Chapter 17: A tiger's heart is separated by its hairy wings, a human heart is separated by its belly
In the troubled times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Huaixi was the hardest hit area. It was hard to eat, let alone study.
Therefore, among the old Huaixi brothers who rebelled against Zhu Yuanzhang, except for Li Shanchang and Wang Guangyang who were from landlords, they were basically all illiterate Qiu Ba.
The other faction, the Zhejiang East Party, is different. Zhejiang is rich, culturally and educationally prosperous, and there are many scholars. In addition, after Zhu Yuanzhang occupied Yingtian and became a prince, he began to recruit Zhejiang celebrities with great gifts.
Zhu Biao knew that these so-called celebrities actually looked down on the peasant army. They just held Boss Zhu's job and did not dare to show it. But they were not polite to people like Liu Futong, Han Lin'er, and Chen Youliang, and they spoke of themselves as 'monsters'.
'Thieves and bandits' are extremely despised.
"Why do they do this? No matter how much you look down on Prince Xiao Ming, you should still know that his father brought him to Yingtian just for a formality." Zhu Biao became increasingly puzzled and asked:
"The one who becomes the emperor in the end must be the father. So what is the difference between Xiao Ming's life and death?"
"The difference is huge!" Zhu Yuanzhang said flatly.
"My son is stupid."
"It's okay. It's normal that you don't understand. Even you and I only came to our senses later." Zhu Yuanzhang first comforted his son, then gritted his teeth and uttered two words:
"Legalism!"
"Oh." Zhu Biao understood immediately.
Because Xiao Ming Wang Han Lin'er is known as the ninth grandson of Song Huizong, his founding title is Song Dynasty, and he follows the Southern Song Dynasty orthodoxy.
If Zhu Yuanzhang accepts Han Lin'er's abdication, it means that the Ming Dynasty has inherited the legal system of the Song Dynasty. Then the Yuan Dynasty that destroyed the Song Dynasty can only be a pseudo-dynasty.
For the Huaixi brothers who started their careers following Zhu Yuanzhang's rebellion, there is indeed not much difference. Anyway, they were all rebels in the Yuan Dynasty and became officials in the Ming Dynasty.
But for a party in eastern Zhejiang, the difference is much greater.
Since they are celebrities, they are not ordinary people. They have either obtained the honors of the former Yuan Dynasty, or they have been officials in the Yuan Dynasty, or at least their families have been officials in the Yuan Dynasty... In short, they are inextricably linked to the Yuan Dynasty.
If the Yuan Dynasty is designated as a pseudo-dynasty, then everything they were proud of in the first half of their lives will become a black history that cannot be washed away.
Even if it is purely for their own reputation, they will never let this happen.
And 'if the name is not correct, then the words will not go smoothly, and if the words are not right, the things will not be accomplished'. If they are branded with the shameful mark of former officials of the pseudo-dynasty, not only will their future in the Ming Dynasty be ruined, but they will also worry about being liquidated day and night!
So they took a desperate risk, killed Prince Xiao Ming, and framed the blame on Zhu Yuanzhang.
Boss Zhu can no longer inherit the legal system of Han and Song Dynasties, and can only hold his nose and admit the legitimacy of the Yuan Dynasty...
That was the Yuan Dynasty that killed his whole family! Just think about how aggrieved Lao Zhu was...
~~
Although it was just the words of his father, it may not be the whole truth. But it had already made Zhu Biao so frightened that he was sweating coldly and his face turned pale.
"We fell into their trap, and it took us several years to figure it out, but it was too late. But I always thought that it was Yang Xian who was in charge of this matter, and had nothing to do with Mr. Liu!" Zhu Yuanzhang said bitterly:
"But now that I think about it, I'm afraid we are just wishful thinking. Liu Bowen is Yang Xian's teacher, benefactor, and leader of a party in eastern Zhejiang. He is like tofu that has fallen into the ashes - it cannot be cleaned."
"You can't just listen to Mr. Hu's words." Zhu Biao hurriedly advised: "My father and Mr. Liu have known each other for many years. You should know that he is upright and does not follow evil ways. People like him who disagree with my father will only leave with their titles hanging. Absolutely
I won’t go behind my father’s back and do such sinister things!”
"If I were as kind as you, I would have left no bones for others to eat." Zhu Yuanzhang snorted, but finally gave up the idea of arresting Liu Bowen for interrogation.
"Okay, don't touch Mr. Liu for now, wait until you ask Xiao Liao." After thinking for a while, he told the prince: "Let the Yushitai and Dali Temple also review the illegal salt case. Supervise it personally, and be careful.
Don’t be fooled by Zhongshu Province.”
"Yes, Father." Zhu Biao quickly accepted the order.
"Oh! I shouldn't have listened to Liu Ji in the first place. If the school hadn't been disbanded and inspected, why would it be so troublesome?" After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he felt depressed for a while, always feeling that he had been tricked by Liu Ji again.
He suddenly felt that he should follow the example of the Imperial City Division of the Northern Song Dynasty and set up a spy organization that only served himself, so that he would not always be deceived by the people below.
However, this is a serious matter, because all officials, both civil and military, regardless of their positions, are very resistant to spy politics. The previous inspection was done by them using the opportunity of Jianguo's major version update to work together.
"What about 'punishing people in the world in order to enlighten the Duke'? Bullshit New Dynasty Yazheng! They just want to cover our eyes and plug our ears so that they can do whatever they want outside!" Zhu Yuanzhang muttered angrily.
"Dad! The law is shared by the emperor and the world. Only in this way can it be the foundation of eternity. You can't take the lead in messing up the law just for the sake of convenience!" Zhu Biao sensed the danger and hurriedly admonished.
"Are you so nervous? How can we accomplish something that you don't even support?!" Zhu Yuanzhang glared at the prince depressedly, knowing that this matter cannot be rushed and must be considered in the long run.
The prince thought that his father had given up on the difficulty, so he hurriedly smiled and coaxed: "Dad, where are you itching? My son, I'll give you a good scratch."
"We're not itchy, we're just scratching now! Go back and have a rest." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand to the prince and returned to the imperial office expressionlessly. He could approve another pile of memorials before dinner.
Whenever he was in a bad mood, he would work like crazy to adjust it.
After sitting down, I saw the prince following him with a shy face.
"Is there anything else?" Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip of tea and asked angrily.
"Dad, it seems that Concubine Ding has relented, right?" The prince walked up behind him, scratched Zhu Yuanzhang's back and said, "Look at Concubine Chong, is it..."
"You are quite well-informed." Zhu Yuanzhang immediately closed his eyes slightly in enjoyment. He didn't feel at all that there was anything wrong with the prince interfering with the affairs of the harem. "Further down, on the left... did Liu Liu tell you?"
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"No, on the way to school this morning, he told me that he went to Changyang Palace the day before yesterday and knelt down and cried for a long time before he cried so hard that Concubine Ding softened her heart and agreed to talk to Emperor Father."
"Well, go to the left, right, use force..." Zhu Yuanzhang hummed with a thick nasal voice: "I didn't realize that the little Hanhan still has a filial heart. After all, he is not useless."
"Father, don't look down on people. Xiaoliu is just a late bloomer. He has grown up these days and is too sensible." Zhu Biao hurriedly added points to Zhu Zhen.
"You are telling lies with your eyes open. He just fell into the water a few days ago, and yesterday he scared Lao Qi to the point of peeing in his pants. Does he look like a sensible person?" Zhu Yuanzhang was not that easy to fool, and laughed and cursed: "I was about to pour it out.
Come on, let’s repair him.”
"This..." Zhu Biao was speechless for a moment, then returned to the topic with a smile: "Put those things aside for now and write quickly, Xiao Liu is still waiting."
"What?" Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to be confused, pretending to understand.
"The pardon letter." Zhu Biao said anxiously: "Dad, you must keep your word!"
"You are so anxious. Can you still default on your debt?" Zhu Yuanzhang gave his son a virtual punch and pointed at the folded page of the hard yellow paper with the dragon pattern on the table:
"It has been written a long time ago, just take it if you are anxious..."
Before he could say the word "go", Zhu Biao had already taken out his hand from his collar, picked up the edict, unfolded it, and was overjoyed.
"I would like to express my gratitude to the Holy Father for my sixth brother, and I will retire."
After saying that, he held the edict in his hands and ran away.
"Don't worry, I haven't finished scratching yet..." Looking at the prince's back disappearing into the dusk, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had not yet relieved his itch, looked helpless.
I had no choice but to curse and pick up the Huang Yu Ruyi on the imperial desk, scratching myself while reviewing the memorial.
In order to avoid being spied on, when he was criticizing the memorial, the eunuchs and palace officials were not allowed to get close...
~~
Main hall, school time.
As soon as Zhu Zhen and his two brothers walked out of Wenhua Gate, they met the prince's brother who was still breathing.
"Lao, Lao Liu..." Zhu Biao gasped and shook the yellow paper folding page in his hand.
"Brother, this is..." Zhu Zhen was also excited, and the young man's tears flowed down.
With the complete fusion of souls, he unknowingly regarded Concubine Hu Chong as his mother.
"Yes, that's the one you want!" Zhu Biao smiled and handed the edict to Zhu Zhen.
"Let me see, let me see!" But Zhu Di snatched it away, unfolded it, and laughed loudly: "That's great, Liu, your mother and concubine can return to the palace!"
After saying that, he grabbed Zhu Zhen's hand and dragged him towards Inner Hall.
He was tall and had long legs, and he walked like flying. Zhu Zhen's short legs couldn't keep up, and he was dragged and staggered after a few steps.
Zhu Di simply stretched out his hand to fish it out, picked him up and ran away.
Zhu Zhen was also confused. How could the fourth brother be more excited than his own son?
The eldest brother and the fifth brother were not surprised at all. Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Di with eyes full of pity.
Zhu Rui's eyes were even redder, and he hurriedly looked at the gorgeous purple-red sunset to prevent tears from flowing down.
Bai Letian's poem rang in his heart:
‘Ci Wu lost his mother, and became dumb and uttered a mournful voice. He did not fly away day and night, but stayed in his old forest for many years.
It cries in the middle of the night every night, and those who hear it are touched. The sound is like telling, but the heart of repaying is not fulfilled.
A hundred birds don’t have a mother, so you alone are deeply sad and resentful? It should be the mother’s kindness that makes you unbearable...’