RPAGF Chapter 38 Does a Little Child Know What War Is?
Chapter 38 Does a Little Child Know What War Is?
Although Zhu Gaoxi's title of Prince of Wu had not yet been officially conferred, Zhu Yuanzhang had already announced it in the court, and the news spread like wildfire, naturally reaching the officials of the Imperial Academy.
Zhu Yuanzhang was worried that his eldest grandson would be neglected, so he specially instructed Huang Liang to send someone to inform the Prince of Wu of the Imperial Academy a day in advance of his inspection.
Zhu Gaoxi was somewhat unaccustomed to receiving such a solemn greeting for the first time.
What he wanted was not others' groveling and fawning, but to live out his own meaning and value.
However, the feeling of being the center of attention can indeed make one feel smug and overconfident.
We should be wary of this and exercise caution.
The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy presented a list of outstanding students that had been prepared in advance. Zhu Gaoxi had Xu Zengshou accompany him to examine each student one by one, and at the same time sent Sanbao to the printing press to learn from their experience.
Zhu Gaoxi spent most of his time resting with his eyes closed, while Xu Zengshou was in charge of asking questions, and he only listened to a few words intentionally or unintentionally.
There were people with outstanding memories and those with broad knowledge, but no particularly insightful talents were found.
Time passed slowly, and by noon, Zhu Gaoxi still hadn't chosen an ideal tutor, so he had to have lunch first and continue in the afternoon.
Sanbao did not find any directly usable ink. Woodblock printing used water-based ink. A craftsman suggested trying to dilute the ink paste. Zhu Gaoxi asked him and the craftsman to experiment with diluting the ink paste with different vegetable oils.
Only after Sanbao had some ideas did Zhu Gaoxi casually select five students from the Imperial Academy to enter the palace for further assessment.
Xu Zengshou escorted Zhu Gaoxi back to the palace, taking four palace maids and six eunuchs with him.
Upon returning to the vegetable garden, they found it in complete disarray, and all the eunuchs were nowhere to be found.
Tables and chairs in the yard were carelessly overturned, cups and plates were scattered, clothes racks were tilted haphazardly, clothes were hung on the firewood pile, and earthworms in wooden boxes were crawling all over the ground.
It's like we've been robbed! Who had the audacity to do this?!
Zhu Gaoxi clenched his fists and turned to go to the Qianqing Palace to complain, but Xu Zengshou quickly stopped him and signaled Sanbao to tidy up the courtyard.
"Let's send someone to inquire first," Xu Zengshou said.
Zhu Gaoxi asked Li Hui to go out for a walk, but Sanbao asked Li Hui to stay and went himself. He had spent more time in the palace and knew more people.
Anyone who dares to enter the vegetable garden at will can be guessed with their toes. Zhu Gaoxi calmed down and told Xu Zengshou to leave the palace first, so as not to get involved in the palace disputes.
"Uncle, you should go back now."
Xu Zengshou thought for a moment, nodded in agreement, and instructed before leaving, "After Sanbao returns with the news, go see the Emperor to report back and find out the reason for the matter before we talk about it."
Not long after, Sanbao trotted back and reported to Zhu Gaoxi: "It was the Directorate of Ceremonial who arrested them. It was the Crown Prince's decree. The Emperor may also know about this. I heard that Eunuch Huang personally issued the order."
The eunuch Huang mentioned by Sanbao refers to Huang Liang, the imperial eunuch and the chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.
The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs ranked first among the twenty-four departments within the palace, and was in charge of the punishment of palace staff.
"What is the charge?"
The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs would not arrest people without reason.
"This servant was asking about Xiao Huanzi from the Imperial Pharmacy. He just happened to overhear a few words and doesn't know the whole story," Sanbao said in a low voice.
Sanbao had once saved Xiaohuanzi's life; otherwise, Xiaohuanzi wouldn't have risked offending the Crown Prince to tell him these things.
Zhu Gaoxi went back to his room to change his clothes, left Li Hui in the vegetable garden, and led the newly arrived palace maids and eunuchs to tidy up and clean. He then took Sanbao to the Qianqing Palace to see Zhu Yuanzhang.
When Huang Liang saw Zhu Gaoxi at the entrance of Qianqing Palace, he took the initiative to greet him and gestured for Zhu Gaoxi to wait in the side hall first.
As soon as Huang Liang entered Zhaoyang Palace and closed the door, he was about to kneel down when Zhu Gaoxi reached out to help him up.
"Eunuch Huang, what's wrong?"
"This old servant has offended you today. Those eight eunuchs, taking advantage of the prince's absence, violated the prohibition by gathering together to study and learn to read. They were caught by Eunuch Wu, and this old servant had no choice but to arrest them according to the rules," Huang Liang explained with a sense of shame.
The eunuch Wu he mentioned refers to Wu Liang, the eunuch serving Zhu Yunwen.
"Eunuch Huang acted according to the rules, there is no need to apologize," Zhu Gaoxi said without showing the slightest change in emotion.
Huang Liang awkwardly twitched the corner of his mouth and said softly, "As long as Your Highness pleads with His Majesty, this old servant will release the person immediately."
Zhu Gaoxi nodded appreciatively and asked, "Who's with Grandfather?"
"The Crown Prince, Lord Huang, and Lord Qi," Huang Liang said in a very low voice.
What did Zhu Yunwen, Huang Zicheng, and Qi Tai say to Zhu Yuanzhang?
Could it be related to me?
Zhu Gaoxi's heart sank, and a bad premonition suddenly arose.
Huang Liang excused himself and went to continue guarding the entrance of Qianqing Palace.
If Zhu Yunwen were to rally his ministers in opposition, Zhu Gaoxi's title of Prince of Wu might be lost.
It seems I need to have a proper debate with Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Gaoxi casually opened a book, placed it on the desk in front of him, and waited quietly.
As the lanterns were lit, Huang Liang came over and invited Zhu Gaoxi to come over.
Zhu Yuanzhang was drinking porridge, sweet potato and millet porridge.
Zhu Gaoxi calmly called out, "Grandpa."
"Let's eat," Zhu Yuanzhang said, pointing to the small wooden chair opposite him.
This is a wooden chair specially made for Zhu Gaoxi.
Zhu Gaoxi sat in a chair and picked up a red bean bun.
"The eunuchs in your courtyard are no longer needed," Zhu Yuanzhang said voluntarily.
"Grandpa, they're just learning some simple, commonly used characters to make things easier for them," Zhu Gaoxi pleaded tentatively.
"Rules are rules. If the eunuchs around you don't follow the rules, and the eunuchs elsewhere do the same, wouldn't things be in chaos?" Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly, simply stating the facts without getting angry.
Zhu Gaoxi gradually relaxed, sighing, "They are all honest and law-abiding citizens; it's a pity to expel them all from the palace."
"If you feel sorry for them, have Xu Zengshou take them in, or hand them over to Youdun, or raise them in the Prince of Yan's residence," Zhu Yuanzhang said, squinting at Zhu Gaoxi. "What numbers are you teaching them, kid?"
"Arabic numerals," Zhu Gaoxi replied.
"We have our own numbers, what's the point of using that thing? No wonder Yunwen said that about you," Zhu Yuanzhang scolded lightly. "You must use your intelligence in the right way, and not go astray by studying those strange and frivolous skills."
"Grandpa, is sweet potato the right thing to do?" Zhu Gaoxi asked earnestly.
"Of course, food is always the most important thing."
In Zhu Yuanzhang's simple mind, nothing was more important than food.
"What if promoting these figures could save manpower and help increase grain production?" Zhu Gaoxi asked further.
"A few numbers can have such a big impact? We don't believe it," Zhu Yuanzhang said dismissively.
"These numbers can save paper, make calculations easier, and promote the development of science and technology. Moreover, mathematics is the foundation of natural sciences," Zhu Gaoxi said, regardless of whether Zhu Yuanzhang could understand him.
"What science and technology? What natural science? What's the use? Can it be eaten or worn as clothing?" Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head.
"Not only can we have clothes to wear and food to eat, but we can also win battles," Zhu Gaoxi said mysteriously.
"Nonsense! You think writing a few numbers can repel the enemy? Do you think you're some kind of god?" Zhu Yuanzhang said. "What does a little kid know about war?"