Zhu Yuanzhang, who commanded the wind and rain, lived a long and arduous life.

Zhu Yuanzhang turned page after page, revisiting the little secrets his mother had once guarded so fiercely.

Look, look...

Emotion.

original,

He never really understood his mother.

But after reading through these diaries, the image of that loving mother in my mind began to have other elements added to it.

The diary ends abruptly in 1344.

That year was also the year the two elders were killed by Yuan soldiers.

"mother…."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared blankly at the last page, his expression complex.

It was as if he had witnessed his mother's entire life.

If a mother's life begins sweetly, then the rest of it is almost entirely bitter.

His departure from home, along with his elder brother and others, was the greatest pain for his parents.

From the diary,

Zhu Yuanzhang realized how much his parents missed him after he left home.

I want them to go home and visit.

Put aside what you're doing and take even just a day to visit your parents.

I also think about this year's New Year's Eve dinner. Even if only one child comes back, they will be happy for half a day.

"Mother, Father, your son is unfilial, unfilial..."

"Mother, don't worry. You told me in a dream that as long as Father is still alive, I will search the ground three feet deep to find him!"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes couldn't help but well up with tears.

The Hongwu Emperor, who is seen as cruel by the world, is unusually melancholy and sorrowful tonight.

.

….…….….….….

The next day.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were bloodshot; he had barely slept all night.

Looking at my mother's diary, I spent the whole night reminiscing about the time I spent in that little thatched hut.

I felt extremely sad.

He felt that his son had done a very poor job.

But it's morning now.

He'll adjust quickly.

Because he was not only the child of those two people, but also the helmsman of the entire Ming Empire.

There are too many things waiting for him to handle.

"Your Majesty, what is this...?"

Before him stood two burly men, looking somewhat apprehensive.

Both of them were imperial guards serving in the Eastern Palace; one was Liao Yong, and the other was Liao Yue.

They all had the same square faces and were equally robust and powerful; at this moment, they were all wearing the official robes of imperial guards.

They were all Zhu Xiong Ying's guards; Zhu Yuan Zhang had just summoned them.

The purpose was to gather information about that immortal.

The two brothers followed Zhu Xiong Ying, who had visited his master again yesterday, so the two brothers must know something.

These two brothers have quite a history.

Their grandfather was Liao Yongzhong, a general in the early Ming Dynasty, who was later executed by Zhu Yuanzhang for illegal acts such as using dragons and phoenixes.

Zhu Xiong Ying was only five years old at the time. Seeing that the two brothers were not afraid of being implicated, he resolutely and openly saw his grandfather off at the end of his life. Originally, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious when he found out and wanted to kill this person who was loyal to his father but not to the emperor.

But Zhu Xiong Ying pleaded with Zhu Yuanzhang, saying that since the two of them were filial, why were they not loyal?

Zhu Yuanzhang then let the two go.

Later, Crown Prince Zhu Biao personally appointed the two as bodyguards and had them teach Zhu Xiong Ying martial arts. Only then did the two of them get a job and avoid becoming commoners.

"We're fine."

Zhu Yuanzhang symbolically rubbed his dark circles and continued, "I sent you here to ask about the immortal's situation and what you've found out."

An immortal is in Yingtian Prefecture. We don't know what he's up to, but we should at least know something about his identity.

Otherwise, no one can sleep soundly.

The two brothers had received instructions from Zhu Yuanzhang before they went yesterday. When the topic came up, Liao Yong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the immortal is at Tianyun Temple in Yingtian Prefecture."

"I investigated yesterday. It is Tianyun Temple in Longhu Mountain. The temple is full of disciples of Longhu Mountain."

Longhu Mountain?

Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes slightly: "So, that immortal is the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain?"

Liao Yong thought for a moment and replied, "I'm not sure."

"Then continue the investigation. Remember to be careful and don't offend the people of Longhu Mountain."

"understand!"

.

…….….….….….

Not long after the two brothers left, Yang Ruchang, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, entered the hall.

This was also summoned by someone sent by Zhu Yuanzhang.

He still remembered that yesterday, in addition to knowing about Empress Chun's tomb, Master Xiong Ying also had a task to perform at the Imperial Observatory.

"Your Majesty, you're looking for this old minister?"

Yang Ruchang bowed.

He bowed rather slowly, after all, he was getting old and his movements were not as good as those of a young person, and he had also been suffering from illness in recent years.

The imperial physician said it would be very difficult to get through, but for some reason I've managed to hold on until now.

"Director Yang, we called you here so you could think of any vacancies in the Imperial Observatory that someone might want to come."

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, Yang Ruchang was flattered and said, "Your Majesty, you only need to send someone to tell this old minister, or have that person carry your oral decree to the Imperial Observatory. This old minister will make all the arrangements."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "The people we need to arrange here are different. Do you know about the immortals we were discussing late at night a few days ago?"

Yang Ruchang bowed and said, "That was the first time I participated in an important meeting, and I will never forget it."

The topic of conversation that day was immortals, which was somewhat related to the duties of the Imperial Observatory.

Otherwise, given the nature of the Imperial Observatory, even the director would have had a hard time meeting Zhu Yuanzhang.

Because Zhu Yuanzhang was pragmatic, the Imperial Observatory, which dealt with gods and ghosts, was not favored by him.

Zhu Yuanzhang calmly said, "The person I asked you to arrange is that immortal."

"Arrange for immortals?" Yang Ruchang's eyes widened. "Wh...what, Your Majesty? Did this old minister mishear? Immortals, immortals are coming into the Imperial Observatory?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shifted his sitting position and replied, "You heard me right. So, is there a suitable seat?"

"Yes...yes!" Yang Ruchang hurriedly replied, "This old minister does have a suitable position, and that position is...the position of supervisor!"

"This old minister believes that the immortal should lead the entire Imperial Observatory of our Great Ming Dynasty and seek happiness for all people!"

Yang Ruchang was a fanatic who pursued the life of an immortal.

Now that a real immortal has appeared, he only wants to give the best to the immortal.

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

He came from a farming family and valued pragmatism highly.

But the position of emperor is different.

People believe in the true dragon emperor and care a lot about the will of Heaven.

Thus, the Imperial Observatory was established.

The Imperial Observatory also had the sole right to interpret the heavens. For major events of the court, such as sending troops, imperial tours, sacrifices, funerals, and weddings, the Imperial Observatory would be consulted to observe the celestial phenomena and see if they were in accordance with the will of heaven.

There's a lot more to this than meets the eye.

The emperor, who called himself the Son of Heaven, firmly believed in the concept of "harmony between heaven and man" and hoped that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau could predict good and bad fortune by observing the changes in celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang didn't really believe in this stuff, he considered himself the Son of Heaven, so sometimes he had to believe it even if he didn't, otherwise people would start to doubt him.

It can be said that the Imperial Observatory could sometimes influence major court affairs.

Why would such an important position be given to an immortal whose motives are unknown?

They knew nothing about him, not even his identity.

Does it work?

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned deeply.

The imperial court never selected people based on their abilities.

The primary consideration is your loyalty; ability is secondary.