Since entering the palace, Hu Shanwei's perception of women has been repeatedly changed. It turns out that women are not born to take care of their husbands and children, and pin all their hopes for happiness on their husbands and sons. The only things in their minds are jewelry, clothes, needles and thread, daily necessities, and love affairs.
Women can be officials and have careers; they can make rules and implement systems; they can be doctors, save lives and demonstrate their medical skills; they can write and display their literary talent; they can learn from the ancients to drill holes in the wall to steal light, study hard and strive for progress; they can wield swords and mount horses, be brave and resourceful, and be as good as men.
She gradually got to know the most outstanding women in the Ming Empire and became proud of them. Her ambition was growing, and she hoped to learn their strengths, join them, and win a place in the empire.
The Princess of Yan shocked her the most. Her heroic figure riding a horse made Hu Shanwei yearn for her infinitely. Learning martial arts and having a good body are also advantages. For this reason, Hu Shanwei picked up the simple self-defense techniques that her fiancé had taught her to strengthen her body, such as the Five Animals Exercises, and practiced them morning and night.
When she got up early in the morning to practice boxing, Mu Chun, who had just entered the palace to change guard, brought her a military stick - this was what Hu Shanwei asked him for help yesterday.
Hu Shanwei carried the stick on his back and made a beautiful opening move.
Mu Chun teased: "Your stick has no strength, it's just for show, it's just the most common military stick, used by the army to teach the new soldiers who have just joined the barracks."
Hu Shanwei swung his stick seriously. "What you learn can be put to use sooner or later. When I was in hiding, didn't I use the door bolt to drive away the chief eunuch in charge of the Yanxi Palace?"
Mu Chun didn't like Hu Shanwei practicing these things, for no other reason than that these were all taught by her fiancé. He also didn't know why, but when he thought of that man teaching her step by step and correcting Sister Shanwei's posture again and again, he felt very uncomfortable!
So Mu Chun poured cold water on him again, "Don't underestimate the Princess of Yan. She is the daughter of a general and the eldest daughter of the family. Her education is different from others. She started practicing martial arts at the age of three or four, and practiced archery at the age of five. Her father, Xu Da, the Duke of Wei, taught her all by herself. Her riding and archery skills are enough to compete with the warlike Prince of Yan. You, on the other hand, were born as a copyist and hold a pen. You have no foundation in martial arts. If you practice randomly, you will easily hurt yourself..."
While Mu Chun was chattering, Hu Shanwei practiced a set of stick techniques. Due to the distraction, he almost dropped the stick when he was swinging it continuously. Once again, he felt that Mu Chun was the cutest when he kept his mouth shut.
Hu Shanwei deliberately changed the subject, "Did your father and uncle cause you any trouble these days after you returned to Beijing?"
The previous celebration banquet turned into a Hongmen Banquet, and Mu Ying's uncle Feng Cheng beat him into a pig's head, causing an uproar in the city.
Mu Chun smiled and said, "After I return to the capital, I will sleep in the duty room in the palace when I am on duty, and live with the tomb keeper in the memorial house near my mother's tomb in Zhongshan. My mother is watching over me in the field, and my uncle and father will not cause me any trouble..."
The imperial mausoleum chosen by Emperor Hongwu for himself is located in Zhongshan and is under construction. In order to show his imperial grace, Emperor Hongwu granted the Feng Shui treasure land near Zhongshan to various founding heroes as ancestral tombs, so that they could serve as monarchs and ministers for generations.
Being buried in Zhongshan is a great honor.
Muchun's mother, Feng, was buried there. There were sacrificial fields and sacrificial houses near the cemetery, and a family of tomb keepers was employed. Muchun lived in the main house, where he had a quiet life and a reputation for being filial.
It should be noted that Mu Chun had only the bad reputation of being a devil before, but now he has become a filial son. In addition to his military exploits in suppressing bandits in Guaishiling, Jiangxi, Mu Chun has been praised as a prodigal son who has returned.
Mu Chun said, "I don't want to fight for the title of Marquis of Xiping anymore. If I don't become the Marquis, will I never have a chance to succeed? Look at those bandits in Guaishiling who were recruited and became centurions. I will set up my own clan and become a marquis."
Hu Shanwei was very happy for him, "You won your first battle, and your future achievements will not be inferior to your father's."
Mu Chun said shamelessly, "Of course! The more my father dislikes me, the more I will achieve something. I want him to cover his ears and hear my good news, and watch me rise step by step."
What Mu Chun said really came true. Emperor Hongwu felt that his godson knew how to use the filial piety of guarding the tomb to resolve the double-sided attack, and that he had turned over a new leaf. Combined with his previous military achievements, he decided to give him a chance and appointed him as the assistant commander of the Rear Army Governor's Office. It was not an empty title but a real one. He was also in charge of the Yingyang Guard, a forbidden army under the jurisdiction of the Rear Army Governor's Office, responsible for protecting the safety of the capital.
Commander-in-chief, a military officer of the second rank.
The ministers were in an uproar, and even his own father Mu Ying couldn't stand it anymore. At the court meeting, he requested Mu Chun to try out the position first and then appoint him as an official, so as to prevent his son from "holding a position for nothing and failing the emperor's grace."
Uncle Feng Cheng rolled his eyes when he heard this: How can you talk about your own son like this? You are too modest!
Emperor Hongwu said, "Son, you are from my family, don't try."
What I mean is, this child is my family, so there is no need for a trial.
As a result, Mu Chun was given an official title, and he rose from a small soldier in the Embroidered Uniform Guard to a second-rank commander.
When Mu Chun was promoted to an official position, the happiest person was Jinyiwei commander Mao Xiang: This plague god has finally been sent away!
So on the day Mu Chun left, the Jinyiwei Yamen was filled with gongs and drums and firecrackers to send away the plague god.
Mu Chun was very touched: "Master Mao, you are so polite. I will come back often to visit you."
Mao Xiang said quickly: "No need, a new official has three things to do when he takes office. It is important for you to suppress those monkeys in Yingyangwei, and..."
Mao Xiang brought out the eight bandit centurions that Mu Chun of Guaishiling, Jiangxi, had personally recruited. "They are too untalented to be in the Jinyiwei, and don't have a suitable position. You should bring them to the post and let them shine. You've just arrived, so you need to cultivate a few confidants. I think they have great potential."
Mu Chun was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, "Master Mao, you are so thoughtful and kind to me!"
Mu Chun led eight centurions who were originally bandits out of the Jinyiwei Yamen, and Ji Gang quickly slammed the door shut.
Mu Chun walked a few steps, turned back and knocked on the door, "Master Mao, I left the bow that my uncle gave me at the government office. I have to go in and get it. This is my grandfather's legacy."
Mao Xiang refused to open the door and said to Ji Gang, "Go to the duty room and look for it."
Ji Gang found the longbow, wrapped it in a sheet, and threw it over the wall, "Catch it!"
Mu Chun, carrying a longbow, took eight bandit captains who had just come ashore to report to the Yingyang Guard, one of the imperial guards.
Almost all the members of the Yingyang Guard are second-generation military officers with good family backgrounds. They bring together all the difficult-to-manage playboys, troublemakers, scoundrels, and libertines in the capital, as well as a few geniuses who inherited the military talent of the previous generation. It can be said that there are all kinds of birds in the forest, and each of them is arrogant and cannot be controlled by ordinary people.
But Muchun is not an ordinary person.
He is of nobler birth than these people, more dissolute, more bastard, and more shameless.
Therefore, Mu Chun is to Yingyang Guard like Hu Shanwei is to Tibet, a perfect match and seamless connection. Emperor Hongwu had a plan long ago and did not randomly match people up. He was determined to cultivate Mu Chun.
Sure enough, Yingyang Guard gave the new commander a warning from the very beginning: the gate of the guard camp was closed and he was not allowed to come in.
Mu Chun was turned away, so he asked his eight bandits, "Who will open the door?"
They are all petty thieves, and it is easy for them to pick the door and lock it.
"Take it down and give it a try." A skinny centurion took out a bear claw-like iron hook from his waist, with a long rope tied to the end. He threw the iron claw toward the wooden tower sentry post at the door, grabbed a piece of wood, and then climbed over the wall along the rope to the door.
In addition to the bolt, there is also a lock.
The captain pulled out a copper ear pick from his hair, put it against the lock, and poked it gently, and the lock opened.
The captain threw away the lock, opened the door, and let Muchun and others in.
Mu Chun was greeted by silence. He struck the war drum on the training ground and summoned 1,200 soldiers of the Eagle Guard.
After beating for a long time, not to mention the soldiers, even the sparrows watching the show on the trees were scared away by the sound of the drums.
The eight centurions came back to report, "Sir, we checked and found that they were all taking a nap in the barracks."
Mu Chun gave the thin monkey a piece of silver and said, "Go to the market and buy a cart of firecrackers."
The firecrackers were bought and distributed evenly. At least five sticks of lit firecrackers were thrown into each barracks, and then the doors were nailed shut so that no one could escape.
Mu Chun heard the crackling of firecrackers and various screams coming from the barracks. He felt that he had vented his anger and ordered his men to wait until the firecrackers were over before beating the drum again.
As soon as the drum sounded, twelve hundred soldiers arrived—wanted to beat Muchun.
Muchun began to lecture, "From now on, when the drum sounds, you have to come to gather for me. If you don't come, you will be punished. Firecrackers are just a small thing. I will set off fireworks for you to see next time."
A soldier with a leg wound cursed: "You only got your position because your father is a marquis? I don't accept it!"
"I don't accept it either!"
'"We all refuse to accept!"
Mu Chun laughed and said, "You were able to join the Yingyang Guard because of your father or grandfather's military merits. You have the nerve to scold me? Wait until one day you kill 10,000 rebels, then come and scold me!"
Mu Chun's words and actions once again aroused public anger.
Someone cursed: "Jiangxi is so far away, who knows if it's true? The army conquers people with force. Look at you, you look like a pretty boy, can you fight?"
Mu Chun waved at the man, "You'll know if I can fight you if you try."
The man said, "I won't fall for it. Beating my superior is a violation of my authority and I will be punished with a military stick."
Mu Chun said: "I forgive you! Do you dare?"
"What are you afraid of?" The man jumped onto the stage and said, "What can we compete with?"
Mu Chun took advantage of the situation and kicked the man off the platform. "Swords and knives have no eyes, so let's fight with fists and feet!"
The man fell off the stage, yelling, "You didn't even say start! You cheated!"
Mu Chun smiled and said, "All is fair in war, so deception is the right thing to do!"
Mao Xiang reported the current situation of the Eagle Guard to the emperor and empress, "… He basically relies on shouting to pass orders, scolding to train soldiers, and fighting with each other, and his prestige basically relies on his fists. There is no hierarchy, no military discipline, and no one obeys him."
The emperor and empress looked at each other.
Mao Xiang added: "But we all admire his fists."
Soon it was the eighth day of the eighth month, Empress Ma's 49th birthday, the Qianqiu Festival, and the palace held a grand banquet. Mu Chun went to the palace to congratulate her and told the Emperor and the Empress that he was a new official and everything was going very smoothly.
The emperor and empress deliberately ignored the injuries on Mu Chun's face, such as the bruised face and face covered with powder, and the slightly lame left leg, and kept praising him for his ambition.
By the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15, Hu Shanwei had completed the task of explaining the bestowed books by the royal family and the maternal relatives. With the Princess of Yan's powerful actions in persuading her brother from gambling and her active response to Empress Ma's call to rectify the family traditions and rules, who among the royal relatives is more dignified than the Princess of Yan
Moreover, the news that Emperor Hongwu had made it clear that hundreds of iron plates were hung in the harem had also spread outside the palace. Everyone felt insecure and no one dared to commit a crime. No one dared to interfere with Hu Shanwei's mission of bestowing the book.
Fan Gongzheng secretly sighed that Hu Shanwei was a lucky man. He met a noble person who helped him the first time he did such a big thing and completed the task smoothly. It was the times that made heroes.
At the end of August, Zhou Sizan, who had gone to Jin Wang Mansion in Taiyuan to deliver books, returned exhausted. Hu Shanwei sent him a jar of homemade chrysanthemum wine as promised, and waited for Liu Sizan, who had gone to Qin Wang Mansion in Xi'an, to come back to have a banquet together.
However, when the frost fell at the end of September, there was still no news of Liu Siyan and his group, as if they had disappeared from the world. Even the post stations along the way said that they had not seen Liu Siyan and his group.
Cao Shang Gong called Hu Shanwei to the Shang Gong Bureau and said coldly: "Liu Siyan is my person. She is meticulous in her work and it is impossible for her to disappear without a reason. She went on this long trip for your sake. You have to bring her back for me."
The author has something to say: In fact, it was hinted before that something would happen to Liu Siyan.
100 red envelopes will be given out tonight, and there will be a 100-point big red envelope prize question.
Please listen to the question:
The inscription on the iron plate hung by Emperor Hongwu in the harem may be:
aHave fewer children and raise more pigs.
bWhen there is a girl at home, do not go out into the garden. When there is a guest at the door, do not make any noise.
c. Do not forget small good deeds, and do not record small faults. Recording small good deeds will make the great principles clear, while ignoring small faults will discourage slander.
d. Prosperous, democratic, civilized and harmonious.