In the end, it was the potential shown by Zhu Ying that moved Zhu Di, making him value him.

"It's ridiculous that the Shen family would rather destroy this marriage, let their daughter be a concubine in the Lu Mansion, and actually give up this piece of raw jade, Zhu Ying."

"I think the Shen family will regret it now." Jin Zhong also said with great emotion, shaking his head slightly, his face revealing a trace of regret.

"Alright." Zhu Di waved his hand and said decisively: "Go do what I told you."

"This subordinate takes his leave." Jin Zhong bowed and exited the Prince's Mansion hall quickly, his steps light and powerful.

After Jin Zhong left, Zhu Di's expression carried a few thoughts, and he murmured in his mouth: "Shen family, Zhu Ying. Didn't expect there to be such involvement. For the sake of a marriage contract, they actually wanted to take someone's life. This Shen family is really the nature of a merchant."

"And since there is a marriage contract, the Shen family and Zhu Ying's family must have had some relationship in the past. Forgetting righteousness for profit, this Shen family is really too much of a merchant's nature. Sure enough, the Father Emperor once said that merchants value profit and must be suppressed."

Just when Zhu Di was about to deal with the government affairs of Beiping Prefecture!

A voice came, and there were hurried footsteps: "Report. Informing the Father Prince, Prefect Fang requests an audience."

Then.

A young man who was seventeen or eighteen years old, but somewhat fat, walked quickly into the hall.

He only accelerated his steps a little, and he was panting, his face and forehead covered with sweat, clearly burdened by obesity.

This person is Zhu Di's eldest son, and also the Prince of Yan's heir, Zhu Gaochi.

Looking at Zhu Gaochi's appearance, Zhu Di was actually a bit disappointed in the depths of his eyes, and at the same time, a trace of undetectable melancholy flashed in his eyes, but he did not show it on the surface.

Seeing Zhu Gaochi arrive, Zhu Di sat up straight, a gentle smile appeared on his face, and said: "Alright. Since Prefect Fang is here, there must be something important, please come in."

"Yes." Zhu Gaochi nodded immediately, his movements a bit slow, and then shouted to the outside of the hall: "Prefect Fang, please."

To the outside, Zhu Gaochi still performed very steadily.

In response, a middle-aged man wearing an official robe walked slowly into the Prince's Mansion hall.

When he saw Zhu Di, he bowed immediately, his body low, and said loudly: "This subordinate Fang Bishou greets Your Highness."

"Prefect Fang, no need for etiquette." Zhu Di smiled slightly, the smile carrying a trace of gentleness.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Fang Bishou thanked, stood up straight, his movements neat and clean.

"Is there something important for Prefect Fang to come here this time?" Zhu Di asked with a smile, his eyes revealing a trace of curiosity.

"Your Highness." Fang Bishou took a step forward and said: "The Ministry of Rites just sent a notice, which needs to be announced to the world, please read it, Your Highness."

Saying this, Fang Bishou held a notice from the Ministry of Rites with both hands, walked slowly to Zhu Di, and placed the notice on the table, his movements cautious.

Zhu Di immediately picked up the notice and looked at it. A wave of emotion couldn't help but appear on his face, his eyes flashed with shock, and then he fell into thought again.

After a while, Zhu Di smiled slightly and said: "Since it is a notice sent by the Ministry of Rites, it should be announced as soon as possible! Regarding this matter, I naturally have no objection."

Hearing this, Fang Bishou bowed immediately and said: "This subordinate understands."

"By the way." Zhu Di continued: "Prefect Fang came just in time."

"Now that the Liaodong war is settled, I have received news that General Zhang Yu is about to return in triumph."

"This Liaodong battle, our Beiping Army suffered not small losses, and still needs to supplement troops. This matter still needs Prefect Fang to handle." Zhu Di smiled slightly, saying, the smile carrying a trace of anticipation.

Hearing this, Fang Bishou said immediately: "The Beiping Army's troop losses should be supplemented. Please rest assured, Your Highness. This subordinate will report to the Ministry of War as soon as possible. After the Ministry of War issues the recruitment order, this subordinate will immediately open the recruitment order in Beiping Prefecture."

Zhu Di nodded and said: "In that case, thank you for your trouble."

From this, it can be seen that although the Great Ming enfeoffed many vassal kings, in terms of military power and recruitment, everything is based on the Ministry of War of the imperial court.

And the distribution of vassal kings has checks and balances. The most critical thing is that vassal kings cannot meet privately. If they violate it, Ying Tianfu will definitely punish them severely.

All of this, Zhu Yuanzhang has a plan in his heart.

After Fang Bishou left, Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi who was still standing on the side, and said gently: "Gaochi, you go down too."

"Yes, Father Prince." Zhu Gaochi bowed and retreated slowly, his steps appearing a bit heavy.

After everyone left, Zhu Di glanced at the Ministry of Rites notice brought by Fang Bishou, his mood was complex, his eyes revealing a trace of helplessness and worry.

Then, Zhu Di walked slowly towards the inner hall.

In this inner hall, the candlelight was soft and the light was dim.

But there was a kind of sandalwood.

Inside the inner hall.

Only Yao Guangxiao was here, wearing a monk's robe, his face calm, sitting quietly on a futon on the side.

Seeing Zhu Di arrive, Yao Guangxiao smiled slightly, the smile carrying a trace of understanding, and said: "Liaodong is settled. The Beiping Army also made many merits. This can be considered as giving the Prince face."

"Compared to the Daning Border Army, how can our Beiping Army talk about face."

Zhu Di shook his head slightly, a trace of bitter smile appearing on his face: "This Liaodong battle! In the end, it became the battle for the Daning Border Army to make a name for itself, one general driving the name of the entire army."

Zhu Di said with great emotion, his eyes revealing a trace of envy.

"Looking at the Prince's expression this time, it seems he is not happy." Yao Guangxiao smiled slightly, his pair of eyes as if they could see through people's hearts: "It seems that you have encountered some things again."

"This is the notice issued by the Ministry of Rites, which will be announced to the world." Zhu Di handed the notice in his hand to Yao Guangxiao, his movements appearing casual.

The latter took it and looked at it, and after just a few glances, he understood immediately.

Yao Guangxiao nodded slightly, a trace of emotion appearing on his face, saying: "The current Emperor's great grace to the Crown Prince is truly hard to describe!"

"Liaodong land has been separated from China for hundreds of years and has always been controlled by foreign races."

"Now successfully recovered, this is a merit worthy of leaving a name in history!"

Yao Guangxiao slowly put down the Ministry of Rites notice in his hand, his expression full of emotion.

However!

Yao Guangxiao's tone suddenly changed, and he continued: "But it is unexpected that the Emperor actually gave this great merit to the Crown Prince. The Emperor's move clearly wants to use this merit of recovering Liaodong to make the Crown Prince's prestige reach its peak, and it is enough to leave a heavy stroke in history!"

"Such courage is truly unprecedented."

"Since ancient times, which emperor is not eager to leave a great reputation in history books, so that future generations will remember and respect!"

"But the current Emperor can abandon this obsession and is willing to hand over such glory. This has far exceeded the love between ordinary father and son."

Yao Guangxiao said while gently stroking his beard, the emotion on his face becoming more intense.

Zhu Di listened quietly to Yao Guangxiao's words, nodded slightly, and also pulled out a slightly bitter smile on his face, saying slowly: "This merit of recovering Liaodong, although extraordinary, compared to the Father Emperor's founding of the Great Ming and reshaping the order of China, it is just a drop in the ocean, not worth mentioning."

"In the future history books, the Father Emperor will definitely occupy an extremely important space, his achievements are enough for future generations to respect and praise."

Zhu Di paused, and the expression on his originally peaceful face instantly became complex.

In his eyes, there seemed to be thousands of waves surging, which was the emotion that had been suppressed for a long time quietly surging.

Zhu Di's face trembled slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said softly: "And... for the Father Emperor, perhaps, only the eldest brother can be considered his true biological son!"

The words fell, and the inner hall fell into dead silence.

This sentence.

Perhaps it is also Zhu Di's true heartfelt words from the bottom of his heart.

Perhaps.

Except for his eldest brother, the feelings of other brothers are also the same.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 122 =====