March 12, Longjiang Pier.
Gu Zhengchen bid farewell to his mother and asked Gu Qingqing and Liu Qianer to take good care of her, and asked his father-in-law to pay more attention to his health.
Considering that the leak of intelligence in Jinling has never been resolved, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have forgotten about it. After weighing it, Gu Zhengchen left Zhang Pei and Yao Zhen in Jinling, and boarded the ship accompanied by Xiao Cheng and Lin Baifan. Big treasure ship.
Chu Xing and Meng Wanli were transferred back to the Huai'an Guard. Zhu Yuanzhang transferred Chen Qing, the commander of the Yingwu Guard, and Mao Ding, the commander of the Shence Guard, to join the navy as staff generals. They were controlled by Jinghai Marquis Wu Zhen and listened to the Quanzhou Guard. The commander is Gu Zhengchen.
This kind of dual commander arrangement is rare, but Chen Qing, Mao Ding, and Zhang He all knew that Jinghai Marquis Wu Zhen's restraint was just a cover to avoid the situation where the soldiers would not listen due to Gu Zhengchen's lack of qualifications. Indeed, compared to Zhang He, Mao Ding, and Chen Qing, Gu Zhengchen was nothing. When he got up from the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, Gu Zhengchen didn't even know a few characters.
Gu Zhengchen waved and said goodbye to his mother, father-in-law, sister, and others, and said goodbye to Mu Ying, Mu Chun, Mu Sheng, and Xu Yungong. Although Zhu Biao did not come, he sent Zhou Zong, the man with the sword, to see him off.
Compared with the few people who sent Gu Zhengchen off, there were many people who sent Liu Ji off.
Song Lian came and took his disciples with him.
Wang Guangyang, who usually loves learning, also came.
Among the officials in the imperial court, there were five or six ministers, seven or eight ministers, and many other principals and doctors.
Liu Ji is not only a sincere man, he is also one of the "Three Great Masters of Poetry and Prose in the Early Ming Dynasty". He has a high status in the literary world. In addition, he has always advocated the concept of "governing the country with virtue and winning the hearts of the people" and has won the favor of many civil servants. support.
When Hu Weiyong also appeared at the dock, Gu Zhengchen realized what a political master was. Look at Hu Weiyong. Even though the two of them were very difficult to deal with and wanted to kill each other, they were actually talking and laughing.
Liu Ji smiled and returned to talking, but his body bones could no longer bear it. With the support of Liu Lian and Liu Jing, he looked at the people seeing him off and said his last parting words: "The captives are still here. You should encourage me. May the fortunes of the Ming Dynasty be prosperous, and the country be immortal for thousands of years. I say goodbye here, everyone - take care!"
Everyone bowed and watched Liu Ji get on the boat.
Gu Zhengchen stood on the side of the ship, looking at the people who came to see him off. When his eyes glanced at Hu Weiyong, he saw Hu Weiyong looking at him, his face like an ancient well, without any fluctuation.
One person is on the shore and one person is on the boat.
The two looked at each other, speechless, but there seemed to be many words that did not need to be expressed in words.
Gu Zhengchen couldn't tell what Hu Weiyong was thinking and what was hidden under his smile. When he reached this point in his career as an official, he had already managed to keep his emotions and anger indistinguishable.
Hu Weiyong stared at the calm Gu Zhengchen. This young man was neither from eastern Zhejiang nor Huaixi. He had no hometown and roots. He seemed vulnerable. But now, he was born in Shandong and was far away from eastern Zhejiang and Huaixi. Advantage, otherwise the emperor would not have chosen him to escort Liu Ji back to his fields!
Young and promising, capable in doing things, and has made great achievements many times! This child is either one of our own or a dead person.
Otherwise, Zhongshu may not have the final say!
Gu Zhengchen took over Liu Ji, and the two stood together and waved to everyone.
Zhang He ordered the sergeant to set sail.
As the long oar pushed the boat away from the shore, Gu's mother took two steps forward and wanted to give a few words of advice, but finally stopped.
When Zhang Xiwan saw this scene, her nose felt sour and tears were about to fall.
This section of the road that is about to leave but never left is the most painful.
Gu Zhengchen silently looked at his relatives at the dock. The people in his pupils changed from clear to blurred, and then from blurred to disappeared. Then he came back to his senses and looked at Liu Ji: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, the cabin is ready."
Liu Ji shook his head: "Please ask Mr. Gu to let me stay outside and watch the sun, moon and stars when I return home."
Gu Zhengchen knew that Liu Ji's deadline was approaching, so he arranged for Zhang He: "Let people put two thick mattresses on the deck, and let Uncle Chengyi and I sleep outside."
Zhang He nodded and arranged for people to prepare.
The sergeant was also careful and laid out three mattresses.
Liu Lian and Liu Jing helped Liu Ji lie down half-way, with high pillows on his back, and Liu Ji breathed in the river breeze.
Gu Zhengchen comforted Zhang Xiwan and asked Xiao He to take Zhang Xiwan to the cabin to rest. Then he walked towards Liu Ji, took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on another quilt, ordered someone to bring in the chessboard, and said to Liu Ji: "Uncle sincerity, you are thoughtful. Let’s talk for a while?”
Liu Lian was a little worried: "Gu County man, father is already tired..."
Liu Ji raised his hand to interrupt Liu Lian: "It's rare that Mr. Gu County is thoughtful, so don't worry about it. Get out of my way. Don't block my wind. Mr. Gu County, Liu is very light when nothing happens, but you can't I will take care of your feelings, but don’t get angry if you lose too badly.”
Gu Zhengchen laughed: "It's an honor for Gu to lose to a talent like Uncle Chengyi, so how can he be angry? Come on, let's take a guess first."
Seeing Gu Zhengchen grab a handful of chess pieces, Liu Ji chuckled and said, "Today happens to be an even number, and you and I are traveling together, so naturally it can only be an even number."
Gu Zhengchen spread it out and saw six chess pieces. It turned out to be an even number. He couldn't help but admire him: "What's the trick?"
Liu Ji suddenly frowned, his face tightened, and after a moment of sullenness, he relaxed his brows and said, "The secret lies in the principles of heaven and earth. The so-called yin and yang complement each other and have their own destiny..."
Gu Zhengchen knew that Liu Ji was unwell, but he felt the same when lying down and sitting up. This kind of pain could not be avoided by resting. Seeing that he was bragging despite the pain, he was not happy: "Can you tell me something about what people can do?" Do you understand?"
"Mongolian."
Liu Ji said the key.
Gu Zhengchen was depressed: "You are so swearing, what if you guess wrong?"
Liu Ji smiled calmly: "Wrong, that is because the weather is not with me. Before the winner is determined, Gu County man, people need to move forward with unwavering faith!"
Gu Zhengchen's eyes were bright: "What a firm belief, but this is just to decide who will strike first. If you are wrong, wouldn't it mean that you have lost your mentality and your belief?"
Liu Ji picked up the white chess piece and put it down calmly: "I guessed wrong. It's just that the weather is not with me, but I still have the right location, people, and people. Who said that without the right time, you can't rely on the right location, people, and people to win? Even if the right time, the right place and the right people are not there, you can't win." , as long as there are still people and people, we can block hundreds of rivers and flow eastward, and turn back the waves before they fall!"
Gu Zhengchen was in awe and raised his hands: "Sincerity, do you think that harmony can conquer anything?"
When Liu Ji saw Gu Zhengchen's move, he followed a chess move: "Heaven is above, earth is below, only harmony is in the middle. In the middle is the commander-in-chief. In the final analysis, the favorable weather, time and place are just the chess pieces of harmony. If used well, then It is a clever move that forces people into a desperate situation. If it is not used properly, it will be a stupid move that will harm others and yourself, and the situation will be difficult to recover from."
"Gu boy, you are cautious and careful in your actions. Don't you also know the principle of harmony? It's just that your behavior is not very clever and has offended many people. Although you are in the world, you have lost people. And, it is easy to lose the geographical advantage. Without the geographical advantage, there may be an abyss under our feet at any time. Every step forward is to walk against the abyss."
Gu Zhengchen nodded bitterly.
He seems to have unlimited glory, but in the court, no one is looking after him, and he has even offended many people.
Although he is related to the East Palace and the emperor, and is close to Xu Da, Mu Ying, Wu Zhen and others, they are either royal family or military generals, not civil servants.
Among the civil servants in the imperial court, there were only two people who could get along with Gu Zhengchen. One was Zhan Tong, who had already left, and the other was Li Min, the former minister of the Ministry of Industry and now a political participant in Jiangxi.
But these two people can only be said to be on friendly terms with Gu Zhengchen, and are not "party friends". Although Fei Zhen from the Baochao Promotion Department has a good relationship with Gu Zhengchen, he still has little influence. A promotion is much higher than his official position.
In the final analysis, Gu Zhengchen still has no foundation in the court and no harmony. Whenever Gu Zhengchen's memorials are mentioned, almost all of them refer to impeachment...
"Uncle Cheng, teach me!"
Gu Zhengchen said solemnly.
Liu Ji held a chess piece and saw no one around him, so he whispered: "If I could teach you, how could I go back by boat? Mr. Gu County, you have your fate, and you have enough wisdom and responsibility. I I believe that one day, you can replace Hu!"
Gu Zhengchen clicked down the chess pieces, lowered his head and said: "A powerful person who will break the plow and break the plow is not something a small person like me can mess with. I just want to do something in peace, for the people, for the Ming Dynasty, that's all That’s all.”
Liu Ji laughed out loud and pointed at the swaying trees on the shore: "You think the tree doesn't want to be quiet? No, it thinks, it's just that the wind won't let it go! You have already entered the officialdom, don't say innocent words anymore. If there is no preparation at all, when the storm comes, you will die without a burial! Do you think that now that the emperor favors you, he will not touch you in the future? I am afraid you have forgotten Mr. Han! "
South Korea’s Mr. Lee Sun-chang!
Gu Zhengchen's face was stern.
Zhu Yuanzhang undoubtedly trusted this man who was the first of the six founding Dukes. It's just trust, trust. After being targeted for several years, Li Shanchang could only retreat sadly and recuperate at home even if he wasn't sick.
Now I am a target, anyone can hit me. When there are too many arrows, Lao Zhu will get tired of it sooner or later and let himself leave.
Unless you get a few shields, or find a few court attendants to catch up with the archers, or guide them to shoot other targets, don't always stare at yourself...
However, there is no one in the court.
Gu Zhengchen lowered his head and pondered.
Officials in the Hongwu period, especially those before the 25th year of Hongwu, were basically just a sideshow. It’s not that there weren’t many people who served as tumblers in the court, but there were none...
Liu Ji said in a deep voice: "No one can stand in the court for a long time without any foundation. You have to think clearly about how to take the future."
Gu Zhengchen raised his head, looked deeply at Liu Ji, and said with a smile: "Uncle Chengyi has returned with a lot of emotions. He has lost the heroic spirit of previous years. I think back then, you shouted 'Wanli Marquis, Eighth Eighth Prince'" How come the precious food is like my hometown, there is no need to walk around to cool off, why is it that a hero with unparalleled fame and fame on hundreds of battlefields now only talks about how to preserve it?"
Liu Ji was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly, clapped his hands and said: "Back then, I laughed at Yang Xiong's loneliness, Liu Ling in silence, Ji Sheng's birthday, and He Laoqing's madness. Now I laugh at Gu County men who are not afraid of the wind - strong winds and waves! "
