Chapter 366: Carpenter Emperor! Ming War God, Gate‑Calling Emperor!

【Fifteenth name: Ming Xizong, Zhu Youxiao.】

Basic information: Zhu Changluo's eldest son, era name Tianqi, reigned for seven years.

Later nickname: Carpenter Emperor.

Achievements: Appointed Sun Chengzong to build the Guanning Brocade defensive line, curbing the expansion of the Later Jin.

Faults: Obsessed with carpentry, handed all state affairs to Wei Zhongxian, tolerated the eunuch faction's suppression of Donglin, and wildly increased the Liaodong tribute.

Zhao Kuangyin said: "Handing all state affairs to a eunuch? What kind of operation is that?"

Liu Che said: "When eunuchs dominate, any dynasty that experiences this will fall into chaos."

Liu Xiu said: "Increasing the Liaodong tribute forces the people into rebellion. It drives the populace onto a dead end."

Liu Bang looked at Zhu Yuanzhang: "Old Zhu, your descendant's hobby is quite unusual."

"No women, no Dao cultivation, just carpentry?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice squeezed out from between his teeth: "We've seen it."

"Fourth son, how did your descendants produce such bizarre emperors?!"

……

【Sixteenth name: Ming Yingsong, Zhu Qizhen.】

When this name appeared on the imperial list, the atmosphere on the city tower changed completely.

Basic information: Zhu Zhanji's eldest son, ascended the throne twice, era names Zhengtong and Tiānshùn, reigned for twenty‑two years.

Later nicknames: Ming War God, Gate‑Calling Emperor, Wana exchange student.

Achievements: In his later years abolished the practice of live royal burials, and released the descendants of the Jianwen Emperor.

Faults: Favored the treacherous official Wang Zhen, blindly led a personal campaign against the Wala, causing the Tumu Incident, which sacrificed hundreds of thousands of elite troops;

After being captured, Wala troops approached Beijing, nearly destroying the realm;

Restored the throne only to wrongfully execute Yu Qian, purge the virtuous officials of the Jingtai reign, and mistreat his brother Zhu Qiyu.

The imperial list printed the four characters "Tumu Incident" in large type, followed by a long list of faults, each written clearly.

No one spoke on the city tower.

Liu Bang, after reading, turned to Zhu Yuanzhang and said: "Old Zhu… your descendants are just too many, aren't they?"

Zhu Yuanzhang stood there, motionless.

His gaze fixed on the four characters "Tumu Incident."

Then his eyes swept over "captive incompetent ruler," "sacrificed hundreds of thousands of elite troops," "wrongful execution of Yu Qian"—

Each word pierced like a knife.

He opened his mouth, his voice deep and heavy: "Zhu Qizhen."

Below the city tower, among the ranks of soldiers and generals, Zhu Di had not yet left.

He was still looking at the imperial list, but when he saw the three characters "Ming Yingsong," his face turned pale.

This is his descendant.

He is Zhu Di's descendant.

The imperial list read "The Worst Emperor of the Great Ming."

The worst.

Not a single one.

Zhu Di's hand clenched the sword hilt, his knuckles cracking.

Yet he did not move.

Because he saw his father's silhouette on the city tower begin to tremble.

Zhu Yuanzhang turned.

His turning posture was off.

It was not his usual steady gait, but charged with a restless vigor.

He took three steps in two, reached Zhu Di, stretched his hand toward his foot, and pulled the boot off his left foot.

Zhu Di was about to say "Father Emperor" when the boot flew toward his head.

"We'll kill you, you unfilial descendant!"

The boot's sole struck Zhu Di's shoulder dead center.

Zhu Di staggered a bit, neither dodging nor daring to dodge.

Zhu Yuanzhang's second boot came crashing again, this time aimed at the back.

"Tumu! Captives! Tens of thousands of elite!"

"Fourth son, how did your descendants produce such a thing!"

Empress Ma rose from the chair beside her, rushed over and grabbed Zhu Yuanzhang's arm.

"Zhongba, calm down, that's Di'er, not Zhu Qizhen—"

"I know it's him!"

Zhu Yuanzhang struggled to seize Zhu Di.

"But that's his descendant! A line passed down, the seed of Zhu Di!"

Crown Prince Zhu Biao also ran over, spreading his arms to shield Zhu Di.

"Father Emperor, the fourth brother is still young; this has nothing to do with him—"

"Nothing to do with him?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang, barefoot on one foot and booted on the other, still clutching the removed boot, was so angry his beard trembled.

"That's his descendant! His later descendant! Zhu Qizhen!"

"Tumu Fort! Tens of thousands of elite were completely crushed! Captured by the Wala! When they returned they even killed Yu Qian! How could Zhu Di teach his descendants like that!"

Zhu Di was blocked by Zhu Biao behind him, kneeling on one knee with his head lowered: "Father Emperor, your son—your son—"

"What are you saying!"

Zhu Yuanzhang moved around Zhu Biao, and the boot flew over again.

"Remember this! The Ming realm was won inch by inch by us!"

"If you, Zhu Di, dare let your descendants become the likes of Zhu Qizhen, we will crawl out of our coffins to deal with you!"

Zhu Di was struck by the boot several times, dared not lift his head, and muttered in a muffled voice.

"Your son remembers! Your son will certainly watch over the descendants!"

Empress Ma finally grabbed Zhu Yuanzhang.

She pressed Zhu Yuanzhang's arm with one hand, pulled the boot from his hand with the other, and said with a tone both angry and amused:

"Chong Ba, stop hitting him; Di'er is only in his teens and hasn't become emperor yet."

Zhu Yuanzhang gasped: "I don't care!"

"If he becomes emperor later, and dares to produce descendants like Zhu Qizhen, we will watch from the heavens and still come down to beat him!"

Zhu Biao quickly added: "Father Emperor, calm your anger; fourth brother has already realized his mistake."

"See him kneeling, admitting his fault."

Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and glanced at the kneeling Zhu Di.

He took a deep breath, took the boot back from Empress Ma, and put it on again.

Zhu Yuanzhang squatted down, staring at Zhu Di's face: "Raise your head."

Zhu Di raised his head.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him, speaking slowly: "If your descendants, Zhu Di, dare to do what happened at Tumu Fort, I will not recognize you as my son."

Zhu Di's voice was muffled but firm: "Your son does not dare."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, turned and walked back to the city‑tower railing, gazing at the commoners in the square still looking up at the Golden List, and remained silent for a long time.

Liu Bang, standing nearby, had been holding back laughter, but finally couldn't contain it and shrugged his shoulders.

Li Shimin turned his head, pretending to look at the scenery.

Liu Che lowered his head to look at his shoes.

Liu Xiu lifted his head and gazed at the sky.

Zhao Kuangyin pressed his lips together, his mouth nearly a thin line.

Ying Zheng's face was expressionless, but the corner of his eye seemed to twitch.

Gu Shanhe stood at the outermost edge of the city tower, watching the scene of Zhu Yuanzhang, barefoot on one foot, chasing after Zhu Di.

He glanced again at the six characters "Ming's Worst Emperor" on the Golden List, then lowered his head—he could no longer hold it in.

Only Empress Changsun sat dignified, a slight smile at the corner of her mouth, but said nothing.

Half an hour later, the Golden List slowly closed, turning into a stream of light that vanished into the sky.

The commoners in the square were still discussing, but the people on the city tower had gradually returned.

Zhu Di stood up, brushed the dust off his knees, his face flushing red and white.

Zhu Biao came over and patted his shoulder,

"Fourth brother, Father Emperor is just angry; don't take it to heart."

Zhu Di said: "Elder brother, I didn't take it to heart."

"I'm just wondering which descendant that Zhu Qizhen actually is."

Zhu Biao thought for a moment: "According to the seniority on the Golden List, it should be the generation of your great‑great‑grandchildren."

Zhu Di fell silent for a moment, his voice muffled: "When Beiping stabilizes, I'll go back and write a family instruction."

Zhu Biao smiled, saying nothing further.

Then, Zhu Yuanzhang arranged for people to prepare a banquet, inviting Gu Shanhe, Ying Zheng and his party.

……