Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Dark clouds loomed over the city, and the weather was muggy, making it hard to breathe.

Even when Zhu Yuanzhang was handling state affairs in the Wuying Hall, he had to have the lamps lit.

"Send an order to Deng Yu, telling him that after he arrives in Annam, he should not rush to attack, but wait a while."

Perhaps some other changes will occur.

Zhu Yuanzhang spoke up, and at the same time handed a secret letter to the person in front of him, instructing him to send it to the southern battlefield.

This was in the twentieth year of the Hongwu reign.

According to the original history, Deng Yu should have taken action against Tibet and other places. He led his troops directly into the plateau and went deep into the region for several months. He finally found those who had fled and annihilated them in one fell swoop. However, he also suffered from altitude sickness, which damaged his health. He died on his way back in triumph.

But he is still alive.

Not only is he alive, but he has also been entrusted with an important task: to lead troops to attack Annam.

Zhu Yuanzhang's return changed the fate of many people.

Now is the perfect time to send troops to take action against Annam.

By this time, after ten years of governance, the southwest had been completely incorporated into the rule of the Ming Dynasty, and various regions had become relatively stable.

Especially after the main road through Yunnan and Guizhou was completely built, the southwest became more stable and was integrated into the Ming Dynasty.

Although there were some twists and turns in the process, especially when the policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials was implemented, it aroused strong opposition from many local chieftains and others.

However, Mu Ying was very good at comforting people.
We appealed to their emotions and reasoned with them, and calmed them down one by one.

This made them understand the significance of this matter.

These chieftains were all men of great principle, and after being persuaded by Mu Ying, they readily agreed to the change of chieftainship to central administration.

And they also actively provided support.

Of course, Mu Ying also has other ways to persuade those who are not actively supportive, so that they can go to the underworld and reflect on their actions.

While dealing with troublemakers, they also promoted localization here.

And to liberate those oppressed by the chieftains,

To bring them a better life.

In particular, after the advanced farming techniques, animal husbandry techniques, and corresponding textile techniques from the Ming Dynasty spread here, more and more people no longer missed their former chieftains.

On the contrary, later on, some people even took the initiative to overthrow their chieftains and requested the court to implement the policy of replacing chieftains with centrally appointed officials.

In the past, under the Tusi system, the Tusi lord was their god.

The rule of the Tusi (chieftains) was often extremely brutal and inhumane.

For generations, they had been controlled by local chieftains and knew nothing about what lay beyond.

Now the imperial court is implementing a new system, telling them that there is such a new way of life.

After experiencing a better life, it becomes difficult for them to accept the original chieftain system.

It can be said that the handling of the southwest region was very good and quite thorough.

It's so much better and faster than in my previous life.

This is why the southwest region was successfully transformed into a forward position for attacking Annam.

The grain and provisions from the southwest can be directly supplied to the troops, and there are many military farms established here, which makes it even more convenient for the troops and provisions to be gathered.

With the southwest stabilized, it is time to win back Annam and bring it back to Chinese orthodoxy.

Annan has been away from its mother's embrace for so long that many people there have forgotten about it.

Children who have left home should return as soon as possible.

If he doesn't come back, then give him a beating to help him remember the past.

It is very necessary to get our hands on Annam, because its geographical location is extremely advantageous.

Especially with its long coastline and the start of the Age of Exploration, it was incredibly alluring.

Furthermore, it can penetrate deep into the Indochina Peninsula, allowing the glory of the Ming Dynasty to radiate even further across the region.
It influences many more people without them even realizing it.

Let them cherish China and bask in the holy light emanating from China.

If the ocean is not developed or explored, then this place is still manageable.

Now that we are preparing to develop the ocean, this place must be taken seriously and must be in the hands of the Ming Dynasty.

After receiving Zhu Yuanzhang's order, the man quickly left the Wuying Hall and headed outside.

This secret letter, along with its contents, was passed on to the appropriate person.

Soon, people arrived at Beiping Railway Station, boarded the train amidst the sound of whistles, and sped southward with a clattering sound.

Over the course of ten years, a considerable number of railways have been built in the Ming Dynasty.

In particular, this major north-south artery was built from Beiping southwards.

Arriving at their private carriage on the train, the group delivering the message sat down and looked out the window at the scenery.

The scenery on both sides of the river rushed past. After sitting for a while, I got a little tired and rested on the bed.

Many people felt a surge of emotions.

I just felt that this train was truly the best thing ever.

In the past, to deliver these urgent military messages, one had to ride a horse at breakneck speed, running for their life.

Often, after a single event, a person can be half-dead from exhaustion and suffer a serious illness.

Many have even lost their lives because of this.

But now, with the advent of trains and the laying of railways, transmitting messages has become incredibly convenient.

It's even more comfortable than at home.

As long as you sit inside the carriage, there is food, drink, and a place to sleep, so you don't feel tired at all.

And this thing is fast too.

When it was first developed, it couldn't even run as fast as a horse, but now, after continuous speed improvements, it's far faster than a horse.

Most importantly, all you need to do is add coal and water to this thing.

Coal and water can be carried by train, traveling continuously day and night.

Even with the most urgent courier service, it would normally take several days and nights to travel from Beiping to Yingtian, but now with this train, it doesn't take so long.
In just one day and one night, they were able to cross such a long distance.

This truly proves what His Majesty once said: technology changes lives!

Nowadays, no one says the train is no good anymore.

Even some pedantic Confucian scholars changed their tune and stopped saying that trains were no good.

Especially after the train officially started operating, and even in recent years the emergence of steam mills powered by steam engines and steam tractors working in the fields.

The number of people who oppose the new learning and physical chemistry is rapidly decreasing.

Although there are still some corrupt individuals who criticize these matters, they are merely a few flies buzzing around and do not affect the overall situation.

Some of the ridiculous remarks were quite amusing.

For example, some people believe that this train will disrupt the nation's destiny and shake the dragon veins (the vital energy source in Chinese mythology).

He was directly refuted as being nonsensical and ignorant.

There are also some people who say that these people are people with ulterior motives, traitors sent by foreign lands, who say that they are trying to hinder the rapid development of the Ming Dynasty and make the Ming Dynasty cripple itself, and that they should be executed along with their entire families!
After such strong remarks were made, the rhetoric that trains were ruining the country's fortunes immediately subsided.

The train traveled onward, crossing mountains and rivers, finally arriving at the opposite bank of Yingtian.

The passengers disembarked here, then boarded the ship and crossed the Yangtze River.

This ship was also different from ordinary ships; it was equipped with a steam engine.

Not only is it fast, it can also withstand wind and waves.

I heard that in a few more years, an even larger steamship will be developed.

How big is it?

In the future, when trains cross the river, people will not need to get off the train at all.

The entire train was driven onto that boat, and the boat pulled the train and its passengers to the other side!

This kind of thing is so amazing to think about, and we look forward to it happening soon.

In the past, if someone had said this, many people would not have believed it.

However, in recent years, after witnessing the rapid development of the Ming Dynasty, especially after seeing things like trains and steamships, I have become more and more confident.

He believed that whatever changes might occur in the Ming Dynasty in the future.

Upon reaching the other side, a train station was built there.

A train is waiting here.

Once again, I boarded the same carriage, and amidst the sound of the whistle, the train, billowing smoke, sped past the majestic city of Yingtian.

It has only been five years since the capital was moved, but looking back, it always feels like a lifetime has passed.

In the past few years, everything has developed and changed too fast, to an unimaginable degree.

……

"Crack!" A bright bolt of lightning tore through the sky, and a deafening clap of thunder appeared almost simultaneously with the lightning, demonstrating just how close the thunder was.

Many people in the palace witnessed a bolt of lightning strike the Fengtian Hall.

However, the Fengtian Hall remained unharmed.

Because the lightning struck the lightning rod that was erected above.

Zhu Yuanzhang also saw this scene, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Fortunately, having returned from the future, he knew about lightning rods and had them installed.

Otherwise, we don't know how much we would lose from just this one move.

If things go wrong, Fengtian Hall and some of the surrounding halls may have to be rebuilt.

More importantly, there will inevitably be many people who will jump out and say this and that, saying that the capital should not have been moved.

This is the wrath of Heaven.

After all, the fourth prince had encountered a similar situation when he moved the capital to Beiping.

The fourth prince had only moved the capital a few months earlier, and before the people's hearts were at peace, a bolt of lightning struck down and destroyed the main hall.

A large fire broke out.

There were even more people who opposed moving the capital at that time; otherwise, the system of having two capitals wouldn't have been possible.

That time, the crowd was in uproar, and all sorts of strange and monstrous things came out.

Fortunately, the fourth brother withstood the pressure and did not listen to what these people said and return to Yingtian.

If a similar thing happened to me now, I would be able to withstand the pressure and remain unmoved.

However, it would be ideal to avoid such trouble by using a lightning rod.

His gaze turned south, seemingly traversing the entire land of China, his distant gaze landing on Annam to the south.

Daoyan, that monk, is truly remarkable.

Now, he has completely controlled the court in Annam.

The loudest voice was his.

He once said he would take Annam and submit it to China; now it's time to fulfill his promise.

This is also why he sent that order to Deng Yu.

However, appropriate precautions should still be taken.

Otherwise, some accidents may easily happen.

Although, based on his understanding of Dao Yan, he knew that such a thing was unlikely to happen.

However, it's still necessary to be cautious about matters of national importance.

No one knows whether Dao Yan will still be the same Dao Yan after such a long time has passed.

Has anything changed?

People's thoughts and their social status are often related.

When he assisted the fourth prince in his previous life, Dao Yan had no interest in power or position; he only wanted to realize his ideals.

That's because at that time, his fourth son was a genius who dominated the world.

In Annam now, the former emperor and the former crown prince who ascended the throne have both died.
The current emperor of Annam is only a ten-year-old child.

Dao Yan, who wields absolute power over there, is bound to have some thoughts.

……

The first city in northern Annam was where countless armies gathered, but at this time, these armies no longer belonged to Annam, but to the Ming Dynasty.

After Deng Yu dispatched Lan Yu, the vanguard general on the left flank, to make a move, the fortified city to the north of Anbei changed hands and was easily defeated.

Lan Yu wanted to continue his sweeping victories, but was restrained by Deng Yu.

Given Lan Yu's personality, if he were an ordinary person, he would definitely have many complaints.

Although Lan Yu is somewhat dissatisfied, he has not taken any other excessive actions.

After all, the commander at this time was Deng Yu—a man who was granted the title of Duke when the Ming Dynasty was founded. In terms of seniority, he was more than capable of suppressing Deng Yu.

At this time, Deng Yu had already received a secret letter from Zhu Yuanzhang and read it carefully.

He was impressed by the foresight of those in power, who had already laid out plans in Annam many years ago.

At the same time, he was somewhat worried, wondering if Dao Yan was still the same Dao Yan after all these years, or if anything had changed. He needed to prepare for both possibilities.

Soon after learning of the secret military intelligence sent by Deng Yu, Lan Yu was also somewhat stunned.

Having understood the deeper meaning behind Deng Yu's arrangement,

But at the same time, I also feel quite upset, and I'm very afraid that this time it will end up like it did when we were fighting in the southwest.

I was hoping for a good, unrestrained battle, but the southwest surrendered.

This time, this monk named Daoyan must have some backbone, he must change his mind.
That's what makes it interesting.

In his opinion, all these things were too troublesome; he might as well just take action and fight.

Who cares what the monk is thinking?

Wherever the army marches, blood will pave the way; this is the safest approach!

……

"Imperial Advisor, what should we do now?"

In the capital city of Annam, someone looked at Dao Yan and spoke anxiously.

Dao Yan chanted a Buddhist prayer and said, "What else can we do?"

Annam has been an integral part of China since ancient times, and given the current situation, it can only return to the embrace of China.

With China flourishing and the Holy Emperor still alive, this is the perfect opportunity for us to return to China, and we must not miss it.

Upon hearing Dao Yan's words, the man was taken aback, appearing extremely surprised.

He truly hadn't expected to hear such words from the Imperial Advisor at this moment.

……

The next day, in the imperial court, facing an emergency, everyone discussed the matter, and Daoyan once again made similar remarks.

Many people echoed this statement, but some also spoke out in anger.

Dao Yan chanted a Buddhist prayer, then gestured for someone to kill the angry man on the spot.

"This humble monk is not only proficient in Buddhist teachings, but also has some knowledge of martial arts."

Your eyes cannot see as far as a monk's.

The monk will lead you on a more glorious and splendid path.

It's not about sending you to endless hell.

In the future, you will surely remember how fortunate you were to have a monk.

Dao Yan, dressed in a black kasaya, spoke words that struck straight to the heart, leaving a profound impact.

For a moment, no one dared to utter a word.

The position of Imperial Advisor over the years has not been for nothing.

Half a month later, Annam surrendered and expressed its willingness to return to the embrace of China and accept Chinese orthodoxy.

However, a rebellion soon broke out in Annam against the cultist Daoyan.

But the rebellion was suppressed by Dao Yan before it could cause much of a stir...

……

Three years later, Annam stabilized, and the official system of the Ming Dynasty was fully implemented in Annam.

Annam was divided into three provinces.

Daoyan, a legendary figure in Annam, returned from Annam dressed in monk's robes and carrying a staff, all the way back to Yingtian.

When he returned to Yingtian, the peach blossoms were in full bloom.

Just like when he left Jiangnan many years ago, it's somewhat surreal...

……

In the twenty-third year of the Hongwu reign, Prince Qin Zhu Shuang, Prince Jin Zhu Gang, Prince Yan Zhu Di, and Prince Chu Zhu Zhen, along with their guards and a great deal of supplies, sailed overseas on a large ship.

These were the first batch of vassal kings enfeoffed by the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Di stood on the deck, gazing intently at the shore until the sea and sky merged into one before turning around.

Take a deep breath, suppress your sadness, and you'll feel invigorated.

A surge of pride rises within: "America, welcome your king!"

(The End) (End of Chapter)