The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

Life is fleeting, and regrets flow endlessly like water flowing eastward.

Chen Wang wore an iron crown and a python robe, and rode slowly with his saddle and reins on.

As the warhorses rose and fell, the majestic outline of Nanjing gradually became clear.

Nanjing has thirteen city gates, the most magnificent of which is the main gate of Nanjing—Zhengyang Gate.

Along the official road, red flags fluttered and banners stood in abundance, accompanied by countless Jingnan Army guards cavalrymen wearing bright helmets and red armor.

The iron hooves of warhorses pounded on the solid official road, making a dull but orderly sound, stretching all the way to the foot of this world-renowned giant gate.

The vermilion city wall of Zhengyang Gate, several meters high, rises from the ground like a crimson mountain, gleaming solemnly under the summer sun.

The mottled bricks and stones of the city wall bear the marks of time, with moss of varying shades recording the passage of years.

The massive gate tower stands tall and imposing, its double-eaved hip roof covered with dazzling glazed golden tiles.

The eaves and brackets resemble a phoenix spreading its wings, as if it is about to take flight.

The doorway is deep and narrow, like the mouth of a giant beast, inspiring awe in those who look at it.

On the city wall, the crenellations were like teeth, and countless crimson figures appeared and disappeared among them, like leaping flames.

The three gilded characters "Zhengyangmen" on the huge gate plaque gleamed in the sunlight.

The gold leaf reflected the sunlight, exuding an aura of majesty that was too intimidating to look directly at.

Despite enduring over two centuries of wind and rain, this city, originally built during the Hongwu era and once the capital of the Ming Dynasty, still appears magnificent.

Today, Nanjing has once again become the capital of the Ming Empire.

However, behind this relocation of the capital lies an unspeakable humiliation.

The fall of the north and the relocation of ancestral temples to the south left this ancient capital bearing the last dignity of a dynasty, as well as the indelible national shame.

However... Nanjing's brief mission will soon come to an end...

Chen Wang stared ahead, his brows furrowed and his eyes focused.

In the spacious square, the emperor's entourage was prominently displayed.

Bright yellow parasols and banners fluttered gently in the autumn breeze, the banners embroidered with the sun, moon and stars rustling in the wind.

A group of burly Jinyiwei generals, dressed in gold-lacquered armor and holding golden maces and axes, stood solemnly along the official road, creating a dignified and respectful atmosphere.

At the heart of the procession, surrounded by officials, Emperor Longwu, wearing a gilded winged crown and a bright yellow dragon robe, stood quietly under a parasol, his face serene.

A group of civil and military officials lined up behind him according to their rank, dressed in scarlet and blue robes, their hats and belts adorned with solemnity, and there was not a sound.

All eyes were focused on Chen Wang, who was approaching from afar, a mixture of emotions including awe, anger, and trepidation.

Chen Wang's gaze slowly swept across the crowd and found the person he was looking for—Tang Shiping.

Unlike the other civil and military officials dressed in the same robes, Tang Shiping stood fully armored, with his hand on his sword, right beside Emperor Longwu.

Chen Wang looked past Emperor Longwu and his officials, his gaze briefly meeting Tang Shiping's.

He noticed that among the civil and military officials were a large number of soldiers dressed in red armor. From near to far, the scene was entirely red, and he roughly estimated that there were at least ten thousand of them.

These troops were the Pingnan Garrison troops who controlled the defense of Nanjing and even the entire Southern Zhili region at this time, and were now under the command of Tang Shiping.

The soldiers of the Pingnan Army were impeccably dressed, their armor gleaming, and compared to the surrounding royal guards, they exuded a fierce aura as if they had just come from the battlefield.

After walking about thirty paces, the faces of the officials and generals gradually became clearer in Chen Wang's eyes.

Chen Wang was not surprised. Before he even arrived in Nanjing, Tang Shiping had already sent someone to deliver a message and inform him of the situation.

Emperor Longwu proposed in court that he personally lead all officials out of the city to welcome the emperor, as a sign of great honor.

No one in the imperial court raised any objections.

Everyone knows that their opinions don't matter.

The important one is the Marquis of Jingnan...

No.

He is now the Duke of Yan.

The important thing is what the Duke of Yan thinks.

When Chen Wang received the letter from Tang Shiping, he already understood what the Longwu Emperor was thinking.

Chen Wang's first reaction was to refuse.

It is a fact that he wanted to usurp the throne; he has done everything a powerful minister should do, and even more.

He did everything except openly overstep his bounds.

Now, his prestige throughout the land is enough for him to directly ascend the throne and become emperor.

Chen Wang is now demanding that Emperor Longwu abdicate and directly ascend to the throne.

The people of the world will not object; in fact, they will applaud and cheer.

When the flames of war spread across the land, the smoke of battle obscured the sun.

When the barbarian cavalry broke through the formidable pass, the city walls of the capital collapsed amidst the cannon fire.

When the entire empire was teetering on the brink of collapse amid internal and external troubles.

It was Chen Wang.

He fought across thousands of miles, single-handedly holding up the sky.

He shouldered the burden of this nation fraught with hardship.
He single-handedly propped up this crumbling empire.

Chen Wang's achievements are truly immense.

So much so that even if he wanted to change dynasties, it wouldn't cause much of a stir in the world.

Decades of humiliation were washed away in one day.

The decaying empire was rebuilt under Chen Wang's leadership.

The Jurchens suffered a major defeat and fled north. The northern kingdom was recovered, and the old capital was returned.

The Mongol tribes submitted and presented the seal of the Shunyi King once again, and red flags were raised for thousands of miles beyond the Great Wall.

Such achievements are truly unprecedented and unparalleled.
sufficient……

Shining brightly for all ages!

Chen Wang reined in his horse and looked down at the officials who had come to greet him.

The three thousand iron cavalry behind him stopped immediately upon receiving the order, and in an instant, they all reined in their warhorses.

The loud neighing of horses carried on the summer breeze into the distance, and the snorting of warhorses was particularly clear in the silence.

As Chen Wang moved, the three thousand cavalrymen dismounted in unison.

On the vast wilderness, all was silent for a moment, except for the north wind whipping up thousands of red flags that fluttered in the wind.

Chen Wang, his hand on the goose-feather saber at his waist, looked at Emperor Longwu, who was surrounded by officials, and steadily walked forward.

Chen Wang was somewhat aware of Emperor Longwu's thoughts.

Longwu.

It wasn't Emperor Chongzhen.

Longwu.

It was not the Yongli Emperor either.

Longwu.

It was not Hongguang either.

This emperor would never be content to be a puppet manipulated by others.

Therefore,
Longwu has arrived.

He stood resolutely before Zhengyang Gate, accompanied by his court officials and facing the gazes of countless citizens of Nanjing.

As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he personally came to see this powerful minister who made no attempt to conceal his ambition, intending to change the dynasty and overthrow the world.

A humid summer breeze swept across the outskirts of Nanjing, stirring up fine dust.

The bright yellow banners fluttered in the wind, standing out starkly against the red flags that covered the fields.

At that moment, it felt as if the weight of the entire world had been compressed into the distance of those thirty steps.

Chen Wang's expression remained unchanged as he walked forward slowly with methodical steps.

The black boots made a rhythmic sound on the blue bricks of the official road, each step like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of everyone.

Behind him, a group of guards followed closely, their hands on their swords.

With each step, Chen Wang's shoulders rose and fell slightly. The python pattern on his shoulders rippled gently in the sunlight, like dormant dragon scales surging with hidden power.

Wherever those sharp, hawk-like eyes swept, all the civil and military officials lowered their heads and dared not look directly at them. Some even took a half step back involuntarily, their legs trembling and their faces pale.

In this suffocating atmosphere, Chen Wang walked until he was three steps in front of Emperor Longwu before finally stopping. This emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who was over forty years old, wore a black gauze winged crown, on which two golden dragons playing with a pearl shimmered in the sunlight.

He was dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, embroidered with exquisite coiled dragon patterns. Although it was casual wear, he still maintained the majesty of an emperor.

Emperor Longwu had a lean and refined appearance, with slightly prominent cheekbones and a neatly trimmed short beard on his chin.

His figure appeared somewhat thin under the dragon robe, yet he remained as upright as a pine tree.

In the ninth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, the Bingzi Incident occurred, and Qing troops entered the pass, directly threatening the capital.

Zhu Yujian, who was then the Prince of Tang, disregarded the ancestral rule that "princes should not command troops" and resolutely led a thousand men north to defend the emperor.

Even though he was ordered to return midway, he still fought several battles with the bandits in Yuzhou, with each side winning and losing.

However, this courage resulted in seven years of imprisonment within the high walls of Fengyang. The cruel torture inflicted by the eunuchs guarding the tomb left him "almost dead from illness," struggling bitterly in the dark and hopeless prison.

During Zhu Yujian's confinement within the high walls, the eunuchs guarding the imperial tombs in Fengyang, unable to extort bribes, tortured him with the "drum lock" method, causing Zhu Yujian to suffer greatly and nearly die. He endured seven years of this ordeal, and although he survived, his health had deteriorated considerably.

Zhu Yujian's face was slightly pale, but his eyes were exceptionally sharp.

But beneath that sharp gaze, there seemed to be many other emotions hidden.

Although his figure appeared thin due to years of imprisonment, the wide dragon robe made him look even thinner.

But the resilience that emanates from within makes it difficult to underestimate him.

He stood there, even though there wasn't a single servant around him, he still stood there.

Like an ancient pine tree that has weathered many storms, though its branches are thin, its environment is harsh, and its soil is barren, it still stands firmly on the cliff.

Chen Wang stared at Zhu Yujian's pale face, looking directly into Zhu Yujian's eyes.

Chen Wang had seen the same emotions in those eyes as Chongzhen.

That was the stubbornness inherited from the true royal family of the Ming Dynasty, the last dignity that they would maintain even when all hope seemed lost.

The prolonged silence weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, making it hard to breathe.

No one knew how much time had passed; perhaps it was only a few breaths, but to everyone's perception, it felt as if several years had gone by.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and his clothes under his armor were already soaked through; every second felt like being fried in a pan of oil.

Just as this suffocating silence reached its peak.

Chen Wang finally made a move. He slowly bowed, clasped his hands in greeting, and said loudly.

"Your humble servant Chen Wang greets Your Majesty, may Your Majesty be well."

Chen Wang's voice broke the somber atmosphere.

All the civil and military officials breathed a sigh of relief, and the invisible pressure on their bodies dissipated somewhat.

"I am at peace."

Zhu Yujian's voice was as calm as a still well. He stared at Chen Wang, who was only bowing slightly, with his deep eyes. There was not a trace of dissatisfaction or anger in his eyes.

Chen Wang raised his head again and looked at Zhu Yujian in front of him.

When their eyes met, Chen Wang could also see the emotions in Zhu Yujian's eyes.

Zhu Yujian's gaze was calm and utterly open.

Obviously.

Zhu Yujian had long understood the current situation and his predicament.

Zhu Yujian's next words confirmed this.

With the northern kingdom pacified, only the northwest corner of the world remains.

Zhu Yujian's voice was soft, yet every word was clear.

"The day Chen Qing pacifies Shaanxi should be the day I abdicate."

Chen Wang's gaze shifted slightly as he calmly observed the emperor who possessed keen insight into the current situation.

He noticed that Zhu Yujian no longer referred to himself as "朕" (Zhen, the imperial "I").

Upon hearing Zhu Yujian's question, Chen Wang understood why there were no attendants or officials standing around Zhu Yujian.

All the civil and military officials, as well as the palace guards and imperial servants, stood about twenty paces away.

Around the bright yellow parasol where Zhu Yujian stood, only Tang Shiping was standing.

Therefore, Zhu Yujian only needs to speak softly so that others cannot hear him clearly.

"As Your Majesty has said."

Chen Wang lowered his head, his voice steady.

"When the land is unified, the dynasty will change."

Chen Wang did not shy away from the issue; this was the time for open and honest communication.

Zhu Yujian nodded slightly, his expression calm, as if he were talking about something ordinary that had nothing to do with him.

He raised his head, his gaze passing over Chen Wang's shoulder, looking at the group of guards following closely behind, and then at the tens of thousands of Jingnan Army soldiers standing like a forest on the official road in the distance.

A slight ripple appeared in those calm eyes.

After a while, Zhu Yujian withdrew his gaze and refocused his attention on Chen Wang.

"You are very young."

Zhu Yujian's voice carried a hint of emotion.

"He is indeed as heroic and extraordinary as the rumors say."

He wasn't standing under the shade of the parasol; the dazzling sunlight on the ground made him unconsciously squint slightly.

"Just like the sun right now... radiating boundless light..."

Zhu Yujian certainly noticed the few glaring strands of white frost at Chen Wang's temples.

His graying temples stood out starkly against his young face.

Zhu Yujian raised his right hand, his fingertips lightly touching Chen Wang's temples, a gentle movement that conveyed a profound understanding.

"I can tell you've been working very hard."

Zhu Yujian's voice carried an indescribable mix of emotions, and he sighed softly.

"The burden of the world rests entirely on your shoulders."

"I know that without you, the world would not be as peaceful as it is now."

Zhu Yujian pointed to himself, then to Chen Wang.

"Now that you have all the power, I know I can't change anything."

"You, too, can't change much."

"Even if you don't want to be emperor, your generals and officers will still put the yellow robe on you."

Zhu Yujian raised his head slightly, bathed in sunlight, his tone somewhat helpless.

"The tide is overwhelming, and one has no choice but to follow it..."

After uttering his final lament, Zhu Yujian's expression turned angry.

"I've thought about it a lot."

“I actually have a lot of things I can do, a lot of things that will go down in history and completely tarnish your reputation.”

"You have placed me in the position of a king who has lost his country, causing my reputation to be disgraced for posterity, and leaving me with no face to meet my ancestors after death..."

Zhu Yujian glared at Chen Wang, his voice growing louder uncontrollably.

Chen Wang lowered his head slightly, remaining standing in place without making any movement.

Zhu Yujian eventually regained his composure. He took two steps forward, walked up to Chen Wang, raised his right hand, and placed it on Chen Wang's arm.

"But...I can't..."

Zhu Yujian sighed softly and shook his head helplessly.

"I can not……"

"If I did it..."

"I have even less to say when I face the founding emperor..."

Zhu Yujian's eyes were calm, but his expression carried an undisguised sorrow.

"The Ming Dynasty has been corrupt for a long time and its accumulated problems are difficult to reverse; the sun and moon have long lost their brilliance."

"China has been in decline for far too long under the rule of the Ming Dynasty..."

So many things in this world pass by in a hurry; life is inherently filled with regrets, like water flowing eastward forever. (End of Chapter)