Jinling, hot weather.
A big foot wearing cloth shoes stepped on the Yangshi Bridge, raised his leg to step over a step, took two steps, and stood in the center of the bridge. The crutches knocked on the stone steps, and I climbed onto the bridge tremblingly.
Liu Ji was out of breath and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang with some exhaustion, and sighed: "Time is not forgiving, and I can't walk anymore."
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the old Liu Ji, then turned his attention to the Qinhuai River under the bridge, watching the awning boats moving slowly, and said to Liu Ji: "I just went to see the armor making, what do you think?"
Liu Ji was really tired, so he apologized, sat on the steps, turned sideways and said to Zhu Yuanzhang: "Armor is a weapon for protecting the army. Although the craftsmen have to work hard, they have to do it."
Zhu Yuanzhang said solemnly: "I used to wear armor and didn't know how difficult it was to make armor. Now that I have seen it with my own eyes, I know that it takes a lot of time and effort to make armor. We take ore from the mountains and bake molten iron in the ore. It still needs to be tempered and cut by the hands of a craftsman, and threaded and connected bit by bit. If it is stored for a long time without use, it will rust. Although the war is not over yet, there is not much needed for battle armor. We intend to change the iron armor to leather armor. You how about?"
Liu Ji stood up and bowed deeply: "It is a blessing for the craftsmen and the people if the superior can do this."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled faintly, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was depressed, Liu Ji sighed secretly.
Hua Yunlong is dead.
Zhu Yuanzhang is sad.
After this, Guo Yun, the commander of Nanyang Guard, also died of illness.
Zhu Yuanzhang was even more sad.
Strange to say, Guo Yun could not compare with Hua Yunlong in terms of merit, but Zhu Yuanzhang preferred Guo Yun.
Guo Yun was a surrendered general of the Yuan Dynasty and was considered a high-ranking official. He was a political official in Pingzhang of Huguang Province. Faced with the conquests of Xu Da's generals, he suffered repeated defeats and refused to surrender. Later, he was captured alive and sent to Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang saw that this man was tall. Eight feet tall, tall and tall in appearance, with extraordinary physical strength, and a man who refused to surrender when caught in desperate situations. He was a good man, so he was made the magistrate of Lishui County.
However, in the second year of Hongwu, Guo Yun was transferred to Nanyang Guard to command Qianshi because of his outstanding government affairs and the praise of the people. Zhu Yuanzhang thought highly of Guo Yun and allowed Guo Yun to gather his old troops and put them under Guo Yun's command.
This is not like before the founding of the People's Republic of China, when the surrendering generals were recruited together with their infantry and allowed to command them. This was the second year of Hongwu. Basically, there was no need for this trick to win over people's hearts, but Zhu Yuanzhang did this.
Liu Ji knew that Zhu Yuanzhang had been paying attention to this person and even intended to transfer him to Jinling to serve him. However, this person's life was too short and he left before he was forty years old. His eldest son was only thirteen years old.
But Zhu Yuanzhang was too partial to this person. Guo Yun had no contribution to the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and he had no hereditary treatment. However, Zhu Yuanzhang believed that Guo Yun had political achievements in governing the place, was loyal and a good man, so his son Guo Yun Hong, just be a founding hero, be awarded the title of General Xuanwu, the commander of the Flying Bear Guards and the envoy Si Qianshi, and his position will be hereditary...
Liu Ji didn't understand Lao Zhu's preference. After his father died, he directly chose his son to be the founder of the country. This was unjustifiable in terms of emotion, reason, and military merit.
But in the civil and military dynasties, no one dared to say anything.
Liu Ji looked at Lao Zhu's expression and thought about Guo Yun. He guessed that, according to his temper and nature, if there was something wrong with the prince, he would choose the prince's son to take over instead of the prince's brother.
hiss!
Liu Ji secretly bit the tip of his tongue. How could he think badly of the prince? His mind was really confused.
At present, Zhu Biao's performance has won the favor of the civil servants. A gentle, kind and diligent prince is better than an emperor with an unstable temperament. Occasionally, he will shoot people to death and skin them when he gets angry.
It is understandable that the founding emperor was more aggressive, but the second monarch was conservative and did not need so much sharpness. Zhu Biao was the best candidate. He did not dare to have any accidents, otherwise who knows how many people would die.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the uncertain Liu Ji, stepped forward and asked, "Let me ask you, what are you thinking about?"
Liu Ji suddenly woke up, turned around, and said in panic: "I am old and have low energy. I am lost in thought from time to time. Sometimes at home, I will be lost in thought for an hour or two. If my family hadn't called me, I wouldn't have been able to sit there all day. Please forgive me." Forgive me."
Zhu Yuanzhang didn't believe Liu Ji's words. His expression had changed just now, and he looked wrong. He was obviously thinking about something, but he didn't ask any more questions. Instead, he said: "Build faith in the army and keep it in the hands of the royal family. This will be important to the country." Stability is good, and we want you to participate in the details. When Wei Guogong and others come back, how about you discuss it with them and finalize it? "
Liu Ji looked at Zhu Yuanzhang who had entrusted him with the important task and wanted to refuse, but he also knew that there was no room for refusal, so he had to agree, and then said: "The two initiatives proposed by Gu Zhengchen, namely the military faith and the identity of the people of the Ming Dynasty, are based on lofty ideals. It is a policy that benefits the people and the country. I believe that it should be implemented to promote the people of the Ming Dynasty to unite as one, unite and be friendly, take the people of the Ming Dynasty as a matter of pride, not yield to foreign enemies, and unite with the outside world! If the people's hearts are there, the country will be forever strong."
Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Ji got off the Yangshi Bridge and walked west along the river bank: "The strategy proposed by Gu Zhengchen focuses on the country for thousands of years and the country's longevity. We are very pleased, but it is easy to propose an initiative and implement it." It’s difficult. In terms of shaping the common identity of the people of the Ming Dynasty, how to do it? Where does the people’s pride, recognition and support for the imperial court come from? It’s difficult to find a foothold.”
Liu Ji smiled and suggested: "Your Majesty, the people of the Ming Dynasty like to hear about victory in battles. If they take the victory as a guide, maybe they can do it. The victory of the army's conquest shows that the Ming Dynasty's army is strong and cannot be bullied, and that the enemy will not harass the Ming Dynasty again." People, show that the days of stability and peace can continue, and vigorous publicity will definitely make the people proud of the Ming Dynasty and proud of themselves as citizens of the Ming Dynasty!"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and approved Liu Ji's suggestion: "This method is feasible, but winning a big victory is difficult. You also know the situation of the court, and there is a shortage of war horses. It is not easy to achieve a great victory in the past two years."
Liu Ji turned around and said: "The most important thing at the moment is to promote culture and education, promote education, and guide the people to know etiquette, law, and writing. Jurong County is preparing for literacy. I think this matter can be carried out in various prefectures and counties. Implement them together.”
Zhu Yuanzhang clasped his hands behind his back and stopped: "If you want to promote literacy in other prefectures and counties, you need to call their edicts and instructions to Guozixue or Jurong College to learn and master pinyin."
"This matter can be arranged as soon as possible."
Liu Ji responded.
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while and finally nodded: "Both the professors of Guozixue and the supervisors are all very interested in pinyin. Some people even want to use it to compile a new dictionary, mark the text, and pay for the engraving. We plan to let Song Lian Take on this important responsibility.”
Liu Ji leaned on the guardrail and took a few breaths: "He is the most suitable candidate, but - whether Gu Zhengchen should be involved, after all, he proposed the pinyin..."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "This is natural."
The water of the Qinhuai River is rippling, and the boat is swaying along.
Suddenly, a wealthy man on the boat lost his balance, causing the boat to tilt violently. Before the boatman could stabilize himself, the man stepped to the other side, and the boat with a deep draft suddenly turned over. The two guys, Including the boatman also fell into the river.
"Help!"
A cry came from the river.
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand, and several people jumped into the river from the shore and fished several people out.
The wealthy businessman ignored his wetness and looked at the overturned river boat. There were no boxes on it, and he couldn't help but become anxious: "My box is still at the bottom of the river. Quick, fish it up for me."
The two guys knew how to swim, jumped to the bottom of the river, groped around, and shouted: "Shopkeeper Lu, all three boxes are here, but they are stuck in the mud. It is difficult for the two of us to take them out. We need a helper."
Lu Mian looked at the boatman: "Why don't you go down and help?"
The boatman was a little aggrieved, but there was nothing he could do. After all, his boat capsized.
With the help of the clerk and the boatman, the three large boxes were lifted out of the water and dragged ashore after people on the shore threw down ropes to fasten them.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Ji came over, and there were many good people standing around, talking about it.
Lu Mian complained to the boatman that the boat could capsize even if there was no wind or waves. He said he was unwilling to pay for the boat.
The boatman was also aggrieved. You knew you were fat and the things you were carrying were heavy, so you just sat there. If you had nothing to do, why did you get up and walk around? If you hadn't had a kick on the left and right, the boat would have capsized.
"What's in this box?"
Zhu Yuanzhang asked.
Lu Mian looked at Zhu Yuanzhang warily: "This is none of your business."
Zhu Yuanzhang stared.
Lu Mian felt a sharp gaze and an indescribable sense of oppression that made him almost breathless. He quickly said, "We are here in Jinling to purchase goods. There is no need to ask what we are bringing here."
"I think it's copper coins."
Liu Ji said softly.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the three large boxes.
The boatman suffered a loss and had no income. He muttered aggrievedly: "It is very inconvenient to bring such heavy copper coins to do some business. It is not as convenient as the money of the BC Yuan Dynasty, and it saves the money today."
Lu Mian hummed: "We also want to use money, but the court doesn't have it. There are fewer shops now. To do some business, we can only deposit the money in a big box. We are frightened and have people guarding us day and night. I walk slowly and slowly, and finally When I arrived at Jinling, I breathed a sigh of relief before this went wrong."
"Money?"
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and took a step forward: "Why, do you think banknotes are more useful than copper coins?"
Lu Mian glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and said with some displeasure: "Does this need to be said? I have traveled more than a thousand miles from Kaifeng, and these three copper coin boxes are almost exhausted. It is very inconvenient to carry them back and forth. Yuan Shi I mainly use money, as long as I carry it in my sleeve or in my arms, no one will know that I have money with me. I can travel without worries and sleep peacefully. Isn't it wonderful?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Ji: "So, money can relieve businessmen from the pain of running around doing transactions?"
Liu Ji's heart moved. Is it possible that His Majesty intends to mint and print money?
