Chapter 34 Old Acquaintance
Huang Jinfeng's letter was very concise. The only thing it mentioned was that someone wanted to do business with Zhu Yuhuan. Perhaps due to confidentiality concerns, Huang Jinfeng did not elaborate, but simply encrypted the other letter enclosed in it twice, which made Zhu Yuhuan a little uneasy.
Although the content of this letter is related to traveling merchants, what is more important is that the person who wrote this letter was none other than a member of the Oirat Mongols.
Zhu Yuhuan was just flipping through the letter at first, but when he saw that the writer mentioned that he was from Wala, he couldn't help but feel a little shocked.
Fortunately, the correspondence of the caravan was conducted by absolutely reliable confidants, and sufficient preparations were made to keep it confidential, so Zhu Yuhuan did not have to worry about the contents being leaked.
But Zhu Yuhuan looked at the names above again and couldn't help rubbing his forehead. After thinking it over again and again, he decided to go find Xu Wangzhi.
Xu Wangzhi has been very busy recently. In addition to visiting Princess Jiaxing and Abji'an for follow-up consultations, he also has to teach his students.
Not only did ordinary women come to attend the lectures, but the herbal medicine merchants who supplied the Xu family clinic also sent their daughters. Xu Wangzhi accepted them out of courtesy. If Zhu Yuhuan had not "lent her money and people", Xu Wangzhi would have had no energy just to arrange such a group of people, let alone teach and answer questions.
Seeing Zhu Yuhuan coming, Xu Wangzhi was also confused and asked in confusion: "Didn't you say that the New Year is coming soon and you won't be coming in the near future?"
Zhu Yuhuan, dressed in casual clothes, said to Xu Wangzhi, "Whenever you go out to see a patient, take me with you."
When Xu Wangzhi heard her say this, he immediately understood that she was probably going to see Toghto Boluo who had just returned to Beijing, so he put down the book in his hand and said, "Let's go today." After that, he asked two relatively capable students to help pack the medicine box. His every word and action clearly showed the majesty of a teacher.
Zhu Yuhuan saw through Xu Wangzhi's pretense of maturity and couldn't help but laugh: "It seems you have spent a lot of energy these days."
Xu Wangzhi waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about this... Before, there wasn't a single apprentice, but now it's overcrowded. If it weren't for you and Madam Han contributing both money and effort, I really wouldn't be able to handle this group of people."
Zhu Yuhuan smiled slightly and said, "That would require a famous teacher like you to be in charge."
Xu Wangzhi hung his apron on Zhu Yuhuan, a smug look on his face, and said, "This looks much more appropriate. Let's go."
Zhu Yuhuan knew where the residence of Abjihan and Toghtoboluo was, but it was the first time he went there in person, but he was traveling incognito.
Abji'an's servant enthusiastically invited the two of them in and said to Xu Wangzhi, "Mrs. Xu has a new student to follow her."
Xu Wangzhi nodded slightly and said jokingly, "This is my most proud student."
Zhu Yuhuan also followed her words and said: "Yes, yes, Madam Xu has taught me a lot."
The old servant chuckled and said, "Thanks to Madam Xu for treating the master's illness, his health is getting better day by day. The assistant is relieved and has said that he will invite a famous chef from the Beijing restaurant to come to the house to prepare a banquet to thank Madam Xu."
When Xu Wangzhi heard about the banquet, he immediately agreed and said, "No need for a big banquet. I love the food at Yonghelou. Tell him to treat them!"
"Of course!"
Xu Wangzhi glanced around and asked, "Is Toghto Boluo not here today?"
The old servant said quickly, "I'll send for the assistant to come and receive Madam Xu."
Xu Wangzhi took Zhu Yuhuan into the reception room with ease, and soon they met Toghto Boluo.
Tuotuoboluo saw Xu Wangzhi and greeted her. Then his eyes fell on Zhu Yuhuan beside her. He was quite surprised to see that she was wearing an apron. He quickly raised his hand to let the others leave. Then he saluted Zhu Yuhuan and said, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."
"No need to be polite." Zhu Yuhuan patted his apron and then sat down on the chair next to Xu Wangzhi with a smile. He said, "I thought my disguise was perfect, but I didn't expect you to see through it at first glance."
"Your Highness has an outstanding and unique temperament. I naturally recognized him at a glance." Tuotu Boluo first complimented Zhu Yuhuan and then asked, "Your Highness, you came here in disguise. Is there something important?"
Seeing that he was more cautious than before, Zhu Yuhuan knew that Tuotuo Boluo had grown a lot during this trip to the north.
Zhu Yuhuan smiled slightly and said, "I remember you mentioned to me before that Tuohuan had a son named Yesen?"
Tuotuoboluo nodded slightly and said, "Yes."
Zhu Yuhuan lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "There are many people in this world with the same name."
Tuotuo Boluo also knew that there were people with the same name and surname everywhere in the Tatars. He knew that every few steps he would find someone named Tuotuo or Yesen. So he said, "This Yesen is a little different."
Zhu Yuhuan heard him say this and asked curiously, "What's the difference?"
Tuotuoboluo smiled heartily and said, "I also heard about this by chance on the border this time. I heard that Yesen's mother was from our Ming Dynasty. After being captured and taken to Wala, she and Toghan gave birth to Yesen."
Zhu Yuhuan said "oh" and asked, "So, Yesen's mother is Han Chinese?"
"I heard it from hearsay. Yesen's mother was called Mindashili. In the tribe, she's respectfully addressed as 'Aha,' meaning Madam. If she were truly a Ming dynasty woman, she would have probably forgotten her own name long ago."
Zhu Yuhuan already had an idea when he heard this. He just smiled and said, "That's quite interesting. I heard that the Tatars attach great importance to bloodline. Why would Yesen let people know that his mother was Han?"
"I think so too. Perhaps some of the leaders of the smaller tribes are dissatisfied with Yesen, so they deliberately fabricated such rumors."
Xu Wangzhi didn't take it seriously and said, "Perhaps Yesen saw that you recruited the Tatars and expelled Adai, and felt sympathetic, so he deliberately did this to show goodwill to you."
Toghto Boluo remained noncommittal and said, "To be able to securely inherit Toghan's position, this Yesen must be quite extraordinary. Who knows what Yesen is thinking? I'm sure that after seeing us drive out the Tatars, he won't dare to move south anytime soon."
“That’s true…”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuhuan smiled bitterly in his heart. Not only did Yesen dare to go south, but he could also capture the emperor in the future.
She thought of the letter from the Oirat Mongols, which was indeed signed by Minda Shili. He also mentioned that he was once a Ming Dynasty person and hoped to improve the relationship between Princess Shunde and her. Of course, the most important thing was that he hoped that the Ming Dynasty could strengthen the mutual trade with the Oirat Mongols.
After leaving Toghto Boluo's house, Zhu Yuhuan sent Xu Wangzhi back home and then returned to the princess's house.
She was planning to meet Zhou Yingying tomorrow, but it was too troublesome to go in and out of the palace, so it would be better for her to rest directly in the princess's mansion.
"Your Highness, what is this...?"
Zhu Yuhuan sat in the study, tracing the curve of the border on paper as usual, and made some brief revisions based on Huang Jinfeng's letter. The overall curve of the border was very different from the rough map he had seen in Zhu Di's hall.
Although the map might not be accurate, the shrinking of the border was a foregone conclusion, which put considerable pressure on important border towns and even the capital. Once the border shrank, it would not be so easy to expand.
Especially after living in peace and stability for so many years, it is really not easy to find a few people who can shoulder the responsibilities of generals. In addition, most of the nobles who followed Zhu Di in the early days of the Jingnan Rebellion have passed away, and the remaining ones are just generals picked from a pile of dwarfs. The training of generals cannot be completed overnight.
The actual combat requirement alone has already eliminated most people. We can't train a few Zhao Kuos who are only good at talking about war on paper to fight in the war, right?
It is no wonder that some dynasties emphasized civil affairs over military affairs or replaced military affairs with civil affairs.
"Your Highness, why don't you take a break?"
Zhu Yuhuan came back to his senses, took the tea Han Guilan handed him, took a sip, and said, "Princess Changde has arranged to marry Xue Huan?"
"Yes, the old lady said that the emperor will soon issue an order for Xue Huan to study at the Imperial Academy."
Zhu Yuhuan looked at the candlestick on the table and said half-jokingly, "It's also thanks to Empress Dowager Sun, otherwise Tongtong wouldn't have been able to 'escape' so easily."
When Empress Dowager Sun learned that Zhu Youtong had no intention of getting married, she took the opportunity to suggest to Zhu Qizhen that Zhu Youtong should not be allowed to marry for the time being, and should stay in the palace and be filial to the Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager Cihui.
Although Empress Dowager Sun did not know what Zhu Zhanji was thinking, she instinctively chose the same action as Zhu Zhanji, that is, in a social environment that values blood ties, she made Hu Shanxiang, Zhu Yuhuan, and Zhu Youtong, mother and daughter, lonely and helpless.
This actually fulfilled Zhu Youtong's wish, and he was probably grinning in his dreams.
Han Guilan was relieved for Zhu Youtong, but she was worried that Zhu Youtong was too young. If he met an incompetent prince consort, he would probably be depressed in the future even with the support of his mother and sister.
She also heard a lot of news during this period. Princess Changde, who chose the descendant of a nobleman as her husband, was not as happy as everyone thought. Instead, Empress Dowager Sun was very pleased. She asked the palace maids to count the things, and it seemed that she had already planned to marry Princess Changde out of the palace with great fanfare.
Zhu Yuhuan handed the letter he received today to Han Guilan and said, "Take a look at this."
Han Guilan took the letter and looked at it, her expression filled with astonishment. She asked, "Is this...really a letter from the Wala? How dare they contact His Highness secretly?"
"Don't worry, Miss Huang handed it over to me because she'd probably verified it. His Majesty previously intended to conduct trade with the Oirat in the Datong area, and someone secretly visited Miss Huang, asking her to deliver the letter. It makes sense." Zhu Yuhuan pondered for a moment and said, "The Oirat's letter simply seems to be about gaining more profit from the trade. From what I've read in Miss Huang's letter, the Oirat who delivered the letter also brought something else, but she returned everything intact except the letter. She then left with the caravan as soon as possible after the trade."
The Oirat Mongols were a foreign enemy, and it was not a good idea to have any contact with them rashly. Even if Huang Jinfeng was a businessman, he would not take such a risk, let alone Zhu Yuhuan himself.
Han Guilan read the letter over and over again before handing it back to Zhu Yuhuan and saying, "Those who are not of our race must have different hearts. Your Highness should not take any risks."
Zhu Yuhuan simply smiled and said, "Of course I won't take the risk. I don't know how much time it would take for Wala to send me a letter, and besides, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. There's no point in bribing me first."
Han Guilan was stunned when she heard this, then immediately understood what was going on. She asked, "Your Highness means he will bribe the border guards first?"
"The garrison commanders won't be that bad. Wang Ji has only been tightening military discipline for the past two years. They won't be so quick to forget and risk implicating their families." Zhu Yuhuan touched his chin and said, "If it were me, the best candidate would of course be the garrison eunuchs. These people are rootless and drifting, and many of them value profit over loyalty. His Majesty previously granted Xining farmland, an unprecedented honor. How could others not be jealous? I'm afraid they're all secretly plotting to build a wealthy family for themselves."
"The eunuch who guards the city?" Han Guilan was a little surprised and asked, "Do the Wala people even know all this?"
Zhu Yuhuan raised the letter in his hand and said, "They even know about me, the Princess of Shunde. How could they not know that His Majesty and the late Emperor both trusted eunuchs? Not only are we from the Ming Dynasty trying to gather intelligence on the Oirat Mongols, but the Oirat Mongols are also trying to gather information on the Ming Dynasty. Even if the intelligence isn't timely, it won't be missing much."
Han Guilan thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. "That's true..."
Zhu Yuhuan read the letter from beginning to end again, then placed the letter on the candlestick and watched the flames engulf the letter.
Han Guilan saw this and continued, "A female official recently told me that Old Lady Zhang has caught a cold and is not in good health."
Zhu Yuhuan sighed softly and said, "Aunt Jiaxing has been seriously ill, and grandma has been worried about her. It's inevitable that she's not in good health."
She silently repeated in her heart what Xu Wangzhi had said before. It was nothing more than that the imperial doctors looked down on Xu Wangzhi, were unwilling to listen to her advice, and insisted on their own opinions. In this way, the doctor became the murderer.
Although Zhu Yuhuan was unsure of Xu Wangzhi's intentions, the fact that Xu Wangzhi, who should have been able to remain calm, had argued with the Imperial Hospital actually helped the hospital maintain its own opinion, indirectly "helping" Zhu Yuhuan. Recalling Xu Wangzhi's words to him that day at the Princess Jiaxing Mansion, Zhu Yuhuan became even more certain that Xu Wangzhi's quarrel with the Imperial Hospital was not groundless.
The two have known each other for many years, and Zhu Yuhuan knows her temperament very well, so he still has trust in her.
As for Empress Dowager Zhang, Zhu Yuhuan only vaguely remembered that she died after Zhu Qizhen was enthroned as empress, which seemed too early considering Zhu Qizhen's current age.
But in the end, seeing is believing, and Zhu Yuhuan certainly believed more in what he saw with his own eyes. Empress Dowager Zhang probably didn't live to see the day when Zhu Qizhen got married and started a family.
In this case, Zhu Yuhuan can no longer delay and should make preparations early.
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