Chapter 36: A Path to Self-Destruction

As they drew closer to the Central Capital, the roads became increasingly crowded. Beyond the fresh laborers—herded like ants by government soldiers and bailiffs, just like the brothers—there were many others transporting bricks, stones, and timber. Compared to the new arrivals like the Princes of Qin, Jin, and Yan, many of these laborers had long since lost their spirit and vitality.

The roads were also filled with merchants and exquisite, ornate carriages, each accompanied by a retinue of servants and guards. The stark contrast between these luxurious carriages and the laborers—many of whom had been worked into states beyond recognition—was striking.

After some time, the brothers reached the city gates. Finally, they saw the Central Capital, a place they had heard mentioned countless times, up close. The city walls were towering and vast, rising like a mountain range. The gates were thick, built with solid materials, and reinforced with heavy, suspended portcullises. One could easily imagine that once those gates were barred and the iron gates lowered, no army, no matter how vast or well-equipped, could force its way in. Its grandeur and fortifications far surpassed those of Yingtian Prefecture.

Soldiers stood guard at the gates. Even though the new arrivals had already been searched for weapons before their journey, they were subjected to another meticulous inspection upon entry. The three brothers, having been forcibly patted down yet again, swallowed their bile and stepped into the Central Capital.

They were stunned once more. Within the city, many of the main structures were either completed or nearing completion, arranged along two vertical axes—one horizontal and one longitudinal. The three brothers and their group of laborers were currently walking along Hongwu Street, one of these central axes. Flanking them to the east and west were the vital government offices of the capital.

Further ahead lay a perpendicular street. While the three Zhu brothers did not know its name, the sight of the Bell Tower, the Temple of Meritorious Officials, the City God Temple, and the Temple of Emperors from past dynasties lined up along it made it clear that this was another of the city’s central axes. They had seen such structures in Yingtian Prefecture, but without exception, both in terms of materials and scale, those in the capital were far inferior to these new constructions.

The three brothers longed to visit the Imperial City to see what wonders it held, but the opportunity was denied them. Their guards steered them away, eventually coming to a halt in a corner of the city, where they were handed over to the local overseers. After another round of roll calls and signing their names, the new arrivals were divided into over thirty groups and led to different sectors to join the labor force.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di were assigned to the same group along with two other migrants. It was not a matter of luck; the Prince of Jin, Zhu Gang, had actually been slated for a different team. At the critical moment, Zhu Di—who often squabbled with his third brother—had put on a fawning smile, bowed his head, and slipped a small string of copper coins he had acquired from somewhere into the hand of the responsible official. Only then were the three brothers kept together.

"Fourth Brother, where did you get that money?" Zhu Gang whispered as they were led toward the construction site. He felt deeply irritated that he had needed his younger brother to bail him out and to beg favors from "important figures" he would normally never deign to look at.

"Do you really want to know?" Zhu Di shot him a meaningful look.

Zhu Gang curled his lip. "Keep it to yourself, then. I wasn't that curious anyway." In truth, he already suspected the coins were ill-gotten. It was already humiliating enough to have been helped by the Fourth, but if he learned the money had been swiped from someone else, it would be even worse for a man of his supposed moral standing. It was better to remain ignorant.

***

"Old Miao, here are your new men! Don't you dare tell me you're still short-handed. This is the second batch I've brought you in three days! Look at these three big fellows—I didn't give them to anyone else!" The man leading them pointed at Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di.

A man covered from head to toe in white stone dust stood up, nodding and bowing. "My thanks to you, Master Zhang." His eyes swept over the three Zhu brothers, who stood out like cranes in a flock, and when he saw the tower-like Prince of Qin, Zhu Shuang, his eyes lit up. This was a proper human ox! Such specimens were highly sought after in the Central Capital. He thanked the official again.

"As long as you know I’m looking out for you, that’s enough. Don't give me any empty talk. Just finish your assigned tasks so I don't get into trouble—that’s the best way to repay me!"

"Rest assured, Master Zhang! I won't let you down!"

"You lot, get to work! I don't care who you were before; here in the Central Capital, you have only one status: laborer! Your only goal is to give everything you have to build this city! Anyone caught slacking off... heh, so many have already died in the Central Capital, one more won't make a difference!" The man called Master Zhang spoke with a cold, sinister air before ordering Old Miao to put the five new arrivals to work.

This was the stonemasons' area. Old Miao’s team already had twenty-four men working there. Aside from a few daring souls who stole a glance, the rest kept their heads down. The three Zhu brothers were assigned to stone-splitting. After a brief demonstration and being handed their tools, they were told to start.

None of them had ever done such work, so they had to learn carefully. The third and fourth brothers caught on quickly, with Zhu Di soon working with surprising proficiency. But the second brother, Zhu Shuang, struggled; he was slow and applied far too much force.

*Clang.*

As the second stone block shattered under Zhu Shuang's heavy hand, the overseer patrolling with a whip could no longer contain himself. He strode over and brought the lash down on Zhu Shuang without hesitation. "You clumsy bear! Damn your mother! You can't even handle such a simple task?!"

Struck by the whip, Zhu Shuang felt a surge of murderous intent, but he reminded himself that he was posing as a commoner on a mission for his Imperial Father. He steeled himself to endure the lash. But when he heard the insult the man had used, his suppressed rage flared instantly. His eyes turned red. He lunged up, snatched the whip from the man’s hand, and threw him to the ground. Then, with a fist the size of a clay pot, he delivered a crushing blow to the man’s head with violent force.

The surrounding men turned pale. It was over! This big man was a dead man walking!

***

"Uncle, about fifty thousand laborers have arrived in the last few days. The teams sent to conscript men from further afield haven't returned yet. Once they do, the numbers will grow even faster. Within a month, we will certainly have added two hundred thousand!" Ding Bin said to Li Shanchang after gulping down half a pot of tea.

"Good! Well done! That is the spirit we need! As long as we have enough laborers, there will be no problem finishing the Central Capital by August!" A smile spread across Li Shanchang’s face as he heaped praise on Ding Bin.

Encouraged, Ding Bin left with renewed vigor. Li Shanchang felt a sense of relief. In his mind, he already envisioned the completion of the Central Capital, the Emperor relocating the court there, and the praise he would receive. He saw himself returning to the Secretariat as Senior Chancellor, his descendants—and those of the Huai-Xi nobility—benefiting endlessly from his foresight, and the scenes of future generations honoring his memory and his benevolence.