Chapter 45 7. Reward steamed goose and force Xu Da to death

After the reorganization of Zhongshu Province and the abolition of the prime minister system, Zhu Yuanzhang is in power.He started the plan that had been brewing in his heart for a long time, that is, how to cut off the hidden dangers of the Ming Dynasty.Those founding heroes have made great achievements, and they dare not make mistakes when they are in power, but what about after them?They are all hidden dangers of the Ming Dynasty.Zhu Yuanzhang always wanted to take them down, but he still had many scruples in his heart.They are all the founding heroes of Ming Dynasty. If one of them is not handled well, it will cause them to raise their arms, and the loss will not be worth the loss.Now that the time is ripe, Zhu Yuanzhang's fear of those arrogant soldiers and nobles in Huaixi in the past has also been eliminated.Now the emperor alone holds the military and political power, there is nothing the emperor can't do.

After thinking about it, the emperor thought that Xu Da and Li Shanchang were the two most threatening to the Ming Dynasty among the founding heroes.Although Xu Da handed over the military power, he refused to enjoy the blessings honestly, and was still asking about Hu Weiyong some time ago.It seems that he is unwilling to be lonely, and he is not sure that one day he will jump out and point fingers.At the beginning, Xu Da was the number one hero in the founding of the Ming Dynasty. He led troops to kill the enemy and captured countless cities.Now the military power is gone, but there are still a large number of his subordinates in the army.His existence is indeed a great threat to the court.

But Zhu Yuanzhang still couldn't make up his mind to kill Xu Da for a while.First, Xu Da followed him through life and death, feeling like a brother.Second, Xu Da has made great contributions. Once he is killed, his subordinates may be dissatisfied, and those old generals will be moved. This day was Xu Da's birthday, and Zhu Yuanzhang secretly came to Xu Da's house again.Every year at this time, the emperor would come here to have a big drink with Xu Da and indulge himself.Being the emperor is really tiring, and there are endless memorials to be approved and things to deal with every day.Others can claim to be sick and ask for a leave to rest, but the emperor can't, the whole country is on his shoulders, and he has to carry it well.In fact, these are nothing, as the emperor is even more tiring. Every day, he has to speculate on whether each minister is loyal enough, and whether he is greedy for money.

When the two met, they were overjoyed. "I haven't seen you for a year, the emperor's Longyan is even younger." Xu Da laughed. "Haha, it can't be done. This body is no longer what it used to be, and sometimes I feel that I have more energy than energy." Zhu Yuanzhang replied. "The emperor was joking. Today is the happiest day of the year, because I can see the emperor again on this day, and I will think of the days when we fought the enemy heroically." Xu Da said excitedly. "So do we, haha. Every year today I will come to your house on time. Every year today is also the happiest time for us." Zhu Yuanzhang thought, Xu Da still remembers the days of killing the enemy in the past, it seems that he is not old yet.

"Your Majesty, what have I prepared for you this year?" Xu Da took out a small box as he said. "What? It's mysterious." Zhu Yuanzhang said as he opened the box. "Ah, it's sesame seed cakes!" After speaking, he immediately picked up one and stuffed it into his mouth.He looked like a gluttonous child, without the slightest majesty of the emperor. After eating a sesame seed cake, the emperor opened his mouth to speak. "Since we became the emperor, we haven't eaten this thing. Back then, we wanted to eat sesame seed cakes in our dreams. If we could eat sesame seed cakes every day at that time, why would we rebel, haha." After finishing speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang continued Pick up a biscuit and put it in your mouth.Zhu Yuanzhang was very happy, as if he had returned to his youth.But he didn't get carried away, he thought, when did Xu Da learn to read other people's minds.

At this moment, a group of people suddenly walked in noisyly in the yard. "Xu Shuai, when did you forget all about us old subordinates? We have always thought of you!" One person shouted from a long distance away. "General Lan is right, we came here today to ask for a cup of birthday wine. I miss Xu Shuai again after a few days, haha!" Another person yelled. Xu Da hurried out to greet him, and saw that it was Lan Yu and the others. "What's the noise, the emperor is here too." Xu Da reprimanded. "The emperor is here, and it just so happens that we have a good drink today. Haha..." Sapphire laughed loudly.

Xu Da led everyone into the room.After the ceremony, Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "How did you know Xu Shuai's birthday? He didn't tell anyone except me." "Your Majesty, we don't know that today is Xu Shuai's birthday. We come to see Xu Shuai every now and then. It just so happened that today I heard that it was Xu Shuai's birthday. Haha, what a coincidence!" Lan Yu laughed. Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt very uncomfortable.Although Xu Da lost his military power, he still had close contacts with these subordinates and was still respected by them.One day when Xu Da raises his arms and shouts, will they all respond together?

"What is the emperor thinking? Let's drink. If you don't get drunk today, you won't return home!" Xu Da said. After everyone's glasses were full, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "It's rare for everyone to get together. You are all our meritorious ministers. Today we don't distinguish between monarchs and ministers. We will only rest when we get drunk! Come on, drink the wine in the glass!" Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately Give these military generals a chance regardless of whether they are monarchs or ministers, and want to see what they are like on weekdays. As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, everyone immediately applauded.Lan Yu raised his glass and said: "Xu Shuai, today is your birthday. You are the number one hero in the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and you are also a role model for us soldiers. If my memory is correct, Xu Shuai is only fifty-four this year. You are a strong man. If Xu Shuai goes into battle to kill the enemy now, he will still be able to fight with one enemy. I respect you for this glass of wine, and I wish Xu Shuai his bravery!"

After hearing this sentence, Zhu Yuanzhang was very angry.You Sapphire disrespected me for this first glass of wine, but instead gave it to Xu Da, and praised him as the number one hero, that's too presumptuous! Xu Da sensed that Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was wrong, so he got up quickly and said: "Our first glass of wine should be respected to the emperor first. Since the founding of the country, the prosperity of the country and the people's safety depend on the emperor's ability to govern the country." Zhu Yuanzhang sensed his gaffe, and immediately said: "That's right, Xu Shuai is our number one hero in the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Let's toast him together."

Xu Da couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to drink up the tea in his cup. "No, Xu Shuai, why did you drink a cup of tea with an empty glass?" Zhu Yuanzhang said. "Hehe, the emperor doesn't know something. A few days ago, I had a sore on my back. The doctor said it was the root cause of the disease from the war in the early years. He said it was an arrow embedded in the bone and could not be taken out. The doctor didn't allow me to drink alcohol. Even our favorite steamed goose is not allowed to eat. These days we are so hungry." Xu Da shook his head and replied.

"Everyone drinks, compared to those soldiers who died in battle, I, Xu Da, am content." Seeing that everyone was stunned there, Xu Da continued. This meal, Zhu Yuanzhang ate very depressed.I was going to relax, but I didn't expect the soldiers to support Xu Da so much, which is really worrying.Zhu Yuanzhang secretly became murderous and decided to get rid of Xu Da.But thinking of Xu Da's great military exploits and the deep love between the two, I still feel embarrassed. Prince Zhu Biao didn't know what was going on. Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang sighing, he stepped forward to ask what happened.Zhu Yuanzhang told the truth.The prince was shocked, and hurriedly knelt down and begged: "Father, Uncle Xu is a loyal minister of our court. He has been born and died with his father for so many years, how could his father have the heart to kill him? If even a hero like Uncle Xu is killed, Then who would dare to make contributions to our Ming Dynasty? Please spare Uncle Xu's life." Seeing the cowardly look of the prince, Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry. "Now there are still a large number of heroes in power in the imperial court. You are too kind, how can you defeat them? Look at your appearance, how can you let us trust you with the foundation of the Ming Dynasty!" Zhu Yuanzhang said angrily.For the sake of Daming's country, he became more determined to kill Xu Da. But killing Xu Da can't be like killing Hu Weiyong and the others, just find an excuse and kill him.Once his subordinates tracked down and caused a mutiny, the consequences would be unimaginable, so we must think of a good way.What's the best way?Zhu Yuanzhang fiddled with the memorials on the desk, unable to do anything.Someone came to deliver supper to the emperor, and Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly had a plan when he saw the supper. One night, Xu Da was walking in the garden alone.Suddenly, he saw the emperor's personal eunuch walking towards him in a hurry.Xu Da was suspicious in his heart, he didn't know what happened, why the people from the palace didn't inform him. The little eunuch came to the front, unloaded a package from behind, took out two jugs of wine and a steamed goose, and said to Xu Da: "The emperor thought that Xu Shuai had made great achievements, so he sent me to secretly bring two jugs of wine to Xu Shuai." And your favorite steamed goose. The emperor said, this goose is very fat, and the wine is also good wine, Xu Shuai must eat and drink enough." When Xu Da heard this, his mind buzzed.After hiding for so many years and fearing for so many years, what should come still came.I only blamed myself for not listening to Tang He's persuasion and going back to Fengyang's hometown with him.But many years of combat experience made him calm down quickly. Xu Da said to the little eunuch: "Thank you, little eunuch, Xu Da understands. You go back and tell the emperor, just say that Xu Da thanked him. We must be like we were on the battlefield back then." Same as above, drink in big bowls and eat meat in big pieces. Eunuch, hurry back and be careful on the road." The little father-in-law understood that Xu Da wanted him to leave quickly, so as not to be discovered by his family.So he picked up the empty package and left in a hurry. After the little father-in-law left, Xu Da looked at the wine and meat rewarded by the emperor, remembered the past days, and couldn't help crying bitterly.I was loyal to the emperor, but unexpectedly the emperor suspected me, and finally gave me death, so that all the birds will be hidden.Xu Da grabbed the jug and drank it all in one gulp, then tore open the steamed goose, and started eating and drinking with another jug ​​of wine. In February of the eighteenth year of Hongwu (1385), Xu Da died of sores on his back after eating steamed goose given by Zhu Yuanzhang.Zhu Yuanzhang did this very skillfully, not only successfully got rid of the trouble in his heart, but also did not cause any shock.According to Xu Da's account, the family members only said that he was addicted to alcohol, couldn't help but secretly took a few sips and died. After Zhu Yuanzhang heard about this, he was very disturbed.He personally went to Xu's mansion to express his condolences, and ordered Xu Da to be buried generously, posthumously named him King of Zhongshan, and personally wrote an inscription for Xu Da, "the first hero of the founding of the country". Zhu Yuanzhang understood that by forcing Xu Da to death, he had taken a crucial step to eliminate the founding heroes. He wanted to remove all possible obstacles that threatened the Ming Dynasty, no matter who he was.