At this time in Kyoto city, Yang Xiyuan and Wanqi Shihui, two important figures in the court, were sitting across from each other in a secret teahouse, and in the middle of them sat the current emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.
"What happened not long ago has made you two feel wronged. Let's apologize here first. Come on." Zhu Yuanzhang held up the wine glass with a much more humble attitude than in the court, which flattered Yang Xiyuan and Wanqi Shihui. .
The two of them quickly picked up their wine glasses: "Your Majesty, we have never complained, everything is for the sake of the Ming Dynasty!" Wanqi Shihui spoke first. He knew his sworn brother very well and had a straightforward temper, but sometimes He was also very reckless, fearing that someone would accidentally say something wrong.
Seeing that Wanqi Shihui opened his mouth first, Yang Xiyuan naturally took back the words he was holding back.
The three of them drank the wine in the cup, and then Zhu Yuanzhang smiled bitterly: "Here today, without the emperor, we are still the same Zhu Yuanzhang." The majesty of the emperor in the past was gone from his face, and his eyes were full of loss and sadness. .
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang like this, Yang Xiyuan and Wan Qi Shihui didn't know what to say for a while. After all, they had never seen Zhu Yuanzhang show such an attitude since he ascended the throne.
In terms of age, Zhu Yuanzhang is the elder brother of the two of them. Over the years, they have followed Zhu Yuanzhang to fight here and there, and they have seen Zhu Yuanzhang in high spirits, but now they can see the growth of age in this big brother.
"Brother, are you still worried about Lin Ziren?" Wanqi Shihui knew that the title was no longer necessary at this time. What Zhu Yuanzhang needed most at the moment was for them to chat with him sincerely.
"But, Lin Ziren's rebels have retreated, why are you still looking gloomy?" Yang Xiyuan is still the same, only seeing the surface.
"Brother, I'm feeling sad. We were all brothers who crawled out from the dead together. Why did Lin Ziren become like this?" Wang Yuan walked in from outside with a plate of dishes and an apron tied around his waist.
"Brother Wang." Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head and looked at Wang Yuan, with a trace of relief in his eyes.
"Actually, when Lin Ziren led his army to leave the South China Sea, I already had news. I always wanted to give him a chance, but he still did it." Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the wine glass and murmured: "Is it really me who did something wrong? Yet?"
Wang Yuan also felt the same way. He and Zhu Yuanzhang and Lin Ziren had been brothers in life and death since the uprising. At first, there were not so many barriers between the three of them. However, after the turmoil, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself emperor and Lin Ziren went to Nanhai to garrison. The relationship between the three brothers will never be the same again.
Wan Qi Shihui was a scholar and had been in official circles for so many years. He was keenly aware of the reason why Zhu Yuanzhang called them here today.
"Brother, don't worry. Brother Yang and I have never complained about you. If either of us has a disobedient heart like Lin Ziren, you can kill us!" Wanqi Shihui did not kneel down and kowtow. , but picked up the wine glass and toasted like an ordinary brother. Yang Xiyuan was naturally not a fool. He picked up the wine glass and said straightforwardly: "Shihui is right, brother, if there is any disobedience, the two of us will raise our heads." Come and see me!”
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard what the two said, his frown finally eased a little: "Okay, don't be so nervous." After speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang picked up his wine glass and motioned for Wang Yuan to join him.
Four people who are almost three hundred years old in total are sitting here drinking, but every word they say will affect the entire Ming Dynasty and even territories outside the Ming Dynasty.
"Okay, actually I have asked you to come over today for one more thing." Zhu Yuanzhang put down his chopsticks and said seriously.
"Brother, please tell me."
Zhu Yuanzhang did not speak, but glanced at Wang Yuan. Wang Yuan stood up and walked out. After a while, he brought back a bamboo tube with a secret letter stamped with the seal of Jin Yiwei.
"This was found out by Beizhen Fusi from a death row prisoner some time ago." Wang Yuan opened the secret letter and unfolded it in front of several people.
After Yang Xiyuan and Wan Qi Shihui saw the content clearly, they looked at each other with surprise in their eyes.
The secret letter stated that the Japanese country sent tens of thousands of people to the Ming Dynasty in three years, rebelled many officials, secretly gathered forces, and even some Japanese people had infiltrated into the imperial court.
"You must be scared. When we first saw this secret message, we were also shocked." Zhu Yuanzhang smiled bitterly: "I just sent away Lin Ziren, and another Japanese came over. It seems that God is going to This is our position."
"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" Yang Xiyuan asked tentatively.
Zhu Yuanzhang knocked on the table, stared at the secret letter, and once again exuded the aura of an emperor: "Yang Xiyuan, Wanqi Shihui, Wang Yuan."
"I'm here!" The three of them kneeled on the ground and agreed in unison.
"Now our country has just experienced a war, and its foundation is not yet stable. We should not encounter another war. However, the Japanese have repeatedly invaded, and they are really ignorant. I order the three of you to work together to take charge of all the imperial guards in the Ming Dynasty, and secretly kill the Japanese pirates! There must be no mistakes! Do you understand? !" Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and stood with his hands folded.
"Official, I obey the order!" The passion of the past arose again in the hearts of the three decisive veterans, and Wanqi Shihui secretly sighed that the high-spirited Zhu Yuanzhang of those days was back again!
Then Wang Yuan and Wan Qi Shihui left first for Beizhen Fusi, while Yang Xiyuan was left alone by Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Yang Aiqing."
"I'm here."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it for a moment and seemed to have made up his mind: "Xiyuan, if one day, we die, but the prince is not worthy of the position." After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Yang Xiyuan and hesitated: "I hope you can let Yang Bing will take my place and take charge of the Ming Dynasty!"
When Yang Xiyuan heard this, he immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, why do you say this? The prince is saintly, virtuous and benevolent. He has already shown himself to be an emperor. My dog cannot afford it!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled bitterly and helped Yang Xiyuan, and the two sat down: "Xiyuan, we know what our son is like. Although he has some abilities, I can see that he is nothing in front of Yang Bing."
"But even so, Yang Bing cannot be allowed to succeed. This is against the courtesy of a minister!" Yang Xiyuan still tried his best to persuade. He didn't know why His Majesty made this suggestion, but he knew that it was not a good thing.
"That day, when we first met Yang Bing at Wanqi Mansion, we could tell that the world would be in his hands sooner or later. Instead of him fighting to the death with Zhu Di, it would be better for me to be a step ahead. Make a foolproof plan and save face for my Zhu family." Zhu Yuanzhang recalled the eyes between Yang Bing and him at that time. Those eyes were full of pure murderous intent, but this murderous intent did not have the smell of blood. This is Zhu Yuanzhang The regal look you’ve been looking for.
An emperor can be benevolent or murderous, but benevolence cannot be nepotistic and murderous cannot be violent and mediocre.
In Yang Bing's murderous intent, Zhu Yuanzhang could see decisiveness and killing. In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't take it to heart at the beginning. It wasn't until the recent victory at Tongtian Pass and Yang Bing proposed a free trade zone that Zhu Yuanzhang really met Yang Bing. Bing's vision.
He not only repelled the Tatars, Zhu Yuanzhang saw Yang Bing's real intention from Yang Bing's proposal, which was assimilation.
War will only create more disputes. Looking at the past dynasties, any dynasty emerged through war, including Zhu Yuanzhang himself. However, such a dynasty cannot stand on its foundation. Sooner or later, new wars will appear.
As for the free trade zone proposed by Yang Bing, on the surface, it seems that Ming Dynasty is suffering a loss and is sending Ming Dynasty's things out at a loss. However, in fact, once the Tatars get used to Ming Dynasty's supplies and war breaks out, Ming Dynasty will only need If the flow of supplies is cut off, the Tatars themselves will be in chaos, and Ming Dynasty will only have to watch.
Zhu Yuanzhang thought that he could not even think of such a strategy, but it came from the mouth of a famous good-for-nothing young master in Kyoto. This also made Zhu Yuanzhang deeply reflect for a long time, and finally he made this decision. He wanted to be a selfish father. But he also wants to be a wise king in the world. He cannot bear to see the world of Ming Dynasty destroyed in the hands of his own descendants.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew in his heart that if the prince Zhu Di could never be as murderous as Yang Bing, then even if he sat on the throne of the emperor, he would be a deposed emperor sooner or later.
Zhu Yuanzhang took out an imperial edict from his arms. Of course, it can also be said to be a testament written in advance: "Xi Yuan, this is for you. If I pass away and the prince is as I said, you can take it." Come out with this and let the world know that if the prince has the appearance of an emperor that you can recognize, then treat him as a piece of waste paper."
Yang Xiyuan was moved by Zhu Yuanzhang. He knelt on the ground and raised his hands with red eyes: "I accept the order and thank you!"
"Okay, we're relieved if you can take it." After Zhu Yuanzhang said that, he remembered something again: "By the way, the prince sent news a few days ago that Yang Bing ordered Luo Wen to secretly form an ANBU. Do you know this? ?”
"Exactly."
"Then send someone to deliver this to Yang Bing." After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he took out a black token with two gold characters ANBU engraved on it.
"This is the Anbu token created by my order. You can use this token from now on. The Anbu is the same as the Jin Yiwei. It is authorized by the imperial power. Kill it first and then report it!"
Yang Xiyuan took the token, and he knew that Zhu Yuanzhang wanted Yang Bing to participate in the plan to kill the Japanese, but he did not tell Wang Yuan and Wanqi Shihui.
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Okay, you can go back."
After Yang Xiyuan left, Zhu Yuanzhang sat at the table with a tired look on his face. He used to fight on the battlefield for days and nights without feeling tired, but now when dealing with these things, he was so tired that he didn't even want to talk. Say more.
About half an hour later, Wang Yuan returned here again: "Your Majesty, is it time to return to the palace?"
"Well, it's not a short time to come out." Zhu Yuanzhang stood up and Yang Bing's words rang in his ears again: "Go out more and see the real life of the people."
"Wang Yuan."
"Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
"In three days, please accompany me out of the palace for a walk." Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to go out and take a look at places other than Kyoto.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
