Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

However, while this version of the story makes the founding emperor appear even more virtuous and righteous, it would damage the reputations of many people.

Moreover, some things are entirely a matter of personal judgment, and he was worried that writing them down would not be trusted.

In response, Zhu Youjian said:
"What you're writing is historical fiction, not entirely history."

"My only requirement is that it not be disproven by others; the rest is up to you."

"Just like Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, which recorded so many people's private conversations, did he really hear them?"

"It's just for the sake of narrative, to make it easier for readers to understand."

"What you need to do is to promote this kind of controversy. Apart from things that are clearly recorded in history books and can be falsified, you can freely develop the rest."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zilong suddenly understood and fully grasped the writing style of historical novels.

The emperor wasn't asking him to write a history book, but rather a historical novel.

This way, many of his conjectures can be incorporated, and as long as they are not disproven, he can elaborate on them however he likes.

Furthermore, if he were to follow the example of Guo Xun and others and be even less principled, he could easily fabricate some stories to add drama for certain people.

However, he still harbored the pride of a scholar and was unwilling to do such a thing.

To prevent his novel from being rejected by the newly compiled "History of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty," Chen Zilong said:

"Your Majesty, should we inform Scholar Qian of these speculations?"

"He was the chief compiler of the History of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, so he should know these things."

Zhu Youjian nodded and said:
“You can tell Qian Qianyi; he knows how to write it.”

"My requirement for the History of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty is to grasp the distinction between Chinese and barbarians."

"Expelling the barbarians and restoring China was the greatest achievement of Emperor Taizu and the foundation of the Ming Dynasty."

"The Ming Dynasty should praise all those who resist the invaders and oppose the Yuan Dynasty. This is the greatest righteousness."

Speaking of this, Zhu Youjian said:
“It is acceptable to write about the superstitious and backward aspects of the Red Turban Army, but it is even more important to praise their resistance against the enslavement of the barbarians and their restoration of the status of the Han people.”

"After the Temple of Martyrs is completed, I will include their names in the Temple of Martyrs, build temples in various places to commemorate them, and confer divine titles upon them."

"The History of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty can summarize these people and list the names that can be found. If they cannot be found, they should be commemorated as unknown martyrs, and all of them should be honored with incense and sacrifices."

"The Biographies of Heroes and Martyrs will also end in this way, telling the story of how the heroes and martyrs were deified."

This was something he had long wanted to do: to completely overturn the accusations against the Red Turban Army as "bandits" and "demons," and to commemorate and honor them in the name of distinguishing between Chinese and barbarians.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also one of them. After resolving the issues of Han Song and Han Lin'er, he was fully capable of inheriting the righteous cause of the Red Turban Army.

As for the so-called legitimacy of the Yuan Dynasty, he had already denied it, and was even willing to admit that there were times when there was no legitimacy.

The distinction between Chinese and barbarians was the orthodox tradition he re-established, and this is how the Ming Dynasty came to be the legitimate successor.

After Chen Zilong decided to write "Biographies of Heroes and Martyrs" from the perspective of ordinary people, he placed this book on the same level as "History of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty," explaining to the world the origins of the Ming Dynasty's legitimacy.

The Ming Dynasty, which had been established for over two hundred years, had sufficient strength and prestige to do this.

Zhu Youjian also decided to thoroughly resolve the inherent contradictions in the legitimacy of the Ming Dynasty and completely abandon the Mongol Yuan Dynasty.

Of course, this requires endorsement from someone of sufficient influence.

Zhu Youjian said:
"The monument to the martyrs is inscribed with Wen Tianxiang's last words. He can be regarded as a model of heroism in resisting the invaders and opposing the Yuan dynasty."

"The Biographies of Heroes and Martyrs cannot be without him; a separate biography for him must be written."

"In particular, it should be emphasized that after Wen Tianxiang arrived in Dadu, he refused the surrender offers from Southern Song officials, the Southern Song emperor, his own family members, and important Mongol officials." "The reasons why he refused and why he chose to die should be explained in detail, showing that the distinction between Chinese and barbarians is above the great righteousness between ruler and subject, even above life and wealth."

"This sense of righteousness is the highest standard for judging heroes and martyrs, so Wen Tianxiang is a model of heroism."

"He exemplified 'utmost benevolence and righteousness' with his own life!"

Hearing the emperor's words, Chen Zilong felt a heavy weight on his shoulders.

Everyone knows the name Wen Tianxiang, but many people don't know much about what he actually did.

When Chen Zilong heard that Wen Tianxiang had refused the emperor's advice, and that the emperor had used this to illustrate that the distinction between Chinese and barbarians was more important than the greater duty between ruler and subject, he immediately understood:

This was the emperor's further attack on the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty.

The principle of loyalty between ruler and subject is less important than the distinction between Chinese and barbarians. Those who still insist on loyalty to the Mongol Yuan Dynasty are nothing short of traitors.

Anyone who served the Mongol Yuan dynasty could not escape this blame.

This strike covers a very wide area, Chen Zilong said with unease:
"Among the founding ministers of this dynasty, there were those who had served the Mongol Yuan dynasty. How should we evaluate them?"

"And what about famous ministers from the former Yuan dynasty, such as Guo Shoujing and Zhang Yanghao? How should we view them?"

Zhu Youjian said:
“Those who truly turn to the Ming should naturally be praised. Just say that they were previously deceived by pseudo-Confucianists who sided with the Mongol Yuan and distorted the classics of sages, but later they repented and corrected their mistakes.”

“Those who are forced to switch sides but still yearn for the former Yuan dynasty should be severely reprimanded, to show that they have neither loyalty to the emperor nor the distinction between Chinese and barbarians.”

“Those who are willing to remain loyal to the former Yuan dynasty and are unwilling to serve the Ming dynasty should also be reprimanded, which shows that these people do not understand the distinction between Chinese and barbarians.”

"But we should still praise them for doing good things. We should look at it from both sides."

Having established this principle, Zhu Youjian further stated:
There is a poem that says, "Han people speak the language of barbarians, yet they curse the Han people from the city walls."

"What is your opinion, Chen Qing?"

Chen Zilong had already understood the emperor's thinking and replied without hesitation:
"This is the harm of not distinguishing between Chinese and barbarians; the Han people have degenerated into barbarians."

Zhu Youjian nodded approvingly:
"This kind of behavior should be criticized."

"But there is another type of people who are even more deceptive: those who speak Chinese but serve the Hu people and oppress and enslave the Han people."

“These people are even quite cultured, yet they distort the classics of sages by offering their own interpretations.”

"What does Chen Qing think of such a person?"

Chen Zilong knew who the emperor was referring to; most of the Confucian households from the former Yuan dynasty could be included in this category.

Some of these people's families have continued to this day and are very influential in the local area.

Chen Zilong didn't want to offend them, but under the emperor's pressure, he had no choice but to say:
“These people, like those Han Chinese who speak the Hu language, are all traitors who act as accomplices to the wicked.”

"I believe we should get to the root of the problem and refute their fallacies."

Zhu Youjian nodded and said:
"It should be strongly refuted, and the Hanlin Academy should take on this responsibility."

"Moreover, those traitors who collude with barbarians and act as their henchmen, as well as those who imitate barbarian behavior and actively degenerate, I believe they should be called reactionaries."

"These people are the most degenerate and reactionary forces in Chinese civilization. We must be extremely vigilant and resolutely eliminate them!"

"The History of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty and the Biographies of Heroes and Martyrs should reflect this idea and list them as villains second only to the barbarians."

"Through the struggle between the protagonist and the villain, we can illustrate the hardships faced by the martyrs."

"And educate the public to be vigilant against reactionaries." (End of Chapter)