His behavior was not only puzzling, but also dumbfounding. Zhu Di suffered such a big loss and was wronged in front of a small Qianhu under Zhu Fan, but he did not dare to take revenge directly. Instead, he ran directly to his old home.
I went to my father, Zhu Yuanzhang, to cry and complain.
What kind of thing is a prince, prince, and a very famous prince, who has no choice but to go to his father and cry and complain against a thousand households?
This shows how much pressure Zhu Fan puts on Zhu Di.
"It's fine to be alone in the capital, but Third Brother has suffered so much these years to come to this frontier place. Third Brother, you have lost weight." Zhu Biao held Zhu Han's arms, looked up and down, left and right, and sighed.
.
In Han Du's eyes, although Zhu Fan could not be said to be tall and round, he could at least be seen as powerful. After all, he was much stronger.
How does this show that Zhu Fan has lost weight? .???.
Just as the two were chatting, the cavalry who were originally on guard against Han Du and others took the initiative to step forward when they saw their own prince. How could they doubt the authenticity of Zhu Biao's identity? They all stayed away from the army brought by Zhu Biao and headed towards Zhu Biao.
The cavalry under Fan's command joined together.
Zhu Biao and Zhu Fan are not only brothers, but they have not seen each other for many years, and they have endless things to say and want to express their feelings to each other urgently.
The two rode horses side by side, with Han Du following on Zhu Biao's right, and Zhu Fan was also accompanied by one of his lieutenants.
"I wonder what business the emperor brings to Taiyuan?" Zhu Fan asked casually.
Zhu Biao said casually, "Nothing, it's just that my father is a little concerned about your younger brothers. However, my father is old and it is inconvenient to come to visit in person, so I had to send an orphan to visit my third brother."
Han Du glanced at Zhu Biao in surprise. This reason did not hold water in Han Du's heart.
Sure enough, Zhu Fan was shocked and said: "How dare you bother your father to come in person? My father has decreed that I will go to the capital to visit my father immediately."
Zhu Biao smiled and waved to his third brother and sighed: "My father knows what you mean, but you guard the important border areas. If you leave, what if Meng Yuan comes to invade the border?"
Seeing that Zhu Fan wanted to say something else, Zhu Biao raised his hand to stop him in advance.
Zhu Fan had no choice but to put down this section and said instead: "I am so happy that the emperor can come. I have prepared a banquet in the mansion. I will not return home until I get drunk with the emperor today."
"Haha, okay." Zhu Biao nodded and agreed without hesitation.
At this time, Zhu Fan seemed to accidentally glance at the troops brought by the emperor's brother behind him. He asked in confusion: "Is it because the emperor brought so many troops and horses to travel, does the father have any purpose?"
Zhu Biao glanced back, then smiled and shook his head at Zhu Fan and said, "What is your father's purpose? Originally, Gu was not prepared to bring such a large force, but Han Du felt that there were too many recruits in Shanzi camp, so he wanted to borrow them.
This opportunity gave me some experience, and now I have tens of thousands more people.”
The smile on Han Du's face became even stronger, and he quickly helped: "It is precisely His Highness the Crown Prince who gave Shanziying this opportunity because of his kindness. I thank His Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhu Biao waved his hand, indicating that Han Du was okay.
Zhu Fan was stunned for a moment, the stone in his heart was relieved, and he laughed loudly: "Hahaha, I am very curious, the emperor will not be angry with me, right?"
Zhu Biao smiled and shook his head, "Why would I be angry with you? Didn't you just say that we won't come back unless we get drunk?"
"It makes sense. What the emperor said makes sense. The two of us brothers will not get drunk or return home today."
Zhu Fan smiled happily.
The soldiers and horses naturally camped outside the city, and Zhu Biao entered the Jin Palace with only less than a hundred guards.
When Feng Sheng and Fu Youde heard that Zhu Biao was coming, they had been waiting at the gate of the palace for a long time. When they saw Zhu Biao coming, they quickly stepped forward and said: "Old minister Feng Shengchen, Fu Youde, pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"You two princes, get up quickly." Zhu Biao took two quick steps and stepped forward to help them up respectively.
"Thank you, Your Highness." They both replied in unison.
Han Du also smiled and stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Young man, I pay my respects to Duke Song and Duke Ying."
They were both familiar with each other, and they nodded slightly towards Han Du, which was regarded as returning Han Du's gift.
At this time, Zhu Fan came forward, laughed and made the atmosphere more harmonious, touched his palms and said
: "You don't have to stand here. If you have anything to say, let's talk about it at the banquet."
Everyone burst out laughing and marveled at Zhu Fan's straightforwardness.
After drinking for three rounds, Feng Sheng took the lead and asked Zhu Biao: "I don't know why your highness is here. If there is any use for my veteran, please give me your orders."
Over the years, Feng Sheng also felt that his situation was not good. He even regretted it now. After he was punished by the emperor and returned to his hometown, he should not have asked the emperor to use him again.
But knowing it is one thing, and how he does it is another matter. He is really too attached to power and the battlefield. If he is asked to stay in the old house all day long and entertain his grandchildren, he will spend all day like this.
I can't even survive.
But Feng Sheng is not stupid, and he also knows how to please Zhu Biao.
Although Zhu Biao had just drank several glasses of strong liquor, he was not drunk yet and his mind was still clear.
"There is nothing wrong with my father sending me out this time. I just want me to gain more knowledge."
Feng Sheng laughed twice when he heard this, and replied awkwardly: "It's okay, it's okay, it's better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books."
The atmosphere suddenly became a little cold. Zhu Biao's face flashed with embarrassment. He held his chopsticks and didn't know whether to continue to answer Feng Sheng's words or pretend not to hear and eat his own food.
Fu Youde, on the other hand, turned a deaf ear and chewed the mutton in his mouth.
Zhu Fan had a look of surprise on his face. He was playing with the wine glass between his fingers without drinking, and just kept looking back and forth between Zhu Biao and Feng Sheng with his eyes.
Seeing this, Han Du quickly interjected: "Your Highness, King Jin, I have a question. I don't know whether I should ask or not?"
Don't ask if you know you shouldn't ask. Zhu Fan was full of dissatisfaction with Han Du, but he couldn't vent it out casually on this occasion.
Instead, he had to put on a smiling face and raise his hand to indicate to Han Du, "Whatever you want to ask, just ask. I know everything and can tell you everything."
Han Du's sudden voice made everyone's eyes focus on him. As for what to ask Zhu Fan, it was no longer important.
However, after doing the whole show, Han Du still said to Zhu Fan with a grateful look on his face: "I would like to thank you, Your Majesty."
After a pause, Han Du continued to ask: "When I entered Taiyuan, I found that there were strict patrols and everyone looked nervous. Is there another problem in the northern grassland?"
Seeing that Han Du's question was really not something that could be dealt with casually, Zhu Fan had no choice but to nod his head and said, "Yes, I have received news that there seems to be some unusual movement in Meng Yuan in the north."
After being answered like this by Zhu Fan, even Zhu Biao couldn't sit still. He quickly put down his chopsticks and asked, "What's going on?"
Han Du also asked at the right time: "Bei Yuan should have been in disarray since the imperial court was defeated. Why is it that it has started to stir up trouble again in just a few years?"
The former emperor of Beiyuan, Emperor Tianyuan, is now named King Anle by Lao Zhu, and they are still staying in the capital. When Lao Zhu has nothing to do, he likes to chat with King Anle the most. Every time he sees King Anle trembling in front of him,
Lao Zhu's vanity was greatly satisfied.
Zhu Fan suddenly drank a glass of wine without saying anything.
Feng Sheng on the side explained aloud: "His Royal Highness the Prince does not know, the Bei Yuan has indeed been destroyed. But the destruction of the Bei Yuan does not mean that all the Meng Yuan people on the grassland have also died."
"Exactly." Zhu Fan glanced at Feng Sheng, then looked at Zhu Biao and said: "Actually, the Mongolian people on the grassland are not just the Northern Yuan people. There are the Oara tribe in the west and the Tatar tribe in the east. The Northern Yuan people are also
At that time, both tribes were attached to the Northern Yuan Dynasty. Therefore, the Mongolian people on the entire grassland were actually the three tribes of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, the Oara tribe and the Tatar tribe combined."
"Now the Northern Yuan Dynasty is gone, but the Oarahe Tatars are still there. In addition, in recent years, because of the destruction of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, the imperial court has eased the suppression of the grasslands. It is said that these two groups have developed rapidly and gradually formed
A threat to the Ming Dynasty."
After hearing this, Han Du slowly let out a breath. He had no doubts about Zhu Fan's words.
As far as I know, the grassland is almost the law of the jungle. It is the instinct of the Mengyuan people to rely on the strong. When
Chu Lanyu only killed all the people in the Northern Yuan Dynasty, and did not do much damage to the ordinary Mongolian people.
After losing the Northern Yuan, these Mongolian people are very likely to choose to join the Oara and Tatar tribes. In this way, the strength of the Oara and Tatar tribes will grow rapidly.
This is the most troublesome point of the nomadic civilization that causes the Central Plains Dynasty, unless all the Mongolian people are wiped out. Otherwise, even if one of the most powerful forces is wiped out, under the support of these defeated Mongolian people,
Other inconspicuous tribes will grow up at a rapid rate and once again become a threat to the Ming Dynasty.
Unless we can completely drive them to the west like Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did with the Xiongnu. This will not be able to completely cut off the threat of the grassland nomads to the Central Plains, because as long as the grassland lasts, some people will survive and develop on this land again.
stand up.
To completely remove the threat from the grassland, we must drive these people away completely and find ways to occupy the grassland land.
But this is easy to think of, but it is not an easy thing to actually do. Anyway, for thousands of years, only Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty has achieved the first step. As for whether the second step can be achieved, no one knows.
Of course, there is a second way, which is what Lao Zhu is doing now, which is to get the Mongolian people to surrender and naturalize.
Li Shimin also did this, and the effect was pretty good. Not only was the cost low, but it also ensured the peace of the Tang border for more than a hundred years. However, after the civil strife in the Tang Dynasty, the grassland tribes rebelled again.
"I never thought that the Mongolian people on the grassland would be like this." Zhu Biao sighed, and then asked: "The third brother has always been resourceful, what should the Ming Dynasty do in this situation?"
Zhu Fan said without hesitation: "There is only one way, and that is to eliminate them again before they have truly grown stronger."
Zhu Biao couldn't help but frown at the mention of another battle. The people of the Ming Dynasty were not having an easy time now, especially after Zhu Biao went to Xi'an, this feeling became deeper and deeper.
Going on an expedition consumes manpower, material and financial resources. Hundreds of thousands of troops march thousands of miles on the grassland. Regardless of whether they win or lose, the food, grass and weapons they spend are a huge burden.
Judging from Zhu Biao's original intention, he did not want to send troops to conquer the grassland.
"Where are the Oaras and Tartars now?"
When Zhu Biao asked about it, Zhu Fan thought that he also agreed to the expedition. He immediately became energetic and immediately replied: "It's deep in the grassland, otherwise they won't be able to escape our army to clear them out."
"Deep in the grassland? Wouldn't it be difficult for us to go deep into it?" Zhu Biao was stunned when he heard this.
"It's certainly not easy to wipe out the Oara and Tatars, but we can't leave them alone, right?" Zhu Fan came to his senses and realized that the emperor's brother was not supportive, so he had to reason with him.
Zhu Biao nodded, and under the eyes of the third brother, he had no choice but to say: "Of course we can't ignore it, but the matter is very important. I still suggest that the third brother should try to collect the most accurate information about these two movies, and ask my father for the last memorial.
The emperor will take a look at it."
"What the emperor said makes sense." When Zhu Fan heard what the emperor said, he had no choice but to follow the trend.
After Zhu Fan repeatedly persuaded him to stay, Zhu Biao stayed in Taiyuan for a total of twenty days.
But there is always a banquet in the world, no matter how reluctant Zhu Fan and Zhu Biao are to leave, the day for Zhu Biao to leave will always come.
In fact, Zhu Fan may not be reluctant to leave Zhu Biao. Maybe he is still eager for Zhu Biao to leave quickly.
After seeing that the emperor brother was really leaving, Zhu Biao's attitude made Zhu Fan relax his vigilance. On the day of Zhu Biao's departure, Zhu Fan insisted on sending the emperor brother to the border of Taiyuan and Yandi in person before he would give up.
Seeing his third brother's kindness, Zhu Biao did not object. The two of them rode side by side and drove slowly.
Zhu Fan personally sent Zhu Biao off, and Feng Sheng and Fu Youde naturally followed him.
Everyone stopped at the border and exchanged pleasantries.
Zhu Fan held the emperor's brother's arm affectionately, with an excited expression, and said with a sad look on his face that he was about to leave: "After a long journey, we have to say goodbye. Emperor brother, I can only send you here."
After the vassal king became a vassal, he was not allowed to leave the fiefdom without an edict. This was an iron rule set by Lao Zhu. Therefore, Zhu Fan said this at this time,
No one can accuse him of wrongdoing.
On the contrary, they had no choice but to separate because he had to send the prince all the way to the border, which was enough to prove to the world the deep affection between their brothers.
To everyone's surprise, Zhu Biao sighed helplessly after hearing this and said, "If the third brother really wants to leave with Gu, that's okay."
As soon as these words came out, the surrounding area instantly became quiet.
Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, and Han Du looked directly at Zhu Biao, wondering what the meaning of his words was.
Zhu Fan didn't realize what the emperor meant for a while. He smiled and said, "Brother, please stop joking with me. Without the emperor's will, I can't even leave the fief. How can I follow the emperor?"
"
The smile on Zhu Biao's face gradually disappeared. He took out an imperial edict from his sleeve robe and said seriously: "I am not joking with my third brother. The emperor has an edict. King Jin, Feng Sheng, and Fu Youde will accept the edict!"
There was no incense case in the wilderness, but Zhu Fan, Feng Sheng, Fu Youde, and Han Du all knelt down and worshiped.
"Your Majesty, wait and receive the order."
Zhu Fan's face turned green and white. After repeated changes, he had to kneel down and say, "I accept the order~"
Zhu Biao then opened the imperial edict and read: "The emperor is destined to be carried by heaven. The edict says: Zhu Fan will return to the capital with the prince, and the troops and horses of the Jin Dynasty will be controlled by Fu Youde. I admire this!"
"I am waiting, I obey the order!" Feng Sheng and Fu Youde bowed to Zhu Biao again before getting up.
Han Du also stood up and looked at Zhu Biao with a look of disbelief on his face.
And Feng Sheng's face was a bit bad. The emperor handed over all the troops and horses of Prince Jin's Palace to Fu Youde, not even a single soldier. This made him think that the emperor still trusted him very much.
Fu Youde, on the other hand, had no expression on his face. He did not want to find out what happened to Zhu Fan. The emperor insisted on summoning him to Beijing. He was not overjoyed because he controlled the troops of the Jin Dynasty. Instead, he looked calm, as if
He was only temporarily taking care of the troops and horses for Zhu Fan.
Of course, Zhu Fan's face was full of disbelief. Until Zhu Biao helped him up with his own hands, he had not yet recovered from the shocking news. In other words, he had no idea what was going on.
After closing the imperial edict, Zhu Biao handed it to Fu Youde, "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Ying Guo."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you're welcome. This is a matter that belongs to the ministers." Fu Youde took the imperial edict and read it carefully, confirming that it was written by the emperor himself, and that it was stamped with the imperial seal of "Ordered by God to live long and prosperous".
After that, he nodded.
Seeing that the matter was over, Zhu Biao said directly to Feng Sheng and Fu Youde: "Dong Guo of Song and Duke Ying, please go back."
The two people could clearly see that there was something Zhu Biao didn't want them to know, so they hurriedly bowed and excused themselves, "I'll excuse you now. Your Highness, the Crown Prince, have a safe trip."
Zhu Biao nodded slightly.
After the two people left with their guards, Zhu Fan looked at Zhu Biao with his neck stiffened, and asked with unconvincing expression: "Brother, why did the emperor want to take away the military power of my younger brother?"
"Ahem!" Han Du stood aside and said awkwardly.
Although he didn't know what was going on, Han Du also reacted at this time. The purpose of Zhu Biao's trip was probably to bring Zhu Fan back to the capital.
Since Zhu Biao's so-called patrolling on behalf of the sky was a cover-up, how can he be sure that going to Kaifeng and Xi'an was not a deliberate act to deceive others?
Han Du could guess without thinking deeply that this must be related to the matter between the two brothers Zhu Biao and Zhu Fan. It would be better for him to avoid getting involved in such matters.
Seeing Zhu Biao looking at him, Han Du quickly explained: "Your Highness, I just remembered that I still have some things to explain, so I will go over and explain them to them."
Originally Han Du wanted to find an excuse to leave, but he didn't expect that after Zhu Biao heard this, he waved his hand to stop Han Du.
"It's not a big deal, it doesn't hurt to listen."
It's no wonder Han Du didn't even believe a single punctuation mark of Zhu Biao's words if it wasn't a big deal. If it wasn't a earth-shattering big deal, how could you deliberately send Feng Sheng and Fu Youde away?
What qualifications does a marquis have to interfere in something that the two princes are not qualified to listen to?