The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 94 How to Be a Good Uncle
It seemed that Ma Xun was just visiting relatives and friends, and interacting with those Huaixi nobles.

This is something that many people would like to see happen, and they also think it is the right thing for Ma Xun to do. After all, the status of those Huaixi people is different.

I don't know when Chang Mao showed up again, "Uncle, I have to go to the banquet tomorrow."

Ma Xun was already numb, "I know, call me when the time comes."

Chang Mao asked curiously, "Aunt and eldest sister are out again? They are even busier!"

Ma Xun could only smile at this, he was aware of the situation, but he would not stop it, nor could he, because Liu Shuning and Chang Wan both had missions to accomplish.

Those were all tasks arranged by Ma Xiuying. The two of them were now the queen's spokespersons among the nobles.

Chang Mao grabbed a handful of carrots and became a little worried. "Uncle, what do you think I should do in the future?"

Ma Xun was a little surprised and confused, "What are you going to do?"

Chang Mao was unreliable, thinking he was going to feed Wangcai, but he simply wiped the carrot and started eating it himself.

"My father is a general, and my sister will soon become the Crown Princess." Chang Mao said worriedly, "How can I get married in the future?"

Ma Xun said with a smile, "You should marry when it's your turn. What, do you have a crush on your childhood sweetheart?"

Chang Mao immediately shook his head and said, "It's just the eldest brother of the crown prince and the second prince. We are all decent people. Who would play with a little girl for no reason?"

There seems to be nothing wrong with this statement. Many of the boys in this group of founding generals are of similar age, so they must have gotten together to have fun.

Then Chang Mao said, "Uncle, why don't you ask my aunt to help me find a wife among the civil officials? I think this is a good idea, as many of the military families are not very virtuous."

"I can't make the decision, and your aunt can't make the decision either." Ma Xun said with a smile, "Think about it carefully. With your status, the worst case scenario is that the prince and your sister will make the decision."

Chang Mao became even more worried, "Uncle, I am so talented, but I will be wasted and have no place to use my skills!"

Ma Xun didn't understand and teased, "You are awesome, how come you are awesome?"

Chang Mao was very unconvinced, but also very sure, "How can I not be good? My uncle learned riding skills from me! If I really let go, I can beat my uncle in three rounds at most!"

Ma Xun's expression was subtle. He kept adjusting his breathing and didn't bother with the rebellious boy.

Chang Mao continued to complain, "My father has made great military achievements. If my sister gives birth to another nephew, then I will be like my uncle, eating, drinking, having fun and doing nothing all day long!"

Depend on!
Ma Xun felt that he had loved Chang Mao in vain, taking him out to play whenever he had time. However, in the boy's mind, he, the "fake uncle", was only responsible for eating, drinking and having fun, and was not doing his job.

But think about Chang Mao's worries and they are very simple. He has been riding horses and wielding swords since he was a child, and he has always wanted to achieve great things.

However, since his father's contributions were so great and his sister was going to become the Crown Princess, many people felt that it was not surprising that Chang Mao would be the next uncle of the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Ma Xun smiled and comforted the worried young man, "Don't worry too much. His Majesty and the Crown Prince are very broad-minded and will not let you sit idle. They will be happy only if you have the ability. You don't need to worry about being suspected because of your great military achievements."

Chang Mao asked in disbelief, "Really? But my father and sister are both so powerful."

"My Ming Dynasty is not the Song Dynasty, understand? In my Ming Dynasty, relatives can be officials and manage affairs." Ma Xun explained, "You don't know these things because you don't read. Go back and ask your sister and you will know."

Chang Mao immediately shook his head and said, "That won't work. If I ask her, I'll get scolded. I don't know what the prince is thinking. It would be great to find a gentle wife."

Chang Mao really felt this way. His mother had a bad temper and his sister was also suppressed by her bloodline, so he was thinking about marrying a wife who spoke softly and gently in the future.

Ma Xun immediately reminded him, "Your father is in the capital now, you need to learn more about military tactics. Don't just think about fighting and charging into battle all day long, you need to command thousands of troops!"

Chang Mao shook his head decisively, "That won't work. Commanding troops is not as exciting as charging into battle! I have to be the Overlord of Chu!"

Ma Xun immediately corrected him and said, "The King of Chu can also command thousands of troops, not only is he extremely brave."

"Then I am the Overlord of Chu who can't command troops." Chang Mao was still very determined. "My uncle also said that being a vanguard is the most enjoyable and charging into battle is the most exciting. My father was also a fierce general!"

Chang Yuchun was indeed a powerful general in the past, but through continuous learning and growth he was able to command thousands of troops.

Now Lan Yu and Chang Mao have both learned the wrong things and only want to become brave and powerful generals.

Chang Mao expressed his youthful worries here, as well as his concerns about the life of his future uncle-in-law, and then ran back.

Young people are like this, they have their own troubles, but with Chang Mao's personality, he will probably start riding horses and practicing swordsmanship in the training ground soon, or take his younger brothers to visit friends and relatives.

Ma Xun decided to learn from his mistakes and become braver. It was fine that he couldn't beat people like Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, but Chang Mao was so shameless that he irritated him.

"Uncle, please hit my crotch!" He Da was anxious beside him, "Who can continue hitting me after the balls are blown off!"

Another guard also said, "Don't even think about beating him to pieces, just give him a mild hit. When the person bends over and screams in pain, I'll hit his head with a stick!" Ma Xun practiced stick techniques for physical fitness and self-protection, while He Da and his men taught how to kill people more efficiently.

Everyone is right, after all, they are in different positions and have different experiences.

Just as Ma Xun continued to practice martial arts diligently, three familiar faces appeared.

"uncle!"

"uncle!"

"uncle!"

It has been several months since we last saw each other. Zhu Chong, Zhu Gang and Zhu Di went back to their hometown at the beginning of the year to farm for a few months. Now we are finally able to let them come back.

Fengyang is also close to the capital, so Zhu Chong and others, who received the imperial edict, immediately rushed back happily with their personal guards.

Although they could ride horses and train soldiers in their hometown of Fengyang, which was quite comfortable, they obviously preferred life in the capital.

Ma Xun laughed and said, "You look much more energetic. Are you doing well in your hometown?"

Zhu Chong said first, "It's OK. We met a few of our father's early neighbors and we were obedient and respectful to them."

Ma Xun smiled and nodded, "This is as it should be. You are now princes and your status is noble. It's just that you shouldn't show off in front of your former neighbors, otherwise you will be a disgrace to your father."

Zhu Chong said quickly, "My mother and my elder brother said so, and we listened. We just felt it was boring to talk to those people, so we just listened and put on a smile. We also gave them a lot of food and cloth, after all, they are our father's neighbors."

Ma Xun smiled and nodded, saying, "In the past, Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty returned to his hometown and sang with the villagers. Do you know what it was?"

"The Great Wind Song," Zhu Di replied immediately. "When Emperor Gaozu returned to Pei County, he summoned all his old friends, elders, and children to drink with him. He drank and sang with the villagers, and Emperor Gaozu himself played the zither and sang."

Ma Xun said with emotion, "This is what a real man does. How happy I am! Next time I go back to Fujian, my hometown, I will bring your aunt and cousin with me to give some money and cloth to the villagers who took care of me back then."

Zhu Chong immediately smiled and said, "My mother has rewarded many people in my uncle's name. If those people had not been so kind to my uncle, they would have been summoned to serve as officials long ago."

Ma Xun was slightly stunned, but it was not surprising. Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying had already sent people to investigate his life trajectory countless times, so some things were not secrets.

Ma Xun continued to ask, "You're not just here to farm this time, right?"

Zhu Chong quickly replied, "Of course not. Following the order of our father and elder brother, we are also staying in Lianzhong to guard the military. There are also many visits from some of the meritorious officials who retired in the past."

Ma Xun asked with concern, "Are there any powerful people in my hometown who have occupied the people's land and oppressed the people?"

Zhu Chong and others were just laughing, and it seemed that the situation was not very good.

Fengyang was the imperial capital, and now it has been upgraded to Zhongdu. Zhu Yuanzhang is also vigorously developing it, and in addition to the people who originally had local household registration, many people in Fengyang have migrated there.

Including meritorious officials like Li Shanchang who retired, they were basically rewarded with land and mansions in Fengyang Prefecture.

Ma Xun could only sigh at this. It seemed that there were indeed a lot of things to do next.

The rectification of civil service administration can be said to be an urgent matter. Not only corrupt officials, but also those meritorious and meritorious officials are the focus of the next deal.

In Fengyang Imperial City, there are some people who dare to wantonly oppress the people and occupy their land. It goes without saying that this is also true in other places.

Zhu Chong asked expectantly, "Uncle, when are you going to court?"

Ma Xun was a little surprised, "Go to court, why do I have to go to court again?"

Zhu Chong and the others were really anxious. "Uncle, we are all back. You have to take care of the matter of the crown prince. We have to hurry up!"

Ma Xun felt that he was not an old man, but what Zhu Chong and others said made sense. After all, it seemed that this matter was initiated by him, so naturally he needed to hurry up and get it done thoroughly.

The second prince, the third prince, and the fourth prince, these are the current "official titles" of Zhu Chong and others. Even though everyone knows their royal titles, they have not been officially conferred yet.

So all of them are anxious. How can the title of the second son of the emperor be as prestigious as the title of King of Qin?
Ma Xun thought about it carefully and said, "Then I will go to court tomorrow, but the matter of conferring the title of king must be done on a good day."

Everyone is aware of this matter, and Ma Xun seems to be just doing things in order to go with the flow.

But the reality is that some things always require someone to take the lead, and Ma Xun is the best candidate.

Zhu Di suddenly said, "Uncle, Prime Minister Li has mentioned you a lot."

"Prime Minister Li?" Ma Xun was stunned for a moment. "How long has it been since he retreated? Why does he want to return to the court again?"

(End of this chapter)