As an emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang was ruthless and treated his ministers with stinginess and cruelty, but he showed a human side when it came to his own children.
For example, the question of who would succeed the Ming Dynasty remains shrouded in mystery in the eyes of the world.
Crown Prince Zhu Biao was the rightful heir, assisting his father in handling government affairs, stabilizing the people's hearts, and occasionally restraining Zhu Yuanzhang from issuing overly hasty or cruel decrees.
His benevolence was praised by everyone, from the government to the common people!
Logically speaking, given his position of great righteousness and his impeccable conduct and abilities, Zhu Biao's position should have been a foregone conclusion.
But it's all Zhu Yuanzhang's fault. Why did he suddenly have two of the super SSR-level good sons that other emperors dreamed of?
Even after Liu Xian left, the Ming Dynasty continued to flourish, thanks in no small part to Zhu Yuanzhang's tireless efforts. However, his fourth son also made significant contributions.
Since the door to a new world was opened, we realized that what we lacked at home could be sought outside, where resources were abundant.
This refers not only to resources such as gold and silver, but also to people.
Thanks to his status as a prince of the imperial family, Zhu Di volunteered for both sea voyages and land battles, and for certain reasons, Zhu Yuanzhang always agreed.
The title of General Who Conquers the North is well-deserved. He is not invincible in every battle, but he rarely suffers losses.
His personal charisma, coupled with his extraordinary martial prowess, attracted a large number of new-generation military leaders to follow him, establishing a very solid foundation in the army.
After conquering a country, one must not only plunder the spoils of war, but also manage relationships with various parties to ensure that the Ming Dynasty can smoothly absorb resources in the future.
He had to determine the appropriate degree of arrangements and appeasement for the surrendered nobles and remnants of the fallen, as well as the necessary deterrence.
Through repeated trials and errors, Zhu Di's shortcomings were greatly compensated, and he learned how to compromise and be tactful.
The resources they plundered were used to support the people. For every citizen of the Ming Dynasty, there were at least five foreigners supporting and contributing to the country. One can imagine what a prosperous era this was.
Zhu Di regained his reputation.
With military prowess, political talent, and prestige at his disposal, Prince Yan, Zhu Di, was at the height of his power, comparable to the Crown Prince despite being a prince.
Given this, has the Ming Dynasty court split into two factions, beginning to attack and confront each other?
Sorry, but Old Zhu's all-inclusive service of peeling daylilies is still in operation, and the two brothers actually have a pretty good relationship.
Although some ministers secretly compared the two to a pair of brothers in similar historical circumstances, Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince Qin Li Shimin.
Zhu Biao was indeed kind, tolerant, and magnanimous. Even though he was greatly favored by the emperor, he treated his brothers with the demeanor of an elder brother.
Zhu Di wasn't some vicious younger brother who was obsessed with crushing his elder brother and nephew. He was just unwilling to accept defeat.
The brothers Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin simply cannot compare to the brothers of the Zhu family.
"Old Ma, tell me, to whom should I pass the throne?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's hair was already gray, but he looked very energetic. Holding his empress's hand, he sighed repeatedly.
"I shouldn't have had so many brats!"
Empress Ma wore a lustrous "pearl" around her neck, and her hair was still jet black and glossy, making her look nothing like an old woman. She rolled her eyes at Zhu Yuanzhang.
"Now you know what a headache is? Weren't you all smiles when you were looking for a pretty little wife?"
"You talked to me about having many children, and look how many children your Zhu family has had! Each and every one of them is so outstanding."
These were private words between the couple. Zhu Yuanzhang did not put on a stern imperial face, but acted as naturally as an ordinary old couple.
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Old Zhu's face turned bitter, as bitter as the bitter melon that had just been introduced.
"We have to find a way. As long as I'm here, those two brothers won't fight. But what if I'm gone one day..."
Before he could finish speaking, Empress Ma slapped his hand hard.
"Pah, pah, pah! You're so old and you still don't know the taboos. Quickly follow me and spit out the bad luck."
This is a rural custom: if you say something bad, you should quickly spit it out so it won't come true.
Zhu Yuanzhang felt comforted and softened like water. He indeed spat twice along with her, and couldn't help but whisper:
"The fourth prince is very good, but I... I want to be buried with you, just the two of us."
Throughout history, those buried with emperors have primarily been their first empresses, with a few exceptions including extremely favored ministers or children who died young—all of which were arranged before their deaths.
However, there is one exception: when the emperor who ascends the throne is not the empress's son. To ensure their legitimacy, they often take one action—
They bestowed the title of Empress upon their own mother, and after her death, stuffed her into their father's tomb, caring nothing for whether their deceased father had any objections.
Empress Ma understood the meaning behind Zhu Yuanzhang's words, her eyes welled up with tears, and she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
In her life, she experienced the loss of both parents and the chaos of war, drifting like a duckweed, her fate unknown.
After marrying Old Zhu, she faced life-or-death situations several times, but she survived. She walked step by step like this, and unexpectedly, she had such good fortune.
It's rare that her husband is a man of affection. Although he inevitably has affairs, he always loves and respects his first wife.
Empress Ma thought that her life had been worthwhile.
"Why worry about those things? You suffered so much to conquer the world, and after you gained the throne, you were always on edge, reviewing memorials until midnight every day. Do you think I don't know?"
Empress Ma spoke slowly, as if every word came from the depths of her heart:
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