On the outskirts of Nanjing, Meilin Yayuan.

This mansion is located in the middle of a plum forest, and its owner is Mei Lin Rong, the right attendant of the Ministry of Works.

It's just that the word Nanjing has to be added in front of the right waiter of the Ministry of Works.

Don't look at the same level and quality of the two, but once the word Nanjing is added, it basically becomes a semi-retired state, except for the military department, which can still be busy, and the other departments are basically idle.

Mei Lin Rong was originally a Jinshi in Yongle for fifteen years, and in his early years, he was promoted to the right attendant of the Ministry of Industry at the age of thirty-five because of his meritorious service in governing the river, which can be regarded as a model of youth and promise.

However, in this year, his career was suddenly interrupted.

In the twenty-first year of Yongle, Emperor Taizong Zhu Di was seriously ill, and the guard commander Meng Xian and others colluded with the Qin Tianjian Wang Shecheng and the adopted son of the chamberlain Yang Qing to forge the edict, intending to secretly poison Emperor Taizong, abolish the crown prince Zhu Gaochi, and support Zhu Gaosui, the king of Zhao, as the emperor.

During this period, a strategist named Gao Yizheng leaked his mouth after drinking, and inadvertently revealed the matter, which was learned by Wang Yu, the chief flag officer of Jinyiwei.

Wang Yu is a princeling, and after learning of this, he immediately reported it to Emperor Taizong, and then Meng Xian and others were ambushed, and Wang Yu was promoted to Liaohai Wei Qianhu because of his merits.

This matter can be big or small, to put it in a big way, it is a rebellion, at least it must be taken off the title and demoted to a concubine.

However, the then crown prince Zhu Gaochi couldn't bear to see his younger brother in trouble, so he tried his best to defend him, and Zhu Gaosui took advantage of the situation to shift all the blame to the people below and made a clean choice.

Zhu Di was also unwilling to kill his son, and finally punished all the thirteen people, including the mastermind Meng Xian, and Zhu Gaosui, the king of Zhao, was only grounded for half a year, and ordered him to study at home and cultivate his temperament, and not to go out.

This Meng Xian is Mei Linrong's brother-in-law.

The so-called three clans, the first clan are Meng Xian's wife, siblings and spouse;

The second group is Meng Xian's parents, uncle, and his spouse;

The third group is Meng Xian's children and their spouses.

Mei Linrong's concubine is Meng Xian's sister, and according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, he is also within the three clans.

For this reason, he almost scattered his family wealth, found countless relationships, and finally relied on a forged letter of resignation to barely get rid of the crime.

However, the matter is far from over.

In officialdom, there is always a radish and a pit, and if you occupy a position, others will not be able to come up.

If you want to go up, there are only two possibilities, either ascend or go down and give up the position.

Mei Lin Rong was implicated by this, and it was impossible to go up, but there was a lot of room to go down!

If you don't say anything else, just shake out the fact that you are Meng Xian's brother-in-law, and it will be enough for you.

In the end, Mei Linrong was transferred to Nanjing, away from the center of power, and things slowly went down.

Life in Nanjing is much more leisurely, so Mei Linrong bought a piece of land in the suburbs, planted plum blossoms, and built a small courtyard, drinking tea and chatting with friends on weekdays, but also leisurely.

Today, two important guests have arrived.

The first one is Yang Xiong, the protector of the White Lotus Sect.

The other is a son-in-law brother in his thirties, wearing a Confucian shirt and a personable person.

No one would have imagined that this person is a sea giant who makes people feel the wind and change, and the three-headed Jiao sinks into the waves.

At this time, the curtain of the door was lifted, and Wang Qinghai hurriedly came and asked, "Master, are you looking for me?" ”

Mei Lin Rong nodded and said, "Tell the two guests what you have seen and heard in Jingshi." ”

"Oh, good!"

Wang Qinghai looked at the two guests, half-bowed his head, and said: "The little one sent Tan Jing to the Gaoge Old Mansion, and when he was about to return, he heard that something had happened in the Jingshi, so he stayed for a few more days. ”

Yang Xiong raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"According to rumors, the imperial court is preparing to start a war with Annan!"

"Tell me specifically, what did you hear?"

"It is said that Annan and the Champa Kingdom fought, and the envoys of the Champa Kingdom traveled thousands of miles to Beijing to ask for assistance from the Ming Dynasty, and then the imperial court sent the King of Jing'an County to envoy Annan, and I heard that the soldiers and horses of Nanjing must follow the King of Jing'an County together, what is this not a war?"

Yang Xiong and Shen Lang glanced at each other, and their eyes showed surprise at the same time.

Mei Lin Rong waved his hand and said, "Okay, you go down." ”

"Yes!"

As soon as Wang Qinghai left, Yang Xiong couldn't help but say: "The imperial court wants to move the soldiers and horses in Nanjing, God really helps me!" ”

Shen Lang smiled lightly and said, "That's not all, the number of people recruited by Huai'an Mansion to govern the river has exceeded 100,000. ”

"Yes, yes! If 100,000 people are reversed, it will be enough for them to drink a pot! ”

Yang Xiong stood up excitedly and continued: "When the time comes, the soldiers and horses of Shandong will be busy going to Huai'an Mansion to quell the rebellion, and we will wait for the main force to attack Nanjing, then the big thing will be done!" ”

Shen Lang still looked pampered and unfazed, and said: "Yang Protector, I don't know when your sect leader will appear, it's time to talk about business!" ”

Yang Xiong nodded and said, "Brother Shen, don't worry, brother will go back and report to the sect leader!" ”

"Okay, I'm waiting for good news at any time!"

However, it was said that after Wang Qinghai left the courtyard, he went around and came to a tea shed outside the city.

There are often past business trips here, and the stall owner is an honest middle-aged man, always smiling.

Wang Qinghai asked for a bowl of herbal tea, and the stall owner brought it over and said, "Do you want anything else?" ”

"No need ......"

Immediately afterward, he said in a very low voice: "Mei Lin Rong entertained two people in the suburban courtyard, and they seemed to be very interested in the envoy of King Jing'an to Annan. ”

The stall owner asked with a smile, "What are the names of these two people, they haven't been here before?" ”

Wang Qinghai picked up the tea bowl, glanced around, and saw that no one was paying attention, so he continued: "I've seen it a few times before, but I don't know what it's called, I work in the Mei family, and I can't ask too much about what I shouldn't ask." ”

"Okay, you use it slowly!"

That night, a piece of information was sent to Jinyiwei in Nanjing City, and then it was sent to Huai'an Mansion non-stop.

…………

Huai'an Mansion, Yellow River embankment.

The Yellow River, the mother river of China, after a long run of thousands of miles, from the Huai'an area, the Huai River flows into the Yellow Sea.

Because the Yellow River carries a large amount of sediment when it flows through the Loess Plateau, the downstream water flow gradually slows down, and the sediment is deposited, resulting in the silting of the river channel, and in the rainy season, there is a continuous large-scale outburst.

According to the Huai'an Mansion, the yellow water is vast and rushing, the water surface is dozens of miles wide or even hundreds of miles, flooding, a vast ocean, villages near and far, half-exposed treetops and roofs, that is, those who gradually dry up, are also thin mud and tender beaches, and people and horses can not stop.

After Wang Yonghe, the left attendant of the Ministry of Works, came to Huai'an Mansion, he immediately recruited more than 60,000 farmers to control the floods.

He was still worried that in this way, the money and food spent were too much, but he didn't expect that the emperor would come down with a holy decree, saying that 60,000 people is enough, at least 100,000, as for money and food, there is no need to worry, as long as the river can be managed, it doesn't matter how much money it is!

Along with the Holy Decree, there was also Yu Qian, a cabinet scholar who had just returned from the Northern Expedition.

Wang Yonghe is not worried about Yu Qian grabbing credit, after all, this kind of thing of governing the river has been a mistake since ancient times.

If you manage it well, you will naturally have to make a memory, but if it is not cured, it will cost a lot of money and food, even if the emperor does not issue a decree to blame, he will not give you a good look.

However, as soon as Yu Qian came, a series of operations stunned him.

First of all, a new edict was promulgated, and the service of conscription became recruitment, which was originally unpaid labor, but now not only is it paid, but it also takes care of food every day, and all the wages owed in the past are repaid.

Regarding this measure, Wang Yonghe has no opinion except for worrying about money and food.

After all, this river control money is from the imperial court, and you can't spend money on your own head, so you can spend it if you want.

However, the next one made him very puzzled.

From among the people of each team, the hardcover is selected, and the Keju team is formed, and a game is held every ten days.

Moreover, there is also a silver bounty, the first place is rewarded with 200 taels of silver, the second place is rewarded with 100 taels of silver, and the third place is rewarded with 50 taels of silver.

Wang Yonghe was confused, what does this mean?

It's also a juju competition, do you think the construction period is too long?

How much time is wasted? How much silver is wasted?

He tried to talk to Yu Qian about this, but Yu Qian was very resolute, which roughly means that you just do what I say, and you don't need to ask so much.

Wang Yonghe was also helpless, who made the official of the family bigger than himself, so he had to implement it according to what others said.

However, he quietly wrote a letter to Yu Qian to hold a juju competition at the scene of the river control, adding fuel and vinegar to the description of the waste of money and food, and sending someone back to Beijing.

In this way, the emperor will pursue it later, and it is also you Yu Qian who insists on going his own way, I persuaded it anyway, whether you listen or not is your business.

Therefore, when Zhu Qizhen and his party came to Huai'an Mansion, they were stunned by the scene in front of them.

It was the tenth day of the year, but the huge river control site did not start, but they were all watching the Keju competition.

The scene was unprecedentedly grand, comparable to the World Cup scene in later generations.

Zhu Qizhen mixed in the crowd and watched for a while, but he didn't see what he meant.

Kemari is somewhat similar to football in later generations, and it is also a group of people playing a ball, but the rules of the game are different.

Li You's "Ju Cheng Ming" of the Eastern Han Dynasty explains: "The round bow square wall is like yin and yang. Fa Yue Chong right, two six equal. Build a long and flat, and its examples are common: no intimacy, no selfishness; Be calm and don't complain. Ju Zheng is still the same, and it is up to him to take the plane! ”

The general rule is to erect a three-foot high club in the center of the court, and the upper goal is about one foot in diameter, which is called the wind eye. Each team of 12 or 16 people is called the ball head, the snap ball, the positive coercion, the head coercion, the left pole net, the right pole net, the scattering and so on. During the game, the whistle and drum are the trumpet, the left team members kick off the ball first, juggle the ball several times with each other and then pass it to the vice-captain, the vice-captain waits for the ball to be upright and steady, and then passes to the captain, who kicks the ball to the eye of the wind, and the kick is counted as a score.

Then there is the right serve, and the whole process is the same, and at the end of the game, the winner is determined by the number of balls passed.

At this time, the captain of the left army made a beautiful volley and sent the ball steadily into the eye of the storm, and the crowd immediately erupted in cheers.

"Good!"

In the crowd, Fan Zhong couldn't help but cheer.

Yuan Bin glanced at him interestingly and asked, "Lao Fan, do you usually play?" ”

Fan Zhong nodded and said, "Occasionally practice with the soldiers!" ”

In fact, since its birth, Kemari has not only been a pastime for literati and scholars, but also widely spread among the military.

Liu Xiang's "Farewell Record" records that the bow is also strong. Therefore, when practicing samurai, knowing and talented, they all practice because of playfulness.

In other words, Keju is a symbol of military strength and daily practice, which can keep soldiers physically and emotionally active.

Therefore, Fan Zhong and Yuan Bin immediately had a common language when they saw Keju, especially the beautiful kicking.

Zhu Qizhen didn't feel anything, in his eyes, this level of movement was really a bit mediocre.

Yuan Bin and Fan Zhong chatted hotly, if it weren't for official business, they would be very interested in having a discussion.

"Two adults ......"

At this time, I only heard Belin say behind me: "The emperor is gone!" ”

Only then did the two react and hurriedly followed.

Zhu Qizhen did not go directly to find Yu Qian, but found a restaurant to live in, because Yu Qian's temporary public house was located in the prefect's yamen, and it was inconvenient to enter and exit.

Jin Yiwei had already figured out the situation in Huai'an Mansion and arranged secret agents around, so there was no need to worry about security.

Everyone has been in a hurry for days, and they can't eat well, but now they are free, so they ordered a table full of wine and food, and asked the guy to send it to the guest room.

A few people were eating, and Yu Qian arrived.

"The minister knocks to see the emperor!"

Zhu Qizhen chewed the vegetables in his mouth and asked, "Have you eaten it?" ”

"Uh...... Also, haven't ...... yet."

"Sit down and eat together!"

Yu Qian also carried the gun with Zhu Qizhen, and he was not polite at the moment, he added a pair of bowls and made them directly.

Zhu Qizhen was eating and said, "How are you doing lately?" ”

Yu Qian took the bowl and replied: "Thanks to the emperor's grace, everything is fine." ”

Zhu Qizhen asked again: "Do you like Keju?" ”

Yu Qian shook his head and said, "I don't like it." ”

Zhu Qizhen couldn't help but put down the bowl quickly, and said bluntly: "Then what kind of juju competition are you doing, isn't this a waste of silver?" Even if you don't want silver, you are not afraid of delaying the construction period? Seeing that winter is coming, this water will not be cured, and in the spring of the next year, it will be a problem for the people to farm. ”

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Yu Qian said as if he was fine: "Your Majesty, do you remember what the minister said to the emperor before he left Beijing?" ”

Zhu Qizhen thought for a while and said, "You mean, controlling water and leading troops is the same thing?" ”

"Exactly!"

Yu Qian explained: "The original intention of the ministers to select the Keju team among the teams is to let the teams distract their complaints about Shangguan through the confrontation of Keju, so that their energy can have a place to vent. ”

Zhu Qizhen looked confused, and seemed to be difficult to understand for a while.

Yu Qian continued: "In addition, it can also breed a sense of competition among them, so that they can work hard to win the Keju team they support every ten days, not only with a large amount of silver, but also from the joy and satisfaction of victory." ”

"You mean, find something to do for everyone, lest someone wait for an opportunity to cause trouble?"

Zhu Qizhen somewhat understood that there was still a hidden art of war in this small juju.