Chapter 1

Prologue

On the sixth day of the seventh month of the first year of the Jianwen era (1399 AD), in the late afternoon, in Beiping.

The streets had been cleared, with not a single pedestrian in sight. The sun was scorching, and it was a hot afternoon. The sky was a clear blue, without a single cloud.

The north wind blew through the empty streets, fluttering the red banners. Soldiers of the city guard, dressed in red cotton armor, lined up on the street in front of the Yan王府, surrounding the entire mansion with a fierce and murderous air.

The vermilion gates were tightly shut, and some heads could be seen peering over the walls. Voices and the clanging of metal could be heard from inside the walls—behind the tightly closed gates and the walls, the mansion was also filled with troops, just as the army outside was on high alert.

The two armies faced off, bows drawn and crossbows ready, the tense atmosphere enveloping the entire scene.

Zhang Bing, the commander of the operation to surround the Yan王府 and the governor of Beiping, gazed at the tightly shut gates of the Yan王府. His official robe was drenched in sweat. Three years ago, after the death of the Hongwu Emperor, the current Emperor Jianwen ascended the throne and immediately began to reduce the power of the feudal lords. Over the years, the feudal lords of Zhou, Dai, Xiang, and Qi had been stripped of their titles and exiled. Everyone knew that the next target of the court would certainly be the Yan Wang, who guarded Beiping.

However, unlike the other feudal lords who had been stripped of their power, the Yan Wang was a general of the Ming Dynasty. He had repeatedly led campaigns beyond the borders, defeating the Mongol nomadic forces that threatened the Ming Dynasty's frontiers. After the terrifying purges of the Hongwu era, with many old generals having passed away, the Yan Wang was now the last remaining famous general of the Ming Dynasty, enjoying high prestige among the northern border troops. On the battlefield, he was known for his firm will and decisive actions, often undertaking bold and brave military operations.

Such a person would never submit to the order to reduce his power; he would certainly rebel.

This fact was not only an open secret in Beiping but was also clear to Emperor Jianwen and the court. The court had decided to reduce the power of the feudal lords but was wary of the Yan Wang's prestige and power in the army, so they had been very cautious—almost hesitant—in dealing with him. It was only today that he and Commander Xie received the imperial edict to arrest the Yan Wang's associates, but the edict did not mention arresting the Yan Wang himself.

If the Yan Wang did not comply with the edict and closed the gates of the mansion to resist the official troops, what would be the consequences if he led the troops to force their way in without an edict?

If the troops searching the mansion got into a melee with the Yan Wang's guards, and the Yan Wang was injured or even killed in the chaos, how would the court deal with him?

Zhang Bing knew that the court was determined to reduce the power of the feudal lords, and no one could obstruct this. In the past two years, the number of exiled feudal lords was countless. The Zhou Wang was stripped of his title and exiled to YN; the Dai Wang was exiled to Shu; the Xiang Wang was stripped of his title and his family was executed; the Qi Wang Zhu Fu and the Dai Wang Zhu Gui were both demoted to commoners. Anyone could imagine that the Yan Wang's fate would be no different from these exiled feudal lords. If he could be killed in the chaos, Emperor Jianwen would be pleased, and the court ministers would also breathe a sigh of relief, glad to see the elimination of the biggest enemy in the campaign to reduce the power of the feudal lords.

But Zhang Bing also knew that if the Yan Wang died, it would be a fortunate event for the court but not necessarily for himself. No matter how much Emperor Jianwen feared the Yan Wang, the Yan Wang was still the emperor's uncle, and the emperor would still have to consider the respect for his elders. To prove that the Yan Wang's death was not the emperor's intention, the court might severely punish him for the crime of killing a feudal lord—resulting in the execution of his entire family.

Zhang Bing, a high-ranking official who had served as the Minister of Works, Minister of Justice, and Governor of Beiping, had a steady psychological disposition and excellent administrative skills. In his more than twenty years of service, he had handled countless difficult and troublesome matters, but he knew that today's challenge would be the most difficult test of his life.

The vermilion gates of the mansion opened, and a red-robed official from the mansion walked out. He calmly surveyed the well-armed troops and walked straight toward them. An officer approached and asked a few questions, then ran back to report: "Governor Zhang, he is the chief secretary of the Yan王府, sent by the Yan Wang to deliver a message."

Zhang Bing and Commander Xie Guai exchanged a glance, and Zhang Bing slowly said, "Let him come over."

The chief secretary was brought to Zhang Bing and bowed. "Governor Zhang, Commander Xie, your excellencies, the Yan Wang is a noble of the court, the uncle of the current emperor, and holds a high status. Your unprovoked mobilization of the city guard to surround the mansion, offending a noble, is a grave act of insubordination. The Yan Wang has already submitted a petition to the court to impeach both of you."

Zhang Bing impatiently interrupted the chief secretary, "Sir, there's no need to be verbose. Our intentions have already been clearly stated to the mansion. We are acting on the orders of the court to arrest the illegal officials and officers in the mansion. The imperial edict and the list of criminals have already been shown. Now, I only ask you one question: Is the mansion willing to hand over the criminals, or not?"

Intimidated by Zhang Bing's fierce demeanor, the chief secretary took a step back and softened his tone. "Governor, the mansion has already seen the imperial edict and will comply with it. The forty-five illegal officials and officers mentioned in the edict have been apprehended. Please, Governor Zhang and General Xie, come in to verify."

Zhang Bing breathed a sigh of relief. It was best to complete the court's edict without resorting to violence. These dozens of officials and officers were the core confidants of the Yan Wang. Their arrest would cut off the Yan Wang's supporters, and even if he had the intention to rebel, he would not be able to cause much trouble.

"The Yan Wang is deeply righteous and has sacrificed his own kin for the greater good. I am deeply impressed. Gentlemen, accompany me into the mansion to verify the criminals."

"Governor Zhang, hold on! The Yan Wang only invites you and Commander Xie to enter, not others."

Zhang Bing stopped and said coldly, "I am acting on the emperor's orders, and the Yan Wang dares to obstruct me?"

The steward said humbly, "Governor, you and Commander Xie are court officials and can naturally enter, but other miscellaneous people should not enter. This is for the dignity of the mansion. Governor, if you lead so many troops in, it will be chaotic, and with so many hands, there might be damage to the mansion's property or an offense to the ladies, causing trouble. The mansion has already complied with the order, so please, Governor, show some consideration."

Zhang Bing glanced at his companion, Commander Xie Guai, a rough-looking general who bowed and said, "I will follow your orders, Governor."

At this moment, Zhang Bing hesitated. Looking at the open gates of the mansion, he had a foreboding feeling.

According to the original course of history, he would have followed the advice of the chief secretary and entered the mansion alone with Xie Guai. Then, they would have been captured by the ambush set up by the mansion, refused to surrender, and been killed. Without their leadership, the troops surrounding the mansion would have scattered. The Yan Wang would then have rebelled, and after a grueling and brutal four-year war, he would have defeated the southern army led by Emperor Jianwen, seized the empire, and become the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty, ushering in a golden age known as the Yongle Prosperity.

But just as Zhang Bing was about to agree, a huge rumbling sound came from the distant sky. The troops and generals surrounding the mansion all looked up, seeing a trail of clouds crossing the blue sky and disappearing at the horizon.

Seeing the strange phenomenon in the sky, the soldiers began to murmur, "What is that?"

"It looks like a flying person!"

Looking up at the gray cloud trail in the clear blue sky, Zhang Bing and Xie Guai were also shocked. A thought flashed through Zhang Bing's mind: "When the heavens unleash their killing intent, the stars shift and the constellations change. When the earth unleashes its killing intent, dragons and snakes rise from the land. When humans unleash their killing intent, the heavens and earth are overturned. Could this be a warning from the heavens?"

At this moment, as if guided by fate, Zhang Bing changed his words and firmly said, "I will enter, and my subordinates will enter as well! I am acting on the emperor's orders, and anyone who obstructs me will be treated as a criminal, even if they hold the title of a prince!"

Commander Xie Guai looked at his companion in surprise but, having received the order to firmly support Governor Zhang Bing, he immediately commanded, "Clear the way for the governor!"

The city guard soldiers responded in unison, forming a tight formation. The shield and sword soldiers drew their weapons and charged toward the open gates of the mansion. A few guards from the Yan Wang's mansion tried to obstruct them but were cut down without hesitation. A few short cries of pain marked the beginning of the melee. At the main gate of the Yan Wang's mansion, the attackers and defenders began a brutal battle.

"The History of the Ming Dynasty

In the first year of the Jianwen era, July, the emperor wanted to reduce the power of the Yan Wang. The Yan Wang secretly stored weapons in the mansion and plotted against the imperial envoys. When the plot was discovered, the Yan Wang died, some say by suicide. The emperor ordered a grand funeral for the Yan Wang and moved the Yan Wang's family to SX. Zhang Bing and Xie Guai were both penalized with a six-month reduction in salary."

No one expected that in the moment Zhang Bing spoke, his fate, the fate of the Yan Wang, and even the fate of the Ming Dynasty and China were changed, and history took a completely different path.

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(Snore, everyone says that the integrity of web novelists is comparable to that of porn stars. If that's the case, since Akiho Yoshida has made a comeback, Mr. Zhu should also come out to breathe and say hello. In 2015, after a year of preparation, Mr. Zhu is back with a full stock of stories. Thank you all for your continued support!)

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