When he arrived at the post house, Zhu Di stopped, looked back at the group of people behind him, and said:

"Lone wants to go in and sit with Yuan Gaoren for a while. Luo Yang and Sanbao just wait here for the lonely to come out, and the others will go back to their places. ”

Watching his most powerful generals leave, Zhu Di turned around and entered the post house with Yuan Heng, walked into Yuan Gaoren's guest room, blasted out all the servants and attendants inside, and closed the door tightly.

"Your Highness, this is a confidential matter, you want to ask Yuan?" Yuan Jue said with a smile, already guessing King Yan's thoughts.

Zhu Di smiled and said, "Not bad; Can you guess what Lone is asking, sir? ”

Yuan Heng twisted his beard and said leisurely: "The right-hand man of the Taiping Son of Heaven will definitely be the Prince of Taiping in the future; Your Highness wants to be verified? ”

Zhu Di said: "Mr. really expects the world to be like a god. I would like to hear about it. ”

Yuan Hui said unhurriedly:

"The three generals Zhang Yu, Qiu Fu, and Zhu Neng are all talented generals of the Zhu Kingdom; The rest of the people are all feudal ministers. ”

Zhu Di smiled faintly.

"What about Luo Yang and Ma Sanbao?"

Yuan Hui hesitated for a moment, knelt down in front of King Yan, and replied carefully: "Your Highness, what Yuan said is ominous, please condemn Your Highness." ”

Zhu Di said: "But it doesn't hurt to say it. ”

Yuan Heng said: "Gonggong Ma will be in charge of the affairs of the inner palace, and then he will be able to build miraculous works through the ages, shining in the annals of history." ”

Zhu Di was a little surprised. Although he had long appreciated Ma Sanbao's talent, he was only a eunuch after all; With his ability, it is not surprising that he is in charge of the inner palace, but the person who can establish the miraculous feats of the ages that shines in the annals of history has never heard of the name of a eunuch since ancient times. Even the famous eunuch Cai Lun of the Eastern Han Dynasty, although he is famous in history, it is difficult to be regarded as a brilliant historical record. If Yuan Heng is not joking, then Sanbao must be the one who has never been seen before or since; How much great feats can make a eunuch shine brightly?

Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang, in view of the fact that the eunuchs of the previous dynasty brought disaster to the country, after becoming emperor, he has always strictly forbidden the harem attendants to participate in political affairs. Not only is the number of eunuchs in the palace very small, less than 100 people, but also an iron plaque is hung at the palace gate, which is engraved with the words "the ministers are not allowed to interfere in political affairs, and the predetermined ones are beheaded". In addition, the harem attendants were strictly forbidden to read and write, just to prevent them from having ambitions after they had learned.

However, Ma Sanbao was a chamberlain in the palace of King Yan, and Hongwu was born in a Hui family in distant Yunnan in the fourth year. In the fourteenth year of Hongwu, Fu Youde, the Marquis of Yingchuan, was the general of the expedition to the south, the Marquis of Yongchang Lanyu was the deputy general of the expedition to the south, and the Hou Muying of Xiping was the deputy general of the expedition to the south. Ma Sanbao's father died of illness in this war, and the family's life was extremely difficult. And Ma Sanbao himself was also taken into the military camp as a slave by the Ming Dynasty army. In the seventeenth year of Hongwu, Ma Sanbao was brought back to Tianjing by the army, and after returning to Beijing, he was forced to be castrated, and he could only be a slave in the palace for the rest of his life. In the eighteenth year of Hongwu, he followed the army of Fu Youde and Lan Yu to garrison Beiping, and entered the Yanwang Mansion at this time.

Zhu Di is not like his father Zhu Yuanzhang, who even strictly forbade eunuchs to read and write, but opened a special school in the palace and invited people to teach these young eunuchs to learn to read. Ma Sanbao is smart and clever, studies hard, and is well received by his husband and the elders in the palace, and gradually attracts Zhu Di's attention, and intends to keep him by his side and focus on training. As he grew older, Ma Sanbao became more mature and stable, and became more and more intelligent. Zhu Di was naturally very satisfied with him, appreciated him, and ordered him to serve by his side every day, and he would also be present to participate in the discussion of such a major event as raising troops, and he was not confined to his father's lesson that "ministers must not interfere in political affairs".

Despite this, Zhu Di didn't think about it after all, for an excellent chamberlain like Ma Sanbao, in addition to letting him be in charge of the inner palace after he ascended the throne in the future, he could be asked to do something more. He is already a eunuch, and if he leaves the inner palace, can the eunuch do anything else? What's more, he allowed his eunuchs to read and write and participate in political affairs, which had violated his father's admonition. Will the eunuchs be entrusted with the important task of militarizing the state in the future?

No wonder Yuan Heng would say that what he said was ominous. When the eunuchs have made meritorious deeds, according to the lessons of the previous dynasties, this court will not be far from falling.

But at this moment, in Zhu Di's opinion, Yuan Hui's words seem not impossible. Sanbao is an outstanding talent after all, and for him Zhu Di, there is only one who has never thought about it, and he has never dared to do it. He had already disobeyed his father's will more than once; Even Shen Rufeng's son was left by his side and had the heart to reuse it.

He then asked, "What about Luo Yang?" ”

Yuan Jue said: "Your Highness forgives Yuan for the crime of lying in vain, and Yuan only dared to say it." ”

Zhu Di paused for a moment, thought for a while, and said, "Forgive you for your innocence, sir, but it doesn't matter." ”

Yuan Hui hesitated for a moment and said softly: "Your Highness, Luo's guards will be useless in the future. ”

"No merit and no name?" Zhu Di frowned slightly. "What do you mean is that everyone else has made great achievements and been knighted and rewarded, but Luo Yang has nothing? - Impossible. Even if he doesn't make any contributions, as long as he follows Lone to fight the country, I will at least make him an earl. ”

Yuan Heng shook his head: "Your Highness, I'm afraid that even if you really want to seal him, Luo's guards won't be able to wait for that time." ”

Zhu Di was slightly stunned: "What do you mean-he will ......?" ”

Yuan Heng shook his head and said, "Your Highness guessed wrong. In fact, among the several generals that Yuan just mentioned, there will also be people who sacrifice their lives for His Royal Highness. His Royal Highness thanked them for their loyalty and meritorious service, and posthumously conferred them high titles upon his accession to the throne. Your Highness, please think about it, if the Luo guards followed you to fight in the north and south, and unfortunately died, with the benevolence and righteousness of His Highness, after conquering the country, wouldn't he posthumously give him a title? How can His Highness bear to see him without merit and no name behind him? ”

Zhu Dilong's eyebrows tightened, and he pondered for a long time.

He spoke slowly, "What exactly are you hinting at Lonely?" ”

Yuan Jue kowtowed and said, "Your Highness is angry; This matter should have been ordered by Yuan Mou, and it has been completely ordered by His Royal Highness. After that, it will be decided that His Highness must be asked to complete it himself. ”

Zhu Di sighed slightly. "Okay; I thought to myself. You go on to say. What about the others? ”

"Who?"

Yuan Hui's question made Zhu Di a little confused.

"Of course, it's Master Daoyan, Master Yao Shude, and Shen Ruoxiao."

Yuan Jue said: "These three people, Yuan has already met in advance. ”

Zhu Di smiled.

"Mr. Yuan, do you still want to hide from the orphan?"

Yuan Hui was so frightened that he hurriedly kowtowed: "Don't dare." ”

Zhu Di said calmly: "The relationship between Master Daoyan and Liu Bingzhong, Mr. doesn't need to talk about it anymore, I've heard it hundreds of times. Please Mr. work tirelessly to talk about Lord Yao and Shen Ruoliao for Lonely. ”

Yuan Jue said: "Your Highness, it's not that Yuan doesn't want to say it, but the old man is worried, because my gaffe may bring any adverse consequences to Lord Yao and Shen Shaoxia, especially what impact it will bring to His Highness." ”

Zhu Di looked at him trembling and smiled: "Mr. Yuan is so panicked; As long as they don't want to rebel and betray me to the court, I will only rely on them with all my might; And at this point, I am absolutely assured of them, so why should I worry about it, sir. ”

Yuan Heng said: "Your Highness, when you fight the country, it is different from when you defend the country. People who can be relied on when fighting the country, after the country is defeated, may not look so kind and pleasing to the eye, and even feel that it is in the way. ”

Zhu Di said coldly: "Mr. is implying that if Lone defeats the country, he will die of rabbits and dogs, and the birds will be hidden?" ”

Yuan Hui heard the dissatisfaction in King Yan's tone, and hurriedly kowtowed: "Old man and an dare!" It's just that if Lord Yao retreats on the day of His Highness's great success, won't His Highness blame him? ”

Zhu Di was slightly stunned: "Are you serious? ”

Yuan Jue said: "Master Yao and Yuan are of the same age; Both of us are old, although we want to be loyal to His Highness and my Ming Dynasty, but I am quite old, and I have more than enough strength to do so, as long as Your Highness is done, the talents of my two will come to an end, and the old mountains and forests are the choice we should make. ”

"Lian Po can eat-Mr. Yuan is still scolding Gu for not knowing heroes." Zhu Di smiled gently: "Sir, please rest assured, and please tell Lord Yao to rest assured, Lone is not the kind of person who crosses the river and demolishes the bridge, and forgets his roots." It is easy to fight the country, but it is difficult to defend the country; If I can really get the throne, I must respectfully ask the two of them to wholeheartedly assist me in governing the society. ”

Yuan Jue sighed: "The destiny of heaven is difficult to violate, and people's hearts are unpredictable; Your Highness, I'm afraid that when that time comes, even Your Highness will be unable to help yourself, let alone us. ”

Zhu Di smiled lightly in disbelief and said, "Forget it, it's too early to think about this; When the time comes, I'll prove it to you. ――What if there are few? He is young, won't he want to leave his loneliness, retire to the mountains and forests, and leave, right? ”

Yuan Heng was silent for a long time, and kowtowed deeply:

"Your Highness, please forgive the old man for his innocence."

"Here it is again," Zhu Di sighed: "Mr. Yuan, don't tell me, Ruo Xiao is also the same as Luo Yang, talented but died young, and then Gu still doesn't know why he doesn't miss his good, and he doesn't even seal him?" ”

Yuan Jue said in a humble voice: "Your Highness, Shen Shaoxia is well aware of righteousness, iron-clad, helpless-"

"What's helpless?"

Yuan Hui felt a little trembling.

"Helpless--Your Highness, I'm afraid that his final outcome is not as good as even Luo's guards-"

Zhu Di laughed in disbelief. "Mr. Yuan, to be honest, Lone just believed your prophecy to Luo Yang, but I don't believe Shen Ruoliao's sentence anyway. Mr. didn't know that Luo Yang was an orphan who was demoted, he took him with him since he was a child, and until today, he is always grateful to Lonely, and he has no second heart; However, even Luo Yang, there may be a 1 in 10,000 chance of betraying Lone, but Lone is sure enough that Shen Ruoyu will definitely not. In that case, what reason does Lone have to be unkind to him? Sir think I'll be a tyrant? ”

Yuan Heng said: "Your Highness, human life is not up to you; Since you can't help yourself, you can't help others. In this sense, God is fair to everyone, whether it is a pariah, a slave, or an emperor. ”

When Zhu Di heard this, he was very unhappy, but it was difficult not to be convinced; Although he doesn't believe that he is among them, and like everyone else, he is helpless against fate. After all, he could no longer find the words to refute Yuan Hui.

However, King Yan is King Yan after all, and what he doesn't believe in is not believing. He smiled slightly and said softly:

Mr. Yuan's words were remembered by Lone; I want to make a bet with Mr., I don't know if Mr. is willing? ”

Yuan Heng raised his head in surprise: "Your Highness, what are you gambling on?" ”

Zhu Di smiled confidently: "Mr. said that human life is up to heaven; I, Zhu Di, have always only believed in myself. Mr. is a lonely life; From the ninth to the ninth five, the day after day rises, as the hexagram says, then the main road is prosperous, and the world is governed. Ninety-six, Mr. doesn't want to say it early, but he is not afraid. Ninety-six, Kang Long has regrets, I know it. Lonely now, I will make a bet with my husband: I, Zhu Di, can only rely on myself and not rely on the will of God, and I can also lay down this country, govern the country prosperously and strongly, and create a prosperous era of the Ming Dynasty; And, at the end of my life, I will never regret it, I will not do what I regret, because from beginning to end, it is I who is in complete control of what I have done in my life, not by providence. ――Is the gentleman willing to gamble? ”

Yuan Jue bowed and said: "Your Highness is so bold and courageous, majestic in ancient and modern times, Yuan Mou's five bodies are thrown to the ground, and there is nothing else to say, but to obey the fate." I wonder what His Highness would like to bet on? ”

Zhu Di pondered for a moment and smiled: "Shen Ruoliao." ”

Yuan Hui only felt a shock in his chest: "What? ”

Zhu Di said calmly: "If I lose, God will punish me and lose this pillar of the Ming Dynasty; Since then, the country has declined, and all the blame lies with me, Zhu Di. ”

Yuan Hui was speechless in shock; He lived for sixty-four years, and in his life he had countless divinations and prophecies, and because of this, he had made countless bets with people, but he had never encountered the other party betting on a living person. It's horrible.

He immediately kowtowed and said: "Yuan Mou is bold, and he will ask His Highness to change the bet at the risk of death." Your Royal Highness, Yuan has made countless bets with people and has never lost; Why did His Highness have to sacrifice Shen Ruoyao? ”

Zhu Di said with a calm face: "Mr. Yuan, let's talk about your bet." What if Lone wins? ”

Yuan Heng was so anxious that he burst into tears: "Your Highness, this is impossible; The will of heaven is hard to disobey, and His Highness is bound to lose. Yuan can't make this bet. ”

Zhu Di smiled and said: "Mr. Yuan, Gu also cherishes Shen Ruoliao, I will never give up on him, whether it is his life or his heart." So, without this confidence, Lone would never have made such a bet. Sir, don't worry any more, tell me about your bets. ”

Yuan Heng shook his head and said, "Your Highness, you want my life, and I can't make this bet." Please ask Your Highness to take back your order, or ask Your Highness to give an order to kill Yuan Hui. Yuan Hui can't do such an inhumane thing. ”

"Extermination of humanity?" Zhu Di said coldly: "Mr. Yuan, what do you have to say alone before you are willing to give me this face?" ”

Yuan Heng lay on the cold ground for a long time without a word. Zhu Di didn't urge him, just sat in front of him and waited quietly.

Finally, Yuan Hui asked with tears in his eyes: "Your Highness, if Yuan Heng swears not to make this bet with you, what will happen to Your Highness?" ”

Zhu Di said coldly: "None of the things that my King Yan wants to do, have never given up, and none of them have failed. You can do it. ”

Yuan Heng already understood. He kowtowed deeply, put his forehead on the ground, and said:

"In this case, Yuan Hui rashly made a mistake, and also made a bet on Shen Ruoliao."

Zhu Di looked at him calmly: "You also bet on him?" ――How? ”

Yuan Heng burst into tears: "If the heavens favor Yuan Hui and Yuan Heng is fortunate to lose, please Your Highness must be kind to Shen Ruoliao, never doubt him, don't hurt him, please Your Highness must take care of him like he cares for his own country, like caring for his own eyes, and dedicates his heart and soul to caring for him." ”

Zhu Di was silent for a long time.

At last he sighed: "He is like a big girl who has fallen into the city and the country - is he so squeamish? ”

Yuan Jue paused: "Your Highness, talent is the most precious and fragile wealth for the emperor, it is no exaggeration to compare him to eyeballs or beauties. If His Royal Highness does not agree, Yuan Heng will not be able to obey his fate. ”

Zhu Di said: "Of course I promise you. Such talents, lonely nature, must do their best to treat and protect them. Otherwise, I wouldn't have lost this bet. ”

Yuan Heng said: "Your Highness's kindness, the old man has no teeth to forget!" ”

Zhu Di said lightly: "Mr. Yuan and Ruoyao have a very deep friendship. Forgetful friends are rare. I heard that Mr. Yuan has a granddaughter who has been married to Ruo Xiao and is now living in his house? ”

Yuan Hui was shocked; King Yan is really powerful, he is worthy of being the son of Emperor Taizu Gao, and Lao Tzu's methods have all been learned at home.

He said in a panic: "Your Highness is so well-informed. Yuan does have a granddaughter Qiu'er, but no one has been allowed yet, but this child is willful and naughty, and he has been pestering Ruo Xiao to marry her. ”

"What does Mr. Yuan mean?"

Yuan Hui only felt sweat on his forehead: "Your Highness must ask me what I mean, if Qiu'er can marry Ruo Xiao, of course Yuan can't ask for it; However, Shen Shaoxia himself was unwilling, the twisted melon was not sweet, and Qiu'er was guilty of marrying him. ”

Zhu Di smiled and said: "Where are so many exquisite." Mr. Yuan, Ming'er called your granddaughter into the palace and asked Gu and the princess to take a look together to see if she was compatible with Ruoyao. If I fall in love with the princess, Lone will protect you as a matchmaker, and he can't help but agree. ”

Yuan Heng was extremely panicked, but he couldn't resist Zhu Di, so he had no choice but to agree and resign himself to fate.