"Welcome to the master home!"

After the dust-washing banquet in the royal palace, Zhu Mingzhong, who was a little drunk, returned to his mansion in Nanjing. Listening to the neat words of a row of supervisors and servants standing outside the door, Zhu Mingzhong couldn't help but feel moved.

We are also home in Nanjing!

This Duke's Mansion is his home!

After coming to this era, although it was the residence of other people who were seized by "the magpie's nest", Zhu Mingzhong still regarded this place as his home. After all, even in Qinghe, he lived in the back house of the government office, which was the so-called "official residence". If he left office, he would need to hand it over to the next person to live there.

Only this former Duke’s Mansion is his home!

Of course, this place is not only a home, but also a base camp of Jiangbei in Nanjing. Just like the manager of the family, Li Shaojie, who is on the surface, is the manager of the military officer in Nanjing, but in fact he is the intelligence officer of the military officer in Nanjing. As for the servants in this family, most of them are the spies of the military officer, who are responsible for collecting intelligence in Nanjing.

Like the capital, Nanjing has always been the focus of the intelligence work of the Junzhengsi, but unlike the capital, the activities of the Junzhengsi in Nanjing are also extremely secretive, but they use Zhu Mingzhong's mansion as the base camp, which is still a protective umbrella.

Correspondingly, after coming to Nanjing, Zhu Mingzhong naturally needed to meet Li Shaojie and listen to his report. In fact, the so-called report is to report on the situation in Nanjing in recent days.

"... Since Zhang Shangshu arrived in Nanjing, in addition to meeting Prince Zheng many times, he has also met scholars from all over the country many times during this period. At present, whether it is Shangshu Zhang or Prince Zheng, he is working hard to win over all over the country."

Fight for scholars from all over the world!

Zhu Mingzhong naturally knew why they fought for scholars from all over the country, just to win the hearts of the people!

What is the heart of the people? Of course, it is the scholars.

Now the pseudo-officials who were affiliated with the enemy are already in panic. They abandoned India and returned to the south every day. What about the scholars who went to the Qing Dynasty for fame and fortune? The punishment for them is only to eliminate fame and fortune. If they write a letter of repentance, they can be exempted from the recovery of the money and food accumulated over the years. Even in this provincial examination, the scholars who were dismissed from fame and fortune are still allowed to refer to them in vain. It can be said that they are extremely grateful to them.

Zhu Mingzhong did not object to this, and nothing could be expanded. Eliminating fame and fortune was just a means, a way to force the scholars to make a choice. In Zhu Mingzhong's view, there was only one choice between the Ming and Qing dynasties, and he could not tolerate those people making choices between snakes and rats.

"Let them fight for it!"

Zhu Mingzhong, who knew that Zheng and Zhang were fighting for the intentions of the scholars, smiled and asked again.

"So, how old is the oldest scholar in the provincial examination this year?"

"The oldest among the 3,869 scholars who have registered for the registration are 71 years old this year. I heard that he was a tribute student during the Chongzhen period and had never tried it after entering the Qing Dynasty."

Li Shaojie replied.

After entering the Qing Dynasty, he never tried it. The six simple words were the same, which made Zhu Mingzhong exclaim softly.

"It's rare! I have been loyal for more than ten years, and now my country has been restored. At such an old age, I can still take the exam on the spot. Even if I am loyal and deserve reward."

Whether it is possible to select talents in the imperial examination, it does not prevent Zhu Mingzhong from expressing his sincere praise to this old scholar. After all, he has been taking the exam for his whole life. In the past ten years, it is really not easy to face the Qing Dynasty's actions of constantly "expanding enrollment" in order to attract the hearts of the people. The reason why those ordinary scholars were willing to take the exam in the past ten years is that the Qing Dynasty's prefecture, provincial examination and imperial examination were quite easy to pass. This was also the intention of the Qing Dynasty to attract scholars to participate in the imperial examination and establish their orthodox status through the imperial examination.

"Well, although it is already spring, the weather is still quite cold. He is too old and ordered someone to send him two new quilts and pen, ink, paper and ink."

Then, Zhu Mingzhong said specifically.

"When the second half of the year, after the three games are over, you can go see him as your representative to show your encouragement. If you really win, let him wear a big red flower and accept everyone's congratulations to him in the downtown area. Yao Yiyao has studied hard for decades and has fulfilled his ambitions when he is old. At that time, the newspapers in Nanjing should also start publishing. Well, I can help him promote it."

When it comes to writing, Zhu Mingzhong naturally knows how to do these articles. For him who came from the 21st century, there is a way to attract people's hearts. The reason why he chose this old man to comfort him was not only because he was really rare to take the exam at the age of 71, but more importantly, Zhu Mingzhong believes that this old man will never reject his gift, because he is a legacy who "don't take the exam in Qing Dynasty."

"So, how old is the youngest?"

Zhu Mingzhong asked again.

"The youngest is only fifteen years old."

Li Shaojie answered truthfully.

In fact, the reason why Zhu Mingzhong asked about these was just a casual question. After all, this is indeed a big deal in Nanjing now. Moreover, as the Jianghuai Strategic Envoy, he should also ask about the provincial examination. After all, this is also a choice of talents for the country. Although Jiangbei has already taken a different approach and has chosen another path to choose talents.

After reporting all aspects of information one by one, Li Shaojie said again.

"The ruler, a few hours ago, an old friend of the ruler left you a letter."

Old friend?

In confusion, Zhu Mingzhong took the letter from Li Shaojie. When he opened the envelope and saw the content on the letter, a little smile appeared on his face.

It was indeed an invitation from an old friend.

The next morning, Zhu Mingzhong, dressed in casual clothes, came to the Jiangnan Gongyuan on the bank of the Qinhuai River as promised. Although the entire Jiangnan Gongyuan was not yet completed, the main entrance part had been completed. There were two east and west gates of the Jiangnan Gongyuan. The four big words "Ming Jingshou Recruiting Scholars" were written on the east gate archway, and the four big words "Seeking Talents for the Country" were written on the west gate archway.

After coming to the Jiangnan Gongyuan, Zhu Mingzhong visited this place with great interest. At this time, he looked no different from ordinary scholars, but his eyes were more determined. However, unlike those scholars who came here, the reason why he came here was at the invitation of his old friends.

After walking around the Jiangnan Gongyuan, Zhu Mingzhong walked to the pavilion on the banks of the Qinhuai River. In the pavilion, a scholar wearing a light green Confucian robe and a square scarf stood in the pavilion with his back facing him.

"But a Confucian scholar?"

Hearing his words, the scholar standing in the pavilion turned around and looked at Zhu Mingzhong with a smile. His bright smile made Zhu Mingzhong smile.

"I've met Brother Liu."

If it weren't for Liu Rushi, who else could it be?

In Nanjing, if you talk about your old friend, she would probably be the only one.

"Do I call you General Zhu? Or you Zhu Jingluo? Or..."

"It is okay to call me a benevolent person, and you and I are old friends, so why do you need this kind of politeness?"

Liu Rushi smiled sweetly and did not speak, but walked out of the pavilion. Zhu Mingzhong followed her. The two walked one after another, and neither of them took the initiative to speak, as if they didn't say much.

"Chengren, when you led your troops out of Jiangyin, did you think that one day you could make such a great contribution to the country?"

Finally, Liu Rushi took the initiative to break the silence.

"I thought about it!"

In front of Liu Rushi, Zhu Mingzhong did not hide his thoughts. Although there were several concubines in the family, those women were just concubines. Although she was someone else's wife, it did not prevent Zhu Mingzhong from regarding him as a confidant, and even though he had a desire for him.

But after the initial obsession, the obsession faded for a long time, and now, at most, the only thing left is the appreciation of the strange women in this world.

"oh?"

Liu Rushi looked at Zhu Mingzhong with some surprise, and this answer was completely beyond her expectations.

"From the day I joined the army, I knew that one day, I would expel the Tartars. No matter how tortuous or how much price I paid, for my Ming Dynasty and China, the Tartars must drive out of China. Otherwise, in the future, our China will fall into a state of destruction under its rule!"

Perhaps, when he was not strong enough, Zhu Mingzhong had thought about escaping overseas more than once, but even after thinking so, what he thought about was to preserve Chinese culture. What he considered was to hope that the true Chinese civilization would be continued overseas under the report of the unscrupulous situation. Thus, he prepared for a counterattack in a hundred years and two hundred years later.

Whether it is Taiwan, the Philippines, or even Australia, only if the true Chinese civilization that has not been destroyed by the Tartars can be continued overseas. After one hundred years or two hundred years, they who have recovered their vitality will inevitably launch the Northern Expedition again. After all, for the Chinese, unification in the dream of a country for thousands of years is their unchanging desire.

In another history, history did not give China the opportunity, but at that time Zhu Mingzhong believed that even in failure, he had the ability to preserve some strength and allow the Chinese people to launch another attack on the local area in decades or even two hundred years later.

By then, no one can stop them. Although they may face more problems at that time, the Northern Expedition will surely be successful.

But now, Zhu Mingzhong no longer needs to consider this issue. Even if he still considers the expansion of colonization in Taiwan and other places, this expansion is necessary, such as Taiwan's sulfur, wood, and even the reconstruction of Nanjing also requires Taiwan's wood.

But Taiwan is not overseas. In Zhu Mingzhong's eyes, Taiwan has always been a part of China, which is the minimum common sense.

"You, others think more than they do, and you are always like this. If you think about it, you will do everything possible!"

Zhu Mingzhong's words made Liu Rushi sigh.

"Maybe, because of this, you can achieve this achievement that others dare not think about!"

While sighing, Liu Rushi continued to say.
Chapter completed!