[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut":3,"chapter-starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-chapter-21":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Starting from the Battlefield: Gathering Attributes to Build the All-Heavens Ming Dynasty",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2341828,4577,"Chapter 21: Memories of Zhu Yuanzhang and His Son!","starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-chapter-21",21,"\u003Cp>The imperial palace, Kunninggong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This palace is now sealed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for the daily cleaning by palace maids, no one is allowed near this palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this palace is a forbidden place for the current emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant pays homage to the Crown Prince.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commanding general of the Imperial Guard and his troops immediately bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father is inside, isn’t he?” Zhu Biao said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>General Guo Ying replied respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao nodded, looked up at the palace, his face filled with countless thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the palace!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuanzhang had changed out of his court robes, his face worn with a sorrowful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze fell upon three spirit tablets placed on the table before the main hall, the incense burner on the table already filled with countless burned-out incense sticks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all these years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incense in this burner has never been extinguished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao entered and called softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Made Zhu Yuanzhang, who had been staring at the spirit tablets, pause slightly, then snap back to awareness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Older son is here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and smiled faintly: “Light incense for your mother and them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao did not hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked straight to the table, picked up an incense stick, lit it, and placed it in the burner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Zhu Biao offered the incense,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the three spirit tablets came clearly into view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The highest tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wife, Ma Xiuying’s Spirit Tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On this tablet, Ma Empress’s royal title was not written—no imperial status at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because this tablet was not erected by Zhu Yuanzhang, but by Zhu Zhongba.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was written here was “wife,” Zhu Zhongba’s wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the side tablets below:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daughter-in-law, Chang Wan’er’s Spirit Tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eldest grandson, Zhu Xiongying’s Spirit Tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without doubt,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the spirits enshrined in Kunninggong were Zhu Yuanzhang’s closest kin—his true family. No, strictly speaking, they were Zhu Zhongba’s closest kin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many years have passed?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuanzhang stared at Ma Empress’s spirit tablet, his aged face etched with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother and Xiongying have been gone six years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Chang has been gone from me ten years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao gazed at the three spirit tablets and spoke slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It truly is a sharp blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before we knew it, so many years have slipped away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The dead are gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, you must take care of your health,” Zhu Biao said gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today in court, something just reminded me of events from long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still remember when we defeated Chen Youliang—your father-in-law stood before me, saying he’d cut off Chen Youliang’s head and present it to me. That battle—your father-in-law was fearless, killing seventy-eight enemies single-handedly, slaying Chen Youliang’s son, his fame shaking the world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even after all these years, I can still see your father-in-law’s heroic figure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Too bad… time flows on, and old friends are slowly gone—your father-in-law, your Uncle Xu, sigh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, revealing a grief he showed only to Zhu Biao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everything is past.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao spoke gently, unsure how to comfort his father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, his father had reached such an age—now was the time for tender sentiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even Zhu Biao himself often missed his son, his wife, his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Human nature—how could one call it wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If our Xiongying were still alive, he’d be fourteen now,” Zhu Yuanzhang murmured, gazing at his grandson’s spirit tablet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao also froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mind involuntarily recalled the days when his mother, wife, and children were still alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this same Kunninggong,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a little boy, no more than a few years old, was scrambling in panic, surrounded by Imperial Guards and palace maids and eunuchs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them all ran a young man—Zhu Biao himself—brandishing a rattan cane, chasing after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little rascal, you skipped class at Daben Hall again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And took your twelfth and seventeenth uncles to steal bird nests?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, your old man’s going to beat your ass raw.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little brat…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao chased the boy, cane in hand, scolding all the while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace maids and eunuchs stood respectfully aside, watching the scene with odd expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy dashed straight into Kunninggong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, he was young Zhu Xiongying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Empress Ma at the palace gate, Zhu Xiongying sprinted forward and threw himself into his grandmother’s arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandma!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dad’s gone mad—he’s going to beat me to death again, and force me to memorize books! I’m just a kid—he’s always picking on me!” Zhu Xiongying wailed pitifully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There, there, Grandma’s here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empress Ma first patted Zhu Xiongying’s back tenderly, then turned a stern face toward Zhu Biao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Older son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiongying is still so young—why chase him like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if he falls?” Empress Ma said indulgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This brat is lazy, refuses to study, and drags his uncles into mischief,” Zhu Biao glared at Zhu Xiongying, teeth clenched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that he had a protector, Zhu Xiongying hid behind Empress Ma, grinning triumphantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Older son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuanzhang stepped out from inside the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father, what are you doing here too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao saw him and immediately sighed in resignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With both his father and mother present, he wouldn’t be able to beat the brat today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, can’t I have lunch with your mother?” Zhu Yuanzhang grumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when he saw Zhu Xiongying,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuanzhang’s face instantly softened into a tender smile; he crouched down: “Xiongying, come to Grandpa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandpa!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Xiongying dashed toward Zhu Yuanzhang, calling out sweetly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My grandson’s grown taller and heavier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yuanzhang held Zhu Xiongying in his arms, his face filled with tenderness—no trace of the founding emperor’s might, only the doting affection of an old man for his grandson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bond across generations was fully evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Biao sighed inwardly: “Mother, Xiongying, Sister Chang, how are you all doing over there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>North of Danning Prefecture, on the northern frontier, within the territory of the Jianzhou Tartars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several hundred cavalry surrounded a group of fleeing Tartar stragglers and the Tartar civilians they were protecting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many of these Tartars glared at the surrounding Ming cavalry with hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Surrender and live; those who refuse, die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying raised his long blade and shouted lowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damned Ming dogs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our sons, we die rather than surrender.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sons, fight them to the death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our leader will avenge us...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead Tartar soldier shouted, raised his sword, and charged toward the front-line Ming cavalry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Ying showed no hesitation: “Kill!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spurred his horse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warhorse surged forward at full speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: All support is appreciated—thank you, truly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1119,"2026-06-20T23:30:09.614Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","837d66bb6cbf4bb324ed6acc0fc29fd554ade7cd81b049f2fcb8af425647e57a","starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-chapter-22","starting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-chapter-20",204,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-from-the-battlefield-gathering-attribut-cover.jpg"]