The Mighty Ming Dynasty

In late Hongwu, a man from a later age traveled through time to meet Zhu Yuanzhang. Their conversation brought the old Zhu a devastating piece of news. According to the visitor from the future, the early Ming Dynasty suffered the loss of five people who died too soon: first Empress Ma, second Zhu Biao, third Zhu Xiongying, fourth Zhu Wenjie, and fifth Crown Princess Chang. The first of them would die in the third month of Hongwu 11, and that person was Zhu Wenjie. When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he was shocked and hurriedly asked what had happened. The visitor then recounted Zhu Wenjie's history. Zhu Wenjie (1344–1378), son of Zhu Xingzu, Zhu Yuanzhang's third elder brother; posthumously titled Prince Wude of the Great Ming; the first Ming general to campaign as far as Langjuxu; the strongest warrior of the Ming; the Ming's richest man; Zhu Yuanzhang's top enforcer; Empress Ma's favorite henchman; the foremost retainer of the Zhu family; and Grand Commander of the Five Chief Military Commissions. In the third month of Hongwu 11, while traveling to Suzhou to prepare for an eastern campaign against Japanese pirates, he suddenly fell ill, possibly from poisoning, and died at the age of 34. After hearing the news, Zhu Yuanzhang flew into a rage and immediately ordered an investigation. Zhu Yuanzhang: “My dear nephew absolutely will not die. I said so! Whoever disagrees can say it to my face!” Zhu Wenjie, who had just returned from a northern campaign, was completely dumbfounded when he heard he was supposed to die. Zhu Wenjie: “I'm a transmigrator, and I even have a System. How could I die young? Is this a joke? I was planning to take the fight to the Japanese pirates' homeland, then keep going all the way to the West!” (This is the story of a transmigrator who truly becomes part of Ming history and a historical figure!)