Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

"Who?"

"Zhu Biao".

At that moment, Zhu Han's heart trembled violently.

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his back to him, his voice low and deep: "With the death of the Crown Prince, I cannot sleep at night. You obey the edict for him, fine. But the world is not a dream. What you must protect is not him, but my Zhu family bloodline."

Zhu Han remained silent. After a moment, he slowly said, "If His Highness were still alive, would my elder brother allow him to return?"

Zhu Yuanzhang turned around abruptly, his eyes blazing: "What?"

Zhu Han stared at him: "If the Crown Prince were still alive..."

A deathly silence fell. The candlelight flickered, and the wind whispered softly.

Zhu Yuanzhang's hand clenched tighter and tighter: "Are you testing me?"

“No,” Zhu Han said slowly, “it’s a question.”

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze was as deep as the sea. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "If he were to live, I might not spare him. The world cannot accommodate two decrees of Heaven."

Zhu Han smiled wryly: "I see."

He turned around and said in a low voice, "Then I have come today only to inform you that the Phoenix Seal has not been sealed and the imperial edict has not been issued. The blood of those who guard the edict still remains."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened: "What do you want to do?"

"Be a living person."

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly retreated into the shadows, his figure disappearing in an instant.

After quietly leaving the palace, Zhu Han hurried back to his hiding place.

Lu Qian had been waiting anxiously, and when he saw Zhu Han return, he hurriedly went to greet him.

"Your Highness, is everything going smoothly? How is the situation in the palace?" Lu Qian asked anxiously.

Zhu Han's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "My brother is no longer the same as he used to be. Now he wields immense power, and all he cares about is the supreme imperial authority. In his eyes, destiny is nothing more than a pretext to be used."

Lu Qian frowned: "Did Your Highness gain anything from this trip to the palace?"

Zhu Han walked into the room, sat down at the table, picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying, "I did gain something. I found out my brother's attitude towards the Crown Prince. Even if Zhu Biao really goes back alive, he might not stay."

Lu Qian was shocked upon hearing this: "This... then isn't Your Highness in an extremely dangerous situation?"

Zhu Han put down his teacup, his gaze resolute: "That's precisely why we must be even more careful. Now that my brother knows I'm still alive, pursuers could arrive at any moment, so we shouldn't linger here."

Zhu Biao emerged from the inner room and, upon hearing their conversation, appeared somewhat nervous, but his eyes shone with determination: "Uncle Wang, I am not afraid. As long as my innocence can be cleared and the world knows that I, Zhu Biao, am not dead, I am not afraid of any danger."

Zhu Han looked at Zhu Biao, feeling both gratified and worried: "Your Highness's courage is truly a blessing for the Ming Dynasty. But we must still make sure we have a foolproof plan."

Lu Qian pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness, Jinling City is heavily guarded now. It will be difficult for us to leave. We should find a secluded place in the city to lay low for now and make further plans when things calm down."

Zhu Han nodded slightly: "This plan is feasible. Lu Qian, you are familiar with Jinling City, do you know where there is a suitable hiding place?"

Lu Qian said, "There is an abandoned temple in the east of the city. It is rarely visited and quite secluded. We can go there first."

Zhu Han stood up: "Alright, as you say. Pack your things immediately, and we'll head out right away."

Under the cover of night, the group quietly left their hiding place and headed towards the abandoned temple in the east of the city. Along the way, they proceeded cautiously, avoiding patrolling soldiers. Finally, they arrived at the abandoned temple.

The temple was overgrown with weeds and the statues were dilapidated, but fortunately there were a few relatively intact rooms that could be used for living.

Zhu Han and the others tidied up briefly and then settled in.

"Your Highness, what should we do next?" Lu Qian asked.

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and said, "The matter of the Phoenix Seal is now the key. Although my brother has repaired the Phoenix Seal, I think he must still have doubts in his heart. We must find a way to prove the authenticity of the late emperor's edict and let the world know the significance of upholding the edict."

Zhu Biao asked, "Uncle Wang, where should we begin?"

Zhu Han paced back and forth, pondering: "The palace archives may contain records of the late emperor's edict, but we have difficulty accessing the palace to check them now. However, we can start with some veteran officials; they may know some inside information."

Lu Qian said, "Your Highness is absolutely right. But the situation in the court is complicated right now, and most of the veteran officials are choosing to protect themselves. How can we persuade them?"

A resolute glint flashed in Zhu Han's eyes: "We will use both benefits and threats. For those loyal ministers who are devoted to the Ming Dynasty and the late emperor, we will lure them with benefits and tell them the importance of obeying the imperial edict for the Ming Dynasty; for those who are wavering or have ulterior motives, we will threaten them to make them dare not act rashly."

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Uncle, this plan is excellent. So, which senior minister should we start with?"

Zhu Han thought for a moment and said, "There is an old minister in the court named Li Shanchang. He followed my elder brother in conquering the country in his early years and made great contributions. Although he has retired now, he still has considerable influence in the court. We can try with him first."

Lu Qian said, "Li Shanchang is a cautious person, and it will probably not be easy to persuade him."

Zhu Han smiled and said, "It is precisely because he is not easy to persuade that we should give it a try. Lu Qian, make arrangements to try to contact Li Shanchang, but remember not to alert him."

Lu Qian accepted the order and left. Zhu Han and Zhu Biao waited for news in the temple.

A few days later, Lu Qian rushed back.

“Your Highness, I have contacted Li Shanchang’s steward. The steward said that Li Shanchang has been unwell recently and is unwilling to see guests. But we can use some means to force him to see us,” Lu Qian said.

Zhu Han asked, "What are your plans?"

Lu Qian leaned closer to Zhu Han and whispered, "Although Li Shanchang has retired, he is still very concerned about the affairs of the court. We can spread some rumors that Your Majesty intends to suppress meritorious officials, and Li Shanchang, as the head of the meritorious officials, will probably not be spared. In this way, he will definitely be eager to know the situation, and we can take the opportunity to propose a meeting."

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and said, "This plan is somewhat risky, but there is no other way at the moment. However, the rumors should not be too widespread, lest they attract the attention of my elder brother."

Lu Qian nodded: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will know my limits."

Just then, Lu Qian approached Li Shanchang's steward again, saying he had something important to discuss with Li Shanchang, concerning his life and fortune. The steward dared not delay and quickly reported the matter to Li Shanchang.

After much deliberation, Li Shanchang finally decided to meet with Lu Qian and the others.

One night, Zhu Han, Zhu Biao, and Lu Qian secretly arrived at Li Shanchang's residence.

Li Shanchang received them in his study.

"Who exactly are you? And what is your purpose in spreading those rumors?" Li Shanchang stared sharply at Zhu Han and the others.

Zhu Han smiled slightly and said, "Lord Li, we have no ill intentions. We spread rumors simply so that we can meet with you. To be honest, we have come for a very important matter concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty."

Li Shanchang frowned: "It concerns the fate of the Ming Dynasty? What do you mean by that?"

Zhu Han slowly asked, "Does Lord Li know of the late emperor's edict?"

Li Shanchang's expression changed: "The late emperor's edict? Why are you bringing this up?" Zhu Han said: "The late emperor's edict is the foundation of the Ming Dynasty, containing the late emperor's plans and expectations for the future of the Ming Dynasty. However, now some people are trying to tamper with the late emperor's edict and overthrow the Ming Dynasty."

Li Shanchang was shocked: "Is this true? What evidence do you have?"

Zhu Han took out the half of the phoenix seal from his bosom and said, "Lord Li, this is one of the pieces of evidence. This phoenix seal was personally bestowed by the late emperor and is a symbol of imperial edict. Now the phoenix seal has been destroyed and then put back together, but the secret behind it remains unknown to anyone."

Li Shanchang took the phoenix seal and examined it carefully, secretly surprised. He knew the significance of the phoenix seal and understood that this matter was no small thing.

"Who exactly are you? And why do you have this half of the Phoenix Seal?" Li Shanchang asked.

Zhu Han said, "Lord Li, to be honest, I am Zhu Han, the younger brother of Zhu Yuanzhang, and this is Crown Prince Zhu Biao."

Upon hearing this, Li Shanchang was shocked: "You...you are still alive?"

Zhu Biao stepped forward and said, “Lord Li, I, Zhu Biao, am indeed not dead. I have come here to clear my name and let the world know that the late emperor’s edict cannot be disobeyed.”

Li Shanchang remained silent for a moment, then said, "What you say makes sense, but now that my elder brother has ascended the throne and become emperor, his power is immense. How do you plan to confront him?"

Zhu Han said, "We are not trying to oppose my elder brother, but to make him understand the importance of upholding the imperial edict. The edict of the late emperor is the root of the Ming Dynasty. If the root is destroyed, the Ming Dynasty will surely collapse."

After pondering for a long time, Li Shanchang asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Zhu Han said, "We hope that Lord Li can use your influence in the court to unite some loyal ministers who are loyal to the Ming Dynasty and the late emperor, and speak out together for upholding the imperial edict. Let the world know that the late emperor's edict cannot be disobeyed, and those who uphold the edict cannot be deceived."

Li Shanchang looked troubled: "This matter is extremely difficult. The current situation in the court is complicated, and many veteran officials are already protecting themselves and are unwilling to get involved in trouble again."

Zhu Han said, “Lord Li, the Ming Dynasty is now at a critical juncture. If we do not stand up, and the Emperor completely alters the late Emperor’s edict, the Ming Dynasty will surely fall into an abyss of no return. At that time, we will all become sinners in history.”

Li Shanchang was moved by Zhu Han's words. He pondered for a moment and said, "Alright, I agree. But this matter must be considered carefully and not rushed."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao were overjoyed: "Thank you, Lord Li. With your support, we are sure to succeed."

Therefore, Li Shanchang began to secretly contact some veteran officials.

However, this matter soon caught the attention of the emperor's elder brother. Upon learning that someone was secretly contacting senior officials in an attempt to speak out on the matter of upholding the imperial edict, the emperor was furious.

"I want to see who is so bold as to oppose me!" Zhu Yuanzhang roared.

He immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to increase patrols and closely monitor every move in Nanjing.

At the same time, they secretly sent people to investigate the mastermind behind the incident.

Zhu Han and the others were very worried when they learned that their elder brother had already noticed something.

"Your Highness, now that my brother has begun his investigation, what should we do?" Lu Qian asked.

Zhu Han frowned, pondered for a moment, and said, "We cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom. We must act quickly and make the matter of guarding the imperial edict public before my brother finds out the truth."

Zhu Biao asked, "Uncle Wang, what should we do?"

Zhu Han said, “We can make use of the people in Jinling City. The people are very concerned about the Ming Dynasty. If we can tell them about the late emperor’s edict and resonate with them, then even if my brother wants to suppress us, he will have some reservations.”

Lu Qian said, "Your Highness's plan is excellent. But how do we inform the people about this?"

Zhu Han smiled and said, "We can post notices, writing down the contents of the late emperor's edict and the fact that my brother attempted to tamper with it, and then post them throughout the streets and alleys of Jinling City."

Zhu Biao said worriedly, "Uncle, isn't this too risky? If my brother finds out, he will be furious."

Zhu Han said, "Things have come to this point, and we have no way out. Only by letting the people know the truth can we have a chance to contend with the Emperor."

The next morning, the people of Jinling City saw the notice and began to discuss it.

"Is what this notice says true? Is my imperial brother really going to tamper with the late emperor's edict?"

"The late emperor's edict is the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. If it is altered, the Ming Dynasty will be in danger."

"We must support His Highness the Crown Prince and uphold the late Emperor's edict."

The whispers among the people grew louder and louder, and soon reached the ears of the Emperor. Upon learning of this, Zhu Yuanzhang flew into a rage.

"That Zhu Han! How dare he incite the people and oppose me! I will tear him to pieces!" Zhu Yuanzhang roared.

He immediately ordered the Imperial Guards to search the entire city for Zhu Han and his associates. At the same time, he sent men to tear down the notices, strictly forbidding the people from discussing the matter any further.

Zhu Han and the others were very nervous when they learned that their elder brother, the Emperor, had ordered their arrest.

"Your Highness, my brother has now launched a city-wide manhunt for us. What should we do?" Lu Qian asked.

Zhu Han pondered for a moment and said, "We can't hide here forever. We must find a way to leave Jinling City and find another place."

Zhu Biao asked, "Uncle Wang, where should we go?"

Zhu Han said, "We can go to Yingtian Prefecture. Yingtian Prefecture is the former capital of the Ming Dynasty, where there are many loyal old ministers and people who are devoted to the late emperor. We may be able to get more support there."

Lu Qian said, "Your Highness is absolutely right. But Jinling City is heavily guarded now, how can we leave?"

Zhu Han thought for a moment and said, "We can disguise ourselves as a caravan and sneak out of the city."

Therefore, Zhu Han and the others began to prepare to disguise themselves as a merchant caravan.

They acquired some merchants' clothes and goods, disguising themselves as ordinary merchants.

A few days later, everything was ready.

Under the cover of night, Zhu Han and the others quietly left the abandoned temple and headed towards the city gate of Jinling.

When they arrived at the city gate, they found it heavily guarded, with the imperial guards rigorously checking passersby.

"Your Highness, this city gate might be difficult to pass through," Lu Qian said in a low voice.

Zhu Han observed the situation and said, "Don't panic. Let's proceed according to plan and act as if nothing has happened."

So Zhu Han and his men pushed the goods slowly toward the city gate. Upon seeing them, the imperial guards immediately approached to inspect them.

"What are you doing? Where did you come from? Where are you going?" the Imperial Guard asked.

Zhu Han stepped forward with a smile and said, "Sir, we are small businessmen. We come from out of town and want to go to Yingtian Prefecture to buy some goods."

The imperial guards looked them up and down, then inspected their goods, and asked, "Do you have travel permits?"

Zhu Han took out a travel permit he had prepared beforehand from his robes and handed it to the imperial guard: "Sir, this is our travel permit." (End of this chapter)