Zhu Di, who was in the early court recently, was extremely annoyed, there was a lack of money here, there was a lack of money, the autumn grain here was dragging on, and the autumn grain over there was not enough.

According to the law of the Ming Dynasty, the autumn grain must be handed over before the end of January of the next year.

It is already the end of January, and many prefectures in Jiangnan have not yet been collected, let alone handed in.

Before retreating from the court, Zhu Di was angry on the spot, and gave a death order to the Jiangnan area, and whoever handed it in before mid-February would behead the local chief official.

The hundred officials trembled when they heard it, the autumn grain was late in the past, and it was a big deal that the magistrate failed the assessment, but I didn't expect Zhu Di to come now.

A few days later, the time entered the end of January of the fifth year of Yongle (1407).

At the end of January, the Wuying Hall was unusually cold, although Zhu Di put a lot of heaters in the hall, but everyone's hearts were still a little cold.

The past New Year was also the most uncomfortable after the Jing Martyrdom.

Today, Zhu Di called some civil and military officers to come over, in addition to Yao Guangxiao, Yuan Heng, Tan Zhong, Jin Zhong, Zhu Neng, Zhang Wu, Huozhen, Liu Rong, Wang Cong, etc. who were on the front line also came back (who came back before the Chinese New Year), and Qiu Fu was also at the scene.

The main hall is relatively large, but there are only so many people, and it looks a little desolate and cold.

The fewer people on the scene, it means that Zhu Di can be trusted, and there are not many people available.

Zhu Di felt that Xu Zhong and Li Bin had a good relationship with Zhu Gaochu back then, but one of the two lost his voice in Annan, and the other lowered Zhu Gaochu in Huguang.

Therefore, Zhu Di now does not dare to trust the henchmen of the Yanwang Mansion in Jingnan.

At this time, Zhu Di was facing away from everyone and looking at the map on the wall: "It is expected that by March, the 700,000 army can be assembled, and I plan to set out around May and take the Beijing army 100,000 to set off." ”

This time, the imperial court finally mobilized 800,000, plus 200,000 people, which can be called a million people.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, this is the largest mobilization of soldiers and horses.

In Zhu Di's several Northern Expeditions in history, the largest number was 500,000 or 600,000 people, including more than 100,000 people.

Now only the regular army has reached 800,000, and almost all the soldiers and horses that can be mobilized have been mobilized.

Yao Guangxiao's triangular eyes twitched slightly, Your Majesty is determined to fight Zhu Gaoxu to the death, but once he loses, the consequences are unimaginable.

"The number of people who are really put into the Huguang battlefield is about 600,000." Zhu Di said again: "Outside of Huguang, there are still many places that need to be guarded. ”

Zhu Di also had no choice, when the Jingnan Imperial Court gathered 600,000 troops to fight him at the same time, because he only had one battlefield in the north.

Zhu Gaoxu had heavy troops in several battlefields, and he had to prepare troops and horses to defend in other places, so although he had gathered 800,000 troops, he could not commit to the same place.

Yao Guangxiao said at this time: "This time, the guards in various places must be carefully considered. ”

Zhu Di's expression was grim, and his eyes became fierce.

The imperial court was defeated in Guizhou, Gu Cheng's subordinates opened the city gate, Yongzhou mutinied, Xu Zhong was coerced by his subordinates to surrender, Sichuan was defeated, and Qu Neng incarnated as Neiying.

Although the imperial court was defeated again and again, Zhu Di was very unconvinced.

It's not that I, Zhu Di, can't command and fight, it's that I make a mistake in employing people, and there is no rebel son who is insidious and treacherous.

"The big war is coming, you should make an example of a hundred to set an example." Jin Zhong said loudly at this time.

As soon as his voice fell, Yuan Heng on the side also said sharply: "Guiyang was surrounded by rebel regiments at that time, and Gu Cheng's subordinates opened the door, which is understandable. ”

"But Xu Zhong brought 50,000 soldiers and horses to Zhu Gaoxu, which had a great impact, His Majesty was kind-hearted, and he didn't investigate it immediately, and Weichen felt that it was inappropriate, because everyone would encounter difficulties in the future, and they would only follow suit."

"Punish his whole family and think it is a shock."

Although Xu Zhong was coerced by his subordinates on the surface of the Yongzhou Mutiny, Zhu Di himself played this routine in the Jingjing, so he didn't know.

Last year, Yuan Hui mentioned it twice in order to kill Xu Zhong's family, but Zhu Di did not respond, because the news of the Sichuan fiasco had not yet returned.

Today he recalls it.

Yao Guangxiao's face changed slightly, but he didn't speak.

Jin Zhong also said: "The minister agrees, if you don't kill a hundred people, there will be more generals who will surrender in the future." ”

Qiu Fu suddenly shouted: "Didn't you say that you were held hostage by your subordinates, when Jing was in trouble, everyone came down and down, and it was nothing, in the future, if we win, they will come back, if you move like this, you will kill the whole family, and you are not afraid of -—— in the future" He wanted to say retribution, wait for Zhu Gaoxu to come in and kill your whole family.

Unexpectedly, in the middle of speaking, Zhu Neng next to him pulled hard and interrupted his words.

He turned his head and glared at Zhu Neng, Zhu Neng was also glaring at him, you have a problem with your brain, saying this is equivalent to saying that Zhu Gaoxu will win?

Sure enough, Zhu Di's face was pale, and he was looking at Qiu Fu.

Qiu Fu suddenly didn't dare to snort, and slowly lowered his head.

Qiu Fu didn't say that it was okay, but when he said this, Zhu Di was even more furious.

Gu Cheng, Xu Zhong, Qu Neng, and Chen Xu, all of you are like this, all of you are going to be negative? I'm sorry for you?

"This dog thing, with 50,000 soldiers and horses, is an unforgivable sin and should be killed." Zhu Di, a tyrant, didn't dare to do anything, and immediately shouted to the outside world: "Hou Xian." ”

The faces of everyone in the hall changed slightly, Yao Guangxiao closed his eyes and sighed secretly.

Hou Xian soon came in.

"Spread the word and ordered Jinyiwei to send someone to Xu Zhong's mansion, put his entire family in prison, and behead him tomorrow, leaving no one behind."

Hou Xian immediately turned around and went out and sent someone to pass on the Ji Gang.

Today happens to be Ji Gang on duty, and he is on duty at the noon gate.

When he received the order, Ji Gang's expression changed slightly, and he immediately agreed.

As soon as the messenger left, Ji Gang stayed where he was, and he was thinking about whether to send someone to inform him.

But doing so is too obvious, and the subordinates have to doubt their own purpose.

How can you get it through without revealing yourself?

After all, he is betting on two sides, and if Zhu Di wins, he must also protect himself.

But at this moment, someone outside ran in to report: "Lu Baihu asked the little one to report to the commander, and the eunuch is also out of the palace again?" ”

"Huh." Ji Gang thought to himself that it was really a coincidence.

He hurriedly walked out, just in time to see Yi Shihe coming alone from the direction of the middle right gate, leaning over and walking along the west palace wall, and soon arrived at Wucheng Pavilion.

Ji Gang summoned the hundred households and flag officers on duty: "Your Majesty has a decree, this commander wants to go out to do things, and you should be on duty here." ”

The subordinates replied one after another.

After grinding on the spot for a while, and after a few words, it is estimated that Yizha is almost behind him.

Ji Gang said loudly: "Xu Zhong brought 50,000 soldiers and horses to the king of Han, the situation is bad, Your Majesty has a will, kill his whole family, then see what beauties there are, and afterwards the brothers will go to enjoy it together." ”

"Hahaha." The soldiers laughed.

As long as Zhu Di raids someone's house, there is a high chance that the female dependents will be assigned to the Department of Education.

After saying that, Ji Gang left.

Yisha Hadu walked to the noon gate, and suddenly turned back.

When he entered the left gate of the middle and left of the Majesty Road, the guard Jinyi asked strangely, why did Father-in-law Yi come back again?

"The concubine asked the slave to go out to buy something, and the slave forgot to bring the money, hey, hurry back and get it, you can't miss the big thing of the mother." Then I guess I was scolding in my heart, Lao Tzu is not surnamed.

He hurried back to the harem and almost trotted to the noble concubine Li.

Li's face also changed slightly after hearing this, and she quickly thought about it: "Xu Zhong brought 50,000 soldiers and horses to the king of Han, and he should try his best to protect his family." ”

"You shouldn't come back, you should leave the palace as soon as possible to inform his family."

"The slave doesn't dare to make her own claim, the slave and the maid know, and leave the palace immediately, Ji Gang is a smart person, he deliberately made it so loud just now, he shouldn't have done it so quickly." It is also lost.

"King Ming lost his heart and morality, and even the people around him didn't help him." Lee sneered.

——

Wuying Palace.

Zhu Di first ordered the killing of Xu Zhong's entire family, and then continued to discuss with Zhu Wenwu, which lasted less than half an hour.

Suddenly, Hou Xian hurriedly ran in from outside, with a frightened expression: "Your Majesty, Empress, Empress-——"

Empress Xu suddenly fell ill.

In the original history, in July this year, Empress Xu fell seriously ill and died.

But this time, because of Zhu Gaoxu's rebellion, Queen Xu was sad day and night, and she was seriously ill in advance, and she was bedridden for the past few days, but her condition suddenly deteriorated today.

Zhu Di was shocked and hurried to Kunning Palace.

Zhu Di is certainly a tyrant, and he is certainly not a good father, but he is definitely a good husband.

Before Jingnan, he even only married one Empress Xu, and then in order to win over Duoyan Sanwei, he married Aha's daughter Li, and the fourth concubine was Zhang Fu's sister, also to win over and take care of the Zhang family.

In the twenty-two years of his reign, he married a total of twenty concubines, an average of about one a year, which was quite good among the emperors of previous dynasties.

And Queen Xu, as a woman, is full of poetry and books, outstanding talent, she has an excellent memory, and she never forgets when she reads, and recites at a glance, so Broadcom is full of books, and every time she reads the virtues and words and deeds of the ancients, she will think deeply and emulate. Therefore, Queen Xu has had the reputation of "female students" since she was a child. In the Ming Dynasty, "Zhusheng" was a student who had received traditional Confucian education and worked in the classics and history.

Empress Xu can also be literate and martial, and when Jing was in trouble, she participated in the military, defended the city in armor, and was loved by the soldiers of Beiping City.

The relationship between Zhu Di and Queen Xu is very deep, the two have known each other before marriage, and have been dating for three years, they were a famous young couple at that time, which is very rare in the ancient times of 'marriage before love', even if it is the wife of the traverser Zhu Gaoxu, they are all under the instruction of their parents, and Wei Moer, who has never seen before, married first.

Zhu Di only gave birth to four sons and five daughters, except for the fourth son Zhu Gaojiao and the fifth daughter Princess Changning's biological mother, the rest were born to Queen Xu.

It can be seen that in Zhu Di's eyes, the real wife is only Queen Xu.

Zhu Di was walking very fast at this time, Hou Xian had to trot fast to barely keep up, he felt the emperor's anxiety and concern, and couldn't help but peek cautiously from behind the side.

Zhu Di's eyes are a little red, he should be holding back, after all, he is the emperor of the ages, and his demeanor cannot be lost, but the relationship between husband and wife for many years may be difficult for him to accept such news.

"What did the Imperial Doctor say?" Zhu Di walked halfway, suddenly remembered, and said in a deep voice.

Hou Xian stammered: "When, when—summon the princes—enter the palace—see—"

It's basically the last thing you see.

"These quacks, all of them should be killed-" Zhu Di roared violently, and he couldn't hold back his eyes anymore.

Hou Xian hurriedly stepped back, as a eunuch, he knew that he should not see this scene of the emperor.

Zhu Di really looked at him with his spare eyes, and found that he couldn't see Hou Xian, and knew that Hou Xian was far behind him.

He didn't speak again, quickened his pace, and after a moment he saw that there were people standing outside Kunning Palace.

Zhu Di's heart was sour, but he had to endure to maintain the majesty of the emperor and quickly enter the palace gate.

(End of chapter)