The fierce grandson of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 95 Luo Guanzhong: My life is over!

The third day of the third month of the nineteenth year of Hongwu (1380).

Hangzhou Prefecture, Qiantang County.

In the eastern part of the city, there is a small courtyard house with two entrances.

This is the very place where Luo Guanzhong lived!

Since Zhang Shicheng's defeat and his subsequent escape amidst the chaos, he has been living a life of constant wandering, residing in places like Suzhou and Hangzhou.

He usually made a living by editing and proofreading vernacular stories and revising manuscripts for bookstores, and he was quite carefree.

However, today, Luo Guanzhong had no interest in compiling books and was receiving an old friend in his study!

Inside the house, two elm wood tables were placed opposite each other, with thick manuscripts spread out on them.

The two most eye-catching stacks are none other than the half-revised Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the fragment of Water Margin entrusted to him by his mentor and friend Shi Nai'an on his deathbed.

At this moment, Luo Guanzhong, his hair white and tied up with a wooden hairpin, dressed in a fine cloth scholar's robe, sat upright in a round-backed chair, smiling as he looked at the person opposite him, stroking his beard and saying, "Zhongming, it's been twenty years since we parted in Shandong all those years ago!"

"I am delighted that you have come to me in writing—"

The person sitting next to me was named Jia Zhongming, who was forty-three years old. He was well-read and skilled in lyrics and music.

Moreover, in the early Ming Dynasty, he was already a well-known playwright.

His works include "The Dream of Ascension to Immortality", "Golden Boy and Jade Girl", "Xiao Shulan", "Jade Pot Spring", etc. He also compiled "The Sequel to the Record of Ghosts", all of which have been passed down to later generations!

The two are truly friends despite their age difference.

Having traveled extensively in Jiangnan for many years, Jia Zhongming was passing through Qiantang on his way north to Beiping. Upon learning that his friend was there, he secretly came to meet him. Jia Zhongming, with his clear features and travel-worn appearance, took a sip of tea and exclaimed, "Brother Guanzhong's words are exactly what I have been thinking!"

"After our meeting in the twenty-fourth year of the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng era, we only kept in touch by letter—I originally thought that after that parting, it might be our last!"

"I never expected to actually see Brother Guanzhong today!"

Upon hearing this, the two men sighed deeply.

After a moment, Jia Zhongming pointed to the manuscript in front of him and exclaimed, "Brother Guanzhong, you are truly talented! I knew you enjoyed writing about characters from the Three Kingdoms period, but I never imagined that you would have honed your skills to such a high level over the years!"

"From what I've just read, the episode about green plums and wine alone perfectly captures Cao Cao's brilliance and Liu Bei's forbearance! Even the most famous composer in the opera world today couldn't write something so incisive!"

The term "Liyuan" refers to opera troupes, originating from the Tang Dynasty.

He was praised so highly by his close friend.

Luo Guanzhong, his eyes filled with the weariness of time, was no longer the arrogant youth he once was. He shook his head and said, "My dear brother, you flatter me!"

"I write these unofficial histories and anecdotes from the streets and alleys not for fame, but only to finish them peacefully and not have lived in vain —"

It is said that Luo Guanzhong did not intend to make money when he wrote "Romance of the Three Kingdoms".

Who knows that centuries later, it will be hailed as a classic?

We chatted about our thoughts on the book.

Suddenly, Jia Zhongming paused, then said in a deep voice, "To be honest, I'm just passing through and had the pleasure of meeting you, brother. I probably won't be staying long before I have to take my leave!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Guanzhong was slightly taken aback. With a hint of regret, he asked, "Where does Zhongming intend to go?"

Jia Zhongming's eyes gleamed, his spirits soaring, and he said, "To be honest, brother, I'm going north along the Grand Canal to Beiping—"

"I've heard that since His Highness the Prince of Yan took up his fief in Beiping, he has been fond of literature and values ​​scholars, attracting talented people from all over the land! Whether it's opera writing, calligraphy, or other literary pursuits, there's always a place for them!"

"My journey north is also to find a stable place. I would be content if I could find a writing job within the Prince's residence!"

"Brother, you are a man of great learning; why not travel north together?"

Luo Guanzhong shook his head and said, "My dear brother, you are young and promising, with a bright future ahead of you. As for me, I am already old, and the ambitions of my youth have long been worn down by the world!"

"To be able to keep these manuscripts company, to pass the rest of my life in peace, and to find one or two close friends—what more could I ask for?"

"May Zhongming have a safe and smooth journey!"

The voice just fell.

Then they heard the old servant urgently calling out, "Master!"

He stumbled and rushed into the study, his face pale and trembling, his words incoherent.

"Master—it's terrible! Someone has broken in—they've come to the door!"

Luo Guanzhong's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly stood up and asked, "Explain clearly, who came to the door?"

Seeing this, Jia Zhongming also stood up, his thick eyebrows furrowed together.

"Reporting to you, sir, several Imperial Guards dressed in flying fish robes and carrying embroidered spring knives. They—they say they are looking for you and are already outside the courtyard!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Guanzhong's mind went blank, and he couldn't help but recall serving under Zhang Shicheng many years ago.

Could it be because of this?

The Embroidered Uniform Guards came knocking on their door!

If someone brings up old grievances, this time they'll likely be doomed!

Throughout his life, he was born in a chaotic world and grew up amidst war. In his youth, he harbored the ambition to restore order to the world, but unfortunately, he followed the wrong person, and in the end, the Zhu family became the emperor.

The reason why people dared not take the imperial examinations to enter officialdom for decades lies in this.

After calming himself down, he recalled the methods of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang.

Luo Guanzhong, his face filled with sorrow, looked at his friend and sighed, "Zhongming, this time I'm afraid it will implicate you!"

Thinking of what my friend did in his early years.

Then I thought about the Embroidered Uniform Guard again.

Jia Zhongming understood the meaning behind it all, and while feeling uneasy, he vaguely sensed that something was amiss!

Before this thought could even form, a series of footsteps sounded from the doorway.

In the blink of an eye, numerous Imperial Guards entered, and the leader shouted, "Take them all away!"

On the same day, in addition to Luo Guanzhong and his family, Jia Zhongming himself was also taken away from Qiantang in a daze.

Under the protection of the Imperial Guards, they headed towards Yingtian Prefecture.

They traveled along the waterway without stopping.

After more than half a month, they finally arrived in the capital.

Surprisingly, these people were not imprisoned in the imperial prison, but were instead kept in a small courtyard.

Two days later, a messenger finally arrived.

They were told that a distinguished person would summon them three days later!

On the same day.

At the foot of Zhongshan Mountain, inside the university hall.

After explaining to Old Zhu, Zhu Xiong Ying made a special trip out of the city today to personally visit the school and inspect its daily operations.

When they arrived at the Craftsmen's Workshop and the Firearms Workshop, Tao Jingchu, who was in charge, was already there with more than ten students to greet them at the entrance.

As the eldest grandson of the emperor approached, he was accompanied by General Chang Sheng and others who were in charge of guarding the workshops.

Tao Jingchu and the others immediately bowed and said, "Your subjects (students) respectfully welcome His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Zhu Xiong-ying spoke in a kind tone, offering a slight gesture of support: "Mr. Tao, please rise. Everyone else, please rise as well. There's no need for such formalities!"

"The weather's nice today, so I just came to check on our research workshop, to see if it's running smoothly and if there are any difficulties."

As Tao Jingchu led the way, he bowed and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Everything is fine in the firearms workshop!"

"Furthermore, in accordance with the school's regulations, starting from basic theory, the students are all learning diligently!"

"However, after so many years, the weaknesses of firearms and cannons remain, making them difficult to overcome!"

"For example, the rate of fire is too slow, the breath control is poor, and the range is limited, making it even more difficult to withstand cavalry charges in open field battles."