Brother Zhu Youxiao

Chapter 93
"Long live, Concubine Li Kang, seems to be... worried and died..."

In the Renshou Hall of Luan Palace, when the emissary of the imperial hospital tremblingly said these words, Zhu Youxiao was very surprised.

"No trace of poisoning?"

"Long live back, not at all." The envoy of the Imperial Hospital cautiously returned the gift, while Wang An next to him stepped forward and said:

"Long live, Concubine Kang passed away, Princess Le'an is young, she should..."

"The eighth sister is young, so let Concubine Zhuang take care of her." Although she hated Concubine Li Kang deeply in her heart, Zhu Youxiao and the nine-year-old Zhu Huiti, who had just passed her birthday, had sympathy.

No wonder Zhu Youxiao was soft-hearted. In the past sixteen years, among his six brothers and nine younger sisters, only Zhu Youjian and his three younger sisters survived.

The three younger sisters are Zhu Huiyan, the ten-year-old princess of Ningde, Zhu Huijing, the nine-year-old princess of Suiping, and Zhu Huiti, the princess of Le'an.

Therefore, for him, he is very concerned about his only four remaining relatives, especially his only younger brother Zhu Youjian.

Wang An understood his kinship very well. After all, many princes and daughters were also raised by Wang An. When they died young, Wang An also felt very uncomfortable.

But for the sake of Zhu Huiti's safety, Wang An cautiously said:

"The relationship between Concubine Kang and Concubine Zhuang is not good, do you want to change?"

East Li Xi Li has a grudge, this is something that the entire Shuntian Mansion knows, it is difficult to guarantee that Concubine Li Zhuang will take good care of the daughter of her arch-enemy Li Kangfei.

But after hearing this, Zhu Youxiao sighed and said:

"Concubine Zhuang can raise a talent as handsome as my younger brother, so I don't think she would take her anger out on a little girl."

"The servants take orders." Seeing that Zhu Youxiao did not change his mind, Wang An could only agree.

But after he agreed, Zhu Youxiao breathed a sigh of relief, and said to Wang Anhe Tai Hospital:
"Concubine Kang has a close relationship with Huang Kaoqian, and is also the love of Huang Kao. She passed the decree to the fifth brother of the Emperor, ordering him to find a treasure cave near Qingling Mausoleum to build a mausoleum, and the Jieshen Treasury of the Ministry of Industry will pay the money One hundred thousand taels."

"In addition, Zhu Huiyan, Princess of Ningde, will guard the spirit in Jiyan Hall, and then tell all the officials that anyone who wants to pay homage can go there."

"The maidservant (subject) takes orders." Wang An and the Imperial Hospital envoys saluted one after another, and when Zhu Youxiao saw this, he waved his hands and told them to retreat.

After the people left, he walked to the window of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, looked at the wind and snow outside the hall, but was not particularly happy in his heart, but calmly said after a few seconds:

"Mother, the principal avenged you..."

At the same time that Zhu Youxiao said these words, Li Kangfei's death soon spread throughout the outer court, and many civil servants were frightened, and the sound of footsteps crossing back and forth was also heard in the Renshou Palace in the inner court.

"Why did she die? Wasn't she fine two days ago?"

In the palace, an old female voice sounded, and upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a concubine who was dressed luxuriously and looked no more than forty years old.

I have to say, judging from that face, this concubine might also have an all-powerful face when she was young.

Just looking at her current face, I'm afraid I can't tell her exact age.

When she was walking, there were many court ladies and servants standing beside her, and the person headed by them was Cui Wensheng, who had black eyes and looked unhealed from his injuries.

He stood up, bowed to the concubine and said:

"Your Majesty, the most urgent thing to delay right now is to send someone to several banquet halls to mourn Concubine Kang and see if she was poisoned to death by the way."

"The boy at the imperial pharmacy is now replaced by that boy. Wei Jinzhong is also wagging his tail in front of the new owner, ignoring his mother's care for him at the beginning. If the concubine Kang is really poisoned to death, then you have to notify in advance. His Majesty."

"No!" The concubine came to her senses and directly refused:

"Right now, we can't inform Xun'er, we have to wait for Xun'er to find me, otherwise if that kid finds out, he will become a big target."

With a lofty status and heirs, the only such person is Zheng Huanggui Concubine Zheng Mengjing.

It has to be said that, as the most powerful person in the inner court of the late Ming Dynasty except for the Empress Dowager Li, Imperial Concubine Zheng used all kinds of tricks and scheming.

Concubine Li Kang was originally bewitched by her, so she tried to detain Zhu Youxiao in the case of moving the palace.

However, the imperial concubine Zheng in history did not expect that Concubine Li Kang dared to ask the cabinet to show her all the memorials.

You must know that throughout the Ming Dynasty for more than two hundred years, only Empress Zhang of Renzong and Empress Li of Muzong would make such a request when their husbands died and the emperor was young.

And Zhu Youxiao was already sixteen years old, which was considered a weak age in ancient times, and the officials would never agree to such a thing.

It was precisely because of Concubine Li Kang's extremely stupid request that the follow-up of the palace transfer case broke out.

However, due to Zhu Youjian's intrusion, the transfer of the palace case did not expand its influence, but Zheng Huanggui's plan to hijack the inner court with Li Kangfei also went bankrupt.

Therefore, Imperial Concubine Zheng was anxious at this moment, for fear that Zhu Youxiao, a newborn calf, would use poison to send her and Concubine Li Kang away.

Imperial Concubine Zheng's only card at present is Fu Wang Zhu Changxun, but she cannot contact Zhu Changxun actively.

If Zhu Youxiao caught her in this way, her situation would be even more dangerous.

Thinking of this, Imperial Concubine Zheng glanced at Cui Wensheng, and then said:
"Go to the imperial pharmacy and ask if that woman Li Kangfei ate something she shouldn't have eaten during her lifetime."

"Your maidservant takes orders..." Hearing Concubine Zheng's words, Cui Wensheng bowed slightly in return, and then walked out of Renshou Palace.

But after he walked out, Concubine Zheng dismissed all the maids and eunuchs, and called a maid alone, and ordered:
"Find a way to get out of the palace, go outside the palace and tell King Rui, King Hui and King Gui the news."

"The servant took the order." The maid was a little surprised, but she still took the order and walked out of Renshou Palace.

Seeing the back of the palace lady leaving, Imperial Concubine Zheng always felt a little uneasy for some reason.

Just when he was uneasy, Cui Wensheng went to the imperial pharmacy, asked the people in the imperial pharmacy some things, then walked to the side wall of the East Sixth Palace, and stuffed a small note into the crack of a door on the side wall.

After a while, a big Han general on patrol came here, took the note from the door, opened it and took a look, and after finding no special information, he frowned and left the place.

------

"died?"

When the imperial city was terrified by the death of Concubine Li Kang, Zhu Youjian who had just received the news of Concubine Li Kang's death in Yanshan Camp was not surprised, because Concubine Li's death was originally caused by him called Lu Wenzhao.

Although he is a liberal arts student, there are too many ways to make an ancient person die without being seen by the imperial physicians of this era.

But he didn't expect that Concubine Li Kang would die so quickly, and at this juncture.

"Long live, I have an order to His Highness, ordering His Highness to find a treasure cave near Qingling Mausoleum to build a mausoleum, and the Jieshen Treasury of the Ministry of Industry will pay one hundred thousand taels of silver."

Seeing that Zhu Youjian didn't reply, the little eunuch continued to talk about the meaning from the capital.

"I see, you go down."

When he came back to his senses, Zhu Youjian raised his hand to signal the little eunuch to retreat, and he also lay back on the bed, covered himself with the quilt, and then closed his eyes and began to think in his mind.

"Concubine Li Kang and Concubine Zheng Huanggui who are fighting for the foundation of the country are in the same group. Although the officials also hate them, in terms of the political situation, the death of Concubine Li Kang will inevitably disturb the peace of the inner court, and it will also frighten Concubine Zheng Huang."

"The civil servants will definitely ask, no matter which party they are, whether they have any enmity with Concubine Li Kang, they will all ask about Concubine Li Kang's death."

"What I have to do now is to show eagerness."

"In the past two months, I have been too eye-catching. Next, it is best to keep a low profile and take me out of the eyes of all officials..."

After thinking clearly, Zhu Youjian turned over and got up: "Come here, change clothes!"

As he opened his mouth, three little eunuchs came in and changed him into a blue round-neck robe and put on a big fur.

"Send someone to tell Yang Jizhong that Concubine Li Kang has passed away."

"Servants take orders." A young eunuch in clothes took orders and retreated, while Zhu Youjian sat in the main hall with a small copper stove in front of him.

After a quarter of an hour, hurried and familiar footsteps sounded again, and Zhu Youjian knew it was Yang Lian without raising his head.

Zhu Youjian has been familiar with the stubborn old man's footsteps for nearly a month.

In the entire barracks, only his footsteps were heavy and heavy, and he walked extremely fast.

"Your Highness, how did Concubine Li Kang die?"

Even though Yang Lian and Concubine Li Kang could not get used to each other in the Wanli and Taichang periods, Yang Lian was still a little nervous after learning of the other party's death.

He was nervous not because people would doubt him after Concubine Li Kang died, but because he was worried about the situation in the Ming Dynasty.

Who is Li Kangfei?Needless to say.

Now that she is dead, will the two brothers Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Youjian who tried to kill Zheng Huanggui be next?
Imperial Concubine Zheng is not Concubine Li Kang, who has no sons.

Zheng Huanggui's son, Zhu Youjian and their good third uncle Zhu Changxun are still alive in Luoyang.

In addition, Emperor Wanli did not have only two sons like Zhu Changluo, but had eight sons, three died young, and five survived.

Even though Zhu Changxun was the only one who was born to Concubine Zheng, at this time, the other three princes would definitely go to Shushu to ask why.

Not only them, but other vassals, big and small, will also go to Shu.

Although Daming's pig raising policy is very good, the soldiers and horses of the imperial court in the interior have been transferred to Liaodong long ago if they can fight.

It is not impossible for some ambitious vassal kings to take advantage of Zhu Youxiao's young age to raise troops under the pretext of "the side of the Qing emperor".

Even in the situation in the second year of Chongzhen, Tang Wang Zhu Yujian could recruit thousands of soldiers in a short period of time, let alone other veteran vassals.

As long as the vassal king has the determination, ability, money, and food, he can pull up a team in a very short time.

Yang Lian's worry was not groundless, but Zhu Youjian was well aware of his worry: "Sit down first, Yang."

Zhu Youjian knew that it was okay to pretend to be with other civil servants, but not with Yang Lian.

This little old man doesn't say he has figured himself out, but he is also half-familiar. If he wants to act, he must be prepared to be exposed.

So regarding Concubine Li Kang's death, he behaved very plainly.

After Yang Lian took his seat, Zhu Youjian motioned for tea, and then said:

"The death of Concubine Li Kang is not a good thing for the imperial court or the inner and outer courts."

"I'm going to the capital tomorrow, but the emperor's brother also issued an order to build the mausoleum of Concubine Li Kang near Qingling, and the Ministry of Industry will pay [-] yuan."

"When I return to Beijing this time, I guess I won't be able to return for half a month. Therefore, I would like to ask Yang Geshizhong to supervise the construction of the imperial mausoleum, and at the same time, get money from the Imperial Horse Supervisor to build Concubine Kang's mausoleum."

"This..." Hearing this, Yang Lian choked.

He wanted Zhu Youjian to preside over the overall situation here, and went to the capital to find out by himself.

But right now Zhu Youjian's words make it difficult for him to refute, because he just talked with Zhu Youjian about the abolition of the guard post in Beizhili.

He couldn't just slap himself in the face in the past few quarters of an hour, could he?

Helpless, he could only sigh from the bottom of his heart, and said: "This old man is duty-bound."

"I can stabilize you, old boy..." Seeing that Yang Lian would stay in Changping, Zhu Youjian was no longer afraid.

In history, Concubine Li Kang was almost burned to death, and it was the little old man Yang Lian who first asked why.

If he returned to the capital, the situation would definitely be stable, but if he didn't keep it clean, he could lead the clues to Zhu Youjian himself.

This may be very low, less than one in a thousand, but even if it is only one in a thousand, Zhu Youjian will not let this possibility have a chance.

"Mrs. Qin Liangyu from Stone Pillar will come with three thousand white soldiers. I'm going on a different route from them. I'm afraid it will be difficult to meet them."

"If Yang has time, he can help me receive the old lady. After all, Ma Xuanfu's death was also caused by the mine supervisor sent by the emperor's grandfather."

Speaking of this, Zhu Youjian also secretly scolded his grandfather.

Wanli's methods of collecting mining taxes are vulgar, making it difficult for people to calm down.

Those eunuchs sent to collect taxes mostly exploited the people and local officials when collecting mine taxes, and Qin Liangyu's husband, a brave general who participated in the Battle of Pingbozhou, was the eunuch Qiu Chengyun who was sent by Wanli to Shizhu to collect mine taxes. Framed, and died in prison.

There are good and bad in Ming Dynasty, the worst of which is not that the emperor doesn't manage the government, but loyal ministers and good generals will always be killed every few decades.

Most of Zhu Yuanzhang's massacres of civil and military affairs were due to corrupt officials and for the sake of world peace and the status of his descendants.

But Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Yijun, one killed Yu Qian, and the other let the party fight to frame Qi Jiguang, Qi Jiajun, Li Chengliang and others, either dead or injured.

Ma Qiancheng's family can be said to be a model of loyalty to the Ming Dynasty. In the end, a eunuch named Qiu Chengyun extorted [-] taels of silver and was framed to death.

In contrast, even though Ma Qiancheng was slandered to death, and Qin Liangyu had the power to rebel, Qin Liangyu's family died in battle for the Ming Dynasty one after another, and they were all loyal.

Therefore, for Zhu Youjian, the ones he feels sorry for so far are Qin Liangyu and Qi Jin.

Apart from them, I don't know how many other people died because of the mine supervisor and the party struggle. Zhu Youjian couldn't figure it out. He could only take care of the people he could take care of.

So asking Yang Lian to receive Qin Liangyu is one thing he can do in terms of courtesy.

As for Yang Lian, although he didn't have a good impression of generals, he didn't feel bad either.

As soon as Zhu Youjian's words came out, he edited:
"Your Highness invited me, I dare not refuse."

"Then thank you, sir." Zhu Youjian also used his honorific title, and Yang Lian saw that he had nothing to do, so he got up and prepared to leave.

But when he turned to leave, he turned back again.

Zhu Youjian thought he was going to say something, but he didn't want him to turn around and pick up the cup of tribute tea brewed by the little eunuchs and smiled awkwardly:

"This tribute tea, even the old man can't drink it a few times a year, so he took it away..."

"..." At this second, Zhu Youjian couldn't hold back any longer, so he could only hold back his smile and wave his hands:
"Just take it, my lord. I'll ask someone to send you a catty of tribute tea later."

"Then the old man resigned..." Maybe because he realized that his actions were a bit inappropriate, Yang Lian blushed and walked out of the Imperial Horse Prison quickly with the cup of tea in his hand.

He stepped out of the Yumajian yamen, and heard Zhu Youjian's laughter coming from behind.

"This Yang Lian... is really... oh..."

Zhu Youjian's stomach hurts from laughing, and the little eunuchs beside him couldn't help sniggering.

But when they were still laughing, there was another sound of footsteps, and it was Cao Huachun, who was confused, who walked into the backyard of Yumajian Yamen.

He looked at the people who were laughing happily, and didn't understand what funny things happened, and when Zhu Youjian saw him, he also smiled and waved:
"Huachun, tell me, what happened to the refugees and the briquette kiln that Yanshan settled in?"

Seeing Zhu Youjian questioning this, Cao Huachun wrote an editorial reply:

"The resettled people in Yanshan have already lived in the temporary houses that have been built, and the location of the government school has also been determined."

"According to Your Highness, the briquette kiln has already set up a shed in the wilderness to take the lead in production. There are more than [-] folk couples and children who temporarily participate in the production. They can make more than [-] million briquettes every day. Everyone wears as required. Three layers of cotton...masks."

When it came to the word mask, Cao Huachun glanced at Zhu Youjian, not understanding where His Royal Highness came up with so many new words.

"Let me take a look at the map of Yanshan's official school." Hearing Cao Huachun's words, Zhu Youjian also stood up.

Seeing this, the little eunuch next to him quickly moved a table, and Cao Huachun also took out the map that identified the location of the social school.

The map was laid flat on the table, and immediately showed the appearance of Changping area in front of Zhu Youjian.

Changping, Hongqiao, Emperor Mausoleum, Yanshan Camp, Yanshan Institute...

Various places are marked, and the so-called Yanshansuo is the general name of the villages where refugees are resettled on more than [-] mu of wasteland in Changping.

Cao Huachun pointed to the places marked with villages and societies on the map and said:

"Your Highness, you can see that the Yanshan Institute currently has one office, twelve towns, and ninety-four townships, and [-] soldiers and refugees are resettled."

"Yanshan Institute will build a rammed earth wall four miles wide and six miles long, but apart from the soldiers and horses living in a thousand households, the rest will be government schools for many children."

In Cao Huachun's words, Yanshan described a huge official school.

There are no common people or businessmen in Yanshan, only the children of officials and students.

"In the past few days, another [-] survivors of the multilateral army have come, and the slaves have arranged them to be near the Huairou wasteland, so the number of children of the survivors has reached more than [-]."

Cao Huachun said to Zhu Youjian: "According to the construction scale of Yanshan Institute, it can accommodate [-] people."

"Although the maidservant thinks that even after the beginning of spring, the number of students in Yanshan Institute will not exceed [-], but the number of teachers needed right now is probably [-] to meet the needs of students in Yanshan Institute."

Six hundred gentlemen who can read and write may be difficult for other forces, but it is not difficult for Zhu Youjian.

Nanbei Guozijian is Zhu Youjian's biggest source of mentors.

There are nearly [-] people in the Nanbei Guozijian, and it is not difficult to select [-] students without background.

In order to prevent himself from being targeted by various parties after the first selection, Zhu Youjian's idea was to find a thousand people in one go.

One thousand people, even if one person leads thirty students, can meet the needs of thirty thousand students in Yanshan Institute.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian nodded, and then said to Cao Huachun:

"After I returned to the capital, you looked at the briquette kilns. Once the people who went to Zhangjiakou, Xifengkou, and Baimaguan came back, as long as they made money, they would immediately transport the briquettes in batches."

"Your Majesty knows what to do, don't worry." Cao Huachun saluted and nodded, and Zhu Youjian also nodded after hearing this.

He pointed to the wasteland in Huairou and Miyun that belonged to the Yumajian and said:

"Among these places, Miyun is reserved for the relatives of future officials and students, and Huairou is used to receive refugees."

"Your servant takes orders." Cao Huachun saluted, and when Zhu Youjian saw this, he also waved his hand, indicating that he could step back.

But before he stepped down, Zhu Youjian still confessed:
"Since the briquettes are on the right track, ask someone to prepare [-] catties of briquettes and [-] stoves, and bring them back to the capital for the officials and the emperor."

"If the way is feasible, in the future, the emperor stores in various places will cancel firewood and coal and sell briquettes instead."

"Your servant takes orders." Seeing Zhu Youjian's final confession, Cao Huachun bowed and retreated completely.

As for Zhu Youjian, looking at his retreating back, he sighed, and then walked into the snow. After seeing the wind and snow stopped, he walked out of the backyard of the Yumajian, and asked someone to set up an arrow in the snow fifteen steps away. target.

He asked someone to fetch a three-strength bow, and shot at the target with one arrow. On the noisy flat ground full of roars from training, the target continued to hear the sound of "popping" arrows.

It wasn't until it was getting late that Zhu Youjian was ready to return to the yamen to rest.

But at this time, the sound of deep and shallow footsteps appeared behind him.

(End of this chapter)