The person who took the lead in opposing Xia Yuanji was completely unexpected by Zhu Gaoxu. He is Zhao Ping, Marquis of Yongqing.

At the beginning of the country, a group of the most prestigious founding heroes died one after another, and soon after the Battle of Jingjing, the Battle of Annam, the Battle of Crime, and the Northern Expedition to Tatar; The frequent wars of the Ming Dynasty made the status of the generals high. Although the system has been changed during the Hongwu period, and most military and political yamen have not allowed military generals to take power, the noble military generals still have the right to public opinion, and speaking in the DPRK has always been very effective; The participation of military generals in the discussion of politics is not Zhu Gaoxu's originality.

When Zhao Ping was in Yunnan, he had dealt with a lot of toasts, and his ability to fight was not very good, but he was a scholar before joining the army, and it is said that he also took the Tongsheng exam.

He said: "The Holy Mingjian, the barbarians are very cruel to the people, and they are far away from the corrupt officials and corrupt officials of our dynasty. Today, the country of Ma Rak Ba Xie is obedient, fears the court, and has a heart for it. If the Holy God waives the indemnity, his monarchs and ministers will be grateful to Dade and respect the Ming Dynasty, and the small profit of not 60,000 gold can be compared to ......"

"Yongqing Hou has such a big breath!" Xia Yuanji interrupted him very rudely. Xia Yuanji's eyes were already round, and he stared at Zhao Ping with an incredible gaze, as if to say: You and his mother only know that you want military expenses and money, so let's try to get money yourself?

Xia Yuanji's emotions were a little excited, and he turned to Zhu Gaoxu and hugged his fists and said: "The ancients had a saying, Yidi, birds and beasts are also, afraid of power but not virtue!" If it weren't for the nearly 30,000 officers and soldiers of our naval division and Chen Binghai, then the king of Java would be so afraid and respectful? Java Island is not a kingly place, and the Marquis of Yongqing will only make the court gain nothing. ”

Hu Hu, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, stood up and said: "I don't dare to agree with Xia Butang's words. If I treat the people of the foreign vassal as beasts, how can I educate them? ”

"If Hu Butang doesn't believe it, what's going on with the barbarians in Nanyang, bring the eunuchs Wang Jinghong and Hou Xian to ask." Xia Yuanji said angrily.

Zhu Gaoxu was a little confused for a while, and he didn't understand what was going on. The civil official and the military general quarreled, and another civilian official helped the military general to speak. In Zhu Gaoxu's concept, the game of power will inevitably pull gangs and factions, just like the Song Dynasty's reform of the law divided into two parties, and the political demands of the civil and military sides are contradictory; So the situation in front of me is a bit confusing.

"Ahem." Zhu Gaoxu made a sound.

When the disputing men heard this, they went together to the north.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't want to listen to these useless disputes, so he spoke: "King Ma Basher killed someone, although it was a manslaughter and made amends, but we still have to ask for money." I turned back to the cabinet and the treasure office, and approved the chapter. ”

Xia Yuanji shouted: "Holy Wisdom! ”

Zhu Gaoxu said again: "But we are walking the royal road of benevolence and righteousness, and we can't go outside and say that the Ming monarchs and ministers treat others as beasts." At the beginning, Chen Zuyi plagued the countries of Nanyang, exploiting and plundering at every turn, and the countries suffered greatly. The Ming sailors swept away the Nanyang pirates, sacrificed the prisoners of the Beijing division, and even the sea trade was unimpeded, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Therefore, the compensation and taxes collected by the Ming Dynasty are all for the good of everyone, with the aim of maintaining the military strength at sea and protecting the military and civilians of all countries. Ladies and gentlemen, do you understand what I mean? ”

The ministers bowed one after another: "The ministers are in order." ”

Just like Zhu Gaoxu's concept, people have multiple standards, and they can always justify themselves anyway if they use different truths on different occasions. Obviously reasonable, of course, it must be reasonable, it will not seem so rude and terrible, and it can alleviate the contradiction.

His words also won the essence of his uncle Xu Huizu: I am for your good.

Since Zhu Gaoxu dealt with his good uncle, he realized some of the mysteries in the clan, and many people always instilled a feeling in others, that is, everything is for the sake of others, as if everyone is a selfless sage. Of course, if someone wakes up, they will feel that the world is very hypocritical and cunning; At some point, however, it's still quite confusing.

However, Zhu Gaoxu also felt that the emperor who seized power through bloody suppression and force had more arbitrary and arbitrary prestige. With a single sentence, he calmed down the endless quarrels and immediately made a major decision, with great efficiency.

Hu Hui, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, said: "On the Holy Side, there were originally two kings in the country of Java (Ma Pacher country), and after their internal strife, the king of the west won. However, the king did not die and fled to the old port of Sriwijaya (in present-day Malaysia). Because of the discovery of gold mines in the old port of Srivijaya, it has been occupied by the Han people, and Shi Jinqing, a meritorious hero in the Yongle period, was the consolation envoy of the old port. Shi Jinqing received a large sum of money and sheltered the king of the east.

When the king of the west wrote the indemnity, there was also a note, hoping that the court would order Shi Jinqing to return to the king of the east. I don't know how to reply to this? ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Since the king of the west has won, the court will recognize him as the king. But the king of the east cannot return it, and if the kingdom of Ma Pacher is rude, we will treat him in the name of the king of the east...... cough, of course, the most important thing is morality, Shi Jinqing first had an appointment with the East King, wouldn't it be difficult for Shi Jinqing to be treacherous? You must use faith and righteousness to convince King Mahabacher. ”

Hu Hui bowed and said: "The minister's decree." ”

Zhu Gaoxu looked back left and right and said, "That's the end of today." ”

Zhu Wenwu saluted and thanked him, and withdrew from the Dongnuan Pavilion one after another.

After the ministers left, Miao Jin looked at Zhu Gaoxu with an incredible look and said softly: "Do you have to write down such words and deeds for the prince to read?" The concubine is worried, the Holy Lord will not be a noble saint in the eyes of future generations! ”

Zhu Gaoxu smiled: "Write it down!" lest future generations be fooled by some civil officials, live in the deep palace, and think that the world is the same. Most people are consciously or unconsciously seeking benefits for themselves, and they will find any reason for what position they stand on. The future emperor must understand this, otherwise it is easy to be deceived into becoming a nerd; Those ministers read the books of the sages, but they are not nerds, they have been crawling around for many years. ”

Miao Jin sighed: "The saint really believes Xunzi's words. ”

"I don't trust anyone......" he thought for a moment, then got up and left his chair and walked straight out. Miaojin also followed, but Zhu Gaoxu didn't say anything.

Zhu Gaoxu and Miaojin drove together, went to the Rouyi Palace, and ordered the eunuch to summon Chen. Dongnuan Pavilion belongs to the harem, so Zhu Gaoxu went to the Rouyi Hall to see the Chen family, and felt that it was more appropriate.

Soon Zhu Gaoxu realized that it was a mistake to bring Miaojin to the Rouyi Palace.

Chen came and saluted Zhu Gaoxu and Miaojin, and immediately recognized Miaojin and knew that she was a concubine. Chen lived in the Han Mansion in Yunnan for a long time, and it is estimated that he met Miaojin.

The two women looked at each other from time to time, and their eyes were very subtle. And although Chen is covering up, she can't hide Zhu Gaoxu's eyes, she is a little dodgy, a little distracted, a little resentful, a little ashamed, difficult to describe.

Miao Jin and Chen didn't say a word, but just their eyes revealed a lot of subtle emotions and relationships. Neither of them said anything, but in the occasional glance at each other, they seemed to be speculating on each other's thoughts.

At this point, Zhu Gaoxu had no choice but to bite the bullet and say his business: "Chen Jikuo, Li Li and other rebel leaders are all ambitious, and going against the Ming Dynasty will only make the lives of Annan miserable, why are so many people following?" There is also Chen Xianzhen who lives here, isn't she the Chen clan; At the beginning, the Hu family was in turmoil, but the Ming army helped the Chen family, why didn't she know how to be grateful? ”

Chen said: "In Yongle, the Ming army conquered the country of Annan, and the army Chinese and Wu declared everywhere that the army was only to help the Chen family restore the country. But later, the imperial court set up the Jiaozhi Political Envoy Department to annex the Kingdom of Annan, and the situation came to this. ”

When Zhu Gaoxu heard this, he felt that his previous judgment was probably correct: after five dynasties and ten kingdoms, the people of Annan have gradually gained a sense of independence.

He asked, "The people of Annam no longer agree with the Ming court?" ”

Chen tilted her head slightly, as if she was considering the words, and after a while she said, "Hui Sheng asked, this matter cannot be answered in a word. The concubine thought that those wealthy and powerful people in Annan were both wary of and admired by the (Ming) court.

They are unwilling to be subject to the imperial court, which will risk losing the power and wealth of their family, and even their lives will be lost. Therefore, the way to win the hearts of the people in the country has always been to reject the imperial court in the north and attack the barbarians in the south. During the 'Battle of Annan', the Champa State sent troops to assist the Ming army, because it was attacked by Annan all the year round and held a grudge. ”

Chen showed a self-deprecating smile, "In the past, the monarchs and ministers of Annan called themselves 'Chinese', and the Han people were called 'Huaxia', and they learned all the words of benevolence and righteousness in the Ming Dynasty. He also called Zhenla, Champong, and all the tribes barbarians, and the Annan army crusaded in the name of Wang Shi. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said in his heart: It turns out that everyone has the same way of doing things, and they have a sense of superiority.

But he asked a little puzzled: "What does the queen mean, the people of Annam do not think that they are the subjects of the Ming Dynasty, but self-proclaimed justice in the world?" ”

Chen said: "The saint should know that the king of Annam is a vassal to the Ming Dynasty, but he is the emperor in China. ”

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "Chen Jikuo is also called the emperor, and he also took the country name 'Da Yue'. ”

He groaned, thinking in his heart, the place where he learned Chinese civilization was not only in Annan, but also the emperor in his country.

Such a situation may increase the cultural influence of the Ming Dynasty, but it should not be able to make more places identify with the Ming Dynasty; In addition to the name of diplomatic relations, in fact, Yuben and Annam did not consider themselves to be under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty.

The only exceptions are the Fresh Kingdom and the Ryukyus. The king of Joseon was not called emperor, and the king's etiquette was according to the specifications of Prince Daming; The three kings of the Ryukyus (Shanbei, Zhongshan, and Shannan) were also not emperors, and considered themselves to be vassals of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gaoxu said to Chen: "The queen must teach Chen Zhengyuan that it is not a bad thing to join the Ming Dynasty. Not only can it share the prestige of the Ming Dynasty with the outside world, but also the intervention of the Ming Dynasty can protect the Chen royal family from being threatened by the powerful ministers. ”

Chen said softly: "The concubine's family is counting on the restoration of the saint, and they will be grateful for the picture and report, and they will not forget it." ”