April and May in the capital is the season of peony blooming, there is a peony garden with an area of more than one acre in the west garden of the palace, the flowers that are blooming in this season are splendid, gorgeous and extravagant. Zhu Youzhen has come these days, and he will always come over in the afternoon to go around. Smelling the faint fragrance of flowers, walking along the bluestone path in the garden under the breeze always makes him feel extra peaceful.

Accompanying him around the garden today, there are also Zhu Yousong and Liu Jingting, the sons of King Fu, after walking in the garden for a while, Zhu Youzhen asked Zhu Yousong beside him: "I heard that Luoyang peony is the best in the world, compared with the peony in this garden in the palace, the one over there is better?" ”

Although in Zhu Yousong's view, the peony garden in the palace is not as good as his own in Luoyang, not to mention that every household in Luoyang has the habit of planting peonies, even if it is a small family, it can grow one or two good seeds. Although the peony garden in the palace has collected a lot of famous species, the people who manage the garden are also dedicated. However, due to the difference in the climate and management technology of the capital, the growth of peonies in the palace is obviously still poor.

However, compared with Luoyang City, which he has been in for nearly 20 years, he still feels that the capital where he lives now is more comfortable. Therefore, he replied without hesitation: "Although the peony in Luoyang is gorgeous, the garden in the palace is more elegant and atmospheric. ”

Zhu Youzhen smiled and said: "My cousin is really good at talking, anyway, you went to pick up the leaders of the Ordos Department to Beijing this time, and entertained them for so many days, so you can be regarded as having some understanding with them." What do you think, what is the personality of these leaders of the Ordos Ministry? ”

Zhu Yousong thought for a long time before he cautiously replied: "I think that these Mongolians have a bold personality, in addition to loving to drink and not like to bathe, they are also very easy to get along with. ”

Zhu Youzhen turned his head to look at him, and couldn't help but joke with a smile: "My cousin is really a kind person, I heard that Ordos Jinong Ephochen also has a younger sister who is not yet married, and my cousin is willing to marry her as a side concubine?" ”

Zhu Yousong suddenly made a sad face, and did not reply half-loudly. Zhu Youzhen immediately asked: "Is my cousin unwilling?" Or do you have any scruples? ”

Under the emperor's questioning, Zhu Yousong had to reply stubbornly: "The minister can bear other things, but if he doesn't take a bath, the minister really can't bear it." ”

Zhu Youzhen immediately explained for him: "There are no conditions on the grassland, plus some religious taboos, so others will not bathe." After arriving in the capital, if you have the conditions, can you still take a bath? Besides, if you marry your husband, can't you even take care of your wife's affairs? ”

Zhu Yousong, who has always had a weak personality, did not dare to disobey Chongzhen's intentions, even if Zhu Youzhen only asked gently. Compared with marrying a Mongolian woman, losing the favor of the emperor and finally losing his current free life is even more unbearable for him. Therefore, although Zhu Yousong felt a little aggrieved, he still agreed to it and expressed his willingness to accept Chongzhen's will.

After continuing to talk with this cousin for a while, Zhu Youzhen let him leave with satisfaction, and watching Zhu Yousong leave as quickly as if he had been amnestied, Liu Jingting opened his mouth and said to Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, will it help King Fu's power to marry Jinong of the Ordos Department?" It is said that now the Qingliu officials in the capital no longer talk about King Fu's stay in the capital, which is an ulterior motive. However, some people praised King Fu for taking charge of the Zongren Mansion, and he had the style of an elder, which changed the atmosphere of the clan..."

Zhu Youzhen waved his hand, interrupted Liu Jingting's remarks, and said: "It's just that I can't force the cow's head to drink water, and I want to lure me to put the kings back in another way."

How much help can a mere Ordos ministry give King Fu? The Ordos Ministry values the marriage with the Ming clan, not the marriage with King Fu. They were of a transcendent position among the Mongol tribes, and were not known for their conquests. But if I can gain their loyalty to the Ming Dynasty, it will affect the hearts of the various Mongolian tribes on the steppe towards my Ming Dynasty.

What's more, if the blessed prince and the Ordos tribe marry first, then arrange the marriage of those nobles and the southern Mongolian tribes, and there will be a lot less resistance. The establishment of the Shijue in our dynasty is to let the families of these heroes defend the Ming Dynasty for generations and share it with our Ming Dynasty.

But today, except for a few of these noble families, how many families can do something. I was knighted for military merit, but now these sons of the honored family are all well-mannered, and they are full of words, and they spend their days in the company of scribes and famous prostitutes, and they have forgotten where the wealth they now enjoy comes from.

Since they can't follow the example of their ancestors to defend their families and country on the battlefield, they always need to do something to repay the country and the people of the Ming Dynasty who raised them. Marriage with these Mongolian tribal leaders in their capacity is the fastest way to make these tribes fall to the Ming Dynasty before we win over the lower class of these Mongolian tribes.

What's more, allowing the lords to marry these clan leaders can also break the current internal marriages between the lords and relatives, and disintegrate their internal cohesion. Prevent these nobles from uniting and embarrassing with me. ”

Liu Jingting finally stopped continuing to advise, and said to Chongzhen: "The minister understands, the minister will definitely promote the marriage between the prince of Ordos and the sister of Jinong Ephochen, so that the Ordos Ministry will completely surrender to my Daming."

According to the ministers, the leaders of the Ordos tribe did not have much ambition, they were just bent on preserving their former peaceful and prosperous life. Although Jinong Ephochen is intelligent, he is too young after all, and he is too restrained by the leaders of various tribes to be able to speak out in the tribe.

Now, coupled with Lin Dan Khan's aggressive attitude towards the Ordos Ministry, Jinong Ephochen urgently needs the support of external forces in order to suppress the leaders of the various tribes internally and resist the persecution of Lin Dan Khan externally.

In the past few days, the ministers have communicated with the leaders of the Ordos tribes in Shangjing, including Jinong and the phosphorus ministers. They basically agreed to the conditions we put forward, and were willing to let go of free trade with our Ming Dynasty, and agreed to form a cavalry unit with our Ming Dynasty to protect the peace of the Hetao area.

However, they are still hesitant to emulate the right-wing Mongolian ministries, fully accept the rule of our Ming Dynasty over the Ordos Ministry, and change the current Ordos Ministry into a flag alliance system, and it seems that they have not yet made up their final decision. However, now that this marriage is proposed, it is estimated that Ephochen may think about it again. ”

Zhu Youzhen stopped in front of a peony tree more than half a person high, looked at the bright pink peonies blooming in front of him, and instructed Lu Qi to cut off the few that he was optimistic about, and then instructed Lu Qi: "The queen will send three flowers, and the other concubines will send two flowers each..."

After explaining to Lu Qi, he made up his mind and said to Liu Jingting: "Don't force them too hard, as long as the goods we produce can enter the lives of the Ordos people, then sooner or later they will become a part of my Daming."

If you press it too hard now, it will only arouse their disgust, so that they will not think about him, which is really a bit meaningless. In addition, this time, the handover of personnel from the right-wing Mongolian departments in Beijing has also come to time, and it just so happens that these Mongolians are in the capital, so let me be the east once, give them a banquet, and enhance the feelings between the two sides, what do you think? ”

Liu Jingting thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty's proposal is very good, but the place of the banquet needs to be cautious, the customs of the Ming Dynasty and Mongolia are very different, although these people are also considered to be the heads of various ministries, but they are not much different from the lives of ordinary people on weekdays, in the eyes of the officials of the Ministry of Rites, there is probably no distinction between superior and inferior."

Your Majesty invited them to the banquet this time, since it is to increase their good impression of Daming, then you might as well make the banquet simpler and reduce some red tape, maybe you can get closer to them.

In addition, the Ordos people had never seen the war between China and Houjin before, so they despised the strength of China. The minister thought that His Majesty should not only encircle these Mongolian tribes with a gentle strategy, but also show the military might of my Ming Dynasty in front of them, so that they can become the border barrier of my Ming Dynasty. ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded, and replied approvingly: "What you said is not bad, there was originally a hunting ground in the western suburbs of the capital, which is said to be vast and beautiful, but there are fewer prey." You choose a day and invite them to hunt in my name, and I will choose a new army to join. That way, they can be as they please, and I don't have to worry about being rude to them. You can also review the armament of the new army by the way. ”

When he said this, Zhu Youzhen paused for a moment before continuing to speak: "Lu Qi, didn't you report that the envoy of the Horqin Department will arrive tomorrow?" When Mr. Liu sets a date, you will send a message to Hai Lanzhu on behalf of me, and ask her to organize a banquet as the hostess on that day to entertain the leaders of the Mongolian tribes. You send a man from the palace to obey her commands. ”

Lu Qi paused slightly, and then hurriedly replied: "The minister's order, but Your Majesty, what specifications do you refer to for the banquet, and do you have any additional instructions?" ”

Zhu Youzhen suddenly smiled maliciously and said, "Isn't this Hai Lanzhu very idea-like?" She was able to assert herself outside the Guangning Pass, claiming that I had sent someone to Horqin to mention her relatives, and let people spread the matter widely in the pass, so that I could not deny it now.

I think she'll be able to handle this hunting feast in the western suburbs, you just have to give her the guest list, and the rest will be at her disposal. I just want to see if this pearl of the Horqin Department is really so worthy of the name. ”

Lu Qi and Liu Jingting glanced at each other, and Chongzhen's explanation was automatically filtered out of their minds. Liu Jingting was about to discuss the list of guests to divert the topic when a eunuch hurriedly walked over from the west side of the path, saluted Lu Qi, and whispered a few words in his ear.

After Lu Qi listened, he reported to Chongzhen in front of him: "Your Majesty, Lord Shoufu is now outside the garden, and I want to ask to see Your Majesty..."

Zhu Youzhen, who was bending over and sniffing the fragrance of flowers, couldn't help but straighten up after hearing this, and said with no change in his expression: "Huang Shoufu really can't hold his breath, but it's been lively for two days, and he found me here."

Forget it, just ask him to go to the pavilion in front of him to talk, let people prepare some tea, and run all the way from Wenhua Palace, presumably Mr. Huang's mouth is also dry. ”