On the night of the New Year's Eve, the three generations of Zhao Guogong's family were having a good time. Even if the head of the family and the heirs did not come back, the excitement was still the same. Zhang Shou's house was also having a good time. Two tables were set up in the hall, and the master and servants were having fun together. It doesn't stop until nightfall. However, there are many families who fail to celebrate New Year's Eve well, and one of the representatives is the Imperial Palace.
On the day of Little New Year's Eve, the emperor, as the head of the first palace, personally offered sacrifices to the stove - of course, this could be replaced by others, but for the emperor who often sighed behind his back during the court meetings, he had no complaints about the sacrifice of the stove. Because according to legend, Emperor Taizu was the With the blessing of the Kitchen Lord, I won my first great victory on the day of worshiping the Kitchen God.
Therefore, although the second prince's palace status had been withdrawn before, the emperor still summoned the second prince to the palace to attend the ceremony in the evening. However, at the same time that the second prince arrived at Qianqing Gate, the queen also brought the eldest prince with her. We came together. When mother, son and brother met, it was not like the apparent harmony before, but a cold exchange of eyebrows.
When the emperor sent Liu Feng to find out what was going on because of the queen's uninvited visit, he learned that the queen had called Hu Shanggong to warn the second prince, but the second prince turned his back on him! Even if Hu Shang The palace mentioned the queen's name, but the second prince not only refused to buy it, but even threatened that the queen preferred the eldest son, making such a noise that all the passers-by in the neighborhood could hear it.
If it were not a great festival but this kind of thing happened, the emperor would have been furious. But at this moment, after summoning the three people, he suppressed his anger and said coldly: "If you two brothers are making such a fuss, Go down and hold a memorial ceremony for the stove today. Let Sanlang and Shiro follow me to accompany the sacrifice. You can go back and wake up!"
Although they were glaring at each other like enemies just now, as soon as the emperor said this, the eldest prince and the second prince suddenly changed their expressions at the same time. Not only did they immediately become silent, the eldest prince also quickly came to the queen and whispered something to her. In a word, he persuaded the resentful queen to go back. After that, the eldest son of the emperor came back with a sullen face.
Without even looking at the second prince, he walked straight to the emperor, bowed deeply and said: "Father, my son submitted a letter before, requesting that the promotion of the new textile machinery be handed over to him, but my father has always been unwilling to do so. Not approved yet." It was completely inappropriate to talk about this kind of thing on such a small New Year's Eve day, but he had no other choice but to throw everything he had into a desperate fight.
The second prince was about to retort, but when he saw the emperor's cold eyes, he immediately shut his mouth. Sure enough, the next moment, he only heard the emperor say lightly: "I have not approved the report of you and those other people. , because if I approve it, it will only be four words, and it will be too late."
Although the emperor had used these four words to scold him before, the second prince felt extremely happy at this time. The eldest prince now wants to take charge of this matter himself, so as to maintain the relationship with the local snakes in Jiangnan? Why do you do it early? Go! If he had made up his mind to tell the truth to his father first, then it would be too late even if he wanted to make a fuss!
Of course, it would have been better if he had listened to Zhang Shou...
The eldest prince wanted to fight again, but the emperor didn't bother to talk about it anymore. He actually waved to the third and fourth princes to come over, and then took one by one and went straight to the sacrificial hall. Sacrifice of stoves in the palace began in the reign of Taizu. Only the emperor and the unmarried princes participated. As for the royal family members...hehe, who doesn't open a mansion alone and has his own Kitchen God to sacrifice?
The Sacrifice Hall was a place specially set up for worshiping stoves during the reign of Taizu. Usually the emperor took the lead, and the princes followed closely according to their age. But today, the emperor took the third and fourth princes with him, and the eldest and second princes lagged behind. It's like this When the scene fell into the eyes of outsiders, it was inevitable to speculate. Even Chu Kuan and several of the ministers and chamberlains who had been waiting at the entrance of the sacrificial hall early could not help but take a few more glances.
Although he took the third prince and the fourth prince to the entrance of the sacrificial hall, when he actually entered, the emperor did not ignore the elders and inferiority and continued to take the two with him. Even so, the third prince and the fourth prince who were last were still next to each other. He received the cold looks from his two elder brothers. There was a huge age difference between the two of them and the eldest and second prince. They had been held in the palm of their father's hand since childhood. At this time, they couldn't help but feel aggrieved.
They had just bowed to the two brothers respectfully without saying a word, so why should they be looked down upon?
They barely managed to wait until the stove sacrifice was over. When the emperor took the lead out of the sacrificial hall, the third prince and the fourth prince rushed up hand in hand. But before they could approach their father, they were blocked by the eldest prince again: "Father, son, minister I just ask you to give me a chance..."
The emperor's face finally darkened completely. He looked at the eldest prince. When he saw the eldest prince brazenly looking at him, he sneered and said, "Okay, since you want to take charge of this matter, I'll give you a chance. You go to Cangzhou." Cangzhou has the most cotton fields in the whole of Northern Zhili. If you go and promote this new textile machine, I will appoint two capable censors to go with you and report on your every move."
The second prince originally wanted to object, but when he heard the emperor say the word "Cangzhou", he was so happy that he wanted to laugh immediately. The eldest prince tried his best to contact, it was a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River, how could he value Cangzhou, which is close to the capital city? Where? Seeing the eldest prince's face turn pale instantly, he couldn't help shouting: "Father, the Holy Ming!"
However, just as he said these four words, he was greeted by the emperor's equally cold voice: "In the old system of Taizu, those who are good at killing slaves have a staff of forty. After the first month, you go to Zongzheng Temple by yourself and get your Forty sticks!”
Seeing that the second prince froze for a moment, the fourth prince almost stopped laughing. Fortunately, the third prince quickly pulled his sleeves hard and even covered his mouth, so he did not attract the attention of his father and two brothers. Note. After he watched the eldest prince leave dejectedly, and the second prince also left with a gloomy look on his face, he broke away from the third prince's hand and ran forward in a hurry.
"Father, I heard that the new textile machine was not made by the teacher and Lu Sanlang? Why should the eldest brother promote it? Isn't it more appropriate for the person who should improve it to promote it?"
Seeing that the emperor was silent, he ignored the third prince who was desperately pulling at the hem of his clothes behind him, and said loudly, "Moreover, I heard that the original textile machine samples were presented by Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu. Even they were better than Chi Chi." The eldest brother who refuses to take out things is more suitable! Since my father asked my eldest brother to go to Cangzhou to promote it, why not let Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu go to Xingtai to promote it!"
The emperor suddenly looked down at the fourth prince. Seeing that the youngest son didn't care about his sharp gaze, he asked in a deep voice: "Who inspired you to say these things to me?"
The fourth prince suddenly had a long face, and then said unconvinced: "My son is no longer a child, no one can instigate me!"
In such a hurry, he completely forgot about father, son, monarch, and minister, and started talking directly to you and me: "Don't look at me, I also asked people about the use of this new spinning machine! They told me that the spinning speed
Sooner, the spinners will make more money, and the more spinners make money, they will be able to have enough food and have more children..."
After having more children, he got stuck, but after thinking hard for a while, his eyes suddenly brightened.
"After you have more children, you can cultivate more wasteland and produce more food. Then the world will have enough food and clothing, and everyone will know the honor and disgrace! The places where most cotton is grown in North Zhili are Cangzhou and Xingtai. I asked many people to find out this
Yes! Neither the teacher nor Lu Sanlang would tell me, and neither Zhang Wu nor Zhang Lu, but they forgot that there are many people in Banshan Hall..."
Hearing that the fourth prince managed to express his feelings clearly in relatively coherent words, but then started to ramble on, the third prince quickly interceded beside him: "Father, what the fourth brother means is that after you have enough food and clothing, you will know honor and disgrace...
…”
"I didn't ask you!"
The emperor glanced at the third prince coldly, and when he saw that the third prince immediately shut his mouth, he looked at the young son again. Although he was not much different in age from the third prince, the fourth prince was very courageous.
, actually holding his neck and looking at him.
Finally, he smiled unknowingly: "Your teacher is supervising Banshan Hall and Jiuzhang Hall in Guozi, and he can't get away from it. And Lu Sanlang is the head of Jiuzhang Hall. I guess it's not too late to study sutra calculation. They
Teachers and students don’t have time to worry about textile machinery. Since I asked your eldest brother to go to Cangzhou, I can’t ask capable people to go to Xingtai and give it a try, such as Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu..."
The emperor suddenly changed his words and said: "But why do you want to speak for them?"
If it were anyone else, even those high-ranking civil and military ministers in the court would definitely be shocked by the emperor's sudden and harsh tone. However, the fourth prince has always regarded the emperor as his father, not as a father.
The king is actually happy and not afraid.
"Because Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu are both too honest. One of them will be my second brother-in-law in the future, and the other can be regarded as half brother-in-law. We can't let their honest people suffer!" The fourth prince said confidently, "Otherwise, if we don't praise them,
Donate the textile machine samples, what should I do next time when my father asks others to ask for something, but they drag their feet and push back and forth?"
The emperor laughed when he heard the fourth prince's ridiculous reason. He strode forward, touched the fourth prince's head, then looked at the third prince and said: "Sanlang, do you think your fourth brother is right?
wrong?"
The third prince was suddenly a little confused. He had always been timid, and speaking ill of his eldest brother behind his back really challenged his courage. However, under his father's direct gaze, he finally bit the bullet and said: "Four
What I said makes sense, Erchen thinks... Erchen thinks we can let Zhang Wu, Zhang Lu and the others give it a try. If it doesn't work, then replace it!" Well, patching like this should be enough.
"A prince and two censors go to Cangzhou. Why do you two brothers think that one future consort, Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu, and the other a future guest of honour, can handle the situation?"
The emperor pressed further and saw that the third prince suddenly fell silent, but the fourth prince's eyes were rolling. He couldn't help but stand with his hands folded with interest. After a while, he got an unexpected answer.
"I'll go with you, too!" The fourth prince tried his best to straighten his chest, but his words were not so confident, "I am also a prince after all. Although he is a bit younger, he can still do things!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
The emperor finally laughed. Seeing that the third prince was relieved, he loosened his hold on the fourth prince's hand tightly. Thinking that although the two of them were not of the same mother, they had been as close as twin brothers since they were young, he rubbed their faces. With his round little head, he said lightly: "You two are very good."
As he spoke, he glanced at Chu Kuan and the other people in the Supervisor of Ceremonies next to him. Without his instructions, Xu Liu and Bingbi Chu Kuan, the Supervisor of Ceremonies, took the lead in bowing and saluting: "I will definitely keep my mouth shut about today's matter." .”
As for the other people next to the sacrificial hall, the emperor didn't take it seriously. Since Xu Liu and Chu Kuan were there, he didn't need to worry about it. As for if the news really spread, he also put enough care around the third and fourth princes. With his own defense force, he was not worried about being plotted against. Even in the Imperial College, he had made corresponding arrangements.
At this time, he took the two children down the steps one by one. When he returned to the East Nuan Pavilion of Qianqing Palace, he pulled his two sons to him, then smiled slightly and said: "Xingtai is handed over to Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu. I have already considered the matter, but it is really rare that you, Shiro, want to come together with me at such a young age. As for you saying that you will sit in charge... have you ever thought about it being a ring with your elder brother? "
The fourth prince was stunned. He hesitated for a moment, and then spoke less decisively than before: "Father, do you mean that eldest brother will think that I intend to go against him?"
Seeing the emperor but smiling, he couldn't help feeling a little aggrieved: "But the thing is that my eldest brother did something wrong! My father asked him for something, how could he delay and refuse to give it? As long as he gives it early, and then asks to go to Jiangnan, I think my father will agree to it!"
"Oh, do you think I will really agree to him?" The emperor raised his eyebrows with interest, somewhat surprised by the young son's keenness.
"Of course!" This time, it was the third prince who interrupted the conversation. As soon as the words came out, he realized that he was a little reckless, and quickly whispered, "When my son and fourth brother make mistakes, as long as they are brave enough to admit it, Instead of prevarication, they will definitely forgive us and give us a chance. This is true for us, and it must be true for my brother!"
Looking at the two brothers standing side by side, as if they were carved from the same mold, the emperor couldn't help but have mixed feelings. Finally, he said calmly: "Silang, you are very ambitious, but you are too young. I will not let you leave the capital." Zhang Whether Wu and Zhang Lu are galloping horses, they have to prove themselves by themselves. I will choose anyone at will and give them whatever they want."
"If they still can't do it, then they can just be rich and idle people in the future! This matter will be announced after the year!"
The third prince and the fourth prince looked at each other and expressed satisfaction with the result. After all, Zhang Wu and Zhang Lu had always taken good care of them in Banshan Hall. Of course they were very happy to have this opportunity. But the fourth prince's eyes were filled with confusion. Then he suddenly asked another question that shocked the third prince: "Father, this time the second sister is betrothed to someone else, but why isn't the third sister?"
As soon as these words came out, the emperor was stunned for a moment. When he saw the third prince dragging the fourth prince behind him, he burst into laughter and then stepped forward and flicked the fourth prince's forehead with his finger.
"You are a brat. Your third brother-in-law asked your third sister to choose by herself. I am too lazy to worry about it!"