Zhu Yuanzhang asked Chen Biao to go and rest first, while he comforted Ma Xiuying.
Chen Biao rubbed his cheek against his mother's cheek just like he did when he was a child. After wiping away the tears on Ma Xiuying's face, he left, looking back every few steps.
After Chen Biao left, he came to Xiao Si and Xiao Wu's room and sat on the floor watching Xiao Si and Xiao Wu stack blocks.
Oh, no, it was Xiaowu who stacked the blocks and then directed Xiaosi to push the blocks.
Chen Maoer built a tall building with blocks and motioned for his brother to push it. Chen Gouer rolled up his sleeves and pushed with all his might.
If Chen Gou'er could push the building block house down in one go, the two brothers would applaud and laugh together; if Chen Gou'er failed to push the building block house down in one go, the two brothers would sigh together.
They loved playing like this when they couldn't even sit still. Now that they can run around, they still have a lot of fun.
Chen Biao thought that if it were in modern times, these two people, one building houses and the other demolishing houses, would be a perfect match to form a construction company.
However, since cats build houses for dogs to demolish, it may be impossible to form a construction company, and they can only form a "house building and demolition club", which has become a terrible luxury hobby.
After Chen Biao finished his daze, he saw Chen Gou'er and Chen Mao'er sitting in front of him, looking up at him.
"What's wrong?" Chen Biao forced a smile.
Chen Gou'er said in a muffled voice, "Brother, it's my turn to ask you what's wrong."
Chen Maoer whispered softly, "Brother, you seem unhappy."
Chen Gou'er and Chen Mao'er are both five and a half years old and speak very clearly.
Chen Biao looked at his two younger brothers who were worried about him like little adults, and reached out to hold them in his arms: "In the blink of an eye, you have grown up so much."
Chen Maoer carefully changed her posture and lay obediently in Chen Biao's arms, her little face red, and she seemed a little embarrassed.
Chen Gou'er roughly hung Chen Biao's neck with his hands and said unhappily, "Brother, why do you talk like an old man?"
Chen Biao frowned: "What do you mean by old like dad?"
Chen Gou'er sneered and said, "But since Daddy is not home, Big Brother is more like a father than Daddy."
Chen Biao released his brother's hand and began to pinch Chen Gou'er's face: "Shut up, Gou'er. Do you know what it means to speak out of turn? Be careful or you'll get beaten by Daddy again."
Chen Gou'er hummed twice, then tilted his head back obediently for Chen Biao to pinch him.
Chen Biao pinched him for a moment before letting go and rubbed the red mark on Chen Gou'er's face with heartache.
Chen Maoer leaned into Chen Biao's arms and whispered, "Brother, you haven't told me why you are unhappy."
Chen Biao rubbed Chen Mao'er's head and said, "I made Nyonya cry."
Chen Gou'er and Chen Mao'er both widened their eyes with expressions of disbelief.
Who in this family doesn’t know how considerate the eldest brother is to his mother? How could he make his mother cry?
Chen Gou'er peeked out and asked, "Is it going to rain red?"
Chen Biao flicked Chen Gou'er's forehead and asked, "Who did you learn that from?"
Chen Gou'er covered his forehead and said confidently: "I learned it from you, big brother!"
Chen Biao: “…”
I'm so sorry that I still use modern jokes after traveling through time.
Chen Maoer nuzzled Chen Biao and consoled him, "Brother must have his reasons. He didn't mean to make me cry. I'm sure I'll understand. Don't be sad, brother."
Chen Gou'er was speechless: "Mao'er, are you being too critical of Big Brother? Shouldn't we be urging him to apologize to Mom right now?"
Chen Biao was shocked. How could a dog understand "filters"?
Oh, you learned it from me again, it’s okay.
Chen Biao sighed slightly and said, "My lord, you will march north immediately."
Chen Gou'er tilted his big head and said, "Northern Expedition? Go to the north to fight?"
"Xiao Si is really smart," Chen Biao praised. "You even know that the Northern Expedition means going to the north to fight a war."
Chen Gou'er narrowed his eyes into Tuzki eyes and said unhappily, "Brother, don't treat me like a child. I'm already grown up."
Chen Biao replied perfunctorily: "Okay."
He thought to himself that only children would keep saying, "Don't treat me like a child." He was comfortable being a child, not feeling ashamed but proud.
Chen Mao'er thought for a moment and said, "Brother, are you going on a long journey again?"
Chen Biao nodded.
Chen Gou'er said, "It's not just a long journey, it's going to war, it's very dangerous."
Chen Maoer immediately hugged Chen Biao: "It's dangerous? Can we not go?"
Chen Biao shook his head: "Brother must go. Once the Northern Expedition is successful, we won't have to fight anymore."
In reality, there will still be war. Zhang Shicheng hasn't fought yet, the King of Yunnan is watching, the Japanese pirates haven't been eliminated, and Wang's Goryeo is now a loyal vassal of the Yuan Dynasty... There are still many battles to fight.
But after the Yuan Dynasty was destroyed, future wars would only be "local wars", most people could breathe a sigh of relief, and their parents would no longer have to leave home for a long time.
Chen Mao'er hugged him tightly, almost crying. His twin brother, Chen Gou'er, slapped Chen Mao'er on the back of the head and said, "Why are you crying? What's the point of crying? It will only make you sadder."
Chen Maoer sniffed, trying hard to hold back tears: "Oh."
Chen Gou'er said, "Instead of crying, it's better to grow up quickly. From now on, wherever big brother goes, we will follow and protect him!"
Chen Maoer nodded vigorously: "Grow up quickly!"
Chen Biao was moved and at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
Can you grow up quickly just because you want to?
However, after being disturbed by Chen Gou'er's actions, Chen Biao felt a lot more relaxed.
He hugged his two younger brothers again and buried his head in the gap between their little heads.
Chen the cat was always very quiet. Chen the dog was also rarely quiet.
The two brothers nestled quietly in their eldest brother's arms, waiting for him to calm down.
They rarely saw their eldest brother in such a low mood. Apart from quietly accompanying him, they didn't know what else they could do and felt very sad.
Chen Biao held his two younger brothers in his arms and restored their health and mana bars, and regained his usual smile.
He rubbed one of his brothers' heads with one hand and said, "When I go north and make great contributions, I'll bring you back a lot of spoils. What do you want?"
Chen Gou'er shouted, "Little Pony!"
Chen Maoer whispered, "I want to read a book with beautiful pictures of herbs."
Beautiful...herbs? Although Chen Biao was puzzled by Chen Maoer's hobby, he nodded in agreement.
After capturing Dadu, he went to the palace library to pick out a few medical books with many illustrations for his younger brother Maoer.
I hope the Yuan Dynasty emperor doesn't burn the books before he escapes.
I don't feel like working today. Chen Biao holds his two younger brothers in his arms and tells them stories.
He leaned on the cushion, and his two younger brothers slept on his legs, one on each side. When they heard something exciting, they would roll around, and sometimes their heads would bump into each other.
Chen Biao then used his palm to hold the two men's heads apart, asking them to bump into his hands instead of each other. If they bumped a few more times, big bumps would appear on their heads.
When Ma Xiuying and Zhu Yuanzhang came, Chen Biao's story was at its climax, and his two youngest sons were rolling around on Chen Biao's legs.
"Mom." Chen Biao raised his head with some worry in his eyes.
Ma Xiuying's nose felt sore again, and she forced a smile on her face as she said, "Let's go. It's just right that your father and I both have to go, and the three of us may not be in the same army. Everyone should be well, and wait until the Northern Expedition is over so that the family can be reunited safely."
Chen Gou'er was shocked: "Dad and Mom are going too? Then who will take us?"
Chen Biao said, "Ts'er and Ts'er are old enough to take care of their younger brother, and your uncle will stay here too. You just wait for us to come back."
Chen Gou'er said with a droopy face, "Ah? Second and third brothers? If the two of them take me and Mao'er, will Mao'er and I be able to wait until you come back alive?"
Zhu Yuanzhang scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about!"
Chen Gou'er didn't bother to pay attention to his father who never came home, and said to Chen Biao coquettishly: "Brother, why don't you take me with you to the Northern Expedition? I am not afraid of hardship."
Chen Biao said with a stern face, "You are not afraid of hardship, but I am afraid of your hardship. Trust your second and third brothers, and you still have your uncle. I can't always be with you, so you have to learn to take care of yourselves. When I was your age, I had already supported the huge Chen family and made them the second richest merchants in the world."
If it weren't for the Chen family's old man spending money, how could the title of the world's richest merchant still be firmly on the Shen family's head?
Chen Gou'er muttered, "Isn't that because Dad is useless?"
Zhu Yuanzhang rolled up his sleeves and was about to grab Chen Gouer and beat him.
Chen Gouer got up nimbly and hid behind Chen Biao.
Chen Maoer curled up his body, hugged Chen Biao's waist tightly with both hands, and buried his face in his eldest brother, with an evasive attitude as if saying, "I won't beat my brother until I see my father."
Chen Biao stopped him, saying, "What are you doing? The child is outspoken. Why are you arguing with your unenlightened brother? Don't be so petty. Mom, quickly hold Dad back!"
Chen Gou'er, relying on his elder brother's protection, stiffened his neck and said, "Yes!"
Zhu Yuanzhang, with one arm held by Ma Xiuying, moved forward angrily: "This unfilial son deserves a good beating! Don't stop me!"
Chen Biao said, "Run quickly and go find your uncle."
"Okay!" Chen Gou'er climbed out the window and escaped. Before leaving, he did not forget to pull his brother up and run together.
Seeing Chen Gou'er and Chen Mao'er climbing out the window and leaving, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious: "You just spoil them! To spoil your children is like killing them!"
Chen Biao rubbed his legs that were numb from being pressed by his two younger brothers and stood up slowly. "Dad, they are my brothers, not my sons. They are your sons. And this is not called spoiling them. I am just protecting them from being violently treated by an angry dad."
Chen Biao swayed left and right, then sat back on the ground with a thud. "Ouch," he exclaimed, "My legs are numb!"
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was angry, burst out laughing.
Ma Xiuying quickly let go of Zhu Yuanzhang and helped Chen Biao up: "Are you hurt?"
Chen Biao said, "There's a carpet underneath, so it won't hurt."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "You deserve it for getting hurt!"
Chen Biao gave Zhu Yuanzhang a cold look and didn't want to pay any attention to this father who liked to laugh at his son.
Zhu Yuanzhang said to Ma Xiuying, "Madam, go and teach the fourth and fifth sons a lesson. I need to speak to Biao'er alone."
Ma Xiuying nodded, rubbed Chen Biao's head, and then left the father and son who were about to have a private conversation.
"Sit down!" Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the ground and patted the carpet.
Chen Biao, who had just stood up, sat down again speechlessly.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said, "To be honest, I didn't expect you to volunteer."
Chen Biao said, "What's so unexpected about this? Didn't I already tell you the reason?"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "The reason is not important, the key is whether you want to go or not."
Chen Biao was silent.
Zhu Yuanzhang patted Chen Biao on the head and said, "You used to be more like a fairy boy. Apart from caring a little about me, your mother, your brother, and your family, you didn't care about anything else."
Chen Biao was stubborn and said, "Who said that? I'm very nice to everyone!"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. "You are indeed kind to everyone, but you also don't particularly care about them. At least you wouldn't go to the battlefield with the thought that you might die and bring sadness to your family."
Chen Biao continued to be stubborn and said, "I also went to the battlefield in Hongdu."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You were forced to go to the battlefield. As you said, Hongdu was already infiltrated and had become a shambles. As the legitimate son of Chen Guorui, you made a very good hostage. Rather than rushing out of the city to Yingtian and being intercepted by Chen Youliang's troops, it would be better for you to stay in Hongdu and wait for rescue."
Chen Biao looked up at the beams without saying a word.
Zhu Yuanzhang added: "When you went to dig the riverbank, you did take the initiative to participate in the war."
Chen Biao clenched his hands on both sides of his body.
Zhu Yuanzhang gently placed his arm on his son's shoulders, and the father and son leaned on the soft cushions in silence for a long time.
After a while, Chen Biao whispered, "Dad, you know I have a good memory."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Yes."
Chen Biao said: "When I was teaching the Hongdu garrison, I took the roster of the garrison and made up a jingle using their names."
Zhu Yuanzhang said again: "Yes."
Chen Biao leaned closer to Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "I have a very good memory. So I can remember the names and faces of all the people I have greeted."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed, his brows furrowed, and he looked down at Chen Biao.
Chen Biao's eyes were blank, as if he was looking at a non-existent scenery.
"When I was hammering down the wall, a captain named Wang Wu was curious and joined in. He used too much force and the wooden handle of the hammer broke, hitting his little toe. He rolled on the ground holding his foot in pain, his face covered in tears and snot."
"He kept howling while the doctor examined his toes. He said he was extremely afraid of pain, and the doctor called him a wimp."
"Wang Wu was hit by a stray arrow on the city wall. He pulled out the arrowhead and continued to fight while bleeding. When I collected his body, there was not a single piece of good flesh on his body. The wound on his arm was so deep that the bone was visible. He and I were on the same city wall. He stood a few meters in front of me, buying us time to calculate the range. We fought until the moment he bled out."
"He's so afraid of pain."
Chen Biao's mind flashed with the image of the man rolling on the ground and the bloody man whose face could not be identified.
He closed his eyes, paused for a moment, and continued.
"When the city wall was being built, everyone was covered in dust and mud, so those with wives would have their wives feed them, supposedly to free up their hands. I suspect they just wanted to show off their affection. For example, there was a man named Zhang De who would deliberately take his wife for a stroll while he ate."
"Zhang De and his father-in-law's family were neighbors, and he and his wife were childhood sweethearts. During a time of turmoil, the Yuan Dynasty was short of soldiers, so it sent ruffians from all over the country to organize militias to 'suppress bandits.' Most of those ruffians plundered and murdered innocent people to claim credit. That's how Zhang De and his wife's family was torn apart. He and his wife escaped the disaster by hiding in a cellar, and were then adopted by a Red Turban Army general as his adopted son."
"When Hongdu was besieged, his wife was newly pregnant. He'd heard from someone that I knew everything, and he kept asking me what he needed to do to keep a woman pregnant. I told him to go find a doctor, but he said he'd tried every doctor he could and still wasn't feeling well. I was so annoyed with him, I lied to him about how pregnant women need to be in a good mood, and told him to go and play some tricks in front of his wife to cheer her up, and he actually went."
"That day, General Zhao led his troops out of the city gate to burn Chen Youliang's ships. Zhang De was left behind, but he fell off his horse. General Zhao wanted to go back and rescue him, but Zhang De saw people chasing him and, shouting 'Run! Don't save me!', he limped towards Chen Han's pursuers, brandishing his sword..."
Chen Biao hugged his knees at some point, his body trembling slightly.
Zhu Yuanzhang hugged his son, tightened his arms and asked, "Is his wife well taken care of?"
Chen Biao shook his head and said, "His wife was so grief-stricken that she suffered a miscarriage. After the miscarriage, she couldn't bear the shock and committed suicide by hanging. I couldn't save her."
Zhang De's wife was in a coma when she miscarried. There were so many wounded soldiers at the time that Chen Biao only arranged for doctors to take care of him and had no time to comfort the families of the wounded and injured soldiers one by one.
When Chen Biao learned about this, it was too late.
Zhang De’s wife was not the only family member who committed suicide.
Zhu Yuanzhang opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
If it were a vernacular novel, Zhang De would become a hero, and his wife would raise his posthumous son, who would then inherit Zhang De's will and become an outstanding person.
But reality is far crueler than fiction. Zhang De's wife had lived with him for many years, and when she was pregnant, she encountered the siege and was in constant fear. It was a miracle that she was able to keep the child despite her grief.
Chen Biao mentioned a few more people.
There are only sons who support their elderly parents, fathers whose children are still in swaddling clothes, and dictators whose relatives died in the war despite their daily demands to save money to marry a wife...
Chen Biao remembers it all.
When he was not on the battlefield, no matter how brutal the war was on the front lines, those names and numbers were just abstract symbols in his ears.
But when he went to the battlefield, when the people who died on the battlefield became the living people who had talked to him before, the names and numbers turned into vivid faces.
Chen Biao found that he could no longer be "isolated from the world" as before.
He didn't suffer from post-traumatic stress and his mental recovery was relatively good. He only occasionally dreamed about those people at night and wondered if the war had continued for a few more years, or even a dozen more, and whether the flames of war would have affected more people he knew.
Who made him know most of the people are military generals?
Brother Ying, Brother Zheng, and Brother Zhong will encounter Chen Youliang's 600,000-strong army besieging the city. His other uncles will also encounter this, and so will his father.
The battlefield changes rapidly and there is danger at any time.
Even if the generals do not always fight in the most dangerous places, stray arrows, falls from horses, or even natural disasters may put people who were safe just now into desperate situations.
Chen Biao knew that he was not someone who cared about the world. He would only show off his abilities when he was capable and safe.
The so-called success is to help the world.
If it is dangerous outside and he does not have that much power and status, he just wants to protect the people around him who care about him.
The battle of Hongdu made Chen Biao realize that no egg can be left unbroken when the nest is overturned. Where is there any truly safe place in troubled times?
Only by ending the chaos as soon as possible can we ensure that our relatives and friends will not die in the war.
Chen Biao asked, "Dad, will you remember those people too?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "I can't remember everyone, but I remember a lot of people."
Chen Biao asked again: "Is it because you are used to it that you become numb?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Indifference is for people who don't care. If someone close to you dies on the battlefield, you will still be sad."
Chen Biao wiped his eyes and said, "That's true."
Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "You are now actively working for the lord. Is it because you want to end the chaotic world, change the tyrannical future of the lord's later years, and save more people?"
Chen Biao was silent for a long time and said, "I don't know."
Zhu Yuanzhang wiped Chen Biao's face with his sleeve and said, "Do you not know why you are suddenly so eager to serve the lord as a minister, or do you not know whether your current behavior is of any use?"
Chen Biao said: "Maybe both."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed in his heart, feeling both proud and troubled.
Why is my son so kind? I'm really worried that he will be bullied.
After Zhu Yuanzhang helped Chen Biao wipe his face clean, he ruffled his hair fiercely and said unhappily, "Don't think too much. You're still a child. Your father and mother are here. We will protect you. Why do you need to worry about so many things?"
Chen Biao covered his messy hair and said angrily, "Dad, don't you feel guilty when you say this? How old was I when I became the head of the Chen family? Huh? Tell me!"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked away guiltily: "When you grow up, you can be one!"
Chen Biao angrily accused his father: "Bullshit! I have been one for a long time!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You are so young, don't use bad language. Let's go to the study. This is your first time fighting in an army, and I have a lot to teach you."
Chen Biao: “Oh.”
After Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, he found that Chen Biao had not moved for a long time and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Chen Biao stretched out his hand.
Zhu Yuanzhang was at a loss for words: "You are so lazy!"
Chen Biao stretched out his arms and shook them.
Zhu Yuanzhang squatted down and said: "Okay, okay, dad will carry you, lazy boy."
Chen Biao laughed and lay on Zhu Yuanzhang's back, asking his father to carry him to the study.
Zhu Yuanzhang complained: "You are so old, but you still need your father to carry you on your back. Isn't it shameful?"
Chen Biao said, "It's precisely because I'm almost grown up that I asked Dad to carry me more often. In another year or two, Dad won't have the chance to carry me. You see, I love my dad so much that I gave him the chance to carry me."
Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked by Chen Biao's specious arguments and shameless audacity.
But when he thought about it, it seemed to be the case.
When Mr. Zhu thought about not being able to carry his son around in his arms or on his back in the future, he couldn't help feeling sad.
He couldn't help but mutter, "Biao'er, how come you grow so fast? Daddy wants to carry you on his back for a few more years."
Chen Biao leaned on Zhu Yuanzhang's shoulder and said, "Maybe I want to carry my father on my back, so I'm growing fast on purpose."
Zhu Yuanzhang was amused.
The father and son both wore identical smiles and walked towards the study.
…
When Zhu Yuanzhang announced the list of people for the Northern Expedition, Chen Biao's name was on the list, which scared a group of people.
Everyone tried to persuade him, and Zhu Yuanzhang cited the reasons Chen Biao had given that day.
"Biao'er insisted on going, and there was nothing I could do," Zhu Yuanzhang said bitterly. "He said that only he could manage these new firearms. If I didn't let him go, and something went wrong with the new firearms on the battlefield, with Biao'er's kindness, he would probably take the blame and think it was all his fault."
Everyone frowned and remained silent.
Hua Yun muttered, "My lord, if new firearms are so unstable, then we don't need them. We can still capture Dadu without them!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "I said so too, but Biao'er also said that the walls of Yuan Dadu are strong. Without modern firearms, who knows how many people would die in an attack. He has defended the city and knows how difficult it is to attack it."
Hua Yun hugged her head and groaned, "It's not good for Biao'er to be too smart. He always says everything. I can't persuade him even if I want to."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "If he wants to go, then go. I will let Xu Da take him. He will not be in danger if he does not go to the battlefield."
Li Shanchang said, "Marshal Xu alone is not enough. My lord, let Zhu Wenzheng, Li Wenzhong, and Chen Ying all stay with Biao'er. Given their status, they can be granted titles without any merit."
Yan Qian said, "My Lord, please send me to the young master as well!"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "Too many people will make Biaoer suspicious. Just let Wenzheng, Wenzhong and Wenying accompany Biaoer, and Biaoer will feel more comfortable in the barracks."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and said, "Let Wen Zheng, Wen Zhong, and Wen Ying lead the army with Zhao Desheng, Deng Yu, and others."
The defenders of Hongdu at that time were very convinced of Biao'er. If Biao'er went with them, they would definitely listen to Biao'er's opinions.
Yan Qian again requested to follow Chen Biao. After repeated requests, Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to let Yan Qian lead a team of guards to protect the new firearms.
Liao Yongan also wanted to go, but his health was too weak and he was sick now.
Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Liao Yongan to stay behind at the Yingtian base camp, and Liao Yongan had no choice but to obey the order.
As soon as Zhu Wenzhen arrived in Guangzhou, he received a letter asking him to return to heaven and prepare for the Northern Expedition.
Zhu Wenzheng was both happy and depressed. He always felt that his fourth uncle, who was both his adoptive father and his master, was playing tricks on him.
Since you're heading north this spring, why did you send me to Guangzhou in the middle of autumn last year?! The journey from Yingtian to Guangzhou takes a month, and before I've even had time to settle down in Guangzhou, I'm already on my way back to Yingtian!
Zhu Wenzhen cursed and reorganized the army, then rushed back thousands of miles.
On the way, he learned that Chen Biao was also going to the Northern Expedition. He was so angry that he left his troops behind, galloped away and killed several precious horses, and then roared at his adoptive father in response to the sky.
"Biao'er is only a little bit bigger?! He can't even draw a strong bow! He chopped someone with a knife, and he couldn't pull the knife out even when it got stuck in the bone! How could you do this, godfather!"
Zhu Yuanzhang held his forehead.
The third one.
After Chen Ying and Li Wenzhong learned about this, they also abandoned their soldiers and rode back to Yingtian at full speed, crying and begging to let Chen Biao stay.
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "If you can persuade Biao'er, I won't let him go. Do you think I want Biao'er to go?"
Zhu Wenzheng was furious: "Bullshit! If you, godfather, don't want Biao'er to go, you have a hundred reasons not to let him go! Biao'er must have convinced you!"
Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhu Wenzhen's foul language, and ordered his men to hold Zhu Wenzhen down and whip him with a whip.
No respect for elders!
Zhu Wenzhen is so irritable that he will get into trouble sooner or later!
Zhu Wenzhen was already used to being beaten by Zhu Yuanzhang. He scratched the bruise on his buttocks, went home to find Chen Biao and cried again.
My dear brother Biao, why are you so depressed? What's so good about the Northern Expedition? Why don't we just not go?
Brother, I won’t go either. I’m guarding Yingtian. I’ll stay with you at the rear.
Why don't we do some farming, teach students, and make some money?
Chen Ying and Li Wenzhong also said so.
They would rather not make any achievements and want to keep the flag in Yingtian.
Even if Biao'er doesn't go to the front line, the Northern Expedition is a long journey. What if our pampered Biao'er gets sick on the way?!
Hongdu is defending the city and has sufficient supplies. This is completely different from the Northern Expedition!
Chen Biao covered his ears. "I'm not listening, my brothers are chanting."
Anyway, the Lord has already agreed. There's no point in you objecting.
Although Chen Biao had many reasons, he knew that to his doting brothers, all reasons were no reason. So he could only cheat and get away with it.
Anyway, I am now on the Northern Expedition list, you can’t do anything to me!
For the first time, the three brothers regretted why they had spoiled Biao'er so much in the past. Now they saw Biao'er playing tricks on them and they had no idea what to do.
If they had a little bit of the authority of an older brother, they would have scolded Biaoer and made him stay at home obediently.
Seeing that Chen Biao refused to change his mind, Zhu Yuanzhang began to avoid them again, so the three of them had to go to Ma Xiuying for help.
Ma Xiuying sighed, "You should know that your adoptive father and I can only agree with what Biao'er decides."
Chen Ying, Zhu Wenzheng, and Li Wenzhong all looked bitter. "Is there really no way? Even if Biao'er feels resentful now, it doesn't matter. How about we lock Biao'er up? If something happens to Biao'er on the way..."
The three of them couldn't help but tremble when they thought about this possibility.
Ma Xiuying said, "We can't lock him up. You don't know how powerful Biao'er is. Well, the matter has been decided, so don't complain. Biao'er's safety will be in your hands when the time comes."
The three of them could only accept this with bitter faces.
Then, the three of them discussed how to ensure Chen Biao's life in the army as much as possible.
Although the generals of the Ming Dynasty didn't pay much attention to the quality of life in the army, Biao'er was different. Zhang Shicheng's younger brother, what's his name? He had a complete range of food, drink and entertainment in the army, and his life was as comfortable as in the city. Our Biao'er could do the same.
How much supplies can Biaoer use alone? The other soldiers will definitely understand!
So they started to make arrangements frantically, and Chen Biao let them do it speechlessly.
Anyway, they are using the Chen family’s money and things, not military supplies, so as long as they are happy.
Chen Biao knew that he was young and had no experience in long-distance marches, so he would not show off for the sake of face.
Zhu Yuanzhang mobilized supplies and his staff gathered again.
Zhu Yuanzhang's men didn't want to miss out on such a major event as attacking Yuan Dadu. They handed over all the local officials to others and went to Dadu to check in first.
Zhang Yi handed over his work to his second son and conscripted him into the army as well.
His second son is now writing a letter to his eldest brother to complain, secretly despising the father who used to say "I want to keep you in my hometown and leave a way out for our Zhang family."
So, for your father's wish to participate in the Northern Expedition, you won't leave a way out for the Zhang family?
Dad, do you remember that you once helped the Yuan Dynasty fight the Red Turban Rebellion? You were once considered half an official of the Yuan Dynasty!
You have forgotten, now you only know that you are a counselor under the command of the Ming King!
Zhang Yi's eldest son received a letter from his younger brother, kept it carefully, and prepared to complain to his father when he returned.
This younger brother needs to be disciplined and needs to be educated by his father.
He has become an official of the Ming Dynasty, but he still said that "his father was once an official of the Yuan Dynasty". Isn't this bringing disaster to the whole family?
No wonder his father didn't let him join the government.
Leaving a way out for the Zhang family? Restraining my younger brother in my hometown is leaving a way out for the Zhang family.
Before leaving, Zhang Yi received a letter from his eldest son.
He was speechless and went to find Zhu Yuanzhang, hoping that after returning from the Northern Expedition, he would also send his second son to Chen Biao as a study companion.
"Look at what this bastard wrote! If my lord wasn't you, the Ming King, this letter would make me resign immediately and retire!"
Seeing the mature and steady Zhang Yi's face flushed with anger, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed out loud. His mood improved due to the influence of his three adopted sons who came to complain every day.
"Okay, then I'll give it to Biao'er. Biao'er can control him." Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile, "He can even control that brat Liu Lian."
Liu Ji's face turned dark.
My lord, when you talk about Zhang Yi, just talk about Zhang Yi. What should I do if you suddenly mention my son?
Zhu Yuanzhang continued, "Biao'er said that Liu Lian's brother has the same temper as Liu Lian, or even a hotter one. Bowen, how did you raise your sons? None of your sons are like you."
Wang Xi jokingly said, "My Lord, is it possible that Brother Liu's two sons look like him when he was young?"
Song Lian also joked, "My lord, Bo Wen resigned from the Yuan Dynasty because he was too straightforward and offended the powerful."
Liu Ji raised his eyebrows: "My Lord, am I being respectful to you?"
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…”
Zhu Yuanzhang angrily shouted, "Liu Bowen! I'm warning you! If you continue to behave disrespectfully, I'll beat you with a stick!"
Liu Ji said, "Beat me with the imperial cane? That's perfect. Those who are beaten with the imperial cane are honest and good officials, and their names will go down in history. That's why there's a saying that officials who want to become famous cheat on the imperial cane. My lord, why don't you try it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately said, "Don't even think about it! Don't even think about using my reputation to build your own!"
Everyone couldn't help laughing, except Kang Maocai.
Kang Maocai's head was covered in cold sweat. It was not like he had not met Mr. Liu before. During the Battle of Poyang Lake, Mr. Liu had already been one of his lord's trusted aides.
But the Mr. Liu he met back then was very humble and polite, treating his master with the utmost respect. Who is this Mr. Liu now?! How could he be so sarcastic towards his master?!
This is not the Mr. Liu I know!!
Kang Maocai looked around and saw that everyone was laughing happily and did not take the bickering between Liu Ji and Zhu Yuanzhang seriously at all.
He doesn't understand.
Is this something that can be ignored?!
If Chang Yuchun were here, he would definitely pat Kang Maocai on the shoulder and fully agree with Kang Maocai's idea.
It’s a pity that Chang Yuchun is not here.
Chang Yuchun was not there for such an important event as the Northern Expedition!
Zhu Yuanzhang originally wanted to bring Chang Yuchun with him on the Northern Expedition, but the Mingxia Emperor died of illness during the first month of the lunar calendar! Leaving behind a young child as a puppet emperor?!
Zhu Yuanzhang slapped his thigh. "Is there such a good thing?" Then Chang Yuchun, stop the Northern Expedition and continue to slowly encroach on the territory of Sichuan and Shu. Who knows, by the time I return from the Northern Expedition, Sichuan and Shu will have already belonged to me.
Chang Yuchun rode back to Yingtian on horseback, knelt down and said aggrievedly, "My lord, I want to go north. How can I not go on such an important matter as attacking Yuan Dadu?"
But Zhu Yuanzhang always had his reasons for keeping Chang Yuchun behind.
Zhu Yuanzhang appointed Chang Yuchun as the Grand Marshal of the Southern Expedition, giving him the power to mobilize the troops stationed in each city. If a force, such as Zhang Shicheng, broke the treaty and attacked Yingtian while they were attacking Yuan Dadu, Chang Yuchun would be responsible for resisting.
If Zhang Shicheng abided by the agreement, Chang Yuchun would plot to take over Sichuan and Yunnan, and strive to seize some territory in Sichuan and Yunnan by the end of the Northern Expedition.
Chang Yuchun went back crying.
Poor Marshal Chang.