Chapter 33: Reckless! Something Terrible Has Happened!
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Zhu Yuntong’s pupils suddenly contracted.
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
He had long realized that Jiang Huan’s inexplicable attempt to offer his allegiance that night had been highly abnormal.
After he reported the matter to Old Zhu, the punishment Old Zhu imposed had clearly confirmed it.
Yet Zhu Yuntong still could not understand what deeper meaning lay hidden beneath it all.
After all, political struggles and schemes were not his forte.
Compared with masters among masters like Old Zhu, he was still far behind.
But Zhu Yuntong was not discouraged.
As the saying went, “Every inch has its strength, and every foot its weakness.”
As a traveler from another world, he naturally possessed advantages of his own.
To contend in schemes and intrigue with these political experts—would that not simply be courting humiliation?
Now that he had Yang Shiqi, a master of politics, by his side, his weakness had been made up for.
For a man in power, the most important thing was knowing how to make others work for him.
After pondering for a while without reaching an answer, he said, “Why does Your Excellency not explain it plainly?”
Yang Shiqi smiled.
He dipped a finger into his wine cup, moistened it with wine, and wrote a single character on the table: “Reckless.”
Zhu Yuntong stared at the character for a moment, then raised his head to look at Yang Shiqi. Thoughts raced through his mind, and he suddenly understood a great deal.
“On the imperial court, Your Highness dared to defy the whole world and openly request that His Majesty name you Crown Prince. Was that not because of this very word—‘reckless’?”
“Since Your Highness has already chosen recklessness, why shrink back when it comes to the Duke of Liang?”
“If Your Highness remains reckless to the very end, this desperate predicament will resolve itself.”
His voice was not loud, yet it was like a hammer lightly smashing apart the obstacles blocking the road ahead.
Two sharp gleams suddenly shot from Zhu Yuntong’s eyes.
He rose and bowed deeply. “Many thanks for showing me the way, sir. I now know what I must do.”
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The Imperial Palace.
Within a secluded courtyard.
Zhu Yuanzhang was playing chess with someone.
His opponent was Liu Sanwu, an Academician of the Hanlin Academy.
Though an Academician of the Hanlin Academy held only a fifth-rank post, unlike in later ages, during the Hongwu reign the office ranked even above that of a Grand Academician of the Palace.
Its official rank was not high, but because its holder could frequently discuss state affairs with the emperor in person, participate in the selection of officials and military commanders, and help formulate many major national policies, its power and influence were immense.
Liu Sanwu was talented, but possessed an especially forthright temperament. Whenever he had something to say, he said it directly, and for that reason Zhu Yuanzhang valued him all the more.
With nothing demanding his attention that day, Old Zhu had summoned him to the palace for a game of chess.
“No, no, this move is wrong. I made a mistake. Let us start over.”
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As he spoke, Old Zhu picked up two chess pieces from the board.
“Your Majesty said that each game allowed only three takebacks. This is already the fourth,” Liu Sanwu reminded him.
“Did I take anything back?”
Old Zhu turned to look at the palace maids and eunuchs standing nearby. “You people bear witness. Did I just take back a move?”
A moment earlier he had called himself “I”; now he referred to himself as “Your Majesty.”
Every maid and eunuch lowered their heads as far as possible.
The eunuch in charge answered in a small voice, “This servant did not see His Majesty take back a move.”
Old Zhu immediately pointed at him. “Liu Sanwu, did you hear that? He said I did not take back a move. You are mistaken.”
A helpless, bitter smile appeared on Liu Sanwu’s face.
He was forbidden to take back moves, while Old Zhu had already taken back three and still considered it insufficient.
How could the Son of Heaven behave like such a shameless rogue?
Old Zhu replaced the pieces on the board.
“This cannot be called taking back a move. I merely had blurred vision for a moment and saw it incorrectly. How could that be called taking back a move? You really are too lacking in tact!”
Liu Sanwu did not reply. He silently studied the board and made his move.
The two of them played several more moves.
“The memorials submitted to the court from every region say that the weather has been favorable this year and that it will be another year of bumper harvests.”
“It is now the season when the local administrations collect taxes. I hear everything is proceeding smoothly. Excellent, excellent!”
Old Zhu made several more moves. Clearly in a very good mood, he began speaking of affairs of state.
“It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s heavenly grace and enlightened rule that Heaven has bestowed such blessings upon us.”
This time Liu Sanwu was quite tactful and offered a flattering remark.
“Enough. I do not care to hear that.”
Old Zhu said, “If Heaven had truly bestowed its blessings, why would it have taken my son from me at such a young age, leaving me, an old man, to bury the young?”
At those words, he became despondent.
The enthusiasm he had shown moments earlier vanished completely.
Sitting with his hands folded and his body bowed, Liu Sanwu said, “Life and death are governed by fate; no human power can force them. Your Majesty must not grieve too deeply. What matters most now is to appoint a Crown Prince at once, so that the realm may be pacified and the people’s hearts settled.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression suddenly grew solemn.
“The appointment of a Crown Prince concerns the foundation of the state.”
“The officials of the court are all terrified of becoming involved in the matter.”
“Only you have the courage to raise it before me of your own accord.”
Liu Sanwu said, “I eat the ruler’s food and receive the ruler’s emolument. Naturally, I must share His Majesty’s burdens. It is my duty, and I cannot shirk it.”
Old Zhu toyed with a chess piece in his hand, staring at the board without speaking.
It was impossible to tell whether he was contemplating the game or something else entirely.
“Your Majesty!”
Liu Sanwu urged him once more. “The matter of appointing a Crown Prince absolutely cannot be delayed!”
“Your Majesty has kept all the princes in the capital instead of allowing them to return to their fiefs.”
“You have also separately enfeoffed the Prince of Xian and the Prince of Wu.”
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“Such arrangements will inevitably lead to a struggle among the princes for the throne.”
“If the government becomes unstable, the people’s hearts will be unsettled, and the realm will be thrown into turmoil.”
“Your Majesty, please think carefully!”
Old Zhu set down the chess piece in his hand and said, “It is true that I wish to observe them a while longer—to see which of them truly possesses the ability to rule the great realm of Great Ming.”
He picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip before continuing, “Each of my sons has his strengths, and each has his weaknesses. As for whom I should appoint Crown Prince, I am still undecided.”
Liu Sanwu bowed deeply. “With Your Majesty’s heaven-bestowed wisdom and far-reaching plans, you will surely reach a decision.”
Seeing that Liu Sanwu still refused to let the matter drop, Old Zhu could not help displaying a trace of helplessness.
This Liu Sanwu truly had no sense of when to advance or retreat!
Still, among all the civil and military officials of the court, he alone possessed such courage.
Old Zhu asked with a smile, “That day in court, Yuntong said that if the Prince of Yan were made Crown Prince and eventually inherited the throne, the realm could be pacified.”
“I too feel that the Prince of Yan is heroic and martial, much like myself. What do you think of making him Crown Prince?”
If it had been anyone else, hearing Old Zhu say this, they would certainly have agreed, remained silent, or said something like, “It is for Your Majesty to decide.”
But Liu Sanwu was different.
The moment the words left Old Zhu’s mouth, he immediately voiced his opposition.
“The Imperial Grandson is no longer young. He is capable of ruling the realm.”
“Since ancient times, the Crown Prince has been the eldest legitimate son.”
“According to ritual law, when the son is gone, the grandson should inherit.”
“Moreover, if Your Majesty makes the Prince of Yan Crown Prince, how could the Princes of Qin and Jin accept it?”
“Why should they not be made Crown Prince?”
“Why would Your Majesty skip over your two eldest sons and instead appoint your fourth son?”
“There is no such principle under Heaven!”
“If the Crown Prince is chosen according to virtue and talent, opinions will only become more divided.”
“The wise man in one person’s eyes is not the wise man in another’s, and people differ in both talent and virtue.”
“Since everyone will find it difficult to agree, the result will only be greater conflict, while setting a poor precedent for future generations.”
“The struggle for the throne will begin from that moment.”
“Only by establishing the legitimate eldest heir can the foundation of Great Ming endure for ten thousand generations.”
After listening to him, Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression grew even more grave. A chill seemed to creep across his brows and eyes as he asked coldly, “Then, in your opinion, between the Prince of Wu and the Prince of Xian, whom should I appoint?”
Liu Sanwu was about to answer.
Just then, a eunuch suddenly came rushing in from outside, moving at a frantic pace.
“Your Majesty, an urgent report! An urgent report!”
“Your Majesty, disaster! Something terrible has happened!”
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