The second day is the twenty-third day of the lunar month, and it is a small year. Although Yun Xi received an urgent report from the northwest the day before that Timur planned to go east to conquer the Ming Dynasty, Yun Xi also summoned several nobles to the palace to conduct preliminary discussions on this matter, but the officials and people in the capital were not affected by such bad news, and they had a lively New Year. Yun Xi also put this matter aside for the time being and celebrated the New Year with his wife, concubines and children.

But it was impossible for him to be completely idle. This year, Yun Xi summoned all the feudal kings in the north to Beijing to meet him, and these feudal kings did not refuse, except for the king of Qin, and rushed to the capital with his entourage to eat, drink, and have fun and communicate with the emperor and other feudal kings.

In addition, Zhu Yunwen, who was crowned King of Wu, probably knew in his heart that Yunxi was different from other vassal kings to him, so he went to Beijing to pay tribute every New Year, and every time he had to bring all his wives and concubines and children. Fortunately, Hangzhou is not far from the capital, and there is a direct waterway, which is not too much trouble. It's just that Yun Xi was in Guangzhou last year, and he was worried that he would get sick again when he took his children to Guangzhou, so he went to Guangzhou alone. This year it's business as usual, and he naturally has to bring everyone with him.

Yun Xi is his own brother and elder brother, Yun Xi in order to show his brother and brother, as long as he is free in the capital, he will definitely go out of the city to greet him, and this year is no exception. On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Yun Xi heard that the guards of King Wu's mansion said that His Royal Highness King Wu would be able to arrive in the capital before noon today, so he got into a carriage and rushed to the north gate of the capital with a guard of honor.

Yun Xi led people to the north gate and rested for a while, Yun Xi had already led his family to get off the boat and walk slowly towards the capital. He heard that there was an honor guard of the emperor at the city gate, so he hurriedly got down from the carriage, and walked to Yunxi with his concubine Ma Shi and saluted, "The minister has seen Your Majesty, long live, long live, long live!" Ma also bowed down and said, "The concubine has seen Your Majesty." ”

"It's not going to be done." Yun Xi hurriedly stepped forward, helped Yun Xi up with both hands, and ordered the eunuch to help Ma up, and said to him, "Second brother, what are we talking about these false etiquette between our brothers?" What's more, the second brother is my elder brother, and it should be the younger brother who salutes the second brother. ”

"The national rite is more important than the family rite, Your Majesty is the king of the world, although I am the elder brother of Your Majesty, but I am also a minister, naturally I want to salute Your Majesty, and how dare I accept Your Majesty's salute." Yun Wei said immediately.

Yun Xi still liked these words very much, but still said, "Hey, how good is this." But when we meet in private in the palace, don't do this, just follow the etiquette of brothers when they meet. Yun Wei shirked a few words and nodded in agreement.

Yun Xi asked Wen Kui to come forward and salute his father. Wen Kui Jianye entered Beijing for three years to study in the Royal Academy, and never returned to Hangzhou, but his parents could only meet each other every year during the Chinese New Year. Yun Wei and Ma enter Beijing every year, and there is also a reason why they want to see Wen Kui.

Yun Wei was still very excited to see his eldest son, but he restrained his emotions and just asked about his studies; But Ma couldn't help it, hugged his son and cried a few times, and asked him how he ate in the capital, how he lived, whether his subordinates listened to him, and so on.

Yun Wei couldn't hold his face, and scolded, "What kind of system is this!" With His Majesty and the Empress taking care of him in the capital, how can he lack Wen Kui's food and use! ”

Ma Shi seemed to be a little afraid of Yun Xi, and when he heard this, he had to let go of the hand holding Wen Kui, wiped his tears, and saluted Yun Xi again, "The concubine is rude, please forgive your majesty." ”

"It is natural for mother and son to kiss each other, what is rude? And why bother to plead guilty. Yun Xi smiled.

Their brothers laughed a few more words, and Yun Wei suddenly looked at a little girl behind Yun Xi and asked, "Your Majesty, is this Min'er?" But I haven't seen you for two years, and I've grown so big. ”

"No, she's not Min'er. She is Lan Siqi, the niece of Liang Guogong Lan Zhen. Yun Xi smiled.

"I said, the difference between appearance and Min'er is indeed a bit big, and I have never dared to admit it." Yun Xi immediately raised his head and said to Yun Xi, "Your Majesty, you came to greet the minister, why did you bring her?" ”

Yun Wei has always opposed raising Siqi in the palace, thinking that he has too much favor for the Lan family. However, Yun Xi and Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still alive at the time, were willing, and he couldn't care about it. But it's not appropriate to come to greet him with Siqi.

"Oh, it's Siqi who is going home for the holidays, and just when she left the palace today, my brother took her out with him. Later, my brother will send her to the Liang Guogong Mansion. Yun Xi said.

"Your Majesty, no matter how you say it, she is just the daughter of a courtier, and it is not appropriate for Your Majesty to send her back to the mansion in person." Yun Wei said immediately.

"And it's not just for her. The younger brother thought that four old generals had passed away this year, and he felt that there were fewer and fewer old generals who fought bloodily for the Ming Dynasty, so he went to visit before the New Year, and put her down when he passed by the door of the Liang Guogong Mansion. Yoon-hee explained.

Since Yun Xi said so, even if he still felt that it was inappropriate, he couldn't say anything, so he said a few more words to Yun Xi, said goodbye to Yun Xi, and took Wen Kui to Wu Wangfu.

Yun Xi also got into the carriage and ordered the honor guard to return to the palace, and the rest of the people headed for Hongwu Street.

Siqi also sat in the car, biting his lip with his teeth, and said softly to Yunxi, "Uncle, is Siqi's presence a little unhappy to His Royal Highness King Wu?" ”

"He's just too well-behaved, not upset." Yun Xi comforted.

"Uncle, but," Siqi said but stopped.

"Don't worry." Yun Xi touched her head and said, "Uncle is not afraid of these gossips. I don't have to do anything about this scruple all day long. Since your uncle raised you in the palace, he won't care what others say. ”

"Yes, uncle." Siqi nodded.

After a while, the carriage came to Hongwu Street and drove to the door of the mansion of Geng Bingwen, Marquis of Changxing. Yun Xi Liusi was in the car, got out of the car himself, and ordered the guards to call the door. Geng Bingwen is the first batch of lords of Zhu Yuanzhang in the third year of Hongwu, and he is also the only one who is the only one who has been crowned a lord in the third year of Hongwu.

As soon as the door of the Marquis of Changxing's mansion opened and saw the person calling the door, he knew that it was someone from the palace, and immediately said respectfully, "I have seen this guard." But Your Majesty has something to reward my old lady? But if there is a holy decree, do you need my old lady to go to the atrium to receive the decree? ”

"Hurry up and open the middle door, the emperor has come to visit Marquis Geng!" Zhang Wuji reached out and grabbed the handle, patted it again and said.

Menzi's heart trembled when he heard this! Obediently, the emperor is here in person! Immediately say yes, "Just open the door!" Just open the door! Then he ordered the other two doormen to open the middle door quickly, and ran into the house with a puff of smoke.

The two slightly younger disciples were also frightened, and they froze in place for a while, not knowing what to do. Zhang Wuji knocked on the doorknob impatiently, and the two of them woke up like a dream and opened the door in a hurry.

After a while, Geng Bingwen led dozens of men, women and children in the whole family, all dressed in formal clothes, came to the door and knelt down and said, "Your Majesty Geng Bingwen has seen Your Majesty, Your Majesty is ......."

Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, Yun Xi had already stepped forward to help him up, and said with a smile, "The old general doesn't have to salute." It's freezing on this day, and it's not good for the old general to get caught the wind chill again. ”

Geng Bingwen knew that although he had not been seriously ill now, his body was not as good as a year, and if he was frostbitten, it would be against the emperor's original intention, so he did not insist on performing the full salute, but walked into the house with Yun Xi after a few words of greeting and sat down in the living room.

Yun Xi sat on the main seat, took a sip of tea, and said with a smile, "This is Dongting Biluochun?" Not bad indeed. ”

"The minister is not particular about tea, he can drink it, and whether it is tea or not, this is the tea that the minister's children and grandchildren are looking for. It is also their blessing to be able to enter the mouth of His Majesty. Geng Bingwen said with a smile.

"Tea is not psychic, what is not blessed. You are also a veteran general of the Ming Dynasty, but you can't just follow me like some people. If I want to govern the Ming Dynasty well, I can't just hear flattery every day. Yun Xi said.

"Yes, yes, the minister knows, next time I will definitely change it, I will definitely change it." Geng Bingwen said busily.

Yun Xi asked him how his body was now. Geng Bingwen replied, "Thanks to the emperor's blessing, the minister's body is still strong, there is no illness or disaster, and his legs and feet are still neat, even if the minister is allowed to go into battle to kill the enemy, it is not ambiguous." ”

"That's good. There are fewer and fewer veterans who followed the emperor's grandfather to fight in the north and south, and I am still young, and without your assistance, I will panic when I encounter a war. ”

"Your Majesty, now Lan Zhen and other generals have also shown their abilities, even the ministers are sighing to themselves, Your Majesty doesn't have to worry."

"It's different. You are all people who have gone through great battles and adversity, and now these generals are all at the peak of the Ming Dynasty, and they have all had the advantage in several battles before and after, even if they win, they are not too capable, and they still need you to teach. ”

Yoon-hee, that's the truth. Now these Mesozoic generals, even the oldest Xu Huizu and others, have been Hongwu for more than ten years when they grow up to lead the troops, and the Ming Dynasty has already taken the advantage, and the battle other than Mongolia is equivalent to beating kindergarten children, even if they fight Mongolia, as long as the generals with the troops are cautious, they will not lose the battle; Although he attached great importance to the recent attack on Annam, he also bullied the widows with the crowd, and Hu Jichen had neither official nor popular will, and the army was sure to win.

But the upcoming battle for Samarkand is different. The total strength of the two sides will not be much different, and Timur is invincible so the morale of the army is also high, although Yun Xi was very confident in this battle earlier, but after the exact news came, he could not help but be uneasy.

And Geng Bingwen is the most famous guard of the Ming Dynasty, Yun Xi couldn't help but confide his worries in front of him.

Geng Bingwen also knew that he was worried about the battle against Samarkand, and after Yun Xi finished speaking, he was relieved, "Your Majesty, the ministers are not born to fight, and they are also trained in the war. Now these generals are all talented and intelligent, and they will certainly not be worse than the ministers. ”

After listening to Geng Bingwen's words, Yun Xi's mood eased slightly, and he was about to say something more, when he suddenly smiled and said, "Look, I said that I came to visit you, why did you talk about this?" Then he stopped mentioning the topic he had just talked about, and instead said something light.

After talking to him for a while, Yun Xi got up and took his leave. Geng Bingwen didn't dare to keep the guest, so he could only stand up and send him out of the house. Yun Xi smiled and said, "No need, although Aiqing's body is still tough, she must also pay attention to the cold, and she doesn't have to be sent out." Just let Geng Xuan deliver it. ”

Geng Bingwen was not hypocritical, he stayed in the house after one shirk, and asked his eldest son Geng Xuan to send the emperor out of the house instead of him. Geng Xuan agreed, and walked with his younger brothers to the outside of the mansion with Yun Xi.

"Geng Xuan, you are now the governor of the Governor's Mansion of the Chinese Army, and you are very organized to take care of this mansion for me, which has saved me a lot of heart." As he walked, Yoon-hee asked.

"Your Majesty, the ministers are just acting according to the rules in the Governor's Mansion of the Chinese Army." Geng Xuan said modestly.

"It's not easy to do things according to the rules." Yun Xi sighed and said. Geng Xuan stood aside and didn't talk.

Yun Xi didn't intend to say more about this with him, and said, "Since I came to the throne, you have been running errands in the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, although the errand is good, I can't leave you, but if you keep doing such an errand, your name will not be on the history books in the future." Since ancient times, the generals who command soldiers to fight wars have great reputations, such as Wei Huo and Er Li, everyone knows and everyone knows, but who knows who is in charge of the Taiwei Mansion or the Twelve Guards when they lead the troops to fight? ”

"You are a member of my domain, how can I not take care of you! So I'm determined to send you to the northwest next year, would you like to? ”

"The minister will never be dishonored!" Geng Xuan immediately said loudly. The younger brothers behind him were also very happy to hear this.

Geng Xuan had long wanted to lead the troops to the battle, not only for his future name in the history books, but also for practical considerations.

Although the yamen in charge of the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies is also considered to be a high authority, the most intuitive place for military generals to show their abilities is still the battlefield, and only by making meritorious deeds on the battlefield can they have a prestigious reputation and be convincing; If there is no military exploits, it will not be able to sit firmly in the governor's mansion of the five armies. He had already met many generals who had made meritorious contributions on the battlefield, perhaps because of his delusion, he always felt that these people had a slight contempt for him.

And not only him, but several of his younger brothers, although they had served in the local area, did not lead troops to the war. If this continues, their family may fall.

So he always wanted to lead his troops into battle. But Yun Xi didn't let him go out to fight for some reason, and he didn't dare to take the initiative to ask for it, and he has been stumbling until now. Fortunately, the emperor finally remembered him. 'I must perform well in this battle, make meritorious achievements, and let the emperor know that I still have some skills. He thought.

"Okay, then I'll wait for Aiqing's good news." Yun Xi smiled.