Chapter 97 Long Yan’s Joy
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang was in the main hall, summoning the crown prince, Li Shanchang, Wang Guangyang, Hu Weiyong and other Hanlin scholars to discuss politics.

In a sense, this is actually a small court meeting.

The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately held this court meeting in the main hall was essentially to allow the prince and the kings to sit in, so that they could understand how the country's affairs operated and what the ministers' opinions were on different matters.

The main hall is far from the inner garden, so every trip here takes a lot of effort.

But even so, Zhu Yuanzhang still took great pains to come here specially.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang and his ministers took their seats.

Li Shanchang was very weak and seemed to be out of breath, so Zhu Yuanzhang ordered someone to give him a seat.

Zhu Yuanzhang treated the left prime minister with the utmost courtesy, especially when he learned that the left prime minister was in poor health. He ordered people to check on his health almost every few days.

Li Shanchang sat upright, and Hu Weiyong glanced at Li Shanchang and spoke first: "Your Majesty, I heard that the Yiluansi recently arrested a rebel. This rebel is the descendant of Boyan?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was obviously in a good mood, and said with a smile: "Yes, it is true."

Hu Weiyong said: "It is a blessing for your majesty that such a man can be executed. Some time ago, my Ming Dynasty won a great victory in the desert. Now there is such good news, which is really cause for celebration."

Zhu Yuanzhang stroked the case and said: "This is the result of the concerted efforts of the Yiluansi. Of course, this is the first merit..."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Hu Weiyong, with a half-smile in his eyes, but he did not say Deng Qianqiu's name, but said slowly: "The first credit goes to the officers and soldiers of the Yiluansi."

After hearing this, Hu Weiyong said, "I have also heard some things. It is said that Captain Deng Qianqiu has made a great contribution this time."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "That's true."

Hu Weiyong said: "Your Majesty, Captain Deng is so talented at such a young age. I think he should be rewarded handsomely for his great contribution."

Zhu Yuanzhang just thought it was funny, but said nonchalantly: "Really? But I think he is too young, he still needs to be tempered."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze and fell on Li Shanchang: "Li Qingjia, what do you think?"

Li Shanchang sat with his body bent, looking drowsy. He then panted and said, "Your Majesty is right. If jade is not polished, it cannot be made into a useful tool. I am too young. If the reward is too great, I will inevitably become frivolous."

Hu Weiyong smiled. Actually, he did not really hope to reward Deng Qianqiu handsomely. It was just that Deng Qianqiu was obviously becoming more and more interesting. He praised and recommended Deng Qianqiu in front of His Majesty. All this would eventually reach Deng Qianqiu's ears. Then, Deng Qianqiu would know who in the world was good to him.

Such a young man, who has achieved success at an early age, is quite arrogant. But for Hu Weiyong, wouldn't it be easy to win over such a person?

He said: "Your Majesty is wise and unpredictable, and you have enlightened me."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the prince again and asked, "What suggestions do you have for this?"

Zhu Biao said, "A merit is a merit, and a fault is a fault. Merits should be rewarded, and faults should be severely punished. This is what the emperor taught me every day. But now, he is using the words that I still need to hone my skills. I don't understand which of your words is right."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "..."

Zhu Biao continued, "Ordinary people also need to practice what they preach in order to gain the respect of their neighbors. I think that a ruler should do the same, otherwise..."

Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little blocked in his chest, and shouted angrily: "Water has no fixed shape, and soldiers have no fixed positions. How can everything in the world be generalized? I usually teach you so many things, but you don't want to listen. You remember these words clearly."

Seeing his father angry, Zhu Biao was not panicked and said, "Father, this is wrong. I have only heard that the emperor never jokes. How can water have an ever-changing shape and soldiers have ever-changing positions? If this is the case when encountering things, then who would believe the emperor's promise?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes bulged with anger.

Li Shanchang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty is wise, but what His Royal Highness said also makes sense. No one is wrong."

Hu Weiyong and others also tried to persuade him.

Zhu Yuanzhang was still angry, so he said, "Of course I rewarded Deng Qianqiu, allowed him to set up the Chunhe Palace Hundred Households, and allowed him to do what he wanted. This is both a reward and a test for him. The prince does not understand my painstaking efforts, so he said such unworthy words. You don't have to blindly protect him. He doesn't know what is good and what is bad, and he doesn't know my painstaking efforts. He always says that he respects scholars, but which scholar doesn't teach him to be loyal and filial, and to obey the emperor and the father. But he doesn't understand me, and still criticizes me everywhere."

As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang became very angry when he saw that Zhu Biao was as unafraid of boiling water as a dead pig.

But after thinking about it, he also understood his eldest son's temper. There was no point in continuing to curse him, so he angrily said to Hu Weiyong and others: "You, as ministers, always protect the prince. Whatever I say, you say it's right, and whatever he says, you also say it's not wrong. I want to ask you, what is right and what is wrong? I taught you to teach the prince more on a daily basis, but you just blindly obeyed, which made the prince develop such a temper."

Li Shanchang had no choice but to leave his seat and bowed, saying, "I will die for you."

Zhu Yuanzhang was not an unreasonable person. He waved his hand and said, "I don't mean to criticize you. I just want to tell you, Prince, that it's not easy for me. I work hard every day to be a good father and an emperor. I have suffered a lot. I have suffered all the hardships in the world. In the cold winter, I was ragged and shivered barefoot in the snow. Sometimes I couldn't get enough food for three or two days. How it feels. But the prince was born rich. He doesn't know many things. He can't understand my painstaking efforts and can't understand the truth of some things. That's why he is so bookish. You should give him more advice and teach him the way of loyalty and obedience..."

Li Shanchang said: "I obey your order."

Hu Weiyong couldn't help but think to himself, I've taught you everything to say, and if I say that the prince is not right, you will scold me for being disrespectful to the prince.

Zhu Biao was helpless and had to say, "Father, it is my fault. I deserve death."

Zhu Yuanzhang then smiled and said, "You know how hard I work. Hey, family affairs, state affairs, world affairs, which one doesn't break my heart? Let's not talk about other things, just talk about you...your food, clothing and expenses in Chunhe Palace, which one didn't waste money? As for me, I am in the inner garden, but I haggle with your mother, trying my best to save money. Why is this?"

Zhu Biao had no choice but to say: "I, your son, will also save money..."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and said, "Forget it. What are you saving? How much money can you save? I am just telling you the truth. I have no intention of mistreating you and your brothers."

As he was speaking, he winked at Zhu Yuanzhang, saying that it was time to come quickly.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "What's the matter?" He should have said, "Deng Qianqiu sent an urgent report with good news."

Zhu Yuanzhang had just subdued Zhu Biao and had not yet enjoyed his joy when the good news from Deng Qianqiu arrived.

Zhu Yuanzhang was feeling complicated, and couldn't say he was very happy. After all... he had known about the confiscation long ago, and he had already calculated most of the money, but in the end he would have to pay out 20%.

Well, it still hurts!

He calmly held out his hand and said, "Take it."

He should first hold a box and present it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang opened the box and saw a pile of account books inside, and on top of the account books was a memorial.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the account book with the ink still wet, and his expression eased a little.

No matter what, Deng Qianqiu is still very careful and meticulous in his work.

So he picked up the memorial and looked at it carefully.

He just looked around casually at first.

But soon, that gaze could no longer move.

The tiger's eyes gradually widened and fixed on a number.

More than 417,950...

Four hundred and ten thousand...

He felt his mind go blank for a moment, then he took a deep breath, and then he regained his thoughts and read the report again.

This number obviously far exceeded his expectations.

It also shocked him beyond compare.

"How is it possible... How could it be this number..."

Zhu Yuanzhang muttered to himself.

He is a man who has seen many storms and waves, and ordinary things cannot make him lose his composure.

But what was happening before his eyes was unbelievable to him.

Seemingly feeling something was suspicious, Zhu Yuanzhang quickly took the account book out of the box.

However, the account book was filled with dense writing, and after flipping through many pages, Zhu Yuanzhang finally lost interest in reading any further.

He took another deep breath and said, "Four hundred and ten thousand... four hundred and ten thousand..."

After the shock, I couldn't help but feel ecstatic.

This number was not only far beyond his expectations.

This is a super double.

But suddenly, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression changed slightly, and his expression began to become unpredictable.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head suddenly, looked at Yesen with a stern look, and said in a deep voice: "Get the report from the Yiluansi and the record of the traitor immediately."

Judging from Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, he must have been frightened at first. He did not dare to hesitate and went there in a hurry.

Zhu Yuanzhang had stood up. There was ecstasy in his eyes, but then there was also a hint of rage.

This mixture of joy and anger made Li Shanchang and others tremble with fear.

It won't be long before the transcript and the report from the Yiluansi are delivered immediately.

Zhu Yuanzhang almost snatched it away, and then began to read it carefully against the transcript.

He should have asked suddenly, "This rebel confessed clearly that there were two places where the treasure was hidden. Among them... the Watergate Warehouse had more, and Deng Qianqiu had less. This should be correct, right?"

Upon hearing this, he suddenly understood something and said hurriedly, "That should be the case."

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp, and asked, "Where is Zhou Hong?"

"I heard... they should still be at the Water Gate... at the Yiluansi. Although the treasures have been counted, they still need to be sealed and escorted to the inner court..."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled grimly, "Really? Quickly summon Deng Qianqiu to come and ask him to appoint the troops from the Guard. Yes, yes, and summon Tang He to come with a team of troops from the Guard!"

(End of this chapter)