In the Chengguo Mansion, Zhu Xizhong, who is already dying, is sitting on a flannel cushioned chaise longue and taking advantage of the rare warm spring sun.

The old man, who doesn't like to move when he's old, has been worrying a lot recently, physical exhaustion is still a trivial matter, the key is tiredness, and now I learned that my eldest grandson got a pragmatic invitation to go to Xiangshan together, and I was in a much better mood, so I had this sunbathing move.

Zhu Xizhong, the grandfather of the country, is actually very average in terms of military talent, but he has been deeply trusted for decades, and his reputation in civil affairs is also quite good, of course, he also has his ability.

His ability, taken together, is twofold: resolutely obeying the emperor's instructions and vigorously befriending civil officials as Austrian aid.

If you let some young nobles with strong blood evaluate him, then they must not be able to escape the comment of "Licorice Guogong", if you have to make an analogy, I am afraid it is Li Chunfang among the nobles.

Zhu Xizhong himself has not heard similar comments, but he didn't care, and even sneered in his heart: This childish opinion is also good.

Zhu Xizhong, since he was young, has been very shrewd, good at accommodating all kinds of high-ranking officials and celebrities, and has a good reputation and official fortunes. In the original history, he served in three dynasties, and successively went out of the city to worship heaven and earth on behalf of the emperor 66 times, and received countless gold and silver treasures.

At the same time, Zhu Xizhong and Zhang Juzheng are still very good friends. This is clearly proven: after Zhu Xizhong's death, Zhang Juzheng personally wrote an article to commemorate it, and in his words, he was extremely respectful, which shows that the friendship between the two sides is very deep and the relationship is very deep.

Another clear proof is that in the first year of Wanli, after Zhu Xizhong's death. At that time, his younger brother Zhu Xixiao, who was serving as the governor of Jinyi, bribed Feng Bao with a lot of money and asked for the title of king to his brother Zhu Xizhong. At this time, Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao belonged to a political alliance, Feng Bao's opinions had to be taken seriously, and Zhang Juzheng himself and Zhu Xizhong had a deep personal relationship, so they planned to give Zhu Xizhong the title of king. At this time, there was a minister Chen Younian who resolutely objected, and Shang Shu said: "According to the decree: If the meritorious person dies, the public gift will be crowned as the king, and the marquis will be awarded the title of duke, and the descendants of the hereditary person will only enjoy the original title in life and death." Zhu Xizhong didn't have meritorious deeds to please the enemy, how could he be pampered?"

However, Zhang Juzheng, who was a very powerful minister and powerful at that time, did not follow Chen Younian's suggestion, and still arranged for Zhu Xizhong to be posthumously crowned "King Dingxiang". This also laid the groundwork for his student Liu Tai to impeach him for being arbitrary, violating the ancestral system, and indiscriminately sealing the king. Liu Tai's recital said that he was worried that if this was all right, the prince's family would be bribed heavily in the future, and he would beg Chen endlessly if he cited this case (referring to Zhu Xizhong's example of being crowned king).

In the eleventh year of Wanli, due to the liquidation of Zhang Juzheng, the Chengguo Mansion was affected, and Zhu Xizhong's prince was pursued. In the fourteenth year of Wanli, not only did the matter not subside, but intensified, and Zhu Yingzhen, the then Duke of Chengguo, who was forced to be helpless, committed suicide in anger. Wanli, who learned the news, was both shocked and angry, and forcibly delayed the normal attack on the Duke of Chengguo for 14 years before allowing Zhu Dingchen to attack the Duke of Chengguo.

The aftermath of a person's death can last so long and cause such a big impact, even if there is a big reason for Zhang Juzheng, but it would be too much to say that Zhu Xizhong is just a waste with no ability and no influence.

Of course, Zhu Xizhong's title to the king, looking back, it can't be said that there is no reason at all: when Emperor Jiajing returned to Chengtianfu after the Great Ceremony, when he passed by Wei Hui, the palace caught fire and was in great danger. It was Zhu Xizhong and Lu Bing who rushed into the fire and put Emperor Jiajing out. With this unusual rescue feat, coupled with the fact that he is the head of the nobles, Zhang Juzheng posthumously crowned him as a prince under the pretense of Wanli, and there is always something to say: I am thanking him for saving my imperial grandfather back then, this is what a pure filial piety king should do!

However, since Jiajing's death, Zhu Xizhong's health has become more and more deteriorating, it stands to reason that he is only fifty-four years old this year, three years younger than Gao Gong, but Gao Gong is currently in good health and strong spirits, and he can't see Zhu Xizhong's old state at all.

At this moment, he was lying on the recliner with his eyes closed, and the maids and servants beside him were all subconsciously holding their breath and concentrating, for fear of disturbing the old and quiet old man.

However, at this time, a voice came from outside: "Little Zheng Wu, at the behest of the young master Zhen, I have an urgent matter to report to the old man!" ”

The maid was so frightened that she hurriedly looked at Zhu Xizhong. I saw Zhu Xizhong Huo Ran open his eyes, and his usually old and cloudy eyes showed a fleeting essence, but he immediately calmed down again, and became the appearance of an old dragon clock with half-squinted eyes, and said weakly: "Let him come in." ”

Everyone secretly said in their hearts: "The eldest young master's health has always been bad, and the old man's heart is all hung on the young master Ying Zhen. ”

The eldest young master here is of course not talking about Zhu Yingzhen's elder brother - Zhu Yingzhen is the eldest grandson and has no brother. This eldest young master is talking about Zhu Shitai, Zhu Xizhong's eldest son and Zhu Yingzhen's father.

That Zheng Wu is a tall man of thirty-four or five years old, with a fierce atmosphere, but the rules are not bad at all, and after entering the back garden, Lao Yuan leaned down and bowed: "Little Zheng Wu, I have seen my husband." ”

Zhu Xizhong glanced at him lightly, and said weakly: "Get up, what's the matter with Ying Zhen, send you back and forth in such a hurry?" He was secretly worried that his grandson did not know how to restrain himself, or that the senior attendant was too arrogant with his uncle's prestige, and there was a quarrel between the two, or it simply escalated into a violent conflict, which would be really a good thing and a bad thing, and it would be a big trouble.

In fact, he is not very afraid of Gao Gong in his heart, after all, his identity is here, and the political influence of Cheng Guogong is here, even if Gao Gong wants to move him, the emperor does not even have to follow Gao Gong's temperament.

But he is very afraid of trouble, especially the concept of being a minister and an official, that is, peace is the preciousness of everything, for an emperor like Gao Gong, it is too late for him to make friends, how can he be willing to conflict with him?

But at the moment, I'm afraid that things are really a bit big, because Zheng Wu didn't get up, but said decisively: "Young Master Ying Zhen explained: The matter is very important, please let the old man retreat first." ”

Zhu Xizhong was not afraid that Zheng Wu would be unfavorable to him, but after hearing this, he was even more worried, and subconsciously changed from lying down to sitting, waving his hand to the people around him with a sinking face: "You stand down." ”

Everyone retreated, and Zhu Xizhong pretended to be calm and said, "Can you say it now?" ”

"Old man." Zheng Wu replied: "Young Master Ying Zhen said: The soap that Gao Shi dedicated to Banzai is extremely effective, and now he has permission to produce it exclusively and sell it to the people. Gao pragmatic Fang made it clear that he was willing to accept the shares of the major noble families in Beijing, and at the same time ...... There are also some offers. ”