Ming Dynasty Strategy Notes [Transmigration Book]

After the agreement, Song Tongzhi escorted Zhou Ting back to the prison, and personally sent Zhu Chun out of the imperial prison.

In fact, the case of Zhou's father and son was not handed over to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for joint trial, but was directly reported to the emperor by Jin Yiwei. The original sentence was-"Zhou Xing had an affair with Beiyuan, and he will not be pardoned immediately. His son, Zhou Ting, was still young. Nian's father was bewitched by Hu Weiyong, and he did not participate in the conspiracy of Hu's party, pardoned his son's death penalty, and was imprisoned in the Jiaofang Division to make an example to others."

Such a punishment should be regarded as relatively fair.It was actually Xia Ziling's plan to order the jailer to falsely announce the death penalty.Zhou Ting is an arrogant person, only by putting him to death, and then giving him a glimmer of life, will he agree to this flexible strategy.And this method can only be achieved by the king of Shu, who puts on an attitude of indifference. If Xia Ziling went in person, even if he persuaded with tears, Zhou Ting would definitely refuse to accept because of face.

Zhou Ting returned to the prison and informed Zhou Xing of his decision. He thought his pedantic father would definitely reprimand him, but he didn't want Zhou Xing to go through this. The son can live in peace and has nothing to ask for.Zhou Xing cried bitterly at the moment, and said, "The King of Shu is the great benefactor of the Zhou family, and the Zhou family must be loyal to the King of Shu from generation to generation."

However, Zhou Ting was spared death. In order to avoid side effects, Zhou Xing's death sentence was still set for this afternoon.Fortunately Zhou Xing didn't think about surviving at all, Zhou Ting was able to save his life, so he changed his expression of mourning and crying, his eyes were clear and his face was peacefully sitting in the cell, waiting for death, which was worthy of his demeanor as a third-rank servant.

Across the prison bars, Zhou Ting combed his father's hair in a bun, straightened his clothes, and sent him off on the road. No need to mention how tragic it was.However, Zhou Ting secretly made up his mind that after today, he is no longer the Zhou Ting of the past. It is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge for ten years. The revenge of killing his father will be counted in the future!

Before the Hu Weiyong case broke out, Zhou Xing asked to be executed. Not long after, Zhou Ting also lost his official status and became a lowly one. He brought his mother into a newly secretly cultivated elephant and aunt house by the King of Shu - Zuixiao Pavilion.

Afterwards, Xia Ziling would often think, if he hadn't pulled Zhou Ting and forced him to get involved in the Shu king's camp, wouldn't the Zhou family not have suffered such a disaster?However, what has been done cannot be changed.Fortunately, Zhou Ting also knows the truth that being an official in the court is like walking on thin ice. Even if he escapes this time, the reasons Zhou Xing planted are there, and he may not be able to escape next time.

After the Northern Expedition, in just a few months, the King of Yan and the King of Shu fought twice, winning one round with each other, and they were evenly matched.

However, with such a big commotion, there were many bloody cases. Although the two princes are very capable, how can the one on the throne not see some tricks.

It was already late at night, and Emperor Hongwu sat in the imperial study with two secret reports in his hand and sneered twice.Chen Jin, who stood by and waited on him, was already a little sleepy, but when he heard the emperor's weird smile, he shivered and shook his body.

Emperor Hongwu looked at him sideways and said, "Chen Jin, do you think it's better to have more sons or less?"

Uh... Does the emperor think that he has too many sons?But he couldn't answer according to the emperor's will.

Chen Jin immediately replied respectfully: "That would be great, a house full of children and grandchildren is a sign of prosperity."

Emperor Hongwu sneered and said, "If you have too many sons, they all want to fight for the family property, what should we do?"

Chen Jin felt that his forehead was sweating a little. Serving the emperor was really not a good job. The emperor would ask these seemingly ordinary questions from time to time, but they had hidden secrets, and if he failed to answer them, he would lose his head.

Chen Jin tremblingly replied: "This... Daming ruled the country with filial piety, naturally it obeyed the arrangement of parents."

"Then what if the sons start fighting for it before the parents have thought it through?"

Ouch, when the emperor asked such a question, Chen Jin felt his legs go limp. This question is absolutely impossible to answer.So, he bowed his head in meditation and remained silent for a long time.

After a while, Emperor Hongwu said: "That's all, there is no need to answer. It's getting late, show me..."

In the middle of speaking, Emperor Hongwu suddenly thought that all the favorite concubines had sons, no matter who they went to, they had to speak for their sons, so he felt very bored, so he waved his hands and said: "Today is a lot of business, I will Let’s stay in the imperial study, and you also retire, so you don’t have to wait on me.”

"Yes." Chen Jin got the decree and hurriedly bowed and left.

After that day, I don't know if he caught a cold while staying in the Imperial Study Room, and before autumn, Emperor Hong Wu fell ill.Although Emperor Hongwu's body was very strong, and it would not be a problem to live another ten or eight years, a small wind and cold would definitely not do anything to him.However, the Emperor's Eucharist was ill, which caused the entire imperial hospital to be thrown into chaos, followed by princes, nobles and civil and military officials.

The king of Shu brought his newly married concubine into the palace for a visit, which is understandable.However, the sick King Qin and the injured King Yan were suddenly fine, and they dragged their sick bodies into the palace to visit, which was a bit funny.

Several vassal kings in Beijing took turns to visit. After they left, Emperor Hongwu was so angry that he blew his beard and stared at him on the dragon couch.After the crown prince passed away, the officials often advised him to establish the crown prince quickly. He also knew that it would be inappropriate to suspend the position of the East Palace for too long, but it was really difficult to make a decision.

Among the princes, there are quite a few excellent ones, and he has one or two favorite candidates in his heart, but if one is established, the other will be dissatisfied. If he is still on the throne, it is fine. Once he is a hundred years old, these sons say Not necessarily a big fight.Civil strife will occur within a few decades of the new dynasty, so how can the great Ming Dynasty he envisioned be passed on for generations to come, how can it be realized?

Therefore, the entanglement in Emperor Hongwu's heart cannot be understood by those officials who have been advocating the establishment of the prince all day long.

And this time when he got sick, he became even more upset when he saw these sons who deliberately flattered and flattered them.Of course, these sons of his might really care about their father in their hearts, but when he thought of the throne they wanted, Emperor Hongwu couldn't help but discount their sincerity.

Now that the next illness, Emperor Hongwu looked the most pleasing to the eye but the eldest grandson of the emperor in the palace——Zhu Yunqi.

Zhu Yunqi is 12 years old this year, and he is still a half-grown child.However, the identity of the emperor's eldest grandson and the early death of his father made him young and precocious.Acting prudently, advancing and retreating appropriately, the innocence of a child can hardly be found on the surface.

Zhu Yunqi not only looks like his father, but also has a very similar personality to his father. He was diligent, studious and generous since he was a child.Since ancient times, a grandfather would not dislike his grandson even if he didn't like his son very much.Although Emperor Hongwu is the Ninth Five-Year Supreme, he is no different from ordinary people in his heart, not to mention that he has always liked Zhu Biao. Therefore, he has loved Zhu Yunqi since childhood.

In the past, whenever Emperor Hongwu was ill, Zhu Biao must have served him in front of the bed with his clothes untied, and fulfilled his filial piety.But now that Zhu Biao is gone, the little Zhu Yunwen actually took the initiative to take on the responsibility of being filial for his father.Serving soup and medicine to grandpa, serving at the bedside, all are done by others.

Of course, Emperor Hongwu's body is still strong now.This year, I got sick once after the new year, and now I get sick again, and each time I take care of it for three or two days, it will be cured.But just these two times, Zhu Yunwen was very obedient and filial, and he didn't have evil intentions like those of his uncles, which moved Emperor Hongwu very much.

Now, Zhu Yunwen had just served his grandfather to drink the medicine and went back to the palace. Emperor Hongwu lay on the dragon bed and looked at his grandson's thin and tall back.

Chen Jin, who was waiting on the sidelines, said, "The emperor misses the old prince again!"

"Hey, if this Great Ming Dynasty is in the hands of Biaoer, I can rest assured, but it's a pity that the sky doesn't fulfill people's wishes..." There was nothing wrong with saying this, but Emperor Hongwu paused, Suddenly asked: "Chen Jin, who do you think is the best prince?"

"..." Chen Jin broke out in cold sweat when he heard that.The emperor's recent barrage of questions is really tormenting people to death.If the emperor asked all the officials and ministers such a difficult question, they would naturally be able to give a long-sounding long speech, but if you asked him an eunuch, even if he had something in his heart, he would never dare to say it.

However, Emperor Hong Wu seemed to be in a fight with Chen Jin just like this today, seeing him silent for a long time, he said again: "I just chat with you casually, but it doesn't matter."

"..." He also knew that it wasn't what he said, Hong Wudi would do it, but if he didn't say it carefully, it would be easy to lose his head.But no matter what, since the emperor asked, Chen Jin can no longer install wood.

"Your majesty, you are the son of the real dragon, and your descendants are all sons and grandsons of the dragon. They are all outstanding. It is really difficult to choose who is better if you want slaves to say who is better."

Emperor Hongwu snorted coldly. These words were clearly flattery. His descendants are all outstanding?I'm afraid not.Among the vassal kings, there are a few excellent ones, but there are not a few who only eat, drink and play all day long, and are arrogant and domineering.

"Chen Jin, the capital is not peaceful recently. The bloody cases are one after another. They seem to be nothing on the surface. In fact, they are all secretly being instigated by my sons. They think that I have lived in the palace for a long time and don't know anything. In fact, in my heart I understand very well."

"Yes, the affairs of this world can't be hidden from your discerning eyes, Your Majesty."

"Well," Emperor Hongwu snorted, and continued: "Chun'er was plotted against in the Xianggu House, and he took advantage of Di'er's lackeys; and Di'er quietly released some clues, not only for revenge. Chun'er, it seems that there will definitely be a bloodbath."

"The most stupid one is Ji'er. He has no plans. He can't fight against those two people. Someone impeached Chun'er here, so he hurriedly wrote a memorial to me to rebuke Chun'er; someone over there said Di'er caught Feng Ji, but because Lan Yu and Li Shanchang didn't dare to report to me, he hurriedly wrote a memorial to impeach Di'er. What a pig brain!"

In fact, Emperor Hongwu still loved Zhu Xing very much. If Zhu Xing was a well-known person, he would be appointed as the prince according to his seniority, which would be reasonable enough to overwhelm all officials and kings, but he didn't have any tricks. He sat on the throne, and Emperor Hongwu was really worried that within a few years the treacherous and sycophant would run rampant, and the Ming Dynasty would be defeated like this.

"Chen Jin, I'm really in a dilemma who to appoint as the crown prince."

These words were spoken from the heart of Emperor Hong Wu. After following him for so many years, Chen Jin really felt that the emperor was not unwilling to establish a crown prince, but that it was really hard to decide.

"Your Majesty, you are still in good health, and you are not in a hurry," Chen Jin paused after speaking, "But... there is a sentence that I don't know whether I should say or not."

"Say, I forgive you for your innocence." Chen Jin has served him for many years, and he has always been cautious in his words and deeds, and his tone is also very tight, so Emperor Hongwu is also used to discussing government affairs in front of him, but Chen Jin will follow his words and say Something, it's not common.

"The servant feels that who is the crown prince is not the most urgent matter at the moment. It is really inappropriate for several adult vassal kings to live in the capital for a long time."

Emperor Hongwu nodded. Chen Jin's words were correct. In fact, he thought so too. He didn't intervene before, but he wanted to see what these sons could do in Beijing. Besides, of course, he also lost the crown prince. I can't bear the meaning of leaving my sons.But... at this time, it is impossible to let them stay in Beijing like this.

"Chen Jin, what you said is very true." Emperor Hong Wu smiled lightly, and gave Chen Jin an appreciative look.

Chen Jin hurriedly bowed his head and said: "The slaves just follow the emperor's ears and eyes a lot. These things are actually known by the emperor, and the slaves are talking too much."

Since the emperor said so, I hope he can take some action after hearing what he said today.After those adult vassal kings are gone, the master he is loyal to can further win the favor, right?Everyone understands the principle that those who are close to the water first get the moon.

Emperor Hongwu's wind and cold recovered within a few days.And the first imperial decree after he recovered was that all adult vassal kings will be vassals immediately, and no matter what the reason is, they are not allowed to stay in Beijing.Including the king of Shu, who just got married, must leave for Chengdu immediately.