Great Ming: The First Sword After Ascending the Throne, Striking Down the Retired Emperor

In cruelty and ruthlessness, he was no less than Hongwu. In cunning and hypocrisy, he surpassed Yongle. In blessings bestowed upon the realm, he was the equal of Hongxi. In literary and martial prowess, he outdid Xuande. His schemes ran deep, his bloodlust was fierce, and his luck was unmatched. He also holds numerous firsts among Ming emperors. He was the Jingtai Emperor, Zhu Qiyu. He was the first Ming prince to become emperor without staging a rebellion, the first to inherit the throne without his father’s final testament, the first to depose a crown prince, the first to honor a former emperor as Retired Emperor, the first to have two empress dowagers served at the same time, and the first to watch ministers fight until someone was killed…