Father can be an enemy to the country

"Pfft..." Zhu Zhen almost couldn't hold back when he heard this. He quickly waved his hands and said repeatedly: "It's not that, it's not that. They are from the same strain, not the Romance of the Three Kingdoms."

"..." Xu Da was the most educated among the founding nobles. Knowing that the allusion of "three redbuds from the same tree" means that three brothers separated their families and all other properties were divided, leaving only a redbud tree in front of the hall, they decided to break it into three pieces.

Unexpectedly, before any action was taken the next day, the tree withered and died, as if the tree body had been burned by fire. The eldest brother was shocked when he saw it, and said to his two younger brothers: "The trees are from the same tree, but when they are cut apart, they become haggard. People are not as good as trees."

Because the sorrow is unbearable, the tree can no longer be untied. The tree grew prosperous in response to the sound, and the brothers recognized each other. They no longer separated their families and lived together in harmony. There is a poem by Lu Ji that goes: "Three thorns grow on the same plant." ’ That’s the allusion.

Zhu Zhen used this allusion to tell a story, and the meaning is very clear. Xu Da sneered: "They are not from the same roots, so why can't they tell each other apart?"

"I am their root." Lao Liu replied with enthusiasm.

"Pfft..." This time it was Xu Da's turn to lose control. He looked at Lao Liu up and down. Even though General Xu Da was well-informed, he had never seen such a shameless person.

"Father-in-law, the matter has come to an end. There is no point in dwelling on this anymore." Lao Liu took advantage of the situation and pressed forward: "Let's face the problem rationally and solve it like men."

"Don't worry, I will never go against the emperor's will in my life. Whatever the emperor decides, I will do it." Xu Da sighed in resignation.

"I know that my father-in-law will not resist the decree, but I hope that my father-in-law will be happy." Zhu Zhen put forward higher requirements.

"That can't be done." Xu Da shook his head decisively and said, "It's enough for me to follow the will. As for Gao's displeasure, that's my own business, and even the emperor has nothing to do with it."

Zhu Zhen sighed and said, "In that case, Miaoqing will be sad when she gets married. Can my father-in-law bear it? Besides, it's not just Miaoqing. If my father-in-law is unhappy, no one will feel good."

"Alas..." Xu Da sighed and said, "Your Highness, I'm sorry, I'm a soldier, not a kiln girl, so I can't force a smile."

"Okay, then I will make you happy." Zhu Zhen exhaled a long breath, changed the subject and asked: "My father-in-law has been in Peiping for more than ten years, right?"

"In the first year of Hongwu, after we invaded the capital of the Yuan Dynasty, we basically never left except for the Northern Expedition and returning to Beijing to report on our work." Xu Da sighed and said, "This is the fifteenth year."

"It's been fifteen years. Isn't my father-in-law's meritorious deeds considered complete?" Zhu Zhen asked deliberately.

"How could it be?" Xu Da shook his head without hesitation: "The defeat of Lingbei in the fifth year of Hongwu was the only defeat in my life. Even after ten years, this shame has not been completely washed away."

As he spoke, he sighed gloomily: "I don't know if I will have another chance in this life..."

"How can this matter be resolved?" Lao Liu asked.

"Of course I completely defeated Wang Baobao, but it's a pity that he is already dead." Xu Da smiled sadly and continued: "If we can find the Beiyuan Royal Court and kill them all, it will be enough to comfort me for a lifetime."

"I understand, if I can help my father-in-law realize this wish, you can smile, right?" Zhu Zhen nodded and looked at Xu Da.

"Oh, do you have a way?" Xu Da suddenly raised his head when he heard this, his eyes became obviously fierce and said: "If you really have a way, let alone give you a smile, what if I give His Highness a smile every day?"

"I only hope that my father-in-law will be happy." Zhu Zhen said softly.

"Happy, happy, of course..." Xu Da said repeatedly: "As long as His Highness can help me find the whereabouts of the Beiyuan Royal Court, you can say whatever you want, whatever you want."

As he spoke, he couldn't wait to urge Lao Liu: "Hurry up and tell me!"

"I do have a way, but it won't work immediately. It will take some hard work." Zhu Zhen said.

"That's natural." Xu Da nodded and said: "The Beiyuan regime also knew that they could not withstand the blow of losing the royal court, so they were extremely careful to hide their whereabouts. Not only did they escape to Mobei, but they also changed their location in four seasons."

After a pause, he sighed and said: "According to the Northern Yuan officials who surrendered, from the Altai Mountains in the west to the Greater Khingan Mountains in the east, it was the scope of activities of the Northern Yuan royal court, and each time they were stationed in different places, they restored their old ancestors. That's the way of living, chasing water and grass, wherever you go."

"That place is huge. Looking for the Beiyuan Royal Court with only a few hundred thousand people is like looking for a needle in a haystack." Lao Liu said softly: "Unless there is someone inside to lead the way."

"Your Highness is right." Xu Da said with deep understanding: "Over the years, I have been sparing no effort to recruit and surrender the Mongolian tribes, just hoping that they can provide useful clues and even lead us to the Northern Yuan Dynasty. It is a pity that ordinary tribes cannot contact them at all. Wang Ting. And those who are qualified to keep in touch with Wang Ting, such as Nai'er Buhua who surrendered this year, once they surrender, Yuan Ting will know about it immediately, and then run away without giving us a chance."

"There is also a very troublesome point. Once the army goes deep into the grassland, all the Mongolian herdsmen encountered will be the eyes and ears of the Beiyuan Royal Court. They will keep an eye on our movements for them from a distance, so the Beiyuan Royal Court can always know in advance The movements of our army. They are focused on escaping again, how can we catch them?" After Xu Da finished speaking, he looked at Lao Liu with some pessimism:

"Your Highness really has a solution?"

"Yes." Zhu Zhen nodded affirmatively and said without hesitation: "Let's open a side trade!"

"Open border trade?" Xu Da frowned slightly when he heard this and said: "The two countries are mortal enemies. It is too late for the imperial court to impose a strict embargo on the Mongols. How can we open border markets to do business with them? Isn't this an act of capitalizing on the enemy?"

"The general's words are wrong. Trade is the most powerful weapon of the Ming Dynasty after the military. It is so wonderful to use and it depends on one intention. How can we just ban it blindly?" Zhu Zhen smiled and shook his head and said: "And it is said that in the court of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty, , as well as the tens of thousands of craftsmen who were taken away from Dadu when Emperor Yuan Shun fled north. Although these people could not produce any decent gadgets due to poor conditions, they could barely supply the daily needs of the royal court. They could still squeeze out Some, let Emperor Beiyuan reward each tribe to win over people's hearts."

"Yes." Xu Da nodded and said solemnly: "That's why the Beiyuan Royal Court must be destroyed."

"In other words, when the Beiyuan Royal Court exists, the trade embargo will not have any effect, but will help the Beiyuan Royal Court consolidate its position, right?" Zhu Zhen looked at Xu Da and asked.

"You can say..." Xu Da had a thoughtful look on his face.

"Then we should open up mutual trade and use cheap and exquisite goods to destroy the handicraft industry of Beiyuan!" Zhu Zhen raised his voice and said: "There are also tea, grain, cloth, etc., all kinds of things that Beiyuan cannot provide. All Mongolian tribes will definitely flock to these necessities!"