During the Yongle era of the Great Ming Dynasty.
Night.
That night, the entire capital was under strict martial law, and the majestic capital exuded an air of solemnity and dread.
On the city wall of the capital, Yongle Emperor Zhu Di, the ruler of Ming who was just over fifty years old, stood on the city wall, holding a spyglass presented as tribute, gazing outside the city.
At this moment, Zhu Di’s expression was solemn, yet from time to time, a hint of a smile would flash across his face, but this smile was incredibly bitter.
“Has this day finally arrived?”
“When I raised an army for the Jingnan Campaign, and now my own son raises an army to rebel, haha, Father, you must be laughing at me.”
“Forget it, forget it. When I go down, I will definitely kowtow and admit my mistakes before you, Father. It is I who did not teach them well.”
As Zhu Di sighed in sorrow, outside the capital, a Ming Army was gradually approaching the city.
At the forefront of this Ming Army was Zhu Gao煦, the current Han Prince of Ming, also known as “Golden Bean,” dressed in golden armor.
At this moment, Zhu Gao煦 reined in his horse and stopped, looking distantly at the capital city wall, then turned to glance at the large army behind him, his face full of bitterness.
“Transmigrating and starting with a rebellion, and rebelling against Zhu Di while he is still alive—I must be the only one, right?”
At this time, Zhu Gao煦 was no longer the original Zhu Gao煦; he was a young man from the twenty-first century.
He had simply gone to sleep and woken up in the Yongle era of Ming, becoming Zhu Gao煦. How could he explain this?
Becoming Zhu Gao煦 was actually quite good; after all, he was the Han Prince of Ming, a legitimate and powerful prince, one of the most influential figures in the Yongle court.
Moreover, Zhu Di was still alive, to put it plainly, he didn’t have to worry at all; he could enjoy a life of wealth, power, and influence here.
However, Zhu Gao煦 was utterly dissatisfied with the timing of his transmigration. Transmigration was one thing, but why did he transmigrate to the time of a rebellion?
Looking at the large army behind him and then at the capital, Zhu Gao煦 admired the original owner’s intelligence, thinking that by filing with the Ministry of War, he could take over the capital under the guise of troop rotation?
Did this person not know that Zhu Di himself rose to power through rebellion?
Rebelling against Zhu Di in front of Zhu Di, the leader of rebellions—this feeling was indescribably strange.
But one thing was very clear: Zhu Di had already prepared, just waiting for him to arrive.
And that wasn’t all; considering the current period, most of the court officials were Zhu Gaochi’s people. Which of the majority of court officials didn’t come from the Crown Prince's Residence?
If Zhu Biao was the most stable Crown Prince of Ming, then Zhu Gaochi was definitely the most powerful Crown Prince of Ming. When he was firm, Zhu Di even had to concede to Zhu Gaochi.
In this situation, the original owner had no chance in the capital, so to speak.
However, the thought of being deep-fried by his good Nephew later sent a chill from the soles of his feet straight to his brain.
Although there were certain reasons for being deep-fried by his good Nephew, Zhu Gao煦 also did not want to live a life of confinement later, especially with the chaos of Ming that followed, that Ming Yingzong, the Battle of Tumu Fort war god—Zhu Gao煦 felt as uncomfortable as constipation just thinking about it.
Zhu Gao煦 now had only one thought: he must find a way out for himself. He didn't want to be confined and live at the mercy of others. If he didn't prepare now, his future outcome would certainly not be good.
After thinking for a while, Zhu Gao煦 stopped pondering. The most important thing now was to resolve the matter of this rebellion.
If he hadn’t guessed wrong, Zhu Di was probably watching him from the city wall now, right? And Zhu Zhanji had also prepared to receive him inside the city, right?
Besides Zhu Zhanji, there were also Ming Army soldiers inside the city, fully prepared to welcome his arrival.
At this moment, a general slowly approached Zhu Gao煦’s side.
“Han Prince, has something happened?”
Zhu Gao煦 glanced at the general, deep in thought for a moment.
“You lead the army back. Do not make any moves, otherwise, behead!”
Zhu Gao煦 had come to a realization; rebellion was definitely impossible to continue. He hadn't even reached the city wall yet; as long as the army didn't attack, how could this be called a rebellion?
Moreover, this was also an opportunity, a perfect chance to have a good talk with Zhu Di. If he didn't confirm the matters in his heart, he truly wouldn't be able to settle down and enjoy life.
“Han Prince, are we not rotating the guard?”
“Rotating the guard? What rotation? Quickly take the troops back. There’s no need to rotate the guard tonight. After you go back, sleep when you need to, and don’t think about anything.”
To his confidant, Zhu Gao煦 couldn't help but give an extra instruction. If those who followed his original self in doing this weren't considered confidants, then he truly had no one to use.
Although it was nominally a troop rotation, who didn't know what Zhu Gao煦 truly intended to do?
The general hesitated for a moment, looking at Zhu Gao煦's resolute expression. Although he couldn't understand why things had suddenly changed again, he still cupped his hands and went to lead the army back.
And this scene of the army turning back was seen clearly by Zhu Di on the city wall.
“Hmm? Interesting, very interesting.”
Zhu Di was first puzzled, then became interested, developing a great interest in Zhu Gao煦. His heart was filled with immense relief, but at the same time, he was somewhat annoyed.
The arrow was on the string, and this was it? How was this like him?
At this moment, Zhu Di was conflicted. Originally, his heart was heavy, but now that Zhu Gao煦 seemed to have seen the error of his ways, he felt a bit of disappointment, wishing for better. He had brought the army; it would have been good to at least make a move. He just let the army go back?
Outside the city, Zhu Gao煦 looked at the city gate, took a deep breath, his expression incredibly solemn.
He realized at this moment that this was his opportunity, a chance to pour out his heart to Zhu Di and escape the vortex of Ming.
Zhu Gao煦 slowly approached the city gate and looked up at the city wall.
“I am Han Prince Zhu Gao煦! Open the city gate!”
Zhu Gao煦 let out a loud shout. Although he had no soldiers behind him, it was as if he commanded an army of thousands; this was the original owner’s aura.
Zhu Gao煦 waited quietly for a moment, then saw the city gate slowly open. A drunken Zhu Zhanji stumbled out, swaying.
Inside the city, there were no longer any troops, only Zhu Zhanji alone.
Zhu Gao煦 breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, Zhu Di was watching the situation here. Seeing his army retreat, Zhu Di didn't let him see the troops arranged inside the city.
Zhu Zhanji came before Zhu Gao煦. Just as he was about to bow, he let out a burp, then bowed again.
“Second Uncle, you’ve arrived. Nephew is here by imperial decree to receive you.”
Zhu Gao煦 looked at Zhu Zhanji expressionlessly. At this moment, he had no mind to sigh at meeting this Ming Xuanzong; his own problems hadn’t been resolved yet. Why would he admire this good Nephew who might deep-fry him in the future?
“Take me over.”
Zhu Gao煦’s calm voice came out, making Zhu Zhanji pause for a moment, then he laughed directly and led the horse inside.
“Alright, Second Uncle, please get comfortable.”
Upon entering the city, the path was unobstructed. Zhu Gao煦 then dismounted and looked at Zhu Zhanji.
“He’s up there, isn’t he? Take good care of my horse.”
Zhu Gao煦 slowly ascended the steps, gradually disappearing from Zhu Zhanji’s sight.
After a long while, Zhu Zhanji finally came back to his senses, a smile reappearing on his face.
His Second Uncle seemed different from before. He couldn’t pinpoint how, but Zhu Zhanji knew clearly that he had changed.
If it were before, if Zhu Gao煦 didn't mock him a few times or threaten him, he wouldn't believe it. But now, he was too calm.
Even though he looked drunk, Zhu Zhanji was very clear in his heart.
Zhu Gao煦 slowly walked upwards. Upon reaching the top, a eunuch bowed and approached him.
“Han Prince, this way, please.”
Zhu Gao煦 did not speak, simply followed the eunuch all the way, finally arriving before Zhu Di.
Zhu Gao煦 looked at the majestic Zhu Di. Even though he was prepared, his heart still felt a surge of warmth.
This was the current Emperor of Ming, the horseback emperor who personally led five campaigns against the Mongol, the first emperor to fight all the way to the Onon River.
Although he had it in his original body’s memory, seeing it now with his own eyes was far beyond what memory could imagine.
Zhu Gao煦 did not speak, but instead spread his arms.
“Remove my armor.”
A calm voice came out. With Zhu Di’s nod, the surrounding eunuchs began to remove Zhu Gao煦’s armor, leaving him only in white undergarments.
At Zhu Di’s wave of a hand, all the surrounding people retreated.
Zhu Gao煦 stepped forward again, moving closer to Zhu Di.
“Father, I’m here.”
After Zhu Gao煦 finished speaking, he sat directly on a chair, poured himself some wine, and drank it in one gulp.
Zhu Di had been watching Zhu Gao煦. From the moment Zhu Gao煦 appeared in his sight, his gaze had not left him.
Originally, Zhu Di thought Zhu Gao煦 would make a big fuss, but unexpectedly, he was so quiet. Moreover, from Zhu Gao煦’s eyes, he saw no fear, just such calmness, composure, and steadiness.
Zhu Di could see and feel that his second son had changed; he was different from before.
The way Zhu Gao煦 presented himself at this moment made Zhu Di regard him highly, and his heart was filled with immense relief.
“Haha, truly my son, this is more like it. This is what the Han Prince of Ming should be like.
But, Second Son, aren’t you going to properly explain this matter of you raising an army to rebel?”
Zhu Di laughed heartily, also picked up a cup of wine and drank it, then went straight to the point.
Zhu Gao煦 wanted to avoid this matter, but he just didn't want Zhu Gao煦 to get his way. This time, it had made him sad for a while. Zhu Gao煦 wanted this matter to pass, but he would not easily allow it.
It was also a good opportunity for him to see if Zhu Gao煦 had truly changed, and if his current feelings were not just his imagination.
If Zhu Gao煦 hadn’t, at the last moment, sent the army back and entered the city alone, he wouldn’t have met Zhu Gao煦 here. Instead, he would have directly told Zhu Gao煦 to roll back to the Han Prince's Residence and deal with it properly tomorrow.
After all, there was still someone else causing trouble in the city with the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), and he didn’t have the energy to handle them separately.
Now that Zhu Gao煦 had changed, Zhu Di was very concerned. Whether it was for better or worse, he had to figure it out.
As Zhu Gao煦’s father, he had this responsibility and obligation. As the Emperor of Ming, he had even more responsibility and obligation.
Zhu Gao煦 looked at Zhu Di before him and slowly spoke.
“Father, this charge is too great; I cannot bear it.
And I didn’t raise an army to rebel. The army has all gone back. I am alone; how can I rebel?
To take ten thousand steps back, I also submitted a memorial for troop rotation.
Father, please don’t scare me. I can’t take such fright.
I came here because I have something to tell you, Father. Do you want to hear it?”