Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

The middle-aged man in the lead was wearing a sable fur coat and a gilded headband with a sapphire on his forehead. He was Bayan Temur, the younger brother of Yesen, the Grand Master of the Oirat Monarch.

"Your Majesty, I am here on the order of the Great Khan to present a thousand fine horses. We are willing to have an everlasting friendship with the Ming Dynasty." Bayan Temur held up the gift list with both hands, and the attendants behind him lifted the brocade, revealing three exceptionally majestic Arabian horses.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, and Crown Prince Zhu Biao leaned over and whispered to Gu Qingping: "The Oirat Mongols have been knocking on our door frequently in recent years, and this marriage is probably their ulterior motive."

Gu Qingping looked at the turquoise inlaid on the sword on Bayan Temur's waist, and suddenly remembered what Zhu Han said when he visited the East Palace at night three days ago: "The third prince of the Oirat, Batur, likes to collect treasures from the Central Plains the most."

"Father." Zhu Biao stepped out and saluted, "I would like to go to the stable to check the good horses."

Before Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth, Zhu Di laughed out loud and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is very busy, why bother with such a small matter? I am willing to do it for you."

As he said this, he strode out of the hall. His black python robe swept past Bayan Temur's feet and he deliberately stepped on the hem of his clothes.

"Don't worry, Your Highness Prince of Yan." Bayan Temur retreated like lightning, the sword at his waist humming as it came out of its sheath half an inch, and a cold light flashed across Zhu Di's jaw.

The Fengtian Hall suddenly became dead silent, and even the sound of water dripping from the copper clock could be clearly heard. Gu Qingping saw the teacup beside Zhu Yuanzhang tremble slightly, and a drop of tea splashed on the memorial, spreading the cinnabar ink marks.

"Good swordsmanship." Zhu Han walked out from the ranks of military officers, his silver fox fur brushing across the steps, the coiled dragon pattern on his sword glowing coldly under the candlelight, "But there is a lack of a sacrificial vessel in my Great Ming Temple."

Bayan Temur's pupils shrank suddenly, and he offered the sword with both hands: "If the prince likes it, this sword will be presented to the imperial temple."

Zhu Han took the saber, turned the blade three times between his fingertips, and suddenly placed it across Bayan Temur's neck: "I heard that the warriors of the Oirat value their promises the most. If the third prince dares to cause chaos in Nanjing..."

The light of the knife reflected the cold sweat on Boyan Temur's forehead, "This knife can reach the king's court directly."

"Your Highness is joking." Bayan Temur laughed dryly and stepped back. "The foreign minister came here to seek peace."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his sleeves and said, "Everyone, leave." When everyone left, only Zhu Biao and Gu Qingping were left. The emperor stared at the cinnabar ink on the table and suddenly asked, "What do you think the Crown Princess wants?"

Gu Qingping leaned forward and said, "My father, the Wala's offer of horses to seek peace was fake, and their real purpose was to find out the truth. The third prince Batur once said that 'the prince of Central Plains is weak'. I'm afraid he came here..." She hesitated and glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang's sudden clenching of the armrest of the dragon throne.

"Go on." The emperor said in a low voice.

"I'm afraid they want to follow the example of the Northern Wei and Rouran and make peace with the emperor." Gu Qingping took out a piece of silk from her sleeve. "This is a secret letter from the Oirat that was intercepted three days ago. It mentioned that 'the crown prince of the Ming court is weak and can be targeted.'"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up suddenly, the gold thread on his dragon robe dazzled in the candlelight: "Zhu Di!"

"Father, please calm down." Zhu Biao knelt down hurriedly, "I'm afraid my fourth brother has been deceived..."

"Blinded?" Zhu Yuanzhang threw the secret letter on the table, "He has been secretly colluding with the Oirat for a long time! The horseshoe of this Ferghana horse has the mark of a Yandi craftsman's conspiracy engraved on it!"

Gu Qingping's heart was shocked, remembering the wolf head pattern faintly visible on the sole of Bayan Temur's boots when Zhu Di stepped on the hem of his clothes just now - it was the symbol of the Oirat royal family.

"Biao'er." Zhu Yuanzhang held the prince's shoulder, "You must remember, this world does not tolerate any weakness." He suddenly coughed violently, and dark red bloodstains appeared on the cuffs of his dragon robe.

"Father!" Zhu Biao exclaimed, "Call the imperial physician!"

"No need." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and turned his gaze to Gu Qingping: "Crown Princess, I want to ask you, if the Wala threatens to marry you, what should you do?"

Gu Qingping met the emperor's sharp gaze and recalled the Thirty-Six Stratagems that Zhu Han had taught her three days ago: "Your Majesty, I think we should use the strategy of 'Li Dai Tao Jiang'."

Three days later, the Wala delegation arrived at their residence.

Bayan Temur played with his jade ring and listened to the sound of the three-stringed lute outside the tent. Batur came in through the curtain, holding a golden knife on his waist and pressing down on a slender figure: "Uncle, we caught a spy from the Ming court."

The candlelight suddenly lit up, and the pearl curtain on Gu Qingping's phoenix crown jingled. She looked up and smiled: "Third Prince, I am a female official of Kunning Palace, and I have come to present treasures."

As he spoke, he untied the brocade bag at his waist and poured out a night-shining pearl as big as a pigeon egg.

Batur's eyes were filled with lust, and he stretched out his hand to grab it. Gu Qingping flicked her fingertips, and the night-shining pearl rolled down to the corner of the tent: "This pearl was given by Queen Ma. Third Prince, do you know what the Queen loves most?"

"What?"

"Bamboo." Gu Qingping slipped out a green jade bamboo pendant from her sleeve, "The queen said that bamboo has seven virtues. If the third prince wants this pearl, he must agree to three things."

"explain."

"First, drive away the sweat-blooded horse."

"Second, present the marriage agreement."

"Third..." She suddenly leaned close to Batur and whispered. The pupils of the Wala prince shrank suddenly, and the gold ring on his earlobe hit the night pearl, making a crisp sound.

That night, the Wala envoys left the city. Bayan Temur left his sword in the Imperial Temple, with a note hidden in the scabbard: "The Crown Princess of the Ming court, both wise and brave."

When the fifth watch clappers struck, Zhu Han was in the East Palace secret room looking through the system sign-in rewards. On the screen, a message popped up saying "Congratulations on obtaining the fragment of Wu Mu's Testament," and he suddenly heard the rustling of bamboo leaves outside the window.

"Uncle, you are in a good mood." Gu Qingping held the newly sprouted buds of asparagus fern in her hands. The moonlight made her face as transparent as jade. "It's time to transplant this bamboo."

Zhu Han closed the secret box and said, "Does the Crown Princess know that even if a bamboo is moved three inches, its integrity remains unchanged?"

"I understand." Gu Qingping inserted the bamboo branch into the celadon vase on the desk, "The bamboo has hollow joints, which can contain thunder and lightning."

"Uncle, do you know that to move a bamboo three inches, you must first cut off its roots?" Gu Qingping's fingertips stroked the condensed water droplets on the celadon bottle, and the moonlight stretched her shadow into a slender shape. "Just like the situation in this deep palace, there is no construction without destruction."

Zhu Han suddenly laughed softly, and the parchment scroll in the secret box made a slight rustling sound.

He pulled out a yellowed fragment of "Wu Mu's Testament", and the candlelight cast a flickering shadow on the cover of the military book: "Back in the day in the northern frontier, I led the Black Armor Army to besiege an isolated city, and the Wala cavalry dyed the city walls black. Guess how I broke through the situation?"

Gu Qingping looked at the ink stains on his sleeves, as if she saw the snowstorm in the north: "Did the emperor use the empty city plan?"

"The empty city plan requires a death squad to cover the retreat." Zhu Han's fingertips ran over the four words "Speed ​​is of the essence in war" on the military book, and suddenly clenched the parchment scroll, "I will order three hundred old, weak, women and children to wear black armor, and beat drums and shout on the top of the city.

He led twelve riders, sneaked out of the ice hole at the foot of the city, and burned the Wala grain camp. "The candlelight popped into a flower, and Gu Qingping suddenly felt a chill down her spine: "Uncle is so brave. "

"Courage?" Zhu Han slammed the military book on the table, and the jade pendant jingled against the jade pendant. "That's desperate. The Wala shaman cursed me in front of the battle and said I would have no descendants. Guess how I responded?"

He suddenly opened his clothes, revealing the hideous arrow scar on his chest, and said, "I personally drove the arrow with the spell on it into the throat of the Wala vanguard."

Gu Qingping looked at the scar that ran through his chest, and suddenly understood why he always hid armor in his sleeves. This killer prince actually used his flesh and blood to build the Great Wall in the northern frontier.

"Does the Crown Princess know the secret of moving a bamboo three inches?" Zhu Han fastened his buttons again, his eyes returning to his usual indifference, "It's not about moving, it's about nurturing."

He pulled out a sealed letter from the case file, "The third prince of the Oirat, Batur, rode fast to Yandi last night."

Gu Qingping's heart tightened, and she remembered the wolf head pattern when Zhu Di stepped on the hem of Boyan Temur's clothes three days ago: "What does the emperor's uncle mean..."

"It's time for Zhu Di's 30,000 privately raised cavalrymen in Beiping to see the light of day." Zhu Han suddenly blew out the candle, and the moonlight poured into the secret room like silver. "Tomorrow morning, the Wala envoys will present a petition for trade in the border markets of Yan. If the proposal is approved, it will be like inviting a wolf into the house."

Zhu Han's eyes looked particularly deep in the darkness. He sighed softly, his voice low and powerful: "Crown Princess, Zhu Di is ambitious and has been secretly colluding with the Oirat. The visit of the Oirat delegation this time is just a cover for him. His real purpose is to weaken the power of the crown prince with the help of the Oirat."

Gu Qingping felt a chill in her heart when she heard this. She tightly grasped the jade bamboo pendant in her sleeve, as if drawing strength from it: "Uncle, how should we deal with this?"

Zhu Han raised his lips in a cold smile, which looked both cruel and resolute under the candlelight: "I will report this matter to the emperor at the court tomorrow morning, but before that, we need to make sufficient preparations."

He paused and turned his gaze to Gu Qingping: "Crown Princess, you need to continue to use the bamboo virtue to govern and stabilize the harem. At the same time, you must also secretly pay attention to Zhu Di's movements. Once he makes a move, we can take the initiative."

Gu Qingping nodded, with a determined light in her eyes: "I understand, and I will live up to the trust of the emperor's uncle."

Zhu Han nodded with satisfaction, then pulled out a map from the case and spread it out on the table: "This is the topographic map of Yandi, you need to memorize it. Once Zhu Di raises his army, this will be our battlefield."

Gu Qingping leaned over to take a closer look and saw mountains, rivers, cities and passes marked on the map. Each one looked so real and urgent.

Seeing her so serious, Zhu Han couldn't help feeling relieved.

He patted Gu Qingping on the shoulder and said in a much gentler tone: "Crown Princess, you are not only the Crown Prince's wise wife, but also a pillar of the Ming Dynasty. I believe that with you here, the Crown Prince will be able to sit firmly in the East Palace and protect this land."

Gu Qingping looked up at Zhu Han, her eyes full of gratitude: "Uncle, thank you for the compliment. I am just doing my duty."

On the morning of the second day, in the Fengtian Hall, all civil and military officials stood in a solemn atmosphere. Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, his eyes like lightning, scanning the people below the steps.

Zhu Han stepped out and saluted, saying in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, I have something important to report."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly: "Go ahead."

Zhu Han pulled out the wax-sealed secret letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "Your Majesty, this is a secret letter from the Oirat that I intercepted. The letter mentioned that the third prince of the Oirat, Batur, was secretly colluding with the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, in an attempt to weaken the power of the crown prince by means of the marriage."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned upon hearing this, and took the secret letter and read it carefully. After a moment, he slammed the armrest of the dragon throne and shouted angrily: "Zhu Di! How dare he collude with foreign enemies and rebel!"

Zhu Biao knelt hurriedly and said, "Father, please calm down. My fourth brother may just be confused for a moment. I am willing to go to Yandi in person to find out the truth."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly: "Confused? If he was really confused, how could he secretly collude with the Oirat? Biao'er, don't plead for him. I will make the decision myself."

Then he turned to Zhu Han and said, "Brother Han, this matter will be left to you. I want you to give me a satisfactory answer."

Zhu Han bowed and said, "I obey your order."

After the morning court session, Zhu Han returned to the East Palace with Zhu Biao and Gu Qingping. On the way, Zhu Biao asked worriedly, "Uncle, will my fourth brother really rebel?"

Zhu Han said in a deep voice: "Biao'er, people's hearts are hidden. Zhu Di is ambitious and has long been eyeing the throne. His collusion with the Oirat this time is the best proof."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao clenched his fists and asked, "Then how should we deal with this?"

Zhu Han looked at Gu Qingping: "Crown Princess, do you have any good ideas?"

Gu Qingping pondered for a moment and said slowly: "I think we can act in two groups. One group will be for Your Highness to go to Yandi in person to find out the truth and stabilize Zhu Di; the other group will be for the emperor's uncle to lead troops to guard the border to prevent the Wala from taking the opportunity to invade."

Zhu Han nodded when he heard this: "This is a brilliant plan, Crown Princess. Biao'er, what do you think?"

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Let's do as the Crown Princess said. I will set off for Yan immediately, and the emperor's uncle will lead the troops to guard the border."

Zhu Han nodded and said, "Okay, then it's settled. Biao'er, you must be careful on this trip and don't let Zhu Di notice anything unusual."

Zhu Biao cupped his hands and said, "I obey your order."

"Your Highness, eight fast horses left the post station thirty miles from Yandi to Beiping last night." The Shadow Guard leader knelt on one knee on the blue brick floor, dew from the grass leaves seeping through the gaps in his armor. "There is a wolf head pattern on the horse's hoof."

Zhu Biao stroked the blood-stained sheepskin scroll on the desk with his fingertips. It was the map of Yan that he had found on the Wala secret envoy three days ago. The cinnabar mark was the Juyong Pass.

The crescent moon outside the window was like a hook, and the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows was as red as blood. "Where is the emperor's uncle's black armor army?"

"We left Gubeikou three days ago and should be in Huailai tonight." The Shadow Guard lowered his voice, "Should we send a warning?"

Zhu Biao suddenly remembered the sound of the jade bamboo pendant hitting the black iron heart mirror when Gu Qingping tied his armor for him before he left. She said at that time: "The bamboo joints are hollow but can contain. Your Highness should use softness to overcome hardness on this trip."

"No need." He picked up the red pen and circled three narrow passes on the map, "Order the Black Armor Army to retreat twenty miles and set up an ambush outside Jimingyi."

The tip of the pen was suspended on the paper, and a drop of ink spread out into a dark plum blossom. "Since my fourth brother wants to lure you into a trap, I will catch you in the trap."

Outside Jimingyi, Zhu Han reined in his horse and stood on the cliff. His black armor shone coldly in the moonlight, and the three thousand light cavalrymen behind him lurked among the withered yellow reeds like ghosts.

He looked at the dust rising from the end of the official road, and suddenly untied the wine bag at his waist and took a sip. The strong liquor in his throat aroused a cold smile in his throat: "Back then, the Wala shaman cursed me to have no descendants. Today, let's see who will cut off whose roots."

"Report--" the scout flew up from the cliff, "Yan Wang's army is five miles away!" (End of this chapter)