Invincible Zhengde

Chapter 443
"Tell the greeters outside to go back and do what they should do. If something happens, I will summon them." Zhu Houzhao stood at the bow of the boat, looked at the greeters on the shore, and spoke softly to Liu Jin behind him. commanded.

"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Liu Jin agreed and stepped back respectfully.

Zhu Houzhao is not in the mood to do this with them now, and he doesn't want them to welcome him.What Zhu Houzhao wants to do is not these things. What he wants to do is to keep an eye on these people in Nanjing, so that they can do things for themselves with peace of mind, and don't cause any trouble.

After hearing the news, the people below were all stunned. They didn't expect His Royal Highness to send them away just like that.

But this is the crown prince, they had nothing to do, they didn't even dare to complain, so they turned around and went back to Nanjing City.

Zhu Houzhao also got off the boat.

After arriving in Nanjing, Zhu Houzhao naturally lived in the imperial palace. You must know that this is the Nanjing of the Ming Dynasty, and all the buildings are complete.

Because Zhu Houzhao is coming, the palace here has already been cleaned up, of course there is nothing too bad about it.

After staying in the palace, Zhu Houzhao didn't go out for three consecutive days and didn't summon anyone. This caused an uproar in Nanjing, and at the same time he began to worry in his heart.

It's not that Zhu Houzhao doesn't want to go out, or that he doesn't want to summon anyone, it's just an insult.

How did the emperor's power come from?

Although the courtiers all said that they are benevolent and righteous, they said that they wanted you to do that.

In fact, for an emperor, the most common and best method is to use killing to establish prestige.

In addition, just don't want anyone to figure out your thoughts. A moody emperor is the most difficult to guess.

When Zhu Houzhao came here this time, he didn't see anyone, and he didn't go out, just telling everyone, be careful

On the fourth day, Zhu Houzhao finally saw someone, and it was Cheng Guogong Zhu Fu who summoned him.

Zhu Fu's status in Daming is not low. He hasn't participated in anything these years, and he hasn't had any outstanding performances. That's because he has been in Nanjing.

In terms of status, Zhu Fu is not inferior to the British government.

You know, Zhu Fu is the great-great-grandson of Zhu Neng, king of Dongping, and the grandson of Zhu Yong, king of Pingyin.

Zhu Fu has been in Nanjing for the past few years, and Zhu Houzhao came to Nanjing to see him.

This is another person in Nanjing who holds actual military power besides Wei Guogong.

The purpose of sending Zhu Fu here is also to suppress Wei Guogong.

This time Zhu Houzhao chose to meet Zhu Fu first, instead of summoning the two together. His attitude was obvious, and he wanted to suppress Wei Guogong's mansion.Zhu Houzhao did this on purpose.

Speaking of Zhu Fu, Zhu Houzhao is not very familiar with him, after all, he doesn't have much contact with him.

Zhu Fu had longed for His Highness the Crown Prince of Daming for a long time, and also sincerely worshiped him.

On Xungui's side, Zhu Houzhao is the perfect prince; it's hard to say on Xungui's side, but that's the case on Xungui's side.

The nobles in the court are very supportive of Zhu Houzhao, and at the same time look forward to it very much.

This is not only because they made a fortune following Zhu Houzhao, but because of the status Zhu Houzhao gave them.So when seeing Zhu Houzhao, Zhu Fu saluted respectfully and did everything meticulously.

Zhu Houzhao stood up quickly, smiled and helped Zhu Fu up, and then said, "You don't need to be so generous."

"The courtesy of a monarch and his ministers cannot be discarded." Zhu Fu said sternly.

"Come here, give me a seat." Zhu Houzhao ordered with a smile.

Liu Jin on the side quickly moved the chair over.

Liu Jin didn't dare to offend the Duke in front of him, he was a powerful figure in the court, so he moved the chair over with a smile, and stepped aside.

After Zhu Fu sat down, Zhu Houzhao opened his mouth and said, "This time I came to Nanjing, the Duke should know what it is for, so I won't go around the bush. I just want to ask if there is any problem in Nanjing?"

Zhu Fu didn't expect Zhu Houzhao to be so straightforward, but he was very happy, he liked such a prince.

Warriors don't like to go round and round, so Zhu Fu said: "Go back to His Royal Highness, there must be no problem with the army."

After saying this sentence, Zhu Fu stopped talking, and it was considered that he had finished answering the question.The meaning is also very clear, the military side promises to support His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, as for the civilian side, I don't know.The subtext is that there is a problem with the civil servants.

Zhu Houzhao understood it in an instant, so he nodded and said with a smile: "The Duke has worked hard in Nanjing for many years, and I and my father both know this. The military is fine, so I can rest assured."

This is even more obvious. I just want the military to be fine, and nothing else matters.

"His Royal Highness has orders, and I obey orders at any time." Zhu Fu once again expressed his determination, and then said: "I heard that His Royal Highness's Black Dragon Guard has also arrived in Nanjing this time. I wonder if I can let me go and have a look?"

Zhu Houzhao was taken aback for a moment, he didn't expect Zhu Fu to ask this question, so he said with a smile: "Why does Aiqing want to see?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, the name of the Black Dragon Guard is well known in the world, and it became famous in the battle with His Highness in the Northwest Huozhai. I am also a warrior. With such a powerful army, I naturally want to see it, but I have never had the opportunity. This time since If there is an opportunity, it is natural not to miss it.”

"They followed His Royal Highness, fought on the grasslands many times, won many battles, and wiped away the shame of Daming Tumubao. I really want to see them."

Zhu Houzhao nodded, and said with a smile: "In that case, Aiqing can go on her own, and I will let Zhang Xi accompany you."

After speaking, Zhu Houzhao called Zhang He over, introduced them to each other, and then told Zhang He to take Zhu Fu to see the Black Dragon Guard.

After Zhu Fu left, Zhu Houzhao sighed, but Zhu Fu still felt unwilling.

Regarding Zhu Fu's dissatisfaction, Zhu Houzhao also understood in his heart that Zhu Fu was not reconciled for himself, but for his grandfather, otherwise he would not have mentioned Tumubao.

In that battle, not only did Daming lose its elite troops, and its prosperity took a turn for the worse, but it also caused the civil servants to beat Xungui hard.

It was supposed to work hand in hand to tide over the crisis, but the civil servants made trouble at that time.

The most typical example is Zhu Fu's grandfather, that is, Zhu Yong, the Duke of Cheng at that time, who was later posthumously named King of Pingyin.

You must know that as the son of Zhu Neng, Zhu Yong is also brave and good at fighting.In the ninth year of Zhengtong, he left Xifengkou, attacked the tribes of Duoyan, and returned to Fuyuchuan. He was impeached by Xu Xi, Minister of the Ministry of War.

In fact, at that time, the civil and military struggle for power had already begun. When Zhu Yong went from driving to civil engineering in 14 years, he faced Yaoerling and died in ambush. seal up.

This is actually unacceptable to the Zhu family.

There were many reasons for Tumubao's defeat. Zhu Yong had already died in battle, proving his loyalty and bravery. He didn't deserve that kind of fate, and even lost his title.

The civil servants did make great contributions. In order to suppress the nobles, Emperor Jingtai acquiesced in this approach, and even supported it.

This also led to the restoration of Yingzong later, because Xungui and the army did not stand on Jingtai's side.

It seemed that the defeat was Xungui's fault, but the civil servant knew what was going on in his heart.Even if there was a mistake, it was also Wang Zhen's fault. They had already found the scapegoat, but they still kicked Xungui fiercely. This was the result of the civil and military dispute.

It is not out of public interest at all, it is clearly to suppress warriors, this kind of thing is not uncommon in all dynasties.

Standing on the side of Xungui, my family has already been killed for the emperor. Not only did they receive no compensation, they were also condemned and their titles were taken away.

If it's really me who lost the battle, that's fine, it's obviously not because of me, the biggest fault lies with the emperor.Under such circumstances, since there is a back-up man, that is, the eunuch Wang Zhen.

Naturally, other people should be comforted and cared for instead of adding insult to injury. This matter is very unclear and uncomfortable in Xungui's heart, especially for Cheng Guogong's lineage.

So after a prince like Zhu Houzhao appeared, Xungui showed great support.

That's what Zhu Fu said this time, so Zhu Houzhao could only sigh deeply, and there was no way to appease Zhu Fu.

If Zhu Yong is not rehabilitated, then that's all, he can contribute.

But someone did this, and Zhu Yong was rehabilitated during the Tianshun period, and he was also named King of Pingyin, which is actually an affirmation of him.

When Zhu Houzhao met Zhu Fu, there was also a conversation in Wei Guogong's mansion.The two people who were talking were Wei Guo Xu Chu and his son Xu Kuibi.

Xu Kuibi's complexion was a bit ugly, he was actually worried.

Glancing at his father, Xu Kuibi said helplessly, "Father, at this point in time. Should we go to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"

Looking up at his son, Xu Yu said angrily: "What do you think this time is a good thing? Our family will not participate if we can not participate. Let me tell you, don't think about messing around, or you won't This is a good fruit to eat."

Xu Kuibi was a little helpless about his father's attitude, but he still said: "His Royal Highness has been very kind to nobles and relatives in recent years. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that His Royal Highness is closer to our side, unlike the current His Majesty who is closer to us." Civil servants, everyone sees this as an opportunity."

"You know what happened back then. It's best if we don't do anything." Xu Chu sighed helplessly: "Some things are not because you don't want to do them, but because you can't do them."

Glancing at his father, Xu Chu was a little helpless.Dad didn't know which muscle was wrong at the beginning, so he insisted on getting involved in that matter.

You must know that His Majesty treats Dad very well today. When Dad first inherited the title, His Majesty asked him to take over the Nanjing garrison and take charge of the Nanjing Central Army's governor's office.

The status of Nanjing's defense is respected, but when Dad took over, the co-defense and Huairou Bo Shijian were above him.The old man was deeply aggrieved and complained to the imperial court, and His Majesty then issued an imperial edict, stipulating that the garrison officials in Nanjing should be ranked in order of rank.

From that time on, Dad was No.1 in Nanjing's military.

In the 12th year of Hongzhi, Hu Yi and Yu Shi Hu Xian took advantage of the disaster to offend His Majesty, and were imprisoned and relegated.Logically speaking, this matter has nothing to do with my father, it was done by those civil servants, and what was brought out was also some kind of heaven and man.

But my father insisted on mixing it up, and asked for forgiveness for the two of them.

Can your Majesty not suspect you when you look at it this way?

The emperor has a lot of connivance towards Xungui, but that's because you control the army and want to win over you, and at the same time, His Majesty doesn't want you to get too close to the civil servants.He can get close to civil officials, but you can't.

As a result, the old man got involved in such a way, so how could His Majesty not be suspicious?

In the 13th year of Hongzhi, a catastrophe happened, and my father had no choice but to write a letter requesting to resign from the garrison officer.His Majesty agreed, which shows that His Majesty is dissatisfied with the old man, but he still ordered him to be in charge of the Nanjing Central Army's governor's office.

In December, my father asked to resign from the military again, and asked to "be dedicated to offering sacrifices to Xiaoling". His Majesty only ordered him to take charge of the Nanjing Left Army's governor's office.

Since then, my family has been thrown away from the Nanjing military, and it was Cheng Guogong Zhu Fu who came out. Now the crown prince has come to Nanjing and summoned Zhu Fu, but he didn’t say he wanted to see his father. It's self-evident what taste it has.

That incident has not passed yet, and it was nothing at first, after all, my home is the Duke's Mansion, so it doesn't matter if it is suppressed.

But the situation is different now. His Royal Highness has carried out military reforms, and countless generals have risen. The same is true for Xungui, and the competition has become more intense.

Everyone knows that the next step in the military reform must be Nanjing.In a situation like this, many things are involved.

If you don't get involved, then there will really be no place for you in the future, and then your family will only be able to bear the title of a duke of the state. What's the use of having a title?

If you can't open the gap from His Royal Highness, then your family will really fall.This is also where Xu Kuibi was anxious, so he hoped that his father would go to see His Highness the Crown Prince, at least express his attitude, and lose the city to His Highness the Crown Prince, which is not an embarrassing thing.

"You think His Highness the Crown Prince will accept me if I go?" Xu Chu said angrily, "Those are His Majesty's intentions, how could His Majesty the Crown Prince violate His Majesty's intentions? l
Xu Kuibi glanced at his father, and said helplessly, "Father, it's one thing whether His Royal Highness accepts it, but it's another matter whether you go or not. Even if His Royal Highness doesn't accept it, it's only on the surface that he doesn't accept it." .”

Glancing at his son, Xu Chu felt a little helpless, and he knew what his son was thinking.

But thinking of his current situation, what can Xu Chu say?
His Majesty didn't like what he did when he did that kind of thing, so what's the use of talking about it now?

But he also knew his son's unwillingness, but what could he do?
"If you want to go, you go, I won't go. You just say that I'm sick and dying." Xu Chu shook his sleeves, stood up and left.

Looking at the back of the old man, Xu Kuibi felt a little helpless and could only shake his head with a wry smile.

If my father doesn't go, I will definitely go, and my father's attitude also allows me to go.

(End of this chapter)