The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 121 The Disciple Who Came to the Door
Ma Xun really felt a bit overwhelmed. Disciplining these children of nobles was simply asking for trouble.

However, judging by the current trend, these noble children cannot be driven away, and they will certainly seize the opportunity to build good relationships.

The most important thing is that inside the palace, the emperor and his family of three are all masters at going with the flow and taking advantage of situations, so if they see an opportunity, they will definitely seize it.

Just when Ma Xun was still worried, a group of soldiers arrived at the gate of Prince Xu's mansion.

Zhu Biao dismounted with a smile, and smiled when he saw Chang Mao and others sitting facing the wall and thinking about their mistakes.

He Da quickly saluted, "Prince."

Zhu Biao smiled and asked, "How did you catch these playboys?"

"Replying to the prince, we followed the prince's uncle to visit his maternal family." He Da said with some gloating, "On our way back, we saw a few of them riding horses in the downtown area, and the prince's uncle just happened to bump into them."

Zhu Biao pointed at Chang Mao and the others and said, "They were lucky to have met my uncle. If they had met me, they would have been whipped a few times."

He Da also had some say in this, "Who says it's not true! Prince, those of us who came out of the army are all vulgar and unpretentious. But riding a horse in a busy city is something we dare not do."

Zhu Biao smiled and nodded, then warned, "Stand up straight, even if your family members come to beg for mercy, I don't think it will work!"

Chang Mao and others were about to cry. Now it was not the family members who came to plead for mercy, but none of the family members plead for mercy.

Especially Tang Ding, his mother is still in the Prince's House. She didn't come to beg for mercy at all, but was chatting with the Prince's wife.

There is a 20-year age difference between them and their backgrounds are different, so how can they have any common topics?

Ma Xun hurried to the gate of the mansion, and saw Zhu Biao rushing in. "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Uncle, you are so polite." Zhu Biao said with a smile, "Where is my aunt?"

Ma Xun said, "In the inner house, talking to Brother Tang's wife."

Zhu Biao smiled and nodded, saying, "Then let someone go and ask about your well-being. I won't bother you anymore."

Although Zhu Biao had not been to Ma Xun's house as often as Zhu Chong and others, he was also familiar with the route. He did not need Ma Xun to lead the way, so he went to the ancestral hall to burn incense for Ma Taigong first.

As soon as they walked out of the ancestral hall, Liu Shuning and Tang Hushi hurriedly bowed, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Biao looked terrified and said, "Aunt, aunt, you are making it difficult for me by doing this!"

Tang Hu smiled and said, "It is said that courtesy is not a bad thing. Besides, the prince is the heir to the throne, so he should receive courtesy."

"Aunt." Zhu Biao said somewhat dissatisfiedly, "If you said that in the court, I would just pretend to accept it. But we are at home and there are no outsiders around, how can we do that!"

Tang He and Zhu Yuanzhang were childhood friends and had a very good relationship, so Zhu Biao and others were also very familiar with Tang He's family.

Tang Hu said, "I just talked about this with your aunt. My Tang Ding is really a troublemaker. Your Highness, for the sake of your uncle Tang, you must beg for mercy and ask the uncle to accept my boy as his disciple!"

Zhu Biao was not at all surprised at the choice made by Tang He and his wife.

Although Tang He is not a good talker and Tang Hu is a bit vulgar at times, they are all very smart.

Zhu Biao sighed and said, "My father and mother also know about this, and they are a little angry. You said that everything is fine, and we haven't rewarded the meritorious officials yet, but the sons of nobles are riding horses in the busy streets. How can this be justified!"

Tang Hu was nervous at first, but then she said quickly, "That is to say, families like us are not afraid of our descendants enjoying themselves, but we are afraid of losing the law. Take Hu Sanshe for example, if he had some law in his heart, he would not have been executed."

Hu Dahai's son Hu Sanshe was executed by Zhu Yuanzhang for violating the prohibition on alcohol in his early years, which was still somewhat deterrent.

Ma Xun originally thought that it was none of his business, but gradually he felt that something was wrong, as if someone was setting a trap for him.

Zhu Biao also spoke up, "This is what we are worried about now. In every dynasty, there are always some nobles who are proud of their achievements."

Tang Hu said directly, "There are quite a few now. Among those generals, how many have not made mistakes? Take my old Tang for example, he has also made many mistakes."

Arrogant and powerful soldiers and generals did not necessarily break laws and disciplines only after the founding of the People's Republic of China because they relied on their great contributions. It was normal for them to make some mistakes during the years of fighting in the south and the north.

"Auntie." Zhu Biao became even more anxious and said, "Father has said before that Tang Bo is a good person, but he just likes to guess the emperor's intentions. It would be fine if he knew it himself, but he always goes out and talks about it!"

Mrs. Tang Hu said even more unhappily, "That's right, Old Tang and Big Guo, sooner or later these two will get into trouble because of their mouths!"

Tang He liked to figure out Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts, and Guo Xing also understood Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts very well. The two brothers could always guess Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts, and then often boasted about them in the army and among their relatives and friends.

Zhu Biao said immediately, "Tang Bo is Tang Bo after all, he is different from others. But Tang Ding and the others need to be smarter and learn how to behave from their uncle, so as not to bring disaster to the family." Tang Hu said immediately, "I was thinking the same thing. The uncle is cautious and has good character. It just so happens that the princes also need to train their troops, so I sent my boy over."

Zhu Biao spoke first, "Only Tang Ding can come. My uncle won't teach anyone else."

In the midst of this concerted effort, a new soldier appeared under Ma Xun's command, and that was Tang Ding.

Tang Hu returned home contentedly. Her husband and the emperor were childhood friends. And now her son will become the disciple of the emperor's uncle and join the prince's team.

With this treatment and status, even if Tang Ding is not particularly talented and seems to be mediocre, it doesn't matter. He will definitely have no problem holding up the door.

Because this will mean the trust of "two generations of emperors", and it will also be a very good relationship with the nobles and relatives.

As the son of a noble family, one must either have outstanding abilities or be trusted by the emperor, so that the merits of one's ancestors can be preserved and the family title can be continued.

After watching Tang Hushi leave, Ma Xun said unhappily, "I haven't even started teaching anyone yet, and you're already busy looking for disciples for me?"

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Uncle, isn't this your nephew sharing your worries? Uncle is in charge of the Imperial College and has to build a school. You are a gentleman who doesn't want to take action. In the future, Chang Mao, Tang Ding and others will go and make trouble."

Ma Xun was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Isn't it inappropriate to let them be thugs?"

"What's inappropriate?" Zhu Biao smiled and offered advice, "Uncle is of noble status, and they don't have any titles and are young. If they beat someone up, just let mother punish them. If that doesn't work, I'll do it."

If that time really came, Ma Xiuying and Zhu Biao would just pretend to do something, and the crimes committed by Chang Mao, Tang Ding and others would be exposed. This was like the board being raised high and then gently dropped.

Ma Xun's plan to build a school will somewhat affect the interests of traditional scholars, and these people may resist.

They may be afraid of Ma Xun's identity and dare not do things openly, but they may make some small moves.

If that time really comes, people like Chang Mao and Tang Ding can come forward. They are sons of noble families, not yet adults and without titles.

Seeing that Ma Xun was interested, Zhu Biao struck while the iron was hot and said, "Uncle, there are many people among the nobles who break the law. These noble children are somewhat spoiled after they are born."

This is true. Chang Mao, Tang Ding and others were basically born after Zhu Yuanzhang conquered Yingtian Prefecture. Each of them was a little tyrant.

It is normal for these people to act lawlessly, relying on the merits of their fathers. After all, many of the fathers of these noble children were rough people.

Chang Yuchun was born a bandit, Tang He took the initiative to join the uprising, Deng Yu started rebelling when he was a teenager, and Fu Youde was a son-in-law.

If these generals of the Ming Dynasty were not for their special status and outstanding military achievements, many of them would be the dregs of society and destabilizing factors in peacetime.

It is not realistic to expect such people to have too much awe in their hearts.

Ma Xun thought about it carefully and said, "Can it be done later? I also need to train the second brother and a few others, so it's not appropriate for them to follow me."

Zhu Biao showed an expression of "as expected". His uncle was indeed worried about many things. He did not want Zhu Chong and others to get too close to the nobles, even if they were the legitimate sons of the nobles.

After all, people like Chang Mao and Tang Ding will most likely inherit the title in the future, so it would certainly not be appropriate for them to have too many official dealings with the princes of the Ming Dynasty, let alone private relationships.

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Uncle, don't worry too much. My brothers are all decent people. Chang Mao and others look like playboys, but they understand some things in their hearts."

Ma Xun knew that he could not persuade them, so he asked, "Then how do I train these people? If it comes to leading soldiers, my teaching them is nothing more than showing off my skills in front of an expert."

"Just teach them the principles of life and make them less troublesome in the future." Zhu Biao expressed his thoughts, "My uncle has a good temper and good character, which is why the noble family wants to send their legitimate son to me."

This is a bit exaggerated, and it is over-praising Ma Xun. But it also makes sense. If he did something evil, Tang He and others would not dare to let their children come over even for Ma Xiuying's sake.

Now that things have come to this, Ma Xun no longer refuses, "I see there is no way to refuse, so I will take care of them."

Zhu Biao was very happy. He finally found a serious job for his uncle. It was a very important matter for the Ming Dynasty and the court.

After all, the influence of the noble group is very great, and there are many possibilities for the future of these noble children.

If we let them learn well now, they may be able to bring more help to the Ming Dynasty in the future.

As the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together." Zhu Biao thought that these noble children would definitely learn good things from his uncle.

Ma Xun began to worry. To teach such a group of rebellious teenagers with special identities is really a daunting challenge. The most important thing is that they must be taught well!

Thinking about it this way, the pressure is even greater!
(End of this chapter)