The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 105 Zhu Yuanzhang: Our grandson has made something of himself! He wants to be the Grand Marshal of all the armies in the land?!

Inside the Kunning Palace, candlelight flickered.

Hearing his wife's words, Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "Yes, it would be best if my eldest grandson returned soon!"

"We really don't feel used to him being away from the palace for even a day!"

Empress Ma's gaze softened upon hearing this. She glanced at the letter beside her and sighed, "Indeed, I haven't had a moment's peace since that child left more than ten days ago!"

"Usually, when Xiong Ying was in the palace, he would run over before dawn every day before school started, clinging to the doorframe to pay his respects!"

"I came back from the main hall this afternoon. I usually go to the imperial kitchen to watch the imperial chefs prepare medicinal meals. Every night before bed, she always chatters away, telling me what she learned during the day—"

"Now it's even worse. With Xiong Ying not around, the palace is quiet and deserted all day long. There's not even anyone to talk to, and eating has no flavor!"

At this point, Empress Ma suddenly became serious, frowning as she said, "Chongba, what about the illness our eldest grandson suffered from the year before last? If he hadn't pulled through in the end, what would have happened to him? How could anyone live with that?"

"And it is also thanks to the blessings of our ancestors—"

Recalling what happened back then, it's still vivid in my mind, and it's terrifying!

Even after the imperial physicians diagnosed him, they all said there was no hope.

Fortunately, after that night, the good grandson woke up!

Zhu Yuanzhang was also moved.

Back then, because of her eldest grandson's illness, her younger sister also fell ill!

Fortunately, after her grandson recovered, her sister's condition finally improved.

Otherwise, if it were like that nightmare we had last year, our sister, our Biao'er, and our eldest grandson would all leave us first!

What should we do then?

Zhu Yuanzhang composed himself, took his wife's hand, forced a smile, and comforted her, "My dear sister, don't think about things that don't exist!"

"Isn't Da Sun alive and well?"

"Let's just patiently wait for him to grow up, and then watch him get married so we can hold our great-grandson. We can raise him here in the palace so we won't be bored!"

Empress Ma smiled, her phoenix eyes sparkling, and said, "Just as Chongba said, in a couple of years, we'll choose a good granddaughter-in-law so that Xiong Ying and the others can have a healthy baby boy soon!"

"While we can still move around, let's look after the children as much as possible—"

Like their maternal grandparents.

After Empress Ma finished talking with her husband about their eldest grandson, she started talking about their other grandsons.

I learned that in recent days, the older brothers and sisters, such as Zhu Gaochi, Zhu Yunwen, and Zhu Jixi, have been taking care of their younger siblings as instructed by the great-grandson.

Empress Ma praised them, saying, "They are all such sensible children! In my opinion, they are much more promising than my second, third, and fourth children were when they were young! They will be able to shoulder great responsibilities in the future!"

When discussing his sons, Zhu Yuanzhang pondered, "Of all the princes who were enfeoffed in the early years, if you ask me, the fourth prince had the hardest time!"

"Currently, the war in the north largely requires him, the Prince of Yan, to coordinate. Fortunately, he has Ping An and the others to assist him in managing affairs—"

Like Li Wenzhong.

Ping An's nickname was also Bao'er, and he was the son of Ping Ding, a founding father of the nation.

After dying in the battle of Pingding, Zhu Yuanzhang adopted him as his son.

He was brave and skilled in battle, and possessed the strength to lift a tripod.

The current commander of Miyun is under the jurisdiction of Beiping Military Command and is in charge of affairs on the northern border.

Speaking of peace, Empress Ma suddenly asked, "Two years ago, Chongba was again sent to Henan to oversee military training—has this child not returned to the capital for the past two years?"

The man who entered politics by courtesy name was none other than Xu Sima, the adopted son of Emperor Zhu and Empress Ma!

Xu Sima has been raised by my side since he was nine years old.

Therefore, Empress Ma treated her adopted sons like Mu Ying as her own sons and cared for them deeply.

Knowing his wife missed their child, Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and then smiled, saying, "Don't worry, my dear sister! This year we'll be recalled from government service and spend a reunion year together!"

"But next year, with the war in the north approaching, I will naturally be transferred to the front lines along with Lan Yu and the others!"

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang paused, then sighed, "Speaking of the Northern Expedition, we've never had a suitable candidate for the commander-in-chief!"

"Tiande is indeed experienced, but he's getting old and his body can't handle the constant travel!"

"Dingchen is a rank too low, and the fourth brother is too young—only Guosheng is left!!"

In fact, in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, Feng Sheng's abilities were second only to Xu Da and Chang Yuchun.

They have advantages, such as strong military talent, extensive experience, and the ability to command large-scale operations.

There are also shortcomings, such as poor personal morality, abuse of power, greed for money and lust, lax military discipline, and lack of a sense of the big picture.

However, in the second year of the Hongwu reign, when Xu Da pacified Shaanxi and returned to the capital, he originally ordered Feng Sheng to garrison Qingyang, control the various armies, and prevent the Northern Yuan from launching a counterattack.

Unexpectedly, Lao Feng disobeyed military orders and led his troops back to the capital without authorization, almost causing chaos throughout Shaanxi!

In the fifth year of the Hongwu reign, after a great victory in the western expedition, Feng Sheng secretly hid treasures. When Zhu Yuanzhang discovered this, he revoked all his rewards!

Not to mention the various actions taken after the Battle of Jinshan in the twentieth year of the Hongwu reign in history.

Therefore, because of his mistakes.

If it weren't for Zhu Yuanzhang's deep sense of loyalty and righteousness, and the fact that Feng Sheng was a meritorious official who followed Zhu Yuanzhang into power...

The grass on his grave is probably taller than Hu Weiyong himself!

At present, this applies to both the government and the public.

How few could suppress Feng Sheng's arrogance and extravagance and make the entire army bow down in submission?

Xu Da, an old comrade-in-arms and in-law, is one of them.

Then there's him, Biao'er, and the younger sister—

Some things are better left unsaid in court.

Within the inner palace, Zhu Yuanzhang was able to talk to his wife and ease his worries.

Seeing her husband's worried expression.

Empress Ma suddenly thought of something.

She pondered for a moment, ran her left hand through her hair, and nodded, saying, "Guosheng's loyalty is beyond doubt, but his temperament needs someone to keep an eye on him and restrain him!"

"Speaking of the Northern Expedition, Chongba doesn't know anything about it, but Xiong Ying and I chatted about it briefly last time —"

Upon hearing the name of the eldest grandson...

Zhu Yuanzhang's worry turned to a smile, and he said, "Tell me, sister, what kind of wicked idea has our eldest grandson come up with this time?"

Empress Ma gently pinched the back of her husband's hand, rolled her eyes, and said, "What kind of talk is this, Chongba?"

"Over the years, how many ideas has Xiong Ying given you, his imperial grandfather, and how many good deeds has he done? What exactly is a 'cunning idea'?"

"Just a few days ago, I heard that he was instructing the artisans at the university to improve bows, crossbows, and firearms, and that he personally drafted a strategy for military operations and epidemic prevention!"

"Their minds are entirely focused on the national economy and the people's livelihood—they are a thousand times, ten thousand times better than the officials you support!"

Empress Ma's words made sense, and Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to accept them.

Feeling the pain in the back of his hand, he gasped and replied, "Sister's right, are we wrong? What did Da Sun mention this time? Tell us quickly!"

Seeing this, Empress Ma took the midnight snack from the palace maid and handed it to her husband. Then she said gently, "Xiong Ying said that after a year or two, when he has grown up, he will ask you, Chongba, for the title of Grand Marshal of the Army and Commander of the Three Armies to wipe out the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty."

Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and exclaimed, "Hey! Our grandson is truly ambitious!"

"But you know what, sister, if our Grandson becomes the commander-in-chief, what general would dare to object? The morale of the entire army would skyrocket!"