Chapter 37 Zhu Biao Passes Away: I Was Born to Expand Territory! ...

Just as it was time for Django to start his shift, he met Zheng He, who seemed hesitant to speak.

Zheng He frowned, his fingers unconsciously stroking the sword at his waist, clearly preoccupied.

"Lord Zheng, so early?" Jiang Ge put down the official documents in his hand and greeted him with a smile. "What's wrong? Did you not like the food in Songyang County?"

Zheng He forced a smile and shook his head: "Magistrate Jiang is joking. The braised chicken rice is delicious, but..." He paused, then finally spoke as if he had made up his mind, "I just have some things I would like to ask Magistrate Jiang."

Django raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.

Zheng He took a deep breath and lowered his voice to a whisper: "Since Magistrate Jiang knows the future, then... how much longer can the Crown Prince live?"

Fortunately, these words weren't spoken during the Ming Dynasty, or he would have been skinned alive the moment they were uttered.

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

Jiang Ge was silent for a moment, then sighed: "Lord Zheng, knowing some things may not be a good thing."

“But His Highness the Prince of Yan has already become suspicious.” Zheng He smiled wryly. “If I return empty-handed, I fear…”

Yao Guangxiao was neither a good nor a bad person; he simply wanted to showcase himself. Zheng He understood Yao Guangxiao's intentions and thus carefully maintained his distance until this time when he was targeted.

With Crown Prince Zhu Biao's position so secure, Zheng He did not want His Highness the Prince of Yan to make any moves, as that would be unwise.

Jiang Ge stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "Lord Zheng, what kind of person do you think Crown Prince Zhu Biao is?"

More than Zhu Biao's fate, she was curious about Zhu Di's choice after learning about it. Historical records state that Zhu Di was forced to rebel, but is that really the case?

Historical records show that Zhu Biao and Zhu Di had a deep relationship. In his old age, Zhu Di would remark that Crown Prince Zhu Biao treated him like a son.

However, this did not stop Zhu Di from being ruthless towards his nephew.

Zheng He was taken aback, then said seriously, "His Highness the Crown Prince is benevolent and wise, and treats his subjects with kindness. If he ascends the throne, he will surely be a wise ruler."

This answer requires no thought. Zhu Biao's personal abilities are sufficient to make him a wise ruler, which is a common understanding between the court and the public. Moreover, the Crown Prince's temper is much better than the Emperor's.

They're not snakes, so why are so many of their skins being peeled off?

They were all finding the Emperor's oppressive state unbearable and were hoping the Crown Prince would be more lenient.

“Yes.” Jiang Ge looked out the window, his gaze distant. “It’s a pity he didn’t live long… He died of illness in the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, after returning to Beijing from his inspection tour of Shaanxi.” The twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign?

It's now the 25th year of the Hongwu reign, doesn't that mean...

Zheng He was struck dumb, his face turning deathly pale: "Then...after that..."

"After that?" Jiang Ge twitched the corner of his mouth. "Emperor Jianwen reduced the power of the princes, the Prince of Yan raised an army, four years of Jingnan, and the world changed hands."

Raise an army in rebellion...

To defy the world and do such a thing will only leave you with a thousand years of infamy in history books. No matter if you are an emperor or a commoner, as long as you raise an army in rebellion, you will definitely leave a mark on history.

However, the Prince of Yan's rebellion is definitely more serious than theirs, since he is rebelling against his own people!

What are the differences between him and Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin?

Zheng He staggered back a step, grabbing the edge of the table to steady himself. Although he had suspected it before, hearing this future with his own ears still made him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"Is there...any other possibility?" His voice trembled.

I can't bear this infamy.

Jiang Ge shook her head: "The general trend of history is hard to change, but the details can be altered. For example—" she suddenly smiled meaningfully, "If someone could have informed Zhu Biao in advance to take care of his health, or, if someone could have let the Prince of Yan know sooner that the world is vast..."

The world is vast, why limit our focus to the Ming Dynasty?

Beyond that are Africa, the Americas, Europe...

If Zhu Di went to these places, he wouldn't need to learn English.

You can buy a world map from the Ming Dynasty in the system store for just a few dollars.

When Django unfolded the world map in front of Zheng He.

Zheng He looked down—and saw strange, curved lines drawn on the paper, with the words "Great Ming" marked next to a central, arc-shaped outline. His gaze followed the lines, and to the right of "Great Ming" he saw a small, egg-shaped island labeled "Wa" (Japan), while to the left...

"This...this is..." His fingers trembled slightly as he hovered above the drawing. "Western countries? But why..."

Why are Champa and Zhenla, these Southeast Asian countries he knows so well, so small on this map? Why is there a vast landmass several times larger than the Central Plains further west of the Ming Dynasty?

"This is a world map."

"Impossible!" Zheng He suddenly interrupted, losing his composure. "The map of the Ming Dynasty clearly shows..." He stopped mid-sentence. He recalled that three years ago, when he accompanied the Prince of Yan to the palace, he had secretly glimpsed the map of the world that His Majesty treasured—on which everything beyond the Western Regions was blank, with only the four characters "Barbaric Land" written on it.

Drawing a map in ancient times was very difficult because there were no precise measuring tools and there was a misunderstanding that the earth was flat and the sky was round. The outer reaches of the world were often marked as "barbarian lands" or "endless oceans".

“The world is vast, and there’s more than just the Ming Dynasty. History isn’t unchangeable,” Jiang Ge reminded him.

Zheng He suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes.

"What Magistrate Jiang means is..."

“I’m just an observer,” Django said, spreading his hands. “But history is never a straight line, Lord Zheng, what do you say?”

Zheng He gave her a deep look, then solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and bow, saying, "This humble official understands."

A yellowed scroll of drawings slowly unfolded on the table. Jiang Ge lightly traced the water system of Songyang County with his fingertips and looked up at Zheng He.

“Lord Zheng, the Songyang River floods every year, causing both flooding and drought to thousands of acres of fertile land downstream, and the people suffer greatly.” Her tone was calm, but every word carried immense weight. “I want you to be fully in charge of the water conservancy repair.”

Zheng He was slightly taken aback.

Although he was an official in the Prince of Yan's palace, he had followed the army since childhood and was proficient in surveying and dispatching. He would later become a great navigator, so water conservancy repairs were a piece of cake for him.

"Your humble servant obeys." Zheng He clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice steady, "However..."

"Just what?"

"Water conservancy projects are extremely costly, requiring the mobilization of laborers and the expenditure of funds and provisions." Zheng He looked directly at Jiang Ge, "Is the county government's treasury sufficient?"

Not long after arriving, Zheng He had already gained a basic understanding of the financial situation of the Songyang County government. The water conservancy repair was a major project, requiring a large number of laborers and costing a considerable amount of money.

Django smiled slightly and took out a strange tool from under the table.

Do you recognize this?

Zheng He shook his head. He also had a pamphlet, but Yao Guangxiao and Zhu Di were studying it, and he hadn't had a chance to look at it yet.

"This is a metal detector; it can detect underground mineral veins." After being broke for so many days, Jiang Ge finally thought of something that could make money.

Metal detector.

In modern times, it's a tool that's practically useless, as the things it probes don't belong to private individuals.

Zheng He took the strange metal detector and ran his fingers over its cool metal surface. The instrument was oddly shaped, with a disc-like object at one end and a long handle extending from the other, on which were embedded several symbols he couldn't understand.

"Can this thing really lead to mineral veins?" Zheng He asked hesitantly.

Django smiled mysteriously: "Not only can it find minerals, but it can also distinguish between gold, silver, copper, and iron. Lord Zheng might as well try it out in the nearby mountains, just don't make too much noise."

Zheng He was skeptical, but considering the many amazing things in Songyang County, he carefully put the instruments away.

“By the way,” Jiang Ge added, “be careful when using it, as this thing is most sensitive to metals within three zhang (approximately 10 meters). If a strong reaction is detected, it means a rich mineral deposit has been discovered.”

In contrast, Yao Guangxiao of the Ming Dynasty appeared calm and composed. Although Zhu Di was anxious, he had no choice but to remain patient due to Yao Guangxiao's demeanor.

After an unknown amount of time, a flash of white light appeared, and Zheng He appeared before them.

As soon as the figure appeared, Zhu Di went to greet him. He had always been good to Zheng He, and after the immortals recruited him, he became even more enthusiastic.

As soon as Zheng He stood still, Zhu Di strode forward, placed his hands on his shoulders, and looked at him with such fervor that it was almost overflowing.

"Sanbao, how is it today? Did you see the elixir of immortality?" Zhu Di lowered his voice, his fingertips unconsciously tightening, making Zheng He's shoulder blade ache.

Zheng He's Adam's apple bobbed, his gaze lowered, avoiding Zhu Di's intense stare. After a moment of silence, he finally whispered:

"Your Highness... I learned some things today."

Zhu Di frowned, noticing something amiss in Zheng He's tone, and loosened his grip slightly: "What is it?"

What is more important than immortality?

Zheng He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince... I'm afraid his days are numbered."

Zhu Di's pupils constricted sharply, his fingers tightened abruptly, then loosened again. He took a half step back, his face instantly turning ashen: "What did you say?"

He admitted that he had some ideas, but these ideas were just empty bubbles while Zhu Biao was still alive. The crown prince's position was too secure, and besides, Crown Prince Zhu Biao treated Zhu Di very well.

He never wanted his older brother to die.

Zhu Di fantasized that his father would see his outstanding abilities and, against all odds, make him the crown prince.

Zheng He dared not raise his head, his voice growing even lower: "Magistrate Jiang said... His Highness the Crown Prince will pass away this year."

"This year?!" Zhu Di's voice suddenly rose, then he abruptly suppressed it, his sharp gaze sweeping around to make sure no one was eavesdropping before he gritted his teeth and asked, "Are you sure?"

After his elder brother returned from his inspection tour of Shaanxi, Zhu Di received news that his brother was in poor health. However, Zhu Di did not think much of it, since his brother was in his prime and had no chronic illnesses.

Zheng He nodded: "What Magistrate Jiang said has never been wrong."

Zhu Di's chest heaved violently, his eyes swirling with emotions—shock, disbelief, anger, grief, and finally, a complex glint in his eyes. He turned abruptly and slammed his fist on the table, knocking over teacups and spilling tea all over the floor.

"Big brother...how could this be..."

Yao Guangxiao, who had been standing calmly to the side, narrowed his eyes slightly and stepped forward slowly: "Your Highness, fate is unpredictable, and life and death are predetermined."

Monks are naturally indifferent to life and death, and at this moment he even had a premonition that an opportunity had come.

Zhu Di suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot: "Heaven's Mandate? Why did Heaven take my elder brother's life?"

No one was going to respond to him after that.

Zheng He paused for a moment, then said, "There is one more thing..."

Zhu Di's gaze was like a knife: "Speak!"

Zheng He closed his eyes briefly before finally saying, "After His Highness the Crown Prince passed away, Emperor Jianwen ascended the throne... and reduced the power of the princes."

Who was Emperor Jianwen?

The eldest brother's legitimate son, Zhu Xiong Ying, died young. Could it be the second son, Zhu Yun Wen?

My father is really biased.

Zhu Di froze.

"Reduce the power of the vassal states?" His voice was icy, each word deliberate and deliberate. "Reduce whose vassal states?"

Zheng He said in a low voice, "...The Prince of Yan's residence."

For a moment, the air inside the room seemed to freeze.

Zhu Di slowly straightened up, all emotion vanishing from his face, leaving only a chilling calm. He stared at Zheng He and slowly asked:

"Then what?"

Zheng He's voice was barely audible: "...Your Highness raised an army, quelled the rebellion for four years, and ascended the throne as Emperor."

"boom--!"

Zhu Di kicked over the table, sending splinters flying. His chest heaved violently, his eyes flashing with a stormy light, only to be replaced by a terrifying calm in the next moment.

"Well... well, Emperor Jianwen!" He sneered, his voice hoarse. "If I don't rebel, I'll be sitting here waiting to die; if I do rebel, I'll be a traitor?"

He originally thought his nephew was similar to his older brother in temperament, but he never expected him to be so vicious. They are uncle and nephew!

Zhu Yunwen could even harm his own uncle!

Really...

No one dared to speak when Zhu Di was enraged; in the empty space, not even a breath could be heard.

At this time.

Yao Guangxiao suddenly chuckled and flicked his prayer beads: "Your Highness, destiny is fickle; only the virtuous shall possess it."

This is no longer a hint; it's an explicit statement.

Zhu Di suddenly turned to look at him, their eyes met, and everything was understood without words.

After a long while, Zhu Di slowly exhaled, his eyes regaining their sharpness.

"Sanbao," he said in a low voice, "Did Magistrate Jiang say... whether this matter can be changed?"

If things could be changed, who would willingly bear the infamy of being a traitor?

Think of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin. The stain of the Xuanwu Gate Incident is something that history books can never avoid.

Zheng He paused for a moment, then said, "Magistrate Jiang said...it's acceptable." He respectfully unfolded the world map he had brought back from Songyang County.

Zhu Di's gaze froze the moment it swept across the edge of the map.

"What...is this?" His fingertips hovered above the drawing, trembling slightly.

"Your Highness, this is a complete map of the world, a gift from Magistrate Jiang of Songyang County," Zheng He said in a low voice. "This map depicts the entire world, including all the lands and regions, and everything that the sun and moon shine upon is unknown to the Chinese."

"Magistrate Jiang also said that the world is very big, and there is more than just one Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Di's breathing became noticeably heavier.

His gaze was fixed on the center of the map—the territory of the Ming Dynasty only occupied a small part of it!

Zhu Di staggered back two steps, then suddenly burst into laughter, looking up at the sky:

"Great! Great! I was born to conquer new territories!"

In the twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu reign, princes were strictly forbidden from leaving their fiefdoms without the emperor's decree, and were even less permitted to return to the capital without an imperial edict.

This was a rule established by Zhu Yuanzhang, and no one dared to disobey it.

In the original history, Zhu Di remained stationed in Beiping until the death of his son, Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

The consequences of violating the rules were enormous. Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely wary of his generals and princes, and the price Zhu Di would pay if he were to abandon his post would be unimaginable.

But this time, he's prepared to break the rules.

With the recruitment notice from the immortals and news of his elder brother's death, Zhu Di had no choice but to go.

Late at night, at the Prince Yan's Mansion in Beiping.

The night was deep, the candlelight flickering, illuminating the solemnity in Zhu Di's eyes. He gripped Xu Shi's hand tightly, his voice low and firm:

"Miaoyun, my elder brother is critically ill, and I must return to the capital."

Xu's eyes flickered, her fingertips grew slightly cold, but she did not withdraw her hand. She simply said softly, "Your Highness, leaving one's fief without imperial decree is a capital offense."

Zhu Di was well aware of this rule, but he had to go back. He couldn't just watch his elder brother die. He wanted to fight for his brother, but he didn't want to fight a dead man.

Zhu Di closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with determination: "I know... but my elder brother treated me like a brother. If I can't even see him one last time, I will never have peace in this life."

He paused, his voice lower yet more somber: "Besides, if Father finds out about the immortal's warning, we..."

Although Zhu Di had never met his father, who had lost his eldest son, he could tell from the way his father usually treated his elder brother that he must be as fierce as a tiger.

Madam Xu's breath hitched, and after a long pause, she slowly nodded: "I understand. What are Your Highness's plans for Beiping?"

The candlelight flickered in Zhu Di's eyes, reflecting a rare hesitation in his brow. Xu's hand trembled slightly in his palm, yet it did not pull away. He knew that once this decision was made, there was no turning back.

"Your Highness..." Xu's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, "If Father is enraged..."

In recent years, Zhu Yuanzhang's temper has become increasingly worse.

Zhu Di took a deep breath, released his wife's hand, and turned to walk to the window. The night in Beiping was as dark as ink, and the torches on the distant city walls twinkled like stars. That was his territory, his responsibility, and also his shackles.

"Zhang Yu! Zhu Neng!" he suddenly shouted.

The clanging of armor immediately came from outside the door. Two trusted generals strode in and knelt on one knee: "Your Highness!"

Zhu Di did not turn around, his voice deep and powerful: "From this day forward, Zhang Yu shall be in full charge of the defense of Beiping. The defense of the nine gates shall be under the command of Zhu Neng."

Zhang Yu suddenly looked up: "Your Highness, what's wrong...?"

"I must return to the capital." Zhu Di finally turned around, his eyes blazing. "This matter is top secret. No one may divulge a single word about it except those present."

Zhu Neng's expression changed drastically: "Your Highness! Returning to the capital without an imperial edict, this is..."

That's a capital offense.

“I know what the crime is,” Zhu Di interrupted him, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority. “Therefore, Beiping must not be in chaos. If the Mongols know that I am not here, they will take the opportunity to march south. What you need to do is make them believe that I am still in Beiping.”

Zhang Yu and Zhu Neng exchanged a glance and simultaneously clasped their hands in a fist salute: "This humble general swears to serve Your Highness to the death!"

Zhu Di nodded, then turned to Madam Xu: "Miaoyun, I'm entrusting the affairs of the household to you. Gao Chi is young, but he is intelligent and steady, and can lend you a helping hand."

Madam Xu pursed her lips, tears welling in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will certainly guard the Prince of Yan's residence well."

"There's one more thing," Zhu Di suddenly lowered his voice, "Go and invite Master Daoyan here."

A moment later, a monk dressed in black appeared silently in the study. Yao Guangxiao's face was gaunt, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light. He clasped his hands together and bowed to Zhu Di: "Your Highness's summons at this late hour must be for important matters."

Zhu Di looked directly into Yao Guangxiao's eyes: "Master, I will be leaving the palace for several days. If anyone from the court inquires..."

Yao Guangxiao smiled slightly, a shrewd glint in his eyes: "The prince has caught a cold and is in seclusion to recuperate, and will not see any guests."

"If Father were to issue an edict personally..."

“Then say that the prince’s condition has worsened and he has fallen into a coma.” Yao Guangxiao’s voice was eerily calm. “He will naturally recover when the prince returns.”

Zhu Di gave Yao Guangxiao a deep look. This monk's courage and wisdom were exactly what he needed at this moment. "Alright. I'll leave Beiping in your care, Master."

Yao Guangxiao bowed respectfully with his hands clasped together: "Your Highness's return to the capital is fraught with peril. I have a word of advice for you: act according to circumstances, and make decisive decisions when necessary."

Zhu Di's heart skipped a beat, realizing the deeper meaning behind Yao Guangxiao's words. He said no more, turned to Xu Shi and said, "Prepare civilian clothes for me, and select ten elite personal guards. We shall depart immediately."

Xu Shi, fighting back tears, hurriedly left to prepare. Zhu Di, on the other hand, took out a map and carefully planned his route. He couldn't take the official road, as it was teeming with the court's spies; nor could he bring too many people, otherwise he would be too conspicuous.

We also need to bring Zheng He along.

The journey back home needs to be carefully planned.

"Your Highness, have you forgotten that we have immortals to help us?"

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Author's Note: Zhu Di is preparing to fire upon the world [cat emoji][cat emoji][cat emoji] Thank you everyone for your comments, support, and support!