Chapter 26: Gao Chi's Warmth and Integrity

A dense mist separated the two realms. On Zhu Youjian’s side, the discussion about the campaign against the Japanese pirates continued, with no attention paid to the commotion here.

"Second Brother, kneel quickly!"

Zhu Gaosui kept his head bowed, kneeling beside him and trembling like a leaf, his voice quivering with fear.

"Third Brother!? Where are we!" Zhu Gaoxu only now noticed his third brother kneeling nearby and hurriedly asked.

"How should I know?" Zhu Gaosui whispered, "The old man tossed me here and left me to my own devices. I wandered around in this endless white fog, unable to find a way out, and then the old man’s voice came from somewhere, telling me to kneel and stay put."

The old man is watching us?

A shiver ran through Zhu Gaoxu, who obediently knelt down, peering around nervously. He asked, "What is this place? Don’t tell me the Great Ancestor’s spirit has truly manifested and dragged us to the heavens."

"Stop asking. Just kneel properly," Zhu Gaosui muttered, unable to keep his complaints to himself. "Honestly, you could have stayed a good Prince of Han, but you just had to rebel. After all these years, did you really think you could outmaneuver the old man?"

Zhu Gaoxu’s face flushed with embarrassment, and in his shame and anger, he muttered, "What’s there to be afraid of! It’s already done—whether we stick out our necks or shrink back, it’s the same blade in the end..."

"Keep your voice down!" Zhu Gaosui smacked him in panic, clearly frightened out of his wits.

"Coward!"

Zhu Gaoxu, with his usual reckless bravado, shouted carelessly, "Let the old man judge us as he wishes! If he’s not embarrassed, he can chop us both down!"

"Enough, just... just keep your voice down!"

Zhu Gaosui was still terrified, repeatedly trying to hush him.

"What’s the matter? I heard cannon fire outside the city and was worried about the old man’s safety, so I entered the palace to protect him. Is that a crime?" Zhu Gaoxu spoke as if it were perfectly justified.

"And me? In my panic, I told the old man the house was on fire and brought the Northern Garrison to put it out. Then, hearing the cannon fire, I changed course and sealed off the palace. I... I can’t talk my way out of this!" Zhu Gaosui’s scalp tingled as he cursed himself for blurting out such an unbelievable lie.

"Are you stupid? Today was supposed to be the day for the Northern Garrison’s rotation anyway—they just switched a few hours early. What’s it got to do with you? Must you pin the blame on yourself?"

Zhu Gaoxu, exasperated by his brother’s lack of sense, muttered as he saw Zhu Gaosui’s head sink even lower, "Look at how scared you are. When we meet the old man, I’ll speak for you!"

"What will you say?"

As the mist cleared, not far from the two, sixteen massive dragon thrones appeared, each inscribed with the reign titles Hongwu, Jianwen, Yongle, Chongzhen, and others. Upon each throne sat a figure in imperial attire.

You’ve really got a death wish!

Beside the thrones, Zhu Dapeng wore a worried expression, unsure how to rescue his two younger brothers.

Zhu Gaoxu glanced up, immediately bowing his head to the ground. Among those present, he recognized his own father, Zhu Di, his grandfather Zhu Yuanzhang, and a younger version of his father.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat high on the Hongwu throne, eyes narrowed and expressionless as he watched the scene, saying nothing, but casting a meaningful look at old Zhu Di—as if to say: "So this is your outstanding fourth son!"

Zhu Di felt utterly humiliated, gazing at his two sons whose heads seemed about to embed in the floor, his anger burning. Stern-faced, he asked, "Speak! What do you want to say on behalf of your third brother?"

The two kneeling below were so terrified their souls seemed to have fled; they stammered, unable to utter a word.

Zhu Di snorted coldly, "Eldest, whether these two scoundrels are to be killed or flayed is up to you!"

"Father, no!"

Zhu Dapeng hurriedly knelt, his chubby cheeks quivering.

"Why not! If not for your eldest son’s help, your head would already be hanging on the city wall! I know you lack the heart to do it, so I’ll cut them down myself!" Zhu Di waved a hand with murderous intent.

"Grandfather!" Zhu Gaochi turned, summoning his courage to plead, "Let me beg for mercy for my two younger brothers. Soon my father will personally lead the army against Japan, and these two are his trusted generals. I cannot, for my own sake, endanger the state—such a burden I dare not bear!"

He could not bear to see father, sons, and brothers slaughter each other, nor could he stand by while his father killed two pillars of the realm for his sake.

Zhu Di and Zhu Si both paused. They never expected that their usually meek, self-effacing eldest son would show such resolve in a moment of great consequence.

This sobered them instantly, stirring up complex emotions. Seeing before them such a kind-hearted Crown Prince of Ming, they each felt a certain measure of guilt.

Zhu Yuanzhang reached out his broad palm, resting it on Dapeng’s head, and spoke with satisfaction, "Gaochi, as an emperor, one must be ruthless. I know you are soft-hearted, but sometimes compassion aids evil, emboldening others and bringing endless future trouble!"

"Do you truly wish to plead for these two wayward brothers? Rest assured, if you say the word, I’ll have your father execute them at once, and you’ll never have to worry again!"

Without hesitation, Zhu Gaochi kowtowed and said, "I beg Grandfather Emperor to spare my brothers’ lives!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said no more, merely nodding. "Since Gaochi pleads for them, let these two useless fellows march with their father against the Japanese, leading the charge without guards for protection, thus atoning for their crimes!"

"Yes, Father, your son obeys," Zhu Di nodded quickly, not daring to disobey. He shot the two unworthy sons a glare, then murmured a few words to Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian understood, waving his hand to dismiss them.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, casting another glance at Zhu Si. "Have you decided whom to send to Japan as a vassal?"

"The Prince of Han must not shirk this duty!" Zhu Si, overwhelmed with shame, answered without hesitation. Heaven knew, after he had said "Second Brother is so devoted," and Zhu Youjian played the scenes of Second Brother’s rebellion, he wished the ground would open up and swallow him.

He had already decided: once back, he would cajole Second Brother into going as a vassal, and Third Brother would have to be sent away too—keeping them close only brought trouble!

Zhu Yuanzhang grunted, then said to Zhu Youjian, "Grandson, do you have enough men? I can assign you another fifty thousand, and Jianwen and Yongle can each spare you two battalions."

Zhu Si hurriedly added, "Yes, yes, after Father spoke last time, I readied the troops. Zhang Fu and Zhu Neng will lead them, awaiting your orders!"

Zhu Youjian considered, then replied, "The situation here is chaotic. The greatest threat is the Jianzhou Jurchens beyond the border, who are now restless and encroaching upon us. Therefore, I request the ancestors support me in pacifying them before the campaign against Japan—so we do not scatter our forces!"

The armies of Hongwu, Jianwen, and Yongle were all formidable—mobilizing four or five hundred thousand at the drop of a hat. For this campaign against Japan, each era was sending two hundred thousand by sea and two hundred thousand by land.

Altogether, the three reigns contributed a mighty force of 1.2 million soldiers!

The numbers were real, without exaggeration!

One could only wonder if Dorgon could possibly withstand such force.

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