Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 213 On the Value of Empress Ma
"That bastard Hu Weiyong wants to see us make a fool of ourselves? He'll never see that happen!"

Inside the Wuying Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip of tea and muttered a curse under his breath.

He knew Hu Weiyong all too well; he was an audacious man who would risk everything to climb the ladder of power, a man who valued power above his life.

Extremely ambitious.

His previous actions, such as abolishing the local provinces, establishing the Three Offices, and having Biao'er conduct hearings, were all attempts to dismantle the Central Secretariat.

Hu Weiyong's power as the prime minister of the Central Secretariat would also be diminished.

Hu Weiyong was naturally unhappy.

This time, after Xue Xiang presented his memorial, Hu Weiyong reported it to Biao'er so enthusiastically, appearing to be loyal to the country.

But Zhu Yuanzhang knew perfectly well what he was really thinking.

This is setting a difficult task for himself and his son, and making a fool of themselves.

Even though you've already provided a solution, don't be fooled by the fact that you've already offered one.

Based on his understanding of Hu Weiyong and many other people with ulterior motives, he knew deep down that they absolutely did not believe that the method he had suggested would be effective.

Wait and see if they get proven wrong, and see if the Yellow River can be completely controlled.

They are happy as long as the emperor himself is unhappy and suffers setbacks.

As for the Yellow River being uncontrollable, causing devastating floods, ruining families, and tearing apart households, they don't care.

Anyway, the water won't flood them. No matter how big the flood is, it won't affect their official positions or prevent them from enjoying their lives.

Unfortunately, they didn't realize that they were no longer the same Zhu Yuanzhang they once were.

To think that you can make a fool of yourself in this matter is nothing but wishful thinking.

Let's see who gets proven wrong in the matter of managing the Yellow River!
He also wanted to abolish the Secretariat and the position of prime minister as soon as possible.

Hu Weiyong is truly an eyesore...

……

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince."

Two men arrived at the Wuying Hall, both of them exceptionally brave and valiant.

The older one is in his thirties, and the younger one is definitely no more than twenty-five.

"Brother Wenying, Brother Bao'er, you don't need to be so polite."

Zhu Biao smiled broadly, quickly stepped forward, and took one of them by the hand, showing great affection.

This warmth wasn't feigned; it came from the heart, and I genuinely felt a sense of closeness.

The reason is simple: these two young generals are different from others.

Both of them were adopted sons of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma.

Zhu Biao had a good relationship with all of them, especially with Mu Ying, whom he always regarded as an elder brother and respected very much.

Mu Ying also had a very good relationship with Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

"Haha, Biao'er is right. We don't need to be so reserved and awkward when we're all together."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily.

He then pointed to several chairs arranged in a semi-circle around him and told them to sit down on their own.

This behavior is as casual as a father dealing with his son.

They truly didn't treat them like outsiders.

Zhu Yuanzhang could not possibly treat them as outsiders.

After all, his adopted sons were all quite reliable.

Especially at this time, Wenying and Pingbao'er, who came to his side, can be said to be the best among his many adopted sons.

He was truly a formidable fighter, in no way inferior to Lan Yu.

In terms of overall ability, Wenying far surpasses Lanyu.

Lan Yu has significant flaws in his personality. He is capable of fighting, but he is too arrogant.

The bigger the victory, the more arrogant they become.

After the Battle of Buyur Sea, he destroyed the Northern Plains Royal Court and became so arrogant that he didn't know how high the sky was or how thick the earth was, and he thought he was someone important.

On their triumphant return, they dared to directly seize their own strategic border location simply because the border guards were slow to open the gates.

Putting everything else aside, just looking at this point alone, one can tell how serious the flaws of the blue jade are.

Wenying, however, is different.

His combat skills are in no way inferior to Lan Yu's.

Most importantly, he is very reliable, humble, and skillful in handling affairs.

It's practically another example of Tian De.

That's why he was able to entrust Mu Ying with the responsibility of guarding Yunnan in his previous life, and later he even entrusted Mu Ying's descendants to guard Yunnan forever.

When Wen Ying's coffin returned, he personally went out of the city to welcome it and posthumously conferred upon him the title of king.

Wenying is a child who truly deserves to be treated this way.

Besides being of excellent character and extremely capable, and being someone you can rely on to get things done, he is also impeccable in his treatment of himself, women, and even his son.

In the fifteenth year of the Hongwu reign, Wenying received the news of her younger sister's death from illness. Overwhelmed with grief, she refused to eat or drink for three days, coughed up blood, and nearly fainted.

In the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, the death of his own son, Biao'er, was another major blow to Mu Ying.

He was so grief-stricken that he fell ill and died two months later.

The 25th year of the Hongwu reign was an extremely dark year for my past self, a year I didn't want to recall.

That year, she first lost her beloved eldest son.

Two months later, he lost Mu Ying, the most valued of his many adopted sons.

The bad news came one after another, and it is heartbreaking to think about it.

Even now, I still feel that the 25th year of the Hongwu reign was an extremely terrifying and dark year.

The fact that Yunnan was successfully governed and thoroughly Sinicized has led later generations to subconsciously believe that it has been part of Chinese territory since ancient times, becoming an unbreakable part of it.

He himself had Mu Ying lead troops to attack Yunnan, and later had Wen Ying guard the southwest. He also had Mu family descendants guard the southwest for generations, which was an inseparable relationship.

When the fourth prince attacked Annam, he established Jiaozhi Commandery there.

If we could find someone as reliable as Wenying to emulate us and have them guard the area around the toes.

Therefore, it is not impossible to make Jiaozhi an inseparable part of the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

As for Ping An, the youngest of his adopted sons, he had misjudged him before.

I never expected Ping An to be such a formidable fighter on the battlefield.

Ping An may not be a commander-in-chief, but he is definitely capable of being a vanguard general.

While I was alive, this youngest adopted son did achieve some merit and showed some talent.

But his true talent was never revealed.

The Jingnan Campaign was when Ping Bao'er truly shone.

That was truly an incredibly painful beating for the fourth brother.

On several occasions, the fourth brother was almost killed by Ping Bao'er.

Now that he knew Ping Bao'er was very capable, Zhu Yuanzhang naturally wanted to change his approach from his previous life, given a second chance.

Entrust him with important responsibilities, give him opportunities, let him grow, and let him do his best for the Ming Dynasty.

The father and his sons sat down, and Zhu Yuanzhang chatted with them about everyday things.

Wenying was only eight years old when I adopted her as my godson, and Pingbao was only six or seven years old when I adopted him as my godson.

They've all grown up so much in the blink of an eye.

Time flies.

After chatting with them for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang prepared to get down to business and explain the purpose of their visit.

Just then, someone walked straight in from outside.

At this time, only two people could enter the Wuying Hall without being informed: Zhu Biao and Empress Ma.

Zhu Biao was already here, so the identity of the newcomer was self-evident.

"Haha, you two rascals are finally back!"

You've come back but haven't even gone to visit your mother!

Empress Ma smiled happily, her face full of kindness.

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Ping An and Mu Ying jumped up as if they had springs in their butts and turned to look.

Seeing that familiar figure, though a bit older, filled me with immense excitement, and my eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

The early years were tough, the kind of tough that made it impossible to open your eyes.

The chaotic end of the Yuan Dynasty was an era of cannibalism.

Countless adults live hand to mouth and die tragically, let alone these orphans.

If they hadn't met His Majesty and Empress, who adopted them as their godsons, they would probably have been bones long ago.

It was quietly rotting in some overgrown weeds somewhere.

The Empress is kind-hearted and treats her adopted sons exceptionally well.

Although they were adopted sons, the Empress treated them no differently than her own sons.

The Empress was one of the few bright spots for them in that cannibalistic era. Without the Empress, they dared not imagine what kind of life they would have lived.

In their hearts, the Empress was like a mother to them!

No one can replace this position.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"

"Meet the Queen!"

Mu Ying and Ping An rushed forward and bowed deeply to Empress Ma, their emotions running high and their respect evident.

Empress Ma had already strode up to them, grabbing one of them by the hand, and said with a hint of reproach on her face, "What are you calling 'Empress'? Call me 'Mother'!"

Seeing that Mu Ying and Ping An hesitated, she spoke again, feigning anger: "What? You've grown up now? You don't even recognize me as your mother anymore?"

How could the two of them possibly disown this mother? It's just that their status changed after their adoptive father ascended the throne as emperor.

Ultimately, there is a distinction between ruler and subject; how could one dare to address them arbitrarily?
Upon hearing the Empress's words, he couldn't care less about anything else.

"mother!"

"mother!"

Mu Ying and Ping An called out, their voices trembling slightly.

Upon hearing the cry of "Mother," both men, who had fought on the battlefield for many years and were already seasoned by experience, could not control their emotions and tears welled up in their eyes.

At this point, they were no longer the generals who charged into battle, beheaded enemy leaders, trampled enemy bodies, and advanced relentlessly on the battlefield.

They were just two very ordinary children.

The child sees his mother!
"Hey!"

"Hey!"

Empress Ma gave a firm reply twice.

Hearing those two "Mother"s brought a kind smile to her face; it was truly comforting.

"That's more like it! Don't get bound by those red tape!"

To your mother, you will always be her children! And your mother will always be your mother!

Mu Ying and Ping An nodded vigorously, their eyes brimming with tears.

Tears streamed uncontrollably from my eyes.

Seeing this scene, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but feel emotional.

That's what makes her so good; she's so sincere in her dealings with people.

She treats many people well; even the hardest steel can be melted into tenderness by this girl.

Empress Ma took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears of Mu Ying and Ping An in turn.

Then he pulled them down to sit and started chatting about everyday things.

With Empress Ma's arrival, the atmosphere became even better.

Zhu Yuanzhang was no longer in a hurry to discuss matters. Instead, he smiled and reminisced about the past with his sister, his son Biao'er, Wenying, and Bao'er.

My thoughts were drawn back to those bygone days.
Some previously vague memories have become much clearer...

“You all sit here a few times, and I’ll go make you something to eat.”

No one is allowed to leave at noon or in the evening. Let's all get together, try Mom's cooking, and see if we've improved.

Over the years, you have all grown up and have your own things to do, scattered all over the country, and rarely get together.

"I'm so happy that you two are back this time!"

After chatting for a while, Empress Ma stood up and gave instructions to Mu Ying and Ping An.

Only then did she put down Mu Ying and Ping An's hands.

Mu Ying and Ping An nodded with smiles, their joy and emotion radiating from their hearts.

"Your Majesty... Mother, please just make something simple, but please don't make too much, or you'll tire yourself out."

Mu Ying spoke up.

"Yes! Yes! Mom, anything will do. I love Mom's flatbread, as long as she makes a flatbread."

My mother's flatbread, paired with fresh scallions, tastes absolutely delicious!

No one's pancakes taste as good as Mother's!

Ping An smiled and ordered the food he wanted.

Empress Ma smiled and agreed, then hurriedly left to attend to her duties at Kunning Palace.

You could tell how happy he was just by looking at him from behind.

Meeting a girl in this lifetime is truly a blessing!

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but sigh in his heart once again.

Looking at Zhu Biao, Mu Ying, Ping An, and the others, he secretly added: It's also a blessing for these brats.

"We called you two here today because there are some things we need to tell you and we want you to do."

Upon hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Mu Ying and Ping An both became serious.

They knew that His Majesty must have something to do when he summoned them back this time.

They showed no sign of panic or reluctance whatsoever.

All I have is a heart full of anticipation.

Their adoptive father and mother treated them with kindness as deep as a mountain.

Without their adoptive father and mother, they wouldn't be where they are today.

It can be said that their biological parents gave them life, while their adoptive father and mother gave them a second life.

They would go through fire and water without hesitation!

"We plan to send the two of you as envoys to Goryeo."

Zhu Yuanzhang revealed his purpose.

An envoy to Goryeo?

Both Mu Ying and Ping An were taken aback.

Clearly, before meeting Zhu Yuanzhang, they had each guessed why their adoptive father had summoned them, but none of them guessed correctly.

What their adoptive father said was beyond their expectations.

In the past, the Ming Dynasty had sent envoys to Goryeo.

Meanwhile, envoys from Goryeo continued to travel to the Ming Dynasty.

After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, envoys were dispatched to many surrounding small countries to tell them that the Yuan Dynasty had been driven out, the Ming Dynasty had been established, and that they should submit to the Ming Dynasty as their master.

At that time, Goryeo immediately stopped using the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng era name and changed it to the Hongwu era name.

They also dispatched a delegation to the Ming Dynasty to offer their congratulations.

Since then, the exchange of envoys between the two sides has been virtually uninterrupted.

It was quite normal for the Ming Dynasty to send envoys to Goryeo.

However, sending the two of them to Goryeo was unusual.

It far exceeded the level of the envoys previously dispatched.

Since that's the case, there must be some important things that the two of us need to do.

Mu Ying immediately realized this.

It's much faster than Ping An, who is still in a state of confusion.

"The people of Goryeo are not being honest. Their old king died two years ago."

As a result, it wasn't until March or April of last year that an envoy was sent to our Great Ming to discuss this matter.

Meanwhile, there has been no word from our Ming Dynasty's envoys in Goryeo.

Only later did they say that the envoy of our Great Ming had passed away due to illness and had been buried in Goryeo, and they requested the appointment of a new Goryeo king.

There's something fishy going on in this.

From what we know, there is a significant difference between what they say and what we are told.

Their previous king, the one who was closer to our Great Ming, did not die of illness, but was murdered.

And our Ming Dynasty's envoy there also did not die of illness.

It was because they were afraid that their plot to assassinate the king and install a new one would be exposed, so the messenger sent word back to us.

So, they even assassinated the envoy of my Great Ming Dynasty..."

"What audacity! Absolutely audacity!"

Upon hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, before Mu Ying could even speak, Ping An immediately flew into a rage.

"How dare these barbarians from such a small country kill an envoy from the Great Ming Dynasty?!"

"Your Majesty, I request permission to go and avenge the envoy! To uphold the might of our Great Ming! To let them know the consequences of killing a Ming envoy!"

In Ping An's view, it was not important whether Goryeo killed the old king or installed a new one.

More importantly, they actually dared to kill an envoy from the Ming Dynasty!
This one point alone is unbearable and unforgivable!

Mu Ying also volunteered for the mission.

Now he understood why His Majesty had summoned him and Ping An to serve as envoys to Goryeo.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with Mu Ying and Ping An's reactions and nodded to them.

Then he continued, "Of course you should go."

The situation in Goryeo is not simple. As far as we know, apart from the old king being murdered, the new Goryeo king who was put on the throne by others and wanted our Great Ming to appoint him as king was only eight years old.

This man, who is supposedly Old Wang's son, is not a simple person either.

This person was not actually the son of the old king of Goryeo, but the son of a powerful minister in their country named Shin Dum.

This man was originally a monk…

"This is truly outrageous!"

Mu Ying spoke, her voice filled with anger.

As a vassal state, to do such a thing is a typical act of treason and rebellion, and its behavior is extremely heinous!
They murdered the old king without authorization, and then brought in someone who was not of the old king's bloodline, requesting that he be made the new king.

Such deception of the suzerain state is unforgivable!

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "The situation in Goryeo is not just about these things."

There are others?

Even Zhu Biao was surprised by these words.

To plot the death of the old king, the death of the Ming envoy, and to install someone who was not of the old king's bloodline as king is already an act of deceiving Heaven.

Is there something else going on in Korea?
This is truly a case of a small temple with a strong demonic wind, and shallow water with many turtles!

(End of this chapter)