Ming Dynasty: A hundred-year-old immortal cultivator, Zhu Yuanzhang’s biological father

The three months of hard work day and night were more tiring and difficult than Xie Jin's three years as an official, but he gritted his teeth and persevered, never giving his head!
But at this moment, he lowered his head.

Xie Jin clasped his fists, bowed his head, and saluted: "Mr. Gentleman... Thank you, my colleagues! We are all in this together. After this epidemic, I will personally commend you for your contributions to the court!"

The Jiaozhi Provincial Government suddenly became warm and cozy.

Yingtian.

On a spring evening, the afterglow shines on the mottled old locust tree, and the setting sun playfully shines through the gaps in the shade of the tree and falls on Zhu Yuanzhang's face.

The old man lay quietly in the rocking chair under the old locust tree, chatting with Zhu Xiongying about the past.

Zhu Xiongying laughed so hard that he fell backwards. He said, "Grandpa, I was really brave before. I was only that old, but I dared to think about killing bandits?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "What are you daring to do? You saw me being strangled by the bandits blocking the road, and I asked you to stab the bandits with a knife."

"You were so frightened that your face turned pale and you were at a loss. The hand holding the dagger was shaking."

The old man was telling Zhu Xiongying about every detail of his past, from the time Zhu Xionghuan was four years old to the present.

Once upon a time, Zhu Xionghuan and the old man did something big.

That was the first time that the grandfather and grandson left Yingtian City and went to the outskirts of Jiangning City. In the 14th year of Hongwu, the White Lotus Holy Sect, a branch of the Maitreya Sect, had not yet completely collapsed.

At that time, Hu Weiyong had just been executed for a year, and the White Lotus Sect used the reputation of "vindicating Hu Gong" to commit illegal acts.

As soon as the grandfather and grandson arrived at the Jiangning official road, they were hijacked by the great protector of the White Lotus Sect.

Zhu Yuanzhang was already quite strong in martial arts. He was only fifty years old, but his skills were still quite good. So he started fighting with the great protector of the White Lotus Sect.

Zhu Yuanzhang was strangled by the neck, and at the critical moment, the young Zhu Xionghuan stabbed the White Lotus Sect's chief protector to death.

That's pretty much what happened.

Keep telling, keep hearing.

All emotions slowly disappeared.

……

the other side.

Xie Jin fell in love with this land. When he saw the people expressing their heartfelt gratitude and bowing to him, he felt an incomparable sense of accomplishment.

"Your Excellency, the three southern tribes...are free of malaria!"

Xie Jin stood up and said, "Okay!"

"Has all the bark powder of cinchona trees in Yunnan and Guizhou been delivered?" Xie Jin asked.

“They have all been delivered.”

Xie Jin nodded, looked at everyone, and said earnestly: "The common people call you the great masters of the heavens and the parents of the officials. They are grateful to you. I also hope that you will live up to their praise."

"The governance of Jiaozhi is a long and arduous task, and this is not the only thing I want."

Everyone stood in awe and listened attentively.

Xie Jin continued, "The imperial court looked down on Jiaozhi's governorship and thought that our remote place was useless. The officials in Yingtian City also thought that being transferred to Jiaozhi was a sign of demotion."

"Let's fight for our chance and use our results to tell them that we are managing this place with all our heart and that we have unlimited potential!"

"I can't finish the work by myself, so I still have to rely on my colleagues."

"I believe that when the people thank you, you are excited and proud. Then keep this state of mind going!"

Everyone stood up and shouted loudly: "How dare you disobey me?!" The loud shouts shook the sky!
Everyone dispersed.

Zhang Shutong stayed and looked at Xie Jin with a complicated look.

Xie Jin looked at him suspiciously and asked curiously, "Master Zhang, do you have anything else to say to me?"

Zhang Shutong clasped his fists, bowed and saluted, saying, "Master Jie, I was hostile to you at the beginning. I'm sorry."

Xie Jin was stunned for a moment, put the document aside, and said with a smile: "Master Zhang, you are too polite. In fact, I didn't like you at first, but I have a... well, a teacher, I guess. He said a few words to me before I came here."

"What?"

“The moon wanes but its brightness remains unchanged, the sword breaks but its strength remains unchanged, people with ambitions are confident and self-reliant!”

"A gentleman's heart is as vast as a hundred rivers, and an ambitious man has a heart that goes far!"

"A man is not without tears, but he does not shed them at parting. A man with ambition has deep feelings and long-lasting affections!"

"Encourage yourself in time, time waits for no one, people with ambitions will not waste their time!"

"In life, one must be loyal and righteous, and fame and fortune are not important to anyone. Ambitious people do not care about fame and fortune!"

"Feeling the times and thinking about serving the country, people with ambitions are the most reliable force!"

A series of sonorous and powerful voices came out from Xie Jin's mouth.

Zhang Shutong's scalp went numb and goose bumps appeared after hearing this. He wished he could shed his blood all over the world!

"I came to Jiaozhi with faith. I promised him that I would give him a vast land."

"I know you are a capable official. You are different from Hong Xuebin. He is just an old bureaucrat, but you are different. So I endured it because I need you and Jiaozhi needs you too!"

Zhang Shutong was stunned for a long time, then he looked up, looked at Xie Jin with red eyes, and asked, "Master Xie, is this person you are talking about... the power behind you?"

Xie Jin nodded heavily: "He is!"

Zhang Shutong said solemnly: "May I ask, who is this person?"

Xie Jin was silent for a moment, then said, "He is the God of the Ming Dynasty, our emperor, the father of the people, my teacher, the one who solved the crisis in Shouzhou, the one who discovered the sweet potato food, the one who created the magic medicine for malaria... the Emperor Ming! The eldest grandson!"

In an instant, Zhang Shutong's eyes widened.

……

While listening,

An urgent letter came directly from Yunnan and Guizhou to the Ministry of Personnel.

At this time, senior officials from the six ministries gathered in the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhan Hui trembled a little.

The document in his hand was shaking.

Everyone looked at Zhan Hui with some doubt.

What on earth could make the Minister of Personnel so excited?
"Everyone, news from Yunnan and Guizhou: malaria is cured."

Swish!
Everyone looked at Zhan Hui in amazement.

Minister of Industry Qin Da asked anxiously, "Is it done?"

Zhan Hui nodded: "Okay!"

hiss!
"How was it cured? Who cured it? This is a tremendous achievement!" Zhan Hui was silent.

Qin Da said anxiously: "Zhan Bu Tang, what is there to hide? Who cured it? There must be someone, right?"

Zhan Hui said: "The Chief Secretary of Jiaozhi."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was silence!
It’s actually Jiaozhi Yamen?!

For a moment, everyone's perception of Jiaozhi began to be overturned!
Ru Taisu, the Minister of War, asked: "Who in Jiaozhi? Who invented the magic medicine?"

The six high-ranking officials of the Ming Dynasty all knew what this achievement meant.

What does it mean to benefit all people and what does it mean to save all people from disasters? Isn't this it?

"I hereby petition His Majesty, and this merit is worthy of being conferred a title of nobility!"

Zhan Hui's face twitched, and he looked at Ru Taisu and said, "Don't bother with this matter."

"What? How can this be possible? If our court doesn't give an explanation for this great achievement, people will think that our court is evil-minded!" Zhan Hui thought for a moment and said, "Then just take it as the emperor's achievement."

"What do you mean by authority? Whoever it is should own it! Yes! The Emperor is the father of all people, but one thing is another."

Zhan Hui felt a headache after hearing this and snorted, "That's the emperor! Is that okay?"

Not only did Ru Taisu's expression change, but the Ministers of Industry and Justice were also somewhat displeased, and said stubbornly: "Zhan, we are not illiterate, nor are we stupid. Who is it? Is there anything else that cannot be said?"

Zhan Hui said: "I will let you know when it's time to know."

"you!"

"Shameless!"

"Are you trying to take all the credit? I'm the first one to disagree!"

Fu Youwen stepped forward and said, "Okay, everyone, please give me some face."

"Bullshit! You are just the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. What dignity do you have?"

Fu Youwen said angrily: "What do you mean by this? Okay! I have said it, do you dare to listen?"

"What are you afraid of?"

Fu Youwen opened his mouth and said: "He is our Ming Emperor..."

Zhan Hui pulled Fu Youwen, winked at him, and shook his head slightly.

Fu Youwen said awkwardly: "Okay, anyway, even if they need credit, it's not something you Shangshu can give them. Consider your own status!"
This meeting of the Ministry of Personnel did not last long.

Three high-ranking officials from the ministries, the Minister of War Ru Taisu, the Minister of Works Qin Da, and the Minister of Justice Yang Jing, were walking in the corridor of Xihua Gate, preparing to return to their own offices.

There was silence for half of the conversation. The Minister of Works, Qin Da, was the first to speak: "My two ministers, this is a bit strange!"

Ru Taisu and Yang Jing nodded: "It is indeed a bit strange."

Yang Jing said: "The old man was infected with malaria, and then the Imperial Hospital took action, but the Imperial Hospital was unable to cure the old man. In other words, the 'miracle doctor' who cured the old man was not from the Imperial Hospital."

Ru Taisu added: "Malaria broke out in Jiaozhi, followed by Yunnan and Guizhou, and Jiaozhi was the first to stabilize malaria. Just now, Fu Youwen almost blurted out, the Great Ming Emperor..."

"Emperor what? Prince?"

Qin Da shook his head: "There are no princes in Yingtian. Some of them have lived in the deep palace for a long time and are ignorant of the world. Can they cure the old man's illness?"

As if remembering something, Qin Da said, "When the old man was sick, he was in the Firearms Bureau. I heard from my colleagues in the Firearms Bureau that at that time, in addition to the old man and Zhan Hui, there was also a young man who went to the Firearms Bureau."

Yang Jing was stunned: "It can't be him?"

"Ok?"

Ru Taisu and Qin Da looked at Yang Jing and asked, "Yang Butang, who are you talking about?"

Yang Jing asked: "Do you still remember the Wen Boqi case?"

Ru Taisu and Qin Da were stunned: "Master Zhu?!"

Yang Jing said: "Yes, it is Master Zhu! When Master Zhu was imprisoned, the emperor's attitude towards Master Zhu was very good!"

"Today Fu Youwen said again that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty... is not the prince, but... the grandson of the emperor?"

Ru Taisu and Qin Da paused and looked back at Yang Jing: "Grandson of the Emperor? Aren't they all in the East Palace?"

Yang Jing shook his head: "Do you still remember that the Crown Prince suddenly disappeared?"

As soon as these words came out, Ru Taisu and Qin Da's faces suddenly changed. After a long time, Ru Taisu looked around and asked in a low voice: "Didn't you go out for some things? Is he still in the imperial city?"

Yang Jing nodded, then shook his head and said, "The Ministry of Justice has a mysterious file about the recent disappearance of His Royal Highness the Grandson."

Having said that, he began to explain.

After Yang Jing finished speaking, things seemed to become clearer.

Ru Taisu exclaimed: "Didn't...didn't leave the Imperial City? Or...or is still here, just lying dormant? Master Zhu...the eldest grandson of the Ming Emperor?!"

Yang Jing did not comment, his eyes were somewhat deep: "Otherwise, it doesn't make sense."

"The old man has mentioned this person in the court more than once, and everyone has more or less an impression of him."

"Such a powerful person, why does the old man want to suppress his power?"

After he said this, Qin Da and Ru Taisu were stunned, their faces changing from gloomy to bright.

Considering that the old man has not mentioned a word about the position of crown prince in the past six months, it is obvious that he is planning something.

If it was because of Zhu Xiongying, then everything makes sense.

The deaths of Zheng Yong and Wen Yuzhang, and even the unexplained resignation of power by the Prince of Zhongshan's Palace, seemed to indicate that the old man had left a way out for the Huaixi lineage in advance.

Why should we leave a way out for the Huaixi nobles?
Because the blood left in Zhu Xionghuan's body contains part of the Chang and Lan families!

Qin Da's eyes were like torches, and he lowered his voice and said, "Minister Yang, well, even if Zhu Xionghuan really didn't die, how can we be sure that Mr. Zhu is Zhu Xionghuan?"

Yang Jing asked, "Then why didn't the old man let the three judicial officials try Wen Boqi when he was killed by Master Zhu? Why did he intervene personally? Is such an insignificant person worthy of the old man's personal intervention?"

"To put it bluntly, even if you two are plotting treason, the old man will just hand it over to the Jinyiwei for handling. Are you worthy of the old man's action?"

Although it sounds unpleasant, it is true.

Even though they were high-ranking officials in ministries and provincial governors, they were still as small as ants in front of the imperial power.

hiss!hiss!
The two men stared at Yang Jing with their eyes wide open, stunned, and took a deep breath.

Yang Jing looked at the two men's ferocious expressions and said, "Okay, let's stop speculating about it. It's enough to have a clear idea in our hearts."

"I guess that this hero who treated malaria might be him, otherwise why can't he reveal it?"

"The old man has his own plans, so let's not join in the fun. I estimate that it won't be long before the old man pushes them to the public."

"All the signs indicate that... it will happen soon! This year, the Ming Dynasty will definitely change!"

……

the other side.

One memorial after another was delivered to Zhu Xiongying's desk.

The old man enjoyed his leisure time. In the evening, he would move his rocking chair and lie next to Zhu Xiongying, watching Zhu Xiongying review memorials with his eyes half closed.

There are too many memorials that have been piled up for three days.

Zhu Xiongying complained: "Why is the emperor so unkind?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth twitched.

"He's too old to be ashamed! He throws everything at you, but he's good at letting go."

Zhu Yuanzhang coughed dryly for a while and said, "Why are you so resentful? Isn't this because I value you?"

"stop!"

Zhu Xiongying said: "It has nothing to do with me, I just respect you!"

"I don't know how you knew that you were getting better, but you didn't even give me time to rest!"

Listening to his eldest grandson chattering on, Zhu Yuanzhang simply ignored him.

Most of these memorials were about trivial local matters. Zhu Huai read through them quickly and approved them quickly.

Be accurate where it should be accurate and praise where it should be praised.

Suddenly, Zhu Xiongying's hand holding the pen paused.

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to notice something was wrong and asked curiously, "What's wrong, grandson?"

Zhu Xiongying showed the memorial to Zhu Yuanzhang. (End of this chapter)