In the lobby of Zhu Mansion, Ma Xiuying lit six candle lanterns, illuminating the lobby as bright as day.
The whole family gathered around a big table. Mu Ying, Zhu Wenzheng, and Li Wenzhong all looked very excited and pestered Zhu Yuanzhang with questions.
Even Zhu Biao knew that his father was back and kicked his calves happily in Zuo's arms.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked about Mu Ying's homework in the Imperial College, and then asked about Zhu Wenzheng and Li Wenzhong's situation in the military academy.
Li Wenzhong took the opportunity to complain: "Uncle, Brother Wenzheng always sneaks out to drink with some students, and he was punished several times by Mr. Xi!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's face sank: "Wen Zheng, is it true?"
Zhu Wenzheng smiled apologetically and said: "Uncle Eighth, I was just communicating with my classmates. If you don't drink a few glasses of wine, no one will recognize you as a brother."
Ma Xiuying said: "Forget it, husband, I think this kid Wen Zheng has his own rules for what to do, so let's not worry too much about it."
Zhu Yuanzhang knew that his nephew had a lazy personality and had been a bit unruly in the past. When his wife said this, he obviously wanted to let him go, so he stopped interfering.
"Has your adoptive father rested?" he asked his wife.
Ma Xiuying smiled and said: "My foster father was invited by Chen Xiangye and Song Shiling."
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment: "Which Prime Minister Chen?"
Li Wenzhong chuckled: "Uncle, you are outside, so you don't know much about a big event that happened in Jiangdu Prefecture recently."
"What's the matter?"
"Do you still remember the original Lu Youxiang? He has been dismissed and was promoted to Chen Siqing!"
Zhu Wenzheng said with a smile: "It's not just Prime Minister Lu. Just yesterday, dozens of officials were sent to the Yushitai by the king, and I'm afraid less than half of them can come out!"
When Zhu Yuanzhang asked for details, Li Wenzhong said he was not sure, but Zhu Wenzheng knew everything.
Starting from Lu Liangzuo's frame-up of Liu Bowen, to the southern officials all sent to impeach Liu Bowen, the king let it go, and more officials impeached Liu Bowen.
Finally, the king summoned all the officials who impeached Liu Bowen and handed them all over to Liu Bowen for interrogation.
"Hey, the most interesting thing is that after those people were sent to Liu Bowen by the king, a dozen idiot officials headed by Zhou Fu went to sue Liu Bowen, but they were sent to the Yushitai by the king again!"
After Li Wenzhong heard this, he burst into laughter. Ma Xiuying and Zuo also covered their mouths and chuckled.
Only Zhu Yuanzhang pondered silently without saying a word.
Ma Xiuying smiled slightly and said: "Husband, Mr. Liu is an upright and selfless man. The king appointed him as the censor, which shows that he knows people and makes good use of them!"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "I would like to visit such a person someday!"
Zuo covered her mouth and said with a smile: "You'd better not go. Liu Bowen also has a nickname, 'Liu Closed Door'. Except for a few friends, no matter who goes to see him, they always stay behind closed doors!"<
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Li Wenzhong smiled and said: "Looking at it this way, Mr. Liu has an arrogant temperament, which is somewhat similar to that of his second aunt and brother!"
Hearing Li Wenzhong mention Zuo Junbi, Zuo's face looked a little unnatural.
Ma Xiuying glanced at her, knowing that she cared about her brother, but she didn't dare to ask more questions, so she asked for her.
"Husband, what's the situation in Jiangbei now? I heard that Zuo Shuai and Zhang Bixian are at odds. Is it true?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "It's true."
"Didn't they form an alliance? Why are things so bad?"
"It's not about Prince Xiao Ming! Zhang Bixian blamed Brother Zuo for not saying hello to him, so he secretly went to pick up Prince Xiao Ming!"
Zuo snorted and said, "My brother is in Luzhou, and Zhang Bixian is in Huangzhou. What's the use of telling him?"
Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip of tea and said calmly: "He just complained a few words and would not really conflict with your brother!"
Zuo said with concern: "How can officials determine this?"
Zhu Yuanzhang squinted his eyes and said: "Zhang Bixian is first afraid of our Northern Expedition, and secondly afraid of Ming Yuzhen's eastward march. Even if he is dissatisfied, he can only rely on your brother!"
Li Wenzhong was most interested in the war and hurriedly asked: "Uncle, is Ming Yuzhen going eastward?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice: "Ming Yuzhen has been elected as the King of Longshu by his subordinates. The country's name will not be changed, and the year name will not be changed. Xu Shouhui Temple will be erected in the south of the city. The posthumous name will be Yingtian Qiyun Xianwu Emperor, and the temple name will be Shizong!"
Zhu Wenzheng laughed and said: "Not only did he gain fame through his actions, Xu Shouhui's old subordinates will probably defect to him. It's really clever!"
Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at him and said with a smile: "Ming Yuzhen now has strong soldiers and horses, high morale, and a military advisor named Liu Zhen. Both the Yuan army in Chengdu and Zhang Bixian in Huangzhou are afraid of his invasion!"
Ma Xiuying said: "If he is smart, he should attack Chengdu instead of Zhang Bixian!"
Li Wenzhong was stunned: "Why?"
Zhu Wenzheng smiled and said: "Brother, don't think about it. If Ming Yuzhen captures Huangzhou, he will have to guard against our Northern Expedition. No matter how powerful he is, he will not dare to block our way!"
Li Wenzhong laughed: "That's true."
When Zuo heard this, he couldn't help but look sad.
Zhu Yuanzhang noticed her expression, his heart suddenly moved, and asked: "Jun Ru, last time I told you to set up a bet and asked you to tell your brother, have you gone?"
Zuo nodded repeatedly and said: "I went, but didn't we fail in the end? I went back to Jiangdu Mansion!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice: "Jun Ru, after your Majesty ascends the throne next year, he may start the Northern Expedition. As long as your brother does not join our army, sooner or later we will meet in arms."
Zuo bit her cherry lips and said, "I heard that my brother was defeated by General Lan Yu in Anfeng. He is so proud that he would rather die than join us again!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed: "So this matter must be planned in advance to have a chance to persuade your brother!"
Ma Xiuying knew that her husband was resourceful and quickly asked: "What are your ideas?"
Zhu Yuanzhang mused: "Brother Zuo has the best face in his life. If you want him to join you, you need to give him enough face to succeed!"
Zuo thought for a while and said: "That is only possible if the king personally promotes his brother!"
Ma Xiuying said: "That will be difficult. Now that the king has unified the south of the Yangtze River and is about to ascend the throne, it is a time of high spirits. It is absolutely impossible to show weakness to others."
Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated for a moment and said: "There is a way to do this without the king's intervention, but..."
Ma Xiuying hurriedly asked: "But what?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at her: "Mrs. may have to suffer some injustice!"
Ma Xiuying was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
"As long as I can reunite Zuo's sister and brother, it doesn't matter if I feel a little wronged. Please tell me, what can you do?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "On the day when the king ascends the throne, he will definitely be granted a title. I thought about it, and I should be able to get a count, and my wife can also get a countess."
Ma Xiuying is ice-cold and smart, and she can tell at a glance.
"I understand. When the time comes, let's tell the king in advance and ask him to give the title to Sister Zuo. In Marshal Zuo's view, the king is showing his favor to him!"
Zuo Junru said anxiously: "No, I am a concubine, how can I occupy my sister's title?"
Ma Xiuying took her hand and said with a smile: "What does a title mean? Once you get the title, won't you recognize me as your sister? If your brother can join me, that will be the top priority!"
Zuo Junru let out a "squeak" and threw herself into Ma Xiuying's arms, whimpering: "Sister, I will be your sister in the next life!"
Zhu Yuanzhang coughed and said: "Jun Ru, don't worry, this matter is not over yet, you also have tasks!"
Zuo Junru wiped her tears, sat up straight and looked at him.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "If you want to go back to Luzhou, just tell your brother that I strongly object to the king granting you a title. You are so angry that you will go back."
Zuo Junru said blankly: "Then my brother must have asked me to cut off my relationship with you, will you let me back?"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said: "With your brother's temper, how can you tolerate your sister being bullied? He can't defeat us. If he wants to vent his anger on your behalf, he has no choice but to surrender to Jiangdu Army and grab the title for you!"
Zuo Junru burst into tears and smiled: "The official has really figured out my brother's temper. He could really do this!"
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while and said: "In the past month, I have written more letters to your brother to keep in touch with each other. If I say in the letter that I am not good to you, my future plans will be easier to implement!"
Ma Xiuying said: "This plan should be told to the king as soon as possible!"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Early tomorrow morning, I will go and explain to the king that just one title can be used to demote Brother Zuo. It is expected that the king will not refuse!"
Ma Xiuying said "hmm" and suddenly said: "By the way, brother Xu Da came back half a day earlier than you. He also had a meal at our house at noon. I helped him buy a small courtyard in advance. He is also very satisfied!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed. In his heart, what he cared about most were the brothers who surrendered with him.
Early the next morning, he put Zuo Junbi's things aside and strode towards Xu Da's new residence.
Xu Da lived in a small courtyard in the east of the city. Although the courtyard was old, the door was new.
Zhu Yuanzhang pulled the door knocker and knocked three times.
Xu Da happened to be fetching water in the courtyard and came over to open the door. The two brothers were reunited after a long separation, not to mention how happy they were.
"Brother, when did you come back?" Xu Da asked.
"The city we entered last night."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled, raised the package in his hand, and said: "Look, I brought your favorite roast goose. Let us have a good meal today!"
Xu Da laughed and said, "Why does it smell so good? You go in first and wait for me!" He went to a nearby wine shop to buy wine, and he and Zhu Yuanzhang feasted at home, drinking and chatting happily.