Zhu Bai said helplessly: "After all, he is the elder brother of my son, and I can't just die without saving my son. Besides, he wants to help his son, and he may not want any reward for his efforts. Isn't that stupid?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "You should have it. But if you want less, it's not worth it."
Zhu Bai didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "He is in a hurry, and he is bargaining with me. It seems to be taking advantage of the situation. Isn't it inappropriate?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Your plan is very good, but you have missed one thing, and that is me. How are you going to convince me not to punish Deng Zhiqiu and Deng Yu for their crimes. I think there is also a possibility that Zhu Fang and Deng Yu know
I will send people to spy on Zhu Xi’s every move, and that’s why I deliberately arranged for Deng Xi to say those words.”
suspicious!
Isn’t this just paranoia?
From the time Lao Zhu sent people out to the time Deng Xi said those words to Zhu Xi, it was only a short hour.
How could Deng Yu fly back from the battlefield to tell Deng Xi these things without knowing it?
Zhu Xi didn't have this chance either.
Zhu Bai chuckled: "My father has rewarded Master Deng Yu with so much fertile land, a house, and a salary. He doesn't need to work hard to earn these three melons and two dates. The second brother is even more so. In the future, he will sit on a vassal state.
This thing is really not taken seriously by him."
Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes: "Haha, don't excuse them with sweet words. Why do I kill the whole family when I kill them? That's because no matter how close or distant they are, they all have the responsibility to discipline and dissuade them. Otherwise, no matter how serious the crime their relatives have committed, they will be punished without knowing it.
If we put aside the relationship, there is no justice in this world."
Zhu Bai saluted: "My father is wise. It is correct to say that he did not control his family well. But Mr. Deng has been fighting in the field for many years. He is beyond his reach and has no energy to take care of it."
"Actually, I have been thinking about a question. With Mr. Deng's status, it should be easy to get a higher position for Deng Xi. Could it be that Mr. Deng could see that his brother has evil intentions and is not suitable for a high position, so
Are you just ignoring him?"
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Zhu Xi's cry suddenly sounded outside: "Father, please punish me. I didn't discipline my in-laws well. Now Deng Xi has committed a serious crime, and I only know about it."
Just now I heard from Erhu that Zhu Bai and Zhu Feng were conspiring to sacrifice their chariots to protect the commander in order to use a bitter trick. Now he saw that Zhu Feng actually acted according to the plan. Lao Zhu found it particularly funny.
He bared his teeth and pointed outside: "Tsk, tsk, look at you, you traitor, and you deceived one of your brothers again."
Zhu Bai chuckled: "Father, the Ming Dynasty's frontier has not yet been stabilized, and it is the time to recruit people. It is really inappropriate to hurt the heart of an important minister who opened up new territories for such a trivial matter."
Zhu Yuanzhang touched his chin and said nothing.
Zhu Bai added: "Besides, you know the temperament of my second brother. This Deng Zhiqiu is his heartthrob. If he is cut off alive, the second brother will be devastated and might take his anger out on Princess Qin."
It’s even harder to recruit Wang Baobao to surrender. Because of this, the second brother may not go to join the vassal state, but even if he goes to join the vassal state, he has no intention of governing. Isn’t that a small gain but a big gain?”
As if someone knocked a gong hard in his ear, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized: That's right, that's right. This is the purpose of Liu Shengun's "kindheartedness" in reporting this matter to him. What a risk! He was almost fooled.
Zhu Biao also hurriedly said: "It is really unnecessary to implicate Lord Deng Yu and Deng's concubine."
Wang Baobao is too good at fighting. The sooner he can recruit and surrender Wang Baobao, the better. If he can't recruit Wang Baobao, we should delay the attack until he takes over.
Deng Yu was even more of a fierce general. His death or dismissal would be of no benefit to the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Bai said: "Besides, the fourth brother is getting married soon. Killing too many people will not be good for him..."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and looked at Zhu Biao and Zhu Bai: "Tell me how to handle this matter."
This is the second time he asked this question today.
And this time, the two of them had no reason to blame others and pretend to be confused.
Zhu Biao said: "If you don't want to implicate other people, you should fight and resolve it quickly."
Zhu Bai frowned: "Either we don't arrest them. If we want to arrest them, we have to catch them all. We don't want to scare the snake by attacking directly. It's best to find out first, otherwise we are afraid that they will jump over the wall in a hurry."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "This morning, I have found out that the main ones are the Xicheng guards. Yingtianfu Yamen and the Xicheng Army and Horses Division just pretended to be deaf and dumb and did not participate."
Zhu Bai secretly took a breath: the pro-military captain's ability is indeed beyond repair. He found out so quickly.
The shock on Zhu Bai's face made Lao Zhu feel a little funny and proud, and the corners of his mouth twitched: "Actually, it's easy to check. It's just the few people and their subordinates who were in the teahouse that day. I hate being kept in the dark the most.
I feel like you were almost kidnapped. I must find out."
Zhu Bai cupped his hands and said, "Father is wise."
Zhu Yuanzhang: "Stop flattering me, why can't you calm down? I'm going to scare your own father every now and then."
Zhu Xiang was still outside howling: "Father, my sons and ministers are unfilial. My sons and ministers are incompetent..."
Zhu Biao couldn't help but laugh.
Zhu Bai also couldn't laugh or cry: his acting skills were exaggerated and he used too much force.
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "Call this brat in. He's so old. He's crying like a woman. My head hurts from hearing it."
When Zhu Xi came in, he knelt down and quietly glanced at Zhu Bai.
Zhu Bai nodded quickly.
Zhu Xi felt relieved, and then continued to cry.
Zhu Yuanzhang: "Stop, stop, stop. I already know the bad idea Zhu Bai gave you, so stop acting."
Zhu Xi stopped immediately and was at a loss.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "However, your twelfth brother convinced me. I do not intend to hold Deng Zhiqiu and Deng Yu accountable. This time, I will kill Deng Xi."
Zhu Xi breathed a sigh of relief and fell on the ground: "Thank you, Father."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "However, there is something I want to make clear to you here. This is the last time I forgive Deng Zhiqiu. If she or the Deng family makes any mistakes again, or you do something ridiculous because of her, I will forgive you."
I will never spare her lightly again."
He spoke the last few words with murderous intent.
Zhu Xihan's hair stood up when he heard this.
Zhu Feng hurriedly fell on the ground: "I know it. I will restrain her well."
Because he felt he owed Deng Zhiqiu, he always tried to find ways to compensate her. This time, he felt that he was a little too spoiled to her and her family.
Erhu came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the Minister of Punishment, Ying Tianfu Yin, and the commanders of the Xicheng Army and Horse Department are here."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Let them all come in."
They are going to discuss how to arrest people.
Zhu Bai was not interested and didn't want to cause trouble, so he glanced at the door from the corner of his eye, thinking about how to sneak out.
Zhu Yuanzhang saw through Zhu Bai's thoughts and waved to him: "Come, come, come and stand by my side."
Zhu Bai could only go over and stand there with a lifeless expression.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "From today on, the Military and Horse Division of the Five Cities will be responsible for the security of the capital, and additional department officials and code officials will be added."
