After Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang Heard My Thoughts

During the Hongwu era, Zhu Yuanzhang ascends the throne, and the Huai-Xi meritorious families all receive rewards, promotions, and noble titles. The newly prosperous Marquis of Zhongshan, Tang He, doesn't forget his nephew Xie Xingzhi. He gives him a leg up by recommending him to Zhu Yuanzhang.

When he hears that the Great Ancestor Zhu Yuanzhang has personally appointed him as a Court Recorder, Xie Xingzhi feels his heart stop for a couple of beats.

Although the Hongwu Emperor doesn't have Cao Cao's habit of killing people in his sleep, Xie Xingzhi knows how the Huai-Xi faction ended up in history. Since he too comes from Huai-Xi, he worries he won't live to see tomorrow's sun.

After the young man from his hometown, Xie Xingzhi, becomes Court Recorder, Zhu Yuanzhang senses that something is off.

The boy keeps his mouth shut and says nothing, yet Zhu Yuanzhang can always hear his thoughts.

Xie Xingzhi: [They say the Ming imperial family had an unhealthy diet, and they're right. With fatty chicken, huge ducks, pig trotters, and pork knuckles at every meal, who could stomach it except emperors like Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di, who spent years campaigning on horseback?]

Zhu Yuanzhang: Isn't Crown Prince Zhu Biao supposed to inherit the throne? Why would it be Zhu Di? Is it going to be like the Song dynasty, with a younger brother succeeding his older brother?

Xie Xingzhi: [They say cinnabar paint was used on the palace walls during the Ming dynasty. It's bad for your health. Even the Taoist emperor of the Jiajing era, who didn't live in the imperial palace, lived longer. Goes to show that even ancient renovations should be eco-friendly. Letting in plenty of fresh air is always a good idea.]

Zhu Yuanzhang: Who is this Taoist? One of his descendants? Why would an emperor be called a Taoist?

Xie Xingzhi: [The Ming dynasty, stuck in the Little Ice Age, will face internal and external crises in a few years. What a pity that all the great generals from the early years were wiped out, leaving no one to follow them. Wars will consume far too much manpower and money, and then disasters of every size will keep striking. The people will go hungry and go without warm clothes, and that's how the dynasty will eventually lose the realm.]

Zhu Yuanzhang: I understand. I'll try to educate those arrogant, unruly generals instead of killing them unless absolutely necessary. Then I'll send people overseas to find the potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes you keep going on about...

Xie Xingzhi soon realizes something is off, too.

He silently thinks about wanting peaches, even though they're out of season, and Zhu Yuanzhang really does reward him with peaches. He silently complains that his eccentric neighbor is always causing trouble, and Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly gives him a different house. He grumbles about the court's unreasonable leave policy and wishes he could retire early. That very month, he's promoted, and given the privilege of working five days and resting two.

When he was a history content creator in his previous life, he never heard that Zhu Yuanzhang had a generous side. How did he become Zhu Yuanzhang's very own wishing well?

*

In the early Hongwu era, the Huai-Xi and Zhe-Dong factions are locked in fierce political conflict.

The Zhe-Dong faction soon realizes that it isn't enough that they can't beat the Huai-Xi faction's leaders, Li Shanchang and Hu Weiyong. Now a young man who hasn't even come of age is stealing their spotlight.

The emperor has always been arbitrary and unwilling to listen to advice. Right now, he's doting on Xie Xingzhi more than ever. Nobody dares to risk earning his wrath, so they gather at the Eastern Palace to complain and ask the Crown Prince to remonstrate with his father.

Scholar Zhou of the Hanlin Academy looks furious as he speaks. “I hear His Majesty dotes on Xie Xingzhi. He gives him food all the time and keeps him in his chambers day and night. He can't bear to be apart from him for even a moment.”

Councillor Tan of the Secretariat agrees. “I've heard the same. His Majesty has always been fair, yet now he's lost all sense of propriety over one official, favoring him more than his own relatives and princes. Unless this fellow has bewitched him with some kind of sorcery, how else could this happen? Your Highness, please decide what we should do.”

Zhu Biao: I don't know, but I think his ideas are wonderful.

Theme: Never forget your original aspirations