Brother Zhu Youxiao

Chapter 266
"Hurry up, hurry up! Hurry up and search all over the streets, alleys, mansions and courtyards, no matter how high the official rank is!"

On August [-]th in the fifth year of the Apocalypse, taking advantage of the night, the Jinyi Guards of Fusi, who received the news, dispatched one after another. Nearly three thousand Jinyi Guards began to search the courtyards and houses on both sides of Zhengyangmen Street.

Not only them, but also the Sixth Battalion of Shangzhi who stayed behind in the capital also began to strengthen their inspections.

The three guards of the imperial city even began to search the surrounding area of ​​the imperial city, and they arrested anyone who violated the "Law of the Ming Dynasty" in the mansion.

All of a sudden, all the soldiers and horses in the entire capital started to move, only the soldiers and horses of the five cities who obeyed the orders of the Ministry of War looked bewildered.

"Hey... everyone in the capital has moved, but we don't know why. Sure enough, we are still messing around with the Fifth Army Commander's Mansion."

"Don't talk nonsense, if the people above hear it, you will have to be punished."

Some soldiers from the five cities and horses patrolling the streets couldn't help sighing, and at the same time showed envious eyes at the army under the direct control of the five armies' governor's mansion.

But at the same time, they also became curious, wanting to know what happened, so that it was worth dispatching all the army and Jin Yiwei in the capital.

Not only them, but even the princes in the court are also curious.

Amidst such curiosity, one of them glanced through the crack of the door at the soldiers and horses of the Shangzhigong Guard Battalion patrolling the street, then turned and walked back to the study in the backyard.

When he stepped into the study, the candles in the study illuminated his face.

Yao Zongwen, who was dressed in Taoist robes, frowned at the dozen or so civil servants in the room and said, "It looks like something big has happened."

Although the grades of these ten or so officials vary greatly, they are all civil servants with real power. Among them, Tang Binyin and Gu Tianjun, the leaders of the Xuan Party and the Kun Party, also frowned and analyzed:
"If it's a big event, it's only possible that something happened to King Qi."

"It should be, after all, it was originally planned to offer prisoners today at the Taimiao, but none of the Shangzhi Four Cavalry Guards showed up."

Civil servants are not stupid. Things like offering prisoners to the Taimiao can't be changed just by changing them.

Today Zhu Youxiao brought nearly [-] capital officials and tens of thousands of troops, and hundreds of thousands of people were waiting to hold a prisoner offering ceremony for Zhu Youjian, but things were strangely delayed.

When Lu Wenzhao went to the side of the emperor, the emperor's face became so ugly that no one was blind.

Since the emperor was fine during the day, it is only possible that something happened to Zhu Youjian.

As for whether it was the northern captives calling, the civil servants didn't consider this possibility at all.

Although they are political enemies with Zhu Youjian, it is undeniable that Zhu Youjian's Shangzhi soldiers and horses defend the northern Zhili like gold.

"According to King Qi's temperament, I'm afraid he won't break the appointment." Yao Zongwen said in detail as if pointing:

"The old man heard rumors that there were rumors in Fangshan, saying that King Qi contracted an illness during his inspection of the Fangshan coal mine, so he didn't come to the capital for a few days, and he didn't settle in Fangshan County."

"It's not impossible to get sick..." The other civil servants who heard the words looked at each other, and one of them boldly said:
"The ancients said that early wisdom and easy death, but the former emperor had seventeen heirs, the males only survived Long Live and the King of Qi, and the daughters only survived three."

"Throughout the ages, such precocious and successful figures as the King of Qi are nothing more than Gan Luo from Qin and Huo Qubing from Han."

"Perhaps I contracted some serious disease during this sweeping..."

If this person pointed out something, the officials all cheered up.

If Zhu Youjian really contracted a serious disease and time is running out, then it's time for them to start wooing the civil and military officials of the Qi Royal Party.

If Zhu Youjian really died, all his people would not just follow the emperor directly, but would develop into a war of robbery among various parties.

At that time, the five parties can directly jump out of the eunuch party and start preparing to receive Zhu Youjian's "inheritance".

Zhu Youjian's inheritance, whether it is the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, the Imperial Horse Supervisor, or the Shibo Department.

As long as they eat one portion, the five parties will be able to recover immediately, and if they can eat two portions, Donglin and Imperial Power will be suppressed by them again.

Therefore, everyone's minds became active, but they were also very vigilant.

It wasn't once or twice that Zhu Youjian set them up. Whether it was the Liaoshang incident before the Liao Dynasty or the Huaibei famine incident, Zhu Youjian always relied on showing weakness in exchange for the five parties to take it lightly, and then hit it head-on. , to divide up the interests.

Who knows the current situation, is Zhu Youjian playing tricks again?

After a few more traps by Zhu Youjian, the five parties may not even have a few people left.

Yao Zongwen and the others have not made up for the loss caused by the departure of Fang Congzhe and others.

"We need to be more prepared. Besides, we don't have the soldiers and horses in the five cities of the Ministry of War. There are also the three guards of the imperial city and the general Dahan stationed in the imperial city. It's better to wait and see the situation quietly."

Gu Tianjun spoke with a heavy expression, and won everyone's approval.

"If King Qi really doesn't show up all the time, or if something happens in the inner court, it won't be too late to take action."

"Without King Qi, if you appease the feudal vassals and win over Sun Yingyuan, it will be too late even if Long Live takes action."

Gu Tianjun's words made everyone feel uneasy. At this moment, they only hope that what they want will come true, and Zhu Youjian... it's better to die of illness.

------

"Zhu Youjian, this kid, won't really be infected with the disease like the rumors, he is already on his deathbed..."

In Prince Fu's mansion, Zhu Changxun walked left and right, feeling very uneasy.

Right now, his enemies are everywhere in the capital, and only his mother, Concubine Zheng Gui, can deliver some news, but it doesn't have much effect.

If Zhu Youjian is really dead, it is not difficult to predict that a political turmoil that far exceeds the death of the emperor will completely erupt.

More importantly, if Zhu Youjian died, then the matter of the kings overseas becoming feudal vassals would be suspended.

No one is more vigorous than Zhu Youjian to promote the overseas feudal affairs, so Zhu Changxun is so worried about Zhu Youjian.

At this moment, he even felt that even if Zhu Youxiao died, Zhu Youjian could not be killed.

"Father, the old king of Zhou invites you and the kings to go to the mansion of the king of Zhou to reminisce about the old days."

When Zhu Changxun was worried, Zhu Yousong walked into the study with bad news and told Zhu Changxun.

Zhu Changxun, who heard the words, immediately knew that the kings were hugging each other.

"go!"

Without hesitation, Zhu Changxun immediately took Zhu Yousong to the Zhou Palace, and at the same time, all the princes and county kings in the Baiwang Palace went to the Zhou Palace one after another.

There were thousands of guards outside the Zhou Palace at one time, and they surrounded the entire Zhou Palace.

These are the guards of the kings. Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Youjian allowed the prince to bring one hundred guards to the north, and the county king to bring fifty.

Therefore, in fact, the guard force in the Hundred Kings City should not be underestimated, the number is nearly [-].

However, this is nothing more than a large number. Facing the Shangzhigong guard camp guarding Qi Wangfu, no feudal lord would lose his mind and want to fight Shangzhi.

It's just that this also shows that it is not Zhu Youxiao who can suppress the kings, but Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youxiao's attitude towards Zhu Wang's overseas vassals was not as obvious as Zhu Youjian's, and it was more like a half-push and half-acceptance.

If Zhu Youjian really died of illness, wouldn't the kings become clowns if the people died and the government died?

This idea is not only thinking of Zhu Changxun, but also of all the feudal lords.

Therefore, facing Zhou Wang Zhu Suqin's call, all the vassal kings gathered together.

After Zhu Changxun entered the Zhou Palace, he was led to sit in the Chengyun Hall, and the Chengyun Hall, which could accommodate hundreds of people, seemed very crowded at the moment.

Many vassal kings came in person, Zhu Changxun sat in the front row as a Fufan, and behind him were three half-brothers, Zhu Changhao, King Rui, Zhu Changrun, King Hui, and Zhu Changying, King Gui.

"Third brother..."

Seeing Zhu Changxun coming, the three kings who were Xiao Xiami in the national battle, respected him very much, and Zhu Changxun was not stupid at this time.

If something unexpected happened, perhaps the more than [-] guards around his three younger brothers would become quite a force.

"Later, the three of you pay attention to what I say, and don't be surrounded by that old man Zhu Suqin." Zhu Changxun confessed.

"Yes..." The three kings answered honestly, and at the same time, with the sound of crutches hitting the floor tiles, everyone stopped talking and looked at the main seat in the Chengyun Hall.

"Cough cough..."

Accompanied by Zhu Gongzhang and Zhu Shaotong, Zhu Suqin came out, coughed to indicate that he had come out, then smiled and bowed to everyone:

"Young brothers, nephews, and grandchildren... I am really happy that everyone can come here with honor."

With that said, he sat on the throne and continued:
"Everyone knows that the capital city is not peaceful tonight, and the reason why the old man gathered all the clans is just to report to the group to keep warm."

"I'm not greedy for power. It's just that since Wanzai agreed to let me wait overseas, and I sold most of my assets, there must be a settlement."

"On the other side of the palace, Gu has already sent someone to go. As long as Wanzai gives us a letter of approval, we can leave later."

"However..." Zhu Suqin paused, glanced at the kings under His Highness, and his thoughts were active.

"After all, we are going to relocate overseas, and there has never been such a thing as an overseas feudal clan."

"The conditions that the King of Qi promised us at the beginning are similar, so if the kings are overseas, the old man recommends the King of Qi as the clan supervisor to supervise the hundred kings, so as to say to Long Live and Daming that we have no disobedience." Heart."

"Old thing..." Hearing Zhu Suqin's awe-inspiring words, if someone who doesn't know why, might really think that he wants to recommend Zhu Youjian.

But the problem is that no one here is a fool, Zhu Youjian may be dead or alive now.

If they agree to Zhu Suqin's suggestion, it means that Zhu Suqin can use this recognition to benefit himself.

Once Zhu Youjian is dead, I'm afraid the so-called "clan supervisor" position will fall to this old man.

At that time, even if the matter of overseas feudal vassal is settled, and the Emperor Shan Gao is far away, this old man will probably use this position to become the leader of the Hundred Kings Alliance...

However, even if they know what the other party thinks, Zhou Fan is the number one fan in the world after all. No one wants to face hard steel, but wants to follow others.

Therefore, no one took the initiative to stand up and refute Zhu Suqin's words at the first time.

Zhu Suqin was very satisfied with this situation. From his point of view, Qin Fan was a collateral superior and did not dare to confront him, and Chu Fan had the scandal of the fake King of Chu case, so he did not dare to stand up and stand out.

In addition, Zhu Fengquan, the king of Shu who is capable of threatening him, is still on the road at the moment, and the only ones left are Fu Fan, Jin Fan, and Zhao Fan.

Therefore, he focused on Zhu Changxun, Zhu Qiugui, and Zhu Ci (yú).

However, Jin Wang Zhu Qiugui and Zhao Wang Zhu Ci closed their lips and teeth at this moment, obviously not wanting to be the first bird.

Seeing the performance of the two, Zhu Changxun couldn't help cursing "trash" in his heart, and was about to refute Zhu Suqin's words.

"This……"

"I'm afraid this matter should be decided by the King of Qi. His Highness is a bit out of step."

Suddenly, a young man's voice sounded, everyone looked towards the voice one after another, and the person who made the voice was a young man who was one of the two standing behind the old Tang King Zhu Shuoshui.

"This is Tang Shisun Zhu Yujian, I didn't expect that the old Tang King and Tang Shizi didn't speak, but he spoke first."

"With this identity and status, I am afraid that if you speak out, you will lose the face of King Zhou."

"I heard that he and his father are not favored. I'm afraid that the old King Tang may not help."

Many people recognized this person, and this person is Zhu Yujian, Emperor Longwu who is well known to later generations.

However, because of Zhu Youjian, Zhu Yujian in this era did not continue to be imprisoned, and after learning that he was going overseas to become a vassal in the future, Zhu Yujian taught himself the art of war for two and a half years.

Most of the guards in the Tang Palace were trained by him, so in the Tang Palace, the weight of his words is actually only lower than that of the old Tang King Zhu Shuoyin.

"Hehe, Tang Shisun, this is all about the discussions of uncles and grandparents. Although your suggestion is not unreasonable, it does not apply to the present."

Zhu Suqin hid the knife in his smile, secretly ridiculing Zhu Yujian for his juniority, but just after Zhu Suqin finished speaking, Zhu Yujian sneered and said:
"You Zi Tong An Mu Qin Dynasty, Su Gong Shao Lun Fu Hui. Qiong Zhi Mi Cosmos Master Artifact, Yu Lin Ju Qi Ling Enlightenment."

"I'm sorry Nephew Zhou, but in terms of seniority, I'm older than you, Nephew Zhou."

Zhu Suqin was not familiar with the family tree and the names of the feudal vassals, so he was humiliated by Zhu Yujian in public, and he was called nephew by a young boy at a young age, so he stopped pretending immediately:
"Hmph! This is a place to discuss state affairs, so what's the point of seniority?"

Zhu Suqin saw that his seniority could not be suppressed, so he started to play the cards again, but in terms of playing cards and tough bones, there were still some in the clan of the Ming Dynasty...

"According to what His Royal Highness King Zhou said, then we can't make a hasty conclusion. We should wait for His Highness King Qi to come."

Another young voice sounded, and everyone turned their heads to look, only to see a three-year-old vassal king with a stately appearance and a Confucian demeanor speaking eloquently.

"It's King Ji..."

"So he is King Ji..."

When the name of King Ji appeared, some princes and brothers of Chu Fan, Xiang Fan and other Fans began to discuss.

Ji Wang Zhu Youdong, as an outlier among the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Youdong is only thirty-two years old this year.

However, he has been famous for a long time, and he is known as "British capital and heavenly master" in Huguang. Confucian scholars, officials and subordinates in Changsha, a feudal domain, also respect him very much.

Compared with the notorious Chu Fan, the reputation of Prince Ji's Mansion can be said to be due to Zhu Youdong alone.

Therefore, when Zhu Youdong spoke, Zhu Suqin, who was sitting on the throne, also felt that things were a little tricky.

"Many matters, let's wait until King Qi sacrifices prisoners to the Taimiao!"

At this time, a young voice sounded, but when everyone looked at it, they saw that it was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old young man dressed in the clothes of the son of the vassal king.

This person is Zhu Changqing, the prince of Huai, but although he is said to be the son of the prince at present, he is actually the future Duke Huai.

His father, grandfather, and uncle have all passed away. If he was not too young, he should have inherited the title of Duke Huai long ago.

Although the Huai Fan was granted the title of Raozhou Prefecture, although the strength is not very strong, it is by no means weak.

Therefore, Zhu Changqing's opening actually represented a certain direction.

"This... really should be discussed after King Qi returns to Beijing."

"really"

"Let's wait until King Qi returns to Beijing."

Jin Wang Zhu Qiugui spoke cautiously, and several vassal kings beside him also responded one after another.

With the beginning of this group of people, other vassal kings also began to express that they would wait for Zhu Youjian to return to Beijing. After all, Zhu Youjian single-handedly organized and promoted the matter of becoming a vassal overseas.

What is the overseas environment like, and whether the army can go to sea to protect them and establish a vassal state? Only Zhu Youjian is sure of these.

In the eyes of many vassals, Qi Wang Zhu Youjian's authority and words are even more important than the current emperor.

In contrast, what qualifications does Zhou Fan, who doesn't even have military power, have to be the leader of the alliance?
Zhu Suqin also felt very aggrieved by this.

Since the number of guards in each feudal clan is the same at the moment, Zhou Fan is restricted by Daming and cannot expand his army, so he has no way to force the kings to recognize him as the leader by force.

After glancing at everyone, he snorted coldly:

"In that case, let's wait until His Royal Highness King Qi returns to Beijing."

"The premise is that he will come back first..." Zhu Suqin added from the bottom of his heart, obviously not quite convinced that Zhu Youjian could return to Beijing.

After all, Zhu Youjian's character and style of doing things are both vigorous and resolute. He delayed returning to Beijing for so many days, saying that there was nothing wrong, and the hundreds of thousands of ghosts under him did not believe it.

Accompanied by Zhu Suqin's words, many vassal kings began to slowly leave the stage, and Zhu Changxun also mixed in with everyone, and left Zhou Palace quietly.

After returning to Prince Fu's Mansion, he tried to ask Zhu Yousong to contact Cui Wensheng, and the reformed nobles were also gathered with the various vassals.

However, compared with the discussions between the civil servants and the feudal vassals, Xungui's side can be said to be a bit petty.

Xu Xigao and Zhu Chunchen gathered a large group of nobles who were dissatisfied with Zhu Youjian and went to the British government.

It's just that Zhang Weixian, who is the Duke of England, didn't even meet them, and chose to seal the mansion directly.

"There will always be a day when they regret it!"

Looking at the closed gate of the Duke's mansion, Zhu Chunchen uttered a harsh word, and then returned to Chengguo Duke's mansion together with Xu Xigao in desperation and led the nobles.

They are going to wait here for the dawn. If Zhu Youjian is really dead, then they will definitely let Zhu Youxiao cancel the increase and decrease system of title inheritance.

However, all these actions of theirs were noticed by Jin Yiwei of Nanzhen Fusi.

"boom!"

"They think that without my brother, I'm just a puppet at the mercy of others?!"

"boom--"

While the ministers, feudal vassals, and honored officials were still planning, in the inner court's Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhu Youxiao, who knew the whole story, was furious and kept smashing the utensils in the palace to vent his anger.

Lu Wenzhao knelt on the gold bricks, not daring to speak, and the five eunuchs were also implicated, and everyone knelt.

"Lu Wenzhao, whose servant are you!"

It seemed that he was angry, and the furious Zhu Youxiao grabbed the inkstone and smashed it at Lu Wenzhao. Lu Wenzhao was hit in the back. Although it hurt, he still gritted his teeth and said:

"Chen, it's a long live minister!"

"Since you are my servant, why don't you tell me what you know and help your brother hide it from me!" Zhu Youxiao stepped forward and kicked Lu Wenzhao hard, and Lu Wenzhao gritted his teeth and responded:

"Your Highness knows that if Long Live you know the news, you will definitely cancel the prisoner offering ceremony, and the ambitious people in Beijing will also take the opportunity to jump out."

"I have the military power, why should I be afraid of insects like them?!" Zhu Youxiao turned around and walked behind the table, and pulled out Yujian at once.

"Military power can only be used to deter! Never use it to kill officials!" Lu Wenzhao remonstrated loudly, and this sentence was also what Zhu Youjian once said to him.

"The king regards his ministers as brothers and feet, and the ministers regard the emperor as his heart. The emperor regards his ministers as dogs and horses, and the ministers regard him as a countryman. The emperor regards his ministers as grass, and the ministers regard him as a bandit!"

"Long live! It's not that you don't understand this truth!"

"It's easy to kill, but once this head is opened, the generals in the future will be domineering, thinking that as long as they have soldiers in their hands, civil servants can be killed, so that my Ming Dynasty will repeat the Five Dynasties Rebellion!"

"Emperor Taizu Gao also thought so, so he didn't blindly suppress it with soldiers and horses."

Lu Wenzhao's heartfelt words made Zhu Youxiao hold the sword in his hand tightly.

How could he not know that the head of killing civil servants with soldiers and horses can't be opened, it's just...

"What did my brother say..."

After a long time, Zhu Youxiao calmed down a little, and once again regained his former calm and demeanor.

"His Highness said, Long Live, please hold the prisoner presentation ceremony as usual in two days, and he will arrive on time then."

"..." Listening to Lu Wenzhao's words, Zhu Youxiao walked back and forth.

He was thinking about how to use means to suppress the forces of all parties for two days, but after walking for a while, he stopped and said to the five eunuchs:

"Decree to Sun Yingyuan, to transfer Jinwuwei and Shencewei to the south tomorrow, Wuxiangwei and Tengxiangwei to go west, and the four guards will be stationed at Yongdingmen to prepare for the offering of prisoners the day after tomorrow."

"Wei Zhongxian." Zhu Youxiao looked at Wei Zhongxian, and Wei Zhongxian cautiously raised his head to meet Zhu Youxiao's eyes.

"Take care of your people!"

It was the first time that Zhu Youxiao said the words "your people", which made Wei Zhongxian's scalp tingle, and cold sweat gushed out of his pores:
"Long live, slaves are long live slaves, slaves below slaves are naturally long live slaves, where are the slaves?"

Wei Zhongxian expressed his loyalty without hesitation, because he knew that although he had a thousand clean troops in the inner court, with the force of these clean troops, he could only discipline the maids at most.

He really wanted to conspire against him. I am afraid that the [-] Han generals stationed in the outer court would have rushed in before the soldiers and horses had assembled, not to mention the three guards of the imperial city in Zhu Youxiao's hands.

"Go back!"

Zhu Youxiao frowned, then turned his back to everyone, and everyone slowly got up, and finally exited the palace.

In the huge Hall of Mental Cultivation of Qianqing Palace, only Zhu Youxiao's lonely back was left at the end, and after everyone left, he sighed, holding the dragon case with his hands, and looked up at "The Complete Picture of Daming Kunyu" ".

Looking at the map hanging up, Zhu Youxiao no longer had the high spirits of the past at all, but felt a burst of emptiness.

Of the sixteen brothers and sisters, only four remained, and now even the last brother fell ill.

For Zhu Youxiao, it was not only his last younger brother who fell ill, but also the minister of Ming Dynasty's stable and multi-party forces.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao only felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart, his limbs were weak, and even his voice had a hint of crying:
"Could it be that God wants to take away my last brother..."

(End of this chapter)