The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 112: They are all scams

It was normal for Zhu Yuanzhang to have some doubts about some of Ma Xun's statements. After all, empty words without any practical evidence would naturally lack persuasiveness.

Ma Xun is not in a hurry. In the long run, he will train a group of students first.

To put it simply, I will go to the main hall tomorrow to compete with those doctors and show off my skills in divination.

If you have the opportunity to solve some practical problems, it will naturally be more convincing.

As for things like science students becoming officials, that also needs to be planned and realized step by step.

Although the Ming Dynasty was just established, it seems that many rules and regulations are imperfect. However, some thinking inertias have always existed. Since the abolition of all schools of thought and the promotion of Confucianism, the status of "liberal arts students" has been high.

After talking about "study", Zhu Yuanzhang jokingly asked, "Did you come to the palace this time because you wanted to hide away?"

"Isn't it Li Xiang?" Ma Xun immediately complained, "He wanted me to take Hu Weiyong's niece as a concubine before, and when that didn't work, he asked me to help persuade Tang Shengzong to be a duke instead."

Zhu Yuanzhang joked, "Prime Minister Li is always like this, he loves to form cliques."

Tang Shengzong could be considered as Li Shanchang's man. At least the two of them had a close relationship, almost like "party members".

Zhu Biao also smiled and said, "My parents used to say that Li Xiang was scheming, but I didn't quite believe it. I always thought that Li Xiang was a pillar of the Ming Dynasty. But now I see that Li Xiang only wants power."

Zhu Yuanzhang just smiled. Although he was somewhat dissatisfied with Li Shanchang at this stage, he could not be said to be intolerant of him.

Ma Xiuying also said, "Let him participate in the discussion of state affairs, so that he won't have to walk around the capital all day."

Zhu Yuanzhang could only say, "Do you think he wants to go back to his hometown? Since he is willing to work, let him do it, but he can't do it like before."

"When the Dukes were conferred the title of Duke, he was listed as the first." Ma Xiuying said with a smile, "It makes sense that I am placed last."

The first meritorious official in the founding of the Ming Dynasty was Xu Da, but this did not prevent Li Shanchang from being listed as the first of the "Seven Founding Dukes", which can be regarded as putting Li Shanchang in the highest position.

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "If this happens, Prime Minister Li will be happy. He is not like his uncle. His uncle hates to be in the limelight. Prime Minister Li wants everyone to know that he is second to none in the Ming Dynasty."

When everyone heard Zhu Biao say this, they all laughed, except Zhu Chong and others who were just laughing along and awkwardly. There were some things that they didn't know much about even though they were princes.

In the final analysis, although Zhu Yuanzhang loved his sons, he almost forbade the other princes, except Zhu Biao, to get involved in state affairs or get close to ministers.

"This time, I am waiting to be in the limelight because of the great honor bestowed upon the meritorious officials." Zhu Yuanzhang said jokingly, "Remember to attend the court tomorrow. I will scold you."

Ma Xun nodded repeatedly. If he was not scolded, Li Shanchang and his people would continue to harass him.

But Ma Xun said immediately, "Brother-in-law, we need to remind Brother Tang. He is a little close to Li Xiang, and he trusts his fellow villagers too easily."

When it comes to Tang He, Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying are also helpless. Their big brother sometimes just can't make things clear.

Zhu Biao said, "I'll go and talk to him. My uncle will go to court tomorrow. After court, I'll go and have a good chat with Tang Bo."

Zhu Yuanzhang said helplessly, "It's useless to tell him. He can understand even if he nods in front of you. But he will forget it after a while."

Ma Xiuying and Zhu Biao could only shake their heads. This was really Tang He's character. It's not that he didn't remind him of some things, but the reminders would only work for a while and would become ineffective soon.

Zhu Yuanzhang and his family returned home after dinner. Ma Xun said happily to Liu Shuning, "It seems that we don't need to stay for a few days. We can leave after three or four days."

Liu Shuning understood what Ma Xun meant. As long as Ma Xun was scolded in the court, Li Shanchang and others would not harass him again no matter how shameless they were.

Moreover, scolding Ma Xun was also a way to establish authority and serve as a warning to other arrogant and powerful generals.

Naturally, there was nothing to worry about. In order to let Ma Xun perform well in this play, the emperor, the empress and the prince came over to explain the situation.

"My dear, should father also submit a memorial?" Liu Shuning asked with concern, "My eldest brother has already returned home, and I don't think father is interested in the court anymore."

Ma Xun didn't want to live in the imperial city, and Liu Bowen didn't want to stay in the capital, so they were already preparing to retire and return home.

Ma Xun thought about it carefully and said, "Since I have been scolded, I will let Taishan submit a memorial. Both the father-in-law and the son-in-law will be punished, one will be sent back to his hometown, and the other will be locked up in the mansion and not allowed to go out. What a deterrent this is!"

Hearing Ma Xun say this, Liu Shuning couldn't help but laugh.

Dismissal from office and confinement, these seemingly catastrophic things, were actually good things for Liu Bowen and Ma Xun.

But Ma Xun suddenly realized something was wrong. "My brother-in-law mentioned before that I should join the Secretariat. When did I mention that to you?"

"Her Royal Highness the Queen mentioned it before, I think it was before the great honoring of meritorious officials." Liu Shuning replied, a little worried, "Her Royal Highness the Crown Prince also mentioned it, saying that after this honoring, you will not be promoted again."

Ma Xun said with a sad face, "It's not that I won't be promoted, but that there is no promotion at all!" Liu Shuning also thought so, that is, the Ming Dynasty does not have the "Three Masters" now, otherwise Ma Xun would definitely become the Grand Tutor or Grand Guardian. But now Ma Xun is the real Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince of the East Palace!

Looking at Liu Shuning, Ma Xun said, "Sister won't give me a promotion, this is a good thing. Well, go back and talk to Bao'er and Wenying's wife."

Liu Shuning understood what Ma Xun meant. He wanted to "cultivate" Li Wenzhong and Mu Ying.

If Li Zhen cannot be betrayed, then the nephews will be betrayed. Ma Xun cannot bear all the things alone, some external relatives will have to step out to take the blame.

This was not the first or second time that Ma Xun had tricked his nephew. For example, Zhu Chong and others were originally very happy to learn military tactics from Ma Xun.

But now they are being taught the most basic mathematics, which are necessary conditions for marching and fighting, calculating the number of people, food and fodder, etc., which are skills that a qualified general should have.

So you have to continue training, but you have to study when it’s time to study.

Military books had to be read, mathematics had to be learned, and geography, astronomy, etc. Some of them were existing knowledge accumulation, and some were supplemented by Ma Xun.

The students who study hard may have more leisure time than these princes, because Zhu Chong and others are very busy and have a very tight schedule of courses every day.

Ma Xun, who didn't think he was a scumbag, got up early, washed, had breakfast, and hurried to the Meridian Gate.

Liu Bowen was busy organizing the team. Previously, Ma Xun had accused Tao Kai, the Minister of Rites, of not doing his job properly, which resulted in the chaotic rules of the morning court. Now, things were finally starting to become regular.

So Liu Bowen's work increased, since he was the one who actually managed the censors of the Censorate, and maintaining order at the morning court was the responsibility of the Censorate.

Seeing Ma Xun, Chang Yuchun teased and said, "I heard that you don't like to go to the palace, why are you here?"

Ma Xun was too lazy to pay attention to Chang Yuchun and whispered to Li Shanchang, "Prime Minister Li, be careful. His Majesty is unhappy today."

Li Shanchang immediately asked with concern, "What's going on?"

"It's about that matter again. When I mentioned it yesterday, His Majesty flew into a rage." Ma Xun added fuel to the fire, "Her Majesty the Queen was also very unhappy and said I was rebellious and overbearing."

Li Shanchang was not too surprised, but he still said hypocritically, "In this case, it is all my fault. I have implicated the emperor's uncle."

Tang Shengzong was obviously more frustrated. Why was it so difficult to be conferred the title of Duke? It was useless even if he asked his uncle to intercede for him!

Tao Kai and Liu Bowen, who were busy arranging the queue, were very angry and mentioned that it was Ma Xun who needed to rectify the disorder in the morning court.

But now, the civil officials were keeping quiet. The military officers were talking in low voices, but when Ma Xun came over, many of them gathered together and talked loudly!
After all this fuss, it turns out that these rules were made for civil officials and have no effect on military generals.

What’s even more hateful is that these rules were proposed by military generals and formulated by civil officials. How cowardly!
Ma Xun then looked at Tang He, "Brother Tang, you have to be mentally prepared. Even if His Majesty doesn't punish you, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will still blame you."

Tang He was puzzled, "Why is it my business?"

Of course it has something to do with you. If you weren't such a scumbag, would I have to go to the palace to hide?

Xu Da and Chang Yuchun couldn't help but shake their heads slightly. They knew a little about some things, but Tang He, the person involved, knew nothing at all!
Li Wenzhong suddenly came up and said, "Uncle, if His Majesty punishes you, your nephew will plead for you!"

Ma Xun was very relieved, "Then we have Lao Bao'er. His Majesty was furious this time, and I was very careful."

Tang He suddenly felt guilty, as if this matter really had something to do with him.

But Li Shanchang suddenly came to his senses. If the king's uncle was really afraid of the emperor's rage, how could he act like nothing happened? He could only say that he was afraid.

But in reality, he lined up on time to prepare for court attendance, chatted with his close military officers, and there was no sign of nervousness on his face.

You have to know that when facing a truly furious Zhu Yuanzhang, Li Shanchang would feel fear from the bottom of his heart.

This uncle of the emperor said this, maybe he was just acting?

Your Majesty may be dissatisfied, but it is certainly not as serious as what this uncle-in-law said!

Although he was full of doubts, Li Shanchang had to choose to "believe" and also had to accept Ma Xun's favor.

Because he refused to accept the favor, Ma Xun would certainly spread the news among the people of Huaixi, saying that it was Prime Minister Li who caused him to be scolded by the emperor.

He had cheated Ma Xun before, and now he was cheated by Ma Xun again. He is not a person who can be taken care of easily.

I just don’t know what role the emperor and the empress played in this matter.

Although he now looks up to Ma Xun, deep down in his heart, Li Shanchang still doesn't think that Ma Xun has the ability to compete with him. He is just a mediocre country boy with a good family background.

(End of this chapter)