The mirror was in front of him, and Xu Huizu looked at the big face with a lot of flesh inside, and he couldn't recognize himself a little.

He used to be very burly and majestic, but of course he didn't look like this, but now he has changed. He couldn't go out for many years, he had a good appetite, and he was greedy for a cup and often got drunk, and it seemed that there was no way to keep getting rich.

Recently, Xu Huizu also felt a little difficult to walk, and his body was too heavy. Suddenly realized, he felt that he was useless. Once bent on being like his father, he was determined to dominate the battle array of thousands of troops and horses and shock the world, but now Xu Huizu's dream has been completely shattered. Every time he thinks about it, he still can't help but feel sad.

Next to the bronze mirror, there are two volumes, one is "The Life of the Han King", and the other side is the upper part of the "Translation Collection". Xu Huizu took away the mirror and reached out to grab the "Translation Collection".

Just then, a gray-haired servant came in, made a fuss in the room, and then stepped forward and placed a book on the table. Xu Huizu saw that it was the lower part of "Translation Hui".

The slave's name is Wei Twelve, and he has been in the Xu family since the Hongwu period. After Xu Hui's ancestral house was ruined, most of the people in the house were scattered and became extra deserted; Only Wei Twelve and the others didn't leave, and they didn't seem to have much to do.

Wei Twelve said: "The old slave saw Xia Shangshu and asked for a book from Xia Shangshu. When he met the old slave, he said twice before and after, saying that when the old slave came to his mansion, there must be Jinyi guards staring at him, telling the old slave to pay attention to avoid suspicion. ”

Xu Huizu turned his head and said, "What he means is to tell us not to associate with him." ”

"Ugh." Wei Twelve lowered his head and sighed.

After a while, Wei Twelve still spoke to himself: "I didn't expect Xia Shangshu and others to also say good things about today, saying that just the city will increase the income by 20 million." The master's nephew is quite capable, and he has attracted all kinds of people who come by. After all, you're my uncle......"

Xu Huizu glanced at him and understood the meaning of the slave's words. If it was the former Wei State Mansion, how could such a thing be worthy of a slave's mouth? However, Xu Huizu is now down, and there is no one around him, so this Wei Twelve dares to say anything.

Xu Huizu didn't care, he thought that the people of the old four families had inherited the title of Duke of Wei, so he didn't hesitate to interrupt the old slave's ramblings, "Gao Xu was disobedient when he was young, and when he grew up in Beiping, he was even more cunning. I have always disliked this son, and he probably hates me as an uncle. There are always some people in this world, even if they can see each other from time to time, even if they are very close relatives, but they still do not deal with each other. Born without fate, that's what it is. ”

However, Xia Yuanji and the others vaguely showed their mentality, which surprised Xu Huizu. When the courtiers reach a certain position of power, they inevitably hope that the monarch's power will be weakened, because only in that way can the power, wealth, and even the life of the family be more in their own hands. The more talented people are, the more likely they are to think so. The game between the monarchs and the prime minister has not been for more than a thousand years, and it is easy for Xu Huizu to think of this angle even if he is not a civil official.

However, at the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, he summed up the lessons and saw the great consequences of the collapse of the balance between the monarchs and ministers of various dynasties, and Taizu has been trying to take power from the royal family; Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxu succeeded to the throne, making it difficult for the courtiers to control the imperial power, and the practice of Taizu was continued again. Have the ministers recognized the reality and accepted the status quo?

At this time, Wei Twelve was a little unwilling and said: "Why is the master looking for these books, and."

What is it about today? ”

Xu Huizu did not respond. Now that he is in the mansion all day long, no one can see him, except for reading these words, how can he learn about Gao Xu? Xu Huizu didn't like Gao Xu very much, but he was not without interest.

Although they were people who hated each other, Xu Huizu seemed to know Gao Xu very well. Before Gao Chi's family died, many people were a little suspicious of Gao Xu, but Xu Huizu intuitively decided that that kind of thing was not Gao Xu's doing.

Wei Twelve's voice came again, "I heard that this book was originally handed over by Yao Fang to the 'Fake Courtyard' of the Imperial Guard, and Yao Fang was the eldest brother of Concubine Xian. However, Xia Shangshu said that it must be a book that the saint personally obtained. Now there are still some scholars in the court, and with this book, they have become a school of 'fake things'. ”

"It's really weird." Xu Huizu said casually.

Wei Twelve said: "Today, it is really both civil and military. ”

Xu Huizu raised his head and patted the book in his hand with his big fleshy palm, "This thing can't be written out of thin air." ”

Wei Twelve said: "The old slave doesn't understand. ”

Xu Huizu said: "Gao Xu is not the same person as us in his bones. He hissed and sucked in between his teeth, "He's not crazy, he's calmer than most, but his eyes see something different; Or look at the same world with different eyes. I just want to know what he wants to become. ”

With a "snap", Xu Huizu slapped the book in his hand again and looked up at the sky outside the door.

Xu Huizu is well-informed, whether it is the high-level of the Ming Dynasty or the common people, what has he not seen? According to his experience and insight, perhaps the emperor has some kind of mysterious relationship with the heavens, but it should not be a very direct connection; Otherwise, there are so many things that boldly deceive the emperor and even hold the Son of Heaven hostage, shouldn't the emperor have known about it from the mysterious place a long time ago?

"Woe to you? Fuxi? Xu Huizu muttered, and what he had believed in before seemed to be gradually loosening a little.

And the old slave next to him, who has lived for most of his life, is still at a loss at this time. He only tried his best to see if the Xu Mansion could be lively again and whether he could follow the light.

…… On the bank of the river, Zhu Gaoxu saw a familiar person in the distance, and couldn't help but say casually to Wang Gui beside him: "Some people have incompatible aura and are destined to be lost." ”

The eunuch Wang Gui followed Zhu Gaoxu's gaze and also found a handsome man in brand-new clothes and armor among the crowd, it was Geng Hao. Wang Gui hurriedly agreed, "The emperor is right. ”

After a long period of preparations, Xue Yan, a soldier and civil official of the Beijing camp who went north to Liaodong today, is leaving Beijing. Zhu Gaoxu personally went to the side of the Waijinchuan Gate to bid farewell and prepare a simple ceremony.

Zhu Gaoxu was standing in a pavilion, and four people in front of him walked towards this side, including Xue Yan, Wang Bin, Chen Zhen, and Wu Gao. And Geng Hao and the others, as the accompanying subordinates, stood still in the distance, and could not come up to talk to the emperor.

The families of the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty, except for a few that were completely wiped out in the Hongwu period, many have continued to the present; Even if the dynasty was full of ups and downs, the later emperors would look at the love of the Zhu family and retain wealth for the family that fought the country. Just like the Xu family of the king of Zhongshan, Xu Huizu fought against the royal family twice, but his brother's rich title did not decrease; Guo Ying, Marquis of Wuding, also worked hard to conquer King Yan, and even advanced in Jingnan

committed suicide when he was in the city, and now the Guo family is still a hot family in the dynasty.

And the conditions of the Geng family are better, when Geng Hao was in Yunnan, he not only had old friends with the Mu family, but also got acquainted with Zhu Gaoxu. And these two people, one is the most powerful nobleman in the current court, and the other is the emperor. But the Geng family did not turn over, and the surviving Geng Hao, who is still able to gain a foothold in Beijing, is nothing more than relying on Wu Gao's foolish daughter; The royal family that the Geng family once was loyal to, as well as the old friends and nobles in the past, did not rely on any of them.

The long-term affairs of future generations are indeed difficult to grasp, and it is embarrassing.

The four warriors approached, kneeling and bowing on the brick and stone pavement outside the pavilion.

Wang Gui turned to face Zhu Gaoxu and stood for a while, then stepped forward and said, "The emperor has a decree, please come forward and speak." ”

A few civil and military thanks got up and approached the pavilion in turn. The people in the pavilion are more mixed, not only the nobles Liu Ying, Wei Da, etc., as well as the ministers of the court, but also the petty officials Mao Kaishan, Ma Xingguang, and the four concubines He Kui and other people with different identities.

Zhu Gaoxu's gaze looked over their faces one by one, stayed on Wang Bin's face, and said: "When there is little difference between our monarchs and ministers, they are usually in the capital city, and they don't have a good time to talk. This time you went north, it may take a long time, and suddenly I am a little reluctant. ”

With a simple remark, the ministers showed a look of concern, and they seemed to have guessed the information that Wang Bin would be stationed in Beiping for a long time.

Wang Bin raised his head, and a round black face with many beards smiled badly, "No matter how many miles apart, my heart is here in the saint." ”

"That's what you say." Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but laugh too, and everyone immediately burst into laughter.

Zhu Gaoxu gradually suppressed his smile, and Zhengse admonished, "The Marquis of Jiangyin is calm and cautious in his use of troops, and he is very familiar with the things and people in Liaodong. And Lu Lianghou knows you very well and should be able to give you some appropriate advice. You should pay more attention to the opinions of the two deputy marshals, and don't spoil the major affairs of the court. ”

Wang Bin clenched his fists and bowed: "The minister remembers the teachings of the saints. ”

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes looked at Xue Yan, "The new deal is a long-term country, complicated, and has a long way to go. Only when we are united can we achieve the cause of grace for all generations. ”

Xue Yan said: "The minister can drive for the holy monarch, I feel very lucky, and the minister should urge the six departments and five temples of Beizhili to cooperate with the Beijing master to make the government decree smooth up and down." ”

Zhu Gaoxu nodded approvingly: "Xue Butang is a talented person. ”

At this time, the eunuch brought the plate with the wine glass, Zhu Gaoxu served a glass first, and the ministers served the wine one after another. Zhu Gaoxu raised his glass: "Just wait for you to return to the court victoriously." ”

"Ministers should share the sorrows of the Holy One with all their hearts." Everyone said good things for a while, and then drank the wine. After bowing goodbye again, they withdrew from the pavilion and turned to the direction of the ferry by the river.

At this time, the teenagers of the Armed Forces Institute wore military uniforms, lined up to the riverside, played "Ten Thousand Miles of Jinling", and bid farewell to the soldiers who went north in the ritual music. The families of the soldiers also bid farewell on the side of the road, and it was noisy. After the separation of the monarch and the minister, the riverside became more lively.

The sound of orchestral strings wafts through the sound of the waves. Zhu Gaoxu watched the ferry gradually drift off the shore, and when his eyes spread out into the distance, he could only see the vast river and the vast smoke and waves.