Chapter 16: Selfishness
Three books and six rituals.

After completing the whole process, more than three months have passed.

This is because Zhu Chengwu is concerned about the Earth Core Fire Lotus and constantly simplifies procedures and urges the efficiency of each department.

If it follows the normal process of a marquis marrying a wife.

From the initial interest to the final marriage, one or two years, or two or three years is extremely normal.

This is the normal operating speed of this world before the industrial revolution and without the Internet.

"Cousin Xinghan, I'm sorry to bother you again this time."

Fu'an Marquis Mansion.

Zhu Chengwu said this to Zhao Xinghan.

"I just hope that the Marquis will not disappoint the Queen and Zhao's expectations!"

Zhao Xinghan received the order.

Although Zhao Xinghan initially had objections to Zhu Chengwu marrying Cui's daughter.

But after Zhao Xinghan returned from the capital, Zhu Chengwu could feel that although this anger still existed, it had become much smaller.

Zhao Xinghan is a relative of Queen Zhao and Zhu Chengwu's cousin within the fifth degree of mourning. He is also the official spokesperson for the Fu'an Marquisate.

When the King of Ming, the Queen and Zhu Chengwu were unable to come out to welcome the bride, he came out to show the importance that the Fu'an Marquisate attached to Cui.

In fact, a better way to show the importance of Cui family is to invite Zhu clan members and elders to come forward.

This was also the way most princes of the Ming Dynasty married.

But Zhu Chengwu has been devoted to martial arts over the years and has not had much contact with Zhu clan members.

Heart is under the kyte!
Zhu Chengwu did not have much trust in them.

Ordinary treasures from heaven and earth are already precious enough.

Can help first-rate warriors break through to the Grandmaster level!
There are no more than ten items currently existing in the entire Zhu family secret library.

Not to mention the high-level treasure of heaven and earth like the Earth Core Fire Lotus!
If they knew that there was an Earth Core Fire Lotus in Cui's dowry, Zhu Chengwu felt that there was more than an 8% chance that complications would arise.

The Zhu family of the Ming Dynasty is not a local noble family like the Cui family.

It has a profound cultural heritage and a large collection of books.

The Zhu clan members who go there have high status and will most likely recognize the Earth Core Fire Lotus.

Zhu Chengwu also has to find a way to hide “his own people”!
The Zhu clan members who went there had a low status, which also did not demonstrate the importance they attached to the Cui clan.

It’s better not to invite.

As for Zhu Chengwu’s absolute confidant - Gao Yao?

If Zhu Chengwu dared to let Gao Yao, who had already castrated himself, go as a representative to welcome the bride, Cui's side would probably cause trouble.

The Cui family would definitely feel that Zhu Chengwu was insulting them.

Even though Gao Yao has a higher status in Zhu Chengwu's heart and is more trusted by Zhu Chengwu.

Such is the social concept!

No one can change it.

At this point, Zhu Chengwu didn't want any unexpected events to occur.

After all the calculations, Zhao Xinghan is the greatest common denominator of this wedding!

Zhao Xinghan is the chief envoy of this wedding reception and is responsible for the most important security.

In addition to Zhao Xinghan himself, the Fu'an Marquisate also dispatched nearly 300 people for the wedding.

Among them, there are more than 150 guards!

The guard team of Fu'an Marquis's Mansion had only two battalions, with a total of 10 flags and about 500 people.

Responsible for the security of the mansion and the rule of the fiefdom.

This time, three flags were deployed at once.

It's almost one third.

It’s not that Zhu Chengwu doesn’t want to transfer more people, nor does he not want to take action himself.

Still the same problem.

Any action that goes against common sense is likely to arouse suspicion.

However, Zhu Chengwu's strength is not yet enough to overwhelm everyone.

Develop cautiously and silently.

This is what Zhu Chengwu should do most now.

Zhu Chengwu could only find a middle ground between trying his best to ensure the safety of the Earth Core Fire Lotus and not letting the wolf in.

In addition to the guards, Dai Fayan's Foreign Affairs Office also dispatched about 100 people.

What those people brought was the betrothal gift from Fu'an Marquis' Mansion to Cui.

有白银1000两、各类药材10余车、绫罗绸缎10余车、米粮30余车、骏马10匹…

As a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River, the Cui family certainly has no shortage of these things.

But Zhu Chengwu had no choice but to give it.

Otherwise it means you don't know etiquette.

It was that the Fu'an Marquisate looked down on Cui and the new bride.

This is perhaps what is called the way of man: to take from the deficient and give to the abundant!
In fact, Zhu Chengwu not only prepared all the necessary betrothal gifts according to the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty, but also tried to prepare more and more details without exceeding the maximum regulations of etiquette.

It’s not that Zhu Chengwu likes the bride he has never met.

But if they didn't prepare that much, and the things were not detailed or complicated, and there were not many carriages and horses, how could it look reasonable for so many guards to go out together?
In this wave, it seems that the guards are protecting the betrothal gifts, but in fact, the betrothal gifts are covering the guards.

"My Lord, is Cui's daughter really that good?"

Looking at Zhu Chengwu, who had disrupted his martial arts training plan and was standing outside the gate of the mansion, watching the wedding procession leave, as if he was eager for the party to come back to pick someone up the next moment, Chunhua broke the rules for the first time and asked.

Freezing three feet is not a day's cold.

Curiosity doesn't just come out of nowhere.

Seeing that the Fu'an Marquis's Mansion was speeding up the process of the three books and six ceremonies under the pressure of Zhu Chengwu, and seeing that the Marquis's Mansion was repeatedly increasing the betrothal gift to Cui, Chunhua was filled with envy and a slight hostility towards the future wife of the Marquis's Mansion.

Zhu Chengwu was stunned.

He turned his head and glanced at Chunhua's nervous and stubborn eyes.

Seems to be enlightened.

"Very good, she is very good!"

Zhu Chengwu replied calmly.

Zhu Chengwu didn't say the second half of the sentence, "She is very good, so good that she can bring me such a high-level treasure as the Earth Core Fire Lotus!"

As Zhu Chengwu finished speaking.

Chunhua's bright eyes immediately dimmed a little.

Zhu Chengwu noticed it, but didn't do anything unnecessary.

Although she is a close attendant, although Chunhua works seriously, and although Zhu Chengwu trusts Chunhua very much...

But many things just have no results.

Impossible is impossible!

Why bother with the entanglement and give people unnecessary hope!
……

“What a big deal!”

On a high platform not far from Fu'an Marquis Mansion.

Someone murmured.

The street below the platform was crowded with people watching the fun.

No matter what era, it is human nature to watch the fun and love gossip.

There are always only a few protagonists in the world.

Most of the people can only become part of the lively background.

Because I can't be the protagonist, I always yearn for excitement.

This is perhaps what is meant by: the less you can get something, the more precious it is, and the more you yearn for it!
"Look, Marquis Fu'an is only returning to his mansion now. Is he so impatient?"

A bold commoner saw Zhu Chengwu standing at the gate for a long time before returning to the mansion, and guessed, "That's for sure! I heard that the Marquis's first wife is extremely beautiful, stunningly beautiful... That's why the Marquis couldn't help but keep urging the people below to do the work, and it took more than three months to complete the three letters and six ceremonies."

These are bold people who have some courtesy.

"You are wrong! My eldest aunt's brother-in-law works in the Marquis's mansion. It is said that the Marquis and the Cui girl were childhood sweethearts and had secretly decided to spend their lives together since they were young. Unfortunately, the king and queen did not agree, so the Marquis has never married until now, when the king and queen could no longer resist the Marquis and gave in..."

These are the people who simply love gossip and follow the crowd.

"What you said is wrong. I heard that the Marquis needed the support of the Cui family, which was as wealthy as a country, so he married Cui's daughter..."

This commoner is particularly bold!

Although he didn't say it explicitly, his words were full of implications.

stand by!

What to support?
Do you support the construction of the fiefdom? Or do you support the impact on that position?
There are always people who like to discuss national affairs.

But in the Ming Dynasty, there was a rule that common people were not allowed to discuss state affairs.

National affairs are planned by the meat-eaters!

So the people spoke vaguely and only made the point.

"Go away... You are talking nonsense. If the Marquis needs the support of the Cui family, why doesn't he marry the daughter of the Cui family leader? I have reliable information. It is said that our future wife of the Marquis's mansion has a special physique. The Marquis is trying to replenish his yin with yang..."

The man's speech startled the crowd around him.

Then he turned to look at the person who spoke.

"Don't talk nonsense and slander the Marquis!" After a brief silence, a commoner immediately stood up and refuted.

"How can this be nonsense? I really have inside information!"

The citizen who just spoke said unconvinced.

"You are slandering the Marquis!" The commoner who refuted did not believe that Marquis Fu'an was the kind of devil who used yin to replenish yang.

In the naive impression of many ordinary people, those who take yin to replenish yang are all demons.

Unfortunately, how can honest people distinguish between "professionals" with ulterior motives?

But the people also have their own ways of dealing with the situation.

If you can't argue, don't argue.

The people act instead of talking.

If a common man gets angry, he will punch you twice!
When they saw a fight, some curious people started to watch, some fearful people evacuated, and some rational and calm people chose to report to the police.

During this special period today, the government has already made preparations.

The number of detectives patrolling the streets was more than three times the usual number.

Be careful to prevent anyone from causing trouble.

Are the detectives worried about not being able to find results?
After receiving the report, the police arrived at the scene quickly and arrested those who were causing trouble.

It was already the next day when Zhu Chengwu learned the news.

"My Lord, according to the county government's statistics, there were 23 incidents of provoking disturbances yesterday, involving more than 200 people, and 53 people were arrested. Among them, 3 spies from other forces have been identified, and 8 people with ulterior motives..."

Xia Yu reported the news from the Xuzhou County Government to Zhu Chengwu.

Zhu Chengwu, the Marquis of Fu'an, was granted the title of Xuzhou.

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, a marquis could control officials of all ranks in his fiefdom.

That is why the Xuzhou County Government tried to please Zhu Chengwu, the Marquis of Fu'an.

"Send a message to the Xuzhou County Office. This matter has been handled very well. This Marquis is very satisfied. Those spies and those with ulterior motives should be killed or forced to do labor... As for the ordinary people who were coerced, they should be released after being criticized and educated!"

Zhu Chengwu gave instructions while writing and calming himself down.

"Your Majesty is so kind! No wonder he is so loved by the people." Xia Yu said admiringly.

"How come you've also learned to flatter?" Zhu Chengwu smiled helplessly.

"I'm not flattering you, Lord. I heard a touching piece of news. Yesterday, someone slandered you, saying that you married Miss Cui because she had a special physique and you wanted to take her yin to replenish your yang... But those slanderers were beaten by the people who cared about you!"

Then, Xia Yu briefly talked about what happened yesterday afternoon.

"Oh, is it so?"

"How did that commoner know that it was slander? Maybe it was the truth! And why would that commoner stand up for me, whom I have never met? Is there a story behind this?"

Zhu Chengwu did not show any proud or satisfied expression, but asked this instead.

Uh~~~
Xia Yu was a little confused about what Zhu Chengwu meant.

The Marquis was so eager to marry the daughter of the Cui family that he even ignored General Zhao's opposition.

Could it be that it is really because Miss Cui has a special physique?

The Marquis wants to take yin to replenish yang.

Some thoughts involuntarily emerged in Xia Yu's mind.

In addition to being the chief of the guard team of Fu'an Marquis's Mansion, Zhao Xinghan also held the title of a lieutenant general.

He is the only official general in the Fu'an Marquis Mansion.

Therefore, everyone in the marquis's mansion respectfully called Zhao Xinghan, the chief guard, General Zhao.

"Whether it is slander or not, the fact that the people are willing to fight to protect the Marquis shows that the Marquis is deeply loved by the people!"

Xia Yu is quick-witted.

"Really? Are you sure that the commoner is an ordinary citizen, not someone deliberately arranged by the Houfu or the government?"

"I'm sure!" Xia Yu said firmly.

"Are you sure? Then who is this commoner, a relative of the marquis or the government official?"

Zhu Chengwu's words made Xia Yu smile bitterly.

My Lord, how unconfident you are of yourself!

"My Lord, no, he is not! I checked and found that he is just an ordinary citizen."

"Then why?" Zhu Chengwu was a little puzzled as he was not a vested interest.

Zhu Chengwu is well aware of people's bad nature. If they are not involved in the matter, they will all turn a blind eye to it.

It's just momentary anger, and most of it is just talk!

How could you do it so easily?

"My lord, that commoner was wrongly accused of stealing a cow from a local wealthy family three years ago. You happened to be out on patrol at the time, and you helped him clear his name..." Xia Yu finally explained the reason.

Zhu Chengwu finally understood what was going on!

Zhu Chengwu said it!

How could there be someone in this world who is so devoted to someone for no reason...

Xia Yu's toothpaste-squeezing narrative style almost made Zhu Chengwu doubt that his theory was wrong!
After all this time, the people are still the vested interests after all!
"He is grateful and brave enough to show his skills. He is a good person. The Hou Mansion should focus on supporting him and make him a role model!"

Fresh horse bones are out of the oven, and Zhu Chengwu doesn’t mind buying an extra portion!
"Xia Yu, you did a good job on this matter! You have a pair of eyes that are good at discovering things, and you can investigate the whole process of things clearly. You deserve a reward. Take my note to the warehouse to get ten taels of silver and three doses of martial arts medicine powder!"

Zhu Chengwu said this and handed Xia Yu a piece of sketched note.

"Thank you, Lord Marquis!"

Xia Yu happily took the note.

Zhu Chengwu understood why Xia Yu was investigating so diligently.

What is the purpose of speaking specifically to him?

Zhu Chengwu also didn't mind meeting Xia Yu's expectations.

After all, Zhu Chengwu also needs people to do things for him.

In order to make people work wholeheartedly, we must be fair and just and clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments.

In any regime there are winners and losers.

The quality of governance depends only on whether the rulers can control the vested interests and prevent them from going too far.

It depends on whether the rulers can protect those who lose out and allow them to survive.

Of course, it also depends on whether the rulers can be relatively fair and acceptable to the majority of people.

In this regard, Zhu Chengwu, who had the memory of his past life, felt that he had done a good job.

(End of this chapter)