Chapter 687: Zhu Yuanzhang: Do I Have to Teach You How to Ascend the Throne?

After signing the contract with Yue Fei, Zhao Kuangyin departed satisfied.

Since they were both members of the chat group, Zhao Kuangyin granted Yue Fei extensive authority—even if Yue Fei wished to establish an autonomous fiefdom, it would be perfectly acceptable.

Unfortunately, Yue Fei had no such intentions.

After accepting the task of training a unit of Tianlong Guards, he returned home briefly to see his elderly mother, then moved into the military camp.

Chat group.

Su Xiao: "General Yue truly regards fame and fortune as dirt—this is a chance to become the leader of an entire world, and he just gave it up!"

Hu Yifei: "That's Yue Fei. In the original history, even knowing his fate upon returning would be grim, he still went back. If it were me, I'd have rebelled long ago, smashed Zhao Jiumei, and made myself Emperor!"

Xiao Mai: "+1, Teacher Hu is awesome!"

Rem: "+1"

Ying Zheng: "Wow, you guys are the ones with real ideas. Normal people like Yue Fei, loyal ministers, are rare even over millennia—Old Zhao really struck gold."

Zhao Kuangyin: "Indeed, with General Yue on my side, the Great Song Alliance will be far more stable. Great Song has no shortage of talent—just none placed properly. Now that we have the chat group, our secret generals are thriving."

Yue Fei: "You flatter me. Actually, even if I were given authority over this world, I doubt I could manage it. Military command and governance are not the same system. Managing troops just requires overseeing subordinates and supplies. Governing a region means endless bickering with too many people—it drains too much energy."

Zhao Kuangyin: "True, it's troublesome. But none of it's insurmountable. With transcendent power, neither world needs many administrators; without aristocratic clans or land consolidation, we can control these issues, and the people's lives will steadily improve. By the way, Miss Su, have you selected the technical specialists you mentioned supporting?"

Su Xiao: "Of course. I'll send them over right away. Don't forget to pay them well."

Zhao Kuangyin: "Rest assured—in Great Song, no official ever worries about low pay! Besides salary, you can have as many Ladies or Consorts as you want! 【Proud】"

Kurogami: "Wait, are people actually going to come back after going over there? 【Shocked】"

Xiao Mai: "They're really giving out wives?! 々｀ ！"

Ye Hei: "They're giving out husbands too! 【Shocked】"

Zhu Yuanzhang: "Damn, I'm jealous again—I'll tell Old Four to kick off the Age of Exploration and make money from the whole world!"

Ying Zheng: "No, wouldn't it be better if Zhu Di colonized the entire world? The whole globe becomes a granary—perfect."

Zhu Youjian: "Great idea! Ancestor, shouldn't we try this?"

Zhu Yuanzhang: "Of course we can."

Su Xiao: "I can provide shipbuilding technology—absolutely top-notch, centuries ahead of your world."

Xiao Mai: "Wait, isn't the Ming Emperor already powerful enough? Why does he need shipbuilding tech?"

Kurogami: "Are you serious? Are you expecting the Ming Emperor to personally sail over and storm cities? Is he Emperor or a laborer?"

Yao Yue: "An Emperor must behave like an Emperor—especially in ancient times. Without imperial dignity, chaos ensues. Only in your modern era do people preach equality—this wouldn't work in ancient times."

Yukinoshita Yukino: "There's no choice. Ancient productivity and public education levels simply couldn't support such ideals. Pushing equality prematurely would do more harm than good."

Li Shimin: "You're all right. 【Image】The high-yield crops Miss Su supported have already been harvested—rice yields over 1,500 jin per mu, sweet potatoes at 4,000 jin per mu. The yields are terrifying—the people are stunned."

Li Shimin: "If we had someone cast the Rain Blessing Spell, wouldn't yields be even higher?"

Zhang Taixuan: "They'd be even higher. The Rain Blessing Spell isn't just useful for spiritual herbs—it greatly benefits ordinary crops too."

Li Shimin: "Thank you, Dao Jun, for your guidance. Decided: I'll immediately establish a Cultivation Academy, select talent, and assign tasks for growing spiritual herbs and grain."

Su Xiao: "Wow, so cultivation starts with farming? This is becoming more and more like a 'Commoner Flow' world."

Li Shimin: "What else can we do? Dao Jun's martial path has a low barrier to entry—anyone can cultivate. So who do we choose to pass down the later techniques?"

Li Shimin: "Of course, promote those who've made contributions!"

Ying Zheng: "I can adopt this too—grant techniques based on contributions, no private transmission. That way, commoners have a clear path upward."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "This method is good—worth emulating."

Zhao Kuangyin: "I can implement this later too, but first I must conquer the Liao Kingdom. 【Video】Troops are at the city gates—Liao Kingdom, fall within three days!"

Zhu Youjian: "Wow, Song Zu moves fast."

Zhao Kuangyin: "Unifying Shanhe is my lifelong dream—I'll move as fast as I can!"

Zhu Wushi: "Congratulations, Song Zu, on achieving your life's goal."

Zhu Youjian: "+1"

Su Xiao: "+1"

Huang Rong: "+1"

"…"

Ye Hei: "The Song Dynasty is famous in later eras due to its culture—many TV dramas and novels. The only downside is that it never fully unified the realm and was weak against foreign powers. But starting today, that chapter ends. Song Zu, well done!"

Wang Chao: `」+1

Zhang Sanfeng: "+1"

Zhao Kuangyin: "Haha, thank you all. When I unify the realm, I'll offer sacrifices to Dao Jun at Taishan, praying for favorable winds and rains."

Su Xiao: "Not sacrifice to Heaven?"

Zhu Youjian: "Sacrificing to Heaven? Heaven might not respond. Sacrificing to Dao Jun? The two angels will definitely respond—clear who you're praying to."

Zhu Wushi: "That's true. @Zhu Yuanzhang, Ancestor, what should I do?"

Zhu Youjian: "You want to usurp the throne and still don't know how? 【Stunned】"

Zhu Wushi: "What's usurpation? Ancestor has already recognized my legitimacy! I'm inheriting the throne lawfully!"

Zhu Yuanzhang: "?? Are you even a Prince? Do you need me to teach you how to ascend the throne? Seriously? Is this what my descendants have become? Do I have to personally design your coronation ceremony? 【Eye roll】"

Su Xiao: "Laughing so hard—in the original novel, the Divine Marquis was so capable!"

Zhu Youjian: "Miss Su, don't flatter him. As a Prince, he wanders the Jianghu, relying on trickery and deceit—utterly shameful."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "Indeed. Being a Prince is restrictive, and being a Jianghu figure is no better. Be bold—what are you afraid of?"

Zhu Wushi: "Thank you, Ancestor, for your guidance. I'll think carefully, then invite you to descend again."

Zhu Yuanzhang: "Good. Think for yourself—not just about the coronation ceremony, but also about governing the dynasty afterward. You can't keep coming to the chat group every time you have a problem. An Emperor must have strength, but also brains!"

Zhu Wushi: "Thank you, Ancestor, for your teachings!"

After ending the chat, Zhu Wushi was filled with many emotions.