The video takes us to ancient times; Li Er transforms into the Tongtian Emperor of Shu Han.

This marks the end of the life of the emperor on horseback.

Combined with the writing on the previous sky screen, most people understood it.

This was probably Zhu Di's last battle.

The only one unaware of this was Zhu Di himself, as depicted in the image.

In recent years, he has also felt that he is getting old and that he is finding it difficult to do many things.

Therefore, he wanted to use this final battle of his five expeditions to the northern deserts to put a period to his life.

"Father, the national treasury is really empty. Even if I agree to give you all the money and grain we have right now, it probably won't last long."

Faced with Zhu Di's tone, which even carried a hint of pleading, Zhu Gaochi looked troubled.

It wasn't that he wanted to refuse, but he controlled the finances of the Ming Dynasty, and he knew clearly that there wasn't that much money in the accounts.

When it comes to war, isn't it all about money?

What kind of war can you fight if you don't have money?

Given the current state of the Ming Dynasty, if Zhu Di were to lead the army on a campaign, it would likely not be long before the army mutinied due to a lack of money and supplies!

But Zhu Di was not surprised at all after hearing his answer.

It seemed he had already guessed that Zhu Gaochi would refuse.

"Your Highness, there is one thing you should understand."

"After this battle is over, I will begin preparations for your ascension to the throne. At that time, you will only need to reduce taxes and allow the people to recuperate. You will be a qualified and good emperor if you focus on civil administration rather than military prowess."

"It's worth it for the people to suffer and work hard these days, even if I have to bear some criticism."

“If we let the Tatars and the Oirats run rampant, they will be completely out of control when you ascend the throne, when my good grandson ascends the throne.”

“Each generation has its own tasks, and what I want to do is to beat them hard and terrify them, whether they are the Oirats or the Tatars!”

"From this day forward, whenever they hear the name of my Great Ming, they will only dare to flee at the mere sight of it or surrender at the mere mention of its name!"

Hearing Zhu Di's words, Zhu Gaochi wondered if he was just imagining things.

He always felt that Zhu Di was making arrangements for his own funeral.

"Dad, don't say that. You're much healthier than me."

Zhu Gaochi waved his hand repeatedly.

But he also knew that since Zhu Di had said these words, he must have already made a decision in his heart.

He couldn't stop this northern expedition.

"If you really insist on going your own way, I can order the Ministry of Revenue to forcibly raise funds and grain. For a long time to come, we will live a very frugal life."

Seeing that Zhu Gaochi had relented, Zhu Di also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't worry, the Yongle Encyclopedia has been compiled, and I have done what I needed to do."

"As long as we can deal with the troublesome Tatars and Oirats outside the Great Wall, I will finally be able to face my father with a clear conscience after I die."

Beyond the sky.

Old Zhu suddenly felt a little reluctant to watch.

In fact, Zhu Di did not need to exploit himself in this way.

Even without those five campaigns against the northern deserts and the sealing of the wolf's lair, he would definitely have been a good emperor!

"Fourth brother, you've suffered."

Zhu Biao couldn't help but whisper.

Anyone with eyes to see could see that Zhu Di himself may have harbored great ambitions, wanted to be a good emperor, and wanted to achieve something during his reign.

But judging from the conversation in the video, his reasons for going this far go far beyond that.

A large part of what prompted him to want to accomplish the work of several generations in the time it takes to live was guilt.

The guilt of seizing the throne from his nephew, and the guilt of being unable to face his father and elder brother in the afterlife.

He didn't know if there was such a thing as reincarnation, but if there was, then he would have to make his own contributions before he would have the face to ask his father for forgiveness.

"Fourth brother, get up. Although you don't have that kind of awareness or ability yet."

Old Zhu took a deep breath and turned to look at the still young Zhu Di.

"But if one day in the future the situation of my Great Ming develops as the immortals have predicted, and you are ordered to quell the rebellion, we will not blame you."

"As long as you can be a good emperor, you don't need to feel guilty towards us."

"We drove out the Tartars and restored the Central Plains. Every son of the Zhu family should be a pillar of society. How can we continue to feel guilty?"

From then on, Old Zhu harbored no more resentment.

In the scene, Zhu Di seems to sense something and suddenly looks up at the night sky.

The sky was cloudless, and the stars shone brightly.

He seemed to see Old Zhu nodding at him.

"Your Highness, it is settled then. After we return from this campaign, you shall prepare to ascend the throne. This old man should take a good rest."

Zhu Di was ambitious and determined to completely crush the Tatars and Oirats in this battle!

They should be made to flee at the mere sight of the Ming army's banners from now on!

But he never imagined that his words would come true.

This battle truly marked the end of his life as an emperor on horseback.

The scene changes rapidly.

The battle went even more smoothly than Zhu Di had anticipated.

He didn't even get to engage the enemy's main force head-on.

Upon hearing that the Ming emperor was once again personally leading an expedition, the various Tatar tribes lacked even the courage to engage in battle and fled at the mere sight of him.

This was exactly the situation Zhu Di wanted to see.

But he couldn't swallow his anger.

To conclude his life of conquest in this way would be far too hasty.

He longed to gallop on horseback once more, to charge into battle once more, and to ride across the battlefield once more!

Therefore, he ordered the entire army to pursue.

But anyone with eyesight outside the canopy could see that Zhu Di had serious health problems.

Judging from the words on the sky earlier, it seems that Zhu Di's expedition will not be successful this time.

In the scene, when the Ming army pursued the Tatar Arutai tribe to the Dalan Namur River, and dug three feet into the ground within a radius of three hundred li, but still could not find any trace of the Tatar Arutai tribe, the light in Zhu Di's eyes disappeared.

Upon learning of the army's food shortage that night, his spine, which had been straight all his life, bent low.

He knew that he would likely return empty-handed from this battle.

It was as if the spirit that had been supporting him had dissipated, and from that night onward, he fell seriously ill and never recovered.

The next morning, the imperial physician found Zhu Zhanji, who had accompanied the army on the expedition, and after whispering something to him, he rushed into Zhu Di's tent.

The first thing you see is Zhu Di struggling to sit up.

"Good grandson, you've come at the right time. Help me up."

Upon seeing Zhu Zhanji, Zhu Di smiled and extended his hand.

Zhu Zhanji quickly stepped forward and helped him sit on the edge of the bed.

"The imperial physician accompanying the army examined him and said it was just a cold, nothing serious, but judging from his expression, it seemed like it wasn't that simple."

"One should know one's destiny, but I'm afraid I won't make it back in time."

Before Zhu Zhanji could speak, Zhu Di said with a smile.

You know your own body best.

"That doctor only said nice things to me, probably because he was afraid I would take my anger out on him."

"He underestimates me too much, and the world underestimates me, Zhu Di, too much."

"Having spent my life on the battlefield, I believe no one has a clearer understanding of matters of life and death than I have."