The Ming Dynasty: Starting with taking Old Zhu on a journey to the future

Spring of the 26th year of Hongwu (1388).

Fengtian Temple.

On the dragon throne, Zhu Yuanzhang looked down at the prisoners below.

Lan Chen, the eldest son of the Duke of Liang.

The wooden shackles pressed down on the young man's back, causing it to bend slightly, and his prison clothes were stained with blood.

"You say you can foresee the future?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked, holding the confession in his hand, his voice as cold as iron.

Lan Chen's thoughts.

Three days ago, he transmigrated and became the eldest son of the Duke of Liang.

Another memory has been added to my mind.

That memory only recorded one technique.

Drawing symbols with blood can trace the past and also glimpse the future.

According to the description of this technique from memory, simply put, it is based on a person's bloodline.

It can travel to the future and also return to the past.

As a time traveler, I naturally know about the future of the Ming Dynasty.

To verbally describe future events.

It was no longer possible to suppress Zhu Yuanzhang's murderous intent.

Since Zhu Biao's death, Zhu Yuanzhang has long ceased to be human; he is a cruel and inhuman tyrant, a political machine that paves the way for his descendants.

I want to live.

This will only allow Zhu Yuanzhang to witness the bloodshed and destruction of the Jingnan Rebellion and the collapse of the Ming Dynasty!

There is still a chance of survival.

"This humble subject can not only grant Your Majesty a glimpse into the future, but can even allow Your Majesty to personally travel to the future and explore it for yourself!"

The shackles and fetters made it difficult for him to even lift his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were calm and still.

I really am getting old.

It's unbelievable that some people think they can be fooled by such a clumsy lie.

A ridiculous lie.

"Drag him away and chop him up."

Jiang Huan gestured for the Imperial Guards beside him to step forward.

Lan Chen used reverse psychology: "What harm is there in Your Majesty giving it a try?! Or does Your Majesty understand what the future holds if you choose the Crown Prince to ascend the throne?"

"Or perhaps, His Majesty simply wanted to destroy the Ming Dynasty! To watch it perish!"

The Jingnan Campaign.

Strictly speaking, it was actually a war of annihilation.

Zhu Di started a rebellion in Beiping, fought his way to Yingtianfu, and then marched straight to the capital.

This is fundamentally different from the Xuanwu Gate Incident launched by Li Shimin; one was a coup, the other was an uprising.

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunwen are similar to Ying Zheng and Huhai, or Yang Jian and Yang Guang.

They were all short-lived dynasties.

However, the founding emperor of the new dynasty also had the surname Zhu.

Perhaps Zhu Di himself did not want to admit that there were many reasons for his Jingnan Campaign, but the essence of the Jingnan Campaign was rebellion.

Rebellion meant that Zhu Di was rebelling against Zhu Yunwen, who was Zhu Yuanzhang's successor.

In a sense, Zhu Di was actually rebelling against Zhu Yuanzhang.

Upon hearing this,

Zhu Yunwen, enraged, roared, "You're about to die, and you're still spouting nonsense! What are you all standing there for? Take him away!"

Jiang Huan looked toward Zhu Yuanzhang.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard only obeyed the emperor, not the crown prince.

One breath, two breaths... ten breaths later.

Zhu Yuanzhang's deep voice rang out.

"We're only giving you one chance to prove yourself, otherwise, we'll skin you alive."

His tone was cold and left no room for argument.

Lan Chen sighed softly; his life was temporarily saved.

Jiang Huan stepped forward and removed the shackles from Lan Chen's neck and hands and feet.

After standing up.

Lan Chen spoke up: "This humble subject dares to ask, if I wish to travel to the future, I need a drop of Your Majesty's blood."

Before Zhu Yunwen could speak, Jiang Huan shouted, "How dare you! Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance! How dare you utter such treasonous words!"

A hint of doubt crept into Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.

Is he an assassin?

Zhu Yunwen bowed to Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Grandfather, in my opinion, what Lan Chen said about the future is false. His true intention is to take your blood and plot an assassination."

Lan Chen glanced at Zhu Yunwen and immediately explained, "This sinner's ability to travel through time requires blood ties, but of course, it can also be blood that is not His Majesty's."

"What do you mean?"

"The past, present, and future are like the upper reaches, middle reaches, and lower reaches of a river."

"To go downstream, you naturally need to find the upper or middle reaches of this river."

"Every drop of water in the river represents a lineage of blood."

"Therefore, as long as Your Majesty can ensure that this person's bloodline can flow downstream, that will suffice."

That's something they said with a certain air of authority.

According to this statement, then one's own bloodline is indeed the best.

The Fengtian Hall was only occupied by eunuchs, palace maids, and members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, including Jiang Huan.

Eunuchs had no offspring, palace maids died alone, and Jiang Huan and others were unsure whether their descendants would survive.

After a moment's thought, Zhu Yuanzhang slowly stood up: "Alright, I'll give you a drop of blood. Bring me the needle!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty is old; how can you so easily donate blood? What if something happens to Your Majesty..."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand to interrupt.

Just a drop of blood.

Although he was old, he was not so old that he would die from a single drop of blood.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang insisted on believing Lan Chen, Zhu Yunwen said, "Since Your Majesty insists on this, then why not use my blood? I am young, so losing a drop of blood will not matter."

"Moreover, my grandson is the Crown Prince, and he is of the same bloodline as my grandfather. My blood should have the same effect as my grandfather's blood."

Zhu Yuanzhang did not refuse Zhu Yunwen's filial piety.

A palace maid brought over silver needles.

Immediately afterwards, a drop of blood fell into the water.

Lan Chen looked at the palace maid who brought him a basin of blood diluted with water.

He couldn't help but mutter to himself.

They won't give you a single drop of blood, not a single drop more.

Hopefully, this diluted blood will work.

Otherwise, your head will have to be moved.

"The blood has been given to you. Now, you may begin," Zhu Yuanzhang said indifferently.

Zhu Yuanzhang had no hope of traveling to the future.

But something is better than nothing.

What if... it's true?

Lan Chen took the basin of blood and water mixture handed to him by the palace maid and immediately began to draw on the floor of Fengtian Hall according to the talisman in his mind.

The project of creating talismans is enormous.

It took a full half incense stick's time to barely finish drawing the talisman.

However, in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, this talisman was... a complete blank.

A hint of impatience flashed across Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

"How much longer?"

Lan Chen ignored Zhu Yuanzhang's question.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the array of talismans.

Close your eyes and silently recite:

"Inherited from the blood of the Yellow Emperor, connected through the ages; "

Ancestral spirit as guide, time and space as boat;

All phenomena are observed without disturbing cause and effect!

"Character rise!"

A profound silence fell over the hall.

It seems that nothing much has changed.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "We hate it most when people deceive us."

He waved his hand, and Jiang Huan, seeing this, prepared to take action.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew into the Fengtian Hall.

A pale blue stream of air was seen moving in with the wind.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang slowly stood up, a slight ripple appearing in his calm eyes.

Zhu Yunwen, who was waiting to see the joke, froze on the spot.

Lan Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems to work.

After a short wait, a small boat slowly sailed into the Fengtian Hall.

Lan Chen, dressed in prison clothes, looked at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Your Majesty, this ship will take us to the future."

The palace is heavily guarded; it's a pipe dream for a ship to get in.

After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yuanzhang slowly walked down the steps.

Without any hesitation, they climbed directly onto the boat.

Despite his advanced age, Zhu Yuanzhang was quite agile.

As expected of Old Zhu, who is 68 years old and still able to father children, his physique is truly remarkable.

Zhu Yunwen turned to the eunuch beside him and said, "Give me a hand."