The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 180 Old Farmer Zhu Chongba

He felt that his second nephew was being targeted, but Ma Xun was not particularly anxious now. He thought that he would deal with it as it came.

He had other things to do, because it was the spring equinox, which was suitable for the emperor to go and plough the fields himself.

Liu Shuning was a little embarrassed and said, "Husband, is it really okay for me not to go to the palace?"

The essence of the emperor farming personally is to attach importance to agriculture. The emperor farming personally and the empress raising silkworms personally are the important affairs of the state.

Ma Xun said, "It's better for you not to go. Just rest at home. No one will say anything if you don't go. Just go next year."

Liu Shuning said, "I'm not that squeamish now."

"It's not up to you or me to decide." Ma Xun denied it directly, "You are suffering from morning sickness now. It would be inconvenient if you really went to the palace."

After hearing what Ma Xun said, Liu Shuning naturally stopped trying to be stubborn.

Theoretically, ministers should go to watch the ceremony, and the wives of nobles should also enter the palace. However, this is not absolute, and those who are physically unable to do so can be allowed not to go.

This is not just special treatment for Liu Shuning. It is also okay for other noble wives to not go if they are pregnant, sick, or old.

Liu Bowen looked at Liu Shuning and said with a smile, "Many people in Beijing are spreading rumors now. I guess we can't keep it secret anymore."

Liu Shuning blushed slightly, and then complained, "It's all Wan'er's fault. They said too much."

It's not necessarily because Chang Wan and the others are big mouths, but Ma Xiuying has too many expectations for her nephew. In addition, Zhu Jingxian and Zhu Jingru come every now and then, and many people are speculating.

Ma Xun said nonchalantly, "There's nothing to hide. If you know, you know. I don't plan to accept gifts at this time, and I don't have to worry about other people disturbing me."

So once you know it, you know it. There is really nothing to worry about.

Liu Shuning looked towards the yard and asked, "Your Majesty will not ask Wangcai to plow the fields, will he?"

"No, it's a donkey, not a cow." Ma Xun said immediately, "It might think about it when it's grinding the mill, but it certainly won't think about it when it's plowing the land."

Hearing what Ma Xun said, Liu Shuning felt relieved. "Wangcai doesn't have much strength, so he can't plow the land."

After a brief chat, Ma Xun and Liu Bowen walked towards the imperial palace and first went to Tiannong Temple to perform the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the farming plow.

After the civil and military officials appeared, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao came in robes and solemnly performed a ceremony to worship the God of Agriculture.

"Brother, come here." After the sacrifice, Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, "Change your clothes. Is this the way to work in the fields?"

Ma Xun's face suddenly changed. "Brother-in-law, this is the emperor plowing the fields himself. You just need to hold the plow. If you want to show the importance of farming and emphasize the status of the emperor, you can just let him lead the ox. I am a relative by marriage, what kind of land can I work on?"

Regarding Ma Xun's desire to be lazy, Zhu Biao said, "Uncle, this is wrong. In the previous ploughing ceremony, there were ministers who helped. Dad held the plow and I led the ox. You just accompany my mother to sow seeds and cover the soil. You can't tire her out!"

One acre and three mu of land, although it only needs a little cultivation in the early stage, it means that farming will be much easier in the future.

But Zhu Yuanzhang would not let others do it, nor would he pretend to hold the plow and then let others do it. This is his family doing it themselves, this is to sacrifice the crops to the ancestors of agriculture and the land, so of course it must be done with caution.

Zhu Yuanzhang said to Zhu Biao with some regret, "I told you that he doesn't know how to farm. He probably wants to drink tea and chat with other noble ministers by the field. Your uncle-in-law can come to help, but your young and strong uncle wants to rest!"

Zhu Biao also complained, "That's right, fortunately my parents had foresight. When I saw my uncle in court robes, I could guess that he didn't want to go to the fields. He also said that he would go back to teach the second son how to farm. My uncle must be good at catching fish and shrimp, but it's hard to say about farming."

Ma Xun had a bitter look on his face. The emperor and the prince were plotting against him in unison.

Arriving at the side hall, Li Zhen was wearing simple clothes, ready to go to the ground, "Little brother, change your clothes quickly."

"Brother-in-law, I don't know how to farm." Ma Xun complained immediately, "If I go to the fields, I will only make things worse. It's better to let me rest."

Before he finished speaking, Ma Xiuying threw a few clothes at him, "Change into them."

The complaints came to an abrupt end, and Ma Xun could only sigh as he took off his silk court robes and changed into cotton clothes.

The queen changed into coarse cloth clothes and wrapped herself with a scarf, which meant she was ready to go to the fields to farm.

"Uncle, follow me later." Li Wenzhong said in a low voice, "They are all good at farming, and we can't keep up. It won't take more than two times before they will be disgusted with us and drive us away."

Although Li Wenzhong is usually very good, he is a handsome Duke of Cao who is good at both literature and martial arts. However, he is also sneaky when doing farm work, which is not his area of expertise.

Ma Xun complained quietly, "During the ploughing ceremony, the emperor and empress should do the ploughing themselves. Now that it's done well, all the relatives in the family are coming to help."

Li Zhen smiled and said, "It was like this in the early years. I would rush back to help after I finished the farm work at home. When your brother-in-law and his family were done with their work, they would also go and help me."

Li Zhen didn't think there was anything wrong with it. This was how it was with his relatives. Farming required time, so after finishing his own business, he would rush to help his relatives farm. He thought this was a matter of course, so he should put in more effort and not think about being lazy.

Young people nowadays are so used to being rich that they don’t know how to cherish life. They even want to be lazy when doing farm work.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who had changed into coarse cloth clothes, looked in high spirits. He walked in front with his head held high, carrying two hoes, and Ma Xiuying, who was carrying a basket, followed him.

Zhu Biao was no longer the elegant and gentle prince. He changed into coarse cloth clothes and looked like a farm boy, talking to the smiling Li Zhen.

Ma Xun and Li Wenzhong followed at the end, while Duke Xu and Duke Cao tried to be more energetic and not to look unhappy. But no matter how you looked at it, they didn't look very happy.

Fortunately, Liu Shuning didn't come, otherwise she might have to work in the fields. But Li Wenzhong's wife didn't have the same treatment, as there was a gap in their relationship.

Civil and military officials, noble ladies, etc. lined up beside one mu and three fen of land to watch the ceremony. If the emperor was gracious, he would allow them to go to the fields to work.

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up the plow skillfully and said to Zhu Biao, "Watch out, the plow must be hung properly. Brother-in-law, you need to teach Biao about this."

Ma Xiuying looked at Ma Xun sitting on the ridge of the field and couldn't bear to watch him. "You can't plow the field, but you can't learn? Come over here and watch!"

Ma Xun stood up immediately, but Zhu Yuanzhang scolded him the next moment, "Where are your eyes? Don't step on the ground, and don't walk in the ridges."

Ma Xiuying also cursed, "Is this how you pass down your family tradition by farming and studying? You have ruined the family tradition of my Ma family!"

Ma Xun felt even more helpless, but at this time he could only swallow his anger.

It’s not because of identity issues, but because I seem to have done something wrong.

"Zhongba, point the plow head down a little bit." Li Zhen put his hands behind his back, in a good mood, "You need to plow deeper, the land here is not very fertile."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately pushed the plowshare forward so that the plowshare arrow could point downward and the plowshare could penetrate deeper into the soil.

After all, he has been a farmer for many years. Even though he didn't farm much in the past few years, he still has the ability to take care of the house.

Ma Xiuying handed a small hoe to Ma Xun, "Go to the back, I'll throw seeds into the hole, and you cover it. With Bao'er, he either has a sore waist or legs when farming."

Looking at Li Wenzhong next to him, the uncle and nephew were in the same boat. They both obviously didn't like farming and didn't know how to farm, but they were forced to farm and were extremely distrusted.

Many officials watching the ceremony had their eyes red with envy, including some old scholars and village elders who were invited into the palace. Looking at the emperor's skillful farming methods, they could tell that this was a real skill.

"Biao'er, slow down." Li Zhen walked in front with a hoe in hand and said with a smile, "If you walk too fast, your father won't be able to keep up, and the soil he plows won't be deep enough."

Zhu Yuanzhang complained, "Brother-in-law, these guys are useless. They kept moving forward, and I didn't have time to turn the soil. I almost slipped over."

Ma Xiuying also complained, "It's because we've become rich. When we were that age, we were all good at work, but now no one can do anything."

Li Zhen looked back at Ma Xun and Li Wenzhong who were huddled together. No matter how she looked at them, she felt that they were acting a bit sneaky.

Baoer was fine, as he did some farming before his family went bankrupt. But he was too young at that time and didn't know how to farm.

What's wrong with me? I've suffered a lot, and I can't even hold a hoe properly.

"I can't count on these guys anymore." Zhu Yuanzhang wiped his sweat and said, "I'm just waiting to hold my grandson. When my grandson grows up, I will teach him how to farm."

Ma Xiuying said quickly, "You can't rely on my little brother. When my nephew is born, I will have to teach him more. Brother-in-law, you can also help guide him when the time comes. My little brother has learned bad things and cannot be relied on."

Li Zhen said cheerfully, "Zhongba, you can't count on me. Look at Bao'er, if I teach him well, can he join me in helping you?"

Even Zhu Biao, who was watching Glory Day, couldn't help but look back. His uncle and second brother were really unreliable.

I am thinking of asking them to help during the ploughing ceremony in the future. Judging from this trend, I will be thankful if they don’t make trouble during the ploughing ceremony in the future.

Li Zhen bent down to pick up the grass roots and threw them aside. "I have spoiled Jinglong. He won't wear clothes that are not good and won't eat food that is not delicious. He doesn't look like a farmer's son at all."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately became hypocritical, "Brother-in-law, Jinglong doesn't need to suffer. I like that child, he is fair-skinned, gentle, and has a scholarly air."

Li Zhen looked at Ma Xun and whispered, "Sister, your nephew from your mother's side will definitely be good-looking in the future. Jinglong's weakness is his eyes, but my brother and his wife both have good-looking eyes and good face shapes."

Ma Xiuying was happy, but still said, "I guess he's still not as good as Bao'er and Jinglong. Among all our relatives, Bao'er is the best looking."

"Mom, I'm not bad looking." Zhu Biao said unhappily, "I look a lot like mom and dad, it's up to you to do whatever's best."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately denied that his eldest son was not perfect either. "Your face looks like me, and your eyebrows and eyes look like your mother. You and your uncle walk together, and outsiders think you are brothers. It is true that the nephew looks like his uncle."

(End of this chapter)