Meilin Yayuan outside Nanjing City.

This house is located in a forest of plum trees, and its owner is Mei Linrong, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Works.

However, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Works also had to add the word Nanjing in front of it.

Although the two are of the same level, once the word Nanjing is added, it will basically become a semi-retired state. In addition to the Ministry of War, you can also work hard, and other departments are basically idle jobs.

Mei Linrong was originally a Jinshi in the 15th year of Yongle. In his early years, he was promoted to the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Works at the age of 35, which is also a model of young and promising youth.

However, in this year, his career suddenly stopped.

In the 21st year of Yongle, Emperor Taizong Zhu Di was seriously ill. The guard commander Meng Xian and others colluded with the adopted son of the Imperial Heaven Supervisor Wang Shecheng and the eunuch Yang Qing forged the will, intending to secretly poison Emperor Taizong to kill him, deposed the crown prince Zhu Gaochi, and support King Zhao Zhu Gaosui as the emperor.

During this period, a counselor named Gao Yizheng let out a joke after drinking, and accidentally revealed the matter. Wang Yu, the chief banner officer of the Jinyiwei, learned about it.

Wang Yu was a princeling. After learning about this, he immediately reported it to Emperor Taizong. Immediately afterwards, Meng Xian and others were executed, and Wang Yu was promoted to the Qianhu, Liaohaiwei for his merits.

This matter can be big or small, to put it in a big way, it is a rebellion, and at least it must be removed from the title and demoted to a commoner.

However, the then crown prince Zhu Gaochi couldn't bear to see his younger brother in trouble, so he tried his best to defend him. Zhu Gaosui took advantage of the situation to shake off all the blame on the people below and made his choices clean.

Zhu Di was unwilling to kill all his sons. In this case, the mastermind Meng Xian and thirteen others were killed. King Zhao Zhu Gaosui was only confined to his home for half a year and ordered him to study and develop his character and not go out.

This Meng Xian is Mei Linrong's brother-in-law.

The so-called killing of the three clans is Meng Xian’s wife, brothers and sisters and spouses;

The second clan is Meng Xian’s parents, uncles and their spouses;

The third clan is Meng Xian's children and their spouses.

Mei Linrong's concubine was Meng Xian's sister. According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, he was also among the three tribes.

For this reason, he almost spent all his family wealth and found countless relationships. Finally, he barely escaped from a forged divorce letter.

However, things are far from over.

In the officialdom, there is always a carrot and a pit. If you occupy a position, others will not be able to get up.

If you want to move up, there are only two possibilities: either rise or go down and give up the position.

Mei Linrong was implicated by this case, and it was impossible to move upwards, but there was a lot of room for going downwards!

If you don’t say anything else, just shake out the fact that you are Meng Xian’s brother-in-law, which is enough for you to bear.

In the end, Mei Linrong was transferred to Nanjing and stayed away from the center of power, and things gradually became calm.

Life in Nanjing became much more idle, so Mei Linrong bought a piece of land in the suburbs, planted plum blossoms, and built a small courtyard. He usually drank tea and chatted with his friends, and he was leisurely and comfortable.

Today, two important guests visited.

The first one is Yang Xiong, the protector of the White Lotus Sect.

The other is a handsome young man in his thirties, wearing a Confucian shirt.

No one would have thought that this person was a giant sea bandit that made people feel terrified, with three dragons sinking waves.

At this time, the curtain was raised, and Wang Qinghai hurried over and asked, "Master, are you looking for me?"

Mei Linrong nodded and said, "Tell me what you saw and heard in the capital to the two guests."

"Oh, OK!"

Wang Qinghai looked at the two guests, lowered his head halfway and said, "I sent Tan Jing to Gaoge Lao Mansion. When I was about to return, I heard that something happened in the capital, so I stayed for a few more days."

Yang Xiong raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's the matter?"

"According to rumors, the court is preparing to go to war with Annan Kingdom!"

"What did you find out in detail?"

"It is said that Annan and Chameng's country fought. The envoys of Chameng went thousands of miles to the capital and asked for assistance from the Ming Dynasty. Then the court sent the Prince of Jing'an to Annan to envoy Annan. I also heard that the soldiers and horses in Nanjing had to follow the Prince of Jing'an. What is this not a war?"

Yang Xiong and Chen Lang looked at each other, and the eyes of surprise appeared in their eyes.

Mei Linrong waved his hand and said, "Okay, you go down."

"yes!"

As soon as Wang Qinghai left, Yang Xiong couldn't help saying, "The court wants to move the troops in Nanjing, God is really helping me!"

Chen Lang smiled softly and said, "This is more than just a few. The number of people recruited by Huai'an Prefecture in charge of river management has exceeded 100,000."

"Okay, okay! If a hundred thousand people rebel, it will be enough for them to drink a pot!"

Yang Xiong stood up excitedly and continued, "At that time, the soldiers in Shandong will be busy going to Huai'an Prefecture to quell the rebellion. Our main force attacked Nanjing, and then the big thing will be accomplished!"

Chen Lang still looked calm and disgusted, and said, "Master Yang, I don't know when your leader will appear. It's time to talk about the important matter!"

Yang Xiong nodded and said, "Brother Chen, don't worry, brother, I'll go back and report to the leader!"

"Okay, I'll wait for the good news at any time!"

But after Wang Qinghai left the yard, he went around and came to a tea shed outside the city.

There are often past business travelers here. The stall owner is an honest middle-aged man, always smiling.

Wang Qinghai ordered a bowl of herbal tea, and the stall owner brought it over and said, "Do you want to order something else?"

"No……"

Immediately afterwards, he said in a low voice: "Meilinrong hosted two people in the suburbs' villa. They seemed to be very interested in the Prince Jing'an's mission to Annan."

The stall owner asked with a smile: "What are these two people's names? Have you ever been here before?"

Wang Qinghai picked up the tea bowl, glanced around, and saw that no one was paying attention, he continued, "I have seen it a few times before, but I don't know what it is. When working in the Mei family, you shouldn't ask too much."

"Okay, use it slowly!"

That night, a letter of information was sent to the Jinyiwei in Nanjing City, and then, he went to Huai'an Prefecture without stopping.

…………

Huaian Prefecture, Yellow River embankment.

The Yellow River, the mother river of the land of China, has been rushing thousands of miles long, and has seized the Huai River from Huai'an Prefecture and flowed into the Yellow Sea.

Because the Yellow River carries a large amount of silt when it flows through the Loess Plateau, the downstream water flow gradually slows down and silt deposits, resulting in silt and entering the rainy season, and a continuous and large-scale collapse occurs.

According to the memorial of Huai'an Prefecture, the yellow water is vast and rushing, with a water surface ranging from dozens of miles or even hundreds of miles. It is flooded, and there are vast oceans, villages and villages with half-exposed treetops and ridges. Even if they gradually dry up, they are all covered with mud and tender beaches, and people cannot stop.

After Wang Yonghe, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, came to Huai'an Prefecture, he immediately recruited more than 60,000 farmers to deal with the flood.

He was worried that in this way, he would have spent too much money and food, but he didn't expect that the emperor sent an imperial edict saying that 60,000 people were not enough, at least 100,000. As for money and food, there was no need to worry about it. As long as the river was managed well, it didn't matter how much money it was!

Along with the imperial edict, there was Yu Qian, a cabinet minister who had just returned from the Northern Expedition.

Wang Yonghe was not worried that Yu Qian would seize the merits. After all, it has been a waste of merits since ancient times.

If the treatment is done, you will naturally have to remember the results. But if it cannot be cured, it will cost a lot of money and food in vain. Even if the emperor does not issue a decree and blames it, it will not give you a good look.

However, when Yu Qian came, a series of operations shocked him.

First, a new edict was issued, and labor service became recruiting workers. It was originally free labor, but now not only pays wages, but also manages meals every day, but also repaid all the wages owed in front. For a moment, the people enthusiastically signed up.

Wang Yonghe had no objection to this move except to feel sorry for money and food.

After all, the money for river management was paid by the imperial court, and the money was not enough for you to spend. If you want, just spend it.

However, the next article made him puzzled.

From the civilians of each team, select the well-dressed people and form the Cuju team, and play a game every ten days.

In addition, a silver reward was established, with the first place being rewarded with 200 taels of silver, the second place being rewarded with 100 taels of silver, and the third place being rewarded with 50 taels of silver.

Wang Yonghe was confused, what does this mean?

When I get the Cuju competition, do you think the construction period is too long?

How much construction period will be wasted? How much money will be wasted?

He once tried to talk about this with Yu Qian, but Yu Qian was very determined, and the general meaning was that you just do what I said, and there was no need to ask so much.

Wang Yonghe was also helpless. Whoever made his official position bigger than him had to follow what he said.

However, he quietly wrote a memorial, describing Yu Qian's Cuju competition on site in Zhihe, and wasting money and food, and sent him back to the capital.

In this way, the emperor will pursue it later. It is because you, Yu Qian, insisted on your own initiative. I have advised you, whether you listen or not is your business.

Therefore, when Zhu Qizhen and his group arrived at Huai'an Prefecture, they were stunned by the scene in front of them.

It was ten days of the day, but the huge river marching site did not start, but was watching the Cuju competition.

The scene was unprecedentedly grand, comparable to the World Cup scene in later generations.

Zhu Qizhen mingled in the crowd and watched for a while, but couldn't see what it meant.

Cuju is somewhat similar to football in later generations. It is also a group of people playing one football, which means that the rules of the game are different.

Li You of the Eastern Han Dynasty explained the "Jucheng Ming": "The round and square walls are like yin and yang. The law and moon are in conflict, and two and six are in harmony. The establishment of the eldest son is in harmony. There are common examples: do not rely on closeness and distantness, and there is no private matter; do not blame others for their own thoughts. Ju Zheng is still the same, let alone the commander!"

The general rule is to erect a three-meter-high club in the center of the court, with the upper goal diameter about one foot, which is called Fengliuyan. Twelve or sixteen people in each team are called Ball Head, Xiao Ball, Zheng Ke, Head Hold, Left Rod Net, Right Rod Net, Sanli, etc. During the game, the whistle and drum are horns. The left army members first kick the ball, smash the ball several times and then pass it to the deputy captain. The deputy captain waits for the ball to be upright and steady, and then pass it to the captain. The captain kicks the ball towards Fengliuyan, and the kick is counted as a score.

Then there is the right army serving, and the whole process is the same. At the end, the winner is determined based on the number of balls passed.
To be continued...