The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 107 Who says Old Zhu isn't highly educated? He'll argue with that!

After an incense stick has burned.

Reaching the end of the village, we finally saw Old Zhu's house.

The most eye-catching feature is undoubtedly the large locust tree in front of the door.

Seeing this, Grandpa Zhao, with his withered old hands, broke free from the support, pointed to the tree trunk, and said, "Little child, look at this mark, it's what your grandfather carved back then—"

Upon hearing the sound, Zhu Xiong Ying looked closer.

He blinked.

All that could be seen was a crooked and illegible character "朱" (Zhu).

As for whether it was carved by Zhu himself, we'll have to go back to Beijing and ask his grandfather to find out!

After all, based on what he had seen on a daily basis, Old Zhu's handwriting was not this ugly!

Some people may think that Old Zhu was a cowherd and not very educated!

Little did people know that Old Zhu had indeed lived a hard life in his youth, herding cattle for others and even struggling to afford school.

But after becoming a monk at Huangjue Temple, he began to study on his own and has been doing so for decades without ever putting down his books!

Even after becoming emperor, he never forgot about reading!

And like the "Edict of the King of Wu" scroll, the "Imperial Writings of Emperor Taizu of Ming", the "Great Army Letter", and the "General's Letter" that have been passed down through the ages —

The numerous authentic works displayed here demonstrate the high level of cultural refinement among the artists!

It blows away the vast majority of people!

Then, the villagers, still full of interest and chatting, stepped across the threshold together.

Only after walking from the front yard to the back yard did I see a few dilapidated old houses that had been preserved.

Upon entering the central stone slab house, one can see a heated earthen bed, a wooden table with a missing leg, and several chipped earthenware bowls and basins in the corner.

A quick glance reveals their poverty and destitution!

But I wonder if the bowl from when I was begging is still in here?

If we can find it, we must bring it back to the capital and treasure it as a family heirloom!

Grandpa Zhao, pointing at the earthen bed, suddenly had tears in his eyes and sighed, "Little child! Your great-grandparents used to sleep on this very bed!"

"But the plague came quickly that year, and the old couple and your great-grandfather passed away within half a month of each other!"

"Back then, this family was dirt poor; they couldn't even afford a coffin! It was a few of us old neighbors who chipped in some mats to wrap them up! And then Brother Liu Jizu donated half an acre of land on the hillside at the east end of the village, so these people could finally be laid to rest!"

"We still remember that Chongba knelt on the ground and insisted on kowtowing, saying he would never forget this kindness for the rest of his life!"

"Who would have thought? When the next message came back, that boy Chongba had really made something of himself—he'd become the emperor! He's brought honor to our Guzhuang Village!"

"Of course—"

Grandpa Zhao started the discussion, and the villagers began to talk about it again.

Zhu Xiong Ying glanced at the earthen bed and waited for everyone to finish speaking.

He then bowed respectfully and said, "On behalf of my grandfather, grandmother, father, and everyone in the Zhu family, Xiong Ying expresses his gratitude to all the elders!"

"If it weren't for the help extended by our fellow villagers back then, my Zhu family wouldn't be where we are today. We will never forget this kindness, generation after generation!"

Grandpa Zhao, who was nearby, and Wang Wen and others quickly reached out to help him up.

"You silly child, so many years have passed! Besides, it's only natural for neighbors to help each other!"

"Not to mention, after Zhuge Liang became emperor, he always treated us people from his hometown very well—"

7

"Yes, Chongba was a grateful man. Our village, our township, and our county are where they are today thanks to him, aren't they?"

From this perspective, the villagers' gratitude towards Old Zhu is beyond words!

After all, his grandfather's support for his hometown after he became emperor was genuine!

When one person attains the Tao, the chicken and the dog ascend to heaven.

That's all there is to it!

After leaving the old house, we arrived at the big locust tree.

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the gathered villagers, took Zhao Da Ye's arm, and said loudly, "To tell you the truth, grandpas, grandmas, uncles, and aunts, today when Xiong Ying returned to the capital, my imperial grandfather specifically instructed me on three important matters!"

"First, to pay respects at the imperial tombs and honor our ancestors. Second, to visit our fellow villagers—"

"Thirdly, we'll invite some elders from the village, as well as descendants of neighbors who helped the Zhu family back then, to come with us to Beijing for a while!"

This statement came out.

The surrounding area was instantly transformed into a vegetable market.

"Even after becoming emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang still thinks of us old folks, wanting us to enjoy the good life together!"

"We've heard that the capital is huge, and the imperial palace is even bigger—"

"Sigh, it's been so many years since Chongba came back! We should go see him and see how he's doing!"

"But won't we embarrass Chongba if we go to the palace and the capital dressed like this, looking so rustic?"

The villagers were so incredibly hospitable!

"Quiet down, let the little one speak—"

Grandpa Zhao shouted a few times before finally quieting down again.

Zhu Xiong Ying cleared her throat and continued, "My grandfather once said that when he left Guzhuang Village, he told all the elders that if he ever became successful, he would definitely take everyone to see the outside world!"

"Now that you've conquered the land and built the imperial city, don't keep your promise and go see the prosperity of the capital—"

"As for carriages, lodging, and food, the government will take care of everything along the way, so you won't have to spend a single penny."

"Besides, my grandfather often said that he came from a peasant family in Fengyang and would never forget his roots! When you visit, you'll be family, there's nothing shameful about it!"

He then described the whole story in detail and offered a few words of comfort.

Zhu Xiong Ying summoned the village chief and his entourage to carry out the matter.

We should have a definite list within three days if possible.

He won't be staying in his hometown of Fengyang for long.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Xiong Ying visited the elderly in the village, bringing them rice, flour, and cloth.

One hour later.

Once these things are done...

Accompanied by his maternal uncle Chang Mao and his paternal uncle Xu Zengshou, Zhu Xiong Ying wandered outside the village.

The Zhu and Tang families were originally from the same village and hometown.

Tang He and Lao Zhu were childhood friends who grew up playing in the mud together.

Upon arriving at the Tang family's old residence, Tang Ding pointed to the collapsed mud walls and thatched huts and sighed, "Your Highness doesn't know! When my father and I returned to our hometown, I heard my father point to every blade of grass and every tree, saying that His Majesty and I made a promise right here in this courtyard that we would achieve great things so that everyone would have enough to eat!"

"Now our Great Ming Dynasty is peaceful and prosperous, and our wish has finally come true!"

Xu Zengshou nodded in agreement, pointing to the opposite bank of the river: "My father often said that he and His Majesty met in the fields outside Haozhou City, and later rose up in rebellion together!"

Chang Mao reminisced about the past, recalling his father's blurry face, and sighed, "Speaking of His Majesty's uprising, when my father heard the news, he led his troops there overnight. Now that he's back in our hometown, he knows even more what the roots he often talked about are—"

Li Jinglong, the second daughter, also had something to say, and couldn't help but talk about her father, Li Wenzhong, and the details of his visits to relatives in Guzhuang Village.

The sun was setting in the west.

As Zhu Xiong Ying listened, he gazed at the distant fields, his heart stirred with emotion.

Fengyang is the ancestral home of the Zhu family!

It is the very root of the Ming Dynasty!

The villagers who sought refuge with him back then, such as Xu Da, Tang He, and his maternal grandfather Chang Yuchun, were the cornerstones that enabled his imperial grandfather to achieve his imperial ambitions!

Without these predecessors, how could the Ming Dynasty be what it is today?

As for the future.

To find true heroes, look to the present!

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