After transmigrating to the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, Ji Bochang became a humble schoolteacher in Paifang Village, outside Yingtian City.
By chance, a wealthy father and son surnamed Zhu, both far older than any students should be, squeezed into his classroom and began peppering him with questions.
“Sir, how can we increase crop yields so the people can eat their fill and stay warm?”
“Sir, are the lands overseas really so prosperous? Is the earth truly round?”
“Sir, what is an automatic rifle? What does it look like? Can it really take a life from three hundred paces away?”
Han Yu of the Tang dynasty once said that a teacher passes on the Way, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts.
After tucking the paper money Old Zhu had handed him into his robe, Ji Bochang swept his hand grandly. As a schoolteacher, how could he not tell his students everything he knew?
“Wait, Old Zhu, what did you say your name was?”
“Sir, my name is Zhu Yuanzhang...”
