Ming Dynasty: A centenarian madman criticizes the Grand Secretary and brings his coffin to court!

In front of Fengtian Hall.

After dealing with the matter of his will, Zhu Yuanzhang breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But then, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

He looked at Zhu Di, who was holding the imperial edict and grinning foolishly, and his tone suddenly became heavy.

"Fourth brother."

"The throne has been given to you, and your title has been fully secured."

"but……"

"There's something else I need to tell you."

Zhu Di immediately stopped smiling, brought his face, swollen like a pig's head, closer, and looked at him with utmost respect:

"Father, please speak!"

"Anything is fine as long as it doesn't make me vomit up the roast chicken I just ate!"

Zhu Yuanzhang ignored his son's witty remarks, only sighed, and a rare complex expression appeared in his eyes.

"That little brat Yunwen..."

"Although he's a bit stupid, and although he's not very bright."

"But after all..."

"After all, he is the offspring of your elder brother Biao'er."

"He was also our most beloved grandson."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang paused, his tone becoming stern:

"Now that you're emperor, could you... spare his life?"

"Don't try that 'cut the weeds and wipe out the roots' approach!"

"Our Zhu family has shed enough blood!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di trembled.

He did indeed intend to kill.

After all, wildfires can't burn them all, and they can be reborn with the spring breeze. What if this kid gets involved with his old subordinates and rebels in the future?

But looking into my father's tired but still hopeful eyes...

Zhu Di softened his heart.

"father……"

"Your subject agrees."

"As long as he doesn't recklessly court death, I will never kill him!"

"but……"

Zhu Di looked troubled:

"This kid has been emperor for four years after all. It would be a nuisance to keep him in the palace."

"If we let it out..."

"Should we send him to become a monk?"

"Just like you were back then?"

"To become a monk?"

Gu Canghai (young version) next to him suddenly chuckled and spat out the sunflower seed shells in his mouth.

"Fourth brother, you wish!"

"Is being a monk comfortable?"

"No taxes to pay, no military service required, just casually tap a wooden fish drum, and a bunch of devout men and women will worship you."

"This isn't punishment!"

"This is practically a retirement retreat!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang blew on his beard:

"yes!"

"Gu the Madman is right!"

"We became monks out of necessity, just to earn a living!"

"Let that spendthrift son enjoy a life of luxury now? No way!"

"Then..." Zhu Di scratched his head, "Then lock him up? Imprison him?"

"No!"

Gu Canghai threw down the bag of sunflower seeds in his hand and pulled out a crumpled map from his pocket.

That was something he had prepared long ago—a business empire!

Gu Canghai pointed to a dark area west of the capital, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth:

"Locking him up is a waste of food!"

"Our Great Ming Dynasty doesn't support idlers!"

Zhu Di and Zhu Yuanzhang were both bewildered: "What plan?"

Gu Canghai didn't explain, but excitedly said:

"I recently acquired a few coal mines in the Western Hills area."

"We're short-staffed!"

"That place is great!"

"The air is 'fresh' (it's all coal ash), the environment is 'elegant' (it's pitch black), and it's even good for exercising!"

"Send him there!"

"Get a lifetime VIP coal-mining gym membership!"

"Let him go and dig out all that pedantic, pretentious Confucian air from me!"

boom!!!

This proposal is simply the epitome of "outrageous"!

Sending the emperor to mine coal?

How could you even think of that!

Is this an idea that a carbon-based organism could come up with?

Isn't this just driving someone to their death?

however.

To everyone's surprise.

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang was not angry at all; on the contrary...

He pinched his chin and began to seriously consider the feasibility!

"Mining coal..."

"hiss--"

"This idea...it sounds so exciting!"

A strange glint flashed in Old Zhu's shrewd eyes:

"Biao'er died young because he was too weak!"

"That kid Yunwen is useless; he can't even kill a chicken, and all he knows is classical Chinese all day long."

"If you made him spend a few years wielding a hoe and carrying coal..."

"Who knows, you might even develop a muscular physique?"

"It can also improve health?"

"How can they know the suffering of the common people?"

"Oh my god!"

Zhu Yuanzhang slapped his thigh and looked at Gu Canghai excitedly:

"Gu the Madman! You really are a genius!"

"It's settled then!"

"Get him a card!"

"We must get the one with the longest term! No one can retire before sixty!"

Zhu Di, who was listening nearby, broke out in a cold sweat.

He watched the two elders, one speaking and the other echoing, as if discussing how to deal with the family's disobedient donkey.

I silently lit a candle for my nephew in my heart.

My dear nephew...

It's not that your fourth uncle doesn't want to help you.

It's only because they're your own grandfather and uncle that you can find such a good "job". Who else would find you such a good "job"?

It even includes (probably) the five social insurances and one housing fund!

"that……"

Zhu Di timidly raised his hand and asked:

"Does that mean I still have to pay him his wages?"

"What a load of crap!"

Gu Canghai glared at him:

"It's already pretty good if they provide meals and accommodation!"

"You still want your wages?"

"He owes the people of the Ming Dynasty a debt he could never repay, even if he mined coal for eight lifetimes!"

"Got it!"

Gu Canghai pointed at Zhu Di's nose and threatened him fiercely:

"Send the Imperial Guards to keep an eye on things!"

"We must dig up 500 jin (250 kg) every day!"

"For every pound less, you'll get one less steamed bun for dinner!"

"We must transform him into a useful member of society! A person who has transcended base desires!"

"This is the greatest mercy you can show him!"

The image on the sky gradually zoomed out.

The final image freezes on the family of three, plus a madman from another family, with their extremely "kind" smiles.

The Hongwu Plane.

The Fengtian Hall was deathly silent.

Everyone secretly glanced at Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

The usually benevolent Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty was now covering his face, his shoulders shaking violently.

I don't know if she's crying or laughing.

That's horrible!

That's so tragic!

The grandson of the Ming Dynasty emperor is actually going to... mine coal?

How will history books record this?

The Annals of Emperor Jianwen: After reigning for four years, the emperor visited the Western Hills and devoted himself to coal mining for thirty years, achieving remarkable results.

"Biao'er..."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his son with a hint of guilt:

"Don't be sad."

"Well... this can be considered a fine tradition of our Zhu family."

"Back in the day, when we were herding cattle, we'd get whipped by the landlords."

"He's working in his own mine, doesn't anyone care? That crazy guy Gu will definitely have someone take care of him...probably?"

Zhu Biao took a deep breath and finally raised his head.

His eyes were red-rimmed, but his gaze was unusually firm.

"Father..."

"Your subject... Your subject feels..."

"Good!"

"Since you're incapable of governing the country, then go and add fuel to the fire for the Ming Dynasty!"

Even the fire from a boiler is hot!

"As long as I'm alive... that's enough!"

This moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, thank goodness, I didn't anger my son to death.

What does it matter if I'm alive? It's better than losing my head!

Just when everyone was lamenting Emperor Jianwen's "mining career".

A backdrop of light.

Suddenly, it took a turn!

That was originally a relaxed atmosphere, even with a touch of dark humor.

In that instant, it vanished completely!

Instead.

It was an intense, suffocating smell of blood!

And that overwhelming hatred!

What we are about to present is—the most insane, brutal, and controversial chapter of Gu Canghai's life!

That was the twelfth year of the Zhengtong reign!

[Gu Canghai is 100 years old!]

He did not choose to enjoy his retirement, nor did he choose to be surrounded by his grandchildren.

Instead, with those trembling yet powerful hands, he devised a terrifying plan called the "Extinction Plan"!

[The target is—a certain island nation in the East!]

on the screen.

On the Golden Palace during the Zhengtong reign.

Gu Canghai, who is over 100 years old, has white hair and beard and a hunched back.

But he stood before that enormous nautical chart.

The vermilion pen in my hand is like a blood-dripping butcher's knife!

Hard!

On those worm-like islands, a huge X was drawn!

"Those beasts!"

"They must die!"

"It's not just people who die!"

"Even that race! That root! That civilization!"

"I'm going to uproot it!"

"Anyone who dares to stop me, I'll send them to see the Great Ancestor!"