In July of the sixth year of Yongle, the Ming fleet with the eunuch Zheng He as the chief envoy and Wang Jinghong and Hou Xian as the deputy envoys set off from Liujiagang in Taicang and went to the Western Ocean for the second time.

Compared to the previous two voyages, the fleet has nearly doubled. With more than 100 treasure ships as the center, warships are guarded on the side, followed by horse ships, grain ships and merchant ships.

The crew members include more than 30,000 officers, sailors, procurers, interpreters, craftsmen, and doctors.

When setting sail, the huge sails were raised, and in the blue waves, the mighty fleet rode the wind and waves and sailed forward.

On this voyage, Zheng He and Wang Jinghong shouldered the heavy task of finding overseas continents, and the bending from the Tai Hospital was half a box. Hou Xian was ordered to send the Western tributary mission back to China, and as a precaution, he also went to the Tai Hospital several times. When they met Zheng He and Zheng He, who came to get the medicine, they were both pale, knowing what happened to each other, and their friendship was sublimated in an instant.

Zheng He's fleet went to the West at the beginning, not only brought back gems and spices, coral pearls, rare birds and beasts, red sandalwood and agarwood, but also a ship of tributary envoys, some of whom were led by the king, came to the Ming Dynasty, lived in the Nanjing Huiguan, and lived for a few months.

During this period, these Western envoys held spices and gold and bought fine silk porcelain in large quantities. In just a few months, Nanjing's porcelain and cloth markets were exceptionally prosperous.

The envoys were also interested in tea. In view of the fact that tea, salt, and ironware are all under the exclusive control of the imperial court, and since the third year of Yongle, the policy of restricting foreign purchases has been implemented, and there is no Ming household registration, and it is purely a pipe dream to buy the above three products in large quantities. As a result, everyone can only look at the tea and sigh.

Rao is like this, the strength and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty still opened the eyes of these outsiders and was extremely shocking.

He personally led the team to the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute to the mud king Mana Ja Kananai, unfortunately died of illness in the same hall, leaving a last word, not to which son the throne was passed on, nor how to distribute the property after death, but to ask the Ming Emperor for permission, after his death to be able to be buried in the Ming Dynasty.

Emperor Yongle fulfilled the last wish of the king of mud and buried Manajakana Nanai with a princely ceremony, allowing him to stay in Daming forever.

Dozens of princesses, children and attachés who went to the Ming Dynasty with Mana Jagana Nai stayed in Nanjing. The prince was blessed to study in the country's eunuch, and the princess and her attachés settled in the south of Nanjing to keep a vigil for Manajakana.

Meng is not familiar with the muddy country, and most of what happened in the hall is relayed by others. The Guogong Mansion and the Bofu Guards are both good news channels. However, in terms of timeliness and accuracy of information, Jinyiwei has always been far ahead and dominated.

When the king of Huanni was buried, Zheng He was ordered to leave the palace to convey the holy will of the Son of Heaven to the delegation of the Huanni Kingdom, and to reward the king's widow and children. The next day, the eldest son and the second son of Mana Jakana Nanai jointly signed a name, saying that they admired the culture of the Ming Dynasty and asked to stay in the Ming Dynasty and enter the country to study.

Naturally, Zhu Di summoned the two princes and praised them all.

When the news came out, Meng touched his chin, pondered carefully, and finally came to the conclusion that one day in the future, the two princes will return to the country to inherit the throne, and the day when the Ming Dynasty will set up a consolation envoy in the muddy country will not be far away.

For the Yongle Emperor, the death of the muddy king can only be regarded as a small episode. During the conquest of Korea, the Tatars, who were expected to send troops, toured the north, moved the capital, and built Changling, which occupied most of his energy.

The imperial court fleet set sail according to the scheduled date, Zheng He and the three went to Liujiagang, but Zhu Di could not go in person, so he simply captured his son as a strong man.

The father has something, and the son obeys it.

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't resist his father, so he had to face the hot-spicy-spicy sun, wear a prince's crown, and climb the high platform to the sound of drums and trumpets, sweating profusely, but still insisting on a serious appearance.

Zhu Gaosui used the excuse that his father was issuing an edict to the imperial brother, but he was by the way and resolutely did not go to the high platform. Seeing Zhu Gaoxu's glaring, he simply pulled Meng who asked him to leave Beijing to discuss whether the ships that sailed were properly arranged and how to distribute the goods he brought back.

Meng was speechless.

The arrangement has been arranged a long time ago, and now it is discussed, isn't it too bad to excuse it?

"Your Highness, you really don't want to go up?"

"No, no." Zhu Gaosui was also wearing a crown, and he casually opened the jade beads hanging in front of the crown, as if the sun was too dazzling, and narrowed his eyes, "Father and the emperor issued an order to the imperial brother, and there is no need to join in the fun." ”

After thinking about it for a moment, Meng thought that it was most appropriate not to answer.

"Father Zanxing Ningbo is smart and clever, and he has a strategy when encountering problems. Lone thinks the same way. Zhu Gaosui retracted his gaze and said, "Xingningbo is a smart person, and he has learned a lot from Xingningbo and benefited a lot." ”

"His Royal Highness praises falsely, and the minister does not dare to be."

"Deserved." Zhu Gaosui said with a smile, "I didn't like to read in my early years, I did things as I wanted, and I just wanted to be happy." Many lines are reckless, and they are not yet conscious. Since meeting Xingningbo, Lone has been quite embarrassed when he thinks back on the past. ”

"Your Highness's words, the ministers are ashamed!"

"Everything you say comes from the bottom of your heart." Zhu Gaosui smiled very sincerely, "Alone in the mutual market, Brother Wang led the troops to Tuntian, my father attached importance to the business tax, allowed merchants to buy land in Jiaozhi, and stabilized the southwestern states. ”

Meng's face turned pale, sweat slid down his sideburns, and he didn't know if he was hot or frightened.

Today's Royal Highness King Zhao is obviously not quite right.

What is the rhythm of this?

Praise, reminder, or warning?

Could it be that he has been in the limelight too much recently?

Seeing that Meng was very uncomfortable, Zhu Gaosui felt a little helpless, "Xingningbo doesn't have to think about it, Lone just sighed occasionally, and he didn't have any other intentions." ”

Meng wiped his sweat, and if he was someone else, he might not think about it much, but the words were said by the old Zhu family, don't you think about it too much? However, with his understanding of Zhu Gaosui, the possibility of warning is very small, and the possibility of praise is not great.

He has been in the limelight too much recently, and with Grandpa Guo in front, he can't stop the eyes of others.

Once the imperial court sends troops to the grassland, I am afraid that there will be more people who are not pleasing to the eye. He didn't care about the eyes of others, anyway, he wouldn't lose a piece of meat if he was stared at a few times. But if you are targeted, it is really annoying to come to the door every once in a while.

I can't afford to hide, and when I return to Nanjing, it's better to continue to "recuperate". If it doesn't work again, the grassland will be fought, and immediately go up to ask for the army. Arranging troops is not a specialty, I don't have much ability, and it's always okay to be in charge of logistics.

Besides, it's time for him to go back to northern Xinjiang.

After being away for so long, the affairs of Daning Sansi are still a mess. The Son of Heaven left him in Nanjing, but he did not mean to let the political envoy of Daning gain a firm foothold as soon as possible.

Helplessly, the officials sent were not strong, and they were too ugly to eat, so they tried their best tricks. What the Son of Heaven wanted them to do, they didn't do it, relying on the imperial decree, they broke their wrists with the Daning Dusi, offended Duoyan Sanwei, and were in danger of being put in sacks by strong men at any time, and even worse, tried to intervene in the market, take charge of the tax department, and attack the emperor's money bag.

Every time he thought of this, Meng couldn't help but sigh.

A good hand of cards, but played like this, should it be said that the ability is extraordinary, really wonderful?

Today, Zhu Gaosui reminded him that whether intentionally or unintentionally, human favor is always essential.

Whether the Son of Heaven will not do anything and send someone to guard Daning, for the time being. Keep a low profile and avoid the immediate troubles is fundamental.

At the beginning, Emperor Yongle issued an order for him to live in Beijing, and Meng already had a plan in his heart. Emperor Yongle reused him and trusted him, but Daning's position was too important, and if he didn't move the capital, after moving the capital, as before, Daning Dusi was a big family, except for the town guard, the words of others didn't work, and the problem would be big.

In terms of politics-fighting-fighting, and court experience, a dozen Meng is not as good as half of Zhu Di. In a sense, Emperor Yongle was also protecting him.

Instead of attracting the Manchu Dynasty - whip - tart, it is better to hand over part of the power in advance. Just as he wanted to find an opportunity to hand in the iron ticket to avoid death, retreating was not the best way to deal with this kind of thing.

Fortunately, Zhu Di did not have the habit of killing heroes, replaced him with Zhu Yuanzhang, retreated to the corner, and cleaned up the same.

Meng thought a lot, and his mind wandered.

Zhu Gaosui knew that he had listened to what he said, and he didn't care, and looked at Zhu Gaoxu on the high platform again, his expression changed slightly. He didn't lie, and being able to have this day does have a lot to do with Meng.

If Meng hadn't appeared and hadn't gotten along with him for a few years, at this moment, Zhu Gaosui would not stand calmly under the stage and look up at his brother on the high platform.

Zhu Gaosui learned a lot from Meng.

What is rightfully theirs is his, and no one can snatch it away.

If you shouldn't be him, it's useless to think about it day and night, racking your brains, but it only adds to your troubles.

Zhu Gaosui thought clearly, so he was relaxed and open-minded.

At the right time, Zheng and Wang Jinghong boarded the ship one after another.

Zhu Gaoxu turned over the wine cup, the mouth of the glass was facing down, and the clear wine was poured and sprinkled on the ground.

The sea breeze blows by, rolling up-strong-strong-wine, as if blessing the fleet, a smooth journey.

The last merchant ship left the port, Zhu Gaoxu stepped off the high platform, and he was not enthusiastic about the civil and military forces beside him, and only when he faced Zhu Gaosui and Meng, a little smile appeared on his face.

Looking at Zhu Gaoxu, who was wearing a crown, Meng was a little stunned, as if he had seen Zhu Di, who was twenty years younger.

It's just that compared to Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu still has something missing. Maybe it's the precipitation of the years, or maybe it's the tempering of the wind and sand outside the plug. However, Meng is sure that as long as Zhu Gaoxu does not suddenly have hydrogen in his head, but continues to walk in the current direction, the road under his feet will become wider and wider, and the future of the Ming Dynasty will also undergo a fundamental change.

Without the rule of Renxuan, it may be a pity of history. But if he can avoid the shame of Tumubao, even if he leaves a bad name in the history books, Meng is willing to do it.

Back at the accommodation, Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui changed into their regular clothes, covered their faces with a warm towel, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Putting down the veil, Zhu Gaoxu said: "It's only been hot like this in July, and if it continues like this, I'm afraid there will be a drought this year." I heard that there has been no rain in Henan, Shandong and other places for some days. ”

"The state capital under the jurisdiction of the world has been played, there are signs of locust plague, and the disaster relief grain is stored in the treasury, no wonder the household department wants to cry out that there is no food."

After speaking, Zhu Gaosui picked up the teacup, gurgled and knocked, a cup of herbal tea went down to his stomach, and the feeling of burning was finally better.

Zhu Gaoxu frowned deeply, he hadn't returned to Xuanfu for some time, and he didn't know if there would be a bumper grain yield this year. Will the military cantonments in northern Xinjiang be affected by the drought? Approaching autumn, will the Tartars suddenly offend the edge.

Sitting aside, Meng drank tea and ate snacks, did not ask about the head, and easily did not speak.

"What do you think you should do if there is a drought?"

"Huh?" Meng was still biting a snack in his mouth, quite a little outside, "Your Highness, the lower officials don't know about disaster relief." Local affairs, when asked local officials, there is a better solution. ”

Everything depends on the orders of the central government, one password and one action, what else do you want local officials to do?

Seeing that Meng had finished eating half a plate of dim sum alone, Zhu Gaoxu's eyes couldn't help but fall on the porcelain plate next to him, it was really so delicious?

"The capital is moving, and the disaster relief is carried out afterwards, Xia Situ bluntly said that many measures have been proposed by Xingningbo, and they have been effective."

Meng was silent.

"Loneliness is also worrying, in recent years, floods, droughts and locust plagues have occurred frequently, and I hope to brainstorm and sort out the best way to deal with it."

"Your Highness, the minister is really ......"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted.

"A boat." Zhu Gaoxu held up a finger.

"What?"

"This time I went to the Western Ocean, and my father promised six lonely ships, and the foreign things that were transported back were given to Xingningbo alone, how about it?"

A ship's cargo, given for nothing?

Zhu Gaoxu nodded, as long as he gave good advice, it would be okay to divide half a boat.

Meng was excited, even if he brought back a boatload of wood, it would be a big profit!

Zhu Gaoxu is full of sincerity, how can it be just wood? Rest assured, they must be all good!

His eyes were full of golden light, and Uncle Meng finally couldn't resist the temptation of sugar-coating-cannon-bullets.

"Your Highness, your majesty will do your best!" Uncle Meng's chest was slapped, and in his excitement, he almost shot himself with internal injuries.

"Xiao Wang is waiting for good news."

Seeing Meng Piao walk out of the room, Zhu Gaosui turned to Zhu Gaoxu, "Brother Wang is so generous, junior brother admires it." ”

Zhu Gaoxu said that the virtuous brother praised falsely, and the virtuous brother also contributed to this matter.

He also helped? Zhu Gaosui was puzzled.

"Actually, my father only allowed three boats, and the remaining three boats were shared by you and my brothers." Zhu Gaoxu said.

"Really?"

"Really."

“……”

"Brother Xian?"

Zhu Gaosui smiled but didn't smile, "When I return to Jinling, I will definitely visit Dingguo Gong."

"Why?"

"The elder brother is eagerly looking forward to learning martial arts with the Duke of Dingguo, and the younger brother will definitely bring the words."

"This ......"

"The younger brother volunteered to speak, and the elder brother didn't have to be too grateful."

"......" thanks to XX!

It can be seen that digging a pit and burying people is a technical job, and the trick can be mastered by ordinary people.

His Royal Highness the King of Han still needs to be honed.

After leaving the wing, Meng breathed a sigh of relief.

One is the whole ship of goods obtained for nothing, and the other is the attitude of Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaosui. Without the permission of Emperor Yongle, the King of Han and the King of Zhao would dare to form a friendship with him so blatantly?

The two highnesses made their attitudes clear, and if anyone wants to slander the Son of Heaven and make trouble for him, they must also weigh it carefully.

It seems that he stepped forward at the critical moment and spoke for Jinyiwei, and he did the right thing in the end. What the King of Han told him to do should also have the meaning of Emperor Yongle.

first made him the crown prince Shaobao, taught Zhu Zhan to read, and ordered him to write disaster relief entries, if the song was handed over by the King of Han, in the eyes of most courtiers, he must have become an out-and-out Han King Party, or the stamp of the Son of Heaven himself.

As long as Zhu Gaochu is not stupid, no longer has a twitching head, is blindly arrogant, and says things like King Qin, he has a future as a Han Wang party.

At this point, Zhu Gaosui is quite smart.

However, today's Zhu Gaochu has an advantage over the historical Zhu Gaochi, because he is not yet the prince.

Who said that it is a good thing to be crowned a prince?

Emperor Yongle was in the prime of life, and he was robbed of the throne, and it was most taboo for someone to compete with him for power. A potential heir to the Sacred Heart is far safer than a striking second-in-command.

In June and July, the envoys of the Ming Dynasty arrived in the grassland.

At that time, Benjamin had been proclaimed Khan, Arutai was self-proclaimed Taishi, and the former Taishi's right prime minister, Ma'er Hawe, retreated under him.

After all, he was killed by the cavalry sent by Arutai, the tribal leaders who followed him were slaughtered, the adult men of the tribe were killed, the women, cattle and sheep were divided, and most of the children who were less than the height of the wheel became the slaves of the victors.

When the Ming envoys arrived, Benjamin and Arutai were celebrating their victory.

The mutton on the plate is golden and crispy, and the wine purchased from Uliangha is strong and intoxicating.

When the envoys of the Ming Dynasty walked into the tent, everyone was drunk and hot, their heads were dizzy, and their attitudes were inevitably a little contemptuous. The envoy was furious, and his words naturally did not sound good.

"Rude stop! An dare to call the former dynasty clan? ”

Anyone who is scolded like this will get angry. Holding back his anger and accepting the edict, he saw the contents of the edict clearly, and his anger and blood surged. But the envoy was still making a high statement, and Benjamin suddenly exploded, and under the influence of alcohol, he pulled out his saber and slashed down.

The sword flashed, the head rolled to the ground, the smell of blood filled the tent, and everyone woke up instantly.

Looking at the Ming Dynasty envoy who was in a different place and fell to the ground, Benjamin panicked, the saber fell to the ground, and looked at everyone like a helper, "What should I do?" ”

Kill all the killings, what else can I do?

Arutai's face was red, and he simply didn't do anything, and all the envoys of the Ming Dynasty clicked.

Anyway, I've already poked a hornet's nest, and I don't care about poking a few more.

After the killing, Arutai ordered to immediately pull out the camp and move in the direction of the Yuqu River.

When the news reached Nanjing, Emperor Yongle was furious. mourned Guo Ji and others who sacrificed their lives for the country, and immediately ordered to assemble the army, "I want to send troops to conquer the desert!" ”