Great Ming: Jiangnan’s Top Tough Scholar, Zhu Yuanzhang Is Thrilled

In the third year of Hongwu, at the beginning of the dynasty, the country is in ruins and everything needs rebuilding.

The literati and officials all see Zhu Yuanzhang as a bandit, unworthy of their service!

Furious, the old Zhu immediately issues an edict decreeing that scholars and officials who refuse to serve the emperor are guilty of a crime:

All within the realm are the emperor's subjects. Any scholar or official in the empire who refuses to serve the emperor has rejected his teachings. Execute him and confiscate his family property: this is no excessive punishment.

If you won't serve me, then I'll charge you with treason!

The decree causes an uproar, and the literati and officials threaten to take their own lives in protest.

At this critical moment, the old Zhu spots someone who can resolve the impasse.

Su Che, also known as Su Wenjin, is the representative of Jiangnan's scholars and a master of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

With his mind racing, the old Zhu quickly comes up with a plan.

Without another word, he has Su Che thrown into the imperial prison.

Then the old Zhu, ever the actor, disguises himself as a beggar and goes to the prison to chat with Su Che.

Hey! He immediately feels as if he's struck gold.

He declares that with Su Che's help, peace and prosperity will arrive across the land ahead of schedule...

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.