Chapter 90 Section 1

In the third year of Hongwu, Xu Da defeated Kuokou Timur, the last strong enemy of the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Yuan Shun also died of illness in the Mongolian grassland.In November of this year, he held a grand ceremony in Fengtian Hall to honor the founding heroes.He sealed the Liugong and the twenty-eight marquis in one breath. The six princes are all from Huaixi: Li Shanchang, the Duke of South Korea (although he was originally from She County, but later moved to Chuyang, and had defected to Zhu Yuanzhang before crossing the river, so he was also regarded as a veteran of Huaixi), Xu Da, Duke of Wei, and Chang Mao, Duke of Zheng (Son of Chang Yuchun), Cao Guogong Li Wenzhong, Song Guogong Feng Sheng, Wei Guogong Deng Yu.

The twenty-eight marquises are basically from Huaixi, and most of them are from Fengyang.Zhu Yuanzhang was born in Zhongli Dongxiang, and later moved to Xixiang, which was later known as Donghuli, Guangde Township, Fengyang County, and moved to Guzhuang Village, Taiping Township when he was twelve years old.These small villages, which cannot be found on the map of China, later became the famous "General Township", and there were twelve marquises: Zhongshan Hou Tanghe, Gongchang Hou Guoxing, Wuding Hou Guoying and Yongping Hou Xiecheng , are all from Donghuli, Guangde Township, and Zhu Yuanzhang's "Fa Xiaoer" in the same village.Tang Shengzong, Marquis of Yan'an, is a native of Maocheng Village, Guangde Township, and he is also a true "townsman".Lu Zhongping, Marquis of Ji'an, was from Yicheng Village, Taiping Township. Zhou Dexing, Marquis of Jiangxia, Sun Xingzu, Marquis of Yanshan, and Chen De, Marquis of Linjiang were all from Mengjiazhuang, Taiping Township.Gu Shi, Marquis of Jining, was from Tushan Village, Taiping Township, Zhang Long, Marquis of Fengxiang, and Zhang He, Marquis of Navigation, were from Jiaoshan Village, Taiping Township.

The most barren land in eastern China has suddenly become a rich and productive area for heroes and famous generals.Zhu Yuanzhang has a strong hometown complex. As long as he hears the Haozhou dialect, he feels very kind; as long as he hears that this person is from Huaixi, he will add a layer of trust; promoted.During his long fighting career, he has formed a deep fighting friendship with these fellow villagers. After the founding of the country, Zhu Yuanzhang talked with Xu Da and others, and they often called them brothers. ("History of Ming Dynasty Xu Da Biography" contains: "Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da feasted and drank happily, and they were called brothers in common clothes. The emperor said calmly: "Brother Xu has made great achievements, and if he has no peaceful residence, he can give him the old mansion." The old mansion, Taizu It was the residence of the king of Wu.")

It can be said that Zhu Yuanzhang's knighthood system was basically set up for his fellow villagers.This is the reward they deserved for all these years of fighting for him through life and death. In addition to MG, Zhu Yuanzhang also reported real wealth.At the ceremony of enshrining the meritorious officials, Zhu Yuanzhang announced the salaries of the princes: Li Shanchang, the Duke of South Korea, had four thousand shi, Xu Da, the Duke of Wei, five thousand shi, and Duke Chang Mao, the Duke of Zheng, three thousand shi.Zhongshan Houtang and the following are all 1,500 shi.In addition to the salary, there is also the grant of land.In December of the third year of Hongwu, "Give Wei Guogong Xu Da and his servants Tian Youchai".In the traditional era, land was the wealth of iron. These poor farmers who did not have an acre of land have now become the number one landlords in the empire.

Huaixi dialect was originally ugly (Hu Shi thought Jiangbei dialect was the worst dialect in China, see "Hu Shi's Conversations in His Later Years"), but after the founding of the country, it became the official language of the Ming Dynasty.Huaixi cuisine was originally lacking in oil and flavor, and no one cared about it, but now it has become the most elegant taste in Nanjing.People in Fengyang like to walk with their hands behind their backs and squat against the wall to chat. Soon, these two movements became the standard postures in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty.At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, all the people in Huaixi were arrogant and arrogant.A poem written by Bei Qiong wrote: "The two rivers are full of red scarves. How can there be a paradise to avoid Qin? There are many Chu guests in short clothes, and half of the Huai people in the city are in high buns." (The Huaihe River Basin belonged to Chu in the Spring and Autumn Period, so "Chu Ke" and "Huai people" refer to people from Huaixi).