Chapter 365: Cultivation Emperor, Last Emperor, One‑Month Son of Heaven

The list placed him ninth.

【Ninth: Ming Shenzong, Zhu Yijun.】

【Basic info: Zhu Zaiyi's third son, era name Wanli, reigned for forty‑eight years, the longest‑reigning emperor of the Ming dynasty.】

【Later nickname: the Restorer of Wanli's Revival, the Emperor of Prolonged Neglect.】

【Official achievements: early support of Zhang Juzheng's reforms, implementation of the Single Whip Law, leading the three Wanli campaigns to total victory.】

【Official faults: purging Zhang Juzheng, abolishing the new reform policies, not attending court for thirty years, imposing mining taxes, neglecting Liaodong's border defense, and allowing Nurhaci's rise.】

When this point was raised, the atmosphere on the city tower changed.

Zhao Kuangyin read "not attending court for thirty years" once, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang:

"Your descendant? Forty‑eight years on the throne, thirty years without attending court?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's complexion had already darkened by half.

He stared at those characters on the list—

"Purging Zhang Juzheng," "Abolishing the new reforms," "Imposing mining taxes," "Neglecting Liaodong's border defense"—

Each word felt like a slap across his face.

Liu Bang clicked his tongue beside him: "Forty‑eight years as emperor, thirty years without attending court—now that's a record."

Liu Che said coldly, "Early merits, later total failure."

"Such a person is harder to deal with than constant incompetence—you never know whether he truly has ability or not."

Liu Xiu said, "Neglecting border defense, allowing Nurhaci's rise."

"This point has the gravest consequences."

Ying Zheng said only one line: "Omen of ruin."

Zhu Yuanzhang clenched the railing, his knuckles turning white.

In his anger, he burst into a profanity‑filled outburst.

"******"

……

【Tenth: Ming Shizong, Zhu Houcong.】

【Basic info: son of Prince Xingxian, era name Jiajing, reigned for forty‑five years.】

【Later nickname: the Jiajing Emperor of Power Politics, the Cultivation Emperor.】

【Official achievements: consolidating imperial authority through the Grand Ritual Debate, early administrative reforms, and suppressing the wokou disturbances.】

【Faults: obsessed with Daoist cultivation, absent from court for over twenty years;

favoring the treacherous officials Yan Song and his son, allowing them to dominate state affairs;

draining the treasury to build Taoist temples.】

Liu Bang saw the three characters "Cultivation Emperor" and laughed.

"Cultivation? What kind of immortal did he pursue? After forty‑five years, what did he become?"

Li Shimin said, "He did have political skill; his methods of balancing the court were very shrewd."

"But cultivating Dao to the point of never attending court is dereliction of duty."

Zhao Kuangyin, seeing the name Yan Song, asked, "Who is Yan Song?"

Gu Shanhe said, "He was the chief minister of the Ming, wielded power for twenty years, corrupt and factional."

"In the later Jiajing years, trusting him caused the administration to collapse severely."

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened another shade.

【Eleventh: Ming Sizong, Zhu Youjian.】

【Basic info: Zhu Changluo's fifth son, era name Chongzhen, reigned seventeen years, the last emperor of the Ming dynasty.】

【Later nickname: the Diligent Last Emperor, the Tragic Chongzhen.】

【Achievements: eliminating Wei Zhongxian's eunuch faction, a life of diligent and frugal governance.】

【Faults: paranoid and obstinate, frequently reshuffling cabinet ministers, executing frontline generals, wavering strategy, imposing extra tributes that forced rebels.】

Zhu Yuanzhang, after reading the final line, remained silent for a long time.

Liu Bang said, "The last emperor."

"Diligence is diligence, but if the iron itself isn't hard enough, and the emperor lacks responsibility, then even diligence is useless."

Liu Che said, "Frequent killing of frontline generals? If I were a general, I wouldn't dare to sell my life."

Li Shimin sighed, "The most feared are people like this—he doesn't refuse to save the nation, yet every decision he makes accelerates its ruin."

Liu Xiu whispered, "Well‑meaning but powerless, stubbornly self‑reliant, the most regrettable last one."

Zhao Kuangyin fell silent.

He thought of his own descendant who leapt into the sea at seven, and glanced again at the last emperor named Zhu Youjian on the list—

Two hundred years later, the Ming could no longer hold together.

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed.

"Don't blame him."

……

【Twelfth: Ming Wuzong, Zhu Houzhao.】

【Basic info: Zhu Youchang's only son, era name Zhengde, reigned sixteen years, without heirs.】

【Later nickname: the Playful Zhengde Son of Heaven, the Leopard Chamber Emperor.】

【Achievements: a great victory at Yingzhou repelling the Mongol prince, and pacifying the Prince Ning rebellion.】

【Faults: neglecting state affairs, indulging in leopard‑chamber amusements, favoring eunuchs like Liu Jin, and having no heirs, causing a break in imperial succession.】

Liu Bang's quick assessment: "He has the skill to fight wars, but doesn't do proper affairs."

"He's a bit better than those outright tyrants, but not by much."

Liu Che said: "Being able to wage war shows his mind isn't stupid."

"But if he spends all his thoughts on play, that's an attitude problem."

Liu Xiu said: "Without offspring, the lineage is broken, and the later chaotic heirs are related to him."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the two characters "Leopard Hall", twisted his eyebrows and asked: "What is Leopard Hall?"

Gu Shanhe said: "He built a private amusement venue for himself, raising ferocious beasts and beautiful women; he stays there, ignoring state affairs."

Zhu Yuanzhang memorized the name "Zhu Houzhao" in his mind.

If he could reach Zhu Houzhao's era, he would have to make this unfilial descendant's urine spill out.

The Golden List turned the page.

With each subsequent name that appeared, Zhu Yuanzhang's complexion sank another degree.

【Thirteenth: Jianwen Emperor, Zhu Yunwen.】

【Basic info: Zhu Biao's legitimate son, era name Jianwen, reigned four years, ultimately disappeared.】

【Later nickname: Benevolent Gentle Young Lord, Scholar Emperor.】

【Official history achievements: corrected Hongwu's harsh punishments, reduced heavy taxes in Jiangnan, relaxed cultural controls.】

【Official history faults: over‑hasty feudal reduction, over‑reliance on civil officials ignorant of military affairs, chaotic military dispatches, the Jingnan Campaign lost the realm.】

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze lingered on the three characters "Zhu Yunwen."

Zhu Yunwen.

He personally selected the heir.

After Crown Prince Zhu Biao died early, he chose Biaoer's son, passing the throne across a generation.

He thought this child, kind and lenient, could be a good emperor.

What was the result?

The feudal reduction stripped away the realm.

Zhao Kuangyin looked at the Golden List and said: "The feudal reduction was correct."

"But acting too hastily and not knowing how to fight makes it all wrong."

Li Shimin said: "Idealists govern the state from their study."

"Such people can hold a city in peaceful times, but in chaotic eras they hand the realm over to others."

Liu Bang glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and said: "Old Zhu, your eye for choosing heirs isn't great."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then said: "Biaoer died early."

"Then you also can't pick someone who can't fight."

Liu Bang said, "When the duke chose Liu Ying back then, he also thought he was unsuitable, but Liu Ying at least didn't recklessly cause trouble."

"You chose this grandson, directly ruining your son's realm."

Zhu Yuanzhang gave no reply.

His gaze still lingered on the three characters "Zhu Yunwen."

【Fourteenth: Mingguang Zong, Zhu Changluo.】

【Basic info: Zhu Yijun's eldest son, era name Taichang, reigned only twenty‑nine days, died at thirty‑nine.】

【Later nickname: One‑Month Emperor.】

【Achievements: abolished the Wanli mining tax, recalled demoted virtuous officials, allocated funds to reward Liaodong soldiers.】

【Faults: after enthronement indulged excessively, mistakenly used a red pill and died violently, all new policies failed to be implemented.】

Liu Che said: "Twenty‑nine days. He didn't even get warm on the throne before he was gone."

Li Shimin said: "Looking at his record, he's a person who intends to act. Unfortunately, his life was short."

Liu Bang said: "Excessive indulgence? Isn't that the same as the previous Emperor Mu?"

"Old Zhu, why are all your descendants physically weak?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's face had turned pitch black.

…