Chapter 62: Prince of Xiang Zhu Bai, Unable to Endure Humiliation, Dies by Self‑Immolation

Zhu Yunwen struggled, crying and shouting, his voice hoarse.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao tried to plead, but Zhu Yuanzhang glared back with a single look,

"Shut up! If you plead again, I'll imprison you too!"

Zhu Biao knelt on the ground, daring not to speak further.

He glanced at his son being dragged away, then at his raging father, his heart a swirl of emotions.

Yunwen… how did it come to this? Reducing the vassals was one thing, but why so ruthless?

Forcing a close uncle to self‑immolate… this, this is downright beastly!

At that moment, the screen above erupted with another barrage of comments:

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang): @Zhu Yuanzhang, your grandson is harsher than your son.】

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): Tsk tsk, Old Zhu, your upbringing is lacking. Your grandson even dares to strike his uncle.】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Cutting the vassals… decisive indeed. But such ruthless means are unlikely for a benevolent ruler.】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): Kin slaying, a human tragedy. @Zhu Yuanzhang, my condolences.】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): Alas, how did it come to this, how did it come to this…】

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the comments, his chest aching with anger.

The princes knelt on the ground, trembling, their hearts both fearful and hateful—fear of their father's wrath, hatred for Zhu Yunwen's cruelty.

Especially Zhou King Zhu Su, Xiang King Zhu Bai, Qi King Zhu Fu, Dai King Zhu Gui, and Min King Zhu Pian, who were named, their faces turned ashen and their bodies chilled.

Exile? Self‑immolation? Stripping to commoner status? This Zhu Yunwen, what a ruthless heart!

Zhu Di knelt among the crowd, head bowed, his eyes dim and unreadable; the reduction of vassals… indeed came, and so ruthlessly.

The Prince of Xiang's self‑immolation… he was such a proud man, yet forced to this end.

What about Zhu Di then? After Zhu Yunwen deals with the other brothers, the next target should be him, right?

He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms, blood seeping out; the sliver of sympathy for his father and pity for his brothers instantly gave way to cold murderous intent.

If you don't rebel, you die.

Rebelling, perhaps there's still a sliver of hope.

Then… rebel against that bastard!

At that moment, the screen above shifted again.

The grim‑faced Jianwen Emperor vanished, replaced by the Beiping Prince of Yan's Mansion.

Late at night, the mansion's lights blazed; Zhu Di gathered his confidants to plot.

He pretended to be insane, lying on the ground mimicking a dog's bark;

He duped Prince Ning, seizing a trio of Yan guards;

He led eight hundred warriors, storming out of Beiping on a rain‑soaked night, charging straight for Nanjing!

【Facing his nephew's "layoff crisis", Zhu Di launched the Jingnan Campaign in 1399.】

He pretended to be insane, duped Prince Ning into investing (seizing a trio of Yan guards), led 800 warriors to rise, holding a corner against the whole nation, fought a four‑year civil war, finally breached Nanjing and wrested the throne from his nephew.

The screen flickered rapidly:

Battlefields raged, blood forming rivers; Nanjing fell, flames soaring skyward.

Zhu Di, clad in blood‑stained armor, stepped over mountains of corpses and seas of blood, advancing step by step toward the Fengtian Hall.

Inside the hall, the Jianwen Emperor was nowhere to be seen, only an empty Dragon Throne awaiting him.

He approached the throne, extended his hand, and brushed the cold armrest.

Then, he turned and sat down.

His gaze burned like a torch, scanning the kneeling ministers within the hall.

In that instant, dominance radiated, a ruler reigning over all.

All the emperors, upon seeing this, wore varied expressions.

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang): Hmph, a usurper is a usurper, no matter how sweetly he speaks, he's still a treacherous rebel.】

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): However... Zhu Di truly has some skill. Eight hundred rose, four years seized the world; that difficulty surpasses even what I achieved back then.】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Pretending to be insane? He's a ruthless man, flexible yet resilient, a true figure.】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): The Jingnan Campaign... kin slaying, ultimately a regretful affair. Yet, the victor becomes king, the loser a bandit, as has always been.】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): Why must it be... why the endless fighting...】

Ming dynasty, the tenth year of Hongwu.

Zhu Yuanzhang watched his son, treading a sea of corpses and blood, sit upon the Dragon Throne on the screen, his emotions reaching a fevered complexity.

Anger? Of course, anger.

This rebellious son dared to revolt, snatching the empire from his grandson!

But... yet, Zhu Yunwen's grandson truly was no good.

The ruthless reduction of vassals, forcing a close uncle to death, was worse than a beast.

Lao Si's rebellion, in a sense, was also forced.

And... Lao Si, that kid, really did become a damn success!

Eight hundred rose, four years seized the world; that daring and ability far outstripped those of his uncles.

Zhu Yuanzhang felt anger, hatred, and a faint pride within.

This rebellious son, just like him! Sufficiently ruthless, decisive, and capable!

He stared at the screen, at the son seated on the Dragon Throne, radiating dominance, then sighed, waved his hand: "Everyone, rise."

The princes rose tremblingly.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Di, his gaze complex: "Lao Si."

Zhu Di felt a tightening in his chest, stepped forward, and said, "Your son, your servant, is here."

"Those on the celestial canopy… you've seen them all."

Zhu Yuanzhang said slowly, "Yunwen reduced the fiefs, forced his own uncle to death; you rebelled, seized his throne. Both you and your uncle are no good at all."

Zhu Di lowered his head: "Your son… knows his crime."

"Know the crime? Knowing it does what good!"

Zhu Yuanzhang cursed once, but his tone was less fierce,

"However… you kid, you actually have some spirit; with eight hundred men you dared to rebel, and damn well succeeded, that part is like me."

Zhu Di was startled, looked up, and saw a flash in his father's eyes… admiration?

His heart stirred, and he quickly lowered his head again: "Your son does not dare."

"Enough, stop pretending."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand,

"Matters of the future can be discussed later; for now, let me have a good look at the celestial canopy and see what this 'Yongle Emperor' has truly accomplished as a 'once‑in‑a‑millennium emperor'!"

"Yes."

Zhu Di replied, but his heart was in turmoil.

Yongle Emperor… is that his temple name after death?

Chengzu? No, it should be Taizong… wait, later generations gave him the title 'Chengzu'? That's a very high honor…

He looked at the celestial canopy, his gaze blazing.

At that moment, from the celestial canopy, the voice of that person from later ages sounded again, its tone fervent:

【After ascending the throne, he began his 22‑year 'Scroll King' career.】

【So, what earth‑shattering grand projects did this 'Judy', who turned usurpation into a 'once‑in‑a‑millennium emperor', accomplish during his reign? Let's review them!】

The scene cuts rapidly, accompanied by soaring background music, and one breathtaking tableau after another flashes on the screen:

【1. Politically, he moved the capital to Beijing.】

In 1417, Zhu Di made a decision that shocked everyone—relocating the capital to Beijing.

He wanted to build the capital in his own 'Land of the Dragon's Rise', with the Son of Heaven personally guarding the nation's gates.

From then on, Beijing became the political center of China, remaining prominent to this day.

He also established a Cabinet, appointing civil officials such as Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi to handle state affairs; at the same time he set up the Eastern Depot to strengthen secret‑police control.