Great Ming: At Eight Years Old, I Get Old Zhu to Rebel with Me from the Start

What? You want to know why I’m rebelling? It’s not me who wants to rebel. It’s the tide of history! Heaven itself is forcing my father to become emperor! Eight-year-old Zhu Gaoxi, who has transmigrated as the illegitimate son of the Prince of Yan, sits on his doorstep, chatting confidently with two “ordinary merchants.” Sitting across from him are Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang, traveling incognito, and the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, trembling in fear. Zhu Gaoxi takes a sip of tea and holds forth on the fate of the realm. “The crown prince will be dead within three months!” “Within a year, the old emperor will launch a great purge of his meritorious officials!” “Within three years, the new emperor will turn his blade on his uncles! My old man will be first in line!” “You two, tell me: in a desperate situation like this, should I not strike first, rather than wait to be cut down to a torso?” Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang laughs in fury, his killing intent surging. “You little brat, spreading wild lies and cursing the crown prince. Do you know that this is a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire clan?” Zhu Gaoxi smiles disdainfully and whips out a “Jingnan Defense Plan” and “Reforms for a Great Ming That Will Last Ten Thousand Generations.” “Exterminate my clan? If we play our cards right, the whole clan will be the imperial family!” “I’ve already drawn up a plan for this rebellion. If you have the guts, join me in gambling on the fate of the empire!” “If we win, we’ll create an age of prosperity together. If we lose, we can always rise again eighteen years from now!” Several months later, every prediction comes true. Late that night, Zhu Yuanzhang kicks open Zhu Di’s door and shouts, his eyes bloodshot: “Fourth! Quick! Go bring back that illegitimate son of yours who’s been living away from home!” “I’ll let him take the throne!!”