The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 24 The Death Knell Has Tolled
Yingtian Prefecture, located on the south bank of the Yangtze River, was covered with a thin layer of snow in the early winter of the 25th year of the Hongwu reign.

Li Qi, Chen Ying, the Minister of Justice, and several others sat around the bronze stove, laughing and talking about the momentous occasion at the Imperial Academy when Li Qi became famous and all the scholars fell silent.

"Southerners are assertive and consider themselves the orthodox, often looking down on northerners. Today, the prince consort has thoroughly humiliated their arrogance, and we should raise a toast."

"Gentleman, this is not directed at you."

The gentry member was Xie Jin. Apart from Li Qi, probably no one would have imagined that he would actually send a visiting card to Li Qi, wanting to befriend him.

Li Qi knew that in history, Xie Jin had written to Zhu Yuanzhang in the 24th year of the Hongwu reign to plead for the injustice done to Li Shanchang. Moreover, because Xie Jin was a rare talent in the early Ming Dynasty, he intended to have Xie Jin become one of Li Xianmu's teachers.

Most importantly, although Li Qi is now the leader of the Northern Scholars Association, he does not want to engage in fierce regional factional struggles.

Even after defeating the scholars of Jiangnan, he still needed to accept scholars from the South, so he gladly accepted Xie Jin's overtures.

Xie Jin waved his hand dismissively, "I am also dissatisfied with the frivolous and taciturn atmosphere of the Southerners. Besides, my ancestral home is in Shanxi, so I can be considered a Northerner. Jinghe defeated the scholars, and from now on, the literary world will change."

Li Qi downed the warm wine, shook his head, and said, "It's easier said than done. The silence of the Southern scholars today is a testament to their cunning. They know they can't win against me, so they won't engage in the debate. Since there's no debate, how can we talk about victory or defeat?"

Chen Ying, Xie Jin, and the others exchanged glances and all frowned slightly.

"The imperial court and the scholarly community, though nominally separate, are in reality one. Since ancient times, they have sought to suppress heretical doctrines..."

Chen Ying slowly said, "They all used force, such as burning books and burying scholars alive, burning their books, destroying their bodies, and then trampling on their principles."

Scholars like Xie Jin couldn't help but shudder.

Li Qi slowly raised his glass. "What Huaicheng said is the truth."

Academic disputes are power struggles, always a matter of life and death. As Li Qi said, although he is now showing great power and fame, and has achieved the status of a great Confucian scholar.

However, the Southerners were absolutely unwilling to relinquish power in the military to Li Qi, and there would certainly be many more fierce battles in the future.

The war has just begun.

Southerners are widely present in the court and control the literati. Once they form a united force, their power is far beyond what Li Qi alone can withstand.

If Li Qi hadn't had the support of imperial power, he probably would have died under the weight of power before the discussion even began.

"Does Jinghe have a solution?"

Li Qi pondered. He held a deadly trump card in his hand, which, at the right moment, could unleash a bloodbath no less massive than the four major cases of the Hongwu era.

But he felt it wasn't the right time.

Because it is now the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu's reign, Zhu Biao will soon pass away, followed by the Lan Yu case, the establishment of the imperial grandson, and a series of other major events.

This trump card may become insignificant in the face of major events that affect the world.

If this card were kept until the fourth year of the Jianwen reign, when Zhu Di launched his Jingnan Campaign and stormed into Yingtian Prefecture, it would have had a remarkable effect.

Thinking of this, Li Qi suppressed his thoughts and said calmly, "If they were to debate with me, they would still have a chance of winning."

If they wish to employ other means, I have the Emperor's favor; until the Northerners gain the upper hand, we will be invincible.

Xie Jin and Chen Ying paused for a moment, then exchanged a glance. What Li Qi said was clear: the Emperor was dissatisfied with the Southerners' control of the court, so he wanted to support the Northerners, and Li Qi was the benchmark standing among the scholars.

As long as Li Qi doesn't make any fundamental mistakes, the Emperor will continue to protect him.

"Don't stop, this meat is at its most tender."

Li Qi's words broke the tense atmosphere.

"It's so clear!"

"Jinghe, pour the wine!"

White steam rose from the warm room.

The snow outside was getting heavier, covering the ground with a layer of white, reflecting the moonlight and shimmering with silvery threads.

……

On February 27th of the 25th year of the Hongwu reign, Crown Prince Zhu Biao returned from Luoyang and presented the emperor with a memorial detailing his inspections of Xi'an and Luoyang. He believed that, taking all factors into consideration, the capital should be moved to Luoyang.

But there are unforeseen circumstances.

Zhu Biao fell ill on the second night after returning to the capital. The imperial physician diagnosed him with excessive mental and physical exhaustion, which led to internal weakness. In addition, the long journey and the large difference in climate between Luoyang and Yingtianfu caused him to be exposed to pathogenic factors.

Up until this point, everyone thought that as long as he rested properly, he would be fine. But soon it was discovered in the palace and the court that no matter how much medicine was given to him, the Crown Prince's health did not improve at all, and was even getting worse.

Exhausted from a hundred battles, the brave warriors weary; a single defeat in the Central Plains makes recovery difficult. The concept of "momentum" is intangible and invisible, yet it truly exists, and the Crown Prince now appears to be facing an irreversible decline.

For a moment, everyone in the court and among the people fell silent. Only the dark clouds above the Fengtian Hall continued to gather, and no one knew where the wrath of Heaven would fall!

……

Li Qi and Princess Lin'an walked quietly through the East Palace. Every palace servant was cautious and careful, afraid of making any inappropriate noise that might disturb the ailing Crown Prince.

In the outer hall of the Crown Prince's bedroom, Li Qi and his wife met the Crown Princess Lü and the princes. Lü looked very haggard, thin, and much thinner.

A strong smell of medicine permeated the hall.

Princess Lin'an stepped forward and grasped Lady Lü's hand, her expression anxious, "Sister-in-law, how is my brother's health?"

Lady Lü shook her head, her face pale. "His Highness's health is deteriorating and shows no signs of improvement."

A weak voice suddenly came from inside, "Is that Lin'an and Jinghe?"

Upon hearing Zhu Biao's voice, Lady Lü wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and led Li Qi and his wife into the inner hall.

The flickering candlelight in the hall seemed to foreshadow Zhu Biao's precarious life.

At a glance, Li Qi saw that the once valiant Crown Prince was now terminally ill, and even his face showed signs of death.

Lady Lü and the imperial grandsons were filled with grief.

Li Qi was filled with complex emotions. Princess Lin'an could no longer contain her grief and hurried to Zhu Biao's bedside, sobbing, "Crown Prince, how could things have come to this?"

Zhu Biao forced a smile and said, "This is probably fate."

His words were filled with deep resentment and a sense of helpless dejection, about birth, aging, sickness, and death, things that all living beings are destined to experience.

Princess Lin'an, Lady Lü, and the imperial grandsons wept again upon hearing this.

"Jinghe".

"Cough cough."

"The minister is here."

Zhu Biao looked at Li Qi with regret on his face. "I originally wanted to recruit you into the Eastern Palace so that you could exonerate the Duke of Han's family in the future. You have extraordinary talent and should not be buried because of your family's sins."

Now it seems there's no hope. I wonder how Father will arrange your future.

Li Qi was moved. If Zhu Biao really ascended the throne, he would probably exonerate the Han State government because of him.

only……

Such is the will of Heaven.

Li Qi cried out in a sorrowful voice, "Your elder brother, the Crown Prince, is benevolent and has the protection of Heaven. Your subject..."

I am still waiting to serve you, how can I fall here?
"Life and death are in the hands of the divine. Your Highness, you must muster your strength; the day you recover is not far off."

……

When she left the Eastern Palace, Princess Lin'an cried her heart out and even fainted several times from grief.

She choked back tears, clutching Li Qi's sleeve, and asked indistinctly, "My lord, do you think my brother can still...?"

It can still…

She could no longer speak, only tears streamed down her face.

Li Qi embraced her and returned to the princess's residence, unable to utter a single extra word. But everyone who had come to see Zhu Biao already knew the answer in their hearts.

Even Zhu Biao himself had lost the will to live.

April 25th, the 25th year of Hongwu (1388).

On that day in history, the Eastern Palace tolled its death knell.

The sobbing was muffled, like vomiting and gurgling.

It was sung for Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

(End of this chapter)