Xu Da led a large family to the front yard to pay homage to the emperor and his ministers.
"Get up, get up." Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly stepped forward to help Xu Da, "Are you feeling well?"
"It's still the same." Xu Da waved away the crowd and smiled at Zhu Yuanzhang, "I made too much when I was young, but now that I'm old, I've returned it all."
The two came to the pavilion and sat down.
"I have met Duke Wei." Li Qing cupped his fists and saluted.
"Without courtesy." Xu Da nodded lightly and turned to look at Zhu Yuanzhang, "Your Majesty, looking at these young people, I feel that I am really old. Alas, time is not forgiving."
Xu Da has white hair and is still tall, but already rickets.
This was the second time Li Qing met Xu Da. He had seen him from a distance last time when he was mourning Empress Ma. This time he had a close encounter and he could feel that the Ming Dynasty's number one general was really old.
"Tiande, the good days are long, and you have only enjoyed a few days of happiness." Looking at the old Xu Da, Zhu Yuanzhang was quite touched, "You have to take care of yourself, otherwise we won't even have anyone to talk to."
"I'll try my best." Xu Da smiled and nodded.
"What kind of minister is not a minister? It's not like he is above the imperial court. He is still called as before." Zhu Yuanzhang said displeasedly, "My sister is gone, and we feel more and more lonely now. Tang and the guy said they were going home to visit relatives.
He hasn't come back for more than a year, damn, we have to call him back tomorrow."
Xu Da laughed and said, "I quite envy him. To be honest, if my body and bones hadn't been able to withstand the torment, I would have wanted to go back to my hometown and live there for a while."
"What? You also want to stay away from us?"
"Oh, my old brother!" Xu Da repeatedly cried out, "When did I avoid you?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression softened. Looking at Xu Da who was showing his old age, he couldn't bear to scare him any more. He said warmly: "Take good care of your body. When it's ready, we two brothers will have a good drink."
"Well, okay."
The two chatted for a long time, and Xu Da took the initiative to ask: "Brother, don't you just come to see me this time?"
"There is indeed something going on." Zhu Yuanzhang said mysteriously, "I want to show you something good."
As he said that, he took out the map from his sleeve and said, "Open it and take a look."
Xu Da nodded doubtfully and unfolded the map on the stone table. When he saw the content clearly, he suddenly said in surprise, "Is this a topographic map of the Mobei grassland?"
"good."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "The red line marks the route to the main force of the Yuan people."
"Okay!" Xu Da couldn't pull his eyes out, "Fighting the Yuan people is not about defeating them. As long as we can find them, we will win.
Brother, whose handiwork is this?"
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his chin towards Li Qing, "That's him."
Xu Da looked at Li Qing and praised: "This map is more useful than tens of thousands of elite soldiers. You are very good."
"The Duke is so complimentary." Li Qing quickly said a few words of modesty.
Xu Da smiled and turned to look at Zhu Yuanzhang, "Brother, I'm really old and can't fight anymore!"
"Look, I scared you." Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily, "Don't worry, I won't let you take charge, why not come up with an idea?"
"Uh-huh..." Xu Da laughed dryly, pondered for a moment, and said: "Brother, as long as the information is true, there is no need for any careful strategy, just take him by surprise, Yuan Ren is no match for our Ming Dynasty."
"Then who do you think is suitable to take charge?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.
"I'll just..." Xu Daben wanted to refuse, but stopped mid-sentence and thought about it for a while, "Since my brother asked, then I can say whatever I want."
After a pause, he said, "Don't avoid enmity when promoting externally, and don't avoid relatives when promoting internally. I recommend King Zhu Di of Yan to take charge."
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and thought for a moment, then said slowly: "Di'er is still young. Although he has dealt with Yuan people, he is still immature and his prestige in the army is not high, so it is not suitable!"
"Then send a veteran as the coach." Xu Da said, "Brother, these brothers who conquer the world are all old. It's time to train the next generation."
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a while and nodded slightly: "That's right, um... OK, then let Zhu Di fight this battle."
Li Qing glanced at Xu Da. To be honest, the latter's recommendation surprised him.
You don't avoid relatives when you're in the family, that's how you behave, but if you choose to be your son-in-law in an upright manner, aren't you afraid of Lao Zhu's taboo?
Xu Da is the leader of the Six Dukes. People of this rank should not think of this?
After confirming the candidate, Zhu Yuanzhang no longer talked about the military situation, but instead talked about the past and recalled the glorious past.
It wasn't until evening that we left in a dragon chariot.
Xu Da looked at the direction Zhu Yuanzhang was leaving, dazed for a long time, and sighed softly.
The eldest son Xu Huizu stepped forward to help him and whispered: "Father, you shouldn't recommend your brother-in-law. This... this is taboo."
"Haha..." Xu Da smiled bitterly, "You can understand things, how can your father not understand it?"
"Then why father...?"
"Why don't you think about why the emperor asked me to recommend candidates?"
"Because you are the leader of the six princes?" Xu Huizu asked tentatively.
"No, because I am the father-in-law of King Zhu Di of Yan."
Xu Huizu said in surprise, "Father, you mean...the emperor originally wanted his brother-in-law to take command?"
"Correct answer."
Xu Huizu was even more confused, "Since the emperor already has a favorite candidate, why do I need to come all the way to ask you to recommend him?"
"Because...sigh." Xu Da smiled bitterly, "The emperor is worried about our family. Now my father has taken the initiative to give him a handle, which will make it easier for the emperor to settle accounts later."
"Ah?" Xu Huizu's face changed drastically, and he said in a trembling voice, "Father, you...you already know, why do you want to give me this excuse?"
"If you take the initiative to provide evidence and meet us sincerely, the emperor will feel more at ease." Xu Da sighed, "If you have evidence, it will be easier to deal with. For the emperor, people who are easy to deal with are not a problem."
"On the contrary, people who have no handle are the trouble." Xu Da said seriously, "Son, please remember, if the emperor wants to punish a person, and this person has no handle, then this person will definitely be in bad luck.
Because such a person can only commit one crime, and that is 'rebellion'."
"My child... remember." Xu Huizu finally understood what it means to accompany the emperor like a tiger. He was worried, "Father, will the emperor take action against our family?"
"Most likely not." Xu Da patted his son on the shoulder, "Don't worry too much."
Xu Huizu was a little out of his mind, "Didn't you just say that the Emperor is worried about our family?"
"Ha ha……"
Xu Da suddenly laughed, laughed for a while, and then slowly spoke:
"Your Majesty, he doesn't trust anyone."
…
"Li Qing."
"I'm here."
"We will draft a decree when we get back. You can take it to the palace tomorrow and go to Peking to announce the decree. You will also go to this battle."
"Ah? This..." Li Qing was really convinced and cursed secretly: "You won't let me rest for a day, right?"
"Your Majesty, I am just an envoy in royal robes. Isn't that inappropriate?" Li Qingwei said, "Besides, I don't know how to fight!"
"You really praise yourself." Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and scolded, "You still don't know what to do."
After a pause, "Do you think we let you go because we wanted you to fight?
We are here to get you gold-plated, and with this trip, your promotion in the future will be a matter of course."
Li Qing hesitated for a moment, then looked surprised and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your cultivation."
He beat the drum secretly: Why did Lao Zhu suddenly treat me so well?
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Li Qing with a grateful look on his face and thought to himself:
"You're welcome. Anyway, you are already completely stinky to the civil servants. If you compete with military generals and nobles for merit this time, both civil and military parties will hate you. There will no longer be a place for you in the entire court. From now on, you will have no choice but to fight with us to the death.
If you follow our leader wholeheartedly, you will have no way out."
The two of them had their own thoughts and looked at each other, both grinning.
It presents a picture of a wise king and a wise minister, running in both directions.