Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Zhao Desheng lunged forward, slamming the charcoal brazier over with a single blow. Chen Yuan seized the opportunity to draw his short blade in the chaos, but Shen Lu kicked him over. The clang of the blade echoed far away.

Zhu Han stepped forward and looked at his figure, panting heavily.

"Chen Yuan, you have no way out."

“I have no way out, but they do.”

He smiled and said in a low voice, "You don't know, there's another path beneath the palace walls."

"What way?"

"Towards Chengtian".

As soon as he finished speaking, he bit his tongue and died.

Zhu Han stared at the corpse, remaining silent for a long time. "Leading to Chengtian?" Shen Lu murmured, "Could there be a secret passage?"

"Investigate." Zhu Han walked to the corner of the wall, shining his torch over it. Beneath the bricks and stones, he could vaguely see an iron gate. The door knocker was rusty, but the marks of years of use were still visible.

Zhao Desheng exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness, this gate leads directly to the city walls?"

Zhu Han reached out and touched the iron ring: "When Chengtian was built, I personally supervised the construction. This gate was originally an aqueduct, which was later sealed with three layers of iron and stone. Now it has been reopened—which shows that someone is communicating with the outside from the inside."

He looked up, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Shen Lu, seal the gates. Deploy the Crown Prince's personal guards; not a single one is to leave the palace tonight."

"Then—where are you going?"

“Go and take this route.”

The heavy iron gate groaned as it was pushed open. A damp, cold wind rushed out, carrying the smell of earth and charcoal ash. Zhu Han carried the lantern forward, his footsteps echoing in the narrow passageway.

Fire marks remained on the wall, and fresh footprints lay on the ground, stretching into the darkness in the distance.

"Zhao Desheng, light the torch." The torchlight illuminated the narrow passage, revealing a single character carved on the wall ahead—"Shadow." The character was deeply engraved, the blood still fresh.

Zhu Han's gaze darkened. "It seems they really intend to—travel from the palace to Chengtian."

Shen Lu's voice tightened: "If that's the case, wouldn't Chengtian be in grave danger?"

"Not necessarily. As long as they can't get out."

He raised his long sword and swung it heavily. "Zhao Desheng, release the oil—block the road."

The oil flowed along the tunnel, and the firelight reflected in Zhu Han's eyes. "Where the fire starts, there is always a shadow; where the shadow ends, the truth is revealed."

With a flick of the blade, flames erupted. The narrow passage was engulfed in flames, the walls crumbled, and fire shot skyward.

Zhu Han watched the fire quietly until everything turned to ashes.

The following morning, an imperial edict was issued: the Outer Procurement Office was to be burned down, and all of Chen Yuan's remaining followers were to be eliminated. Officials were terrified, but the common people remained calm.

Zhu Biao stood atop Chengtian City Wall, watching the eastern sky gradually brighten. Familiar footsteps approached from behind him.

"uncle."

"Ah."

"Is the fire out?"

"It's gone," Zhu Han replied calmly, "but the light is still there."

"They say there is a road under the palace walls."

Zhu Han smiled: "Yes, but it's sealed by fire."

"What happens next?"

"From now on, some people will walk, and some people will light lamps."

He turned and looked into Zhu Biao's eyes. "Your Highness, you must remember—outside the palace walls lies the world, beneath the palace walls lies the hearts of the people."

The wall may be high, but the heart must not be low.

Zhu Biao nodded solemnly.

Spring is in full bloom in Jinling. The morning sun shines on the palace tiles, and the light flows like shattered silver.

Last night's fire that sealed off the road burned away the shadows beneath the palace walls and cleared the air of the entire imperial city.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind his dragon desk, looking at the neatly arranged new memorials on it, and remained silent for a long time.

“The shadow fades, the light rises…” he murmured, his fingers gently caressing the “true seal.”

Footsteps sounded outside the palace gates. "Your Majesty, Prince Zhu Han and Crown Prince Zhu Biao request an audience with the Emperor."

"Xuan."

The palace doors slowly opened. Zhu Han and Zhu Biao stepped into the main hall.

Sunlight streamed in through the window lattice, illuminating their shoulders with layers of golden light.

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze slowly swept over the two men, and he finally sighed softly, "You arrived earlier than I expected."

Zhu Han cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject closed the road last night and will depart at dawn without delay." Zhu Biao stood steadily, his expression calm.

"The cases of the fire in the granary, the forged seal, and the poisoned charcoal will all be investigated and resolved by you two." Zhu Yuanzhang's tone softened slightly. "With peace of mind throughout the land, the palace is also safe."

He paused for a moment, then said, "But my heart is not at peace."

Zhu Han lowered his eyes: "Is Your Majesty worried about the world?"

"I worry about the world, and I worry about you too." Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him. "Brother Han, your hands are too hard. The world needs iron, but it also needs silk."

Zhu Han remained silent for a long time before saying, "If we don't use ironclad proof, the silk will eventually be swept away by the wind."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him for a long time, then smiled, but his smile was weary: "You and I are truly of the same lineage."

After the court session ended, Zhu Biao accompanied his uncle out of the palace. When they reached the Meridian Gate, Zhu Biao suddenly stopped.

"Uncle, Father... has changed."

"Change?" Zhu Han looked at him. "Which side are you referring to?"

“The fire in his eyes,” Zhu Biao said softly, “used to burn throughout the world, now it burns in his heart.”

Zhu Han gazed at him quietly for a long time before saying, "If fire is only meant to burn, it will destroy; but if it can illuminate, it will become light. He is illuminating you, and he is waiting for you."

"wait for me?"

"Waiting for you to succeed to the throne."

Zhu Biao's heart skipped a beat. "Uncle, he... has made up his mind?"

"Yes." Zhu Han said calmly, "But you must remember, he wants you to climb high, not sit high."

"I understand." Zhu Biao nodded, but his eyes were somewhat somber.

"Do you understand?" Zhu Han turned around and looked at him. "You understand power, you understand people, and you know when to withdraw."

Zhu Biao said in a deep voice, "What if one day I disagree with my uncle?"

"Then I will kill you."

Zhu Biao was stunned. Zhu Han smiled and said, "If you are wrong, and I am wrong—then you shall execute me."

They looked at each other for a moment, and then Zhu Biao suddenly smiled.

"Uncle, we Zhu family members are all knives."

"Hmm." Zhu Han said softly, "I only hope that this knife can protect people in the end."

The spring market in Chengtian is more prosperous than in previous years. With the Lantern Festival approaching, colorful flags line the streets.

Children ran around carrying paper lanterns, while old people sat at the alley entrance listening to Mr. Weng tell stories.

Mr. Weng's voice has recovered greatly, and today he is singing new lyrics:
"The palace walls cast no shadow, yet reflect the hearts of men."

The lanterns of the emperor were brought to the imperial court.

If you ask where it truly begins,
A smile brings spring breezes to ten thousand households.

Shopkeeper Gu clapped his hands with a smile: "That's a good line! 'Spring breeze illuminates ten thousand households'—it should be engraved on the city gate!"

From the crowd, a woman selling cloth chimed in, "This is the first time in years that our Chengtian City has enjoyed peace and quiet!"

"That's right." The blacksmith wiped the sweat from his forehead. "These days, buying and selling cloth requires verification of the seal. With the genuine seal, one can feel at ease."

Zhu Han changed into casual clothes and stood quietly on the street corner.

He looked at the crowd of people—some laughing, some making noise, some sweating, some radiant.

At that moment, he suddenly felt that even the dust in the wind had become lighter.

Shen Lu approached: "Your Highness, what are you laughing at?"

"I'm looking at the daylight."

"Dawn?"

"The light of day is not yet over," Zhu Han said softly. "As long as it doesn't fall, there is hope."

In the afternoon, an imperial edict was issued from the palace: the Crown Prince would oversee the state, while the Prince of Chengtian would remain in the capital to assist him. The entire city erupted in excitement almost simultaneously.

Children in the street shouted, "The prince has been promoted!"

Mr. Weng smiled and shook his head: "It won't rise, it will be heavier."

Zhu Biao moved into the Secretariat and discussed state affairs with the officials. Zhu Han, however, did not enter the hall but only listened from the sidelines.

That night, he sat alone in the study of the Prince's mansion, the candlelight illuminating the scroll of "The Art of War" beside him. Zhao Desheng rode forward, turned back and laughed, "Your Highness, this northern land is terribly desolate; there's not a single city in sight for three hundred miles."

Zhu Han's gaze was indifferent: "The wasteland is where you can truly see the hearts of the people."

Shen Lu whispered from the side, "The reports from the patrols along the way indicate that there was little rain at the beginning of the year, resulting in poor harvests. The local officials only reported 'safe,' but where is 'safe'?"

Zhu Han looked up at the sky; there were no clouds, and the sun was blazing.

"If the wind does not move, the grass will not know its roots; if people do not see suffering, they will not know the world."

He reined in his horse and said, "Tonight we'll stay in Beize Village."

As dusk fell, the group entered the village. The village was situated in a low-lying area with sparsely populated houses.

The willow trees at the village entrance have withered, and the old well is filled with murky water.

Several children were playing by the well when they saw strangers coming and ran away in fright.

A thin old woman hurriedly chased after them, saying repeatedly, "Gentlemen, if you want to stay the night, I'm afraid it will be difficult. There is no fire in our village."

Zhu Han dismounted and asked gently, "Why is there no fire?"

The old woman wiped away her tears: "This year there was a drought, the government granaries didn't distribute grain, and everyone in the village starved to death."

Zhao Desheng angrily exclaimed, "The government granaries aren't distributing the grain?!"

Zhu Han waved his hand, took out several packets of dry food, and handed them to the old woman: "Distribute them to the villagers."

The old woman accepted the gift with trembling hands, then suddenly knelt down and kowtowed: "My lord, I heard that the imperial court is going to requisition grain, and that anyone who hides rice will be arrested!"

Zhu Han frowned slightly. "Requisitioning grain? Who gave this order?"

The old woman shook her head: "I only know that it came from the prefecture, and that it was carrying the seal of the 'Chengtian Prefecture'."

Shen Lu's face darkened: "Another counterfeit seal."

Zhu Han's gaze turned slightly cold: "It seems the shadow hasn't dissipated, and the north wind has risen."

As night deepened, the wind in Beize whipped up dust. Zhu Han sat in a dilapidated temple, the firelight casting indistinct shadows on the walls.

Zhao Desheng cursed, "Your Highness, these corrupt officials are using your name to plunder the people's grain. Aren't they setting you up?"

Shen Lu said coldly, "It's even more serious than framing someone; they want to win over the hearts and minds of the people. If the people believe in 'seizing grain under Heaven', then the 'truth' of Heaven will be destroyed."

Zhu Han listened quietly for a long time before saying, "They've learned from me."

"learn?"

“I illuminate my shadow with a lamp, and they use their shadow to deceive me with a lamp.”

"Tomorrow, summon the villagers."

The next day, Zhu Han ordered Shen Lu to summon all the villagers to the temple. The villagers were terrified and dared not approach.

Zhu Han changed into a blue robe and stood before the platform. His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly: "Some people are using the name of Heaven to take the people's food. Today, I ask you—whom do you trust?"

A murmur rippled through the crowd, and finally a burly man stepped forward: "Your Highness, we believe in the lamp, not the shadow."

Zhu Han smiled. "Alright. Then light the lamps."

He ordered Zhao Desheng to bring thirty oil lamps and hand them out to the people one by one.

"If any household has surplus grain, light a lamp; if any household has no grain, also light a lamp. Let this lamp bear witness for you—that Heaven will not take away the people's grain."

The wind blew from the mountain pass, and the lamplight flickered in the darkness like a river of flowing fire. Children ran around the lamplight, their laughter echoing in the night.

Shen Lu said softly, "Your Highness, the lamps this night are brighter than the gold in the granary."

Zhu Han looked at the light and said calmly, "The lamp is not meant to illuminate far, but to illuminate the heart."

On the morning of the third day, dust rose again on the official road as a troop of soldiers escorted grain carts southward. Zhu Han blocked their way.

The head commander, seeing his distinguished attire, clasped his hands and said, "I am an official on official business, carrying the seal of the Imperial Treasury, to collect surplus grain from the Northern Marsh."

"Where's the seal?" Zhu Han reached out his hand.

After a moment's hesitation, Qianhu took out a bronze seal.

Zhu Han took it, brushed off the dust, and saw that although the inscription on the bottom was genuine, there was no trace of osmanthus fragrance.

“Fake.” Zhu Han raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife.

Qianhu was startled and was about to draw his sword when Zhao Desheng had already drawn his sword and swept it horizontally. With a crisp sound, the sword fell to the ground, and the seal was broken in two.

"Your Highness, please have mercy!" The commander knelt down and begged for mercy.

Zhu Han asked coldly, "Who issued this order?"

"It is...it is Cao Yi, the Commandant of Beizhou."

Shen Lu was startled: "Cao Yi? A former subordinate of Lan Yu!"

"I see." Zhu Han's eyes darkened. "The Shadow Division's fire is hidden within the Old Army."

He bent down to pick up the broken half of the mark, stroked it slightly with his fingers, and sneered: "Their reach has gone too far."

Outside Cao Yi's camp, the banners were half-furled.

The veterans stood in formation on the parade ground, their armor worn and tattered, yet their aura remained calm and composed.

Zhu Han entered the camp without any guards. Upon seeing him, Cao Yi rose and sneered, "Why bother coming in person when Your Highness has arrived?"

"Whether you work hard or not depends on your heart," Zhu Han said calmly.

"Your Highness is joking. This humble general was ordered to collect grain; what crime have I committed?"

"On whose orders?"

“By the seal of the Prince’s Palace.” Cao Yi’s eyes flickered.

Zhu Han raised his hand and threw the broken half of the seal on the ground.

"Is this the seal you're talking about?"

Cao Yi's expression changed.

"You are using fake seals to requisition grain and disturb the people, and you are inciting the masses in the name of Heaven. Are you trying to rebel?"

Cao Yi chuckled in a low voice: "Rebel? I'll only follow the example of the prince."

Zhu Han stared at him: "Learning from me?"

“Your Highness establishes your credibility with a lamp, I establish my power with fire. You illuminate the people, I illuminate the army.” Cao Yi’s eyes were filled with madness. “Who wouldn’t believe in Your Highness’s sincerity? But even the truth needs to be eaten!”

"So you're using my name?"

"The people trust you, and the officials are not afraid of you. I want them to be afraid."

Zhu Han remained silent. After a long while, he slowly drew his sword. "Cao Yi, you understand fire, but you don't understand light."

A flash of light, and a chilling aura pierced the air. Cao Yi hadn't moved an inch, yet a line of blood already stained his chest.

He knelt down with a smile: "Your Highness, the north wind is rising."

"Yes." Zhu Han sheathed his sword. "But the wind must blow south."

Cao Yi was executed, and the old army in the north was completely dispersed. Zhu Han ordered the grain to be collected and returned to the people, and also ordered the repair of wells and the digging of canals.

Three days later, smoke rose again from Kitazawa's cooking fires.

The old woman, carrying a bucket, cried out with tears in her eyes, "Your Highness, the well has water!"

Zhu Han smiled: "Where there is water, there is life."

As night deepened, thousands of palace lanterns illuminated the night, yet the sky over Jinling remained eerily still. From the Qianqing Gate to the Fengtian Hall, the entire imperial city was bathed in a pale golden light.

The wind blew through the vermilion pillars, lifting the corners of the curtains before letting them fall again.

Zhu Han stood in the wind, wearing a dark-patterned battle robe, with the sword at his waist still on, and the dark red jade pendant on the hilt swaying slightly under the lamplight.

Shen Lu stepped forward and lowered his voice: "Your Highness, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace, saying that he wants to speak with you face to face and that no one is allowed to listen in."

Zhu Han did not respond immediately, but simply looked up at the glittering golden palace.

He suddenly smiled and said, "After all these years, he's still the same."

“Your Highness—” Shen Lu was about to persuade him, but Zhu Han raised his hand to stop him. “I know what you’re worried about. Don’t worry, Zhu Yuanzhang is no ordinary person.”

He straightened his clothes and walked forward.

"coming."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice came from inside the hall, deep and powerful.

Zhu Han stepped in and knelt on one knee: "Your subject Zhu Han greets Your Majesty."

"No gift."

Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind his dragon desk, wearing a black sable coat, his temples already showing some gray. He held a scroll of bamboo slips in his hand, but hesitated to unfold it, simply watching his younger brother quietly.

“You’ve been gone for so long,” he said slowly, “and when you came back, the wind had changed.”

Zhu Han smiled: "The winds are indeed strong in the north."

"I'm not talking about the winds of the north," Zhu Yuanzhang said, his tone shifting and his gaze darkening. "I'm talking about the winds of the entire land."

He put down the bamboo slips, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table. The sound was slow and rhythmic, yet it felt like a thunderclap in his heart. (End of Chapter)