Chapter 61

【Finally, it froze on an old, exhausted Zhu Yuanzhang's face.】

【He sat on the dragon throne, looking at the empty hall, his eyes empty, as if he had aged ten years overnight.】

【At the same time, an extremely sad and mournful background music played on the Sky Screen, making people's hearts sour.】

【(The music played here is "Great Ming's Bad Tune") (๑òᆺó๑)】

【Crown Princess Chang died of blood collapse in the 11th year of Hongwu, in the 15th year of Hongwu, the Imperial Grandson Zhu Xiongying died of smallpox, three months later, Empress Ma, this eternal virtuous queen, passed away, in the 25th year of Hongwu, Crown Prince Zhu Biao died of a cold.】

【In his later years, Zhu Yuanzhang experienced the pain of losing his grandson, wife, and son, and made a confused decision, establishing Zhu Biao's concubine son Zhu Yunwen as the Imperial Grandson, and in the 31st year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang passed away at the age of 71.】

【The music reached its climax, tragic and desperate.】

Ming Dynasty, Hongwu Year 10, Nanjing Yingtian Prefecture.】

"Clatter."】

Zhu Yuanzhang slid off the dragon throne, sitting on the ground, his face pale as paper.】

"My sister... my Biao'er... my grandson..."】

He muttered to himself, his voice trembling, tears "whooshing" down,】

"All... all gone? All left me?"】

He clutched his chest, feeling as if it had been hollowed out, cold wind blowing in.】

Biao'er, his most beloved eldest son, kind and filial, was his designated successor.】

Xiongying, his most beloved eldest grandson, smart and clever, was the hope of his Zhu family.】

Sister, the hair-raising wife who shared adversity and lived together, was the person he felt most sorry for and couldn't leave in this life.】

All gone.】

All gone.】

He sat slumped on the ground, weeping bitterly, crying like a child.】

What imperial dignity, what emperor's demeanor, all gone.】

He was just a poor old man who lost his son, grandson, and wife.】

Empress Ma rushed over, hugged him, and tears also fell,】

"Chongba, Chongba, don't be like this... that is the affair of later generations, it hasn't happened yet, it hasn't happened yet..."】

"But... but that's true..."】

Zhu Yuanzhang grabbed Empress Ma's hand, crying heart-rendingly,】

"Biao'er will die, Xiongying will die, you will also leave me... I... I live alone, what's the point..."】

In the hall, Crown Prince Zhu Biao, Imperial Grandson Zhu Xiongying, and a group of princes and grandsons all knelt down, following with tears.】

They looked at the scenes on the Sky Screen, listened to the miserable music, feeling both afraid and painful.】

So... so they would all die, and, die so early, so miserably.】

Zhu Di also knelt there, looking at the old, lonely father on the Sky Screen, feeling as if pricked by a needle.】

He had never seen his father so fragile, so helpless; the founding emperor who stood tall and decisive would also cry, also be afraid.】

He suddenly felt that his father... was not easy either.】

And at this moment, on the Sky Screen, the bullet chats were also quiet.】

For a long time, a line floated:】

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang):... White-haired person sending off a black-haired person, the greatest pain in the world.】】

Another line:】

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): Old Zhu... condolences.】】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Heaven is ruthless, nothing more than this.】】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): I... understand.】】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): Alas...】

No teasing, no mockery, only faint, heavy sympathy.】

At this moment, all emperors, whether tyrant or wise monarch, whether ancient or modern, felt that pain—the pain of losing loved ones and the loneliness of the empire.】

The mournful music gradually stopped.】

On the Sky Screen, the scene changed again.】

That old Zhu Yuanzhang disappeared, replaced by a young emperor wearing a dragon robe, with a delicate face but gloomy eyes—Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen.】

【After Zhu Yuanzhang passed away, Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, known in history as the Jianwen Emperor, and began the vigorous "cutting of the vassals."】

【Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen cut five vassal kings in less than a year after ascending the throne, with strong means and fast rhythm, known in history as "Jianwen cutting vassals."】

The scene flashed rapidly:】

Prince of Zhou Zhu Su was abolished as a commoner, the whole family exiled to Yunnan;】

Prince of Xiang Zhu Bo was forced to burn himself with his whole palace, fire reaching the sky;】

Prince of Qi, Prince of Dai, Prince of Min were abolished one after another, imprisoned or exiled.】

Each scene was accompanied by miserable screams, desperate wails, making one's scalp tingle.】

【1. Prince of Zhou Zhu Su - Zhu Yuanzhang's fifth son, Zhu Di's mother-born brother】】

【Time: August, 31st year of Hongwu (1398)】】

【Charge: Second son reported "rebellion"】】

【Outcome: Abolished as commoner, whole family exiled to Yunnan】】

【Status: First knife of cutting vassals, intended to cut off the wings of the Prince of Yan】】

【2. Prince of Xiang Zhu Bo - Zhu Yuanzhang's twelfth son】】

【Time: April, 1st year of Jianwen (1399)】】

【Charge: Private minting of coins, unauthorized killing, rebellion】】

【Outcome: Burned himself with the whole palace, the tragedy shook the world】】

【Status: The most tragic one in cutting vassals, became an important excuse for Zhu Di's "Jingnan"】】

【3. Prince of Qi Zhu Fu - Zhu Yuanzhang's seventh son】】

【Time: April, 1st year of Jianwen】】

【Charge: Arrogant and lawless, plotting rebellion】】

【Outcome: Abolished as commoner, soft-imprisoned in Nanjing】】

【4. Prince of Dai Zhu Gui - Zhu Yuanzhang's thirteenth son】】

【Time: April, 1st year of Jianwen】】

【Charge: Greedy, cruel, disturbing the people and lawless】】

【Outcome: Abolished as commoner, soft-imprisoned in the fief of Datong】】

【5. Prince of Min Zhu Pian - Zhu Yuanzhang's eighteenth son】】

【Time: June, 1st year of Jianwen】】

【Charge: "Lawless things" (vague charge)】】

【Outcome: Abolished as commoner, exiled to Fujian Zhangzhou】】

...】

【August 1398 - June 1399, abolished five kings in less than a year, cut three kings in one month in April】】

【Strategy: First weak then strong, first cut the wings of the Prince of Yan, then plan for the Prince of Yan】】

【Consequence: Vassal kings were all in danger, Prince of Yan Zhu Di started a rebellion in the name of "clearing the emperor's side, calming the country's disaster," triggering the four-year Jingnan Campaign】】

The scene finally froze on the sky-high fire of the Prince of Xiang's mansion.】

In the fire, a figure could be vaguely seen standing in front of the hall, laughing at the sky, then throwing himself into the sea of fire, turning into ashes.】

Ming Dynasty, Hongwu Year 10, Nanjing Yingtian Prefecture.】

Zhu Yuanzhang kicked over the dragon desk in front of him, the memorials, pens, ink, and seals on the desk scattering all over the floor.】

His face was livid, his eyes blood-red, his whole body murderous, like a lion provoked.】

"Zhu, Yun, Wen!"】

He said word by word, the voice squeezed out from between his teeth, cold and biting,】

"Good! Good you Zhu Yunwen! Good benevolent and filial Imperial Grandson! I haven't died yet, and you dare to treat my sons like this?!"】

"Cutting vassals? Cut your mother's leg, the fifth son exiled to Yunnan, the twelfth burned himself, the seventh, thirteenth, eighteenth all abolished, you mother-fucker are trying to kill all my sons!!"】

He turned around abruptly, pointing at Zhu Yunwen kneeling below, his fingers shaking,】

"Come! Drag this rebellious grandson down for me! Lock him in the Zongren Mansion! Without my decree, no one is allowed to see him!"】

"Imperial Grandfather! Imperial Grandfather, spare me!"】

Zhu Yunwen was scared silly, slumped on the ground, crying,】

"Grandson didn't! Grandson didn't dare! That is the affair of later generations, it's not what grandson did!"】

"Affair of later generations? It's not what you did because it's later generations?!"】

Zhu Yuanzhang was furious,】

"The Sky Screen has put it out, you cut vassals, forced your own uncle to burn himself, you mother-fucker are still a human, how could I have a grandson like you!"】

Two Jinyiwei stepped forward, lifted Zhu Yunwen and dragged him out.】