Chapter 658: The Stele of the World

Zhu Zhu Yilou's multi-point targeting method proved highly effective, and with the Crimson Cavalry's diligent investigation, the largest case in Great Ming of collusion with Japanese pirates to steal the nation's water fertilizer was finally uncovered.

Water fertilizer was invented by Wei Wei Youshan, a craftsman from the Western Hills Coal Bureau, who accidentally discovered that water purified coal smoke and made aquatic grasses flourish; thereafter, observing this phenomenon, he gradually developed the technique using coal gangue, improving the process—though the principle was simple, continuous refinement dramatically increased output.

The production method of water fertilizer was ranked alongside the Great Ming steam engine as the empire's highest secret, more classified than how many bowls of rice the Emperor ate.

Zhu Zhu Yilou had cracked precisely such a case.

The ringleader was named Chen Sheng, styled Bo Tai, a native of Minnan; having failed in his studies, he abandoned Confucianism for commerce and became active at the Yuegang Customs Office since the opening of the seas in Emperor Longqing II; he was no outlaw, but a scion of Minnan's powerful merchant clan, generations of seafarers; though Great Ming still forbade ships from sailing to Japan after Emperor Longqing's opening, once a vessel left port, no one could control where it went.

From Emperor Wanli III, Chen Sheng contacted the Japanese warlord Mōri Terumoto; as a major figure in Japan's struggle for supremacy, Mōri Terumoto quickly allied with Chen Sheng and other maritime merchants, maintaining close ties; Chen Sheng began smuggling vast quantities of contraband to Japan, and Mōri Terumoto, who controlled the Iwami Bai Yin Mine, repaid him with endless supplies of silver.

In Emperor Wanli V, Chen Sheng entered the capital and founded Lianyun Bookshop and Quanjin Zabao, beginning his activities in the capital.

Zhu Zhu Yilou noticed problems with Chen Sheng and Lianyun Bookshop: whenever Beijing suffered coal-smoke smog, Lianyun Quanjin Zabao would rally public opinion demanding the Western Hills Coal Bureau shut down; whenever Great Ming built expressways, Lianyun Quanjin Zabao would stir up noise claiming such construction would lead to national ruin; whenever Great Ming enforced state monopolies on coke, steel, and coal, Lianyun Quanjin Zabao would bark furiously, accusing the state of excessive exploitation and plunging the realm into poverty.

Most crucially, Lianyun Bookshop loved to speak ill of the Emperor.

The theft of Great Ming's water fertilizer technique even alarmed the Chen Dewang Zhu Zhu Zaiyu, who rarely appeared in public—such was its severity.

"I cannot understand—he is from Minnan, isn't he? Japanese pirates ravaged the southeast; even in Zheng Yu Wangfu I heard of the region's horrors, where everyone wished to eat their flesh and drink their blood—why would Chen Sheng aid Japan and steal our water fertilizer?" Zhu Zhu Zaiyu was deeply puzzled; had this occurred elsewhere, he would not have asked.

But Chen Sheng was from Minnan.

Remember: Japanese piracy devastated the southeast, especially Zhejiang and Fujian, their crimes too numerous to record; Xu Wei, Sun Sun Keyi, Chen Tiande, Ma Ma Wenying of the Nine Camps of Zhejiang—all southerners and those who entered service from the south—burned with grief and vowed bloody revenge.

Yet Chen Sheng had defected to Japan.

"For silver, Mōri Terumoto offered three million taels—so long as Chen Sheng could obtain it, he would receive three million taels," replied Shaosikou Lu Lu Guangzu, explaining the alienation of money.

Three million taels was truly immense: before Emperor Wanli III, the Emperor's gold-flower silver totaled only one million taels; even the burial costs of Emperor Emperor Longqing amounted to just half a million taels—equivalent to six imperial mausoleums combined.

"So that's it," Zhu Zhu Zaiyu gazed at the accused below.

Such a major case involved only thirteen defendants—this must be attributed to Zhu Zhu Yilou, the demon prince, who brought nine-pound cannons to raid Lianyun Bookshop.

On the day Zhu Zhu Yilou raided the bookshop, it happened to be the day Chen Sheng's criminal gang gathered; they planned to exploit the Emperor's absence, stir up public sentiment, and create chaos to steal secrets—but before execution, Zhu Zhu Yilou arrived, ordering the Crimson Cavalry to surround Lianyun Bookshop and drag out the cannons.

Only thirteen defendants remained because the Crimson Cavalry acted too harshly during the cannonade: over one hundred thirty died that day; the exact number was unclear because some victims were struck directly by explosive shells, their bodies too shattered to reassemble.

By the day of public trial, another one hundred twenty-three had died of illness.

Thus only these thirteen faced judgment.

As the Tingxing Battalion Commander Zhao Zhao Zhenyuan systematically presented evidence, items were brought into the Grand Courtroom for all to see—the proof was irrefutable: Chen Sheng's secret letters to Mōri Terumoto were authenticated by Oda Ichijo, sister of Oda Nobunaga, who produced Mōri Terumoto's letters for handwriting comparison and confirmed they were genuine, written in Mōri Terumoto's own hand.

The thirteen defendants, including Chen Sheng, kept kowtowing incessantly.

In addition to conspiring with Japanese pirates to steal Wang Wang Chonggu's Progress Prize achievements, these defendants committed numerous other crimes: colluding with merchants, employing dung monopolists, water monopolists, sand monopolists, and rice monopolists—all to inflate prices; Zhu Zhu Yilou captured Qin Qin Tianba, one of Chen Sheng's henchmen; illegally operating human trafficking rings to kidnap and sell people; defying imperial edicts by reinstating bonded servitude after abolishing slave status; Zhao Zhao Zhenyuan recounted all his findings verbatim.

"Chen Sheng, do you have anything to say?" Lu Lu Guangzu filed the case records, staring at Chen Sheng with a stern voice.

Chen Sheng was bound in the "Great Peng Spreading Wings" posture: his hands were tied behind his back, forcing him to strain upward, or the rope around his neck would tighten; his body had to lean forward, his head thrust upward, or he would choke to death before the trial ended—his entire stance was absurdly comical.

This was Zhu Zhu Yilou's art: rope art.

Zhu Zhu Yilou reminded the world once more: foreign beauties were never his shield; he genuinely enjoyed playing with them, for tormenting Great Ming subjects drew the Emperor's wrath, but tormenting foreign beauties drew no consequences.

Chen Sheng could not struggle; he shouted loudly: "What excuse is this? I merely spoke ill of the Emperor, and you humiliate me like this?! Do you think I'm a coward? Hmph! In eighteen years, I'll be a fine man again!"

Chen Sheng, who had just been kowtowing, suddenly grew defiant, roaring loudly; knowing death was certain under such evidence, he chose to die with dignity, to be remembered—and to smear the Emperor with irredeemable filth!

"Oh? Are you certain you wish to retract your confession?" Lu Lu Guangzu spoke calmly: "Your attitude is abysmal, inconsistent, reneging in court, treating the tribunal as a joke, mocking me—Decomposition Institute has had few new specimens lately."

Chen Sheng's defiant, righteous demeanor vanished instantly; every Great Ming subject knew death was not terrifying—it was the Decomposition Institute that was horrifying; only when it happened to a specific person did the full horror become clear.

Lu Lu Guangzu's tone was calm; serving as Shaosikou in Emperor Wanli's reign was this effortless: under such ironclad evidence, attempting to slander the court with death was impossible in Emperor Wanli's era—it would ensure you could neither live nor die; being a specimen in the Decomposition Institute was worse than smashing your head against a wall.

"I won't retract! I confess! I am guilty! I conspired with Mōri Terumoto to steal the water fertilizer method! I am guilty! Don't send me to the Decomposition Institute! Shaosikou, spare me! Spare me!" Chen Sheng was stunned, having forgotten the Decomposition Institute; he kowtowed wildly in a grotesque, twisted posture.

The crowd below, who had suspected hidden motives, now burst into laughter at Chen Sheng's desperate pleas; this was the spectacle of dying filth—his posture was so absurd, like a rooster pecking rice.

This was Zhu Zhu Yilou's "Transformation into Beast" technique: using ropes to twist him into this form, compounded by Chen Sheng's ridiculous behavior, creating perfect theatrical effect.

Lu Lu Guangzu drew a slip from the fortune cylinder and dropped it down, speaking calmly: "Even if you hadn't retracted, you'd still have been sent to the Decomposition Institute. Didn't expect that, did you?"

"Huh?" The pecking Chen Sheng froze.

"Hahaha!" The crowd erupted again; Lu Lu Guangzu looked so serious, yet he could torment defendants to this degree during trials.

"Send him to the Decomposition Institute." Lu Lu Guangzu ended his words with Chen Sheng, issuing the verdict; the Ministry of Justice had already deliberated on these forty-seven defendants; absent new evidence or acts of merit, judgments would follow the ministry's decision.

Some would be sent to the Decomposition Institute, some to the execution ground at Caishikou, others exiled to Wuma Gang to mine coal—everyone had a bright future.

If the Ministry had already decided the verdict, what was the point of public trial and sentencing?

It was simple: the watching crowd exercised oversight; justice resided in the people's hearts. Previously, the law meant nothing to commoners, who were indifferent because it never affected them; now, public trials involved them—even slightly—marking a monumental legal advancement.

This was evident in the people's reaction: appealing to law for self-protection now seemed a viable option.

Zhu Zhu Zaiyu rose and smiled at Zhu Zhu Yilou: "Since the verdict is rendered and the people have no objection, and no outcry arose, I shall return to the Imperial Academy of Natural Philosophy. Nephew, many have petitioned the Five Classics Doctor saying you're causing chaos; in my spare time, I took a look—you've done well. Your brother works tirelessly. I don't understand politics, but I understand hearts—you're not causing trouble for him."

"Keep it up. Don't disgrace the Zhu family. Stay spirited."

Zhu Zhu Zaiyu did not speak as a sovereign, but as an imperial uncle, affirming Zhu Zhu Yilou's actions and offering support; though named Regent in the Emperor's edict, he avoided mundane affairs; when others urged him to emerge from the Academy to curb Zhu Zhu Yilou's arrogance, Zhu Zhu Zaiyu was immersed in the infinite principles of things; having witnessed this, he chose to speak plainly.

"Thank you, Imperial Uncle," Zhu Zhu Yilou had not expected the uncle indifferent to politics to so publicly endorse his actions.

"The Emperor once said: you may not care about politics, but politics cares about you. Politics is collective human decision-making, affecting everyone. Though I don't care, I know you're right, Zhu Yilou—do boldly. If you truly pierce the heavens, I'll take the blame. If anything happens, let the Emperor blame me." Zhu Zhu Zaiyu didn't offer empty words—he assumed responsibility.

If the world condemned him, let them come after Zhu Zhu Zaiyu; a child's mischief? That's the uncle's duty to bear.

Zhu Zhu Zaiyu departed, dashing the hopes of petty Confucians who had counted on the Chen Dewang to emerge from the Academy and punish Zhu Zhu Yilou; Zhu Zhu Zaiyu had clearly declared his stance at the public trial.

Well done! Keep going! Stay spirited!

Man is the sum of all social relations; one cannot live independently of society; as long as one lives, relations exist. Someone had petitioned the Five Classics Doctor to summon Zhu Zhu Zaiyu; Zhu Zhu Zaiyu was annoyed—the forty-eight-horsepower steam engine was to be tested; as a Natural Philosopher, he was busy; this declaration ended all such disturbances.

The forty-eight-horsepower steam engine successfully tested; this good news, alongside the public trial pilot's results, reached the Emperor on his southern tour.

"What is my uncle studying all day?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at the memorial with a strange expression, addressing Zhang Zhang Juzheng beside him: "My uncle claims one man equals 1.28 horses?"

One horsepower was clearly defined: one horse continuously lifting 720,000 catties of water one zhang for four hours; Zhu Zhu Zaiyu tested fifty strong laborers and found one man equaled 1.28 horses.

"The entire argument was rigorous: humans have greater endurance than horses, and human labor is cheaper than animal labor," Zhang Zhang Juzheng said after reading Zhu Zhu Zaiyu's memorial; he sincerely congratulated him on the steam engine's success and affirmed Zhu Zhu Zaiyu's proof of human labor capacity.

A pulley, a large water bucket—aside from eating, defecating, and urinating, a man pulled for four hours, doing 1.28 times the work of a horse.

"Will His Majesty proceed to Jinan Prefecture?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng asked about the Emperor's next destination; His Majesty had arrived at Qingcheng County via the expressway.

The Great Ming Emperor now had two choices: follow the expressway east from Qingcheng through Qingzhou Prefecture to Jiaozhou Bay's Mizhou Customs Office, or enter Jinan Prefecture, proceed to Mount Tai and Yanzhou, then to Xuzhou; both routes were prepared, depending solely on the Emperor's will.

"To Mizhou Customs Office," Zhu Zhu Yijun did not hesitate, directly informing Zhang Zhang Juzheng of his choice.

"Your Majesty, Shandong Provincial Governor Wang Wang Yie was promoted by Your Majesty personally; everyone doubted him then because he was Xu Xu Jie's disciple, but Your Majesty overruled all opposition and appointed him governor of Shandong; bypassing Jinan now—isn't that a slight to him?" Wang Wang Chonggu voiced what Zhang Zhang Juzheng wished to say.

Wang Wang Yie was an Imperial Faction member, staunchly loyal; after ten years as Vice Prefect of Shuntian, he finally secured promotion; now, passing through Shandong without entering Jinan signaled distrust; Wang Wang Yie's future actions in Shandong would be constrained.

"Your Majesty, Shandong Provincial Governor Wang Wang Yie has arrived," a eunuch hurried in, bowing to report.

"Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives—I didn't summon him," Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled and said: "Summon him."

Whether north or south, Great Ming Emperors never entered Jinan Prefecture; the incident during the Jingnan War when Tie Zhang Xian nearly crushed Zhu Di with a thousand-pound gate remained taboo; even Wu Zong avoided Jinan during his southern tour.

Great Ming Emperors avoided Jinan, but the Shandong Provincial Governor could come to Qingcheng to welcome the imperial procession.

Per the Emperor's edict before departure, officials must not leave their jurisdictions to greet the Emperor; Wang Wang Yie traveled to Qingcheng County at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain to welcome the Emperor—this was dereliction of duty.

"Your servant bows before Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years!" Wang Wang Yie swept his sleeves and performed the full five kowtows and three prostrations.

"Wang Wang Yie, do you know your crime? I issued a clear edict: no unauthorized departure." Zhu Zhu Yijun feigned anger.

Wang Wang Yie bowed again: "Your servant does not know his crime. Where Your Majesty travels, the road becomes the imperial way; as a capital official, I naturally follow close by. Since I am not a local official, there is no charge of dereliction."

"Flattering words! You're clever at making excuses—barely plausible. Rise, sit down and speak." Zhu Zhu Yijun gestured for Wang Wang Yie to sit.

This wasn't really an excuse: Wang Wang Yie's full title was indeed Vice Censor-in-Chief and Governor of Shandong—he was a capital official; governorship was merely a delegated post, outside the local bureaucracy; like Zhejiang Governor Wu Wu Shanyan, collusion with local power brokers meant certain death.

"Your Majesty, I have a curious anecdote," Wang Wang Yie sat without discussing official matters, beginning his tale.

"Oh?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked curiously: "What kind of anecdote?"

"The He Squire of Qingcheng County has a son, lazy since childhood; relying on family wealth, he lacked patience for anything—neither scholar nor warrior. Recently, during the provincial examination for xiucai, this utterly hopeless son suddenly became a genius." Wang Wang Yie began the tale.

The He Squire was a prominent family in Qingcheng County; his younger son, He He Zhenyan, was infamous throughout the region for laziness—not stupidity, but laziness; private tutors failed, renowned scholars failed, and with parental indulgence, He He Zhenyan remained idle; now, at sixteen, he reached marriageable age.

Suitable brides refused to marry into such a household; lower-class families seeking wealth were available, but the He family disdained them.

In Emperor Wanli XIII, during the provincial examination, this good-for-nothing He He Zhenyan suddenly became a genius.

"How was he a genius? His arithmetic became uncannily intuitive—he glanced once and knew the answer, always correct; composed poetry in seven steps, lyrics in ten; truly remarkable; he dominated poetry gatherings, praised everywhere as the Literary Star descending, a prodigal son transformed, while simultaneously denouncing the imperial examination system."

"When the examination came, He He Zhenyan scored a dismal 48 out of 100," Wang Wang Yie chuckled.

"Oh? Full score is 100—48 is indeed low," Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded.

Wang Wang Yie smiled: "I pondered and understood: the He family must have spent heavily bribing others to fabricate his genius; if he failed, they'd cry 'Great Ming's examination is unjust!' That's exactly what happened—the He parents petitioned the county magistrate; when the magistrate refused their baseless complaint, they appealed to the prefectural court."

"The matter stirred uproar, even spreading rumors that I accepted bribes and refused to hear the case."

Zhu Zhu Yijun asked: "How did you respond?"

Wang Wang Yie leaned forward, hands clasped: "I set up a thirty-zhang open space outside the prefectural court, placed He He Zhenyan alone at a desk, and issued fresh questions on the spot—he scored 23 out of 100."

"I erected a stele there inscribed: 'Qingcheng's idle, foolish son, suddenly awakened with cunning wit; genius fame spread far and wide, yet scored 48 in provincial exam; parents cried injustice, but in Jinan Prefecture test, he scored 23—A Wonder of the World!'"

"He He Zhenyan, too ashamed to remain in county school, dropped out immediately."

This was the origin of Wang Wang Yie's "Wonder of the World Stele"; his specialty was erecting steles—he'd etch offenders into stone for public ridicule, just like the "Happy Stele Grove" outside Zhaoyang Gate, now a must-visit for aspiring scholars entering the capital.

Interestingly, even today, no one has surpassed Xu Xu Jie's corruption record.

"Your Majesty, beware of powerful clans' attempts to manipulate the imperial examination system," Wang Wang Yie explained why he told this tale; Shandong had been a center of learning since the Qi Academy of the Warring States; now, someone sought to alter the rules of examination or social mobility in Shandong; Wang Wang Yie had handled the matter and reported it to the Emperor.

"Governor Wang handled this well; this concerns the rise and fall of our dynasty—cannot be taken lightly. This matter shall be published in the Official Gazette nationwide," Zhu Zhu Yijun approved Wang Wang Yie's handling—he did well and rightly.

In truth, the He Squire could have simply purchased a zengsheng degree—equivalent to a xiucai; of course, juren or Ming Jinshi could not be bought; the He family went through such trouble because zengsheng degrees were mocked, especially in Shandong, where purchased degrees were widely disdained.

"Your Majesty, I have another matter to report: recently, I discovered people in Shandong smuggling grain to Japan for huge profits; Japan, densely populated yet land-scarce, suffers acute land-labor conflict; grain yields have declined for years due to constant warfare among landowners; this year, rice prices soared in Japan, so some turned to grain smuggling for profit." Wang Wang Yie raised another issue: Japanese ships buying grain in Great Ming, and Great Ming's illicit merchants smuggling grain to Japan.

Coupled with Chen Sheng's collusion with Mōri Terumoto to steal Great Ming's water fertilizer method, this reveals one truth: Japan's rice truly isn't enough.

"Why does Japan lack grain? Is its land unable to feed its eight million people? No—it's due to constant warfare and lack of enlightened rulers; as maritime trade flourishes, more people abandon agriculture for commerce; outside cities lie bandits and deserters, inside, revelry, drunkenness, and oblivion." Wang Wang Yie did not believe Japan's land could not feed its people.

Japan's population is rapidly declining; eight million souls could easily be fed; war destroys production; as maritime trade rises and falls, more people abandon the land; even without silver inflow, prosperous commerce has altered Japan's production structure—silver flows out, but treasure notes flow in.

This transformation makes Japan more dangerous.

"Desperate men jump the wall?" Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned; no food, then raid—that's the Japanese pirate's ingrained logic; they never learned three parts humanity, their seven parts beastliness runs deep.

"It might be Korea." Wang Wang Yie, the Provincial Governor of Shandong, sat upright; he was close to both Korea and Japan. "If the Japanese, desperate and cornered, launch an invasion, we cannot ignore them simply because the Korean king refuses to come to the capital. Once the pirates gain a foothold on the mainland, their ambitions will turn toward Great Ming."

Great Ming and Korea were not close allies; they had some disputes, but nothing too serious. Between nations, interests come first. Yet to hand Korea over to Japan because of these disputes would be both unwise and irrational.

"They want to invade Korea? Only if Oda Nobunaga is dead." Zhu Zhu Yijun pondered a moment. "First, strictly prohibit maritime merchants from selling grain eastward to Japan. This is critical—Great Ming's own grain supply is insufficient."

Mōri Terumoto alone lacks the strength to invade Korea. Oda Nobunaga cannot bypass Mōri Terumoto to attack Korea and resolve his food crisis—geography makes it impossible for him.

The conflict between Oda Nobunaga and Mōri Terumoto is irreconcilable. They have been fighting for years. Oda Nobunaga wants the Iwami Bai Yin Mine; Mōri Terumoto refuses to give it. Unless Oda Nobunaga dies or Mōri Terumoto is utterly defeated, there is no basis for reconciliation—neither side could explain peace to their subordinates.

Great Ming understands Japan's situation well; currently, Japan lacks the unified strength to launch a joint invasion.

Great Ming seemed to do nothing but open its seas—yet Japan, merely by Great Ming shifting its posture, became even more turbulent and unstable.

"Your Majesty, Great Ming's sea opening has hit a wall." Wang Wang Yie sat upright and turned to the matter at hand. He had rushed from Jinan Prefecture to Qingcheng County to meet the Emperor—not to cultivate goodwill, but because, while governing locally, he had discovered that after twelve years of sea opening, Great Ming had entered a bottleneck.

"Explain in detail," Zhu Zhu Yijun said, his expression grave.

"Your Majesty, the first problem is market saturation overseas. Great Ming's production of goods continues to surge, but overseas demand has not grown in tandem." Wang Wang Yie spoke of the current oversupply of exported goods. Technically, it is not yet saturated—but if Great Ming's production keeps growing at this rate, it will inevitably lead to an unacceptable situation.

Wang Wang Yie reached this conclusion because workshops across Great Ming were still being established at a feverish pace, yet the rate of silver inflow into the five major inland customs bureaus lagged far behind the growth in workshop numbers.

Great Ming's sea opening has been commerce-driven. But this path of commerce-led growth now leads to a dead end.

"Your Majesty, the problem is not yet visible in the short term, but in the long run, it will inevitably cause chaos. The Mizhou Customs Bureau already has goods rotting in storage, refusing to sell even at discounted prices." Wang Wang Yie noticed a phenomenon: goods in multiple warehouses had been gnawed through by insects, yet merchants still refused to lower prices.

On one hand, prices were slowly rising with the inflow of silver, while domestic goods were severely scarce and prices soared; on the other, goods piled up in warehouses like mountains. This contradiction seemed absurd, even incomprehensible.

Yet it was undeniably real.

Zhu Zhu Yijun could understand why this phenomenon occurred—it was essentially like pouring milk into the Mississippi River rather than lowering the price.