Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 838 Behind the Glory
This was a review by people from all walks of life. The number of troops in the Western Expedition of the Great Ming Dynasty reached hundreds of thousands, so it was impossible for all the soldiers to return to Beijing to receive the reward. However, the thousands of Ming troops who landed at Yanziji were enough to make the officials and people of the Great Ming Dynasty see the might of the country's military. Seeing this magnificent military might, I don't know who shouted first, and then there was a continuous roar. So Zhu Su and Zhu Di, who were walking in the front of the team, heard the voice of "Great Ming will win" for a long time.

In this situation, even though Zhu Su was now experienced, he could not help but feel excited. He was riding on his horse and saw that Zhu Di, who had been becoming more and more calm, was also excited today. He smiled and said, "You have defeated the enemy and returned to the country, leaving a legacy for the people. Today you know what glory is... Fourth brother was determined to march west, is this the day for you?"

"Hahahaha, isn't that what a real man should do?" Zhu Di laughed. "But if you say it's just for today, it's still a little early."

"One day, I will bring all the Western nations under the control of China. It will not be too late to sigh then!"

If it were an ordinary person, he would have been intoxicated by this and would have lived the rest of his life resting on his laurels. But he was Zhu Di, the brave and resolute Prince of Yan, who was determined to be a world conqueror belonging to China. At this time, he could not wait to establish greater achievements.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao stood at the front of the civil and military officials, representing the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, to receive the soldiers who returned victoriously. The officials of the Ministry of Rites had already explained the etiquette process to the three armies. After the welcoming ceremony, the soldiers were led by Crown Prince Zhu Biao to the palace to pay homage to the emperor. They paraded through the streets with great honor.

In front of Fengtian Gate, the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang personally reviewed the triumphant troops, and the troops of the Western Expedition shouted "Long live the emperor". The emperor rewarded the troops, and the ceremony was temporarily over. The specific rewards and honors would have to wait for the various ministries to discuss and the court to announce the decree before they could be fulfilled, and it was not something that could be decided immediately.

During this period of more than a month, the soldiers of the three armies can rest, or return home with honors to enjoy family happiness, or they can stay in the city temporarily and enjoy the prosperity of the imperial capital of Nanjing.

Zhu Di and Zhu Su naturally had to go to the palace to see their parents. Zhu Biao brought the two of them to meet Zhu Di in the Jinshen Palace. It was thought that Zhu Di, who had just received the victorious army, would be very happy after the ceremony. However, Zhu Di, who had taken off his emperor's clothes and was sitting behind the imperial desk in his ordinary clothes, looked far from as happy as he was in front of the Fengtian Gate.

"Dad?" Zhu Di was a little surprised. "What's wrong with you?"

The army has returned victoriously and the Ming Dynasty is thriving. As an emperor, what is there to worry about on such a great day?
Zhu Su was also very surprised, thinking that there were some blind officials who had upset Zhu Di on such a good day. Suddenly, Zhu Biao beside him also sighed and said to Zhu Di and Zhu Su: "Fourth brother, fifth brother, you just arrived in Beijing, you don't know much."

"…A few days ago, Lord Liu Ji, the Earl of Chengyi, passed away in his mansion."

"What?" Zhu Su was stunned.

Liu Ji, along with Li Shanchang and Song Lian, was the most prominent civil official in the founding of the Ming Dynasty. In terms of grasping the general situation of the world, no one could match him. In the most dangerous battle of the founding of the Ming Dynasty: the attack by Chen Youliang, Zhu Yuanzhang's civil and military officers were all timid because of Chen Youliang's great military power. Many people suggested Zhu Yuanzhang to surrender or escape, and Zhu Yuanzhang himself was also hesitant. It was because Liu Bowen saw through Chen Youliang's weakness of "overflowing arrogance and looking down on everything" and persuaded Zhu Yuanzhang to resist stubbornly that the Ming Dynasty was established today.

Liu Bowen also participated in a series of national policies after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, laying a solid foundation for the Ming Dynasty. Among the founding officials, Li Shanchang had many private thoughts, Song Lian was good at learning but not so good at politics, only Liu Ji was loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang and had few private thoughts, and was Zhu Yuanzhang's right-hand man in governing the country.

The two were both king and minister, teacher and friend. How could Zhu not be sad when Liu Ji passed away?

Not to mention Old Zhu, even Zhu Su felt that the joy in his heart was gone, and a sense of sadness overflowed from his heart. Liu Bowen was like a teacher to him. As early as when he was still messing around in Bifeng Huangzhuang, Liu Bowen had used the excuse of seclusion to teach in Huangzhuang, and taught him not to go astray. When the new school was established, he and Song Lian worked hard together to help Zhu Su manage the Imperial College and improve the new school system. He, a plagiarist, enjoyed the false reputation of founding a school, all thanks to the truly talented Liu Bowen and Song Lian who continuously enriched and improved the new school, and made many suggestions, so that the new school can be so vigorous and the academic world of the Ming Dynasty can be so vibrant.

Now, upon hearing the shock of his old friend's passing, Zhu Su could not help but burst into tears.

Seeing Zhu Su's true feelings, Old Zhu behind the table was also moved. "You, kid, can be said to have a conscience... It's worth it that the old man spent the rest of his life helping you like a slave in the Imperial College."

"Now that you know, find a time to go to the Earl's Mansion and burn a stick of incense for him... Although you are a prince, he can be called your teacher. As the saying goes, the teacher is the heaven, the earth, the emperor, the parents, and the teacher. When a junior returns home from a long journey, it is only right for him to see him off."

"Alas... Liu Ji, Liu Ji... He is gone after all. All of our old brothers are getting old."

The Hongwu Emperor's originally tall and majestic figure now appeared a little hunched in this private room. His temples, which were originally covered with black hair like steel needles, had already been covered with a few strands of gray hair...

Zhu Su only briefly met with Old Zhu and Empress Ma, and before he could even eat, he rode out of the palace and headed for the Marquis Chengyi's residence. Because the Ming army was expanding territory, the soldiers and civilians in the city were immersed in a sea of ​​glory and joy. Zhu Su rode along the way, and all he saw were excited and smiling faces, as if the old man who had made great contributions to the Ming's current glory had not left the Ming.

It was not until he arrived at the gate of the Marquis Chengyi's mansion and saw the white lanterns hanging on the mansion, the hemp-covered door, and the lantern with the word "Dian" inscribed on it that Zhu Su was truly sure that the wise and kind old man had really passed away.

"Your Highness?" Kneeling at the head in sackcloth, besides Liu Bowen's two sons Liu Lian and Liu Jing, there were also officials such as Yang Shiqi and Xie Jin who were Liu Bowen's students in the Imperial College. Liu Bowen had many students all over the world in his later life, and he cultivated many outstanding new students for the Ming Dynasty. At this time, they also spontaneously wore sackcloth and mourning clothes to bid farewell to their former teacher in the sincere mansion, bidding him farewell for the last time.

(End of this chapter)