Ming Dynasty: Charge, Emperor Yongle!

"Selling steamed buns! Selling steamed buns!"

"Sharpening scissors! Sharpening kitchen knives!"

"Attention, esteemed guests! Don't miss this opportunity!"

In the early morning, Kaifeng was bustling with people and filled with shouts, creating a lively scene.

"Da da da! Da da da!"

A group of horsemen slowly passed by on the street, with Zhu Di, who was at the head, looking around curiously, much like a playful young nobleman.

"The Great Xiangguo Temple is just ahead."

"Aren't you going in to take a look?"

Li Jinglong nudged Zhu Di on the shoulder and winked at him.

"..."

Zhu Di certainly knew what he meant. Because of his own experience, Zhu Yuanzhang attached great importance to Buddhism. Starting from the second year of Hongwu, he carried out several renovations on the Daxiangguo Temple, making it not as magnificent as the Northern Song Dynasty, but still quite large in scale.

People all over the world regarded this place as the Zhu family's place of worship, until the construction of the Dalongxing Temple in the sixteenth year of Hongwu (1383) gradually changed the people's perception.

"Let's go."

"Your family has a rule that you must go into the temple to pray."

Li Jinglong couldn't help but say a few more words. His father, Li Wenzhong, was Zhu Yuanzhang's nephew, and the relationship between the Li family and the Zhu family was not just ordinary. Naturally, he knew many secrets that others did not know.

"Okay, okay, I'll do as you say, go ahead."

Zhu Di, unable to bear Li Jinglong's nagging any longer, finally agreed.

"drive!"

Li Jinglong suddenly cracked his whip and spurred his horse toward the Daxiangguo Temple.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Di had no choice but to ride over and follow, with dozens of guards close behind.

..........

A moment later, the group arrived at Xiangguo Temple Front Street, where a huge and magnificent archway came into view.

The building has three gates, a stone base with drum-shaped bases, and gateposts made of glazed bricks with animal-face patterns, all covered with golden glazed tiles, creating a unique scene.

"Daxiangguo Temple."

Zhu Di read out the four large vermilion characters on the plaque.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The melodious chimes resounded in all directions, instantly calming people's hearts.

"Amitabha!"

When the welcoming monks saw that Zhu Di and his entourage were dressed in fine clothes and had an extraordinary demeanor, they immediately stopped, bowed slightly, and performed a gesture of respect with their palms together.

"Um."

Zhu Di nodded slightly in return.

"Eh? Eh? Eh!"

At this moment, the welcoming monk bypassed Zhu Di and his entourage and stopped a figure: "Why are you here again?"

"Amitabha!"

A middle-aged monk, dressed in a black robe, thin, with triangular eyes and a face like a sick tiger, walked in from outside, put his hands together, and chanted Buddhist mantras.

"This senior brother."

The welcoming monk looked impatient and said with disgust, "I already said that yesterday."

"This temple is a place bestowed by imperial decree, and is not comparable to ordinary Buddhist temples. We do not accept monks who stay here temporarily."

"This humble monk has come from afar and has nothing of value with him. I beg you, junior brother, to make an exception for me."

The black-robed monk did not show any anger, but spoke calmly.

"Senior brother, it's not that I'm unwilling to make an exception, it's just that I can't do it."

"The four characters 'Da Xiangguo Temple' were bestowed by the current emperor, and this humble monk dares not disrespect them."

The welcoming monk acted in an official capacity, giving the black-robed monk no chance whatsoever.

"The gate of Buddhism faces south; if you have Buddha but no money, do not enter."

"The old man really should come and take a good look at these people."

"It's better not to worship this Buddha."

Zhu Di turned and walked outside without hesitation.

"Eh!"

Li Jinglong looked at the incense and candles in his hand, feeling both amused and exasperated.

"Zhang Wu."

"Send someone to invite that master to the inn."

As they left the Daxiangguo Temple, Zhu Di whispered some instructions to Zhang Wu.

"Yes."

Zhang Wu narrowed his eyes and immediately arranged for someone to invite the black-robed monk.

...............

Night gradually fell.

Inside the inn's side room, candlelight flickered in the wind, casting a faint glow that illuminated two figures.

"This humble monk is deeply grateful for your shelter, benefactor!"

The black-robed monk clasped his hands together, his expression more approachable than during the day, lacking the sinister coldness he had shown during the day.

"How does the master intend to thank me?"

"Will you teach me the 'Dragon-Slaying Technique,' or will you give me a white hat?"

Zhu Di toyed with the seal of his identity in his hand, and spoke in a seemingly nonchalant tone that was actually quite thought-provoking.

'Thump!'

Yao Guangxiao's face stiffened. For so many years, no one knew that beneath his desolate monk's appearance lay a restless heart. He had learned the "Dragon-Slaying Technique," but had no opportunity to use it. And now, Zhu Di had exposed his true intentions, leaving him trembling with fear!

The white hat is no ordinary hat; the combination of "king" and "white hat" equals "emperor." If this gets out, there will be no place for him in the world.

"Should I address the master as Monk Daoyan, or perhaps Yao Guangxiao?"

Zhu Di looked at Yao Guangxiao with a mocking expression.

Yao Guangxiao's pupils contracted sharply, but he immediately regained his composure and said calmly, "This humble monk has already become a monk. Please address me by my Dharma name, Daoyan, Your Highness."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Zhu Di was not surprised that Yao Guangxiao saw through his identity so quickly; if he couldn't do that, he wouldn't be the Black-Robed Prime Minister.

After all, Zhu Di's words at the Xiangguo Temple were almost entirely directed at Yao Guangxiao.

"His Highness the Prince of Yan, having moved troops from Beiting, should have been heading south back to the capital, but instead, he ended up in Kaifeng."

"This humble monk dares to guess that Your Highness's true intentions lie elsewhere."

"That's interesting, continue."

Zhu Di smiled and gestured.

"The court is currently in a state of utter chaos, with arrogant and unruly soldiers and generals that are difficult to control. Your Majesty has no choice but to use Your Highness to balance the various forces."

"Since Your Highness is being used as a knife, and the meritorious officials of Huaixi as a whetstone, who knows whether the knife is sharper or the whetstone is harder?"

"Everyone has overlooked one thing: Is Your Highness willing to be someone else's scapegoat?"

Yao Guangxiao stopped talking in time, his gaze as deep as an ancient well, making it impossible to discern his true intentions.

"They should have learned the methods to save the world and its people, but instead they learned the skills to overthrow the world."

"Daoyan, you really are a wicked monk!"

Zhu Di pointed to the black-robed monk in front of him and teased him with a smile.

Instead of panicking, Yao Guangxiao gladly accepted the compliment, saying, "Your Highness flatters me!"

"Then tell me, where should I begin in my quest to slay the dragon?"

Zhu Di's expression suddenly changed, and an invisible sense of oppression enveloped Yao Guangxiao.

Yao Guangxiao's expression changed slightly, an unnatural flush appearing on his face. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "This humble monk doesn't know what dragon Your Highness wishes to slay?"

"This place is no longer a place where dragons lie dormant in the great marsh, but where deer in the Central Plains are fat and plump."

"Your Highness is a hidden dragon in the abyss. If you slay the great dragon, you will view the world as a chessboard; if you slay the small dragon, you will see the struggle for the throne as a game of chess."

"The two are not comparable!"

"Um?"

As Zhu Di gazed at Yao Guangxiao, his eyes became unfathomable.

The Great Dragon represents the Ming Dynasty, while the Small Dragon represents the imperial throne; they are indeed worlds apart.

The struggle for the throne is a matter of life and death, let alone the struggle for the throne. One wrong step and you're headed for an abyss.