Daming: I became Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest son

Zhu Biao glanced at Zhu Bian, and said with a bit of resentment.

"Third brother, drink less when you have nothing to do. It is easy to cause trouble after drinking. Since it is decided to let Yan Shenggong come to Beijing for an audience, then you should hurry to announce the decree. The road to Qufu is not close, so you can go on the road now."

After finishing speaking, Zhu Biao asked Shang Fang to bring the sword, solemnly handed it to Zhu Bian, and ordered again.

"Shangfang's sword represents supreme authority, like the presence of the father and emperor in person, but this is only to increase the prestige of your imperial envoy, and it is not for you to mess around in Confucius' hometown. You must grasp this speed."

Regarding this point, without Zhu Biao's instructions, Zhu Biao knew very well in his heart that no matter how stupid he was, he would not go to Qufu to make trouble, and that was the highest holy place for scholars.

At this time, Zhu Biao gave Zhu Biao a very solemn salute, and then spoke.

"Brother, please rest assured, I will definitely fulfill the emperor's order and return to Beijing as soon as possible, and I will not embarrass you."

Zhu Biao also answered him very solemnly, "As long as you know what's in your mind, I can rest assured. Let's go. Don't waste time. Father still attaches great importance to this matter."

After seeing off Zhu Biao, Zhu Biao came to the harem to greet Empress Ma.

At this time, Queen Ma was lying on the massage chair, and when she saw Zhu Biao coming in, she quickly turned off the switch, and then asked.

"Biao'er hasn't come here for several days. Is there something bothering you in the previous dynasty recently? Your father also encountered something incomprehensible?"

In fact, Zhu Biao didn't come to pay his respects to the Queen Mother these days because he was too worried about the affairs of the previous court, but now that the matter has been resolved, he frowned and said to Queen Ma.

"My queen, in fact, my father is also in a hurry recently because of the emptiness of the national treasury. My fourth brother is on the northern expedition, and the food and military supplies are also consuming a lot. In addition, my father's long-distance voyage plan will cost millions of taels of silver. There is only 100 million taels in Kuyin, so I am a little worried, but this matter has been resolved by Brother Tao, so you don't have to worry too much."

Hearing that Zhu Tao had solved this thorny problem again, Empress Ma felt relieved and said to Zhu Biao.

"Biao'er, you must remember that although Tao'er is not a prince, we treat him like a prince. Even if you take over the big position in the future, you must not forget Zhu Tao's contribution and treat him well. In the future, he will also be your guardian."

In fact, there is no need for Empress Ma to ask anything more, Zhu Biao himself has long regarded Zhu Tao as his own brother.

"Mother, please rest assured, my son will definitely take good care of Brother Tao. As for the succession, the mother can't mention it any more. I only wish my father a long life!"

Empress Ma knew in her heart that Zhu Biao's words were by no means hypocritical, but from the heart. The prince's benevolence was well known throughout the court, and this just happened to correct Zhu Yuanzhang's too stubborn and conceited image.

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang also came to the harem, saying that he wanted to pick up Empress Ma to Zhu Tao's Zhuangzi and then go to Daya Sacrifice.

Empress Ma said to Zhu Yuanzhang with some reproach.

"Chong Ba, every time you want to have a tooth festival, you go to Tao'er, and if you want to get something, you go to Tao'er, you have to prepare something for Tao'er, how can you be such a father?"

But Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said to Empress Ma: "Sister, you don't know, but we have prepared a big gift for Tao'er, and he will definitely like this big gift."

Empress Ma hurriedly asked Zhu Yuanzhang what kind of gift he had prepared, but Zhu Yuanzhang began to play tricks and refused to say clearly.

Before Zhu Yan went to Qufu to announce the decree, he had arranged for Li Dayong, a doctor of the State Commercial Department, to go to Zhujiazhuang to discuss the purchase.

In fact, this Li Dayong is Zhu Di's capable general, and it is not the first time he and Zhu Tao have dealt with each other, so they are very familiar with each other.

Zhu Tao poured him a cup of tea himself, and then said to him with a smile.

"Master Li, this time you came to me to purchase grenades and smoke bombs under the order of the Department of Commerce, right?"

Li Dayong took a sip of tea before speaking.

"That's right, according to the emperor's will, the third prince is temporarily in charge of the affairs of the State Commercial Department. It is His Royal Highness Jin Wang who sent an official to talk to Master Zhu about the purchase of grenades and smoke bombs. The State Commercial Department has plenty of silver. The more goods the better. , how much we purchase."

In fact, Zhu Tao was able to understand the stakes in this. He could buy hundreds of boxes of grenades for tens of thousands of taels of silver, and the court would not suffer at all.

If the Northern Expedition went on for a long time, the tens of thousands of taels of silver might not be able to survive even ten days, so no matter how you say it, the imperial court did not make a loss-making business, and it was like a little bit of light for yourself. Make a small fortune while the court is busy.

Zhu Tao didn't talk nonsense, and took Li Da directly to the grenade production workshop, showed him the production process of the grenade, and at the same time took him to the warehouse, took out the grenade that had been made, and asked him to check the quality .

In fact, Li Dayong knew Zhu Tao's identity a long time ago, and he had been in the State Business Department for so long. If he didn't even know this, he would be a fifth-rank official for nothing.

It was nothing more than that I could not disclose more information in front of Zhu Tao according to the will of the Holy One.

But he believed that Zhu Tao would not cheat himself by cutting corners on the things purchased by the court, so this special mission, he was nothing more than a formality, sending the money to Zhu Tao and taking the goods away.

After the grenades and smoke bombs were loaded on several carriages one after another, Zhu Tao wanted to keep Li Dayong to eat at the village, because he had developed some new dishes, and it would be a pity if no one shared them.

But this time, Li Dayong, who has always been known as a gourmet, did not accept Zhu Tao's kindness, he cupped his hands and said.

"Brother Zhu, I don't want to refute your face. You must know that the delicious food here is not available in other big restaurants, but the front line is as urgent as sparks. I can't waste time here. After returning to the State Commercial Department, I will immediately go This batch of grenades and smoke bombs is going to be delivered to the front line."

Now that this is the case, it is inconvenient for Zhu Tao to keep him, and he is also happy that the court has such dedicated officials.

"Then you should go back to your errands quickly. Even if you don't have official business, you can come to my place at any time. Let's have a good drink."

After Li Dayong left, Zhu Tao immediately called Old Tang over and gave orders.

"The next batch of grenades and smoke bombs still needs to be manufactured more quickly, and the more the better, I think the batch that was transported away just now is enough for the Northern Expedition, but I'm afraid it will be useful if we conquer Japan later, Guoshang The company will come to buy again, we are ready."

Old Tang naturally had no reason why he shouldn't. After hearing Zhu Tao's order, he quickly agreed and went to handle it.