Chapter 63: Compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia, Dispatching Zheng He on Six Voyages to the Western Ocean, All Nations Pay Tribute

In the scene, a massive relocation convoy sets out from Nanjing, stretching a thousand li northward.

Zhu Di rides at the forefront, gazing north with a resolute look.

Beijing City, under his will, begins reconstruction and expansion, eventually becoming a magnificent imperial capital.

The Forbidden City rises from the ground, its glazed tiles glittering in the sunlight.

Seeing this, the comment barrage starts flowing again:

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang): Relocate the capital? I once wanted to, but… never mind.】

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): Beijing? That place… is a bit remote, isn't it? But "the Son of Heaven guards the border," that spirit is to my liking!】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Setting the capital is a decisive act, truly the work of a mighty ruler; I once wanted to move the capital to Luoyang, but…】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): Beijing… the Yan lands are bitterly cold; relocating the capital here requires great resolve.】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): Why bother… Nanjing is so nice, warm…】

【2. Militarily, five northern campaigns.】

Zhu Di is the only Ming emperor in history who personally led troops deep into the Mongolian plateau.

From 1410 to 1424, he personally led five northern expeditions, reaching the Wongan River, crushing the Tatars and the Oirats, essentially wiping out the remaining Northern Yuan forces.

【Although some mock it as "ineffective overtime" — fight and retreat, the enemy returns years later — this "even if distant, must be punished" dominance indeed ensured peace on the northern frontier.】

In the scene, borderland wind and snow, yellow sand fills the sky.

Zhu Di dons helmet and armor, personally leads the great army, venturing deep into the barren lands.

He stands on a high slope, watching the fleeing Mongol cavalry in the distance, brandishing his sword toward the sky, full of vigor.

Behind him, Ming banners flutter, iron armor like a forest.

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang): Five northern campaigns?! Good! That's the way! I once struck north at the Xiongnu the same way!】

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): The fourth can do it! Better than me at fighting!】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Five northern campaigns… reaching the Wongan River… hmm, this Zhu Di truly wins my favor! @Zhu Di, come out, I'll treat you to wine!】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): Personal campaigns… I often led them myself, such daring is worthy of admiration.】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): Sigh, fighting and killing, exhausting the people and draining wealth…】

【3. Diplomatically, dispatch Zheng He on six voyages to the Western Ocean.】

Starting in 1405, he sent Zheng He on six voyages to the Western Ocean, leading a fleet of 27,000 men that reached as far as the Red Sea and East Africa.

Some say it was to find the Jianwen Emperor, others claim it was to flaunt wealth.

Regardless, Zheng He's fleet visited over thirty countries and regions, resulting in tribute from all nations—

Kings of four nations personally came to China to pay homage to Zhu Di, foreign envoys visited 318 times, and the Ming became a truly global empire.

In the scene, a massive treasure ship fleet, sails like a forest, covering the sky and sun, sails toward the boundless sea.

Zheng He stands at the bow, facing the wind, at a foreign port where people of varied complexions kneel to welcome the Celestial Empire's envoys.

Inside the Forbidden City, envoys from all nations pay tribute, shouting "Long live!" repeatedly.

Zhu Di sits high on the dragon throne, receiving homage, his authority spanning the four seas.

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang): Voyaging to the Western Ocean? But tribute from all nations… not bad at all.】

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): 27,000 people? This fleet has more men than the troops I once commanded!】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Projecting power overseas… interesting. I once sent Zhang Qian into the Western Regions, which is similar.】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): Tribute from all nations, a sign of a flourishing age.】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): How much money must this cost…】

【4. Culturally, compile the Yongle Encyclopedia.】

He mobilized over 3,000 scholars to compile the Yongle Encyclopedia, incorporating seven to eight thousand titles for a total of 22,937 volumes, amounting to three hundred million characters, making it the largest encyclopedic work in history.

In the scene, inside the Wenyuan Pavilion, thousands of scholars hunch over their desks, writing feverishly, the halls brimming with books.

Volumes after volume are organized and copied, eventually merging into a magnificent monumental work.

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang): Compiling books? Hmph, Confucian scholars ruin the state.】

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): Over 3,000 scholars? How many meals does that require?】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Suppressing the Hundred Schools, upholding Confucianism alone is the right path; compiling these miscellaneous books—what use?】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): Civil governance and military prowess, both indispensable; this is a grand event.】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): This is good! Civil governance! Civil governance!】

【5. Territorially, reaching as far as the Han and Tang.】

He set up the Nuergan Command in the northeast, governing areas such as Heilongjiang and Sakhalin Island;

He established the Hami Guard in the northwest;

He occupied Annan (now Vietnam) in the southwest, establishing the Jiaozhi Administration;

He implemented a policy of religious and administrative unity in Tibet.

Historians called it "its territory vast, reaching as far as the Han and Tang."】

In the scene, a rapid unfolding of the Great Ming territorial map shows everything from the bitterly cold northeast to the tropical rainforests of the southwest, from the Gobi desert of the northwest to the endless seas of the southeast, all within its borders.

Zhu Di's phantom stands before the map, hands behind his back, looking down on the world.

The emperors of the various dynasties fall into silence.

Then, the comment barrage exploded.

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang): Reaching as far as the Han and Tang?! What a grand claim!】

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): Wider than my Great Han? I'm not convinced!】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Hmph, a later youngster dares to speak recklessly!】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): Reaching as far as the Han and Tang… this statement warrants further discussion.】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): Ah, what good is a big territory if you can't hold onto it…】

Ming Dynasty, the tenth year of the Hongwu era.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the achievements displayed on the heavenly canopy, his eyes widening wider and wider, his mouth opening wider and wider.

Move the capital to Beijing, the Son of Heaven guards the nation's gate… Good! Got guts! Like me!

Five campaigns into the Northern Desert, striking as far as the Orkhon River… Good! Ruthless enough! Like me!

Sailing to the Western Ocean, myriad nations come to pay tribute… Good! Mighty! Like me!

Compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia… Hmm, this… not bad.

The territory surpasses that of the Han and Tang dynasties… Good! Good kid! You're even more capable than me!

He looked at his son, full of vigor and whose prestige extended over the four seas, and that pride in his heart could no longer be contained.

This rebellious son, although he rebelled, although he usurped the throne, but these achievements, this ambition, truly deserve the four characters "Emperor of All Ages"!

He even felt that Old Four, compared to his father… no, compared to this father of his, was even more capable!

He turned his head, looking toward Zhu Di, who was also looking at him, his gaze apprehensive, yet also tinged with a faint expectation.

Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly let out a "Pfft—" laugh.

Then he laughed louder and louder, laughing until he bent forward and backward, laughing until tears streamed down.

"What's wrong with rebelling? What's wrong with usurping? If you can achieve this, I acknowledge you as my son! I acknowledge you as emperor!"

Zhu Di froze, thinking his father would scold him, beat him, lock him up.

He never expected his father would laugh, praise him, and… acknowledge him.

His nose tingled, and he knelt down: "Father…"

"Get up, get up!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, wiping away the tears of laughter,

"You little brat, you're capable! Stronger than those brothers of yours!"

"A million times stronger than that Yunfen brat! I'll hand over the realm to you… I can rest easy!"

Upon saying that, the entire hall was shocked.

Crown Prince Zhu Biao felt relieved at Old Four's achievements.

The other princes had complex expressions—there was envy, jealousy, resentment, but more than that… they were convinced.

As for Old Four's achievements, they truly cannot match them.