Timeless and eternal, a dazzling flash of light appeared, and a man dressed
in dragon robes suddenly materialized within the palace of the Hongwu
era. This man was none other than Zhu Di, the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Di looked around in bewilderment, realizing he had found himself in an unfamiliar environment. As a man with a deep understanding of history, Zhu Di immediately recognized this as an extraordinary opportunity to alter the course of history. Harboring grand ambitions, Zhu Di began plotting to overthrow the rule of Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang. He secretly contacted ambitious officials and generals, inciting them to join his rebellion. Leveraging his rich political experience and military prowess, Zhu Di quickly organized a formidable rebel army. Under Zhu Di's strategic planning, the rebel forces rapidly seized control of many critical cities and military strongholds. Emperor Hongwu found himself in a precarious situation, but ultimately prevailed through his exceptional political wisdom and military might, crushing the rebellion. In the fierce battle, Zhu Di was severely wounded and eventually captured. As he lay dying, he said to Emperor Hongwu, "I sought to change history, but in the end, I was crushed by the wheels of history. Alas, human plans are no match for the will of heaven!" With those words, Zhu Di passed away, consumed by regret. Thereafter, Zhu Yuanzhang further consolidated his rule, becoming the true founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. This episode has become a topic of keen interest for scholars, who view Zhu Di as a figure worthy of admiration for his daring challenge against fate, even though he ultimately could not escape the predetermined course of history.