Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

"Your Highness, the Shu army's fire attack is fierce. Our army needs to retreat temporarily and look for a new breakthrough!" General Lan Yu rode his horse to Zhu Han's side and reported anxiously.

Zhu Han looked at the sea of ​​fire in front of him, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. "Pass the order, all troops retreat to a safe area, and send scouts to find the weak links of the Shu army!"

Soon, a scout hurried back with an excited look on his face. "Your Majesty, General Lan, we found a weakly defended wall in the east of the city. It seems to have been recently built and has not yet been fully consolidated!"

"Good opportunity!" Zhu Han heard this, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes, "Pass the order, the entire army will immediately gather to the east of the city and prepare to launch a general attack there!"

The Shu army in the east of the city was panicked when they saw the Ming army suddenly gathered here. They were unable to organize an effective defense in a hurry and could only watch the Ming army approach.

"Prepare siege equipment!" Zhu Han ordered loudly. With his order, the Ming army quickly built siege equipment such as ladders and battering rams, preparing to launch the final attack on the city wall.

"All soldiers, listen up! Let's take down the city wall!" Zhu Han waved his spear and shouted loudly. His voice penetrated the hustle and bustle of the battlefield and inspired every soldier.

"General Lan, the east city wall looks weak, but in fact the Shu army has tight defense, and our army has suffered heavy casualties." A deputy general hurried to Lan Yu and reported anxiously.

Lan Yu frowned, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. "Pass the order down, adjust the tactics, and attack in small groups in turns. Be sure to maintain your strength and don't fight hard." He gave the order in a deep voice, and at the same time personally supervised the battle and constantly adjusted the tactical layout.

At this moment, a scout came running over with a nervous look on his face. "Your Majesty, the Shu army seems to have noticed something and is reinforcing the eastern defense line of the city."

Zhu Han heard this, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. "Inform the entire army, we must capture the city wall before the reinforcements arrive!" He gave the order decisively, while thinking about how to deal with the reinforcements of the Shu army.

Just as the two sides were in a stalemate, Zhu Han suddenly noticed that there seemed to be something strange in a corner of the wall. He observed it carefully and found that the stones there seemed to be newer than other places and were not arranged tightly enough.

"That's the breakthrough point!" Zhu Han was delighted and immediately gave an order, "Send a message to the artillery battalion to concentrate firepower to bombard that position!"

Following Zhu Han's order, the soldiers of the artillery camp quickly adjusted the angle of their artillery fire and fired fiercely at that corner of the city wall. The shells streaked across the sky like meteors and slammed into the city wall, causing smoke and dust to rise and gravel to fly.

The city wall gradually collapsed under the bombardment of artillery fire, revealing a huge gap. Seeing this, Zhu Han immediately waved his spear and shouted loudly: "All troops, listen to my order, follow me and charge!"

Following Zhu Han's order, the Ming army rushed towards the gap in the east city wall like a tide, with morale high and shouts shaking the earth.

Zhu Chun stood on the city wall, looking at the fierce Ming army in front of him, and despair surged in his heart. "Pass the order, all troops stop resisting and prepare to surrender.

"Although Zhu Chun's voice was low, it carried unquestionable majesty. He turned to the generals beside him and said, "We have tried our best, but the situation is over. There is no point in making unnecessary sacrifices."

At the foot of the city wall, Zhu Han saw that the Shu army had suddenly stopped resisting. Although he was confused, he quickly responded. "All troops, listen up, stop attacking, and stay alert." He shouted loudly, and sent scouts to the city wall to investigate the situation.

Soon, the scout hurried back and reported to Zhu Han: "Your Majesty, the Shu army has surrendered, and His Royal Highness Zhu Chun requests to see you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Han nodded slightly and immediately ordered, "Send Zhu Chun to see me."

Soon, Zhu Chun, accompanied by several generals, slowly walked out of the city gate and came to Zhu Han. His face was solemn, with some complicated emotions in his eyes. "Prince Han, Zhu Chun has failed the emperor's grace and is willing to be punished." He bowed and saluted, with a trembling voice.

Zhu Han looked at Zhu Chun in front of him and couldn't help feeling a little emotional.

Your Highness Zhu Chun, since you have surrendered, you have admitted your mistakes and are able to correct them, which is a great virtue. However, you should wait for His Majesty to make a judgment on your behavior. "He said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chun bowed again and said, "King Han is absolutely right. Zhu Chun is willing to accept any punishment."

Zhu Han nodded, and then ordered the general beside him: "Escort His Highness Zhu Chun back to the capital and hand him over to the emperor for his fate."

Zhu Han personally led the escort team, and after enduring hardships and sleeping in the open air, they finally returned to the familiar capital.

Zhu Han, dressed in armor, walked into the palace and headed straight for the imperial study. The guards and palace maids along the way saluted him, their eyes full of admiration and respect.

In the imperial study, Zhu Yuanzhang was sitting on the dragon throne, playing with a jade seal in his hand, his brows revealing a bit of majesty and expectation. Crown Prince Zhu Biao stood beside him, his eyes flashing with joy and concern for Zhu Han's return.

"Handi, you're back." Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was low and powerful, revealing unquestionable majesty.

Zhu Han stepped forward and bowed, "Brother Your Majesty, I have fulfilled your orders and have escorted Prince Zhu Chun of Shu back to the capital. I have come to report to you."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, and glanced at Zhu Han. Although he looked tired, his eyes were still firm and bright. He couldn't help but feel a little praise in his heart: "Brother Han, you have worked hard. You have made an indelible contribution to the suppression of the rebellion. You handled the matter of King Zhu Chun of Shu very well."

Zhu Han quickly said modestly: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. This is my duty. Although the rebellion in Shu has been quelled, the affairs of the court still require your Majesty and Biao'er to take care of them."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao stepped forward and asked with concern, "Uncle, you have had a hard journey. Do you need to rest first? Father, I am here to serve you."

Zhu Han shook his head and smiled, "Biao'er is thoughtful. However, the matter of Prince Zhu Chun of Shu has not been resolved yet. I need to report the details to my brother first before making a decision."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, motioning Zhu Han to continue.

Zhu Han then reported in detail the process of suppressing the rebellion in Shu, from the heroic resistance of General Lan Yu, to the cunning counterattack of the Shu army, and then to how they finally found a breakthrough, captured the Shu city in one fell swoop, and captured the Shu King Zhu Chun alive.

"King Zhu Chun of Shu, do you know your crime?" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly interrupted Zhu Han's narration and shot his sharp eyes at King Zhu Chun of Shu who was being escorted nearby.

Zhu Chun, the King of Shu, was pale, kneeling on the ground, his body trembling slightly. He looked up at Zhu Yuanzhang, a trace of regret and unwillingness flashed in his eyes: "I know my crime. I was confused for a moment, blinded by power, and did something that betrayed the emperor's grace. Please spare my life for the sake of brotherhood." Zhu Yuanzhang frowned when he heard this, and after a moment of silence, he slowly said: "I will naturally remember the brotherhood in my heart. But the law of the country is ruthless. Since you have committed a heinous crime, you must accept the punishment you deserve."

Seeing this, Zhu Han stepped forward, bowed and pleaded, "Brother, although the King of Shu has made mistakes, he has sincerely repented and the people of Shu also need someone to comfort them. I dare to ask you to be lenient with him to show your great grace."

Zhu Biao also echoed, "Father, I think what your uncle said is very true. Shu has just been settled, and we need a person of high moral character and prestige to go and appease the people and stabilize the situation. Although the King of Shu has made mistakes, it would not be a bad thing if he could make up for his mistakes and make meritorious contributions."

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment, his eyes swept back and forth between Zhu Han, Zhu Biao and Zhu Chun, the Prince of Shu, and finally nodded slowly: "Well, I will do as you two ask. Zhu Chun, the Prince of Shu, I can pardon your death sentence, but you cannot escape the punishment of life."

"King of Shu, Zhu Chun, although you have committed a serious mistake, I have decided not to take your life because of our brotherly love. However, the law of the country is unforgiving, and you must pay the price for this." He paused, and said in a resolute tone, "From today on, you will be demoted to a commoner and will never be allowed to set foot in the capital. Do you have any objections?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chun's body trembled slightly and a trace of despair and unwillingness flashed in his eyes, but he immediately regained his composure.

"I obey your order and thank you for not killing me." He knelt on the ground, his voice low and respectful.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and turned his gaze to Zhu Han and Zhu Biao. "Brother Han, Biao, although the issue in Shu has been resolved, the aftermath still needs to be properly handled. The people in Shu need to be appeased, and local government affairs need to be restored to order."

Zhu Han stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Don't worry, my royal brother. I will immediately arrange for people to go to Shu to assist local officials in stabilizing the situation and calming the people."

Zhu Biao also quickly expressed his position: "Father, I am willing to go with your uncle to supervise and assist in the local reconstruction work and ensure that peace will be restored in Shu as soon as possible."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes: "Okay, I am very pleased that you two are going there in person. The affairs of Shu will be fully handed over to you. You must ensure that everything goes well."

Afterwards, Zhu Yuanzhang said to Zhu Chun: "Although you have been demoted to a commoner, I still hope that you can turn over a new leaf and become a new man. The people of Shu need your help and guidance. I hope you can atone for your sins with practical actions."

Zhu Chun kowtowed again, his voice firm: "I will definitely correct my past mistakes and do my best for the people of Shu."

After making all the arrangements, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao began to prepare to go to Shu.

After discussing with Zhu Han, Zhu Biao decided to go to Shu in a relaxed and happy mood, while also not forgetting to understand the people's sentiments and local sufferings. They decided to take only a small team of elite soldiers with them to ensure safety, and the rest of the army stayed in the capital to wait.

The next morning, the sun shone through the mist onto the glazed tiles of the palace, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene. Zhu Han and Zhu Biao dressed in casual clothes, rode on their horses, and set off with their accompanying team of soldiers and horses on their journey to Shu.

"Biao'er, this time when we go to Shu, we will not only deal with the aftermath, but also take the opportunity to travel around the mountains and rivers and understand the people's sentiments." Zhu Han looked at the green mountains and clear waters in the distance, his heart full of expectations.

Zhu Biao smiled and nodded, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement about the unknown journey: "Uncle Huang is right, Shu has beautiful mountains and rivers, and a rich cultural heritage. This trip will definitely broaden my horizons."

Along the way, they sometimes passed through lush forests and sometimes crossed gurgling streams. The scenery was picturesque and beautiful.

One day, they came to a small village with beautiful scenery. The village was surrounded by mountains and rivers, with smoke rising from cooking fires, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene. Zhu Han and Zhu Biao walked into the village and saw villagers busy farming and children playing on the ridges of the fields, creating a harmonious and warm scene.

"Fellow villagers, we are officials sent by the imperial court. We have come here to understand the people's sentiments and everyone's living conditions." Zhu Han announced loudly. His voice was gentle but powerful, instantly attracting the attention of the villagers.

The villagers stopped what they were doing and gathered around, their eyes full of curiosity and vigilance. An old man with white hair and beard slowly stepped forward, bowed and said, "I didn't know you two adults were here, I'm sorry for not welcoming you. What can I do for you, adults?"

Zhu Han returned the greeting with a smile, and said sincerely, "Don't be so polite, old man. Our purpose of this trip is to understand the living conditions of the people in Shu and see if there are any difficulties that need to be solved by the court. At the same time, we also want to hear your views and suggestions on the court's policies."

When the old man heard this, a trace of surprise and gratitude flashed in his eyes. He quickly invited Zhu Han and Zhu Biao to come into the village for a detailed discussion. Under the big tree in the village, the villagers sat in a circle and confided their thoughts to Zhu Han and Zhu Biao.

"Sir, although there have been occasional wars in Shu in recent years, the court's disaster relief has arrived in a timely manner, and we common people are very grateful." A middle-aged man said gratefully.

“Yes, the court also reduced our taxes, allowing us to farm with peace of mind, and our lives are gradually getting better,” another woman added, with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Zhu Han and Zhu Biao listened carefully and nodded in agreement from time to time.

As the sun set, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao said goodbye to the enthusiastic villagers and continued their journey to Shu. As night fell, they rested at an inn and prepared to set off again the next morning.

The two continued to move forward. Soon, a guard rode up to them and reported in a low voice, "Your Highness, Prince Han, there is a small town ahead where we can rest and have a meal."

Zhu Biao thought for a moment and said, "Okay, let's stay there for a while and let the horses rest. At the same time, we can also learn about the local customs and practices."

In the small town, the two of them drove light and walked into a seemingly ordinary inn. Inside the inn, there was a lot of noise and excitement, and it was obvious that they were attracted by their arrival.

Zhu Biao and Zhu Han found a seat near the window and ordered some local specialties. Soon, the dishes were served, and the aroma was fragrant, which greatly increased their appetite.

Zhu Han tasted the dish and praised it highly: "This dish has a unique taste, is fresh and delicious, and is a rare delicacy."

Zhu Biao also nodded in agreement, and then spoke to several local people at a nearby table: "My fellow villagers, this dish is really delicious. I wonder if this town has any special stories or customs?"

When several people saw that it was someone from the royal family asking, they put down their bowls and chopsticks and enthusiastically introduced the place. One of the old men was even more eloquent: "Your Highness, Prince Han, although our town is small, it has a long history and many legends and stories.

For example, the ancient temple on that mountain is said to enshrine a deity who blesses good weather and good harvests..." (End of this chapter)