Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 100 I don’t really like killing people.
The autumn sun shines on the earth, and above the blue sky, a group of geese fly by, from south to north, leaving behind a string of calls.

Purple Mountain stands majestically, the Yangtze River flows eastward in the distance, and hundreds of boats compete for the current on the river.

Here in the Circular Mound, as the emperor's voice fell, it returned to silence again.

Countless people were immersed in the emperor's words, especially the last poem that encouraged everyone.

In this silence, there is something invisible, intangible, but real, that keeps echoing.

Shocking the soul.

The layers of dirt that had covered the hearts of many people without them knowing when were shaken off.

Tear a hole in it so that it comes into contact with this thing.

For some people, after some time, this crack will close again, and the invisible thing that enters the soul will gradually dissipate.

But this thing in some people's hearts will not disappear. Instead, it will take root and sprout in their hearts and grow vigorously.

More and more prosperous.

The iron-hard dirt on the outside will completely disappear and will never be contaminated again.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood on the Circular Mound, his hands on the white marble railing, his eyes looking into the distance, as if he had traveled through time and space back to the modern era hundreds of years later.

Countless things I have seen in modern times are constantly stirring in my mind.

I only regret that I appeared in the modern era too late and was not able to live under the same sky with those people for even a day.

Fortunately, many things such as spiritual culture can be passed on.

Even across time and space, it can still infect people and motivate them to strive for progress.

The cry of geese in the sky brought Zhu Yuanzhang back to his senses.

He chose to offer sacrifices to heaven and apologize to the heaven on behalf of his subjects, not only to completely destroy the disturbances caused by this solar eclipse.

Or just to say something like this.

He can speak openly about what he wants to do and what he wants the Ming Dynasty to become, without having to hide anything.

These are not shameful things.

For many things, we need to be clear-cut.

This is especially true for extremely grand matters that require the unity of countless people and the gathering of enormous strength.

This will give those who want to do something a clear direction, so they know where to work hard and how to do things.

Attract more like-minded people.

It can attract those who are wavering in their hearts and don’t know where to go to gather here.

Under the leadership of a clear banner, we move towards a clear goal.

As long as I can hold on, I can gradually achieve my goals, make more people better, and in the process, resolutely strike down those who are hostile.

Then more and more people will gather under this banner.

It can unite the vast majority of people and gather the majority of the strength across the country to get things done.

As long as the goal is clear and the method is appropriate, any difficulty can be overcome.

Today, he wanted to raise the flag here openly and tell the people of the entire Ming Dynasty where to go in the future.

Attract more like-minded people.

Let the Ming Dynasty turn from here, head towards a completely new direction, and build a different Ming Dynasty.

Luo Guanzhong's face flushed red as he wrote down each of them quickly.

Especially that poem, I have read it silently three times, and the more I read it, the more I savor it.

The more you read, the more immersed you become.

"We know that some of you don't agree with this, and some of you don't want to do this.

Some people have become lax since the establishment of the country.

I just want to enjoy myself and don't want to bother with anything else.

Including this solar eclipse, so many people wrote petitions and caused a lot of commotion, but how many people really believe that the solar eclipse was caused by the empty seal case we created?

It's nothing more than that we dealt with too many corrupt officials in the Empty Seal Case, recovered the embezzled money, abolished the provinces, etc., which affected the interests of many people and made many people feel distressed.

So they all speak against their conscience and try to force us to make concessions.

Don't let us move on.

We all know this and we can understand it.

But our emperor is unwilling to stop there.

As the emperor, I want to make the Ming Dynasty even greater and go further.

So, today we will give you a chance to choose.

Those who are willing to work towards these goals stand on the left, and those who are not willing stand on the right.

We will not make things difficult for or blame those who stand on the right at this time, and we will give them a decent departure.

After this choice, those who stand on the left and are willing to work hard for these goals will be found to have bad intentions and harbor evil intentions in the future and will destroy the great cause.

We will never forgive here.

When a knife hits your head, no one should cry out for justice."

After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang turned around and faced everyone with his back.

"Let's not watch the process, you guys make your own choice!"

In the silent Circular Mound, a faint buzzing sound was heard as Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking.

It's like a calm lake with a stone thrown into it.

Obviously, the emperor's move once again surprised many people.

At this time, the chief military general in the court, Li Wenzhong, Duke of Cao, who was standing on the left, stood with his head held high, motionless.

His status and the relationship between him and the emperor as uncle and nephew meant that he would stand firmly on the emperor's side without any wavering.

Marquis of Yongjia Zhu Liangzu, Marquis of Pingliang Fei Ju, Marquis of Ji'an Lu Zhongheng, Marquis of Yan'an Tang Shengzong and others all had different expressions.

However, no one moved, and they all stood still.

On the right side of the civil officials, Duke of Han Li Shanchang held his head high and chest out, and without a moment's hesitation, he walked to the left side of the military generals.

Prime Minister Hu Weiyong was unwilling to lag behind and set off almost at the same time as Li Shanchang.

Liu Bowen, the Marquis of Chengyi, also flicked his sleeves and stepped to the left.

For him, this was not something to hesitate about.

Minister of Works Xue Xiang also strode towards the left with his head held high.

Ever since he was not blamed by the emperor for what happened in Zhongdu City, he made up his mind to follow the emperor's instructions.

After his memorial on the control of the Yellow River was approved by the emperor and solemnly agreed, he decided that his life was the emperor's.

Not long ago, after hearing the emperor standing on the Circular Mound and saying to heaven in front of all the officials in the world that he had a dream to restrain the evil dragon of the Yellow River and turn it into a gentle mother river, he decided to work hard for it all his life and would not regret it even if he died nine times!
The Minister of Personnel, Zhan Tong, also walked to the left.

He became more and more certain of his opinion in Zhongdu that the emperor was really different.

The emperor had ambitions in his heart.

Since the emperor is willing to do this and wants such a minister, then Zhan Tong can become such a minister.

For a moment, the figures swayed, and many people on the right walked towards the left.

Some generals on the left were also shaken, but after hesitating for a while, seeing the choices of so many people, they finally did not move to the right.

Among the civil officials on the right, many were also hesitant.

But when they saw that no one was coming from the left, the people on this side all went to the left, and the number of people here became fewer and fewer.

With full of hesitation, he followed the crowd to the left.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood with his back to the crowd, silently calculating the time in his mind.

After a while, he turned around to see what was happening below.

I saw that the left side was full, but there was no one standing on the right side.

I couldn't help but shake my head secretly.

I originally thought that this incident would make some people give up and take the initiative to stand up.

This way, there will be less resistance from the court when doing things in the future.

Unexpectedly, no one quit.

I don’t know if I didn’t say it clearly enough, or if people’s impression of me is too stereotyped.

They are worried that if they stand up, they will be attacked and killed and will not be let off.

This was the case last time when we dealt with the Imperial Guard Commandery and formed the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and it is the same this time.

I don't really like killing people, right?
However, they should not think that they can hide if they don't stand up.

Faced with their reborn selves who have opened their third eye, they have nowhere to hide.

It would be nice if he could really reform himself and not do the same things as in his previous life.

If they continue to commit suicide and endanger the country, after what happened today, it would be even more natural for me to kill them.

"Well, all of you are loyal ministers and good generals. I never thought that there are so many loyal people in the Ming Dynasty.

I am willing to work hard for the betterment of our Ming Dynasty, and I will devote my whole heart and soul to it!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at everyone and spoke loudly.

But the words he said always made people feel that there was something else behind them.

This makes some people feel uneasy and start to cheer for it.

"We don't care how many of you are sincere and how many are fake.

Since you have made this choice, we will assume that you are willing to work hard for the dream we mentioned.

You all must remember the choice you made today in front of us and in front of God.

We have already said the ugly words in advance. If anyone dares to have evil intentions, do things that harm the Ming Dynasty, and disregard the overall situation, don't blame us for being rude.

Don't complain either.

I'm going to give you an opportunity, but you don't cherish it!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was full of murderous intent.

Some people who were already nervous couldn't help but feel their legs go weak.

I feel a little regretful about not choosing to quit just now.

"We, your Majesty, are willing to follow you into battle, to cut through the thorns and brambles, to brave the wind and waves, to build a prosperous Ming Dynasty! We will not refuse even if it means death!"

Prime Minister Hu Weiyong stepped out, saluted Zhu Yuanzhang, and spoke very solemnly.

The voice was passionate and extremely determined.

He is truly a loyal man, worthy of being the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty!

"We, your Majesty, are willing to follow you into battle, to cut through the thorns and brambles, to brave the wind and waves, to build a prosperous Ming Dynasty! We will not refuse even if it means death!"

After Hu Weiyong finished speaking, the other 500-odd ministers bowed and responded solemnly.

For a moment, the sound rumbled and rushed straight into the sky...

……

"Xizhi, why... are you also locked up?!"

In the prison, Fang Keqin panicked when he saw his son being imprisoned.

He suddenly stepped forward, grasped the prison door with both hands, and squeezed his face into the gap, as if trying to squeeze his entire body out.

The shackles rattled.

He naturally knew that his son had taken advantage of the solar eclipse to go to Beijing to seek a way to make a living.

In his opinion, there is the solar eclipse and the teacher-student relationship with Mr. Jinglian.

Even if I can't rescue myself, I should never let my son get involved.

How come it has become like this now?
This is a death row!
Is the dog emperor so unreasonable?

"Father."

Fang Xiaoru shouted with a hint of tears in his voice.

"I am an unfilial child and have caused you, father, to worry.

Yes... the child took the wrong path and wrote the poster...

They say... that Your Majesty is a tyrant and a traitor to the people...

Family members and future generations are also affected by the children.

The family will be exiled, and their descendants will never be allowed to hold official positions..."

After saying this, Fang Xiaoru could no longer hold back and burst into tears with immense regret.

Fang Keqin, who was cursing the emperor in his heart, was stunned when he heard this.

My own son actually did this?

That's not really unfair.

This kid is too stupid, how could he write an exposé?
Even if you write an exposé, you can't point the finger directly at the emperor and write words like "tyrant and traitor"!
"Alas...it's me, as your father, who has implicated you."

Fang Keqin tried hard to suppress the surging emotions in his heart and comforted Fang Xiaoru.

When Fang Xiaoru heard this, his tears flowed even more.

"No, it was the child who was stupid, disloyal and unfilial and did such a thing.

It was the child who harmed the whole family, harmed..."

Fang Keqin didn't hear clearly the rest of Fang Xiaoru's words.

Because Fang Xiaoru had been pushed by the jailer and taken to a deeper part of the death row.

"Dad doesn't blame you! Dad doesn't blame you! It's my fault as a father!"

Fang Keqin screamed desperately, his emotions agitated, and his shackles rattled.

After a while, he collapsed on the ground.

It's like all the bones have been pulled out.

He looked dull, silent, and looked like an idiot.

After a very long time, he suddenly went crazy and slapped himself in the face.

I hated myself for not being able to control myself and for having to follow the old rules and stamp the blank account book.

I hated myself for wavering and being optimistic when my son said he wanted to rescue me after the solar eclipse, and not sternly refusing him.

I also hate why the emperor acts so cruelly.

Couldn't he leave his son a way out? Although some of his son's actions were indeed wrong, it wasn't impossible to leave him a way out.

Even if there is no way to survive, you can't let your descendants never be able to become officials!

……

"Eat your meal, it's your last one, so you can get going."

The jailer stuffed a bowl of sticky rice, three dishes, one meat dish and two vegetable dishes, and a small pot of turbid wine into the box through the gap.

After saying this, he carried another lunch box and went deeper into the death row...

"Hurry up, hurry up, read it quickly, the newspaper is finally out again.

This time, Mr. Ximen should be able to have a happy marriage with Jinlian, right?"

On the way back from delivering the meal, one jailer was urging another, full of impatience.

After being stunned for a while, Fang Keqin, who was about to pick up his chopsticks to eat his last meal, immediately brightened up when he heard this.

"Gentlemen, could you please allow this dying man of mine to take another look at the latest daily newspaper?"

He hurriedly called out to the two jailers.

"I haven't touched these dishes or the wine yet, so please enjoy them, gentlemen.

I beg you two gentlemen not to be disrespectful and to show some mercy to this dying man of mine."

"Who's going to eat your last meal? Can you even talk?"

The jailer shouted and cursed, feeling unlucky and full of impatience.

He pulled the jailer with him and went outside, eager to hear what was to come.

"Gentlemen, I have served as an official for many years and have a basic understanding of literature. I can read this novel to you.

I have read every issue of Water Margin before, and I would be remiss if I didn’t read the latest issue before I die.”

Fang Keqin spoke again, changing his words.

I don’t know if it was his mention of the civil servant status that worked, or if it was the fact that we were both following the same novel that worked.

The jailer stopped and carefully took out a neatly folded newspaper wrapped in cloth from his arms.

He handed it to Fang Keqin and said, "Read it quickly, read it quickly."

Fang Keqin wiped his hands on his clothes, thanked him, took the book with both hands, opened it, turned to the novel section at the back and began to read.

Compared with the jailer who knew some words but was not very proficient and read haltingly, he was much better.

"...It was also by coincidence that the chopsticks fell at the woman's feet.

Ximen Qing quickly squatted down to pick it up, and saw the woman's pointed little feet resting next to the chopsticks.

Ximen Qing didn't even pick up the chopsticks, but went to pinch the woman's embroidered shoes..."

Fang Keqin's voice stopped.

"Read quickly, don't dawdle, what's next?"

The two people who were listening attentively and seemed to have already immersed themselves in the role of Ximen Daguanren immediately urged them to hurry up.

"That...there's nothing below."

I don’t know if it’s an illusion, but when Fang Keqin said this, it gave people a feeling of gritting his teeth.

"Fuck! Shi Naian, that bastard!"

"Damn! This bastard definitely did it on purpose!
I've been waiting for three whole issues, and this is all he shows me?
Writing a few more words will kill you! "

The other jailer, who had always been quiet, couldn't help but start cursing.

"How can a few words do that? Who are you trying to fool?
It has to be at least three thousand words!

You can't write about Yan Poxi and that guy Zhang San like you did before, spending so much time writing about them beforehand, but when it came time to really start, you just brushed it off in a few words!"

Fang Keqin took this opportunity to quickly turn to the front page to read about current affairs.

As he expected, there was a new headline in the new issue of the daily newspaper:
Do we have a dream?
Seeing this bold title, Fang Keqin was slightly stunned.

How come this isn't shocking?
Although it was an accident, Fang Keqin became more interested in this issue of current affairs.

Because in the Ming Daily, there is only one person who calls himself "I", and that is the current emperor.

In other words, even if the following article was not written by the emperor, it is closely related to the emperor.

This is exactly what he wants to see.

He immediately read it quickly at a glance.

As I read on, my reading speed slowed down.

Later he stared at the newspaper in a daze.

So this is the emperor’s dream!

It turns out that this emperor who came from a beggar family had such great ambitions!
My own death, as well as the many people implicated in the Empty Seal Case, was not unjust.

What he and others did was in serious conflict with the emperor's dream.

It is normal for the emperor to take such cruel measures.

Compared with the emperor's dream, the behavior of himself and others is really despicable and not worthy of being shown in public.

Fang Keqin suddenly regretted what he had done.

This time he was not regretting his involvement in the Empty Seal Case and the harm it had brought to his son and future generations.

Instead, he regretted that he died because he was unable to see the emperor's dream of the Ming Dynasty, which would one day come true.

How many people don’t want to see such a dream come true?

"The west wind is strong, the geese are calling in the sky, and the frosty morning moon is shining.

Frosty morning moon, the sound of horse hooves and the muffled sound of trumpets.

Xiongguan Mandao is really like iron, and now it has started from scratch.

Crossing from the beginning, the mountains are like the sea, and the setting sun is like blood..."

Fang Xiaoru read this poem over and over again, savoring it carefully.

The feeling in my heart for a moment was so great that words could not express it.

Who dares to say that the emperor is a beggar?

Who dares to say that the emperor is not knowledgeable?
How many people can write this poem?
No one in the world can compare to him!

"Gentlemen, may I read this current affairs article with you?"

Fang Keqin didn't know how long he was in a daze, but suddenly he came to his senses and felt that maybe he should do something.

Seeing the jailer nod, Fang Keqin began to read with deep emotion.

"...I have a dream. I dream that one day, the people of our Ming Dynasty, regardless of their wealth, even the lowest class who have lost their ability to work, will be able to have food to eat and clothes to wear..."

"That's great! It would be great if all of this could come true one day."

The jailer, who had been thinking about and scolding Shi Naian, temporarily put Ximen Daguanren behind his mind and spoke with longing in his eyes.

"The emperor is a good emperor. He is willing to consider us, the lower class people."

Another jailer also spoke.

"Tell me, what can people like us do about this?"

"What can I do? I can't do anything except dream.

These are what the emperor and the high officials think about and do, do we also want to aspire to these things? "

The jailer, who could read a few words and was never a talkative person, came back to his senses from his longing.

This was a response to his companions as well as to himself.

"Gentlemen, this is wrong. Gentlemen can do something.

Each of these things is extremely big and difficult.

Even if he were the emperor, he couldn't accomplish it on his own.

It takes the combined strength of many people to accomplish great things.

Not only the emperor but also the ministers are needed to do it.

It also requires countless people like the two gentlemen to identify with Your Majesty's dreams, and to follow and support the policies Your Majesty implements to realize these dreams.

For example, you can tell this article to more people you know, so that they know what kind of person the current emperor is and what kind of dreams he has.

For example, you should be loyal to your duties, do what you should do, and do your job well in your daily life, and don’t learn from insects like me and harm the Ming Dynasty.

That’s a very good approach.”

The two jailers were a little dazed listening to Fang Keqin's words.

"We are of low status. Even if we do these things, what use will it have for the overall situation?"

The literate jailer was silent for a while and then shook his head again.

“Do not do evil, no matter how small it is; do not refrain from doing good, no matter how small it is.

When earth accumulates to form a mountain, wind and rain arise. Without taking small steps, one cannot travel a thousand miles.

If only two gentlemen do such a thing, it may not be noticeable, but when more people do it, it will be different.

It will surely gather into a tremendous force.

Follow Your Majesty in realizing these dreams.

You must know that the people are like water, and water can carry a boat! "

The two jailers looked at each other, then nodded to Fang Keqin: "We will take note of what you said, elder."

"Elder, please read this article again with us."

Upon hearing this, Fang Keqin responded happily, held the book in his hands and began to read it carefully.

For a moment, only Fang Keqin's voice echoed in the cell.

After a while, someone came from outside and urged us to go, saying that the time was up.

Fang Keqin folded the newspaper along its original creases and returned it to the jailer with both hands.

"The elders will take care of it."

The jailer waved his hand and gave Fang Keqin the newspaper that he had cherished so much before.

Fang Keqin thanked him and kept it close to him.

After thinking about it, he picked up the bowl of rice and poured the rice into the bowl of vegetables.

Combine the two vegetarian dishes into one bowl.

Pour the small pot of wine into two bowls, leaving some in the pot and divide it into three portions.

He handed the wine jug and a cleaner bowl of rice to the two jailers, while he himself held the bowl that was stained with the color of wine due to the remaining vegetable juice.

"It is my honor to meet you two gentlemen before I leave. I would like to have a drink with you two gentlemen."

As he spoke, he raised his glass and invited him to drink.

This time the two jailers did not refuse. They clinked their glasses with Fang Keqin and drank it all in one gulp.

Fang Keqin thought for a moment, then took out the newspaper he had kept close to him and unfolded it.

I bit my fingertip and wrote on it: I know everything is empty after death, but I regret that I didn’t see my dream come true.

As China reaches its glorious day, don’t forget to inform your father during the family sacrifice.

After writing, wait for the blood to dry, fold it up, and keep it close to your body...

……

"It's three quarters past noon, kill!"

Following the order from the supervising officer, the executioner raised his ghost-head knife and sprayed a mouthful of wine on it.

"Everyone, take me as a warning and do not violate the laws of the country. I hope you gentlemen can follow your majesty's dream!"

Fang Keqin, who had been silent all this time, suddenly shouted.

The ghost-head knife chopped down and blood gushed out.

In addition to Fang Keqin and his son Fang Xiaoru, five other local seal officials who were also escorted there were also beheaded on the same day...

……

In the capital, many officials had a very difficult life.

Not only did the emperor fail to make any money from the summer taxes this year, but he also made people return the embezzled money from previous years.

The key point is that most of the money and food that many people earned in previous years have been spent.

It is really not easy to make up for it at this time.

As a result, there was a strange scene where many officials sold everything they had, emptied their family assets, and even had to borrow money from everywhere to fill the holes.

How comfortable it was to embezzle money and food before, how uncomfortable it is now...

……

"The Emperor's move is not a long-term solution!
He treated officials so harshly, yet wanted them to be loyal to him and work for him.

No matter how beautiful the words are or how loud the slogans are, it is an indisputable fact that officials' salaries are too low.

You want the horse to run, but you don't want to feed it grass. How can that be possible?"

Hu Weiyong met with the Imperial Censor Chen Ning in private and talked about government affairs, and he couldn't help but complain out loud.

One of the main duties of the Grand Censor is to supervise the power of the Prime Minister.

As a result, now the two of them sat together privately and seemed to have a very good relationship.

"Alas, there is nothing we can do. Who made the emperor live a hard life?

Many officials below have strong opinions about this matter.

Many people really can’t survive.”

Chen Ning sighed.

However, although the two of them expressed their feelings privately, neither of them told the emperor about this matter and advised him to increase his salary.

Given the emperor's character, it goes without saying what the outcome will be.

It’s better not to get into this bad luck.

Of course, there are some things that are difficult to say, such as wanting to see how the emperor would be humiliated in this matter.

The emperor has been getting worse and worse lately and has become more and more overbearing. It's time he suffered some losses and restrained himself.

……

"We are planning to increase the salaries of our officials. What do you think, Prime Minister Hu?"

Inside the Wuying Palace, Hu Weiyong was stunned...

(End of this chapter)