No. 1 Minister of Great Ming

At the end of the Yuan dynasty, outside Haozhou City, Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a youth, and from then on the Hongwu Emperor gained a right-hand man. They fought the Yuan, crossed the Yangtze, destroyed Chen Youliang, and defeated Zhang Shicheng. They founded the Ming dynasty and recovered Yanyun.

I am everywhere.

From then on, the Hongwu reign had no regrets, and the foundations of the Ming were as solid as a rock.

As for the matter of Xiao Mingwang, we need to adopt a four-stage strategy.

First, we declare that nothing happened.

Second, we say that maybe something happened, but there is nothing we need to do.

Third, we say that maybe we should do something, but sadly we cannot do anything.

Finally, we regretfully say that Xiao Mingwang died for the country, and that if only we had done something back then, it would have been better.

...

Someone asked: As the Great Ancestor's number-one trusted minister, how can one easily avoid all the storms and peacefully enjoy a long life?

Zhang Ximeng humbly replied, 'This humble servant is merely a minor social tool of the Great Ming court, used to hold the fruits of the Great Ancestor Emperor's careful deliberation!'