Outside Lezhizhai, the sea of flowers bloomed in the scorching autumn sun.
The scattered light and shadow in the hall seemed a bit cold, and the timepiece crystal on the imperial desk was engraved and flowing silently.
This crystal carving is already the prototype of a modern clock. There are two puppets in the crystal. Every hour, the two puppets will beat drums in it to announce the time.
In the first year of Hongwu, a craftsman who served the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty gave the old man a carved crystal like this, but the old man smashed it directly. The reason is very simple. It is not appropriate to eat or drink. Spending money to make this thing is not a mental illness.
?
The old man not only hated these flashy things, but also hated some bad habits and addictive entertainment activities in his early years.
Among the officers in Beijing, if someone sings an opera, his tongue will be cut out.
If someone plays horses or cards, chop his hand directly.
Cuju, remove the feet.
Those who do business will be exiled to the army and their property will be confiscated.
If you believe in the White Lotus Sect, then...no matter who you are, you will be killed without mercy!
With a creak, the small door with exquisite crystal carvings opened, and two painted puppets inside began to spin in circles and beat drums, making bursts of cheerful sounds.
Although the old man smashed one at first, the manufacturing method has been passed down.
This statue was a joint gift from Si Tianjian and the Ministry of Industry after Zhu Yunxi ascended the throne.
Amidst the cheerful drumbeats, slight footsteps came from behind Zhu Yunxi.
"Your Majesty, Mao Xiang, goes to see the Emperor!"
Zhu Yunxi's eyes fell on the crystal engraved glass, and he bent slightly to look at the exquisitely painted and gilded glass. "Sit down on a stool. I have something to tell you!"
"There is no place for ministers to sit in front of the emperor!" Mao Xiang said.
Zhu Yunxi straightened up, picked up the tea cup on the table, sipped lightly, and said slowly, "Go to Shaanxi!"
Mao Xiang said nothing and lowered his head very humbly.
He never asked why or how. Instead, he would find a way to do whatever the emperor asked him to do.
"The White Lotus Sect is causing trouble in Shaanxi!"
Hearing this, Mao Xiang's eyes finally became more turbulent, and he seemed to hesitate, "When I was the commander of the Jinyi Guards, I captured many White Lotus cult bandits." After saying that, he paused and said, "The White Lotus cult either doesn't arrest them.
, one catch will make a nest.”
"That's why I asked you to go!" Zhu Yunxi put down the tea cup and sighed, "The White Lotus Sect is pervasive. Poor farmers, tenants, landlords, gentry and even people in the government may all be their followers."
"Whether it's the Criminal Department or the Imperial Guard, they are all official. I think your manpower should be able to do wonders against these demonic bandits!"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will definitely kill them all!" Mao Xiang said, then pondered again, "Today the Emperor will not ask me to come, but I will come to see the Emperor!"
Zhu Yunxi sat on the throne and rubbed his temples twice, "What's wrong?"
"Da Ning, King Ning!" Mao Xiang's voice was emotionless and cold, "There are two Tatar tribes, and they led the young and strong people to join. King Ning did not report to the court, but privately allocated grassland pastures, and young herdsmen were recruited.
Prince Ning’s army!”
Zhu Yunxi's hand rubbing his forehead stopped slightly, "Is there anything else?"
"King of Chu!" Mao Xiang continued, "There is a report that the King of Chu got drunk on the fifteenth day of the last month. After drinking, he said that he doubted me! He also exchanged letters frequently with the King of Zhou. I am incompetent and do not know the contents."
Suddenly, a sneer appeared at the corner of Zhu Yunxi's mouth.
He never dared to let down his guard against the vassals. In the past few years, whenever he thought about the Battle of Jingnan in history and Zhu Yunwen, he still felt that Zhu Yunwen was too incompetent. After several years of experience, he gradually realized that
Something else.
Historically, Zhu Di's rebellion was the result of the struggle between the Ming Dynasty clan and Zhu Yunwen, as well as the Ming civil servants and the nobles of Huaixi.
These vassal kings, although seemingly submissive, actually have their own little thoughts. But now that their wings have hardened, and the old man is getting older, their little thoughts can no longer be tolerated.
Their little intention may not be to rebel, and they have no courage to rebel. In the fiefdom, they are all earth emperors, and they follow their words and do whatever they say. No one can do anything to them if they behave slightly out of the ordinary, but they just feel that they are in their hearts.
It's just awkward.
But the King of Chu's words about doubting me offended Zhu Yunxi's Ni Lin.
Above, that’s Zhu Yunxi.
Zhu Yunxi could probably guess why the King of Chu said this.
In the spring of this year, the King of Chu used the reason that the river water had surged this year to continue the reinforcement and construction of the Wuchang city wall, and requested that his personal guards be increased from 6,500 to 8,000.
In Zhu Yunxi's view, this was a memorial that disgusted him.
Why does the inland vassal king need so many personal guards? The guards and courts under his command have not strictly tracked the number, so what trouble is going on with the personal guards?
As for the construction of Wuchang City, it is even more of a joke. The Prince of Chu's Palace occupies most of Wuchang City. Should he build the Palace or the city?
Originally, deep down in his heart, Zhu Yunxi had no good impression of the Chu vassal who was located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and could pose a threat to the capital at any time. Therefore, it was absolutely impossible to agree to these requests.
Therefore, the King of Chu would say after drinking, "You doubt me!"
Okay, since you want to do it, then keep doing it!
Zhu Yunxi sneered in his heart and said, "These things, the time, place and people are all carefully recorded in the notebook."
"According to the order!"
Don't you want to do it? Don't you think that no one can touch you in the fief? Then just wait.
You people, just wait.
"There is also King Zhou!" Zhu Yunxi was filled with disgust when he thought of this man.
The King of Zhou was behind everything that happened to King Yan Zhu Di a few years ago. Among the black materials in Zhu Yunxi's hands, it was King Zhou who had the most.
This guy is just a smelly, dirty shit stick!
"Do they think I am so generous that I have forgotten them all?"
"Or do you think I don't know at all?"
Zhu Yunxi sneered again in his heart, and suddenly he had some other calculations in his heart.
"Come here!" Zhu Yunxi said to Mao Xiang.
The latter slowly came forward and knelt at his feet.
The light and shadow in the hall were scattered, making it seem a little dark. Zhu Yunxi leaned slightly on the throne, while Mao Xiang listened silently.
"I asked you to investigate the White Lotus Sect, and you must get to the root of it. These religious bandits are deserters in the army. They have been able to remain anonymous for so many years without being discovered. There must be something hidden behind them!"
"It's up to you to identify whether they are little people or big people in the White Lotus Sect. What I want is for you to follow the clues and catch them all in one fell swoop. Do you understand?"
"Don't hurt innocent people's lives, but when investigating, you can be a little biased!" Zhu Yunxi said with a sneer, "Try to lean to certain places."
"I understand!" Mao Xiang said seriously.
Mao Xiang never talked much, but every word could be said in detail.
However, somewhat unexpectedly, Mao Xiang did not take action immediately.
Instead, he went out of his way and spoke proactively, "The Taoist priest next to the old emperor has a deep connection with the White Lotus Sect!"
"Ha, you, Mao Xiang, have become slurred in your speech!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "What a deep connection, that old man used to be a member of the White Lotus Sect!"
As he said that, he seemed to understand what the other party meant, "What do you mean?"
"The emperor wants to catch them all in one fell swoop, and I always have a reference in my mind. So, I, before you leave the capital, pay a visit to that person!"