Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 36 The Way to Death
The closer you get to Zhongdu City, the more people there are on the road.

In addition to the fresh laborers like them, who were escorted by officers, soldiers and yamen runners like groups of ants to the capital city.

There were also many laborers on the road transporting bricks, stones, wood and other materials.

Compared with the newly sent yamen runners such as the King of Qin, the King of Jin, and the King of Yan, many of these laborers have lost their energy and spirit.

There are also many merchants traveling on the road, as well as some exquisite and luxurious vehicles.

These magnificent vehicles were accompanied by servants and guards in front and behind.

Compared to those hard laborers, many of whom looked like they were no longer human, the contrast was stark...

The brothers walked for a while and then arrived at the city gate.

I finally saw it up close with my own eyes. I have heard about this Zhongdu City countless times.

The city wall is tall and wide, like a mountain stretching before your eyes.

The city gate is heavy and made of solid materials.

There is an extremely heavy jack hanging on the outside.

It makes people feel that as long as these two doors are closed and the gates are lowered, even if there are thousands of troops outside and they use all means, they will not be able to attack!
Its solidity and grandeur far surpassed that of Yingtian Prefecture City!
Elite soldiers are guarding the city gates.

Even though those who were escorted here had been searched before, no one was allowed to hide weapons or other items on their bodies.

But when entering the city, you will still be searched carefully again by the gatekeepers...

The three brothers, who were forcibly touched again, suppressed the curses in their hearts and entered the Zhongdu city.

I was shocked again.

In Zhongdu City, many main buildings have been completed or are mostly completed.

They are arranged on both sides of two vertical central axes, one vertical and one horizontal.

At this time, the place where the three people and a group of yamen runners were walking was Hongwu Street, one of the central axes of Zhongdu City.

On the east and west sides, the capital's important government offices were built.

Going further, they came to another street perpendicular to it. The three Zhu brothers didn’t know what it was called yet.

But from the bell tower, the Temple of Meritorious Officials, the City God Temple, the Temple of Emperors of All Dynasties and other buildings on both sides, it is clear that this must be another central axis of Zhongdu City.

They had seen these buildings when they were in Yingtian Prefecture.

But without exception, neither the building materials nor the regulations were as good as those newly built in Zhongdu City.

The three brothers really wanted to visit the imperial city again.

The outside is built so well, I wonder how magnificent the inside of the imperial city will be.

But there is no chance.

The people who were escorting them took them to another place.

Soon, it stopped in a corner of the city.

Hand it over to the officer guarding here.

After being called out again and signing their names, those who were sent here were quickly divided into more than 30 groups and led to different areas to join the corresponding teams to work.

The three brothers Zhu Chong, Zhu Gang and Zhu Di were grouped together with two other immigrants.

Originally, things were not so coincidental, as Prince of Jin Zhu Gang was about to be assigned to another team.

At the critical moment, it was Zhu Di, who often quarreled with the third brother, who put on a smile and spoke nice words to him.

He quietly stuffed a small string of copper coins, which he had gotten from somewhere, into the hands of the officer in charge of distributing the money.

This is how the three brothers were put into the same team.

"Old Four, where did you get the money?"

While being led to the construction site, Zhu Gang asked Zhu Di in a low voice.

Zhu Gang was very unhappy that he had to rely on the fourth brother for help in order to get help from those so-called "big shots" who he usually didn't even bother to look at.

"You really want to know?"

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gang with a hint of meaning.

Zhu Gang curled his lips and said, "You can tell me if you want to, I don't even bother asking!"

In fact, I already know in my heart that the copper coins are probably not from a legitimate source.

It was already painful enough to let this guy, Lao Si, help me.

If I ask further, I will hear from the fourth brother that the copper coins he used to help me were stolen from other places.

That would be even more uncomfortable for a gentleman like him.

It’s better not to ask and pretend you don’t know.

……

"Lao Miao, we've sent some people to you! Don't say you're short-staffed. In just three days, we've already sent two new people to you!

See, I didn’t give any to any of the others, these three big guys! "

The person who brought Zhu Di and others over pointed at Zhu Chong, Zhu Gang and Zhu Di.

A man, his body and head covered in grayish-white stone powder, quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Master Zhang, for your care."

As he spoke, his eyes swept over the three Zhu brothers who stood out from the crowd, and his eyes lit up especially when he saw the iron tower-like King Qin Zhu Chong.

This is a complete human-shaped beast!
This rare humanoid animal is definitely a hot commodity in Zhongdu City!
I immediately expressed my gratitude again.

"Just know that I'm good to you, don't do these empty things. Just complete the tasks assigned to you and don't let us suffer the consequences. That will be the best way to repay us!"

"Don't worry, Master Zhang! I will never embarrass you!"

"You guys work hard here! No matter what your previous identities were, once you come to Zhongdu City, you only have one identity, and that is labor!
There is only one goal, and that is to devote everything to rebuilding the capital!
Anyone who cheats and doesn't work hard... Haha, so many people have died in Zhongdu City, you won't be the only one left!"

The man called Master Zhang looked at Zhu Chong and the other newcomers and gave them a lecture.

His expression was gloomy.

After saying that, he asked Lao Miao to arrange the work for the five newly sent people.

This is where the stonemasons worked.

There are still 24 people working in the team that Lao Miao is in charge of.

When the three Zhu brothers were brought in and assigned tasks, except for a few brave ones who took a sneak peek, the rest were busy working.

The three brothers of the Zhu family were all assigned the job of breaking stones.

After a brief instruction, we distributed the tools and let them start working.

Where had the three of them done this before? They had no choice but to learn it carefully.

The third and fourth brothers were fine and got the hang of it quickly, especially Zhu Di, who soon did it quite well.

But the second son, Zhu Chong, was not good enough. He learned very slowly and used too much force.

"when……"

When the second stone was accidentally broken by Zhu Chong, the man patrolling with a whip could no longer bear it.

He took two steps at a time and came to Zhu Chong. He lashed Zhu Chong hard with the whip in his hand without any hesitation.

"You stupid bear! Damn it! You can't even do this simple job?!"

After being whipped, Zhu Chong felt murderous, but he also knew that he was now an ordinary citizen and had come to the capital city on a mission from his father.

So he endured it and didn't lose his temper, preparing to endure the whipping silently.

But after hearing what this person cursed, the murderous intent that he had tried so hard to suppress suddenly surged up!

My eyes turned red instantly!
He stood up suddenly, snatched the whip from the man's hand, and threw it to the ground.

A fist as big as a casserole, with tremendous force, smashed hard into the man's head!

Everyone around changed color!

Damn! This big guy can't survive!

……

"Uncle, there are about 50,000 more civilians in the past few days.

Those who were conscripted to work farther away have not yet returned.

If we rush back, the number of people will increase even faster.

Within a month, the number of laborers will increase by 200,000!"

Ding Bin gulped down half a pot of tea, took two breaths, and said to Li Shanchang.

"Good! Well done! You must show this kind of enthusiasm!
As long as we recruit enough laborers, there will be absolutely no problem completing the construction of Zhongdu City before August!"

Li Shanchang smiled and praised Ding Bin generously.

After receiving praise from Li Shanchang, Ding Bin became more motivated.

After speaking a few more words to Li Shanchang, he left in a hurry.

Li Shanchang smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

With relief and longing in his eyes, he seemed to have seen the construction of Zhongdu City and the relocation of the capital there by superiors, who praised him highly.

Let him return to the Secretariat and serve as the Left Prime Minister.

His descendants, including those of the Huaixi nobles, all benefited greatly from his action.

And offer sacrifices to oneself and express gratitude for one's own kindness...

(End of this chapter)