My aunt is Queen Ma

Chapter 28 Ding

Anyang County, Zhangde Prefecture.

Xu Da looked at the piles of bones on the ground and felt helpless.

Speaking of which, Zhangde Prefecture was not the main attack direction, so normally he, the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition, would not have to come here in person.

But knowing the ritual vessels of the Shang Dynasty, he decided to go there in person to avoid any accidents.

The morale of the remaining Mongol and Yuan Dynasty soldiers stationed here was completely lost, and the Ming army easily took over the entire Zhangde Prefecture.

Then Xu Da collected various medicinal materials from the people in the name of military supplies.

Among them is the dragon bone.

This move did not arouse any suspicion. After all, collecting food and medicine is something every army does.

More than half a month passed, and a lot of dragon bones were collected, but none of them had any traces of suspected text.

But fortunately, I didn't have high hopes, so I can't say I'm disappointed.

It’s just a pity that we couldn’t see the Shang Dynasty ritual vessels come out earlier.

As the commander-in-chief of the Northern Expedition Army, he couldn't stay here for too long.

After confirming that he could not find any clues, he prepared to return to Kaifeng.

But before he could move, his personal guard Xu Bin came running over, yelling:
"Marshal, Marshal, Marshal..."

Xu Da said angrily, "Calling for the soul."

The two were distant relatives, so he spoke more casually.

Xu Bin scratched his head embarrassedly, then said happily:
"Marshal, when we were burying the body, we dug up a treasure."

Xu Da's heart moved, and he asked, "What treasure?"

Xu Bin said: "Ding, a bronze tripod, it's very big."

Not oracle bones?

Xu Da said disappointedly, "What's so special about a bronze tripod? I'll give it to you as a reward."

It is very common to dig out copper coins and copperware when digging a pit.

If the conditions are right, someone will collect some of it.

But most of the time, those bronzes were melted down and cast into coins and the like.

Xu Da was not interested in these things and had no habit of collecting them.

Of course, if it is a large number, it is another matter.

Xu Bin was a little anxious and said, "This is not an ordinary tripod, it's very big."

He opened his arms and said, "It's this wide and this high, it must weigh a thousand pounds."

Xu Da suddenly stood up and asked, "How old is it?"

Xu Bin gestured again and said, "I saw it with my own eyes. It's about this size. It must be at least 800 to 900 kilograms."

Xu Da's expression immediately turned serious: "Quick, take me to see it."

The tripod is actually very common. Strictly speaking, the copper stove used for burning incense in temples can also be considered a tripod.

He originally thought that what he dug out this time was a small stove for burning incense or cooking.

But the tripod weighing eight or nine hundred kilograms is different.

Although he didn't know much about this thing, he knew that the tripod had certain specifications.

Such a large tripod is definitely not something that ordinary people are qualified to use.

Let’s put it this way, after the collapse of rituals and music, many people can use the small tripod as long as it is not excessive.

But anyone except the royal family who used a large-scale tripod would die.

This also means that this tripod is most likely a royal ceremonial vessel.

Considering what Empress Ma said in her letter, it is very likely that ritual vessels from the Shang Dynasty are buried here.

He couldn't help but think about it.

If the tripod used by the Shang king for offering sacrifices to heaven was really unearthed, then the meaning would be different.

It is countless times more valuable than any so-called oracle bones.

After all, in Chinese culture, the meaning of the tripod is so profound that it is often associated with royal power and the world.

Xu Da did not dare to delay, so he went out and rode his horse at full speed, and soon arrived at a wilderness northwest of Anyang County.

It is called wilderness, but in fact it is just fields abandoned due to war, and the weeds are waist-high.

Judging from the thick humus layer on the ground, this place has been abandoned for some years.

Five or six hundred soldiers were scattered throughout the area, digging pits to bury the bodies of the Yuan army.

There are more corpses in the distance, being transported in continuously.

Somewhere in this area, a group of soldiers were discussing a large black and gray lump.

Judging from the outline, it should be a large square tripod.

When Xu Da came over, he saw from afar an officer in the uniform of a lieutenant, holding a broadsword and scraping off the dirt on it.

At that moment, his heartbeat couldn't help but stop for a moment, and he opened his mouth and shouted:
"Stop, what are you doing?"

The surrounding soldiers then realized that the Marshal had arrived and saluted him.

Xu Da jumped off his horse and took two steps at a time to get in front of the black lump.

The captain's name was Xian Dazhu, and when he saw him coming, he quickly bowed.

"Greetings, Marshal, why are you here?"

Xu Da said angrily: "I am here to save your life."

As he said that, he walked up to the big lump and looked at it carefully, and found that it was not damaged.

Only a piece of dirt was lifted off, revealing a bluish-gray metallic color.

Only then did he feel relieved.

Xian Dazhu also realized something was wrong and quickly asked, "Marshal, is this a treasure?"

Xu Da snorted coldly and said, "It's a good thing that the thing that can make you lose your head is not damaged, otherwise I can't save you."

Xian Dazhu broke out in a cold sweat, and his hand holding the knife began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Don't scare me... What is this?"

Xu Da was not sure whether it was a tripod left over from the Shang Dynasty, so he did not say it directly, but just said:
"Don't ask so many questions that you shouldn't ask. It won't do you any good."

"Have you found anything else here?"

Xian Dazhu quickly said, "No, no, it's just this one black lump."

Xu Da nodded, looked around, and said:

"Stop, bury it somewhere else, preferably farther away from here, south of the city."

"Ah?" Xian Dazhu was shocked, but he did not dare to disobey military orders, so he could only say:

"Yes."

Then he summoned his soldiers and prepared to take them to the south of the city.

At this moment Xu Da seemed to have thought of something and called him again:

"Come back and let another group of people take over this matter. You take the others to watch over this place."

Although he was puzzled, Xian Dazhu was very happy that he didn't have to bury the body, and said quickly:

"Yes, Marshal."

Xu Da said sternly, "Remember, keep watch over this area for several miles. If you damage even a blade of grass or a tree, your entire family will be in danger."

Xian Dazhu's heart trembled, and he stammered, "Marshal, please at least tell me what's here, so I can have a better idea."

Xu Da scolded him, "I told you not to ask so many questions."

"But I won't let you look around for nothing. If you take good care of this place, maybe I can get you a title."

Xian Dazhu's eyes sparkled. "Really... no, no, no, I... am following the Marshal's orders."

"If a blade of grass or a tree is lost here, you can use my head as a chamber pot."

A title of nobility, that was something a mere captain like him could never have dreamed of in the past.

Not to mention just guarding this wasteland, even if it is a sea of ​​fire and a mountain of swords, you have to jump down without hesitation.

Xu Da laughed and said, "I don't like your urinal that leaks everywhere." Then he ordered people to take the bronze tripod away and carefully clean the dirt on it.

For fear of damaging the cauldron, he simply cleaned it and left the gaps untouched.

After measurement, the accurate data of the big tripod was obtained.

It is about four feet high, three feet and three inches long at the mouth, two feet and three inches wide at the mouth, and weighs about one thousand four hundred pounds.

(The above are all Ming Dynasty measurement units.)
Although there was no inscription on it, Xu Da knew it must be a royal tripod just by looking at this data.

He did not dare to delay and immediately wrote a memorial, detailing the origin of the tripod.

Then he ordered someone to send Ding and the memorial together to Yingtian.

After watching the big tripod go away, he breathed a sigh of relief and asked:
"Is there any military intelligence from Kaifeng?"

Xu Bin stepped forward and replied, "General, Commander Chang sent a letter saying that the waterway has been dredged and the army can reach Dadu directly."

Xu Da raised his whip and pointed it towards the northeast, saying, "Okay, pass on my order. The entire army will march north and attack the Yuan capital."
-
Yingtian.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Shi Jian who was being escorted over and shouted:
"What else do you have to say?"

Shi Jian knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly: "I have neglected my duty and caused the Second Prince to be injured. I know my crime is unforgivable."

"I dare not ask for my life, but I only hope that Your Majesty will spare my family for my humble contribution."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were not as stern as before, and he said:

"We know you don't have the guts to do this. There must be someone behind this. Who is that person?"

Shi Jian kowtowed again: "I was truly confused for a moment, and no one instructed me to do so. Your Majesty, please sentence me to death."

Before Zhu Yuanzhang could say anything, Zhu Chong on the side jumped out and cursed:
"You are loyal, but you have forgotten who your master is. Your loyalty is to the wrong person."

These words were truly heartbreaking, and Shi Jian's face turned pale instantly.

Zhu Yuanzhang's murderous intent, which had subsided slightly, was boiling over again:

"Tell me, who is that person?"

Shi Jian shuddered, hesitated for a moment, and kowtowed again:

"Your Majesty, please grant me death, Your Majesty, please grant me death..."

Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly: "You are stubborn and unyielding."

Having said this, he stopped interrogating and returned to the throne to review the memorials.

No one could understand what he was thinking and no one dared to interrupt. For a moment, the hall became very quiet.

After about a cup of tea, seeing that he still had no intention of speaking, Zhu Chong could no longer hold it in.

She quietly walked to his side and said, "Dad, my arm hurts. I'm going to the imperial physician to get it bandaged, and by the way, I'll go see my mother."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even raise his head, but just said "hmm" softly.

Zhu Chong then left carefully.

The hall returned to calm again. After more than half an hour, Zhao Erhu walked in and said:
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li is outside seeking an audience."

When Shi Jian heard Li Shanchang's request for an audience, his body trembled again. He finally knew what the emperor was waiting for.

I felt even more anxious and uneasy.

Zhu Yuanzhang still didn't raise his head and didn't give any response.

Zhao Erhu could only continue to wait, but he knew very well that Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely angry with Li Shanchang.

Otherwise, in the past, no matter how busy I was, I would not treat the other person so coldly.

After about half an hour, Zhu Yuanzhang finished reviewing the last memorial in his hand and said:

"Xuan."

Zhao Erhu bent his waist even lower and silently retreated to the corner.

Under normal circumstances, Zhu Yuanzhang would definitely say something like, let him in.

This tone is more casual, and Zhao Erhu can go out and invite people in by himself.

But once the word "xuan" is uttered, everything becomes different, as it means that everything that follows must follow the procedures of etiquette and law.

He must be a proper eunuch, singing the names in a controlled tone and with drawn-out tones.

Zhao Erhu, a guard commander, has no right to shout here.

After he left, the chief eunuch Sun Fu stepped forward and sang loudly:

"Summon Li Shanchang to the audience."

The sound traveled far in the empty hall.

All the eunuchs in the hall lowered their heads and dared not breathe.

After a while, Li Shanchang entered the hall with square steps:
"Your Highness, I, Li Shanchang, pay my respects to you."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked directly, "Why did Prime Minister Li come to the palace?"

The title was also changed from "Bai Shi" to Li Xiang.

Li Shanchang said in panic, "I have come to apologize for my crime."

Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh, what crime has Prime Minister Li committed?"

Li Shanchang said ashamedly, "I, your humble servant, unexpectedly learned that Your Majesty had been bewitched by a demon child, and I am deeply worried."

"I was so possessed by some strange force that I came up with the plan to trick Mr. Ma into breaking into the prison."

"In order to ensure that Master Ma Ba could enter the prison smoothly, I even ordered Captain Shi not to stop him."

"Somehow, Master Ma Ba accidentally injured the Second Prince."

"This is the fault of a guilty minister. I dare not shirk responsibility. I ask the superiors to punish me and serve as a warning to others."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You've admitted your guilt so readily. So, how do you think we should deal with this matter?"

Li Shanchang said: "I am a criminal, how dare I speak nonsense? All is subject to the judgment of the Supreme Being."

Zhu Yuanzhang sneered and said, "Let us make the final decision?"

"Alright, come here, drag out Shi Jian and everyone else guarding the prison today and behead them."

Li Shanchang was shocked and said: "You can't take the throne. This is all my fault. Captain Shi and others were forced to do this by me."

"If you want to punish a crime, you should punish the ministers."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly stood up, walked to Li Shanchang, helped him up, and said kindly:
"You are my most trusted minister. How can I punish you for such a small matter?"

"It's because these people couldn't advise you that you made such a big mistake."

"If they need to be punished, they should be punished. This way everyone will know that they can't just follow every order."

Li Shanchang's expression changed slightly, and he no longer had the composure he had just now.

He originally wanted to plead guilty and take all the blame on himself.

In this way, even if Shi Jian and others were executed, he would still have a reputation for being brave enough to take responsibility.

Only then will more people work hard for him in the future.

But now Zhu Yuanzhang's words put him in a difficult position.

I will not kill you, Li Shanchang, but I will kill anyone who listens to you.

How will he command others in the future?
Just as his brain was racing, looking for a way to deal with it.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not give him this opportunity and ordered again:
"What are you still standing there for? Execute Shi Jian and the others immediately."

"Yes." Zhao Erhu stood out from the corner.

With a wave of his hand, a group of guards rushed out and dragged Shi Jian and others away.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even look at these people, as if those being killed were just a group of insignificant flies.

With a smile on his face, he said, "Bai Shi, it's been a long time since we last caught up."

"I just prepared some wine and food, let's have a drink."

Li Shanchang forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty..."

At this moment, another eunuch came to report that Yang Xian, the Left Prime Minister, wanted to see him.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "They must be here to impeach you."

Then he said to the eunuch, "Just say what we said. If it is to impeach Prime Minister Li, then go back."

After saying that, he pulled Li Shanchang towards the side hall.

(End of this chapter)