Volume 2: The Youth's Merit and Fame Chapter 67: Approaching the Emperor's Countenance

  Outside the official inn.

  A group of men in plain clothes stood divided into two teams, quietly standing outside the door, with over a dozen people acting as one, even their breathing frequency was the same. Although they wore ordinary civilian clothes, they couldn't hide the aura of sharpness and precision emanating from them. When the imperial guards escorted Xiao Fan out, they voluntarily stepped aside, then one team led the way in front, while the other followed behind, with everyone surrounding Xiao Fan like stars orbiting the moon, walking towards the East City Gate.

  Xiao Fan felt honored and surprised by this treatment, as an ordinary citizen, being surrounded by so many brocade-clad imperial guards, the feeling... was like a group of cats surrounding a mouse, one can imagine what kind of mood that poor mouse would be in.

  The crowd arrived at the East City Gate, where dozens of fine horses were tied up at the gate. Without a word, each person mounted their horse, grasped the reins, and with a light kick to the horse's belly, the sound of hooves echoed out as they galloped away, kicking up clouds of dust, like arrows shot from a bowstring.

  Dongcheng Gate, Xiao Fan stood still, staring blankly at the Jin Yiwei soldiers riding away on horseback. He was like a lone fallen leaf drifting aimlessly in the vast dust-filled sky, his expression filled with desolation and helplessness...

  "Drive!"

  The sound of horseshoes thundered, and the Jin Yiwei Imperial Guards rode back on horseback, stopping several steps away from Xiao Fan. The horses stood up on their hind legs, letting out long neighs, while the riders on horseback struck a majestic pose...

  Xiao Fan gritted his teeth in anger, really didn't want to deal with these people, showing off blindly!

  The Jin Yiwei who had just announced the imperial edict dismounted his horse and walked to Xiao Fan's side, asking: "Why doesn't Young Master Xiao mount his horse?"

  Xiao Fan's face turned awkward: "..........."

  Why not ride a horse? Because he simply doesn't know how to ride a horse, he doesn't even know which leg to step over first. The Imperial Guards are all from military backgrounds, so naturally everyone knows how to ride a horse. But Xiao Fan is a transmigrator, in his past life he lived in a forest of steel and concrete, in the city you can't even see a single horse hair, how could he possibly know how to ride a horse?

  The Jin Yi Xiao Wei noticed his embarrassment, nodded and said: "Understood... Come on, hire a horse carriage for Xiao Shuo, and take him into the capital..."

  Approach the capital...

  Entering the capital...

  Capital of Beijing...

  Master...

  Xiao Fan wiped his sweat, never expecting that ancient people would talk like this too. He had always thought that the verb "la" was only related to defecation...

  The horse carriage was quickly hired, and the embroidered uniformed guards changed their earlier proud and majestic appearance of galloping horses to a sluggish and dispirited one, leading a slow-moving carriage on the road, with morale visibly low.

  Xiao Fan sat in the carriage, his heart filled with both doubt and fear. Zhu Yuanzhang had personally issued a decree to summon him, an ordinary citizen without any achievements or fame. What could be the reason for this?

  Zhu Yuanzhang must have known about his own through Zhu Yunwen. What Xiao Fan was most puzzled about was what purpose did Zhu Yuanzhang summon him for? To praise him? It's unlikely, and Xiao Fan didn't hope that Zhu Yuanzhang would praise him either. In the early Ming dynasty history, many people had been praised by Zhu Yuanzhang, such as Li Shan-chang, Hu Wei-yong, Lan Yu, Song Lian... The outcome of these people was miserable.

  Scold him? Xiao Fan thought about it and felt that he had been very low-key, hadn't done anything too outrageous, at most just knowing a crown prince, scolding him was unreasonable. Besides, Zhu Yuanzhang wasn't the kind of emperor who would scold people, when he got angry, he would directly kill someone, he wouldn't even bother to scold.

  The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. Xiao Fan couldn't help but lift up the curtain of the carriage, and saw that the imperial envoy's brocade-clad guard was riding alongside the carriage on horseback. As soon as Xiao Fan lifted the curtain, he caught sight of him.

  He smiled at him in the morning, and Xiao Fan's usually elegant face also had a few points of flattery. No way, being in the Ming Dynasty, he couldn't afford to play with his personality as a crosser, so he could only adapt to this environment. This environment required what kind of person, he must be that kind of person. History has proven that those who play with their personalities usually don't end up well, such as Yang Xiu from the Three Kingdoms period.

  On the swaying carriage, Xiao Fan bowed slightly and smiled at the brocade-clad military officer, saying: "This... sir, what's your honorable surname?"

  Jin Yi was very gentle, not at all as cold and ruthless as he was portrayed on TV. Upon hearing this, he smiled faintly and said, "Xiao Gongzi is too kind, I'm just Yuan Zhong, a small Jin Yi who accompanies the Crown Prince."

  Xiao Fan hastily laughed and said: "So it's Yuan Xiao Wei, I've long admired you, a humble commoner like me seems to have seen you before..."

  Yuan Zhong smiled calmly and said: "I have gone with Ta Sun Gong to Zui Xian Lou many times to find you, so you must have seen me."

  Xiao Fan hesitated for a moment, then said: "Commander Yuan, may I ask something? The Emperor has been living deep within the palace, why would he suddenly want to summon me, a humble and nameless commoner?"

  Yuan Zhong suddenly shut his mouth, his expression firm and resolute as he stared straight ahead, as if he hadn't heard anything.

  Xiao Fan smiled and said: "Commander Yuan, can you give us a hint?"

  Yuan Zhong couldn't help but speak up, his tone much sterner this time: "Xiao Gongzi, His Majesty has summoned you, and there must be a reason for it. We only need to follow orders and receive instructions, we cannot make wild guesses about the will of heaven."

  Xiao Fan was disappointed and had no choice but to put down the curtain, continuing to sit in the carriage with a mixture of shock and fear, lost in thought.

  After some thought, Xiao Fan gradually put down his worries.

  He thought that Zhu Yuanzhang would not have summoned him all the way to the capital just to kill him with one blow, would he? That would be too much trouble. Since it wasn't to kill him, then there was nothing to worry about.

  The horse carriage slowly moved for more than a few hours, and finally saw the towering city wall of Jing Shi Ying Tian in the distance. The dark black bricks exuded an ancient and vicissitudinous atmosphere, standing quietly under the warm winter sun, silently continuing its grandeur for thousands of years.

  Six Dynasties ancient capital, Jinling building towers smoke and rain, past and present generations, countless emperors have all disappeared into thin air, all entrusted to the eastward flowing Qinhuai River.

  In the late 29th year of Hongwu in the great Ming dynasty, an ordinary young man rode into this thousand-year-old imperial capital city on an ordinary horse-drawn carriage.

  The horse-drawn carriage entered from Xicheng Gate and after entering the city, the embroidered uniform guards surrounded the carriage as it headed towards the Forbidden City.

  Before long, the carriage entered Chentian Gate, which was the south gate of Mingyuan Palace and also the main gate of the palace city. After arriving at Chentian Gate, Yuan Zhong asked Xiao Fan to get off the carriage. Once through this gate, they were already within the Forbidden City. Without a special edict from the Emperor, no one was allowed to ride horses or sedan chairs here.

  Outside the gate is the Jinshui River, and outside the Jinshui Bridge is where the government agencies of the Ming Dynasty were located. The offices of the imperial court were concentrated here. On both sides of the central axis from the Gate of Imperial Heaven to the south are the main institutions of the imperial court. On the left side are the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Works, and the Temple of State Ceremonies; on the right side are the Central Military Commission, the Left Military Commission, the Right Military Commission, the Front Military Commission, the Rear Military Commission, and the Temple of State Ceremonies. The left side is for civil administration, and the right side is for military affairs, with a clear distinction between the two.

  Xiao Fan got off the carriage and gazed at the layered palace buildings in front of him, with red walls and green tiles, majestic and magnificent, emitting a thick imperial dignity in its serenity, making one feel reverence.

  Xiao Fan let out a long sigh, trying to suppress the turbulent emotions in his heart. After traversing hundreds of years, he stood before the imperial palace of the Great Ming today, and his mood could not calm down for a long time.

  Tomorrow morning, a brilliant era, before modern times, the last generation of Han people's Jiangshan, the emperor who founded this Jiangshan, is waiting for his audience in this magnificent imperial palace.

  Xiao Fan is filled with reverence at this moment. No matter how later generations view Zhu Yuanzhang, it cannot be denied that he drove out the Tartars, restored the Han people's rivers and mountains, and opened up the nearly three-hundred-year-long Great Ming Dynasty in history. His cruel killings cannot cover up his outstanding achievements.

  More than ten years of bloody armor, wolf smoke and sand, fighting for this prosperous world under the red sky. He, Zhu Yuanzhang, is indeed a hero of his time!

  Inside the Wuying Hall.

  Taixue Dongqing concurrently Hanlin reviser Huang Zichen, Rites Ministry Right Servicing Official Huang Guan, and Military Ministry Left Servicing Official Qi Tai three people all gathered at the East Warming Pavilion.

  Zhu Yuanzhang's current mood is not good, his eyebrows are tightly furrowed, and he is obviously suppressing his anger.

  Zhitai is reporting some bad news to him.

  "In the 29th year of Hongwu, October, on the day of yi-chou, Japanese pirates attacked our Great Ming Dengzhou Prefecture Fushan County. The Japanese pirates were over a thousand in number and landed at Weihai, disturbing our coastal people, plundering countless cattle, sheep, poultry, and property of the people, abducting and insulting hundreds of women and children. After the looting, they quickly left and their whereabouts are unknown. Fushan County Magistrate Liu Cheng led the local militia to resist the Japanese pirates but was killed in battle. Dengzhou Prefectural Magistrate Zhou Changxing heard about the pirate attack and fled with his family to Laiyang County. Only after the Japanese pirates retreated did he return to the city..."

  Zhu Yuanzhang's face twitched, and a fierce killing intent burst out of his eyes. His tone was calm as water: "Pass the edict, to comfort Liu Cheng, the magistrate of Fushan County, posthumously promote him one rank, and grant his son a title. Zhou Changxing abandoned the city in battle for personal gain, execute him by dismemberment, and exterminate his three clans."

  The three people in the hall all nodded in unison and responded with a respectful voice.

  After closing his eyes for a moment, Zhu Yuanzhang opened them and said in a deep voice: "Since the founding of my great Ming dynasty, the Japanese pirates have frequently disturbed our borders, invaded our territory, kidnapped my people, and ravaged my land. How can I tolerate these barbarians jumping around so rampantly! Execute him!"

  "Your servant is here."

  "I intend to establish two more guards in Shandong, one to be set up in Weihai, named Weihai Guard, and the other to be established on Chengshan, named Chengshan Guard. Each of the two guards will govern three thousand households, with Wei Guogong Xu Hui Zu setting up a garrison to defend the border. The Five Armies Command is ordered to dispatch selected troops immediately, who will be led by Xu Hui Zu to open up Shandong. If they encounter Japanese pirates disturbing the border, attack them."

  "Yes, Your Majesty!"

  At this time, Huang Zicheng stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, the King of Shu has sent an urgent report from 800 miles away. On the night of December 29th of the 29th year of Hongwu, a dragon rose up in Huayang County, Sichuan Province, causing countless deaths and injuries among the people. The King of Shu reports that even the Shu Palace in Chengdu felt strong tremors. The King of Shu specially requests an imperial decree to comfort the people..."

  Zhu Yuanzhang's expression suddenly became anxious upon hearing this, and he hastily asked: "Is the King of Shu injured?"

  King of Shu Zhu Zhong, the eleventh son of Zhu Yuanzhang, was a man of filial piety and friendship, with extensive learning and multiple talents, and his demeanor was elegant. He was quite favored by Zhu Yuanzhang, who often praised him as "Shu's talented scholar", and he was the most renowned virtuous king among all the princes.

  "Huang Zicheng said: 'Your Majesty can rest assured, the King of Shu is safe.'"

  Zhu Yuanzhang let out a sigh of relief and said, "That's good..."

  Then Zhu Yuanzhang furrowed his brow and said, "The earth dragon has turned over, this is a natural disaster. We can order the Minister of Revenue Xu Xin to allocate grain and grass to enter Shu to rescue the disaster victims..."

  "Huang Zicheng hesitated for a moment, then said: 'Your Majesty, I have heard that the wise and enlightened ruler governs the world with filial piety. The dragon's overturning is an inauspicious omen. From ancient times to the present, whenever there are natural disasters, it is because the emperor's governance has been inappropriate. Heaven sends down disasters to warn the world. Your Majesty received the mandate of heaven, and now that heaven has sent a warning, what you should do first, apart from quickly providing relief to the disaster victims, is to reflect on your own faults, issue an edict to accept remonstrance, and eliminate the calamity. Otherwise, I fear that the state will be in danger, and heaven and man will abandon us. I hope Your Majesty will clearly understand this.'"

  Zhu Yuanzhang's face fell as soon as he heard the words, saying: "The heavenly disaster has descended, and the people are suffering. At this time, the court should be busy with relief efforts for the victims, making sacrifices to heaven and reflecting on its mistakes. How can I have time for these trivial matters? Huang Zicheng, have you got your priorities backwards?"

  Huang Zicheng stubbornly stuck out his neck and suddenly knelt down, saying: "Your Majesty, the Jiangshan Sheji of the Great Ming Dynasty is the foundation. I beg Your Majesty to help the people at the same time, also issue an edict to punish yourself, widely accept the words of scholars from all over the world. Otherwise, if you provoke heaven's anger and frequently bring down disasters, the Sheji will be in danger!"

  Zhu Yuanzhang flew into a rage and said: "You fear provoking Heaven's wrath, but don't you fear provoking mine?"

  Huang Zicheng knocked his head to the ground and cried: "Since ancient times, civil officials have died for their remonstrance, and military generals have died in battle. Only then can they be considered loyal ministers. I am willing to die, but I beg Your Majesty to accept my advice, first appease Heaven's anger, then bring peace to the people, and I will die with my eyes closed!"

  At this point, Huang Guan also knelt down with a thud and said: "I agree with what Mr. Huang has just said. The sage says: 'The virtue of ghosts and gods is indeed great! Look at it but do not see it, listen to it but do not hear it, embody things but cannot be left out.' The Book of Poetry also says: 'The divine mind is unfathomable, cannot be measured, and cannot be shot!' Your Majesty, first respect the gods and then bring peace to the people, this is the right way. If Your Majesty only relieves the people and arbitrarily interprets the will of heaven, I fear that heaven will abandon you, may Your Majesty wisely consider this!"

  The Left Servant of the Ministry of War, Qi Tai, looked at the two ministers kneeling on the ground and crying bitterly. He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and also knelt down, saying: "Your Majesty, I concur with what the two gentlemen have said."

  Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned red with rage, his white beard quivering slightly, and the killing intent on his face grew thicker. He finally let out a deep sigh. An emperor must have at least some plausible reason to kill someone, even if it's just an excuse. But now, the three people kneeling on the ground all cited the state and the mountains as their reason, asking the emperor to respect heaven, earth, and the gods. No matter how you put it, they were not wrong. The civil officials were willing to die for speaking the truth, and if the emperor really killed the officials who spoke the truth, later generations would surely call him a foolish ruler. But Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care what later generations thought of him. What was most important was that these three people were the pillars of state he had left for his grandson Zhu Yanzhang to rely on. If he killed them all, who would help Zhu Yanzhang in the future?

  For the past two years, Zhu Yuanzhang has felt increasingly old and feared that his time was running out. Killing a few senior officials was not a big deal, but did he still have the time and energy to cultivate another batch of senior officials who could assist his son?

  He heavily slapped the dragon case and Zhu Yuanzhang angrily shouted: "Ridiculous! Ridiculous!"

  Huang Zicheng and Huang Guan knelt on the ground, their necks stretched out in a gesture of loyalty, as if they would rather die than betray their country. Qi Tai let out a silent sigh, his head touching the ground, motionless.

  After Zhu Yuanzhang's call, he suddenly felt weak all over his body and was very sad in his heart.

  These high-ranking officials who only know how to quote Confucius and are so pedantic and dull in their words and deeds, being rigid and obtuse in all matters, unable to adapt, can they assist Yongle? Zhu Yuanzhang's heart was filled with deep worry.

  Inside the warm pavilion of the Wuying Hall, the charcoal fire was burning brightly red, and the room was warm and cozy, but the hearts of the four monarchs were icy cold.

  Eunuch Qing Tong stepped quietly to the front of Zhu Yuanzhang and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Xiao Fan, a civilian from Jiangpu County, has entered the palace by imperial decree and is waiting outside the hall for an audience."

  Zhu Yuanzhang weakly waved his hand and said, "Have him come in."

  "Yes, Your Majesty."

  Huang Zicheng and Huang Guan, who were kneeling on the ground, furrowed their brows at the same time when they heard Xiao Fan's name.

  For these two ministers, the name Xiao Fan was like thunder in their ears. Huang Guan didn't need to say anything, as Huang Ruide, the county magistrate of Jiangpu, had already complained to him tearfully about being stripped of his power by this lowly and cunning commoner's machinations.

  Huang Zicheng had heard Zhu Yunwen mention it a few times, he was Zhu Yunwen's teacher, and they spent a lot of time together on weekdays. Zhu Yunwen was innocent and casual, and told him that he had made friends with a commoner, this friend told stories about monkeys that were so much fun, his views were so novel and so on. After saying it several times, Huang Zicheng remembered the name.

  But the two did not think that even the emperor knew him and summoned him to the palace.

  Could it be... Your Majesty wants to appoint him as an official? How can that be! This person has no achievements or reputation, not to mention that he spoke nonsense in front of the Crown Prince, saying things that go against the classics and are heretical. The two ministers have already decided that they cannot tolerate him.

  Taishun is a simple, kind and righteous person, just like an uncarved fine jade. The two Lord Huangs absolutely cannot allow anyone to ruin or tarnish him. A future emperor with the appearance of a benevolent ruler, if corrupted by a lowly commoner like Xiao Fan, would be a disaster for the Ming Dynasty!

  Everyone in the hall had their own thoughts, but they saw a dark light outside the door, and a slender and handsome figure walked slowly into the warm pavilion.

  He stepped on the crimson long-haired carpet, Xiao Fan's mood was tense and excited. After entering the hall, he kept his head down and walked to the front of a volume ear dragon case with great respect. Then he slightly raised his head and saw an old man sitting behind the dragon case. The old man wore a bright yellow five-clawed golden dragon robe, a winged dragon crown on his head, with white eyebrows and white beard, a square face but a slightly protruding forehead, a rugged complexion. This old man was quietly watching him, with no expression on his majestic face, but a sharp light like the edge of a knife naturally flowed out from his narrow and long eyes.

  Xiao Fan's heart beat accelerated uncontrollably.

  Reach the highest honor and control the six directions, hold the whip to lash the world. The emperor's power is like a dragon hiding in clouds and fog, shining in all directions, when angry, the nine heavens are shocked by thunder, and the earth collapses!

  Zhu Yuanzhang, it's really Zhu Yuanzhang! I finally saw the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty! Innumerable TVs and history books have carefully depicted this great emperor, but those flat descriptions could never give Xiao Fan a three-dimensional impression of him. Today, however, he has seen the real Zhu Yuanzhang alive.

  He sat quietly behind the dragon case, his head leaning against the back of the chair, his face filled with deep fatigue. The former heroic figure, now with a head full of gray hair, was a reminder that heroes also grow old and weak, and the sun sets in the west, evoking feelings of nostalgia and sighs.

  With a suppressed excitement, Xiao Fan's long shirt fluttered as he knelt down and bowed his head deeply to the ground, saying in a loud voice: "Your humble subject Xiao Fan, by imperial decree, pays homage to Your Majesty, may you live forever and ever!"

  Zhu Yuanzhang did not speak, his eyes fixed tightly on Xiao Fan who was kneeling on the ground, as if he wanted to see through this young man with one glance.

  After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke up, with a hint of Fengyang accent, sternly saying: "You are Xiao Fan?"

  "The common people are right."

  "Hum! The Crown Prince has repeatedly mentioned you in front of me, praising your clever mind and kind heart. What exactly is it about you that makes the Crown Prince boast about you so much?"

  "A humble villager with shallow learning, I dare not accept the undeserved praise of Your Highness."

  Zhu Yuanzhang hummed, and said in a deep voice: "You know that's good. The monarch has his own duties, the minister has his own duties, and the people also have their own duties. Only by being faithful to one's duties can one be considered loyal and honest. Your current status is that of a commoner. Although it is fate that you are acquainted with the Crown Prince, if I ever hear that you discuss state affairs or interfere in government matters with him, I will surely execute you. Do you understand?"

  Xiao Fan was so frightened that his face turned pale, he trembled all over and hastily knelt down to bow: "Your humble servant understands, your humble servant will never dare to overstep his bounds!"

  Xiao Fan's cold sweat dripped onto the crimson carpet, but he didn't dare move a muscle. He felt suffocated. Zhu Yuanzhang had summoned him from Jiangpu, couldn't he at least praise him a few words? Why did he have to scold him as soon as they met? If I really wanted to be obedient, I should be staying in the Mountain God Temple as a commoner, why did you have to summon me, an ordinary citizen without any official position, into the imperial palace?

  Seeing Xiao Fan's frightened appearance, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in satisfaction, having achieved the expected effect.

  He glanced at the three ministers still kneeling beside him, Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be thinking of something, and a hint of a smile suddenly appeared on his lips.

  "Xiao Fan, since the Crown Prince says you're a talented individual, I have something to test you first. If your answer is good, I'll reward you. If it's not good, it means you're useless, and I'll kill you as a warning to all the unruly people in the world."

  By the time he said the last sentence, Zhu Yuanzhang's tone had become gloomy and icy, full of murderous intent.

  Xiao Fan was so scared that his face turned green and he couldn't stop trembling all over.

  This Hongwu Emperor is really too reckless with people's lives, can't answer a question and wants to kill someone, is my life so cheap? There are many fools in the world, can you finish killing them? Besides, I'm not stupid either. I'm a time-traveler, okay?

  "Grassroots... grassroots..." Xiao Fan hesitated for a long time, but didn't know whether he should agree to this unreasonable demand.

  "Listen carefully, on this month's Renyin day, in Huayang County of Shu, the earth dragon will turn over..."

  At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang paused for a moment and glanced at the three ministers who were kneeling with expressionless faces.

  Xiao Fan was startled and blurted out: "Who flipped over?"

  Huang Zicheng said disdainfully on the side: "The earth dragon turns over, it's an earthquake! Hmph!"

  Xiao Fan wiped his sweat and knelt on the ground, saying: "I'm ashamed!"

  Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly, seemingly unoffended, and continued: "The earth dragon has turned over, countless civilians have been killed or injured, houses have collapsed, bridges have broken, roads have been destroyed, and rivers have changed course. I ask you, how should this be dealt with?"

  Xiao Fangling stopped, such a simple question? He thought Zhu Yuanzhang was testing him on the Four Books and Five Classics.

  "Your Majesty, is it... is it about this matter?"

  Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "Not bad, just this question, answer well, I have a reward, answer poorly, beheaded."

  Xiao Fan slightly turned his head, but saw two kneeling officials staring at him with hatred, while another younger official looked straight ahead with a blank expression.

  Xiao Fan was a bit puzzled, what's wrong with those two ministers? Why are they looking at me with this kind of gaze? Have I offended them?

  Zhu Yuanzhang urged: "Xiao Fan, is there a way to deal with this?"

  Xiao Fan was also desperate and had made up his mind. If he couldn't answer, he would be beheaded, so he had to answer at all costs.

  "Your Majesty, there's been an earthquake, of course we should provide disaster relief, what else can be done?"

  This is actually a question that doesn't need to be considered at all. Xiao Fan felt that Zhu Yuanchang's inquiry was intentionally letting him off the hook.

  Zhu Yuanzhang said with a profound tone, "Someone advised me to first offer sacrifices to heaven and reflect on my own mistakes, then issue an edict to accept the words of scholars, and only after that provide relief to the people. What do you think?"

  Xiao Fan listened in bewilderment: "Your Majesty, I'm just a foolish commoner, earthquakes are natural disasters, what does it have to do with you? The people are currently struggling to survive, who has the time to perform those meaningless rituals of atoning for sins? Your Majesty, disaster relief is like putting out a fire, not a single moment can be delayed!"

  "Hum! A pack of nonsense!" Huang Zicheng angrily said: "You, a mere commoner, have what qualifications to rashly discuss national affairs? The heavenly disaster was caused by human error, this is the heavens warning the world, if we don't first offer sacrifices to atone for our sins, the entire country will be shaken, how can it be an unnecessary thing? You little brat, don't spout nonsense and mislead the country!"

  Xiao Fan's eyebrows twitched at the words, but he saw that the other was wearing official robes, while he himself was just a commoner. So he swallowed his anger and turned away, not speaking or making a sound, his eyes cast down at the ground.

  Zhu Yuanzhang saw the expressions of everyone in his eyes, and with two sentences, he provoked the hostility between the two sides. Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes finally showed a hint of relaxation.

  Gently tapping the dragon case, Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice: "Huang Aiqing, do not interrupt. Xiao Fan, I ask you again, how will you rescue the disaster?"

  Xiao Fan racked his brains to recall some of the experiences from his previous life in rescuing people from disasters. After a while, he respectfully said: "Firstly, dispatch officials from the capital to enter the disaster-stricken area and comfort the people. It would be best if it were a prince related to the imperial family, representing Your Majesty to comfort the people and calm their minds..."

  Upon hearing this, Huang Zicheng jumped up again and loudly exclaimed: "Your Majesty, you absolutely must not listen to this person's nonsense! The imperial prince must never participate in comforting the people. If he does, it will be a disaster for the future. Your Majesty, think thrice!"

  Division line

  Learn from the experience and lessons of this book. Be serious when it's time to be serious, can't be casual and disrespectful all the time.

  Recommendation, how well this book does is entirely up to everyone's decision.