The competition in the Eastern Island Kingdom has entered its third day, and under normal circumstances, it should be moving towards the final, grand finale.
But these guys from the East Island are a bit different from normal people.
On the third day, they didn't compete; they came specifically to give gifts!
All that could be seen was a cart loaded with a massive boulder weighing thousands of pounds, and several horses were using all their strength to slowly and creak as the cart moved forward.
Upon arriving outside the main hall, the envoy from the Eastern Island shouted loudly.
"Your Majesty, I have come today to present you with treasures from the Eastern Island. I hope Your Majesty will accept them with pleasure!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was discussing with his ministers how to deal with the Japanese pirates when, unexpectedly, this wicked man actually kept talking about it.
"We refuse to believe that such a tiny place could produce any treasures. Let's have him present them to us so we can see for ourselves!"
Zhu Yuanzhang was furious at the mere mention of the Japanese pirates invading the coastal areas of the Ming Dynasty, and naturally, he didn't have a pleasant expression at this moment.
Before long, the father-in-law who had gone out to deliver the message returned in a hurry.
"Your Majesty, the envoy from the Eastern Island says that the treasure is too large and hopes that we can go out and see it."
"What does our dear grandson think?"
Zhu Yunwen pondered for a moment. This didn't seem like someone who had come to offer tribute; it seemed more like someone who had come to deliberately make things difficult for him.
"Why don't we go and see what this little island is up to!"
After two days of competition, Zhu Yuanzhang was even more satisfied with Zhu Yunwen.
In terms of both knowledge and experience, they were talents that were one in a million. Thinking of his son and other grandsons, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little emotional.
"Ah, if Biao'er saw you like this, he would be comforted!"
Zhu Yunwen quickly took two steps to help Zhu Yuanzhang up; he hadn't realized before that the old man looked so old.
Although he was not Zhu Yuanzhang's real grandson, the kindness Zhu Yuanzhang had shown him these days stirred up feelings in Zhu Yunwen's heart.
The other officials followed the two men out of the main hall.
When the envoy from the Eastern Island saw Zhu Yuanzhang approaching, he hurried forward and bowed respectfully.
These two bastards are all hypocrites. They'll be all smiles and no bows on the surface, just waiting to stab you in the back.
"Your Majesty, I have come today specifically to present our country's treasures as tribute. I hope Your Majesty will accept them with pleasure!"
As he spoke, he pointed to the carriage and saw a huge stone statue standing on it.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the stone statue and wondered if it depicted the ruler of the Eastern Island.
Seeing the puzzled look on Zhu Yuanzhang's face, the envoy hurriedly stepped forward.
"This stone is the sacred stone of our Dongdao Island. It was a naturally formed giant rock weighing thousands of pounds, and it was carved by craftsmen overnight to become what it is today."
Zhu Yunwen looked for a long time, and suddenly someone came to mind.
"Xu Fu?"
"Does the Crown Prince know about our ancestors?"
"Of course I know. The King of Qin sent him to find the elixir of immortality, but that fellow went to a small island and never came back!"
From this perspective, history is correct; the Eastern Island should rightfully belong to the Central Plains.
"Where did you hear this anecdote? Our ancestors clearly chose Dongdao Island because of its beautiful scenery and abundant resources, which is why they decided to settle there!"
Zhu Yunwen's face was full of disdain.
"What kind of supplies could a small island surrounded by water possibly have? Only a fool would go there to live unless they were trying to escape being hunted down. By the way, I have a question."
"Please speak, Your Highness. This envoy will answer all your questions to the best of his ability!"
"No need for that. I'm just wondering how you grew from a hundred or so people to this size. Do you have a family tree? What if you and your wife were from the same family decades ago? Wouldn't there be problems with your children?"
A series of questions caused the East Island envoy's face to change rapidly.
If it were a princess, she would probably be so angry she'd faint.
The envoy was indeed quite old; although he was angry, he quickly calmed himself down.
"Your grandson will make fun of me, so please accept the gift!"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, signaling the eunuch beside him to take the things away, but the envoy stopped him again.
"Does Your Majesty look down on this thing of mine? Why not just put it in your garden?"
Everyone was even more shocked when they heard this: a human statue in the Imperial Garden?
I've never heard of that before!
"Or perhaps you're unable to remove the stone from the vehicle?"
"What a joke! Even if this stone statue wasn't my imperial grandfather, it's impossible for him to put your things in the Imperial Garden."
Everyone realized that their talk of tribute was just an excuse to make things difficult for the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression immediately darkened, and he spoke slowly with a sullen face.
"Could it be that Dongdao harbors some ambition, wanting to change the ruler of my Great Ming? Even if there is a change, it can only be my grandson, not you!"
"In my opinion, it is your Eastern Island that wants to submit to the Great Ming and become one of our island cities? Although it is relatively small, the Great Ming does not mind!"
The envoy was already sweating profusely when, just as the two sides were locked in a standoff, the princess's voice rang out from one side.
"Don't make things difficult for them. It takes a lot of manpower and resources to transport such heavy stones. It also took us a lot of effort to load them onto the truck."
"But I never imagined that even the mighty Ming Dynasty wouldn't have a better solution!"
Zhu Yunwen had seen through it all. Today's thing was a hot potato. Putting it in the Imperial Garden would be embarrassing, and not putting it there would also be embarrassing!
But he wasn't going to let this peaceful life go his way!
"I can move this stone off the carriage by myself; there's no need to expend any manpower or resources!"
"Grandson, you really don't know how to talk when you're not the one suffering. If you can move this rock down by yourself today, I'll call you grandpa!"
"My dear granddaughter, just look at Grandpa's!"
What if you need to rely on other people's help?
"Apart from some ropes and wood, if I need the strength of a second person, you can do whatever you want with me!"
"Sure, let alone ropes and wood, I'd agree to have a cow if you asked for one right now!"
After the princess finished speaking, she pondered for a moment, and then her eyes suddenly lit up.
"If you can't lift this thing, then crawl between my legs!"
This is probably the only way she can think of to avenge herself.
"The princess's legs are really quite casual!"
"Grandson, you'd better not get away with your words. I want to see how you actually do it!"
Zhu Yunwen was not in a hurry. He asked someone to help him find some wood and rope, and used the wood to make a simple support frame.
The rope was tied to the stone statue, and the people around did not believe that such a wooden frame could move a huge stone weighing thousands of pounds!
The people of Dongdao also looked at Zhu Yunwen with curiosity. To be honest, most of them were still somewhat wary of this grandson of the Ming Dynasty.
After working for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the simple lever device was basically finished.
Zhu Yuntong's eyes were firm as he gripped one end of the wood and pressed it down.
The rope tightened instantly, and then a miraculous scene unfolded: the boulder slowly lifted off the carriage and into the air!
"The Crown Prince has done it!"
"Your Highness is mighty!"
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