Ming Dynasty Simulator: I will be the greatest emperor of all time!

Geng Bingwen is extremely skilled in defense. If Zhu Yunwen uses him to hold the city, you really won't have any way to break into Yingtian Prefecture.

But Zhu Yunwen, of all people, ordered him to attack you.

What you fear least right now is being attacked.

As you predicted, the battle unfolded exactly as you had foreseen. In the Battle of Hutuo River, Geng Bingwen's 13-strong army was routed by you.

However, Geng Bingwen was mature and prudent. After being defeated, he immediately defended the city, which made it impossible for you to deal with him. For a time, you and the imperial army were locked in a stalemate.

But what you never expected was that your divine intervention would arrive.

[Huang Zicheng, Emperor Jianwen's teacher and now Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, said that Geng Bingwen had suffered a defeat, was old and no longer useful, and that his current defense of the city was contrary to the court's policy of quickly suppressing the Prince of Yan's rebellion. Therefore, Huang Zicheng suggested replacing the court's commander-in-chief, and he thought that Duke Cao, Li Jinglong, was a good candidate.]

Although Minister of War Qi Tai expressed his opposition, Zhu Yunwen ultimately adopted Huang Zicheng's suggestion and appointed Li Jinglong as the new commander-in-chief.

"Huh?" Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed "Ah?" several times upon seeing Zhu Yunwen's actions.

He simply couldn't understand what kind of operation it was to change commanders in Linjiang, and to appoint Li Jinglong as the new commander-in-chief? He had met that kid Li Jinglong before; he was definitely no good at fighting.

Previously, when Duke Cao, Li Wenzhong, brought his son, Li Jinglong, to a banquet at the palace, Li Jinglong, after drinking too much, said to Duke Cao, Li Wenzhong, in front of the emperor:

"Father! I also have the potential to become a great general."

Li Wenzhong immediately reprimanded him sternly and waved his hand:

"That's absolutely impossible!"

That day made him laugh out loud.

Now, Yunwen actually wants Li Jinglong to lead the army into battle?

[Upon hearing that Zhu Yunwen had appointed Li Jinglong as the commander-in-chief, you couldn't stop smiling.]

Because nobody knows that Li Jinglong is actually your mole; he has already defected to you.

Originally, Li Jinglong was thinking of putting on an act with you and slowly losing to you.

But when he secretly arrived in Beiping and discovered that you had so much grain and so much high-strength steel, he changed his mind.

He wants to lose to you faster.

[As for why they didn't just lead the imperial army in rebellion?]

[This is impossible. In the eyes of the imperial army, you, Prince Yan, are ultimately a traitor, while they are the legitimate rulers.]

What you might not expect is that the corrupt officials in the court, who were playing both sides, often revealed Zhu Yunwen's next strategic plans to you.

And so you dodged every crisis.

In the second year of the Jianwen reign, you captured Yingtian Prefecture, and Zhu Yunwen disappeared without a trace. This war lasted only two years.

You claim that you ascended the throne in the 33rd year of the Hongwu reign (1384), and that your father, before his death, passed the throne to you in that same year.

As for Jianwen? The Ming Dynasty never had such a person.

[This simulation has ended]

[Simulated cooldown time: 7 days]

[Reminder: Cross-time and space communication group chat is now open, please explore it!]

Upon seeing Zhu Di declare that he was the "successor in the line of succession in the thirty-third year of Hongwu," Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly.

"This time, we were only given two more years to live."

After processing the information from the simulator, Zhu Yuanzhang finally met Zhu Di... and his grandson Zhu Gaoxi.

This time, when Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Gaoxi, it wasn't just the kind of look one has for a grandson; there was also a sense of admiration.

After all, Zhu Gaoxi, who was able to receive help from immortals, must have been quite outstanding!

It's just unknown who will inherit the throne as the fourth prince. Will it be the eldest prince Zhu Gaochi, the second prince Zhu Gaoxu, or the young Gao Xi?

Unbeknownst to him, the strong belief in primogeniture that had been firmly ingrained in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind began to waver.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized the correct way to use the simulator:

"If we simulate every possible successor to the throne in each generation and find the most suitable person to inherit it, wouldn't our Ming Dynasty be able to last for thousands of generations?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up, feeling that Heaven had given him this simulator, which might truly be there to help him ensure the Ming Dynasty would last for thousands of generations.

"Father?" Zhu Di asked cautiously. On the way here, Song Zhong had told him that the emperor was in a bad mood.

"Fourth son! Let's have a frank talk today. Tell me, if we make Yunwen the crown prince instead of you, do you think your father is a tyrant?"

Zhu Yuanzhang, hands on his hips, looked somewhat angry. In the simulator, Zhu Di reprimanded him for this matter.

Upon hearing this question, Zhu Di knew that his father's illness had flared up again, and he had no desire to answer it.

"Father, didn't you say last time that you wouldn't talk to me about the crown prince anymore?"

"I'll let you speak!" Zhu Yuanzhang glared fiercely at Zhu Di.

For once, Zhu Di and Zhu Gaoxi exchanged a glance, both wondering if the old man was truly senile, as they had been asking him the same question repeatedly these past few days.

Zhu Di felt wronged. These days in Yingtian Prefecture, he was constantly frightened by his father because of the matter of becoming the crown prince. Zhu Di felt that even if he really won the position of crown prince in Yingtian Prefecture, he would probably be scared half to death by his father.

Zhu Di could only reply helplessly, "Father! I didn't! In my heart, you are a wise and benevolent ruler of a prosperous era."

Zhu Yuanzhang then pointed at Zhu Di and said, "You're lying! You're deceiving us!"

Zhu Di: "..."

Dad, what exactly do you want?

Do you really want me to say that you made Zhu Yunwen a foolish ruler?

Zhu Gaoxi also stared wide-eyed, feeling that Old Zhu was becoming more and more unreasonable.

Seeing the pleading look in his father Zhu Di's eyes, Zhu Gaoxi quickly ran to Zhu Yuanzhang's side and hugged his leg:

"Yay! Yay! You haven't finished telling me the story of the great battle against Chen Youliang! Little Gao Xi wants to hear it again, wants to hear it again!"

No one can resist the affection of a human child, especially when it's being told about one's glorious past in front of one's own descendants. Zhu Yuanzhang was thus coaxed aside by Zhu Gaoxi to tell stories.

Zhu Di let out a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and stood up.

Zhu Di felt that since the old man's attitude was unclear, he should go back to Beiping to avoid trouble, otherwise he would be scared to death sooner or later. As for Zhu Gaoxi, he would leave him here.

That's settled.

Zhu Di was completely unaware that his son, Gao Xi, was now also having his own plans.

While playing with Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Gaoxi pondered the changes that had occurred in recent days.

These days, Zhu Yuanzhang has clearly grown to like him more and more, and by extension, he has grown to like Zhu Di even more.

It can be seen from these few times when Zhu Di was summoned and reprimanded that, under the guise of reprimand, it was actually a way of showing affection.

Zhu Gaoxi originally intended to wait until Zhu Di died before helping him rebel.

Now he has changed his mind. He wants to see if he can help Zhu Di seize the throne while Zhu Yuanzhang is still alive.

"Back then, Chen Youliang was lifted up and placed on the throne by his subordinates, who exclaimed: 'You have really ruined my life!' But in his heart, he was overjoyed..."

While telling stories to Zhu Gaoxi, Zhu Yuanzhang was also thinking deeply.

We need to take things slowly before we can depose Yunwen. We've killed too many people before, and now the majority of people in the court support Yunwen.

After deposing Yunwen, we should make the fourth prince the crown prince. After the fourth prince becomes emperor, who is the most suitable crown prince?

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his attention to Zhu Gaoxi:

"I wonder when the emulator will be able to emulate Xiao Gaoxi."

Old Zhu is in a real hurry! Emulator, oh emulator, hurry up and cool down!

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang was getting anxious, the simulator in his mind vibrated, and a voice rang out:

[Hi, is anyone there? Emperor Taizu, Emperor Chengzu, are you there?]

Hmm? Emperor Chengzu?

Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely sensitive to this title.