Chen Kan was too lazy to talk to the Zhu brothers. He said a few words casually and then continued to read the letter.
The letter naturally came from the capital.
Chen Kan's departure from the capital does not mean that he has completely given up on the capital. His whereabouts are still reported to the capital every day, and people from the capital come to him at any time to deliver news from the court.
Of course, Chen Kan's main focus was on the imperial court and the war between Liaodong and Japan.
Needless to say, above the court, various government orders are issued every day, and the situation is also changing rapidly.
The battlefields of Liaodong and Japan were the only super-large-scale battles in the Yongle New Dynasty from the beginning to the present.
Annan's time was also considered a national war, but the scale was much smaller than this time.
After all, Annan was just a small and weak country in the final analysis, but the Liaodong Peninsula and the Japanese State were the biggest enemies of the Central Plains dynasties in the past, besides the grasslands and plateaus.
Especially for the Japanese country, Chen Kan paid even more attention to the rise and fall of this country than the Ming Dynasty. It was the hatred hidden in his bones and blood in his past and present lives.
If not, he would not have insisted on letting the cruel and barbaric Jurchens go to Japan to establish their country.
In addition, the progress of Zheng He's fleet is also something Chen Kan is more concerned about.
The wealth of Manchuria and Sumatra was brought back to the Ming Dynasty, which was enough to take the national power of the Ming Dynasty to a higher level.
And his plan for Nanyang also needs Zheng He to implement again.
The letter sent from the capital today is about Zheng He's fleet.
With the help of the Shandong Navy, Zheng He's fleet has now reached the South China Sea of Guangzhou and will be able to return to the capital in at most one month.
Zheng He returned to the capital. According to the plan, he would rest in the capital for at most one year before continuing his second voyage to the West.
Originally, according to Chen Kan's idea, Zheng He's rest time in the capital must be as short as possible.
But there is no choice. The Ming Dynasty's current productivity is like that. The fleet returns to the capital, the warships need to be repaired, the soldiers need to take vacations, and the weapons need to be replaced. These things cannot be completed overnight.
One year is already the shortest time that can be compressed.
After reading the letter, Chen Kan tore it into pieces, then walked to the makeshift stove and threw the fragments into the fire.
Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhanhe stretched their necks, but found that Chen Kan really had no intention of talking to them in detail, so they left in dismay.
Back at the camp, the two brothers picked up the lunch sent by their servants and started eating it in their mouths like a wind.
Youdao is like a half-grown man living in poverty.
Da Zhu and Xiao Zhu are now growing up, so a bowl of food is naturally not enough for them to consume.
The two of them seemed to be competing to eat, not only competing to see who could eat faster, but also competing to see who could eat more.
Although Zhu Zhanji won every time, Zhu Zhanhe still enjoyed it.
After finishing the meal, the two brothers burped at the same time.
Zhu Zhanji leaned on the car's shaft, picking his teeth, and suddenly said with emotion: "It would be great if the second junior brother was here. Maybe the two of you together can outshine me."
Zhu Zhanhe curled his lips, flicked the toothpick in his hand, shook his head and said: "Second Senior Brother, the path he will take in the future is different from us. Senior Brother, if you have the heart to think about how to suppress us in eating, you might as well think about it carefully. How to solve the difficult problems that the teacher has given you these days."
The problems Zhu Zhanhe mentioned were naturally the social contradictions in the Ming Dynasty, such as the decrease in per capita land due to the increase in population, land annexation, and tax reform.
There is no way to talk about these things openly, especially land annexation and taxation.
Because the royal family is the biggest beneficiary of land annexation and taxation.
It is impossible for Zhu Di to dig up his own foundation, but it will not work unless these things are resolved.
In the absence of the emperor himself, the best person to resolve these matters is actually His Highness the Crown Prince.
Because His Royal Highness is not the head of a family, it will not be so painful for him to dig up his own foundation. At the same time, he has great righteousness, so he will not encounter as much resistance as ordinary people.
But Zhu Gaochi's obesity was not conducive to his travels. If he were asked to take a trip to Yunnan, he would probably lose half his life.
In addition, the prince is a native of the country after all, so it is reasonable to stay in the capital to consolidate his basic base.
When neither the emperor nor the prince can come forward, these problems can only fall on Zhu Zhanji, the third-generation heir.
As soon as Zhu Zhanhe finished speaking, Zhu Zhanji's expression suddenly became waning.
The problems we have encountered recently are the kind that are not fatal in a short period of time, but will become terminal diseases as the time line is extended.
Asking a fourteen-year-old or fifteen-year-old boy to come up with a solution in a short period of time is simply making things difficult for others.
After a moment of loss, Zhu Zhanji suddenly roared angrily: "Why can we spend time enjoying happiness in Beijing, but we brothers have to work as tailors with the teacher?"
Facing Zhu Zhanji's indignant expression, Hua Shi'er twitched the corner of his mouth and shook his head seriously: "It's not us brothers, it's you alone, eldest brother. These things have nothing to do with me. You are the Ming Dynasty designated by the emperor and uncle. Heir, I will just be a prince and work on my laboratory."
"Well......"
Zhu Zhanji's expression suddenly froze on his face, and after a while, his whole person exuded an aura of sadness and anger from the inside out.
"Unfair, unfair, why?"
Zhu Zhanhe rolled his eyes and decided not to get mad with Zhu Zhanji.
Are you kidding? With great power comes great responsibility. He didn't bother to repeat such a simple truth.
Zhu Zhanji was left standing there in grief and anger. Zhu Zhanhe trotted to Chen Kan and asked in a low voice: "Teacher, why don't I send two people to follow the two Taoist priests? I always feel that they are not reliable. If you die outside, it will be a big trouble."
Chen Kan nodded and said calmly: "You can make up your own mind about this little matter. From now on, you three brothers and fellow apprentices will have to decide on your own. You are not children anymore."
Zhu Zhanhe had a thoughtful look on his face, as if he was thinking about what Chen Kan meant when he said he was not a child.
After a while, Zhu Zhanhe shook his head and said, "But the student is only twelve years old."
"Twelve years old, which is not too young. I heard that the Queen is already sick and looking for a suitable girl for you and your eldest brother. I think that when we return to the capital from Yunnan, you two should also Wedding."
"ah?"
As soon as Chen Kan finished speaking, Zhu Zhanhe jumped up.
"What?"
"marry?"
"No, no, this disciple is only twelve years old!"
Zhu Zhanhe looked sad and angry, as if getting married was a terrible horror.
Chen Kan smacked his mouth and said lazily: "That's about it. Your Majesty's body is getting worse and worse, and she can choose a wife for you despite her illness. You should just have fun secretly."
Zhu Zhanhe had a sad face and wanted to say something, but Chen Kan waved him away impatiently.
He just couldn't stand the way the Zhu brothers looked like they were taking advantage and acting like a good boy.
Damn thing.
After resting for a while and waiting until the sun was no longer so fierce, the team continued on their way.
After Jiangxi, it is the boundary of Hunan. Chen Kan's next destination is called Yongdingwei.
Since it was ordered by the guards, it was of course the place where the army was stationed.
The reason why Chen Kanzhi wanted to go to Yongding Guard was related to the clan.
This clan refers to King Zhu Bai of Hunan who was forced to self-immolate with his whole family by Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen.
Zhu Bai is the twelfth son of Grandpa Taizu, and his biological mother is Concubine Hu Shun.
According to historical records, Zhu Bai seldom had great ambitions, but often assisted the country, helped the world and brought peace to the people. In the eleventh year of Hongwu, he was named King of Xiang, and his fiefdom was located in Jingzhou, Hubei.
But the world only knows that he was forced by his nephew to lead his family to self-immolation, but few people know that Zhu Bai was the vassal king who had the best relationship with Zhu Di among the vassal kings of the Ming Dynasty.
After Zhu Bai set himself on fire, Zhu Yunwen first gave him the evil posthumous title of "戾", and then changed the evil posthumous title of "戾" to the evil posthumous title of "Rou".
It was not until after Zhu Di ascended the throne that Zhu Bai's posthumous title was changed from the evil posthumous title "Rou" set by Jianwen to the beautiful posthumous title "Xian", and later to the beautiful posthumous title "Xian".
Therefore, later generations always call King Zhu Bai of Hunan as King Xiangxian or King Xiangxian.
Zhu Di not only rectified Zhu Bai's name, but also adopted a distant branch from the clan as Zhu Bai's stepson and named him the Prince of Yongding County, considering that Zhu Bai had no sons.
King Zhu Jiucan of Yongding, whose original name was Zhu Can, was given the title of Zhu Bai by the Great Grand Ancestor: "He has been in charge of Kai Fang Yue for a long time, he shows his power and etiquette, he is resolute and outstanding, and he is self-sufficient in his balance."
So he changed his name to Zhu Jiucan.
King Yongding's branch is also the only one among all the vassal kings in the Ming Dynasty who has not been deprived of the three guards.
Chen Kan went to Yongding Guard this time just for these three guards.
Zhu Jiucan was an honest man. Ever since he was adopted by Zhu Bai, he had stayed in the fiefdom and had children. Naturally, no one took care of the three guards of the King of Xiang.
But the three guards of King Xiang were also good at fighting. Under the leadership of Zhu Bai, the three guards of King Xiang wiped out the Japanese pirates without victory.
After the death of King Xiang, before Zhu Yunwen had time to attack the three guards of King Xiang, Zhu Di rebelled.
After Zhu Di came to power, he began to carry out drastic reforms in the country. He had no time to deal with the three guards of King Xiang, so he could only let them follow Zhu Jiucan to move from Jingzhou to Yongding.
But things always have to work out.
From the first year of Yongle to the present, it has been delayed for so many years. Many soldiers of the Three Guards of King Xiang have reached the age of retirement. If it continues to be delayed, they may mutiny.
Therefore, Chen Kan's purpose of going to Yongding Guard this time was very simple. Firstly, he was to express condolences to Yongding King Zhu Jiucan on behalf of Zhu Di. Secondly, he was to find a way to properly arrange the soldiers of the three guards of King Xiang.
They are all heroes who fought against the Japanese during the Hongwu period. We cannot let the soldiers shed blood and feel cold.
The carriage moved slowly, going on the road when the weather was fine, and camping on the spot when it rained.
Except for Zhu Zhanji, who was worried, everyone else basically had a great time.
Stopping and going like this, the team made a big turn and then turned back to the right road.
After more than a month of stopping and going all the way, the dusty motorcade finally arrived in Tanzhou.
Tanzhou, known as Changsha in ancient times, is one of the few large cities in the Yunmeng region and the seat of government of Hunan Province.
Chen Kan reined in his horse outside Changsha City and looked at the big city in front of him, with a smile flashing in his eyes.
The faces of the people following him also showed joy from the bottom of their hearts.
Feng Dian has been sleeping in the open for more than a month. Although the convoy is rich in supplies, there is no shortage of food and clothing.
But human nature is to live in groups.
If possible, who wouldn't want to have a nice meal in the city and take a hot bath?
Chen Kan ordered the convoy to rest outside the city, and Yuncheng led people into the city without stopping to arrange food and accommodation.
A big city like Tanzhou naturally has the industries of the Hou Mansion.
Even though the Hou Mansion is an emerging dignitary who only grew up during the Yongle period, under Chen Kan's series of plans, even if the Hou Mansion's current background is not as good as those of the old dignitaries, compared with the same emerging dignitaries, it can definitely surpass them. A few streets away from them.
There is no way, monopoly business is so overbearing.
When we arrived at a place with a city, the happiest person was the little fat girl Fengyang.
He quickly jumped off the carriage and ran towards the city with his little hands open.
But before he could run a few steps, Chen Kanti lifted him up by the back of his neck.
"Whoa, bad daddy, let me go, let me go!"
The little fat girl can now speak every complete sentence clearly, and while speaking, she is struggling with her teeth and claws.
"Bad daddy, let me go quickly. Mother said that the baby can be washed nice and smelly when we go to the city. The baby has to go to the city and wash himself cleanly. If he doesn't wash himself cleanly, he will become a smelly baby. Wow~"
Chen Kan put him on his arms and carried him, and said angrily: "Wait a minute, your uncle Yuncheng has already gone to make arrangements. What if you are kidnapped by bad guys when you enter the city now?"
"No, wow wow wow, the baby and the three eldest brothers will go together."
Fengyang's small body was very strong and she kept struggling. Chen Kan had no choice but to hand her to Zhu Zhanji who was standing aside.
Zhu Zhanji held her little hand and put her on the ground, and said helplessly: "Fengyang, be good, let's go in later."
"no I do not!"
Fengyang took Zhu Zhanji's hand and was about to drag him towards the city, but she was so small, how could she possibly move Zhu Zhanji.
When she found that she couldn't move away after tugging twice, she stared at Zhu Zhanhe who was standing aside.
Zhu Zhanhe spread his hands helplessly: "If they don't go in, I won't go either."
"Wow~"
Seeing that no one agreed with her opinion, Fengyang immediately sat down on the ground and started crying.
Even after crying for a long time, no tears came out.
Chen Kan was furious when he saw Fengyang running wildly towards the naughty child and unable to pull him back.
Then he got angry in anger.
Chang Ning led Yun Niang forward and pulled Fengyang up from the ground.
It's strange that Fengyang behaved immediately when he was in Chang Ning's arms.
"Sir, how long will we stay in Tanzhou?"
Chang Ning looked up at the big city in front of him and asked.
"Let's take a rest and leave. Our main destination is Yongdingwei, we just passed by Tanzhou."
Chen Kan explained casually and asked, "What's wrong, do you like Tanzhou?"
Chang Ning shook his head and said calmly: "No, I just heard that the scenery of Xiangjiang River in Tanzhou is beautiful and I want to experience it."
Chen Kan thought it was some big event, but when he heard that Chang Ning just wanted to see the scenery, he couldn't help but smile and said: "Then go, since you need to rest, you must have a few days, and a few days are enough for you to go shopping. "
