The rammed brick-clad city wall wraps around the Yunnan capital city, like a jar of sauerkraut. Anything is put in, it is quietly fermenting, will it rot and stink, or will it become a delicious dish with just the right taste? There are some things that Zhu Gaoxu can master, and some he can't control, so he can only feel the transformation of everything with trepidation.

Before the "matchmaker" Xue Yan arrived with the holy decree, Zhu Gaoxu met Chen Dazhui again. On the first day of Chen Dazhui's return to the palace, he forgot to present an object; He went home and remembered it, and came to the Han Palace's mansion to meet him the next day. Chen Dazhui continued what he said last time, and talked about some news that didn't seem to be so important.

In the season of Yunnan Fucheng, it is difficult to feel it by the number of clothes on the body. Rainy days are like autumn and winter; It's just been sunny for a few days, and although it's not very hot, you can still wear single clothes, and walking under the sun is like the turn of spring and summer.

The right chief Shi Li Mo went to the outside of the palace to greet Xue Yan and went to the study on the east side of the front hall. Zhu Gaoxu was already sitting on a chair waiting for him.

There were still several civil and military people from the Han Palace's mansion standing in the study, and Xue Yan took out the holy decree first. Zhu Gaoxu didn't say that it was a false edict, he sat on the chair calmly, didn't even move, and said, "Take it and take a look." ”

Several people at the station looked at each other a few times, but they didn't say anything. Xue Yan's expression was a little difficult to look at.

The eunuch Wang Gui took the holy decree from Xue Yan and sent it to the bookcase. Zhu Gaoxu looked at it and said: "It is indeed my eldest brother's handwriting, it can be seen that Xue Siqing came to be a lobbyist at the behest of my eldest brother." ”

Zhu Gaoxu handed the holy decree to Wang Gui again, and asked the others in the study to pass it on as well.

Xue Yan said: "King Han, can you take a step to speak?" He said, looking back at the people left and right.

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand lightly, and Wang Bin and a few others bowed and walked out of the study.

Xue Yan turned his head to look at the door, and then said: "Xiaguan had an old relationship with the Marquis of Wuding, and he had the honor to be a matchmaker for the King of Han; Now, as the King of Han said, if he wants to be a lobbyist for the court, the lower officials really don't want to come. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Xue Siqing was able to vote for my father and emperor back then, why don't you vote for this king today?" ”

Xue Yan looked up in amazement and glanced at Zhu Gaoxu. Zhu Gaoxu was sincere, and with a slightly playful smile.

"The saint and the king of Han are brothers, just one family; The royal family, the Han Dynasty and the Wuding Marquis Mansion have a marriage, and the lower officials and the Wuding Marquis Mansion are world friends, and the monarchs and vassal kings are all relatives and friends. Xia Guan really didn't want to take refuge in anyone, and only hoped that the two sides could resolve the misunderstanding. If the war starts and the casualties are not counted, why bother? ”

Xue Yan sighed and said, "There are more than 100 guards of the King of Han, and the Holy Lord has issued an order to release them, and they will return to Yunnan in the near future." You have also seen the sincerity of the reconciliation of the Holy Brother. ”

Zhu Gaoxu looked thoughtful and nodded.

But after a while, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly said: "Let's talk about the conditions." ”

"Huh?" Xue Yan seemed to see some kind of hope just now, and was stunned for a moment.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't say it a second time, but just observed Xue Yan's expression with his eyes.

Xue Yan finally spoke: "The Holy Lord promises that the King of Han and his descendants will be princes for generations, and your vassal kingdom is still in Yunnan Mansion for the time being, and the power of protection and military administration will not be moved, and the court will have other rewards." In the future, if the king of Han wants to change the domain, all the cities in the world will be chosen by the king; The Queen Mother and the Holy Lord remember the great achievements of the King of Han and will not hesitate to enrich the land. ”

At first glance, the conditions are pretty good. Moreover, Xue Yan moved out of his mother at the right time, which made Zhu Gaoxu not easy to refuse categorically.

However, Zhu Gaoxu remembered that the first emperor told him to work hard and make him the crown prince! It seems that he also promised King Ning, and half of the Ming Dynasty...... It seems that promises are always time-sensitive.

Zhu Gaoxu opened his mouth and said: "The conditions offered by the eldest brother are good, so how should I repay?" ”

Xue Yan said: "The saint has nothing else to ask for, as long as the king of Han recognizes the saint as the eldest brother, and the saint is recognized as the righteous son of the great tomorrow, he can be edicted." The brothers of the Ming royal family rebuilt the old friendship and shared the peace. ”

Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a moment, and immediately asked coldly: "Then my father's death is unclear, and this matter is confused?" ”

Xue Yan said: "The first emperor was slandered by traitors, and the quacks were helpless, and the relevant people have been punished. The Queen Mother personally wrote a decree to confirm this matter, why is it confused? ”

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Xue Yan and said, "You have really chosen a position." What good has my brother done you...... Exempt from the sin of losing his temper in the country of Annam? Added to the ranks? Use the Xue family's family to blackmail? Or do you think that the odds of winning are too small and you have already made a choice? Xue Siqing, you were able to survive at Annan Guoqin Station, didn't you also report my name! ”

Xue Yan's face turned a little red, and he hurriedly said: "The grace of the King of Han is unforgettable. However, the lower officials hope that you will reconcile with your eldest brother, and there is no ill intention. ”

Zhu Gaoxu's shoulders suddenly twitched a few times and laughed. He stretched out his finger and pointed at Xue Yan, stopped laughing, and then sighed "hey": "You, talking about articles that seem to make sense, do you have any sincerity?" ”

Xue Yan said in a low voice: "Please think twice." Now it is the eldest son of the first emperor, the crown prince, the queen mother and the ministers have been persuaded to ascend the throne, and now it is the son of the great tomorrow, and the provinces are edicted! The imperial court registered more than 2 million military households and controlled the strings, and the king of Han only had 20,000 guards, how could he fight a hundred enemies with one enemy? If you raise an army, the odds of victory are great, and there is no need to say much!

If the king of Han is edicted, he can at least defend Yunnan and enjoy honor and wealth. Yunnan is located in a remote area, the road is difficult, thousands of miles away from Beijing, it is obviously difficult to use a large army to capture this place; In addition, the saint has always been benevolent and determined to keep it. The King of Han will be honorable.

After the Han King was a thousand years old, the suspicion of the brothers had long since ceased to exist. The sons and grandsons of the Han Dynasty are all members of the Ming Dynasty, and the imperial court is useless to cut them off. Isn't that the best of both worlds? ”

After listening to this, Zhu Gaoxu had to admit in his heart that Xue Yanting would use the pros and cons to persuade others. As long as Zhu Gaoxu still has a trace of illusion in his heart, he must feel that it makes sense.

At that time, the Jianwen court used Xue Yan to cross the river north to negotiate peace, but after Xue Yan went back, he took refuge in King Yan...... But the same person, in the hands of Gao Chi's gang, his talents are completely different.

Zhu Gaoxu waited for Xue Yan to finish speaking, and then Fang spoke: "I understand the conditions that my eldest brother discussed. Can this king put forward another condition? ”

Xue Yan bowed and said, "The lower official is willing to hear the details." ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "This king said bluntly, I don't believe the current rumors in the palace about the death of my father; Even if it is Yizhi, I don't know if the queen mother is voluntary. If you want me to obey the edict, you must first find out the truth!

The three judicial officials, plus my people and the third brother's people, participated in the investigation and trial of the case and got the truth out. Let our brothers and other imperial uncles and princes be convinced, how can I not attach importance to brotherhood and not follow the principles of the edict?

And before that, this king wants to see the sincerity of the Jingshi. If the Jingshi is busy dispatching troops and deploying troops on all sides, instead of tracking down the affairs of the first emperor, then how do you think of the intentions of the Jingshi? ”

Xue Yan pondered for a long time and said, "King Han's proposal, I'm afraid it won't be of the slightest benefit to dispel the suspicion between the Holy Lord and you!" You are not in a hurry to reply today, how about the lower official to stay here for a few days, and the king of Han will meet the next official again three days later? ”

Zhu Gaoxu nodded slightly, but he meant to praise Xue Yan's negotiation skills. Xue Yan seems to be thinking very quickly, and he can read the other party's true intentions in a short time...... Obviously, the method proposed by Zhu Gaoxu is suspected of delaying the army and will not help the prospects for long-term peace in the slightest.

Xue Yan saw Zhu Gaoxu nodding, so he hugged his fists and said, "Don't bother the lower officials, please leave." Three days later, I will come to meet His Royal Highness the King of Han. ”

Zhu Gaoxu shouted: "Send off!" ”

…… Gao Chi's party is obviously more difficult to deal with than Jianwen Junchen.

When King Yan raised troops, to a large extent, he was forced, and the three divisions of Beiping directly transferred most of the guards of Yanwang's mansion, and set up heavy troops around, and the three divisions in Beiping City forced Yanwang's mansion, and the knife was already on his neck! There is no hesitation in Yanwangfu, there is only the choice of waiting for death and resisting.

And now Gao Chi did not persecute Zhu Gaoxu at all, they were boiling frogs in warm water and killing people with soft knives!

The calm Han Palace, and even the city of Kunming, did not have much of a tense atmosphere. Only two groups of envoys, before and after, came here with different intentions.

Under the clear blue sky and white clouds, Zhu Gaoxu could not feel the intuitive threat of death. The desire for life, the wish for those close to him and the one he cared for, quietly and imperceptibly eroded his determination.

What's more, Zhu Gaoxu didn't have the ambition to be emperor from the beginning. The things that the prince brought, such as fine clothes and food, beautiful wives and concubines, and social status, he was already satisfied enough.

Zhu Gaoxu sat alone in the study for a long time, and finally took out the things that Chen Dazhui brought back and read them repeatedly. On the paper, the beautiful grass like flowing clouds and water comes from the hands of Gao Xianning, a celebrity and scholar.

wrote two things, one is the edict that the queen mother once issued, explaining why the first emperor could not come to the dynasty and ordered the prince to supervise the country.

The other is the story that Yang Rong, an official of the East Palace, read, and Gao Xianning rewrote the content roughly from memory.

Zhu Gaoxu seems to be reading a story that has nothing to do with him. The "Han King" in it is too far from what he has done! What is begging for the crown prince and begging for a beautiful priest in front of his father, it is simply an indescribable sense of funny. Before his father's death, how obedient Zhu Gaoxu was, I'm afraid he didn't know it alone?

also wrote that the "King of Han" had long been in collusion with the eunuchs in the palace...... Father Zhu Di is so easy to fool?

Zhu Gaoxu read between the lines full of malice! What is "the prince can't impeach the ministers", implying that the king of Han can imply that he can suppress the ministers? The people in the East Palace are jealous of the King of Han, and they don't hesitate to make up demonic things, and they don't even care about a fig leaf.

Zhu Gaoxu had to start to suspect that as time passed, Gao Chi had a reputation, and the two sides would only lose their strengths! When they have an absolute advantage, can they let themselves go?

If he follows the path arranged for him by his eldest brother, Zhu Gaoxu may be able to enjoy it for a while. But what about wives, concubines, sons, subordinates, friends, and other members of the family?