On the day of the Shangyuan Festival, after Zhu Gaoxu sent Mu Zhen away, another banquet was set up. On the occasion of the festive season, the imperial envoys who passed through Yunnan, as well as Hu Guang and others, came to the banquet, and they talked about some militaristic things at the banquet.

Emperor Zhu Di seems to be playing a big game of chess!

The envoy of the imperial court first talked about the affairs of Annan. In August and September last year, some former ministers of Annan fled to Beijing and confronted the Hu envoys; By the end of the year, the Lao local officials obtained Chen Tianping, a relative of the Chen family, and escorted him to Beijing, and Chen Tianping denounced the Hu family's crimes.

At the beginning of this year, the imperial court sent envoys Li Qi and others to Annan to question the Hu family. They just arrived in Kunming City yesterday.

During this period, he also talked about the deference of the local officials of Laos to the imperial court, which made the saint very happy, and decided to officially crown the local officials of Laos as the consolation envoy.

Now one fact can be completely confirmed: Hu Shi, the prime minister of Annam, plotted to kill the monarch and usurp the throne!

The imperial court did not immediately use troops against Annan, but only sent envoys to Annan to inquire about the matter...... However, Zhu Gaoxu believed that the use of troops was a matter of time, and now it may be because the imperial court is not ready for war.

Because then Zhu Gaoxu heard another news, and the shipyards in Jingshi and other places were stepping up the construction of large sea ships. It can be seen that the Ming Dynasty is not a national policy of recuperating at all, how can the affairs of Annan be resigned? ”

In the past, Zhu Gaoxu always thought that Zheng He went to the West to find Emperor Jianwen. But now Emperor Jianwen has been found; The construction of a large ship to prepare for the sea, but there is no intention of stopping......

This made Zhu Gaoxu faintly feel that his father Zhu Di's eyes were not only on Emperor Jianwen, but also perhaps with greater ambitions! That is to establish a greater meritorious deed, like Tang Taizong, to be praised by future generations.

The entire southeast peninsula is probably within Zhu Di's control attempts, and he also wants to establish a more distant tributary system from the sea.

…… However, for the Yunnan government, the affairs of Annan are not taken care of for the time being. After the beginning of spring this year, the situation of the Ping-Burma Propaganda and Comfort Division will be a matter that the three divisions of Yunnan pay more attention to.

At that time, Si Lunfa, the consolation envoy of peace and Burma, was pacified by the official army by the rebel side, and his eldest son Si Xingfa changed the title of Meng Yang Xuanfu envoy. In the past two years, Sijia has been attacking and annexing villages in Sixia, and the Yunnan Metropolitan Division has been alerted and reported to the imperial court.

But the Pyong-Burma Propaganda Division is not an easy place to go. It is in the southwest of Dali Mansion, last year the Han Wangfu guards went to Dali, they came back to report, Dali to the west are mountainous, the mountain road is far and rugged and difficult to travel.

This made Zhu Gaochu realize that the matter in Myanmar was very tricky.

The cost of using troops is huge, and before Tusi really rebels, it is difficult for the imperial court and the Yunnan government to support the sending of troops. But if you just send a few people to reprimand a few words, it doesn't seem to have any effect.

…… The lake in the front hall of the Shen Mansion is sunny and the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant, a scene full of spring colors.

But as soon as Zhu Gaoxu walked into the shade of the dome and tiled house, he immediately felt the coolness. On a sunny day in Yunnan, the outdoors and indoors give the illusion of a different season.

Zhu Gaoxu came in and hugged his fists and said: "I missed the appointment yesterday, I'm really sorry." Because the imperial envoys passed by Kunming City, I went back to my house for some time. ”

Shen Xu bent his knees and made a thousand Buddhas, and said with a smile: "His Royal Highness the King of Han is polite, and the concubine does not dare to have the slightest sense of blame." However, the concubine thought that the king of Han was in a hurry to return home when he saw the little lady of the Mu family. ”

Zhu Gaoxu was suddenly a little embarrassed, but he saw Shen Xu cover his mouth and smile. He hurriedly said, "Mrs. Shen is joking. ”

Shen Xu glanced at Duan Xue Hat, who was walking slowly inside the door, and said, "Your Highness, please sit down." ”

Zhu Gaoxu sat down on the chair and immediately spoke: "Last year, I said that I wanted to cooperate with Mrs. Shen, but at that time I was just talking. This year, the government is going to send someone to the Ping-Burma Propaganda Division, I want to join hands with the Shen family over there to do something, I wonder if Mrs. Shen is interested? ”

Shen Xu immediately made a look of interest, "The concubine is willing to listen to you." ”

Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a moment and said: "We are talking about business, but I am not a businessman, so I won't talk about those exaggerated empty words."

Let me say it bluntly, on the border between northern Myanmar and Yongchang Province in the Ming Dynasty, there are several consolation envoys, and hidden dangers have been breeding there in the past two years. After the Yunnan Metropolitan Secretary reported to the imperial court, he should do something. However, after thinking about it carefully, I think that no matter what the parties in Yunnan do at this time, it will be useless, and everyone is just trying to make a difference to the imperial court.

That's not my style, I don't want to do all that superficial useless work, just do something real! ”

Shen Xu echoed the compliment.

Zhu Gaoxu then said: "I have made a small calculation, and I only use one thing to open the situation, Jade!" ”

"Emerald?" Shen Xu blurted out curiously and suspiciously, "But it's a kind of jade?" ”

This time it was Zhu Gaoxu's turn to be surprised, he was stunned for a moment and said, "Mrs. Shen has seen jade and jade? ”

Shen Xu said: "The forbidden treasure written in "Returning to the Field" is a kind of green jade, but the concubine has never seen it. ”

Zhu Gaoxu suddenly said: "It is indeed a kind of jade, produced somewhere in Myanmar. Whether it's the jade recorded in the book, I don't know. This jade is different from all nephrite jade, such as Hetian jade, in that it is hard, crystal clear, and brilliantly colored. It's especially good for jade bracelets, and I can guarantee that it will replace fragile nephrite bracelets in no time. Jadeite with a medium texture should be more expensive than gold of the same weight. ”

Shen Xu asked softly, "How did His Royal Highness the King of Han know?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu said nonsense: "Many years ago, an official in Yunnan gave me a piece of jade, saying that it was a rare stone from Burma. Later, the craftsman made a green bracelet out of the stone, which was named Jadeite. ”

Shen Xu seemed to believe it and nodded thoughtfully.

Zhu Gaoxu said with great interest: "That's how I planned, first of all, we have to find this ore.

I let out the words that I would go to the Ping-Burma Propaganda Division and Myanmar and other places to search for treasures for my father, queen and mother. Who would dare to obstruct the officials and toasts from all over the country? At that time, the Han Mansion and the Shen Mansion both sent people over together to search for jade in all directions.

Once we find the jadeite ore, we will send the military miners to mine it. Then take the opportunity to build a city nearby, garrison soldiers, and directly control the territory there.

At that time, it will not only have a name, but also give many people benefits, and it will be convenient to do things. In addition to the jade in the tribute palace, more jade can be made into jewelry, and then sold all over the Ming Dynasty. This jade is currently only available in Myanmar, once the world likes jadeite, we are a monopoly, and the profit is not winning! ”

When Shen Xu heard this, she gradually became more interested, and she said, "It sounds like this business can be done." ”

"Of course!" Zhu Gaoxu said decisively, "Can the business that a prince of mine care about be unreliable?" At that time, the Shen government found skilled craftsmen, and then contacted sales channels from all over the world; I was in charge of mining and transporting ore, as well as ensuring that the jade trade was not oppressed by the government. We have the benefits, and the two governments will share the benefits equally, how so? ”

Shen Xu nodded and said, "You have to find the jade ore first." ”

"Hmm......" Zhu Gaoxu also felt that her words had a sharp effect.

But he is still very confident, after all, jadeite is such a thing, and it has been proved that it does exist in later generations. And he was in the name of finding treasures for the palace...... Even if my father knew that one of his clans was doing business illegally, it wouldn't be a problem!

Speaking of which, the water on the tandoor was boiling, and Shen Xu went to make tea with his own hands.

When she put the teacup in front of Zhu Gaoxu, she spoke again: "The concubine heard that Li Shi, the prime minister of Annan, killed the monarch Chen and plotted to seize the throne?" ”

"Mrs. Shen's news is quite fast." Zhu Gaoxu smiled, "But isn't that traitor's surname Hu?" ”

Shen Xu smiled and said: "My surname was Li before, and I changed my surname to Hu later." ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "I see, I didn't read the official documents of the third division carefully, but only said that his surname was Hu." ”

Shen Xu smiled again and whispered: "The eldest husband only looks at military affairs, and the concubines are the most interested in the rumors of Naye history." His Royal Highness the King of Han wants to know why the Hu clan wanted to kill the rumors of King Annam? ”

Zhu Gaoxu asked with interest: "I just want to fight for power, dare to love and have internal feelings?" Mrs. Shen said to hear it. ”

Shen Xu said: "The Annan Kingdom during the reign of the Chen family, the merchants who went to the Nanyang side are often called the Chen Dynasty. Before the death of the Chen monarch, the power had long since fallen, and it was the prime minister Li Shi who actually held the power. The Li family has used the Chen family as a puppet for so many years, but suddenly killed the monarch, so there are some folk rumors...... It is said that the monarch has a Cleopatra Chen. That incident happened after the powerful prime minister coveted it. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said casually, "King Chen, the queen is also surnamed Chen?" ”

Shen Xu nodded and said, "Exactly, the etiquette of Annan is different from that of the Central Plains. During the Chen Dynasty, the king only married Chen with the same surname. ”

Zhu Gaoxu asked solemnly: "Cleopatra's Chen family was killed by her husband, so now it has been occupied by the Hu family?" ”

Shen Xu covered his mouth and laughed "sneer": "What the concubine said is just a rumor, His Royal Highness the King of Han is still serious." The mountains of Annan are far away, and it is difficult to travel by land and water, and those news may not be true. Naturally, the concubine didn't hear where Queen Chen was now. ”

She paused for a moment, and said with a smile: "Dare to love His Royal Highness the King of Han also want to see the face of Cleopatra?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu said embarrassedly: "Where, I just think that a woman can affect such a big event, I am very curious, and I can't help but want to know the truth." ”

Shen Xu said: "In recent years, there have been more and more contacts between Laos Tusi and Yunnan, and some people from Yunnan merchants have gone there to see if there are any opportunities to make money. The Lao Tusi is very close to Annam, and the concubine asked someone to go to the merchant gangs to inquire if there is any news of the Chen family. ”

"Well......" Zhu Gaoxu replied noncommittally.

He turned his head to look at the position of light and shadow under the eaves, and said, "Then I won't bother much today, I will send someone to inform Mrs. Shen as soon as there is progress in the jade matter." ”