Chapter 965: The Powerful and Influential Have Been Set Up by His Majesty Again

The livelihood of a million grain transport workers is a problem that the Great Ming must face.

This time, the establishment of the Inland Qu Hehang Department, with a Transfer Commissioner to supervise river affairs, is to face the problem head-on, not to escape it.

The first time the Great Ming faced such a problem was the conversion of river grain transport to sea grain transport starting in the second year of Emperor Wanli, which lasted for six years before the four million shi of grain transport grain was completely converted from land transport to sea transport.

This number has continued to grow rapidly since the ninth year of Emperor Wanli. To this day, it has exceeded 12 million shi of grain transport grain, which will be shipped from the Xingang of Songjiang Prefecture.

The route is from the Xingang of Songjiang Prefecture to the Naha Port in Ryukyu, and then turning north, because after reaching Naha Port, one can use the ocean currents to reach Tianjin, the Mizhou Shipping Department, and other places directly.

The number of sea-transported grain transport grain is still growing rapidly. It is officials from Huguang, Jiangzuo, Jiang You, Zhejiang, and other places using the method of purchasing foreign grain to complete the imperial court's tax burden, completing the unfinished Single Whip Law at another level of significance.

When river transport was first converted to sea transport, the resistance encountered was far greater than the establishment of the Inland Qu Hehang Department today.

That was the first time the Great Ming imperial court tried to solve the problem of the livelihood of a million grain transport workers, and it was solved very successfully. The transport capacity of river transport was completely released, the economic vitality of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was thoroughly activated, and the lights on both sides did not go out all night.

Compared to the cautiousness of the first time without any experience, this time the imperial court's decision-making is more at ease.

Building tugboats to tow barges is to supplement the shortage of transport capacity. When transport capacity is sufficient, goods will flow more smoothly, and more workshops will appear. Similarly, there will be a need for a large number of laborers at various docks, all of which can bear the pressure of the released trackers.

Moreover, the Ministry of Works also promised to build ships while observing the situation, and will use five to eight years to complete the transformation of official ships, and use ten to twenty years to slowly change the lives of these trackers, rather than doing it in one step, minimizing the impact as much as possible.

But no matter what, such changes will have a huge impact on the lives of these trackers.

They must change the lives they have lived for decades, or even hundreds of years, to adapt to the new era. This kind of pain is borne by the common people.

The court session on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month was a summary of the end of the year. After the summary, the Emperor would write it into a work report, and during the sacrifice to the Taimiao on the first day of the Lunar New Year, it would be burned to Heaven and the ancestors as a "qingci" (blue text).

The Minister of Revenue Zhang Zhang Xueyan took out a memorial and said, "Your Majesty, this year, Xuanda, the capital, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other places have not had snow again."

Waiting until the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Ministry of Revenue did not wait for good news. This year's situation was worse than last year's. At least last year, there was a flurry of snow, which settled the restless hearts of the people.

But this year, there was not a single snowfall.

"Suiyuan, Liaodong, and Shandong have had snow, and it was very heavy. There was a snow disaster, and one couldn't get out of the door because of snow a person's height high."

The Junior Minister of Revenue Wang Wang Yie had a bitter expression. In some places, there was no snow at all, while in others, the snow blocked people in their homes and they couldn't get out.

Dengzhou Prefecture and Laizhou Prefecture, these snow nests, were especially fierce this year. The snow that fell could bury people.

This is the true appearance of water and drought not being adjusted, just like the Emperor's temper—unpredictable, changing at any time, truly treating the Great Ming people like Japanese pirates.

Zhu Zhu Yijun felt as if he were the Shangguan County Magistrate of Fengxian County, not knowing when he had offended the Jade Emperor, causing water and drought in Fengxian County not to be adjusted, while the County Magistrate faced this situation completely helpless.

But Fengxian County only waited for three years to wait for the Great Sage Equaling Heaven to solve the problem. The Great Ming's celestial changes, I don't know how long they will last.

"Actually, it can snow." Zhu Zhu Yijun sat up straight and said, "I am not in these places. Local officials, in order to make me happy, can write some memorials saying it snowed, fooling me into being happy."

"But local officials didn't. At least they still remember what I said: give the people a way to live, don't force them to die."

Whether it snowed or not, and whether there was a famine, involved the exemption of land tax for the coming year. Local officials dared to lie about this kind of thing, and the Emperor really dared not to exempt it.

By then, in order to complete the tax burden, the local area would have to take from the people. Natural disasters plus man-made disasters, and civil unrest would break out immediately.

Since the Emperor Wanli Reform, the only outcome for local officials in places where civil unrest occurred was to be beheaded and displayed to the public, and it was beheaded locally, with no leniency.

Between the imperial court's orders and the people's livelihood, the Emperor demanded that officials choose the people's livelihood.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was not in a hurry. The Great Ming had no obvious external pressure, and policies could be more at ease, using the extension of time and overseas viceroyalties to exchange for the intensity of the pain of reform.

"Reduce land tax by another 20% next year. If there is a drought, exempt it all." Zhu Zhu Yijun, under the premise of having no money, once again vigorously reduced land tax by 20%.

The Emperor's reduction method, during the Emperor Jiajing and Emperor Longqing periods, would have caused the imperial court's fiscal revenue to drop to a level that could not be maintained.

However, the profit turnover of official factories, sea transport, foreign grain, etc., eliminated the imperial court's financial difficulties. The imperial court had more energy to regulate these contradictions, and did not need to reach into the people's rice jars for the last handful of rice together with local powerful families.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhang Zhang Xueyan and Wang Wang Yie bowed again. With His Majesty's words, the Great Ming people could live for millions more.

This is not nonsense. According to the intensity of water and drought not being adjusted last year, there should have been all kinds of civil unrest in various places long ago. But last year there was no civil unrest. Heavenly Father took the lead in reducing land tax, and local powerful families could only pinch their noses and reduce rent in disaster years.

"Your Majesty, celestial changes are not scary. What is scary is when natural disasters and man-made disasters come together. The two words 'majesty' and 'blessing' complement each other." Zhang Zhang Xueyan said with a strange expression. The impact of celestial changes was not as great as imagined, and life was more tenacious than imagined.

The reason why there was no large-scale chaos that endangered the foundation of the country was actually because natural disasters and man-made disasters did not come together.

If natural disasters and man-made disasters came together, then the imperial court should be putting out fires everywhere at this time.

"I really have no way to deal with the Old Heaven. The Old Heaven has brought down celestial changes, and I can only bear it. Could it be that I have no way to deal with these powerful and influential families, local gentry and scholars?" Zhu Zhu Yijun very clearly expressed his attitude.

Can't deal with the Old Heaven, still can't clean up these powerful families?

The powerful and influential families, local gentry and scholars did not create man-made disasters. Is it because they are kind? Of course not, it is because the Emperor is evil.

The imperial court cannot control celestial changes, but the imperial court can control man-made disasters, especially since His Majesty sent troops to Rongcheng last year, which made local powerful families realize that no matter what, they must not invite the wrath of thunder.

Inviting the wrath of thunder, the Beijing Camp would arrive and arrest people indiscriminately, and would also organize land returning, which would uproot the roots of the local gentry and scholars, at least they wouldn't be able to recover for decades.

And civil unrest would definitely invite the wrath of thunder.

The Great Ming calls imperial power the power of majesty and blessing. These two words are truly wonderful, especially after experiencing disaster preparedness last year, Zhang Zhang Xueyan had a deeper understanding of these two words.

If a wise monarch's majesty is great, he can bless the world.

"If a gentleman is not heavy, he will not have majesty." A gentleman has four weights: heavy words, heavy actions, heavy appearance, and heavy hobbies—that is, cautious words, dignified actions, proper demeanor, and elegant hobbies. If words and actions are not dignified, there is no majesty.

Of course, it can also be understood as: if a gentleman does not strike heavily, he will not have majesty.

Of course, it can also be understood that if a gentleman does not strike heavily, he will have no majesty.

After Zhang Zhang Xueyan and the Emperor discussed the countermeasures for celestial changes in the coming year, he returned to his seat.

"Gao Aiqing, how is the matter of the Pan-Pacific Trade Alliance going?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked about the negotiation situation of the Pan-Pacific Trade Alliance.

In February next year, this batch of envoys from the East Pacific Viceroyalty will return, and around June or July, the East Pacific Viceroys will arrive in the Great Ming to sign the overall agreement.

"Returning to Your Majesty, Your Majesty is benevolent and allowed me to make concessions. I respectfully follow your holy teachings. I explained to the envoys that the holy grace is widespread, and all envoys are grateful for His Majesty's immense grace. At present, all agreements have been negotiated, and all envoys will go to the Xingang of Songjiang Prefecture after the New Year and sail back in February." Gao Zhu Qiyu hurriedly reported the details.

Only the final signatures of the Viceroys were left to go through the motions. In fact, the Pan-Pacific Trade Alliance had already reached a consensus and had been established.

"The villains were all played by Junior Minister Gao, and the good guys were all played by me. Gao Aiqing has merit to the country." Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand, signaling Feng Bao to give a reward.

Usually, Zhu Zhu Yijun would not give rewards to ministers in the Zhao Wenhua Hall; it was mostly after the court session that he would give favors. But this time, at the year-end court session, Zhu Zhu Yijun broke this precedent and gave Gao Zhu Qiyu an extra favor.

A young eunuch carried a yellow pear wood box and placed it on the table.

Feng Bao opened the yellow pear wood box and showed it to the court officials.

Gao Zhu Qiyu's forehead veins jumped. In the yellow pear wood box, there was a "Purple Micro Minor Assistant Star," a palm-sized purple jadeite egg face without cotton, crystal clear, and twenty-six small egg faces the size of a thumb were arranged among them.

Knocking off a little each generation could guarantee the wealth of more than ten generations.

"The subject is ashamed to accept this." Gao Zhu Qiyu was truly startled. Rewarding those with merit is the logic of His Majesty's governance. What surprised Gao Zhu Qiyu the most was: His Majesty had no money! Yet he was still desperately rewarding such heavy treasures!

Zhu Zhu Yijun sat up straight and said, "Actually, it is mainly to reward you for going into danger and going to the capital of the Japanese state to force Toyotomi Hideyoshi to surrender. Regarding the Pan-Pacific Trade Alliance, it hasn't been formed yet, so I naturally won't reward you."

"136 military meritorious officials, everyone has a reward. You, Aiqing, deserve it."

Zhu Zhu Yijun hadn't forgotten Gao Zhu Qiyu. He ran to the Japanese state, and the fire crows burned half of the capital, which hadn't been rebuilt to this day.

Military meritorious officials all have rewards, and Gao Zhu Qiyu should also have a reward.

"The subject kowtows to thank His Majesty for his immense grace." Gao Zhu Qiyu, upon hearing that it was a reward for the Japanese war, had to accept it. If he returned it to His Majesty, wouldn't the Grand General and the 135 generals all have to return it to His Majesty?

And this was the key to building the Great Ming's "Winning Studies."

The Great Ming's "Winning Studies" and the "Winning Studies" of past dynasties in China are in the same line. Only by winning can one win.

Of course, there are supplements. If you win, you must write about it extensively, rather than winning one sentence and losing several books.

The Ming Dynasty's "Winning Studies" is in the same vein as the "Winning Studies" of all previous Chinese dynasties; only by winning can one win.

People will not learn lessons from history. How long has the farce of fine wool passed? Now the jadeite bureau is here again. But people are just so unmemorable. The powerful and influential families in the capital, the Southern Capital, and Songjiang Prefecture all began to pursue these beautiful stones.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Qi Qi Jiguang looked at each other. It seems His Majesty really made a lot of silver selling jade.

Deliberately creating the scarcity of large pieces of jadeite, plus the extra exchange value given by His Majesty's rewards to ministers.

This jadeite bureau, His Majesty had made it again.

Deliberately creating the scarcity of large pieces of jade, plus the additional exchange value bestowed by His Majesty's favor upon the ministers.

As the Great Ming merchant ships brought back many strange tales, for example, in the Netherlands, a tulip called "Young Noble" was sold for 480 ducats, equivalent to the price of four cows!

The jadeite His Majesty made has extremely strong scarcity. This kind of gemstone, especially the purple and green grades, is very, very rare. It comes from the distant East Burma. No matter what, it is much, much stronger than things like tulips.

Just as His Majesty said, seizing is not as good as cheating. Being deceived, yet still willing!

The Grand Minister of War Zeng Ceng Shengwu reported on the disarmament situation this year. The confirmation of household registration was carried out very smoothly, while the Grand Minister of Justice Ling Ling Yunyi reported on a plan called "Great Cleaning," planning to carry out comprehensive clearing of bullies, hooligans, rascals, and mountain bandits in the countryside, and gangs in the city.

It is the responsibility of local inspection departments and Southern Yamen runners to execute it, and if necessary, the Beijing Camp can be dispatched for key clearing.

The first step of this Great Cleaning plan did not start from the gangs in the metropolis, but from the officialdom.

In Ling Ling Yunyi's words, if these rebels are not knocked down, these gangs, bullies, hooligans, and rascals can never be eradicated. Only by knocking down the officials in the court who shelter these black evil forces can further actions be taken.

The Great Cleaning will start from the nineteenth year of Emperor Wanli and will continue until the twenty-ninth year of Emperor Wanli, hoping to achieve merit in ten years. The Ministry of Justice will cooperate highly with the Anti-Corruption Department, and through anti-corruption, carry out targeted clearing of these officials.

Zhu Zhu Yijun, after repeated weighing and deliberation, still approved Ling Ling Yunyi's memorial. The reason the Emperor hesitated was very simple: Ling Ling Yunyi's killing intent was truly too heavy.

In the memorial, Ling Ling Yunyi mentioned the proposal of regular dispatch of the Beijing Camp.

In every place covered by the post roads, a camp of three thousand people is dispatched, rotated every five years, specifically for targeted clearing of mountain strongholds and city gangs that the local Southern Yamen are helpless against.

Ling Ling Yunyi summarized all the old cases of the Ministry of Justice and found that many times, it was not that the Southern Yamen didn't want to wipe out the mountain bandits, but that they were powerless.

The number of some mountain bandits was greater than the number of Southern Yamen runners. Southern Yamen runners and bowmen were truly helpless against these mountain bandits and could only let them run wild.

The Beijing Camp went to Rongcheng County and discovered this fact. The two mountain bandit nests in Rongcheng had more swords, spears, bows, crossbows, and armor than the Rongcheng County Southern Yamen.

And the reason Ling Ling Yunyi wanted to carry out targeted clearing of these difficult mountain bandit nests was not for the sake of the people of the world, but because of celestial changes.

Celestial changes caused grain production to decrease, increasing instability, and these mountain bandit nests would take advantage of the chaos to rise up.

Displaced people with nowhere to go had no organizational power and couldn't cause trouble, but displaced people often gathered near these mountain bandit nests, or simply became part of the mountain bandits. This is adding fuel to the fire.

The displaced people who could have been pacified and relieved would quickly expand into riots that could not be pacified.

The purpose of the regular dispatch of the Beijing Camp was not entirely to wipe out bandits, but for military control during celestial changes.

Once the situation of celestial changes became so severe that military control had to be implemented, the Beijing Camp battalions dispatched regularly could respond quickly, manage all materials under military control, and prevent the intensification of turmoil.

Zhu Zhu Yijun finally approved this memorial. Before large-scale civil unrest broke out, the Beijing Camp dispatched was only responsible for wiping out bandits. Once there was large-scale civil unrest in a place, they would respond quickly, completely take over the local Southern Yamen, and even return land, pacify the people, and reduce the possibility of large-scale civil unrest.

This is a set of stability-maintenance response strategies designed by the Grand Minister of Justice Ling Ling Yunyi with the Beijing Camp as the main force for the sake of the country.

The Beijing Camp is a sharp sword; once it leaves its sheath, it must see blood.

Zhu Zhu Yijun ended the last court session of the year and began to get busy again. He had to go to Nanhaizi in Daxing to visit the family of the Marquis of Duntai, go to visit the "Orphans of the Feathered Forest," go to inspect the Beijing Camp official factories, go to the Northern Camp to visit the families of the Beijing Camp elite soldiers, and go to the Ten King City to meet the clan members to show the friendship of relatives.

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhu Zhu Yijun opened the Huangji Gate again and met with external officials, elders, and common people. Nearly a thousand randomly selected common people from all walks of life wrote down their most concerned issues in the corridors on the left and right of the Huangji Gate.

【Missing text】

On the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhu Zhu Yijun accepted the New Year greetings from the officials. On the first day of the first lunar month, he sacrificed to the ancestors at the Taimiao. On the second day of the first lunar month, the Emperor brought over a thousand memorials of the people's thoughts to the Qinian Hall for self-reflection.

During this period of self-reflection, Zhu Zhu Yijun had to finish reading all the memorials of the people's thoughts. Even if he couldn't solve the problems, he had to have a clear understanding.

Seven days of self-reflection, the Great Ming Emperor's prayer for snow failed. The Emperor extended it for three days, but the prayer for snow still failed.

The air in the capital was slightly turbid. Under the haze, the capital was shrouded in a layer of strange purple in the sunlight, making people feel extremely uneasy.

On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the Emperor left the Qinian Hall and issued several memorials, requiring all localities to carry out locust control in drought-stricken areas according to the "Locust Control Memorial," strictly preventing drought from evolving into locust plagues, and requiring local officials to strictly urge local gentry and scholars to fulfill the sixty-four-year promises made back then, not to create man-made disasters during natural disasters.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, the Beijing Camp began to be dispatched. For the first time, ten battalions were dispatched, sent to ten places: Liaodong, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Suiyuan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Huguang, Jiangzuo, and Jiang You.

These places had post roads, so they could be dispatched quickly and rotated at a lower cost.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was ready. If there really was a locust plague, he would also learn from Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Li Shimin, and swallow locusts alive to show his determination to share the disaster with the people.

Before becoming Emperor, Zhu Zhu Yijun felt that Li Li Shimin swallowing locusts alive was just a show. Although the Emperor's willingness to perform for the people to see could be considered benevolent, there were many vermin who wouldn't even perform.

But after becoming Emperor, Zhu Zhu Yijun discovered that it wasn't a show at all; it was a last resort to appease the people's hearts.

The West could attribute all sins to God. Anyway, no one could judge God. But the Great Ming had no God, so all sins could only be attributed to the Emperor. If the Emperor was killed, he would die.

To appease the people's hearts, when the locust plague was severe, he could only swallow locusts alive. It was just a self-preservation strategy when driven to a dead end.

Zhu Zhu Yijun prepared to swallow locusts alive and communicated the details with the Ministry of Rites, hoping that the people of the capital would also see it.

During a locust plague, it is useless to raise chickens and ducks, because once the density of locusts exceeds a certain critical value, they will secrete a toxin. When the locust plague passes through, the result can only be locusts blocking the sky and sun, filling windows and doors, leaving no space in rooms, grass and trees disappearing for thousands of miles, and even the hair and banners of cattle and horses being eaten.

In terms of the Mandate of Heaven, this is a heavy blow to the Emperor's Mandate of Heaven.

"What exactly does the Old Heaven mean?" Zhu Zhu Yijun stood in front of the Imperial Study of the Tonghe Palace, looking up at the heavy snow falling, watching blankly.

It snowed, and it was very heavy. It snowed so much that Zhu Zhu Yijun was a bit confused, and his hair and eyebrows were covered in snow.

He prayed for snow at the Qinian Hall for ten full days, but the sky was cloudless. He released the pre-prepared plan and intended to resist this year's celestial changes.

As a result, when he woke up in the morning, Feng Bao crawled to the outer chamber of the bedroom, shouting "Great joy, it's snowing."

And it was a heavy snow. Looking at this momentum, it would be at least three feet thick.

"Your Majesty, these celestial changes are just like this, unpredictable." Feng Bao let out a heavy sigh of relief. This snow was simply too timely!

Drought leads to locusts. If there was no rain in the spring, the locust plague in March and April this year would be overwhelming, making the people's lives miserable.

"Issue a decree to the Cabinet: after the snow stops, go to the Temple of Heaven to sacrifice to Heaven and pray for blessings. Let the Heavenly Master Zhang Zhang Guoxiang write a good 'qingci' and sacrifice to Heaven." Zhu Zhu Yijun walked around in the snow several times before shaking off the snowflakes on his body and issued an imperial decree to Feng Bao.

A late response is still a response. It is good enough that the Old Heaven is willing to snow and rain; one cannot ask for too much. This snow, at least, will prevent the north from going from drought to locust plague, and the people will be able to harvest a season of potatoes no matter what.

Zhu Zhu Yijun immediately decided to go to the Temple of Heaven to fulfill his vow, and he made a big fuss about sacrificing to Heaven.

In terms of faith, Great Ming people always show flexibility. One moment they are cursing the Old Heaven, and the next moment they are talking about the Old Heaven's grace.

Potatoes are rich in nutrition and can become a staple food, preventing people from starving to death.

Having food to eat is one of Zhu Zhu Yijun's crazy ravings. Like the Dinghai School System, the five-room large tile-roofed houses proposed by the Emperor—every one of them is a crazy raving, but they are slowly being realized.

On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, the snow stopped. The Emperor stopped the morning court and took the officials to the Temple of Heaven to solemnly sacrifice to Heaven.

Zhu Zhu Yijun immediately decided to go to the Temple of Heaven to fulfill his vows, and he made a great fuss about it, sacrificing to Heaven.

Jiaozhou Bay is an ice-free port. The maritime defense inspection dispatched from Nagasaki passed the news back to the Great Ming.

These three assassinations of Toyotomi Hideyoshi were more dangerous than the last.

One was a hidden arrow aimed directly at Toyotomi Hideyoshi's chest; one was an explosive, the violent explosion of which injured Toyotomi Hideyoshi. During his recovery, there was poison in his medicine that poisoned a servant.

These three assassinations in just three months can be described as Toyotomi Hideyoshi running for his life.

"News came from the Nagasaki Governor's Office that Toyotomi Hideyoshi has been assassinated three times. Twice he narrowly escaped, and once he was wounded." Zhu Zhu Yijun went to the Quanchu Guild Hall for a meal, picked up a newsletter from Japan at the hall, and handed it to Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Jiaozhou Bay is an ice-free port, from Nagasaki

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, this monkey, is not as good as Oda Nobunaga, this great demon king, but Toyotomi Hideyoshi is also a rare hero, and now he is in such a sorry state.

These three assassination attempts on Toyotomi Hideyoshi were more dangerous than the last.

Once by a hidden arrow aimed straight at Toyotomi Hideyoshi's chest; once by explosives, the violent blast wounded Toyotomi Hideyoshi; during his recovery, there was poison in his medicine that killed a servant.

The concept of "Yamato" is the most important consensus built by the country, and it is one of the pillars.

"And the reason for the assassination is also very simple. Toyotomi Hideyoshi realized that the Bliss Sect has no concept of forgiveness or redemption. If you admit you are wrong, you must continue to admit your mistake and continue to pay a higher price. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended to resist and armed himself to suppress the Bliss Sect, which led to the assassination." Zhu Zhu Yijun also handed another case file investigated by the Garrison Battalion to Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

This evil Extreme Joy Sect is simply terrifying to the extreme.

"Teacher, I am more worried that Toyotomi Hideyoshi will launch another war against Joseon, using foreign war to alleviate complex internal contradictions. Once he defeats the Great Ming, he can carry the momentum of war victory to solve domestic problems."

"Just like me." Zhu Zhu Yijun raised his concern. He prescribed two medicines, which Toyotomi Hideyoshi could not do, but this kind of desperate gamble on the country's fate was also possible.

The Great Ming must be vigilant against the Japanese state's desperate gamble.

The concept of "Yamato" is the most important consensus constructed by the Imperial Court and can be considered one of its pillars.

The Great Ming is far more terrifying than the Extreme Joy Sect. Unless Toyotomi Hideyoshi has Oda Nobunaga's military talent, using victory after victory to continuously condense people's hearts in civil war, otherwise, no one will agree to a desperate gamble on the country's fate.

The basic logic of a regime is like this. You can be cruel and unjust, but you cannot lose. Military failure is a total loss.

"Teacher, I am quite worried that Toyotomi Hideyoshi will launch another war to invade Korea, using foreign war to alleviate complex internal contradictions. Once he defeats the Ming Dynasty, he can use the momentum of victory to solve domestic problems."

The conflict between the Great Ming and the Japanese state has lasted for thousands of years and is moving toward an end. This end can only be the complete destruction of one side. The Great Ming is comprehensively disintegrating the Japanese state militarily, politically, economically, and culturally.

In terms of cultural disintegration, the Extreme Joy Sect is doing much more terrifyingly than the Great Ming.

"Last year, in the Japanese slave trade, there were 43,000 people, and there were 26,000 'Nanyang sisters' and Japanese female entertainers going to Nanyang." Zhu Zhu Yijun took out the third memorial. The number of Japanese slave trade in the eighteenth year of Emperor Wanli was basically the same as in the seventeenth year. The Japanese slave trade had reached its peak.

The young and strong men of the Japanese state were declining at a terrifying rate. These were young and strong men, not the old, weak, sick, or disabled.

The horror of the small triangular trade made the Emperor feel terrified. The Japanese state now had a total population of no more than seven million, and nearly 70,000 young and strong men were lost every year. This proportion would make even the Great Ming tremble if it faced such population loss, let alone the Japanese state.

In this way, one can be cruel and unrighteous, but one cannot lose. Military failure means losing everything.

If it is not recorded, it is as if it does not exist.

The conflict between the Ming Dynasty and Japan has lasted for a thousand years and is heading toward an end. This end can only result in the complete destruction of one side. The Ming Dynasty is comprehensively dismantling Japan militarily, politically, economically, and culturally.

In terms of cultural dismantling, the Bliss Sect is doing it much more terrifyingly than the Ming Dynasty.

"Last year, there were 43,000 people in the Japanese slave trade, and 26,000 Nanyang sisters and Japanese prostitutes went to Nanyang." Zhu Zhu Yijun took out the third memorial. The number of people in the Japanese slave trade in the 18th year of Emperor Wanli was basically the same as in the 17th year. The Japanese slave trade has reached its peak.

The number of young and strong adults in Japan is rapidly declining at a terrifying rate. These are young and strong people, not the old, weak, sick, or disabled.

The horror of the small triangular trade makes even the Emperor feel terrified. Japan now has a total population of no more than seven million, and nearly 70,000 young and strong people are lost every year. This proportion would make even the Ming Dynasty tremble in the face of such population loss, let alone Japan.

After Zhang Zhang Juzheng read it, Zhu Zhu Yijun crossed out this line, threw it into the fire basin, burned it to ashes, and stirred it. Before this, the Directorate of Ceremonial had already copied a memorial without the details of the Japanese slave trade.

If it is not recorded, it is as if it does not exist.

"It is even more impossible to counterattack the Ming Dynasty now; there is no one left." Zhang Zhang Juzheng said with a heavy face: "Your Majesty, the clamor of the Bliss Sect is about to ebb. The Japanese cannot accept this kind of evil, and it will slowly be widely opposed."