BSI Chapter 83: Instead of advising people to become officials, they're now advising them to join t
Chapter 83: Instead of advising people to become officials, they're now advising them to join t
To avoid his two uncles bringing it up again, Zhu Yao patiently explained.
"The path to the imperial court is too perilous. Now that the new dynasty has just been established, it seems that the world is at peace, but in reality, undercurrents are surging and storms are constantly brewing."
"Firstly, the current emperor's rule is oppressive, with strict laws and clear rewards and punishments. Serving the emperor is like serving a tiger; the slightest carelessness could lead to an abyss."
"Secondly, since ancient times, it has been most difficult to protect the meritorious officials at the beginning of a country. Throughout history, most of the founding fathers did not have a good end."
"Very few people are able to retire peacefully and enjoy their later years."
At this point, Zhu Yao's expression turned solemn as he earnestly advised the two men.
"My two uncles have treated me with sincerity, so I'd like to say a few words from the bottom of my heart."
"In the future, in the court, never get too close to the veterans and elders, or form too deep a clique."
"Those who are too prominent and wield too much power are most likely to arouse the emperor's suspicion, and in the long run, their end will mostly be unfortunate."
These words sent a jolt through Xu Da and Deng Yu.
Upon hearing this, Xu Da relaxed slightly, waved his hand with a smile, and spoke with a firm and composed tone.
"Nephew, you are overthinking it. His Majesty has always been fair in rewarding and punishing, and those who are corrupt officials who embezzle, break the law, or engage in favoritism and abuse of power are always the ones who are punished."
Deng Yu nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with the confidence of a veteran.
"Yes, especially those military officials in the court. They are all old subordinates who followed His Majesty in raising an army and have fought together for many years. Their bond is extraordinary."
"Now that the Ming Dynasty has just been established and the country is not yet stable, the nation still needs military generals to guard the borders and consolidate national defense. Your Majesty will certainly not treat the old guard poorly."
Zhu Yao nodded slightly upon hearing this, a look of sincere approval on his face.
"What my two uncles say makes sense. People like the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Wei are indeed the most outstanding among all the meritorious veterans."
He picked up his wine glass, his gaze sincere, and began to savor it carefully.
"Duke Xu Da of Wei was calm, reserved, meticulous, and skilled in both offense and defense. His magnanimity far surpassed that of other generals, and he had an extremely keen political sense. He never sought credit or acted rashly."
"Duke Deng Yu of Wei was upright and incorruptible, strict in governing his army, open and honest in character, measured in his actions, and decisive in killing but not violent."
"And then there's CITIC's Hou Tanghe, who is the most insightful and intelligent, knows when to advance and retreat, understands the proper measure, and his ability to assess the situation is unmatched."
"These three are among the best in the Ming Dynasty in terms of ability, character, methods, and vision. No one can surpass them."
A barrage of straightforward and sincere praise followed.
Xu Da and Deng Yu exchanged a glance, their ears burning slightly, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on their faces.
Deng Yu quickly waved his hand and said with a slightly awkward smile, "Never mind, nephew, you flatter me too much... These three are not as outstanding as you say."
Xu Da smiled gently and said humbly, "Xu Da has only followed his lord in battle and done his duty all his life. He is not worthy of such high praise."
Zhu Yao, however, looked serious, shook his head, and continued to sincerely praise him.
"I am not being polite or flattering. Looking at all the civil and military officials in the court, there are only these three who can keep their composure, stay true to themselves, and conceal their talents."
"The other generals are either arrogant and domineering, or complacent because of their achievements, or short-sighted. They are far less insightful and reliable than these three."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Yao abruptly changed the subject, all the praise on his face vanished, replaced by a long, soft sigh.
"It's a pity... even though these three were of excellent character and ability, their final fate was not very good."
Upon hearing this, the warmth in the room vanished instantly, and the air suddenly became still.
Xu Da's smile froze instantly, his brows furrowed, and his eyes were filled with astonishment and confusion.
Deng Yu froze, then leaned forward and eagerly pressed for an answer.
"What do you mean by that, nephew? Xu Da and the other two were loyal to the emperor and served their country faithfully throughout their lives. How can you say they met a bad end?"
Xu Da stared intently at Zhu Yao and pressed him in a deep voice, "Yao'er, you can't just say things like that. Explain yourself carefully!"
Zhu Yao looked at the anxious and puzzled expressions on their faces, shook his head slightly, and remained calm and mysterious.
"These things have not yet happened, and the future is uncertain. It is a secret of heaven, so let's not talk about it."
Zhu Yao remained silent, unwilling to say more, his expression indifferent, clearly showing no intention of continuing the previous topic.
Seeing this, Xu Da and Deng Yu wisely refrained from asking any further questions.
The two of them didn't really take the "bad ending" comment to heart, thinking it was just something young people said casually.
However, Zhu Yao's heartfelt praise made the two of them feel very pleased and secretly satisfied.
The more they looked at this eloquent and insightful young man, the more satisfied they became.
Xu Da and Deng Yu exchanged a quick glance, their eyes flickering slightly, and instantly reached a silent understanding.
Xu Da coughed lightly and took the initiative to speak, his tone gentle and sincere.
"Nephew, since you have no interest in serving in the court, have you ever considered joining the army and making a name for yourself?"
He looked at Zhu Yao with admiration and explained the reason in detail.
"Your manor's patrol team is well-organized, and the traps and mechanisms in the courtyards are ingeniously arranged, with a clear plan for offense and defense."
Such a deployment and defensive strategy is something that ordinary country bumpkins could not have come up with; it has the demeanor of a famous general.
"In my opinion, you are born with the talent to be a great general who can command troops and govern the army."
Deng Yu quickly took over the conversation, echoing his sentiments and earnestly persuading him.
"That's right! The imperial court is full of unpredictable people, backstabbing, and intrigue; it's too exhausting."
"But it's different in the military. Soldiers are ranked by their abilities and promoted based on their battle merits. It's simple, direct, and straightforward."
Zhu Yao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and he was somewhat amused and exasperated.
He thought to himself, what a strange world. Everyone else avoids joining the army as if it were a disaster, but these two elders are the ones who actively encourage people to join.
Although the Ming Dynasty has now been established, peace has not been achieved on all sides, and border wars continue. Joining the army has always been a perilous path with a slim chance of survival.
Zhu Yao picked up his wine glass, looked at the two of them with a half-smile, and spoke softly to probe their intentions.
"Judging from what you two uncles are saying, it seems you have quite a few connections and extensive networks in the military?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Da and Deng Yu immediately straightened their backs, their faces revealing an air of utter arrogance.
Deng Yu's brows were full of self-satisfaction as he loudly boasted.
"To be honest, my dear nephew, Brother Xu and I cooperated closely with the Ming army in our early years, fighting on all sides!"
"We participated in many key battles, including the decisive defeat of the main Yuan army, the crushing of Chen Youliang, and the annihilation of Zhang Shicheng."
"Most of the generals in the army today are old comrades-in-arms from back then, and they have very deep friendships."
Xu Da nodded slightly, his tone resolute and full of confidence.
"As long as you are willing to join the army for training, with our combined connections, we can easily pave a smooth path for you."
Zhu Yao listened quietly to the two boasting, his face remaining expressionless, but he secretly chuckled to himself.
He did not doubt that the two had some connections in Jinling. After all, being able to partner with his father in business meant they were no ordinary commoners.
However, the exaggeration and boasting in these words are quite exaggerated, almost to the point of being unbelievable.
He secretly chuckled to himself, thinking that no wonder he was his father's sworn brother; even their boasting manner was exactly the same.
Zhu Yao smiled and raised his hand in a gesture of restraint, gently smoothing things over.
"There's no rush to join the army; there's plenty of time. Tonight is a fine night, so let's just drink and chat."