Hou Hai is not the only person Zhu Gaoxu wants to meet this morning, but the person who is going to come is either a cabinet minister or a eunuch. So Zhu Gaoxu asked the ministers to wait for the announcement in the cabinet of Wuyingdian, so as not to wait outside the door.

As soon as Hou Hai left, the next person should be the eunuch Meng Ji. Zhu Gaoxu was behind his big table, waiting for Meng Ji while reading the chapter.

Compared with some places in the harem, even the magnificence of the rich and noble families in Beijing and the courtyard of the Qinglou, the Rouyi Hall where Zhu Gaoxu worked seems simple and unpretentious, but the building specifications are very high and the materials are very expensive.

In addition to the quaint ritual ornaments, the most conspicuous thing is his very large bookcase, which is placed in the middle of the main hall. In the summer, there is a straw carpet underneath the large desk, and there are brick and stone floors everywhere else. Zhu Gaoxu really doesn't like to be too exquisite, the luxury and refinement of life, and he is very good at daily life.

He doesn't like to call too many slaves. Some wealthy merchants and dignitaries have a group of servants at home at any time, and the pomp is very wide; But there are only a few people in the Rouyi Palace, who can stay by Zhu Gaoxu's side. Most of the time they are acquaintances, and the two palace maids Lian and Xiaohe found by Cao Fu often come to the Rouyi Hall to do some work of serving tea and water.

From time to time, Zhu Gaoxu would chat with them, asking them where they lived, where they ate, and so on. At first, the palace ladies were careful to deal with it, for fear of saying the wrong half a word; Later, after a long time, they gradually determined that Zhu Gaoxu was not pretending. So the palace maids of close relatives gradually got used to it.

After a while, the eunuch Meng Ji bent over and walked in, kneeling in front of the table and kowtowing. Zhu Gaoxu told him to get up and speak.

Regarding the situation of the countries in the South China Sea, there are official documents and memoratories to read. Zhu Gaoxu said to Meng Ji: "Talk about what you have seen." ”

Meng Ji really didn't talk about big things, he glanced at Cao Fu, who was standing behind the side of the big case, and began to talk about what he had seen. He started with Liu Ming's incident, talked about Liu Ming's cousin Chen Zhang's death on the way to Zhenla, and also talked about trivial matters between their cousins. Then he talked about Tang Jing, the commander of the navy, and most of them heard it from Liu Ming.

Zhu Gaoxu listened very easily, only talking about one person, and the clues were always not so complicated.

Meng Ji finally got to the point and said: "At that time, the Zhenla country was in danger, and an envoy was sent to the official army camp to ask for help, and the envoy of the Siamese country also arrived. Liu Yuanjun asked the slave maid, and the slave said that she couldn't manage such a big thing, but she ran errands for the emperor; Liu Zhijun received the emperor's holy decree and was responsible for all matters of state relations, so he had to take the idea.

Liu Yuanjun said that he was deeply burdened by Longen, and he did not dare not worry about the king; The emperor has spoken about the general strategy many times, and he does not dare to forget his earnest teachings. He also said that the Siamese kingdom has become more and more powerful over the years, and the destruction of the Zhenla kingdom is not beneficial to the imperial court.

Then Liu Yuanjun ordered the Siamese state to withdraw its troops, stopped the march into Phnom Penh, and helped the Zhenla state tide over the crisis. The envoys of Siam complained and did not promise to stop the march. Liu Yuanjun personally went to Phnom Penh City, and it was useless for the slaves and maids to dissuade him. ”

The eunuchs who came alive during the years of Meng Ji and Yongle have nothing to do with Liu Ming; Besides, Liu Ming was a jinshi in the Wude period, and he didn't have any strong connections in the court.

Meng Ji spoke vigorously for Liu Ming, estimating that he, a eunuch, really appreciated some aspects of Liu Ming. While listening to Zhu Gaoxu, he already understood why Meng Ji wanted to talk about Liu Ming's cousin first.

Zhu Gaoxu is not completely satisfied with Liu Ming's approach, but others are not himself, and communication is inconvenient thousands of miles away, so how can he scratch the itch at any time? However, Liu Ming ran to the land of Zhenla, in case he lost another minister, then Zhu Gaoxu would be in pain.

The matter of Liu Ming's cousin flashed in his mind, and he quickly had an idea, and said: "It stands to reason that Siam is the victorious side, and it is not too much to want to share the spoils. But by the time the Siamese came up, we had already won. The icing on the cake, or taking advantage of the fire, how can it be compared with sending charcoal in the snow? ”

Zhu Gaoxu laughed dryly again: "Then again, if the official army does not go well in this battle, then don't the Siamese people want to flip around and do our vote?" There was nothing wrong with Liu Ming's thoughts. ”

Meng Ji said: "The emperor is sage." ”

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head slightly and glanced at Cao Fu. Cao Fu has been paying attention to Zhu Gaoxu, and a small movement made Cao Fu respond immediately, and his waist bent down slightly.

Cao Fu's godfather was the celebrant eunuch Wang Gui, and Wang Gui was on an errand at the treasure of the Wuying Palace. In the future, when ministers want to deal with relevant affairs, most of the stable officials will ask Wang Gui to see if there is any attitude in the palace. Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu made a statement today, and there is no need to be verbose in the future.

Zhu Gaoxu said quietly: "I love to understand words and explain plain words, especially major events, and I have to strive to be accurate." If you say the opposite, in case someone guesses wrong, you'll have to mess up. ”

Meng Ji said with a smile: "The emperor's heroism dares to act and dare to act, and the slaves and maids admire him to the fullest." ”

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand lightly. Meng Ji kowtowed and retreated.

The next person was Hu Hu, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and when he saw the ceremony, Hu Hu began to talk about the envoys of the foreign domain.

The envoys of foreign vassals came to Beijing and lived in the same hall outside the right gate of Chang'an. The Ministry of Rites will set up a banquet to entertain and call it a "dismounted banquet", as well as several friendly condolences of different specifications. But none of these activities will talk about any substantive content, and even most of the lines are set, just like singing. When things are really discussed, it is either written or talked about during a private visit by a Ministry of Rites official.

Hu Hui said: "On the Holy Gift, the envoy of Manthorn first justified that his king Baili Misuz, the traitorous ministers and the Zhenla people were bewitched, and Fang mistakenly became an enemy of the Ming Dynasty. The envoys were courteous, and the literal translation of the envoys called the Holy One the greatest emperor of the Empire of the Radiance of the Sun and the Moon. He also said that his monarch repented and was unwilling to be an enemy of the Ming Dynasty again, so he took the initiative to withdraw from the capital, hoping to rebuild the old friendship with the Ming court. He also promised to pay tribute to Daming and protect the official army to set up an embassy at Longyamen (near Keppel Harbor in Singapore) and establish a governor's palace. ”

Zhu Gaoxu listened to it and said: "But what the Zhenla people said was that the Manchurian people took the initiative to contact them, and what anti-Ming alliance should be organized; However, there is no practical benefit in taking care of these old accounts. Wang Jinghong and Chen Xuan have already played, and after the season enters the hot season and the rainy season, there is no way to take the main force of Baili Misuz. The battle can't be fought anyway, and Man Tingjia happily agreed to such conditions, so why hesitate? ”

Hu Hui said: "What the Holy Lord said is extremely true. However, the envoys of Java requested that the imperial court intervene to prevent the Manchurians from making trouble in the ports of Java. The country of Java lost the wealth of 60,000 taels worth of gold to the imperial court a few years ago, and now it is difficult for the court to ask the imperial court, and it is not easy for the minister to categorically refuse. ”

Zhu Gaoxu asked, "What did the Manchu people do in Java?" ”

Hu Hui arched his hand and said: "The noble ministers of the Javanese royal family, as well as most of the common people, all believe in the Yin Degree Sect. However, the Manchurians believed in Islam, and the followers went to various port towns in Java to preach and provoke rebellions, and the Javanese royal family felt deeply in danger. They knew that after the Ming official army attacked the Manchurian country, they sent envoys to Beijing with the ship, wanting to ask the imperial court to take care of the matter. ”

Hu Hui thought for a while and said: "The minister thinks that the court should not use force every time, so that the countries can only fear. If their crisis can be solved, perhaps the royal family will have a different feeling for the imperial court, and have some sense of dependence and closeness. ”

"The Javanese lost money because they killed officers and soldiers by mistake. But what Hu Butang said makes sense. Zhu Gaoxu said and groaned for a while.

At this time, Cao Fu's voice said softly: "The slave maid heard that there was a eunuch named Yin Qing during the Yongle period, who had been to the Manchurian country and met their king Bailimisuz, and could speak the Manchurian dialect. If Yin Qing is asked to come forward to meet with the envoys and mediate between them, it may be of some use. ”

Hu Hu's brows were already furrowed when he heard Cao Fu interject.

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Hu Hu and asked, "What does Hu Butang think?" ”

Hu Hu hurriedly said: "Please judge the Holy Lord." ”

Zhu Gaoxu turned back to Cao Fu and said, "Let Hu Butang take care of this matter, you listen to his orders." ”

Cao Fu hurriedly said: "The slave obeys the order." But Yin Qing has been arranged to go to Fengyang, the central capital, during the reign of the abolished prince, or the slave maid will bring him back to Beijing first? ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Tell him to come back and wait, in case Hu Butang calls." ”

Cao Fu said: "Yes." ”

Hu Hui suddenly sighed: "The saint is really a saint. ”

Zhu Gaoxu smiled.

Hu Hu didn't say anything about what happened just now, he looked back at the furnishings of the Rouyi Hall left and right, and said: "The holy living place is simple and generous, no singing and dancing banquets, no palaces, diligent government for the people, the Ming Dynasty is very fortunate, and the people are very fortunate." ”

Zhu Gaoxu said quietly: "It's just a matter of duty." The world is peaceful and prosperous, and it must be written by quality, but everyone must keep a low profile, there are always some people who can't eat enough. ”

Hu Hui's reaction was a bit unexpected by Zhu Gaoxu, his expression was like Boya seeing the child, and he solemnly bowed four times: "The minister respectfully obeys the teachings of the saint." ”

After the salute, Hu Hu retired.

The eunuch Cao Fu asked in a low voice: "The slave maid has a short vision, what's wrong with Hu Butang?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head to look at him, "Hu Butang advocates that the monarchs and ministers of the prosperous era should be considerate of the people, and the ideal is that the people will not be hungry or cold in the year of harvest, and the year of famine will not starve to death and no one will bury them." Of course he was very useful. ”

Cao Fu said: "It's all courtiers who please the emperor, and the emperor is very good to Hu Butang." ”

"You know the." Zhu Gaoxu scolded with a smile.

Cao Fu also said with a smile on his face: "The emperor is right. ”

Lian Shi, the palace maid on the side, suddenly said: "Hu Butang is really a good official. ”

Cao Fu turned around and said: "Fortunately, Hu Butang is gone, otherwise you will talk too much, and the skin between his eyebrows will be uneven even if he is ironed." ”

Zhu Gaoxu shook his head with a smile, and suddenly felt that Cao Fu still had something to do and understood a lot. He raised his head and glanced at the scene outside the temple, the sun had risen three poles, and the weather was getting hotter and hotter for many days. For a moment, he wanted to make it rain, so that it would be cool.