The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 21: Rich and Idle Man
Ma Xun's life is very fulfilling. He basically gets up at around eight in the morning, washes up, and then studies something in the study.

He was busy organizing information and various ideas. He wanted to study granulated gunpowder, improve firearms, study traditional antibiotics, purify alcohol, etc.

It’s just that there aren’t many solutions for now, and we’ll need to study hard and spend a lot of money to achieve any results in the future.

After lunch, I went outside the city and practiced horse riding with Chang Mao and others. Gradually, they made some progress and could basically trot on horseback.

After practicing riding, he went to the military camp and, with Mu Ying's company, he got a preliminary understanding of some common knowledge in the military, such as the number of troops, weapons and equipment, the system of generals and soldiers, etc.

This kind of life is very fulfilling and can be considered as a rich and leisurely person.

In the evening, Ma Xun said, "Mu Ying, the Art of War: one is measurement, two is quantity, three is number, four is balance, and five is victory. The terrain gives rise to measurement, measurement gives rise to quantity, quantity gives rise to number, number gives rise to balance, and balance gives rise to victory."

Mu Ying listened patiently. This is the "Military Formations" chapter in "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.

Ma Xun continued to ask, "I just don't quite understand, how else can we tell whether an army is strong or weak, besides looking at weapons and other things?"

Mu Ying thought about it carefully and said, "Uncle, should I know this now?"

Ma Xun slowed down his riding and said, "Now that we're here, do you think you should know?"

Mu Ying suddenly realized what was going on and said, "Then I am not very knowledgeable and I don't understand. The Chief Censor knows about military affairs, and his second son also knows about military affairs. How about we go to their house and ask for their advice?"

Ma Xun smiled happily and said, "If you don't understand something every two days, we will go to the house of the Chief Censor to ask for advice. It is good for you to review the old and learn the new."

Mu Ying held back his laughter. Although he was a little older, he always regarded himself as a junior in front of Ma Xun. And when getting along with Ma Xun, Mu Ying never felt that this uncle was overbearing.

The guards at Liu Bowen's mansion were numb. They saw the king's uncle from afar. He was coming to ask for advice again.

The so-called bad guest comes to your door, and this is a bad guest that cannot be refused.

The brothers Liu Lian and Liu Jing, who were reading at home, were also numb and hurried to the main hall to entertain the guests.

Mu Ying took a sip of tea and said, "My Mu Chun is making a lot of noise, so I'm going back first."

Liu Lian also lost his patience and said, "I have never really understood the art of war. Second brother, you should discuss it with the emperor's uncle."

As the second son of Liu Bowen, Liu Jingjing was studious since childhood. He was well-versed in various classics, liked to talk about military affairs, and studied strategies. In history, he also followed Emperor Shengzong of Tang to suppress an uprising.

During the Jingnan Campaign, he offered sixteen suggestions to Li Jinglong, but unfortunately none of them were adopted.

Then he resigned from office and retired. After Zhu Di proclaimed himself emperor, Liu Jing, who was captured and brought back to Beijing, still called Zhu Di "Your Highness" and directly stated that Zhu Di was a usurper. As a result, he hanged himself in prison.

After the others left, Liu Jing looked at Ma Xun with a smile, "Uncle, should we continue discussing the art of war now?"

"Let's discuss it. I'm really scared right now." Ma Xun complained, "Your Majesty might want to send me out to train the troops. I'm not good enough for that."

Liu Jing consoled him, "Don't worry, uncle. If you go to train the troops, you will definitely be supported by elite soldiers and strong generals. As long as you are humble and accept advice, you will definitely be able to train the troops well."

Ma Xun understood, "I just need to stop talking nonsense and let my men train the troops, okay?"

Liu Jing smiled but said nothing. Everyone knew whether this uncle of the emperor had military ability or talent.

Ma Xun looked at Liu Jing and asked, "You are still in white clothes now, right? If His Majesty lets me go to train the troops, can I take you with me? I think you are talented, how about you follow me to train the troops?"

Liu Jing was tempted, but a little embarrassed, "Uncle, there are so many generals in the court. I am not talented enough to join the army."

Liu Jing is only twenty years old, at the prime of his youth. How could he not be passionate?

It was simply that he knew that his father was disliked by the emperor, and with his origins as a member of the Zhejiang East faction, he had no status in the army.

As he was talking, Liu Shuning came over with a cup of tea, "Second brother, please have some tea. Uncle, please have some tea." Liu Jing glared at his sister. Is there any need to be polite?
Ma Xun took the tea with a smile, looked at Liu Shuning and said, "I remember asking Wan'er to ask you to copy some medical books yesterday. Have you finished it?"

Liu Jing couldn't stand it any more. This uncle of the emperor was polite, but not very polite. How could he stare into a woman's eyes while talking? This was too abrupt.

Moreover, everyone knows what the uncle of the emperor is thinking. He either comes to the mansion himself or asks the eldest daughter of the Chang family to come under various pretexts.

We haven’t gotten engaged yet, and even if we were engaged, this shouldn’t happen!
Liu Shuning pursed her lips and said, "Of course it has been copied, but other people can do it too."

"That's different. I only trust my family members to do these things." Ma Xun said, "You can guess a little about those things. They are related to qi disease."

Liu Jing and Liu Shuning stopped talking. It was no longer a secret that the Queen and the Crown Prince had respiratory problems.

Just as they were talking, a cough was heard, and the stern-faced old man Liu Bowen made a brilliant appearance.

The prospective son-in-law was a little timid when he saw his father-in-law. Ma Xun immediately said, "Since I have finished discussing the art of war with my second brother, and you have copied the medical books, I will take my leave. See you next time, Chief Censor."

Liu Bowen nodded slightly. He didn't dare to say politely to stay for dinner, because this uncle of the king would really stay without any hesitation.

Looking at Ma Xun's embarrassed escape, Liu Bowen snorted unhappily. Then looking at his daughter who was laughing with her hands covering her mouth, Liu Bowen felt even worse. She hadn't even married yet!

In Wuying Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled, "My little brother really doesn't treat us as his own family. He never enters the palace unless summoned."

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "My uncle is busy now. He is busy learning military tactics and reading books. Yesterday, he asked someone to call him to the main hall to study. He said that he had sprained his waist while practicing martial arts."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed, "You sprained your waist, and you ran to Liu Lao's house when you sprained your waist?"

Ma Xiuying knocked on the table, "Mr. Liu, it's Mr. Liu! He's about to become my brother's father-in-law, so why are you saying this?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled indifferently, that's just an old man!
But Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized something was wrong, "That old man wants to be divided among the elders?"

"He is a minister, you are the king!" Ma Xiuying knew what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking, and smiled and advised, "I am a younger brother, you are you, what does it have to do with you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was still not convinced, "That old bastard got a great advantage!"

Ma Xiuying looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Arrange for me to go out in a few days. Whether I follow Baoer or others, I will have some military merits to my name."

Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily, "Sister, you said that I, as an emperor, have been responsible for cleaning up other people's messes. Tang He, that Tang is a big mouth and useless. This time, when we confer titles on meritorious officials, he will forget about becoming a duke."

Ma Xiuying was also helpless. Tang He joined the army early and had a high starting point, but his abilities were slightly insufficient. If he was really given the title of Duke, the title of Duke of the Ming Dynasty would be worthless.

Sighing, Ma Xiuying said, "Think of a way again. I'll find an opportunity to arrange for him to make meritorious service in the future. I'll just confer him the title of Marquis next year."

Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he laughed, "I haven't even arranged for Tang He yet, and now I have a brother-in-law. I have to find him military merits."

Ma Xiuying asked back, "Are you unhappy?"

"How can I not be happy? I'm just worried that my military achievements are too few." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile, "My brother-in-law will be awarded the title of Duke next year. Although he has the merit of saving you and the prince, it is not enough."

Zhu Biao immediately said, "Dad, Mom, my uncle has made great contributions. Are we really going to make him the first among the founding heroes?"

Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying also understood Zhu Biao's meaning, and knew that such an arrangement was definitely inappropriate.

"How can he be ahead of your uncle Xu? He should be ranked fourth or fifth at most." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "When the time comes, go and tell your second brother so that he won't think too much."

Ma Xiuying was very confident, "Bao'er will definitely not think too much about it, but it's hard to say about other people."

Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely domineering and resolute. "It's none of their business to decide! How can I let everyone get what they want? I am the emperor, and I have the final say!"

(End of this chapter)