The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

Clearly, Lan Yu, Chang Yuchun's brother-in-law, was very dissatisfied with Ma Wenyuan.

The reason is simple: Ma Wenyuan lacks the necessary qualifications.

Although Lan Yu only began to emerge this year, he has participated in many large and small campaigns before.

In the first year of the Hongwu reign, Lan Yu followed Chang Yuchun in conquering Fujian and unifying the south.

In July of the same year, he followed Chang Yuchun in capturing Dadu (Beijing), the capital of the Yuan dynasty.

Baoding was captured in October.

A few months later, Lan Yu, along with Chang Yuchun, inflicted great defeats on Kökö Temür in Taiyuan and other places.

In March of the following year, he followed Chang Yuchun in capturing Jinzhou and forced the Yuan general Yesu to surrender.

A few months later, following Chang Yuchun's attack on Kaiping, the Yuan capital, Emperor Shun of Yuan fled north.

In August of the second year of the Hongwu reign, he followed Fu Youde to conquer Tongzhou.

Then, in the fourth year of the Hongwu reign, which is this year, Lan Yu single-handedly conquered Mianzhou.

Despite his numerous military exploits, Lan Yu is now only a third-rank official.

Ma Wenyuan had only fought one battle before being promoted to Right Vice-General, surpassing him.

Actually, it wasn't just him; many people were somewhat unconvinced.

That's just how Lan Yu is; he can't keep things to himself and just says what he thinks.

Ma Wenyuan ignored him and continued walking out of the palace.

At that very moment.

A voice rang out.

This made Ma Wenyuan stop in his tracks.

"Didn't Bo Ren teach you how to treat your superiors?"

Xu Da, dressed in a red robe, walked over and looked at Lan Yu with a serious expression.

"Or did your sister not teach you these things?"

Upon seeing that it was this gentleman, Lan Yu's previous disdain vanished instantly, and he bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Master Xu."

He was arrogant, but not stupid.

Lan Yu simply looked down on those who entered officialdom through connections or back channels.

He dared not continue to be arrogant in front of Xu Da.

This sudden shift from arrogance to obsequiousness amused Ma Wenyuan.

"Greetings, Lord Xu." He also bowed to Xu Da.

"Your Excellency, the Imperial Brother-in-Law," Xu Da returned the greeting to Ma Wenyuan.

After all, in principle, given Ma Wenyuan's status, there was no need to discuss paying respects. Ma Wenyuan was the Right Vice-General, whose official rank was equal to Xu Da's.

Such behavior is merely out of respect.

Since Ma Wenyuan has given him so much face, Xu Da can't just accept it like this.

He was very good at distinguishing between kings and queens, which may be one of the reasons why Xu Da was able to have a good ending.

Xu Da smiled at Ma Wenyuan, then looked back at Lan Yu.

"If I ever see you behaving like this again, then I will have to teach this junior a lesson on behalf of Bo Ren."

Lan Yu immediately apologized and then bowed to take his leave.

After he left.

Ma Wenyuan bowed to Xu Da again, saying, "Thank you for rescuing me, Lord Xu."

"Please don't be offended, Your Excellency. This is just Lan Yu's nature; he speaks without thinking."

Xu Da waved his hand, then continued with great interest,

"I heard you and Tiande were like brothers in the army, so why are you so polite to me?"

"Brother Xu."

Ma Wenyuan shouted again.

Only then did Xu Da feel satisfied. Xu Da laughed heartily twice and looked at Ma Wenyuan with loving eyes.

The look in his eyes was as if he were truly looking at his own brother.

Clearly, Xu Da was doing this because of Ma Xiuying.

Sometimes Ma Wenyuan was very curious about how his older sister did it.

It's amazing that even these old and fierce generals treat him as a junior.

"Want to walk with me?"

"it is good."

After saying that, Xu Da took the lead and walked out, with Ma Wenyuan following beside him.

They arrived at the Meridian Gate.

Xu Da suddenly said,

"You've had a tough time."

These words left Ma Wenyuan completely bewildered. If there was hardship before, it was truly hardship.

Five years of hard study.

But now?

Living in a grand mansion, lacking neither status nor wealth, where does suffering come from?

"Our Great Ming Dynasty was able to establish itself thanks to Your Highness's contributions. You are Your Highness's only family."

"Those who rise to power naturally want to remember His Highness's kindness by attributing it to you, so they temporarily overlooked your age."

This means that Zhu De suddenly placed Ma Wenyuan in a high position to show his favor, but it also made Ma Wenyuan stand out from the crowd.

Therefore, Xu Da felt sorry for Ma Wenyuan.

However, if we're really talking about this, Ma Wenyuan thinks that the people working in the fields now are the ones who are truly suffering.

But why would he say these things? Saying them now inevitably feels a bit pretentious.

Fortunately, Xu Da did not discuss this topic much.

He quickly changed the subject and said,

"I heard you're teaching my daughter to read?"

"Yes, your daughter is very intelligent; she understands things very quickly," Ma Wenyuan replied with a smile.

These are my honest thoughts.

"If that's the case, then you genuinely consider Miaoyun a student?"

"Yes." Ma Wenyuan would never say no.

Although Xu Miaoyun didn't kowtow to formally become a disciple, this little brat has already started calling himself the senior sister of the Ma family.

Xu Da pondered for a moment,

"Then I must give my younger brother an extra tuition fee."

"There's no need for that," Ma Wenyuan said with a smile. "Since Brother Xu treats me like a younger brother, it's only right that I teach this junior a thing or two."

Upon hearing this, Xu Da did not respond and quickly let the matter drop.

"I heard you're planning to start a school?"

"Yes, the school site is already under construction," Ma Wenyuan replied.

This can't be kept secret from anyone.

Not to mention Xu Da, even ordinary people on the street know about him.

After all, they're already undertaking large-scale construction.

"Running a school is good, better than leading troops into battle, you don't have to worry about being afraid."

Xu Da sighed, looking southwest, and murmured to himself.

The sound was very soft, so soft that only Ma Wenyuan could hear it.

Xu Da seemed to be thinking of someone.

It could be Shao Rong, or it could be Zhu Wenzheng.

"If you can avoid leading troops, it's best not to go."

Xu Da suddenly said seriously.

"Teaching and nurturing students is a good thing, anyway, you don't lack anything now."

This was clearly Xu Da, as an elder, giving advice to Ma Wenyuan, a younger generation.

"Yes," Ma Wenyuan replied.

The two walked out of the imperial city side by side.

With Xu Da, the Right Chancellor, by his side, Ma Wenyuan had far fewer troubles.

At least many officials who wanted to curry favor with him dared not approach after seeing Xu Da.

Not only that, they even kept their distance, afraid of overhearing conversations between important figures.

"And these days, if you can avoid going into the imperial court, then don't go in."

Xu Da glanced at an official who seemed to be hurrying by, then immediately changed the subject.

"Have you found all the students? Do you want me to find some for you?"

The court was rife with intrigue and treachery, and Ma Wenyuan certainly thought so too.

Seeing that Xu Da had no intention of discussing the matter further, Ma Wenyuan quickly changed the subject, saying, "I found some sons of military households."

The two stopped at the gate of the imperial city.

Xu Da said with a beaming smile,

"That won't do."

"Now that you are a relative of the emperor, you should at least know some nobles."

After he finished speaking, Xu Da's carriage drove up in front of him.

Xu Da stepped onto the carriage.

"Okay, you don't need to worry about it. I'll find some young people to be your students."

After saying that, Xu Da got into the carriage and left.

The young people he mentioned are probably the second-generation heirs of the Xun Gui Group.

For example, Chang Yuchun's son, and Tang He and other members of the old Huaixi brothers' family.

Ma Wenyuan had no choice but to agree.

In fact, he didn't really want to teach Xun Gui's children, but since Xu Da had said so, he couldn't refuse this kind offer.

Xu Da was probably thinking the same thing.

Ma Wenyuan has a good relationship with the Xun Gui Group, so if he is targeted by civil officials or anyone else in the future, he will have a powerful backer and someone willing to stand up for him.