Chapter 34: Moisturizing Things Silently

Sheng Yong watched from the sidelines, watching Geng Bingwen and Xu Huizu push each other around. After a while, Geng Bingwen was finally pushed to the top seat. Although Xu Huizu was a duke, Geng Bingwen was a veteran of Xu Da's group after all.

Xu Huizu then sat down with Sheng Yong, and they clasped their fists and said, "May the old general win the battle and wipe out the Yan rebels in one fell swoop!"

Geng Bingwen responded, "I wish to encourage you all."

After saying this, Geng Bingwen first looked at Xu Huizu and said, "Before I leave, do you have anything to say to me?"

If Xu Huizu has nothing to say, why did he come today?

As expected, Xu Huizu hesitated for a moment and said, "I am just showing off my skills in front of an expert. I will say a few unnecessary words. Perhaps the old general already knows it."

"You can speak freely," Geng Bingwen said, "what good ideas do you have? I would like to hear your advice."

Xu Huizu said, "One word: waste!"

He paused and continued, "Yan Ni and his people have been marching northwards for many years, and have never put down their weapons. They must be brave and good at fighting, and we must not underestimate the enemy."

Geng Bingwen said, "Your words make sense. I will test their strength first and will not dare to fight recklessly."

Xu Huizu was thoughtful, with three vertical lines between his wrinkles, which made him look very serious. "However, Yan rebels have a big weakness. The land in the north is small and the population is small. After the Mongols were defeated and abandoned Yuan Dadu, the population and food have been far less prosperous than the south. In the past, Yan rebels were still ministers of the Ming Dynasty, and the cost of using troops was entirely dependent on the court. Now that they have rebelled, the soldiers, generals, and food will definitely not be able to withstand the consumption..."

His eyes sparkled. "The Yan rebels lack both civil and military talents. The only trusted generals are Gao Yang Wang Gao Xu, Zhang Yu, Zhu Neng, Qiu Fu and a few others who are still useful. You can lead your army to the north and continue to consume their strength. Then you can use the strategy of encircling and suppressing them. When the time is right, you can use superior forces to encircle and annihilate the above-mentioned people. The Yan rebels will be like having their arms cut off!"

Geng Bingwen said, "Thank you Mr. Xu for your advice."

...

At this time, the initial frenzy in Peking had gradually subsided. Although tensions remained, the danger to Peking was not immediately apparent as the surrounding towns surrendered.

Zhu Gaoxu had been waiting beside Prince Yan for orders. Only at this time, when the initial stage was over, could he breathe a sigh of relief.

He followed the army back to Peking from Songting Pass, and did not go to the Prince of Yan's Mansion again, but went straight home. It has been almost a month since he and Wang Gui left home that day and returned.

After Prince Yan raised the banner of "Fengtian Jingnan", Wei Da, Wang Bin and others led their troops to Zhu Gaoxu's side, and now they are back to the palace together. Wang Gui, Hou Hai and others welcome them into the house.

Zhu Gaoxu first asked someone to help him take off the very uncomfortable armor on his body and threw it into a room, then he walked into the hall.

Wang Gui followed and asked the Queen Mother and Cao Fu to come up and serve. Zhu Gaoxu walked through the corridor of the front hall, looked back, and suddenly asked, "Where is Du Qianrui?"

Cao Fu bowed and said, "In reply to Your Majesty, she is gone."

"Gone?" Zhu Gaoxu was stunned.

Cao Fu said, "That day, just as the prince and eunuch Wang left, I found that Miss Du had already packed her things. When I asked her, she said she wanted to go back to her hometown. I tried to persuade her but couldn't force her to stay, so I had to drive her out."

Zhu Gaoxu was very surprised. He stood there for a long time and couldn't say a word.

Or maybe he was exhausted after living outdoors for a while, and his mind was a little confused. He felt a brief blank for a while. In this state, all he could think of were trivial fragments.

When Du Qianrui brought snacks, Zhu Gaoxu didn't eat them. She said: I'm leaving.

At that time, Zhu Gaoxu didn't understand what she meant at all and thought she was just leaving the room... Now thinking about her pale face, I suddenly understand: she was saying goodbye at that time?

Later, when Zhu Gaoxu and Wang Gui were in a hurry to leave, she asked him to explain. What did she mean? What did she want to explain?

Zhu Gaoxu knew that she was scheming and used tricks, and the two of them were just casual acquaintances... But why? At this moment, he couldn't let go?

He stood there for a long time and asked, "Miss Du's family is far away in Jiangxi. How can she go back alone?"

Cao Fu said, "There is a merchant group from Jingdezhen in Beiping. A large group of people are engaged in the ceramic business. Among them, there is a couple from Raozhou. She gave some money and followed the merchant group back. I have met the couple and told them a few words."

"You are quite safe." Zhu Gaoxu nodded, "Did you give her money for the trip?"

Cao Fu said, "I... had no money, and I couldn't find the prince at that time. Miss Du gave two pieces of silk and a few sets of gold and silver jewelry to the merchant gang as travel expenses."

Those things were given to her by Zhu Gaoxu. Otherwise, she came from Nanjing without bringing anything with her, and she probably didn't even have enough money to go back.

Zhu Gaoxu frowned: Why is she in such a hurry to leave?

"I understand. Go ahead." Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand.

He took a step forward, and as he walked, he turned his head to look at the eaves not far away...

It was as if Du Qianrui was still washing her hair there, squatting there, burying her head in the water, and even the light sweat hairs on the hairline of her neck could be seen in front of my eyes... It was as if I saw her gently pulling up her shirt, revealing her round bare shoulders, and the scratches on her delicate skin were still vivid in my mind... It was as if a voice sounded in my ears again: In the past, I had to please many people, but now I only need to serve one person...

Zhu Gaoxu felt empty for a moment.

He returned to his room without saying a word, and began to bathe, change clothes, eat, drink tea, and do chores. For a long time, he always felt that something was missing, and the food he ate did not taste good, which made him even more depressed.

The same "retro-style" dining room, the same wooden table, but the food on it is no longer the colorful and delicious mullet feast... Zhu Gaoxu ate the stir-fried kidney with green onions, but it felt like chewing wax, with no other taste except saltiness.

He did not blame the cook. He was hungry anyway, so he returned to the state of "filling his stomach" and forced himself to eat a bowl of rice with the meat.

　　...Zhu Gaoxu was a vassal king, and a skilled warrior with archery and horse riding! But that was his past life, and the current Zhu Gaoxu has not yet gotten rid of the influence of his past life.

Perhaps, it was because, apart from his mother, no woman had ever been so good to him in his previous life... Du Qianrui was the first one to break into his life in the Ming Dynasty. She seeped into his heart bit by bit, and he was really taken with her.

Zhu Gaoxu put down his chopsticks and stared at the half-remaining dish, feeling increasingly puzzled: If she wanted to explain something, why didn't she wait for me to come back? Why did she leave in such a hurry without even saying hello?

Just say "I'm leaving, goodbye." How do I know you're leaving Peking! ?