The emperor just returned to Beijing yesterday, and today he gave a banquet in Fengtian Palace to celebrate the meritorious soldiers of the Northern Expedition. The palace was busier than usual.
But at this moment, the queen actually went to the yard south of the Imperial Garden to visit Guo Yan.
The queen exchanged a few greetings in the living room and handed a letter to Guo Yan.
At this time, Guo Yan had just finished reading the contents of the letter.The letter was written by their father, Wuding Hou Guo Ming: Guo Ming asked for an order and sent Guo Yan to Fengyang to live!
Guo Yan knew exactly what it meant once a person in the royal family was sent to Zhongdu.
It will probably be completely abandoned and forgotten by the world and live a secluded life.
Of course, there is a very grand statement that is called etiquette, law and morality.
In an instant, Guo Yan seemed to hear a buzzing sound, and her mind was blank.
After a long time, Guo Yan slowly regained consciousness.
She first vaguely heard the sound of bells and drums in the distance south, which should not be her illusion; as I knew before, there was a celebration banquet in the palace today.
The bell and drum music sounded at this moment, making people feel a sense of trance.Maybe because of the bustle and noisy, it has nothing to do with Guo Yan.
elder sister?My sister's voice came.
Guo Yan moved her eyes away from the letter paper and looked up at the queen.The queen's expression was a little complicated, and she seemed to be difficult to face Guo Yan.
The two sisters looked at each other for a moment, and the queen looked away first, turned her head and waved her hand naturally.The two palace maids standing beside each other immediately bowed their knees and saluted tactfully, turned around and walked out of the living room.
At this time, Guo Yan asked in a daze: There is no banquet in the palace today, why is the queen here?
The queen said: The emperor only invited ministers and meritorious soldiers at the celebration banquet, but did not let the wife attend the banquet, so I didn't have to come forward.The banquet was organized by people from the Honglu Temple, Shangshenjian, Jiaofangsi, and Etiquette Department.
Guo Yan didn't say anything.In order to avoid embarrassment, the queen casually talked about irrelevant things: An Yuan Bo Liu Sheng made great contributions, and today the emperor issued an order to grant him a title of marquis.
Liu Sheng?Guo Yan had heard of this name before. It was originally a general who was loyal to Emperor Hongxi Zhu Gaochi; but she was not familiar with it and didn't care much about it.So she didn't react at all.
The living room became quiet.Guo Yan's fingers squeezed her father's handwritten letter and racked her brains to guess the complicated inside story.
Why was this matter brought up by their father Guo Ming?
Guo Yan guessed: Maybe it was related to the Mu family, it was all because of power!
Rumors Zhu Gaoxu started a military campaign in Yunnan, and Mu Sheng's support played a huge role.
Therefore, after the new emperor ascended the throne, the Mu family's favor was endless, and Mu Sheng was named Duke of Qian.
In order to marry Mu Sheng, the emperor also specially added the title of imperial concubine for Mu Sheng's daughter.
And now that the imperial concubine is pregnant with Liujia, it is possible to give birth to a prince.
The Mu family's family situation has obviously far surpassed the Queen Guo family.
However, the queen is Zhu Gaoxu's first wife and eldest son, and her position is difficult to be shaken. No civil and military officials in the court will agree... unless something happens, the Mu family will find a sufficient reason.
The Guo family must prevent problems before they happen and cannot let the Guo family make any mistakes.And Guo Yan seems to be that hidden danger?!
After the deposed prince's family was burned to death, the palace was afraid that Guo Yan would feel resentful, so it sent two palace maids to monitor her in the yard.My father and sister became more and more restless as a result.
So they should send Guo Yan away as soon as possible to avoid the risk of any extraneous problems?
These are Guo Yan's own thoughts, and she cannot be completely sure.But after so many years in the palace, she has gradually understood a lot of things.
Sister... As soon as Guo Yan opened her mouth, tears suddenly burst out of her eyes. Her emotions were a little out of control. Do you really hate me so much?
The queen's eyes suddenly turned red, she shook her head vigorously, and the beads on her hair shook violently.
The queen choked and said: I took my sister to the palace when I first asked for help from the saint.If it weren't for absolutely no way, I wouldn't want to see my sister sad.
Guo Yan wanted to speak but stopped.Both father and sister chose to give up on her, but their mother Xu was not her own mother.She seemed to feel a chill, and was slowly rising from the soles of her feet.
The queen's voice became very light: Now, no one can change anything. My sister has to think about it with lenient means that she may be able to be purified after leaving the capital.
Is this fate?Guo Yan asked.
The queen did not answer, and the two were silent again.
Guo Yan pondered for a long time, but finally did not beg her sister or blame her again.
After a long time, Guo Yan seemed to calm down a little and said: I want to ask my sister for one thing in the end, can I let me meet the emperor?
The queen looked strange and asked back: Why do you want to meet the emperor?
Guo Yan said: What happened in the middle of last year.
The queen frowned and said: Sister doesn’t believe in the emperor?
Guo Yan shook her head and said: I can't ignore it like this, I just want to ask the emperor in person.This is the last time I begged my sister.
It can be seen that the queen was hesitant, but she had always felt a sense of guilt towards Guo Yan.Guo Yan discovered it very early, but she never said it through.
Is my sister Guo Wei’s guilt because she was always fighting for the toys her sister liked when she was a child?Or when I first chose the Princess of Han, the first candidate was my sister?
Sure enough, the queen hesitated for a while, and finally nodded: I will do my best to arrange this matter.
After hearing this, Guo Yan showed a very reluctant smile on her face.
...In the afternoon, Zhu Gaoxu left the banquet at the Fengtian Hall. He drank a total of five or six cups of wine at the banquet, so he was not drunk.
This kind of formal court banquet is not free. There are rules when drinking, what you say, and what etiquette are used; it is not as interesting as when you usually eat together between the monarch and the minister.
However, this seems to be the priority of the country of etiquette.
There are not many dishes, each table has four dishes and one soup, plus a plate of spring cake and a few cold dishes for wine.Even so, the ministers finally packed the unfinished dishes and took them away.
It is said that since the Tang Dynasty, ministers have had the habit of packing at court banquets.
Zhu Gaoxu speculated that the meaning was probably to demonstrate a concept of attaching importance to clan affection. The ministers who attended the banquet did not forget their parents and children at home.
But he privately believed that the world was untiring about it, probably to share a glory with his family; after all, there were only a few people who could attend the emperor's banquet, and behind it was a political status, power and interests.
Zhu Gaoxu came to Rouyi Hall, and before the alcohol had dissipated, he immediately summoned Qian Xun.
After waiting for nearly half an hour, Qian Xun and two servants, led by eunuch Hou Xian, came to the main hall of Rouyi Hall.
After a few people bowed, the servants presented two long pieces of things wrapped in silk cloth and carefully placed them on the large desk in the center of the hall.
Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and reached out to untie the silk cloth.In front of him, a long musket appeared a bit like a rifle.
Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up!
Although he knew that this thing was still a smoothbore musket ignited with black gunpowder and lead bullets as ammunition and fuse; in an instant, he was also attracted by its exquisite craftsmanship.
Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but stretch out his hand and stroked the smooth iron tube with a metallic luster, as if he was full of emotion and stroking a woman's skin.
Even on the wooden support, there are fine auspicious cloud patterns carved, which look precious and stylish.
This musket immediately made him feel joy.
He looked up at Qian Xun and thought to himself: I will give you 200 million yuan a year, but it seems that it has not been spent.
Please come closer.Qian Xun bowed and said.
Zhu Gaoxu nodded.
Qian Xun walked to the table and pointed at the musket: The emperor clarified that there are threads at the tail of this iron pipe. When you need to clean the residue of the gun pipe, you just need to unscrew the threads and clean them with a strip.The middle of the iron pipe is riveted and fixed with a copper hoop. After using it for a while, the craftsman must pry open the copper hoop for thorough cleaning and then re-rive.It is also inconvenient for sergeants to use muskets, because muskets are too long and require two brackets...
Qian Xun talked about his achievements very carefully.Zhu Gaoxu also listened patiently and nodded from time to time.
Even if it was just the technology of the Ming Dynasty, including shipbuilding, star-shaking positioning, and firearm manufacturing, it exceeded Zhu Gaoxu's knowledge; he had indeed seen more advanced things in later generations, but he had only seen them and could not fully understand how to make something from the smallest parts.
Zhu Gaoxu kept asking some questions.
He does not have to make these things himself, but he must understand its power, strengths, weaknesses, costs, usage methods and other specific information; so that he can consider feasibility when formulating a court strategy.
After Qian Xun reported the report, Zhu Gaoxu said again: The troubles of repairing and cleaning up muskets are not necessarily a disadvantage.Those forces without towns, such as Tatars, will be restricted and unable to use this object.
After hearing this, Qian Xun was stunned for a moment, clasped his fists and bowed: The wisest emperor!
Zhu Gaoxu asked: Who made this musket?
Qian Xundao: When returning to the emperor, the officials from the South Bureau and the Iron Factory chose many craftsmen to try repeatedly; the gun body, tail, and riveting were all done by different people.
After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a moment, looked up at the spring scenery outside the hall gate, and suddenly remembered the little song that the soldiers sang in Mobei.
He said: I gave this gun a name, how about "Chun Han"?
Qian Xun clasped his fists without thinking: The name given by the emperor is very appropriate.
Zhu Gaoxu also asked Qian Xun to arrange manpower, and a few days later, he went to the personal military academy field outside Xuanwu Gate to test the gun.
The Iron Factory repeatedly tested the reliability of the new muskets, and then sent people to various bureaus in Zhili to produce them in large quantities to take the lead in equipping the Beijing Camp.
At this time, Zhu Gaoxu was also planning to prepare an academy, so that those officials who were proficient in craftsmanship would work in the academy to collect and organize technical books on navigation, farming, firearms, and iron smelting in the world.
What he values is obviously different from the ancient emperors.
But at this moment, the queen actually went to the yard south of the Imperial Garden to visit Guo Yan.
The queen exchanged a few greetings in the living room and handed a letter to Guo Yan.
At this time, Guo Yan had just finished reading the contents of the letter.The letter was written by their father, Wuding Hou Guo Ming: Guo Ming asked for an order and sent Guo Yan to Fengyang to live!
Guo Yan knew exactly what it meant once a person in the royal family was sent to Zhongdu.
It will probably be completely abandoned and forgotten by the world and live a secluded life.
Of course, there is a very grand statement that is called etiquette, law and morality.
In an instant, Guo Yan seemed to hear a buzzing sound, and her mind was blank.
After a long time, Guo Yan slowly regained consciousness.
She first vaguely heard the sound of bells and drums in the distance south, which should not be her illusion; as I knew before, there was a celebration banquet in the palace today.
The bell and drum music sounded at this moment, making people feel a sense of trance.Maybe because of the bustle and noisy, it has nothing to do with Guo Yan.
elder sister?My sister's voice came.
Guo Yan moved her eyes away from the letter paper and looked up at the queen.The queen's expression was a little complicated, and she seemed to be difficult to face Guo Yan.
The two sisters looked at each other for a moment, and the queen looked away first, turned her head and waved her hand naturally.The two palace maids standing beside each other immediately bowed their knees and saluted tactfully, turned around and walked out of the living room.
At this time, Guo Yan asked in a daze: There is no banquet in the palace today, why is the queen here?
The queen said: The emperor only invited ministers and meritorious soldiers at the celebration banquet, but did not let the wife attend the banquet, so I didn't have to come forward.The banquet was organized by people from the Honglu Temple, Shangshenjian, Jiaofangsi, and Etiquette Department.
Guo Yan didn't say anything.In order to avoid embarrassment, the queen casually talked about irrelevant things: An Yuan Bo Liu Sheng made great contributions, and today the emperor issued an order to grant him a title of marquis.
Liu Sheng?Guo Yan had heard of this name before. It was originally a general who was loyal to Emperor Hongxi Zhu Gaochi; but she was not familiar with it and didn't care much about it.So she didn't react at all.
The living room became quiet.Guo Yan's fingers squeezed her father's handwritten letter and racked her brains to guess the complicated inside story.
Why was this matter brought up by their father Guo Ming?
Guo Yan guessed: Maybe it was related to the Mu family, it was all because of power!
Rumors Zhu Gaoxu started a military campaign in Yunnan, and Mu Sheng's support played a huge role.
Therefore, after the new emperor ascended the throne, the Mu family's favor was endless, and Mu Sheng was named Duke of Qian.
In order to marry Mu Sheng, the emperor also specially added the title of imperial concubine for Mu Sheng's daughter.
And now that the imperial concubine is pregnant with Liujia, it is possible to give birth to a prince.
The Mu family's family situation has obviously far surpassed the Queen Guo family.
However, the queen is Zhu Gaoxu's first wife and eldest son, and her position is difficult to be shaken. No civil and military officials in the court will agree... unless something happens, the Mu family will find a sufficient reason.
The Guo family must prevent problems before they happen and cannot let the Guo family make any mistakes.And Guo Yan seems to be that hidden danger?!
After the deposed prince's family was burned to death, the palace was afraid that Guo Yan would feel resentful, so it sent two palace maids to monitor her in the yard.My father and sister became more and more restless as a result.
So they should send Guo Yan away as soon as possible to avoid the risk of any extraneous problems?
These are Guo Yan's own thoughts, and she cannot be completely sure.But after so many years in the palace, she has gradually understood a lot of things.
Sister... As soon as Guo Yan opened her mouth, tears suddenly burst out of her eyes. Her emotions were a little out of control. Do you really hate me so much?
The queen's eyes suddenly turned red, she shook her head vigorously, and the beads on her hair shook violently.
The queen choked and said: I took my sister to the palace when I first asked for help from the saint.If it weren't for absolutely no way, I wouldn't want to see my sister sad.
Guo Yan wanted to speak but stopped.Both father and sister chose to give up on her, but their mother Xu was not her own mother.She seemed to feel a chill, and was slowly rising from the soles of her feet.
The queen's voice became very light: Now, no one can change anything. My sister has to think about it with lenient means that she may be able to be purified after leaving the capital.
Is this fate?Guo Yan asked.
The queen did not answer, and the two were silent again.
Guo Yan pondered for a long time, but finally did not beg her sister or blame her again.
After a long time, Guo Yan seemed to calm down a little and said: I want to ask my sister for one thing in the end, can I let me meet the emperor?
The queen looked strange and asked back: Why do you want to meet the emperor?
Guo Yan said: What happened in the middle of last year.
The queen frowned and said: Sister doesn’t believe in the emperor?
Guo Yan shook her head and said: I can't ignore it like this, I just want to ask the emperor in person.This is the last time I begged my sister.
It can be seen that the queen was hesitant, but she had always felt a sense of guilt towards Guo Yan.Guo Yan discovered it very early, but she never said it through.
Is my sister Guo Wei’s guilt because she was always fighting for the toys her sister liked when she was a child?Or when I first chose the Princess of Han, the first candidate was my sister?
Sure enough, the queen hesitated for a while, and finally nodded: I will do my best to arrange this matter.
After hearing this, Guo Yan showed a very reluctant smile on her face.
...In the afternoon, Zhu Gaoxu left the banquet at the Fengtian Hall. He drank a total of five or six cups of wine at the banquet, so he was not drunk.
This kind of formal court banquet is not free. There are rules when drinking, what you say, and what etiquette are used; it is not as interesting as when you usually eat together between the monarch and the minister.
However, this seems to be the priority of the country of etiquette.
There are not many dishes, each table has four dishes and one soup, plus a plate of spring cake and a few cold dishes for wine.Even so, the ministers finally packed the unfinished dishes and took them away.
It is said that since the Tang Dynasty, ministers have had the habit of packing at court banquets.
Zhu Gaoxu speculated that the meaning was probably to demonstrate a concept of attaching importance to clan affection. The ministers who attended the banquet did not forget their parents and children at home.
But he privately believed that the world was untiring about it, probably to share a glory with his family; after all, there were only a few people who could attend the emperor's banquet, and behind it was a political status, power and interests.
Zhu Gaoxu came to Rouyi Hall, and before the alcohol had dissipated, he immediately summoned Qian Xun.
After waiting for nearly half an hour, Qian Xun and two servants, led by eunuch Hou Xian, came to the main hall of Rouyi Hall.
After a few people bowed, the servants presented two long pieces of things wrapped in silk cloth and carefully placed them on the large desk in the center of the hall.
Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and reached out to untie the silk cloth.In front of him, a long musket appeared a bit like a rifle.
Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up!
Although he knew that this thing was still a smoothbore musket ignited with black gunpowder and lead bullets as ammunition and fuse; in an instant, he was also attracted by its exquisite craftsmanship.
Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but stretch out his hand and stroked the smooth iron tube with a metallic luster, as if he was full of emotion and stroking a woman's skin.
Even on the wooden support, there are fine auspicious cloud patterns carved, which look precious and stylish.
This musket immediately made him feel joy.
He looked up at Qian Xun and thought to himself: I will give you 200 million yuan a year, but it seems that it has not been spent.
Please come closer.Qian Xun bowed and said.
Zhu Gaoxu nodded.
Qian Xun walked to the table and pointed at the musket: The emperor clarified that there are threads at the tail of this iron pipe. When you need to clean the residue of the gun pipe, you just need to unscrew the threads and clean them with a strip.The middle of the iron pipe is riveted and fixed with a copper hoop. After using it for a while, the craftsman must pry open the copper hoop for thorough cleaning and then re-rive.It is also inconvenient for sergeants to use muskets, because muskets are too long and require two brackets...
Qian Xun talked about his achievements very carefully.Zhu Gaoxu also listened patiently and nodded from time to time.
Even if it was just the technology of the Ming Dynasty, including shipbuilding, star-shaking positioning, and firearm manufacturing, it exceeded Zhu Gaoxu's knowledge; he had indeed seen more advanced things in later generations, but he had only seen them and could not fully understand how to make something from the smallest parts.
Zhu Gaoxu kept asking some questions.
He does not have to make these things himself, but he must understand its power, strengths, weaknesses, costs, usage methods and other specific information; so that he can consider feasibility when formulating a court strategy.
After Qian Xun reported the report, Zhu Gaoxu said again: The troubles of repairing and cleaning up muskets are not necessarily a disadvantage.Those forces without towns, such as Tatars, will be restricted and unable to use this object.
After hearing this, Qian Xun was stunned for a moment, clasped his fists and bowed: The wisest emperor!
Zhu Gaoxu asked: Who made this musket?
Qian Xundao: When returning to the emperor, the officials from the South Bureau and the Iron Factory chose many craftsmen to try repeatedly; the gun body, tail, and riveting were all done by different people.
After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a moment, looked up at the spring scenery outside the hall gate, and suddenly remembered the little song that the soldiers sang in Mobei.
He said: I gave this gun a name, how about "Chun Han"?
Qian Xun clasped his fists without thinking: The name given by the emperor is very appropriate.
Zhu Gaoxu also asked Qian Xun to arrange manpower, and a few days later, he went to the personal military academy field outside Xuanwu Gate to test the gun.
The Iron Factory repeatedly tested the reliability of the new muskets, and then sent people to various bureaus in Zhili to produce them in large quantities to take the lead in equipping the Beijing Camp.
At this time, Zhu Gaoxu was also planning to prepare an academy, so that those officials who were proficient in craftsmanship would work in the academy to collect and organize technical books on navigation, farming, firearms, and iron smelting in the world.
What he values is obviously different from the ancient emperors.
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