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

In the third year of Hongwu, at the dawn of the dynasty, everything was waiting to be rebuilt.

The scholars and officials all saw Zhu Yuanzhang as a bandit, someone unworthy of their cooperation!

Furious, Old Zhu issued an order on the spot, promulgating a law against scholars and officials refusing to serve the emperor:

“Within the borders of the realm, all are the emperor’s subjects. Any scholar or official within the empire who refuses to serve the emperor has set himself apart from the proper order. He shall be executed and his family confiscated, and this shall not be considered excessive.”

“If you won’t serve me, then I’ll charge you with treason!”

The decree caused an uproar, and scholars and officials alike threatened to die rather than comply.

At this critical moment, Old Zhu spotted someone who could break the deadlock:

Su Che, also known as Master Su Wenjin, the representative of Jiangnan’s literati and a man versed in the strengths of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism.

Old Zhu’s mind raced, and he soon came up with a plan.

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

Then the thespian Old Zhu disguised himself as a beggar and chatted with Su Che in the prison.

He immediately felt as if he’d struck gold.

He even declared that with Su Che’s help, peace and prosperity could come to the realm sooner…