Royal Palace.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

"What is this?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the neatly arranged rows of wooden blocks in the box with a puzzled look on his face.

"This thing is called Mahjong, and it is the best choice for spending time in your spare time."

Hu Fei smiled and pointed at the wooden blocks in the box. As he spoke, he reached out and opened the wooden blocks one by one, revealing different patterns.

"What are these rules, circles, and numbers? Why are there birds and animals?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the dazzling array of patterns and asked doubtfully, his curiosity aroused little by little.

"Patterns like this are indeed called bars. If there are several bars, they are called several bars. These circles are called tubes. If there are several, they are called several tubes. These numbers are called ten thousand. The number written on them is called "several bars".

It’s tens of thousands, the one with a frame is called a whiteboard, and the one with pictures of birds and animals is called the God of Wealth..."

Immediately afterwards, Hu Fei pointed to the pieces of mahjong in the box and introduced them to Zhu Yuanzhang one by one. Zhu Yuanzhang was very excited and curious as he listened.

"These wooden blocks can be collectively called wooden tiles, and after these wooden tiles are combined, an interesting gameplay can be performed. This gameplay can be called playing cards or playing mahjong."

After introducing the card types, Hu Fei continued to say with a smile.

"Then how can we play? How about we play a game?"

Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated and asked expectantly.

"My son, I can teach you, but if you want to play it, you need four people."

Hu Fei smiled and said.

"Pang Yuhai, I'm counting you, there's still one left to go, go get someone to come and fight with me for a while."

Zhu Yuanzhang immediately turned to look at Pang Yuhai, who was also at a loss next to him, and said loudly.

Pang Yuhai agreed and hurriedly went out to find a young eunuch to come in.

So, Hu Fei took three mahjong novices and sat down together and started his first mahjong teaching in the Ming Dynasty.

As time went by, from a confused look on his face to gradually mastering the routine, he finally couldn't put it down. Zhu Yuanzhang was immersed in it and enjoyed himself.

After a long time, until his legs became numb from sitting, Zhu Yuanzhang gave up and declared the end.

"Does your father like it?"

Hu Fei looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still unfinished, and asked with a smile.

"Yes, it's extremely interesting. It's extremely interesting. Only you can come up with this kind of thing. What are you thinking about? How did you come up with it?"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Hu Fei, nodded with satisfaction, and said with approval.

"My son, I also had a sudden idea, as long as my father likes it."

"In addition, I have decided to make more of these things and distribute them to almshouses in various places, so as to find a way to entertain the old people living there. When the time comes, my father is in the palace, and he can also be with me.

The people are happy together."

"Actually, this thing is no different from playing chess. There are rules to follow, including winning, losing, and competing."

Hu Fei smiled and said slowly.

"Not bad."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, touched the mahjong on the table, and said with approval. From the beginning to the end, the smile on his face never disappeared.

From backgammon, to military chess, to mahjong, Hu Fei has created almost all the chess and card games he knows, except for cards.

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's loving look on his face, Hu Fei was also very happy. The thoughts he had spent recently were not wasted.

After staying for a while, Hu Fei said goodbye to Zhu Yuanzhang and left the Yangxin Hall.

As soon as Hu Fei left, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still unfinished, asked Pang Yuhai to call two young eunuchs and continue playing with Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the next few days, Hu Fei had many pairs of mahjong made and placed in almshouses. He also sent the production methods and gameplay to almshouses across the country.

It didn’t take long before Mahjong gradually became an entertainment for people to spend their time in their spare time, and the word “playing Mahjong” gradually spread among the people.

Time flies, and the capital city calms down again. Hu Fei's second New Year's Eve here is about to come.

But this kind of tranquility seems to never last long. Although it has the appearance of a prosperous age, it will never last long.

...

Half a month later.

At this time, it was less than a month before the New Year's Day, and the entire capital city began to become lively as in previous years. Every household in the city was smiling and waiting for the arrival of the New Year's Day.

But Hu Fei couldn't laugh because there was something he still didn't understand.

Princess Mansion.

In the study room in the front yard.

Hu Fei sat on a chair, looking at the messages sent back from the north, frowning slightly.

Several months have passed since he left the northern border, but Bei Yuan's pursuit has not happened yet, which is very abnormal.

He didn't believe that Bei Yuan would choose to let him go so easily, so the calmer he was, the more he felt that something was going to happen.

"Notify the brothers in the north that the Chinese New Year is coming. They have worked hard, but I am afraid they will not be able to withdraw for the time being and will have to stay in the north to celebrate the new year."

"Count the number of people and give them two more months of monthly payment. Don't treat them badly."

After pondering for a moment, Hu Fei destroyed the information, turned to look at Pei Jie standing aside, and said in a deep voice.

"yes!"

Pei Jie nodded and agreed respectfully.

At this moment, the sound of footsteps came, and Chundie appeared at the door of the study.

"Master, the master is here."

Chundie bowed her hands and said softly.

After hearing what Chundie said, Hu Fei was stunned for a moment, and glanced at the darkening sky, with a trace of doubt on his face.

Soon, Hu Weiyong stepped forward and walked into the study.

"What happened?"

Looking at Hu Weiyong's slightly solemn expression, Hu Fei asked doubtfully.

"It's nothing serious, I just came to give you a few words."

Hu Weiyong glanced at Pei Jie and Chundie and said slowly.

"You guys go down first."

Hu Fei waved his hands towards Pei Jie and the two of them, and while talking, he invited Hu Weiyong to sit down.

"What's going on?"

Hu Fei looked at Hu Weiyong and continued to ask.

He could tell that Hu Weiyong had something on his mind.

"Not long ago, I received news that the Japanese delegation had entered the Ming Dynasty and was on its way to the capital."

Hu Weiyong glanced at Hu Fei and said slowly.

"Come just come. In the past month, they are not the only delegation that has come to Beijing. Is there any problem?"

Hu Fei frowned and asked in confusion.

The New Year is approaching, and missions from surrounding countries have come to Beijing to pay tribute. After the missions arrive in Beijing, Jin Yiwei will assist the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites to receive them.

However, Han Jiang was basically responsible for these matters, and Hu Fei did not interfere too much.

"What you don't know is that the Japanese country is different from other countries. Although they also have contacts with the Ming Dynasty, they do not really surrender to the Ming Dynasty. Japanese pirates have been rampant along the southeast coast all year round, but the Japanese country has never governed them and only dealt with them perfunctorily."

"Your Majesty is very angry about this, so he doesn't have a good impression of the Japanese country. Although they send people to pay tribute to the court every year, your Majesty doesn't really want to pay attention to it."

"However, in order to maintain good relations with neighboring countries, we still have to accept the Japanese mission to Beijing. Although in recent years, even if the Japanese mission comes to Beijing, His Majesty only receives them and does not accept tribute, but it is always a troublesome matter."

Hu Weiyong frowned and said slowly.

"Although I don't know about the tribute paid by the Japanese mission, I have heard about the Japanese people. They are a group of frogs in the well who don't know it. They are arrogant and arrogant. They often act like villains and are definitely not good people."

Hu Fei curled his lips and said disdainfully.

"If my guess is correct, this time when the Japanese delegation comes to Beijing, you Jin Yiwei should be there to help receive and protect it. No matter what, we can't let the delegation get into trouble in the capital. It's best to let Han Jiang come forward. If you can avoid

Then avoid it.”

"Otherwise, I'm worried that with your temper, you will have unnecessary conflicts with the mission, so as not to cause trouble."

Hu Weiyong looked at Hu Fei and warned patiently.

"For overseas barbarian countries, if they cause trouble to China, they must not refuse to punish them; if they do not suffer from China, they must not raise their own troops at will."

"This is the diplomatic strategy set by His Majesty. As far as I know, the Japanese country is also among the countries that cannot be conquered, right?"
To be continued...