No one really knows what kind of person the emperor is today.
In the eyes of other courtiers, looking through the annals of history, there is only one emperor like Zhu Houcong.
To be honest, he was not as aggressive as Han Wu - his main pursuit was to expand the Arakan territory, and he could not live in peace for eight or nine years after expelling the Khan Court.
When it comes to advocating culture and education, he is also extremely "deviant". Those who have really studied the background of practical studies and dialectics will understand that this is quite different from Confucianism.
In order to firmly hold power, he has no shortage of means, but he has also established a national policy conference and the State Council to delegate power.
No one really understands Zhu Houcong.
Qi Jiguang also couldn't understand Zhang Juzheng.
Now, seventeen-year-old Zhang Juzheng is using his own way to wander around the edges of taboos, exploring the boundaries of the emperor's views on certain issues.
Because he is only seventeen years old, he still has such courage now.
Because he is so smart that he can do such a thing now.
Another night in this small courtyard, taking care of His Royal Highness, he only had to go about his daily life.
It was impossible for this ordinary businessman's daughter to have any special relationship with the prince. Zhang Juzheng knew this clearly.
Zhang Juzheng felt that the emperor would definitely have sex with others if he really caused some scandal with the prince.
Under his tactful reminder, the prince was also measured.
Along the way, there were some ambiguous things to enjoy occasionally, but nothing really over the line.
In Zhang Juzheng’s words: There are many princes, and this trip is both a training and a test.
Now Zhu Zaiyi watched Zhang Juzheng tease the shop owner's daughter to the extreme.
There was also a slight smile on the corner of Zhu Zai'an's mouth, and there was a lot of emotion in his eyes.
Having been reading to him since childhood, Zhang Juzheng's future has actually been determined: he is a natural imperialist.
And if you don't have the prestige of your father to overwhelm the ministers, such an imperial party will be an isolated minister.
Similarly, Zhu Zai'an was not far behind in his father's presence.
Thinking about it now, this trip to Shuangyu Island, including some choices along the way to break through the established route, is somewhat meaningful.
Life without a routine is very new and exciting for Zhu Zaiyu. This emotional feeling, this special experience, was something Zhang Juzheng tried his best to help him achieve.
In this process, Zhang Juzheng and Qi Jiguang, both civil and military, truly established an extraordinary friendship with the prince.
That is the tacit understanding and trust of facing the unknown together.
When Zhang Juzheng returned from arranging dinner with the shopkeeper's daughter, Zhu Zaiyi looked at Zhang Juzheng and asked bluntly: "Shu Da, was this done deliberately?"
Qi Jiguang's heart trembled and he looked at Zhang Juzheng.
Is the prince dissatisfied, or does he want to ask something else?
Zhang Juzheng had just taken a sip of tea. Hearing this, he put down the teacup and looked at the prince.
After a while, he said: "How dare I deliberately put His Highness in danger? It's just that His Majesty has taught you carefully over the years and hopes that His Highness will continue to work hard. In this case, traveling cannot be just a formality. There is chaos at the pier and the secret guards are moving, but I cannot let His Highness appear unsuspecting. Speaking of this matter, His Majesty, your Majesty will naturally intervene after returning to the capital, but he cannot excuse me."
Zhu Zaiyi was a little surprised: "Seriously? Why?"
Zhang Juzheng sighed and said: "How wise and powerful is your Majesty? How can I not be punished since I put your Highness in danger? Over the years, Your Majesty has regarded me as a disciple. I cannot secure a high position in the future just by relying on your kindness. Your Highness, there is something. I also hope that when Your Majesty is going to punish me, I will ask Your Majesty for clarification."
"...What does it take to wait for such a time?"
Zhang Juzheng looked at Qi Jiguang, and then said slowly: "In the future, your highness will be the king, and Yuan Jing and I will be ministers. In the future, your highness will have more ministers and a wider territory. After this incident, the disciple has committed a crime Wrong, my mentor wants to give you a lesson so that I can ask your majesty to give you some advice and know how to assist your highness in the future so as to best suit your majesty's wishes. To be honest, the Ming Dynasty is very different now. It is difficult for history to tell the future situation. I have been thinking about it. Go, I’m afraid only His Majesty can see clearly.”
After a pause, he said to Zhu Zaiyi: "The sooner His Majesty and I make these matters clear to His Majesty, the better!"
Zhu Zaiyi stopped talking.
Naturally, his father had said a lot to him in private, and he somewhat understood what Zhang Juzheng meant.
The question he asked Zhang Juzheng also had an answer.
Is this the direction Zhang Juzheng deliberately guided? Now it seems that it is probably true. At least Zhang Juzheng has his own doubts and wants to create opportunities to clarify them.
What kind of instructions will be given after returning to Beijing?
Zhu Zaiyi knew that what Zhang Juzheng was wondering about was the distant future. How will you treat your father after a hundred years? How are you doing?
…
When the wharf gangs on Shuangyu Island were causing trouble that night, they had no chance of thinking that there was a Ming Prince on the island.
Because it was over the top at that time, it is now facing a disaster.
The Jinyiwei special operations battalion and special service team, who were responsible for secretly protecting the prince, helped Fei Maozhong take action, but their struggling postures seemed futile.
And Fei Maozhong, who had shrewdly written an even-keeled article during the imperial examination, understood even more clearly that the emperor would eventually vent his anger on the issue of poor local governance.
There is a turbulent undercurrent between the Ming Dynasty and the vassal states. The arrows that the emperor swore to shoot on the monument in Xuancheng are still there. His Majesty's grand plans have not yet been realized, and money is needed to use troops.
Through this incident, a batch of stolen money was obtained, and after the shipping department in Ningbo was reorganized, more maritime trade tax revenue could be generated, which was in line with the emperor's needs.
Lu Bing rushed to Ningbo. When Fei Maozhong greeted him, Lu Bing only met him politely.
When Fei Maozhong wanted to ask him how to cooperate in finding the prince, Lu Bing just shook his head: "Fei Dutai is busy with official duties. He just pretends that I, the commander, have never been here."
After saying that, he looked at the frightened Liang Guangfeng: "Bind your hands and come with me to plead guilty in person!"
Fei Mao was startled and asked: "Commander Lu, do you have an idea already?"
Lu Bing was in a relaxed mood now, but his face was noncommittal: "Fei Dutai, it's best not to arrange anyone to see where this commander has gone."
"...don't dare, don't dare..."
Do the Jinyiwei and the Internal Inspectorate have any secret lairs somewhere? How dare Fei Maozhong ask about these things.
However, Lu Bing seemed to have a clear goal after arriving, which was also a big shock to local officials like him.
This means that His Majesty has more eyes and ears than before, and the channels are so secretive that even Liang Guangfeng, the prince's secret guard commander during his travels, does not know about it.
When Liang Guangfeng heard that his boss had direct arrangements, what else could he say?
Naturally, he was wearing casual clothes, with his hands tied behind his back and hidden under his robe. He looked very domineering when walking behind Lu Bing with his hands behind his back.
Although he lowered his head like a defeated chicken.
"Stupidity is indeed stupidity, and loyalty is indeed loyalty."
On the way, Lu Bing spoke.
"Ashamed of my humble position..."
"I have checked your little relatives and friends on the way here." Lu Bing's eyes flickered, "Fortunately, it was just a mistake made out of necessity, and I, the commander, can still excuse you in front of His Majesty."
"Sir, this is a humble position..." Liang Guangfeng was deeply moved.
"Be more careful in the future. The Jin Yiwei is just the Emperor's sharp sword. If no one draws the sword, how can he unsheath it on his own?"
The group of people in casual clothes also checked into a hotel, and then behaved like ordinary travelers.
But when the silk buyer arrived at the store, he found the owner after entering.
"My master received the letter the day before yesterday and heard that he received three excellent tribute horses?"
"The tribute...Did your lord bring a seal? For such a noble matter, the etiquette and rules must not be compromised!" The shop owner became nervous.
"That's right. My master's invitation and seal are here. Please give the invitation to me, and make an appointment to visit me on a certain date."
"... Please wait a moment, I need to check if everything is safe."
"Excuse me!"
After the store owner took the letter and the small box, he first used all his energy to step through the door leading to the backyard from the front store, seemingly normal, and then he held it with both hands and ran quickly to the backyard nervously.
"Mr. Zhang, Mr. Zhang..."
He lowered his voice and walked to the door of the main room in the backyard, his mouth trembling: "A distinguished guest has arrived with a letter and the seal you mentioned."
"Boss Tang, come in and talk."
Zhang Juzheng opened the door from the inside, invited him in, then solemnly took the letter and box and presented them to Zhu Zai'an.
Zhu Zaiyi opened the box first.
The young owner of this shop named Tang saw the Crown Prince take out a golden seal from the box and look at the inscriptions on it.
Then, he opened the letter and read it carefully.
After a while, he said: "Boss Tang, distinguished guests are here to hold a family banquet. Let's invite Mr. An to the house tonight. Uncle, come and write the invitation."
"... Mr. An actually came in person." Zhang Juzheng nodded solemnly, "I'll write it right now!"
After a handover, Boss Tang returned the "invitation" to the visitor, and then called for his daughter: "Quickly, tell your mother to prepare a table of good wine and good food. We have distinguished guests tonight!"
"Dad, but..."
"No need to ask any more questions!"
Boss Tang has been on tenterhooks for many days.
Ever since that night, when the scholar who used to talk about business to seduce his daughter who was helping in the store came to reveal his identity, Boss Tang was both happy and surprised.
I was running a small business on this Shuangyu Island to make a living. How could I have imagined that one day I would host the Crown Prince at home for so many days?
But after the seemingly gentle and courteous scholar said those words, Boss Tang also knew that this was a big deal.
No one dared to pretend to be the prince, and he, an ordinary person who had never thought about being involved, did not dare to risk the prince's safety by disobeying them and revealing any information to the outside world.
It is true that no one really went door-to-door to search the three young men - wouldn't that mean His Royal Highness was regarded as a thief? I just came and asked a few times, and after I told him that I had never seen him, I gave up.
Later, no one continued to ask.
Now, after sending him an ordinary letter home, a distinguished guest actually came to his door with a seal and mentioned "three excellent tribute horses" as he said.
Can we finally send them away? This time, it should be considered a little bit of work, right?
It's almost nightfall, and the atmosphere on Shuangyu Island has become much more depressing recently.
The government is hunting down the bandits who caused the rebellion, and preventing the Japanese pirates from causing another disturbance at night is a top priority.
At dusk, three people arrived at the store one after the other.
The leader was in his early thirties. He took out the invitation and bent down: "Uncle Tang Shi, my nephew is here to pay me a visit."
"...Don't dare, don't dare."
Boss Tang didn't know why such important people were so cautious now that they had already arrived. It must be related to the prince's safety.
He took the people to the main room in the backyard, huddled by the door and watched the leader raise his eyes to see clearly into the room, then quickly stepped forward, knelt on his knees and saluted: "Lu Bing, commander of the Jinyi Guards, is here to greet His Highness the Crown Prince. My escort is late, your Highness, please forgive me!"
Boss Tang's legs softened and he felt like he wanted to kneel down.
It is indeed true, not false.
So he really knelt down.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince hurried over and said, "I feel ashamed to bother my aunt and father to come..."
"Deputy Qianhu Liang Guangfeng acted on his own initiative and failed to protect him, so I brought him here and asked Your Highness to punish him!"
"Please punish me, Your Highness!"
Liang Guangfeng was kneeling there. Boss Tang peeked over and saw that this man's hands were tied tightly to his back.
"...Things happened suddenly. Since my uncle brought you to me, it seems like it was just a false alarm. Since I saw my uncle today, if you have anything to do, let's talk about it later. Get up first."
"Boss Tang, you have worked hard during this time. You have done a great job in protecting the Crown Prince. This commander will report it to Your Majesty."
"You are destroying the common people, Prince Consort, the common people don't dare, the common people don't dare..."
Seeing the boss of Jinyiwei, who was rumored to be like a demon among the people, coming to help him personally, Boss Tang immediately stood up timidly.
At this time, he saw the "uncle" in His Royal Highness's mouth staring at the young man named Zhang.
"Commander Lu, please come here personally. If you are found guilty, you deserve to die."
Zhang Juzheng bent down to salute, while Qi Jiguang knelt aside.
"His Majesty's word!"
At this time, Boss Tang's heart trembled again, and he knelt down again: finish it in one breath!
Zhang Juzheng also knelt down, including Zhu Zaiyi.
At this moment, Lu Bing represents the Emperor of Heaven, Zhu Houcong.
"We will discuss the blame and merit after returning to Beijing. I am busy with national affairs, so please don't cause me any more worries."
Zhu Zaiyi took the lead and said: "I am ashamed..."
With the blame first, Zhang Juzheng only said: "I will obey the holy edict."
Lu Bing then helped Zhu Zaiyi up first: "Okay, His Highness is also frightened. Now that I have seen you, I can feel relieved. I have made arrangements for my return to the capital. We will set off tomorrow, and I will personally escort His Highness back to the capital." "
"Thank you for your hard work, uncle."
"...Your Majesty...Your Highness, Prince Consort...is it...ready to serve?" Boss Tang whispered from the side, "They are all home-cooked dishes. Your Highness has been using them for several days, and there is no problem." .”
"Boss Tang, I'm sorry for bothering you. I've been bothering you for a few days. Before I say goodbye, I'd like to thank you and your family."
Lu Bing saw that the prince was approachable and his eyes were still mainly on Zhang Juzheng, who was calm and calm.
"This is the blessing of the common people, the blessing of the common people. Your Highness, Prince Consort, gentlemen, wait a moment, wait a moment..."
The people brought by Lu Bing and another personal entourage had no part in serving the table, so they were waiting in the courtyard.
There were no outsiders for the time being, so Lu Bingcai said to Zhang Juzheng: "Uncle, Your Majesty asked me to ask you."
Zhang Juzheng left his seat again and knelt down: "The students are here."
"The princes have always been friendly, why are you so nervous?"
"Students accompanying His Highness the Crown Prince do not dare to take any risks."
Lu Bing nodded: "Okay. I understand your reminder."
Zhang Juzheng's heart trembled.
Does Your Majesty have a plan for his answer to this question?
Just listen to Lu Bing say again: "Zhang Bandu can eat this meal."
Zhang Juzheng thanked him, stood up with a wry smile, and asked Lu Bing directly: "Commander Lu, you'd better tie this kid back as well."
Qi Jiguang felt a little confused. Anyway, Lu Bing just sighed and said, "It's really worrying His Majesty. You don't know how much trouble there has been recently. As a result, I have to leave Beijing in person. Come back to Beijing as soon as possible and tie you up." I'm afraid it will also go slower. Your Majesty asked me to tell you that you are a very smart person. Let you learn from His Majesty since you were a child, and don't get too deep in the city just because you were around His Highness since you were a child."
"...Young man is disgraceful of His Majesty's teachings."
Lu Bing took a deep look at Zhang Juzheng.
No matter what, this guy's move and letter still forced him to leave Beijing and come here in person.
Before the Ming Dynasty started to take action against the vassals, and before the emperor might want to assign other princes to the vassals, this incident allowed the world's important officials to see the importance the emperor attached to the prince.
The prince has always been wary of the dispute between the crown prince and the important ministers.
The emperor's attitude of never allowing the prince to make a mistake but having to take risks to train the prince to become a more qualified monarch was noticed by the important ministers.
The prince has such young but smart civil servants who have grown up together with him, and the important ministers have also seen it.
After accompanying the prince through adventures, and with such opportunities and scheming, how could he not be in a high position in the future?
Even if he will be punished for this now, he is still only seventeen!
What's more, from the emperor's warning to him in advance, Lu Bing also knew that this guy had more than just this in mind.
But there are more considerations, I am afraid only His Majesty has figured it out.
That may be what I want to say to the prince alone later, and what I want to say to attack Zhang Juzheng alone.
At this time, when Boss Tang and his wife and daughter came over with dishes, the prince just smiled and said to Zhang Juzheng: "Uncle, since we have this fate, we can't miss this beautiful lady."
It can be seen that the prince strongly agrees with Zhang Juzheng's decision this time!
(End of chapter)
