The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 811 Idiot’s Dream
"Where do you think you're going!" Zhu Xiong Ying leaped down and blocked Zhu Shuang's path.

"Nephew, spare my life!" Zhu Shuang knelt down and begged for mercy.

Zhu Xiong Ying sneered and raised his long sword, "You plotted to usurp the throne, a crime deserving of death!"

With a flash of sword light, Zhu Shuang's head fell to the ground.

With Zhu Shuang's death, the morale of the rebel army plummeted, and they laid down their weapons and surrendered one after another.

A rebellion was thus quelled.

The man was reinstated, and Zhu Xiong Ying was made crown prince.

The Ming Dynasty once again ushered in a golden age.

However, Zhu Xiong Ying always had a question in his mind: how exactly did his father come back to life? And how was the poison in his body cured?

One day, he finally couldn't help but ask his father about the doubts that had been bothering him.

"Father, there is something I do not understand..."

The man smiled and said, "Ying'er, do you want to know how I came back to life?"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded.

“Actually…” the man paused, a sly glint in his eyes, “I am not dead at all!”

“Actually…” the man paused, a sly glint in his eyes, “I am not dead at all!”

Zhu Xiong Ying was stunned, unsure how to respond. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but didn't know where to begin.

"Back then, I sensed someone plotted against me, so I devised a plan, feigning death by poisoning to secretly investigate the truth." The man walked to the dragon throne and sat down, a hint of smugness in his voice. "I never imagined that this investigation would uncover such a massive conspiracy!"

Zhu Xiong Ying then realized that this was all a scheme orchestrated by his father. He was both shocked and impressed; his father was indeed worthy of such wisdom and strategy.

"Then... the poison in Father's body..." Zhu Xiong Ying couldn't help but ask.

"They're just ordinary poisons. I already took the antidote," the man said dismissively, waving his hand.

Zhu Xiong Ying was even more puzzled. Ordinary poison? But the imperial physicians were helpless back then, even with her father's "corpse"...

"Father, there is still one thing I do not understand," Zhu Xiong Ying asked, bowing. "What happened to Father's 'corpse' back then..."

The man burst into laughter, "That was just someone I hired to impersonate me! I went to great lengths to lower the guard of those treacherous people!"

Zhu Xiong Ying suddenly realized, "So that's how it is!" His admiration for his father grew even stronger.

"Father is wise!" Zhu Xiong Ying exclaimed sincerely.

"Hahaha!" The man laughed smugly. "Ying'er, you're not bad either. In the years I've been away, you've governed the Ming Dynasty very well. I'm very pleased!"

Zhu Xiong Ying humbly replied, "This is all I should do."

The father and son chatted for a while longer, then the man suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Ying'er, do you know why I want to attack the surrounding small countries?"

Zhu Xiong Ying thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty believes that the Emperor's purpose is to expand the territory of the Ming Dynasty and strengthen the nation."

The man shook his head. "No, that's only one reason."

"What other reason could there be?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked, puzzled.

A glint of light flashed in the man's eyes. "I will make the Ming Dynasty the most powerful country in the world, and make everyone submit to my feet!" Zhu Xiong Ying was shocked. His father's ambition was so great!
"Father, this..." Zhu Xiong Ying hesitated. Although he also longed for the Ming Dynasty to be strong, he did not want to achieve this goal by invading other countries.

“Ying’er, you don’t need to worry.” The man seemed to see Zhu Xiong Ying’s concerns and said, “I will not kill innocent people indiscriminately. I only want them to submit, and I will not harm their people.”

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded, believing that his father would not do anything immoral.

“Father, I understand,” Zhu Xiong Ying said firmly. “I am willing to lend you my strength to make the Ming Dynasty the most powerful country in the world!”

"Good!" The man patted Zhu Xiong Ying on the shoulder with satisfaction. "My good son!"

In the days that followed, the Ming army advanced with unstoppable momentum, conquering several neighboring small countries in succession. Zhu Xiong Ying also demonstrated remarkable military talent, repeatedly achieving military exploits and earning the deep trust of his father, the emperor.

However, as the territory of the Ming Dynasty continued to expand, some problems gradually emerged.

The first issue is the supply of provisions. Years of war have consumed enormous amounts of provisions, and the national treasury is already struggling to keep up.

Secondly, there was the issue of public sentiment. Although Zhu Xiong Ying's father, the emperor, promised not to indiscriminately kill innocent people, war inevitably brought suffering to the populace, and some conquered countries began to show signs of resistance.

Secondly, there was the issue of international relations. The expansion of the Ming Dynasty aroused the vigilance of the surrounding major powers, who began to unite against it.

These problems deeply worried Zhu Xiong Ying. He realized that if these problems were not properly resolved, the Ming Dynasty would inevitably decline sooner or later.

One day, Zhu Xiong Ying was reviewing memorials when a soldier suddenly rushed in in a panic.

"Report! Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The countries of the Western Regions have united to form a coalition army and are launching an attack on the border of our Great Ming!"

Zhu Xiong Ying's expression changed; he hadn't expected that the Western Regions would unite to fight against the Ming Dynasty.

"How many people are there?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked.

"Your Highness, the allied forces number over a million!" the soldier replied.

A million-strong army! Zhu Xiong Ying was shocked; this was no small number.

"Where is Father Emperor now?" Zhu Xiong Ying asked.

"His Majesty is admiring the flowers in the Imperial Garden," the soldier replied.

Zhu Xiong Ying cursed inwardly, "What kind of time is this? My father still has the mood to admire flowers!"
"Summon all the generals immediately to discuss countermeasures!" Zhu Xiong Ying ordered.

"Yes!" The soldier took the order and left.

Zhu Xiong Ying took a deep breath. He knew a great battle was inevitable... He looked up at the window; dark clouds filled the sky, seemingly foreshadowing the brutality of the war. Just then, he suddenly remembered a sentence his father had once said: "I will make the Ming Dynasty the most powerful nation in the world!"

Is this truly ambitious, or just wishful thinking?

Zhu Xiong Ying frowned deeply. A million-strong army was pressing in; this was no trivial matter. He strode to the Imperial Garden and saw his father leisurely admiring the flowers. His anger burned, but he restrained himself and respectfully bowed, saying, "Father, the Western Regions allied forces have invaded, and the border is in dire need of attention!"

Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang calmly put down his teacup and said slowly, "Oh? How many people have come?"

"Reporting to Father Emperor, they are said to number a million!"

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed heartily: "A million? I think they're just a few hundred thousand rabble, nothing to fear!"

Zhu Xiong Ying was anxious; her father's underestimation of the enemy was truly worrying. "Father, speed is of the essence in war! Please quickly dispatch troops to reinforce the border!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, "Ying'er, you are still too young. You can't win a war just by having more people. I have a brilliant plan."

Zhu Xiong Ying had no choice but to step down, but his heart was filled with doubt. What brilliant plan did his father have?
(End of this chapter)