Chapter 33: Zhu Yuanzhang Seeks Immortality
Page (1/3)
Zhu Yuanzhang was torn. He looked at Zhu Di, then at Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang.
Could it be that he had to choose one of these three sons?
But he had never entertained such a thought. Then whom would he ultimately appoint as Crown Prince?
“I truly can’t figure out whom I’m supposed to choose. Just tell me the answer!”
Chen Lin rose to his feet. “Knowing too much won’t do you any good. At least now you know the cause of the Crown Prince’s death, so he definitely won’t die young in the future. Why dwell on it?”
“Come on. I’ll show you around.”
Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly stopped him. “Don’t go! If you refuse to tell me, I definitely won’t be able to sleep tonight. Just tell me!”
Chen Lin pointed at Zhu Di. “All I can tell you is that the Prince of Yan eventually became emperor and raised the Ming Dynasty to entirely new heights. History would call his reign the Yongle Prosperity.”
“As for what happened in between, go back and think it through carefully. You should be able to figure out the general outline.”
Zhu Yuanzhang turned toward Zhu Di. “The fourth son ultimately became emperor and even raised the Ming Dynasty to entirely new heights!?”
“The Yongle Prosperity...”
Zhu Di was so frightened that he nearly wet himself. Once again, he dropped to his knees with a thud. “Father, I’ve been wronged! I truly never wanted to become emperor...”
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and stepped forward to help him up. “I know what you’re capable of. Perhaps one day you’ll become a good emperor—one who surpasses even me. But!”
“Chen Lin’s appearance has changed your elder brother’s fate. The Crown Prince is the heir to the nation, the successor I personally appointed for the Ming Dynasty. No one can replace him.”
“You may be a mighty dragon, but no matter how capable you are, you’d better coil up for me and guard the northern frontier properly on behalf of your elder brother.”
“Otherwise...”
Zhu Di hurriedly kowtowed. “Father, rest assured. I will always be Elder Brother’s General of the Northern Expedition. Not only will I guard the northern gates for him, I will also expand Ming territory in the future and establish an everlasting foundation for the empire!”
Zhu Yuanzhang hauled Zhu Di to his feet. “Good. Remember what you’ve said. Otherwise, I won’t let you off even after I become a ghost.”
“Your son will remember!”
Zhu Yuanzhang then turned toward Zhu Shuang and Zhu Gang. “Don’t think I’m unaware of all the vile things you two have been doing in your fiefdoms.”
“Starting today, if I hear even the slightest rumor about such things again, you’ll both get the hell out of here and go guard the imperial tombs until you die, damn it!”
The two men hurriedly fell to their knees, trembling violently.
“We wouldn’t dare, Father. Never again.”
Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang nod. The instant he looked toward Chen Lin, his expression transformed completely, and he said with a fawning grin, “Little Chen...”
“Stop right there. Don’t put on that disgusting act. Just speak properly.”
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled sheepishly. “I want to know when I’m going to die. Surely you can tell me that, right?”
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
Chen Lin scratched his head. “If I remember correctly, it should be the thirty-first year of the Hongwu era.”
“The thirty-first year of Hongwu? That means I’ve still got sixteen years left to live. Not bad. I’d say that counts as a long life.”
As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his hands together. “Little Chen, how about taking me with you when you die too?”
The three brothers froze.
What kind of outrageous thing was that supposed to mean?!
Were they simply too nervous and hallucinating?
Chen Lin, however, said, “What, do you want to live forever?”
“Is that possible?” Zhu Yuanzhang gazed at the object of his longing with eager eyes.
Chen Lin felt a chill run through him. “Quit staring at people with those dead-fish eyes of yours. It’s disgusting!”
Embarrassed, Zhu Yuanzhang withdrew his gaze. “Then I’ll take that as your agreement.”
“We’ll have to plan this carefully. So... when are we going to die together?”
The three brothers could not take it anymore. What in the world was happening? This was utterly insane!
Chen Lin merely said, “It’s not impossible to take you with me when I die. But if I stab you to death, who’s going to chop off my head? Are we supposed to stab each other?”
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. “Why not?”
“Come to think of it, why are you so insistent that I be the one to do it? There must be some reason.”
Chen Lin waved dismissively. “That’s none of your concern. First, tell me what you’re prepared to offer me.”
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. “First of all, I don’t have any money. Don’t rush—I can give you an official position, even a noble title. How about that?”
Chen Lin turned and walked away. “Damn it, you’re trying to get something for nothing. You old immortal, just wait until you kick the bucket in the thirty-first year of Hongwu!”
“Don’t go! We can keep negotiating. Everything is negotiable. We can die together, Little Chen...”
Watching their father chase after Chen Lin, the three brothers’ entire view of the world collapsed.
After a long while, Zhu Di finally said, “Could it be that when Chen Lin cured Mother, he killed her first, then brought her back to life from that so-called future world?”
Zhu Shuang nodded. “That’s probably exactly what happened.”
Zhu Di continued, “Then couldn’t we also take a trip to the future world? Since we can be resurrected anyway, it might be worthwhile to broaden our horizons.”
Zhu Gang was horrified. “Have you gone mad? What if we can’t be resurrected? Wouldn’t we have died for nothing?”
Zhu Shuang agreed. “Exactly. We’re still young, healthy, and free of illness or disaster. We shouldn’t take that risk. It’s not reliable at all—far too dangerous.”
Zhu Di sighed. “That’s true. But I still want to see what the future world is like...”
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
Zhu Gang said disdainfully, “I think you just want to visit the future and look through the history books to see what glorious achievements you made. His Majesty the Yongle Emperor...”
Zhu Di’s face stiffened. “No, absolutely not! Third Brother, you’re slandering me!”
Elsewhere, Zhu Yuanzhang chased Chen Lin into the rear courtyard, where he saw Chen Xiaolan and Empress Ma playing badminton.
Zhu Xiongying was hopping around the edge of the court, retrieving shuttlecocks.
“Little Chen, let’s discuss this again. Name whatever conditions you like. If it’s within my power, I’ll certainly make it happen.”
Chen Lin turned around. “You said it yourself. Then I want you to launch an expedition against Japan. Issue the edict right now. Can you do that?”
Zhu Yuanzhang froze. “Are you speaking nonsense? Japan is separated from the Ming Dynasty by a vast ocean. Even the mighty Yuan Dynasty under Kublai Khan couldn’t conquer it. The Ming has only been founded for a little over a decade. How could we possibly have the strength to launch an expedition against Japan?”
“Give us a few more years. In a few years, I’ll certainly conquer Japan. How about that?”
Chen Lin spread his hands. “Fine. Then I’ll kill you a few years from now.”
“Don’t! Just take me to the future world for a look. Change the terms—pick something else!”
Chen Lin turned his head away and stopped paying attention to Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang was torn to pieces by indecision. Rubbing his hands together, he said, “I’ll give you land. I’ll return all the land that originally belonged to your Chen family, and add all the land in this surrounding area as well. How does that sound?”
Chen Lin shook his head. “Not enough.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s face lit up. If it wasn’t enough, then at least there was still room for negotiation.
He quickly asked, “Then how much land do you want? Name a figure.”
“I want the artisans in the Ministry of Works who are researching fire bulls.”
Zhu Yuanzhang stared at him. “Artisans researching fire bulls?! Why?”
“That’s none of your concern. Just tell me whether you agree!”
Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his teeth. “Fine, they’re yours. Anything else?”
“Withdraw the Embroidered Uniform Guards you’ve assigned to watch me. If I discover anyone spying on me again, you know what will happen.”
Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his teeth once more. “Fine. I agree to all of it. So when do we leave?”
Chen Lin, however, said, “Why are you in such a hurry? I haven’t finished yet!”
“There’s more?!”
Page (3/3)