I was watching short videos and historical figures were collectively vomiting blood!

Chapter 13 You’re Telling Me You’re the Yongle Emperor!

[20:37 – Huang Gongwang creates Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains]. [20:40 – Liu Bowen joins Zhu Yuanzhang’s ranks.]. [20:43 – Zhu Yuanzhang captures Dadu; the Yuan court retreats to the northern steppes, marking the beginning of the Northern Yuan.]. [20:55 – The Northern Yuan collapses.]. [20:43 – Zhu Yuanzhang proclaims himself emperor.].

“Biao’er.”

Zhu Yuanzhang called out.

Zhu Biao immediately stood up from the soft cushion beside him and respectfully stepped forward.

“Biao’er, take a guess—how do you think the Heavens will record our deeds?”

Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

Zhu Biao raised his head, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

“Father, you are a founding emperor, unparalleled in bravery. You rose from the status of a commoner and ultimately established an empire. This is an achievement never seen before in history.”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction.

“Not bad. Biao’er, remember this—power is like a double-edged sword. Wield it well, and it can protect the nation; wield it poorly, and it will bring harm to yourself. You must always remind yourself of this. Most importantly, you must understand where this sword comes from—never forget our people!”

Zhu Biao nodded solemnly.

Nearby, Zhu Di appeared to be deep in thought.

“The will of the people is the Emperor’s most invincible sword.”

“To forge a sword with the heart is to strike down all injustice in the world.”

“The true imperial sword is never held in the hand—it must be wielded with the heart. Only then will all lands under Heaven belong to the Ming Dynasty!”

The moment these words left his lips, Zhu Di himself was stunned. Zhu Yuanzhang’s sharp gaze locked onto him, his eyes flashing with intrigue. Zhu Biao, on the other hand, twitched the corner of his mouth.

The will of the people is the most invincible sword!

You’re really pushing it!

Should we just have you write all the imperial edicts from now on or what?

[Zhu Yuanzhang was the emperor with the humblest origins in Chinese history. He was once a beggar, then a monk, and ultimately rose from a destitute cowherd to become the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty amidst the chaos of the era, vanquishing all rivals.]. [Moreover, he was the first emperor to unify China from south to north in over 500 years, achieving unprecedented political and economic success.]. [20:46 – Luo Guanzhong completes Romance of the Three Kingdoms, revising his mentor Shi Nai’an’s Water Margin.]. [20:54 – Zhu Yuanzhang passes away. His reign brought peace and stability, later known as the ‘Hongwu Era of Prosperity.’].

“What?”

“My story… ends just like that?”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s interest deflated instantly.

He had expected the Heavens to recount in detail how he seized the throne, pacified the land, and ushered in an era of prosperity.

Liu Bowen chuckled and said, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Simply being the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty and achieving the ‘Hongwu Era of Prosperity’ is enough to ensure your name shines eternally in the annals of history.”

Zhu Biao and Zhu Di both stepped forward to offer their congratulations. After all, not everyone was significant enough to be individually recorded by the Heavens.

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said, “Father, now that we have the Heavenly Screen—this divine artifact that allows us to glimpse into the future—why should we fear that our Ming Dynasty will not rival the glory of the Tang?”

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

“You make a good point. With this artifact, we can foresee blessings and disasters, and even draw from the wisdom of later generations. We can forge Ming into the greatest power under Heaven.”

He looked at Zhu Biao with satisfaction. This was the son in whom he had placed his greatest hopes. He understood that his own success had not come by chance—it had been forged through endless struggles and life-or-death decisions.

He wanted Zhu Biao to learn from his experiences: the resilience, the wisdom to govern the people, and what it truly meant to be an emperor. Zhu Biao gazed at the Heavenly Screen, his eyes shining with excitement.

He looked at his father’s imposing figure, filled with admiration. He knew this was more than just history—it was the priceless legacy left behind by his father.

[20:55 – Zhu Di launches the Jingnan Campaign, seizing the throne and relocating the capital to Beijing. He is later known as Emperor Chengzu of Ming.].

As this father-and-sons moment unfolded, A new revelation suddenly appeared on the Heavenly Screen.

Zhu Yuanzhang froze.

His fourth son became emperor?

“Jingnan Campaign… seized the throne… Emperor Chengzu?”

“Old Fourth, it seems I underestimated you!”

Zhu Yuanzhang’s sharp gaze locked onto Zhu Di.

You rebelled, didn’t you!

Zhu Biao, ever kindhearted, noticed the rising fury in his father’s expression and quickly intervened.

“Father, the Heavenly Screen’s truth is uncertain—it could very well be the work of Northern Yuan remnants trying to sow discord between us. Besides, the future is not set in stone. Now that Old Fourth knows, he would never dare defy you.”

Zhu Di’s entire body tensed, his face paling. However, when he saw Zhu Biao speaking on his behalf, he exhaled in relief.

Zhu Yuanzhang said nothing.

He already knew that the Heavenly Screen was no lie. He closed his eyes and sighed.

Life in the imperial family is never free… Unlike ordinary households, where parents can simply enjoy their children’s filial devotion, here, even one’s own sons might harbor ambitions.

Meanwhile, at the Prince of Yan’s residence, Xu Miaoyun gazed at the Heavenly Screen, her face turning deathly pale with worry.

At that moment, Zhu Di suddenly noticed something astonishing—his elder brother, Zhu Biao, was not recorded as ever ascending the throne!

This…

[20:56–20:58 – The Yongle Encyclopedia is compiled.]. [20:56–21:07 – Zheng He undertakes seven voyages to the Western Ocean.]. [21:03 – Emperor Chengzu passes away. During his reign, the nation prospers—this era is later called the ‘Yongle Golden Age.’]. [The Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di, had an immense impact on the Ming Dynasty, arguably making him the most influential Ming ruler.]. [His cultural contributions included compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia, an unprecedented work that preserved ancient texts from the pre-Qin period to the early Ming Dynasty—over 8,000 volumes in total. It was the most extensive encyclopedia in Chinese history, earning praise for encompassing ‘the vastness of the universe’ and unifying ‘the knowledge of past and present.’]. [He promoted trade between China and the West, greatly boosting the economy.]. [Under Zhu Di’s rule, China flourished, and this era was hailed as a golden age ‘surpassing even the grandeur of the Han and Tang dynasties.’]. [Although his rise to power was controversial, his extraordinary contributions to politics, culture, diplomacy, territorial unity, and economic prosperity cemented his status as one of China’s greatest emperors.].

CRACK!

The teacup in Zhu Di’s hand shattered, sending shards flying. He was already shocked just to see himself ascend the throne. Now, reading the immense praise he received from later generations, he was utterly speechless!

Meanwhile, Zhu Yuanzhang sat there, mouth agape, silent for a long time.

If he were to put his feelings into modern words, it would be.

“You’re telling me you get to be the Yongle Emperor!”