Li Zhen took Chen Biao, whose eyes were swollen like peaches, and rushed back to Yingtian Prefecture in just half a day.
Zhu Yuanzhang waited anxiously at Chen's house for an hour. When he heard the noise, he rushed out: "Biao'er!"
When Wang Xi heard Zhu Yuanzhang's howl, he almost spit out the tea in his mouth.
He had known that Zhu Yuanzhang would become a different person when he mentioned his son, but he did not expect that Zhu Yuanzhang would become another person after mentioning his son and seeing his son.
Chen Biaoben had stopped crying and was drowsy in Li Zhen's arms.
Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's voice and falling into Zhu Yuanzhang's arms, Chen Biao's tears welled up again.
Zhu Yuanzhang saw the child in his arms shedding tears, biting his lips stubbornly and saying nothing. He felt heartbroken: "Biao'er, don't cry, don't cry, Daddy apologizes to you!!"
No matter why Biaoer is crying, just apologize first!
Wang Xi, who was chasing after him, slipped and almost fell to the ground.
My Lord, are you being too humble in front of your son? Even if Biao'er is a fairy boy, you can't pamper him like this...
Wang Xi looked at Chen Biao, whose eyes were red and swollen, and stopped talking halfway.
Chen Biao wanted to yell at his father, but when he saw Wang Xi coming out, he quickly buried his head in Zhu Yuanzhang's arms, wiped his tears vigorously, then raised his head and said in a hoarse voice, "Mr. Wang."
Seeing Chen Biao being so well-behaved even when crying, Wang Xi was extremely panicked: "Biao'er, what's wrong with you?"
Chen Biao whispered, "Nothing, I just miss my dad."
Li Zhen said, "Let's go in first. Guorui, take Biao'er to change clothes first. Mr. Wang, please wait a moment."
Wang Xi was at a loss: "Okay, okay."
Li Zhen first invited Wang Xi to sit in the study, served him tea and snacks, and then hurriedly changed his clothes.
As for Zhu Yuanzhang, he had already run away with his son, without giving Wang Xi any face at all.
Zhu Yuanzhang held his son in his arms while he wiped his face and changed his clothes. Chen Biao's mood became much calmer.
After changing his clothes, Chen Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's anxious appearance, silently lifted Zhu Yuanzhang's arm, bit it, and gritted his teeth.
Zhu Yuanzhang endured the pain and let Chen Biao grind his baby teeth on his arm. He rubbed Chen Biao's head with his other hand and quietly let Chen Biao vent.
After Chen Biao bit Zhu Yuanzhang and left a tooth mark, he wiped off his saliva mark with his sleeve, his face a little red.
He has discovered that he is particularly naive now.
He was spoiled by his parents since he was a child, and his mental state is probably as good as that of a five-year-old Chen.
Seeing Chen Biao calm down, Zhu Yuanzhang asked cautiously, "Biao'er, why are you so sad?"
Chen Biao pouted: "You don't know?"
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head vigorously.
Chen Biao turned his head away and started to sulk again.
Zhu Yuanzhang had a terrible headache. He finally remembered that Wang Xi was still at home, so he quickly carried Chen Biao to the study to ask Wang Xi for help.
Chen Biao didn't understand.
He glanced at Wang Xi, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang in confusion.
Wang Xi tried to make his voice as gentle as possible: "Biao'er, do you blame your father for telling the Marshal that you were taught by the gods?"
Chen Biao blinked his eyes, and a light bulb went off in his head: "Was it Mr. Wang who proposed it?"
Wang Xi smiled bitterly: "It's me."
Chen Biao looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, then at Wang Xi, his eyes dim: "What did Dad tell you?"
Wang Xi said, "Lord Li recommended you to the commander-in-chief as an advisor to the general's family. General Chen is worried that you seem afraid to show your true abilities in front of the lord, so he wants to reassure you."
Chen Biao lowered his voice and asked, "Mr. Wang suggested that Dad confess to the Marshal and gain his approval and protection?"
Wang Xi nodded. "Biao'er, you may be very clever, but General Chen is your father, and you must trust him. You are so intelligent, and Lord Li has already pushed you before the Lord. Simply retreating will only increase the Lord's displeasure."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded vigorously: "Yes, yes, son, you must believe in your father!"
Chen Biao lowered his head and was silent for a long time: "Mr. Wang, do you think that this matter is for my own good and that you can make the decision for me without authorization?"
Wang Xi was puzzled: "What do you mean he makes the decision for you without permission? He is your father."
Chen Biao put away his aggrieved expression: "Oh."
Zhu Yuanzhang instinctively sensed something was wrong and immediately picked up his son and rocked him: "Ah, son, if you have any complaints, just tell me. If you don't tell me, how can I know where I did wrong? Don't just say 'oh'."
Chen Biao was startled by his father's shaking and said angrily, "Stop shaking! I'm going to faint!"
Zhu Yuanzhang took his son back into his arms and stroked his fur, "Don't feel dizzy, don't feel dizzy. Biao'er, Dad knows you're definitely still angry. Don't hold it in. You know Dad is stupid. If you don't tell me, Dad really doesn't know how to change."
Wang Xi: "..." My Lord, you are a father! How can you say such words in front of your son? Where is your father's dignity! Why do you say you will correct yourself when Biao'er gets angry? How can a father admit that he is wrong in front of his son?!
Chen Biao looked at Wang Xi's expression of disbelief, then glanced at his own father's anxious expression, and the depression in his heart unknowingly dissipated a lot.
He stretched out his short arms and, for the first time since returning home, took the initiative to hug his father's neck, gently nuzzled his father's chest, and said, "I understand what Mr. Wang meant, so I didn't plan to continue. But since Dad wants me to, I'll tell you."
"In this world, sons are expected to obey their fathers by default. Whatever their father says is what they do. Sons generally cannot resist family arrangements. If a father does something he believes is good for him, the son can only accept it. Resistance is unfilial. So Mr. Wang can't understand why I would be sad and heartbroken when my father does something he believes is good for me."
“But even if this is true for the whole world, is it really correct?”
Chen Biao hugged Zhu Yuanzhang's neck tightly and tilted his head to look at Wang Xi. "For example, if Mr. Wang's parents chose a scholar with great knowledge and high status, who would be very beneficial to Mr. Wang's career. But Mr. Wang disagrees with this scholar's academic views and even has flaws in his personal character. Would Mr. Wang agree with his parents' arrangement?"
Wang Xi's eyes widened: "This...this is different, right?"
Chen Biao said, "For example, my Chen family is a wealthy merchant family. It would actually be more advantageous for us to follow Zhang Shicheng or other powerful leaders. The well-field system is a complete scheme to take advantage of the rich and give to the poor, and it is a scheme that will only harm the wealthy merchants and gentry. If my grandparents were still alive, they would force our entire family to join Zhang Shicheng in order to preserve our wealth. Dad, do you agree with my parents' arrangement?"
Zhu Yuanzhang thought without hesitation: "Impossible!"
Chen Biao raised his lips. "One is good for your career, the other is good for your family. They're both for the good of your children. But if your parents decide your future for you without your permission, will you feel sad? Won't you resist?"
Wang Xi smiled bitterly and said, "Dan Biao'er, the lord already knows you."
Chen Biao said, "I know. In fact, I don't object to the outcome of this matter. What I object to is the process. To be hypocritical, I am sad that Dad didn't even ask for my opinion on such a big matter. Don't tell me whether it's a surprise or not. I'm just dissatisfied that Dad didn't ask me about the matter that will determine my future."
Wang Xi didn't understand: "Since you accept the result of this matter, this process..."
Chen Biao interrupted rudely, "My family is different from other families. Ever since I can remember, Dad always asks for my opinion before making any decisions about me. Dad always informs me of every major event in our Chen family in advance. Even if we disagree in the end, and Dad still insists on having his own way, I'll always be informed in advance."
Chen Biao muttered, "So I'm used to it."
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head and looked at his son with a face full of grievance, vaguely understanding why his son was sad.
But Wang Xi didn't understand. This was beyond his comprehension.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed and said, "Zi Chong, this is like the relationship between a ruler and his subjects. If the Marshal had consulted with you on everything before, you would have participated in every decision, regardless of whether he adopted your opinion or not. But one day, the Marshal did something important, but you were not informed in advance, and the results were not announced until after the fact. Would you feel sad?"
Wang Xi took a deep breath: "This..."
Chen Biao nodded: "That's it. I'm sad, I'm angry, I... I'm also scared."
He raised his head and said, "Dad, will you make decisions for me without my permission in the future?"
Zhu Yuanzhang felt extremely guilty. He wondered if he had made a decision on something important without telling Chen Biao.
Well, there are a lot.
But that was before! Not in the future!
So Zhu Yuanzhang said confidently: "No! Dad is wrong this time! I will tell you in advance in the future!"
Chen Biao stretched out his little finger: "Pink?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Okay! Pinky promise!"
Chen Biao and Zhu Yuanzhang hooked their pinkies and shook them. Chen Biao muttered, "I wanted Dad to sign and seal this, but I still have to give him some face."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "It's okay! Dad will write you a letter of guarantee later!"
Chen Biao hugged Zhu Yuanzhang's neck and acted coquettishly: "Daddy is the best!"
Zhu Yuanzhang breathed a sigh of relief.
Okay, okay, I passed this level. My son smiled!
Ma Xiuying, who was standing outside the window, raised the corners of her mouth and left quietly.
It seems that there is no need to show up myself.
The silly father and son started kissing and rubbing against each other, and Wang Xi was dumbfounded.
He found himself a little... no, not a little redundant?
Is this the end of the matter? Just a pinky promise signed by the lord?
My Lord, where is your dignity? Don't you have any dignity?!
Wang Xi felt unwell.
I, your lord, used to be so majestic, even cruel, but how come you're so soft-tempered in front of your son? Is it really okay for you to dote on your son like this?
Zhu Yuanzhang said, no problem, absolutely no problem.
So that's what my son was worried about. Why not tell me earlier? Isn't it just giving me advance notice? He did it before, so he can certainly continue to do it in the future.
Zhu Yuanzhang enjoyed discussing matters with his son. He found that as his territory expanded, he had fewer and fewer people to talk to. Even Xu Da, Tang He, and Zhou Dexing were vaguely afraid of him, which made him feel uncomfortable.
Only in front of his son could he say whatever he wanted to say. His son was never afraid of him and would even yell at him, making him feel like he was still the same Zhu Yuanzhang.
Even my sister Xiuying doesn’t yell at me so often!
A home feels like a home only when Xiuying and Biaoer are there. Zhu Yuanzhang feels like an ordinary person only when Xiuying complains and Biaoer yells at him. He is very satisfied.
Chen Biao buried his face in Zhu Yuanzhang's neck. Although there was a smile on his face, he actually felt like crying.
During his conversation with Wang Xi, Chen Biao suddenly realized that the way his father and mother interacted was nothing like that of ancient people. Even modern families would find it difficult to respect him the way his parents did.
Even though he had the guise of a fairy boy, his parents spoiled him too much.
Parents always act arrogantly in front of their children, and always do things for their children without their knowledge and experience.
The modern "Chen Biao" family is a typical example.
Chen Biao finally understood why he was so frightened. His emotions suddenly collapsed , which was completely unlike himself.
He simply loved the current atmosphere of his home and was afraid it would turn into a modern one. Even though he knew it was impossible, his current parents loved their children very much and were both simple, good people.
He rubbed it again and again, then turned around and glared at Wang Xi fiercely.
Chen Biao used a very rude look to tell Wang Xi, "Don't lead my dad astray, ah!"
Wang Xi: “…” Oh no, the young lord hates me.
Then Wang Xi was politely invited out by Zhu Yuanzhang and stood at the door of Chen's house to get some fresh air.
Ye Chen appeared by chance, invited Wang Xi into the carriage, and sent Wang Xi home.
In the carriage, Ye Chen asked, "What? Did you get humiliated?"
Wang Xi glanced at Ye Chen and asked, "Did you know this would happen?"
Ye Chen smiled: "Why do you say that?"
Wang Xi said, "I should have noticed something was wrong earlier. When the lord asked for help, you acted like a taciturn person. I stole all the limelight. It's totally unlike you."
Wang Xi slammed his thigh hard: "Did you know I would fail?!"
Ye Chen said, "I'm not a fortune teller, how could I have known this long ago? Why don't you say that I used you to test the relationship between the Lord and Biao'er. Do you know what it means that even a fair judge cannot judge family affairs? Without knowing the details of the Lord and Biao'er's relationship, you rashly intervened between them. I thought you had some foolproof plan, tsk tsk."
The look Wang Xi gave Ye Chen was like a poisoned knife.
Ye Chen laughed triumphantly.
As for intellectuals and strategists, even if they work together, they will try to cheat each other.
It’s harmless, it’s harmless, hahahahahahahaha.
Wang Xi snorted coldly, "Aren't you afraid that I'll cause problems in the relationship between the Lord and the Young Master?"
Ye Chen stopped laughing and shook his head: "No. Because judging by the outcome of this matter, it is indeed good for Biao'er. After a short time together, I can also see Biao'er's kindness and dependence on his family. As long as the starting point and end point of the Lord's doing this is to care for Biao'er, even if there are flaws in the process, Biao'er will not be alienated from his parents, but..."
Ye Chen sighed: "But I didn't expect that Biao'er would be so miserable. Why is Biao'er crying like this?"
Wang Xi said sarcastically, "You want to know what's going on in the Chen Mansion? Haven't you figured out everything? Figure it out yourself."
Ye Chen smiled and bowed, "Brother Zi Chong, don't be so angry. Although you failed in your first battle, even if you failed, you have intervened in the lord's family affairs and become closer to the lord's family. My retreat this time also means that I gave you the opportunity to get close to the lord's family. I will have to continue looking for opportunities in the future."
Wang Xi laughed angrily: "So, I am the one who got the upper hand?"
Ye Chen asked: "A good piece of ink?"
Wang Xi snorted coldly: "I can't afford it?"
Ye Chen said: "How about adding a piece of top-secret information I got from my clan brother?"
Wang Xi raised his eyebrows: "Oh, your brother knows the news, but my brother doesn't know it?"
Ye Chen said: "Your senior brother really doesn't know."
Wang Xi hesitated.
After a while, he said, "But what about the lord's news? The lord didn't ask your brother to tell anyone else, but your brother told you, and you told me. Is that really okay?"
Ye Chen smiled and said, "After coming into contact with Biao'er, you will know this sooner or later. It's just a matter of knowing it sooner or later. But don't you want to know it before your brother?"
The voice, appearance and smile of his senior brother flashed through Wang Xi’s mind (Song Lian: I’m not dead yet!), and he was very moved.
His senior brother knew Biao'er's identity before him, and he knew other things before him, so they were even.
Wang Xi straightened his sleeves and said, "You speak first."
Ye Chen said seriously, "Biao'er may be able to see some future scenes, which is why he is so afraid of the Lord. In the future that Biao'er sees, the Lord seems to have become completely isolated, and the scholars in the court are dominated by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism, talking about principles but not about achievements."
Wang Xi was puzzled. "It's fine if I'm alone; most founding emperors are like that. But with my lord's temperament, is he still capable of empty talk about nature and reason?"
Ye Chen said: "My lord once tried to form a clan alliance with Zhu Zi, but was rejected."
Wang Xi sighed, "In order to win over the literati, they opened the door to Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. But because our lord has read so little, he's been deceived by these empty-talking scholars. What about us in that future?"
Ye Chen said calmly: "Who knows? He might have died a long time ago. With our personalities... humph."
Wang Xi rolled his eyes at Ye Chen and said, "What do you mean by our personalities? My personality is completely different from yours."
Wang Xi was a gentleman. Ye Chen told him this important matter, and he also told Ye Chen about the unusual clinginess between the Zhu family father and son in the Chen Mansion.
Ye Chen laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back: "I didn't expect our lord to be so humble in front of Biao'er."
After laughing, Ye Chen sighed and said, "I really envy Biao'er."
Wang Xi nodded silently.
He knew that the relationship between the Zhu father and son was against common sense between father and son, but he was really envious.
Although he was not a true "child prodigy" like Chen Biao, he also had the reputation of being a child prodigy and knew a lot of things since he was a child.
But his parents always used the excuse of "you are still young" to make decisions for him that he disliked. When he became an adult, he began to rebel against his family's arrangements and took over Lu Zuqian's legacy without authorization.
Including Wang Xi himself, three generations of his family, including his grandfather and grandson, were all descendants of a wealthy family. Wang Xi also inherited the mantle of the school of practical achievements. It can be seen that although he said "your parents are doing this for your own good", in fact... well, his arrogance and opinions will not change because of the word "filial piety".
The same is true for Ye Chen. The smarter the child, the more independent they are and the sooner they will have disagreements with their parents.
Who doesn’t desire respect from their parents?
Wang Xi said, "My lord is a good father."
Ye Chen nodded: "A lord like this will become a lonely man in the future, how can I not believe it?"
Wang Xi's eyelids twitched, and he suddenly stood up, but his head hit the roof of the carriage. He squatted down holding his head in pain.
Ye Chen quickly pulled Wang Xi to his seat and asked, "What's wrong with you? Why are you suddenly so excited?"
Wang Xi covered his head and gritted his teeth in horror, saying, "Did Biao'er's vision of the future ever mention his own situation? It wasn't about Chen Biao, but about the future crown prince!"
Ye Chen shook his head: "Biao'er never said that. People may not be able to see their own future. I guess Biao'er can only return to his position when he is twenty years old, because after returning to his position, he can't see the future?"
Wang Xi asked anxiously, "Is that all?!"
Ye Chen asked: "You mean... is there something more serious?"
Wang Xi took a deep breath and lowered his voice, "There are only two possibilities for a founding emperor to become isolated. One is that he himself is afraid of his meritorious officials being more powerful than him, and the other is that he believes his successor cannot suppress them. Given our lord's bravery, which meritorious official can surpass our lord's achievements? Given Biaoer's intelligence, which meritorious official can suppress him?!"
Ye Chen frowned and pondered the meaning of Wang Wei's words, then stood up suddenly, his head hit the roof of the car with a "bang", and then he squatted down with his head in his hands and cried out in pain.
…
After Zhu Yuanzhang finished writing the letter of guarantee while holding his son, he left his name "Chen Guorui" and signed it in front of his son with his fingerprints: "Son, why are you unhappy? Daddy has signed it!"
Chen Biao blew the ink dry and carefully put away the letter of guarantee.
What is "Daddy"? The reduplication of words is disgusting.
He said, "I'm just not happy about being tied to the Marshal's heir. If anything happens to the Marshal's heir, won't I be buried with him..."
Zhu Yuanzhang was horrified and said, "How could you say such a thing? Ugh, bah! Go away, it's an unlucky thing! Children can't say anything wrong!"
Chen Biao said: "I'm just stating a possibility."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "That's impossible!"
Chen Biao asked, "What if?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "No ifs!"
Chen Biao was helpless: "Dad, don't let your emotions get in the way. I'm talking about serious matters! Let's analyze it carefully!"
Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to cover his ears and said that he didn't want to analyze this possibility.
But seeing his son's serious expression, he could only suppress his frustration and mutter, "If, if, you wouldn't be in any trouble. If you can't assist this one, then assist that one. But son, the Marshal's successor is very healthy, there's no way he'll be in any trouble!"
Seeing that his father was very reluctant to mention this matter, Chen Biao said "hmm" and didn't say anything else.
Zhu Yuanzhang breathed a sigh of relief and continued to repeat in his mind, "Children's words are without restraint."
Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his son's head and said, "Biao'er, why do you always think the worst? Even if... even if... that happens, the successor will still need assistance."
Chen Biao said: "If the new heir cannot suppress the ministers, I am afraid they will be eliminated."
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, "No matter who I get rid of, I won't get rid of you. Even if the heir changes again and again, you and the heir are of the same generation. How can the heir not be able to suppress you? Only senior and meritorious officials like your Uncle Xu and Uncle Li are worthy of being feared by the Marshal, right?"
(Xu Da, who was fighting, and Li Shanchang, who was busy with his official duties, sneezed at the same time.)
Chen Biao pinched his chubby chin and said, "That's true. But Dad, you are also a veteran."
Zhu Yuanzhang noticed his son's chin felt so good, so he pinched it too. "It's simple. I've read in history books that father and son can't both hold powerful positions at court. When you come of age, I'll retire and take your mother on a trip."
Chen Biao's eyes lit up: "Dad? Are you serious? Are you willing to do this?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said with a carefree smile, "Why would I be reluctant to leave? You've told your father so many interesting stories about overseas, and I really want to go out and see them. The world is so big, and if I'm confined to one place, then my life would be a real loss."
Zhu Yuanzhang was not joking.
After he conquered the land of China and gave it to his son to govern, he wanted to explore more distant places. It would be great if he could conquer more places and give them to his son.
Now that you have become an emperor, who doesn’t want to be the greatest emperor of all time?
Unfortunately, his predecessors had done almost everything they could to the extreme, and the era he lived in had not reached the time for the "creation of the world" as described in the Heavenly Book. He could only be one of the many emperors. Zhu Yuanzhang was very dissatisfied.
Even if he is the emperor, he wants to be the most powerful one together with his son!
Chen Biao thought about it and found that what his father said made a lot of sense.
As long as his family kept themselves safe, remained loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang, and stayed out of military power, even if the crown prince died, he would most likely be left to the crown prince's grandson by Zhu Yuanzhang...
Uh? Uh!
Chen Biao wiped the nonexistent cold sweat from his head. Leaving it to the Crown Prince didn't seem like a good idea either.
Forget it. Once Empress Ma and Prince Zhu die, he will find an excuse to take his whole family out to sea.
Chen Biao had been hesitating whether to tell his father, Empress Ma, and Prince Zhu, that they would die before Zhu Yuanzhang, causing Zhu Yuanzhang to become an old madman.
The reason he hesitated was that he was worried that his father would get scared and take his family to seek refuge with other people.
Many people say that the end of the Yuan Dynasty was a simple model and Zhu Yuanzhang was the emperor.
Chen Biao also thought so before he traveled through time.
But after understanding this era, he found that the end of the Yuan Dynasty was also a monstrous era. Zhu Yuanzhang won the world only because he was more powerful.
First of all, the Yuan Dynasty was not yet doomed at this moment.
Tuotuo was a rare and gifted general and a loyal minister to the Yuan Dynasty. Although he met his end at the hands of a tyrant emperor and was poisoned to death, the Yuan Dynasty saw the rise of Wang Baobao, a man of equal talent. The emperor's crown prince was also a formidable figure. With the emperor's death, the Yuan Dynasty would likely have recovered.
Then, Zhang Shicheng was a very powerful hero and talented general.
In the 14th year of Zhizheng (1354 AD), Prime Minister Toghto led a million troops to besiege Gaoyou City, intending to wipe out the peasant uprising led by Zhang Shicheng in one fell swoop.
Zhang Shicheng held Gaoyou for a hundred days, leaving only a few thousand soldiers and civilians in the city. He held on until Toghto was attacked by his political enemies and returned to Dadu. As soon as the Yuan army changed its general, Zhang Shicheng immediately took the risk and led thousands of soldiers and civilians to break out, defeating the Yuan army and defeating the larger force with a small force.
After the Battle of Gaoyou, the Yuan army switched from attacking to defending, and the southern part of the country was basically occupied by the rebels. If this battle were recorded in history books, it would definitely be called the "turning point" of the peasant uprising at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.
How could Zhang Shicheng be a mediocre person when he fought such a miraculous battle?
Let’s talk about the Han Song Dynasty and Chen Youliang.
Although the Han Song Dynasty is now losing ground, it had previously reached Shangdu; although Chen Youliang has not yet proclaimed himself emperor, he is also a victorious general like Chang Yuchun and Xu Da, with countless military achievements.
Now the territory under Zhu Yuanzhang is very safe, not because Zhu Yuanzhang is too strong, but because Zhu Yuanzhang is too weak, so weak that no one takes the initiative to deal with him.
A few months ago, Chen Biao's father was still nagging at Chen Biao that the Yuan army had attacked Han and Song, and then very politely drank with the envoys sent by Zhu Yuanzhang. The two sides had a friendly talk and returned with great satisfaction.
Look, no matter which force it is, they all keep Zhu Yuanzhang as a buffer zone in the middle.
Zhu Yuanzhang's efforts to liberate feet and implement the well-field system were treated as a joke by the surrounding forces.
At this time, no one believed that Zhu Yuanzhang could become a powerful figure unless he was a very capable person. This is why Xie Zaixing, a general who was stationed in a certain area, defected.
Chen Biao didn't know how Zhu Yuanzhang conquered the world, but he was definitely walking on thin ice and was trembling with fear. It was definitely not easy.
A small change could lead to Zhu Yuanzhang's failure, such as the defection of the Chen family, who controlled Zhu Yuanzhang's purse.
The Ming Dynasty established by Zhu Yuanzhang was not a good dynasty, or rather, all feudal dynasties were like this.
But what if Zhu Yuanzhang didn’t become the emperor?
Let the Yuan Dynasty successfully suppress the rebellion?
Let Han Song recover the territory of Song Huizong?
Let Zhang Shicheng, who always relies on the big landlords and wealthy businessmen for everything, become the emperor?
Let Chen Youliang, who showed his ostentatious side even before becoming the leader, establish a dynasty?
Or let this chaotic world continue for a few more decades?
No matter how selfish Chen Biao was, he could not bear to watch this chaotic world of hell on earth any longer.
No matter how bad the Ming Dynasty was, it was still better than the chaotic times at the end of the Yuan Dynasty.
If Chen Guorui had wanted to become emperor, Chen Biao could have been motivated to change history. However, Chen Guorui's character was too honest and kind, making him completely impossible to become emperor. So Chen Biao gave up on this idea.
Therefore, Chen Biao just subtly taught his father to be cautious and not to be arrogant and domineering, to treat Zhu Yuanzhang as the emperor in advance and to serve him well, and then to set up businesses overseas.
As a result, Chen Biao hesitated for a moment and actually tied himself to Prince Zhu.
Chen Biao had a terrible headache. If only he knew when Prince Zhu would die, he wouldn't hesitate so much at every step.
Zhu Yuanzhang noticed that his son was distracted, so he gently pinched his little face and said, "Biao'er, what are you worried about?"
Chen Biao probed, "I said maybe. I mean maybe. If Marshal Zhu is determined to go crazy in the future and indiscriminately kills meritorious officials, implicating countless people, and our family will also be implicated, will you rebel against Zhu Yuanzhang now?"
Zhu Yuanzhang pretended to ponder for a moment and said, "If this is the future you foresee, Biao'er, then I will definitely make preparations for both scenarios. You just said that the well-field system is to reduce the surplus and provide for the deficient, and I agree. If we take all the Chen family's wealth and surrender to Zhang Shicheng, Zhang Shicheng and Xu Shouhui will probably be able to quickly capture Yingtian."
Chen Biao: "...You really want to rebel against Marshal Zhu?"
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled and said, "I was just kidding."
Chen Biao twisted Zhu Yuanzhang's arm fiercely: "Dad! I'm asking you a serious question!"
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and rubbed Chen Biao's head, then sighed: "Biao'er, in the fragments of the future you saw, will the Marshal indiscriminately kill meritorious officials?"
Chen Biao whispered, "Yeah."
Zhu Yuanzhang had a terrible headache.
Who was he going to kill? He couldn't just go and kill Chen Guorui, who didn't exist. He wasn't really going to kill Xu Da, was he? Or was it Tang He who got drunk and messed up again, so he just executed Tang He out of tears?
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "No matter how much I tell you that the Marshal isn't that kind of person, you still don't believe me? Do the Marshal's current actions really align with the fragments of the future you saw? Biao'er, don't be blinded by prophecies. We need to judge for ourselves based on the present."
Chen Biao thought about what Zhu Yuanzhang was doing and felt a little guilty: "That's right, Marshal Zhu is different from what I dreamed of."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "So the more distant future you see may not necessarily come true, right? Since we can see the future, we can change it."
He rubbed Chen Biao's head, immersed in the play, and said earnestly: "Biao'er, you may resent your father for playing with the lives of our family, but there are things that are more important than our lives. I think among all the heroes in this chaotic world, only the Marshal has the appearance of a wise ruler who cares about the people."
After Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he began to brag about himself.
He boasted about his background and his military talents, his empathy for the people in government affairs, and his courage in breaking with the orthodox Neo-Confucianism in order to do the right thing.
Zhu Yuanzhang spoke eloquently and incessantly. He praised himself to the skies and his face was flushed.
That’s right, I’m that awesome, I’m the wise ruler destined by heaven, I, Old Zhu, am so awesome that I don’t even know how to brag about it!
Alas, I'm so outstanding. I'm so proud!
Chen Biao's head was buzzing and he covered his ears with his hands.
Stop reciting, stop reciting, Master Chen, stop reciting.
I was wrong. I knew my dad was a Zhu Yuanzhang fanatic, a die-hard Zhu Yuanzhang fanboy. But I never imagined he had evolved into a complete die-hard fanboy.
If it were modern times, my father would probably write a short essay every day praising Zhu Yuanzhang and search Zhu Yuanzhang's name frequently on Weibo. If anyone said something bad about Zhu Yuanzhang, he would fight with the person for eight hundred rounds and scold them until they deleted their blog and changed their name.
Brainless fans are unacceptable! Dad! Be rational!
Chen Biao felt that he had no choice but to tell this secret.
If he doesn't remind his father, his father's stubborn brain will be completely infected with the Zhu Yuanzhang virus.
Chen Biao said weakly, "Dad, shut up and listen to me."
Zhu Yuanzhang closed his mouth with a hint of regret and said, "Son, go ahead. But if you say anything bad about the Marshal, I will argue with you to the end!"
Chen Biao's mouth twitched. Hmmmm, Zhu Yuanzhang's die-hard fans will never admit defeat, right?
He sighed, "Yes, yes, the current Marshal is perfect. But people always change."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I believe that the Marshal can overcome everything!"
Chen Biao said quietly, "What if Madam Ma died early?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "No problem, he will definitely be able to overcome it...ah?!"
Zhu Yuanzhang quickly lifted his son's armpits and looked him straight in the eyes, saying, "Son! Don't take this as a joke!"
Chen Biao said, "It is said that Madam Ma has given birth to too many children and has damaged her health."
Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned pale instantly when he thought about his wife who had given birth to one, two, three and was pregnant with a fourth.
Zhu Yuanzhang said in a trembling voice, "This, this... I, I will find a famous doctor for Madam Ma right now! But son, this, this, this is determined by fate. It's normal for a couple to die first and then the other. The Marshal will definitely be able to overcome it! He won't go crazy, for sure!"
Chen Biao said calmly, "Yes... indeed. What about the elderly sending off the young?"
Zhu Yuanzhang: "...Biao'er, do you know what you are talking about?"
Chen Biao kicked his short legs in the air and said, "Dad, put me down first. I'm afraid you'll throw me down later."
Zhu Yuanzhang placed Chen Biao steadily on the ground with trembling hands.
Chen Biao moved a little further away from his father before lowering his voice and saying, "Do you know why the Marshal slaughtered his meritorious officials in his later years? Because his eldest son, the extremely powerful Crown Prince, died young! The Marshal was worried that the next heir wouldn't be able to control the founding heroes, and he had no other choice."
"So, Dad, you're actually right. Marshal Zhu isn't a bad guy right now. And while the prince is alive, as long as we keep a low profile, there won't be any problems in the future. But once the prince dies early, we should hurry to sea."
"I admit that only the Marshal can pacify this world. So we must not defect now. We still have to be the founding heroes. We just need to make plans early and find a way out."
"Dad, keep this to yourself and don't tell anyone else... Dad... Dad?!"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyelids fluttered and he fainted.