The wind rises at the end of the Ming Dynasty

The sixteenth year of the Chongzhen reign.

December 28th.

Three quarters of a hour.

Nanjing.

The night was deep and all was quiet.

Nightfall shrouded this palace city, which had served as the capital of the Ming Dynasty for decades, in a mysterious and unfathomable veil.

The majestic and imposing Fengtian Hall, Huagai Hall, and Jinshen Hall, which stand solemnly during the day, now appear particularly austere and cold under the inky sky.

The eaves and brackets cast distorted shadows under the moonlight, and the ridge beasts on the eaves were covered with frost, as if guarding some kind of destiny that was about to disappear.

The north wind howled across the empty imperial steps and road, stirring up gusts of biting cold among the palaces, causing the lone lanterns under the eaves to sway precariously, casting fragmented and chaotic light and shadow on the palace walls.

The Wenhua Hall, Wuying Hall, Wenlou, and Wulou, once crucial places for strategizing and discussing history, are now dark and deserted in the winter night, only a chill remains.

In the long palace corridors, only a few old eunuchs on night duty huddled in a corner.

Their cloudy eyes were lowered, guarding the faint flame of the lamp.

Along with this imperial city, it awaits its inevitable end.

Inside the warm pavilion, the charcoal fire crackled softly in the bronze incense burner with animal-shaped handles, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness and chill that permeated the air.

Zhu Yujian sat calmly on the throne covered with yellow satin, his back straight, as if he still maintained the majesty of an emperor.

Inside the warm pavilion, all the cabinet ministers bowed their heads, waiting for Zhu Yujian to exercise the emperor's power one last time.

Zhu Yujian's fingertips trembled slightly as he gently brushed over the newly written imperial edict on the desk in front of him, the ink still damp.

At the beginning of the imperial edict, lines of text clearly came into his view.

"I have heard that the Mandate of Heaven is not constant, but only blesses the virtuous. I humbly acknowledge that our great ancestor, Emperor Gaozu, swept away the barbarian Yuan dynasty and established the foundation of China. Two hundred and seventy-five years have passed, and the mandate of Heaven has come to pass..."

His gaze slowly swept over the words, each word seeming to weigh a ton, making his breathing increasingly heavy.

after all……

It has come to this.

The thought slowly rolled through Zhu Yujian's mind, carrying a sense of heaviness as if the dust had settled, and also a hint of weariness that he had long anticipated.

The liberation of Sichuan and Shaanxi.

The chaotic world was restored to unity.

What a magnificent martial skill!

When the good news reached Nanjing, the whole city rejoiced...

No, the whole country was in an uproar.

It was under that glorious light that Chen Wang was officially promoted from the powerful Duke of Yan to the King of Yan.

Prince of Yan!

It has been 275 years since Emperor Taizu Gao founded the country.

In these 275 years, whether they were founding nobles or renowned ministers of the restoration, no minister has ever been promoted to the rank of king with a fiefdom, similar to the feudal lords of ancient times, during his lifetime.

This is not just a title; it is a signal, a signal sharper than any sword.

With Chen Wang's ascension to the throne of the Prince of Yan, his already soaring prestige reached an unparalleled peak.

As a result, calls for him to ascend the throne came like a tidal wave, from the imperial court to the military camps, from scholars to ordinary people, causing a great uproar throughout the land, attracting attention from all corners of the world, and inspiring unanimous support from all directions.

That was no longer an undercurrent, but a raging torrent, the will of the people united as one, and the embodiment of destiny.

The calls for his ascension to the throne were overwhelming, attracting worldwide attention and widespread support.

This is no longer an undercurrent, but a monstrous wave that engulfs everything, a powerful force that sweeps everyone away.

He knew that it wasn't that Chen Wang was impatient, but rather that the situation was simply as it was.

The times pushed Chen Wang, and he too, step by step, to this imperial desk, to the side of this imperial edict.

The torrent of the times carries the fate of individuals.

The fate of being trapped by the times can only rise and fall with the times.

Zhu Yujian closed his eyes.

My eyelids closed, blocking out everything from the outside world, but they couldn't stop the memories surging in my mind.

He knew it from the very beginning.

He knew he was a puppet.

From the time he was "invited" to Nanjing by Chen Wang's soldiers.

At that hasty yet unquestionable coronation ceremony, when he put on that dragon robe that seemed to carry invisible shackles, he clearly knew his place.

Beneath the dragon throne, the tall, sturdy general with eyes as sharp as an eagle, is the true master of this Nanjing palace and even this entire country.

Chen Wang's figure, like the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window, was omnipresent, enveloping every corner of the palace.

Zhu Yujian knew this deeply.

If it weren't for Chen Wang...

Who knows how badly this world will deteriorate?

The People's Army swept across the southern lands, invincible wherever it went.

Li Zicheng occupied Sichuan and Shaanxi, establishing a separatist regime in the region.

The Qing army's iron hooves trampled through the nine border regions, captured the capital, and intimidated the northern kingdoms.

At that time, the Ming Dynasty was already in turmoil, and its land was shattered.

It means that a great building is about to collapse.

The imperial edict was about to overturn the raging tide.

It was Chen Wang.

With thunderous force, they swept away the Wanmin Army, liberated Nanjing, and reunified the southern country.

Afterwards, Chen Wang strengthened his troops and launched a northern expedition, decisively defeating the invincible main force of the Qing army in the Central Plains and recovering the old capital.

In the Battle of Mengyuan Town, the Shun army of 200,000 men was defeated. Within a month, the divine army swept through the land, Sichuan and Shaanxi were restored, and the world was unified.

These achievements, one by one, are clearly imprinted in Zhu Yujian's mind.

He was not a foolish ruler; he could see how this corrupt empire was forcibly stitched back together in Chen Wang's hands.

You can see how Chen Wang stabilized the ship of China, which could have been completely capsized, with a strong hand.

He knew it better than anyone else.

He knew that the Ming Dynasty was already corrupt and beyond redemption.

This once glorious and vast empire, which was in the hands of his ancestors, has long since rotted away at its very core.

While he was living in the princely residence, he had already witnessed the corruption in officialdom, the neglect of military equipment, and the desolation of people's livelihood.

Even without external enemies or internal threats, how long could this battered giant ship sail?

A profound sense of powerlessness intertwined with clear rationality in Zhu Yujian's heart.

Zhu Yujian frowned slightly, as if he were under some kind of invisible pressure.

His choice to abdicate was not entirely a forced surrender; it also contained a kind of almost tragic acceptance after painful deliberation.

The world should be handed over to someone who has the ability, the means, and who has indeed rebuilt the nation.

Perhaps it would be more beneficial for the common people than for the emperor, surnamed Zhu, to remain in the hands of someone who has the legitimacy but is powerless to reverse the situation...

This realization was like a cold needle, piercing Zhu Yujian's dignity as a descendant of the Ming dynasty, yet leaving him unable to refute it.

However, when all of this was actually to be put into practice in this imperial edict.

When he was about to personally end the legacy of his ancestors that had lasted for more than 270 years, the deep-seated sense of loss and guilt still surged up like a tide.

Zhu Yujian recalled the glorious military achievements of Emperor Taizu Gaozu in expelling the Mongols and restoring China.

I recalled Emperor Chengzu's glorious achievements of five expeditions to the northern deserts and seven voyages to the Western Ocean.

That former glory and splendor would ultimately come to an end in this way, thanks to him, the last emperor of his reign.

An indescribable bitterness choked in Zhu Yujian's throat, making it difficult for him to breathe.

Zhu Yujian knew that his next move would be the final judgment on these complex emotions.

Zhu Yujian slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing over the cold jade seal that symbolized supreme imperial power but had never truly been in his grasp.

This is not only about relinquishing power, but also about putting down the heavy burden of family, country, and the world that has weighed on his heart for so long.

It was for the sake of what he perceived as "righteousness" that he made a painful but inevitable choice.

The cold jade seal was tightly gripped by Zhu Yujian's thin, slightly protruding knuckles.

That heavy weight seemed to embody the entire fortune of the Ming Dynasty over its 275 years of existence.

Zhu Yujian took a deep breath of the air, which was filled with the scent of ink and the chill of the night. His arm felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, yet he remained remarkably steady as he firmly and decisively stamped the seal onto the completed abdication edict, which was awaiting final confirmation.

The bright red seal fell.

The inscription is clearly rubbed onto plain silk.

This seal once held absolute power over the world, wielding the power of life and death.

Now, however, it has become the final chapter in the history of its own dynasty.

The bright red seal fell.

The rising of the sun and moon is a testament to the world's aspirations.

Emperor Taizu Gao rose to power by following the trend of the times and gaining the favor of the people.

Expel the barbarians and rebuild China. This sun and moon belong to all people.

This world has always belonged to all people.

The setting of the sun and moon should also follow the natural order of the world.

This empire, this nation, is no longer something that Zhu Yujian, or any of his descendants, can support.

Chen Wang won the world's acclaim with his formidable martial arts skills and ruthless methods.

Zhu Yujian slowly stood up.

He didn't look at the imperial edict again, but simply stood up.

"His Majesty……"

A choked sob could be heard from inside the warm room.

Zhu Yujian's gaze shifted slightly.

That was his chief attendant, who had been by his side ever since he was still in the Tang Prince's mansion.

At this moment, the old eunuch, whose hair was already gray and whose face was etched with the wrinkles of time, was already in tears.

That call contained too many unspeakable emotions.

Looking at the old servant who had accompanied him through thick and thin, from the prince's residence to the palace, and who had never abandoned him, he felt a sudden pang in his heart—a complex feeling mixed with warmth and intense pain.

In the imperial court and throughout the world, perhaps everyone is looking up at the new sun.

But in the end, there were still people who genuinely wept for him, for the Ming Dynasty, which was about to sink into oblivion.

The Ming Dynasty, 275th year.

In the past.

In the late Yuan Dynasty, when war raged and the Central Plains were in ruins, in those dark years when all voices were silenced and the sons of Han were oppressed.

Throughout the world, there are countless people who, in despair, yearn for hope, and in darkness, look up at the sun and moon that will eventually dispel the gloom and restore the glory of China—the Ming Dynasty.

China was able to rise again, and the land of China was able to regain peace.

In the past.

Throughout the world, there are many who look up to the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yujian did not speak, but quietly looked back at his companion. His gentle gaze seemed to be a silent comfort, as well as a final farewell.

Zhu Yujian gently raised his hand, seemingly trying to make a soothing gesture.

But in the end, the raised hand only paused slightly before slowly lowering itself.

The old eunuch's lips trembled, his voice shook, and he choked with uncontrollable sobs.

"His Majesty……"

Zhu Yujian looked relieved.

He has let go of everything.

"Everyone."

Zhu Yujian's gaze calmly swept over the group of officials standing in the warm pavilion.

"The sun, moon, mountains, and rivers remain..."

The landscape remains the same, only the world has changed.

What has changed is the name and surname of the organization that is being protected.

"The traditional clothing and customs remain, the rivers and mountains are beautiful, and the glory shines for thousands of miles."

"The new sun and moon will still shine upon the world."

"Everyone"

Zhu Yujian spoke in a low voice, with a gentle tone that was almost like a friend saying goodbye.

"Slow down."

Zhu Yujian's last words.

It is no longer a matter of a ruler issuing commands to his subjects.

It was merely an expectation.

Zhu Yujian turned around, alone.

His steps were slightly unsteady from sitting for so long and from exhaustion, but his steps were unusually firm.

Zhu Yujian took a step and walked into the deep darkness of the inner hall.

The faint sound of footsteps echoed in the empty hall, clear and lonely.

His figure was gradually swallowed up by the shadows deep within the palace.

That crimson dragon robe eventually melted into the darkness.

It was hidden in the long, dark night.

This "sun and moon" hangs in the mid-sky, yet it has no light or heat.

It's time to follow the will of the people and quietly disappear.

This sky, about to welcome a new dawn, is left to the rising sun, destined to shine upon the world...

Inside the warm pavilion, only the imperial edict bearing the bright red seal remained, lying quietly on the table.

Quietly, waiting to be illuminated by the light of the new morning.

The Ming Dynasty, 275th year.

The vermilion lacquer on the palace walls has faded and peeled in the wind and rain, and the weeds among the glazed tiles have flourished and withered, withered and flourished again.

Witnessing the passing of 275 years.

This is a long and heavy cycle of time.

It is enough to make a dynasty rise from humble beginnings to its peak of glory, and then slide from its peak to an irreversible decline.

however.

Regardless of how it is judged.

No matter how much later generations smear it.

No matter how much those who stole the artifacts despise and condemn them.

However, no one can deny one fact.

One fact can never be erased from the annals of history.

This land.

Nearly a century after the Mongol Yuan dynasty ravaged the land.

Ultimately, it was under the banner of the Ming Dynasty.

They have once again upheld the backbone of the nation and restored the traditional attire and customs of the Chinese people.

Recalling the beginning of Zhu Yuanzhang's uprising,
What is the state of China?
What a devastated scene the land of China was like.

The Central Plains have been occupied for 240 years.

For four hundred and thirty years, the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun have been adrift in foreign lands.

For six hundred years, the Hexi Corridor was cut off from all communication.

Yunnan has been separated from its original territory for eight hundred years.

Starvation was rampant across China.

The Han people in the North and South were deeply divided, almost becoming strangers.

And Zhu Yuanzhang.

A beggar with only one bowl.

Thirty years.

He became a ruler who reigned supreme over the world.

They accomplished the great task of driving out the barbarians and unifying China.

Let the north and south lands, which have been divided for nearly five hundred years,

They are now connected by blood once again on the map of China.

Let the Chinese civilization, which is on the verge of extinction,

It was able to continue its legacy amidst the embers of war.

The Restorers of Roman legend are a fictional epic.

Zhu Yuanzhang, the restorer of Chinese civilization.

But it truly exists in the annals of history.

In these 275 years of trials and tribulations.

China was able to rise again.

The land of China was able to regain its peace.

This is a remarkable achievement.

Even hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of years later...

It will surely shine brightly in history... (End of Chapter)