Chapter 122: Better than a Death-Free Gold Medal
Zhu Yuanzhang had to stagger his entry into Dadu with Chen Biao, but Chen Guorui didn't have to.
As a father, he naturally wanted to celebrate his son's great contribution. On the way to Dadu, he also picked up Ma Xiuying on the way, and the couple took a boat to see their son.
Along the way, Ma Xiuying kept nagging, "How could Biaoer curse someone to death? Was it really not that the person was already ill and it just happened that he ran into her?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was very proud: "What nonsense! Our son is just so capable!"
Ma Xiuying pinched the not-so-soft flesh on Zhu Yuanzhang's waist and said, "Don't I understand my own son? How could my son scold an old man?"
Zhu Yuanzhang gasped in pain, but still insisted, "He can go into battle and kill the enemy, so what's the big deal about scolding him to death? Our leader has grown up and become successful!"
Ma Xiuying took a deep breath: "Biao'er is still going on the field to kill the enemy?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was very proud: "Killing the enemy with artillery is also killing the enemy."
Ma Xiuying was speechless. She had thought that the limp Biao'er could ride a horse and fight on the battlefield. She was so scared.
The couple came to the Shangdu Palace with the King Ming's decree. Chen Biao was looking forward to it early, and when he saw his parents coming, he threw himself into their arms.
Chen Biao wanted to have both his father and mother's arms in half.
Chen Biao had endured it for so long, but when he saw his parents, he finally couldn't help crying out in grievance: "I'm innocent! I didn't scold him at all! I apologized sincerely, without any sarcasm!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was just about to praise his son for scolding the old man to death, saying that he was so ambitious, but he was interrupted by Chen Biao's crying.
While comforting her son, Ma Xiuying rolled her eyes at Zhu Yuanzhang.
See? I told you about my own son, and I don't understand him. How could Biaoer curse?
Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to lift up his son who was howling but couldn't shed tears. When he did, Zhu Yuanzhang asked in confusion, "Biao'er, how come you have grown taller again?"
Chen Biao kicked his father: "What do you mean by growing taller? You say it as if you don't want to see me grow taller. I'm in the growth stage now. Isn't it normal to grow a little bit every day?"
I don't know what conspiracy he used to make the two sworn brothers work. Chen Ying, who was acting as a guard beside Chen Biao, came over with a smile and said, "Biao'er's trouser legs are getting shorter every month now."
Ma Xiuying looked down at Chen Biao's trouser legs.
Chen Biao's trouser legs were actually rolled up.
Ma Xiuying laughed and said, "If the clothes are too short, just make them. Why did you make a set of clothes that don't fit you? We are a wealthy family, how could we be short of this little cloth? Biao'er, you said that it is a waste if the cloth rots in the warehouse."
Chen Biao said, "The cloth is nothing, but making clothes is a hassle. It's just casual wear, so wear it for now. If you want to wear it to meet strangers, I still have clothes made to fit you. Dad! Let go! How long are you going to hold me up?"
Zhu Yuanzhang then lowered his hands from holding up Chen Biao's armpits, muttering, "He's grown taller, but his cheeks are still plump, like a five or six-year-old child."
Chen Biao's eyes widened in anger, and he gave his father a soft punch in the stomach: "Who is five or six years old?! Dad, you should go see a doctor!"
Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his belly happily, then reached out and pinched Chen Biao's chubby baby fat.
Chen Biao was so angry that he threw a few more straight punches at his father. Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and straightened his back to take them.
Looking at Chen Biao's childish behavior, Chen Ying breathed a sigh of relief.
During this time, Chen Biao was so busy that he stopped flirting with the three brothers, showing a mature demeanor. Zhu Wenzheng repeatedly tried to find fault with Chen Biao to ease his mind, but was ultimately sent on by Chen Biao to lead the soldiers in repairing Dadu. Li Wenzhong and Chen Ying immediately abandoned all their bad ideas.
"Aying, you've worked hard." Ma Xiuying patted Chen Ying's shoulder cheerfully. "It's been a long time since we last met. You've grown into a handsome young man. Wait for your godmother to find you a good wife."
Chen Ying said, "Thank you, godmother, but let's look for Wen Zhong first. He's getting so anxious."
Ma Xiuying laughed so hard that her body shook with laughter: "Okay, okay, let's look for him together. I won't treat him unfairly."
Zhu Yuanzhang was playing with Chen Biao when he turned around and asked, "Are Wenzheng and Wenzhong still behaving well? Have they caused any trouble for Biaoer?"
Chen Ying said, "No. Godfather knows that Wen Zheng and Wen Zhong are very efficient when doing things."
Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed Chen Biao's hand, which he had become addicted to using his belly for boxing, and tucked Chen Biao under his arm to tickle him. "It's neat, but it's still weird when it's not. Call them back and I'll ask them."
Chen Ying said, "I've sent someone to call them."
He looked at Ma Xiuying for help, hoping that his godmother would save his poor brother who had just been crying without shedding tears but was now laughing until tears came out because his tickled skin was tickled.
Ma Xiuying smiled and watched her son being bullied, with no intention of helping him.
Chen Ying sighed in his heart and looked at Biaoer who was bullied by his adoptive father with heartache.
There was nothing he could do. His godfather and godmother were on the same side, so even he couldn't do anything.
Zhu Yuanzhang bullied Chen Biao until he was so angry that Chen Biao's mind returned to his childhood and he bit his arm before he started to get down to business.
He threw the Ming King's edict to Chen Biao and said, "My lord, I am very happy to hear that you have scolded this old man to death. Dadu will be renamed Beiping Prefecture, and from now on you will be the prefect of Beiping."
Chen Biao: “…Ah?”
Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent, so Chen Biao knew that Zhu Yuanzhang probably didn't care that he had cursed the captive to death and made His Majesty the Prince of Ming bear the blame of the literati.
It’s just the prefect of Beiping... Chen Biao stared at the imperial edict in his hand, which felt very hot.
Rotation of officials in important frontier towns is rare. If he had been stationed in Peking from childhood to adulthood, wouldn't he have been involved in Zhu Di's struggle for the throne?
It shouldn’t be. I am His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s man, and I will definitely go to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to assist him in the future.
Chen Biao felt a little relieved, but not completely at ease.
"By the way, I'll give you the position of prefect of Beiping. You don't have to take up the position right away. First, do a favor for my lord," Zhu Yuanzhang said. "My lord will ascend the throne next year, and this year he should go to worship his ancestors. But you also know that the Central Plains is still in chaos, and my lord is very busy and doesn't have time to return home in glory. So, I'll let you take over."
Chen Biao was surprised: "Ah? Me?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. "Your Highness's situation is special, and he cannot appear before the public for the time being. My Lord believes that you have a divine teacher teaching you, just like Zhang Liang and his companions, so it would be most auspicious for you to go and pay homage to your ancestors."
Chen Biao recalled his "background personality" in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and was no longer surprised: "That's right. But I can't do it."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You are the chief priest, and you will have many officials assisting you. Ji Renshou and Song Lian will accompany you."
Chen Biao nodded: "Oh, that's fine, I'll just be a puppet and do whatever they say."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and patted Chen Biao on the head.
Chen Biao said, "Oh, right, Dad, we are from the same hometown as the Lord . Our ancestral tomb should be in Haozhou, right? Due to the chaos and war in the past few years, we didn't have the chance to go home to worship our ancestors. This time, I should also go back and sweep the graves of our ancestors. Where is our ancestral tomb?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's smile froze.
Ma Xiuying immediately made amends, "Biao'er, don't talk about this anymore. Our family's ancestral graves should be counted from your father."
Zhu Yuanzhang was the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, ancestral worship would naturally begin with him, the Ming Taizu, and no earlier tombs would be counted. This was the norm throughout the dynasties. Ma Xiuying's words were not false, but they could easily lead to misunderstandings.
Chen Biao misunderstood. He mistakenly believed that his ancestral tomb had been destroyed in the chaotic times and that there were no ancestors left to worship.
No wonder my father never mentioned ancestor worship before, and he always evaded the question when asked.
"Dad, now that we're successful, we can build a family temple and enshrine our ancestors' tablets there. It'll be just like our ancestral tomb." Chen Biao pulled his father's sleeve and said, "Don't stand here. Let's go in first. There aren't many fresh vegetables and fruits, so I asked someone to grow some bean sprouts. Dad, you can't just eat meat without bean sprouts."
Zhu Yuanzhang's face suddenly fell, and he complained with drooping eyebrows: "Why do you always treat your father like cattle and sheep? I just want to eat meat."
Ma Xiuying chuckled, nodded Zhu Yuanzhang's head, and said, "The doctor also told you to eat lighter food. As a father, you must set a good example for Biao'er."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "My son can grow up to be the best man on his own. It doesn't matter if he doesn't have me as a role model."
Ma Xiuying laughed and scolded: "What a waste!"
Zhu Yuanzhang continued to play badly: "My son is very promising, I can be unsuccessful."
Just play badly and be proud!
Chen Ying didn't know what expression to make after hearing his adoptive father's shameless words.
He wanted to make the expression that Zhu Wenzhen had towards his adoptive father, and roll his eyes and say, "Ah, yes, yes, you are the most useless. You are just going to be a founding emperor soon."
When Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong learned that their adoptive parents had arrived in Dadu, they hurriedly arranged their work and returned to the palace to see them.
Li Wenzhong knew to take a shower first, but Zhu Wenzhen deliberately didn't take a shower. He gave Zhu Yuanzhang a bear hug, making Zhu Yuanzhang sweat and muddy, and then ran away while being chased by Zhu Yuanzhang in anger.
Zhu Yuanzhang cursed: "He's already the father of a child! How can he still be like this?"
Chen Biao held the tea in his hands and said calmly, "My cousin's wife likes Zheng Ge's tone. Every time she talks about the stupid things Zheng Ge did at home, her face is full of doting, just like she is caring for a silly boy."
Zhu Yuanzhang was speechless. He had originally wanted to find a virtuous wife for Zhu Wenzheng who could advise him, but this virtuous wife was indeed very virtuous, but she spoiled Zhu Wenzheng even more.
Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "Wen Zheng is very measured in his actions outside. He only makes a fuss in front of you and Biao'er. It's a lively family affair. What's wrong with his character? I think he's fine."
Zhu Yuanzhang complained, "Everything you see is good. Well, I have to take a shower and change clothes today anyway. Biao'er, take me around the palace tomorrow. I haven't seen it yet. Are all the people in the palace locked up?"
Chen Biao lowered his head and took a sip of tea, then said in a condescending tone, "Those who wanted to be common people have already been assigned fields, working, and dating. The concubines are getting impatient waiting for the Lord to distribute new meal tickets. I asked those who can read to help copy books, those who know embroidery to help embroider, and those who know nothing to learn something. I can't do anything about those who don't know and won't learn."
Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled: "What is a meal ticket?"
Chen Biao sighed, "Dadu is in turmoil. We took over Dadu, and with it the famine. Fortunately, the palace and officials' homes have some grain reserves, so I can barely use work-for-relief to appease the people. After that, we need to transport grain from the south as soon as possible."
Chen Biao lowered his head and took a sip from the teacup held in both hands. His soft little face showed a look of deep fatigue.
Managing a large capital city was too difficult. Even if Chen Biao had a lot of ideas, he could not cook without rice, and could only barely maintain the situation.
Chen Biao was full of complaints, but Zhu Yuanzhang became more and more surprised.
He said helplessly: "Aren't you asking too much? Why do you expect no one to starve to death?"
No wonder after he entered Yuan Dadu, he found that Yuan Dadu was thriving and the joy on the people's faces was as if it was New Year's Day.
Chen Biao was puzzled: "Of course it's to ensure that as many people as possible who have hands and feet and can work don't starve to death. Isn't this the most basic requirement for being a local official?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was at a loss for words: "Who told you this is the most basic requirement for being a local official? Even if it weren't a chaotic time, it's normal for many people to starve to death. How can you save everyone?"
Chen Biaoxian widened his eyes in disbelief. His father, who obviously cared about the common people, actually said such heartless and cruel words at this moment.
Then his eyes half-closed in confusion: "Oh, that's true. But I can do it now, so I'll do it. There's nothing I can do when I can't."
Chen Biao realized that he had indeed set too high standards for himself.
In this era of low crop yields, if we can ensure that those who can work do not starve to death, that would be a rare prosperous era in history that would be praised with tears in history books.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "My dear Biao'er, when you become a prefect, don't be so soft-hearted. If you are too soft-hearted, you will not be able to do the job of a local official well."
Chen Biao said, "I know, I know. I'm just inexperienced, right? And I only do what I can do. I haven't been in charge of everything before."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "It's good that you have a sense of propriety. This time when you go to worship your ancestors, you should walk around more and gain some experience."
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Yuanzhang added, "But don't go into danger! Dad doesn't care whether you have made any achievements or not, he only cares about your safety, understand?"
Chen Biao replied perfunctorily, "I know, I know. When have I ever taken the initiative to invite danger? Even this time, I'm not in danger."
Chen Biao drank the tea in one breath. Although he was already a young boy, he still jumped out of the door like a child and went to the kitchen to see how the chefs were cooking.
When he left, he just shouted "I'm going to the kitchen" without even saying goodbye to his parents respectfully or asking for their permission. He had no manners at all.
If this scene were seen by literati, Chen Biao would really be criticized by them.
Zhu Yuanzhang watched Chen Biao leave with a smile. After Chen Biao ran out of sight, his smile faded and his voice became more dignified: "Has anyone caused trouble for Biaoer?"
Chen Ying pulled a memorial from his sleeve and handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang: "I have written down all the people who have troubled Biao'er and what they have done."
Zhu Yuanzhang did not read the memorial immediately. He put it in his arms and read it later.
He then asked, "How are Deng Yu and Zhao Desheng doing now?"
Chen Ying said, "They worked very hard. They knew Biao'er was protecting them, and they tried their best to wipe out the remaining soldiers and bandits around them, hoping to atone for their sins."
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, his tone hinting at dissatisfaction: "It's good that they know how to be grateful. Fifty military sticks is still too few, Biao'er is too kind. Never mind, I'll give Biao'er a favor this time and let them owe him a favor."
In Zhu Yuanzhang's view, all the credit for the Northern Expedition and the capture of Yuan Dadu belonged to his own Biaoer. At most, he would give some to Xu Da, his old brother who dared to trust Biaoer on the battlefield, and some to his adopted sons who had worked hard.
Deng Yu and Zhao Desheng should have also contributed, but Biao'er and Xu Da gave them the credit, only asking them to work hard, and they could make mistakes.
If Chen Biao did not protect them, they were the ones who admired and obeyed Chen Biao the most among those who did not know his identity. Although Zhu Yuanzhang would not kill them on the battlefield this time, he would take away their military power and let them go home to reflect on themselves.
Chen Ying said, "Biao'er had them review their actions in front of the entire army. The generals who followed them also wrote letters of apology. I think this will be more effective than another fifty beatings with the military stick."
Zhu Yuanzhang then smiled a little: "Biao'er's tricks are always messy, but they always work. Tell me how Biao'er scolded that old man to death?"
Ma Xiuying interrupted: "Biao'er said it all, he didn't scold."
Chen Ying said, "Many people came to watch the emperor that day, including several clerks. They all wrote down every word Biaoer said."
At that time, there were no advanced automatic recording tools, and the clerks' abilities were comparable to those of modern stenographers.
They gathered around the Yuan Dynasty emperor with pen and paper, eager to record this historic moment. Unbeknownst to them, the Yuan Dynasty emperor was a fake, but they still recorded this historic moment.
Several clerks compared their notes with each other, then pulled Chen Biao, who looked dejected, to add details. Now, the conversation between Chen Biao and Chen Zuren that day had been recorded in the "newspaper" that Chen Biao had experimented with in Dadu, and was being carried by traveling merchants to even wider areas.
Soon, the writers who are curious about this war of words will probably have a copy of Chen Biao's content.
Chen Biao kept a few copies of the newspaper for collection and left one for Ma Xiuying and Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Is this a newspaper? This thing can indeed spread government orders more widely, but it's too expensive, isn't it?"
Chen Ying pointed to a few sections and said, "This is called the advertising section. Advertisement means 'to make it known to the public.' Businesses can pay to publish advertising for their shops here. The advertising section hasn't been launched yet, but once it's launched, Biaoer said we'll have enough funding. However, the cost of producing this newspaper is still too high, and the printing presses are still inefficient."
Zhu Yuanzhang unfolded the newspaper and read it while saying, "Not many people can understand newspapers. Some educated people might even buy one copy for their whole family. Do you think Biaoer is printing thousands of copies every day? How can so many educated people read newspapers? Well, this is good, quite interesting."
Zhu Yuanzhang first read a few short stories in the newspaper before turning to the record of Chen Biao's verbal battle that day.
Chen Biao didn't say much, he just finished reading it in one glance.
After reading it, Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a long time.
Chen Ying stood quietly with his hands hanging down, not disturbing Zhu Yuanzhang's contemplation.
Zhu Yuanzhang came to his senses only when Li Wenzhong, who had changed his clothes, came over.
Li Wenzhong looked at the newspaper in Zhu Yuanzhang's hand and guessed that Zhu Yuanzhang already knew about the verbal fight between Chen Biao and him that day.
He laughed and said, "Biao'er has always felt aggrieved. He said he didn't curse anyone."
Zhu Yuanzhang breathed a sigh of relief, a complex smile appearing on his resolute face: "If this isn't an insult, then what is an insult? Biao'er's insults were too harsh. No wonder that old man was so angry that he died."
The righteousness of the founding of our Ming Dynasty is comparable to that of the Han and Yan dynasties; in the future, we will surely create another prosperous era that will far surpass the Han and Tang dynasties.
You are a treacherous minister and a villain who aided the tyrant to commit atrocities and will be infamous for eternity.
Zhu Yuanzhang held the newspaper as if it weighed a thousand pounds.
"Biao'er, he is really... Alas." Zhu Yuanzhang had a lot to say in his heart, but he couldn't say anything.
He thought that even if he was not "Zhu Yuanzhang", if there was another "Ming Wang" who heard Biao'er's words, he would not be suspicious, nor could he be suspicious of Biao'er.
Biaoer has such earnest expectations for the Ming Dynasty, and the emperor cannot touch him as long as he does not rebel.
Biao'er has made great contributions in the Northern Expedition and has made such loyal remarks. I am afraid that he will become a recognized loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty like Yue Fei in the future.
If an emperor dared to kill Biao'er, he would become Song Gaozong, whose reputation among the people was comparable to Qin Hui's, despite the whitewashing of his reputation by the literati.
Biaoer, ah Biaoer.
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but laugh: "He has forged a gold medal for himself that is more useful than the one bestowed by the emperor."
Everyone knew that the emperor's golden medal of immunity from death was completely useless. Rather than a medal of immunity from death, it was more of a warning from the emperor to his subjects.
But Biaoer's "golden medal of immunity from death" is a real "golden medal of immunity from death".
No emperor would be so foolish as to do the same thing after learning from the lesson of Emperor Gaozong of Song, right?
Li Wenzhong was stunned for a moment before he realized that his adoptive father was evaluating Chen Biao's actions from the perspective of a "wise king". He couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
But soon, he stopped sweating.
Because Chen Biao came back jumping and shouting, "Dad! The meal is ready! Let's go to the Imperial Garden to eat today!"
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately threw the newspaper, which weighed more than a thousand pounds, aside and said with a smile, "Let's go see what the dog emperor's imperial garden looks like! Biao'er, I saw you swearing! It feels so good!"
Chen Biao was so angry that he used his father's belly to practice boxing again: "I said it all, I didn't curse anyone, I didn't curse anyone, no!"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and imitated what Chen Biao said, which made Chen Biao's face turn red and he became even more angry and embarrassed.
He didn't think anything of it when he said it, but after someone repeated it, he suddenly realized that what he said was so childish and shameful.
Don't repeat the grade, you bastard dad!
"Damn!" The furious Chen Biao started looking for external help.
Ma Xiuying suppressed her laughter and came to the rescue. Her fingers precisely pinched the most painful part of Zhu Yuanzhang's waist: "Don't bully your son."
Zhu Yuanzhang screamed, and Chen Biao laughed with his hands on his hips.
Li Wenzhong and Chen Ying looked at each other, smiled relaxedly, and quickly caught up with the lively family of three.
