Chapter 59 Emperor Chengzu of Ming

A few days passed in a flash.

During these few days, the emperors issued a series of orders, arranging tasks according to the information obtained from the sky. Some were to make up for the previous deficiencies, and some were to open up new areas. The court officials were also busy and dizzy because of this. In addition to being busy, some people had to worry about their own safety, which was really stressful.

And just as the emperors were waiting and others were busy, the sky fell again.

【Ding Dong——Welcome to watch the historical live broadcast】

[The theme of this issue is: Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty]

Ming Dynasty, the 16th year of Yongle.

Zhu Di, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, and a group of ministers looked at the sky curtain. (Zhu Gaoxu had been forced to become a vassal at this time)
Zhu Di felt quite guilty, towards his father, elder brother and himself in other worlds. Although he did not regret it, his elder brother was still very good, and when the truth was revealed, he would probably be beaten in other worlds.

Listening to the miracle telling about his title "Ming Renzong's Great General of the Northern Expedition", he was a little confused, "Who is this Ming Renzong? I became his Great General of the Northern Expedition?"

The ministers below were all silent.

Han Dynasty, the first year of Yuanshuo.

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, was in the palace, watching the sky curtain with civil and military officials.

Looking at the contents on the sky screen, his focus was different from others. "Conqueror of Mobei?" His eyes lit up. "I also want to conquer the Huns of Mobei!"

Song.

"Mobei," Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin murmured, "It seems that the Ming Dynasty has unified the world."

[Okay, I won’t keep you in suspense anymore.] Tianmu’s voice became more serious.

[Emperor Taizong of Ming, Emperor Chengzu of Ming, and the famous Emperor Yongle are all Judy!

In short, Zhu Di, the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, was granted the title of Prince of Yan and was enfeoffed in Beiping. In May of the 31st year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang passed away, and his grandson Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, with the reign title of Jianwen. In July of the first year of Jianwen, Zhu Di started an army in the name of "pacifying the rebellion", and in June of the fourth year of Jianwen, he captured Nanjing, and then ascended the throne and changed the reign title to Yongle, becoming the Ming Taizong, the Yongle Emperor.

Ming Dynasty, the 13th year of Hongwu.

"..." The hall fell into silence for a moment.

“…” Seeing that the situation was not good, Zhu Di subconsciously hid behind his elder brother Zhu Biao.

"Get out of here! Stop hiding behind your big brother!" Zhu Yuanzhang looked ferocious, and he grabbed a whisk and asked, "How did you ascend the throne?"

Zhu Di would never show his face. "I don't know, Dad, but I can't possibly rebel against my elder brother. How could I?" Having said that, he was also confused. If I hadn't rebelled, how could I have ascended the throne? It couldn't be that something had happened to my elder brother, right?

At this time, I heard another miracle saying that Taizu passed away, Taisun ascended the throne, and then Zhu Di rebelled... ?
Hmm? My father passed away? Zhu Di thought again, I rebelled?
"Dad!" Zhu Biao had no time to protect Zhu Di at this time. He walked towards Zhu Yuanzhang immediately, full of worry.

"Hey! Don't worry! After thirty-five years, your father is already over seventy years old, which is good enough!" Zhu Yuanzhang said this, but he was very happy in his heart, "It's rare for a person to live to seventy, and life was so hard back then. I'm satisfied that he can live to this age."

Zhu Biao agreed, but was still quite worried.

"However, Fourth Brother," Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Di, who no longer had Zhu Biao's protection, "you still rebelled!"

Several younger brothers were watching the fun, and Zhu Di hurriedly asked, "Dad, how come it's the grandson who ascended the throne? And, isn't Yunwen the second child in the eldest brother's family?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. Yes, could it be that Biao'er was in trouble? And Xiongying was also in trouble? Otherwise, how could it be Yunwen's turn?
Turning around, “Even if it’s Yunwen, you’re still a rebel!”

Zhu Biao held Zhu Yuanzhang back and said, "Dad, my fourth brother is not that kind of person. Maybe something went wrong at that time."

The early years of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Bang narrowed his eyes and said, "The vassal kings are rebelling..." He couldn't help but think of Han Xin.

Han Dynasty, the first year of Yuanshuo.

Emperor Wu of Han sneered: "This is the consequence of not reducing the power of the vassal states. I will also find a way to get rid of the vassal kings of the Han Dynasty."

Lord Father Yan stood among the ministers and did not speak.

Qin Dynasty.

"Enfeoffment will indeed lead to unrest." Ying Zheng said, "It seems that abolishing enfeoffment and implementing the county system is indeed the right thing to do."

Li Si bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty is right."

Song.

Zhao Kuangyin also expressed similar feelings when looking at the miracle.

"So we must suppress the power of military commanders and not let ministers control the military power," Zhao Guangyi agreed. "Otherwise, even if there is no rebellion by the vassal kings, there will still be the rebellion of the vassal states during the Tang Dynasty."

[In fact, Zhu Di's uprising was the inevitable result of multiple factors.

First of all, a very critical factor was the death of Hongwu Crown Prince Zhu Biao. 】

"!" Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care about beating Zhu Di anymore. He turned around and held Zhu Biao's hand tightly, calling the imperial physician. Empress Ma also came into the hall and held Zhu Biao's other hand. Zhu Di and his brothers also surrounded him worriedly. Zhu Biao still had a good relationship with them.

[Zhu Biao, the eldest son of Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, was also the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.

Throughout history, Zhu Biao can be said to be the prince with the most stable position, no doubt about it.

When Zhu Biao was born, his father Zhu Yuanzhang was leading his army to attack Jiqing. After receiving the report, Zhu Yuanzhang excitedly carved a stone on a local mountain and said: "Anyone who comes to this mountain will not worry about having an heir." In the sixth year of Longfeng, he asked famous Confucian scholars such as Song Lian to teach him classics and receive formal Confucian education.

In the tenth year of Longfeng, Zhu Yuanzhang proclaimed himself the King of Wu in Yingtian Prefecture and appointed Zhu Biao as the heir apparent. After Zhu Yuanzhang became emperor, he immediately appointed Zhu Biao as the crown prince.

As for Zhu Biao's team, it can be said that he shared the same team with Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang "selected meritorious and mature people to lead the East Palace and guide the prince". They included Left Prime Minister Li Shanchang, Right Prime Minister Xu Da, Zhongshu Pingzhanglu Junguoshi Chang Yuchun and others. At the same time, he did not set up other officials outside the East Palace. The intention was that when Zhu Yuanzhang was away on a campaign, the prince would supervise the country and facilitate the assistance of the generals and prime ministers.

At the same time, Zhu Biao also had a good relationship with his brothers. Zhu Biao mediated and interceded for the mistakes of his brothers, including Qin Wang Zhu Chong, Jin Wang Zhu Gang, Yan Wang Zhu Di, and Zhou Wang Zhu Su, so that they could avoid punishment. Before Zhu Biao died, he also interceded for Qin Wang Zhu Chong, and Zhu Yuanzhang released Zhu Chong back to his fiefdom.

The early years of the Han Dynasty.

Lü Zhi looked at the scenes in the sky and couldn't help but feel ironic. This Ming prince was born and raised in his father's expectation and love, but what about herself and her children? Not to mention sharing the same team with his father and exercising the power of regent, they were facing the danger of being deposed at any time, and their status was shaky.

Liu Bang! Although there was Lady Qi, Lu Zhi knew very well what Lady Qi was. The most fundamental reason was Liu Bang himself, who wanted to abolish the crown prince. Therefore, she needed power, more power, to keep Ying'er as the crown prince. Han Dynasty, the first year of Yuanshuo.

Liu Che watched the story of Zhu Biao being told on the sky curtain, and thought of his son who had just been born. He laughed heartily: "My son will definitely be like the Hongwu Crown Prince Zhu Biao! I can understand the feelings of the Ming Taizu. My son was born in my expectation, and he will be the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty in the future!"

All the ministers bowed and said yes in unison.

Many people secretly cast their envious eyes towards the newly-minted Guannei Hou Wei Qing. He will soon be the prince's in-laws, what a great honor and benefit! Oh, and there is also Huo Qubing, Wei Qing's nephew and the future prince's cousin. The Han family values ​​in-laws, and with such an identity, they will have a good future in the future, not to mention that these two people are now quite favored by His Majesty.

Tang Dynasty, the eighth year of Wude.

Crown Prince Li Jiancheng looked at this with a gloomy look in his eyes. Was he loved and trusted by his father? Was he loved and supported by his brothers? He had none of them. All he had was the position of crown prince, and, he looked at Emperor Gaozu Li Yuan, the throne...

Tang Dynasty, the fifth year of Zhenguan.

Li Shimin and Empress Changsun sat together, Crown Prince Li Chengqian, Prince of Yue Li Tai, and Princess Changle Li Lizhi sat on one side, and the ministers sat below them.

Li Shimin looked at Li Chengqian and said gently, "Gao Ming, you must also be friendly to your brothers and sisters in the future. Ye Ye believes that you will be the best prince."

Li Chengqian nodded seriously: "Yeah, I know."

Li Tai also came over and said, "Don't worry, Yeye, mother, I will work hard with my brother."

Princess Changle Li Lizhi smiled and pulled Empress Changsun's sleeve.

[However, all this cannot defeat the ruthlessness of fate.

In the 25th year of Hongwu, Zhu Biao inspected Xi'an. After returning to the capital (Nanjing), he contracted a disease and died of illness on April 25. He was posthumously named Prince Yiwen.

After his death, the core of the Ming Dynasty began to collapse.

At this time, during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang was busy asking the imperial physician to examine Zhu Biao's body.

Hearing the words in the miracle, she couldn't help but feel sad and burst into tears, "Twenty-five years! You are not even forty years old yet, how dare you let me, an old man with gray hair, send you off when you are young!" Queen Ma was also crying beside her.

Seeing his parents in such a state, Zhu Biao also shed tears.

[Before this, we need to know that Crown Princess Chang had passed away in the 11th year of Hongwu, and the eldest grandson of the Eastern Palace Zhu Xiongying died in the 15th year of Hongwu, and Zhu Yuanzhang's first wife, Empress Ma, also died of illness in the 15th year of Hongwu.

Under this circumstance, Zhu Yuanzhang chose to make Zhu Yunwen, the second grandson of the Eastern Palace, the crown prince, and launched a court massacre for this purpose. This court massacre was also one of the reasons why Zhu Di succeeded in his later rebellion.

Then, Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne and the reign title was Jianwen. The most critical factors began to emerge from this time. 】

"Mom!" Zhu Biao, Zhu Di and others shouted. It was only two years after they heard the miracle say that Empress Ma had passed away. They saw Empress Ma staggering because of the news of Zhu Biao and Zhu Xiongying's death, and they couldn't help but worry.

Zhu Yuanzhang also immediately supported Empress Ma, helped her sit on a chair beside him, and asked the imperial physician to take her pulse.

Seeing that Empress Ma's complexion was gradually improving, Zhu Di looked at Zhu Biao and said, "Brother, how could our nephew die suddenly?" As the eldest grandson, Zhu Xiongying was the first heir to the Eastern Palace. Moreover, his maternal grandfather was Chang Yuchun and his great-uncle was Lan Yu. His political power was very strong.

"I don't know." Zhu Biao frowned, "Xiong Ying's body doesn't look to be in any problem now."

"Don't worry about it," Zhu Yuanzhang heard the conversation between the two and waved his hand, "Let the imperial physician check on Xiongying first, and keep an imperial physician on hand in the future to strengthen his health."

The ministers were more worried about the "court massacre" in the miracle. Did the prince die and the emperor think that the prince could not control the old ministers, so he started the massacre? What about him? Moreover, Fu Youde thought, this was "one of the important reasons". Did the generals have to be killed before the King of Yan succeeded?

[Emperor Jianwen Zhu Yunwen was already 21 years old when he ascended the throne and had the ability to be independent. Before he ascended the throne, he was also taught by Zhu Yuanzhang for a total of six years.]

When Zhou Wang Zhu Su saw this, he couldn't help but ask: "So Yunwen should have the necessary means. How did you succeed in your rebellion, fourth brother?"

With just one sentence, everyone's attention was shifted back to Zhu Di.

Zhu Di: "..."

[However, some of his actions make people doubt what he is thinking.

Emperor Jianwen reduced punishments, redressed injustices, and reduced taxes, but in addition to this, he took the path of restoration and even wanted to restore the well-field system. In addition to these, the biggest impact was his other move: abolishing the feudal system.

That’s right, it’s not about reducing the power of the feudal lords, but about abolishing them. 】

"Abolish the feudal lords?!" Seeing this, all the descendants of the Zhu family in the hall jumped up. Just now, they were secretly watching Zhu Di's excitement, worrying about the health of their mother and eldest brother, and curious about how Zhu Di rebelled. Now, the words "abolish the feudal lords" can be said to be piercing their hearts. How can they sit still? If this nephew came to power and reduced the power of the feudal lords, it would be fine. Everyone was mentally prepared. But who could have thought that when this carriage came up, it didn't even go on the road, but went straight into the ditch?
They couldn't bear it.

Several brothers looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, acting angry and aggrieved.

"Brother——" "Dad——"

"We accepted the reduction of the feudal system," said Chu Wang Zhu Zhen, looking aggrieved, "How did they go straight to abolishing the feudal system?"

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao also frowned. Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled and said, "I have taught him for six years, but he still doesn't understand what I mean? We enfeoffed the kings, not only for the descendants of the Zhu family, but also to serve as a barrier for the Ming Dynasty and let the kings defend against foreign enemies."

Han Dynasty, the first year of Yuanshuo.

Emperor Wu of Han sat up straight, "This guy came up and abolished the feudal system directly?"

Tang Dynasty, the fifth year of Zhenguan.

Fang Xuanling looked at the sky and shook his head: "It's too hasty."

Li Shimin took the opportunity to teach his son: "Gao Ming, you must not act too radically or too hastily in the future. Look at Emperor Jianwen. If he acts like this, it will inevitably lead to serious consequences."

Li Chengqian nodded obediently.

Song.

Zhao Kuangyin disagreed: "When I removed the power of military commanders, I always took a roundabout way. Why is this man so direct? Moreover, what was the power comparison among the princes in the court at that time? Is he sure of success?"

Zhao Guangyi sat aside, his eyes rolling.

Zhao Pu was also in the palace at this time. He saw another problem: "Since he ascended the throne legitimately, didn't he have any outstanding ministers to advise him? What are the ministers doing?"

(End of this chapter)