The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 106 Li Xiang protects the matchmaker
There is no need to doubt Li Shanchang's intention. No one is a fool, and everyone knows many things.

After drinking a cup of tea and chatting about family matters, Li Shanchang extended his hand and said, "My uncle is a master in medicine. When I was in Fengyang, I was always worried about my health. I hope my uncle can help me diagnose my pulse."

Ma Xun said politely, "Minister Li, you are too kind. I am not very knowledgeable and I dare not call myself an expert. If you trust me, I will show my ugliness."

Feeling Li Shanchang's pulse, it was indeed steady and strong, and he felt very healthy. "It seems that resting for a period of time is quite beneficial. I think Prime Minister Li is completely recovered."

Li Shanchang seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief, and said with a smile, "This is naturally the best. At my age, I am most worried about getting sick."

Seeing that Ma Xun did not respond, Li Shanchang smiled and asked, "Uncle, if His Majesty asks, could you please say a few good words?"

"What's there to say?" Ma Xun really didn't understand. "Prime Minister Li is in good health. I just need to tell you the truth."

Li Shanchang smiled happily, "Your Majesty has taken pity on me for my hard work over the years, and has appointed 150 grave-keepers in Fengyang, 1,500 tenants, and 20 guards of honor. I am really terrified."

Ma Xun said with feeling, "Indeed, Your Majesty is so gracious. When I think about how Your Majesty has given me so many fields even though I have done nothing, I am really ashamed."

Li Shanchang looked at Ma Xun and said, "We are not talking about the same thing. You really have no merit. You deserve these rewards from me!"

Then Li Shanchang asked with a smile, "In a few days, the princes will be crowned as kings. What do you think, uncle?"

Ma Xun asked in confusion, "Prime Minister Li also knows that I am a country bumpkin. I really don't understand what Prime Minister Li means."

Li Shanchang explained, "I see that your majesty intends to let the princes go to vassal states in a few years. Doesn't your uncle think this is a bad idea?"

Many people would subconsciously think that Zhu Yuanzhang's enfeoffment of the kings was indeed a bad thing, and that it was simply a step backward in history.

But the actual situation is not like this. In the final analysis, the princes of the Ming Dynasty and the princes of the early Western Han Dynasty are two different concepts. The princes of the Ming Dynasty had no real military power, let alone any administrative power.

"The King of Qin was granted Xi'an, the King of Jin was granted Taiyuan, the King of Yan was granted Beiping, the King of Wu was granted Kaifeng, the King of Chu was granted Wuchang, and the King of Qi was granted Qingzhou." Li Shanchang said worriedly, "Now these six older princes are all granted important places, I'm afraid it's not safe."

Ma Xun felt that Li Shanchang was being a little hypocritical. In fact, Li Shanchang had long been aware of the royal titles of these princes, and Zhu Yuanzhang must have even discussed this with him before.

However, Ma Xun still smiled and said, "I have limited knowledge of these matters, so it is hard for me to say much. Your Majesty is far-sighted and has a pillar of talent like Prime Minister Li to assist him, so I believe he will not make mistakes."

Seeing that Ma Xun was unwilling to discuss the matter of being crowned king, Li Shanchang immediately asked, "I heard that Yang Ni and the emperor's uncle had a lot of conflicts before. Is that true?"

Look, Yang Xian was executed and his reputation now is 'Yang the Rebel'.

But it is normal if you think about it. From then on, Hu Weiyong was called "Hu Ni", and it was easier for everyone to call him that.

"It's not about harmony, nor about hatred." Ma Xun said with a smile, "He and I just don't get along and can't talk to each other."

Li Shanchang continued, "Yang Xian is a man of some ability, but he is too greedy for power and forgets himself after achieving a small achievement. He is courting death by not knowing when to advance or retreat."

You are so close to me, Prime Minister Li!
You and I have only met a few times. We can't be said to have a close relationship. There is really no need to tell me these things!
Li Shanchang changed the subject and asked, "Does your uncle know about Hu Weiyong?"

Seeing Ma Xun shaking his head, Li Shanchang said, "This man is also a Huaixi disciple of mine. He followed Your Majesty in his early years and was quite trusted. He served as county magistrate, Tongpan, and Taichang Shaoqing. It can be said that he is very talented and quite down-to-earth."

Ma Xun praised him and said, "So he is a capable minister. Now is the time for the court to use talents, and it is also the time for him to show his talents."

"We Huaixi people have always been united. Although Hu Weiyong is talented, he hates evil as much as he hates evil." Li Shanchang said with some worry, "If he is deceived by others, I hope the uncle can lend a hand."

Ma Xun immediately said politely, "Prime Minister Li, you are too kind. I have never had any ability. It was only because of the Emperor and Empress's mercy that I was able to settle down. I still don't understand the affairs of the court."

Li Shanchang continued to persuade him, "The uncle is intelligent and noble, and this is known to everyone in the court and the country. We Huaixi disciples are of the same blood, so we should naturally take care of each other."

Afraid that Ma Xun would not believe him, Li Shanchang continued, "I have always been close to Tang He, and I also have a harmonious relationship with General Xu. We are all from the same village, so we should naturally take care of each other."

Ma Xun smiled and said politely, "Prime Minister Li is right. As the old saying goes, when fellow villagers meet, their eyes brimming with tears. Since we are all from Huaixi, we will naturally work together."

Anyway, that's just polite talk, if anyone really believes it, then just believe it.

Ma Xun thought that Li Shanchang would not take it seriously. He believed that it was impossible for an old hand like him to take it seriously.

It is true that Li Shanchang had a good relationship with Tang He, but to say that he also had a very good relationship with Xu Da and others is obviously a bit of an exaggeration.

Some things are just understood by everyone. Anyway, Ma Xun doesn't think he will have too much contact with Li Shanchang. Li Shanchang suddenly asked, "Does the uncle have any children?"

"I got married at the beginning of the year, and Prime Minister Li knows that." Ma Xun said with a smile, "I do want to have children, but I've only been married for half a year, so it's not yet time to have children."

Li Shanchang said worriedly, "The Queen has only one brother, the King's Uncle. In the early years, the Queen often missed the King's Uncle and cried bitterly. We really don't know how to comfort her."

Seeing that Ma Xun still didn't speak, Li Shanchang said, "It's a pity that I didn't know that the emperor's uncle was still alive at that time, so I couldn't find him."

Ma Xun still would not speak easily. Who knew what an old veteran like Li Shanchang was up to? It would be better to wait and see, so as to avoid being caught by Li Shanchang and making a fuss about the topic.

Li Shanchang could only say again, "I am a few years older than you, and I am arrogant and say something unpleasant. The bloodline of Prince Xu is all on your shoulders, and it is your job to continue the bloodline and the incense."

"What Li Xiang said is very true. I also want to expand the Ma family as soon as possible." Ma Xun said with a smile, "If Li Xiang has any secret recipe for giving birth to a son, you can also lend it to me to copy."

Look, this is true intimacy. I said all the affectionate words and even chatted about family matters in one go!
Li Shanchang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "My Lord, you are joking. If I had a secret recipe, I would have used it long ago. I also have few children, and I really feel ashamed of my ancestors."

Li Shanchang was able to survive, but he had relatively few children. He may be unable to do so now, and even if he could still take concubines, it would be difficult for him to have children again.

Li Shanchang looked at Ma Xun with an elder's attitude and said, "My uncle, Hu Weiyong has a niece who is well-educated, well-mannered and beautiful. How about you take her into your room?"

Ma Xun immediately refused and said, "Prime Minister Li, you are joking. I just got married."

"Your Majesty, you are mistaken. I am talking about your Majesty taking her as a concubine." Li Shanchang said with a smile, "Your Majesty, since your Majesty has no children, I think Your Majesty the Queen is also quite worried."

Ma Xun was stunned. Shouldn’t Hu Weiyong’s niece marry your nephew?

Ma Xun came to his senses and said, "Prime Minister Li is joking. Hu Zhengshi is in a high position of power. How can I let his niece be my concubine?"

Li Shanchang pressed on, "That's also his niece's blessing. She is Hu Weiyong's niece, not from a high-class family. If she can catch the eye of the uncle, wouldn't that be a great thing?"

This is getting interesting. In order to win over me, the king's uncle, they are now setting up a beauty trap.

But who knows whether Hu Weiyong’s niece is a beauty?

The most important thing is that I have no intention of having any relationship with Hu Weiyong. Even a beautiful woman cannot enter the door of my Ma family!

In Li Shanchang's view, although they were all from Huaixi and were so-called fellow villagers, this level of relationship was still not reliable enough and must be taken a step further.

Marrying each other and forming alliances is the simplest and crudest way, but it is also an effective way. In this way, everyone's relationship will become truly close.

Li Shanchang's ideas are good, and these are indeed the ways that many people would choose. This is a match made in heaven and they have common interests.

No matter whether they are wealthy businessmen, landlords, or high-ranking officials, if they choose to marry in this way, they can become closer in the future.

However, Ma Xun smiled and said, "Prime Minister Li, you are joking. My wife and I are newly married. My wife is also a gentle and virtuous person. I don't plan to take a concubine yet."

I can’t say whether I will take a concubine in the future, but I definitely don’t have such plans now.

The most important thing is that I have no intention of having any relationship with you, Li Shanchang, let alone Hu Weiyong's niece and so on.

Hearing what Ma Xun said, Li Shanchang did not force him. There was a long time to go and there would be plenty of time in the future.

In the eyes of Li Shanchang and others, Ma Xun just gained wealth suddenly. Even though he seems to be relatively humble and cautious now, it is hard to say what will happen in the future.

A poor boy suddenly becomes rich and doesn't know how to become a powerful person at first. But if he is taught well, he will know how to become a powerful person.

By then, some things will obviously not be so simple.

Ma Xun married Liu Shuning, which caught Li Shanchang and others off guard. They didn't even have time to react or make any arrangements before the emperor and empress had already made the arrangements.

But how could such a royal uncle be taken away by the people of East Zhejiang? Even if the people of East Zhejiang seem weak now, they should not be underestimated.

The people of Huaixi must keep Ma Xun, the emperor's uncle, under control!
Liu Bowen and others can be a little proud for the time being, but they must not think that Ma Xun, the king's uncle, is the "good son-in-law" of the people of eastern Zhejiang. This is not that easy!
(End of this chapter)