The Jingshi Imperial Palace, which is high and cool in autumn, is also sunny and clear, as if in the Heavenly Palace.

The Heavenly Palace, which took 26 years to build, is still very new after 15 years of construction, with colorful paint and brilliant glazed tiles. It shines brightly in the sun, and the world is clear and gorgeous.

After Emperor Zhu Gaochi entered the Qianqing Gate, he insisted on walking to Kunning Palace. His legs are not very good, they seem to be of different lengths, there is a bit of a problem with the arch of his feet, and his body is very fat and heavy, and it is a pain to walk.

But often people in the world always use this form to express a kind of piety by asking for their own hardships and taking the initiative to experience pain.

The person who was a little further behind Gao Chi was Xu Huizu. Xu Huizu is Gao Chi's uncle, and he took the initiative to walk in the back position.

The eunuch maid was willed to follow far behind. The uncle and nephew seemed to have something to say all the way, but they walked for a while without speaking, and remained silent.

Family affection, old grudges, suspicions, past grievances and entanglements, how can they be said clearly casually?

Gao Chi seemed to have a number in his heart, and finally spoke, he only asked some superficial and innocuous words, as if he was deliberately avoiding difficult questions. He asked, "What has my uncle been doing in the house in the past few years?" ”

Xu Huizu, who was extra tall and burly, replied, "I'm thinking about something. ”

Gao Chi asked curiously, "What are you thinking?" ”

Xu Huizu said: "How did a heaven-given general become. People like Sun Bin, Huo Quzhi, Ban Chao, Guo Ziyi. ”

Gao Chi turned his head and said, "The King of Zhongshan (Xu Da) is also counted." ”

Xu Huizu nodded and said: "Exactly, as the eldest son of my father, I have also been a horse all my life, and I can't help but think about such a thing when I am free, about generals." He looked self-deprecating, "But while I think about it, I don't think it's useful. I know that once the eldest sister is gone, my limit is approaching, and our sister and brother may be destined to walk together. ”

Gao Chi didn't know how to respond, because the topic was very embarrassing. Xu Huizu seems to have understood a long time ago: after the "Battle of Jingyan", the reason why he did not die was because Emperor Yongle cared about Empress Xu's feelings. Once the Xu family is gone, can Xu Huizu not die?

Gao Chi was silent for a while. Xu Huizu continued: "It's a shame to say that the real talent has little to do with the level of birth. Of course, it is much better to be familiar with the door and the tiger, but this superiority is not enough to become a god-given talent.

Such a great talent seems to have some natural temperament. Have the courage to take risks, bear the burden of heavy losses, and have unyielding perseverance; There is bound to be something that is difficult to give up and support its perseverance.

Therefore, it is only wise and calm, and it must not work, and once the thing that persists in is protracted, the cost is very high, and it is unbearable. But if you are too presumptuous, you will not be able to become a great talent.

If you have such qualifications, you need to temper them a lot. Nirvana, which has no suffering, is reborn and breaks through the cocoon and turns into a butterfly, and the time is wasted, and people will always grow old in obscurity, and they will ...... quickly."

"My father, Emperor Taizong, was struggling back then." Gao Chi said, "It is indeed in line with what my uncle said." ”

Xu Huizu said quietly: "King Yan's martial arts is not only good at battle formations. ”

Gao Chi heard the words King Yan and glanced at him, but there were no outsiders around, so he didn't bother to scold.

The two finally walked to the bottom of the steps of Kunning Palace, Gao Chi was already sweating profusely, his face was pale, he inhaled heavily, his voice was like pulling a bellows, and he looked like a fish that had been out of the water.

Gao Chi took a few breaths violently, gritted his teeth and walked to the pedestal.

The palace maids and eunuchs inside and outside the Kunning Palace all knelt on the ground, but no one made a sound, only a palace maid choked and whispered: "The queen mother has not eaten the rice for several days, and she is often asleep. ”

Gao Chi and Xu Huizu walked into the main hall, Gao Chi knelt down in front of the bed, but Xu Huizu just squatted down and looked at the face of the Empress Dowager Xu with a sad face.

"The Queen Mother?" Gao Chi called softly.

Xu Huizu also shouted carefully: "Eldest sister, brother is here." ”

After a while, Xu Shi actually opened his eyes, and his head moved slightly. Xu Huizu hurriedly stood up, bent down and moved his face to Xu's eyes. Xu's eyes blinked twice.

After waiting for a while, Xu's mouth was able to move. Xu Huizu hurriedly put his ears up, he listened for a moment, and quickly turned his head and said, "Gao Xu, the eldest sister asked Gao Xu!" ”

Gao Xu is afraid that he is going to rebel! Zhu Gao said in his heart.

Zhu Gaochi just got the news from Yuan Hui today, and Yuan Hui got the news from the monk Qingyuan; Monk Qingyuan is Daoyan's personal monk, and the news should not be very different...... Gao Xu is ready to support his own troops, wait and see the direction of the wind, and be ready to raise troops at any time and march to the country of Annam!

But after a while, Zhu Gaochi only said: "Gao Xu has returned to Yunnan, and it is fine now." The son sent Xue Yan to discuss with him, telling him to still guard Yunnan, and in the future, when he wants, he will seal good places such as Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Yang. ”

At this time, Xu's head could also turn slightly, and she seemed to have gradually returned to her body, and her eyes were not cloudy at all. Her eyes were only staring at Xu Huizu, and her voice was louder: "Brother......"

Xu Huizu immediately wiped his tears with the back of his hand and said, "Sister, I'm here." ”

The Empress Dowager Xu Shi showed a hint of a smile, and said in a very slow and soft voice: "It's time to separate...... I used to think that relatives would never be separated. But for decades of relatives, fate will eventually come to an end......"

"Eldest sister......" Xu Huizu's face was full of tears, "Our Xu family will never be separated." ”

Xu said: "I used to think that the time was very long, but I regret that I didn't have a good life to see you a few more times." The fourth brother has already left, and I should have left a long time ago, desperately, hanging this breath, I just want to see you again. ”

Xu Huizu cried.

"It's really reluctant." Xu sighed slightly.

Gao Chi also wiped his tears silently, and his broad and fat shoulders twitched one after another.

After a while, Xu's voice said again: "Are you still so stubborn? ”

Xu Huizu was silent, his face was uncertain, and countless subtle expressions were very complicated.

Suddenly, Xu Huizu knelt on the ground, bowed his head and said: "Minister Xu Huizu knocks to see the Queen Mother, knocks to see the saint!" ”

Gao Chi was stunned for a moment, and before he could react, he heard the queen mother call him softly. Gao Chi hurriedly bowed his head and heard the queen mother say: "Remember what I said, it is difficult for your uncle to speak, but you can believe his words." ”

"Erchen remembered!" Gao Chi Dao.

Xu closed his eyes and lay there quietly, not saying a word again.

Emperor Zhu Gaochi of the Ming Dynasty knelt in front of the bed with Xu Huizu, and did not dare to disturb the Queen Mother casually. Kunning Palace regained its tranquility, and the tranquility seemed to be a kind of voice, silently telling the joys and sorrows, grievances, grievances, and hatreds. A few rays of sunlight shine through the carved windows, frozen there, so quiet.

I don't know how long it took, Gao Chi's voice called: "Queen Mother, Queen Mother? ”

He stretched out his finger and immediately sat down on the ground, raised his head and screamed loudly. He threw his head back and cried like a child, heartbroken and in pain. Perhaps, Gao Chi, who is nearly thirty years old, can indeed only be a child for the last time.

There was a cry like a scream from the Kunning Palace, and a shout: "Erchen has not been able to be filial to his mother......"

…… In late August of the fifth year of Yongle, the Empress Dowager Xu of the Ming Dynasty was in Kunning Palace, and the world was vegetarian.

The emperor's honorific title said: benevolence, filial piety, benevolence, sincerity, and Mingzhuang are dedicated to the Empress of Tianqi Shengwen. He also said that Empress Renxiao cultivated herself, was cautious, prudent, diligent, thrifty, vigilant, accumulating goodness, moving goodness, worshipping holy teachings, and Jingxian Fan during her lifetime. Yi decreed that everything was simple, so the ministers were released in three days, and the son of heaven alone fasted for thirty-six days.

When Gao Chi died in the first emperor, he also violated etiquette, and he was a palace maid in less than a month. But the Queen Mother, within a month, he was stunned that even his favorite fatty meat was taboo, and fasted for the Queen Mother. And he slept alone, and he didn't let the imperial concubine sleep.

Three days later, according to Empress Renxiao's wishes, Gao Chi issued an order to restore Xu Huizu's title as the Duke of Wei and let him serve as the governor of the Five Armies.

Gao Chi summoned Xu Huizu in the Winter Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace and mentioned the secret report a few days ago.

Unexpectedly, Xu Huizu said without hesitation: "Fake! ”

Xu Huizu then explained: "Who is Gao Xu, how can the minister not know? He will definitely not go to Annan! As soon as he went to Annan and fought with Zhang Fu, the saint was able to mobilize troops and horses to Sichuan and Guizhou, and the official army entered Yunnan, and Yunnan was in the hands of Gao Xu?

Zhang Fu is not a mediocre general, even if Gao Xu can defeat Zhang Fu and occupy Annam, at that time, the world's soldiers and horses are gathered in Guangxi, and the imperial court can be reinforced at any time. The road from Annan to Yunnan is difficult to travel and the grain transportation is inconvenient. Does Dare Gao Xu rely on the initial place of Annan to fight a decisive battle with ten times the imperial court officials and troops in Guangxi? ”

Gao Chi nodded: "The intention of the Duke of Wei is to discuss with the ministers." So where does Wei Guogong think, where will Gao Xu attack? ”

Xu Huizu said: "If it is not Guizhou, it must be Sichuan!" No matter where he attacked first or later, at the beginning of the army, he should have wanted to occupy the three places of Yunnan, Guichuan and Sichuan first! ”

Xu Huizu paused and said: "If there is only Sichuan, Guizhou will threaten Yunnan on the flank." With only Guizhou, the grain population is not enough to feed the army, and once the war drags on, Gao Xu's strength will only be depleted day by day.

Gao Xu also had another choice, which was to abandon Yunnan, dump his nest to Sichuan, and leave Sichuan and enter Huguang. But the families of the soldiers who followed him may be captured by the officials and soldiers of the imperial court; Otherwise, Gao Xu would not have been able to carry his women and children to fight in Sichuan. ”

Zhu Gaochi groaned: "Gao Xu will definitely be opposed? ”

Xu Huizu said: "The King of Han has been rebellious and perverse since he was a child, and when the ministers of Jianwen saw him again in the first year, they only felt that he was more different from the hour, but the cunning did not change. When the minister heard that when the King of Han left Beijing this year, he uttered great rebellious words, and the saint probably couldn't have too much kind speculation. ”

Zhu Gaochi glanced at Xu Huizu and couldn't help but say, "Wei Guogong seems to have always disliked Gao Xu. ”

Xu Huizu pondered for a long time, then took a slight tilt of his head and took a breath, "Gao Xu is also a nephew outside the minister, and the minister should not be like this, but Gao Xu makes the minister feel ...... Especially when Jianwen first saw him again, he hissed...... It's hard to say! For example, the most fundamental virtue of loyalty and filial piety in the world is a beautiful mansion, and the minister is always worried that Gao Xu is the one who goes up to the house to uncover the tiles. ”

Zhu Gaochi thought for a while and said, "After my uncle lived for several years, his words became deeper and deeper. ”