Zhu Di closed his eyes, waiting for the storm of curses from Zhu Yuanzhang.
There was only one person he was afraid of in his life, and that was his own father. Every time he was in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, he would tremble with fear, like a child who had done something wrong.
Everyone has a weak side, and Zhu Di is no exception.
In the eyes of outsiders, he was the arrogant and domineering King of Yan and the majestic Emperor. But in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, he was just the fourth child of the Zhu family.
However, what Zhu Di was waiting for was not Zhu Yuanzhang's anger, but a warm hug, which gave his tired body a long-lost comfort, as soft as embracing the sun.
"Fourth brother, I'm sorry for you." Zhu Yuanzhang said softly, "Dad has seen it. You have done everything you can do, and you have tried your best."
The corners of Zhu Di's old eyes were slightly moist, and his heart that had been cold for many years was melted at this moment. He choked and said: "Dad, I am not bitter."
The corners of Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth raised with a kind smile, and his body gradually became unreal.
…
"father!"
Zhu Di suddenly opened his eyes and gasped for air. He looked around hurriedly, but did not see the familiar figure. He only saw the empty Qianqing Palace, a glorious and cold palace.
Beside his pillow, there was a saber that he couldn't find no matter how hard he looked for it.
"emperor!"
The great eunuch Tang Cheng and the guard general Fan Zhong rushed into the palace and immediately saw His Majesty the Emperor, who looked a little strange.
"Where is Emperor Taizu?" Zhu Di asked, "Has any of you seen my father?"
What the hell?
Your father, Taizu Emperor Gao?
Zhu Yuanzhang?
How many years have you been dead?
Tang Cheng and Fan Zhong looked at each other, feeling a little ridiculous, thinking that His Majesty the Emperor was ill again.
"Quick! Find it! My father is here, Emperor Taizu was talking to me just now!" Zhu Di's eyes were filled with bloodshot eyes.
This also makes the chief eunuch and the guard general feel helpless. Where can we find an emperor for you?
Throw Zhu Yuanzhang's bones out of Xiaoling Mausoleum? That won’t work either. After so many years of death, he probably only has a handful of bones left!
"Long live my lord, it must have been Taizu who entrusted you with a dream just now, right?" Tang Cheng asked with some uncertainty.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Zhu Di was in a daze, "How could it be a dream? My father was hugging me just now, and when I told him about King Qi, he was still smiling at me. It's so real, how could it be a dream?"
Tang Cheng was a little helpless: "Your Majesty, Emperor Taizu has returned to the Nine Heavens. The laws of heaven do not say that he can still visit relatives in this situation. How about... you can go to the imperial mausoleum to ask when you have time?"
Zhu Di rubbed his sore eyebrows, and for a moment he couldn't tell whether he was in a dream or reality.
"Fan Zhong, please step aside and let Tang Cheng stay and talk to me for a while." Zhu Di's voice was a little hoarse.
Fan Zhong clasped his fists: "No!"
…
Zhu Di sat on the couch and took a sip of the tea handed to him by Tang Cheng. It took him a long time to wake up.
"I just dreamed about Emperor Taizu. He scolded me bloody. He was talking about how unbearable the emperors who criticized the prince's lineage were after I passed the throne to the prince." Zhu Di said solemnly.
Tang Cheng consoled him: "Long live my lord, dreams come from the opposite direction. Emperor Taizu is here to thank you."
"Is it a dream or reality? I know it in my heart."
Zhu Di suddenly looked at Tang Cheng, his eyes as fierce as tigers and wolves, "Tang Cheng, please tell me the truth. What do you think of the fact that I want to establish King Qi as the crown prince?"
It is no longer a secret in the capital that the emperor wants to depose the prince and establish King Qi. Everyone is discussing it with suspicion.
The prince and grandson were imprisoned in the East Palace for several months, with no intention of release. The people in the East Palace were withering away in the court, but the Qi King's party was unscathed. Isn't this a precursor to the establishment of King Qi!
Tang Cheng hesitated for a moment, he really didn't want to answer the emperor's question.
Since ancient times, those who wanted to interfere with the dethronement of the crown prince in the prosperous times mostly had no good end. Many people even suffered disaster because the emperor wanted to depose the crown prince.
For example, General Lan Yu, Duke of Liang in the Hongwu Dynasty, and Prince Yiwen Zhu Biao showed off their power when they were alive. When Zhu Biao died, Lan Yu's ashes were scattered by Zhu Yuanzhang.
Xie Jin, the chief minister of the current cabinet, is still in Zhao Prison because he was too deeply involved in the establishment of the crown prince.
As the saying goes, accompanying an emperor is like accompanying a tiger. Tang Cheng was able to stay in the palace for many years and was highly valued by the emperor. In addition to his high emotional intelligence, it was mostly because he never participated in the party struggle for the right to inherit the throne and was able to live alone.
But what Zhu Di asked now was too straightforward. It was the topic that Tang Cheng was most afraid of. If he said the wrong thing, he might be doomed!
Tang Cheng thought for a moment and then said: "I am ignorant and dare not discuss it randomly. However, Your Majesty is wise and clear about deposing the crown prince. Who should be deposed and who should be replaced? This is the foundation of this country. No one except Your Majesty is qualified to say it. If anyone speaks out. , he must be harboring evil intentions and should be executed!"
Seeing Tang Cheng kicking the ball back to him, Zhu Di said impatiently: "I tell you to say it, so you say it. I forgive you."
The emperor's patience has been exhausted. If he continues to practice Tai Chi like this, it will not be fun to make Zhu Di anxious.
Tang Cheng knew that he had no way out, and he felt cruel. He simply said frankly without caring about anything: "Your Majesty asked, I don't dare not to say it. I only want to say one thing, when it comes to prowess, power, and people's hearts, looking at the Ming Dynasty today, Who can compare with King Qi?"
"In terms of prowess, can the King of Han, who was previously highly expected by the military, compare to King Qi?"
"In terms of power and strategy, can King Zhao, who excels in his schemes, compare to King Qi?"
"In terms of people's hearts, how does the fallen prince compare with King Qi?"
"If Your Majesty wants to find Lord Shoucheng to succeed you, I dare not say anything nonsense, because both the Crown Prince and King Qi are Lord Shoucheng. But if Your Majesty wants the Ming Dynasty to expand its territory and make achievements in the future, the Prince is far away Not as good as King Qi!"
"The prince's line has won the support of the civil servants, but how can the civil servants conquer the world? On the contrary, King Qi can control the generals and their descendants. With such a magnificent foundation, this is the image of a heroic ruler!"
What Tang Cheng said had blown King Qi to the sky. If Zhu Di wanted to accuse him of this, Tang Cheng had nothing to say. He was just seeking truth from facts. This was the truth Zhu Di forced him to tell.
After Zhu Di listened, he fell into deep thought.
Tang Cheng felt much relieved when he saw His Majesty the Emperor's behavior. At least he didn't show any anger.
After saying these words, Tang Cheng was ready to be eaten by his family.
But now it seems that Zhu Di did not get angry immediately, which means that what he said was not a big mistake.
"Tang Cheng."
Hearing the emperor's voice, Tang Cheng bowed his head respectfully: "My servant is here, what are your orders?"
Zhu Di looked at Tang Cheng with complicated eyes: "You are right, I am getting old, Ming Dynasty needs a young backbone, and King Qi is the most suitable candidate."
Tang Cheng was greatly shocked. The emperor's words had already determined the crown prince. I'm afraid it won't be long before the announcement comes from the court that the crown prince will be abolished and he will be crowned King Qi.
He recalled that more than ten years ago, in the Prince Yan's Mansion in Beiping City, under the tree, the docile young man who looked frail and frail, with soft black hair half-covering his warm peach blossom eyes, looked like a child when he smiled. The warmest ray of light in spring.
That docile young man has now grown into the prince of the empire, rebelliously taking over the power!
That young man’s name is King Qi!
…
"kill!"
On the pale Beiguan wasteland, Zhu Gaojie was wearing black armor, holding a cold rein in his left hand, and holding a barrier knife in his right hand. With a roar like an angry dragon, he led the tiger, leopard and wolf cavalry behind him and rushed towards the Haixi Jurchen coalition. Camp!
The soldiers of the Northern Expedition Army were in high spirits and couldn't help but roar loudly. The last prince to lead the battle was the King of Yan, Zhu Di, thirteen years ago!
Looking at the radiant young general, all the soldiers of the Ming army seemed to be paying homage to the gods!
Look!
This is our prince of Ming Dynasty!
High-spirited, brave and good at fighting!
How can the royal family and nobles who can't stand the bitter cold outside the Great Wall in the greenhouse compare to this Tianhuang nobleman who roars with rage on the battlefield!
The Jurchens were startled by the menacing Ming army. They thought they were evil spirits crawling out from the underworld in front of them, but they were trembling in their hearts even though they were far away.
"Don't be afraid! The Ming troops are all paper tigers. They can also howl. Follow my orders and kill these Ming troops!"
The Jurchen general realized that something was wrong. How could he give up before the fight started? He quickly shouted to boost morale.
"Yes, the Ming army is all paper tigers, don't be afraid! Charge! Charge, charge... I will withdraw first..."
Seeing the Ming army getting closer and closer, some Jurchens were already numb, turned their horses and ran away.
Once a person escapes from the battle, it will trigger a large-scale rout. The Jurchen generals were shocked to find that before the official collision, their own troops had already begun to charge in the opposite direction!
Damn it, how can you fight like this!
"Surrender! Surrender!"
The Jurchen generals had a strong desire to survive and directly took the lead in the rebellion.
As long as I rebel quickly enough, I will not be the defeated general, but the hero!
(End of chapter)
