Chapter 35 The navigator Zheng He rushed this letter to his father, the Emperor, on horseback...

Zheng He stared wide-eyed, sleepless all night, enduring until dawn. He was filled with trepidation and his mind was in turmoil, filled with unknown fear of the new world he was about to step into.

Django, on the other hand, slept soundly through the night, enjoying a leisurely and carefree sleep.

If it weren't for welcoming Zheng He, she would rarely go to the clerk's office so early in the morning. After all, they had been working together in the clerk's office for some time and were quite familiar with each other.

Normally, Jiang Ge rarely comes to the administration office unless there's something important. So, when she came, everyone knew something must have happened, but they weren't sure whether it was a blessing or a curse.

"Magistrate Jiang!"

Yuchi Jingde's booming voice made dust fall from the roof beams. This dark-faced general stood blocking the doorway, looking just like a door god—though he did indeed serve as one now.

"You've really put me in a terrible situation!"

How could the crown prince, who was perfectly capable, suddenly rebel?

In the TV series, the crown prince says something like, "Rebellion is for self-preservation, and self-preservation inevitably offends the root cause... You should let the King of Wei move into the Wude Hall."

Upon hearing this, Yuchi Jingde was filled with disagreement.

Self-rescue?

What means does the future emperor of the mighty Tang Dynasty have to save himself?

Using such strong words is merely a matter of relying on His Majesty's favoritism; it truly shows that pride breeds arrogance, leading to reckless and unrestrained behavior.

In his view, if His Majesty truly favored the Prince of Wei, why did he still appoint him as regent after the incident at the foot of the Crown Prince's Hill?

If Your Majesty intends for the Prince of Wei to succeed to the throne, why did you appoint capable ministers like Fang Xuanling and Wei Zheng as tutors to the Crown Prince?

In Yuchi Jingde's opinion, this crown prince simply couldn't hold onto his position and wanted to advance further.

Being in the position of crown prince requires one to be calm, patient, and able to withstand pressure.

His Majesty said he didn't want Li Zhi, to avoid fratricide later, but Yuchi Jingde always felt that Li Zhi would probably be the ultimate victor...

"What's wrong?" Jiang Ge asked, feigning innocence, a sly glint in his eyes.

"That TV series not only portrays His Highness the Crown Prince, but also says that His Majesty was blinded by an arrow. That's utter nonsense!" Yuchi Jingde, though filled with indignation, dared not utter the word "rebellion" directly, even though he was in Songyang County.

Could His Highness be blinded by an arrow?

That's hilarious. It's a miracle Your Highness didn't turn everyone into a hornet's nest.

The Li family was skilled in riding and archery for generations. Li Shimin could shoot from left and right on a galloping warhorse, accurately hitting vital points. His ancestor Li Hu was also skilled in riding and archery. Even Li Yuan, the retired emperor who is most easily overlooked, had the story of choosing a wife through a sparrow screen.

“It’s normal for TV dramas to have some adaptations.” Jiang Ge blinked.

Adaptation doesn't mean making things up randomly.

His Majesty clearly brought Empress Zhangsun with him when he went to Xuanwu Gate. How could Empress Zhangsun have had time to protect the Crown Prince?

Besides, is the Crown Prince more important than Empress Zhangsun?

However, this TV series is not without its merits.

Through it, Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao saw their future. They knew their fate—their physical bodies would perish, but their portraits would forever hang high in the Lingyan Pavilion.

Neither of them made any major mistakes in their lives, nor did they implicate their descendants. Instead, they left behind many merits for posterity.

Qin Shubao could feel the same emotions when he watched himself dying in the TV series.

Why do people age?

He was once so brave that he could defeat ten armies, but why did he have to suffer from illness in the end?

As people age, countless questions inevitably arise.

But that's life.

Because I have many doubts in my heart, I have come to this world.

They left an indelible mark on the Tang Dynasty, making an unforgettable contribution to its prosperity. For them, that was enough.

Qin Shubao turned to look at Yuchi Jingde, secretly praising him. He hadn't expected this dark-skinned fellow to be so perceptive, more patient than himself, and to live longer.

That glance was full of meaning. Yuchi Jingde understood its meaning, chuckled, and his face was full of smugness.

After Zhou Yu and Lady Hei had all arrived, Jiang Ge remained standing in place, showing no intention of leaving. The others couldn't help but wonder, and asked, "Magistrate Jiang, is there anything else?"

"A new person is coming." Jiang Ge had barely finished speaking when...

Everyone's eyes widened as they exclaimed in unison, "Why don't you hire me...?"

Zhou Yu's voice was gentle: "Magistrate Jiang, you should recruit Brother Bofu. Brother Bofu is brave and resourceful, and everyone says he is the Hegemon of Jiangdong."

This is Zhou Yu applying for a job for Sun Ce.

“Magistrate Jiang, why don’t you hire His Majesty? His Majesty is the Emperor, skilled in both literature and martial arts,” Yuchi Jingde said urgently.

Qin Shubao chimed in from the side.

This was Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao recommending Li Shimin to the emperor.

Hei Fu's lips moved a few times, but he didn't speak. Just then...

A blinding white light flashed.

Zheng He appeared before the crowd. He had a fair complexion and exuded youthful vigor. He was quite tall, but his clothing was completely different from everyone else's, making it clear that he was a eunuch.

The young eunuch brushed away non-existent dust from his sleeves. Sunlight streamed through the window, and when he looked up, his eyes seemed to hold a vast expanse of blue waves.

"My name is Zheng He, from the Ming Dynasty. Greetings, sirs."

What Ming Dynasty?

I've never heard of that before.

"Where did this eunuch come from?" Yuchi Jingde spoke frankly, his words reflecting his dissatisfaction with the Ming Dynasty. There was no Ming Dynasty before the Tang Dynasty, and Qin Shubao promptly slapped him on the back of the foot.

Seeing Yuchi Jingde's reaction.

Jiang Ge smiled and said, "Don't underestimate him. You'll be shocked if you knew who he is."

Startled?

The people of the Tang Dynasty used the name of Yuchi Jingde to stop their children from crying at night!

Who doesn't know the famous Yuchi Jingde?

"I, Yuchi Jingde, am no nobody either." What kind of person could possibly frighten them?

Yuchi Jingde can watch TV dramas now; he and Lao Qin will be door gods in the future.

"So it's you two door gods, my apologies." Zheng He said calmly, without any anger. It was better to be cautious before figuring out the details.

Is this Yuchi Jingde?

The burly man next to him must be Qin Shubao.

Even famous generals from the Tang Dynasty were summoned here; this place truly is a place where hidden talents abound.

Seeing Zheng He's polite manner, Yuchi Jingde had nothing to say and could only manage a weak "humph" through his nose.

That's enough.

“Zheng He was a navigator who made seven voyages to the Western Ocean. In later generations, 1.4 billion people even set aside a day as a festival to commemorate him. This is a privilege that even your Emperor does not enjoy.” Jiang Ge smiled, not at all realizing that he had dropped a bombshell.

What does 1.4 billion people mean?

Even Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao were dumbfounded. They believed that the Tang Dynasty was prosperous and powerful, and that His Majesty was wise and mighty. But with a population of over a billion, their Tang Dynasty was not even a fraction of that.

At this moment, Yuchi Jingde finally looked at the young man in front of him. He was fair-skinned and beardless, and there was a lingering fragrance on his body, as if he had been trying to conceal some kind of odor.

It smells quite refreshing, and not unpleasant at all.

He looks very ordinary, not like someone more famous than him.

Django explicitly revealed for the first time that he knew history, but the others couldn't be surprised at this point. Besides, everyone already knew all along.

Now they are simply shocked, shocked by Zheng He's achievements.

Zheng He remained gentle and composed, his face calm and unwavering. He bowed and said, "I am unworthy of such praise."

In the instant he lowered his head, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Navigator? Seven voyages to the Western Ocean?

How appealing that sounds!

But his master was the Prince of Yan, and Crown Prince Zhu Biao's position was secure. How did he manage to gain such an important position?

The answer is terrifying, isn't it?

Looking up again, he was still Zheng He, posing no threat whatsoever.

“No need for formalities, just call me Magistrate Jiang. This is Zhou Yu from the Three Kingdoms period, who served as the chief clerk in Songyang County.” Jiang Ge introduced them one by one, and then pulled Hei Fu over to introduce him: “This is Hei Fu from the Qin Dynasty.”

Hei Fu smiled shyly at Zheng He, seemingly detached from everything that had just happened. He wasn't in a hurry to find a job for Qin Shi Huang. Hei Fu was quite welcoming of the newcomer, as having a new person would reduce his workload.

"You know these two too; they are gatekeepers from Songyang County." No further introduction was needed for Yuchi Jingde and Qin Shubao; Zheng He already knew them.

"My surname is Jiang, and my given name is Ge. I am the magistrate of Songyang County. You can just call me Magistrate Jiang from now on."

After exchanging greetings, everyone went to their shifts together.

On the way, Zheng He couldn't help but ask Jiang Ge, "Magistrate Jiang, is the story of the navigator true?"

The words faded into the wind. He stared at his clasped hands—hands that should have held a whisk, but later generations said they had gripped a compass and measured vast oceans. How absurd! A eunuch, becoming a seafaring navigator?

He let out a sigh of relief.

The world is vast, and he longed for freedom, but ever since he became a prisoner of the Ming army in his teens, his fate was sealed as that of a caged bird.

fly?

Even if a captive bird flies away, it cannot return to the flock. Can the little bird really bear those strange looks?

At least there are countless caged birds in the palace; they are the same kind.

Zheng He just wanted to know if that bird had ever flown, is that too much to ask?

Receiving no response for a long time, Zheng He unconsciously curled his fingers, and his neck and back hunched over. In the past, Zheng He had learned to read people's expressions. He should have gotten to know Magistrate Jiang's personality better before asking.

That was too hasty.

Django suddenly leaned closer: "Have you ever seen a real sea?"

Zheng He's breath hitched. How could she...?

“Not those puddles,” the young magistrate gestured. “It’s the kind of deep sea—blue enough to make your heart race, a seemingly calm surface that can swallow everything.”

“I…” Zheng He’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his neck drooped reflexively, and his spine curved into a submissive arc.

He hasn't seen it.

Zheng He in history was a great navigator, but the Zheng He of today has never even seen the sea.

Prince Yan, Zhu Di, was stationed on the frontier, mainly in Beiping. Beiping was far from the ocean, and was frequently hit by sandstorms and torrential rains.

Zheng He accompanied the Prince of Yan to guard the frontier, and all he ever saw were hailstones the size of fists, torrential rains, and northerly winds carrying sand.

ocean......

It has nothing to do with the Zheng He of today.

What is he expecting? Does he really believe those nonsense claims?

Zheng He couldn't help but laugh at himself.

“Although you have not yet seen the sea, you will conquer it in the future,” Magistrate Jiang’s voice rang out again.

This statement reassured Zheng He.

——

It must be said that Zheng He's disappearance in broad daylight left Zhu Di with a profound sense of shock.

Zhu Di originally thought Zheng He was performing magic or being bewitched. He never thought that there were really gods. Throughout history, countless people have sought immortality but never found a trace of it. Yet, when Zheng He was stationed on the frontier, a god actually came to his door.

I wonder which deity it is?

Qin Shi Huang sent Xu Fu with thousands of young boys and girls to seek the elixir of immortality from Penglai. Emperor Wu of Han claimed to have seen immortals, but it was all a deception. He also sought the elixir of immortality from the immortals. Emperor Taizong of Tang took elixirs in his later years, also in an attempt to prolong his life.

Many emperors, generals, scholars and celebrities have had the experience of seeking immortality and enlightenment.

There are historical records that Zhu Di was also superstitious about gods and immortals.

Zhu Di paced back and forth in his tent, never expecting that Zheng He's talk of recruiting immortals was true. If immortals really existed, wouldn't he immediately report it to his father...?

The consequences would be unimaginable.

I wrote a letter several times, circling and revising it repeatedly, before finally writing a satisfactory letter.

"Someone, hurry up and deliver this letter to Father Emperor!"

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Author's Note: Thank you everyone for urging me to update! I saw it. I'm working these few days, but I'll update more on my days off, so don't worry! [cheering emoji] Thank you for all the comments, I've read them all. And thank you for helping me expand my ideas; I'll write the rest, take my time! [pat on the head emoji]