The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 19 The Struggling Uncle

Ma Xun heard Wangcai calling early in the morning and immediately got dressed and got up.

Although dressing was rather complicated, Ma Xun had not yet completely corrupted and did not ask others to help him dress.

Seeing Ma Xun, He Da complained, "Uncle, Wangcai has a bad temper. He yells when he's not happy."

"Didn't you mix some eggs for it?" Ma Xun said calmly, "It has shallow eyes. Don't prepare fodder under its nose in the future. When you are ready, pour it directly into the trough."

He Da remembered it and said, "Your Majesty also had a horse in the past, which was said to be a Ferghana horse. I don't think it is a Ferghana horse, and that horse was also difficult to take care of. Chen Youliang shot it to death."

Xu E chased after him and said worriedly, "Master, it's cold in the morning, you have to put on some clothes."

Ma Xun readily agreed and said, "I'll wash up first, and then we'll have dinner. Is everyone in the mansion ready?"

Xu E said, "The master hasn't eaten yet, how can we eat first?"

"Don't worry about these things in the future. Just eat when the time comes." Ma Xun said, "I'm lazy and sometimes I can't get up in the morning. Are you still waiting for me?"

Xu E thought for a moment and said, "Master, this is against the rules."

Ma Xun said directly, "Rules are dead, but people are alive. Can a person die from holding his urine? From now on, breakfast will be at chenshi, lunch at 2:55 pm, and dinner will be at 2:55 pm."

Breakfast at 7 o'clock, lunch at 12 o'clock, and dinner at 6 o'clock in the afternoon is a more suitable time arrangement.

Three meals a day is very difficult and luxurious for ordinary people in this era, and some landlords may not be able to do so. But in the homes of the rich and powerful, such an arrangement is naturally no problem.

After brushing his teeth with willow twigs dipped in green salt, Ma Xun thought that he should get a toothbrush.

In fact, toothbrushes also have a history. Bronze toothbrushes have existed since the Qin Dynasty, and the toothbrushes of the Southern Song Dynasty were very similar to modern toothbrushes.

All Ma Xun can do is to slightly improve the toothbrush. It is very important to pay attention to oral hygiene.

Xu E served breakfast and said, "Master, we should go to the palace to express our gratitude later."

Ma Xun asked in surprise, "Do we have to go to the palace to express our gratitude?"

"According to etiquette, we should go and express our gratitude." Xu E patiently explained, "The mansion was given by His Majesty. Her Majesty the Queen and His Majesty the Crown Prince also came to the mansion yesterday. The master should go to the palace to express his gratitude."

Ma Xun readily accepted the advice, but was a little worried, "I didn't receive the imperial edict, so I can't enter the palace now."

Xu E continued to explain, "The master can ask for an audience, but it's hard to say whether others can enter the palace. If the master asks for an audience, His Majesty will definitely summon him."

Ma Xun did not argue with Xu E and others on these matters. He really did not understand these things, so he just listened to their suggestions.

The more politeness there is, the less blame there is. Even among relatives, you still need to be polite when it is necessary.

After eating and drinking, Ma Xun led Wangcai out, and He Da and his men followed immediately. No one carried a knife or a gun, but some carried a whistle stick.

The security in the capital is relatively good, but I am also worried that some ignorant people might offend important people, so I still need to be prepared.

Ma Xun, who was sitting on the donkey's back, looked left and right and felt uncomfortable. "Should I change the horse? The donkey is too short, and it's not majestic to ride on it."

He Da smiled and said, "Majestic, the king's uncle is always majestic!"

Ma Xun couldn't ride a horse, and He Da and others knew it, so he could only ride a donkey.

"Next time I'll ride the donkey backwards." Ma Xun grumbled to himself, "Then I'll look more impressive. Why didn't I save some money to buy a horse?"

He Da and the others also laughed. The uncle couldn't afford a horse at the beginning, not even a poor horse. And considering Wangcai's current age, the uncle should buy a donkey.

Being so poor, they were lucky to be able to buy a donkey. Many people didn't even have an animal.

Ma Xun's request for an audience went smoothly, which was basically equivalent to entering the palace directly. He was not taken to Wuying Hall, but to Rouyi Hall. That was where the queen worked. Ma Xun had no sense of existence in the court. He was still just an uncle of the emperor, a genuine in-law.

Ma Xiuying was still happy to see Ma Xun, "Why did you come here today?"

"Ezi said I had to go to the palace to express my gratitude, so I came." Ma Xun told the truth, "The more courtesy, the less blame. I shouldn't be polite to my sister, but I should also thank my brother-in-law."

Ma Xiuying smiled and nodded, "That's right. It's only natural for me to take care of you. But your brother-in-law has no reason to be nice to you. You should thank him when the time comes."

Ma Xun thought for a moment and said, "I have to find something to do. I can't just sit there doing nothing."

Ma Xiuying became serious, "What do you want to do? You said you don't know how to fight and you don't know how to be a soldier. How about I arrange for you to join the army and give you some experience?"

Ma Xun asked cautiously, "If I join the army, my brother-in-law won't have any objections, right?"

Ma Xiuying understood what Ma Xun meant and asked with a smile, "Are you worried that your brother-in-law will be unhappy about your relatives taking over the army?"

Ma Xun nodded. Historical experience showed that when foreign relatives come to power, they will be purged, or when foreign relatives come to power, there will be unrest.

"It's hard to say whether you can become a general if you join the army." Ma Xiuying said with a smile, but the truth was very hurtful, "With people like Xu Tiande around, no matter how talented you are, can you compare to them?"

Ma Xun's worries disappeared in an instant. Now was the early years of the founding of the country, and the Ming Dynasty was full of generals and brave generals. People like Mu Ying, Lan Yu, and Fu Youde could not show up now.

Today's Ming army is too luxurious. It's not that some people are not good enough, but that there are too many people with military merits.

In history, Zhu Yuanzhang conferred titles on his meritorious officials, but Fu Youde was only a marquis, ranking 28th.

Lan Yu was even more straightforward. When Lan Yu first conferred titles on his meritorious officials, he did not even have a place. Not to mention the title of marquis, he did not even have a viscount.

Mu Ying did not have a title when the first great honoring ceremony was held for meritorious officials. He was a general who participated in the pacification of Fujian and commanded all the armies. Now he was just a rising star in the army and could not be considered a pillar.

Seeing Ma Xun's embarrassment, Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "Let Mu Ying take you to the army to familiarize yourself with it first."

Ma Xun asked again, "Should we talk to our brother-in-law about these things?"

"I'm not appointing you as a general, so I can make the arrangements." Ma Xiuying said directly, "Don't be too involved in the military. Watch, listen, and ask more first, and don't mess around."

Ma Xun nodded repeatedly. He knew himself well. If he joined the army, he would be just a rookie.

Be low-key when you should, even if you will be like a fish in water in the military because of your status.

However, the military is also the place where strength is most important. If you don’t have the ability, you will be laughed at even if you have a special status.

What's more, if you don't know what's good for you and try to show off your ability, not only will you lose your soldiers and generals, but you may also lose your life, which would be bad.

Ma Xun asked again, "My brother-in-law gave me the title of a lieutenant commander. What position does that mean in the army?"

"Below the rank of general." Ma Xiuying explained with a smile, "That's enough. I'll find an opportunity for you to go out for a while, and then you can be appointed as the assistant of the Grand Military Governor's Office."

Ma Xun's tone was somewhat uncertain, "The deputy director of the Grand Military Governor's Office? Doesn't that mean he is a second-rank official, the same rank as a minister?"

"It's true that he is a second-rank official. You are the emperor's uncle, and sooner or later you will be made a duke, which is a super-rank official." Ma Xiuying explained patiently, "I gave you an official position because I was afraid that you would only have a title but no official position. Your brother-in-law and I have already made arrangements."

Ma Xun didn't know what to say for a moment. His future seemed to be clearly arranged. It didn't matter if he didn't make any achievements. He would have a superb title and live a comfortable life.

But this is not what he pursues. He still wants to do something in his heart.

At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, there was a lot of work to be done. It would be unreasonable to just eat and wait for death.

Do what you can, Ma Xun, the king's uncle, has to work hard!

(End of this chapter)