Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

However, King Zhou Zhu Gongyao and King Tang Zhu Shuohui, who lived not far from his thatched cottage, were relatively quiet.

The two men lived in adjacent huts, both sitting at a small wooden table, reading a book carefully.

One reads military books, the other reads history books.

It was as if the sound of Prince Lu's piano accompanied me, which made my reading efficiency higher. I read with great interest.

From time to time they would bring up a question for discussion.

The King of Qin saw that he was still able to read in such a noisy environment and secretly admired him in his heart.

At this moment, the noisiest place in the thatched cottage area was in front of the doors of the King of Chu and the King of Shu.

These two princes also live next door.

At this time, a circle of princes had gathered in front of their door, and excited shouts were coming from inside.

"General Guan Yu, come forward!"

"Tsk! What's Guan Yu? He's just a second-rank general!"

"Look at this King's First Rank General Black Rakshasa!"

"Look at its black armor, its black teeth, its steel fangs, and its ability to shatter metal beams! It must be invincible!"

"Everyone has placed their bets! Everyone has placed their bets! I, the Prince Su, am willing to keep the accounts for you. You can write IOUs! You can write IOUs!"

"Now the battle for supremacy among the kings is about to begin. It's a best-of-three game. The King of Shu and the King of Chu will take the lead with their respective generals!"

"My Lords, please place your bets quickly!"

What made these princes excited and passionate was the most popular fighting game in the upper circles of the Ming Dynasty - fighting crickets, commonly known as cricket fighting.

Now that all the princes in the world have gathered here, those princes who like crickets will naturally not miss this opportunity to shine.

They all came out with their most proud "coaches" and "generals".

Those who were cheering, shouting, inciting, and screaming excitedly all had red faces and thick necks.

The noise was so loud that even Zhen Beiwang, who was on patrol, couldn't stand it anymore and immediately ran to Changchun Palace to report.

"Your Majesty, the King of Shu and the King of Chu are bringing seven or eight princes to hold a cricket weaving competition in the thatched cottage area."

"The noise reaches directly into the classrooms of the resettlement area, and has seriously affected the children's studies."

Zhu Youxiao never expected that they could have so much fun in the thatched cottage area, and couldn't help but ask.

"After Prince Zhao and Prince Shen raised their salaries last night, how did the other princes react? Did any of them offer to offer gold or silver?"

Zhen Beiwang shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, until I entered the palace just now, no prince has proposed to offer gold, silver or other materials."

"Where is Prince Lu? Prince Lu didn't react at all?"

"No. Prince Lu seems to have transformed into a musician today. All he does is eat and play."

Zhu Youxiao was greatly disappointed.

Prince Lu can't eat four dishes, so he should just use spiritual food to supplement...

It seems that the secret to getting rich that I discovered yesterday doesn't work anymore.

No! I can't keep these guys for nothing!

How can we tolerate children making noises every day after eating, which affects their studies?

"Zhen Beiwang, come forward."

Zhen Beiwang leaned forward and listened to Zhu Youxiao's instructions. Then he walked out of the palace with a smile and came to the thatched cottage area.

"Your Majesty has issued an order, all kings kneel and listen!"

Zhen Beiwang shouted loudly, and people like the King of Zhou, the King of Tang and others put down what they were holding and gathered around.

On the other side, several princes who were watching the crickets heard the imperial edict and dispersed to receive it.

Someone was running around nervously and accidentally kicked over the cricket plate.

"Chirp! Chirp!"

The precious crickets of the King of Shu and the King of Chu jumped out instantly.

The two men became very anxious upon seeing this and immediately pounced to the ground, trying to catch him back.

"Oh my, it's my ever-victorious general Guan Yu!"

"Black Rakshasa, be good and don't run!"

But where can I catch it?

Zhen Bei saw that the other princes had basically arrived, but these two guys were still lying on the ground looking for crickets, so he couldn't help but yell angrily.

"Your Majesty's decree is here, all the kings kneel and listen. If you do not obey, you will be punished for treason!"

When the two princes heard this, they dared not neglect it and could only run over dejectedly to listen to the decree.

When Zhen Beiwang saw that everyone was present, he immediately opened the imperial edict and began to read it.

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, proclaims:

In ancient times, there were sage kings Yao and Shun who tilled the fields, and Dayu who dredged rivers. A king cannot be called a virtuous king if he does not know the five grains, and cannot be called wise if he does not understand hard work.

Therefore, I have specially ordered the kings to work with the people to select the virtuous and capable. If there are outstanding ones, I will give priority to their successors.

Admire this!

August 22, the eighth year of Tianqi

After the imperial edict was read, all the princes were stunned.

"This...this, this...are you asking us, the vassal kings, to work with those untouchables? How can this be allowed!" The King of Shu really found it difficult to carry out this plan.

"I accept the decree!"

King Zhou knelt again and was the first to express his opinion.

Later, the King of Tang and the King of Qin also followed suit.

The King of Zhou and the King of Tang were extremely loyal. They would do whatever the emperor ordered.

The King of Qin did not want to attract too much attention because of any resistance. As long as great things could be accomplished, a little hardship would be nothing!

Many princes wanted to show off to the emperor. After all, they were all aiming for the throne. Everyone had a lucky mentality. What if they succeeded?

Seeing more and more people bowing and obeying the order, the King of Shu, who originally wanted to make a fuss, suddenly wilted, and finally had to follow the other kings and accept the order.

Soon, the laborers who were working on the canal suddenly became excited.

"Look! Look! Hahaha, this is the first time I see princes carrying hoes and iron hoes!"

"The clothes are so nice, and the belly is so big! I guarantee they can't do it!"

"If the princes can't do the work, geese can be their masters and teach them how to work more easily."

"Father? Why does he have to come to work too?"

"Hahaha, brother, you are so funny. Others want to be the masters of the princes, but you just become the son! And the 'father'! Hahaha, you learn it in a very orderly manner."

Zhu Cunji was so shocked that he let the secret slip, but luckily no one took it seriously.

He could only hide his guilty conscience with a silly smile.

Chapter 420: If You Dare to Stab Me, You Should Be Beaten

The victims just laughed off Zhu Cunji's unintentional words.

There was only one kid who was an exception.

He was not tall but very strong, with a bronze complexion and a pair of bright and sharp eyes.

It was Li Dingguo who, after breaking up into small groups, infiltrated the group of disaster victims.

He didn't hear what Zhu Cunji said.

But the civilian who made fun of Zhu Cunji shouted very loudly, so he heard it clearly.

Father? ?

How could this be a name that an ordinary person would casually say?

There is something wrong with this person!

He immediately asked the person beside him, "Brother, did you hear who said 'father' just now?"

"Hey, what's up, kid? Do you want to become a relative of the prince?"

The man pointed at Zhu Cunji who was standing four people ahead and said with a smile:

"Nonono, see that big dark guy? He is the prince, hehehe! I have never seen such a dark prince!"

Zhu Cunji loved practicing martial arts and was often exposed to the scorching sun, so his skin was dark, which was indeed very different from the fair image of ordinary princes.

Although this guy has dark skin, his face is full and shiny, which is completely different from the image of a disaster victim.

How could such a person who has no worries about food and drink be among the group of disaster victims?

Could he really be a prince?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. While working, he focused all his attention on Zhu Cunji.

Zhu Cunji didn't care about the civilians around him at all.

At this moment, he was staring at the group of princes in the distance.

This group of princes ranged from those in their fifties or sixties to those in their eighteens or nineteens.

Besides pushing balls and knocking on doors, bird cages and cricket trays are the heaviest things they have ever lifted with their hands.

Now we have to walk a long way and carry shovels and hoes, and we are almost exhausted by the time we get here.

The King of Chu is already fifty-eight this year. When he was fighting crickets before, he was so lively and energetic.

At this moment, he looked half dead, with his legs trembling.

He saw the young man in front of him, carrying a shovel and walking very skillfully, and he couldn't help but have an idea.

He raised the hoe and poked the boy in the butt.

"Hey! Boy, I can't walk anymore, get me a hoe!"

This kid was none other than Prince Ji Zhu Youdong, and he was only six or seven years older than Prince Xin.

He had been living a carefree life in his fiefdom and had no interest in the throne, but he had to come because of the emperor's order.

I didn't expect that I would have to live in a shabby thatched hut as soon as I arrived!

Living in a shabby thatched hut is fine, but now I have to do hard labor...

That’s ridiculous!

The young man was feeling very angry and had no place to vent it, when suddenly someone poked him in the butt, which instantly made him furious.

"Nimma, who the hell is looking for death and dares to stab this king's ass!"

No matter what, I just turned around and gave him a big slap!

Snapped! ! !

The King of Chu's eyesight was already blurry, and he was caught off guard by this blow and almost fell to the ground.

The marks of five fingers instantly appeared on his face, and his vision changed from a spotted screen to a foggy screen.

This made him so angry that his beard trembled.

"Boy! I am of the same generation as Lord Longqing. According to seniority, you should call me Grandpa!"

"How dare you hit me! You're such a rebel!"

Snapped! ! !

King Ji gave him another big punch.

"I don't care who the hell you are! If you dare to stab me, you should be beaten!"

He is still taking advantage of his age and seniority here!

We are all princes, who is afraid of whom?