Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 185
Arriving at a side hall on the east side of the Kunning Palace, before Zhu Biao entered the door, he heard cats meowing one after another, and it was obviously a young cat, with a high-pitched voice, as if crying.

Mrs. Ma was personally inspecting a group of cats in a few baskets on the table. Seeing his son coming in, he motioned for him not to be too polite, and raised an orange raccoon flower in his hand: "The sign came just in time. How many cats are going to be sent to your residence in the future, but do you want to choose them yourself?"

Zhu Biao stepped forward and saw a group of fluffy and clean little guys. Although their barking was a bit noisy, he still liked it, so he picked up one and teased it, and asked instead: "Mother, why did you suddenly bring these cats over here?" ?”

"That's not what Yuan'er said..." Mrs. Ma said, paused, and then continued: "It is said that rats are the source of many diseases. If you want to prevent them, cats must be kept in the palace. Your father listens to him the most. I have sent it several times, and today it finally delivered."

Hearing his mother mention someone, Zhu Biao stopped teasing the kitten and asked, "Mother, I heard this morning that Yuan'er is sick again?"

"Yes, and no." Mrs. Ma shook her head thinking that her husband hadn't survived the whole night. , your father has gone to visit again."

Hearing this, Zhu Biao thought of hearing from the courtiers around him that his father had gone there yesterday afternoon, and at night he specially ordered that no matter when, the news would be sent back immediately. Today, it was not yet noon, and he rushed over again... ...And just now, my mother's unintentional sentence, "Your father listens to him the most", is unavoidable.

However, after a little hesitation, Zhu Biao still said, "Mother, since that's the case, do you want to see him too?"

"Well, don't say that you are an uncle, it is right for Yuan'er to work so hard for state affairs," Mrs. Ma nodded, thinking about it but then said: "I'd better wait for your father to come back and ask, he just woke up and needs rest most. You rushed over and disturbed."

Talking like this, Zhu Biao picked three cats, all of which were only full moon, and watched his mother distribute them, and sent the maids in the palace to send them to the palaces.

It was noon in a blink of an eye.

Just when he thought that Lao Zhu would not come back and planned to eat by himself, Lao Zhu in black casual clothes hurried into the door.

Mrs. Ma ordered the maid to bring water to wash Lao Zhu's hands and face, while asking with concern: "But it's better?"

"It's better, but it will take a while," Lao Zhu washed his hands, then wiped his face with a hot towel, and muttered, "It's my fault too, he has such a job in him, and he said earlier that he would resign." Lost a few, I thought it would be more work for him who is capable, but he neglected his body, alas, in that case, I will remove those wastes for him in the near future, and leave a plain seal."

After saying this, Lao Zhu turned to his son at the side, and before Zhu Biao mentioned it, he said, "You are his...elder, this...after two days, go and have a look when you have free time."

Zhu Biao took the towel used by his father with his own hands, handed it to the waiter at the side, nodded and said: "I just talked to my mother about it."

Seeing his son who was also considered tall and strong, Lao Zhu was inexplicably embarrassed: "If you two are not of seniority, you are the same age, I just think, in the future, he... well, it depends on fate."

Both Ma Shi and Zhu Biao understood, but they didn't answer.

Seeing that Lao Zhu had washed his face, Mrs. Ma led her husband to the dining room, and at the same time talked about the fact that there was a cat in the palace that had just been distributed.Remembering what Zhu Yuan said at the beginning, Lao Zhu has been thinking about this matter all the time, so he asked the servant to bring the few left by the Qianqing Palace on the spot, looked at them personally, liked them very much, and even fed them himself while eating .

After lunch, and sent his son away, Lao Zhu stopped his wife who was going to get up to clean up the dishes, and said another thing: "I've been so busy since I came back, I almost forgot about it, you have time to inquire about Yuan'er recently, Wen Wu Baiguan's family has a daughter of the right age, so please tell Yuan'er a family relationship as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Mrs. Ma thought of the thin and weak appearance of a certain young man for a moment. Although he knew that there were many people in his inner house and had advised him, but he also subconsciously felt that it was too early to get married?

Seeing his wife's expression, Lao Zhu paused for a moment, and said: "Yuan'er's body, I just thought, no matter what... let him stay a few children early."

Ma Shi understood, and thought about it too.

However, after a little deliberation, he asked her husband again: "Husband, have you talked to Yuan'er about this?"

Old Zhu took it for granted, "Marriage matters are decided by the elders, so did you tell him?"

"But... the concubine feels that Yuan'er is different after all, he has his own opinion," Ma Shi disapproved, and said with a smile: "Furthermore, to propose marriage to him, the concubine also needs to know what he wants like?"

how is it like?

Lao Zhu felt that he knew it, but it was too indecisive. He waved his hand and said, "You just look at it first. You can't allow him to marry a wife and a virtuous man according to his own preferences. You just... um, pick the girl from the general's family." , you need to be stronger, don’t fall down with the wind like him.”

Mrs. Ma laughed: "If Yuan'er is a scholar, if he is matched with a rough and simple girl, I'm afraid they won't get along well?"

Lao Zhu imagined some scenes, and his anxiety dissipated a lot, and he also smiled: "This... you can choose first, it doesn't matter what your background is, the important thing is virtuous and virtuous."

Mrs. Ma agreed this time, started the conversation, and remembered one thing: "Biao'er is fourteen years old, and the girl from Yuchun's family was seen last time, and she looks good, when shall we make a decision? "

When Ma Shi was pregnant with Zhu Biao, Chang Yuchun's wife Lan Shi also happened to be pregnant, and later gave birth to a daughter, and the two families made a baby marriage early.

"Don't worry about Biao'er." Old Zhu didn't forget about it, but he waved his hand, and he had some evidence: "Yuan'er's book...then what did the manual say, the best age is twenty to thirty, The age of marriage should not be less than eighteen, let's wait until Biaoer turns eighteen."

Mrs. Ma also flipped through the "Scientific Parenting Handbook", and privately marveled at Huagao's hard work for many years, but he couldn't get one or two. Hearing what her husband said, he nodded, but said: "If so, what about Yuan'er... for the girl, I should choose an older one for him, eighteen is not easy to find, but sixteen is still available."

According to the "Scientific Parenting Handbook", Zhu Yuan is obviously not suitable for marriage at the moment.

However, Ma Shi also understands that this is... a kind of expediency.

……

Xuanwu Lake, inside the mansion on Liangzhou.

Zhu Yuan didn't know that Lao Zhu and his wife were already discussing his marriage, but they happened to think of something similar.

The main reason is...after Lao Zhu left before, he looked at the blank space next to his bed that was swollen from crying, and there was a haggard woman of the same size as Xieyi who had been guarding him all night, and then thought about how he was going along with the wind. In the downed state, I have to consider more.

Perhaps, it is also a time to leave a few women to rely on.

He had been avoiding this matter before, mainly because there were too many uncertainties. At present, many things have been settled, but it is the woman around him. If something happens to him, it is not difficult for him to imagine what Lao Zhu might do.

However, it's just a thought for the time being.

Powerless.

Leaning on the bed and having lunch, he wanted to go out for a walk, but was stopped. Seeing the mournful looks of several women, Zhu Yuan had no choice but to give up.

right in the house.

Ok.

What work documents do you have today, you can always look through them, right?

Still plaintive.

Let's have some fun, let's take a look at the "A Chinese Ghost Story" story that Luoshui is writing.

The four women, big and small, looked at each other for discussion and finally agreed.

Luo Shui brought the manuscript.

For the time being, I only wrote about a thousand words. Zhu Yuan's plan, this story, is about three to five thousand words.

This brings us to the specifications of "Da Ming Monthly".

The traditional engraved books of this era are basically 32 carats, with one or two hundred characters per page.Therefore, based on the minimum of 3000 words in "A Chinese Ghost Story", it will take about 15 pages.

Zhu Yuan's plan for each issue of the magazine is to keep it within a hundred pages.

If "A Chinese Ghost Story" of "Strange Tales from a Liaozhai Studio" takes up 15 pages, and the other "long serialization", a chapter with no less than 5000 words takes up another 20 pages, the total ratio of the two is too high.

After considering and trying, Zhu Yuan planned to make it into a 16-format magazine that was later common.

Since the plan is to use the best paper, and the best inks, this ensures that the font size is small without compromising clarity.Therefore, Zhu Yuan plans to print seven or eight hundred words per page.

This ensures that the total number of pages occupied by the two entertainment sections remains around 15 pages.

As for other things, there will be some interesting stories and gossip, and even advertisements may be inserted in the future. Zhu Yuan's plan for this is to divide it in threes and sevens.Seven points for seriousness, three points for business entertainment.This is a very reasonable ratio, which can ensure the seriousness of "Daming Monthly" without losing its fun.

At the moment, withdrawing his thoughts and listening to Luo Shui recite a familiar yet unfamiliar little story, Zhu Yuan couldn't help but feel strange.

There have been too many versions of "Xiaoqian" in the past. This time, even though Zhu Yuan referred to previous novels and movies, etc., under the brand-new brushstrokes mixed by Luo Shui and other girls, it is almost another A new feeling.

Ning Caichen, a scholar rushing for an exam, and Yan Chixia, a bearded swordsman, stayed at the ancient temple Lanruo Temple at the same time. The swordsman said that he was from Mount Shu, and heard that there were ghosts killing people in the ancient temple, so he came here specially and advised Ning Caichen to leave overnight.

Ning Caichen resolutely stayed behind on the grounds that "the child does not speak strange powers and distracts the gods", and found a portrait in the room, which is a character woman, and there are poems such as "only envy mandarin ducks but not immortals".

The scholar did not deceive the dark room, although he was tempted by the portrait of the woman, he still put the scroll back respectfully, and then rested.

So until midnight.

There was a knock on the door, the scholar opened the door, and saw the woman in the painting...

This is roughly how the story begins.

Oh, right.

Zhu Yuan later recalled 'Yan Chixia', and 'Li Yingqiong' stepped aside. However, in the future, there can still be a junior named 'Li Xiaoyao'.

Let's talk about the story again. What's special is that Luo Shui led a group of women with deep knowledge and deep intentions to carefully consider the words like gold, and then wrote a short thousand words, which is very beautiful to read.There is even a feeling of "it turns out to be blooming everywhere" like "The Peony Pavilion".

After Zhu Yuan listened, he was already looking forward to the new version of "Dream of Red Mansions".

He continued to discuss a few follow-ups with Luo Shui, but was interrupted by Liu Bai Nizi, saying that it was time for a nap.

After sleeping for almost a day and a night, I can't sleep anymore. However, facing one grudge after another, I still fell asleep.

Anyway, these days, definitely can't do anything.

Lao Zhu personally ordered.

Girls around me, this time they are also resolute in their implementation.

Zhu Yuan is also reflecting.

Perhaps, I really worry a little too much, probably because of my personality, I hope things will be under my control, and develop according to my own ideas, and I also hope that once I start doing something, it will be as successful as possible.

I used to be fine, in good health and full of energy.

This time, the hardware conditions are really not good.If you don't want to go back in a daze, you must change it.

Moreover, ever since he saw a certain clock and the model of the steam engine, Zhu Yuan felt that... Now that the direction has been determined, and he has no doubts about Lao Zhu's execution ability after he has explained the truth, then , In the follow-up, even if there are some mistakes, fundamentally, there will not be too many mistakes.

Even if it is wrong, this land, this country, has enough fault tolerance.

Therefore, there is no need to act like a babysitter yourself.

Let go, maybe... like a new version of "A Chinese Ghost Story", maybe even better.

So stop.

For Jinling University, I don’t care about it; Kang Maocai can do it by himself; Houhu Medical College, I have to take care of myself first; for Mingzhou, sea fishing in winter must be smoother than summer, and hurricanes will not easily occur; The Central Bank of Ming Dynasty... the household department will get it first; the steam engine, um, this one is at home, so you can take a look at it if you want to; there are also "Daming Monthly", a few 'groups', and other messes...put them first put.

And it won't get moldy.

Lao Zhu also made a special decree to remove all the positions of Zhu Yuan Zhongshu Pingzhang's political affairs, leaving only one subordinate Yipin.

It feels very relaxing.

Of course, on the second day after receiving the order, we received the news that the eighth batch of grain transport fleets had successfully arrived at Zhigu. It was very formal that the Naval Commander’s Office and the Division of Yinghai jointly wrote the document. Obviously, although those positions did not However, what Zhu Yuan should be in charge of is still his.

In the meantime, there is also a plan to reorganize the various guards under the command of the Naval Governor's Mansion due to the previous garrison in Tamna.

The main reason is that the core three guards directly under the command of the Naval Governor's Mansion are split into six guards this time, namely Zhenhai Zuowei, Zhenhai Right Guard, Yinghai Zuowei, Yinghai Right Guard, Dinghai Zuowei and Dinghai Right Guard.

Coincidentally, Zhu Yuan resigned from the post of Commander of Yinghaiwei, and Tongzhi, the commander of Yinghaiwei after the initial Mingzhouwei Commander Tongzhi, was promoted to a higher level as he wished, and became the third-rank commander of Yinghai Zuowei.There is also Xieyi's elder brother Qiao An, after the adaptation, he will also become the fourth-rank commander and deputy envoy of Yinghai Youwei.It is only two ranks away from the commander of the chief officer of the first guard.

Furthermore, the guards will also expand appropriately.

Before the three guards had a total of 3 people, although many rules were not set at the beginning of the founding of the country, it was still obviously overnumbered.This time, splitting up the six guards and reducing the number of people to 5000 people is more average. However, it is still planned to expand the army appropriately, and each guard will increase at least 1000 people.

Then there is the specialized training of naval tactics, as Zhu Yuan mentioned when he left, focusing on long-range strikes, which will be launched later.In the final analysis, compared with the various coastal guards, these six directly subordinate guards are the actual combat mobile force of the Ming Navy.

While recuperating, Zhu Biao also came to visit.

There are two weird uncles and nephews, one of them is serious like a little researcher, very stereotyped, in fact, it would be nice if it can be like this all the time.The other... As usual, I started to be a good teacher without knowing it, and I couldn't help talking about various things. The key is that His Royal Highness also likes to listen, and it feels very eye-opening.

After Zhu Biao, other parties also began to try to come to the door after hearing the news.

In the blink of an eye, it came to mid-October, approaching the "heavy snow" solar term, and Jinling City also fell the first snow of this winter.

and also.

On the [-]th day of October, amidst the heavy snow, Qingniang's younger brother Li Gui led the Yinghai Division to Jinling City with three boats full of hairtails.

(End of this chapter)