For Emperor Hongwu, Mu Ying and Mu Chun are definitely better than each other, whether in terms of feelings or timing and interests.
Emperor Hongwu adopted more than twenty adopted sons, and trained them in different directions according to their talents. For example, Mao Xiang was raised to be a death warrior, bodyguard and scout, and was good at single combat; Mu Ying followed the path of famous generals, learning military tactics, and deploying troops, which required stricter requirements.
Other adopted sons and daughters are not mentioned for now, and only Mao Xiang and Mu Ying are still alive. This practice of adopting adopted sons and daughters is especially common in troubled times, when orphans seek support and tyrants seek reliable talents, just like Empress Xiaoci and Consort Chengmu Sun, who were adopted daughters to win over their subordinates.
But in troubled times, the winner is the king, and most of the adopted sons and daughters are not worthy of a name, and are buried in the dust of history.
When it came to Mu Chun, the Ming Dynasty was just beginning to be established. Emperor Hongwu felt guilty about his random matchmaking and raised him almost as a pet. On the surface, it seemed that Emperor Hongwu always favored Mu Chun over Mu Ying, but in fact, Emperor Hongwu loved Mu Ying even more, because he had trained him and gave him generous rewards.
This is the difference between a pet and a helper. Mu Chun is considered an outstanding general of the young generation, but his achievements and contributions to the Ming Dynasty are not even a fraction of those of his father Mu Ying.
Mu Chun had always been favored by Emperor Hongwu because no matter how much he hated his father, he would still give face to Mu Ying in public. Just like when he first became famous in the military competition, he competed with Mu Ying in archery. Although Mu Ying was inferior in archery, he used a trick to shoot down the arrow left by Mu Ying on the target and won. However, he did not shoot down all of his father's arrows. As long as he narrowly beat his father in score, he would stop.
Under the pressure of feudal ethics, no one could challenge the bottom line of filial piety, not Mu Chun, not even Emperor Hongwu and Empress Xiaoci. Guo Zixing adopted Empress Xiaoci, which was merely a favor of raising him. No matter how much Emperor Hongwu feared the Guo family, he still conferred the title of Concubine Hui on Guo, erected a monument for Guo Zixing, and sent King Shu Zhu Chun to Xuzhou every year to worship his grandfather.
The day Mu Chun dared to openly disobey Mu Ying, that was the day he fell out of favor with Emperor Hongwu. Mu Chun was very clear about this, so he would rather draw his sword and cut himself than lose his mind and stab Mu Ying.
Because of Mu Chun's action, Emperor Hongwu asked Mu Ying to take a step back and not to push too hard. Compared with the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Tan, who dared to attack the Xiaoling Mausoleum, which was such an unfilial act, Mu Chun was simply a little angel.
Mu Ying was far away in the southwest and had no idea about this great royal scandal. He just felt that Emperor Hongwu looked much older when he returned this time and thought it was because of the death of Empress Xiaoci.
Mu Ying had to comfort Emperor Hongwu, "Your Majesty is busy with all kinds of affairs, and you still have to worry about my household affairs. It's all because of my incompetence in managing the household. In the future, I will try my best to control my temper and will not be irritated by Mu Chun to the point of losing my mind. There will be no result from arguing all the time, and it will only cause trouble."
The reconciliation between father and son was one of Empress Xiaoci's last wishes. Seeing that Mu Ying had surrendered, Emperor Hongwu was very pleased. "He is the crown prince and will inherit the title in the future. The prestige of the Mu family will also depend on him. Just like the crown prince of the Eastern Palace, I also have many dissatisfactions with him. I have beaten him, scolded him, and starved him, but I built my kingdom for him, so I still give him face in public."
Mu Ying cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty is right. I will remember what you said."
The two old fathers, both of whom were quite unsuccessful as fathers, had very limited parenting experience to share. They felt guilty about praising each other, so they had to quickly change the subject to national affairs.
Mu Ying said, "The southwest is rich in resources, but the land is vast and sparsely populated. The local natives speak many languages, so communication is difficult. The people are fierce and fight on their own. If they disagree, they will take up arms and fight with their entire clan. They can kill each other for thousands of years just for a river. They don't even know that there is a government mediation and justice. People always die. Young and middle-aged people die in meaningless fights. In the past few years, I have roughly counted the number of people by imitating the household registration system of the Ming Dynasty. In such a large place like Yunnan, the population is only two million."
"I have cultivated land in the area and tried to grow grain from the Central Plains. I can basically guarantee military rations and be self-sufficient. This shows how suitable the local land and climate are."
"It is said that it takes ten years to grow a tree and a hundred years to educate a person. It takes several generations of effort to educate the local people and make them understand civilization. Moreover, there are many local officials. Some stubborn and power-hungry officials always want to cede land and become kings. They rebel all year round and refuse to obey the rule of the Ming Dynasty. I, a humble official, have to take care of protecting the border at the same time. I am exhausted all year round, but I am still unable to do it."
"I have an idea. The Central Plains has a large population and little land. Many farmers are tenants and do not have their own land. The Southwest has a small population and a lot of land. The two complement each other. Not only can we solve the problem of food, but immigration can also promote cultural integration and stability in the southwestern border. After all, these Central Plains immigrants speak the same language and obey the jurisdiction of the court. They can be placed in various places like nails, which can effectively deter the rebellion of the natives."
Mu Ying had been stationed in the southwest for five years. He knew the actual local conditions best and the suggestions he put forward were practical.
Emperor Hongwu nodded in agreement. "Short-term peace is useless. Long-term peace is the hard truth. Madam Shexiang and Madam Mingde built the road and opened the Longchang Nine Posthouses. They also wanted to let the local natives go out. People from the Central Plains can come in, eat well, make money, and taste the benefits of peace and enlightenment. Then we will win the hearts of the people, and this precious land in the southwest can truly belong to the Ming Dynasty. I agree. How many immigrants do you want?"
Mu Ying stretched out a finger.
Emperor Hongwu: "Ten thousand people?"
Mu Ying shook his head.
Emperor Hongwu: "One hundred thousand?"
Mu Ying still shook his head, "Your Majesty, there are two million natives in Yunnan. We need at least one million immigrants from the Central Plains to control this precious land. The local people are fierce and tough. If the number of immigrants is small, it will be like sending our heads to be robbed and taken as slaves. If the immigrants cannot survive and spread out, changing the local population structure, we will have worked in vain and lost both the lady and the army."
Emperor Hongwu hesitated: "The total population of the Ming Dynasty is only more than 50 million. If one million people immigrate there, they will need resettlement expenses and food. Yunnan is a long way away and the roads are difficult to travel. The immigrants will not be able to produce food for at least two years. This means that the country has to support one million people for two full years. If you calculate how much money this will cost, you will force the Minister of Revenue to hang himself."
The Minister of Revenue, Ru Taisu: He is so crazy about asking for money.
Mu Ying said, "Immigration costs money, but fighting doesn't cost money? Doesn't the family pension cost money? Besides, these two items only cost money, but there is no return. But immigrants are different. The emperor will support them for two years, and they will stabilize the local situation, and the taxes they pay in the future will be returned to the treasury. The emperor should treat immigration as planting trees. First tighten your belt and work hard for two years, and then you can enjoy the fruits of your labor."
Emperor Hongwu made a calculation in his mind and felt that what Mu Ying said made sense. He thought that it was impossible to conquer the southwestern border by force alone, and he needed to use the human wave tactic instead. In the long run, the human wave tactic was the cheapest and safest.
Emperor Hongwu said, "I agree." He then said with emotion, "If you had used the eloquence you used to persuade me on Muchun, last night would not have ended in such a mess."
Mu Ying said frankly: "I don't know why, but as soon as Mu Chun opens his mouth, all the blood in my body rushes to my head and I can't stay calm. Sometimes I feel that sooner or later I will be irritated by him and have a cerebral hemorrhage."
Emperor Hongwu felt the same way, "Children are all debts."
Mu Ying said: "In addition to this one million people, I dare to ask the emperor for one more person."
Emperor Hongwu: "Who?"
"My son Muchun."
Emperor Hongwu remained silent. Mu Chun was the eldest son of Marquis Xiping. According to the old rules, when a general was away fighting in a battlefield, his wife and children had to stay in Beijing, especially the heir.
As Mu Ying spoke, he began to take off his clothes, exposing his upper body which was covered with scars. Scars were the medals of a soldier. Emperor Hongwu saw a new, horrible, centipede-like scar on his adopted son's waist. Mu Ying had a strong body, but his sternum seemed a little asymmetrical on his eight-pack abs.
Mu Ying said, "I am missing a rib on my left side. When I was fighting the Burmese army, a war elephant stepped on my rib and broke it. The broken rib almost pierced my kidney. The military doctor said that I was very lucky and I almost died. So he sawed off the whole rib and sutured the wound. Since then, my waist has been aching every time it rains. I don't know how long I can hold on. The situation in Yunnan is complicated. It's time for Mu Chun to take over the important task of guarding Yunnan. This million-person migration is the first test of his ability."
"Mu Chun is like a sheepdog. If he can protect and settle a million people, then in the future these one million immigrants will obey him and do his bidding. Otherwise, he is young, has a dissolute personality, and refuses to marry a noble lady. Without the support of the powerful Yue family and limited qualifications, how can he win the support of the people in the future? Yunnan will inevitably be in chaos again. If he wins the hearts of a million people, everything will be different."
Mu Ying had spent the first half of his life fighting wars everywhere and had never stayed in one place for so long. The more he understood how precious the land of Yunnan was, the more he wanted to keep it firmly in the pocket of the Ming Dynasty. He developed feelings for Yunnan, just like treating a newborn baby, giving full play to his imagination and depicting its future.
Mu Ying calculated every step accurately: how to develop, how to become strong, and how to maintain peace.
Emperor Hongwu stepped down from the dragon throne and dressed his adopted son himself. "I have approved it. Don't talk nonsense. You are still young. Two years from now will be my sixtieth birthday. By then, Mu Chun will fulfill his duties as a sheepdog and settle the millions of immigrants. You and your son will come to Beijing together to ask for rewards based on your merits. I will confer the title of Duke of Qian on you, and your family will rule Yunnan forever. I will confer the title of the Duke of Qian on you, and no matter who he wants to marry, I will help him. This brat doesn't like you arranging his marriage, so let him earn his own wife."
Mu Ying bowed and said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I have brought my youngest son Mu Xin home this time. Geng is dull and I am afraid she will teach the child badly. I will send him to the palace tomorrow to be a companion to the little princes."
Mu Ying had been prepared. Taking away the crown prince Mu Chun would be against the rules. The Mu family could not be treated specially, and other military families would secretly talk about it. In exchange, he had to keep his youngest son here, so that it would be balanced.
Emperor Hongwu understood the deep meaning of his adopted son and felt even more sorry for Mu Ying. This kid was a failure as a father, but he really put himself in the shoes of the Ming Dynasty and was not selfish at all.
Emperor Hongwu and Mu Ying finalized all matters concerning the country and their children. The injured Mu Chun was looking for Hu Shanwei for comfort and care.
Mu Chun talked for the whole morning, with a lot of bitterness in his heart, like the endless flow of the Yangtze River, and it seemed that he could never finish talking. In the end, he ended with a cliché: "Tell me, what sin did I commit in my previous life to have such a father?"
Without waiting for Hu Shanwei to reply, Mu Chun asked himself and answered, "He must have committed murder and arson, and all kinds of evil."
Filial piety is unsolvable, and Mu Chun just needs someone to listen to her. Hu Shanwei also faces a similar problem, but she can isolate her father and the pressure to get married outside the palace walls by taking the examination for female officials.
It was not until noon that Mu Chun finished pouring out his grievances. Hu Shanwei expressed his sympathy and wanted to comfort him, "Your name is Mu Chun, and your courtesy name is Jingchun. Your courtesy name was given to you by Empress Xiaoci. Do you know where the name 'Jingchun' comes from?"
When it comes to military and folk songs, Muchun may be a natural king, but when it comes to poetry, he is a semi-illiterate sheepdog.
Mu Chun felt aggrieved: "Sister Shanwei, even you bully me."
Hu Shanwei said: "It comes from an article by Fan Zhongyan, 'When spring is warm and the scenery is bright, the waves are calm, and the sky is blue and boundless', which all describe the beautiful scenery of the world. Empress Xiaoci gave you the name 'Jingchun', hoping that you will have a happy life. There is also a corresponding sentence in the article, 'When the rain is heavy, the moon does not come out, the wind is howling, the waves are surging, the sun and stars are hidden, and the mountains are hidden', which all describe the desolate scenes of the world."
"In a person's life, there are times of spring and sunshine, and there are times of heavy rain and drizzle. You are like this, and so am I. You were born unfortunate, your father dislikes you, and your uncle doesn't love you, but you have the protection of Empress Xiaoci, and since you joined the army, you have gained loyal and talented generals like Shi Qianhu and Chen Xuan. I lost my mother when I was young, and I was a widow when I was a girl. I lost the favor of my father and was abused by my stepmother, but I also met Empress Xiaoci, who taught me how to survive in the palace. I also had outstanding women like Ru Siyao and Shen Jiaoxi serve in the court with me, which broadened my horizons."
"And you." Hu Shanwei stopped and said, "Meeting you makes me happy."
Mu Chun was very moved and said, "Me too—"
"Lord Mu!" Captain Shi rode over and interrupted Mu Chun again, "The Emperor summons Lord Mu to the palace."
The next morning, Emperor Hongwu announced a plan to relocate one million people to the country, with Mu Chun, the son of Marquis Xiping, in charge of settling the immigrants. The whole court was shocked, but no one could shake Emperor Hongwu's determination.
After three years of living together, they parted at Xiaoling Mausoleum.
At this time, Hu Shanwei no longer had the sadness of parting as he did in the past. He was still in love with his wife. "You are a guard in the imperial army. You are more than that. You were a hostage before. You had no choice but to leave. Now a great opportunity is in front of you. It is related to Yunnan's long-term plan and will benefit the people. You have left your name in my heart. Next, you should leave your name in the history. Grow your shell well, and you will not be afraid of slander and defamation from others, even if that person is your father."
Muchun also knows the gap between himself and his father. If he wants to surpass his father, he must make achievements that his father cannot ignore. Otherwise, it will be useless to cut his arm a hundred times. If he hurts himself a thousand times, he will hurt the enemy (father) zero.
Mu Chun swore to the tablet of Empress Xiaoci: "Within two years, I will definitely settle down the millions of immigrants, and then return to the capital to find you. I swear that I will never let my country down and never let you down in this life."
The author has something to say: Mu Ying immigrated 1.2 million people, and later when Mu Chun inherited the title, he asked 300,000 artisans to immigrate to Yunnan and started skilled immigration. The father and son used simple and crude methods to change the population ratio of Yunnan.
There is a question tonight that will give out 100 bonus points to the first reader who answers it correctly.
Pay attention, students. This is a text that you need to memorize in its entirety in junior high school, so there are no alternative options.
May I ask, does Muchun’s courtesy name, “Jingchun”, which means spring and bright, come from which article by Fan Zhongyan