In October of the first year of Hongwu, Zhu Biao followed Zhang Yuan to practice riding and shooting for an afternoon outside the city. As soon as he returned to the palace, he saw the maid next to the queen coming to invite him.
After Zhu Biao agreed, he still went back to the East Palace to bathe and change clothes. It was so late, and there was no way his mother could summon him. Presumably his father was also there.
Thinking of what I had just talked with Zhang Yuan, the return of the Northern Expeditionary Army was approaching.
Zhu Biao put on a dragon robe and a small golden crown on his head, and set off for the harem.
Liu Jin had already gone one step ahead, and it was almost nightfall. The concubines in the harem must not see any man except the emperor and the young prince.
Zhu Biao is no longer young. He is fine during the day, but he must clear the road at this hour.
When Zhu Biao entered the harem, he led a large group of palace maids and eunuchs directly to Kunning Palace.
When Zhu Biao arrived outside the gate of Kunning Palace, the palace maid who had been waiting for a long time came to greet him.
Just as Zhu Biao was about to say hello in the outer hall, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang's voice: "Biao'er, come in!"
Zhu Biao led Liu Jin up, but he saw the palace maid guarding the door bowing to Zhu Biao and taking a step forward to block Liu Jin behind him.
Liu Jin immediately said to Zhu Biao's back, "My servant is waiting for you outside."
Zhu Biao walked in directly and saw that only Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma were inside. "The sons and ministers are given to the father, the emperor and the empress..."
Lao Zhu waved his hand, "Okay! Come here! The Northern Expeditionary Army will be back soon! The matter of ennoblement cannot be delayed! We have been discussing it with your mother for a long time!"
Zhu Biao stepped forward with a smile and picked up the dense notes on the table. "Father, didn't you emphasize to your son yesterday that you would never allow the harem to interfere with politics in the future?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's face rose, "We are just talking to your mother about the achievements of those brothers in the past! That's government affairs!"
Empress Ma nodded with a half-smile and said, "What do I, a woman, know? Your father has the best ideas! Where can I be needed?"
Zhu Biao immediately raised his face and handed over to Zhu Yuanzhang, "It turns out that my son and minister misunderstood! I hope my father will not take offense!"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the two women who cooperated tacitly, and wanted to show the majesty of the emperor, but looking at the appearance of the two people, he couldn't get angry.
Zhu Biao smiled and looked at the note in his hand: "Hu Dahai captured Wannan and Zhejiang, defeated Yang Wanzhe, and guarded Zhejiang. He once recommended Liu Ji, Song Lian, Ye Chen, and Zhang Yi. He died in February of the 22nd year of Zhizheng. Seven days!”
This one died a little early. Zhu Zhujia remembers seeing him when he was four or five years old. His face was quite ugly but he was full of heroic spirit!
Zhu Biao picked up another piece of paper and received a note: "Deng Yu, in the fifteenth year of Zhengzheng, led more than 10,000 people from Xuyi to defect to us and served as the general manager of the army. He successively captured Wuyuan, Xiuning, Yanzhou, Jiande, and moved to Anhui. , Zhejiang, Gansu, Fuliang, Leping, Yugan, Jianchang!
This is Zhu Biao's prince Yude. He is simple and prudent, wise and courageous. He is strict in running the army and good at caring for those who surrender. He has made great achievements for a while.
Being able to enter the East Palace means that he is Zhu Yuanzhang's confidant. This person has outstanding achievements and is also Zhu Yuanzhang's old team. He has made meritorious deeds in the bloody battle of Hongdu in the Battle of Crossing the River!
Zhu Biao saw again those of Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and others, and those of Lan Yu Muying.
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You also know the merits of these people. They have all made great contributions to our Ming Dynasty. It is not easy for everyone who survives. They all climbed out of the mountain of corpses and the sea of blood. It's not that we don't want to knight them!" "
"But we don't know about them yet? They are not afraid of death! They have the ability to fight, but they don't have the ability to enjoy happiness!"
Queen Ma also sighed, "We don't care what happens to them. They were not ambiguous when fighting, so our family can't treat them badly!"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked casually, "Biao'er, what do you think? Have you ever thought about how to arrange these proud soldiers?"
Zhu Biao knew that neither of them cared about the title. These people who were not afraid of death were not afraid of death in war years, and they were even less afraid of death in peace times. They did not respect the law, and they still regarded themselves as demon kings!
Zhu Biao also heard from Liu Jin that a certain general had forcibly married several women, so-and-so's domestic servants dared to fight and challenge the Ban County Grand Master, and a certain lord's son beat someone to death while drinking...
The most important thing is that above the court, these people in Huaixi don't have to hide their suppression of dissidents. If they don't worship the big guys in Huaixi, they are not qualified to serve as officials in the court!
They haven't even been knighted yet, their tails are about to reach the sky!
Zhu Biao cupped his hands with a calm face and said softly, "Father, they have made great contributions, so give them the honor they deserve! And give them more and more! Let them know that our Zhu family is not a dog-eat-dog." family!"
Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma looked at each other, and Queen Ma said, "Biao'er, do you know how high the title and reward your father has decided to give you? If you give more, those people in Huaixi will not be able to suppress it easily." !”
Zhu Biao returned, "I think even when my uncles Xu and Chang were alive, they wouldn't be able to be crowned kings, they would just be Dukes!"
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "The position of Duke is not small! We only plan to seal a few of them!"
Zhu Biao said seriously, "The title is valuable! It is valuable because of its rarity!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he was dissatisfied and said, "How can the title be given so lightly!"
Queen Ma thought of something, but she didn't say anything, but took a serious look at her son.
Looking at Queen Ma's look, Zhu Biao knew that his mother understood: "Father, let's not talk about those who are still alive. There is nothing that cannot be bestowed upon the generals who have died on the battlefield. Those who have made outstanding contributions may as well be made kings directly!"
Zhu Biao glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang who was thoughtful, "Allowing their heirs to ascend the throne shows that the father never forgets the brothers who died in the war! Come to think of it, they don't dare to inherit the throne infatuatedly, and they will definitely resign!"
Zhu Shou paused and said calmly, "If someone is really greedy for profit, what if he is given the title of king? If virtue is not matched, there will be disaster!"
Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang who was silent and then said, "The same is true for living generals. Since the rise of General Huaixi is already unstoppable, why not add more fuel to the fire! Only with the gift of the title of the prince can the benevolence of the father be shown!"
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