Chapter 113: Yang Shen, It’s Your Fault for Being Born Too Late

Luo Guanzhong felt the weight of the silver coins in front of him, and he looked at the dignified and extraordinary figure of Zhu Yunwen, solemnly asking, “Who exactly are you, and what kind of poem do you want to write?”

Zhu Yunwen smiled faintly and replied, “You can consider me a publisher from a bookshop. As for the poem, we can discuss it while we walk. Speaking of your works, there are some aspects I don’t agree with.”

“Oh? Could you please specify which parts, sir?” After handing the silver coins and the book to his only attendant, Luo Guanzhong asked.

Zhu Yunwen looked into the distance and said, “You, sir, have somewhat derogatory descriptions of the Yellow Turbans, referring to them as bandits and rebels. From the perspective of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, such descriptions are accurate. However, have you ever considered that if they had enough to eat, farmland to cultivate, how could they have become rebels?”

“In the end, it was the court that let them down, leaving them with no livelihood. People who have no way to make a living will inevitably resort to desperate measures. We should not easily label them as rebels.”

Xie Jin, Xu Huizu, and Xu Miaojin, who following from behind Zhu Yunwen were all shocked.

His Majesty actually believed that rebellion had its reasons?

This, this…

How could this be acceptable?

Xie Jin was somewhat flustered, but fortunately, this conversation was known only to a few of them. If it got out, it would be a huge problem.

Luo Guanzhong took a deep breath, thinking to himself:

This gentleman is actually speaking up for the rebels?

If this were to be known, wouldn’t he be sentenced to death?

If he died, who would publish his books?

No, he had to advise him.

Luo Guanzhong cleared his throat and said, “I can’t agree with what this gentleman is saying. Regardless of the era, as subjects, we should obey the emperor and not engage in rebellious activities.”

“Even if the emperor orders them to die?” Zhu Yunwen interjected.

Luo Guanzhong’s pupils contracted slightly, and he said seriously, “When the ruler wants his subjects to die, their refusal is considered disloyalty; when a father wishes his son dead, the son’s refusal is considered unfilial.”

Zhu Yunwen furrowed his brow.

In feudal times, there was no concept of equality. Everything was class-based, and at the very top of the hierarchy were the Emperors, who had the final say over everything.

He couldn’t just tell Luo Guanzhong that peasant uprisings were correct, that they were the most effective means of overthrowing a corrupt dynasty…

Although Zhu Yunwen knew he would die in the future, he couldn’t prematurely dig his own grave, could he?

This concept of equality would have to wait for future generations.

As the Emperor, he had already been poisoned by feudalism. It wouldn’t hurt to perpetuate it for another thirty or fifty years…

However…

Zhu Yunwen seemed to have thought of something suddenly and asked, “Although you speak this way, do you necessarily follow your heart?”

“Why would you say that, sir?” Luo Guanzhong asked, puzzled.

Zhu Yunwen gazed at Luo Guanzhong and said, “As far as I know, you have more than just the manuscript of ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms.’ You also have another work that praises and sympathizes with peasant rebellions. Am I correct?”

Luo Guanzhong was shocked, frozen in place.

Zhu Yunwen came to a halt and calmly said, “Is that manuscript called ‘Water Margin’?”

Luo Guanzhong’s body trembled slightly.

Zhu Yunwen held up a hand and said calmly, “You don’t need to be nervous. I just wanted to ask if you brought the manuscript of ‘Water Margin.’ If you have it, we can publish both books together.”

“How did you know? ‘Water Margin’ was written by my mentor, Shi Nai’an, who passed away nearly twenty years ago! There are very few people who know about this book, and I rarely show the manuscript to anyone! Only a handful of people know of its existence!”

Luo Guanzhong was astonished.

The person in front of him not only knew about his own manuscript but also knew about his mentor’s manuscript! And unbelievably, this person even knew that the manuscripts were in his hands!

Zhu Yunwen nodded reassuringly and clapped his hands with ease, saying, “Naturally, I heard about it. Hehe, today has been quite fruitful.”

Seeing this, Xie Jin nudged Liu Changge next to him and asked in a low voice, “Has your security bureau started investigating books now?”

Liu Changge gave Xie Jin a glance but remained silent.

The security bureau wouldn’t be concerned with matters like this. Who were Luo Guanzhong and Shi Naian anyway? They seemed like insignificant figures, hardly worth the security bureau’s attention. However, Liu Changge couldn’t help but wonder how the emperor knew about them and their manuscripts.

After some contemplation, Liu Changge couldn’t find an answer but eventually shrugged it off, thinking, “The emperor is supposed to know things that others don’t.”

Luo Guanzhong didn’t know the identity of the person in front of him, but as he followed step by step, he felt increasingly uneasy. It seemed like this young man wanted to escort him to the imperial palace.

I, Luo Guanzhong was only here to publish his books; he had no intention of opposing the imperial court. Wasn’t this going too far?

When they reached the Xi An gate, Luo Guanzhong stopped in his tracks and asked, “Weren’t we going to a bookstore to publish the books? Why are we here?”

Zhu Yunwen pointed towards the Xi an gate and said, “Among the capital, the most outstanding in the art of printing is the directorate of Ceremonial’s printing house. Since we’re publishing books, isn’t it best to seek their expertise?”

Luo Guanzhong wanted to run away. The person in front of him was definitely not normal.

The Directorate of Ceremonial was the top internal bureau within the imperial palace, and those who could make them take action were only the kings and the Emperor. Who do you think you are? Before going through the door and get your own head chopped first…

“How about we find some bookstores outside the palace to publish the books?”

Luo Guanzhong really didn’t want to enter the imperial palace.

Zhu Yunwen laughed heartily and said, “Weren’t you the one who wanted to witness the birth of your manuscript with your own eyes? Why hesitate at the doorstep? Hehe, that won’t do. Let’s go.”

Refusal was not an option.

Reluctantly, Luo Guanzhong gritted his teeth and followed along.

“We pay our respects to the Emperor, long live the Emperor!”

The guards at the Xi’an Gate saluted in perfect formation.

Luo Guanzhong widened his eyes and watched Zhu Yunwen’s back as he hurriedly knelt down and shouted, “Commoner Luo Guanzhong, paying respects to Your Majesty!”

Zhu Yunwen turned around and signaled to Xie Jin. Xie Jin quickly helped Luo Guanzhong to his feet.

“Mr. Luo, please.”

Zhu Yunwen nodded with a smile and extended his hand, making a inviting gesture.

Luo Guanzhong didn’t know how he had ended up in the Printing House. Everything seemed like a dream, unreal.

The Directorate of Ceremonies had various departments, including the Document Office, Ceremony Office, Inner Book Repository, and Printing House.

Among them, the Printing House had several officials in charge, responsible for all aspects of book printing, including Buddhist and Taoist scriptures, as well as foreign texts. It could be said to be the Emperor’s own printing press.

In the later years of the Hongwu period, the Printing House had 150 typesetters, 58 printers, and 312 bookbinders.

Zhu Yunwen wanted to print “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” and “Water Margin,” and relying solely on these typesetters, printers, and bookbinders was not enough.

“In addition to the typesetters, printers, and bookbinders, we should also hire 30 papermakers, 50 folder assemblers, 20 calendar makers, 20 ink makers, 30 calligraphers, and 30 artists. All of this should be completed within three days,” Zhu Yunwen instructed Wang Yue the Vice Eunuch director from the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Wang Yue, quickly agreed and went to make the necessary arrangements.

Zhu Yunwen took “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” from Luo Guanzhong and looked at him with great respect. Then, he picked up a brush and said, “I have a habit of adding poems to manuscripts. Sir Luo, I hope you don’t mind.”

Luo Guanzhong shook his head repeatedly and said, “Your Majesty’s own handwriting is an honor for a commoner like me.”

Zhu Yunwen dipped his brush in ink and softly said, “Regardless of whether you truly think so, this poem cannot be omitted. If it is missing, it will lose some of its grandeur.”

Xie Jin, Xu Huizhu, and Xu Miaojin approached and watched as Zhu Yunwen wrote a poem on the manuscript. The poem was titled “Immortal by the Riverside,” and it leaped vividly onto the paper:

The rolling Yangtze River flows eastward,

Its waves wash away heroes of the past.

Success and failure turn in an instant,

The green mountains remain, as the red sun sets again.

White-haired fishermen on the river’s edge,

Gaze upon the autumn moon and spring breeze.

A pot of muddy wine, a joyful encounter,

So many stories, from ancient times to the present.

Yang Shen, don’t blame Us, Blame yourself for being born too late.

To reach the depth and insight of this poem, it would need at least a hundred years or more, I can’t wait that long…

“Countless tales of old and new, all entrusted to laughter and jests!”

Seeing the poem “The Immortals by the River”, Xie Jin was extremely surprised. The poem exuded a sense of detachment and ease, combined with both grandeur and sorrow, stirring the soul. Was it truly composed by the Emperor?

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