The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Yi understood the implication in Zhu Chenhao's words.

But he didn't take it too seriously... The person in charge of the Yan family back then once told his second son, "Your eldest brother is often sick, so you should do your job well."

When they need you now, they'll fawn over you and make you strive for a vague and unattainable goal. But once you've achieved great things and it's time to reward your achievements, they'll bring up feudal ethics and the laws of filial piety and righteousness.

Throughout history, who hasn't used this approach when they've been in power?

"In matters like this, I am not as good as my elder brother in planning for our father," Zhu Yi said modestly.

Li Shishi, standing to the side, sized up this son who seemed bizarre and absurd, claiming to be from five hundred years in the future, yet deeply trusted by the Prince of Ning.

Zhu Chenhao laughed and said, "Child, you are more knowledgeable than your brother. Going to the capital is tantamount to observing the enemy's situation. With your knowledge, you will surely bring back more intelligence than your brother. Why do you refuse?"

So you're sending your third son instead of your second son because you're venturing into the tiger's den?

You still think this is for my own good?

Didn't I ever imagine that if you rebelled in the capital, I would become your hostage? Singing "Li Sao" on the execution platform?

"Let's put that aside for now, Father. Let's talk about how to make the Ning family... stand even stronger in Nanchang." Zhu Yi didn't want to discuss any more unrealistic things with Zhu Chenhao.

Zhu Chenhao glanced at Li Shishi, and after finding that Li Shishi also remained silent, he said, "In that case, let's have a good talk. Let Mr. Li know some things as well... Yesterday, I showed Mr. Li the poems you wrote, and he spoke highly of you."

Zhu Yi said, "Those are poems written by later generations; they don't count as my skill."

Li Shishi then asked, "According to the Little Prince, the Ning family uprising took place four years later. What were the root causes of its failure?"

Zhu Chenhao, as if he hadn't spoken to Li Shishi at all, immediately changed the subject, saying, "Let's not talk about things four years from now. With my son here, why rush things? Wouldn't it be easier to succeed if we waited six years?"

If they knew Zhu Houzhao would die in six years, why did they have to rush into an uprising four years later?

"Your Highness Prince Ning, the local officials are now very aggressive towards the Ning Prefecture, and many things cannot be hidden... Even if the court is still unprepared for us four years from now, how can the emperor allow things to develop as they have in history if he does not make a southern tour?" Li Shishi said, expressing his opinion.

Zhu Yi thought to himself, "Li Shishi, you're not having an easy time either. You know that the development of events follows objectivity? And you even know about the butterfly effect?"

Zhu Chenhao's expression was not good. He said, "Does it really have to be four years later?"

Li Shishi looked at Zhu Yi with a cautious gaze and said, "With your son here, perhaps it won't take four years."

Previously, it took four years for the emperor to become aware of the situation. Now that your son is in power, you can do even more. It won't even take four years before the court strikes first, and you'll have no choice but to rebel.

"My son, what are your thoughts?" Zhu Chenhao finally turned the difficult question to his son.

Zhu Yixin said, "Are you two putting on a show for me?"

In fact, what they were asking was how to develop a violent machine that could confront the imperial court.

Zhu Yi said, "Father, I only know history. I don't know how to interpret things that didn't happen, nor do I know from which perspective to begin discussing them."

"My son, do you still remember the Hongyi cannon you mentioned? What... what's that about?" Zhu Chenhao clearly came with a specific goal in mind.

Knowing that the Ming Dynasty had such powerful firearms at the end of its reign, which could even intimidate the Jurchens, wouldn't developing them now help in rebellion?

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and improving firearms seemed like a good option. Historically, Zhu Chenhao was indeed very keen to procure muskets and cannons from the Portuguese. However, later... the Prince of Ning's downfall was mainly due to encountering formidable figures like Wang Shouren, coupled with the Prince of Ning's ships being too cumbersome and the general disunity among his followers...

In fact, in terms of the sophistication of their weaponry, the Prince Ning's forces were not necessarily at a disadvantage.

"I know that, but the cost of building cannons is extremely high, and it's a huge undertaking, requiring a large amount of cast iron. Father, do you think that a few cannons are enough to turn the tide in our confrontation with the imperial court?" Zhu Yi asked.

Zhu Chenhao could tell that his son looked down on the Ning Prince's rebellion.

Is it because his son doesn't want to be with him?

Li Shishi, on the other hand, seemed to have the same opinion as Zhu Yi... Since this kid claims to have returned from hundreds of years in the future, and says that your rebellion, Prince Ning, was a failure, a crushing defeat in just over forty days... Anyone would think that your rebellion was unacceptable.

Why do you still insist on doing things in order to reverse the defeat?

Why can't you just be patient? Not only do less work, but you also erase what you're currently doing, so that others won't suspect you of rebellion for the time being...

to be honest.

Instead of asking your son what can reverse the situation, you should ask him how to stop and erase the traces of your current rebellion, and temporarily dispel the court's suspicions about you.

"Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back." Zhu Chenhao's seemingly unintentional remark appeared to express his attitude towards Li Shishi and Zhu Yi.

You think I'll just sit back and do nothing like the previous Ning Princes? No way!

Since I want to rebel, I will rebel to the very end.

Even knowing that we'll hit a brick wall, we will never turn back.

Zhu Yi said, "Since Father insists on this, it seems that to achieve great things, we must use some unconventional methods."

"Tell me more..." Zhu Chenhao's eyes became urgent.

"Assassination!" Zhu Yi stated his opinion. "Since Father believes me and knows who is hindering our future success, why not eliminate them without their knowledge?"

"Um?"

Now, not only Zhu Chenhao looked doubtful, but even Li Shishi next to him felt that this kid... was nothing special.

The Prince of Ning's rebellion is not against those few people who will stand in your way in the future, but against the imperial court.

If you try to assassinate the emperor, even if you kill him, the emperor who comes to power will still not be from your Ning family... If you rebel, you will still be fighting against the entire Ming Dynasty!

Kill Wang Shouren? Kill Zhang Wenjin, the future prefect of Anqing? Or kill Wu Wending, the prefect of Ji'an?

If we kill them, the court can replace them with others to lead the army, and then we're sure to win.

"That's not a bad idea either." After thinking it over, Zhu Chenhao seemed to agree with his son's opinion. "Some people are the ones who will directly hinder my great cause in the future. They are stumbling blocks and cannot be allowed to live."

"Your Highness, please reconsider. If you resort to such a despicable scheme, you will only expose the situation prematurely. Officials appointed by the court cannot be killed at will," Li Shishi quickly advised.

You and your son are absolutely insane.

One of them said he knew who would be hindering the rebellion in the future and that he should kill those people. The father actually agreed with both of them.

Have I stumbled into a thief's camp?

Can't you guys use a normal person's thinking?

"Is Mr. Li worried about exposing his whereabouts?" Zhu Yi asked resolutely. "On this point, I am willing to devise a plan for you, Father, to eliminate those who are in the way, leaving no trace. This would be the first step towards achieving our great cause."