Cao Guogong's Mansion is located in the southeast corner of Yingtian Mansion in the capital. It is a majestic deep mansion.
An unattainable snow-white wall winds around it, and through the black stone tiles on the top of the wall, the pavilions and pavilions inside can be vaguely seen. The main entrance is a row of four vermilion animal-headed gates, with two huge stone lions squatting on them. The plaque on the gate has six golden characters "Edict to build Duke Cao's Mansion" shining brightly. This mansion was built by Emperor Hongwu in the early years of his reign for the late Duke of Cao, Li Wenzhong. It has been thirty years since then.
Li Wenzhong was the emperor's nephew, that is, Li Wenzhong's mother was Zhu Yuanzhang's sister, and was named the eldest princess of the state of Cao. When Zhu Yuanzhang was a child, his family was poor and he often stayed at his sister's house for meals. He was less than ten years older than Li Wenzhong. The uncle and nephew were often together and their relationship was quite good. Li Wenzhong made great achievements during Zhu Yuanzhang's campaign, including defeating Zhao Pusheng and Zhang Shicheng, recruiting Wang Han to surrender, Xie Wu, etc. After Zhu Yuanzhang ascended the throne, Li Wenzhong conquered the Northern Yuan Dynasty, drove away Emperor Yuan Shun, and captured Mongolian Pingzhang Liu Tiemu, Zhu Zhen, Taishi Manzi Ha Cizhang and others. Until his death due to illness in the seventeenth year of Hongwu, Li Wenzhong had been traveling around to fight and perform meritorious services. He died at the age of forty-seven. Zhu Yuanzhang was very sad and wrote a memorial in person. He posthumously named Li Wenzhong the King of Qiyang. His portrait was hung in the Temple of Heroes, ranking third after Xu Da and Chang Yuchun.
At this time, it had been more than ten years since Li Wenzhong passed away, and Cao Guogong's mansion was still majestic. Zhu Yuanzhang was also a holy family member of Li Jinglong, the current Cao Guogong. Although there are no battles, he is usually in charge of the personal troops and often conducts military training and so on. Li Jinglong was a very decent and careful person. Not only was he respectful and filial to Zhu Yuanzhang, but he was also humble and courteous to Zhu Yunwen, Concubine Sun in the palace, and even Princess Ningguo. Everyone in the court disliked Duke Cao Guo.
It was a rare sunny afternoon on this day. Although the winter sunshine was a little weak, it was very warm. Li Jinglong wore an old robe and came to the school grounds to watch a group of guards practicing martial arts. The sound of killings on the school grounds was loud, and the guards were practicing lively. Seeing Li Jinglong coming, they were practicing even more vigorously. Their swords, guns, axes and axes were flying around the school grounds in a lively manner.
Li Jinglong sat down on the stone bench on the sidelines and watched the guards practice. Feeling a little itchy, he stood up and moved his hands and feet. The deputy general Li Ping beside him asked: "Master, do you want to go down and do some exercise?"
Li Jinglong smiled and said: "Okay! Bring me my spear."
Li Ping quickly asked a few tooth generals to carry Li Jinglong's spear, which was very heavy. Li Jinglong learned his marksmanship from Li Wenzhong, and the gun was the one Li Wenzhong used. It was so big and heavy that ordinary people couldn't even lift it.
Li Jinglong stepped forward, picked it up, danced like a gun and jumped into the field. The surrounding guards and generals stopped their training and formed a circle to watch the master dance with his spear.
Li Jinglong has been practicing marksmanship since he was a child, and he has been raped for thirty years, which is indeed no small matter. The spear seems to be on the arm, its thorns are sharp and chopping, and the action is exquisite; it moves forward and backward like flying. For a moment, Li Jinglong got excited about dancing, and his gun followed the person and became one with the person. However, seeing the silver light shining, he couldn't tell which was the person and which was the gun. The guards and generals cheered in unison.
Li Jinglong put away his gun, his face was not red and he was out of breath. He smiled and looked around and was about to speak, but he saw Li Ping pointing at the outside of the school grounds and making gestures. Li Jinglong took advantage of the situation and looked out. It was Huang Zicheng standing outside the court, extending his thumb and saying silently with a smile, "What a good shot!". Li Jinglong smiled and hurriedly greeted him.
Huang Zicheng greeted Li Jinglong and saluted: "Mr. Cao Guo! His marksmanship is amazing! What a great skill!"
Li Jinglong said modestly: "Master Huang, thank you for the award. How long have you been here? Why didn't you give me an order?"
Huang Zicheng and Li Jinglong had always been on good terms, and they often visited Cao Guogong's mansion. He smiled and said, "I've been here so many times. It's rare to see Cao Guogong dancing with his spear. I was fascinated by it for a moment."
Li Jinglong asked: "Master Huang, are you coming from the East Palace?"
Huang Zicheng smiled and said: "Yes, I just finished handling the memorial in hand with His Highness, so I stopped by." He looked at Li Jinglong and added: "Nothing, I miss the good wine in the house."
Li Jinglong laughed and said, "Mr. Huang is so refreshing! Okay, let's have a drink."
While chatting and joking, the two walked through the corridor and walked slowly to the side hall. The layout of Cao Guogong's mansion is very particular. There is a small side hall. Looking out the window are trees, mountains and rocks, creating a unique scene. The inside is also exquisite and unique. Hanging on the wall is a poem with silver letters inlaid with ebony couplets, which goes like "The branches are low under the weight of snow. Although they are too low to touch the mud, they are still aligned with the sky when the red sun rises." Below is a line of small characters: "Jiayin and Wenzhong drank in Yuan Dynasty." "Zhang saw Xuezhu drunkenly writing", it turned out to be the emperor's writing. When Huang Zicheng saw him, he quickly bowed before sitting down. At this time, the wine and food have been placed, and the table is full of wine and food, and the aroma is fragrant.
Li Jinglong personally poured a glass of wine for Huang Zicheng and said with a smile: "It's a coincidence that Mr. Huang is here today. This wine was just delivered from his hometown in Xuyi. It just arrived today. The black vegetables were also delivered together. Mr. Huang has a try." .
Huang Zicheng was not polite. He drank a glass of wine and ate some food, and praised: "Good wine! Good food!"
You must know that the salary of officials during the Hongwu period was very low. If they relied solely on their salary, they would only have enough food and clothing, and they would not be able to drink and eat meat regularly. Only those with titles and fiefs could live a wealthy and luxurious life relying on land income. So when Huang Zicheng said he came to have a drink, it was true.
Li Jinglong diligently persuaded the guests to drink and serve food, and the two drank one glass after another. Huang Zicheng's face gradually turned red and he began to talk more.
Huang Zicheng smiled and said: "Mr. Cao Guo! When I saw you dancing with the spear today, it reminded me of King Qiyang. Is your style the same?" Li Wenzhong had already passed away when Huang Zicheng became a Jinshi, and he had never seen him. Huang Zicheng often regretted this in his life. .
Li Jinglong was also a little drunk and said with a smile: "What's the comparison? My late father's shooting skills are so unapproachable. When I was a child, I took a basin of water and threw it at my late father while he was dancing with the gun. It was really impossible to throw it at him." Come in, it’s just a water circle on the ground, a neat circle."
Huang Zicheng was fascinated by what he heard: "Xiaguan grew up in poverty and studied hard. My father often encouraged us with stories about the founding fathers. King Qiyang's military exploits were really amazing."
Li Jinglong held up the wine glass and said, "Yes, it's amazing."
Huang Zicheng asked curiously: "Is this shooting technique only passed down to Mr. Li?"
Li Jinglong smiled: "The marksmanship passed down in the family is passed down from son to daughter. My two younger brothers also know it. However, they were still young when my father passed away. I taught them later."
Huang Zicheng raised his thumb and said, "Duke Cao Guo is filial, loyal and loyal. This kind of heart is amazing!"
Li Jinglong was somewhat complacent: "Actually, when leading troops to fight, martial arts and marksmanship are only one aspect, and they are not the decisive factor in winning the battle. As a leader, the formation of military formations and the mountains and valleys in mind are more important. I have followed my father in many expeditions since I was a child. I dare not say it, but I have learned seven or eight points."
Huang Zicheng's beard fluttered: "That's incredible! King Qiyang has been victorious and undefeated for decades. It's amazing for ordinary people to learn one or two points. Master Li has obtained the true biography, but he is a pillar of the Ming Dynasty."
Li Jinglong sighed when he heard this: "This is not necessarily true. Mr. Huang, please remember that when the court talked about going to Shandong to fight Japanese pirates that day, the Holy Master did not choose me."
Huang Zicheng thought for a while: "Japanese pirates are just a minor disease, and the Holy Master probably thinks that they are overqualified for their use."
Li Jinglong smiled bitterly: "Now that the world is at peace, where else can there be any big places?" He raised his glass and took a sip of wine: "In the past few years, I sent several invitations to go to Mongolia to conquer the north. As a result, the Holy Emperor sent King Yan. In the past few years, Northern Xinjiang has been pacified, and the Mongols are nowhere to be found." King Yan and Li Wenzhong were cousins, and they were considered Li Jinglong's cousins.
Huang Zicheng comforted him and said: "The pacification of northern Xinjiang is a good thing and a blessing for our people in the Ming Dynasty."
Li Jinglong smiled bitterly again: "King Yan and I are about the same age. When we were young, we went to Taixue together and studied literature and martial arts together. I'm not bragging. I'm not worse than him in learning. But he has been fighting the Mongols in northern Xinjiang these years, and has established a How much credit?"
This was the first time Huang Zicheng heard about it: "Oh? Duke Cao Guo and King Yan have been together since childhood?"
Li Jinglong said: "Yes, we were young at that time and hung out together every day. But he is a prince, and his life is better than ours when he is older." He raised his glass of wine and said to Huang Zicheng: "Come on, let's not talk about this. , have another drink! This is my destiny, there is nothing I can do about it, the people of King Yan are still very good."
Huang Zicheng drank a glass and said: "Cao Guogong has a sincere heart to serve the Ming Dynasty. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely mention it in front of the Holy Emperor and His Highness."
Li Jinglong cupped his hands and said, "Then I would like to thank Mr. Huang first. But this time Uncle Qi has also wiped out the Japanese pirates. There is really no battle left."
Huang Zicheng said: "That's impossible to say. Like the Shu bandits this time, it just happened suddenly. Although the world is peaceful now, the place is big and the borders are long. There is no guarantee that something will happen again one day."
Li Jinglong asked: "Have all the Shu bandits Changxinghou been pacified this time?" Huang Zicheng said: "They have all been pacified. The bandit leaders were rectified on the spot and their heads were brought back. Although Changxinghou is old, he is not ambiguous."
Li Jinglong laughed.
Huang Zicheng asked a little strangely: "Why are you laughing, Mr. Guo?"
Li Jinglong asked: "Let me ask you, did Marquis Changxing say why he brought his head back?"
Huang Zicheng didn't quite understand and asked, "Isn't it bad to have a head?"
Li Jinglong's tongue was already a little big, and he said with a smile: "Okay, of course. It's best for him, Marquis Changxing. The court can only see the rectification of the bandits, and all the causes and consequences of the battle can only be heard by Marquis Changxing. That's not all. Whatever is what!”
Huang Zicheng was a little surprised: "What does the Duke mean?"
Li Jinglong sighed and said: "My late father once taught me this method when he was still alive. The so-called 'hiding nothing from the superiors', but he repeatedly taught me to be responsible to the emperor and the court. If I go to suppress the Shu bandits this time, I will definitely capture the leader of the bandits alive." Jing, give the court an explanation. You won't be like Marquis Changxing..." He shook his head as he spoke.
Huang Zicheng stayed for a while: "Listening to the Duke's words is really better than studying for ten years. Should I ask a lower official or a higher official to mention this matter?"
Li Jinglong quickly stopped him: "Hey, Marquis Changxing has already received the reward, so why bother to ruin his good deeds again. Mr. Huang knows what he's doing. I only said this after I drank too much today."
Huang Zicheng nodded: "Yes, this is definitely impossible to reverse. The Holy Emperor is quite satisfied with the results of this suppression of the Shu bandits, and His Highness also thinks that the Marquis of Changxing is great."
Li Jinglong gave Huang Zicheng another glass of wine: "His Highness is too young. He doesn't know these things. Mr. Huang is always by His Highness's side. His Highness regards Mr. Huang as his arm. It would be good if Mr. Huang often reminds His Highness."
Huang Zicheng drank a little too much. Secondly, Li Jinglong said these words very touchingly: "Don't worry, Duke Cao! If there is a war in the future, I will definitely recommend him to my subordinates!"
Li Jinglong was a little excited: "Then I would like to thank Mr. Huang first. Li is passionate and only hopes to serve the imperial court." The two drank a glass of wine and laughed in unison.
The days are short in winter, and the sky outside is already completely dark at this time. The night wind is blowing, and there are waves of cold air. The two civil servants and military generals who met their close friends over wine were full of enthusiasm and ambition.
How could the two of them imagine at this time that there would be a war in Ming Dynasty soon? However, Li Jinglong's boasting about looking at the sky from a well and Huang Zicheng's gullibility and misjudgment caused a huge disaster to the empire.