On February 3 of the first year of Longwu, the sky was fine, the cold wind was bleak, and the cold cone in Beijing was biting.

In the inner city of the Wei State Mansion, Xu Hongji, the Duke of Wei, was entertaining the visit of Zhu Yinghuai, the new Duke of Chengguo.

Zhu Yinghuai has always wanted to get back the title of Duke Chengguo after Xiao Ruxun officially ascended the throne and became emperor, but at the enthronement ceremony, Xiao Ruxun did not give him the title of Duke Chengguo, and after that, Zhu Yinghuai and his family felt that there might be less money, so he offered 300,000 taels of silver to Xiao Ruxun in the name of repairing the palace.

Xiao Ruxun Longyan Dayue returned the title of Duke Chengguo to the Zhu family on the spot, and let Zhu Yinghuai attack the Duke of Chengguo as a reward.

So Zhu Yinghuai, the newly promoted Duke of Chengguo, made his debut, not only that, but also got the position of the governor of the Houjun Governor's Office, became a senior officer in the Beijing camp, and was also in charge of a soldier and horse in the Beijing camp.

However, just a few days later, when Zhu Yinghuai went to work in the Houjun Governor's Mansion, he found that he didn't seem to have anything to do.

There were only a dozen clerks sorting out the materials, and when he, the dignified governor, went to work, he couldn't find a few subordinates, and he had to be taken by the guards to find his office, and then he sat in the office for a day, and only one of the guards' handymen brought him tea and refreshments.

That's it, you can get off work, there's nothing to do, the governor's mansion is deserted, and those who don't know think it's a cold palace.

In the past, although the Governor's Office of the Five Armies had no real power, it had a façade and there were people in various positions, but now only he, the Metropolitan Governor, has no other subordinates, what is this?

And not only did he have no subordinates, but he didn't even see a few soldiers and horses, nominally the entire guard post around the Beijing Division was under his management, but in fact, he didn't know whether there were any guard posts around the Beijing Division and where the Beijing battalion soldiers were.

Could it be that the new emperor is playing a game of grafting?

With this doubt, Zhu Yinghuai went to visit Xu Hongji, Xu Hongji had taken refuge in Xiao Ruxun since Nanjing, and followed the Northern Expedition all the way, so the relationship should be closer.

And at present, there are only two dukes in Beijing from the former Ming Dynasty to the present, as well as the Duke of Qianguo in Yunnan, in addition to Xiao Ruxun did not have other dukes, and even the oldest general in the army, Zhao Hu, was also named the Marquis of Pingyu, and the only remaining dukes of their two families should be close to each other.

Compared with Zhu Yinghuai's anxiety, Xu Hongji is obviously much calmer.

The family lived in Beijing peacefully, Xu Hongji was eating pastries while roasting the fire and leaning on something that looked like a chair but not a chair, like a bed and not a bed, obviously comfortable.

"Oh, this Jingshi's life is also comfortable, and I don't have to worry about eating and drinking, but it's too cold and I'm a little unaccustomed to it."

Xu Hongji smiled and sent the pastry to his mouth: "Well, delicious!" Chenggong, come and try it, this is a mung bean cake given by His Majesty, said to be a new pastry made in Myanmar, sweet and glutinous, with a sip of tea, well~ Race the living gods! Hahaha! ”

Zhu Yinghuai was a little depressed.

"I said Wei Gong, why are you so ...... What about comfort? This...... What is this? A chair is not a chair, a bed is not a bed. ”

"This? Come on, come on, Cheng Gong, lie down together, this is called a recliner, and it is also given by His Majesty, but it is comfortable, this nap is the most convenient, hahaha! ”

Xu Hongji looked unhappy, and Zhu Yinghuai's eyebrows jumped when he saw it.

"Duke Wei, why are you ...... I said Duke Wei, it has been a month since the establishment of this new dynasty, the capital has settled down, many people have begun to do things, I often watch many officials so busy that they walk like running, Your Majesty is uninterrupted every day at noon and evening, but how come there is nothing to do when it comes to us? I stayed in the governor's mansion for several days, and from morning till night, there was no one except a handyman who brought me tea and water, and I couldn't even see the shadow of a Beijing battalion soldier, what is this? ”

Xu Hongji looked at Zhu Yinghuai: "Chenggong, are you pretending to be stupid or are you really stupid?" Your Majesty said that I will be in charge of the Beijing camp, and I will really lead the Beijing camp? Your Majesty said that you should be in charge of the Jingshi Guard, and you are really in charge of the Jingshi Guard, and you are really in charge of the Jingshi Guard, and you have the military power? ”

"This ......"

Zhu Yinghuai is not a fool, he said in a low voice: "Your Majesty was born as a military general, you won't be unable to understand what the fate of this civil and military is for, does he still want to continue to use civil and military affairs and not give the five military governors real power?" ”

"Even if I give real power, I won't give you me."

Xu Hongji shook his head: "We are all used by His Majesty to decorate the façade and pretend, are you really serious?" Still going to the point? Not to mention the Governor's Mansion of the Five Armies, I estimate that even the Beijing camp will be dismissed, Your Majesty has his own army, what else do you need in the Beijing camp? It's just a waste of food to keep that waste, and it's better to use it as coolies. ”

"Huh? Do you want to be a façade? ”

Zhu Yinghuai's face was bitter: "We didn't go against Your Majesty, you have followed Your Majesty since Nanjing, and our family almost killed Shen Yiyi, so we can't be regarded as surrendering to the enemy, right?" Continue to be the façade, which ...... Wang Xijue and Li Tingji are real power, and they go to court every day. ”

"That's people, not you and me, people have real skills and can govern the country, what about you and me? Have you really led soldiers to war? Your Majesty's bunch of generals can fight all of them, where can you and me take their turn? It's good to keep the title, live a peaceful life! ”

Xu Hongji took another piece of mung bean cake and stuffed it into his mouth.

Zhu Yinghuai was depressed for a while.

"500,000 taels of silver, I thought I could get some good things, but the result is still the same."

"It's still the same sentence, it's good to keep the title, don't think about those superfluous, we are the nobles of the previous dynasty, and we don't have the military exploits of this dynasty, why should we let you lead the troops? Be honest and don't overthink it. ”

Xu Hongji was also a little impatient, waved his hand, and didn't plan to say more.

"But I can't figure it out, Zhao Shiqing and Cai Guozhen, these two are Shen Zheng's party, how can they also be retained? Or the Ministry of Cadres and Officials, is it because one of them donated more than 100,000 taels of silver? This new dynasty is too casual, right? ”

Listening to Zhu Yinghuai's words, a trace of worry flashed in Xu Hongji's eyes, but he didn't say it in the end.

"Don't think too much, sort it out, tomorrow is the day when the generals in the northwest will return to the DPRK, and a new round of military arrangements will also begin, so we may have to attend."

Zhu Yinghuai nodded: "I heard that Li Chengliang is also coming soon, this time the Li family is really bleeding, the relocation of the family and the relocation of Liaodong, this is the destruction of his own foundation, why is Li Chengliang so kind this time?" ”

"Or else? What else does he want? His Majesty's 200,000 army is in the Beijing Division, the elite is unparalleled, if there is a little bit wrong with his Li family, the 200,000 army can crush them, they should not work against His Majesty if they have a little head, and it is the best choice to come to the Beijing Division to enjoy the glory and wealth.

This time it's good, Li Chengliang was named Marquis Yiyong, Li Rusong is also a marquis, Li Ruzhang was also named Marquis this time, the Li family has three waits, this is more glorious than in Daming, it's worth it, it's really worth it. ”

Xu Hongji seems to be a little envious of the Li family.