Chapter 854: Tribute, the term for offerings from below (Dedicated to Alliance Leader

What Shen Shixing wants to do is something Zhu Yijun can fully understand, because when the West was engaged in the Age of Discovery and colonizing the entire world, they spent a period of time promoting Eurocentrism, claiming that Europe was the center of the world.

In order to make Eurocentrism hold water, Europeans used all their might to lie.

For example, the map of England drawn using the Mercator projection was even larger than India, and this type of map persisted in England for over two hundred years. It was only after England slipped from being the Empire on which the sun never sets that the English people realized their home island was actually very, very small.

Europe's landmass is not large; it could even be called the edge of the world. Yet, under the influence of Eurocentric public opinion, Europe was portrayed as a vast continent, while India, with its larger population and broader area, was only deemed worthy of the title of a subcontinent.

Eurocentrism is the overarching principle. Starting from the Renaissance, they continuously attributed the various achievements of the Renaissance to ancient Rome and ancient Greece, using this to prove their own historical origins as the center.

In the era when England colonized the world and the Great Powers carved up the globe, Eurocentrism expanded into Exceptionalism.

Exceptionalism means that all historical laws are subject to exceptions for Europeans; they will not decline, they will not perish, and even after enduring the most brutal wars, they can still stand at the pinnacle of the world.

They used the three divine artifacts—Centrism, Invincibility, and Exceptionalism—to prove that Europe's rise was due to the uniqueness and exclusivity of its rationality, institutions, spirit, culture, technology, geography, and even race.

It is precisely because of this uniqueness and exclusivity that it meant they could not make mistakes, could not lose, and would continue to win forever, carrying a distinct flavor of "I am different from the commoners."

Centrism, Invincibility, and Exceptionalism—these three progressive theories eventually led Europe to mythologize itself as the ruling class of the world, which it then passed on to the entire globe through colonization.

Shen Shixing has been very modest; the distinction between Hua and Yi is merely a cultural classification and does not strip the Yi people of their humanity. The Great Ming Centrism is still based on factual narrative; it aims to build Great Ming into the true center of the world and maintain this status.

Yet, during the time when Eurocentrism and Exceptionalism flourished, any indigenous person was, to the Europeans, merely a monkey that had learned to use tools, and they even published various papers to argue that they were not the same species.

Shen Li handed the written memorial to the Emperor. Regarding how to establish Great Ming Centrism, the Ministry of Rites had already made a complete plan, divided into cultural, economic, military, religious, political, and other aspects.

For instance, in culture, they would select the most excellent literary works from the *Classic of Poetry*, *Songs of Chu*, *Han Rhapsodies*, *Tang Poetry*, *Song Lyrics*, *Yuan Drama*, and Great Ming, compile them into volumes, translate them with elegance and accuracy, and append the Chinese text.

Especially for Great Ming, as the source of cultural output, the Ministry of Rites observed that in this age, the best carrier for cultural dissemination is a work of gods and demons like *Journey to the West*.

【854-16】 It is enough to fascinate everyone.

Japan is obsessed with *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, even regarding duels between generals as a way of warfare, creating a strange style of combat called "Ichikito."

Beyond this, they would translate the *Brief Volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia* and publish them throughout the world.

The brief version has only thirty-two volumes, and these thirty-two volumes do not involve any technical details. As long as they are sold all over the world to establish their authority, cultural indoctrination will begin.

Anyone who reads this book will yearn for the lifestyle described within it; the popularity of tea, porcelain, and silk is based on this yearning.

Shen Li stated very definitively: "We must publish on a large scale to establish the authority of the *Brief Volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia*. What is recorded in the brief version is the only truth. If Great Ming says it is right, then even if it is wrong, it is right; if Great Ming says it is wrong, then even if it is right, it is wrong."

"We already have enough interpreters and plan to translate it into Latin and Persian to sell all over the world."

For instance, in economics, they would set Great Ming standards; only what Great Ming approves of is good, and only that is right.

By setting Great Ming standards based on Great Ming's vast and advanced productivity, even if someone catches up later, they will still need to operate within Great Ming's framework.

From small things like the size and thickness of iron pots, tea-drinking and coffee-drinking utensils, and the size of tea bricks;

To large things like the width of imperial roads and carriages, the dimensions of ocean-going ships, firepower configurations, and so on.

The standards set by Great Ming are certainly the most suitable for Great Ming, and others can only adapt. No matter how awkward or uncomfortable it may be, they will eventually be continuously domesticated by the environment.

Because if they do not follow the standards, the goods produced will not be accepted by anyone.

Militarily, it is mainly the "Ming Hall" system. Ming Halls must maintain sufficient military force to protect the smooth flow of Great Ming culture and trade goods. The Great Ming Navy and the Global Fleet must constantly demonstrate their military might to ensure the safety of the Ming Halls.

Religiously, it is mainly relying on the Great Brightness Sect to disseminate and mythologize Great Ming. Great Ming must provide a certain degree of support to the Great Brightness Sect, providing help with those crude scriptures, non-standard Latin writing styles, and incomplete doctrines, so that it has enough resilience to take root, sprout, and bear fruit on Western soil.

Zhu Yijun finished reading Shen Li's memorial and asked with a furrowed brow: "The Great Brightness Sect speaks of the Theory of Contradiction, but what about the Theory of Public and Private, the Illustrated Treatise on Production, the Theory of Class, the Theory of Natural Selection, and the Theory of Human Selection? Are these not being translated?"

In such a detailed plan, the fruits of Great Ming's great speculation were missing; there was only the Theory of Contradiction, and even that was being spread under the shell of the Great Brightness Sect.

"It is better not to translate these for now." Shen Li indicated that it was not that the Ministry of Rites had forgotten, but that these were truly good things, and the Ministry of Rites would not really export them; truly good things are never circulated.

For example, what is sold of the *Yongle Encyclopedia* is the brief version,

not the full version. The core concept of the Great Brightness Sect's doctrine is based on the Theory of Contradiction, but the doctrine is not the Theory of Contradiction.

The Theory of Class was indeed translated into Latin by Li Yashi, but after being sent back to the West, it didn't even make a splash; it was directly shelved by Philip, who did not allow it to be spread at will. Even Great Ming is afraid of these things, so Philip is naturally even more afraid.

Great Ming has a larger population, a broader territory, and depth, yet it still cannot withstand the impact of the third volume of the Theory of Class, so it is only spread within a limited scope. Let alone Spain, which cannot even handle the West; Spain's political stability is far lower than Great Ming's.

Spain cannot even learn Great Ming's Directorate of Ceremonial, Wenyuange, the Six Ministries, the complex local administrative structures, or the selection of political and administrative officials through the imperial examination. As for the Theory of Class, this is simply not something the West can accept at the moment.

"The Ministry of Rites has thought more comprehensively, and I approve. I was being a bit whimsical and forgot the principle of 'oranges grown in the south of the Huai River are oranges, but in the north they are trifoliate oranges'." Zhu Yijun nodded and said: "The Ministry of Rites can decide, but how much money will this cost?"

"Less than a million silver in the early stages, but it will make money later." Shen Li said very bluntly: "No one does business that loses money. After domestication, we still have to rely on goods to earn it back."

"In other words, once Great Ming abandons the real for the virtual, Great Ming Centrism will be meaningless, right?" Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and expressed his understanding.

Shen Li immediately said: "Your Majesty is wise. The silver to maintain Great Ming Centrism must be earned back through goods, because goods are an important pillar of Centrism. Once goods cannot earn money back, it means there is a problem with the goods, and Centrism becomes just telling stories."

"No matter how pleasant the story is, once everyone gets the goods and realizes it's not like that, they will become disenchanted."

"Domestication is very similar to religion; it is a continuous process of self-deception. If what is seen is different from the dogma, doubt will arise."

Whether it is the Great Ming Invincibility Theory or Great Ming Centrism, they are both stories, a narrative. Once the facts no longer exist, the narrative will collapse. This is Shen Shixing's fundamental goal; he wants Great Ming to become the true center of culture, economy, military, politics, and technology.

"Your Majesty, this is actually the ancestral law. Tribute—'tribute' is the term for offerings from below." Shen Li added his final point. Whoever opposes these two things is opposing the ancestral law. Great Ming Centrism is the ultimate form of the tribute system.

If history is long enough, one can dig up precedents for anything, leaving the scholar-officials speechless. Opposing ancestral law is not a crime anyone can afford to bear. In Great Ming, opposing ancestral law is as dangerous as opposing God in the West.

On the twenty-third day of the first lunar month of the seventeenth year, the early spring dust, mixed with the sound of donkey hooves, swept over Yongding Gate. The willow trees on both banks of the Tonghui River had just sprouted buds the size of rice grains. Yongding Gate Street was bustling with people and heavy traffic; mule carts, donkey carts, and horse carriages were lined up in a long snake before Yongding Gate, and one could not see

the end of it.

The reason for such crowding was that the last batch of scholars arriving in the capital for the examinations had arrived.

Among them was a man named Yuan Keli, from Sui County, Guide Prefecture, Henan. He was a *juren* of Guide Prefecture in the sixteenth year of Wanli and was twenty-seven years old this year. Other scholars entering the capital had at least one mule cart, but Yuan Keli did not.

He was from a military household, his family was poor, and his life was difficult, but his father saw that he had talent for reading and still supported his studies.

Yuan Keli held a slip of paper in his hand; this was the address his father had given him, an acquaintance of his father in the capital, also a former classmate, and the teacher Yuan Keli was to pay respects to. Yuan Keli's book box and examination basket contained a bag of over forty *jin* of millet, plus the brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and daily necessities in the book box, making it exceptionally heavy.

Just like this, as the sun tilted west, Yuan Keli finally found the place he was looking for.

Yuan Keli stood before the gate, straightened his clothes, dusted off the dirt, and looked at the wide gate, not daring to step forward. This gate was too grand; it was a high-gate, deep-mansion residence, and his attire was completely out of place.

His father's old friend—that was a friendship from over thirty years ago. Over these years, they had exchanged a total of three letters, and that was only after Yuan Keli had passed the *juren* examination.

He was a bit worried that if he rushed in so rashly, he would be driven out. He thought for a moment, took out his visiting card from the book box, walked to the gatehouse, handed it in, and then began a long wait.

As the sun set completely and the curfew was about to begin, Yuan Keli became anxious. Carrying the heavy book box, he walked toward the gatehouse to ask if he could be seen today.

"Go, go, go! It's already late, Master Lu does not see guests at dusk. Come back tomorrow." The gatekeeper waved his hand impatiently and drove Yuan Keli away.

Yuan Keli wanted to say more, but he left the high-gate, deep-mansion residence. He looked back, sighed, and realized he had to find a place to stay.

The gatekeeper looked at Yuan Keli's departing back, spat, and said viciously: "Where did this country bumpkin come from, wanting to come to my Lu residence to sponge off food and drink? He thinks he can see him just by handing over a visiting card, and he wants to become a student?"

"Poor ghost."

"When the family is poor, there is no way to get books to read"—this sentence was Yuan Keli's real life. When he was young, his hands froze while copying books, but he dared not slack off. Every sentence in the exhortation to study, "Preface to Sending Dongyang Ma Sheng," was something Yuan Keli could empathize with.

When he was very young, Yuan Keli knew what it meant to experience the cold and warmth of human relationships.

He shrugged the book box on his shoulders and, in the dusk wind and sand, headed toward the Yu Hall.

The Yu Hall was built by scholar-officials and wealthy merchants from Henan in the capital, specifically to provide convenience for Henan candidates. Later, because Gao Gong fell from power, the Yu Hall was deserted for a time, and no one dared to go there. It was only after Gao Gong died and the Emperor gave him a posthumous title, which counted as forgiving Gao Gong, that the Yu Hall regained some popularity.

As Yuan Keli walked, he found he was lost... The capital was too big, and the map in his hand was too old.

He was reluctant to spend money and hadn't bought a new map of the capital at Yongding Gate. The capital had been repairing roads for years, and many roads had already changed.

Although the map only cost fifteen *wen*, fifteen *wen* could buy a meal. A hero can be stumped by a single penny; Yuan Keli only had six *taels* of silver, which was his father's savings accumulated over many years.

Just like this, turning left and right, Yuan Keli walked until he arrived at the All-Chu Hall.

The All-Chu Hall was adjacent to the All-Jin Hall, but the Yu Hall was in another direction. However, the sky had completely darkened. The captains of the Wucheng Military Commission were leading soldiers through the streets, announcing the curfew everywhere. In another quarter of an hour, it would be curfew time, and no matter what, he could not walk to the Yu Hall.

Yuan Keli immediately became a bit panicked. If he were caught violating the curfew, there would be no need to take the metropolitan examination.

In his desperation, he threw his visiting card before the gate of the All-Chu Hall. The gatekeeper of the All-Chu Hall received the visiting card and told Yuan Keli that this was the Chu Hall and it was inconvenient to accept him. Yuan Keli asked the gatekeeper to do him a favor, as the curfew was imminent.

The gatekeeper was also a bit panicked. The twenty-third was the day the Emperor came to the All-Chu Hall every month to sponge off a meal. Seeing that the Emperor was about to leave, if they bumped into him, he would inevitably be held accountable. After the gatekeeper said a few words, he dared not argue further.

"It was agreed for one day, so it's one day. Leave tomorrow, don't talk too much, don't let anyone discover you." The gatekeeper warned carefully, but before the gatekeeper could finish speaking, Yuan Keli was pinned down by two Embroidered Uniform Guards.

The Emperor coming to the Grand Tutor's house to sponge off a meal every month was a convention known to everyone in the capital. The Embroidered Uniform Guards were responsible for the Emperor's safety. For such a person who looked a bit suspicious and appeared at a critical time when the Emperor was about to leave, it would be a dereliction of duty for the Embroidered Uniform Guards not to arrest him.

It was mainly because the book box Yuan Keli was carrying looked a bit too heavy.

Zhu Yijun was in the Wenchang Pavilion. After finishing the state affairs, he was chatting about Xiong Tingbil's metropolitan examination.

"Xiong Da, do you have confidence in this exam?" Zhu Yijun asked with a smile about how Xiong Tingbil's preparation was going.

"Does Your Majesty want me to take the top spot? That probably won't work. Great Ming has outstanding people and talented individuals emerging in large numbers. I think I can pass as a *jinshi*, but I dare not speak of the top spot." The tiger-backed, bear-waisted Xiong Tingbil said quite modestly.

Xiong Tingbil's appearance was more like that of a military general than a scholar-official. Xiong Tingbil had read so many books, yet he still didn't have much of a scholarly air.

Zhu Yijun leaned forward and said: "It's simple to get the top spot. I'll leak the questions to you. Anyway, the Ministry of Rites has finalized the questions, and they need my vermilion approval. When the time comes, I'll tell you! The chief examiner, the deputy examiner, the co-examiners, and even the examination compound are mine. I'll open a convenient door for you, and you can take that top spot!"

"Uh..." Xiong Tingbil looked slightly helpless. His Majesty dared to, but he certainly didn't.

"Your Majesty, you cannot. That *juren* Wang Qian had a problem, which affected Wang Qian's promotion. This absolutely cannot be done. Isn't leaking the questions harming him?" Zhang Juzheng was numb. In private, His Majesty was actually not serious at all.

"Just joking, just joking." Zhu Yijun waved his hand,

stood up and said: "It's night now, so I'll go back. Xiong Da, you prepare well and don't be nervous. I've also read your essays. Study hard, and there will definitely be no problem."

Zhu Yijun was also just playing around. The metropolitan examination was a major event watched by thousands of eyes. If he did that, he would be openly destroying order. He was afraid that Xiong Tingbil would be nervous, meaning that if it didn't work this time, there would be another time, and if he really couldn't pass, Xiong Tingbil could still take the path of a military man.

Luo Sigong entered the Wenchang Pavilion, bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, I have captured a spy."

"Oh? Bring him up." Zhu Yijun said with great surprise.

When Yuan Keli was brought to the Wenchang Pavilion, he was covered in layers of cold sweat. He recognized the flying-fish suit. He hadn't been taken away by the Wucheng Military Commission, but was actually going to be arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guards and thrown into the Imperial Prison.

As soon as Zhu Yijun saw Yuan Keli's appearance, he knew this was no spy. He waved his hand and said: "Let him go. He's just a scholar. What is your name?"

It was no wonder the Embroidered Uniform Guards were suspicious; it was really because Yuan Keli's book box was a bit too heavy. Wang Chonggu's younger brother, Wang Chongyi, had been blown up by gunpowder, so they had to be on guard.

Yuan Keli's palms were very rough, very much like Zhu Yijun's hands; one look and you could tell they were hands that often did farm work. He stood very straight, and at a glance, his spirit was clearly not that of a treacherous person.

"Replying to the Noble One, my surname is Yuan, given name Keli, from Sui County, Henan. I entered the capital to take the examination. To avoid the curfew, I disturbed the All-Chu Hall. I have no intention of spying at all." Yuan Keli bowed his head again and said. He didn't know who the person in front of him was, but judging from his standing position, he was the person in charge. To be in charge of the All-Chu Hall, he must be a noble person.

"Oh, then stay for the night. Put the bill on my account." Zhu Yijun said quite indifferently. The Embroidered Uniform Guards thought he was a spy and pinned him down. The room charge and meal for this night would count as resolving the misunderstanding.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards had already thoroughly checked; the book box contained millet, not gunpowder. The forty *jin* of millet was the tuition for his teacher.

Zhu Yijun walked to the door of the Wenchang Pavilion and suddenly turned back to ask: "You said your name is what?"

"Replying to the Noble One, Yuan Keli." Yuan Keli answered immediately.

"Alright." Zhu Yijun sized up Yuan Keli, smiled, and left directly.

Zhang Juzheng saw the Emperor off. After the carriage disappeared on the street, Zhang Juzheng returned to the Wenchang Pavilion. He thought carefully, called Yuan Keli into the Wenchang Pavilion, had You Shouli turn up the lime spray lamp, and gave Yuan Keli a question on the spot, asking him to write an essay.

After Yuan Keli finished writing, Zhang Juzheng gave Yuan Keli a mathematics paper. While Yuan Keli was doing the paper, Zhang Juzheng learned about Yuan Keli's situation comprehensively from Luo Sigong.

In Confucian classics, Yuan Keli had no problems, but his grades on the mathematics paper were a bit poor, though not without foundation. It was mainly because there were no good mathematics teachers in his hometown.

Zhang Juzheng looked at

the two answer sheets in front of him, thought for a moment and said: "The noble person who just left is the Emperor. I suppose you must have guessed it."

"You want to pay respects to Lu Shusheng as your teacher, but he is unwilling to accept you. In that case, I will write you a visiting card. Tomorrow you go to pay respects to him as your teacher, or, these forty *jin* of millet will belong to me, how about that?"

"Student pays respects to the Master." Yuan Keli immediately performed the student's salute.

Forty *jin* of millet was not something precious, but the waist tag of the All-Chu Hall was also very hot to the touch.

The teacher Yuan Keli wanted to pay respects to was Lu Shusheng, the Minister of Rites before Wan Shihe, who was constantly clashing with the Emperor, was eventually driven out of the Wenhua Hall, had been living in the capital, and was still a famous Confucian of the pure stream. Those who wanted to pay respects to him as a teacher were endless.

Zhang Juzheng had You Shouli arrange for Yuan Keli to stay, and had someone bring him a set of mathematics books. Starting tomorrow, Yuan Keli would study mathematics at the family school of the All-Chu Hall.

"This Lu Shusheng, the rules in his house are too strict." Zhang Juzheng was in a very good mood. Whether in character or talent, Yuan Keli was a talent worth molding.

Yuan Keli couldn't get in, and it wasn't that Lu Shusheng didn't cherish old feelings; it was that Yuan Keli didn't give the gatekeeper any benefits. There were so many who wanted to pay respects as students; without benefits, the gatekeeper naturally wouldn't make a special trip. These scholars had sincerity, would wait a while longer before the gate, or visit again.

"Standing in the snow at the Cheng gate" is an eternal classic story, a model of respecting the teacher and the Way.

This was just a coincidence; Yuan Keli got lost and turned to the All-Chu Hall. Otherwise, Yuan Keli would definitely have run a few more times. After running a few more times, he would have known to give "human favors," and naturally, he could have paid respects as a student.

Since Lu Shusheng was willing to write a letter to Yuan Keli's father, he naturally acknowledged this past friendship, and Zhang Juzheng's move was a mid-way interception.

Intercepting is intercepting; it was Lu Shusheng himself who didn't want him, and Lu Shusheng couldn't find any reason to complain. Yuan Keli was driven away.

Zhang Juzheng was certainly not picking up trash. The question he gave was: "Saving the people from fire and water, taking only the cruel."

This sentence comes from *Mencius*, speaking of the fall of the Shang Dynasty and the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, the replacement of dynasties. King Wu of Zhou destroyed Shang and established Zhou, saving the common people from fire and water and killing the cruel and tyrannical king.

And Yuan Keli interpreted it very well. The key to this question lies in "saving the people" and "taking the cruel."

"Taking the cruel" means eradicating the cruel and tyrannical king.

This was not easy to write at all, especially since His Majesty had shown signs of cruelty in certain aspects. If one was not careful and wrote it incorrectly, let alone passing the *jinshi* examination, it would be good if one wasn't arrested for criticizing the imperial carriage.

Yuan Keli based his argument on the two words "saving the people." Through a few short sentences, he argued that whoever plunged the people into fire and water was the source of cruelty. If a sage king knew of this cruelty and did not eradicate it, that would be failing to practice benevolent governance.

"The sage king saves the drowning and rescues the people, and must execute the cruel to pacify the commoners. For the people in fire and water did not fall into it themselves; the cruel thieves drove them into it. If one does not take the cruel, where can benevolent governance be applied?

How can the way of saving the people be manifested?"

In a very short time, Yuan Keli broke the question with one sentence, showing his agility of thought. Without a good teacher, he had self-studied mathematics to a passing standard. This was already a very impressive scholar, and it was basically certain that he would be on the golden list.

Zhang Juzheng developed a love for talent and helped Yuan Keli. The way he asked had already blocked any possibility of Yuan Keli refusing.

Yuan Keli was completely different from students like Xiong Tingbil, who were closed-door disciples taught hand-in-hand. This was Zhang Juzheng providing a little help, and Yuan Keli paying respects with the student's salute. In the future, when Yuan Keli became successful, he shouldn't forget this incense-burning friendship. Among fellow students, it could be considered a bit of a relationship to help each other.

For Zhang Juzheng, this was a matter of convenience, but for Yuan Keli, this could make him toss and turn, unable to sleep.

This time he took the wrong gate, and he didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse.

Zhang Juzheng's reputation in the scholar circles was truly very, very poor. There were all kinds of things said, and the messy rumors were countless.

This was normal. From ancient times to the present, reformers never had a good end.

Trying hard to avoid getting involved with Zhang Juzheng was the consensus of the scholar circles. Even if scholars from the Chu region entered the capital for the examination, they would avoid it if they could. If they really had nowhere to go, they wouldn't easily go to the All-Chu Hall.

But Yuan Keli really had nowhere to hide. Outsiders entering the capital for the examination had to try to avoid trouble, especially someone like Yuan Keli from a poor background, without power or influence. Once caught violating the curfew, it would be fine if he didn't pass, but if he did pass, someone would definitely make a big deal out of it.

In his first contact with Zhang Juzheng, Yuan Keli intuitively felt Zhang Juzheng's overbearing nature; he didn't give you any chance to refuse at all. His style of doing things was indeed as rumored, swift and decisive. Beyond that, Yuan Keli felt that all the rumors in the scholar circles were fake.

Because Yuan Keli saw a study filled with documents, appearing a bit messy but quite orderly, which showed that the owner of this study was indeed very busy on weekdays.

On his way to seek knowledge, Yuan Keli had seen many famous Confucians' clean and tidy studies, where the books he couldn't get were just sitting on the shelves covered in dust.

A diligent old man who exhausted his heart and strength for the rise and fall of Great Ming—that was Yuan Keli's first impression.

Zhu Yijun returned to the Tonghe Palace. After dealing with today's memorials, the moon was already on the willow tips. He thought of the young man he saw at the All-Chu Hall, Yuan Keli, a name that had been banned by the Tatars for three hundred years.

Yuan Keli was from a military household, a hereditary battalion commander. After the guard system was ruined, this hereditary battalion commander was already in name only.

Coming from a military household, in the second year of Tianqi, he was entrusted with a critical mission in a time of crisis, opened up the Liaonan battlefield, formed a pincer offensive with the Guanning Army, won seven victories in seven battles, caused tremendous trouble for Nurhaci, and even incited the defection of Nurhaci's son-in-law and subordinate general, Liu Xingzuo, who eventually died for Great Ming on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, during the Tianqi and Chongzhen years, the Donglin and Eunuch factions in the court fought to the death, reaching a point of no return. Even if the Later Jin was aggressive, attacking cities and seizing land, no one in the court cared. They fought to the death and no one sincerely pacified the disasters outside the pass.

The Later Jin didn't know how many years it would take to reach the capital, but the enemy in front of them would really take their lives.

Factional strife was always like this; for the sake of fighting, nothing else mattered. ===== CHAPTER 855 =====