The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 31 Chang Shiwan

Ma Xun tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep, not only because of the hot weather, but also because he was anxious.

There is no accurate account of how Chang Yuchun died in history, and it is difficult to find the right remedy.

He only knew that Chang Yuchun had died during his return to the south, most likely in Liuhechuan. He didn't know the exact date, but it should have been in the past few days.

The style of taking off armor. Nowadays, people don’t wear armor when marching, so there is no such thing as the style of taking off armor.

Myocardial infarction? Cerebral infarction? Heart disease?
There are many diseases that can cause sudden death, not to mention that Ma Xun doesn't know whether Chang Yuchun is sick or not.

You can't just run up to Chang Yuchun and predict the future, right?

If you really do that, you will probably get beaten up. Even the uncle of the emperor cannot curse people, that would be too uneducated.

Ma Xun tossed and turned until late at night, and he felt that he had just fallen asleep when he vaguely heard some noise.

He immediately stood up and asked while getting dressed, "Has General Chang started yet?"

He Da smiled and said, "It's dawning early, so it's time to march. If the war is urgent, we might have to march with torches at night and sleep during the day."

It is difficult to march at night, but if the war is really urgent, there is no choice.

Ma Xun said worriedly, "General Chang is leading an army of 50,000 now, so he definitely can't leave the camp all at once, right?"

"How would I know what General Chang's plan is, but it's normal that the General's Central Army will definitely not leave first." He Da explained, "If the General leaves, it may take until the 9th hour."

The main army began to prepare to set off at around four in the morning, but Chang Yuchun's central army could not set off until nine o'clock.

This is understandable. It is impossible for 50,000 troops to rush out of the camp at once. They are marching one by one. Even in Liuhechuan, not all 50,000 troops are here. There are troops marching around.

Some walked in front, some walked behind, and everyone was marching in order.

Ma Xun opened his mouth and ordered, "Send someone to General Chang's camp. We are leaving late anyway, so I will go to his camp to observe."

He Da immediately arranged these things, and he didn't think it was abrupt. The uncle was very studious, and he kept asking for advice on war along the way, wanting to learn all aspects.

Just as the sky was getting light, He Da came back and said, "My Lord, General Chang wants you to come over."

Bringing Liu Jing and accompanied by Mu Ying, Ma found Chang Yuchun's central army camp.

Chang Yuchun ate the meat and said, "We slaughtered a few sheep. This time we captured a lot of cattle and sheep when we captured Kaiping. I brought a lot of them with me."

"It's unrealistic to send them all back. The soldiers will just eat them." Ma Xun said with a smile, "If I win a battle and get some captives someday, I will keep them for myself to enjoy first."

Chang Yuchun said jokingly, "There are still some Tartar women in Kaiping. I didn't touch some of the prestigious ones. If you don't mind, you can see women there."

Ma Xun suddenly didn't know what to say. It was certainly not allowed for women to accompany the army on the march, but sometimes the military discipline was not very good, especially after the city was captured.

He Da couldn't stay still and immediately said, "General, my uncle is still a child. How can I say these things when his brother-in-law is right in front of me!"

Chang Yuchun looked at Liu Jing, then said to Ma Xun, "I am a very honest man. I was fine with hardship before. But now I am the uncle of the emperor, and I don't even have a bed warmer?"

It was normal to have such doubts. It was fine when Ma Xun was wandering around. At that time, being alive and well was his biggest dream. But now Ma Xun was the uncle of the emperor, and the emperor and empress were constantly favoring him.

Not to mention giving a favor to the maid, no one would say anything even if he took a concubine first.

Zhu Yuanzhang now strictly prohibited officials from visiting prostitutes, but there were still "compounds" on the banks of the Qinhuai River, which were "state-owned brothels."

There is also a market for various brothels and other service industries. After all, this industry has existed since ancient times.

Ma Xun smiled and said, "If you have the chance in the future, you can go to the brothel and listen to the music. I heard that many dancers are good at singing and dancing." Chang Yuchun laughed, but it seemed that he was unable to impart some experience to Ma Xun.

Liu Jing did not speak either. The main reason was that there was a difference between a brothel and a whorehouse. Some elegant people still liked to go to brothels, not necessarily for that matter, but to watch singing and dancing.

Chang Yuchun wiped his mouth after eating heartily and said, "We will talk more after we return to the capital. Now military affairs are more important."

Chang Yuchun continued to make arrangements, saying, "The people you lead can take a break today. Wait until my rear troops have finished walking, then you can set off. The road ahead is difficult to walk on, and it's a mess because of people and horses trampling on it."

Now is a special period, and military affairs come first in everything. Naturally, there is no time to have a good drink or get together.

Chang Yuchun was wearing a Taoist robe, the only special thing about him was that he wore leggings, but this was also normal attire.

It was not a wind of removing armor. Ma Xun was sure that Chang Yuchun in history did not die from a wind of removing armor. Now in the entire army, only a very small number of soldiers who needed to remain alert were wearing armor.

If other people wear armor in this hot weather, they will just be asking for trouble. Even a unit with the strictest military discipline would not do that.

Chang Yuchun, who came from a peasant family and had worked as a bandit, was able to become a general. In addition to his talent, it was also because he had lofty ambitions since he was young and he had been studying hard.

Chang Yuchun did not become complacent after having just won a great victory. He had won too many battles before, and this time was not worthy of his complacency.

He was still arranging the marches of various units, and Chang Yuchun carefully inquired about the reports from the Tangqi and the intelligence sent by the messengers, and he handled these military affairs with ease.

No one can succeed easily. People like Chang Yuchun are talented and work harder. After twenty years of blood and rain and surviving hundreds of battles, he is the Chang Shiwan of today.

"Don't worry, little brother. The Yuan Tartars in Kaiping basically don't dare to attack." Chang Yuchun glanced at Ma Xun behind him and comforted him with a smile, "As long as I hold on until September, I can return to Beijing with success."

Ma Xun told the truth, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Brother Chang. I know my own worth. I'm fine if I die, but if tens of thousands of soldiers suffer because of me, and the Queen and the Crown Prince are implicated, then I will never redeem myself."

Chang Yuchun smiled and consoled him, explaining, "The Yuan Tartars are scared by my attacks, so they don't dare to come here."

Chang Yuchun looked around and whispered, "There are still some Yuan Tartars who are still determined to take revenge, but they are just some small tribes. If Mu Ying and others go and destroy them, all the military merits will be yours."

Ma Xun suddenly became nervous, "Why didn't Brother Chang clean it up?"

"A small tribe of dozens or hundreds of people cannot accomplish anything. My army is going to fight a big battle." Chang Yuchun said with a smile, "I will take care of these things. His Majesty and the Queen will also be happy to see you make achievements."

Ma Xun seemed to understand that Chang Yuchun probably deliberately left behind a few small tribes as a military achievement for Ma Xun.

You have a large number of elite field troops at your disposal, and you want me to fight the village tyrants. Isn't this a waste of my talents?
Although they complained in private, Ma Xun could also understand everyone's good intentions. Everyone was trying to increase his qualifications for being promoted to a noble or general.

Even without these merits, one can still be granted a title of nobility and appointed as a general, but it is never a bad thing to be more legitimate.

Chang Yuchun wiped the sweat off his face and said, "I'm leaving soon, so you should go back to the camp and rest."

Ma Xun said worriedly, "I'm fine now, so I'll just go with Brother Chang for a while. My sister-in-law took care of me when I was in the capital, and I like Chang Mao and the others too."

Chang Yuchun smiled and nodded, "Alright, even though we brothers just met for the first time, we are still a family. My wife has a good relationship with the queen, and the crown prince is close to my daughter, so we are a family."

Ma Xun joked, "Your Majesty pointed me to the daughter of the Chief Censor. I know that many people in Huaixi don't like people in Zhejiang. It was my sister-in-law and Wan'er who helped me. They called her out to my wife every now and then."

Chang Yuchun laughed out loud, saying that it was all clearly written in the letter home.

The king's uncle praised the Crown Prince and Wan'er as a perfect couple, and played with the three Chang and Mao brothers all day long, and they were very close.

Otherwise, a person like Chang Yuchun, even if he was loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying, would not be so nice to Ma Xun for no reason.

Your uncle Ma likes and takes care of my Chang Yuchun's family, so I, Chang Yuchun, will naturally take care of your uncle Ma a hundred times better!
(End of this chapter)