Volume 4: Hot! The whole world is a warring state Chapter 641 The Marriage of the Crown Prince
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you and congratulate you on your unprecedented achievement."
"The Queen, please excuse me, the Imperial Concubine, please excuse me, all the concubines, please excuse me."
After several hours of traveling from the carriage to the train, Zhu Youdong got a general understanding of the country's situation in the past one or two years from Zhu Youxiao. After confirming that the country was generally stable and there was nothing urgent to do, he decided to go home first.
Of course, although he was not as lustful as Sima Yan, Shi Hu and Hong Xiuquan, he was the emperor after all, so when he looked at the dozens of beautiful women in front of him, he couldn't help but wonder: When did I have so many women?
Hey, looking at all these people, why do I suddenly feel a little tired? Sure enough, the monogamy of later generations protects men.
That was it. After the concubines met him here, they were led away by the eunuchs and palace maids. Then, accompanied by Liu Yun and You Yi, he went to see his mother.
In Cining Palace, after being scolded by Empress Dowager Guo, such as being away from home all day and night, and no baby crying in the palace for several years, and saying that no matter how much you have achieved outside, you must have children when you return to the palace so that I can have more grandchildren, etc., Zhu Youdong fled to Ciqing Palace with a head full of scars.
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to you and congratulate you on your unprecedented achievement."
"Everyone, get up."
Looking at his eldest son, Zhu Ciyi, who was already sixteen years old this year, Zhu Youdong showed a rare smile: "What have you learned in the past two years when your father was away from home?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I graduated from Fangshan Middle School last year. After that, I went to the Royal Military Academy to audit classes. I have been waiting for Your Majesty to return to the capital and arrange a job for me."
"Huh? Have you graduated yet? Well, I am a very unqualified father."
"Your Majesty is busy with state affairs and has a lot of things to deal with every day. I dare not disturb you with trivial matters ."
"You don't have to do this. I really didn't do a good job as a father."
Patting his eldest son on the shoulder, Zhu Youdong turned his gaze to his second son, Zhu Ciyan, who was 13 years old this year: "What about you? What grade are you in now?"
"Father, I am a sophomore at Fangshan Middle School and will graduate the year after next."
"Well, how were the results?"
"I can be ranked in the top three in both arts and science. But my sports are only in the middle."
"That won't do. As princes, you will be on my tours in the future. You can't do this if you're not in good health. During the holidays, let your guards take you to practice more. Well, your guards don't dare to get too serious with you. I'll let Master Cheng take care of you. Master Cheng is old, and he can't accompany me overseas these years. But if he supervises you, I think it will be very effective."
"Yes, I will obey your order."
Alas, my sons have grown up, become more thoughtful, and behaved cautiously in front of me. This is the misfortune of the royal family.
After teasing his seven-year-old son for a while, who was relatively innocent and could express his true feelings in front of him, he walked into Youyi's bedroom.
"Your Majesty returned today, why didn't you go to the Queen first?"
"Isn't it good to be here, my beloved concubine?"
"Of course it's fine, but Your Majesty, you and I have been married for so many years. Based on my understanding of Your Majesty, I'm afraid you are going to do something that will embarrass me, right?"
"Hahaha, the one who knows me best is my beloved concubine. In that case, I'll just say it straight. Yi'er is sixteen years old, and I plan to send him on a long journey to exercise."
" Your Majesty , do you want Yi'er to go to India?"
"No, go east, to America."
“…”
"My beloved?"
"… Logically, Your Majesty wants to train Yi'er, and I am so happy. But… but America is farther away than India, and I heard that it is more dangerous than India. This is the first time Yi'er goes out to work, and you give him such a heavy burden… Your Majesty, I only have this one son."
"I understand the hardships and dangers involved, but given the current situation in America, I have no choice but to send important members of the royal family. But who should I send? Youxiao will be in charge of the court when I am away, and You (Mu Xue) and Youjian each have their own duties. As for Youji and Youmo, forget it. My son is much better than his two useless uncles."
"...Your Majesty, wuwuwu..."
"Hey, my beloved, I am only in my thirties now . I cannot guarantee anything about Yi'er's future. But what I can guarantee now is that you will never have only Yi'er as your child..."
…
The next day, Zhu Youdong's study.
"Your subject Sun Chuanting pays homage to His Majesty."
"Bo Ya, how are you doing as the governor of Shuntian Prefecture?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I think this Shuntian Prefecture Governor is pretty good."
"Hahaha, don't be polite to me. I know there's a joke in the officialdom, that someone was not a good person in his previous life, so he is a county magistrate in this life, someone who did evil in his previous life, so he is a county magistrate in this life, someone who was full of evil in his previous life, so he is a county magistrate in the provincial capital. You, the Jingzhao Yin, deal with all the messy things between the royal family, the nobles and the officials all day long. It's so difficult to be an official like this. Even if you can't be ranked first in the whole Ming Dynasty, you must at least be in the top three."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your sympathy for my difficulties. Although I have had my share of difficulties in recent years, the authority of the Metropolitan Censorate is far greater than it was in the past. Those sons of noble families want to seize other people's property and I can't do it myself. As long as I threaten them with a sentence like 'I will ask the Metropolitan Censorate to investigate your fathers', it can usually be solved."
"Hahaha, I see. Boya, you are too cunning."
"Hehe, as the emperor said, the difficulty of my position is at least among the top three in the Ming Dynasty. How can I do this without using the tiger's skin?"
The king and his ministers laughed and joked for a while, and when the atmosphere eased, Zhu Youdong asked seriously, "Boya, how many wives and concubines do you have? How about your offspring?"
The emperor suddenly asked such a question, and Sun Chuanting's heart skipped a beat: "I now have a wife, a concubine, and two daughters. My concubine Zhang is pregnant."
"Is that so?" Zhu Youdong groaned for a while, then said apologetically, "I am sorry to Boya. There is something that Boya cannot take care of. But Boya will be too far away from home."
"...May I ask Your Majesty, do you want me to go to America?"
"Huh?"
"Your Majesty, the governor of Shuntian Prefecture is also qualified to attend the State Council meeting. So I know something about the situation in America. I was promoted when Your Majesty was still the regent. Over the years, my career has been very smooth. Even if I made some mistakes in various positions, Your Majesty always protected me very well. My life belongs to Your Majesty. I will do whatever Your Majesty wants me to do!"
"Hey..." After a long sigh, Zhu Youdong pointed to the chair next to him and said, "Sit down."
After Sun Chuanting sat down, Zhu Youdong said, "Many people will ask, America is tens of thousands of miles away from the Ming Dynasty, and the land is vast and sparsely populated. Although it is a Spanish colony, Spain and the Ming Dynasty will have a decisive battle sooner or later. But why do we have to go far away and not jump from India and Persia, but cross the Pacific Ocean and invest so much power in America."
"What the emperor said is indeed the doubts in many people's hearts, but I have no doubts."
"Oh? Then tell me about your acquaintance?"
"Yes." Sun Chuanting, who was already handsome and just turned 40 at the most charming age of a man, stood up and said, "Your Majesty, there are three benefits to cutting America off from Spain. First, it cuts off Spain's source of gold and silver hard currency. In the past ten years, although the Ming Dynasty and Spain have always been in a state of hostility, Spain's trade with the Ming Dynasty has never been cut off. In the trade between the two countries, Spain has always been in a surplus state. If there is no gold and silver support from the Americas, Spain will have to maintain trade with the Ming Dynasty, and its domestic economy will definitely suffer a heavy blow.
Second, cut off Spain's access to scarce resources. In my spare time from official duties these years, I have attended classes at Fangshan School. I know that the types of natural resources in Europe are limited compared to those in America. If we take America, haha, it is too far away. There is really no need to ship back what is not in urgent need of our Ming Dynasty. But it doesn't matter if we can't get it, as long as Spain can't get it.
Third, the separation of America will be the beginning of the disintegration of Spain. I understand that Spain's national system is different from that of the Ming Dynasty. It is more like a union of multiple countries. The population of its core ethnic group, the Castilians, is less than 20 million. The reason why it can now control the entire Europe and America is that it relies on a military fire. If we can successfully force Spain to give up America, then I believe that the European countries that have been oppressed by Spain for so many years will definitely have other thoughts..."
"Good! Boya is truly my loyal minister!"
Standing up, he took Sun Chuanting to a room in the back hall with a map of America hanging on it. Zhu Youdong said, "Boya, my intention is to give you a division, as well as some propagandists, doctors, and craftsmen, to land in America under the escort of the navy. Your mission is, first, to help Zhu Shengmiao and Tiya stabilize and improve the Andes base, so that the base has at least the ability to repair guns and manufacture simple weapons.
Second, discipline Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong for me, especially that bastard Zhang Xianzhong!
Third, after all, the Ming Dynasty is too far away from America, and it is much more difficult to deploy forces than Spain. Therefore, I do not ask you to deal a heavy blow to Spain militarily. The key is to make Spain feel that the cost of maintaining its rule in America is getting higher and higher, and that its expenses will eventually far outweigh the benefits. At that time, there will naturally be calls in Spain to give up America...
Boya, such a task requires a minister who is both civil and military. I have thought about it, and Mr. Xiong is one of such people in our Ming Dynasty, and you are the second. However, Mr. Xiong is old after all, and he has to sit in the Privy Council. Therefore, I can only ask Boya to do his best. "
"...I roughly understand what Your Majesty said. Your Majesty, rest assured. I will accept this mission. However, what is this propagandist?"
"Ah, we don't have these people yet. Anyway, it will take time to gather the army and skilled workers. In the next few months, I plan to train a group of them myself. Don't worry, Boya, these people will definitely be able to play a big role after they go to America."
"Your Majesty knows everything and can do everything. I look forward to it."
"Haha, stop flattering me. Oh, by the way, I'm also planning to let Ci Yi follow you to America."
"Your Majesty!" Sun Chuanting, who had been standing and talking since the audience, immediately fell to the ground and said, "I dare not agree to this. After all, it is a dangerous place. I dare not guarantee the absolute safety of His Royal Highness the eldest prince!"
"It doesn't matter. I went to Nanjing to be independent when I was only six years old. Ci Yi is sixteen years old now. How can he stay safely in the palace? A young bird must fly out of the nest to have the possibility of becoming an eagle. So even if Ci Yi doesn't go to America, I won't give him an easy job. Relatively speaking, it will be safer for Ci Yi to have you watching over him. And Boya, you also know that America is thousands of miles away after all. If we don't send a royal family to take charge, it will be extremely harmful to you!"
"Your Majesty." Sun Chuanting, who was kneeling on the ground, had cold sweat on his forehead. He was no longer as calm and relaxed as before: "If, if there is really something you cannot bear to say?"
"Of course I don't want this to happen, but since I dare to let Ci Yi go, I am prepared for this to happen."
After saying this, Zhu Youdong pulled Sun Chuanting up with all his strength and asked, "By the way, how old are Boya's two daughters?"
"I am ashamed. Because my family was poor in my early years, I married very late. At this moment, my eldest daughter is only twelve years old, and my second daughter is only two years old."
"My eldest son, Ciyi, is sixteen years old this year. He is a good match in age with Boya's eldest daughter. How about this, I will make a five-year agreement with Boya, and after five years, I will become a relative of Boya, how about that?"
