On 17 February, day and night, Chen Yuan rode a horse with Zhu Gaosui and returned to Nanjing with 70,000 troops.

This expedition lasted ten months, and more than 3,000 soldiers were buried in Annan and Ailao, and their heroic spirits will always guard the southwest.

Zhu Di condescended to his dignity and personally greeted him ten miles outside the city of Nanjing. This is his expansion in the true sense of the word after his reign of 18 years.

Early in the morning, the road to the palace outside the west gate of Nanjing City is all under martial law, and there is a post in five steps and a post in ten steps on the street, and it is arranged until the long pavilion of ten miles. The soldiers standing guard were clearly dressed and armored, with swords under their ribs and spears in their hands, and the horse team and the salute band that were waiting for the triumph of the army rushed to the outside of the ten-mile long pavilion early.

The sky is not yet fully bright, and the officials of Nanjing who are above the third grade gather at the gate of the palace. Just after the fifth watch, Zhu Di was wearing a nine-dragon ball robe, wearing a golden dragon ball crown, pedaling green dragon step cloud boots, Zhu Gaochi black yarn folded upward scarf, red rolling dragon robe, plate collar and narrow sleeves, front and back and shoulders of each gold woven dragon, Zhu Zhanji red silk regular clothes, they came out of the palace, the officials at the door gathered, Yu Linwei, Jin Wuwei, Teng Xiangwei, Jinyi Wei stood solemnly left and right, silent.

There was a "pop" sound, as soon as Zhu Di appeared, all the guards seemed to have received a silent order, lined up to greet the left and right, and the soldiers who lined up in the shape of goose wings immediately straightened their waists, clenched the weapons in their hands, and thousands of people moved at the same time, and there was a blasting sound.

Zhu Zhanji rode a horse to open the way in front, and Zhu Di put on a big chariot, painted gold ornaments and lotus seats, treasure covers, heavenly wheels, and pavilion shapes, all symbolizing the nobility and luxury of the royal family.

The dragon flag fluttered in the wind, and Zhu Di and his entourage arrived at the ten-mile long pavilion.

Zhu Di gently signaled, the ceremonial music played, and in the distance, the cold light of the swords and guns was shining, and he saw a large army coming. Long lacquer spears, bows and knives, leather shields, bright armor, well-equipped, people like tigers, horses like dragons, the air is magnificent, and the spirit is as strong as a mountain!

Zhu Gaosui was wearing chain mail, wearing a golden phoenix helmet, riding a snow-white horse, full of energy, full of beard, and powerful. Behind him are Li Ying, Jin Shun, Fei Xuan, Teng Ding and other generals. Then there were Chen Yuan and other officials and soldiers of slightly lower rank.

Zhu Di got off the big wheel, supported by Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Zhanji's expression was complicated, he didn't have a good impression of Zhu Gaosui and Chen Yuan now, but after all, he was the future emperor, and he didn't show any obviousness, just snorted faintly.

The official in charge of the celebrant did not dare to slack off, and immediately waved his hand and shouted: "Fire!" Honk! ”

"Tom! Tong! Tong! ”

"Woo-woo-woo-"

The cannon roared, and the drums and trumpets rang out!

"The Ming army is mighty!"

"The Ming army is mighty!"

The sky resounded with a majestic voice, and the soldiers returned triumphantly! The Ming army swept in all directions.

In fact, Zhu Di asked the ministers to come to greet him, not only to pay attention to the heroes, but also to have other meanings in his heart. He is old, and there are still battles to be fought, and he wants to use his respect for the triumph of the soldiers to arouse the soldiers' service and cause the stirring in the hearts of the civil officials.

As long as the Mongols can be eliminated, he promises that the future reception will be even more grand and unprecedented.

Zhu Gaosui rode over, raised his legs and jumped off the war horse. On this trip to Annan, his father attached so much importance to him, how could he not be complacent. Knelt on one knee and said loudly: "Son-in-law Zhu Gaosui, see my father, long live my emperor." ”

Zhu Di stretched his brows, smiled, and gestured to Zhu Zhanji. Zhu Zhanji bowed slightly, came to the third uncle, and said with a smile: "The third uncle does not avoid dangers and obstacles, goes deep and is not hairy, works hard, and makes great contributions to the Ming Dynasty. ”

Zhu Gaosui was very depressed, don't salute, why wait for Lao Tzu to salute, think about it, Zhu Zhanji, this kid is deliberate, the eldest brother and this kid are by his father's side, Lao Tzu salutes, didn't they even worship together.

Fang Cai's still high mood instantly became unhappy, and he was furious, like an angry lion, with his arm strengthened, wanting to knock Zhu Zhanji down. Zhu Zhanji was skilled in arching horses, and he had expected that the third uncle would not be able to bear it, but under Zhu Gaosui's strength, he did not shake him by half a point.

He continued to smile, put his hand on the third uncle's arm at the right time, made a gesture of pulling him up, took advantage of the situation to give him a provocative look, and said leisurely: "Third uncle, get up quickly, the imperial grandfather is still waiting for you." ”

Zhu Gaosui snorted coldly in his heart, and said secretly: You kid, provoke Lao Tzu in front of your grandfather, Lao Tzu will write down this account first. took advantage of the situation, waited for Zhu Di to appease, read out the edict, and sealed the heroes.

Fei Xuan was awarded the seal of General Pingqiang and returned to Gansu to defend the town; Before Jin Shunqian moved to the military capital governor's office, he was in charge of the 3,000 battalions, and after Li Ying moved to the military capital governor's office, he was in charge of the Shenji battalion, and other meritorious generals were promoted.

————

On the hill outside the ten-mile long pavilion, there was a weak and slender figure, and there was a sleepy-eyed maid beside her.

Under a peach blossom tree, it is quiet and elegant, and the beauty walks lightly, like the wind swinging willow branches, and the posture is extremely graceful. Her delicate cheeks were covered with fine beads of sweat, caused by the long journey.

"Miss, the army has returned triumphantly, what is there to see." Qiu Yue was called up by her own lady early in the morning, didn't sleep fresh, and rubbed her panda eyes.

Jian Yixuan didn't blame her, Qiu Yue had been by her side for a long time, she was called the master servant, but she was like a sister, her face was flushed, panting.

She didn't speak, just stared at the figure of the triumphant procession, first Zhu Gaosui appeared, then Li Ying, Jin Shun and others, when she saw someone, she couldn't help but tremble.

He was dark, and he was thin.

But the wise eyes and the temperament of the mind have not changed.

"Miss, if you let the master know that you come out, the slave and maid will be scolded to death, you don't know, the master has been strict recently, and the person who proposes to marry has broken through the threshold, and you don't agree to any of them, and the master will be mad."

Jian Yixuan said lightly: "Marry, what do you do when you marry?" She looked at the team and muttered, "I have learned poetry and etiquette since I was a child, it is true that women should be husbands and children, but-but-but, I don't want to, I am a young lady of the official family, I can't walk the rivers and lakes like a folk woman, what I want to do, they won't understand, and they can't give it." ”

Qiu Yue has served Miss for many years, so she naturally understands the dream in Miss Miss's heart, and said in a low voice: "Miss, I know, that Chen-he is indeed not ordinary, I inquired carefully, in Annan, it is he who commands the army, and he is like a bamboo." His sweet potatoes, now being planted all over the world, are first-class men. He is now a fourth-grade official, and there is nothing at the low point of his status, but he is already married, and it is impossible for the master to agree. ”

Jian Yixuan's apricot eyes were misty, her face was flushed, she knew that what Qiu Yue said was the truth, but there were some things that she could not control, she had advised him not to let others down, but now she regretted it a little.

She said to Qiuyue and herself: "In my life, I don't want to be ordinary, but I don't want to chase fame and fortune, let alone covet wealth and wealth, I just want to have a confidant, walking in the magnificent mountains and rivers, I am lonely now." What they fancy about me is my status and looks. They may spoil me, but they won't do what I can, after all, what do women do? I know that he is lonely, and his ambition is that the Ming Dynasty will be forever, and the people will no longer be wars and will not be displaced. ”

"He is alone in all forces, I don't want anything else, I just think that if he encounters any difficulties, I can help him, instead of watching him from a distance and letting him bear it alone."

"King Zhao is frivolous and irritable, the city is too shallow, and he ranks third. It can't be done, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince seems to be loyal, but in fact, he is scheming, His Royal Highness the Taisun is indispensable, he is now secretly hated by the Prince and His Royal Highness the Taisun, and the minister is jealous. A weak scholar, even if he has great talent, is also walking on thin ice——"