Chapter 300: Promoted to Duke

The situation in the capital was more serious than expected. Xiao Fan did not expect that Ji Gang had become so rampant. Duke Cao Li Jinglong was the best among the playboys in the capital. If he had a hobby of walking sideways, I believe no one in the capital would dare to object.

Just like this, a straitor was actually dealt with by Ji Gang, which shows that Ji Gang is even more straitor than a crab in the capital.

From the history of his previous life, Xiao Fan knew that Ji Gang was an ambitious person. This was also the reason why Ji Gang was worshipped by his disciples with sincerity but he was unwilling to accept it. Although raising an ungrateful wolf around him was very exciting, it was more dangerous.

Now Ji Gang really showed a hideous face, and once he gained power, he would harm the capital. Zhu Yunwen's indulgence provided a hotbed for his ambitions. His ambitions have gradually fermented and they are growing wildly. Xiao Fan has been fighting and suppressing the rebellion in the past nine months and has not had the energy to suppress and exclude him. Therefore, Ji Gang took advantage of this good opportunity that was rare for him and finally became a disaster for the capital.

The current situation in the court is to form a party with their own party. Putting aside those useless fence-broker neutral factions, the treacherous party and Qingliu account for a large part of the court. Looking at the current situation, Qingliu cannot stop Ji Gang from doing anything wrong. The only one in the court that can deter Ji Gang and restrain Ji Gang is not a second choice except Xiao Fan. In other words, if Xiao Fan returns to the capital, he will inevitably become enemies with Ji Gang.

Xiao Fan may be ruthless in dealing with other political enemies and will not kill him. For example, Huang Zicheng, Huang Guan, etc., who fought with him the most fiercely, but did not take their lives if they suppressed them, because in Xiao Fan's eyes, these political enemies are at most stupid scholars. People are born with stupidity and do not break the law. This reason is not enough to take their lives.

But for Ji Gang, Xiao Fan decided not to be ruthless. Once he was suppressed, he would definitely die and not give him any chance to turn the tables. If such a person was allowed to live, Xiao Fan would probably not be able to sleep in this life.

The question now is, how can we kill Ji Gang without hurting the harmony between Zhu Yunwen and Xiao Fan?

Cao Yi once again showed his bad old man's nature, with a fierce light flashing in his eyes, and said evilly: "Before we have not returned to Beijing, we will find a few confidants to return to Beijing now. Whether it is poisoning or assassinating, kill him first. Even if the emperor doubts, he will not be able to doubt you. What about?"

Xiao Fan smiled bitterly: "You can't think of some creative ways? Ji Gang's martial arts skills are the best martial arts last year. Can ordinary people assassinate him easily? Besides, this is a court battle, and fighting and killing will be inferior..."

"Then what are you going to deal with him?"

Xiao Fan smiled softly, reached out and tapped his head with his fingers.

Cao Yi looked respectful: "Use iron head skills?"

"Smart!" Xiao Fan gritted his teeth.

In the winter of the first year of Jianwen, the remnants of the Yan army in the northern region were completely cleaned up. The Ministry of Personnel of the imperial court replaced all the prefectures and counties around Beiping with new ones, and the commander commander and the thousand-household offices were all dispersed and transferred, and all the generals from the top to bottom of the commander commander were also transferred or removed. Zhu Di's nine-month rebellion was finally completely pacified under the command of Xiao Fan.

Various reactions from the people gradually disappeared, but this incident did not subside in the court. It can be imagined that Zhu Yunwen, Xiao Fan, Zhu Di... the people who influenced the world in this era will leave a strong mark in the history books of the Ming Dynasty, such as good and bad, loyalty and treacherous, the secrets and the slander. Later generations have their own comments.

Everything was settled, and Xiao Fan decided to return to Beijing.

I have been away from home for many days, but I don’t know what’s going on at home. Is the little breasts of the thrush bulging? And whether Jiangdu, Hongqiao and Ying'er have thought about themselves every day.

When Xiao Fan thought of the warm word "home", he felt like he was returning home.

The Yan Prince's Mansion has been seized, and Zhu Di and his children and their families have returned to Beijing with the army. This time they entered Beijing, Zhu Di may have to be under house arrest in this life and will never be able to leave his home again. The imperial hegemony is ultimately just a dream of yellow Liang.

The army started to travel for dozens of miles, with great ceremonies and flags. Under the tribute of the new prefect and commander of Peking, Xiao Fan rode on his horse and led the army to slowly head to the south.

The cold wind in winter blew on his face slightly hurt, but Xiao Fan's heart was warm and warm. Even with the wind and snow on the way home, how could he compare to the passionate yearning for home in his heart?

"I'm going home soon, and the world is peaceful. From now on, I will stay at home with my wife every day and never go anywhere. I will work hard next year and try my best to let my wives give birth to two sons for me..." Xiao Fan rode on the horse and rubbed his hands and laughed.

Cao Yi thought to himself: "You should have a few sons. If you don't mention passing on your Xiao family, you must at least pass on your title. You are the Marquis of Chengyi now, but this time you quell the rebellion and make great contributions to the court. After you return to the capital, the emperor will be rewarded. Perhaps it may not be necessary to be the Duke. In addition to the founding fathers of the Ming Dynasty, you are the first civil servant who was named Duke for military merits. This huge title would be a loss if there is no descendant inheritance..."

Xiao Fan waved his hand: "I don't care about this. Sometimes standing too high may not be a good thing. Especially when I was so young like me, I was named Duke. The ministers may stare at me. It feels like a light is on my back."

Cao Yi curled his lips and said, "You just have too many concerns. You have to put down the Yan Ni rebellion. If you win a battle, you should be rewarded. This is a natural truth. Who dares not accept it?"

Xiao Fan chuckled and shook his head. The water in the court was too deep and he couldn't explain it clearly in a few words. Even if he said it, Cao Yi might not understand it.

After rubbing his arms that were numb from the cold, Cao Yi turned his head and looked at several carriages not far behind him. In the carriage were Zhu Di and his family.

Cao Yi hummed and said, "The defeated people sat in the carriage and held the stove leisurely, while the winners would ride on the horse and get cold and get cold. Is this wrong? Are there such prisoners and winners in the world? Those who don't know think we were defeated..."

Xiao Fan raised his eyes: "You envy?"

Cao Yi nodded without any concealment.

"If you are interested, you can raise the flag and rebel. I will lead the troops to defeat you, and then you can enjoy this treatment. On the way to the capital, let alone holding the warmer, even if you want to hold the girl in the brothel, I can satisfy you."

"Rebellion is to be able to ride a carriage?"

"right."

"I don't read much, but I'm not a fool." Cao Yi said slowly.

After walking for two months, the army finally arrived at the capital. The ancient and desolate city walls in Nanjing Yingtian were far away, and the soldiers of the army were becoming more and more excited.

Xiao Fan, who was covered in dust, breathed a sigh of relief, and a happy smile appeared on his face.

I've been home for nearly a year and finally got home.

The scout came to report to the news, and the emperor led all civil and military officials out of the city to greet each other.

In this era when the monarchy was supreme, it was a great honor to be personally welcomed ten miles outside the city today. Although Xiao Fan and Zhu Yunwen had a strong relationship in private, it was the first time that Zhu Yunwen officially came out as the emperor. State affairs were different from private affairs. Xiao Fan knew very well. This was Zhu Yunwen's thanks to him. The strategy of the vassal kings has always been the biggest hidden danger of the Jianwen Dynasty. Now this hidden danger was destroyed by Xiao Fan's long sleeves. The vassals were affected by the Battle of Pingyan, or intimidation, and they all asked to cut off the vassal kings and return to the capital. The vassal kings were completely eliminated. The civil and military officials of the dynasty knew very well what this was. To put it objectively, it was no worse than opening up the territory. It was normal for Zhu Yunwen to personally welcomed the vassal ten miles outside the city.

All the civil and military officials in the court came, and the emperor was polite to Xiao Fan, but Xiao Fan could not really take it as a blessing. The more humble and cautious you should be, otherwise you would inevitably be labeled as "superficial" by those annoying censors.

So Xiao Fan quickly got off his horse and ordered the guards to change into formal court uniforms. After finishing his appearance, he led Cao Yi, Ping An, Sheng Yong and other generals to slowly walk towards Shiliting.

In the Shili Pavilion, flags cover the sun, golden gourd scepter, black crowds filled the entire official road, brightly-clad imperial guards separated the people who came to greet each other far away, civil and military officials stood solemnly outside the pavilion in court robes, standing in rows according to their ranks, but there were crowds of people but silent. Everyone's eyes were on Xiao Fan who was slowly moving in the distance and the mighty generals behind him.

After taking a few steps, Xiao Fan saw Zhu Yunwen wearing a dragon brocade robe under the Huangluo umbrella. He had a slight smile on his face, like the warm sun that melted ice and snow in winter. The closer Xiao Fan walked, the deeper the smile on Zhu Yunwen's face.

Twenty steps in front of the emperor's imperial throne, Xiao Fan stopped, dressed up, slowly knelt down, and bowed down and bowed down, "My minister, Chengyi Hou, General of Pingyan, Xiao Fan, was ordered by the emperor to go north to quell Yan's rebellion, the king's army marched north, and the soldiers used their lives to never let down His Majesty's entrusted command. The emperor was kind and virtuous, and the emperor was benevolent, and the king's army was mighty, and the world was Jingqing, and my emperor was long alive!"

As soon as the words came, all the civil and military officials and tens of thousands of people around him knelt down, bowed down and bowed, shouting in unison: "Long live my emperor--"

The sound of singing spreads all over the world, shaking the sky, alarming a group of birds foraging for food, flapping their wings and flying away.

Zhu Yunwen stood alone in the crowd, enjoying the congratulations of officials and people. After blinking a few times, he felt his eyes hot and moist, and a refreshing breath in his chest was surging and circling, and he couldn't calm down for a long time.

The young emperor finally felt what it felt like to admire the people. The strong satisfaction made him completely transform in an instant, and his handsome face also showed a steady and mature emperor spirit.

When I remembered that when I was the crown prince, I was deceived and hated by the vassal kings. I was worried day and night that the country was not solid and the country was turbulent. At that time, the internal and external difficulties and difficult situations were all thanks to the young man who was both brother and friend in front of me. He gave him the greatest comfort. He planned and planned and even led a large army to fight against the rebellion. Today, he was able to be proud in front of the subjects of the world.

Zhu Yunwen became more excited and more grateful as he thought about it. Xingmu blinked a few times, and tears rose up at the corners of his eyes. He wished he could walk forward immediately, help Xiao Fan up with his own hands, and express his gratitude and gratitude.

At this time, thousands of subjects were still kneeling in front of him. Zhu Yunwen was inconvenient to say more, so he turned his head and nodded to Wang Rujia, a Hanlin scholar, beside him.

Wang Rujia stood a few steps forward, slowly spreading a roll of yellow silk in his hand, and his thick voice was clearly spread among the crowd.

"Marquis Chengyi, the prince-in-law, the commander of the Jinyiwei, and the general of Pingyan, Xiao Fan, received the order-"

Xiao Fan did not raise his head and leaned down and shouted loudly: "My minister Xiao Fan knelt down and listened to the holy teachings."

"The emperor Fengtian Chengyun, and ordered: In February of the first year of Jianwen of the Ming Dynasty, the thief minister Yan Wei Di supported his troops to rebel. Di was the emperor's uncle. His nature was a habit of deception and had not fulfilled his sincerity. I recommended that he be deceived, but was deceived. Unexpectedly, the thief raised troops in the name of "Jingnan". He wanted to usurp the throne and change the reign. He took tens of thousands of thiefs and captured several palaces. Every time he trapped a city, he was in charge of soldiers and slaughtered the people. The people were resentful, like water and fire. If this was not punished, what would the soldiers be used? I followed the will of heaven, promoted the king's army and attacked him. The general Xiao Fan received the order in the face of danger and asked for a war.

Tianwei, the army commander of the military is the pillar of the court and the country's Gancheng. In the winter of the first year of Jianwen, Xiao Qing finally put down the rebellion and returned to the army. Only by governing the world with literature and suppressing the rebellion with martial arts can I be both civil and military. If I work hard to repay the achievements, can I eliminate my achievements without praise for my favor? Xiao Qing's obedience to the public and his achievements are in the country, so it is suitable to praise and compile it to demonstrate his virtue. I am here to give the British Duke of Jin, and his fief was increased by 3,000 households. He inherited the fief and passed on to his descendants. He has endless future generations and is not ignorant. He still knows the glory and informs the world. He has sent all the envoys to hear it. How proud."

After reading a lengthy imperial edict, many ministers raised their heads in shock and stared at Zhu Yunwen with a smile on his face.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Yunwen's words were not astonishing as he died. In front of thousands of subjects, he added: "The Duke of England is above all the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Dukes and the Duke

The ministers were suddenly in an uproar. Several censors looked at each other, raised their eyebrows and waited to object. At this time, Chen Di, the Minister of Rites, and the Censor of the Left Capital, coughed twice. Four sharp eyes glared at the dissatisfied censors. Several censors were stunned, and then groaned in disappointment, shrank their heads and kept silent in the crowd.

Xiao Fan was also stunned. The Duke of Jin was originally expected to make such great contributions. After all, Zhu Yunwen did not make any contributions to his title. The credit was in front of him. Even if the ministers opposed it, they could not find any reason. However, Xiao Fan did not expect that he was named Duke of England and ranked first among all Dukes and Mausoleums of the Ming Dynasty. Is this a bit too much?

However, the imperial edict was issued, and it was for sure. In front of thousands of subjects, Xiao Fan refused and would lose Zhu Yunwen's face again, so he had to bow to the ground and shout: "My memory, Xiao Fan, receive the edict, thank the emperor for his kindness. Long live my emperor--"

Immediately afterwards, the Hanlin Attendant took out two more imperial edicts and began to recite them loudly.

The following imperial edicts are all commendations for the successful generals of Pingyan in the battle. Ping'an, Sheng Yong, and Geng Bingwen are all awarded, and even Cao Yi was named Wu'an Bo. He was so happy that he disappeared and kept giggling.

The last imperial edict was about the issue of prisoners of war. Zhu Di and his family were captured alive. Zhu Yunwen ordered him to wear shackles to apologize in Taimiao, and put Zhu Di's family in the capital under house arrest, and strictly supervised him, so he would not leave his house for life.

After all the ritual routines were completed, Zhu Yunwen walked forward and helped Xiao Fan up with his own hands. The two looked at each other and smiled at each other. Then the smile turned into a big laugh, as if they remembered something funny. The two laughed so hard that they fell back and forth, which made all the ministers beside them confused.

"Shidou Xiao, you are much stronger..." Zhu Yunwen patted his shoulder with a look of envy.

Xiao Fan glanced around and blinked, and smiled, "Your Majesty, shouldn't another maid come out and call me my name today, telling you not to bother her lady?"

Zhu Yunwen stagnated, then burst into laughter. He was pursuing Huang Ying and was tempted by Xiao Fan's name. The girl didn't catch up with her, but Xiao Fan's name was fouled all over the streets and alleys of the capital. When he mentioned this, Zhu Yunwen felt embarrassed.

After calming down his emotions, Zhu Yunwen sighed a lot and sighed: "Shi Duan Xiao, you have suffered a lot of hard work for me. I am really... really..."

Xiao Fan hurriedly bowed and said, "Yan Ni rebelled and wanted to usurp the throne. This is a great rebellion. I am a matter for you to quell the rebellion. It is a matter of the ministers. I dare not say the hard work, nor dare to say the merits. I am honored by the king, and I am afraid of being treacherous!"

Zhu Yunwen became more and more moved when he heard this. "The master was worried about the ministers being humiliated, and the master was humiliated and died." Slogans were shouted in the golden hall of the court, one more passionate than the other. But once the matter came to an end, how many ministers were truly brave enough to stand up and share the worries of the emperor? Xiao Fan had never shouted any slogans in front of him, but Zhu Yunwen knew that no matter how dangerous and important things happened, Xiao Fan would definitely be the first to stand in front of him, shelter him from the wind and rain, and never look back.

This is the true loyal minister who can trust his life, and this is the true life and death friend who can trust his life and death.

The ministers present saw that Xiao Fan was not arrogant and humble, and could not help but nodded and secretly praised. For these old-fashioned ministers, this is the attitude that ministers should have. For a time, many ministers gradually began to change their impression of Xiao Fan.

Holding down the surging emotions in his heart, Zhu Yunwen looked around, feeling that this occasion was not suitable for reminiscing, so he smiled and said, "Xiao Qing was exhausted all the way, so he went home to reunite with his wife. He came to the palace at night. I have something to say, come and go back to the palace."

The emperor's imperial carriage started, and the officials and the people knelt down and gave it to him respectfully.

After the ceremony, the ministers rush up and swarmed up like a swarm of hustles, surrounding Xiao Fan. The sound of compliments and flatteries like a tide were endless.

A fat and bloated body squeezed away all the ministers, flashed very quickly, then threw herself to the ground, hugged Xiao Fan's thighs firmly, and shouted sadly: "Mr. Xiao... No, Duke, you are back! We miss you so much. When you are not here, we... Woo, one word, it's miserable!"

Xiao Fan was shocked and looked down. He found that the person holding his thigh was Ru Wei, the Minister of War. The fat old man refused to let go. He cried so hard that he snot and tears. His fat face rubbed against his trouser legs, looking particularly creepy.

The other treacherous parties also surrounded Xiao Fan, pulled his sleeves and belts, and cried like a group of motherless children.

Xiao Fan wiped his sweat and forced out his smile and said, "Can you control your emotions? Also, is it one word or two?"

"One word, miserable!"

"It's not just miserable, it's simply... miserable!"

“…………”

Everyone wiped their tears and felt like a group of old farmers in northern Shaanxi were looking forward to the arrival of the Red Army and waiting for the liberation. They looked like a touching scene of happy meetings.

Although I didn't dare to say it clearly, everyone's meaning was expressed very clearly. During the period when Xiao Fan went to war, the ministers in the capital, whether they were pure or treacherous, were all tortured by Ji Gang.

Several Qingliu ministers who had been confronting Xiao Fan also surrounded him. Chen Di, the Minister of Rites, held Xiao Fan's hand tightly and repented in tears: "I was wrong, I was really wrong, I shouldn't have been! In contrast, Lord Xiao is simply a living Bodhisattva of the living Buddhas of thousands of families..."
To be continued...