Chapter 64: The World Has Truly Changed

Xue Xiang is a man of true talent.

Facing the crown prince's inquiry, Zhu Yuanzhang showed no hesitation in his praise of Xue Xiang.

He is capable both in civil administration and military affairs, and is a master at dredging waterways, transporting grain, and governing local regions. In the first year of Hongwu, when he was transporting grain and provisions in Henan, a band of desperadoes gathered together, plotting to intercept the supplies. With just a few words, he actually persuaded those desperadoes to disperse on their own, resolving the crisis without deploying a single soldier. Later, I appointed him as the Metropolitan Transport Commissioner of the Capital Region, managing garrisons along the Huai River and the Yellow River, stationed in Huaian. Back then, from Yangzhou to Caizhou, extending hundreds of li all the way to Jizhou, the dikes and embankments were entirely silted up and collapsed. Xue Xiang led men to dredge and repair them, working day and night. Moreover, he managed to make corvee labor fair and equitable, leaving the common people with no complaints. Whenever someone made a contribution, Xue Xiang immediately reported it to the imperial court, so everyone was more than willing to follow him and work hard. Therefore, in a relatively short period of time, those hundreds of li of waterways and dikes were fully repaired. The progress was rapid, and the quality was top-notch. Later on, Wang Tended captured Yuan Dadu and relocated many people from there to the south. When passing through Huaian, Xue Xiang personally stepped forward to comfort and pacify them in various ways, not only providing meals but also distributing a large number of clothes to the relocated people when the weather turned cold. Whenever someone passed away, he even ordered people to help bury them...

Yet, both involved heavy corvee labor. When Li Shanchang constructed the Central Capital, in his haste to meet deadlines, he treated human lives as worthless, causing numerous deaths and sparking widespread public fury. The White Lotus Sect was even on the verge of exploiting the situation to stir up trouble. On the other hand, when Xue Xiang presided over the dredging of rivers and the repair of dikes, he handled everything impeccably. This is the difference. It also shows that the primary responsibility for the chaos in the Central Capital lies with Li Shanchang, not Xue Xiang. This man is relatively pure-minded; he mostly enjoys various construction projects and water conservancy works, and possesses a genuine talent for them. One might call him a technical-type official.

Hearing his imperial father's reply, Zhu Biao was somewhat surprised, but not entirely. He was well aware of what kind of person Xue Xiang was, and he had recently received clear intelligence that Xue Xiang had advised Li Shanchang on more than one occasion to slow down the progress and not be so hasty. However, Li Shanchang refused to listen. Since he already knew this, his imperial father certainly knew it as well. Yet precisely because of this, Zhu Biao found it even stranger.

Then... why hasn't Your Majesty dealt with Xue Xiang's matter yet? Lately, he looks as though he has aged several years overnight.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed. He can't sleep, can he? Not being able to sleep serves him right! I want to make him unable to eat, unable to sleep, and living in constant anxiety day and night! In this recent incident, the primary responsibility does not rest with him, and I am aware of his difficulties. However, between Li Shanchang and me, he ultimately chose Li Shanchang and failed to secretly report the true state of affairs in the Central Capital to me. Therefore, making him anxious and apprehensive for a period of time is only right. Consider it a punishment for him.

Hearing this, Zhu Biao was left momentarily speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. This... truly is his imperial father, a master at tormenting people. No wonder someone as brilliant as the Count of Chengyi, upon encountering his imperial father, was practically driven to the brink of ruin...

However, upon learning his imperial father's true attitude toward Xue Xiang, Zhu Biao felt much more at ease. He had genuinely feared that in a fit of rage, his imperial father might execute Xue Xiang as well. The Ming court had numerous officials, but very few understood water management. If a talent like Xue Xiang were to die because of this, it would be a true and heavy loss for the Great Ming.

As for the former Prefect of Fengyang, Zhu Xiang—a distant relative of their own clan—whose crimes had just been investigated and who had been beheaded today, well, killing him was no great loss. He possessed no real talent and had only been exceptionally promoted to Prefect of Fengyang because of his familial ties to the imperial household. Yet once he became prefect, instead of remaining loyal to the imperial father, he took Li Shanchang as his leader and committed countless heinous acts against the heavens and the people. One could only say he brought his death upon himself...

...

Father, what you did was the right choice. Given the current emperor's temperament, if you hadn't acted that way back then, all the officials who followed you would have been executed by the emperor. You preserved everyone. People feel nothing but gratitude toward you; they harbor no other views whatsoever.

Zhan Hui looked at the food that remained untouched, a flash of worry in his eyes. Finally, he could no longer hold back and began to persuade him. Ever since his father led men to attempt to rescue Minister of Rites Niu Liang yesterday, only to be forced by the emperor into silence—not daring to utter a single word of rescue and forced to completely change his tune on the spot—he had been like this ever since returning. He neither ate, drank, nor slept, just sitting here alone, lost in a daze. As a son, Zhan Hui naturally cared for his father and understood him well. His father cared deeply about his reputation, and the events of this day meant a massive loss of face for him. It was only natural that he couldn't turn the corner in his mind right away.

Yet, just as Zhan Hui had said, under those circumstances, facing an emperor in that state, making that choice was the wisest and most normal decision his father could have made. If his father hadn't changed his words, not only would he have failed to save Minister Niu, but he would have also dragged countless others down with him. That would have been true foolishness. No one would ridicule his father. Often, taking a step back is much harder and requires bearing far more than taking a step forward.

It's not because of this matter. Did you really think your father is some green, unworldly youth who values his face above everything else? Your father is not that kind of vain person.

Zhan Tong, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up.

Zhan Hui could not help but be startled. You are not that kind of vain person? Hearing these words... why did he find it so hard to believe?

Then... what is it, Father?

Zhan Tong said with a solemn expression, I believe the emperor has changed.

Zhan Hui was stunned, clearly not expecting his father to utter such words.

How has he changed? This... isn't this simply what the emperor is like? In the fifth year of Hongwu, he severely warned the founding dukes and meritorious officials, and even erected an iron stele commanding them to act according to the rules inscribed upon it. Whatever happened before the erection of the iron stele was written off, but anyone who committed offenses after the stele was erected would be shown no mercy. His hatred for corrupt officials and his care for the common people have never been concealed. This time, although he went a bit too far, it was not entirely without basis...

Zhan Tong shook his head. He has changed.

...

In the past, although the emperor cared for the people, he would never have shouted out the phrase "Long live the people." In the past, emperors, despite their humble origins, were extremely strict about protocol, especially regarding ritual systems. Yet now, during the sacrificial rituals to Heaven and the issuance of the Edict of Self-Blame, he publicly sacrificed to the common people and even performed such grand rituals for the deceased masses. In the past, emperors would regulate the nobility, but they would never deal such heavy blows to them. This time, the emperor's actions practically stripped the Duke of Han's dignity bare in front of the entire world and tossed it straight into a latrine. He has changed; he has truly changed!

Hearing his father speak in this manner, Zhan Hui also grew increasingly solemn. The more he thought about it, the more he felt his father was right, and the more alarmed he became. He was startled both by the emperor's sudden transformation and by the vast gap between his own perception and his father's. While he was still lingering on the surface, his father had already pierced through to deeper truths.

Then... Father, do you know why the emperor has undergone such a drastic transformation?

Zhan Hui's attitude became even more earnest.

Zhan Tong shook his head once more. I do not know. I have pondered it a hundred times without finding the answer.

He paused for a moment before continuing, I have thought of many reasons, but I always feel none of them are the true cause. The mind of the sovereign has always been unfathomable since ancient times, and today's emperor has grown even more inscrutable... However, one thing must be remembered: when you serve as an official in the future, you must do more for the common people, and in all matters, consider their well-being first. Do not behave as you did in the past. Judging from the present situation, this approach will never be wrong. At least while the current emperor is on the throne, it will not be wrong.

He spoke with utmost earnestness, as if admonishing his son, and yet also reminding himself.

Having said this, he ended his motionless sitting, opened the food box Zhan Hui had brought, took out a flatbread, and began to eat. He chewed very slowly, as if what he was chewing in his mouth was not food, but the very essence of life. Zhan Hui could see that his father had once again plunged deep into thought. He did not dare to disturb him and instead sat there pondering his father's earlier words.

I know not how much time passed before Zhan Tong finished the flatbread in his hand and looked up at the leaden, cloud-covered sky outside.

The sky... has truly changed!

He murmured softly.

Zhan Hui, lost in thought, gave a start and followed suit, looking out at the sky beyond the window.

The sky had indeed changed, imperceptibly. He only wondered how many others had perceived this shift...

...

On the twenty-second day of the first lunar month, Zhu Yuanzhang, accompanied by several of his sons, a host of officials, and an imperial guard, departed from the Central Capital and arrived at the Imperial Tombs located in Linhuai to begin the ancestral sacrifices.

Within the innermost imperial city of the tombs, Zhu Yuanzhang and four of his sons waited inside the Golden Hall. At this hour, before dawn, under the faint, shimmering glow of lanterns outside, the Ministry of Rites, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the guards stationed at the tombs were already bustling about, making final preparations for the ancestral sacrifices the emperor was about to conduct.

Everyone moved with light steps. Even when communicating, they tried their utmost to use hand gestures. When speech was strictly necessary, they spoke in the softest whispers, terrified that the slightest noise might disturb those sleeping eternally within the imperial tombs. After all, sacrificial rituals were matters of utmost importance, and given that the one performing them today was the emperor himself, extreme caution was required.

Of course, the fear of disturbing the slumbering souls was pretense; the real terror lay in making a sound and having the emperor execute one's entire family.

Those buried within the imperial tombs were none other than ordinary, impoverished peasants. In life, they could not even get a full meal, suffered every humiliation, and when buried, didn't even possess a wooden coffin. They were merely wrapped in old garments and laid to rest in the dirt, without any sacrificial offerings whatsoever. How noble could they possibly be?

Yet who could blame them for having a son who rose to greatness? Through their son, they managed to reside in the imperial tombs, and their status and standing naturally soared alongside his. This was a classic case of a mother attaining nobility through her son, and a father being honored because of his progeny.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood before the Golden Hall, gazing through the misty veil of night at the mausoleum of his parents and the various structures within the imperial precinct. His thoughts drifted far away.

The imperial tombs he had constructed for his parents had not yet reached their most glorious era. In his previous life, he had quickly ordered Wu Liang to oversee the remodeling of the tombs, which were completed in the twelfth year of Hongwu. Later, after his fourth son ascended the throne, the imperial tombs were repaired and expanded on three separate occasions. When that living disaster Zhu Qizhen became emperor, he too ordered numerous repairs. During the reign of Emperor Xianzong, a large-scale renovation was carried out. Emperor Shizong repaired them several times as well. All of these were matters that brought Zhu Yuanzhang a sense of comfort.

However, by the eighth year of Chongzhen, catastrophe struck: Zhang Xianzhong captured Fengyang, put the imperial tombs to the torch, and the Hall of Offerings along with other buildings were reduced to ashes... During the Manchu Qing dynasty, the authorities permitted local common people to dismantle the remaining structures, and by the era of that laughable "Old Man of Ten Perfect Achievements," the buildings of the imperial tombs were utterly destroyed, with only two steles and a few stone horses surviving. In modern times, he had visited this place—renamed the Ming Imperial Tombs—more than once to pay homage to his parents, but things had long since changed beyond recognition...

After this sacrificial ceremony, we father and sons will add some fresh soil to your grandparents' graves. Let things rest as they are here from now on; there will be no more large-scale renovations or expansions.

Zhu Yuanzhang gazed at the site for a long time before withdrawing his gaze, looking toward Zhu Biao and his other sons as he spoke.

What is it, Father?

Zhu Biao appeared somewhat surprised. He clearly remembered that his imperial father had explicitly told him not long ago that he intended to renovate and expand his grandparents' imperial tombs in the coming years. Furthermore, Zhu Biao knew that the death of his grandparents during his father's youth was a lifelong wound in his father's heart. His father had always felt profound regret that, despite attaining the supreme status of emperor, his grandparents had never enjoyed a single day of blessing alongside him. Because of this, his father attached immense importance to their posthumous affairs, wishing to bestow upon them the finest things the world had to offer. The most prominent manifestation of this desire was the lavish construction of the imperial tombs.

Yet now, he suddenly heard such words from his imperial father...

I believe that one imperial tomb is quite enough; there is no need to excessively pursue grandeur. The best way to honor the imperial tombs is not to expand their scale, but for us descendants to strive and govern the realm well. If we manage the Great Ming empire in an orderly fashion and ensure the people live in peace and contentment, then sacrifices at your grandparents' mausoleum will never be severed. Even if this place remains utterly ordinary, no one will dare to look down upon it. This place will then become the most sacred spot in all of Great Ming.

If our descendants prove incompetent and plunge the people into misery, what good is a magnificent construction? It will ultimately escape neither the fate of being burned to the ground by fire nor being wantonly vandalized. Building a bit less now will save people from desecrating it quite so much in the future...

Zhu Yuanzhang's words caused the expressions of Zhu Biao and the others to shift instantly. None of them had expected their father to speak in such a manner.

Whoever dares to do such a thing, this son will lead men to hack them to pieces!

Zhu Di was the first to speak, his voice brimming with surging killing intent.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao and Prince of Jin Zhu Jiong, in their anxiety, also wanted to voice their thoughts, but Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, signaling them to say no more.

Being fierce about this matter right now is of little use. Even someone as mighty as the First Emperor of Qin passed away only a few years before his imperial tomb was put to the torch. When the Jurchen forces pushed south, how many of the Song dynasty's imperial tombs remained intact? Their bones were dug up and scattered casually across the wilderness to be devoured by wild dogs. The skull of Emperor Lizong of the Southern Song was even turned into a drinking cup by a Mongol monk after his death, played with by men for a hundred years, until our Great General captured Dadu, tracked it down, and had it reburied.

With that, Zhu Yuanzhang swept his gaze across the faces of his sons one by one. Raising his voice slightly, he said, That is why I say the best way to maintain the imperial tombs is to make our Great Ming prosperous and strong. Only when Great Ming is strong and prosperous will our ancestors be spared such humiliation!

Yes, this son understands!

Zhu Biao replied with a solemn expression.

Zhu Shuang, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Di all chimed in with their assents.

After the father and sons waited for a while, as the first light of dawn began to break, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices came to invite them forward, announcing that all preparations were complete and the sacrificial rites could now commence.

Zhu Yuanzhang led his sons away from the Golden Hall and headed outside...

Amidst an atmosphere of solemnity and profound grief, Zhu Yuanzhang, his four sons, and civil and military officials alike, guided by the chants of the ritual master, meticulously carried out the sacrificial rites for his parents.

Offering incense, performing the four-bow ritual...

This time, there was not the slightest trace of inappropriate behavior.

Once the sacrifices at the imperial tombs concluded, Zhu Yuanzhang and his four sons changed into soft-soled shoes that made no sound when walking. Each of them shouldered a basket of yellow earth and followed Zhu Yuanzhang as they climbed up toward the summit of the imperial mound.

Reaching the very top of the mausoleum, they emptied the earth from their baskets and firmly tamped it down. The men performed this task with utmost seriousness.

Father, Mother, I have brought your grandsons to see you, to fix up your home...

As these words left his lips, even this iron-willed hero's voice choked with emotion, and he could not speak further.

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Yuanzhang suppressed the feelings in his heart and remained silent, focusing entirely on firmly patting down the soil. He feared that if he spoke any more, he would break down in tears in front of his sons.

After adding the soil, Zhu Yuanzhang lingered for a moment before slowly descending the mound, his movements gentle, as if he feared disturbing his parents.

You all wait outside; I want to speak with your grandparents for a while.

At the foot of the mausoleum, Zhu Yuanzhang instructed Zhu Biao and the others.

Zhu Biao nodded, led his younger brothers away, and took everyone else with them, stationing themselves far off at the outer gate of the imperial city.

Once everyone had departed, Zhu Yuanzhang crouched down before the imperial tomb.

Father, Mother, your son has come back to see you. Your son has made something of himself and become emperor. But the two of you never got to see it...

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was low, heavy with a nasal tone. Countless images echoed in his mind.

After a long pause, he continued, Your son has made a complete fool of himself this time! I was terribly deceived. These men who followed me to conquer the realm have changed far too quickly! I kept thinking that since we all came from impoverished backgrounds and had lived through those blindingly bitter days, once we attained high positions of power, we would surely be different from the corrupt officials of the Yuan dynasty. But dammit... these beasts—it turns out I overestimated them... Your son has been too foolish! Far too foolish! I let them join forces and hoodwink me like a pack of fools, leading to the deaths of so many innocent common people... Sob, sob, sob...

As Zhu Yuanzhang spoke, he could no longer continue. Crouching there, he buried his head in his knees and wept bitterly. Elsewhere he had to maintain his composure, but before his parents, he had no need for such restraint.

At this moment, the iron-blooded Hongwu Emperor—who struck terror into the hearts of countless men and was secretly resented by many—vanished entirely. There remained only Zhu Chongba, an ordinary son standing before his mother and father.

Here, he could cast aside all disguises, free from the burden of carrying the entire realm upon his shoulders, released from such crushing fatigue. Here, he could open his heart, speak freely, and vent the suppressed emotions weighing heavily in his breast.

In the distance, Zhu Biao, who felt uneasy and kept glancing back toward the inner gate, saw his imperial father crouching before the towering imperial mound with his head buried in his knees. At that sight, it was as if something struck deep within his heart, and his own eyes reddened with unshed tears.

His imperial father was truly too exhausted, too burdened!

After weeping fully for a quarter of an hour, Zhu Yuanzhang finally checked his tears. Wiping his eyes with his sleeve, he spoke with a nasal twinge, Father, Mother, rest assured. Your son has encountered a miracle; this realm will grow better and better under your son's rule! We will forge a brand-new Great Ming, surpassing the Han and Tang dynasties! Next, your son is going to thoroughly purge the corrupt officials across the land, killing until their heads roll in the thousands. If the two of you have spirits in heaven, do not think your son is being cruel and merciless. I have no wish to act this way either, but without wielding the blade, these people will not know fear! Killing one corrupt official can save countless impoverished common people. Therefore, your son has no choice but to kill!

Having uttered these words, Zhu Yuanzhang kowtowed several more times to the imperial mound, rose to his feet, and walked away step by step.

As he walked, the shadow of Zhu Chongba grew shorter, while the silhouette of the Hongwu Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, grew ever taller. By the time he stepped out of the imperial city to rejoin the civil and military officials, the shadow of Zhu Chongba had completely vanished into the towering presence of the Hongwu Emperor, leaving not a trace behind.

With a majestic and piercing gaze, Zhu Yuanzhang looked out over the crowd and pronounced a fateful decision...