Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 19

Wu Wangfu.

Just after noon, military news came from the southern front, and Zhu Yuanzhang temporarily summoned all important ministers to the White Tiger Palace for emergency discussions.

Tang He, the general who conquered the South, wrote that Wu Jun had arrived at the outskirts of Fuzhou on the 26th.

Chen Youding, Pingzhang of Fujian Province in the Yuan Dynasty deployed [-] heavy troops in Fuzhou City, built a ring fortification outside the city, set up a high platform at [-] steps, and deployed defenses layer by layer. He also led an army to move to Yanping, forming an angle with Fuzhou. stick to it.

Tang He was worried that the battle would be difficult, and hoped that Zhu Yuanzhang would urge Hu Tingrui's troops on the western front to speed up their southward movement, at least to contain Chen Youding in Yanping City in the northwest of Fuzhou, so as to prevent the troops from encountering peripheral raids when they attacked the city.

Among the forces in the southeast, compared with Zhang Shicheng’s Pian’an corner and Fang Guozhen’s head and mouse ends, Chen Youding is the only one who is firmly loyal to the Yuan family. , Chen Youding also summoned his generals to kill the envoys and take blood and wine as sacrifices, leaving no way out.

Therefore, after some discussion, everyone believed that the siege of Fuzhou would be a tough battle and might last for a long time.

After discussing for less than half an hour, Zhu Yuanzhang personally wrote a handwritten letter to Hu Tingrui according to Tang He's request, strictly ordering him to lead his troops south to march into Yanping immediately without delay.

When the envoy left with the letter, Zhu Yuanzhang was still not at ease, and asked in detail about the supply of the southern line, and then let everyone disperse.

The White Tiger Palace fell silent. Zhu Yuanzhang had just picked up a copy of the Anmin Edict drafted by Zhongshu Province and was about to send it to Shandong. When a guard came to report it, Zhu Yuan, a direct academician of the Imperial Academy, sent his servants over. He had been waiting for a long time.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard a certain name, he finally regained some energy from the worry just now, and asked the guards to bring him.

Zhao Xu and Zuo Qi came to King Wu's Mansion in Jinling City together. They thought they would be able to leave quickly after giving the book list and replying with a few words, and then went to help the little officials find those graphite and craftsmen.

I didn't expect to miscalculate.

After waiting for more than half an hour, the sky was already at the beginning of Shen Shi, and it would be dark in another hour, so I finally saw King Wu.

Zhu Yuanzhang is wearing a black silk silk cloud pattern robe today, without a crown.Zhao Xu and the two saluted, got up after getting a response, and saw that the Lord was still reviewing a document, and stood quietly where he didn't dare to disturb.

After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang read the draft, and said to Li Bin, who had been waiting for Zhongshu all the time: "Add two more, so that the people of Yousi in Shandong don't have to slack off at the moment, and build water conservancy and fix farm tools in their spare time, so that they can plow in the spring next year. Those who, I remember that a few days ago, the defeated soldiers of Baoyuan scattered and plundered places in various places in Shandong, and then urged them to join the army or disarm and return to their hometowns. Suppress them, don't let them hurt the common people."

Li Bin agreed and left in a hurry.

Zhu Yuanzhang swung back to the left and right again, looked at Zhao Xu and Zuo Qi in the hall, and asked curiously, "Why are you here together?"

In the past, the two of them came alone.

Zhao Xudao: "The little one came to deliver the book list, and Zuo Qi was also sent to the city to handle errands, so let's come together to see the Lord first."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard that it was the book list that he also kept in mind, he immediately stopped caring about these details, and motioned, "Bring it to me."

Zhao Xu took out the envelope from his arms and held it respectfully before Zhu Yuanzhang's case.

Zhu Yuanzhang took out a few pages of paper from the envelope and began to browse.

The first page is a variety of agricultural books. I didn’t realize anything. After seeing the content, I frowned slightly and asked subconsciously, “Why are they all miscellaneous books?”

The envelope was not sealed just now, but Zhao Xu and the two did not dare to peek at it. Hearing this, he was a little puzzled, but Zhao Xu still reacted and replied: "I don't know, but, there is a library in the small official's house. Hundreds of books left by the previous master."

Zhao Xu didn't make it clear, but Zhu Yuanzhang roughly understood.

Looking at the list of books in his hand again, he just blurted out his first feeling. At this time, after a little consideration, combined with the economics of the little scholar, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized something.

After going through it several times, Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head again after a quarter of an hour, and said to Zhao Xu with a thoughtful expression, "Go back and tell Zhu Yuan, and I will ask someone to prepare it for him."

Zhao Xu clapped his hands and agreed.

Speaking of Zhu Yuan, Zhu Yuanzhang put away some thoughts temporarily, and asked again: "Is he in better health?"

Zhao Xudao: "Mr. Dai said that there is no problem, but he has not dared to go out recently, and has been staying in the greenhouse."

"With his body, it's better not to go out," Zhu Yuanzhang muttered, thinking of Dai Sanchun, his expression became more serious, and he asked, "Is there anyone else thinking about that recently?"

Zhao Xu paused, and said honestly: "Before the little one entered the city, there happened to be a householder named Cui Ji, who took people to check the escaped households on the back lake, and even went to the gate of the small official's house, saying that we If you have hidden someone, you have to hand it over, and you need a small official to come out and talk to him."

Listening to Zhao Xu's words, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned gradually, and there was a stern look in his eyes: "What about after that?"

"There are no hidden households hiding in the house, only the young ones hire some lake people to go in and out on weekdays." Zhao Xu first explained, and then said: "It happened that the young one wanted to deliver the book list, and the little official said that he was sick. I can't see any guests, I don't even go out these days, and I can't do anything wrong, if the person blocking the door wants to explain, I will come to the palace with the younger one and let the Lord make a decision."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he couldn't help laughing, and quickly sullenly, hummed without anger: "It's still such a slippery temper."

As he spoke, he glanced at the two of them.

Zhao Xu hurriedly bent his waist even more, and said before Zhu Yuanzhang asked again: "That Chief Cui didn't dare to come."

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted again and asked, "Let's talk about it, is there anything else going on these few days?"

Zhao Xu paused for a moment, skipped yesterday's purchase of servants according to the plan, and said instead: "At noon, the tenants in the small official's farm came to pay New Year's greetings, and gave some chickens, ducks and geese as presents for the year. After begging, I lowered the rent for the tenants, from one stone per mu to one stone, and after the meal, each household returned the same amount of money, saying it was a gift."

Even if Zhu Yuanzhang remembered the hard work back then, he had long since lost the mentality of the tenant's son at first. However, after a little pondering, he did not comment.

Maybe that little trick was for himself.

As for the fixed rent of one stone and two per mu, Zhu Yuanzhang knew that the land was allocated by him personally and rewarded to Zhu Yuan, and it belonged to the best paddy field in the south of Jinling City.

At the beginning, he heard that there was a rent of one stone and two per mu. As a former Jiangbei farmer, he was also surprised. In his memory, the annual production capacity of the land rented by his family was good when the annual production capacity exceeded one stone. How could the rent of one stone and two be collected here? son.

For this reason, I have visited those fields in person more than once.

Then it didn't feel right.

That kind of water system is surrounded by high-quality fertile fields that can be harvested twice a year without any worries about drought or flood. The yield of two stones per mu is normal, and when the year is good, it can harvest more than three stones.

Skipping this topic, Zhu Yuanzhang signaled the two to continue.

This time it was Zuo Qi who said: "There is only one more thing. The small official said that writing with a brush is too slow and laborious. I have to make two pens according to my own ideas. I also plan to make a set of measuring rules so that the small ones can come to the city." Find materials and craftsmen."

Zhu Yuanzhang was curious: "What kind of pen?"

Zuo Qi roughly explained Zhu Yuan's orders.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it for a while, but he didn't have a clue. However, since it was for academic purposes, he certainly supported it, saying: "Later, someone will take you to the general office and pick some good craftsmen. The materials you need can also be obtained from the company. Uh... Those craftsmen, like Dai Sanchun, let them bring their families and live in the Houhu side, and let Zhu Yuan send them. Besides, these and other pens are ready, as well as the measuring ruler. Give me a set."

Zuo Qi bowed and agreed: "Young one, I wrote it down."

Seeing that the two had nothing else to say, Zhu Yuanzhang mentioned another matter: "Also, when he is in better health, tell me about that knowledge that day, and let him compile it into a book and send it as soon as possible. Don't forget."

The two took the lead again.

After the matter was finished, Zhu Yuanzhang was about to send them away when he suddenly remembered something: "Tomorrow's New Year's Eve, are there any preparations for ancestor worship?"

Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang was not concerned about whether Zhu Yuan kept his etiquette, but was curious.

That little scholar who has no background will always have a name and surname when offering sacrifices to his ancestors. Knowing this, he can also let people look for clues and look them up in private.

Seeing that Zhao Xu had no intention of answering the question, Zuo Qi could only continue to speak: "Well, the young ones specially cleaned up a yard yesterday and used it as an ancestral hall. When I asked this morning, the small officials said that they don't worship the ancestors, and everything else is done according to the year. Follow the rules."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this answer, he was immediately unhappy, and this time he said with some anger: "How can you not even offer sacrifices to your ancestors?"

Even a little bit crooked.

Could it be that the little scholar is also guarding against himself?
However, Zhu Yuanzhang quickly took the initiative to excuse Zhu Yuan, thinking about the mysteries of that young scholar, perhaps, the rules were different where he came from.Or, he didn't know who his ancestor was at all.After all, even if you want to guard against yourself, you can't completely cancel the sacrifice, you can completely use up the tablet and just pray in your heart.

Can't figure it out, Zhu Yuanzhang stopped thinking about it, and called someone over, and asked Zhao Xu and Zuo Qi to go to the general office to select craftsmen.

When the two left, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately lowered his face again.

A few days ago, when he found out about Dai Sanchun being surrounded by people below, he was already very angry. Unexpectedly, he calmed down and let Dai Sanchun take the initiative to avoid it.

In recent days, Zhu Yuanzhang's mind has always been entwined with the "Book from Heaven", which he personally locked in the cabinet of his bedroom, and Zhu Yuan's words before and after he wrote "Book from Heaven".

Closely entangled with national destiny.

Closely entangled with national destiny.

What kind of method will the "Book of Heaven" that is mysterious to the point of being a bit weird at first be a method to entangle the fate of the country?
Zhu Yuanzhang racked his brains, but still had no clue.

However, because of this matter, Zhu Yuan became more and more sensitive and taboo in his heart, and Zhu Yuanzhang could not allow other people to contact and spy on him wantonly.

After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang asked his attendants to call a Jinwu Qianhu to come in, and said in a cold voice: "Cui Ji, the head of the household department, took people to Houhu today. You should find out about this matter. Cui Ji is included. Anyone who goes All the officials in Houhu must be cut off by me!"

(End of this chapter)