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

No notification.

Respect Zhu Shuang's fate.

"Our Zhu Yuanzhang slaughtered so many that blood flowed freely in the Fengtian Palace."

"Yet he never beat or verbally abused those who served him without reason."

"Since he's seeking death, let him be."

Generally, unless a fundamental error has been committed, the offender will not be executed.

At most, he would be punished with a dozen or so strokes of the cane.

"We won't save him a second time."

In fact, if it weren't for Biao'er's inspection tour of various parts of the north in the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu's reign, searching for a suitable place to move the capital, Zhu Shuang's misdeeds probably wouldn't have reached his eyes.

At that time.

He once scolded Zhu Shuang, telling him to treat those around him better, but Zhu Shuang wouldn't listen.

Ultimately, the subordinates, unable to bear it any longer, poisoned Zhu Shuang.

"How could the second son have turned out like this when he was perfectly fine?" Empress Ma sighed softly.

To say I'm not heartbroken is an understatement; Zhu Shuang is my own flesh and blood, and we're still connected by blood.

To be honest, it was a good thing that Zhu Shuang was killed and the people were relieved.

"Since the second brother is not suitable, why doesn't Father choose the third brother?"

"My third brother is skilled in both literature and martial arts; he shouldn't be like my second brother, right?"

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin studied classical texts and literature under Song Lian from a young age.

He showed his intelligence from a young age.

Among the various vassal kings.

The Prince of Jin was entrusted with an important task by him.

When the Lan Yu case broke out, he assisted him in stripping the meritorious military officers of their power and arresting them.

Zhu Gang's personality was not exactly good.

Sometimes, when he gets angry, he likes to hit people.

They were just not as cruel as Zhu Shuang.

Zhu Gang could listen to a few words of advice and make changes.

"The third prince is indeed not as good at both literature and martial arts as the second prince. Among all the princes, he is the one we have the most faith in."

"However, his personality is the same as Lan Yu's: arrogant and impulsive."

He has the ability and is suitable to be a general who conquers a region, but he is not suitable to be an emperor.

"Moreover, in the thirty-first year of Hongwu, the third prince will also die before us."

Zhu Shuang was incompetent and had a long history of misconduct.

Zhu Gang was capable, but he also had a history of misconduct.

In that case, only the last two remain.

One was Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan, and the other was Zhu Su, the Prince of Zhou.

"What about the fourth and fifth brothers?"

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard the words "fourth son," he thought of that day.

The scene depicting Zhu Di's rebellion in the Fengtian Hall.

"Don't mention the fourth brother to us! We just can't stand him!"

Before knowing that Zhu Di was plotting a rebellion.

He still admired Zhu Di quite a bit, even though Zhu Di's military abilities were slightly inferior to Zhu Gang's.

He was also a capable vassal king.

But after learning that Zhu Di had ordered the Jingnan Campaign, he was furious.

The word "treason" was always the most sensitive nerve for the emperor.

Empress Ma and Zhu Biao were both bewildered by Zhu Yuanzhang's sudden outburst of temper.

When talking about Zhu Shuang.

Zhu Yuanzhang's tone conveyed a sense of disappointment and frustration.

However, when talking about Zhu Di, there seemed to be anger in his tone.

"Father, has the fourth prince also done something heinous?"

No way.

His four younger brothers were of the same lineage as him.

Are they all brutal people?

That shouldn't be the case. The Empress Dowager is kind, and the Emperor... Does that mean I'm the only one who doesn't resemble my father? Or my mother?

Even Empress Ma herself was somewhat bewildered.

Of his five sons, was Biao the only one who followed in his footsteps?

"The problems with the second and third sons are issues of ability and personality, while the problem with the fourth son is treason."

Zhu Biao was startled.

"rebellion?!"

"Father, are you mistaken? How could the fourth prince possibly plot a rebellion?"

"Wasn't it Lan Yu who plotted the rebellion?"

Although Lan Yu was "forced" to rebel.

Zhu Yuanzhang said solemnly, "I remember it clearly: in the fourth year of Jianwen's reign, Fengtian launched the Jingnan Campaign."

"The palace was filled with the smoke of battle as the Yan army broke into it."

Zhu Biao looked toward Lan Chen.

"Can you go to the future too?"

Lan Chen nodded.

If Lan Chen corroborates this, then Zhu Di's rebellion is beyond doubt.

Empress Ma sat weakly in her chair.

With such a gentle personality, how could I have given birth to a son who is either a murderous maniac or a traitor?

Ironically, the one with the best personality died young.

"So, in the future, Father Emperor appointed Yunwen as Crown Prince, only to have him overthrown by the Fourth Prince?"

Lan Chen nodded: "Zhu Yunwen listened to the words of the strategists around him and insisted on reducing the power of the princes, which forced the Prince of Yan to rebel. The Prince of Yan only took four years to attack Yingtian Prefecture."

"They seized the throne."

Throughout history, very few vassal kings have been able to successfully seize the throne.

This indirectly proves that Zhu Yunwen was not suitable to be emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly walked to the door, looked at the horizon, and sighed softly, "The reason I came back this time is twofold: firstly, I miss you, my sister; secondly, I really don't know what to do."

"We can't find anyone to ask."

Zhu Yunwen lacked his own opinions.

Zhu Di was a traitor.

Zhu Shuang was incompetent, Zhu Gang died young, and Zhu Su was mediocre.

Besides these, there is another candidate for successor, Zhu Yunwen.

He didn't know who to choose to ensure the continued prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

I can't even find someone to ask for advice.

Empress Ma, upon hearing this, seemed to be deep in thought: "Chongba, since you already know that the fourth prince rebelled and became emperor..."

"Then why not use Lan Chen's abilities to go to the future and see how the fourth prince is doing as emperor?"

"Let's consider the selection of the crown prince."

Since Zhu Di was able to overthrow Zhu Yunwen and take the throne himself in just four years.

This is enough to prove one thing: its military capabilities are not weak, and it has a destiny bestowed upon it.

While ability is certainly important for being an emperor, luck also plays a role.

"only……"

Empress Ma turned her gaze toward Zhu Biao.

If Zhu Di is chosen, it means that the throne will flow from Zhu Biao's lineage to the Prince of Yan's lineage.

A known future can extinguish the fighting spirit in people's hearts.

Zhu Biao frankly stated, "Father, you need not concern yourself with my feelings; you should prioritize the affairs of the state."

He died young, and Zhu Yunwen lost the throne.

Perhaps, this is fate.

Zhu Yuanzhang then slowly said, "Even if the fourth prince can truly be a good emperor, it doesn't change the fact that he is a rebel."

"We will not set foot in an era where a rebel becomes emperor."

Empress Ma was not surprised.

That was just Zhu Yuanzhang's personality; he was stubborn.

Once you've made up your mind about something, you won't easily change it.

From the moment Zhu Di plotted his rebellion, he was perhaps branded a traitor by Zhu Yuanzhang.

No matter how well Zhu Di acted as emperor, he could never be erased from the label of "traitor."

but.

She did not insist.

"Zhongba, I'm just giving you a suggestion. Whether you take it or not is up to you."

Empress Ma knew this in her heart.

In fact, Zhu Yuanzhang still held a sliver of hope for Zhu Yunwen.

It wasn't that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't want to see how well Zhu Di, the emperor, was doing.

Rather, he simply didn't want to admit his mistakes.

The fact that Zhu Yunwen was deposed proves that he misjudged him.

Throughout his life, Zhu Yuanzhang never admitted his mistakes or bowed his head.

So he held onto a sliver of hope, thinking he could still save Zhu Yunwen.

However, he still harbored resentment over Zhu Yunwen losing the throne.

The real reason for Zhu Chongba's dilemma was his inability to let go of his pride.