Daming Palace, Huagai Hall.
Zhu Yuanzhang was handling government affairs when a eunuch reported: "Your Majesty, His Highness Gao Chi has returned to the palace."
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help frowning and said: "Didn't we arrange for him to check the defense of the capital? Why did he come back so early?"
"When he came in, we wanted to ask what was going on."
During the morning court, Zhu Yuanzhang arranged for the eldest sons of many vassal kings to inspect the defense of the capital.
Zhu Yuanzhang attached great importance to the cultivation of the emperor's grandchildren.
The eldest sons of these vassal kings will be the future princes and the key to the Ming Dynasty's barrier.
Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to create a Ming Dynasty that would last through generations.
Zhu Yuanzhang himself had a feeling of distrust towards officials, so Zhu Yuanzhang placed his hopes more on his own descendants.
Soon, Zhu Gaochi came in, bowed and said, "My grandson pays homage to Grandpa Huang."
"Let me ask you, I asked you to check the defense. How long has it been since you came back?" Zhu Yuanzhang's tone sounded reprimanding.
For this imperial grandson, although his body shape is a bit inferior. But he still liked it.
The fourth son Zhu Di also said several times that he wanted to make the second son Zhu Gaoxu the heir apparent, but Zhu Yuanzhang refused.
Zhu Gaoxu is the second son of King Zhu Di of Yan and the tenth grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang.
In the early years, Zhu Shangbing, the crown prince of Qin, Zhu Jixi, the crown prince of Jin, Zhu Gaochi, the crown prince of Yan, Zhu Youdun, the crown prince of Zhou, and the elder princes of the four prefectures studied together in the capital palace.
However, he was cunning and ruthless by nature, and he, like the prince Zhu Jiyi of Jin and the prince Zhu Youhui of Zhou, both spoke and behaved frivolously, and were not liked by his grandfather Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Grandpa Huang, when my grandson arrived at the Dongcheng Military and Horse Division, many soldiers happened to have breakfast. My grandson couldn't bear to have their meals affected by his arrival, so he returned after a brief inspection."
Zhu Gaochi sensed Grandpa Huang's displeasure and did not panic, but explained.
After explaining, he took out a memorial from his arms and presented it to Grandpa Huang.
Zhu Yuanzhang himself had been a soldier and knew the life of the army very well.
Although his grandson Zhu Gaochi behaves like this, it is obvious that he is a novice in the army, but it can be seen that he is kind and generous and treats his soldiers well.
What Ming Dynasty needs now is benevolent government, not attacks from all sides.
Zhu Yuanzhang did not rush to praise, but first took the memorial handed over by Zhu Gaochi.
He wanted to see what this grandson could realize in such a short period of time.
Opening the memorial, Zhu Yuanzhang just glanced at it hastily.
next moment,
The body that was half-lying suddenly sat upright.
Zhu Gaochi's memorial records the defense situation in great detail.
The first is the number of soldiers and horses.
Then there are the detailed numbers of soldiers and generals.
Includes classified statistics for each military branch.
There are also the number of weapons and equipment and a brief description of the situation.
Final suggestions and thoughts on defence.
Just a few hundred words, no unnecessary nonsense, intuitive and clear.
The entire defense was well documented.
This surprised Zhu Yuanzhang.
In ancient times, generals marched and fought. In fact, many generals only had a preliminary understanding of the troops they led.
In addition to some famous generals, most of them just know the approximate number of people, and there are also some distinctions in the use of military units.
Most of the warriors were illiterate and had little education despite their prowess.
Of course Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Zhu Gaochi liked literature and disliked martial arts.
But judging from this record, it is obvious that military skills are more than just talent.
He fully possesses the foundation of a generation of famous generals.
After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to be angry and asked: "Who taught you to write this? How dare you use such a thing to fool us!"
Zhu Gaochi didn't expect that the emperor's grandfather would suddenly reprimand him. He trembled in fright and said quickly:
"I am reporting to the Emperor that my grandson does not know about military affairs. These things were written by his grandson and were not taught by others."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he stared at Zhu Gaochi for a long time, and then asked: "Did you really write it yourself? No one taught you at all?"
Zhu Gaochi said hesitantly: "It's not like there is no one to teach me at all. Before my grandson went to check the defense, he asked a good friend for advice."
"The way of telling it this way is the guidance of my friend."
Zhu Gaochi's news was somewhat blocked.
Zhu Di didn't like his fat son, so he naturally wouldn't tell him his plan.
Therefore, Zhu Gaochi still doesn't know that Zhu Ying and Grandpa Huang have met and are very familiar with each other.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly when he heard this. These methods of recording military affairs showed that he was a veteran and was very familiar with the army.
Among the civil servants and generals of the Ming Dynasty, there are not few who have such knowledge, but not many.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but ask: "Which minister taught you these methods?"
When Zhu Gaochi heard this, he thought of Zhu Ying's face and hesitated a little. However, facing Grandpa Huang's eyes, he finally replied:
"He is not a minister of the DPRK. My good friend is just a businessman."
"oh!"
Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed, "Is there such a talent among merchants?"
And listening to Sun'er's words, it seems that the merchant is not that old.
"What is his name, and what is he doing in the capital now? We would like to see what kind of merchant he is, with such ability."
Zhu Yuanzhang said curiously.
Hearing Grandpa Huang's interest, Zhu Gaochi was a little confused.
He didn't know how Grandpa Huang would feel once he saw Zhu Ying.
Will my father's side be affected?
The talented and intelligent Zhu Gaochi guessed that his father definitely wanted to use Zhu Ying to do something when his father decided to take Zhu Ying to the capital.
He was well aware of his father's displeasure with him, so he never asked about this matter.
"Why, is there anyone else whom we can't tell anything about?"
Seeing that his grandson Zhu Gaochi didn't reply for a long time, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said with a somewhat unkind tone.
When Zhu Gaochi heard what Grandpa Huang said, he knew that he would not be able to hide it today.
In desperation, he could only say: "My good friend's surname is Zhu Mingying, and he is currently the owner of Ping'an Teahouse on the Qinhuai River. It was his guidance that my grandson learned to check and defend now."
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned when he heard Da Sun's name.
He didn't expect that such a method was actually written by Da Sun.
After a brief absence of concentration, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with surprise.
He quickly picked up the memorial and read it again. He felt more and more happy and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised.
As expected, he is our great grandson.
Not only is he excellent at governing the place, but he is also very familiar with the military.
Just like us, we can definitely be called Wen Shuangquan.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang said to Zhu Gaochi in a gentle tone: "We are very satisfied. Tell us how you want us to reward you."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi understood that Grandpa Huang had passed the exam.
After hesitating for a moment, Zhu Gaochi did not refuse, and said bluntly: "My grandson is very interested in the war situation and the Gunpowder Department. I hope the emperor can let his grandson have a look."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes moved slightly when he heard this, and he immediately understood that this was probably Da Sun's idea.
During the early chat, Zhu Yuanzhang discovered that Da Sun was very interested in firearms.
Zhu Gaochi had been living in the palace since he was a child. He had a quiet personality and loved reading.
The sudden request to see firearms had nothing to do with Da Sun.
"We're sure, you can go and have a look tomorrow." Zhu Yuanzhang said.
"Thank you, Grandpa Huang."
Zhu Gaochi bowed and thanked him, but the corners of his mouth twitched a little.
Originally, he released his sister-in-law Xu Miaojin's pigeon today, but he planned to fulfill his promise tomorrow and take it out for some fun.
Unexpectedly, Grandpa Huang asked him to go to the Gunpowder Department tomorrow.
It was a little embarrassing now.
