The First Uncle of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 6

"I believe that in ancient times, a king who founded a business must have a virtuous queen to help him achieve his great cause. I have posthumously conferred the title of Prince of Xu on my uncle and the title of Lady of the King on my aunt."

"Also, considering that the soul of a person born in that land must travel back to his hometown, a temple has been built at the tomb so that officials can offer sacrifices in spring and autumn. We have chosen an auspicious day and sent our prince to enshrine the tablet of the spirit in the new temple so that the spirit can shine brightly and be remembered here."

Crown Prince Zhu Biao read out the imperial edict loudly. The first prince officially conferred the title of Prince Xu Ma Taigong after the founding of the Ming Dynasty was announced to the world. At the same time, it was announced to the world that the queen had a younger brother, Ma Xun.

After the imperial edict was read, Ma Xiuying held the ancestral tablet, with Ma Xun following closely beside her, and officially completed the burial ceremony of Ma Taigong.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang did not wear mourning clothes, as he was the emperor on such occasions.

After the burial of Ma Taigong, the post station became very lively.

The 15-year-old Crown Prince Zhu Biao, the 14-year-old Zhu Chong, the 12-year-old Zhu Gang, the 10-year-old Zhu Di, and the 9-year-old Zhu Su were all very lively. There was also an 8-year-old Zhu Jingru and a 7-year-old Zhu Jingxian.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma were quite fertile, and they basically had children one after another.

There was also Mu Ying, who was 25 years old. Although he was an adopted son, Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying treated him as their own son.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased to see the children's table full of people. His family was also very lively in those days, but unfortunately, after the chaos at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, many people died or scattered, and there were only a few people left in the family.

Zhu Biao took the initiative to stand up and poured a glass of wine for Ma Xun, "Uncle, start eating."

Zhu Biao sat at the main table, together with Zhu Yuanzhang, Ma Xiuying and Ma Xun.

Mu Ying sat at the children's table and took care of his younger brothers and sisters. Don't think that this means he looks down on Mu Ying. To be treated like this means they are a family and they don't treat him as an outsider.

Zhu Yuanzhang took the initiative to pick up a piece of fish meat for Ma Xun, "Little brother, eat. This is the fish belly, it's delicious."

Ma Xun subconsciously felt nauseous and was about to force himself to pick up his chopsticks.

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately took the fish back and said, "I can't bear to give you such good things. I'll eat it myself."

Zhu Biao also quickly stood up and picked up the dish, "Dad is really something. He knows that his son likes to eat fish, but he puts it so far away. Put this in front of me. I am young, so please give me some space."

Ma Xiuying also hurriedly said, "Little brother, have some roast goose. This is the roast goose I roasted myself, and your brother-in-law likes it the most. You can also taste it and see if it tastes good."

Zhu Su, who was sitting at the children's table, asked in a low voice, "Doesn't Big Brother dislike eating fish?"

Zhu Gang immediately whispered, "What do you know? My uncle was probably a boatman before, and he ate too much fish. There's no oil or salt. You can eat it for more than ten years and see if you can get used to it!"

Zhu Su, the 'youngest son', said, "I just like to eat fish and shrimp, they taste so good. Tanka people are good, they can eat meat every day. They are better than us, I can't eat meat every day."

Zhu Chong immediately scolded, "You know shit! I told you there's no oil or salt, so how can we eat? Tanka people, do you know what that is? They live on boats all their lives, even the poor are better off than them, and people on the shore look down on them!"

Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying attached great importance to their children's education, and their sons had remarkable insights.

Mu Ying helped explain, "It is said that the Tanka people are the remnants of the Minyue era. Throughout the dynasties, they had no houses on land, did not farm, and both men and women lived on boats, making a living by fishing. They were even more ostracized during the Yuan Dynasty. They were not allowed to live on land, read and learn, intermarry with people on land, or take the imperial examinations. The government did not register migrant fishermen, so they had no household registration."

Zhu Su was shocked. "Is that still a human?"

"Shut up!" Zhu Chong scolded immediately, "Eat your meal, don't provoke your father and mother to beat you at this time!"

The noise from the children's table could also be heard at the main table.

Zhu Biao carefully looked at Ma Xun's expression, while Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his chopsticks, ready to get angry and educate his child at any time.

Ma Xun quickly said to Ma Xiuying, "I didn't drift on the sea for too long, just to fill my stomach. I just caught some fish and shrimp in the river occasionally, and I also like to eat snails."

Zhu Yuanzhang decided to go back and take care of his sons. He felt even more distressed when he thought about how his younger brother had to eat snails when he was only ten years old. So he kept pouring mutton, duck meat, etc. into Ma Xun's bowl. "My younger brother, you still don't have a family, which is not good." Ma Xiuying said, "Come back to the capital with us, and I will find you a wife."

Ma Xun said immediately, "No need, just give me some land, or even a house. I'm in Suzhou, and I have to stay at home."

Zhu Yuanzhang said unhappily, "You still don't recognize me as your brother-in-law, right?"

Ma Xun quickly explained, "How could I say that? I am so happy that my sister recognized me. I am happy to have a relative. I am happy, but there must be talented people in our ancestral land."

Ma Xiuying said, "When you have children, you can bring them back. Now you are alone, and as your elder sister, I should take care of you."

Zhu Yuanzhang also said, "An elder sister is like a mother. If your father-in-law abandons a young boy like you back home, won't he blame me and your sister?"

Zhu Biao also hurriedly advised, "Uncle, have you been to Zhejiang and Fujian? You really have seen a lot. The farthest I've been is back to my hometown Fengyang and to Suzhou. Uncle, you must tell your nephew what the outside world is like when you get back!"

The three of them were extremely affectionate and were close to Ma Xun from the bottom of their hearts. Not only did they support him in a righteous way, but they also took Ma Xun's feelings into consideration, saying that if he didn't follow them to Yingtian Prefecture, it would be Ma Xun's fault!

After eating and drinking his fill, Ma Xun returned to his room to rest. He felt that he was safe now and that he would surely enjoy wealth and glory.

Ma Xiuying, who had returned to the house, said worriedly, "Zhongba, you have also seen how my younger brother looks like. He is still distant with us, as if he is afraid that we will dislike him. What do you think of this child? I am his sister, how can I ignore him!"

"I envy Old Chang now. His brother-in-law is so good." Zhu Yuanzhang also said with emotion, "You said that kid Lan Yu was raised as a son by Old Chang. When has he ever met anyone outside?"

Ma Xiuying laughed as she thought about it, "That's true, but the situation over there is different. Lan Yu has been following me all the time, so naturally she is not shy. Apart from anything else, you are also close to your brother-in-law."

When talking about his brother-in-law, Zhu Yuanzhang became excited, "Sister, my brother-in-law is good. I am also a brother-in-law now, so I can't be worse than my brother-in-law or Lao Chang, right?"

Ma Xiuying said, "Brother-in-law is fine. I respect him. But my younger brother is being distant with us. What will you do? He looks like he doesn't even want to go to the capital. If you want to give him an official title, will he agree?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said viciously, "He doesn't want it, but I will give it to him! He is my brother-in-law, how can he be wronged? Sister, you can rest assured. Take him back to me, teach him well for a few years, and he can be close to us in the future."

Ma Xiuying said worriedly, "Now he has grown up, and his temperament has basically settled down. My father taught me well, otherwise how could I be so polite and know my place?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in agreement. What his sister said was right. This was the result of his father-in-law’s good teaching!

Over the years, Zhu Yuanzhang had seen many people become arrogant after gaining power, and many poor people became arrogant after becoming rich. But his brother-in-law did not show any signs of being arrogant or domineering.

The more sensible the brother-in-law is and the less he wants, the more Lao Zhu wants to give him. The reason is very simple, he is the sister's brother and the only hope for her in her natal family.

If anyone dares to say that my sister’s family has no one left, I will let my brother-in-law take the lead in beating them up!
A new day began, and Ma Xiuying heard the donkey's braying and the children's noise.

"What's so good about riding this donkey? It's more impressive to ride a tall horse!"

"I'm feeding my donkey, not asking you to bully it! I only have so much property, why don't you be more careful!"

Ma Xiuying pushed the door open and walked out. The second and third sons sat on rattan chairs with peace of mind, directing the fourth and fifth sons to feed the donkey.

The two girls were also busy helping to cut grass and mix fodder.

The donkey is called Wangcai, and he is the apple of my eye. He carried the coffin for more than half a year before returning to Suzhou, so I naturally had to take good care of him.

Ma Xun also pushed the door open and came out, saying quickly, "I'll feed the donkey, you guys take a rest."

Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang jumped up and said earnestly, "Uncle, just leave this little thing to us. Don't worry, uncle. We have been feeding horses and donkeys since they were young, so we will definitely take good care of Wangcai."

Zhu Di, who was feeding the donkey, was unhappy. He and the fifth brother fed the donkey, so why did the credit go to his second and third brothers?
(End of this chapter)