Mount Baideng.
Liu Bang looked at Zhu Yuanzhang's words in the group, astonishment written across his face.
There was actually quite a bit in Zhu Yuanzhang's animated music video that he had not understood. After all, he was unclear about the relationships between the people in it. He did think the song was rather good, though. Once he returned to Chang'an, he could have Lady Qi learn to sing it for him.
But now, seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's question, he immediately guessed the gist of the information revealed in that animated music video.
To confirm his suspicions, he asked a few questions first.
[Liu Bang: You're already an emperor? What are Zhu Xiongying, Biao, and "little sister" to you?]
[Zhu Yuanzhang: It's been ten years since I drove out the Mongol Yuan and founded Great Ming. Xiongying is my eldest legitimate grandson, Biao is my eldest legitimate son and crown prince, and "little sister" is my empress.]
Drove out the Mongol Yuan?
Liu Bang's keen eye caught that wording first.
That dynasty's name sounds like it belonged to barbarian invaders. Could the realm have actually fallen under barbarian rule before Great Ming?
He did not dwell on it. The confirmation of his earlier suspicions surprised him even more.
[Liu Bang: If what you say is true, then in that animated music video, your empress, crown prince, and eldest legitimate grandson all died before you?]
Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened when he saw those words.
Liu Bang was merely stating the facts, but hearing them still grated on him.
Still, this was no time to quibble with Liu Bang over such a small matter.
[Zhu Yuanzhang: That's why I want your men to help devise a plan!]
Having received Zhu Yuanzhang's confirmation, Liu Bang was even more astonished.
"His eldest son and eldest grandson both died before him, and even the wife who met him in poverty and stood by him died before him. Isn't this Zhu Yuanzhang far too unlucky?"
"I wonder whether his parents and brothers are still alive. If they're all dead too, then he really is... a lone star, afflicting all six kin."
Then he thought of himself. He was nearly sixty now, and despite having lived through the chaos at the end of Qin, his elderly father was still alive. Of his three brothers, only the eldest had died young; the others were still living. His wife and children were mostly alive as well. Compared with Zhu Yuanzhang in that respect, he was quite a fortunate man.
Coming back to himself, he considered Zhu Yuanzhang's question and first offered his own advice.
[Liu Bang: If the events in that animated music video really are going to happen, your old man here can offer you a way out. The animation didn't show how your eldest grandson died, but your eldest son and empress clearly died of illness.
Since you know this, you need only have the imperial physicians pay closer attention to your eldest son's and empress's health. Summon renowned physicians from across the realm to live in your capital as well. If either falls ill, you can have those physicians treat them.]
Zhu Yuanzhang looked displeased as he read Liu Bang's two messages.
[Zhu Yuanzhang: I could have thought of this so-called way out myself-what if they contract an incurable illness that even renowned physicians can't treat? What then?]
What then?
Accept your fate.
Who doesn't die?
Qin Shi Huang wanted to live forever, and he was gone in his fifties. What could anyone do?
That was what Liu Bang thought, but he did not reply that way.
[Liu Bang: Since you're dissatisfied with the solution your old man here offered, wait until I break out of Mount Baideng and return to Chang'an. Then I'll gather Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Chen Ping to work out a plan for you.]
[Zhu Yuanzhang: That's what you should have done in the first place.]
Liu Bang smiled at that. Just as he was about to seize the chance to ask Zhu Yuanzhang more about his own future, he saw a message from the administrator.
[Administrator: This group chat has concluded. Please look forward to the next session.]
Immediately afterward, Liu Bang, Zhang Jiao, and Zhu Yuanzhang found that the translucent screens before their eyes had vanished.
"Zhu Yuanzhang?"
"Zhang Jiao?"
Liu Bang called out twice in his mind. When the rebel army group still failed to appear, he stopped trying.
By then, the night was deep.
He had been unable to sleep because he was worrying about the siege. Now that he knew Chen Ping would devise a plan to free him, he put his worries aside, rolled onto his low couch, and soon fell asleep...
Zhang Jiao came down from the walls of Guangzong City.
A Yellow Turbans commander in his thirties came up to meet him. It was Zhang Liang, the General of Humanity.
"Elder brother, I heard you spent a long time on the wall... The sun is so fierce, and you haven't been well lately. Don't go getting heatstroke on top of everything else."
"I know," Zhang Jiao said. "Third brother, pick a few reliable men and have them inspect the camp housing plague patients in the city again. See whether the military quarantine orders are being strictly enforced. We must not let the epidemic spread unchecked through the city."
"After the inspection, have them live separately in the city for a few days. Once we're certain they haven't contracted the plague, they can return to the camps outside the walls."
Zhang Liang cupped his fist. "As you command!"
Zhang Jiao continued toward his quarters.
He did not know when the rebel army group would open its next chat, but he hoped to find a way to trade for useful information from Zhu Yuanzhang in the meantime.
As for getting Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Chen Ping from the early Former Han to devise strategies for the Yellow Turbans, he had already given up hope.
Quite apart from how little he knew about the early Han, even if he knew more, he probably could not outbid Zhu Yuanzhang.
Besides, he was leading the Yellow Turbans in rebellion against Han. Even if it was the Later Han he opposed, the realm he sought to overturn still belonged to the Liu family. It would be a miracle if Liu Bang agreed to help him.
Zhu Yuanzhang pushed open the doors of the side hall of the Hall of Heavenly Favor and strode out.
"Your Majesty."
The eunuch attendants stationed outside the doors hurriedly bowed in greeting.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked evenly, "Did you hear any sounds from inside the hall while you were out here?"
The young eunuch grew nervous at the question and could not get a word out.
After a brief hesitation, the senior eunuch answered truthfully, "Your Majesty, this servant only faintly heard you strike the desk and shout in anger. Has some official angered Your Majesty again?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's expression darkened. "Don't ask what you shouldn't."
Then he summoned two nearby guards and asked them similar questions.
The two guards gave similar answers.
Zhu Yuanzhang's doubts were dispelled.
He had worried that others might also hear the song coming from the rebel army group. Now it seemed that, just as they could not see its screen, they could not hear its sounds either.
That put him much more at ease.
"Convey my oral decree. Have the crown prince bring Xiongying to the side hall of the Hall of Heavenly Favor. Summon the imperial physicians Dai Sigong and Xiao Jiuxian as well."
The order was strange, but the eunuch dared not ask a single question. He immediately acknowledged it and went to carry it out.
Crown Prince Zhu Biao and his family lived in Spring Harmony Palace, just east of the Hall of Heavenly Favor, so before long, Zhu Biao arrived with Zhu Xiongying.
"Your son greets you, Imperial Father."
"Your grandson greets you, Imperial Grandfather!"
Although Zhu Xiongying was only four, he followed Zhu Biao in performing his greeting with meticulous propriety, like a little grown-up.
The sight of his son and eldest grandson immediately lifted Zhu Yuanzhang's spirits. He went straight over and picked Zhu Xiongying up.
"My eldest grandson is such a good boy." Zhu Yuanzhang kissed Zhu Xiongying's little cheek, then asked, "Have you felt unwell anywhere lately?"
Zhu Xiongying shook his head. "I haven't felt unwell anywhere."
Zhu Biao smiled. "Imperial Father, Xiongying is in good health."
In truth, Zhu Xiongying had suffered a little indigestion two days earlier, but Xiao Jiuxian's treatment had already cured it. Knowing how many affairs of state occupied Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao did not want to trouble him over something so minor.
Zhu Yuanzhang saw that Zhu Xiongying's little face was rosy and adorable, with no sign of illness, but he still cautioned, "Until a child is grown, you can't afford to be careless. When you return, tell Lady Chang to keep a closer eye on Xiongying."
Zhu Biao nodded. "I'll remember."
"And you? Have you felt unwell anywhere lately?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked next.
Zhu Biao found this sudden concern for his and Zhu Xiongying's health rather strange. "I haven't felt unwell anywhere... Have you received some information, Imperial Father?"
Zhu Biao knew that some men in Zhu Yuanzhang's personal Ceremonial Guard Bureau and among his guards were specifically tasked with investigations and gathering secret intelligence. He therefore assumed Zhu Yuanzhang had learned something-perhaps that someone had poisoned him and Zhu Xiongying.
Zhu Yuanzhang did not intend to tell Zhu Biao about the rebel army group yet.
First, the matter was far too incredible. Since no one else could see the group, even explaining it would be difficult.
Second, revealing it might cause Zhu Biao excessive anxiety.
It also involved his fourth son. If he told Zhu Biao before getting to the bottom of things, it might make him suspicious of his fourth brother and sow discord between them.
Thus, he said, "Don't let your imagination run wild... I've merely been reading history lately. In many dynasties, the early deaths of emperors and crown princes threw the succession into chaos, even provoking internal strife and weakening the state."
"It made me feel that good health for the emperor, the crown prince, and even the imperial grandson who comes after them-so they don't die young of illness-is also a crucial part of keeping the realm secure."
Zhu Biao had read plenty of histories himself. He nodded in wholehearted agreement. "That is indeed true."
Zhu Yuanzhang said, "So you must take care of your health and keep an eye on Xiongying's condition as well."
Zhu Biao was at a loss for words.
"Imperial Father, I'm only in my twenties, and my health is perfectly good. Xiongying is a sturdy little fellow too. You, on the other hand, often review memorials late into the night and rise at cockcrow. Keep that up for too long, and I fear it will harm your health."
Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang thought again of the animated music video.
Judging by that animation, he had very likely reigned for more than twenty years, perhaps even longer.
If he could live that long while rising early and retiring late for affairs of state, wouldn't he live longer still if he took better care of himself?
But of all those countless affairs of state, which one did not require his attention?
Even with his grip on power so tight, a treacherous official like Hu Weiyong had still emerged, deceiving his superiors and subordinates alike and forming cliques for private gain. If he loosened his hold, he feared it would take only a few years for powerful ministers to emerge below him and reduce him to a figurehead.
"Your Majesty, Dai Sigong and Xiao Jiuxian have arrived."
The eunuch's announcement from the doorway interrupted Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts.
"Let them in."
"Yes, Your Majesty."