Gou was a member of the imperial family in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 107 Plan Adjustment
The new emperor, who had only been on the throne for a month, also passed away? This sudden news caught Zhu Shenzhu off guard.

Although he knew that the emperor after Wanli, the carpenter's father, seemed to have died not long after becoming emperor, but who could have thought that he died so quickly?
The national mourning of the previous twenty-seventh day just passed, how long has it been? Even if you are queuing up to see the ancestors, you shouldn't be so anxious.

Now he has almost finished all the preparations and is about to lead his men to the grassland. However, when the news of Zhu Changluo's death came, he would have to go through the national mourning again. Could he still go?

After asking the guy who reported the news, Zhu Shenzhui's face suddenly sank. His good mood just now turned into a very bad mood.

"Sixth Master, the new emperor has passed away. Should we slow down the subsequent arrangements first..." Seeing that Zhu Shenzhui looked unhappy, Ma Shizhou couldn't help but ask.

"Why are you delaying? I won't delay any more!" Zhu Shen cursed in his heart. My nephew Zhu Changluo, can't you die later? You have only been the emperor for a month! It doesn't matter if you die after two more months. Why are you in such a hurry to reincarnate?

"Not slow? But Sixth Master, you are a member of the royal family!" Ma Shizhou reminded him. It would be fine for ordinary people, but Zhu Shenzhui was different. He was a member of the royal family and had to observe mourning for the death of the new emperor. How could he leave? Even if he could hold out for another month and wait for the next national mourning on the 27th, the grassland would have entered autumn by then, so it would be too late.

"I know..." Zhu Shenzhui was annoyed and frowned as he pondered.

Ma Shizhou was right. He was a member of the royal family. If he ignored the national mourning and insisted on going ahead, it would be a crime of disrespect. It would be fine if he was stripped of his royal title, but he might even be in big trouble. It was not impossible that he would be sent directly to Fengyang and imprisoned.

If this was the outcome, Zhu Shenzhui would be completely finished. The only thing he could do in his life was to stay in Fengyang and "watch the world from afar," waiting for Zhang Xianzhong to capture Fengyang City. Then he and Fengyang would become the burial objects of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Shenzui absolutely did not want to see such a result, and he would never let himself fall into such a predicament.

After thinking it over, Zhu Shenzhui suppressed his anger and said to Ma Shizhou, "I definitely can't go this time, but now that I have made preparations, I can't not go. Uncle Ma, I can only ask you to help me go to the grassland this time. I'm sorry to trouble you to worry about it."

"Sixth Master, are you confident in leaving such an important matter to me?" Ma Shizhou said in surprise.

Zhu Shenzhui smiled and said, "Why should I worry? I don't trust others, but how can I not trust you, Uncle Ma? Besides, the work of going back and forth to the grassland will be entrusted to you in the future. Letting you lead the team now is just a little earlier."

"This time when we return to the grassland, we will go directly to Burigude's tribe. You know Burigude, and with the token he left for me, there will be no risk there. Come back early after this transaction is completed. If you return to Pingyang smoothly, this business trip will be completed."

Ma Shizhou thought about it and nodded. Although Zhu Shenzhui's arrangement was adjusted from the previous plan, there was nothing he could do about it. Besides, it would be safer to go directly to Burigude's tribe. If there were no major problems, it would be fine to sell all the goods in hand to Burigude. It was just a matter of making more or less money.

In this case, it is possible to lead the team by myself. After all, this trip to the grassland is the last one this year. If we delay until winter comes, we will not be able to go. If we delay, it will take half a year, which is something we cannot afford.

Due to the death of Zhu Changluo, Zhu Shenzui could no longer stay in the trading company. Not only him, but also the shopkeeper and clerks of the trading company were the same.

It’s really speechless to say that we have to go through the national mourning that just passed again, but it is something we have to do.

After explaining things to Ma Shizhou, Kang Youfu and others, Zhu Shenzui left the company, and Wang Hai went back with him.

Wang Hai spoke Chinese quite well. He could speak simple sentences fluently, but he had trouble speaking longer sentences. Moreover, the awkwardness and incoherence in his accent was easily noticeable when he spoke for a long time. So, except when he was with Zhu Shenzhui and others, Wang Hai rarely spoke in front of outsiders.

When Wang Hai first arrived in Pingyang, he lived with Zhu Shenzhui in his courtyard. Later, after he became more fluent in Chinese, Wang Hai asked to do something for his master. He couldn't let his master support him for nothing, right?
There were only so many things to do in the small courtyard every day, and no matter how diligent Wang Hai was, it would only take him so long to finish the work. Besides, Zhu Shenzhui had gone to Yangtou Mountain before, and Wang Hai, a teenager, had nothing to do at home, so Zhu Shenzhui sent Wang Hai to Hengtong and asked him to work as a clerk with Kang Youfu, so that he could help in the business, and also what Wang Hai hoped for, at least he would not be idle.

When Zhu Shenzhu was about to solve the problem of Zhaowuling and Zhaowu Village, Wang Hai also learned the news and planned to go to Yangtou Mountain with him to help his master. However, this request was solved by Wang Jinwu, who was in Pingyang at the time. After receiving Zhu Shenzhu's letter, he immediately gathered people and set off to Yangtou Mountain.

He knew Wang Hai's situation very well, not to mention that Wang Hai's household registration was now registered in Wangjia Village. This time he was going to do a big job, he was going to fight with a knife, what was the point of bringing a little boy like Wang Hai with him in this situation? So Wang Jinwu didn't let Wang Hai go with him, which made Wang Hai a little frustrated, but he also knew that he really didn't have the ability now, but as a loyal slave, he couldn't do things for his master, and Wang Hai felt very uncomfortable. "Master, this time when we go to the grassland, can you let me go with you? There, I can help you do some things." On the way, Wang Hai was feeling depressed all the way, and when he got home and entered the courtyard, Wang Hai finally couldn't help but say this.

Seeing Wang Hai's expectant look, Zhu Shenzui was a little hesitant. After all, Wang Hai was still too young, and he had been malnourished as a slave on the grassland. Although his physical fitness had improved greatly these days as he followed Zhu Shenzui and had grown taller and stronger, he was still just a teenager after all.

"Master! I can help! I can definitely do good things for you! Besides, I grew up on the grassland since I was a child. Just let me go with you. I will definitely be useful!" Seeing that Zhu Shenzhui did not agree, Wang Hai became anxious. He knelt down without saying a word, kowtowed to Zhu Shenzhui, and made a solemn promise.

He sighed in his heart. He understood Wang Hai's thoughts very well. As a slave, he wanted to repay himself in this way.

Although Wang Hai was a slave that Zhu Shenzhu wanted in Mongolia, Zhu Shenzhu treated Wang Hai well and did not treat him like a beast of burden. Not only that, during these days with Zhu Shenzhu, Wang Hai lived a happy life that he had never imagined. In Wang Hai's heart, Zhu Shenzhu was not only his master, but also the person he could rely on and respect the most. He really wanted to do something for Zhu Shenzhu to repay him, but unfortunately he could not help. This time when the caravan went to the grassland, Wang Hai said he would not miss this good opportunity.

"Get up."

"If my master doesn't agree, I won't get up. My master! Please agree to my request!" Wang Hai continued to kowtow and beg.

Seeing his appearance, Zhu Shenzhui was helpless, but on second thought, what Wang Hai said made sense. He was originally a Mongolian and was even more familiar with the grassland than Ma Shizhou. Moreover, there was no risk in going to the grassland this time, and letting him go with him could also help Ma Shizhou do something.

Thinking of this, Zhu Shenzhui stretched out his foot and kicked Wang Hai, then laughed and scolded: "Okay, you little dog slave, I promise you, I will let you go with me this time. But I have to say this in advance, you can go with me, but you must follow Uncle Ma's instructions all the way, and you must not make decisions on your own, do you understand?"

"I understand! I understand! I will do my best, and thank you, my master!" Wang Hai was overjoyed and kowtowed to Zhu Shenzhui again. This time he got up from the ground with a smile on his face.

Zhu Shenzhu agreed to Wang Hai. Wang Hai was very happy and couldn't hide the smile on his face, which was so big that his mouth was wide open.

It would be fine on normal days, but now that Emperor Taichang has just passed away, it would be bad for outsiders to see him in this state.

Zhu Shenzhui warned him, and Wang Hai tried hard to hide his smile, but no matter how hard he tried to hide it, one could still feel the joy in his heart.

Shaking his head, Zhu Shenzhui no longer cared about him. He followed him back this time because he planned to let Wang Hai stay at home for a few days. He, Zhang and Qiao'er had to change clothes and go to the general's mansion immediately, just like when Wanli died. The previous procedures had to be repeated. There was nothing they could do about it.

It is better for them to leave home and let Wang Hai look after the house than to go back and find no one at home last time.

After making some simple arrangements, Zhu Shenzhui went to find Zhang. Zhang was dumbfounded when she learned that the new emperor, who had just ascended the throne for a month, had also passed away. She couldn't understand why such major events could happen one after another.
But now is not the time to think about these things. Zhu Shenzhui sighed and asked Zhang to prepare as soon as possible. After a while, they put on mourning clothes just like last time, left Wang Hai to look after the house, and left home.

When we got to the street, white banners were hung everywhere in Pingyang City, and the whole city was covered with white shovels. In a trance, it seemed as if we were back to a month ago.

Because of the experience last time, this time it went much more smoothly.

The three days in the general's mansion passed quickly, and Qiao'er did not fall ill again after returning home. A few days later, the company was ready to set off, and all the people were in place. Although Zhu Shenzhu could not lead the team in person this time, he still met with everyone before leaving and explained some arrangements in detail.

After sending Ma Shizhou and his men out of the city and leaving Pingyang Prefecture and heading towards the northern grasslands, Zhu Shenzui withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards his home.

(End of this chapter)