The next day was the first day of June in the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu.

Annan border.

"Brother, why are we going to Yunnan instead of Guangxi?"

A team of hundreds of cavalrymen, with a carriage, headed forward at daybreak.

At a fork in the road, Zhao Fei hesitated slightly and chose to go left instead of right.

Li Laosi couldn't help but ask.

"You talk too much nonsense. Should I listen to you or you?" Zhao Fei shouted, scaring Li Laosi so much that he shrank his neck and dared not to speak.

After looking at Li Laosi, Zhao Fei explained, "Yunnan is guarded by Xiping Hou. Even if it takes a little longer, it is better than something unexpected happening along the way."

Going straight from Guangxi to the capital is of course the fastest route, which can save at least ten days.

However, there are many chieftains in Guangxi now, and the roads are tortuous. Even if they have hundreds of cavalry, they can be easily defeated if they encounter an ambush.

Yunnan is different.

The big chieftains in Yunnan were basically suppressed by Xiping Hou. Not only that, Xiping Hou Mu Ying also organized civilian workers to dredge rivers, expand Dianchi Lake, and develop water conservancy projects.

Attract merchants to come to Yunnan, transport rice, grain, cloth and salt, and develop commerce.

Develop salt wells, increase financial resources, repair roads, protect grain transportation, and enable the development of agriculture and commerce in Yunnan.

For now, the natives of Yunnan have been educated by Mu Ying and are relatively peaceful.

The most important thing is that Zhao Fei has documents from the Kingdom of Annan in his hands.

Following Zhao Fei's order, the team quickly set off towards Yunnan.

Half a day later,

A large crowd suddenly appeared ahead.

Zhao Fei waved his hand and the team stopped immediately.

"Li Laosi, go to the front and ask what's going on with so many people."

"Yes, command."

Zhao Fei led his team to wait quietly. A large number of Pingming and even soldiers appeared in front of them.

It looked like something big was happening.

Zhao Fei didn't want to cause any disputes.

Soon, Li Laosi came back on horseback.

"Brother, Xiping Hou Mu Ying died suddenly of illness, and these natives have spontaneously organized to mourn for Xiping Hou."

Zhao Fei heard this and scolded, "You bastard, you slept when I asked you to study. You ignored the teacher's words, didn't you?"

"For a person like Xiping Hou, that's called death. What you said is disrespectful to Xiping Hou."

Hearing the eldest brother's scolding, the surrounding knights laughed.

Li Laosi touched the back of his head, feeling very embarrassed.

Zhu Ying hired a teacher to teach all his cavalry, including soldiers.

It's not just about teaching them to read and write, but also about teaching them how to be a good person.

Zhu Ying understood very well the importance of education for soldiers. Soldiers with knowledge are more likely to develop into generals, and many small-scale battles may lead to surprising scenes.

Even for some nomadic peoples in the desert, Zhu Ying would ask them to take time out every day to receive education.

Of course, there are naturally a lot of personal opinions mixed in with this education.

These gentlemen who imparted knowledge were created by Zhu Ying and were specifically responsible for the loyalty education of soldiers.

To put it simply and bluntly, it is to maintain the personal cult of Zhu Ying.

In ancient times when information was not well developed, personality cult had a very important significance.

A strong cult of personality can maintain the loyalty of soldiers, and with the bond of common interests, the possibility of betrayal will be infinitely reduced.

"Have you found out how Marquis Xiping died?"

After scolding, Zhao Fei sighed deeply, feeling very sorry for the death of Marquis Xiping, and then asked.

"It seems that when Marquis Xiping heard the news of the death of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he couldn't bear the blow and became bedridden, and then passed away." Li Laosi said after recalling the incident.

"Marquis Xiping, what a hero!"

Hearing this, Zhao Fei dismounted, took off his helmet, and bowed deeply towards the northwest.

Seeing this, many knights also dismounted.

Hundreds of people saluted respectfully.

This is a sign of respect for Mu Ying, Marquis of Xiping.

It was just like the chieftains and common people who spontaneously organized themselves to attend the funeral of Marquis Xiping.

After a while, everyone got on their horses and moved forward again.

Along the way, the number of people increased.

Bureaucrats, commoners, clerks, soldiers, the young and the old, all rushed to his door and cried on the road.

At this time, it was approaching the hour of Hai in the Ming Palace.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang did not sleep, but continued to handle government affairs in the study room in the front hall of the Qianqing Palace.

Outside, the eunuch Liu He, the seal-holder of the Imperial Household Department, was waiting and accompanying him.

"Your Majesty, it is midnight, it is time to rest."

Not long after, Liu He looked at the sky and said respectfully.

Zhu Yuanzhang had a very regular daily routine. Basically, he had fixed times for reviewing memorials, eating, and sleeping.

Naturally, the personal eunuch Liu He would remind him of these times at any time.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, and with the help of candlelight, he reviewed the memorial in his hand before standing up.

Seeing this, Liu He hurriedly put on an outer robe for His Majesty, and then waved to the eunuch behind him.

The young eunuch at the back immediately brought a plate with wooden plaques on it, on which were engraved the names of the concubines in the harem.

"Your Majesty, which concubine will you arrange to sleep with you today?" Liu He asked in a low voice.

Regardless of whether His Majesty needs concubines to sleep with him, this is a procedure that Liu He must ask every day.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the many wooden signs and did not turn them over. Instead, he directly ordered: "Let Concubine Zhang come over."

"I obey your order."

Upon hearing His Majesty's order, Liu He took out the sign of the beauty Zhang Xuanmiao from among the many wooden signs and gave it to the young eunuch.

After the young eunuch took the wooden sign, he bowed and walked out of the hall, then immediately started running.

This is also a common phenomenon in the harem.

The reason for being so anxious is that time is very important to concubines.

The concubines in the harem could not stay in Zhu Yuanzhang's bedroom all night when he slept with her, and could only sleep with him until the early hours of the morning.

After midnight, they could only leave the bedroom and return to the harem to rest, and they were not qualified to sleep in the same bed with the emperor for the whole night.

Even if Zhu Yuanzhang granted special permission, he could only sleep in the enclosure outside the palace.

Therefore, for the concubines in the harem, more time means they can spend more time with His Majesty.

At this moment, the harem was brightly lit and quiet.

They are all waiting for today's visit.

"Your Majesty, please turn over the card. Today, the beauty Zhang Xuanmiao will serve you in bed."

The young eunuch held up the wooden sign and shouted loudly as soon as he entered the harem, then quickly ran towards the bedroom of the beauty Zhang Xuanmiao.

He needs to hand over this wooden sign to the eunuch who serves Concubine Zhang. It is the certificate for serving the emperor, which is equivalent to a pass.

You need this wooden sign to enter the side door of the Qianqing Palace.

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was about to change his clothes and go to bed, a young eunuch ran over in a hurry and reported:

"Your Majesty, urgent news came from Yunnan that Xiping Hou passed away a few days ago."