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

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly:

"At least in terms of spirit, they didn't let us down or embarrass us."

"But... Fourth Brother, you actually lied to us, you actually dared to usurp the throne..."

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a surge of displeasure towards Zhu Di, and then continued watching the simulator's display:

"The emperor guards the nation's gate"—what a noble praise this is!

Throughout history, has any emperor ever dared to build his capital on the frontier? No, Zhu Di was the first and the last.

It was precisely your decision to build the capital in Beiping that earned the Ming Dynasty the nickname "Guanming" (meaning "Upright and Bright"). People of later generations all admired the backbone of the Ming emperors, except, of course, for the Ming war god.

Having dealt with the simulator so many times, Zhu Yuanzhang had also figured out its language habits. For example, the phrase "succession to the throne in the thirty-fifth year of Hongwu" was a sarcastic reference to Zhu Di's rebellion and subsequent historical alteration. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely wary of the newly emerging term "Great Ming War God".

"This term, at first glance, sounds comparable to Emperor Taizong's title of 'Heavenly Khan'," Zhu Yuanzhang thought.

"But we're not stupid. Judging from the context, it seems to be saying that this Ming Dynasty war god has no backbone?"

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious. He was extremely curious about this great war god of the Ming Dynasty, and slammed his fist on the table:

"The fourth son's descendants! They've definitely produced a complete scoundrel!"

Thinking of this, a cold glint appeared in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes:

"Fourth son! Since your descendant has produced such a scoundrel, if you don't do a good job as emperor, don't blame your father for being ruthless."

simulation--

[Getting back to the main topic]

You have set the tone for moving the capital, but you haven't formally discussed it as a matter of national importance in the court yet.

At this time, you have just become emperor. The Ming Dynasty has suffered four years of war and is in dire need of reconstruction. You first adopt a national policy of recuperation and development.

During this period of rest and recuperation, you pondered deeply how to improve your civil and military skills.

In the first year of the Yongle reign, the year you ascended the throne, you wanted to compile a book called the "Yongle Encyclopedia." This book needed to gather most of the classics, covering classics, history, philosophy, literature, astronomy, geography, medicine, drama, and crafts. You appointed Yao Guangxiao, Hanlin Academician Xie Jin, and Minister of Rites Zheng Ci as editors, thus beginning your first step in cultural governance.

[In the fifth year of the Yongle reign, this book was finalized. It has been highly praised by later generations and is known as a "treasure of Chinese culture".]

In the third year of the Yongle reign, you dispatched Zheng He, Wang Jinghong, and others to build ships and sail to the Western Ocean, actively engaging in exchanges with overseas countries and promoting the prestige of the Ming Dynasty and the culture of China.

During your reign, Zheng He made six voyages to the Western Ocean, enabling the Ming Dynasty to construct a comprehensive Sino-centric political system through peaceful means rather than aggression.

Under your rule, the Ming Dynasty attracted tribute from all nations, truly deserving the title of "Magnificent Ming Dynasty".

In the fourth year of the Yongle reign, you ordered the construction of the imperial palace in Beiping, thus beginning the Ming Dynasty's practice of "the emperor guarding the nation's gate."

In the seventh year of the Yongle reign, you commissioned Hu Guang, a Hanlin Academician and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, to compile the "Complete Collection of the Four Books/Five Classics/Neo-Confucianism," thereby improving the imperial examination system and making the talent selection channels of the Ming Dynasty more equitable.

In the eighth year of the Yongle reign, you began your personal military campaigns, which lasted five times. You defeated the Tatars, including Benyashiri, the Oirats at Khulan Khushiwen, and Arughtai, achieving remarkable success and becoming the only Han Chinese emperor in five hundred years, and even five hundred years later, to reach the banks of the Onon River.

Of course, the Great Ming War God also reached the banks of the Onon River, even further than the furthest you've ever reached.

In the ninth year of the Yongle reign, you commissioned Song Li, the Minister of Works, to oversee the dredging of the Grand Canal, ensuring smooth water transport between the north and south, strengthening the connection between the north and south of the Ming Dynasty, and further consolidating the foundation of the Ming Dynasty's rule.

In summary, your life as emperor is worthy of the title "Emperor Yongle." Because you and your son jointly created the "Yongle Prosperity," you can also be called one of the greatest emperors in history.

[This simulation has ended]

[Simulated cooldown time: 7 days]

[Congratulations! You have unlocked a legendary emperor, and the simulator's real-time animation and cross-time group chat functions are now available. Please explore to your heart's content!]

Zhu Yuanzhang watched with a tense atmosphere as he watched Zhu Di do these things after becoming emperor, which could be seen from the fact that he was sweating profusely.

Zhu Di was his son. Although he was very unhappy that his fourth son had usurped the throne, what could he do since the fourth son had succeeded?

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang could only hope that Zhu Di would do a good job and that his Ming Dynasty would not perish after only three generations. Fortunately, judging from the simulator's evaluation, the fourth prince did create the Yongle era and was a great emperor throughout history, so he did a pretty good job.

Zhu Yuanzhang relaxed his tense body, slumped in the recliner, chuckled softly, and muttered to himself:

"That stinky fourth son, he's barely passable as emperor."

After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang put on a cold face again:

"But the rebellion must have been planned while we were still alive, otherwise it wouldn't have succeeded. We really misjudged this fourth son!"

"And his descendant, the Great Ming War God—once we simulate him, we must kill that guy!"

"Song Zhong! Summon the Fourth Prince to the palace!"

Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to see just how his fourth son possessed extraordinary abilities to become the only prince to successfully rebel.

This time, he wanted to examine it very carefully.

……

Song Zhong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came to the Princes' Residence again to deliver a message. This time, he brought some explosive news. He relayed to Zhu Di a few words that Zhu Yuanzhang had said verbatim.

Those few words stunned Zhu Di, who paced back and forth in the room.

Zhu Gaoxi, meanwhile, was eavesdropping nearby, unnoticed by anyone.

Now his whole family is in the eye of the storm, and with Old Zhu spoiling him too much, he has to come up with ideas for the family at such a young age.

Listening to Song Zhong's words, Zhu Gaoxi rubbed his small nose, somewhat puzzled by Zhu Yuanzhang's actions.

Could it be that what his father said after rewriting history was all true? Did Emperor Zhu really want to make him crown prince in his later years, but couldn't for various reasons? That's too far-fetched.

But what does Old Zhu mean now? Why does he seem to be having an ambiguous relationship with his own Prince Yan lineage?

This is similar to how, back then, Li Shimin clearly established Li Chengqian as the crown prince, but his attitude towards Prince Wei, Li Tai, was ambiguous.

Didn't Old Zhu know that this would provoke fierce resistance from the Crown Prince's lineage?

Zhu Gaoxi rested his chin on his hand, looking thoughtful. After a short while, a rough, large hand lifted him up.

"Little Gao Xi, what are you doing lying in the corner?"

"Come on! Let's go see your father with your father!"

Zhu Di discovered that the old man's attitude towards him seemed to have changed after he woke up from that coma and met Zhu Gaoxi.

Zhu Di then considered the matter further. Perhaps the old man had truly favored his own son, Gao Xi, since he could pass the throne to his eldest brother's son, Zhu Yunwen, his grandson? And so he wanted to pass the throne to me, and then I would pass it on to Gao Xi?

However, these are all just speculations. Zhu Di thought they were a bit far-fetched, after all, the old man was a staunch defender of the primogeniture system, and Gao Xi had his eldest, second, and third brothers before him.

If that's truly the case, and if Gao Xi is so helpful in my struggle for the throne, then I will definitely have to say something to Gao Xi in the future:

"Your eldest brother is obese and sickly, your second brother is a brute, and your third brother is mentally unstable and arrogant. Little Gao Xi, you should strive to be like him!"