Zhu Di emphasized the truth, telling Xu Jingchang clearly, "Don't play tricks on me." But Xu Jingchang didn't like to tell the truth.
After all, he didn't have much interest in vouching for Zhu Gaoxu.
"Your Majesty, the king of Han is benevolent and filial, and everyone in the world knows it. Everyone knows it, and there are people who are slandering him. There are only two possibilities."
"What's possible?"
"First, there are indeed some clues. Second, there is an ulterior motive to frame the King of Han."
Zhu Di stared at him and said, "Then tell me, which possibility is it?"
"This...I can't say for sure, but no matter which one it is, it is very serious."
"Isn't this nonsense!" Zhu Di was really angry, "Xu Jingchang, if you dare to talk about him again, be careful of my thunderous wrath, you can't bear it!"
Xu Jingchang felt a slight chill in his heart, and then said: "Your Majesty, I would like to say that no matter what the situation is, we cannot take it lightly. The most important thing at the moment is perhaps to invite the King of Han to return to the capital."
"How to invite?"
"Send important ministers to Yuanzhou. If your majesty permits, I will leave now."
Xu Jingchang took the initiative to ask for help. After all, in his heart, Zhu Gaoxu was unlikely to really rebel. There must be a misunderstanding. He went over to understand the situation and that was it.
Zhu Di thought for a while and then said: "You'd better not go. I have my own arrangements."
Xu Jingchang came out of the palace and returned to his mansion, waiting for news.
Zhu Di summoned the Duke of Qi, Qiu Fu, who then left the capital with 200 people and hurried to Yuanzhou.
Not long ago, Qiu Fu just celebrated his sixty-fifth birthday. For a general, this age has reached his twilight years. Many people will be plagued by various diseases and have difficulty moving.
But not only is Qiu Fu physically strong, but a few days ago, a concubine from North Korea gave birth to a girl. As a sixty-five-year-old father, I have to say that he will continue to grow strong.
Zhu Di suddenly appointed Qiu Fu, which surprised Xu Jingchang.
Does Zhu Di not believe in himself?
Or maybe Zhu Di wants to test whether Qiu Fu and Zhu Gaoxu are colluding?
What exactly is the emperor planning?
For the first time, Xu Jingchang felt that it was difficult to guess Zhu Di's thoughts.
But in this case, Xu Jingchang also has a way to deal with it, and that is to cope with all changes by remaining unchanged. Let's see what kind of medicine is sold in Zhu Di's gourd?
Qiu Fu went to Jiangxi and returned successfully within a month.
Also returning at the same time was the King of Han, Zhu Gaoxu.
This King of Han is so grievance-filled and furious... It really makes no sense. I have worked so hard just for the sake of the Ming Dynasty. How come the more I do, the more sins I commit?
"Father, in today's Yingtian and other places, the amount of coal is increasing day by day. I have worked hard and worked hard for the gap in the capital, but I have been framed by a villain for no reason. Please make the decision for me."
Zhu Di looked at him, ignored Zhu Gaoxu's grievance, and instead said, "Come closer."
Zhu Gaoxu didn't understand what he meant, but he still came to Zhu Di.
"Father."
Zhu Di reached out, touched Zhu Gaoxu's face, and put his hand on his shoulder. He asked curiously: "What's wrong with you? It looks like soot?"
Zhu Gaoxu said sheepishly: "Father, I am not the biggest soot in the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Di sighed: "Father, I know you are working hard, but you shouldn't have bad thoughts, right?"
Zhu Gaoxu snorted: "Father, I definitely don't have random thoughts. I can't make money now and I'm too busy with things. How can I have random thoughts?"
Zhu Di stared at him and found that Zhu Gaoxu's expression was sincere and did not seem to be hypocritical, so he asked: "Tell me, what are you doing?"
Zhu Gaoxu said: "Father, it is rainy in Jiangxi. I am mining coal mines. Once there is a heavy rain and the flood flows into the mine, it will be delayed for a long time. I first used a water truck to drain the water, but unexpectedly the manpower is limited and it is difficult to drain the flood."
When Zhu Di heard this, he nodded frequently... Speaking of mining, he also knew a little bit. During the period of peace in Peking, an iron mine was damaged due to floods, which affected the production of weapons and almost killed Zhu Di.
Coal mines are dug deep and have a lot of water, making the situation even more complicated.
Zhu Gaoxu initially used water trucks to drain water, which was similar to taking water from the river for irrigation.
It's just that because it is lifting water upwards, it is impossible to rely on manpower alone... Zhu Gaoxu ordered the craftsmen to improve and make it an animal-powered one. Every time it is drained, eight cows are used to twist the turntable to drain the water out of the mine.
But even so, the effect is not very good, and I am often unable to work for three to five days.
Zhu Gaoxu could only continue his research. Fortunately, he had a large number of skilled craftsmen at his disposal. Soon someone came up with a drainage artifact. He drew the treasure into a drawing and presented it to Zhu Di.
If Xu Jingchang were here, he would be able to recognize it at a glance. This thing is a pressure well!
"Father, my son has not been making weapons these days. Instead, he has been forging iron pipes and pumping water from mines. Everyone knows what he has done. He is framed by villains. He is truly unjust."
Zhu Di understood and understood.
"Don't worry, my father will not let anyone frame you. This matter is nothing special." Zhu Di asked curiously: "Father, I want to know, does this thing you made work?"
Zhu Gaoxu sighed, "How can I put it, it works, but manpower is limited, and animal power cannot really solve the problem. The boy has already offered a reward of 300,000 taels. If there is a craftsman who can solve the problem, he can get the money immediately.
.”
Zhu Di pondered for a moment, then smiled and said: "In that case, my father will help you again...I will invest three hundred thousand taels from my own money, and the world will offer a reward. I don't believe it, and I can't solve a small problem!"
Seeing that his son was doing serious business, Zhu Di naturally supported him fully.
Moreover, Zhu Di received important news from Zhu Gaoxu.
In order to make drainage pipes, Zhu Gaoxu would use a waterwheel to drive a forging hammer and hammer it... And these technological advances are the same in weapons manufacturing.
Such good technology is simply a waste of resources just for drainage.
It should be used to make armor weapons, especially firearms, to enrich the military and prepare for external use.
"I am reporting to your majesty. I sincerely request your majesty's permission to send troops to the north to attack Oara, completely level the desert, and bring peace to the people. This is also to wipe out the remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, collect all the land, and present it to your majesty."
After returning from Jiangxi, Qiu Fu advised Zhu Di and prepared to use troops against Oala.
"Dong Dingguo, Duke Qi went over to the General Administration Department this time to speak directly to His Majesty. I'm afraid he has other plans, right?" Hu Hu accompanied Xu Jingchang to have a working lunch and chatted casually.
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "It's nothing. The Governor's Office of the Fifth Army is a first-class yamen, just like the General Administration Department. It's natural for Qi Guogong to ask His Majesty for war and make suggestions on military affairs. There is no need to make a fuss."
Hu Xi blinked his eyes. Is there really no need to make a fuss?
In fact, before and after the contact, Hu Xi could guess that Zhu Di asked Qi Guogong Qiu Fu to check Zhu Gaoxu. He was not worried that Zhu Gaoxu would really rebel, but just gave Qiu Fu a chance to come back.
Of course, Zhu Di also knew the value of the industry in Zhu Gaoxu's hands for forging weapons and making firecrackers... He asked Qiu Fu to help Zhu Gaoxu clear his grievances, and also wanted to restore the relationship between the two.
"Dong Guo, I just said it casually...Does your Majesty intend to support the King of Han and balance the situation in the court?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said nothing, and Hu Hui asked again: "Do you think that the prince's huge power affects your majesty's authority?"
Xu Jingchang still didn't say anything. Hu Hui became more courageous and simply made it clear, "Ding Guogong, if this matter is aimed at you, you must be on guard!"
Xu Jingchang laughed and finally said, "Scholar Hu, if you think about this so much, it might become true."
Hu Xi was confused, what did this mean?
Xu Jingchang said: "Actually, there are too many things. I just think too much. If I really take precautions according to your ideas, your Majesty may continue to take action... In the end, it will really become the Han King's Party and the Prince's Party."
The contest. I, the general envoy, and several ministers of the dynasty are all from the prince line, and the corresponding governors of the five armies stand behind the King of Han. This can lead to a civil-military dispute."
Hu Hui said, isn’t it wrong?
Isn’t that how the government should be?
Xu Jingchang had a smile on his face, "Scholar Hu, let me tell you one more thing, that is, in the middle of the court, in this position, you must have the ability to shape the issues, instead of following the issues and being controlled by others."
Hu Hui was shocked. He really had no clue. How on earth was he going to solve the problem in front of him?
Xu Jingchang smiled easily, this little thing is easy to do!
Soon Zhang Fu wrote to Zhu Di, saying that Duke Qi's proposal to use troops against Oara to completely pacify the northern border was very timely and just right.
Just considering that Duke Qi is getting older and his health is not as good as before, I hope that your Majesty can select young generals to lead the troops north to deal with Oara.
When this memorial was published, it immediately caused an uproar. Qiu Fu was immediately furious. What did it mean?
I'm not old at all!
It's just a tile, not worth mentioning.
On the other hand, Zhang Fu, your father and I fought side by side. You, a late-born junior, can talk so boldly, but you are not worthy of giving advice?
Qiu Fu said that with his ability, he could sweep across the desert and return victoriously.
At this moment, Zhu Gaoxu actually hesitated.
He found Xu Jingchang.
"Do you think it's really feasible to let Qiu Fu lead the army?"
Xu Jingchang smiled: "It's hard to say. What are the plans of His Highness the King of Han?"
Zhu Gaoxu hesitated again and again, and finally said: "Others are definitely no match for you... All I want is to make money from the coal mines and iron plants in my hands. I can't do it without fighting."
Xu Jingchang nodded, "That's true... but do you know why His Majesty wants to fight?"
"This is not easy. My father saw that after rectifying the fire consumption, the national treasury revenue increased and there was a surplus, he couldn't wait." Zhu Gaoxu sighed: "I just let Duke Qi lead the army. After all, he is old.
Once something goes wrong, it will be difficult to handle."
Xu Jingchang smiled slightly and said, "This is easy. We only need to conduct an exercise and have a paper talk to see if Qi Guogong's skills are good or not!"
