This was Zhu Ying's first time traveling through the post station.
Compared with the past, the feeling of the post station is similar to the difference between high-speed rail and green-skinned trains in later generations.
The Daming Post Station is directly operated by the government and private use is prohibited.
The summary of the post stations is similar to the express logistics in later generations. Before Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the Yuan capital, he began to restore and rebuild the post stations throughout the Ming Dynasty.
Earlier, there was a prince consort who was sentenced to death by Zhu Yuanzhang for secretly using the post station to transport four carts of goods.
This shows how much importance Zhu Yuanzhang attached to and how strict he was with the post stations.
Now the post stations in the Ming Dynasty still mainly rely on the relay method.
There is an inn every twenty miles.
For example, the earlier 800-li express delivery started from the capital, with post stations arranged in order. The postmen would take the imperial edict and ride on horseback to the next post station to deliver it.
In this way, the relay is continuously passed on, reaching a speed of 800 miles a day.
The straight-line distance from Nanjing to Beijing is 900 kilometers, equivalent to 1,800 miles.
Including the detours, it’s about two thousand miles.
It took only three days to arrive at the destination with an express train of 800 miles, which was quite fast in the Ming Dynasty today.
Of course, it was impossible for Zhu Di and others to use this method when they set out from Peking. It would be good if they could travel 200 miles a day.
Moreover, they could not travel day or night, and had to rest at the post station after dark.
The post station was free for all officials who used it, and provided food and accommodation, especially for such a major event as the Prince of Yan's return to the capital.
Every time they passed a post station, they would change horses to maintain the horsepower and go very fast.
But even so, it took eleven days to reach Nanjing city.
During the first three days, Zhu Gaochi and Yao Guangxiao could still chat with great interest, but later on, they basically lay down as soon as they got in the car.
After a day of bumpy ride, I fell asleep as soon as I arrived at the post station.
A fat man, an old man in his fifties, really can't bear such a long journey.
After getting off the train in Nanjing City, only Zhu Ying was still energetic; the others were already exhausted.
"Brother Ying, you are new to the capital, so you probably don't have a place to stay. Bring your guards with you to rest with us."
Zhu Gaochi had difficulty speaking. He just wanted to go to his mansion and sleep as soon as possible.
"Thank you, Prince."
Zhu Ying nodded in response.
Among the group, only Zhu Di's mental state was the same as Zhu Ying's, which might be because he had great hopes for himself.
As a vassal king, Zhu Di naturally had his own residence in the inner city of the capital. Of course, in general, it was a reward from His Majesty.
There are a lot of princes' and dukes' palaces in the inner city.
There are also the General's Mansion for Guarding the Country, the General's Mansion for Assisting the Country, and the General's Mansion for Serving the Country.
When it comes to General Fengguo, it is the great-grandson who is given the title.
The fourth-generation grandson who has not yet appeared is the lieutenant of Zhenguo, the fifth-generation grandson is the lieutenant of Fuguo, and the sixth-generation grandson and below are all lieutenants of Fengguo.
Zhu Yuanzhang had basically arranged all these matters for future generations in the Imperial Ming Ancestor Instructions.
It took Zhu Di eleven days to travel from Peking to Nanjing, a distance of more than 2,000 miles, which was considered fast.
Some of the nearby vassal kings have basically arrived, but the arrival is still quite far away, especially the King of Shu, who may be delayed for a few days.
After all, the road to Shu is difficult and the journey is much slower.
There are still seven days left until the mourning day set by Zhu Yuanzhang.
White cloth has been hung on the streets and shops in Nanjing.
Moreover, a curfew had been imposed in Nanjing at night, and the bustling Qinhuai River was also pitch black.
The Prince of Yan's mansion in the capital is quite large. Even if the Prince of Yan does not live here, there are servants and maids to clean it.
Zhu Ying moved in with more than ten people and did not feel crowded.
It was not until the next morning that most people recovered from their fatigue.
Zhu Gaochi couldn't wait to drag Zhu Ying to visit Nanjing City.
Crown Prince Zhu Biao was Zhu Gaochi's uncle, and Zhu Gaochi did not have much contact with him. Naturally, he was not too sad, at most he had some emotions.
Zhu Ying hesitated for a moment and said, "Now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has passed away, you, as the eldest son of the King of Yan, will definitely be named the Crown Prince in the future."
"If word of our outing gets out at this time, I'm afraid there will be some trouble in the future."
Hearing this, Zhu Gaochi reacted immediately and looked at Zhu Ying with gratitude.
How could he not know that his father disliked him? What if he was really caught?
Perhaps the first person to abolish his status as the crown prince would be his father.
"Thank you, Yingge."
Thinking of this, Zhu Gaochi bowed deeply to Zhu Ying.
"Don't be like this, Prince." Zhu Ying hurriedly supported him.
The two of them could only stay in this yard and wait for the day of mourning to arrive.
While the two were chatting in the yard, Zhu Ying did not shy away from asking housekeeper Zhang to take a few people to the capital to see if there were any shops worth buying.
Although the environment at Prince Yan's Mansion is good, there is always a feeling of being dependent on others.
When Crown Prince Zhu Biao passed away, the kings expressed their condolences.
The fastest time would be nearly two months.
It is impossible for Zhu Ying to live in Prince Yan's Mansion for two months. He has many secrets and is obviously very unchanging, so it is easy for him to be exposed.
Hearing that Zhu Ying wanted to buy a shop, Zhu Gaochi thought for a while and said, "My family lives near the Qinhuai River in the capital, and there seems to be a teahouse there."
"I will tell my father and then send him to Ying'er."
Prince of Yan Zhu Di still had some industries in the capital, but he basically didn't manage them.
Zhu Gaochi was of course well aware of his father's regard for Zhu Ying, otherwise he would not have been so polite to Zhu Ying.
Do you really think that as the eldest son of the Prince of Yan, you can be so easy to talk to everyone? No one else would necessarily pay attention to you.
Zhu Ying's eyes flickered when he heard this, and then he said directly without any hesitation: "Then I'll trouble you, Prince."
…
The Ming Imperial Palace, Renzhi Hall, and the funeral palace are located there.
Zhu Yuanzhang stood in front of Zhu Biao's coffin, his body slightly hunched, with a dead look in his eyes.
Unlike when Empress Ma passed away, Zhu Biao did not cry loudly after his death. He was like a piece of quiet wood.
However, the guards, eunuchs, and palace maids around him were already prostrating themselves on the ground, trembling with fear.
In the rear hall of Renzhi Hall, dozens of palace maids and eunuchs who used to serve Crown Prince Zhu Biao had been executed and buried with him.
Next to the coffin, Zhu Yunwen, who was only fifteen years old, was kneeling on a cushion on the ground, dressed in white, sobbing hoarsely.
Only when Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze turned to Zhu Yunwen did a hint of life emerge in his eyes.
He hadn't eaten for a day, but the eunuchs and guards didn't dare to say anything to persuade him.
The person who was persuaded last time is now lying in the back hall, ready to serve the prince.
After a long time, Zhu Yuanzhang's back gradually straightened.
No sigh, just turning around and leaving silently.
Our sister is gone, our eldest grandson is gone, and now our son is gone too.
Only Zhu Chongba was left.
That's it.
After that, there was no Zhu Chongba anymore, only the Ming Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang!!!