Chapter 43 Chen Youliang proclaimed himself emperor
When Ma Xiuying woke up, she heard shallow breathing sounds.
She turned around and saw Chen Biao had set up a small bed next to her bed and was sleeping with his belly bulging.
"Ma'am, are you awake? Are you hungry? Biao'er is heating up the milk custard for you in the kitchen."
Ma Xiuying's gaze followed the sound. Zhu Yuanzhang had placed a small table at the foot of her bed, lit an oil lamp, and was reading by lamplight.
Ma Xiuying spoke in a hoarse voice: "Why are you here?"
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "Aren't you afraid that you might be injured and there's no one around when you wake up? You'll be scared, right?"
The doctor said that although Ma Xiuying's life was not in danger, she had lost too much blood, so he asked Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Biao to visit her again in a few days.
In addition to the blood stains, women also inevitably have excretion reactions when giving birth. Even though I wiped my body with a wet cloth, it still wasn't very clean.
The doctor stopped Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Biao from visiting Ma Xiuying early, also for Ma Xiuying's sake.
Although he rarely entered the delivery room, some wealthy families would ask him to wait outside the delivery room when their women were giving birth, so that he could provide treatment to the mother and newborn at any time.
Doctors often see some men who have a good relationship with women who are giving birth. After the women give birth, the men rush in immediately, and then feel disgusted by the dirt and blood, which leaves them with psychological trauma.
Some men adjust their mindset quickly, while others become disgusted with women from then on.
As a doctor, he knew that human nature was the most untestable thing.
The doctor first found an excuse to get Zhu Yuanzhang away and asked someone to help wipe Mrs. Ma's body clean.
Unexpectedly, when the old ladies serving Mrs. Ma were helping her wipe her body, Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Biao rushed in.
Zhu Yuanzhang held his son in one hand and a hot water bucket in the other: "You are so rough! Don't hurt my wife. Go away, I'll do it!"
Chen Biao sat on Zhu Yuanzhang's arm and bowed to the doctor: "Dad and I changed into clothes that were boiled in boiling water, and our hands and faces were wiped with alcohol to prevent Mom's wound from getting infected."
Doctor: “…” All the preparations he made were in vain.
Zhu Yuanzhang helped Ma Xiuying turn over, and Chen Biao carefully wiped Ma Xiuying's body.
As the father and son took care of Ma Xiuying, they cried. No one would believe they were not father and son.
The doctor shook his head, smiled brightly without even noticing it, and walked briskly to the pharmacy to get the medicine.
Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Biao helped Ma Xiuying wipe her body and changed her into clean clothes. Then the lazy Chen Biao fell asleep immediately. Zhu Yuanzhang was full of energy and took on the responsibility of keeping watch.
After Ma Xiuying understood the situation, her eyes were filled with tenderness and smile: "Thank you, Guorui, for your hard work."
Zhu Yuanzhang put down the book, walked to the head of the bed, helped Ma Xiuying up, and put a soft pillow behind her.
Chen Biao likes to sleep on soft pillows and doesn't like to sleep on porcelain pillows or jade pillows. Chen Biao also led them to love soft pillows.
"How are the children I gave birth to? I just heard I had two sons and I fell asleep uncontrollably." Ma Xiuying asked, "Are they in good health?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Very good. Although the fourth child has a streak on the back of his head, it doesn't affect his health. When he grows his hair back, it won't be noticeable. The fifth child is a little thinner, but he's in very good spirits and howls very vigorously. Twins are difficult to raise, so I've given them the humble names of Dog and Cat for now, and will change them when they're a year old."
Ma Xiuying breathed a sigh of relief and said, "A humble name is good, a humble name is good, it's easy to support."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "The doctor will be watching over them all night, madam, don't worry. Would you like something to eat?"
Ma Xiuying shook her head: "I'm not hungry. I'll sleep a little longer."
Zhu Yuanzhang fed Ma Xiuying some hot water, carried the soundly sleeping Chen Biao to the bed, asked Ma Xiuying to rub and poke him, and then helped Ma Xiuying lie down.
Chen Biao didn't move at all when he fell asleep, only his little chest rose and fell.
Zhu Yuanzhang stuffed Chen Biao into Ma Xiuying's bed and fell asleep side by side with her.
Ma Xiuying pressed her face against Chen Biao's soft cheek , smelling the faint scent of soapberries on her son's body, and quickly fell asleep.
Zhu Yuanzhang stretched, lit the light and continued reading.
When Chen Biao woke up the next day, he found himself in his mother's bed, his head tilted: "Did I sleepwalk?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's face was full of seriousness: "Yes! You suddenly climbed onto your mother's bed in the middle of the night and scared me!"
Chen Biao was very worried: "Should I go see a doctor?"
Ma Xiuying, who was sitting up to wash her face, chuckled and said, "Biao'er, don't listen to your father's nonsense. It was your father who carried you up here."
Chen Biao's face fell and he punched the air in the direction of his father, making a threatening gesture.
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed out loud.
The smart son can sometimes be stupid. He believes everything he says and laughs so hard that his stomach hurts.
"Mom!" Ma Xiuying was sitting on the bed, washing up in the basin when Chen Chong rushed in, shouting loudly.
He rushed in too hastily and tripped over the threshold as he entered, rolling to the foot of the bed.
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed out loud again, and his stomach hurt from laughing.
Ma Xiuying and Chen Biao anxiously asked in unison, "Chuang'er, are you okay?"
Chen Biao jumped off the bed without even having time to put on his shoes, and helped Chen Chong up with his bare feet.
Chen Chong stood up and shook his head vigorously: "It doesn't hurt!"
Chen Biao carefully examined Chen Chun's body. Apart from a red spot on the outside of his arm, the rest of Chen Chun was unharmed.
He breathed a sigh of relief: "Walk carefully."
"Yeah." Chen Chong nodded. Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang still laughing at him, he was so angry that he lowered his head and hit Zhu Yuanzhang on the head.
Zhu Yuanzhang put one hand on Chen Chong's head and continued to mock his second son. Chen Chong was so angry that he screamed and even forgot the purpose of his coming here.
Ma Xiuying watched the fun for a while before stopping the father and son from making trouble.
In order to take care of Ma Xiuying, Chen Biao took a few days off for himself and Chen Chong. The classes Chen Biao was supposed to teach were filled by Ye Zheng and Song Lian, who were forced to take leave and had nothing to do.
Chen Jing said that he was already a big kid and could take care of his younger brother, so he slept with Chen Jing every day.
However, on the first day he slept with Chen Tan, he drank a few extra glasses of milk at night and wet the bed and all over Chen Tan. Chen Tan was so angry that he kept spitting at his second brother.
Although Chen Chong and Chen Tan now sleep in the same room, they don't sleep in the same bed.
Chen Chong didn't quite understand what childbirth was all about. But seeing his father and older brother so nervous, he couldn't help but calm down and act like a good boy for a while.
When he heard that he could see his mother today, he hurried over without having breakfast, and threw himself into Ma Xiuying's arms, acting coquettishly.
Chen Biao's expression was extremely kind.
My second younger brother is always a little arrogant when facing his parents. He obviously wants to be close to them, but he always has a stern face as if he doesn't want to be disciplined.
It was a rare sight to see his younger brother acting so openly and coquettishly towards his mother, and Chen Biao was very happy.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this scene, he also sat on the edge of the bed and touched Chen Chong's head, acting like a kind father for once.
Chen Biao's expression became even kinder.
It’s so hard to see my second brother and dad being so happy together.
After allowing his parents and second brother to communicate with each other, Chen Biao put on his shoes and went to visit his third brother who was left alone in the room because he could not walk yet.
When Chen Biao came back pushing Chen Tan's stroller, breakfast was already on the table.
After the family finished breakfast, Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to return to the Marshal's Mansion to work, while Chen Biao continued to take care of his mother and younger brothers.
Ma Xiuying's health was excellent, nurtured by Chen Biao. She exercised daily throughout her pregnancy and even played badminton the day before her due date. Despite having twins, she was able to walk after just three days. Doctors hailed her as a miracle.
Chen Biao said in a disgusting way that this was a miracle of his and his father's love for his mother.
Ma Xiuying laughed so hard that her whole body shook, and she kept saying yes.
Zhu Yuanzhang touched his nose. Even though he was so thick-skinned, he felt a little embarrassed.
Compared to Ma Xiuying, the two children Chen Gou'er and Chen Mao'er are more troublesome. They have a low fever every few days.
Chen Biao racked his brains to think about how to take care of infants and young children in the future, and often overruled the doctor's opinions.
The doctor was not angry. Instead, he wrote down Chen Biao's unique approach as if he was learning a skill from a master. When Chen Biao was free, he asked him the reason.
Of course, Chen Biao did not hide his knowledge. He explained what he could explain clearly immediately. As for what he could not explain clearly, he said that he would give an answer after he found a way to create auxiliary instruments such as microscopes.
The doctor held a booklet in his hand and kept making notes, which made Chen Biao feel a little guilty.
He suddenly felt a little regretful for his overly indifferent attitude in this life.
Chen Biao is a selfish person. So when it comes to the vital interests of him and the people he cares about, he will take the risk and actively cause trouble.
When he learned that Ma Xiuying was pregnant with twins, Chen Biao asked himself whether the God who allowed him to travel through time could not stand his lazy attitude and that was why his mother was in such danger.
If he had not been a lazy person and had trained some female doctors earlier, even if what he knew could not be considered medical knowledge at all but just "medical common sense", it would have made his mother much safer.
Fortunately, his father was more like a time traveler than him. He immediately asked a male doctor to deliver the baby and took out the two younger brothers with forceps. Otherwise, his mother would have suffered a lot.
Chen Biao traveled through time and became the son of a wealthy businessman. Although he complained to his father every day about Zhu Yuanzhang's brutal behavior in his later years, he actually knew that before the death of Empress Ma and Prince Zhu, as long as his father was cautious and kept himself out of harm's way, it was unlikely that he would encounter any danger.
Born into a future noble family in feudal society, Chen Biao lived a very comfortable life, making him unwilling to do anything that might shake his stable life.
Even the well-field system and the unbinding of women's feet were implemented after his father heard his mumblings and proposed it to Zhu Yuanzhang.
It can be said that this group of feudal people who have no memory of their past lives are more enterprising than Chen Biao and more like time travelers.
Chen Biao lowered his head and looked at his tender hands.
He could make an excuse, saying that he was still young and didn't want to get into trouble.
But he can deceive others but not himself.
With his father's obedience to him, he only needs to point fingers and many people will help him do things. Age is not a problem, he just refuses to do it.
The weakness of the bourgeoisie?
Oh.
When Ma Xiuying was finally able to take a bath and walk outside, Zhu Yuanzhang found a Buddhist temple and a Taoist temple in Yingtian and donated two statues; Chen Biao counted his own small treasury, summoned craftsmen, and secretly made some tools.
When Zhu Yuanzhang asked about it, Chen Biao only said that he was also doing good deeds to accumulate blessings for his mother, but the thing had not been made yet, so he would not say it for the time being, so as not to have too high expectations and be embarrassed if it was not made.
Although Zhu Yuanzhang really wanted to know Chen Biao's secret, he still waited obediently for the moment when Chen Biao revealed the secret himself, and did not ask Li Zhen and the craftsmen what Chen Biao was hiding.
This was a tacit understanding between the two of them. Zhu Yuanzhang was happy to let Chen Biao have little secrets, and when Chen Biao shared little secrets with him, he would feel particularly satisfied.
Chen Biao hung out with the craftsmen every day and was too lazy to even go to elementary school. Anyway, Mr. Ye and Mr. Song had nothing to do.
It was not until the end of March or the beginning of April, when Xu Da and Zhu Wenzhen got married, that Chen Biao came out of the workshop.
It was Zhu Wenzhen's first marriage, so his wedding was a little more grand; when Xu Da married his second wife, his wedding was slightly inferior to Zhu Wenzhen's.
However, the wedding ceremony of both of them was very simple. They just brought the bride home, held the wedding ceremony in the hall, and had a meal with relatives and friends.
There is no extravagant wedding dress and no complicated etiquette.
But in this troubled time, just that touch of red joy is enough to comfort the hearts of the people in Yingtian Prefecture.
The people who can survive in troubled times are very sensitive to danger.
Zhu Yuanzhang's introduction of a series of policies and the frequent mobilization of Zhu's army made them realize that war might break out in Yingtian.
The neighboring states of Suzhou and Hangzhou were very safe, and some wealthy businessmen began to migrate to the territory under Zhang Shicheng.
However, all the ordinary people stayed and took the initiative to ask if they could join the army.
Even the elderly, the weak, women and children kept asking Zhu Jiajun if there was any work they could help with.
They even brought their own dry food and were willing to repair the city walls, dig trenches and build towers for Zhu's army for free.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw the frequent petitions from the people, he couldn't help rubbing his eyes.
"Water can capsize a boat, but it can also carry it," Zhu Yuanzhang sighed. "They say winning the hearts of the people is the key to success. The hearts of ordinary people are not enough to drive the struggle for supremacy in the Central Plains. But I believe this is not the case. The true hearts of the people are the hearts of the common people. You great men follow me because I treat the common people well."
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his glass and said, "I will drink this cup with you all. I hope that next time we meet again, no one will be missing."
The civil officials and the military generals all stood up, raised their glasses, and drank the wine in the cups.
After drinking, the civil officials and military generals left in groups of three or two, heading to the strongholds they were to defend.
In early May, Chen Youliang raided Taiping City. General Hua Yun of Anyuan, Marshal Hua Wenxun of the city defense, Prefect Xu Yuan, and Judge Wang Ding assembled 3,000 men to fight.
Zhu Yuanzhang had been prepared and sent Chen Ying with 5,000 men to support them. Hua Yun and his men successfully broke through the siege, with only over 100 of his men killed in the battle, thus preserving their remaining manpower.
After Chen Youliang captured Taiping City, he became more and more arrogant and complacent.
He believed that he had achieved the reputation to be emperor, so he killed Xu Shouhui, proclaimed himself emperor, and founded the "Great Han", which was known as "Chen Han" by the world.
Chen Youliang killed his leader and established himself as the emperor, and the generals under Xu Shouhui became restless.
In order to consolidate his rule, Chen Youliang led his navy south and headed straight for Yingtian.
At the same time, Chen Youliang wrote a letter to Zhang Shicheng, agreeing to attack Zhu Yuanzhang together and annex Zhu Yuanzhang's territory.
Zhang Shicheng called a meeting of his confidants and advisers to ask for countermeasures.
Zhang Shicheng's younger brother Zhang Shixin was quite coveting Zhu Yuanzhang's territory and suggested attacking Zhu Yuanzhang together with Chen Youliang.
Except for Zhang Shixin, Zhang Shicheng's think tanks and confidants all advised Zhang Shicheng to sit on the sidelines and watch the fight between the tigers.
Zhang Shicheng had a counselor under his command named Shi Er, also known as Nai'an, who was said to be extremely talented and Zhang Shicheng trusted him very much.
Shi Er said, "Zhu Yuanzhang first cut himself off from the world's scholars, and then cut himself off from the world's nobles. He is a useless and incompetent person. Chen Youliang is ambitious. How can we sit idly by and watch Chen Youliang swallow up Zhu Yuanzhang and become a neighbor to our lord?!"
