The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 262 Sorrow
Zhu Gaochi did not keep them waiting any longer.

The bronze kettle outside the hall dripped into the still water with each drop, as if counting down the last moments.

"When the Mongol Yuan dynasty invaded, the practice of burying people alive with the dead resumed. Emperor Taizu established this as a precedent, which continues to this day."

Zhu Gaochi paused for a moment, "Throughout my life I have practiced benevolence and righteousness, how can I stand by and watch innocent lives be harmed because of my death?"
"After my death, palace women and concubines are forbidden to be buried alive with me; all regulations established by Emperor Taizu are hereby abolished."

Li Xianmu also paused, and all the officials in the hall trembled, then bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty is as benevolent as a saint!"

Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Zhanji and said, "Crown Prince, come forward."

Zhu Zhanji crawled forward on his knees, and Zhu Gaochi's icy hand landed on his face.

"I, in my humble state, entrust myself to the ancestral temple. Thanks to the grace of Heaven and the virtue of my ancestors, and the assistance of my ministers, the country is at peace and the war has ended."

Emperor Taizu reopened the land of China and restored the Xia dynasty. His merits and virtues are beyond my reach. I am also far inferior to the late Emperor in terms of both civil and military achievements. Since the Hongxi era, I have been cautious and fearful, lest I make a mistake and bring shame upon the kindness of Emperor Taizu and the late Emperor.

Therefore, I practiced benevolence and righteousness and followed the holy way. Now I am able to enjoy my full lifespan, which is due to the mercy of Heaven.

I am still deeply ashamed. Why have I been stuck here without achieving anything in my life?

Now that my days are numbered, all my merits and demerits are destined to be mere anecdotes. The future of the Ming Dynasty is now in your hands.

Zhu Zhanji couldn't stop his tears, each drop falling into Zhu Gaochi's palm. He choked out, "Father!"

Zhu Gaochi sighed slightly and said solemnly, "Zhanji, you have been close to your grandfather since you were a child, and your temperament is like his. I have taught you many things, but you have not listened. Now I am about to die."

I have some heartfelt words to say to you.

Emperor Taizu's abilities were like the light of the sun and moon. He rose from humble beginnings and died as emperor. This was unprecedented in history!

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the heroes were all capable and extraordinary people. Chen Youliang was just a fisherman, but his background was no less than that of the founding emperor. He rose up in great numbers and led 600,000 armored soldiers. How could he be a useless person?

Even if it was Zhang Shicheng, a salt merchant who stood out among the people of Jiangnan, how could he be taken lightly?

Emperor Taizu was able to defeat them, and even if he had his own abilities, did he not also owe anything to his ministers?

Among the imperial clansmen was Zhu Wenzheng, who guarded Hongdu. The six dukes and twenty marquises who founded the Ming Dynasty were willing to risk their lives and were united in spirit. Thus, the Ming Dynasty had four hundred prefectures!
After the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu turned his blade inward, fighting against meritorious officials, civil officials, and everyone else. He was invincible and intolerant of all. Emperor Taizu's abilities were unprecedented, and naturally no one could rival him. Thus, Emperor Taizu won victory after victory, but the Ming Dynasty's system was completely corrupted.

The Ming Dynasty should have enjoyed the reigns of Zhenguan and Kaiyuan, but what it ultimately achieved was a dynasty riddled with problems!

Everyone in the hall bowed their heads deeply, not daring to lift them. Zhu Zhanji was first shocked upon hearing this, and then bewildered.

"There is no world without conflict. Even if I don't care, I know that Minister of Personnel Jian Yi and Xian Mu have always been at odds and their political views often differ."

Jian Yi immediately kowtowed, sweating profusely, and said, "Your subject is guilty!"

Zhu Gaochi waved his hand, “What crime is there? Disagreement on political views does not mean you are wrong. Who can always be right? If there is only one voice in the court, wouldn’t being wrong mean you can only be wrong to the end?”

"The right way is to fight without breaking apart. If losing means certain death, who would still be willing to do anything?"

Zhu Gaochi looked at Zhu Zhanji and said, “This is the principle that your father wants to tell you. Throughout history, wise rulers who have brought peace to the world, such as Emperor Wen of Han and Emperor Taizong of Tang, all had a benevolent heart towards the world. The court was never bloody. Only the virtuous and wise can win people’s hearts.”

The group of ministers kneeling in the hall bowed their heads, their expressions varied, how could they not see through it?
The emperor's words were not only addressed to the crown prince, but also to all of them, indicating that the future of the Ming Dynasty was to be handed over to them, and that the emperor did not want them to fight each other and endanger the country.

As Li Xianmu listened, he felt an increasing sense of regret.

Outside the palace, the sun's rays slanted westward, casting dappled patterns of light through the gauze windows like scattered pieces of gold. Zhu Gaochi was naturally benevolent and quite talented. With the guidance of his father and son, the Li family, he already possessed all the basic qualities to become a benevolent and wise ruler, and he also had immense trust in Li Xianmu.

This emperor is about to pass away!
Although the next emperor, Zhu Zhanji, was taught by Li Xianmu for ten years, Zhu Zhanji was not a benevolent person by nature and had a very strong opinion. Therefore, he was bound to have less freedom and flexibility than during the Hongxi era.

"Xianmu, has the will been written?"

"Your Majesty, it's finished."

Li Xianmu not only wrote the first copy, but also made two more. He presented the three edicts to the emperor for his review. Zhu Gaochi approved them without issue, and Yang Shiqi affixed the imperial seal to the edict.

Thus, a legitimate will was born.

"Xianmu, come forward."

Li Xianmu calmly stepped forward.

Zhu Gaochi wore a bitter smile and a look of dejection. "Xianmu, I cannot fulfill your and my uncle's great wish. I am truly sorry, I have broken my promise."

With just this one sentence, Li Xianmu, who had been holding back, could no longer contain himself. In an instant, tears streamed down his face. All the emotions that had been building up in his heart surged up, overwhelmed all his reason, and destroyed it completely.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

He cried out, his voice choked with sobs.

His king, his brother, lies here now, dying, yet still remembering his promise.

They had once made a pact to change all the ills of the world, but now one of them is breaking his promise—the emperor, who feels very sorry.

Li Xianmu cried uncontrollably. Zhu Zhanji, Empress Zhang, and everyone in the palace had never seen Li Xianmu like this before!

Everyone knows that Li Xianmu and the emperor are close; they are cousins, but their relationship is closer than that of blood brothers. Seeing Li Xianmu's loss of composure and the emperor's words, everyone feels that they have underestimated the relationship between the two.

"Alright, Xianmu." Zhu Gaochi felt powerless even as he raised his arm. He smiled and squeezed Li Xianmu's arm. "Although I cannot fulfill those great wishes, I believe my son has enough time to accomplish them."

He's only in his twenties; he has at least twenty or thirty years to fulfill those grand visions.

We made a three-year agreement; let Zhanji do it.

"You must also keep an eye on this great Ming dynasty for me. There are countless capable people under heaven, but perhaps only you, Li Xianmu, can ensure its long-lasting prosperity."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhanji immediately raised his head towards Li Xianmu and solemnly replied, "Teacher, I entrust my future to you."

Li Xianmu wiped away his tears and said to the Emperor and the Crown Prince, "I am acting on imperial orders. My only wish in this life is to bring prosperity to the Ming Dynasty. Please rest assured, Your Majesty and the Crown Prince."

The people kneeling before His Highness were all slightly taken aback upon hearing this. The Emperor's trust in Li Xianmu was simply unparalleled. The Crown Prince had already come of age and naturally did not need a regent, but the Emperor still named Li Xianmu.

Saying these words in this context would undoubtedly greatly enhance Li Xianmu's status. In the future, when the new dynasty arrives, who could compare to Li Xianmu? Although now, there is practically no one who can compare.

But the new dynasty was different.

Li Xianmu was originally the emperor's elder, his cousin, and also the emperor's tutor. Now, he was personally appointed by the late emperor as the head of reforms. As a veteran official of three reigns, he could truly make the court tremble with a stomp of his foot.

(End of this chapter)