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

Among the princes, the one with the highest prestige is Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan. Zhu Di is the backbone of the princes, even more so than his brother, Zhu Gang, the Prince of Jin.

The fact that the emperor is now summoning the leaders of the vassal kings and the future emperor separately is quite intriguing.

The other princes all signaled to Zhu Di not to contradict his father, the emperor. They all knew Zhu Di's temper; he was almost exactly like his father, a stubborn man. The princes all felt that Zhu Di couldn't outwit the grandson Zhu Yunwen when it came to scheming.

Only Zhu Gaochi was completely at ease. You princes, just relax. From the late Hongwu period to the Jianwen era, the one with the most cunning mind in the entire Ming Dynasty was our father!

To everyone's surprise, Zhu Yuanzhang brought along the young Zhu Gaoxi when he met with the Prince of Jin, the Prince of Yan, and the Crown Prince. He led Zhu Gaoxi by the hand to a garden in the palace.

The Prince of Jin, the Prince of Yan, and the Crown Prince followed behind.

Zhu Yuanzhang, holding Zhu Gaoxi's small hand, strolled slowly along the lakeside and spoke first:

"Fourth brother, after your eldest brother passed away, you are the most prestigious among our sons."

"You were also born to a sister, you are our legitimate son."

"From both a moral and logical standpoint, we could have made you the crown prince, but since we've made Yunwen the heir apparent, tell me honestly, do you have any objections to your father?"

Just as Zhu Di was about to speak, Prince Jin, Zhu Gang, said in a pitiful tone:

"Father, why are you letting me off the hook? I'm older than the fourth prince! Look at me, don't I have any potential to be the crown prince?"

Zhu Yuanzhang merely glanced at Prince Jin, Zhu Gang, as if to say, "I'm giving you a look; you'll understand as you see fit." Zhu Gang immediately shut up, knowing that his abilities were inferior to his fourth brother's.

Zhu Di's lips twitched, and Zhu Gaoxi was speechless:

"Third Uncle, please stop making Old Zhu laugh, okay? Old Zhu can hold it in, but I really can't keep it up."

"Don't you understand? You were just there to keep things quiet at this little meeting. Grandpa wasn't even planning on bringing you along."

Zhu Di scratched his head, revealing a simple and honest demeanor typical of a military general, and said:

"Father, it would be a lie to say I have no objections, but I greatly admire my elder brother. If he were still alive, just how glorious would our Ming Dynasty be?"

"Now that my elder brother is no longer here, his son, Yunwen, has succeeded him, and I accept it wholeheartedly."

Zhu Yuanzhang was satisfied with Zhu Di's answer and patted Zhu Di on the shoulder:

"Fourth Prince! You actually have a lot of potential to be an emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen felt a pang of anxiety, and his hatred for Zhu Di intensified.

Zhu Yuanzhang continued:

"But it's a pity. If you became emperor, you would be a martial emperor. Our Ming Dynasty has produced a martial emperor like us. We don't need martial emperors anymore. The people need to recuperate and rebuild their lives. Do you understand?"

"Our Zhu family can no longer afford to waste resources and manpower!"

"Furthermore, if you become emperor, emperors have never easily led armies into battle. If you become emperor, who will fight for our Ming Dynasty? We don't trust any of those generals who aren't from the imperial family!"

"Fourth son, don't blame your father!"

Zhu Di felt a lump in his throat; this grown man almost shed tears, his eyes welling up with moisture.

He initially thought his father looked down on him and didn't want him to become emperor, but he never expected his father to think so much and even believe that he could become a martial emperor like himself.

"Father! Rest assured, with me here, the Mongols will not be able to cross even a single step south of the Great Wall! I will be utterly loyal!"

Zhu Di patted his chest and guaranteed it.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very satisfied with his fourth son's assurance.

Zhu Gaoxi, who was standing nearby, listened to this conversation thoughtfully. It turned out that there was another reason why Zhu Yuanzhang did not make Zhu Di his heir.

But what you don't know is that after Zhu Di ascended the throne, he not only personally led the army into battle, but also led five expeditions, becoming the Grand General of the Northern Expedition.

Zhu Yuanzhang then looked at his grandson, Zhu Yunwen:

"Yunwen, tell me the truth, do you have any conflicts with your uncles who are princes?"

Zhu Yunwen quickly denied it.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled:

"I may be old, but I'm not stupid. You said to me last time, 'If the barbarians are not at peace, the princes will defend them; if the princes are not at peace, who will defend them?' I knew what you were thinking."

"But the threat from the Mongols is still there. You must trust and rely on your fourth uncle. After I pass away, you must depend on your fourth uncle. He is the pillar of the country that will ensure the stability of your throne and the anchor of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Yunwen repeatedly agreed.

After further admonition, Zhu Yuanzhang was satisfied. He believed that with his words, Yunwen and Zhu Di would surely be able to live in harmony.

Sigh! Seven days is such a long time. I just want to start the simulation as soon as possible and see what changes my advice has made to the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gaoxi, who had been listening to this conversation the whole time, was getting drowsy. Old Zhu treated his children and grandchildren differently from those of his officials. He was kind and gentle, and he was giving them earnest advice. He had been talking for several hours and he was still not tired.

If no one told him, who would know that this old man was the ruthless and decisive Hongwu Emperor who purged countless meritorious officials?

Finally, Zhu Gaoxi heard the words that made him happiest:

"Alright! That's all for today, Fourth Brother, Yunwen, did you both listen?"

"Father (Grandpa), we've listened to everything."

Zhu Yuanzhang was very pleased. He glanced again at Prince Jin, Zhu Gang, who had not spoken. At that moment, Zhu Gang was actually asleep standing up.

Zhu Yuanzhang was very unhappy.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was about to go up and beat someone, Zhu Fen actually sensed the killing intent, quickly opened his eyes, and knelt down with a "thump":

"Dad! I'm listening to you!"

Now Zhu Yuanzhang was caught in a dilemma: whether to beat him or not. He glared at Zhu Fen fiercely and then left.

After Zhu Yuanzhang left, Zhu Di and Zhu Yunwen offered some insincere concern before parting ways.

The remaining three were Zhu Di, Zhu Gang, and Zhu Gaoxi.

Zhu Gang yawned and said to Zhu Di:

"Fourth brother, have you noticed that Dad is getting more and more talkative?"

Zhu Di glared at his third brother, signaling him that the walls were overheard and he shouldn't talk nonsense. Zhu Gang quickly covered his mouth.

On the carriage ride back, Zhu Gaoxi thought for a moment and decided to remind his father to make plans for rebellion as soon as possible.

The Jingnan Campaign in history was won half by luck; the risks were too great, and too many people died.

Moreover, Zhu Yuanzhang's advice seemed to have really persuaded Zhu Di, making him lower his guard against Zhu Yunwen.

Zhu Gaoxi sat next to Zhu Di, looked at him, and said in a childlike, innocent tone:

"Dad! I feel like Yunwen doesn't like you, why?"

These words made Zhu Di's previously relaxed mind tense up again, sending chills down his spine.

Yes, even a four-year-old could see through it! I, the king, couldn't see through it!

How could I lower my guard against Zhu Yunwen just because of my father's words! Zhu Yunwen wishes he could get rid of me as soon as possible!

The reason why Zhu Yunwen doesn't dare to lay a hand on me now is because my father, the Emperor, is still alive. If my father were to die, would my whole family still have a way to survive?

Zhu Di forced a smile and held Zhu Gaoxi's little hand: "Little Gaoxi is smart, but you're overthinking it. Your brother Yunwen likes his father very much. Remember, never say that outside."

"Dad! I'll remember!"

"Hmm." Zhu Di and Zhu Gang exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with worry.

Throughout China's thousands of years of history, there has never been a precedent of a prince successfully rebelling. After Zhu Yunwen ascended the throne, even if they rebelled, they would only be able to prolong their lives for a few more years!

But waiting to die was never Zhu Di's style. After returning to Yan, Zhu Di began to make preparations.

……

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhu Yuanzhang's simulator cooldown ended, and he gained another simulation opportunity.

[Continue the previous simulation/Restart a simulation?]

Zhu Yuanzhang: [Continuing the simulation from last time]

[After the last simulation, there were almost no changes to the Ming Dynasty. This simulation will continue from the last one.]

Ok?

Didn't we give Fourth Prince and Yunwen earnest advice? How could they not have changed?

Forget it, it's just a matter of reducing the power of the princes. If Yunwen can really create the "Jianwen Prosperity", it's not a big deal. Besides, Yunwen is so closely related to the fourth prince and the others by blood. At most, he can just let the fourth prince and the others be wealthy princes! He can't possibly kill them, can he?