Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 85 How could I, Zhu Di, be the one who bullies my nephew and plots rebellion? [Please read more]

The next day.

Although Zhu Di knew that the rules of the regular court had been changed and he did not need to attend court today, he still got up early at the hour of Mao according to the custom of the Beiping army.

After washing up, he first practiced boxing, kicking, swordplay and archery in the small training ground of the mansion, then took a bath before having breakfast.

When he finished his meal, it was already past noon, so he went into the palace.

When he arrived at Fengxian Hall, Zhu Di was not surprised to see his elder brother Zhu Biao there. He bowed and greeted him politely.

Then he saw his father put down the memorial he was reviewing and asked, "Have you met your third brother-in-law since returning to the capital?"

Zhu Di shook his head, "No."

According to folk customs, when a sister gets married, the brother must be present.

But their royal families were different after all - the princes were not allowed to leave their fiefdoms at will after they were enfeoffed, and the third sister's marriage was quite hasty, so he and his second and third brothers who had also been enfeoffed were unable to catch up.

As for his third sister-in-law, he only knew that his name was Liu Kuan, and he didn't even know his background. But he didn't know why his father mentioned this person.

Just when Zhu Di was puzzled, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang say: "You must have seen the cross-river bridge, right?"

"Of course I have seen it—I crossed the river yesterday by the bridge."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Do you think that the cross-river bridge and railway can be built by our Ming Dynasty?"

"I'm afraid not." Zhu Di answered first, then he couldn't help but said excitedly: "Father, I heard that the bridge is a fairy bridge that fell from the sky. Is it true?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and scolded, "You have no brains? How could the Immortal Bridge look like that? You are already in your twenties, and you still believe rumors!"

Zhu Di felt wronged again.

No one in this world has ever seen a fairy bridge, so why can't a fairy bridge look like that?
Then he couldn't help but ask, "If that cross-river bridge isn't a fairy bridge, how could it appear out of nowhere in Ming Dynasty? Ordinary people can't build such a magnificent bridge."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was too lazy to argue with Zhu Di anymore and said directly: "The cross-river bridge and railway were built six hundred years ago. They are not immortal bridges. They were just built by skilled craftsmen in later generations... Biao'er, you tell him about the rest!"

Zhu Biao smiled and immediately told the story of Liu Kuan crossing the bridge and railway in detail.

Zhu Di was initially excited after hearing this. "How could people and things from six hundred years later travel to the Ming Dynasty? It's truly amazing!"

Then a flash of inspiration struck him, his eyes brightening as he said, "Father, Big Brother, since my third brother-in-law is from the future, he should be familiar with historical events, right? Have you ever asked him about the fate of the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said unhappily, "Of course I've asked. Our Ming Dynasty has only existed for 276 years."

"Only 276?" Zhu Di was somewhat disappointed and could not help but say, "Father is a wise and powerful emperor, one of the greatest founding emperors of all time. Big brother will surely excel in the future, and with us brothers assisting him, how could the Ming Dynasty only last a little over 200 years and be inferior to the Zhao Song Dynasty?"

He then thought to himself: "Could it be because my eldest brother's descendants are too incompetent and there are so many incompetent rulers?"

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang sneer: "You are good at talking, but the matter of the future Ming Dynasty has nothing to do with your elder brother. I need to ask you."

ask me?

Zhu Di was confused for a moment.

Then he suddenly remembered the strange question his father asked in Fengxian Hall yesterday. He shuddered and a bold guess emerged in his mind like a flash of lightning.

"Hearing what my father said yesterday, could it be that Xiong Ying was incompetent and I raised an army to seize the throne?"

'Impossible! Absolutely impossible!'

"How could I, Zhu Di, be someone who bullies my nephew and plots rebellion?!"

"By the way, most of these things were told to me by Liu Kuan. What if Liu Kuan lied and framed me?"

Thinking of this, Zhu Di decisively knelt down in front of Zhu Yuanzhang and shouted: "Father! Your son is innocent!"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and shouted, "Why are you howling like a ghost? Get up!"

Zhu Di did not stand up, but took two steps on his knees and said, "Father, we cannot listen to Liu Kuan's one-sided words about future events. I, your son, will never commit treason..."

"Get up!" Zhu Yuanzhang seemed really annoyed. He slammed the imperial desk and shouted angrily, "Can't you just listen to what I have to say?!"

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was really angry, Zhu Di did not dare to disobey and could only stand up, but he still felt wronged and wronged.

At the same time, I am puzzled - if Liu Kuan was really a person from six hundred years later, why would they frame him?

Could it be that his ancestors had a grudge against him?
But what kind of grudge is worth being held in vengeance for six hundred years?

Unless he is not from six hundred years later, but from a hundred years later...
Just as Zhu Di was lost in thought, he heard Zhu Yuanzhang say unhappily, "Biao'er, tell me everything Liu Kuan said about the Jingnan Campaign!"

"Yes." Zhu Biao agreed, then smiled at Zhu Di and said, "Fourth brother, things are not what you think. Let me tell you slowly..."

Then Zhu Biao recounted what Liu Kuan had said that day about the Jingnan Campaign.

It's not exactly the same as Liu Kuan's words, but the meaning has not been changed. At most, the language has been refined.

However, Zhu Di was still stunned.

"Will Xiongying die of illness next year?"

"Big brother will also die of illness in ten years?"

"It was Yunwen who ascended the throne, and he immediately reduced the power of the feudal lords?" "My sons were all detained in the capital by Yunwen, and I pretended to be crazy and stupid so that Yunwen would let down his guard and release my sons?"

"And then I dared to raise an army with only 800 guards to quell the rebellion? Am I really crazy?"

"But Liu Kuan actually said that I succeeded—I captured the capital, and Yunwen's life or death is unknown, and I became the Yongle Emperor?"

'This is incredible!'

After a long while, Zhu Di came back to his senses, but his face was still a little dazed.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang snorted in anger, "Do you still think we've wronged you?"

Zhu Di subconsciously said stubbornly: "The Jingnan incident is ultimately Liu Kuan's one-sided story."

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Who would benefit from what he said? Who would he harm?"

Zhu Di opened his mouth, wanting to say that he was framed, but in the end he couldn't say it.

Because from what Liu Kuan said, he was clearly forced by his nephew Yunwen to the point where he had no choice but to rebel, which is why he started the Jingnan Campaign.

Could it be that Liu Kuan wanted to frame his nephew Yunwen?
It doesn't seem right - think about it from another perspective. If after he ascended the throne, other princes all had a lot of military power and many of them were dissatisfied with him, he would also have to reduce the power of the princes. Only in this way could the imperial power be consolidated.

Besides, Yunwen is only five years old now. As long as Xiongying is alive, he will have no chance of taking the throne.

"Could it be that what Liu Kuan said about the Jingnan Rebellion is true?"

Thinking of this, and then thinking about the railway and the cross-river bridge, Zhu Di was silent for a moment.

···
Because it was not a regular court day, Liu Kuan did not arrive at the Ministry of Industry's Science and Technology Department to take up his post until 8 o'clock.

As a result, he had only been sitting there for two quarters of an hour when an eunuch came to convey Zhu's oral order, asking him to go to Fengxian Hall.

When Liu Kuan arrived at Fengxian Hall, he saw that only Zhu Yuanzhang was in the main hall. Not only was Zhu Biao not there, but even the eunuchs and guards were gone.

He suddenly felt that the atmosphere was a little subtle.

"Could it be that Lao Zhu wants to ask about something extremely confidential today?"

Thinking this in his heart, Liu Kuan did not slow down and saluted as usual, "Your Majesty, your humble servant pays respects."

"Flat body."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "I have a rare moment of leisure today, so I'd like to hear you talk about future events... If you could step forward a bit, I'd be able to hear you more clearly."

Liu Kuan obediently stepped forward, but inexplicably felt that the atmosphere in the hall was even weirder.

So he asked a little nervously, "What does Your Majesty want to hear?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Back when we were on the Loujiang Gate Tower, I wanted you to tell me in detail about the Jingnan Campaign and the Fourth Prince's behavior after he ascended the throne. But when we heard about the railway, the topic got sidetracked and we never brought it up again."

"Today, you will first tell us in detail about the Jingnan Campaign, and then talk about how the Fourth Brother governed the Ming Dynasty."

After hearing this, Liu Kuan suddenly understood.

"So you're asking about Zhu Di. No wonder there are only me and Zhu in this hall."

Thinking this way, Liu Kuan was no longer nervous.

But just as he was about to speak, something happened to him.

"No, why did Old Zhu suddenly think of the Jingnan Campaign and Zhu Di?"

"Logically speaking, the Jingnan Campaign in this time and space is almost impossible to happen, so Zhu shouldn't pay much attention to it."

"Could it be that...Zhu Di has come to the capital?!"

Thinking of this possibility, Liu Kuan subconsciously looked behind the imperial steps - if there was anywhere in the main hall where someone could hide, it would only be behind the imperial steps.

Not only can people be hidden there, but one can also go to the rear hall of Fengxian Hall through the porch.

But when he looked up and saw Zhu Yuanzhang looking at him with a burning gaze, Liu Kuan restrained his inquiring gaze.

"Even if Zhu Di is really in this Fengxian Hall, I don't have to make up a lie."

"One lie requires countless lies to cover it up. If you tell too many lies, you'll eventually be exposed in front of Old Zhu."

"Besides, even if I tell him the truth about Zhu Di, I won't offend him."

After sorting out his thoughts, Liu Kuan felt at peace.

He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have only dabbled in history in my later life, and at most I have a preference for Ming history. I am not a professional researcher of Ming history, and I do not remember the details of the Jingnan Campaign."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Then tell me as much as you know."

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　　Good night~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)