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

Chapter 996 Song Lian's Advice

Zhu Su was extremely enthusiastic about Zhu Biao's visit. The two brothers sat casually in the study and began to chat about family matters.

"Xiong Ying's achievements in Daning were all due to your help," Zhu Biao said. "That child has been close to you since he was young. If he knew that his fifth uncle had a new son, he would be very happy."

"You are Xiongying's teacher. Xiongying's contributions are due to your kindness. I plan to let Xiongying formally become your disciple after returning to the capital. From then on, we will be uncle and nephew, as well as master and apprentice, and we will be even closer than before."

"The relationship between uncle and nephew is already close enough, why do we need a master-disciple relationship?" Zhu Su said with a smile. "In the future, let Xiongying come to my house and play with Youdun whenever he has time. With him as my cousin, I think I can save a lot of trouble."

"By the way, when Father came here today, he was called back by an official from the Ministry of Rites for an urgent matter... Is that okay?"

"Did something big happen in the court?"

Zhu Biao looked a little uncomfortable. He hadn't figured out how to start the conversation yet, so he just talked about the past with Zhu Su and avoided talking about other things. But he didn't expect Zhu Su to bring up this matter himself.

Now that it was mentioned, Zhu Biao stopped worrying about it. He sat up straight.

Seeing him like this, Zhu Su also showed an attentive look. Zhu Biao then told Zhu Su about the request of the Annan envoy Li Jibai.

"Please invite Master Song to go to Annan to give lectures?" Zhu Su was stunned, and then immediately frowned. "The people of Annan are so eager to learn? There must be another reason for this."

Zhu Biao secretly praised him and replied, "Yes, according to the Jinyiwei, the head of the Li family, Li Jili, has expressed his preference for new learning several times in Annan State."

"My father and I both believe that the Li family wants to borrow the reputation of the Song teacher to promote new learning in Annan and indirectly enhance the strength of the Li family."

"Well, if that's true, it would be beneficial to the Ming Dynasty rather than harmful." Zhu Su thought. Annan was the last step of the Ming Dynasty's expansion plan that he proposed to Zhu, and the Li family's usurpation of power was a good opportunity for the Ming Dynasty to intervene in Annan and gain Annan.

But according to the original historical process, it would take about ten years for the Annan Li family to usurp power. The Ming Dynasty would not have this opportunity until the Yongle Dynasty. Although ten years is not a long time for a country, after several years of recuperation, the Ming Dynasty actually had the ability to send troops to Annan.

If the strength of the Li family can be expanded rapidly, this expanded strength will further stimulate Li Ji's ambition. Maybe, Li Ji's ambition will be stimulated and he will be unable to bear the loneliness and take action sooner.

Historically, the actions of the Li family seemed very hasty. First, they tried every means to kill the Chen family, the king of the country, and then used their own son to impersonate Chen's nephew, hoping to go to the Ming Dynasty to deceive the Ming Taizong Zhu Di to grant the title. However, they did not keep the plan secret, which led to a descendant of the Chen family escaping and going to the Ming Dynasty to complain, which made Zhu Di furious. He sent troops to Annan, and the Li family suffered a devastating disaster.

If the Li family's request to invite Song Lian is handled properly, perhaps the Li family's power can be rapidly expanded while its foundation can be destabilized... At that time, the Ming Dynasty will not only be able to take action in Annan earlier, but perhaps it will also be able to save a lot of energy than in history.

"My father and I also think this is a good opportunity, but Master Song is really old, so this matter..." Zhu Biao said.

"Yes, indeed." Zhu Su nodded. "Master Song is already this old, and he is a master of the Ming Dynasty. It is indeed not appropriate for him to endure such hardship."

"However, it would be a pity if such a good opportunity were missed. Do father and elder brother have a candidate?"

Zhu Biao lowered his eyes and said, "I do have a candidate, but..."

He looked up at Zhu Su and said, "But this person... may not be willing to go to Annan..."

"Hmm? Who dares to do this in a national event..." Zhu Su said subconsciously, and suddenly felt something was wrong. Seeing Zhu Biao's slightly strange look at him, he said in surprise: "This is the candidate that Big Brother is talking about."

"Could it be that I am not capable of this?"

Zhu Biao nodded, and Zhu Su stood up suddenly and said, "Me? No way! Absolutely not!"

"My child has just been born. Big brother, I would never order anyone around like this. Did the emperor want me to go?"

Zhu Biao looked apologetic and said, "It was not you, father. It was you, my brother, who suggested to you that you go to Annan."

"Fifth brother, it is safest for you to go." Zhu Biao said. "For the sake of the family and the country..."

"Brother, don't you know my current situation?" Zhu Su sat down with a serious face and said to Zhu Biao: "Brother, I have achieved the most honor and wealth in my life. I should not make any more achievements..."

"You have also seen the huge crowd outside my house. I am now..."

"What are you talking about!" Zhu Biao's face turned serious and he interrupted Zhu Su solemnly.

"Can the rumors of outsiders affect our brotherhood?"

"Do you also think that I should be jealous of your achievements? Why, are you still worried that you will be more successful than me?"

Zhu Biao narrowed his eyes and stared at Zhu Su intently. His solemn look exuded the majesty of an emperor.

Zhu Su's heart skipped a beat, so he sighed and said, "Brother, you should know that this is not what I meant."

"But... such rumors are ultimately detrimental to the government." Zhu Su sighed. "Since I have left the government, in fact, I am in seclusion."

"Why do I need to step in and cause another disturbance in the court?"

"Even if Big Brother doesn't worry about my achievements becoming too great for the Lord...but what about Xiong Ying? Where's the stew?"

"Brother, you may not know that over the years, many people have been trying to find out whether I am interested in the throne. Some people also want to make a name for themselves by betting on me."

"Since you and I are close brothers, there is nothing wrong with that. But if I have an unfilial descendant who borrows my name and reputation to stir up trouble in the court... wouldn't that be a hidden danger?" Zhu Su said.

"You are just making excuses!" Zhu Biao was rarely anxious, and scolded: "How can you shirk your responsibility for family and country matters with this excuse?"

"If it can help my Ming Dynasty prosper, I don't need this prince, so what? If you don't go to Annan, do you really want Master Song to run around at such an advanced age?"

"Even if I am not here, there are so many talented people in the Ming Dynasty. Why do you have to focus on me? I definitely don't want to go to Annan. Whoever wants to take credit for this achievement can take credit for it. It has nothing to do with me anyway!"

"I originally wanted to be a peaceful and idle king, but because of the things in my head, my father and you, big brother, forced me to do so many things... But now that the Ming Dynasty is thriving, the things in my head have long been drained away."

"I am no different from ordinary people now, and it is time for me to enjoy my old age." Zhu Su lay down on the chair and said calmly, "The position of the crown prince is very busy. Brother, don't get involved with it. The position of the crown prince can only be yours. It sounds like it is a good thing."

"You..." Zhu Biao was so angry that he laughed. Just as he was about to speak, there was a knock on the door. Then it was the voice of Gou'er, the inner guard of Prince Zhou's mansion: "Your Highness, Master Song is here."

"Oh? Please come in." Zhu Su hurriedly stood up and said. Song Lian's arrival just happened to interrupt the awkward atmosphere between the two brothers.

"I am your old minister Song Lian. I greet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the King of Zhou." Song Lian had changed into a scholar's robe. The old man looked vigorous. His intensive study of academic subjects over the years made him look even more extraordinary.

He was an experienced man. With a glance, he saw the stubbornness on Zhu Su's face and the unhappiness on Zhu Biao's face. He guessed that Zhu Biao had failed to persuade Zhu Su, so he did not mention the matter. He just laughed and said, "I heard that Your Highness has a son, so I came to congratulate you... It's just a small gift. Your Highness will not despise it, right?"

"Master Song, you are so polite." Zhu Su took the thing from Song Lian's hand with a smile, took a quick glance at it, and said, "It's a book! Master Song, do you have any other works?"

"I have collected some articles suitable for children to learn these days, and then published a book with annotations." Song Lian laughed and said, "I hope that the prince can be of some help in his future elementary education. After all, I may not live to see that time..."

Zhu Biao interrupted, "Master Song, please don't say that! Your virtue will be known to the world forever, so you should live a hundred years."

"Haha, Your Highness, there is no need to be so. Since I have heard the truth, I will have no regrets even if I die today." Song Lian smiled, his face was calm. Shu Er showed a nostalgic look again, saying: "It has been more than a few years since my friend Liu Qingtian (Liu Bowen) passed away."

"In the past, the two of us both heard about the Fifth Prince's new path of learning. In the Imperial Academy, we spent our whole lives studying the classics together, discarding the dross and retaining the essence, and understanding the true meaning of the ancient sages. Those days of searching for truth seem like they were just yesterday."

"In the blink of an eye, your Highness has even given birth to a prince, and I have lived alone in this world for such a long time..."

"Teacher Song." Zhu Su supported the old man in a soothing tone. He felt a little ashamed. To be fair, he only made a rough start in the so-called new learning and built a very sloppy framework.

The content of this article is actually the work of Song Lian and Liu Bowen, who read through ancient and modern classics and wrote article after article, constantly proving and supplementing the various theories of the new learning, which led to the prosperity of the new learning in the Ming Dynasty today.

It can be said that the new learning can do without Zhu Su, but it cannot do without Liu Bowen and Song Lian.

He is unworthy of the title of pioneer of new learning. Liu Bowen and Song Lian are the ones who deserve the title.

Song Lian waved his hand, indicating that he did not need help, and sat down on the guest seat in Zhu Su's study. Then he said, "Speaking of which, when Your Highness left the main hall in the past, I also gave Your Highness a book."

"Does Your Highness still have that book?"

"Keep it." Zhu Su nodded. "The gift from Master Song is a copy of the Analects with your personal annotations. I read it from time to time and I benefit a lot from it."

Song Lian nodded and said, "Then Your Highness, do you still remember what I said to Your Highness when I gave you the book that day?"

Zhu Su thought about it briefly and said, "Of course I remember it."

"That day, Master Song told me: Benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness are the virtues of the Chinese nation. Never forget them."

"I must consider the lives of the people of the world and always have great ambitions in my heart, so as to live up to this gift of talent."

At this point, Zhu Su was stunned for a moment, and then seemed to be thinking about something.

"That's right." Song Lian clapped his hands and smiled, saying, "Your Highness still hasn't forgotten, so why do you want to refuse the Crown Prince's request?"

"This..." Zhu Su shook his head and said, "This matter does not necessarily require me to intervene."

"We can choose a great scholar who is highly respected and virtuous to do it. Besides, there are rumors everywhere in the court and among the people, and Master Song must have heard about it."

"I have no intention of competing with my elder brother for the throne. For the sake of political stability, I..."

Before Zhu Su finished speaking, Song Lian waved his hand and said, "Your Highness should know that His Majesty wants to approve the request of the Annan envoys not only for the purpose of spreading new learning, but also to prepare for the recovery of the ancestral land of Annan in the future."

"There are countless old men like me in the Ming Dynasty who only know how to study classics. But who else is there like Your Highness, who is both civil and martial, and has the prestige of a leader in new learning?"

"Teacher Song is too modest..." Zhu Su said.

"I wonder if Your Highness remembers my expectations of you in the past." Song Lian said to himself. "In the past, I hoped that Your Highness could become a saint like Duke Zhou."

"Just like Duke Zhou assisted King Wu, I will assist His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and help us achieve the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty."

"This is a blessing for our Ming Dynasty and also for China..."

"In that case, Your Highness, please tell me, when Duke Zhou was afraid of rumors, did he put his talents aside and let the Zhou Dynasty rise and fall?"

"Of course not." Before Zhu Su could answer, Zhu Biao said loudly: "When Duke Zhou heard the rumors, he became more self-disciplined and helped the Great Zhou Dynasty. He never slacked off and eventually became famous for all eternity... He was focused on doing things, so why should he care about rumors? The history books have already proved it!"

"If Your Highness is concerned about your family, I will go and explain this to the princess. I think that even if the princess is reluctant to leave Your Highness, she will still give me some face..." Song Lian said.

In his early years, Song Lian taught at the main hall, and Xu and a group of princesses also had a master-disciple relationship with Song Lian. Zhu Su shook his head and said, "Since Master Song has said so, then I will go to Annan this time."

"However, the Ming Dynasty is now rich and powerful, my elder brother is brave and capable, and the grandson has grown up. The Ming Dynasty no longer needs a King Zhou who continues to make contributions..."

"After this incident in Annan, how about joining Master Song in getting absorbed in writing and writing books?"

Zhu Biao was startled and was about to say something, but Song Lian said solemnly, "Your Highness is still young, how can you say such dejected words?"

"I can still hold on for a few more years. When Your Highness reaches my age, it won't be too late to devote yourself to academic studies."

"Master Song's teaching is correct." Zhu Su bowed his head, but he had already made up his mind. He turned to Zhu Biao and said, "Brother, please tell me in detail about Li Jibai's matter so that I can make some preparations."

Zhu Biao originally wanted to say something, but seeing that Zhu Su had already entered the state, he swallowed his words and told Zhu Su the matter of the Annan envoy in detail.

"Well, after I'm done with this matter, I'll think of a way to slowly fade out of this place of trouble." Zhu Su thought to himself.

(End of this chapter)