“Who was the idiot who invented building steps outside the front door?! I’m going to curse him to death!” Chen Biao roared in his childish little tiger voice, clutching the huge bump on the back of his head.
Zhu Yuanzhang anxiously wiped away tears. “Curse him! Curse him! Daddy will help you curse him! Doctor! Doctor! Hurry and examine my Biao’er’s head! If you can’t cure him, I’ll chop your head off!”
Chen Biao pulled the Heavenly Book from his arms and smacked it squarely into Zhu Yuanzhang’s face with a slap before stuffing it back into his robe.
“You’re not allowed to talk to doctors like that! What do you mean you’ll chop his head off? Doctors can cure illnesses, not fate itself! If failing to cure someone means getting killed, who would ever dare become a doctor again?!”
Enduring the throbbing pain in his head, Chen Biao climbed off the couch and bowed respectfully to the white-bearded physician.
“Doctor, I’m sorry. My father speaks before he thinks. I apologize on his behalf…”
Everyone in the room had been worried sick about Chen Biao. Seeing this, they all turned reproachful eyes toward Zhu Yuanzhang.
Marshal! Look at your son! Can’t you learn something from him?!
Embarrassed, Zhu Yuanzhang stammered, “I-I was just too worried. My apologies, Doctor… Biao’er, save some face for your father!”
Chen Biao planted his hands on his hips.
“When it comes to matters of right and wrong, neither of us gets to save face!… Ow, my head’s spinning.”
He plopped back onto the cushioned couch, clutching his head with both hands.
The doctor had been frightened by Zhu Yuanzhang earlier, but Chen Biao’s heartfelt apology made him unable to suppress a smile. He immediately took a liking to the child.
He gently pulled Chen Biao into his arms, carefully examined the large bump on the back of his head, massaged it, then even pressed his ear against it to listen before finally saying,
“Fortunately, neither the bone nor anything inside was injured.”
Only after delivering a long, scholarly explanation did the physician finally begin writing a prescription and preparing treatment.
Chen Biao buried his face in a soft cotton pillow, exposing the swollen back of his head for the doctor to insert acupuncture needles to disperse the bruised blood.
He couldn’t understand most of what the physician was saying, but based on his limited medical knowledge, he figured it was just a mild concussion. With proper rest and the bruise treated, he’d be fine.
Children’s skulls were soft. As long as there wasn’t a fracture, an occasional tumble wasn’t a big problem.
The doctor had been worried Chen Biao would cry.
When the needles pierced his scalp, tears indeed welled up and trickled down his cheeks. But he bit down hard on the cotton pillow, and even after his head was covered with countless silver needles, he didn’t make a single sound.
Looking at all those silver needles sticking out of his son’s head, Zhu Yuanzhang’s vision darkened. Li Zhen had to steady him to keep him from fainting.
When he himself was wounded, military doctors could scrape poison from his bones without making him so much as frown. Yet now, seeing silver needles in his son’s head nearly made him pass out.
Even the physician couldn’t help praising him.
“This is the first child I’ve ever seen who neither cried nor fussed during acupuncture.”
Chen Biao spat out the pillow he’d been biting, turned his head slightly, and gave the physician a weak smile through teary eyes.
“Th-thank you for the compliment.”
As he turned, the long, slender silver needles in his head swayed gently.
Zhu Yuanzhang shuddered violently, quickly looked away, and felt another wave of dizziness.
The physician looked both amused and sympathetic.
“No need to thank me. Endure it a little longer. It’ll be over soon.”
Seeing his father covering his eyes, Chen Biao mischievously shook his head.
“It doesn’t hurt once the needles are in.”
Zhu Yuanzhang sucked in a sharp breath.
“Don’t shake your head! Be careful!”
Chen Biao deliberately shook it again.
Zhu Yuanzhang shouted, “Biao’er! Keep fooling around and I’ll tell your mother!”
Chen Biao stuck his tongue out at him before obediently lying back down.
The physician looked from Zhu Yuanzhang to the child lying on the pillow and sighed inwardly.
What a wonderfully filial child. Even while injured himself, he deliberately acted naughty just to cheer up his distressed father.
Everyone else thought the same. Li Bao’er, who was especially emotional, had already begun wiping away tears.
Only Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Biao knew the truth.
Filial my foot. Chen Biao was deliberately provoking Zhu Yuanzhang.
Once the dizziness and headache eased, Chen Biao actually fell asleep wearing an entire crown of silver needles.
Watching his son’s little face tilt to one side, mouth slightly open, even drooling in his sleep, Zhu Yuanzhang became so annoyed he wanted to poke him awake.
Li Zhen immediately grabbed Zhu Yuanzhang’s hand and shot him a disapproving glare.
Li Zhen had always been gentle and cautious. Although he had helped the young Zhu Yuanzhang many times in the past—without him, Zhu Yuanzhang would likely have starved to death—he had never used that kindness to seek repayment or exploit his family ties for personal gain. Zhu Yuanzhang respected him deeply.
Now that Li Zhen finally put on the authority of an elder brother-in-law, Zhu Yuanzhang shrank his neck and obediently withdrew his hand.
“This kid… I was worried sick, and he actually fell asleep.”
Li Zhen said, “If the pain had kept him awake, that would be something to worry about.”
Everyone present nodded vigorously. Even Zhu Yuanzhang’s two adopted sons nodded so hard they nearly bobbed their heads off.
The physician added, “Being able to sleep is a good sign. The medicine I’ve prescribed is rather bitter. If he truly can’t drink it, let me know and I’ll adjust the prescription.”
Zhu Yuanzhang asked anxiously, “Then why not prescribe medicine that isn’t bitter?”
The doctor sighed helplessly.
“Good medicine tastes bitter. Medicines that aren’t bitter simply aren’t as effective.”
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.
“Isn’t there medicine that’s both effective and not bitter?”
Li Zhen immediately scolded him.
“Guorui! Don’t make things difficult for the doctor! If such medicine existed, why wouldn’t he prescribe it?”
Zhu Yuanzhang froze.
“…Y-You’re right.”
Remembering what Chen Biao had said earlier, he cupped his hands toward the physician.
“I’m sorry. I was so anxious I lost my head.”
The physician shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
He had long grown accustomed to the Marshal’s explosive temper. What surprised him was how gentle Zhu Yuanzhang became around his son—even apologizing.
The doctor cast another deep glance at the child sleeping on the little bed.
Today, in his panic over his son’s injury, the Marshal had dragged him here in such haste that he’d inadvertently exposed the child’s identity.
From now on, it seemed he would have no choice but to remain by the Marshal’s side as his personal physician.
With a silent sigh of resignation, the doctor went next door to brew the medicine.
…
When Chen Biao woke up, Zhu Yuanzhang was already holding a bowl of bitter medicine, intending to feed it to him personally.
Chen Biao was deeply touched.
Then he firmly refused.
His father’s rough hands weren’t exactly suited for feeding medicine. He’d probably choke him to death.
Instead, Chen Biao took the bowl himself. The medicine was already at the right temperature.
He lowered his head and took one sip, scrunched up his little face, gagged dramatically, then took another sip.
After finally finishing the bowl, he shoved it into Zhu Yuanzhang’s hands, accepted the honey water from Li Zhen, and gulped it down in one go.
“I’m alive again. Burp! That medicine was so bitter!”
Zhu Yuanzhang solemnly declared,
“Good medicine tastes bitter.”
Li Zhen glanced sideways at him.
Now you know that? Why were you making life difficult for the doctor earlier?
“I know, I know,” Chen Biao wailed. “Knowing doesn’t stop me from complaining. That medicine was so bitter!”
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed helplessly.
“Yes, yes. Very bitter, very bitter. What would you like to eat? Daddy will have the cook make you something delicious.”
Chen Biao rubbed the soft fat on his stomach and said gloomily,
“Dad… I’ve rolled around on the ground several times this month.”
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head guiltily.
“Mm.”
He began reflecting on himself.
Chen Biao frowned deeply.
“Am I getting too round?”
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately admitted fault.
“It’s Daddy’s fault… Huh?”
Chen Biao pinched the soft flesh around his waist.
“I know I haven’t hit my growth spurt yet, so being chubby is normal… but should I start exercising more? What if I stay this round when I grow up?”
Zhu Yuanzhang replied,
“Round is good! Round means you’re blessed!”
Chen Biao rolled his eyes.
Blessed my foot. He had no intention of becoming a fat little dumpling.
Decision made.
Starting tomorrow, he’d do radio calisthenics every day to stay in shape.
“Hm? Why am I getting sleepy again?”
He rubbed his eyes.
Li Zhen explained,
“The medicine has calming and sleep-inducing effects. If you’re sleepy, go ahead and sleep. Once the meal is ready, your uncle will wake you.”
Chen Biao yawned.
“Okay.”
…
Watching his son fall asleep again, Zhu Yuanzhang cautiously reached out a hand.
Li Zhen immediately stopped him.
“What are you trying to do?”
Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the corner of the Heavenly Book peeking out from Chen Biao’s embrace and mumbled,
“I wasn’t trying to do anything.”
Li Zhen lowered his voice.
“I heard Bao’er say you nearly went mad after reading the Heavenly Book.”
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled awkwardly.
“I didn’t go mad… I was just… a little excited.”
Li Zhen said,
“I don’t know what was written in that book to excite you so much, but you’d better ask Biao’er for permission first. If something happens to you because of that book, what will become of Biao’er and your wife?”
Zhu Yuanzhang slowly withdrew his hand.
“All right.”
After thinking for a moment, Li Zhen continued,
“When Biao’er came looking for you, he said he was worried you’d reveal the contents of the Heavenly Book to Marshal Zhu. Judging from his reaction, what he feared was that if Marshal Zhu read it, the Chen family would be exterminated. So after he wakes up, ask him properly. Promise him you won’t let Marshal Zhu see the book. He’ll probably agree to let you continue reading.”
Zhu Yuanzhang pointed at himself.
“But… I am Marshal Zhu.”
Li Zhen slowly raised an eyebrow.
“Aren’t you Chen Guorui?”
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head in thought.
Then he nodded vigorously.
“That’s right. I’m Chen Guorui!”
An almost invisible smile appeared at the corner of Li Zhen’s lips. He patted Zhu Yuanzhang on the shoulder, took the empty medicine bowl from him, and quietly left.
…
Resting his chin on one hand, Zhu Yuanzhang quietly admired his son’s sleeping face.
The longer he looked, the sleepier he became.
So he kicked off his shoes and socks, removed his outer robe, squeezed onto the couch beside his son, and lay down as well.
Half asleep, Chen Biao mumbled something unintelligible, wriggled around, and instinctively made half the space available for his father.
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang settled down, Chen Biao ignored the lingering summer heat, rolled over, and burrowed straight into his father’s arms.
Wrapping one arm around his son, Zhu Yuanzhang sprawled out and promptly began snoring.
…
Just then, a tremendous clap of thunder split the sky.
The clouds that had gathered during yesterday’s memorial for Yangzhou’s dead finally released their burden.
It began to rain.
That year, severe drought gripped the land. Even Jiangsu and Zhejiang, famed as regions of rivers and lakes, had gone many days without rain, surviving only on water drawn from rivers and lakes.
Years of warfare had left the old irrigation systems abandoned.
Farmers could only carry water on shoulder poles and by hand. How much land could they possibly irrigate that way?
Besides, with bandits and armies roaming everywhere, venturing even a little farther from home could mean running into raiders.
…
Although the memorial ceremony had ended, the eighteen remaining households of Yangzhou still came to the stone monument the next day, silently burning paper offerings beneath the cypress grove for their dead friends and neighbors.
When thunder rolled overhead, they raised their heads.
Raindrops landed on their faces—cool at first, then strangely warm.
“It’s raining…”
“It hasn’t rained in over a month, has it?”
“Has the Dragon King finally answered our prayers?”
“But… we never prayed to the Dragon King for rain. Why would he suddenly bless us?”
Several Red Turban soldiers hurried over carrying bark raincoats.
“You’re all in poor health. Don’t survive everything only to catch a chill from the rain.”
The elderly survivors gratefully accepted the raincoats, thanking them repeatedly.
One Red Turban soldier gazed up at the sky.
“Have they finally cried? Good. Once they cry, they can finally ascend.”
The old people froze.
They looked up once more.
Today’s rain was a sunshower.
The rain fell heavily, yet sunlight still streamed through gaps in the clouds, illuminating the earth.
Every curtain of rain shimmered with rainbow colors.
Looking through the rain toward the dark clouds above, even the gloomy clouds seemed transformed into auspicious rainbow clouds.
Wrapped in their raincoats, the old people tilted their faces upward, allowing the warm raindrops to flow down their cheeks.
“Y-Yes… they’ve finally cried tears of joy.”
Another peal of thunder shook the heavens.
…
Song Lian and Ye Zheng, wearing rain capes and carrying yellow spirit paper, had also come to pay their respects before the monument. They arrived just in time to witness the scene.
Since the Han dynasty, Confucian scholars had believed in the correspondence between Heaven and mankind.
The great drought across the realm reflected the Yuan dynasty’s loss of virtue.
Then… could this rain over Yangzhou be Heaven’s response to Zhu Yuanzhang’s great vow?
“Master Song, Master Ye, the rain is getting heavier. Shouldn’t we find shelter first?” Chang Yuchun asked worriedly, afraid the two esteemed scholars might fall ill.
Song Lian, somewhat aloof because of Chang Yuchun’s bandit background and his poor impression of Lan Yu, merely nodded without much enthusiasm.
Ye Zheng, however, had spent years traveling among villages teaching. He was far more tolerant of people like Chang Yuchun.
In his eyes, they were precisely the people who most needed education, so they would not commit even greater evils in the future.
He said,
“General Chang, do you think this rain came because of Marshal Zhu’s great vow?”
Chang Yuchun looked puzzled.
“A great vow?”
Ye Zheng nodded.
“I’ve heard you were once an ordinary farmer. Even if banditry guaranteed food, surely no one willingly chooses a life balanced on a knife’s edge unless forced.”
“Of course not.”
“When people are not driven to desperation, they do not willingly become evil spirits. Marshal Zhu made a vow that no one in this world should ever again be forced into such despair and become unwilling demons.”
Chang Yuchun looked silently toward the sky.
He wanted to say something.
But no words came.
When he first pledged himself to Zhu Yuanzhang, he had said that Zhu possessed extraordinary ambition and talent, and that he wished to follow him to earn a future.
What he hadn’t said was this:
While following Liu Ju as bandits, they had encountered Yuan armies, other Red Turban forces, Xu Shouhui’s army, Zhang Shicheng’s army, Han Song’s army…
Every one of those armies was little different from the bandits themselves.
Only when he reached Hezhou and encountered Zhu Yuanzhang’s army besieging the city did he discover soldiers who actually maintained discipline and refrained from harming civilians.
That was why he chose Zhu Yuanzhang.
At the time, Chang Yuchun had believed that Zhu Yuanzhang’s ability to restrain his troops from behaving like bandits proved he possessed great ambition.
Was that truly the reason?
Even if it was…
Why had he instinctively believed that cherishing the common people was the mark of great ambition?
The increasingly heavy rain finally pulled Chang Yuchun from his thoughts.
He cupped his fists toward Ye Zheng.
“Master… if I begin studying now, which book should I start with?”
A smile spread across Ye Zheng’s face, while Song Lian also turned toward Chang Yuchun.
“Can you read? If not, perhaps you could borrow the illustrated literacy book that the Chen family’s Biao’er drew for his younger brothers from Master Li. Don’t underestimate the child’s age—even I never thought of creating such an entertaining primer.”
Song Lian added,
“The literacy book Biao’er created actually teaches history through stories. For ordinary children, beginning with the Three Character Classic or the Thousand Character Classic might be more suitable. But since you’re studying to understand principles rather than pass examinations, learning from history first, supplemented by the classics, may benefit you more.”
Unable to restrain himself, Lan Yu blurted out,
“But Chen Biao is only five years old!”
Song Lian replied coldly,
“’When three walk together, one can surely be my teacher.’ Even a five-year-old may possess strengths beyond others. Why shouldn’t one learn from a child? You yourself still can’t read, while Biao’er has already studied for several years.”
“But…”
“Lan Yu.”
Chang Yuchun interrupted sharply.
“Master Li intends to have Biao’er teach the children of the army’s officers. You’ll be one of his students someday. Don’t speak carelessly.”
Lan Yu felt as though he’d been struck by lightning.
Me?
A five-year-old?
Teaching me?
I… I…!
Chang Yuchun bowed again.
“Thank you for your guidance, Masters Ye and Song. Once I return to Yingtian, I’ll immediately borrow those books from Master Li.”
He paused, remembering the rumors within the army that Chen Guorui had arrived in Yangzhou and was staying next door to Xu Da.
Perhaps… he could simply pay Chen Guorui a visit instead.
Song Lian nodded approvingly.
“It’s good that you possess such determination.”
Then he turned to look at Lan Yu.
Hopeless wood.
Ye Zheng also smiled at Chang Yuchun.
“The rain is getting heavier, General Chang. Let us return.”
Then he, too, glanced toward Lan Yu.
Hopeless wood.
Lan Yu: “…”
Though he couldn’t hear their thoughts, he could clearly read the disdain in their eyes.
From the time he could run and jump, Lan Yu had followed Chang Yuchun first as a little bandit, then as a soldier, living every day with his life on the line.
At long last, his brother-in-law had become a Grand Marshal. His own future should finally improve.
The second-generation sons of Red Turban officers, who had once looked down on him, had begun treating him as a friend and inviting him along.
Yet the very first time those friends encouraged him into acting like a domineering bully…
He got beaten senseless.
His brother-in-law was disappointed in him.
The Marshal thought poorly of him.
Even the newly arrived scholars disliked him.
At only fifteen years old, Lan Yu found himself completely lost.
…
The thunder and rain woke Chen Biao.
He kicked at Zhu Yuanzhang, who had him wrapped in an iron embrace.
It didn’t budge him.
So Chen Biao pinched his father’s nose shut instead.
After a few muffled grunts, Zhu Yuanzhang jerked awake.
“Biao’er! You’re being naughty again!”
Before even opening his eyes, he already knew it was his son.
Chen Biao wriggled free from his father’s embrace.
“It’s blazing hot, and you’re hugging me so tightly you’re trying to cook me alive. Huh? Dad! It’s raining! It’s raining! It’s raining!”
Zhu Yuanzhang sprang out of bed in a single leap, scooped up his son with one arm, and charged outside, grinning so broadly that only his teeth could be seen.
“It really is raining!”
Seeing the downpour, Zhu Yuanzhang became so overjoyed that he hoisted his son onto his shoulders and started dancing some bizarre little jig.
In Jiangsu and Zhejiang, rice was generally harvested twice a year.
The early rice had already been harvested, and it was now time to transplant the late rice.
Rice seedlings required tremendous amounts of water.
The drought had worried Zhu Yuanzhang so much that he had even slowed his military offensives, sending soldiers to dig irrigation canals instead.
This rainfall would ease the drought affecting the late rice crop.
There was hope for a good harvest in the second half of the year.
For once, Chen Biao didn’t mind how thick Zhu Yuanzhang’s neck was.
Sitting atop his father’s shoulders, he hugged Zhu Yuanzhang’s head while his little legs dangling over his chest swung back and forth as if dancing too.
“We’re about to reclaim all the abandoned farmland around Yangzhou. This rain saves us so much work! Dad, hurry and tell Marshal Zhu to gather the refugees and distribute farmland!”
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded enthusiastically.
“They’re already being gathered!”
The father and son celebrated for quite a while before Li Zhen finally came looking for them to eat.
…
Children recovered quickly.
After another nap, although the bump on Chen Biao’s head remained, he was otherwise back to normal.
Ancient times were boring, with few forms of entertainment.
So Chen Biao ordered Zhu Yuanzhang to carry him into the study.
Zhu Yuanzhang read aloud while Chen Biao listened, wrote calculations, and helped organize the account books.
Chen Biao complained,
“Has Marshal Zhu run out of people? Why are there more and more account books piling up on your desk?”
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.
“We really are short on people. There are too few who can both read and calculate. I’m doing the work of two people.”
As both “Marshal Zhu” and “Chen Guorui,” Zhu Yuanzhang was literally doing two jobs by himself.
Chen Biao paused with his brush.
“You didn’t tell the Marshal about training literate people within the army?”
“I did, I did. The Marshal assigned the task to me. But I’ve got so many things piled up that I haven’t figured out where to begin yet.”
Chen Biao put down his brush and sighed.
“You’re taking on so much work. Aren’t you worried you’ll become too meritorious and threaten your lord?”
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled.
“Can I possibly have more work than Master Li?”
Thinking of Li Shanchang constantly buried under work, Chen Biao nodded.
“That’s true… but you’re still a military commander. Military officers leading troops aren’t the same as civil officials.”
Stretching out one arm, Zhu Yuanzhang pulled his chubby son into his embrace and waggled his eyebrows.
“Biao’er, let me tell you something. Your Uncle Xu is actually an incredible person.”
Chen Biao asked,
“How incredible? Don’t tell me you’re about to say Uncle Xu has another name outside… Xu Da?”
Zhu Yuanzhang froze.
Chen Biao blinked.
“?”
Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his son’s chubby cheeks.
“How did you know?”
Chen Biao’s jaw dropped so wide it nearly dislocated.
Laughing, Zhu Yuanzhang pushed it shut by hand.
“So you didn’t know.”
Chen Biao shook his head so hard it looked like a rattle drum.
Grinning mischievously, Zhu Yuanzhang said,
“Looks like my immortal son isn’t quite as clever as he thinks. Listen carefully—Xu Da, Xu Da. Isn’t ‘Xu Da’ and ‘Old Xu’ pronounced almost the same?”
Chen Biao fell silent.
So… that’s how it is!
But…
“But everyone only calls him Uncle Xu or Old Xu! Nobody ever said he was Grand Marshal Xu Da! That’s such important information! Xu Da is so famous! How come I’ve never heard anyone mention it? Uncle Xu is Grand Marshal Xu Da? You all hid it from me on purpose?”
Of course we hid it from you on purpose, Zhu Yuanzhang thought.
Actually, Xu Da and Tang He didn’t really need to keep their identities secret.
But Zhu Yuanzhang had deliberately concealed them so that whenever his own disguise was in danger of being exposed, he could peel off their disguises instead and let them take the blame.
Now that his precious son had stumbled into the truth on his own, Zhu Yuanzhang intended to let him oversee Yangzhou’s affairs.
His own face was simply too well known.
The identity of Chen Guorui couldn’t appear before the public.
Grand Marshal Xu Da’s identity, however, could be put to good use.
Zhu Yuanzhang shamelessly argued,
“Does something like that really need explaining? Who goes around introducing themselves at home by their official title? Are they asking to get beaten?”
Remembering how his father and uncles constantly settled things with fists whenever they got together, Chen Biao actually found himself persuaded.
Xu Da: I am Grand Marshal Xu Da!
Tang Bayi and Chen Guorui: That’s exactly why we’re beating you!
Chen Biao clutched his head tightly.
Stop fighting, stop fighting…
At this rate, Grand Marshal Xu Da was going to end up becoming the Heavenly Grand Marshal instead.
Zhu Yuanzhang said confidently, “See? But Biao’er, you should’ve figured it out long ago. Back when us Huaixi brothers were dirt-poor, none of us even had proper names. Once we went out to conquer the world, of course we’d change them. Now guess who Tang Bayi really is?”
Chen Biao hugged his head and replied irritably, “Who else could a man surnamed Tang who’s close to Grand Marshal Xu Da be? It’s Tang He. Based on his achievements, he could’ve become a Grand Marshal himself. But because he loved his drink too much and repeatedly delayed military operations after getting drunk, he ended up getting overtaken by that big fool Chang Yuchun.”
Laughing, Zhu Yuanzhang scooped his son up and tossed him lightly into the air.
“My son is absolutely right! Tang He is a complete fool!”
Chen Biao spread all four limbs, looking like a little flying turtle.
Afraid of dropping him, Zhu Yuanzhang tossed him only a short distance this time. Catching him securely, he said, “You should nag him more. If he doesn’t fix that habit, it’ll definitely cause a huge disaster someday.”
Chen Biao rolled his eyes.
“The Grand Marshal’s told him. All you brothers have told him. Did it help? No. So why do you think he’ll listen to me?”
Zhu Yuanzhang slapped his forehead.
“You’re right. Forget him. Anyway, Biao’er, don’t worry. If the Grand Marshal ever starts executing officials whose merit overshadows their lord’s, he’ll chop off your Uncle Li and Uncle Xu before he gets to us. Once they’re in trouble, we’ll resign and run away. There’ll still be time.”
The corners of Chen Biao’s mouth twitched.
Dad, you spend all day praising your wise teachers and loyal brothers, but you’re actually waiting for them to become your early warning system? When you say you’d take a knife for your brothers, you mean stabbing each brother once in both sides.
For the first time, Chen Biao realized his father might actually be the kind of seemingly honest man who was secretly dark-hearted.
Hopefully none of his brothers had discovered his true nature yet.
“Fine, fine. Since Uncle Xu can shield us, you really can act a little more freely.”
Chen Biao remembered that Xu Da’s daughter would one day marry Zhu Di. If the Xu family survived Zhu Yuanzhang’s bloody political purges in his later years, clinging to them should guarantee a promising future.
…No, forget it.
Better to sail overseas.
Both Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di were tyrants. Serving an emperor was like living beside a tiger. Serving a tyrant was like living beside a rabid tiger. Whether you’d survive depended entirely on fate.
Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed Chen Biao’s head.
“Exactly. With your Uncle Xu covering for us, you don’t need to be so cautious. Whatever happens, your Uncle Xu will help. This time, everything in Yangzhou is being handled by your Uncle Xu and me, so Biao’er, you…”
Chen Biao interrupted him, drawing out every word.
“Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm. You want me to help, don’t you? Okaaay! I’ll heeelp!”
Zhu Yuanzhang became suspicious.
“Biao’er, why did you agree so quickly this time?”
Chen Biao sighed helplessly.
“Dad, Yangzhou’s already in such terrible shape. Even if your son is selfish and overly cautious, I still have a conscience, okay?”
He patted his chest.
Unfortunately, he accidentally knocked the Heavenly Book out from inside his clothes.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes instantly went wide.
Chen Biao hurriedly hugged the book back.
“Dad! Don’t go crazy again!”
Embarrassed, Zhu Yuanzhang said, “I wasn’t crazy. I was just… a little excited.”
Chen Biao looked puzzled.
“What exactly did you see that got you so worked up?”
After a moment of silence, Zhu Yuanzhang answered, “That… historical materialism thing. I read the parts explaining class contradictions in feudal society… The Heavenly Book is hard to understand overall, but those sections were strangely easy. Was the book deliberately letting me understand them?”
Chen Biao looked speechless.
“Dad, the truth is… those parts are just written in plain language.”
Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled.
“Is that so? Sigh… Biao’er, why can’t the Grand Marshal read this book?”
Patting the Heavenly Book, Chen Biao replied, “Because once you’ve read it, you’ll understand that the future this book points toward is a future without emperors. The Grand Marshal is destined to become Emperor one day. Do you expect him to overthrow his own dynasty? How many lives do we have for him to execute?”
Zhu Yuanzhang stroked Chen Biao’s head, looking dejected.
“Then why did you bring out the Heavenly Book now?”
Instead of answering, Chen Biao opened the book, pointed at the first passage, and began explaining the parts Zhu Yuanzhang hadn’t understood.
Productive forces.
Relations of production.
Combined with examples from history, Chen Biao patiently explained them one by one.
The fog inside Zhu Yuanzhang’s mind gradually dispersed, and the more he understood, the more stirred his heart became.
After lecturing for over two hours, drinking several large cups of water, and stopping to use the toilet several times, Chen Biao finally managed to explain the simplest principles of historical materialism clearly.
“Do you understand now? Dad, this book belongs to the future, not the present. I didn’t write it for the Grand Marshal, and I didn’t write it for you either. I wrote it for people hundreds of years from now.”
His expression turned cold.
“To put it bluntly, I wrote it for the people who will rise in rebellion after the Grand Marshal’s dynasty eventually declines.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyelids twitched.
“Hundreds of years later… the Grand Marshal’s dynasty will fall.”
By then…
Would the Zhu family have become just like the rotten Yuan emperors of today?
Hadn’t that fortune-teller said Biao’er would ensure everlasting prosperity for the Zhu family?
Didn’t everlasting prosperity mean ruling forever?
Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head hard, throwing away the distracting thoughts.
“After reading this book, I think I finally understand why no dynasty can last forever.”
Chen Biao raised a chubby finger and waved it.
“Not necessarily. The Emperor of Japan next door has an unbroken imperial line lasting thousands of years.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes lit up.
“Really?!”
Chen Biao nodded.
“Really.”
After Chen Biao explained what Japan’s so-called eternal imperial line actually meant, Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his enormous fist and held it over his son’s head.
If not for the bump still sticking out from the back of Chen Biao’s head, that fist would definitely have come crashing down.
This brat’s messing with me on purpose!
Chen Biao spread his hands.
“Dad, just grab any Japanese pirate and ask him. You’ll know I’m not lying.”
“Oh.”
Holding his son in his arms, Zhu Yuanzhang vigorously rubbed his head, claiming he was helping massage away the swelling.
Chen Biao ignored his suddenly childish father.
He continued opening the book and explaining historical materialism.
Knowing only half of it would make his father develop unrealistic expectations.
Once he explained everything clearly, his father would realize that the knowledge inside the book simply couldn’t be applied in the present age.
Chen Biao was still only a child. After talking for another half hour, he started nodding off.
Zhu Yuanzhang tucked him into bed.
After coaxing him to sleep, he carried the Heavenly Book next door to continue reading.
Since Zhu Yuanzhang had remained calm this time and promised not to let the Grand Marshal see the book, Chen Biao trusted him enough to hand over the unfinished manuscript.
Opening the Heavenly Book, Zhu Yuanzhang copied passages while writing down everything Chen Biao had taught him that day.
“It’s not for me… it’s for people hundreds of years from now?”
His brows knitted tightly together.
He felt deeply unwilling.
He hadn’t even become Emperor yet, and he’d already learned that hundreds of years later his descendants would lose everything.
Then why shouldn’t he simply destroy the Yuan Dynasty now and become the one to usher in an entirely new era?
It felt utterly unfair.
“Sigh.”
He set down his brush and slumped into his chair, unable to shake off the frustration in his heart.
Creating a world without emperors…
Wouldn’t that be far greater than merely becoming the founding emperor of a dynasty?
Look at emperors. Once their dynasty changed, nobody remembered them anymore. Even their tombs got dug up.
But if I became the very first person to reshape the world…
Wouldn’t I stand alongside Sage Confucius himself…
Wait.
Everlasting glory…
Confucius?!
Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table and excitedly rushed into the bedroom, shaking his precious sleeping son.
“Biao’er! Biao’er! Wake up! Wake up!”
Chen Biao: “Hoo… hoo…”
“Biao’er!”
“Hoo…”
Zhu Yuanzhang pinched his nose.
Chen Biao opened his mouth.
“Hoo… hoo… hoo…”
Zhu Yuanzhang covered his mouth.
“Snrrk… snrrk…”
Leaning close to his ear, Zhu Yuanzhang shouted,
“Biao’er! The Grand Marshal’s going to exterminate our entire family!”
Chen Biao’s eyes flew open.
“What?!”
Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his hands together with a grin.
“Hehe. Biao’er, so you were awake.”
Chen Biao: “?”
What do you mean awake? Whether I was awake or asleep, shouldn’t you know perfectly well? What kind of ‘Chen Biao Also Did Not Sleep’ is this supposed to be?
Dad, I told you to study books—not learn this!
Climbing upright, Chen Biao assumed a boxing stance.
“Dad, you’d better have an excellent reason. Otherwise, today I’m becoming an unfilial son who kills his own father.”
Looking at his son’s adorably fierce posture, Zhu Yuanzhang first bent over in apology before hugging him excitedly.
“Son! Son! What do you think about the two of us becoming sages like Confucius?”
While using his father’s stomach as a punching bag, Chen Biao replied,
“What Confucius? Dad, are you still half asleep?”
“I haven’t even gone to bed yet! What I mean is, if your book were wrapped in Confucian language, couldn’t it help us become great sages too? Look, what kind of Master Zhu is Zhu Xi? We should become… Master Chen!”
Chen Biao shook his little fist.
“You’re certainly ambitious.”
“Well… this time, we actually think alike. I really do intend to use this book to become Master Chen once I grow up. That way, hundreds or even thousands of years later, those heaven-sent heroes will read my writings.”
Zhu Yuanzhang beamed.
“Count me in!”
Chen Biao looked at him disdainfully.
“And what exactly can you contribute?”
Zhu Yuanzhang replied, “Didn’t you say the world described in this book requires nearly a thousand years of productive development? There has to be a process leading up to it, right? During that process, there must also be ideas suitable for each stage. Biao’er! Biao’er!”
He grabbed Chen Biao and shook him.
Lift him up.
Shake him.
Lift him again.
Shake him again.
Chen Biao kicked his little legs wildly.
“You can shake me all you want—I won’t drop a treasure chest! Stop shaking! Stop shaking! Yes, yes! There are ideas that suit our current era!”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes sparkled.
“Then let’s start right—”
“Then let’s go to sleep!”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes widened.
“Huh?!”
Chen Biao ground his teeth.
“It’s the middle of the night! Why are you making such a fuss? Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow!”
“But Biao’er! Master Chen! We’re going to become Master Chen! Something this exciting—”
“No matter how exciting it is, it can wait until tomorrow! Sleep! If you keep bothering me, I won’t tell you anything else. You can sit there worrying over half a Heavenly Book all by yourself!”
“Biao’er!”
“Your Biao’er is already asleep!”
“But I can’t sleep…”
“You can go run laps outside. Once you’re tired, you’ll fall asleep. Dad, let me remind you—I may only be five years old and still growing, and I also just hit my head today. Oh dear… my head’s getting dizzy again.”
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately wilted.
“Fine, Biao’er. You sleep. You sleep.”
Chen Biao glared at him before burrowing beneath the blankets.
“Aren’t you sleeping?”
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.
“I’ll go run a few laps.”
Chen Biao turned over.
Suit yourself. I’m going to sleep.
Hoo… hoo…
Letting out another long sigh, Zhu Yuanzhang went next door and dragged Xu Da out of bed.
Thus Xu Da also did not sleep, and they met in the courtyard…
Xu Da roared, “Grand Marshal! What’s wrong with you?!”