Chapter 36: The Grand Ancestor's Protection

Zheng Heng, refusing to accept Li Jinglong’s superiority, leaped up from the ground and lunged forward to seize the initiative. Having been caught off guard earlier, he was determined to turn the tables.

Just as his fist, the size of a vinegar jar, came within half a foot of Li Jinglong, Li reached out, clamped onto his wrist, and gave a sharp tug. In an instant, Zheng Heng’s strength was dissipated, and Li followed up with a punch to his floating ribs.

In the blink of an eye, Zheng Heng was down again.

While others might have been indifferent, Zhu Di, sitting in the center, recognized the technique immediately. It was the "Long Fist" style that had been popular among the military during the reign of Zhu Yuanzhang. It was clean, efficient, swift, and aimed directly at vital points.

Back when he was still in the capital, Zhu Yuanzhang had taught it personally. Among the younger generation—not to mention the veterans—Xu Huizu had been the best, with Li Jinglong not far behind; in front of Zhu Di, he could rank third.

Seeing Li Jinglong demonstrate it, Zhu Di could not hold back, letting out a low, appreciative roar: "Good!"

This shout only further incited Zheng Heng. To be beaten so miserably by a defeated general—did he have no shame left?

"You’re asking for death!"

Zheng Heng scrambled up, swung his fists, and charged at Li Jinglong with all his might. Li Jinglong simply smiled. With a few graceful dodges, he slipped behind Zheng Heng and kicked him squarely in the backside. Zheng Heng pitched forward, crashing right in front of Xu Jingchang’s table. In a frenzy, he reached out to grab the table, ready to fight to the death.

"Stop!"

Xu Jingchang said in a low voice, and Zhu Gaoxu, who was sitting nearby, had already darted over, standing horizontally in front of the table.

"Marquis of Wuan, are you such a sore loser?"

Scolded by Zhu Gaoxu, Zheng Heng’s mind cleared slightly, and he hung his head in embarrassment.

At this moment, Zhu Neng, the Duke of Cheng, added, "This is a martial arts exchange. A loss is a loss. Why act so shameless? If you have the skill, go practice more."

Zheng Heng was mortified. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Duke of Cheng, I have shamed everyone. But today, we cannot let this Li fellow show off. Who among you will step out, defeat him, and show him what’s what?"

Hearing this, Li Jinglong realized they were attempting a wheel of challenges. He clenched his fists secretly. He had been holding back his frustration for years; he might as well enjoy a good fight and forget about the consequences!

Just then, Xu Jingchang coughed and asked, "Marquis of Wuan, who are these 'everyone' you refer to? Do you count the Duke of Cao? Do you count me? And what about the Duke of Cheng, the Duke of Rong, and His Highness the Prince of Han—who is on your side, and who isn't?"

"You? That’s none of your business," Zheng Heng replied angrily.

Xu Jingchang chuckled. "I am, after all, the Director of the Office of Transmission. When court officials form cliques for personal gain, how can it be none of my business?"

Zheng Heng was never good with words, and now, consumed by shame and anger, he completely lost his composure.

"I am naturally talking about the brothers who fought through the Jingnan Campaign, through life and death! This Li Jinglong is nothing but a lapdog of Jianwen, whom we sent running for his life—"

"Silence!" Xu Jingchang roared, suddenly turning around. "Your Majesty, I must impeach Zheng Heng. This man is arrogant, ignorant, forms cliques for private interests, disrupts the court, and suppresses those who disagree with him. If such a person is not severely disciplined, I fear the court will never know peace!"

Zhu Di’s brows furrowed deeply. "What Zheng Heng just said was indeed inappropriate."

Xu Jingchang continued, "Your Majesty, this is more than just a matter of impropriety. I wish to ask Your Majesty a question: How is Li Jinglong at commanding troops?"

Zhu Di paused. Having won the throne, he naturally looked down on Li Jinglong, but prompted by Xu Jingchang—and having just dealt with the incident involving Jing Qing—Zhu Di understood the implications.

"Li Jinglong is skilled in both literature and martial arts, a paragon among the nobility. He commanded hundreds of thousands of troops. I very nearly fell at his hands. If anyone calls him a useless sack, what does that make me?"

Xu Jingchang seized the moment. "Your Majesty is wise. In Yingtian, I heard that during the Battle of Baigou River, Your Majesty’s weapon snapped, and you were nearly killed. Yet, at that very moment, reinforcements arrived, and a sudden gale blew, snapping the Duke of Cao’s command banner, allowing Your Majesty to achieve a great victory."

"Later, Your Majesty fought General Sheng Yong at Jiahe. That battle was brutal for Your Majesty, but then a powerful northeasterly wind arose, whipping up sand and stones to help Your Majesty crush the enemy. Is what I say true?"

Zhu Di nodded, sighing deeply. "It is indeed so. Were it not for those two great winds, I would not be sitting on this throne. Perhaps it was Heaven assisting me!"

Some people could summon meteors; others could command the wind and rain. The way the Fourth Prince fought his wars was indeed uncanny...

"No!" Xu Jingchang suddenly interjected, causing many to change color. *How can you be so tactless?*

Xu Jingchang looked up, his voice filled with fervor. "Does Your Majesty not understand? This was the Supreme Ancestor, the Gao Emperor, watching over you from Heaven!"

At these words, Zhu Di was struck as if by lightning. He stood up involuntarily. Looking toward the heavens, his eyes filled with tears.

"Father Emperor! Your son misses you!" Zhu Di wailed, and all the civil and military officials were stunned.

Among them, the only one who truly understood and had the standing to speak was Yao Guangxiao.

"Your Majesty, this humble subject has heard that during the Battle of Lake Poyang, the wind favored our forces, and the Supreme Ancestor secured the South in a single battle. Our Great Ming dynasty rose on the wind, unstoppable. When Your Majesty raised your banner, the wind blew tiles from the roof; I dare speculate that it was to help Your Majesty change your residence. The two great winds mentioned by Director Xu are further proof. Your Majesty’s success in the Jingnan Campaign was truly due to the protection of our ancestors and the blessing of the spirits. Your Majesty follows the will of Heaven and the people; this victory was destined."

The old monk’s words settled the matter once and for all. Even if Zheng Heng and his ilk did not believe it, they had no choice but to keep quiet.

Zhu Di found the sentiment deeply satisfying. There was a subtle logic to it... How does a successful person prove their success? In the early days, they might boast of their unique vision and brilliant methods, claiming to be a dragon among men, riding the winds of fate. But after a while, they find such bragging monotonous and insufficient to reflect their uniqueness.

At this stage, they usually compile a family tree, pull in a few ancient celebrities, and talk about a family tradition of poetry and books, valuing education, Confucian merchant culture, and keeping one's word... It wasn't really that I was great; it was that my ancestors were great and my family upbringing was excellent. I am merely standing on the shoulders of those before me. See? The stature of the man is instantly elevated.

For Zhu Di, the situation was even more complex. He urgently needed to prove his legitimacy. If he claimed he won simply because he was invincible in battle and seized the throne by force, what if someone else came along who was even better at fighting? Could anyone just imitate the Fourth Prince, launch a "Jingnan" campaign, and declare themselves emperor? If that happened, the world would fall into chaos.

Therefore, the smartest method was to claim divine protection and a Heavenly mandate—that when he was born, red light filled the sky, fragrance permeated the air, and eighteen waterwheels were waiting outside, otherwise the village would have burned down. Only in this way could he suppress the rebellious hearts of others.

For Zhu Di, the claim that his Father Emperor was protecting him was the most gratifying thing he could hear.

"Grand Tutor, it is only because those treacherous officials disrupted the ancestral laws of my Father Emperor that he shielded me. Through the Jingnan Campaign and four years of bitter fighting, I have finally cleared away the corrupt policies and restored my Father Emperor's legal system. I... I have not failed my Father Emperor!"

Yao Guangxiao nodded repeatedly. "Your Majesty, for Director Xu to see this at such a young age is truly remarkable."

Zhu Di finally realized Xu Jingchang's presence and praised, "This child is truly brilliant and quick-witted, far beyond the ordinary."

Seeing this, Xu Jingchang quickly added, "Your Majesty, perhaps my origins and experiences differ from my colleagues, leading me to think differently. The inheritance between the Supreme Ancestor and Your Majesty as father and son is a matter of natural justice. Both the founding nobility and the heroes of the Jingnan Campaign exist for the sake of the Great Ming Empire. Now that the wicked have been removed, it is time for Your Majesty to rule all under Heaven and expand the foundation of the Supreme Ancestor. If anyone continues to draw lines, divide court officials, and plot to form cliques for retribution, I believe this is not a blessing for Great Ming, and certainly not a blessing for Your Majesty."

Zhu Di agreed deeply. "Well said! Splendidly said!"

Zhu Di walked over to Li Jinglong, looked at him, and suddenly threw a punch, landing it hard on him.

"Since you are so capable, why didn't you surrender sooner? You made me suffer so much!"

Li Jinglong’s entire body shook, and he bowed hurriedly. "My... my subject only remembered my father’s teachings to be loyal. I did not know the court was filled with traitors... My subject is still strong and can still fight for Your Majesty; it would be a chance for me to atone for my sins. I hope Your Majesty will grant me this favor!"

With that, Li Jinglong knelt and kowtowed until his forehead hit the floor with a thud.

Zhu Di, satisfied, reached out and pulled him up. "I have a heart that can encompass the four seas. This small matter is nothing. Get up and drink with me!"