Chapter 163 It's better than a red dog or a red cat
When Zhu Biao brought his brother back, the matter between Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Ying had already been settled.
Not only did Chen Ying not change his surname, he also wanted to follow the destiny that Zhu Biao had once said was his and go to Yunnan to conquer the last piece of land of the Yuan Dynasty in the south for the Ming Dynasty.
Chen Ying originally didn't want to leave Zhu Biao. Compared with the ambition of making great achievements, he would rather stay with Zhu Biao and serve as his bodyguard.
But as Zhu Biao's own achievements grew, Chen Ying's thoughts changed.
Rather than being a brother protected by Biaoer, Chen Ying would rather be the one who protects Biaoer.
Even though Biao'er's current position was secure, Chen Ying still worried about his adoptive father's increasing number of children, all of whom were born as princes and princesses, while Biao'er would have to wait until she reached adulthood to return to her position. With such a long timeline, would there be any changes?
Chen Ying’s most rebellious idea was, what if his adoptive father died before Biaoer returned to his position?
Even though many people knew that Biao'er was the crown prince, his identity was not made public. For their own benefit, the ministers in the court might have sided with the illegitimate prince to try to gain the credit for his succession.
Even Biao'er's own excessive excellence would reduce the possibility of others supporting him to become emperor.
Because power is too tempting. Biao'er is so outstanding that he will definitely monopolize power like his adoptive father after becoming emperor. Other ministers should not try to seduce Biao'er.
For many people, what they need more is a cowardly and incompetent ruler.
Of course Chen Ying knew that his adoptive father must have a backup plan; he also knew that his good brothers Li Wenzhong and Zhu Wenzhen would definitely stand on Biaoer's side and become Biaoer's solid backing.
But Chen Ying cannot rely on others for Biaoer's safety and future.
He is also Biaoer's brother, and he should also be Biaoer's supporter.
Chen Ying will go to Yunnan to fight and cultivate land, becoming the de facto King of Yunnan, holding the sword and plow for Biaoer.
If something really happened in the capital, Li Wenzhong and Zhu Wenzhen would go south to support the king, and he would lead the army north to support the king, so that Biaoer could rest assured.
Chen Ying did not hide his somewhat rebellious idea from Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang first slapped Chen Ying in the face, scolding him for being unfilial and cursing him to die early, and then he agreed with relief.
"There's no rush. This year, you should stay with Biao'er while I try to resolve the Yunnan issue peacefully. Wang Zichong has already been sent as an envoy to Yunnan," Zhu Yuanzhang said. "The Ming Dynasty also needs time to mobilize its military equipment and logistics. We won't likely enter Yunnan until next autumn."
The south is hot and humid, with many miasma. Autumn and winter are the most comfortable seasons for the Ming army to attack Yunnan.
As soon as Zhu Biao returned home, he learned the "bad news" that Chen Ying not only refused to change his surname, but also wanted to go to Yunnan.
Zhu Biao felt very uncomfortable, but he still had to force a smile: "Brother Ying's consideration is very reasonable. Now the only place where the Ming Dynasty can send a large army is Yunnan. If Brother Ying wants to make a contribution, he can only go to Yunnan."
Chen Ying looked at Zhu Biao's expression and immediately felt sorry for him, almost blurting out "I won't go to Yunnan".
Zhu Wenzheng punched Chen Ying on the shoulder, then said, "Biao'er, it won't take many years to conquer Yunnan. Your brother Ying will be back soon."
Li Wenzhong also said, "Biao'er, don't worry. Didn't Ah Ying often go on long trips before?"
Zhu Biao thought, how can that be the same? If Yingge goes to Yunnan, he will not only fight in the war, but he will also stay to farm and guard the border.
After so many years, he still hasn't heard of a lord's adopted son named "Mu Ying".
Zhu Biao has already determined that the "Mu Ying" is probably his own brother Ying. It's just that because the prince Zhu Da Lao of this time and space did not appear, Ying Ge did not have the opportunity to follow the prince Zhu Da and became his brother.
But due to the inertia of history, Brother Ying still had to go to Yunnan and become the "King of Yunnan" who completely incorporated Yunnan into the Yanhuang system.
A good man has ambitions. Zhu Biao will not stop Chen Ying, but will do his best to support and help his brother Ying.
But no one likes separation. Reason and emotion are two different things. Zhu Biao couldn't laugh for the time being.
"Brother Ying, you must take care of yourself and make great contributions." Zhu Biao still acted like a child in front of his brothers. Even his hoarse voice during voice change had a hint of his childhood nasal tone. "We, the Chen family, all want to be dukes."
Chen Yingqiang suppressed his reluctance and said, "Okay."
Zhu Wenzheng pointed at his nose and said, "I'm sorry, you are the Dukes, and I am the King of Yan!"
Li Wenzhong rolled his eyes at Zhu Wenzheng and said, "Based on your ability to stir up trouble, I think you will soon go from being the Prince of Yan to the Duke of Yan."
Zhu Wenzheng rolled up his sleeves and said, "Li Wenzhong, do you want to fight? You don't even have a title, yet you dare to provoke the King of Yan? I think you want to be beaten!"
Li Wenzhong sneered: "Haha, wasn't your uncle the one who gave you the title of King of Yan? What are you so proud of? Come on, let's fight. Whoever loses will bark like a dog!"
Zhu Biao immediately grabbed his two brothers' sleeves and said, "Alright, alright. I know you're just teasing me. It's almost time to eat. If you're sweating now, you won't be able to eat comfortably later."
After successfully diverting Zhu Biao's attention, Zhu Wenzhen and Li Wenzhong breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhu Yuanzhang said helplessly: "You four brothers, don't act like you're about to leave. The Emperor won't attack Yunnan until at least next autumn. It's still a long time before that."
Zhu Biao breathed a sigh of relief, then became angry and said, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I thought Brother Ying was leaving tomorrow!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "You didn't ask."
He patted his stomach and said, "Didn't you say the food was ready? Listen to your dad's stomach, it's rumbling."
Zhu Biao immediately went to ask people to serve dinner.
While eating, Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang kept glancing at Chen Ying.
Chen Ying was puzzled: "What's wrong?"
Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang shook their heads at the same time.
They couldn't say that they were very happy that Yingge was leaving his elder brother.
Although Brother Ying is very good, much better than Brother Zhong and Brother Zheng, but the eldest brother is also much better to Brother Ying, and the two younger brothers are very jealous.
During the meal, Zhu Yuanzhang learned that Zhu Gou'er and Zhu Mao'er had new "characters", while the five brothers still used the same "character" with their birth order added in front of it. He mocked Zhu Biao for not knowing how to name.
Zhu Gou'er immediately said, "It's better than being called a pig or a dog."
Zhu Mao'er also pouted: "It's better than being called pig hair."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed so hard that his saliva almost contaminated the whole table of delicious food. Ma Xiuying pinched the soft flesh on his waist viciously.
Zhu Yuanzhang drank a cup of wine and suppressed his smile: "It's your fault that you two were in poor health when you were young. If I don't give you a cheap life, how can I support you?"
Zhu Gou'er and Zhu Mao'er said in unison: "We have grown up!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Okay, Dad will give you names now."
He asked someone to bring out a box: "These are the names Daddy thought of for you. Come, let's discuss them. First, let's pick the name for the dog."
Zhu Gouer excitedly threw himself onto Zhu Yuanzhang's knees.
name!
Zhu Biao nodded with satisfaction. Dad finally agreed to give his two younger brothers names.
To add a touch of ceremony, Zhu Biao had the table full of leftovers removed and replaced with fresh fruits. Sitting under the grape trellis, the family slowly ate fruits and ate melon seeds while watching Zhu Yuanzhang name the dog and cat.
Zhu Yuanzhang first took out a piece of paper and said, "Biao'er, what do you think of naming the dog?"
Zhu Biao unfolded the paper and read, "The upper nine stars are called Huagai, and the lower nine stars are called Gang, which is the handle of Huagai. Zhu... Gang?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said proudly: "Not bad, right?"
Zhu Biao was so angry that he clutched the note in his palm and punched Zhu Yuanzhang on the shoulder: "Dad! Even if you find a more reasonable excuse for the word 'gang', I absolutely do not agree with you naming the dog 'gang'! Do you think I don't know that you named the dog 'gang' just because there is a bar on the back of its head!"
Zhu Gou'er's mouth drooped and tears streamed down his face.
He threw himself into Ma Xiuying's arms, crying loudly, "Mom! Dad is bullying me! Am I Dad's biological son?"
Zhu Yuanzhang always pondered over the names he chose and came up with many names. Ma Xiuying didn't know that Zhu Yuanzhang was still obsessed with the word "gang".
She immediately scolded him, “How can you be such a father?”
Zhu Yuanzhang's three adopted sons couldn't help but give their adoptive father the emperor a look of implicit dissatisfaction.
Even Zhu Wenzhen strongly disapproved of Zhu Yuanzhang's bullying of the dog.
Because the dog had a bar on the back of its head, the dog was named Zhu Gang. When this name was recorded in history books, people in later generations would definitely think that the dog was picked up.
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately said, "I've already chosen another name. If you don't want the character 'gang', then don't use it. Here, this one."
Zhu Biao unfolded the paper again, and there was a very complicated character "槓" on it.
Zhu Biao crumpled the paper again, swung his arm, and smashed the ball of paper accurately on Zhu Yuanzhang's forehead: "Dad, do you think you can show off your knowledge in front of me? 槓 is a variant of 杠. It's not commonly used, but I know it!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said regretfully, "I specifically looked for this character that Ji Shanfu translated, and you actually know it? Tsk."
Zhu Gou'er's cries became louder.
I am not your biological child, I am not your biological child!
No, I was born by my mother, I am my brother’s biological younger brother, only my father is not my biological son, woooo!
Zhu Yuanzhang was so annoyed by Zhu Gou'er's noise that his head ached. He immediately picked up the wooden box and said, "If you don't want to be called Zhu Gang, then don't be called Zhu Gang. Come on, choose another one."
Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, "Dad, I trust you one last time. Don't let me down. If you mess around again, I will declare that you have lost the right to name your brother."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and scolded, "How dare you, as a son, deprive your father of his naming rights? You are an unfilial son!"
"Father is unkind and son is unfilial. This is all your own fault." Zhu Biao snorted coldly, closed his eyes, reached into the box and stirred it vigorously, then grabbed a piece of paper and took out the box.
Zhu Gou'er stopped crying immediately. He threw himself from Ma Xiuying's arms into Zhu Biao's arms, and covered Zhu Biao with tears and snot.
Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Wipe your face first. Cat, help your brother wipe his face."
Zhu Gou'er took the handkerchief handed to him by Zhu Mao'er and wiped his face carelessly, then urged, "What is it! What is it!"
Zhu Wenzhen, Li Wenzhong and Chen Ying also leaned over to see if their adoptive father, the emperor, could find another variant of the character "杠".
Zhu Biao unfolded the note and read slowly: "Di Tang... Di?"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.
樉,棡, and棣 are all names of trees. In his box of “characters,” except for “杠” which was a deliberate joke with Biaoer, the rest were all “names of trees.”
His subsequent sons were all named after trees.
Only the label is different.
Zhu Biao. The word "biao" means treetop, referring to the top of a tree.
The top of all trees.
Seeing Zhu Biao's dazed look, Zhu Yuanzhang thought that Biao must have discovered the secret behind the name he gave his son.
