Chapter 64: Misdeeds Chapter. Yet Merit Outweighs Fault

And at this moment, the voice of that immortal on the heavenscreen sounded again, but this time its tone was low and solemn:

【Zhu Di's Misdeeds Chapter:

【1. Political purges, extermination of ten families.

His purge of the Jianwen loyalists was truly sanguinary.

The most typical case was Fang Xiaoru, who, for refusing to surrender, was executed by Zhu Di, and thus inaugurated the unprecedented "extermination of ten families" (nine families plus student friends) in Chinese history, killing 873 people.

In the scene, the execution ground.

The white‑haired Fang Xiaoru was dragged up, shouting profanities.

Zhu Di's face turned iron‑blue as he ordered, "Exterminate the ten families!"

The executioner swung his blade, heads fell one by one, and blood flowed like a river.

Men, women, old and young, none escaped; cries of agony, wails, and curses rang through the execution ground.

【2. Institutionally, allowing the secret police to run rampant.

He revived the marginalized Brocade Guard of Zhu Yuanzhang's later years and also established the Eastern Depot led by eunuchs.

These two agencies could bypass normal judicial procedures to arrest anyone at will, setting a notorious example of eunuch interference in the Ming dynasty.

In the scene, Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot thugs roamed the streets, arbitrarily arresting and brutally torturing people.

In the imperial prison, wails never ceased; eunuchs held power, interfered in state affairs, and civil officials dared anger but not speech.

【3. Economically, reckless militarism.

The five campaigns against Mongolia, the voyages to the Western Ocean, moving the capital to Beijing, and the war in Annam—each was a massive money‑burning project.

Although it was hailed as the "Yongle Prosperity", the common people's taxes were heavier than during Zhu Yuanzhang's era.

After his death, Zheng He's voyages were halted—too costly to continue.

In the scene, peasants toiled in the fields, drenched in sweat, yet most of the harvest had to be paid as tax.

The authorities pressed tax collection like wolves and tigers; the people grew pale and gaunt, their clothes ragged.

Meanwhile inside the palace, Zhu Di hosted a grand banquet for ministers, with singing, dancing, and boundless extravagance.

…

Just moments ago Zhu Yuanzhang had been laughing heartily, but his smile now froze on his face.

He watched the blood‑stained images on the heavenscreen, the suffering common folk, and his complexion darkened gradually.

Exterminate the ten families… killed 873 people… Fang Xiaoru… He knew that man was a great Confucian scholar.

The fourth son actually… actually exterminated the ten families?!

This…

The secret police running rampant… eunuchs meddling… this damn thing is what Zhu Yuanzhang hated most!

He erected an iron tablet forbidding eunuch interference, yet this rebellious fourth son dared to violate the ancestral precepts?!

Reckless militarism, the people's hardship… this, this runs contrary to his original rebellion's purpose!

He fought for the world to give the people a good life, not to make them suffer more!

Zhu Yuanzhang snapped his head around, gazing at Zhu Di, his eyes cold as knives: "Fourth son."

Zhu Di's heart trembled: "Your son is here."

"Exterminate the ten families—was that your doing?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was calm, but beneath the calm lay suppressed fury.

"…Yes." Zhu Di lowered his head.

"The secret police running rampant, eunuchs meddling—was that your doing?"

"…Yes."

"The people's taxes increased, their suffering unbearable—was that your doing?"

"…Yes."

"Good, good, good."

Zhu Yuanzhang uttered three consecutive "good"s, each sounding as if squeezed from between his teeth,

"You truly are my good son! A fine material for a tyrant!"

He sprang up, kicking the stool before him over.

"Servants! Drag this rebel son down! Beat him with fifty heavy boards! No, one hundred! If he dies, it counts as my doing!"

"Father Emperor, please calm down!" Zhu Biao hurriedly knelt, "Fourth brother, though he erred, his merits outweigh his faults—see his achievements…"

"Merits? Can merits cover up faults?!"

Zhu Yuanzhang raged,

"Exterminate the ten families! Killed 873 people! How many of them were innocent women and children?!"

"The secret police running rampant, eunuchs meddling—these are omens of a doomed nation; the people's hardship, the populace on the brink of starvation, these force rebellion! Which of these faults isn't enough for him to die a hundred times?!"

(At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang did not know how many meritorious officials he would later kill because of the "Four Great Hongwu Cases".)

Zhu Biao was speechless, and the other princes also knelt, daring not to speak.

Zhu Di knelt there, his face pallid, but his gaze stubborn; he did not regret, for a king succeeds, a loser becomes a bandit, as has always been.

If he were not ruthless, he would die; if he did not centralize power, the realm would be unstable; if he did not wage campaigns, the borders would be unsettled.

As for the people's suffering… which dynasty's populace has not suffered? At least he gave them a strong empire, a realm unblemished by foreign humiliation!

He looked up, facing the raging father emperor, and said word for word: "Your son, no regrets."

"You—!"

Zhu Yuanzhang, furious, trembled all over, pointing at Zhu Di, unable to finish his words.

At that moment, golden light flared again across the heavenscreen!

As before, a pure golden light poured down from the center of the sky curtain, vast and mighty, illuminating the night sky.

Within the golden light, a line of ancient, simple characters emerged:

In view of the achievements of the Ming Emperor Zhu Di in expanding territories, relocating the capital, and projecting power overseas, a special grant is bestowed upon the lands he protects:

Reward: fifty years of longevity, schematics for an improved flintlock gun and a red‑clothed cannon, a doubling of the nation's grain output, and ten years of smooth weather throughout the Ming realm!

The moment the characters appeared, the elderly Zhu Di felt a vast, ocean‑like vitality surge into his body!

It was not the previous gentle warmth, but a torrent, a tsunami, instantly washing over his limbs and bones, cleansing his meridians and organs!

He felt he had become more than fifty years younger, his vigor enough to kill a tiger, his skin tightened, white hair turned black, and even his gaze grew considerably clearer!

Even more astonishing, two detailed schematics—one for a flintlock gun, another for a red‑clothed cannon—suddenly materialized in his mind!

Every component, every material, every process was crystal clear, as if he had personally designed them thousands of times.

He could even "see" these weapons unleashing their might on the battlefield.

"This… this is…"

Zhu Di muttered to himself, unable to believe it.

The immortal clan's blessing… and such a weighty blessing!

Fifty years of longevity, divine weapon schematics, grain doubled, ten years of smooth weather!

This, this is literally a gift of rebirth!

He "plopped" down on his knees, bowing heavily toward the sky curtain,

"Zhu Di, thank the immortal clan's great grace!!!"

At that moment, the sky curtain erupted with another barrage:

【Ying Zheng (Qin Shi Huang):???

Fifty years of longevity, plus divine weapon schematics, grain doubled, ten years of smooth weather?!

Why? I am not convinced! I will report this!

【Liu Bang (Han Taizu): @Zhu Di, give me some! give me some longevity! I'll trade my realm for it!】

【Liu Che (Han Wu Di): Flintlock gun? Red‑clothed cannon? What are they? Sounds impressive…】

【Li Shimin (Tang Taizong): The immortal clan's generous blessing, Zhu Di, you're so fortunate!】

【Zhao Kuangyin (Song Taizu): Ten years of smooth weather… Our Great Song also wants it…】