The Merits of Zhu Di

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath. After recovering his composure, he continued to ask, "So, which vassal king ultimately seized Zhu Yunwen's empire?"

"In the first year of Jianwen, Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, used the pretext of 'clearing the emperor's side of evil ministers.' He led eight hundred of his mansion guards in Beiping, shouting the slogan of carrying out heaven's will to pacify the rebellion. He claimed he wanted to eradicate the treacherous officials Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng from the side of the Jianwen Emperor, citing the ancestral injunction: 'When there are no righteous ministers in the court and treacherous rebels within, one must raise an army to punish them.'"

"It was actually Lao Si?"

Although Zhu Yuanzhang had suspected as much, he still couldn't hold back his astonishment upon finally learning the truth. Then, he frowned and said, "Eight hundred guards? How did he dare? And with only eight hundred men, what could he possibly do?"

"Could it be that Lao Si only started it, and other vassal kings followed suit, so the one who ultimately took Yunwen's empire wasn't Lao Si, but someone else?" Empress Ma asked.

Jiang Yanran shook her head. "Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, is the first person in history to raise an army as a vassal king, successfully seize the throne, and be crowned emperor."

"Lao Si actually became the emperor?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned deeply. "In other words, he is the Yongle Emperor? And he was the one who erased the Jianwen era name?"

"Exactly."

Jiang Yanran nodded. "The great Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di, Ming Cheng... uh, Emperor Taizong of Ming. Speaking of which, many people in our later generations like to compare him with Second Uncle."

She looked at Li Shimin.

Hearing this, Li Shimin went numb.

Compare what?

Compare how they both had the temple name Taizong, and both became emperor through rebellion?

"No! I inherited the throne in the proper order of succession!" Li Shimin retorted.

"You know best whether it was the proper order or not."

Jiang Yanran smiled. "You see, this is why people of later generations like to compare you two. The Yongle Emperor, just like you, claimed he was the rightful successor. In the year he ascended the throne, he ordered the 'fourth year of Jianwen' to be changed to the 'thirty-fifth year of Hongwu,' thereby declaring that he was directly inheriting the throne from Emperor Taizu, Zhu Yuanzhang."

Hearing this, Li Shimin almost coughed up blood.

"This rebellious son! The thirty-fifth year of Hongwu? Rightful succession? When I get back, I will definitely beat him to death!" Zhu Yuanzhang was also furious.

"Chongba, calm down. These are all things that happened in history."

Empress Ma quickly tried to soothe him, then looked at Jiang Yanran. "Girl, after Lao Si successfully took the throne, he must have done a decent job, right? Otherwise, why would your later generations call him 'the Great'? And even compare him to Emperor Taizong of Tang."

"How could you just call it decent? It was exceptionally outstanding."

Jiang Yanran gave high recognition and praise, saying, "He perfected the cabinet system. On the basis of abolishing the chancellery, he established the Grand Secretariat as an advisory body to the emperor, forming the prototype of the cabinet system for later generations and improving administrative efficiency."

"Militarily, he established the Nurgan Regional Military Commission, set up the Hami Garrison, conquered Annam, and personally led five military expeditions into the Gobi Desert. He is the first and only emperor in history to perform the Fengshan sacrifices at Mount Langjuxu."

"What? Little Zhu Di! He actually performed sacrifices at Mount Langjuxu? And he personally led the expeditions as emperor! Five times!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was greatly shocked, his eyes full of astonishment, yet seemingly carrying a trace of pride within.

Beside him, Li Shimin felt his blood boil with excitement as he listened.

Jiang Yanran continued, "He dredged the Grand Canal, moved the capital to Beiping, and ordered Zheng He to make seven voyages to the Western Seas, opening a maritime Silk Road. He displayed the national prestige of the Great Ming, bringing ten thousand nations to pay tribute and creating the prosperous Yongle era."

"Culturally, he compiled the Yongle Encyclopedia, gathering ancient and modern texts totaling twenty-two thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven scrolls, making it the world's largest encyclopedia at the time."

...

Listening to Jiang Yanran list Zhu Di's achievements one by one, it would definitely be a lie to say that Zhu Yuanzhang, Li Shimin, and the others weren't shocked.

"I didn't expect Lao Si to have such achievements. It seems that when we go back, I can go a little easier on him when I whip him," Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Zhu Chongba, if you dare lay a hand on Lao Si, I won't let you hear the end of it!"

Empress Ma said angrily, "He achieved so much; as his father, you should be proud."

"I am very proud, but this brat ultimately rose to power through rebellion. Even if we overlook that, he actually dared to claim he was the rightful successor! That's what annoys me the most."

"Alright, let's stop discussing this for now. Have you had enough to eat?"

At this moment, Qin Ning spoke up, "If you're full, let's head back to the Great Ming first. Don't forget that it is currently the eleventh year of Hongwu, and Crown Princess Chang is about to give birth."

"Right, right, right!"

Hearing this, Empress Ma hastily stood up. "Sir, please take us back quickly. Girl Chang is about to give birth. This time, we must protect her. No matter what, we cannot let anything happen to her."

"Sister, don't panic just yet. They just said that Girl Chang suffered from postpartum hemorrhage..."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, then looked at Qin Ning and said, "Sir, your magical abilities are incredible. You even cured my sister's illness. I beg you, you must help Girl Chang, as well as my eldest grandson and my Biao'er..."

"Rest assured."

Qin Ning smiled and waved his hand. "These are all minor issues."

With that said, he prepared to take Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma back to the Hongwu era. Zhu Xiongying would stay here, where he could also be a playmate for Little Sizi.

Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun walked over. "Sir, could you bring me and Guanyinbi along as well? We also want to go see this so-called iron-blooded Great Ming."

"Of course." Qin Ning nodded, and with a wave of his hand, a curtain of light enveloped Empress Zhangsun and Li Shimin.

Immediately after, under the watchful eyes of Qin Fei, Li Lizhi, and the others, they finally vanished from the spot.

...

The eleventh year of Hongwu.

Inside the Imperial Study.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao yawned as he reviewed the memorials.

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, the space in front of him vibrated slightly.

Then, Qin Ning appeared out of thin air, bringing Zhu Yuanzhang, Li Shimin, and the others with him.

"Imperial Father!"

Zhu Biao was startled at first. It was only after recognizing Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma that he breathed a sigh of relief and went up to greet them. "Imperial Father, Imperial Mother, how did you return so quickly?"

"We just went to have a meal. Did you expect us to spend the night there?"

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke, then glanced at Zhu Biao. Seeing the exhaustion written all over his face, he quickly added, "Biao'er, go get some rest. Your health is what matters most. From now on, you are only allowed to work for a maximum of two shichen a day. Things will be better once I establish the Grand Secretariat."

"Imperial Father, I am fine, just a little sleepy. However, what is this Grand Secretariat you mentioned?" At this moment, Zhu Biao was still holding a memorial in his hand, but his face showed confusion.

"This matter... is a long story."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed. He did not explain the matter of the Grand Secretariat, but instead informed Zhu Biao about his own impending death.

"What?!"

Upon learning that he would actually die in the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu, Zhu Biao was first greatly shocked, and then he angrily tore the memorial in his hand in half and fiercely threw it to the ground. "In other words... as the Crown Prince, I worked so hard for so many years, and in the end, not only was I literally worked to death, but I never even got to be emperor for a single day?"