Ming Dynasty: The ghost betrays the Confucian sage, my son Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 115 Zhu Yuanzhang: Can Fourth Master recover his memory?
When Fourth Master Zhu raised his head, his face was extremely worried: "The risk is not trivial. I heard that bandits outside the pass are as numerous as locusts. To put it bluntly, aren't the tribes on your grassland all bandits?"

"Anyway, outside the customs, I'm responsible." Ao Gu said firmly.

Fourth Master Zhu spread his hands and put forward his conditions: "I have a request. Once you leave the customs, all the money must be settled immediately."

"Okay!" Ao Gu nodded in agreement without hesitation.

She knew very well that the grassland was in urgent need of tea, salt, iron, silk and other supplies from the Central Plains. If a smuggling route could be established with the Beggar Gang, it would be a huge help to the grassland.

"Happy cooperation." Fourth Master Zhu toasted to celebrate.

Ao Gu hesitated for a moment, but finally picked up the wine glass on the table and took a sip.

Fourth Master Zhu raised his eyebrows: "Girl, we have decided to cooperate. Are you still unwilling to show your true colors?"

"Wait until this cooperation is completed."

Ao Gu picked up the jug and filled up the wine for Fourth Master Zhu. At the same time, she also filled up her own glass, and then raised her glass, "You will know who I am by then."

Fourth Master Zhu drank it all in one gulp and asked again: "I must know your name, right?"

"My name is Ao Gu."

Ao Gu also drank the wine in her glass this time, put the glass gently on the table and said, "My master is the great shaman of the grassland."

"Great Shaman?" Fourth Master Zhu was very curious about this. "I heard that Great Shaman has magical powers? Is he a miracle doctor from the grassland?"

"Yes, the great shaman has received a gift from God." Ao Gu nodded slightly, "He is also a miracle doctor. When people on the grassland get sick, they always seek treatment from the shaman."

"Can it cure amnesia?" Master Zhu asked casually.

"My master once cured a man who lost his memory." Ao Gu pondered for a moment and said, "The master said that the man had two souls, one of which had died. The new soul occupied the body, but it had no memory of the previous body. .”

Fourth Master Zhu was in a state of turmoil.

Why, isn’t this me? I traveled through time and occupied this body, but I have no memory of the original owner.

"Are you sure your master cured that person?" Fourth Master Zhu asked.

"Of course, I was there at the time." Ao Gu nodded affirmatively, with doubts in her eyes, "Fourth Master, are there people around you who have lost their memory?"

"That's me." Fourth Master Zhu pointed at himself.

"Ah?" Ao Gu was shocked.

"I don't remember a single thing about my memories before I was over sixty years old." Fourth Master Zhu smiled.

"Fourth Master, if you have a chance to go to the grassland, I will ask the master to treat you." Ao Gu said.

She didn't expect an unexpected gain.

In this way, we can better control Fourth Master Zhu.

Who doesn’t want to get back their lost memories?
"Okay, let's talk about it when we have a chance." Fourth Master Zhu waved his hand, "I'm not in a hurry."

In fact, he was just curious about the experience and identity of the original owner, and he was really not in a hurry.

……

Queen Ma gave up her choice and refused to cook.

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't get used to the fancy-looking things in the imperial dining room, so he went out of the palace to buy sesame cakes to eat.

It was not the Lantern Festival and the court had not started yet, so he was free.

When he came to a street along the Qinhuai River, he bought three sesame seed cakes from a stall, squatted on the roadside and ate them.

The Jin Yiwei secret guard following from a distance was a black line.

Who would have thought that today's emperor is like an old farmer, squatting on the roadside and eating sesame cakes?
"Eh? Father...Uncle Zhu, why are you here?" Zhu Di exclaimed.

He happened to buy three sesame seed cakes and was about to find a place to squat down to eat when he turned around and saw Zhu Yuanzhang on the roadside.

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes: "Can't I come out to eat?"

Zhu Di squatted down next to him, lowered his voice and smiled evilly: "Is it because the queen mother doesn't make food for you?"

"Aren't you the one who got involved?"

Zhu Yuanzhang glared angrily while chewing, "Your mother often says that 'Master Zhu pays for everything'. It's my fault that I didn't take care of you properly. How wronged I am, your master taught you that."

"Women, you need to be coaxed." Zhu Di acted like a young adult, as if he hates iron but cannot make steel.

"Get out!" Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless, "You know nothing."

"Then another move." Zhu Di clenched his fist, "You have to fight! If you don't hit Fang Jie Wa for three days, you have to show your majesty as a man."

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned.

Zhu Di shook his head quickly: "Of course, you can't hit the queen mother. I'll just use an analogy."

After Zhu Yuanzhang finished eating, he rubbed the oil on Zhu Di's body and shouted angrily: "Fourth, who did you learn all these messy things from?"

"My master," Zhu Di blurted out, "Master said that if you treat a woman well, you should whip her, no matter how hard or light it is."

"..." Zhu Yuanzhang held his forehead, "Your master said whipping, not beating."

"What is that?" Zhu Di was curious.

"You don't know anything, why would you go to a brothel?" Zhu Yuanzhang wiped his hands clean.

He was about to get up.

A man passed by them and exclaimed in surprise: "You...why are you here? Mr. Zhu, why did you eat sesame cakes? Your master didn't give you anything to eat?"

It was Zhao Xuanzhen in a long skirt, and she was holding a basket in her hand.

"Master's wife?" Zhu Di opened his mouth and shouted.

"Bah!" Zhao Xuanzhen spat and blushed, "Don't scream nonsense, you should learn from your master."

"Isn't this a matter of time?" Zhu Di continued to call, "Master's wife, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to buy some food." Zhao Xuanzhen smiled with beautiful eyes and waved her hand, "Let's go."

She stepped away, her black hair hanging down to her waist, and a long skirt outlining her elegant figure.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at her back with cold eyes: "Fourth, don't call me Mistress in vain in the future."

Zhu Di looked puzzled: "Why? I think she and my master are definitely having an affair. She is so beautiful. It would be great if my master, Old Biden, can marry her."

"We don't agree."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked serious, "If our Zhu family wants to marry a wife, she must marry a good family."

"Do I need your consent? What do I need from you?" Zhu Di was speechless.

Zhu Yuanzhang gritted his teeth.

Oh, of course it's our business. The woman your master married is our little stepmother.

"In short, it just won't work!" he said angrily.

"Father, you are such a rich man that you don't know how hungry a hungry man is. There are so many women in your harem, but my master is still an old bachelor." Zhu Di rolled his eyes, "I won't tell you anymore, I'm going to collect protection money."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "!!!"

Are you collecting protection money in front of the emperor?

……

In a blink of an eye, the Lantern Festival has passed.

The sky has not yet broken, and in the hazy morning light, there are already people in front of Fengtian Temple. The ministers, dressed in court uniforms, stood solemnly, waiting for the first morning court in the second year of Hongwu.

The night has not completely faded away, and the wind is freezing. The wind in the hall was like a knife, penetrating through the thick court clothes and touching the skin. Some elderly ministers could not help but shiver in the biting cold wind.

"Meet the Prime Minister."

"Prime Minister, have a prosperous new year."

Most of the courtiers paid homage to Li Shanchang. He was the head of hundreds of officials and the most respected prime minister, so he naturally enjoyed this respect.

Even Liu Bowen bowed to him: "Brother Shan, I wish you great success in the new year."

"Bowen."

Li Shanchang also clasped his fists with a smile on his face, "Are you feeling better? It's cold today, so don't freeze."

"Cough cough cough... I can't recover from my illness." Liu Bowen smiled bitterly.

The ministers greeted each other.

There was only one person who didn't fit in, standing on the porch and not greeting anyone.

He is Yang Xian, Zuocheng of Zhongshu Province.

Soon, Wang Jinghong, the chief eunuch, came over and announced the start of the morning court.

The courtiers entered the Fengtian Palace one by one according to their rank. Everyone looked serious and respectful, not daring to show any slights.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat high on the dragon chair with a majestic gaze.

"Chowshen!"

As eunuch Wang Jinghong's voice fell, the melodious bells rang in Fengtian Hall. The courtiers knelt down one after another and shouted in unison: "Long live my emperor!"

After attending the court, the ministers announced their affairs.

"Your Majesty." Hu Weiyong bowed, "I have learned the exact information that Zhang Dingbian, the lieutenant under Chen Youliang, is now hiding in the Beggar Gang. What's more, there are many remnants of Chen Youliang lurking inside the Beggar Gang. Your Majesty , how can such wolfish ambitions be rampant under the emperor's feet? I sincerely request your majesty to send an army quickly to defeat these traitors in one fell swoop to serve as a warning to others!"

The ministers took a breath of air.

The New Year has just begun, so murderous?
Hu Weiyong is Li Shanchang's disciple, which also represents Li Shanchang's meaning.

At this moment, Yang Xian stepped forward and defended the Beggar Gang: "Your Majesty clearly noticed that the Beggar Gang made a meritorious service by transporting grain for the imperial court last year. How can you rashly accuse the Beggar Gang of conspiracy based on Mr. Hu's words alone?" For the crime of rebellion, you can send troops to conquer at will?"

"Master Yang, I know that you have a long history of dealings with that beggar gang." Hu Weiyong sneered and retorted unhurriedly, "What? Are you afraid? Could it be that you knew they were a rebel party?"

Yang Xian was furious when he heard this, pointed at Hu Weiyong's nose and yelled: "You... you are slandering! My dealings with the Beggar Clan are only official, how can I have personal relationships? Don't try to confuse the public here!"

"Really? Why is Master Yang so anxious?" Hu Weiyong snorted coldly, "We all know that today's Beggar Gang is no better than before. It controls the dark forces in the capital and has amazing financial resources. Master Yang must have benefited a lot from it."

Yang Xian was so angry that his mouth was filled with smoke.

However, he did not dare to vouch for the beggar gang.

If the court found out that Zhang Dingbian was in the Beggar Clan, it would be over. Zhang Dingbian was the man who almost assassinated His Majesty.

"What does it have to do with me?" Yang Xian spread his hands, "I just asked the Beggar Gang to transport military rations once."

"Huh, the Beggar Gang controls private shipping. The imperial water transport department often asks the Beggar Gang's fleet to transport grain." Hu Weiyong continued, "There must be a transaction here."

Zhu Shou, who had been listening, stood up. He was the Water Transport Envoy Sidu Water Transport Envoy.

"Master Hu, you are picking on me." Zhu Shou sneered.

"Humph, Mr. Zhu, who knows that you have a good relationship with Master Zhu, the leader of the Beggar Clan?" Hu Weiyong said coldly.

Zhu Shou looked at Hu Weiyong with a smile but not a smile, and spread his hands: "I am on good terms with Fourth Master Zhu, and I also know that Zhang Dingbian is in the Beggar Clan. What's wrong?"

As soon as these words came out, the court fell into dead silence again.

Everyone looked at Zhu Shou in shock, as if looking at a madman. He actually openly admitted to colluding with the Beggar Clan in court, and also knew the whereabouts of Zhang Dingbian.

This is undoubtedly a stone that stirs up a thousand waves.

……

At this time, Li Shanchang stepped forward, bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang respectfully, and said: "Your Majesty, since Zhu Shou has confessed on his own, I kindly request your Majesty to immediately order the arrest of Zhang Dingbian and completely blockade the beggar gang to avoid future troubles."

However, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting on the throne, did not respond immediately. He raised a meaningful sneer at the corner of his mouth and asked: "Prime Minister, aren't you curious why Zhu Shou suddenly confessed on his own?"

When Li Shanchang heard this, his heart suddenly trembled.

He realized that he might be too impulsive. When he heard Zhu Shou's suicide, he was so excited that he wanted to settle the matter in one fell swoop. At this moment, he also noticed that something was wrong.

The ministers also began to notice something strange, because they noticed Zhu Shou standing there with a calm expression, without any fear.

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice sounded again, but with a cold dignity: "Because Zhu Shou was sent by us to contact the Beggar Clan. He has reported to us in detail all the movements of the Beggar Clan."

As soon as these words came out, the officials were shocked.

Among them, Yang Xian felt a chill running down his spine. He had met Zhu Shou many times in the Beggar Clan. Zhu Shou knew all the secrets that Fourth Master Zhu told him. Doesn't it mean that the emperor also knew about them?
"Hmph!" Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, turned to Hu Weiyong, and said sternly, "Hu Weiyong, as the counselor of Zhongshu Province, you have a very lenient control over political affairs."

"Your Majesty, I... I am aware of my guilt." Hu Weiyong was sweating profusely at this moment. He hurriedly knelt down and confessed in a trembling voice.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Li Shanchang, but did not accuse Li Shanchang.

He knew that these people were talking about the Beggar Clan on the surface, but in fact they were going for Fourth Master Zhu.

For a moment, he became murderous.

However, he quickly suppressed it again. The Ming Dynasty had just founded the country, and it was not yet time for mass killings.

……

in the afternoon.

Zhu Yuanzhang changed into casual clothes and left the palace.

Today was the first day of court, and there were not many twists and turns. He finished it quickly.

He went straight to the Qinhuai River courtyard. Because he spent the Lantern Festival yesterday at the palace and could not spend the festival with Fourth Master Zhu, he came to drink with him today.

"Fourth Master." He called after entering the hospital.

"Hey." Zhu Di opened his mouth and responded.

"Go away, you are becoming more and more useless." Zhu Yuanzhang shouted angrily.

"I heard something wrong." Zhu Di spread his hands, "Am I not the fourth eldest child in the family? I will also be called the fourth master from now on."

"Then you wait until I abdicate." Fourth Master Zhu walked out of the room and glared at Zhu Di, "You are only eight years old and you are calling yourself father? Why? Do you want me to abdicate quickly?"

"Master, how dare I." Zhu Di chuckled, "I'll buy you wine and food."

He ran away quickly.

Fourth Master Zhu and Zhu Yuanzhang sat down in the courtyard.

"Balang, let me tell you some good news." Zhu Siye said, "That Daruhuachi said that the great shaman in the grassland can cure my amnesia."

"Really?" Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed.

Because if Mr. Zhu remembers what happened before, everything will fall into place.

However, he immediately shook his head: "No, it's too dangerous to be far away in the grassland. Who knows if they have any conspiracy. Fourth Master, you can't go."

"I didn't say I was going." Fourth Master Zhu smiled, "I don't care whether you remember or not."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

He thought that he would take Fourth Master Zhu back to Fengyang as soon as possible.

(End of this chapter)