The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Ma Wenyuan quickly pressed the issue regarding the controversy surrounding the telescope.

After Xu Miaoyun made her appearance, she didn't say anything more and quietly sat down next to Ma Wenyuan.

Ma Wenyuan then looked at Meng Chong and asked, "Have you visited all the brothers who died in battle?"

"I have gone to all the places as the Marquis instructed," Meng Chong said.

You could also call him Commander.

After all, the appointment of Ma Wenyuan as commander of the Wude Guard was announced just a few days ago.

No one would call out the lowest official rank.

For example, the executive director isn't called "executive director," and the deputy county head isn't called "deputy county head."

No one will shout it down low.

"Go and ask our brothers if they have any school-aged children. If so, let them come to school and pay all their tuition and fees."

Ma Wenyuan pondered for a moment and said, "It's the school that's currently under construction."

Upon hearing this, Meng Chongshang remained silent.

Xu Miaoyun blinked and spoke first, "Is Master going to take on many disciples? Does that mean I'm the eldest disciple?"

Ma Wenyuan didn't answer her, but patted her head to signal her to be quiet, and continued talking to Meng Chong.

"He's gone now, and there's not much I can do, this is all I can do."

Meng Chong quickly stood up. "On behalf of my fallen brothers, I thank Your Excellency!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Chong immediately lifted his robe, knelt on the ground, and began to kowtow.

Meng Chong has been a soldier for many years. He joined the army before the Ming Dynasty was even established, whether under Han Tong, Chen Youliang, or the current Ming Dynasty.

This was the first time he had ever seen such a Silverwing boss.

The compensation was generous, and there was also a lot of bonus money.

Unlike some people, who keep their gold coins hanging without distributing them.

Even now, Ma Wenyuan wants the descendants of the victims to receive an education.

These days, ordinary people can't afford to go to school.

If you can read books and understand them, that's a direct way to change your social class.

Even if you can't understand it, you can still become an accountant, which is better than farming or being a soldier.

As the saying goes, these days, no scholar is poor.

Seeing that Meng Chong's behavior didn't seem feigned, Ma Wenyuan smiled and waved his hand.

"Go ahead, school should start in two months."

"Here you go!"

Meng Chong accepted the order and left. Next, Ma Wenyuan looked at He Tao.

"I probably won't have time to go to Wudewei these days, so please keep an eye on things for me."

Soon, He Tao also left, flattered and surprised.

Watching the two leave one after the other, Lin Ye, standing in the corner, couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

This brother-in-law of the emperor was truly a master at winning people's hearts.

He is in no way inferior to His Majesty back then.

"Make arrangements for the guards in the manor as well," Ma Wenyuan called out to him.

"Here you go!"

Lin Ye was suddenly jolted awake and wanted to kowtow as well, but after thinking about it, he didn't.

Lin Ye suddenly felt that the person in front of him was his enlightened master, the kind of person he would be willing to take as his godfather if he did not abandon him.

It wasn't forestry; Meng Chong was just putting on an act.

That's just how things are these days.

Although Meng Chong is now a chiliarch, wasn't he just a squad leader before?

For low-ranking officers like them, dealing with casualties in battle was a major headache.

There's no other reason than that I can't face the deceased's family.

If you take someone out with you but can't bring them back, you'll always feel guilty.

If the imperial court were more generous and provided more compensation, they might be able to say a few words to the deceased's family.

But if the imperial court is stingy, then they won't even have the face to show their faces.

Now look at what Ma Wenyuan did.

While they might not be able to stand up straight and face the families directly, at least they could feel a little better.

Furthermore, putting ourselves in their shoes, if Ma Wenyuan could do this for ordinary soldiers, how much more so for officers?

……

in the afternoon.

Guo Chong arrived, accompanied by Wu Bozong.

Wu Bozong and Guo Chong are both serving as assistant secretaries in the Ministry of Rites, holding the rank of fifth grade.

Normally, the top two scholars (状元 and 榜眼) wouldn't receive this rank upon their initial appointment, but since it was a newly established institution, there weren't so many rules to follow.

"This humble official pays his respects to the Marquis of Anshu." ×2

Seeing his two friends in blue robes behaving this way, Ma Wenyuan couldn't help but think of Runtu and Lu Xun.

Guo Chong looked at the young man in red robes sitting in the main seat, and was also somewhat dazed.

Reincarnation is truly an art.

At the beginning of the year, they were as insignificant as ants, utterly wicked.

Now this person is already wearing a red robe, while I am still just a minor official.

In the fourth year of the Hongwu reign, which was still the beginning of the dynasty, there was no distinction between official ranks and insignia, but the use of colors to differentiate official levels had already begun.

For example, someone of Ma Wenyuan's rank would wear a red robe, while Guo Chong would wear a blue gown.

……

Guo Chong has come to deliver the account books.

So I left after chatting for a short while.

Wu Bozong wanted to chat a little longer, but in the end he gave up.

These intellectuals still retain some integrity, especially these learned young people.

They all have some kind of integrity to some extent.

To put it bluntly, it's about wanting both: wanting to rise to prominence but not wanting to be branded as a sycophant.

Ma Wenyuan didn't care much about this mentality; why bother with so much?

He was still concerned about his comics, specifically the first volume of the Analects.

Unfortunately, according to the account book handed over by Guo Chong, the sales were not very good, and even lagged behind those of ordinary popular novels.

Ma Wenyuan's net profit was only three hundred taels of silver.

Ma Wenyuan guessed that Guo Chong was now a junior official in the Ministry of Rites and was focused on his official career, so he had no time to think about business.

"We still need to find someone else."

Thinking this, Ma Wenyuan casually tossed the account book onto the table.

Three hundred taels was a huge sum of money for Ma Wenyuan in the past.

If Ma Wenyuan weren't a relative of the emperor, he might be overjoyed.

But for Ma Wenyuan now, three hundred taels is nothing; it doesn't even amount to the compensation he gives out.

Not to mention the daily expenses of the Marquis's residence.

The next few days.

Ma Wenyuan didn't go anywhere; he stayed home and focused on teaching his students.

This time, instead of teaching science, they taught poetry, literature, etiquette, and morality.

There was no other way. Xu Miaoyun was an educated person, but the other two were completely illiterate.

Zeng Xiu did learn something from Xu Miaoyun, and now she can talk about the Four Books and Five Classics with great enthusiasm.

Zeng Qing followed Ma Wenyuan, but he only went to fight and didn't learn anything.

If he doesn't teach him soon, Ma Wenyuan is afraid that Zeng Qing will embarrass himself when he goes out.

At that time, rumors will circulate that the emperor's brother-in-law is all show and no substance, and that his students are completely illiterate.

……

July 15th.

Ma Wenyuan is going to court.

He didn't have to attend the regular morning court sessions; this was a special permission granted by Emperor Zhu.

Ma Wenyuan also avoids going if he can avoid it. Who would be so kind as to get up at four or five in the morning to attend a meeting?

This time it's different; the new moon and full moon were quite important during the Hongwu era.

It's not exactly troublesome.

On the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, you can wear official clothes.

Unlike court attire, it features a Liang crown, a red silk robe, and a red silk skirt.

The official uniform is much simpler; just wear three layers underneath, then put on a red round-necked right-fastening robe, and add a jade belt.

Of course, he also had to wear an official hat.

However, compared to the eight-beam crown of court attire, Ma Wenyuan thought the black gauze hat was also acceptable.

At least it's not that heavy.