The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 135 Eugenics and Eugenics
When Ma Xun went to the Secretariat, many people in Huaixi looked at him as if he were a monkey and laughed at him.

But this is just a small episode. Officials still have to be busy with their own work, and the people still have to work hard for their lives.

It’s just that some people are becoming more and more excited because the ceremony of ennobling meritorious officials is about to officially begin.

The date was set as November 11th, the third year of Hongwu, not because it was Double Eleven, but because it was an auspicious day.

Ma Xun changed his clothes happily and said to Liu Shuning, "Let's go to the palace first, otherwise we will be in a panic in two days."

Liu Shuning certainly had no objection to this. These days she had been busy with the matter of conferring titles on meritorious officials and had to arrange many things in advance.

The day after tomorrow, a great ceremony will be held to honor the heroes. Although many things have been decided, she also knows the answers in advance.

But he was definitely still looking forward to it in his heart, proud of Ma Xun being officially canonized, and proud of his father Liu Bowen being conferred the title.

As soon as he arrived at the courtyard, Li Jinglong immediately knelt down and saluted, "Uncle."

"Who did you learn this from?" Ma Xun was a little amused, "You can either kneel or stand, why are you lying down?"

Li Zhen couldn't help but complain, "Who else could it be but your good brother-in-law. The child is young and naive, but he just instigates him every day, and now he can't change his habit."

This is most likely Zhu Yuanzhang's fault. Because he loves Li Jinglong, he is particularly fond of him and would not let go of him.

Li Jinglong climbed up, took the reins like a little adult, and walked into the yard leading Wangcai.

Ma Xun was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, "Go to my yard, Wangcai belongs to me!"

Li Jinglong pretended not to hear and moved his two short legs faster, still talking to Wangcai.

He may not have had the idea of taking Wangcai home, but Li Jinglong definitely treated it as his own and would not feel at ease until he brought it back.

Li Zhen didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Jinglong, what did I tell you! It's not ours, we can't mess around with it!"

Ma Xun said with a smile, "Children are all the same, always looking at something in front of them and not letting go. Let him be happy, Wangcai will go back by himself anyway."

Li Zhen said, "You guys have spoiled this child. You let him do whatever he wants. How can this work?"

"Bao'er won't go to the palace?" Ma Xun asked curiously, "In two days they will confer titles on meritorious officials, and then the three of us will have to go."

Li Zhen smiled and said, "He will enter the palace tomorrow, but my father and I will both be conferred titles at the same time, or Chongba is too much of a reward."

"There are many rewards, but also many things to do." Ma Xun complained, "The second brother and his friends haven't figured it out yet, so they asked me to go to the Secretariat. If I go, Baoer and his friends will laugh at me."

Li Zhen just smiled and said nothing. He also heard that Ma Xun went to the Secretariat to show off his power, making the popular Hu Weiyong tremble with fear.

Although he didn't understand much about what was happening in the court, Li Zhen also felt that Ma Xun should go to the Secretariat when it was time.

It’s okay to do nothing, as long as you show up, it’s enough. This is representing Chongba!
Zhu Su came running over breathlessly, "Uncle, uncle, the emperor wants you to have dinner with him."

Li Zhen and Ma Xun had no objections, but it was not that Ma Xun would have dinner with Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying every time he entered the palace.

Sometimes it’s relatives visiting, and sometimes it’s because there are some things to arrange.

Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang was so diligent and busy that some things could only be arranged at the dinner table.

As expected, Ma Xiuying said after seeing Li Zhen, "Brother-in-law, please bear with me. Chongba hasn't finished dealing with the matter yet, so he won't be back for a while."

"We are all family, so let's not talk about this." Li Zhen said gently, "Zhongba has a lot of state affairs to deal with, and you will also be burdened."

After Liu Shuning finished her greetings, she naturally began to prepare meals.

Seeing Ma Xun sitting there carefree, Ma Xiuying felt a little disgusted, "You don't know there are so many things to do, but you don't come to help?"

Ma Xun stood up and took a look, then sat down again. "Not to mention that Shuning is helping, my niece is also helping, so there's no need for me to cause trouble."

Zhu Jingru and Zhu Jingxian also laughed. When he first met his uncle, he was very reserved, but now he is becoming more and more relaxed.

Ma Xiuying was just complaining, she didn't really want Ma Xun to help.

But Ma Xiuying also said with a smile, "It's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it's hard to go from luxury to frugality. If no one serves you now, I guess you won't be able to live well."

"I guess I can survive, but it's not as comfortable as it is now." Ma Xun said with a smile, "It's still more comfortable to be a rich and powerful person. I don't have to worry about what to eat."

Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "There is fish on the table tonight. I am too lazy to care about you now."

Ma Xun became more and more natural in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying, and Ma Xiuying and the others no longer protected him as they did before.

"You eat yours, I won't eat it." Ma Xun didn't care about it. "It's as if it's because of me that no one can eat fish. It's okay for people in my house to eat fish!"

Li Zhen and Ma Xun sat quietly, while Ma Xiuying, her sister-in-law and daughters were busy preparing meals. When Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao arrived, they started yelling, "Sister, the meals are not ready yet? We are so hungry!"

"I've been waiting for you. The wine has been warmed up." Ma Xiuying was in a good mood and said, "Let's have a few drinks today, and Biao will drink two glasses too."

Zhu Biao was smiling happily. At his age, he was the most sensitive. He could be treated as an adult or as a child.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Biao'er has already learned how to drink. This kid is good. He knows his limits better than me."

It is no secret that Zhu Biao drinks, but he only drinks occasionally when he is in a good mood. Zhu Yuanzhang is not a heavy drinker, but he likes to drink, especially to drink heavily.

"Brother-in-law, little brother, everything has been arranged." Zhu Yuanzhang said after taking his seat, "The Crown Prince will lead the other kings to stand by, Tiande and Li Xiang will lead the civil and military officials to line up on the left and right of the Dan steps."

Li Zhen didn't think there was a problem, and Ma Xun naturally didn't think there was anything wrong with such an arrangement.

Ma Xiuying understood what Zhu Yuanzhang meant, and said to Li Zhen apologetically, "Brother-in-law, when the time comes, I will have to rank you after Tiande and Boren."

Li Zhen said quickly, "I have no merit to speak of. If you ask me, I should be ranked last among the dukes."

Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying hurriedly tried to persuade her. They knew that Li Zhen was not just being polite but really had this in mind.

Many times, Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying felt that they were lucky, so they had fewer worries.

For example, Li Zhen, the brother-in-law, can be regarded as the head of the clan. However, this clan head has always been highly respected, honest and sincere, and never relied on his status as the emperor's brother-in-law to be arrogant.

Ma Xun, the brother-in-law of the wife, is also good. He is humble, polite, and down-to-earth. At a young age, he can achieve "the highest good is like water."

This is not just about not competing, it is also about 'water benefits all things without competing'.

Li Zhen and Ma Xun both felt that their titles were too high. They felt bad about being ranked in the middle of the Dukes' ranks, and they all wanted to be ranked last.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Brother-in-law will be in front of me, and Baoer will stand behind me."

There are seven founding dukes, but only eight people will be given the title in the future, this matter has been decided.

Li Zhen asked with concern, "Zhongba, Baoer has been able to achieve success thanks to you. Now you are giving me a title, I really feel bad about it. Otherwise, after the new year, let Baoer go north to fight the Tartars!"

This is what Li Zhen thinks is the best opportunity to repay his debt of gratitude. He is too old to do much, but his son can contribute.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately smiled and said, "Bao'er, don't worry. Let him rest and have a few more children."

Li Zhen smiled and said, "Don't tell others. We are family and can tell them. Bao'er's wife is pregnant again!"

Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying were overjoyed, because now Li Wenzhong was more than just a son.

Li Zhen said with some emotion, "My method is still useful. Many of these people from Huaixi have returned to Beijing!"

That's right, Guo Xing, Guo Ying and other descendants are also having a hard time continuing to grow and develop, Tang He is also starting to "accumulate strength and then burst out", and now there are new developments on Li Wenzhong's side.

These nobles have returned to the capital for half a year and have achieved great results.

After being happy, Zhu Biao noticed Ma Xun and Liu Shuning who were fidgeting, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very happy, and then he noticed Ma Xun, "Little brother!"

Ma Xiuying quickly and covertly elbowed Zhu Yuanzhang, then took Liu Shuning's hand and said, "You and my younger brother just got married, and you are still young. Your brother-in-law and I also had children after a few years of marriage, so there is no need to rush!"

Liu Shuning is the one who is under the most pressure, because if Ma Xun's method of preparing for pregnancy is effective, it can only mean that it is her problem.

According to Zhu Yuanzhang's character, he must have thought that it was time to talk about Liu Shuning. But since his sister didn't say anything, he didn't say anything.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were also rolling around, he still felt that he had too few offspring.

In the future, it would be better if Biaoer had more children, and then my methods would definitely come in handy.

Now that the nobles have used it and it works well, let's let the Imperial Hospital learn a little bit. First, the royal family, princes and nobles, then the civil and military officials, and later this method will also have a great effect on the people.

The Ming Dynasty is now short of population. Restoring production and increasing household registration are big things for an ambitious emperor.

Ma Xunke didn't know that Lao Zhu was thinking of some ways to prepare for pregnancy. If he knew, he would definitely explain it in more detail.

But if you think about it carefully, you won't think it's a big problem. It's certainly not a 'cure for infertility', but it is also one of the ways to achieve eugenics.

To summarize and promote, there is no need to hide these methods of preparing for pregnancy. As long as they play a certain role after being promoted, that would be the best and they can truly realize their value.

However, Ma Xun now feels that he really needs to hurry up. If there is no progress, the pressure on him and Liu Shuning will definitely increase.

(End of this chapter)