Chapter 162: More concerned than Biao'er himself
In May, in southern China, where rice fields are ripe for two crops a year, farmers are already smiling as they gaze at the rice fields, enjoying the first good harvest of the year. Meanwhile, in Beijing, the fields are just beginning to turn green, and the harvest is still a long way off.
Zhu Yuanzhang supported Ma Xiuying as they walked along the ridge of the field and sighed, "This reminds me of when I was a kid and had to farm for my family. The difference between the north and the south is huge. Farmers shed the same amount of sweat, but they're well fed in the south, while they might starve to death in the north."
Ma Xiuying nodded: "This is what Biao'er said. Everything should be based on reality. We can't do things based on existing experience."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "Speaking of this, Biao'er told me about a policy of an unknown emperor, and I was almost confused by it."
Ma Xiuying was puzzled: "What kind of policy is this? Even you almost fell into the trap?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "It's a policy regarding oxen. To promote farming, isn't it forbidden to kill cattle? The emperor saw that the herdsmen in the north had many cattle, so he banned the slaughter of cattle, hoping that the herdsmen would sell their cattle to farmland."
Ma Xiuying thought for a moment and said, "After he issued this imperial decree, will the herdsmen in the north stop raising cattle from now on?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was unhappy and said, "How come you are smarter than me?"
Ma Xiuying laughed. "It's not that I'm smarter than you. I'm helping you with logistics, so I know a lot about cows and sheep. Not all cows can be used as draft cattle. The cows raised on the northern grasslands are used for milking and meat. Even if their cows can plow the land, the money from selling them won't cover the cost of raising them. And since they have no other source of food, they will definitely starve to death."
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "Yes, I thought I came from the poor people and understood their affairs well enough... There is still much I need to know. I can't just sit in the imperial palace forever."
Ma Xiuying nodded.
Under the protection of guards disguised as servants, the couple walked slowly along the ridge of the field. When they met farmers resting by the field, they stopped to ask about the situation in Peking.
The two men pretended to be wealthy businessmen and said they wanted to come to Beiping City to do business and find out whether life in Beiping City was stable.
Peking was an important frontier town, so the farmers immediately became alert when they heard that Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying were trying to gather information.
He asked suspiciously, "From the south? Really?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was very happy to see that he was alert.
The fact that the people are so vigilant shows that Biaoer has educated them well.
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and smiled, "Yes, I'm from Yingtian. Listen to our accent."
The farmer shook his head. "I don't recognize any accent. If you want to know what's going on in Peking, go into the city and ask. I won't tell you."
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately took out the copper coin.
This copper coin was forged in the first year of Hongwu and is being steadily exchanged for various copper coins in the hands of the people.
The farmer put the copper coins away and said, "It's not that I doubt you, but after the Yuan people fled, they kept trying to come back and harm our Ming Dynasty. I'll take your copper coins and show you the way. There's a teahouse built by the government about half a mile ahead. The person making the tea there is an official. If you really have any questions, go ask him, and he'll definitely have an answer."
Not long after the Yuan Dynasty left, the farmers were already talking about our Ming Dynasty.
Seeing that the farmer took the copper coins without saying anything, Zhu Yuanzhang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
He still bowed and said, "Thank you, old man. Madam, then we will do as you said and go to the tea stall in front to take a look."
Ma Xiuying couldn't help laughing: "Okay."
It was only half a mile away, but Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying still did not ride horses or take carriages. Instead, they walked towards the tea stall while enjoying the surrounding scenery, as if they were on a picnic.
As soon as they saw the tea stall, they saw a group of people galloping towards them.
The young man in the lead was wearing a red robe. Before I could see his appearance clearly, the voice had already come over.
"Dad! Mom!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said happily: "Biao'er?"
Ma Xiuying smiled and said, "Although we informed Biao'er in advance, we didn't expect him to know where we were and go out of town to pick us up."
Zhu Yuanzhang said proudly, "This shows that Biao'er has a tight grip on Peking and is a good prefect. Oh, my son looks so handsome on horseback! He is indeed a fierce general who could beat Wang Baobao into a panic!"
Ma Xiuying laughed out loud: "Yes, yes, he is a fierce general..."
Zhu Biao tightened the reins when he was ten meters away from Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying, dismounted, and ran towards Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying.
"Dad, Mom, what are you doing outside the city? It's getting late, be careful of the city gate...Ah!!!"
Zhu Biao looked at his parents after a long absence, and was so happy that he didn't pay attention to his feet. He slipped while running, his body tilted, and he rolled down the ridge of the field and plunged into the field, disappearing from the sight of Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was praising his son for growing up to be a handsome and brave general, suddenly froze in his smile.
Ma Xiuying mentioned the skirt that only reached the calves to save fabric, and ran forward quickly: "Biao'er? Biao'er?!"
Zhu Biao plunged into the freshly watered ground and turned into a mud man, then silently crawled up. Except for his eyes which were still bright, his whole body was covered with mud.
Zhu Biao, the clay figurine, said dazedly, "Ah, it's alright."
Chen Ying quickly dismounted and helped Zhu Biao up: "Biao'er, let's go back to the city to see the doctor?"
Zhu Biao shook his head vigorously, splashing mud all over Chen Ying's face.
"No, it's fine. The ground isn't high and it's soft, so it's fine. It's just... dirty..." Zhu Biao looked down at the clothes he had just changed, feeling a little distressed. "I should have known I shouldn't have worn silk clothes. Now they're ruined."
Although Beiping is located in the north, the summer is still hot. Zhu Biao wanted to cool down and changed into a thin silk dress, but it was covered with mud and could not be washed off.
Seeing Zhu Biao's face full of pain, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had also jumped into the field to support Zhu Biao, said: "Why are you so worried about the clothes? As much good silk as you want, Dad will give it to you! Hurry back to the city to see a doctor!"
Zhu Biao shook off the two people's hands and climbed up the ridge of the field. "Alright, alright, be careful not to step on the crops. I'm a wealthy businessman, I have plenty of fine silk, but what does this have to do with whether I care about clothes or not? I'll go to the tea shed to wash off the mud, and then we'll go back to the city together."
The clay figurine Zhu Biao came to the tea stall to borrow water, which scared the clerk in charge of the tea stall.
"Little military advisor? Why...don't use cold water, what if you get sick? I just boiled some water, you can mix it with water!" the clerk said anxiously.
Seeing the excitement, the farmers who had come to watch the fun also ran over immediately, first stuffed the copper coins in their arms back into Zhu Yuanzhang's hands, and then complained: "Why don't you say you are the prefect's father? How can I accept money from the great judge? Prefect, go to my house to take a bath before going back. What if you get sick? You can't get sick no matter who you are."
Zhu Biao was at a loss for words: "It's just a shower. How could I get sick in such a hot day?"
The farmer and the clerk kept arguing with each other, saying, "It's hot, and you'll get sick if you suddenly catch a cold."
Zhu Biao was so annoyed that he had no choice but to follow the farmer to his home across the field, where he washed off the mud thoroughly and changed into clean clothes before leaving.
When Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying were taking a leisurely "outing", the carriage followed behind. When Zhu Biao fell in the mud, Ma Xiuying immediately ordered someone to bring him a change of clothes.
It took Zhu Biao less than a quarter of an hour to wash away the mud and change his clothes. During this quarter of an hour, Zhu Yuanzhang once again used his powerful eloquence to put the copper coin back into the old farmer's hand and finally got the information he wanted.
Peking is good, the Ming army is good, the officials are good, and the prefect who has changed his surname is the best.
Apart from the "good" properties of these wheels, the old farmer has been complaining that the magistrate does not take good care of his health.
Zhu Biao was covered in mud and was about to take a cold shower. To the old farmer, it seemed like he was going to a sea of fire and swords, and the old farmer was so scared that he wiped away tears.
Zhu Yuanzhang was originally at a loss whether to laugh or cry, but when he heard the old farmer crying and saying that their lives had just started to get better, and if such a good prefect were to encounter any misfortune, they couldn't even imagine how they would live in the future, the smile on Zhu Yuanzhang's lips gradually disappeared.
He sighed softly: "Yeah, I have to talk to him."
Ma Xiuying also sighed, her nose feeling a little sour.
Whether it was the petty official just now or the old farmer now, they all cared more about Biao'er's health than Biao'er himself. All this was because Biao'er was a good official.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying traveled north this time, stopping and walking frequently and making many incognito visits.
The newly appointed officials of the Ming Dynasty were neither good nor bad; at least they provided the people with a stable life, allowing the Ming Dynasty to gradually recover from the turmoil. Many people were grateful to the local officials.
But only in Biao'er's place, the people were more afraid than grateful.
They are not afraid of Biaoer, but afraid of Biaoer leaving.
Such fear makes them feel very sad.
"Dad, Mom, sorry for the wait." Zhu Biao finished his bath and casually wrapped his wet hair with a cloth, looking a little funny. "Thank you, father-in-law."
The old farmer immediately said, "What are you thanking me for? What is there to thank me for? Prefect, you must take care of your health."
Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Okay! Look, my parents are here. If I don't take care of myself, they will definitely spank me."
After Zhu Biao made the joke, the old farmer finally burst into laughter.
The clerk beside him also breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Prefect, you should hurry into the city. If you don't hurry, you and the old man will have to sleep in the suburbs."
Zhu Biao said, "Okay, we'll go into the city right away. If we can't catch up, we'll go to the camp outside the capital and ask the Prince of Yan for a meal."
The petty official was a soldier of the Prince of Yan, who had been assigned to guard this "intelligence point." He immediately grinned and said, "The military advisor is looking for the Prince of Yan's meal. That means our Highness asked the military advisor to cook for him."
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but curse: "That stinky boy, is he so arrogant now that he's the king?"
Zhu Biao said angrily, "Even though he is not the Prince of Yan, he is still so arrogant."
Zhu Yuanzhang: “…”
Ma Xiuying covered her mouth and laughed, "Alright, alright, you two stop talking nonsense and hurry into the city."
Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry that he kept humming. When he saw Zhu Wenzheng, he would definitely teach this guy a lesson for being so arrogant because he was a vassal king!
Chen Ying felt helpless as he listened to Zhu Yuanzhang's cursing.
Zhu Wenzhen has been like this for a long time, so why should his adoptive father suddenly care about this now?
When Li Wenzhong and Zhu Wenzheng learned that their adoptive parents were coming, they had already returned to Zhu Biao's official residence to wait. If Zhu Biao and others were stopped outside the city gate, they would not be able to find them.
Although Zhu Biao had already taken a bath, after returning to the official residence, he was forced by Ma Xiuying to take another bath.
Zhu Yuanzhang also went to wash one.
After the father and son finished their bath, Ma Xiuying hadn't finished yet. Zhu Biao went to pick up his brothers from school, while Zhu Yuanzhang listened to his three adopted sons report on their recent work.
After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Chen Ying, "Are you really not going to change your surname with me?"
Chen Ying said, "Yes. My adoptive father has so many adopted sons, many of whom have made greater contributions than me, yet none of them changed their surnames. How can I change mine? If I follow suit and change to the imperial surname, when Biao'er regains his status, I'm afraid some people will say that the crown prince favors those close to him."
Li Wenzhong interrupted, "Why are you worried about this? Even if Biao'er favors you, so what? With Biao'er's current achievements, is there anyone who can shake Biao'er's position as crown prince? The adopted son who has made greater contributions than you is not me, right? My adoptive father is also my uncle. I am already a royal relative, so why should I change my surname?"
Chen Ying still shook his head: "It's not just you. My sworn brother followed my adoptive father into battle long ago. Whose contributions are not greater than mine? Biao'er doesn't care, and I can't let him suffer the criticism he doesn't deserve."
Zhu Wenzheng curled his lips: "Wenying, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you've been timid since you were a child, worrying about this and that, and you don't even feel tired."
Chen Ying was at a loss for words: "How can I be considered timid? What does this have to do with courage?"
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, his head aching at the thought of all his adopted sons: "Alright, alright, if you don't want to change, then don't. Your current achievements are indeed not enough, and it's really troublesome to have so many adopted sons... Then you will continue to have the surname Chen. Biao'er still thinks he is a member of the Chen family, and it is impossible for Chen Di to change his surname after joining me. Biao'er's property and connections in the Chen family will be in your care. From now on, you will be the head of Chen Di's family."
When Zhu Yuanzhang attacked Yingtian, Ma Xiuying was giving birth, so Zhu Yuanzhang found a nearby merchant named Chen Di to let Ma Xiuying stay temporarily.
Later, Zhu Biao mistakenly thought that he was Chen Biao. Chen Di immediately offered his property and was willing to be Zhu Yuanzhang's slave to cover up his identity.
Now Chen Guorui has become Zhu Guorui, and Chen Biao has also become Zhu Biao, but Chen Di certainly cannot follow them in changing his surname.
Zhu Yuanzhang had no intention of making Chen Di a household slave, and the Chen family would definitely be dependent on Zhu Biao's "imperial merchants" afterwards.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang was so stingy with the family fortune built by his own son Biaoer that he certainly couldn't let Chen Di take over as the head of the family. Since Chen Ying really disliked his original surname, he should continue to use the surname Chen and let Biaoer guard the family fortune.
Besides, Biaoer now only considers himself a member of the Chen family, so this "Chen family" should be reserved for Biaoer.
After the matter was settled, Chen Ying breathed a sigh of relief.
