Ma Xiuying looked confused and asked Zhu Kai.

"What is a tool man?"

“It means that he has no right to choose between his two brothers.

He would marry whoever his brother told him to marry, and would do whatever his brother told him to do.

I knew very well in my heart that when he found me, he didn't really want to let his sister follow me.

They just think that I am more capable and have a say in the border areas, and they think that by making friends with me, they can stabilize their entire border tribe."

"Wang Baobao is already the leader of their Mongolian tribe. Does he need to get close to you in order to stabilize the others?"

The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang said this was that he had some doubts about what Zhu Kai said.

Zhu Kaize explained immediately.

"Father, I have actually been in the border area for more than a year, and I have been able to understand the relationship between them a little, even though Wang Baobao has become the leader of the border area.

However, the relationship between each ethnic group is different. Each ethnic group has its own leader, and they are quite dissatisfied with Wang Baobao's sudden surrender to the Ming Dynasty.

They always thought about taking back all the power when they had the chance. They believed they could defeat the Ming Dynasty and dominate the local area. However, Wang Baobao was a smart man.

He knew that his situation was hopeless and he had no choice but to surrender.

If he didn't surrender to the Ming Dynasty, he would have died. He made this choice because he had to pay a corresponding price. Many people in the tribe were already dissatisfied with him."

Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his beard and spoke in a deep voice.

"It seems that Wang Baobao has already felt a sense of crisis, so she wanted to send her sister to you, but she didn't expect you to refuse."

Zhu Kai smiled a little embarrassedly and said.

"He probably didn't think of me. I would refuse. After all, his sister is the most beautiful woman in the Mongolian Yuan tribe. She is definitely one of the best in terms of appearance and temperament."

“Is it really that beautiful?”

"That's true. In their Mongolian tribe, she can be considered beautiful. She is as bright as a rose.

And when he rides a horse, he is definitely different from the women in our Ming Dynasty.

I can be sure of this, but I am not a lustful person. Having Xu Miaoyun by my side is enough. I don’t want to look for other women, so I naturally rejected this matter.

Fortunately, it was Xu Miaoyun who went with me to meet Wang Baobao, otherwise I would not be able to explain this matter clearly.

However, after I refused at that time, he came up with other ideas and suggested that my two younger brothers could marry them.

But I know that this matter is not something I can decide, so I naturally rejected him directly. I have to wait until I come back to ask my father for permission."

Zhu Kai explained everything from beginning to end. He felt that he had to make it clear in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, otherwise Zhu Yuanzhang would definitely think that he was becoming more and more daring and even dared to decide his brother's marriage.

Zhu Kai knew it very well in his mind, and he also understood how to get along with a father, and an emperor at that. This was the art of getting along with superiors, and as a time traveler, it was impossible for Zhu Kai not to understand it.

Zhu Yuanzhang was relieved after hearing Zhu Kai's explanation.

"Zhu Chong and Zhu Gang are not too far apart in age. It would be more appropriate to choose one of them to marry Wang Baobao, but no matter who is chosen, someone will be dissatisfied."

"Father, it is difficult for ordinary families to treat everyone equally, let alone the emperor's family."

"Zhu Kai, don't you think that as a father, I sometimes tend to favor my eldest brother?"

Zhu Kai thought to himself that Zhu Yuanzhang actually had the nerve to ask his own son that he favored Crown Prince Zhu Biao on such a question. Everyone in the court, and even in the entire history, knew it. Did he need to say it himself?
Of course Zhu Kai would feel some unhappiness in his heart, but he knew it very well.

Perhaps it was because Zhu Yuanzhang favored Crown Prince Zhu Biao too much that he had a short life and died at a young age. If Zhu Yuanzhang had not been so partial to him, Crown Prince Zhu Biao might have lived a few more days.

"Father, you are indeed partial to my eldest brother, but..."

When thinking of this, Zhu Kai suddenly considered a more metaphysical question, that is, the emperor's favoritism might really bring misfortune to people.

He thought of the Qing Dynasty, when Huang Taiji was too partial to Hai Lanzhu and wanted to make her newly born eighth prince the crown prince, which led to their deaths at a young age.

It is also possible that Huang Taiji's son doted on Dong Efei, but in the end Dong Efei was not able to bear this blessing.

However, these things happened after the Ming Dynasty. Even if Zhu Kai knew about this, he would never tell Zhu Yuanzhang about it. Moreover, the truth hurts, and if he told Zhu Yuanzhang about this, it would just seem like he was jealous of the Crown Prince.

This made Zhu Yuanzhang even more suspicious whether he also wanted to compete for the position of crown prince. Zhu Kai hesitated when he thought of this, and swallowed back the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

At first, Ma Xiuying felt that Zhu Kai seemed to be hesitant to speak, so she quickly stepped forward and asked if he had anything to say.

"Do you have anything else to say? If you have nothing else to say, go back and have a rest. Tomorrow morning, walk around the palace. You haven't been back for a long time. Go to the imperial kitchen and ask them to make you something delicious."

Ma Xiuying was still very good to Zhu Kai. At least Zhu Kai and the prince were both his sons, and Ma Xiuying did not show any favoritism.

"Mother, when you mention the imperial kitchen, I remember that you had people prepare a lot of food in advance and sent it to my residence.

I just came back from the border, I was really tired and hungry, and I ate all kinds of delicious food that my mother prepared for me, my heart was so warm, in the end, my mother loved me the most. "

"You are also the son of me and the emperor. Why shouldn't I feel sorry for you? Just put your heart at ease and have a good rest in the capital for a while. We'll talk about it after the New Year.

And preparations for Zhu Chong and Guanyin Nu's marriage will begin soon. You have to participate in the whole process. You know both of them very well.

Then I'd like to trouble you to cooperate with the Ministry of Rites and help them plan it. Zhu Chong has always been a good card player, so don't let him down." At this point, Zhu Kai suddenly remembered an important thing, that is, Zhu Yuanzhang had not met Wang Baobao and his sister Guanyinnu until now.

It's time to arrange a meeting, it's important.

"Father, I can work with the Ministry of Rites to plan these things. Since I'm back and there's nothing important that needs me right now, I'll do this. Don't put all the pressure on Big Brother.

Big brother, as the crown prince of our Ming Dynasty, he has a lot of things to do and is busy every day. Leave this matter to me, there is no problem. But when do you plan to summon Wang Baobao?"

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard what Zhu Kai said, he became a little hesitant.

"The reason why I have not yet prepared to meet Wang Baobao is because I have not yet decided what position to give him. This matter still needs to be discussed carefully with the ministers in the court."

"Father, of course the ministers in the court will listen to you. After all, you are the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. You can give him any plant you want. Is there anyone in the court who objects?"

"Hu Weiyong and Liu Bowen have completely different ideas and attitudes towards this matter. I have to think carefully before making a decision. Besides, there is an urgent matter to deal with now."

Zhu Yuanzhang stopped here, but Zhu Kai could tell that the thing he was anxious about was probably Liao Yongzhong's matter. It seemed that Zhu Yuanzhang did not intend to let him finish the New Year.

Zhu Kai had actually seen through it, so he didn't ask any further questions when Zhu Yuanzhang mentioned the matter, because he knew that as the emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang was becoming more and more sensitive and had more things to consider.

If I ask these questions at this time, it will only make Zhu Yuanzhang feel more suspicious, so if the other party doesn't mention it, I'd better not say anything. This is the rule of survival in the workplace.

Zhu Kai is well versed in the rules of survival in the workplace, which is why he was able to thrive throughout the Ming Dynasty.

"Let's not talk about the urgent matters for now. If this is the case, then your father can discuss it with the ministers when he goes to court tomorrow.

Lord Li Shanchang, what you said is worth careful consideration, but I believe that my father has already made up his mind. "

Zhu Yuanzhang liked to hear this kind of words, he said to Zhu Kai with a smile.

"Although I am the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, I cannot do whatever I want in many matters. I still need to consider many aspects. The key is that I haven't met Wang Baobao yet, so I don't know what kind of person he is."

Zhu Kai thought to himself that having said this, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to hear his report.

“Father, based on my understanding of Wang Baobao, he is a very smart person.

When General Lan Yu and I first arrived at the border, his attitude towards us was very tough, and he was determined to defend his own tribe.

We have reminded him more than once that surrendering to the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible would bring him many benefits, but he still never listened and always insisted on doing things according to his own ideas. "

"So how did he come to his senses later? I see he seems to be on good terms with you now."

There was some tentative meaning in Zhu Yuanzhang's words, and Zhu Kai had already heard it.

"Father, you have also fought in battles, so you should know how to train wild horses."

"What do you mean?"

"Wang Baobao and his entire Mongolian tribe are like wild horses. You have to tame them before they can submit to you, just like now.

When we first arrived at the border, he was arrogant and conceited. Seeing that I was so young but was leading General Lan Yu and the brothers around me, he was very dissatisfied.

They think I have no ability at all, and even want to laugh at our entire Ming Dynasty for having no talents to use, saying things like "There is no great general in Shu, Liao Hua can be the vanguard."

"He can still say such a thing?"

"Uh... that's pretty much what I meant, except that I expressed it in a way that Father would understand. Anyway, it was mocking my inability.

However, after fighting a few battles with them, he was able to witness my bravery in leading troops and my combat talents.

Furthermore, we have General Lan Yu who is so brave and good at fighting. It was very easy for him to deal with these tribes with me. We should thank General Lan Yu for this.

If he wasn't by my side, I wouldn't be able to subdue them all in such a short time. He is a very smart man, because he can understand the situation."

After Zhu Kai finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and nodded.

"Now you finally understand why I want General Lan Yu to be by your side, because he is the bravest among these few people."

"Of course. Father's choice will definitely not be wrong. It is because of the help of General Lan Yu that I was able to defeat them in the shortest possible time and make them submit willingly."

Ma Xiuying heard what Zhu Kai said and felt proud of her son. Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied, it seemed that today's conversation could end here.

"Father, Wang Baobao and his sister have been staying in the inn the whole time, and I told them in advance that the situation has been quite complicated recently, so I asked them not to wander around casually.

Moreover, the people from the border tribes are unfamiliar with the capital, and letting them run around randomly might cause some trouble."

"Your decision is correct. Don't let them move around the capital at will. At least wait until Wang Baobao has a confirmed position before you can let him wander around the capital."

"Yes, I think so in my heart, and I must give them a chance to see in the capital how prosperous our Yingtian Prefecture is.

It is much stronger than these border areas, which will make him more convinced of our Daimyo Dynasty."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he shook his head helplessly and smiled.

"You little brat, you still have this idea in mind, want to show off in front of them?"

"Under the diligent governance of my father, the Ming Dynasty is so prosperous and the people live and work in peace and contentment. Of course, I have to show it to them and let them see that the only way out is to surrender to the Ming Dynasty." (End of this chapter)