Sky Curtain: The opening scene explains the four major cases of the Ming Dynasty plus the early Ming

Zhu Dijun's gaze calmly swept over the frantically scrolling barrage of questioning comments in the live stream.

He showed no anger, not even a ripple of emotion.

That look was like looking at a group of ants clinging to the glass, making futile noises.

"Family members, it seems that some friends, especially that doctor, still don't believe it."

He chuckled softly, his laughter carrying a knowing calmness.

"They insist that Zhu Qizhen was a complete tyrant and that the Tumu Fortress was simply a military defeat."

"It's okay."

Zhu Dijun turned around, his back to the roaring archaeological site behind him, facing the camera and the myriad dimensions of time and space.

"Let's continue our discussion and dig deeper."

Why did Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di) act as if he had lost his mind, launching three consecutive Northern Expeditions for three years without any regard for the consequences, starting from the twentieth year of his reign?

Is the national treasury really empty?

"No!"

Judy Jun's voice was resolute!

"When the court officials were crying and pleading that they had no money, the Yongle Emperor showed everyone with his actions—he had money!"

"But those family members who truly understand military affairs will discover an extremely strange thing if they carefully study the historical materials."

"During the Hongwu reign, Lan Yu launched a northern expedition, choosing the time when the autumn was high and the horses were fat, penetrating deep into the grasslands, and taking advantage of the winter climate to annihilate the main Mongol force in one fell swoop!"

"That's called war!"

"But what about Emperor Chengzu's three northern expeditions in his later years? Each one started in the spring!"

"Spring is here, flowers are in bloom, grass is growing and birds are flying."

A mocking smile curled at the corners of Zhu Dijun's mouth.

"This isn't a trip to war; it's clearly a spring outing for hundreds of thousands of troops on the grasslands!"

boom!

Inside Yongle Palace, Zhu Di's body trembled violently!

Spring outing...

This word was like a poisoned steel needle, piercing his heart!

Yes!

Why?

Having spent his life on the battlefield, how could he not understand that autumn and winter are the best time to deal with the steppe cavalry?

But during those years, he seemed to be shrouded in an invisible fog, pushed by an invisible force, impatiently launching the most massive "armed marches" time and time again in the most unsuitable seasons!

"Because someone needs him to leave the capital!"

On the sky, Zhu Dijun's voice provided the answer!

"What happened after the first Northern Expedition ended in the twentieth year of the Yongle reign?"

"Yang Shiqi, Grand Secretary of the Yongchun Pavilion; Lü Zhen, Minister of Rites; and Jian Yi, Minister of Personnel—these three high-ranking officials of the court have all been thrown into the Jinyiwei prison!"

"What does it say in the history books?"

Zhu Dijun's tone was full of amusement.

"Oh, to put it simply, it was Yang Shiqi and others who said things that were unpleasant to hear and angered the emperor."

"Family members, do you believe it?"

"Would an emperor really imprison three ministers he had personally promoted just because of a few 'unpleasant' words?"

"What's even more coincidental is that this Grand Secretary Yang Shiqi had already been imprisoned by the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the twelfth year of the Yongle reign for 'inappropriate remarks'!"

"Once could be a coincidence, but twice?!"

"This shows that the conflict between them and the Yongle Emperor was already deeply rooted! The failure of the first Northern Expedition was merely the fuse that ignited the conflict!"

A flash of lightning struck Zhu Di's mind!

He remembered!

In the twentieth year of the Yongle reign, he returned empty-handed from the grasslands, seething with anger. Upon returning to the court, Yang Shiqi and others, citing "celestial signs indicating an empty treasury," led the remonstrance, their words practically accusing him of excessive military expansion!

He was furious, feeling that these civil officials did not appreciate the hard work of their emperor, so he imprisoned them all!

But now that I think about it...

That's hardly advice.

That was clearly a victor's...demonstration against the loser!

They successfully made his hundreds of thousands of troops return empty-handed, and then used the noble cause of "serving the country and the people" to shut him up!

What a brilliant move – killing someone by destroying their spirit!

"puff--"

Having figured this out, Zhu Di could no longer suppress his emotions and spat out another mouthful of blood, causing him to sway precariously.

"Father!" Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji exclaimed again.

But Zhu Di simply waved his hand, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the sky. He wanted to hear more! He needed to know what else these vicious dogs had done!

If one plan fails, another will be devised.

Zhu Dijun's voice grew increasingly cold.

"In May of the twenty-first year of the Yongle reign, another major event occurred."

"My ancestor, Zhu Gaosui, the Prince of Zhao at the time, was accused of colluding with Peng Xu and Meng Xian, commanders of the Imperial Guards, to poison the emperor's food and then seize the throne!"

"Family members, think about it carefully!"

"The then-Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi had been regent for many years, his position as secure as Mount Tai. My ancestor, the Prince of Zhao, a prince far away in his fiefdom, what opportunity or ability did he have to poison a brilliant and ambitious emperor, surrounded by powerful guards?"

"Don't let certain TV dramas, like that one called 'Ming Dynasty,' brainwash you. Just watch it for fun, don't take it as historical fact!"

"A rebellion with absolutely no chance of success was exposed. Why?"

"Because their goal was never truly to support the King of Zhao!"

"Instead, we want to use the 'treason' charge to once again disrupt the court and muddy the waters! And incidentally, eliminate another disobedient prince!"

The Prince of Zhao's Mansion in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gaosui, in the prime of his life, looked at the sky and felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his royal robes!

He remembered!

When the incident occurred, his father summoned him before him, and the look in his eyes was one of coldness and scrutiny that he would never forget for the rest of his life!

He was speechless and could only swear that he knew nothing about it!

He always believed that he had unintentionally offended someone and was being framed.

Only today did he understand!

From beginning to end, I was just a pawn that those civil officials hiding in the shadows casually threw out to test and attack my father!

How pathetic! How laughable!

Then, the time came to the last year of Emperor Yongle's life.

Zhu Dijun's voice carried a hint of heaviness.

"The final Northern Expedition ended in failure. On the way back, Emperor Yongle died in Yumu River."

"Family members, please pay attention to a detail."

"Who was attending Emperor Chengzu at that time?"

"Grand Scholar, Yang Rong! Jin Youzi!"

"There's another key figure: the eunuch, Hai Shou!"

"These officials, colluding with eunuchs, stayed by the emperor's side as he lay dying!"

"Does this scene seem familiar to your family members?"

Zhu Dijun's voice suddenly rose in pitch!

"That's right! The Sand Dune Coup of Qin Shi Huang!"

"Zhao Gao! Li Si!"

"How similar they are!"

"The founder of a great empire, in the final moments of his life, was surrounded by a group of so-called 'loyal ministers,' each with their own ulterior motives!"

"What was the true cause of Emperor Yongle's death? Historical records are vague on the matter! But I can tell you that there's definitely more to it than meets the eye!"

After saying that, Zhu Dijun suddenly waved his hand.

Dozens of high-definition scanned electronic documents instantly popped up on the live stream screen!

The Veritable Records of the Ming Dynasty, the Daily Records of the Yongle Reign, and Accounts of the Northern Expeditions...

One by one, the yellowed ancient books were clearly presented to everyone.

Zhu Dijun used red markers to circle those seemingly insignificant yet eerie records one by one!

"evidence!"

"Didn't you want evidence?"

He pointed at the screen, his gaze sharp as lightning, staring directly into the myriad worlds and timelines!

"These are the clues to the intricate web they laid out over the ten years from the twelfth year of the Yongle reign to the twenty-second year!"

"From preventing the relocation of the capital to condoning uprisings!"

"From the palace being burned down by heavenly fire to the leak of military secrets!"

"From framing the prince to, in the end, very likely... regicide!"

"This is a massive murder spanning a full twenty years!"

"Their target is Emperor Chengzu! The Crown Prince! The Crown Prince's grandson! And the Zhu family's empire!"

"And Tumu Fortress was merely the final act in their decades-long conspiracy!"

"Now!"

Zhu Dijun's voice, like a thunderclap from the heavens, resounded in every time and space!

"That history PhD, do you have anything else to say?!"

"Those who question it, do your faces sting?!"