My father Yongle, building a five-good family

Chapter 82 Recruiting Refugees
Call him dad instead?

When Zhu Di heard this, he pinched Zhu Gaoyu's buttocks with a fake smile and said in a rather sinister tone:
"You kid, don't think that everything will be fine just because you have your grandfather's jade pendant."

Zhu Gaoyu was extremely rebellious and continued to talk back:
"I still have my mother!"

Zhu Di was stuck for a moment.

It was at this moment that Zhu Gaoyu relied on his own strength to break free from Zhu Di's arms, slid down his legs, fell to the ground, and then turned around and ran away.

However, Ma Sanbao did not leave with Zhu Gaoyu. Instead, he stood in front of Zhu Di with an indescribable expression.

Zhu Di's bad premonition became even stronger.

Sure enough, the next moment, Ma Sanbao spoke in a somewhat euphemistic way:

"Your Majesty, actually things...are a little different from what you imagined. Who told you about this?"

Who told you?
When Zhu Di heard this question, he suddenly seemed to understand something. He turned his head abruptly and looked at Zhu Gui, who felt something was wrong at the moment.

Seeing Zhu Gui's guilty look, Zhu Di almost bit his cheek.

He pointed with his hand and said coldly:
"Stand aside for now. After I finish listening, we can settle the accounts."

……

Just as Zhu Di was asking about the whole story, Zhu Gaoyu was already very unhappy and returned to his room.

Opening the small notebook, he silently added another stroke after the names of Zhu Di and Zhu Gui, making them into two complete characters "正".

Soon after, he started writing his "diary" again.

Zhu Gaoyu actually had no habit of writing a diary. Generally speaking, whenever he remembered to write a diary, it was never good news.

He picked up the pen and wrote a few lines crookedly:

[My father spanked me today. I am already a big kid, but when I was outside, he didn’t even consider my dignity…]

[Zhu Gui is annoying. His heart is smaller than a chicken's butt. Xu Hui and Xu Yuan are also annoying. I curse them to give birth to children without buttholes...]

[My aunt is so unlucky to have met such a man. My father is also stupid, he believes whatever others say, and he has not inherited any of my wisdom...]

[Oh right... I have to write a letter to mom and grandpa... I'm going to complain harshly! I want grandpa to beat dad's butt to pieces, hahahaha! ]

After finishing his diary, Zhu Gaoyu worked hard to finish the secret letter, waiting to return to Nanjing so that his grandfather could teach his father a lesson.

joke!

Do you think the Zhu family’s grandparents’ love for each other is just a joke?

I finally finished writing, and at this moment, the door of the room creaked open.

Zhu Gaoyu felt somewhat guilty and subconsciously hid the letter in his hand.

But when he saw the slightly embarrassed smile on the visitor's face, Zhu Gaoyu suddenly became calm:

"What are you here for?"

Zhu Di felt a little uncomfortable. He had already understood the cause and outcome of the incident. He also knew that he had misunderstood what Zhu Gui said and had wronged Zhu Gaoyu.

But... he still couldn't let go of his shame, and said stiffly:

"Ahem...have you eaten yet?"

Zhu Gaoyu snorted:
"I'm so angry! Why are you still eating?"

This one comes with a gun and a stick.

But the way this matter was handled... did make Zhu Di feel guilty.

He held his breath for a while, then spoke patiently:
"That's enough! How can a man be so angry? Dad really didn't handle this matter well. How about this? You make a request and Dad will definitely agree to it!"

When Zhu Gaoyu heard this, he raised his head and looked at Zhu Di with empty eyes:
"Really?"

He drew out his tone, full of disbelief.

Zhu Di nodded naturally: "A gentleman's word is as good as gold!"

"Then call me daddy!"

Zhu Di was suddenly speechless.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoyu spread his hands.

Look!

He knew it.

Zhu Di saw that this boy was too arrogant. After holding back for a long time, he finally suppressed his anger and resisted the urge to take action. He spoke again:
"Except this...anything is fine!"

Seeing that he was serious, Zhu Gaoyu frowned and really started to think.

After a long while, he finally spoke:
"I want cotton, can you give it to me?"

"cotton?"

When Zhu Di heard this, he was stunned for a moment, and then, he didn't know what he was thinking about, and his expression became relieved.

For Zhu Gaoyu, having so much cotton was obviously of no use.

He has plenty of cotton clothes to wear.

The cotton was either given to the tenants in the farm or used to help refugees.

Zhu Di was extremely delighted that Zhu Gaoyu had such thoughts at such a young age.

So he patted Zhu Gaoyu's shoulder with a amiable look and said:

"Okay. Dad will help you with this. Just wait and see."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoyu raised his head a little suspiciously and looked at his father.

So much cotton!

This is in someone else's territory. Where does my father get the manpower and resources to get cotton?

It’s impossible to steal so much in a short time!
……

King Dai’s study.

When Zhu Gui heard Zhu Di's request, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of tea:

"You're stealing cotton?! You want so much at once? Where can I get it for you?!"

Zhu Di sat on the chair. Facing Zhu Gui's angry look, he blew away the foam in the teacup calmly, took a sip, and then said slowly:
"Just tell me whether you will give it to me or not. Speaking of which, I haven't told the old man yet about you bullying men and women in the fiefdom and plundering the people's wealth. What do you think... after hearing about this, what will the old man think?"

When Zhu Gui heard this, he immediately fell silent.

He scratched his head in annoyance:

"Fourth brother! I was wrong today, but don't push me too hard! We are all vassal kings. You came to Datong this time just to follow the old man's instructions and build the Datong city wall. There are so many refugees here, just enough for you to use."

"After you finish building the wall of Datong, you will go back. Why make so much trouble? I am squandering my people's money, and you want to be a good vassal king. Isn't Beiping enough for you to mess around with?"

When Zhu Di heard this, he looked righteous and awe-inspiring:
"I only built the city wall of Datong. Everything else was done by my son. I am me, and Zhu Gaoyu is Zhu Gaoyu. If you have anything to say, go talk to that kid."

Zhu Gui was confused.

no? ?
What does it mean that Zhu Di is Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoyu is Zhu Gaoyu?

How old is Zhu Gaoyu?
Is Zhu Di really planning to stop being a human being?
Zhu Gui felt aggrieved, but intimidated by the old man's authority, after several arguments, he still started to prepare the cotton in a dejected manner.

Now it is winter and the weather in Datong is extremely cold. He originally wanted to take advantage of the heavy snow to sell the cotton at a high price and make a fortune.

The result... now it's all over!

It's all because of Zhu Di! Oh, and there's also Zhu Gaoyu!

Neither this father nor this son is a good person!

……

According to Zhu Gui's instructions, a large amount of cotton arrived in Zhu Gaoyu's hands within a few days.

At the same time, Zhuangzi was also dealing with the sick ducks in an orderly manner.

Fortunately, it is almost winter now, so the tenant farmers can spare time to do this work.

is the day.

Zhu Gaoyu walked in the ridges of Zhuangzi's fields, with his hands behind his back, taking outward steps, and walking among the crowd.

When he passed by the thin young man, Zhu Gaoyu couldn't help but stop and watch for a while.

The boy seemed to feel his gaze, pursed his lips, turned around, and said:
"Benefactor."

The tenant farmers around all looked at him sideways, as if they couldn't believe how this young man had the courage to say hello.

After all, judging from his performance in the past few days, Zhu Gaoyu seemed to be in a bad temper.

When Zhu Gaoyu heard the word "benefactor", he was immediately delighted.

He waved his hand with a smile on his face, and Xiao Jixiang beside him understood what he meant. He came forward happily, took out a string of copper coins and put them in the boy's hand.

Zhu Gaoyu looked at him with a smile:
"What made you think of calling me Benefactor instead of Your Highness?"

The boy became a little bolder and continued:
"Since the benefactor came, we have been able to eat and drink enough every day. Compared with the previous days, it is simply a world of difference. Isn't this a great favor?"

Zhu Gaoyu felt refreshed after hearing this. If he had a tail behind him, he would probably be so proud of himself.

He pursed his lips modestly, "Call me something nice again."

"what?"

The boy was stunned for a moment.

It seems a little difficult to understand Zhu Gaoyu's habit.

But soon, he looked at the copper coin in his hand and shouted very seriously:
"Benefactor!"

"Ah~"

Zhu Gaoyu tried his best to suppress the corners of his mouth that wanted to curl up, and then looked at the boy with admiration:

"What's your name?"

"Commoner Chen Gensheng."

When Zhu Gaoyu heard the name, which was not Goudan or Gou Wa, he looked up in surprise and looked at the young man in front of him.

A closer look revealed that although the boy looked immature, his face was dark due to long-term labor, and his body was thin, but his temperament was particularly different.

If there is any difference... it is that he has the air of a scholar and a pair of surprisingly bright eyes.

Zhu Gaoyu suddenly changed his mind and asked:
"Have you read the book?"

The young man was slightly stunned, then lowered his head even deeper:
"I knew a little about the Four Books and the Five Classics, but my family fell into poverty later on."

Oh……

She's still a girl with a story.

Zhu Gaoyu was going to capture this boy and ask him to help with the work.

Originally, the managers in the manor were more or less unclean. Although it is said that there will be no fish in clear water, Zhu Gaoyu always needed his own people on hand.

At the moment, Chen Gensheng, who has received education, is obviously a good choice.

Thinking about this, Zhu Gaoyu spoke:

"We are recruiting refugees today. You should come with me."

Chen Gensheng was stunned.

I didn't expect that such a good thing would happen just by mustering up the courage to say hello.

The tenants nearby looked at them leaving with envious eyes.

I don't know who spoke first:

"Gensheng is a lucky kid. He was favored by the master. He is also educated. He may have great fortune in the future."

Someone nearby heard this, but was not very optimistic:

"Even if there is great luck, what does it matter? Old Chen is still in the quarry. It's a damn place. Once you enter, you can't get out. I'm afraid that I will die there in the future and no one will know."

The quarry in the Dai Wang fiefdom is a place where people are forced to work day and night to squeeze out every last bit of strength.

Even if a ghost came to that place, it would have to take a detour.

When this was mentioned, the atmosphere became a little tense.

But soon, one of the tenants spoke cautiously:

"Why do I feel that the current master is much better than the previous Dai Wangye? Although we are also working, we can have enough food every day. If every day is like this in the future, I will be content to be a tenant for the rest of my life."

Then another person chimed in:
"Yes. When the former prince was the head of the family, we only ate pickled vegetables. Now, although we don't have big fish and meat, we can actually eat three meals a day, rice and noodles every meal, and meat every now and then. Is this the life of the emperor?"

As soon as these words came out, the tenants who were working all laughed:

"How can the emperor only eat these? In my opinion, the emperor must have endless chicken, duck, fish and meat to eat every day, and rice and flour for every meal..."

Although they were talking, the tenants worked very quickly without any delay.

As they spoke, they always felt that these days... seemed to have much more hope than before.

……

the other side.

Prince Yan was discussing the construction of the Datong city wall with Daoyan and a group of royal officials.

When talking about the manpower required to build the city wall, many chief historians frowned and pondered for a moment.

The glutinous rice mortar needed to build the city wall costs money. If too much money is spent on recruiting laborers, it is obviously not a good thing.

But if we use corvée labor to force the people of Datong to build the city wall...

Not only Zhu Di did not want to see such a large-scale war, but the old man far away in Nanjing probably also did not want to see it.

Just as everyone was thinking about it, Daoyan, the monk in black robe and triangular eyes, suddenly smiled and said:
"Your Highness is worried about the manpower issue, but if you look around Datong, you will know that the thing that Datong lacks the most is people."

When Zhu Di heard this, he nodded slightly in approval. It was obvious that he already had an idea in his mind, and this idea... was the same as that of Monk Daoyan.

Zhu Di leaned against the city wall, looked at the refugees under the wall, and said what he thought:
"There are refugees running around in Datong. We can gather them together and feed them by building a city wall. This will not only solve the problem of public security in Datong, but also solve the problem of labor for building the wall."

After hearing these words, the chief officials around were immediately delighted.

only……

Someone couldn't help but ask a question:
"Your Majesty, when you say you are providing food, does that mean two meals a day? If so, what should we eat?"

Zhu Di pondered for a moment and spoke slowly:
"According to the old rules for disaster relief, we still have to work, so we should increase the amount by about 30% on top of the original amount, at least to get enough food and clothing."

But after he finished speaking, Zhu Di couldn't help but sigh:
"If you have enough money, why would you be so frugal?"

I have been writing until two or three o'clock every day during this period. I am too tired. My illness has recurred, and the plot needs to be polished after changing the map. I feel like there are many areas to learn. The update has slowed down a little to around 6k-7k words. We are fighting a long-term battle, and I will continue to work hard!
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(End of this chapter)