Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression was cold and stern, his chill penetrating to the bone. A thunderous roar rolled from his throat, vibrating in the boy's eardrums:

"It's not a crime for the emperor to kill; it's the will of Heaven!"

"If you soften your heart even an inch, ten thousand more wronged souls will claim your life beneath the dragon throne!"

Zhu Cilang's body trembled violently, and he immediately prostrated himself on the ground, his voice trembling:

"Your grandson will remember the sacred teachings of our ancestor! However..."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused, stunned for a moment:

"Just? Just what?"

The dragon-patterned boots suddenly stopped just inches from the boy's face, the icy pressure almost suffocating him.

"Grandson...Grandson is terrified!"

"You're free to speak your mind, go ahead!"

Zhu Cilang took a deep breath and offered his advice frankly:

"However... however, the virtuous character of the founding emperor was criticized by later scholars—who denounced him as a 'bloodthirsty tyrant'!"

"Historical records state that Emperor Taizu had more than 3,000 officials who spoke out of turn beaten to death, and tens of thousands of their entire families executed... Later historians have had many criticisms of this."

"How dare you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face instantly darkened, and his eyes widened in anger.

"You dare to believe the nonsense of a pedantic scholar?"

Zhu Cilang was startled, but then he heard the heavy breathing coming from above gradually subside.

"Hahaha--"

A deafening laugh suddenly erupted from between the gilded dragon pillars, making the boy's eardrums ache.

"Good! That's exactly right, it makes your pedantic neck feel cold!"

"We'd rather be condemned by history books for three hundred years than let the Ming Dynasty last for three thousand years!"

Zhu Yuanzhang bent down and placed his hand heavily on Zhu Cilang's shoulder:

"I can only tell you that I did not kill a single person indiscriminately. What I killed were the corrupt officials who deceived the people. Every human skin I peeled off was wrapped with the people's hard-earned money."

He suddenly sprang to his feet, as if a coiled dragon were raising its head to soar into the heavens.

"The 300,000 white bones outside Yingtian City bear witness that the guillotine of the Hongwu Dynasty never missed an inch!"

The roar was deafening, causing the coiled dragon pillar to vibrate and tremble.

"I am acting on behalf of Heaven!"

A thunderclap from the northwest tore through the sky, purple lightning pierced the golden roof, and the gilded roof ornaments exploded into countless sparks.

Zhu Cilang felt an overwhelming and irresistible divine power pressing heavily on his back.

A hint of pleasure flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, as if this extraordinary phenomenon was exactly what he wanted.

He stood like a cold blade in the center of the Xuanque Palace, a cold smile appearing on his full moon-like face:

"The former subordinates of Huaixi are hidden remnants of the Hu Party, corrupt officials who escaped from the Guo Huan case, and straggling troops from Lan Yu's army. Naturally, they want to portray me as a bloodthirsty tyrant."

"When you don the imperial robes, you will hear the cries of a million wronged souls singing of peace beneath the imperial steps!"

After speaking, he turned and walked to the dragon throne, placing his five fingers on the dragon head armrest and slowly sitting down.

Just then, Liu Ji (Liu Bowen) quietly approached, his withered hand cupping Zhu Yuanzhang's ear, and whispered a secret message.

The light and shadow cast jagged lines between the two men's brows, as if predicting the fate of the Ming Dynasty.

After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly looked up, and a burst of laughter that pierced through the clouds resounded throughout the hall:

"Lord Chengyi, you are truly my Zhang Liang!"

"This Heavenly Dragon-Locking Formation is remarkably similar to our old trick of turning beans into soldiers in Poyang Lake!"

When Liu Ji bowed, his full head of silver hair fell like a silver river from the heavens:

"Your Majesty's divine light shines across ten thousand miles; I merely borrow the brilliance of the Three Enclosures to illuminate the true dragon."

Zhu Yuanzhang rose again, his expression solemn, his voice booming:

The Book of Changes says, “The earth is thick and carries all things; its virtue is boundless.” Of all things, nothing is greater than the earth; of all things, nothing is more important than virtue.

He raised his right hand, palm up, as if supporting the entire nation.

"Today, I bestow upon Zhu Cilang the courtesy name 'Kunyao,' hoping that he will possess the profound virtue of the earth and bear the weight of the nation's destiny."

"My second wish is that they may be as steadfast as Mount Tai and as solid as a rock, securing the foundation of the nation for millennia to come;"

"May they carry on their lofty ambitions, expand across the vast lands, bring peace to the people, and spread benevolence, so that the sun and moon may shine upon China once more!"

My courtesy name is Kunyao, Zhu Kunyao... My original name was Zhu Kunyao!

Zhu Cilang was astonished and disbelief arose in his heart.

Wait... could all of this not be an illusion?

Is it destiny, predetermined from the beginning?

Just then, Zhu Cilang's consciousness slowly returned—

Before me stood the majestic Lingxu Hall, the gilded dragon pillars, the abyss-like figure of the founding emperor, and the silent silhouettes of the other emperors.

Like a faded ink painting, it blurred and dissipated rapidly.

He returned to reality from this strange illusion.

In the imperial court, he recounted that dreamlike yet real experience.

The officials listened intently, holding their breath.

However, Emperor Taizu secretly instructed him to "first execute three types of people":

He didn't mention a word about "the powerful local tyrants who occupied land, the corrupt officials who embezzled, and the empty-talking Donglin Party members," leaving it unsaid.

He has his own ideas.

Just as the officials were engrossed in his story, Shi Kefa, the Minister of War, stepped forward:

"Your Highness's ability to glimpse the secrets of heaven demonstrates the protection of the spirit of the founding emperor!"

He suddenly touched the ground with his ceremonial tablet in a deep bow.

"Although the Jurchens have captured the capital, half of the Jiangnan region remains intact, and loyalist armies are gathering in droves."

"Your Highness, I urge you to assume the throne as soon as possible, firstly to demonstrate that you have the Mandate of Heaven, and secondly to command the troops of the realm."

"Your subject is willing to emulate Huo Guang's loyalty in assisting the Han Dynasty, to reorganize the military, revitalize the nine border regions, and surely cause the barbarian dust to flee north, and the sun and moon to shine again!"

As soon as the words fell, Ma Shiying, the Minister of Rites, knelt down, his voice choked with emotion:

"On behalf of the Ministry of Rites, I request Your Highness to inherit the family line!"

"The Spring and Autumn Annals say, 'The great ruler resides in the proper place.' Now that the late emperor has died for his country, Your Highness is the legitimate heir, and your position is rightfully yours, as all under heaven know!"

The Minister of Revenue, the Minister of Works, the Vice Minister of War, and other high-ranking officials stepped forward and echoed in unison:

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that proposal!"

"I second that proposal!"

Inside the hall, people in scarlet robes and blue gowns prostrated themselves in turn, their voices shaking the heavens.

More than sixty ivory tablets were raised high like a forest of swords pointing to the sky, and the five bows and three kowtows wove together a thunderous momentum:

"Your humble servants respectfully request that the Regent ascend the throne as soon as possible!"

The clear sound of jade chimes echoed from the depths of the imperial court, as the last wisp of sandalwood smoke burned out in the bronze incense burner.

......

On the full moon day of the fifth month of the Jia-Shen year, before dawn.

The Circular Mound Altar for the Heavenly Sacrifice at Zijin Mountain was shrouded in thick, thin mist, creating a hazy atmosphere.

Zhu Cilang, dressed in imperial robes, stood quietly among them.

The cool dew quietly soaked through the imperial robes, and the twelve symbols of imperial power shone faintly in the dim morning light.

He gazed at the rising smoke before the altar of the Supreme God of Heaven.

In a daze, I seemed to see the old, crooked locust tree on Coal Hill again, and the image of my father still lingered in my memory.

Following the ancient ritual of "changing the day for the month," Zhu Cilang mourned the late emperor, having fulfilled his filial duty.

Today, we set up the altar of the Supreme God of Heaven in the southern suburbs, burned firewood to offer sacrifices to Heaven, and made a public announcement to the gods.

"The fourth watch drum sounds! The new fire continues the old fire!"

As the musicians of Shenle Temple sang in unison, the plume of smoke rising from the summit of Zijin Mountain suddenly turned north.

Minister of Rites Ma Shiying led the crowd in kneeling and bowing, shouting loudly:

"A country cannot be without a ruler for even a day; we urge the Crown Prince to assume the throne as soon as possible!"

The crimson-robed figures behind him prostrated themselves like a tide, echoing his sentiments in unison.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the eaves of the Wuying Hall...

Zhu Cilang walked very slowly on the steps. The sun, moon and stars adorning his black and crimson robes seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, making his shoulders feel heavy.

"We, your humble servants, will risk our lives to plead our case again!"

When Ma Shiying kowtowed for the third time, three cannon shots rang out outside the palace to clear the streets. The officials urged him to ascend the throne, but he declined three times.

"allow!"

The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies then read the imperial edict aloud in front of the Wuying Hall.

"...On the nineteenth day of the third month of the Jia Shen year, bandits breached the city, and the late emperor sacrificed himself for the country, passing away on his imperial journey..."

The historian's voice pierced the north wind.

Sixteen-year-old Zhu Cilang stared at the shimmering projection of the crown tassels on the gold brick.

The twelve strings of jade beads on his forehead kept colliding and swaying, making it difficult for him to hear the heavy words of "working tirelessly day and night" and "the dragon rides to heaven".

"...to carry forward the great achievements of our ancestors and glorify the divine power of China!"

The tone of the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies suddenly rose.

"—Bearing the Mandate of Heaven, let us usher in a new era of Ming Dynasty!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live the Emperor!"

The announcement by the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies stirred up a tsunami of shouts of "Long live the Emperor!"

At that moment, white mourning clothes and red flags were being raised simultaneously on the walls of Nanjing.

According to regulations, the Chongzhen reign title was used that year, and it was changed to the Hongguang reign title when the new year arrived.

Zhu Cilang turned and walked into the deep palace amidst deafening shouts.

As the twelve jade-like tassels unfurled, the roof ornaments of the Wuying Hall caught the first rays of the new sun.

With the grand ceremony completed, the emperor reigned supreme, and the new dynasty was restored to its former glory.