The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 3 What does the title have to do with me!

Ma Xun underestimated the determination and speed of the ancients. Both the Jinyiwei and Zhu Yuanzhang worked day and night.

The daily march is about 30 li, which is a normal march. But for some urgent reports, a 100 li per day is a conservative speed.

He thought that the messenger might have just arrived in Yingtian Prefecture, but who knew that Zhu Yuanzhang had already explored the whole place.

Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and Li Wenzhong were still in the Northern Expedition. Zhu Yuanzhang wrote a letter and ordered Mu Ying to lead the army to escort the empress and the prince to Suzhou.

Originally, Ma Taigong was posthumously named King Xu, and a temple and tomb were planned to be built. Now that Ma Xun had sent Ma Taigong's remains back, it was natural for Ma Xiuying, a filial daughter, to come.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a very filial person. Before he ascended the throne, he had people build a mausoleum for his parents in his hometown, and had already decided to build Zhongdu in his hometown of Fengyang.

Ma Xun was worried and couldn't sleep or eat, but he couldn't escape now because there were people all around him.

Ma Xun, who had dark circles under his eyes, came to stroll in the yard after breakfast, "Wangcai, have you eaten?"

The skinny donkey was very unsympathetic, and it was fed very well, with fine feed, bean cakes, and eggs, which even some good horses did not have.

After carefully checking the trough, Ma Xun felt relieved. "Although we are being watched by others, we will not be treated unfairly. If we are doomed, at least we will die well fed, right?"

The diligent Zhu Yuanzhang also walked out of the room, and when he saw Ma Xun, he smiled and greeted him, "Little brother, you're up so early?"

"Walk around." Ma Xun said, "It's a pity that I'm not allowed to go out, so I can only stroll around the yard."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a smile, "Would you like to visit Prince Xu's mansion as well?"

Ma Xun immediately complained, "What about Prince Xu's Mansion? I was brought here and put under house arrest before I had a chance to see what Suzhou is like. I am only allowed to burn incense to the old man's coffin every day."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "I will accompany you to pay homage to our ancestors. Let's go."

Ma Xun was placed under house arrest at the post station, but the old man's coffin was placed in the temple next to the mausoleum of Prince Xu. Now that Empress Ma had not come to recognize her, no one dared to put the old man's coffin in the sacrificial hall, nor did they dare to leave it alone.

Ma Xun noticed something was wrong and asked the guard beside him, "Brother, are you a high-ranking official?"

"I used to be a marshal," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile, "I am the leader of these people, and they are under my jurisdiction."

The Ming Dynasty had not yet conferred titles on meritorious officials, and the Marshal's Office and the Marshal were the garrisons and garrison commanders.

"Excuse me!" Ma Xun immediately felt that this was an important person, "Brother, can you tell me my name?"

Zhu Yuanzhang just laughed it off and still did not tell Ma Xun his name.

Arriving at the small temple, Ma Xun offered incense respectfully, but when he saw Zhu Yuanzhang also kneeling down and kowtowed, he suddenly became anxious.

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished offering incense, Ma Xun returned the greeting and said, "Brother, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to do this?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Ma Xun and asked, "What's wrong with that? Only you can offer sacrifices in front of the coffin of King Xu, but I can't?"

Ma Xun didn't know how to refute for a moment, so he could only say, "You haven't admitted it yet, it's too early for you to kowtow."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a smile, "Didn't King Xu leave you a token like a jade pendant? If there was a token, it would be easy."

Ma Xun was even more depressed. "If there really was a token, I would have taken it out long ago. Why would I stay here for no reason?"

After offering incense, Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Come with me to take a look at Suzhou now."

Ma Xunxun was looking for something, he had been under house arrest at the post station. Now it was definitely a good thing that someone could take him out for a walk.

Ma Xun asked as he walked, "How old is Big Brother this year?"

"I'm 42 years old, with five sons and two daughters." Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Ma Xun and said, "What else do you want to test me on? Just tell me."

Although Ma Xun was embarrassed, he kept saying, "Big brother is so lucky, and his children are so lucky!"

When the country was first settled, Suzhou was also a land of war. Liu Futong and the Yuan army fought many battles here, and Zhu Yuanzhang continued to restore people's livelihood after taking over the place.

Especially since we have just entered the early spring, there are even fewer people on the streets, and most of the people have pale faces and are skinny. It is so difficult to get enough to eat!
Ma Xun pondered for a moment and asked, "Brother, how many days will it take to get here from Yingtian Prefecture?" Zhu Yuanzhang calculated and said, "I estimate that the queen and her family will arrive in five or six days."

Ma Xun was anxious and even more nervous, "Is it really the Queen who is coming here in person?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was amused by Ma Xun's reaction. "Since this is about Prince Xu, it is natural that the Queen should come in person. Do you think the Emperor should come?"

Ma Xun thought it made sense and asked, "The Queen is kind and will definitely forgive me if there is any misunderstanding."

Zhu Yuanzhang said affirmatively, "That may not be the case. If it is something else, the Queen may be magnanimous and forgive you. But since this is about Prince Xu, there can be no mistakes."

Zhu Yuanzhang then joked, "Now that the queen is here, you will become the Prince of Xu!"

Ma Xun was stunned for a moment, then he reacted, "Even if the queen recognizes me, what does Prince Xu have to do with me?"

Zhu Yuanzhang analyzed carefully and said, "The former King Xu only had one daughter and one son. Since you are the son of King Xu, the title of King Xu will naturally fall to you."

"You must be joking!" Ma Xun immediately shook his head. "I have no merit. How can I become the Prince of Xu just because I am the Queen's brother? I have a different surname. How can I be the king?"

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately looked up to Ma Xun and thought that it was right to posthumously confer the title of Xu Wang on Ma Taigong. However, that was also because Ma Taigong had no offspring, so he was posthumously conferred the title of Xu Wang.

Guo Zixing has not yet been posthumously named King of Chuyang!

Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "Even if I can't be a king, I must be a duke at least."

Ma Xun shook his head and said, "The emperor hasn't conferred titles on his meritorious officials yet. There are many people in the court who have made great contributions. It would be unreasonable to confer a title on me. That would cause chaos in the Ming Dynasty. Do you think it's a good idea to confer titles on the relatives of the emperor's wife?"

Zhu Yuanzhang also subconsciously shook his head. If future emperors followed suit, the title system of the Ming Dynasty would be in complete chaos.

That would mean you would spend your whole life walking on the edge of a knife and making countless military achievements. It would be better to have a good daughter and send her to the palace!
At this critical juncture, Zhu Yuanzhang must also be cautious, because he will soon start to reward meritorious officials, and many people are eagerly looking forward to it!
Ma Xun patted Zhu Yuanzhang on the shoulder and said, "Isn't that clear now? The prince has nothing to do with me, and I can't even think about the dukes and marquises. It's still unclear whether you recognize me or not, so why think about that?"

Zhu Yuanzhang then asked, "Are you willing to accept this? You are the descendant of Prince Xu and the younger brother of the Queen. If I don't give you the title, won't the people of the world laugh at the Emperor?"

"It would be a joke if I gave it to you!" Ma Xun said cheerfully, "Forget it, let's not talk about this. The title is too far away. I'd better go back and boil some water to take a bath. I'm all dirty."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the guards behind him with sharp and fierce eyes, "They don't allow you to take a bath?"

"That's right. I took a hot bath earlier and it was so comfortable." Ma Xun said happily, "I had a full meal, and now my body is clean and I have clean clothes. It's worth it."

Zhu Yuanzhang also said happily, "Then let's go back and boil some water and take a bath! I'll rub your back. You've been away for more than half a year, so you must be very tired!"

There was no need for Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xun to do things like boiling water themselves. Even though Ma Xun's identity was unknown and he was under house arrest, no one would treat him unfairly. He just had no freedom.

Several guards brought hot water and poured it into the bath tub, and the room became relatively warm.

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed to the bathtub next to him and said, "Why, you're still embarrassed? Man, be more open!"

Ma Xun thought about it and it made sense. He had even taken a bath in the big bathtub before, and now everyone had their own bathtub.

Zhu Yuanzhang splashed hot water on his chest, and glanced at Ma Xun who was taking off his clothes. Suddenly, he clenched the towel and looked at the scars on Ma Xun's back and calves, which made him feel even more distressed.

These were all caused by whipping and beating.

I have had a very hard life, wandering around all alone since I was a teenager. It is rare that he still has such a broad mind despite such an experience!
Ma Xun rubbed his arms comfortably, flicking off the mud, "Brother, have you ever fought in a war?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "Of course I have fought before, why do you want to fight?"

"I can't even ride a horse, how can I fight in a war!" Ma Xun said self-deprecatingly, "If I go to war, I will be cut off as a military merit."

Zhu Yuanzhang said confidently, "It's not difficult. If you really want military merit, I'll let Tiande and Boren take you. If you still feel they are unreliable, you can follow Baoer, he can give you some military merit."

Ma Xun was still rubbing the mud off his body, but the next moment he was terrified, "Excuse me, big brother, who are you?"

(End of this chapter)