The Ming Dynasty: Reshaping the Land

Chapter 1 Tan Sacrifice, Removal of Clothing

In April of the nineteenth year of the Hongwu reign (1380), at the northern foot of Zhongshan Mountain, the tomb of the Prince of Qiyang was located.

"A tacit understanding of the situation?"

"In the end, it's just dancing in shackles."

Dressed in plain clothes and a simple hat, Li Jinglong gazed at the summit of Zhongshan Mountain not far away, muttering to himself, as if mocking himself, or perhaps having just realized something.

Just three days ago, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an imperial edict shortening Li Jinglong's mourning period from three years to two years and one month.

The early lifting of the mourning period and the inheritance of the title was seen by many as a privilege reserved for high-ranking officials, and a great favor from the emperor; however, Li Jinglong was not happy about it.

As a transmigrator, Li Jinglong knew that all the glory and experiences of the original owner started from inheriting the title, and finally stepped into the dead end of the Jingnan Rebellion. If he won, he would die and his clan would be wiped out; if he lost, he would be disgraced and ruined.

The thought of inheriting the title soon, with only six years left until Zhu Biao's death, filled Li Jinglong with urgency as he considered how to escape his predicament within this limited time.

However, the thought that all his actions were under Zhu Yuanzhang's watchful eye made him feel somewhat helpless.

Looking at the winding, surging Yangtze River in the distance, Li Jinglong sighed deeply, lamenting how cruel fate could be!

Before he knew it, Li Jinglong had been in the Ming Dynasty for two years. Without the blessing of great fortune, he had only been arguing with someone online about whether he was a good-for-nothing or an actor. When he woke up, he found himself in a real-life role-playing situation.

Forget it, I'll just have to play it safe for now. In the late Hongwu era, whoever made the most contributions died the fastest!

Beside a bamboo grove not far away, Li Zengzhi and Li Fangying, along with their servants, stood with their hands at their sides, their eyes constantly scanning Li Jinglong.

"Second brother, it's been an hour already. Why is eldest brother staring at the mountain in a daze?" Li Fangying asked Li Zengzhi in a low voice, afraid of startling Li Jinglong.

"Perhaps he's pondering something important," Li Zengzhi shook his head and guessed.

"Alas, since Father passed away, my eldest brother seems to have become a completely different person!" Li Fangying sighed, her eyes filled with worry.

"Our father passed away early, and the entire weight of the Cao State Duke's mansion rests on my eldest brother's shoulders. We can consult with him when we encounter problems, but who can he confide in when he is troubled?"

Li Zengzhi said in a low voice, "Fortunately, after the mourning period ends today, my elder brother will be able to inherit the title!"

Although they were young, as sons of officials, they naturally knew more than boys from ordinary families.

After Li Wenzhong's death, the influence of the entire Cao Guogong Mansion began to decline rapidly, which was tantamount to a catastrophic disaster for a top noble family.

Little did they know that the downfall of the Duke of Cao's mansion would occur just a few years later!

"Big brother's here!"

Li Jinglong walked over, looked at the two people standing solemnly, and smiled slightly: "Let's go back to the manor!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zengzhi and Li Fangying stepped aside and bowed, saying, "Brother, please go first!"

Li Jinglong nodded, and without any hesitation, he took the lead and walked at the very front.

The carriage came down from Zhongshan and bumped along the official road. As it approached Nanjing, the number of people on both sides of the road gradually increased.

Looking out the window, Li Jinglong could already see the massive outline of Nanjing, its towering, straight walls a testament to the strength and glory of the Ming Dynasty.

Back at the Duke's mansion, after removing the mourning clothes and changing into casual clothes, Li Jinglong looked at himself in the bronze mirror and smiled with satisfaction.

With a tall and straight figure, a face like jade, clear and bright eyes, and an air of elegance and nobility, he exuded the aura of a noble young master in every gesture. Li Jinglong couldn't help but sigh inwardly: No wonder no matter how the historians criticized the original owner as a good-for-nothing and incompetent, no one criticized him for being ugly.

I got a great deal!

At this moment, a servant from the Duke's mansion announced from outside, interrupting Li Jinglong's smugness, that a special envoy had arrived from the Eastern Palace.

Li Jinglong moved to the front hall, faced the envoy, and stood respectfully at attention!

The eunuch then let out his signature shrill voice: "The Crown Prince decrees: Li Jinglong, the heir apparent of the Duke of Cao, is hereby summoned to the palace for an audience!"

Li Jinglong couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Is it coming so soon?

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Li Jinglong bowed respectfully.

"Big Brother?" After the eunuch left, Li Zengzhi couldn't help but step forward, his eyes filled with inquiry.

Li Jinglong gave him a reassuring look: "You and your third brother stay at home. I'll go to the East Palace first."

The carriage stopped at Donghua Gate. All that could be seen were red walls and yellow tiles, bracket sets and double eaves. Before Li Jinglong could take a good look, he heard someone call his name softly from behind.

"Jiujiang?"

Li Jinglong turned around and saw that it was Chang Yuchun's second son, Chang Sheng, who was dressed in a military guard uniform and had a look of surprise in his eyes.

"Second Brother Chang, what are you doing here?" Li Jinglong's eyes lit up with joy. Although, according to Zhu Biao, Li Jinglong was a generation younger than Chang Sheng.

However, during the Hongwu era, intermarriages between members of the imperial family and military officers were frequent, leading to a situation where many people of the same age, who were brothers one day, suddenly had their seniority checked the next. So, everyone simply started to treat each other as their own.

"Haha! Brother Jiujiang, I started working here at the Eastern Palace last year!" Chang Sheng said with a smile, stepping forward and looking him over. "How have you been lately?"

"Look at my memory!" Li Jinglong rubbed his forehead and quickly bowed, "Thank you for your concern, Second Brother. Everything is fine!"

Chang Sheng glanced at Li Jinglong's casual clothes and asked in surprise, "You've taken off your formal attire?"

Li Jinglong nodded: "His Majesty has decreed that I should remove my mourning clothes after today's sacrificial ceremony! I have come specifically to pay my respects to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Chang Sheng nodded, then stepped aside halfway: "Jiujiang will naturally go to pay his respects to the Crown Prince first. After we come out, I'll call the rest of us, and we'll have a good drink tonight!"

"good!"

Li Jinglong readily agreed, then bowed to Chang Sheng in farewell and headed towards the Wenhua Hall.

Chang Sheng watched Li Jinglong disappear around the corner of the palace gate, his gaze sweeping over him. He shook his head with a wry smile before turning back to his duty room.

The cells were mostly filled with second-generation heirs who had come to the Eastern Palace to serve as guards, scattered in twos and threes, looking listless.

Upon seeing Chang Sheng enter, someone asked, "Second Brother Chang, who were you talking to just now?"

"Jiujiang has finished his mourning period today and came to pay his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince! We chatted for a bit!" Chang Sheng said, then sat down in a chair.

"Has Li Jiujiang taken the medicine?"

"By His Majesty's special decree!"

"Indeed, they are His Majesty's closest relative. Such an honor is probably hard to find anywhere else in the entire court!"

"Tsk tsk, it seems Li Jiujiang will inherit the title soon!" someone nearby said enviously.

"Hmph! All show and no substance!" Fu Zhong, sitting in the corner, sneered, his eyes full of disdain.

Upon entering the Donghua Gate, Li Jinglong paid no attention to anything else and went straight to the Wenhua Hall, where Zhu Biao usually stayed.

After the announcement, Li Jinglong was led into the palace by a palace attendant. At this time, Zhu Biao was sitting behind the imperial desk, reviewing memorials. On both sides of the imperial desk were neatly stacked memorials.

"Your subject Li Jinglong pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Li Jinglong bowed deeply.

Zhu Biao, sitting behind the imperial desk, put down his brush and looked at Li Jinglong with gentle eyes.

Li Jinglong also looked up and sized up Zhu Biao. He had a round face, fair skin, a short beard, and warm eyes. He was dressed in bright yellow clothes and was gentle and refined, but there was a hint of fatigue in his eyes.

If Li Jinglong's reputation is terrible, then Zhu Biao's reputation is excellent!

He was gentle and kind, filial and fraternal, and the most secure crown prince. He was never suspected by Zhu Yuanzhang, but he also became one of the biggest regrets of the Ming Dynasty.

Many people have speculated: what would the late Hongwu period have been like if Zhu Biao hadn't died? What would the Ming Dynasty have been like?

Unfortunately, history has no "what ifs"!

The four great emperors of all time could not find a perfect heir to inherit the throne; this is the cruelty of history!

Just as Li Jinglong was feeling sentimental, Zhu Biao put down the memorial in his hand and waved his hand, gesturing, "Jiujiang, please sit down!"

Li Jinglong bowed and then sat down in a chair.

Seeing this, Zhu Biao laughed and joked, "Jiujiang wasn't always this reserved. Now that you're here, don't be shy!"

As Li Wenzhong's son, Li Jinglong spent a lot of time in the palace from a young age. The name Li Jinglong was given to him by Emperor Zhu. Not only that, Empress Ma also gave Li Jinglong the nickname "Er Yatou" (Second Girl), after all, he was handsome from a young age.

As for the Eastern Palace, Li Jinglong visited it quite often. Zhu Xiong Ying was raised by Li Jinglong, as were Zhu Yun Tong and that little fool.

Li Jinglong looked slightly embarrassed: "Your Highness, please don't make fun of me. I was just young and ignorant back then!"

Zhu Biao looked pleased and remarked with emotion, "Time flies like an arrow; in the blink of an eye, Jiujiang has already grown into a young man of twenty!"

"It's time to follow in my cousin's footsteps!"