Chapter 56: Why has the Emperor become so estranged?

Warships sailed one after another along the Huai River.

On board the vessels, the great banner fluttering in the wind bearing the character "Ming," alongside the flags of the Chaohu Navy, made the identity of this naval force unmistakable.

It was none other than the Chaohu Navy, the most legendary and battle-hardened force of the Great Ming.

Wherever the warships passed, bandits within a radius of a hundred miles vanished completely, not a single one daring to show their face.

The warships halted upon reaching Linhuai, and Yu Tongyuan, Liao Dingguo, and Yu Tongyuan, the highest-ranking officers of the Chaohu Navy, disembarked.

Carefully straightening their robes, accompanied by two hundred soldiers of the Chaohu Navy and escorting the King of Ming, along with the left and right protectors of the Ming Cult and several other high-ranking members, they marched toward Fengyang.

The King of Ming was bound hand and foot, his mouth stuffed with a gag. Knowing that he was destined for death, he felt not a shred of fear.

Instead, he held his head high, eyes wide, striving to take in the sights along the way, straining his ears to catch every sound that might drift into them.

Ever since he had fallen into the hands of these spineless wretches—men like Yu Tongyuan who lacked the courage to rebel against Zhu Yuanzhang—he had lost all contact with his fellow Ming Cultists.

Upon learning that Yu Tongyuan and his cohorts did not intend to execute him immediately, but instead planned to escort him to Fengyang to face Zhu Yuanzhang, joy had surged within his heart.

It was not because there was a strong possibility of seeing Zhu Yuanzhang, nor because it bought him a few more days of life.

It was because he would finally learn how much trouble his contingency plans, laid within the Central Capital, had caused Zhu Yuanzhang!

From the moment of his capture, he had known that the chances of killing Zhu Yuanzhang using the networks established in the Central Capital were virtually nonexistent.

Yet even if they could not kill Zhu Yuanzhang, they could certainly cause him some trouble.

They could give Zhu Yuanzhang a profound shock!

Now, having finally arrived near Fengyang, he would be able to gather some news.

He felt like a hardworking farmer who, having toiled for an entire year, was about to reap his harvest.

After marching a short distance further, he saw from afar the small mountain-like, conspicuous tombs of Zhu Yuanzhang's parents.

Soon after, he spotted residual bloodstains on the ground that had not been fully cleaned up, along with other traces of battle.

The King of Ming grew excited.

This was the battlefield he had pre-arranged for the ambush on Zhu Yuanzhang.

Sun Laoqi and his men had not disappointed him after all; even after losing contact with him, they had launched the attack according to his initial plan!

Zhu Yuanzhang had returned to pay respects to his parents, only to encounter such a calamity. His mood must be quite delightful now, wouldn't it?

The numerous laborers in the Central Capital city had also launched a rebellion and attacked the city upon the arrival of the emperor himself.

Faced with this outcome, Zhu Yuanzhang, who always loved to tout his benevolence toward the common people, would surely find it an even more pleasant surprise!

At the mere thought of this, his spirits lifted extraordinarily. If not for the gag in his mouth, he would have burst out laughing three times to vent the exhilaration in his heart!

So what if this fellow Zhu Yuanzhang drove out the Mongols and restored China?

What of rebuilding the Han domain?

Even if he was captured, what of it?

He had still urinated right in Zhu Yuanzhang's face in public!

After indulging in such cheerful thoughts for a while, people came to welcome Yu Tongyuan and his group, casually filling them in on the events of the past few days.

The King of Ming pricked up his ears to listen closely, seeking to verify his conjectures.

He wanted to hear how heroically his Ming Cultists had fought.

Yet after listening for a moment, the expression on his face suddenly froze, his gaze turning dull, and then shifting into intense, unadulterated disbelief!

What on earth?

Zhu Yuanzhang, that dog of an emperor, had not even come here yet to pay respects to his parents?

The bloodstains and battle traces he had seen just now were not the result of his Ming Cultists ambushing Zhu Yuanzhang at all.

They were caused by Tang He leading troops to ambush them instead!

His carefully laid contingencies here had been virtually annihilated!

After the numbness and shock faded, his gaze once again turned manic and distorted.

Even if Zhu Yuanzhang could deal with these Ming Cultists, what of it?

Among the countless laborers in the Central Capital city, a great many had already become members of his Ming Cult.

Zhu Yuanzhang had no way of distinguishing those people.

If he had the guts, he could slaughter them all!

Would Zhu Yuanzhang dare?

This was precisely where the greatest trouble lay for Zhu Yuanzhang.

Even if all these contingencies failed, the mass of laborers would still deliver a grand surprise to both him and Zhu Yuanzhang!

In the end, he would still manage to urinate in Zhu Yuanzhang's face!

Yet after listening a little longer, the mania and ferocity in his eyes rapidly diminished.

A moment later, they turned into confusion.

Which was then replaced by an overwhelmingly intense shock and disbelief.

The son of that dog Zhu Yuanzhang had actually disguised himself as a commoner and served as a laborer in the Central Capital?

Zhu Yuanzhang had actually flayed Li Shanchang's nephew alive, opened the courts wide in the Central Capital to receive grievances from the common people, and sought justice for them?

He had even shouted... Long live the common people?!!!

And he was going to abolish the Central Capital, distributing vast sums of money to the laborers to let them return home???!!!

Had Zhu Yuanzhang lost his mind?

Is this something an emperor could possibly do?

Is this something Zhu Yuanzhang would ever do?

Th-this world... why had it suddenly become so unrecognizable to him?

The dullness and extreme shock in his eyes persisted for a very, very long time.

It did not begin to dissipate until they drew close to the Central Capital city.

Replaced instead by self-mockery and desolation.

This King of Ming, who even after being captured and knowing his death was certain had still maintained his spirited and untamable aura, now looked as though all his bones had been extracted...

Not only the King of Ming, but Yu Tongyuan, Liao Dingguo, and Yu Tongyuan were also deeply shocked.

A profound sense of relief rose in their hearts.

Fortunately, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had sent them a letter; fortunately, they had not done anything foolish at the critical moment.

Otherwise, they would undoubtedly have been easily crushed to death by the Emperor!

This emperor, who had led them to expel the Tartars and conquer the realm, possessed a mastery over the empire and a grasp of human hearts that was even more terrifying than ever before!

...

Upon arriving at the Central Capital city, the King of Ming was locked away. Just as Yu Tongyuan was preparing to leave and await an audience with the Emperor, the prisoner suddenly began to struggle violently, emitting continuous muffled sounds.

Having witnessed the changes in the King of Ming's expression upon hearing about the Emperor's arrival in the Central Capital and the actions he had taken, Yu Tongyuan watched him for a moment.

After a brief thought, he reached out and pulled the rag out from the prisoner's mouth.

"Can you let the Emperor oversee my execution? I want to catch a glimpse of Emperor Zhu before I die."

He looked at Yu Tongyuan, his eyes filled with supplication.

When referring to Zhu Yuanzhang, he no longer used the name Zhu Hongwu, but changed it to the Emperor.

Having heard what he said, Yu Tongyuan stuffed the rag back into his mouth, stood in place in silence for a moment, neither confirming nor denying the request, and walked away without a word.

The glimmer of hope in the King of Ming's eyes turned to disappointment.

"I will report your words to His Majesty. As for whether His Majesty will choose to do so, that is not something I can decide."

Just as Yu Tongyuan was about to vanish from the King of Ming's field of vision, he paused, turned his head, and said to him.

With that, ignoring the King of Ming's gratitude, he strode away...

...

"Biao'er, have someone make preparations. We are going to issue a decree of self-reproach."

With a single sentence from Zhu Yuanzhang, Crown Prince Zhu Biao was left utterly stunned on the spot.

For a moment, he could not help doubting whether he had misheard...