Daming: I am the Crown Prince

Chapter 26 Warrior Group
Zhongshan, also known as Purple Mountain.

When Zhu Yuanzhang established his capital in Yingtian Prefecture, he began to select a site for his mausoleum, which was built in the 14th year of Hongwu. According to the rules of ancient imperial mausoleums, the construction of the mausoleum would continue until the emperor passed away and was buried.

But the current Xiaoling Mausoleum, where Empress Xiaocigao is buried, is located at the foot of Mount Everest in Dulongfu, on the southern foot of Purple Mountain.

The Xiaoling Mausoleum is built on a mountain and to a certain extent inherited the imperial tomb system of the Tang, Song and earlier dynasties. However, it also changed the square tomb into a circular mound, which was also the layout of the imperial tombs of the Ming and Qing dynasties for more than 500 years.

Zhu Yuanzhang set many rules and regulations. The Forbidden City in Beijing was also based on the imperial city of Yingtianfu. Many architectural styles and regulations in later times were set during Zhu Yuanzhang's time.

Emperor Wu Sun Quan also visited Mount Everest in Dulongfu, Shannan, and was also called Jiangling and Wuwangfen. Sun Quan's tomb is less than a mile south of Xiaoling. When Zhu Yuanzhang built Xiaoling, he kept Sunlinggang and only moved the pair of stone unicorns in front of Jiangling.

So much so that now some people say that Zhu Yuanzhang thought Sun Quan was still a good man, so he let him guard the gate.

In fact, this is not the case at all, because Zhu Yuanzhang only moved the stone unicorn in front of Sun Quan's tomb to another place, and Sun Quan's tomb was still preserved intact in the original place. When the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum was built, Sun Quan's tomb was not destroyed, and even the sacred road of the Xiaoling Mausoleum bypassed Sun Quan's tomb.

But there's nothing we can do about it, many people just like stories like this.

Zhu Xiongying was the eldest grandson of the Emperor Zhu, and even though he died young, he was different from other grandsons of the Emperor.

Zhu Xiongying was buried with the ceremony of a prince and his tomb was also in Zhongshan.

Less than 100 meters east of the east wall of the Xiaoling Mausoleum is the crown prince's mausoleum, which is the Eastern Mausoleum. The Eastern Mausoleum shares a main sacred road with the Xiaoling Mausoleum, and its overall layout is the same as that of the Xiaoling Mausoleum, but it is much smaller in scale.

In Zhongshan, Lao Zhu's beloved wife has rested here.

In another month, his beloved eldest son will also be buried here.

And his eldest grandson rested here for eight years.

The imperial mausoleum naturally has tombs for burial companions.

The tomb of King Zhongshan, the first hero of the Ming Dynasty, faces north and south, and is located in front of Zhongshan Mountain. Not far away is the tomb of King Qiyang Li Wenzhong.

Chang Yuchun's tomb is located at the northern foot of Zhongshan Mountain, and its original site was the Caotang Temple, an ancient temple of the Six Dynasties. It is not far from the tombs of Xu Da and Li Wenzhong.

Zhu Yuanzhang not only enshrined the meritorious officials in the Taimiao, but also ordered the establishment of a separate temple on Jilong Mountain, with statues of the dead and the positions of the living vacant.

In the main hall are Xu Da, the King of Wuning in Zhongshan, Chang Yuchun, the King of Zhongwu in Kaiping, Li Wenzhong, the King of Wujing in Qiyang, and Deng Yu, the King of Wushun in Ninghe. Tang He and Mu Ying may be added, as they are still alive.

As for Li Shanchang and others who did not have a good end, they were naturally excluded from the temple of meritorious officials.

If Zhu Yunhuan succeeded in his bid for the throne, perhaps Fu Youde, Duke of Ying, and Lan Yu, Duke of Liang, would have the opportunity to enter the Temple of Meritorious Officials. Even if they could not be in the main hall, they could be in the east and west rows.

He was granted burial in Zhongshan, worshipped in the Taimiao, and his portrait was placed in the Temple of Meritorious Officials.

This was the dream of the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty, and Chang Yuchun has always been considered second only to Xu Da.

King Xu Da of Zhongshan was Zhu Yuanzhang's "Great Wall". He had fought in hundreds of battles in his life. The only defeat he suffered was in the northern expedition against Kuyuk Timur in the fifth year of Hongwu, when more than 10,000 people died.

Chang Yuchun is recognized as the most powerful general in the world among the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty. He is said to be able to lead an army of 100,000 and dominate the world.

Chang Yuchun was the main contributor to the victory over Chen Youliang at Poyang Lake. As a deputy general, he and Xu Da defeated Zhang Shicheng. They pacified Shandong, occupied Henan, and captured Shanxi. The Northern Expedition successfully broke through the Yuan capital and drove the Mongols back to the grasslands.

Zhu Yuanzhang conferred titles on his meritorious officials. In addition to those who were posthumously conferred titles, he initially only conferred titles on six dukes, twenty-eight marquises, and two earls, collectively known as the Six Dukes, Twenty-Eight Marquises, and Two Earls of the Founding Dynasty.

Fu Youde, the Duke of Ying, and Tang He, the Duke of Xin, were both promoted from marquis to duke due to their military merits in the later period.

Lan Yu was awarded the title of Marquis of Yongchang for his great victory during the expedition against Western Tibet, and was promoted to Duke of Liang after his great victory at Buyuer Lake. At the beginning, he was not among the marquises or earls.

However, of the six founding dukes, the only one still alive was the suspected and idle Duke of Song, Feng Sheng.

Li Shanchang was involved in the Hu Weiyong case and was executed, and his title was naturally taken back. Duke of Zheng Chang Mao committed a serious crime and died in a foreign land, but fortunately his title was inherited by Chang Sheng. Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, and Deng Yu, their deaths had nothing to do with Zhu.

In history, Zhu Yuanzhang left behind a bad reputation for killing his meritorious officials.

The Hu Weiyong case is still ongoing, and one duke and twenty-one marquises are involved.

Even when Hu Weiyong was executed, the purpose was more to abolish the prime minister system and strengthen the imperial power.

However, after the great victory at Buir Lake, there was solid evidence that Hu Weiyong was plotting treason, collaborating with the Japanese, and collaborating with the Tibetans.

Duke of Hanguo Li Shanchang, Marquis of Yan'an Tang Shengzong, Marquis of Ji'an Lu Zhongheng, Marquis of Pingliang Fei Ju, and Marquis of Nanxiong Zhao Yong were all executed. This happened two years ago.

As for the Yongjia Marquis Zhu Liangzu and his son, who accepted bribes from others, colluded with local tyrants, and falsely accused and framed their colleagues, they were beaten to death by Zhu. It was their own fault. Deqing Marquis Liao Yongzhong, who usurped the dragon and phoenix and committed other illegal acts, also did not know how to advance or retreat.

Zhu Yuanzhang did kill some meritorious officials, but many of them were proud of their achievements and acted arrogantly, so it is not other people's fault.

Now that the crown prince is dead and the grandson is young, Zhu may launch the Lan Yu case, which will involve one duke, thirteen marquises, and two uncles. This does not include Fu Youde who was sentenced to death, otherwise it would be two dukes and thirteen marquises.

"If I fail to succeed in my bid for the throne, such a first-rate team of military commanders will be weakened." Zhu Yunhuan muttered to himself, "Lan Yu is arrogant and domineering, and Yunwen can't control him at all. It's better not to waste talents. If I become the crown prince, the Lan Yu case won't happen."

Zhu Yunhuan was suddenly absent-minded, and his imagination ran wild. "If Lan Yu was the general, Fu Youde was the deputy general, and they added Wang Bi, the Marquis of Dingyuan, and Zhang Wen, the Marquis of Huining, I wonder how my fourth uncle would deal with it?"

In any case, it would definitely not be the turn of Geng Bingwen, Marquis of Changxing, to be the general, let alone Li Jinglong, Duke of Cao.

Xu Yungong, who inherited the title of Duke of Wei, should be worth looking forward to. He was able to retreat and return with his entire army when Li Jinglong was defeated. He was also able to resist the Yan army when the Southern Army was retreating step by step. If it weren't for Zhu Yunwen, that idiot, who was suspicious and changed his generals before the battle, Xu Yungong might have put the Yan army in a dilemma.

"If I become the crown prince, there should be generals in the court. I will worry that there will be too many candidates for the generals, and there will be many brave generals." Zhu Yunwen thought it was incredible, "The Prince of Yan raised an army with 800 people, and there were more and more generals and military heroes joining him. Hundreds of thousands of troops were gone just like that. Yunwen is really a talent!"

"If I become the crown prince, these nobles will be my base." Zhu Yunhuan continued to analyze, "But after all, I am only thirteen, still young. If I don't establish my authority, I won't be able to control these arrogant soldiers and generals simply by relying on my family background."

How could those who fought their way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood be easily subdued? Without some strong tactics and the use of both kindness and force, how could those people be subdued?

Some nobles even dared to ignore Zhu Yuanzhang's repeated orders, let alone Zhu Yunhuan, the emperor's grandson.

These nobles were obedient to Zhu Yuanzhang and loyal to the crown prince, but they were relatively unfamiliar with Zhu Yunhuan, the emperor's grandson.

I need to have more contact with these people and let them know that I am not just a playboy or a mediocre person!
This is not only to gain the support of the nobles, but also to prove to Zhu Yuanzhang that he has the ability to intimidate the nobles and to protect the country!

While Zhu Yunhuan was thinking about these things, a voice suddenly came from outside the carriage, "Your Highness, we have arrived in front of the mausoleum."

Zhu Yunhuan lifted the car curtain and said, "I understand. I'll get off now."

Having arrived at the shrine, Zhu Yunhuan would naturally show respect to Chang Yuchun. It would be impossible for him to ride the carriage directly to the tomb.

Chang Yuchun's tomb is divided into three parts: front, middle and back. The front is the sacred road, with a stone stele, two lookout pillars, a stone horse, and two stone sheep, stone tigers, military generals and civil officials. The middle is the hall of worship; the back is the tomb. The stone carvings on the sacred road are exquisitely carved, with smooth lines and lifelike expressions.

Chang Lan had been waiting in front of the stele for a long time. When she saw Zhu Yunhuan getting off the carriage, she could not hide her excitement.

Zhu Yunhuan also stepped forward quickly and smiled, "Princess, are you healthy?"

Chang Lan wanted to perform the ceremony, but Zhu Yunhuan held her back with his hand. "Princess, this is too much for me. After all, I am a grandchild, and I dare not violate the court etiquette. But I will never forget my mother's kindness in giving birth to me."

Chang Lan was about to weep. Her daughter had suffered so much and passed away before she could enjoy her life. Fortunately, the offspring she left behind was promising!

Holding Chang Lan's arm, Zhu Yunhuan turned to the nobles or their children standing in line and said, "Why don't you pay your respects to the princess!"

(End of this chapter)