Daming: Refining zombies at the beginning, Lao Zhu was shocked

Chapter 313 313: Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang has his own pride!

A month later, Zhu Xiaqian, who had traveled all the way back from the west, finally returned to Shuntian Mansion.

As soon as they arrived at the city gate, they saw the prince Zhu Xiaqiu and the fourth son Zhu Xiaye already waiting there.

A look of disappointment flashed deep in Zhu Xiayan's eyes, because the figure he wanted to see most did not seem to appear!

"My dear brother, see His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Xiaqiu rode up to Zhu Xiaqiu, then got off his horse and gave Zhu Xiaqiu the courtesy of a monarch and a minister.

"Third brother, I haven't seen you in a few years. When did you become so well-behaved?"

Zhu Xiaqiu suddenly felt like she couldn't laugh or cry.

I don’t know why, but seeing Zhu Xiaqiang again after so many years made him feel like he didn’t recognize him anymore!

Could it be that his career on the battlefield these past few years had completely changed Zhu Xiaqiang?

When Zhu Xiaheng heard this, he was immediately unhappy!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaheng agreed.

"I remember when I was just preparing for the Western Expedition, you were all still worried about the fourth child's marriage, right?"

Zhu Xiaqiu: "..."

Zhu Xiaqiu quickly reminded.

"What if I get impeached by the ministers for not knowing the rules?"

"The past few years by my father's side have indeed been in vain. You can actually take the initiative to say hello to me, the third brother?"

You must know that Zhu Xiaye basically ignored him and Zhu Xiafeng in the past. If you say ten words to him, he may not be able to reply to you!
Is the sun coming out in the west today?

Zhu Xiaqiu explained with a wry smile.

Are you serious about marrying six at once?
Since when does this kind of thing even need to be compared?

Zhu Xiye: "..."

"What else do you know? Stop making fun of me here. You just came back after a long time, can't you be more serious?"

"Third brother, it's been a hard journey!"

At this moment, Zhu Xiaye on the side also took the initiative to speak and nodded to Zhu Xiayan.

"Huh? The fourth child seems to have changed a lot in the past few years!"

"I didn't expect that so many things happened in the past few years when I was away from Ming Dynasty?"

When Zhu Xiaye heard this, his face was full of surprise, as if it was the first time he met Zhu Xiaye!
This guy actually married five at once!

"Your kid is already married a long time ago. What's the point of calling him your own brother?"

Zhu Xiaqiu shook his head and smiled bitterly.

Zhu Xiaqiu patted Zhu Xiaqiu on the shoulder and glared at him angrily.

"The fourth child is now a married man, why do you still treat him like a child?"

"Lao San, what you said is a bit too much!"

When Zhu Xiaqian heard this, he grinned.

"I haven't seen my father and grandpa for many years!"

"Okay, let's go to the palace first!"

"Well, this seems like something you can say!"

Zhu Xiayan was also stunned when he heard this, and looked at Zhu Xiaye with some surprise.

"Not only are we married, but we are also married to five at once. All of us are great!"

Zhu Xiaqian said seriously.

It is true that Zhu Yue did not go out of the city to meet Zhu Xiaquan in person, and there was no need at all. How could I have reason to go out of the city to meet his son?

"We brothers are the children of the same mother!"

"The fourth child is married?"

Then the three brothers got into a carriage and drove directly towards the palace.

Zhu Xiaqiu was helpless and could only urge Zhu Xiaqiu.

"No, we can't let the fourth child get out of the limelight. I'll marry a few at a time, maybe six more!"

"Second brother, what you said is wrong. The fourth child is your brother. Am I not your brother?"

"Isn't this in front of outsiders? I have to give your Highness the Crown Prince some face, right?"

"Okay, stop messing around!"

Why couldn't he come up with such a good idea?

Zhu Xiaqian was even more surprised now.

"Grandpa and father are waiting in the palace, we'd better go back quickly!"

"Third brother, didn't the eldest brother come back with you?"

Zhu Xieye suddenly asked coldly.

"He is busy going to the north to fight, how can he have time to return to Shuntian?"

"Why did you suddenly ask about him? Didn't you hate your elder brother the most before?"

Zhu Xiayan explained casually, and then looked at Zhu Xiaye with a surprised look on his face and asked.

"I was supposed to go to the Western battlefield, right?"

Zhu Xiaye asked seriously.

Hearing this, Zhu Xiayan glanced at Zhu Xiaqiu subconsciously. After noticing Zhu Xiaqiu's helpless look, he probably guessed what Zhu Xiaye was thinking.

"Is there anything we should or shouldn't do?"

"We will do whatever our father tells us to do!"

"Let me and my eldest brother attack the West. That's my father's wish. You don't have to think too much!"

Zhu Xiaqian waved his hand indifferently.

In fact, he didn't expect Zhu Xiaye to remember his third brother's favor for this matter, and the current Zhu Xiaye really made him feel a little uncomfortable!
Did this brat's personality really change so much after he got married?
"There's still more than a month left, and I'm going to the West to join the feudal clan!"

Zhu Xiaye said suddenly.

"Really? That's very good. It means that your father is optimistic about your ability. After you go to the West, you will manage your fiefdom well. Just don't let your father down!"

Zhu Xiaqian was stunned at first. Although he had guessed that it would be such a result when he came back, he obviously did not expect it to be so soon!
It seems that my father has already made up his mind!

"I see!"

Zhu Xiaye nodded in agreement.

"By the way, second brother, how has Grandpa Huang been doing in the past few years?"

"Are you still as tough as before?"

Zhu Xiaqian then directly brought the topic to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Hearing this, Zhu Xiaqiu frowned and did not answer directly.

"What's going on? Is Grandpa Huang okay?"

Seeing Zhu Xiaqiu's reaction, Zhu Xiayan's heart sank.

"It's okay for the time being, but we are getting older and the time is coming!"

"Father said it can last up to three years!"

Zhu Xiaqiu finally told Zhu Xiaqiu about Zhu Yuanzhang's situation.

Hearing this, Zhu Xiayan's expression also darkened.

The brothers, except for the fourth brother Zhu Xiaye, also grew up under the care of Zhu Yuanzhang!

The brothers all remember how kind the emperor was to them. It can also be said that in their minds, Zhu Yuanzhang's importance is second only to Zhu Yue. "How many troops are currently stationed in the West?"

After a long time, Zhu Xiaye suddenly asked again.

"I brought my personal guards with me when I came back. Almost all the remaining imperial troops continue to be stationed in the west. In addition, Lan Yu also left half of his troops, with a total strength of about 280,000!"

"If you go to join the feudal clan, including your personal guard battalion, the total number should be around 300,000!"

Zhu Xiayan was silent for a moment and then spoke slowly.

As a result, Zhu Xiaye had 300,000 troops, and Zhu Xiaye became the vassal king with the largest number of troops among all the vassal kings!
Even under Zhu Xifeng's command, there were only less than 200,000 troops!

However, such a large area in the West does require a large number of troops to garrison, and there is no way around it!

Although nominally these troops still belong to the imperial court, as long as Zhu Xiye goes to the west to join the vassal state, these 300,000 people will be his!

After all, the distance is too far!

While the three brothers were talking, the carriage had already arrived at the palace gate.

After entering the palace, the three brothers went directly to the imperial garden and saw Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yue, their father and son, waiting here.

"The third child is finally back!"

"This time on the Western battlefield, you stole the show!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Xiaqiang who had just returned and couldn't help laughing.

Although there was nothing unusual on the surface, Zhu Xiaqian could clearly feel that Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were no longer as sharp as before, and had become much calmer!

To be more precise, the former Hongwu Emperor seemed to have lost the edge he should have had and became more restrained!

"Grandpa Huang, Father Huang, Zhang'er is back!"

Zhu Xiaqian knelt down directly in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yue.

"It's good to come back. It's been a hard journey. Get up and talk!"

Zhu Li waved his hand indifferently.

Zhu Yue is still very satisfied with Zhu Xiaqiang's current growth and performance on the Western battlefield.

However, he usually doesn't praise his son easily. He can praise his son any way he wants in front of outsiders, but in private, he is more like a strict father!
Zhu Li doesn't want his sons to get carried away because of their temporary achievements!
After Zhu Xiaheng heard this, he stood up.

"You are back, but the fourth child is leaving next month!"

"Fortunately, you two brothers still have time to meet each other!"

"There is still more than a month left, brothers should keep in touch with each other!"

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but sigh lightly at this time.

As people get older, it is easy to be sentimental. One grandson came back and another grandson was leaving again, which somewhat made Zhu Yuanzhang feel a little uncomfortable.

"I already knew about the vassal matter that my fourth brother wanted to discuss just now."

Zhu Xiaqian nodded slowly.

"What are your plans for coming back this time?"

"Continue to return to Hanzhong to be your Xiaoyao Prince?"

Zhu Yue asked Zhu Xiayan at this time.

"Otherwise? Hanzhong is the fiefdom of my son after all!"

"Does father want his son to stay in Shuntian Mansion?"

Zhu Xiaqiang was stunned when he heard this, and he didn't understand what Zhu Yue meant.

"I mean, you can go back to Hanzhong, but you can't act like you did before!"

"Be more careful about the fiefdom. I gave Hanzhong to you, not just for you to do as you please!"

Zhu Yue glared at Zhu Xiayan angrily.

Although Zhu Xiaqian inherited the title of King of Han, after becoming a vassal, this boy actually didn't care about the affairs of the fiefdom for a few years. Most of the time, he was a hands-off shopkeeper!
If Hanzhong had not already had a mature operating model, even if Zhu Xiaqiang was not around, there would be no problem in ensuring stable and normal operation. Otherwise, he would really have lost all his family business!
"My son, I understand!"

Zhu Xiayan suddenly laughed awkwardly.

"Okay, the child came back from a victorious battle. If you didn't say a few words of encouragement, why did you reprimand him instead?"

"The boss and the third child won the battle this time. As a father, you should give them a reward, right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang reminded him with a change of topic.

"We will talk about the rewards tomorrow morning. As a father, I will definitely give them what they deserve!"

Zhu Yue has already made arrangements here, and there is no need for Zhu Yuanzhang to remind him.

However, given the status of Zhu Xiafeng and Zhu Xiaqiang, they are said to be rewarded, but in fact there is nothing to be awarded. The vassal king has already reached the top!
At most, they can just give some rewards in a variety of ways, but the rewards that can be given are more real money and silver!

Of course, in addition to Zhu Xiafeng and Zhu Xiaqiang themselves, the soldiers under their command should still be rewarded. Even for their military achievements on the Western battlefield this time, a large number of them must be knighted!
The better ones can get at least a count, and the worse ones can at least get a count. They can also be said to be genuine generals with meritorious service!
"Father, Grandpa Huang, Yan'er wants to visit the Queen Mother in Kunning Palace!"

Zhu Xiaqiang said to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yue at this time.

"Well, I just came back. I really should tell her that she is safe and go see your mother!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with deep understanding.

His mother was worried when his son traveled thousands of miles, and Zhu Xiaqian was away on an expedition. The one who was most worried was definitely Cao's own mother!

"Then Hang'er will take leave now and come back to visit Grandpa Huang later!"

Zhu Xiaran responded and retreated directly.

I don't know why, but after returning to Shuntian Mansion this time, Zhu Xiaqian clearly felt that his father Zhu Li's attitude towards him had changed.

In the past, he was relatively indulgent, but now it seems that he is becoming more and more strict!
Could it be that this means that he is already prepared to train him as Dong Daming's successor?

"You two should go back too!"

Zhu Yue also waved his hands to Zhu Xiaqiu and Zhu Xiaye.

"My son, please retire!"

The two brothers agreed and retreated.

"We want to go to Dragon Soul Mountain tomorrow!"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said.

"Do you want to find big brother?"

Zhu Li asked with raised eyebrows.

Whenever Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to see Zhu Biao, he would often run to Longhun Mountain.

But the main reason is that Dragon Soul Mountain is too high, and it is a bit more troublesome for the old man to go up the mountain now.

Fortunately, Zhu Yue had people widen the cement road and build it all the way to the Emperor Soul Tower. If the old man really wanted to go, he wouldn't suffer too much.

"Yes...and no!"

"Take a look at your eldest brother and have a nice chat with those older brothers!"

The old brother Zhu Yuanzhang was talking about was naturally Ying Zheng and Li Shimin's group of emperor souls.

Perhaps because he knew that his life was short, Zhu Yuanzhang also had a premonition that he would spend more and more time dealing with these emperor souls in the future!

"Then will your son go with you tomorrow?"

Zhu Yue asked tentatively.

"Forget it. You should take care of the affairs of your sons first. Our old bones can still hold on for the time being, so you don't need to worry too much!"

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he directly waved his hand and rejected Zhu Yue's kindness.

"Okay, then be careful!"

Zhu Yue was a little helpless. Although the old man was getting older, his character was getting stronger and stronger!
However, Zhu Yue can somewhat understand Zhu Yuanzhang's mentality. After all, he was the Hongwu Emperor who founded the Ming Dynasty and the founding king of the Ming Dynasty!

He has his own pride!

(End of this chapter)