Chapter 720: Cowpox and the Kings Unpredictability
Zhu Hongyu led the team back to Nanjing.
At this time, Wang An and others probably just drove the steam train and had just dared to arrive at Zhenjiang Station.
After returning to the palace, Zhu Hongyu thought about the scene he saw today, and his heart was filled with unconcealable excitement.
Immediately afterwards, he sent an order to the cabinet, summoned the cabinet members to hold an imperial meeting, and began to plan the laying of the railway network in the Ming Dynasty without stopping.
At present, it is definitely unrealistic for Zhu Hongyu to build a large-scale railway network.
Especially the arteries that connect north to south or east to west are simply a fantasy.
It’s not because of anything else, it’s simply because productivity doesn’t allow it!
If Zhu Hongyu wanted to build a few main railway lines in some key places, such as the south of the Yangtze River, the Huaihe River, and the canal banks, it would actually be feasible.
Because it is possible to make a profit by building railways in these places.
Only by building the railway itself can we make money, and Zhu Hongyu can use the profits from the railway to continue to expand the Ming Dynasty's railway network.
Otherwise, if you repair one, you will lose one!
The current Ming court simply doesn’t have that much money to throw at it!
Zhu Hongyu was also afraid that he would follow in the footsteps of Emperor Sui Yang!
It’s not impossible to achieve great success, but you must at least ensure that your great success is profitable compared to the expenditure required!
As long as the income exceeds the expenditure, it doesn't matter how great the success is!
Otherwise, Emperor Sui Yang will wave to you to indicate that he is here, brother!
At present, Zhu Hongyu's biggest difficulty in setting up a complete railway network system is actually finance and manpower...
Don't look at the current Ming Dynasty compared with the Chongzhen period, the fiscal revenue has increased countless times.
But when you really need money, you will realize that no matter how much money you have, it is never enough!
Not to mention manpower!
After decades of war in the late Ming Dynasty, the population of the Ming Dynasty dropped sharply.
It is true that there are fewer social conflicts. In terms of governance, it gives Zhu Hongyu a lot of room for maneuver and a certain error tolerance...
After all, as long as the social contradictions are not particularly acute, no matter how great the emperor is, no matter how much he makes troubles, the world will not be in chaos.
For the founding emperor like Zhu Hongyu, as long as the world is not in chaos, it really isn't a big problem.
However, Ming Dynasty is really short of labor force now!
Zhu Hongyu is really helpless!
After much deliberation, the only practical way for Ming Dynasty to solve the current dilemma it faced was to launch a foreign war.
To put it bluntly, they are robbing money, food, and women!
You can also turn enemy men into slaves!
Imagine if Zhu Hongyu could send troops now to destroy Xiaoli.
Turn the gold and silver mines of the small days into those of the Ming Dynasty, turn all the men into slaves to work, and snatch all the women back to have children...
Then haven’t all the problems faced by Ming Dynasty been solved now?
So, as long as there is a war, the money, food and labor force that Ming Dynasty is facing can be solved.
As for what to do if the battle is lost?
Zhu Hongyu has never considered this.
Just kidding, with the current Ming army, facing these young brothers around them, who wouldn't they crush?
In terms of equipment and training, what aspect can't they defeat their generation?
How is it possible to lose the battle?!
Since ancient times, as long as the Central Plains dynasty has completed its unification and integrated its internal forces, external wars have basically been overwhelming.
Even the two most rubbish Song Dynasties, during the reign of Song Taizu, the Jingsai Army was the best among the best!
It was also the existence that the Khitan cavalry who once fought against the Liao Kingdom did not dare to look south!
But this little piece of trash in the Southern Song Dynasty has nothing to say!
Not to mention the current Ming Dynasty!
To exaggerate, if the geographical distance is ignored and all other countries in the world unite, Ming Dynasty will be able to cope with it.
Of course, this is talking about the Ming army on land!
Compared with the current navy of the Ming Dynasty, there is still a certain gap.
The overall leadership of Western countries in navigation is a fact that Zhu Hongyu is unwilling to admit, but has to admit.
After all, the West has already started to engage in large-scale navigation, and it has a first-mover advantage. Even if the Ming Dynasty fully develops its navy, it will not be able to catch up in just a few years.
At the very least, it will take 20 to 30 years to even out the gap.
Unless the Ming Dynasty entered the steam age in advance, it would not be impossible to use its first-mover advantage in steam battleships to defeat the West's advantage in the age of sails.
Also, there is no need to rush into launching a foreign war!
At the very least, Zhu Hongyu must first deal with the remnants of the Manchu Qing in Liaodong, take down the Guanning Army, regain the lost territory in Guanzhong, and then settle the Mongols on the grasslands and the chieftains in the southwest.
Only when Ming Dynasty had no internal worries could it launch large-scale foreign wars!
Otherwise, it would be the most stupid thing to start a war when the country is internally unstable.
…
December 23rd, the first year of the Ming Dynasty’s restoration!
It is the end of another year, and every household in Nanjing has begun to put up lanterns and streamers.
Many wealthy families hang clean and beautiful red silk on tree branches to decorate their facades.
The Forbidden City has also begun cleaning and decoration!
Compared with last year's Forbidden City, this year's Forbidden City is much more popular and prosperous.
On the one hand, a large area of the Forbidden City's themed buildings has been repaired, and there are fewer dilapidated palaces.
On the other hand, it is because there are many more decorations in the Forbidden City now.
These decorations were all captured by Zhu Hongyu in the Forbidden City of the capital after he recaptured the capital.
Decorated with a large number of exquisite decorations, the Forbidden City in Nanjing has become more and more royal.
After all, he was planning to make Nanjing his capital. Wouldn’t it be a waste to have so many good things in the Forbidden City of the capital?
It is better to transport it to Nanjing and save Zhu Hongyu money to buy it.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! As the new year is approaching, Zhu Hongyu has no time to rest.
He still has to be busy with government affairs!
On this day, he had just returned from inspecting the military camp outside the city when he received the news from the Jinyi Guards.
"Your Majesty, there is news from Liaodong that the Manchu Qing Dynasty is gathering troops and food and has sent detailed troops to North Korea. It seems that they intend to take action against North Korea."
Zhou Tianxu sent a memorial to the desk in front of Zhu Hongyu.
Zhu Hongyu raised his head and gave instructions.
"sit down!"
After Zhou Tianxu sat down, Zhu Hongyu picked up the memorial and started reading it.
Looking at the words on the memorial, Zhu Hongyu fell into deep thought.
Judging from the information currently available, the Manchu Qing Dynasty is most likely going to take action against North Korea and plunder North Korea to gain some blood for themselves.
However, Zhu Hongyu's attitude towards this is indulgent!
The Manchu and Qing Dynasties are going to take action against North Korea. What's going on with Guan Daming?
The obvious reason is that I, the Ming Dynasty, will never interfere in the internal affairs of the vassal!
If North Korea does not ask Ming Dynasty to send troops, Ming Dynasty will definitely not move.
Of course, even if North Korea requests the Ming Dynasty to send troops, whether the Ming Dynasty sends troops or not, that's two different things!
The real reason why Zhu Hongyu chose to wait and see was because if the Ming Dynasty wanted to annex North Korea, it did not necessarily require civil strife in North Korea.
If North Korea faces foreign aggression, it’s okay!
During the Imjin Japanese Rebellion, North Korea was almost destroyed by Xiaozhi. Didn't they just cry and shout that they wanted to annex the Ming Dynasty and become the internal vassal of the Ming Dynasty?
That is to say, Emperor Wanli wanted to lose face and was unwilling to take advantage of the crisis to eat North Korea. Otherwise, North Korea would have been a province of the Ming Dynasty.
So, how could Zhu Hongyu intervene in the Qing Dynasty's invasion of Korea?
He couldn't wait to cheer Manqing up!
"When will the Manchu Qing take action against North Korea?"
Zhu Hongyu asked Zhou Tianxu while flipping through the report.
After Zhou Tianxu heard this, he opened his mouth and said.
"Your Majesty, according to the news from our brothers in Liaodong, the Manchu Qing Dynasty will probably launch its troops after the beginning of spring."
The reason why we do it after the beginning of spring instead of in winter is because the Manchu Qing Dynasty is currently holding weddings for the old and new banner people below.
After you get married, you have to have a honeymoon, right?
Otherwise, you won’t be able to have a child!
Zhu Hongyu nodded slightly, and after pondering for a while, he opened his mouth and gave instructions.
"Ask the staff to make a plan for our army to regain Liaodong after the main force of the Qing Dynasty invades Korea!"
"This time the Manchu Qing Dynasty transferred its main force to North Korea. For the Ming Dynasty, it was a good opportunity to regain Liaodong without any blood."
Although the current Qing army is really not a threat to the Ming Dynasty.
However, if you can get a bargain, that would be the best.
At that time, after the main force of the Manchu Qing invaded Korea and brought disaster to Korea, the Ming Dynasty would send troops to cut off the passage between the Korean Peninsula and Liaodong.
Block the Qing army on the Korean Peninsula!
When the time comes, Liaodong will naturally fall without a fight.
And when the time comes, the Qing army, which is blocked on the Korean Peninsula, will do something outrageous to North Korea...
Zhu Hongyu said he didn’t know!
Suddenly, Zhu Hongyu saw something about the Manchus carrying the flag to the Green Camp soldiers under their rule and marrying the women of the bannermen to these new bannermen.
The expression on Zhu Hongyu's face is a little strange!
The moral bottom line of my Qing Dynasty is indeed as flexible as ever.
However, Zhu Hongyu really has to admit that the Manchu and Qing Dynasties played this skill very well.
It not only solved the problem of the green soldiers below being disengaged from the Qing Dynasty, but also replenished the number of men in the banner men, and also solved the current lack of military strength in the Qing Dynasty.
It can be said that it kills three birds with one stone!
The only price that needs to be paid is the marriage of some bannermen women.
This move by the Manchu Qing Dynasty can be said to have paid the smallest price and gained the most benefits!
Zhu Hongyu had to give a thumbs up and admire the Manchu and Qing senior officials who were able to make these decisions!
This operation works, show off!
There are still capable people in the Qing Dynasty!
Zhu Hongyu read through the memorial handed over by Jin Yiwei, then closed the memorial and asked Zhou Tianxu.
"How is the anti-corruption plan going?"
When Zhou Tianxu heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then he spoke.
"Reporting to your Majesty, the corresponding evidence has almost been collected. The Ministry of Justice is also preparing to form a task force to jointly handle the case with Jin Yiwei."
"As long as His Majesty gives an order, all the Jinyi Guards can sweep away the moths for the Ming Dynasty!"
When Zhu Hongyu heard this, he nodded slightly and said.
“Let’s start arranging and implementing the corresponding plans after the Chinese New Year!”
Zhou Tianxu responded with clasped fists.
…
In the last few days before the Chinese New Year, what Zhu Hongyu didn't expect was that the Taipei Hospital gave him a huge surprise.
The mass production difficulties of the cowpox vaccine have been overcome, and we are ready to promote it at any time and vaccinate the entire population!
After hearing the news, the joy on Zhu Hongyu's face could hardly be concealed.
Because he really knows how important the smallpox vaccine is!
Smallpox can be said to be one of the most terrifying viruses in human history!
It is on the same level as plague, cholera, AIDS, etc.!
What's even more frightening is that in this era, smallpox was basically an incurable disease due to its extremely high mortality rate.
As long as you are infected with the virus, whether you can survive has nothing to do with medical methods. It all depends on whether the character is strong or not!
Since smallpox was introduced to China, countless people have died from the smallpox virus over the years.
If only someone could eliminate the smallpox virus!
Then, no matter who this person is, he will shape the golden body of the godhead in place!
If during Zhu Hongyu's reign, the cowpox vaccine could be fully rolled out and the smallpox virus could be completely eliminated, then his prestige among the people would really be unimaginably high.
With this kind of prestige, as long as he doesn't do anything that would offend an entire interest class to death, he can basically do whatever he wants.
Zhu Hongyu pondered for a while and said to Hua Tai in front of him.
"The Taiyuan Hospital is preparing to fully roll out cowpox vaccination!"
"I will ask the cabinet to fully cooperate with the Taiyuan Hospital, and I will also ask the Ministry of Finance to make corresponding financial plans and allocate special funds for the promotion of vaccinia vaccination."
Zhu Hongyu was very happy when making decisions!
But after the decision was made and Huatai resigned and left, Zhu Hongyu couldn't help but gnash his teeth.
What the hell!
The promotion of the cowpox vaccine is another huge expense.
The imperial court is already almost out of money, and if it continues like this...
Well, Zhu Hongyu can even imagine how tight the Ming court's finances will be next year!
Thinking about these, Zhu Hongyu squinted his eyes and said.
"Looks like I have to find a way to make some extra money!"
He thought he might be able to put some thought into the cowpox vaccine!
Perhaps, the court can divide the vaccines into different levels for promotion of vaccination. The lowest level of common vaccines is free, and the court pays for vaccinations for the people.
Then there are the so-called "enhanced" vaccines with different levels and different efficacies. Of course, these vaccines are chargeable.
And, the price won’t be cheap!
However, these so-called different levels of vaccines are actually the same thing.
To put it bluntly, Zhu Hongyu plans to take advantage of the consumer psychology of luxury goods to launch a wave of vaccine marketing.
Let the rich who are burning their money contribute to the Ming Dynasty's "smallpox eradication" campaign and pay for the vaccinations for the poor.
Zhu Hongyu's behavior is definitely a bit doggy, but it's better than the fact that the cowpox vaccine can be mass-produced but cannot be promoted because the court has no money, right?
As Zhu Hongyu issued the order, the cabinet quickly came up with corresponding plans.
And start preparing for implementation after the year!
…
New Year's Eve!
On the last day of the first year of the restoration of the Ming Dynasty, there was a scene of joy in Nanjing.
The common people put up red Spring Festival couplets and hung lanterns on the doors of their homes.
The family members who went out to work have also returned home, and the family is preparing to have a reunion year.
The aroma of food wafts from every house!
Chicken, duck, and fish that they had been reluctant to eat in the past were brought to the table.
No matter how poor the conditions are, people will still eat a meal of dumplings on this day.
The streets are crowded with people, children are playing wildly on the street, and adults are buying new year's goods for the New Year's Eve dinner tonight!
There are even some takeaway guys carrying lunch boxes and running around the streets of Nanjing to deliver meals to people who order takeout from their own restaurants.
In fact, the takeaway boy has a long history!
In Kaifeng City in the Northern Song Dynasty and Lin'an in the Southern Song Dynasty, takeout prototypes had already appeared.
Basically, it is the self-operated business of major restaurants. When regular customers want to eat something, they send people to the restaurant to pass the message.
The restaurant will prepare the food and then send it to the guest's home.
Isn't this the takeaway boy?
Today's Nanjing city is no less prosperous than Kaifeng and Lin'an back then.
It is also normal for the industry of takeaway boys to grow!
Zhu Hongyu stood on the wall of the Imperial City of Nanjing, looking at the human fireworks in front of him, feeling quite proud and proud in his heart.
He came to this world through time travel, wasn’t it just for this worldly fireworks, wasn’t it just to let everyone in the world live a good life?
What does that sentence mean? The most beautiful things in the world are just fireworks in the world!
Looking away from the prosperous scene in front of him, Zhu Hongyu turned to ask the eunuch beside him.
"How are the preparations for tonight's fireworks show and New Year's Eve party?"
After hearing this, the personal eunuch Xiao Linzi who was serving beside him spoke.
"Your Majesty, everything has been arranged. The New Year's Eve party will start on time at eight o'clock tonight!"
"The fireworks show will be arranged at twelve o'clock tonight on New Year's Eve according to the old practice!"
Zhu Hongyu nodded slightly and said.
"well done!"
Zhu Hongyu is a lively person.
He has always felt from the bottom of his heart that just like the Spring Festival without the sound of firecrackers can be called the Chinese New Year, the Chinese New Year without the Spring Festival Gala can still be called the Chinese New Year?
Therefore, Zhu Hongyu arranged a Spring Festival Gala for the people of Nanjing City.
Of course, since there was no television, the so-called Spring Festival Gala in this era was actually just setting up a big stage, putting on loudspeakers, and the court paid for a troupe to sing on stage.
There is probably a stage arranged for each square!
It can be regarded as the imperial court paying for it and enjoying it with the people.
Of course, the content and repertoire of the opera on this stage must be decided by the imperial court!
Zhu Hongyu will definitely not let go of such a good publicity opportunity.
"What are the repertoires prepared for the stage?"
Zhu Hongyu asked, he wanted to confirm again.
The little eunuch beside him replied.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the songs prepared on the stage include "Emperor Taizu's Anti-Corruption", "Loyal Yang Family General", "Man Jiang Hong", "Chengzu's Northern Expedition", "Jiashen", "Ten Diaries of Yangzhou", "Eighty-one Days in Jiangyin"..."
Some of the repertoire here were previously available, but more were newly compiled by the imperial court.
The central idea is basically to promote loyalty, promote the legitimacy of the Ming Dynasty royal family, stimulate nationalist trends and other related contents.
Quite consistent with the current political views of the Ming Dynasty!
The main reason why the Ming Dynasty was able to recover, apart from its strong military strength, was that the Ming Dynasty had great righteousness.
Loyalty, the nationalistic trend of the Hua-Yi debate, and the legitimacy of the Ming Dynasty's rule of the world for more than two hundred years are where the great righteousness lies.
Therefore, Zhu Hongyu wanted to use propaganda methods to make the legitimacy of Ming Dynasty more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
"In addition to these repertoire, there are also song and dance performances, cross talk performances, magic performances, etc..."
The little eunuch said to Zhu Hongyu.
Zhu Hongyu nodded slightly when he heard this.
“Not bad, very good!”
After saying that, Zhu Hongyu turned around and walked down the city wall, striding back to the imperial city.
To put it bluntly, Zhu Hongyu is still not short of money now!
Although with the current financial situation of the Ming Dynasty, it would be very difficult for Zhu Hongyu to implement compulsory education and build a railway network.
But Zhu Hongyu wanted to hold a Spring Festival Gala in Nanjing. Such a small expense was just a drop in the bucket for Ming Dynasty!
…
West Nanjing, Kangdefang!
This is a famous slum in Nanjing.
There are several families living in a courtyard.
Everyone has to share the same toilet and the same well, which makes life very inconvenient.
Especially when the women want to take a bath, they can only bring the water into their own house to wash themselves, and they have to find someone to look after them to avoid being peeked at.
Life is very inconvenient!
However, this is the current living situation of the people at the bottom of Nanjing.
Before that, due to the war, two to three million people crowded into Nanjing.
The influx of a large number of people has made the originally limited housing in Nanjing become more and more compact.
A family like this lives in one room, and the conditions are actually quite good.
Because, in Nanjing now, some people even have to squeeze several families into one room!
Living in the capital is not easy!
However, being accustomed to the prosperity of the capital, these people were unwilling to return to their hometowns.
They never understand that Nanjing is the Nanjing of the Ming Dynasty, the Nanjing of the emperor, and the Nanjing people of Nanjing, but it is not their Nanjing!
Fortunately, the imperial court attached great importance to the public security issues in Nanjing and severely dealt a blow to the vital social organizations in Nanjing.
Otherwise, the lives of the people at the bottom may be even more difficult!
"Mom, mom, when will dad come back!"
A little Douding, who looked to be only six or seven years old, hugged the leg of his mother who was making dumplings and asked innocently.
"I'm hungry!"
Looking at the dumplings his mother was making, he drooled.
At this time, their stove had been lit. There was an iron pot sitting on the stove, and the water in the pot was boiling.
The mother threw away her son and dropped the dumplings into the pot one by one.
"Wait a minute, your father should be back soon!"
A girl of thirteen or fourteen who was helping her mother on the side stretched out her finger, lightly tapped her brother's forehead, and said.
"Dad hasn't come back yet, so don't eat secretly!"
"That's great!"
When Xiao Douding heard this, he deflated his lips in grievance, then shrank his head and turned around to go out to play.
At this moment, the courtyard door was pushed open, and a tall and thin middle-aged man walked in.
His face was full of weather-beaten weather, and his big hands were covered with calluses.
He is very tall, but his back is stooped.
Because, on his shoulders is the burden of the family's life.
The cost of living in Nanjing is very high. Rent, food and clothing all cost a lot of money.
In order to meet the family's daily needs, Lu Gao still went out to do odd jobs even though it was New Year's Eve.
Fortunately, this year's New Year's Eve, the imperial court wants to have fun with the people and set up a stage in the square to sing opera.
Before the big show starts, the place needs to be tidied up, and then he can find a job during the Chinese New Year.
Otherwise, during the Chinese New Year, Lu Gao would not be able to find a suitable job even if he wanted to do odd jobs.
Seeing her husband come back, the wife put down her work.
She patted her flour-covered hands on her apron, strode towards her husband, and helped her husband take off his dusty and stained coat.
"Come in quickly, it's cold outside!"
"Drink some hot water to warm yourself up!"
At the same time, Lu Gao's sons and daughters also rushed up one after another, greeting their father with greetings and greetings.
Feeling the warmth of home, Lu Gao's fatigue disappeared very quickly.
He touched his daughter's head, leaned over and picked up his son, and said.
"Get ready to eat!"
The family sat around the table, and the wife took out the cooked dumplings from the pot with a whisk and placed them in front of the family.
The living conditions of their family are not very good. Even during the Chinese New Year, they can only eat one dumpling.
Moreover, the filling of the dumplings is not meat filling, but white radish and potato filling. At most, some eggs and lard residue are added, which can be regarded as a bit meaty.
Although Zhu Hongyu thinks that his life is simple, compared with these real lower-class people, his life is still luxurious enough.
However, although the food was simple, Lu Gao and others ate with gusto because the family sat together to eat.
From time to time, Lu Gao would take a dumpling for his son and daughter, and watching them gobble it up, Lu Gao felt that his hard work today was worth it.
Lu Gao said as he watched his mother-in-law and children eating.
"Today the emperor wants to have fun with the people, so he ordered a stage to be set up in the square so that everyone can go and see it."
"Let's eat quickly. After we finish eating, we can go early and get a good seat."
When his son heard this, he clapped his hands very excitedly and said.
"Watch the show, watch the show!"
"Watch the show!"
Even his daughter has bright eyes and is obviously full of yearning for the big show.
There are many entertainment projects in this era, but those are only for the top people.
Entertainment items for the people at the bottom are very scarce!
Whether it’s to watch big dramas or free big dramas, many people are very interested in this.
However, when Lu Gao's wife heard this, she showed a hesitant expression and asked.
"But, there should be a lot of people going to the theater today, right?"
"If there are too many people, we will be pushed to the back and we won't be able to see anything."
"In addition, there are so many people today, so it will be dangerous, right?"
"Why don't you go?"
Lu Gao's wife is more introverted and not the kind of person who likes to join in the fun.
When Lu Gao heard this, he waved his hands and said.
"Do you think your man's work during the day was for nothing?"
"While I was working today, I became familiar with the people in the troupe. I'll take you right into the theater later!"
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"We will definitely see a big show today!"
"..."
Lu Gao patted his chest and made a promise.
When the sons and daughters heard this, they all exclaimed.
"Dad is so awesome! Dad is so awesome!"
Lu Gao listened to the praises from his son and daughter, with a smile on his weather-beaten face.
This is a common problem among all fathers. They like to pretend to be omnipotent in front of their children!
The family finished their dinner quickly and then went out together.
The family came to the place where the stage was set up in the square, went directly to the backstage, and then found a suitable seat to sit down.
Quietly waiting for tonight's drama to begin!
…
There is also a huge stage set up in the square outside the imperial city.
After the banquet in the palace, Zhu Hongyu appeared in the square outside the imperial city with his concubines and heirs.
Around him, many important ministers and nobles of the Ming Dynasty, as well as their family members, gathered together to prepare to watch this party performance.
There was singing on the stage, and while Zhu Hongyu was watching the play, he was talking quietly with Zheng Chenggong and Li Dingguo beside him.
As the only two kings with different surnames in the Ming Dynasty, these two people had little power, but their status meant that they were qualified to sit next to the emperor and accompany him to the theater.
Then there are Li Guangyuan, Zhou Tianxu, Shi Yongxin and other cronies.
While watching the opera, Zhu Hongyu was still thinking about Ming Dynasty's policy policy for next year.
First of all, the most important thing before the Ming Dynasty was the destruction of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
The second is the rotational purge of local officials!
Then there are compulsory education, the promotion of vaccination, and the initial plan to build a railway network, and the opening of ten major steel plants...
As well as further development plans for the economic development zone, there are also policies to benefit the people such as inventory of Dingkou, land clearing, rent and interest reduction, etc.
Many things need to be checked by Zhu Hongyu himself.
As an emperor with a high position and real power, rest is really a very luxurious thing for him.
Even during the Chinese New Year, he was not allowed to rest.
How could a truly serious emperor have the time to travel to the south of the Yangtze River!
Not to mention I can go six or seven times!
Yes, this is Qianlong!
The time soon reached twelve o'clock in the evening, accompanied by bursts of time-telling bells ringing...
The next moment, clouds of fireworks burst out over the entire city of Nanjing!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Fireworks shot up into the sky, and then exploded, blooming into clusters of beautiful fireworks in the sky.
What a beautiful scene with flaming trees and silver flowers all night long!
Zhu Hongyu also looked up at the sky and slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.
After the fireworks show ended, Zhu Hongyu gave another order.
"It's getting late, everyone, please go home and rest early!"
"Have a few days of rest during the New Year Festival. After the Lantern Festival, the court will be busy again!"
"..."
After hearing this, many noble ministers around him stood up to accept the promise and pay New Year's greetings to the emperor.
Zhu Hongyu said with a smile.
"Okay, don't wish me New Year's greetings, don't wish me happy New Year's greetings!"
"Now for New Year greetings, I don't have any red envelopes for you all!"
When everyone heard this, they all burst into laughter.
The emperor is joking, no matter whether it is funny or not, you just have to laugh!
Afterwards, Zhu Hongyu returned to the palace with his concubines and heirs.
After the emperor left, the ministers also said goodbye to each other and then left.
Li Dingguo also said goodbye to Zheng Chenggong and rode towards his mansion.
When he returned to his mansion, he saw a young eunuch wearing official robes standing at the door of his mansion.
Seeing Li Dingguo return home, the young eunuch walked a few steps quickly, rushed to his horse, bowed and saluted, and then said.
"Prince Jin, this servant has sent you a New Year's gift for Prince Jin on your Majesty's order!"
"Please ask King Jin to sign for it, so that I can go back and report to His Majesty!"
While talking, the young eunuch took out a gift list from his arms, and then pointed at the pile of gifts piled outside Prince Jin's Mansion, indicating that those were the items.
The gift list listed in detail the New Year's gifts given by the emperor, and Li Dingguo took a rough look at them.
While being shocked by the emperor's generosity, he quickly signed his name and stamped his seal.
This great emperor is so generous!
If Emperor Chongzhen had been half as generous as this man towards his subordinates, the Ming Dynasty would definitely not have experienced the difficulty of Jiashen.
Um...well, Chongzhen was poor and couldn't be generous even if he wanted to!
At the same time, Li Dingguo felt complicated in his heart. Although he said he was paying New Year greetings and there were no red envelopes for them, he sent someone to deliver the gifts to their respective mansions.
Is this gentleman's kindness profound?!
No, this is because you are unpredictable!
…
The second day is the first day of the new year!
Many people came to Li Dingguo's house to pay New Year's greetings, and many of Li Dingguo's generals were given houses in Nanjing.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, they gathered together with great understanding and prepared to go together to pay Li Dingguo a New Year's greeting.
Zhu Tingyun, Bai Wenxuan, Habai and others arrived outside Li Dingguo's Jin Palace.
The guard on duty at the door went in and announced that they were allowed to enter.
Although Li Dingguo has no real power now, Zhu Hongyu allowed him to retain part of his personal army.
To protect his safety!
Although there were not many people there, only about a hundred or so people.
These people are all Li Dingguo's personal guards, and there is no need to doubt their loyalty.
It is precisely because of this that these soldiers are familiar with Zhu Tingyun, Bai Wenxuan and others.
When someone went in to inform Zhu Tingyun and others of their visit, Zhu Tingyun and others had already been invited into the small house where the guards usually rested.
Even poured tea for them!
Several people were chatting and reminiscing about old times.
Suddenly, Zhu Tingyun's eyes lit up, and he saw a beautiful figure walking past the palace of Prince Jin.
She has a very slim figure, and the clothes she wears are also quite luxurious, with a skirt embroidered with flowing clouds, black lining, blue cloud silk square shoes, and a hairpin with pearl tassels in her black hair...
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! She is a little short, and she wears a black fur scarf around her neck, which makes her small face as big as a palm even more delicate.
The size of the chest is quite exaggerated!
It’s a loli with a childish face!
Zhu Tingyun took a breath of air, feeling that this woman was so terrifying that she had completely grown to his heart!
Turning around, Zhu Tingyun hugged the neck of Captain Li Dingguo's Guards beside him and asked with a rippling look on his face.
"Old Li, whose girl is that?"
“It’s so pretty!”
He raised his chin slightly and pointed at the childlike girl.
Those who appear at Li Dingguo's residence now are most likely coming to the Jin Prince's residence to pay New Year's greetings.
If you want to know her identity, you must ask Lao Li, who is responsible for guarding the gate.
When Lao Li heard this, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he tried to break free from Zhu Tingyun's chokehold, but failed.
He said with a helpless look.
"Be so gentle!"
"Well, that girl's surname is Mu, and she is a young lady from Prince Mu's Mansion."
"Today, I came to the prince with his father and brother. I want the prince to take them to see your majesty and restore their titles in Prince Mu's mansion."
Zhu Tingyun showed a very interested expression on his face, touched his chin and said.
“A bit interesting!”
Without letting Zhu Tingyun wait long, Li Dingguo sent someone to call all his old subordinates in.
And send someone to lead them to the table!
However, Li Dingguo did not show up.
…
At this time, Li Dingguo was in his study, talking face to face with a middle-aged man.
"Your Majesty, we haven't seen each other for a long time!"
The middle-aged man's surname is Mu, and his given name is Mu Tianyong. He is the cousin of Mu Tianbo, the last Duke of Guizhou in the Ming Dynasty.
When Wu Sangui's army conquered Kunming, Mu Tianbo escorted Emperor Yongli to flee south to Myanmar.
Mu Tianyong, on the other hand, is on the run from the people!
With the fall of the Yongli regime, Mu Tianyong decided to forget his identity as a descendant of the Duke of Guizhou and prepared to survive anonymously.
But with the restoration of the Ming Dynasty and the great victory achieved by the Ming Dynasty's Northern Expedition, Mu Tianyong could no longer sit still.
Then, he took his family to Nanjing and wanted to restore the title of the Duke of Guizhou!
However, he did not dare to rush to see the emperor!
Therefore, he decided to establish a relationship with Li Dingguo before entering the palace to see the emperor.
When Li Dingguo's troops were stationed in Yunnan, Mu Tianyong also contributed to the fight against the Qing Dynasty.
I have crossed paths with Li Dingguo, although there is no friendship...
But he looks familiar after all!
Li Dingguo nodded and said.
"It's been a long time indeed. Since the Qing army entered Yunnan in the twelfth year of Yongli era, it's been almost eight or nine years since I last saw you!"
"How have you been, Mr. Mu... lately?"
After struggling for a while, Li Dingguo chose to call Mu Tianyong Mr. Mu.
Because apart from that, he really doesn’t know why he should call Mu Tianyong!
Although the emperor did not announce the removal of the Duke of Qian from his title, it is true that after Mu Tianbo, the last Duke of Qian, died in the Battle of Cursed Water, the imperial court did not appoint another Duke of Qian.
Mu Tianyong really had no official status, so Li Dingguo could only call him Mr.