[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-overthrowing-the-ming":3,"chapter-overthrowing-the-ming-overthrowing-the-ming-chapter-1":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Overthrowing the Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":18,"prevChapterSlug":19,"totalChapters":20,"novelImage":21},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":12,"translator":16,"content_hash":17},2289228,4476,"Chapter 1: Killing a Dog","overthrowing-the-ming-chapter-1",1,"\u003Cp>In the autumn of the twelfth year of the Chongzhen reign, this land was entering a bitter winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Horse-Running Lane, where the officials and wealthy gentry of Lueyang City resided, many disheveled refugees gathered, huddling under the high walls and wide eaves, waiting to eat a mouthful of leftovers from the wealthy households.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, one young man sat beneath the large willow tree at the mouth of the lane, looking completely out of place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his face was sallow, his frame was tall and well-proportioned; with a high-bridged nose and prominent ears on an oval face, his features were distinct and deep-set—he was born with a fine appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at this moment, he had a dry twig hanging from his mouth, looking utterly listless, muttering to himself for quite a while...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Transmigration... the twelfth year of Chongzhen... the Great Ming Dynasty, hmm, but I don't know history... First of all, there must be an emperor named Chongzhen... there should also be... Yue Fei? Wei Zheng? The Yang Family Generals? Zeng Guofan? Wei Xiaobao? Sigh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You couldn't help but feel bitter; in such a terrible world, how could he break the current deadlock of starving to death?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He combed through his memories; just a moment ago, he was still in the hospital, worrying about whether he had a terminal illness. As for his life at that time, it was extremely difficult to put into words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At over thirty years old, he had no car, no house, and no wife. To make matters worse, he had inexplicably contracted a strange lung disease, to the point where his blood was about to turn green.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The experts said that it was a miracle his lungs could still function, because he was not suited for life in the modern world; they said the air pollution was too great, and he was better suited for life in ancient times when the Earth was not yet polluted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You was stunned after hearing this; wasn't this just a terminal illness? Since when did doctors speak so euphemistically?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You had long been prepared for death, but he never expected it to be in such a peculiar way. After waking up, he had arrived in the Chongzhen era, in the body of this Li You who shared his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, his lungs really didn't hurt anymore, and he felt his whole body was filled with immense strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This body was currently nineteen years old. His father, named Li Zhao, was from the border troops of the Ming Dynasty and had once been a Squad Leader of the Night Scouts in the Zhongtun Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Ningxia Campaign, Li Zhao felt that the military and political situation was truly rotten, so when Li You was five, he simply took his family and the family of his military brother, Wu Yicheng, and fled to the Binzhou area. With the help of his father-in-law, they used up all their savings to purchase fifteen mu of poor farmland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Yicheng went to work as a groom for the wealthy Zheng family. The two families were neighbors and lived in peace from then on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, the world was not yet this chaotic, so Li You had received a very good education.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At five or six years old, he began practicing martial arts with Wu Dading, learning all the martial skills of both the Li and Wu families. He also took the fortune-teller Song Shenxian, who sold divinations at the village entrance, as his master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, at a young age, he began to show his talent in the village: in literature, he could sell divinations, perform at funerals, and dance for spirits; in martial arts, he could steal chickens, beat dogs, and fight crickets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was truly a resounding mastery of both pen and sword!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother You, you broke your fever last night, why have you been muttering to yourself? Could it be that the fever damaged your brain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A square-faced man walked out of the lane, born with broad shoulders and a thick waist, his eyebrows like painted lacquer. This was Wu Dading; although he was two years older than Li You, he had been close to and followed Li You since they were children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could that be? I'm fine.\" Li You rubbed his face and smiled at him: \"Did you manage to get any food?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, don't mention it. These beasts who drink human blood feed their leftovers to dogs rather than give a mouthful of food to the common folk!\" Wu Dading cursed bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then shook the remaining willow leaves from the tree, squatted down to pick up the withered yellow leaves, stuffed them all into his mouth, and whispered to Li You: \"Just now, that group of refugees led by One-Eyed Zhang occupied the cesspit in the backyard of the Jail Warden's house and were looking for maggots to eat inside... should we...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh... shut up!\" Li You couldn't help but shudder and said: \"If there's meat to eat, why eat maggots?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Meat? Where is there meat?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A dog, you mean killing a dog!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dading's eyes flashed with brilliance, but they quickly dimmed again: \"A dog, alas, we are both starved to the point of looking like pale ghosts, how can we fight a dog? Along the way fleeing from famine, have we seen few cases of dogs eating people?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we can't defeat it by force, we'll use strategy!\" Li You said, taking a yam from his pouch: \"Use this!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You want to use this to lure a dog? Stop talking nonsense!\" Wu Dading shook his head like a rattle: \"It won't work, it really won't, this is our only ration!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we eat this fist-sized thing, half each, we'll still starve to death. If we catch a dog, then we can both live!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Wu Dading was reluctant, he couldn't resist Li You's persuasion. Finally, the two found a secluded place and roasted the yam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the outside of the yam was no longer too hot, Li You pulled out several strands of his hair and carefully wrapped them around the outside of the yam, circle by circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"People who have eaten roasted yams know that the outside isn't hot enough to burn the mouth, but that doesn't mean the inside isn't. Dogs have large, sharp teeth; one bite and they will definitely pierce through. Wrapping it with hair will catch on the dog's teeth, making it very difficult for the dog to let go once it bites down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, good method... but what if the dog doesn't eat it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we eat half each?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his previous life, Li You lived in a rural village in the northwest; when he was a child, he caught dogs, fought wolves, and raided bird nests—there was nothing he hadn't done. As long as it was a stray dog, it couldn't resist the fragrance of a roasted yam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It can work.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go, lead the way to the house with fewer people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The house of Jail Warden Wang on the east side of the lane is quite secluded!\" Wu Dading said, quickly leading the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You stuffed the yam into his clothes, picked up a thick stick, and quickly followed. They arrived at the back door of a large three-courtyard residence. There were very few refugees here, and most importantly, there was a dog hole in the back wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The dog hole is here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You glanced at the dog hole and casually threw the yam on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is enough to catch a dog? Aren't you just...\" Wu Dading was heartbroken and was about to go pick it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could finish his sentence, a black shadow crawled out of the dog hole and rushed toward the yam like a sharp arrow. As soon as it bit down, it immediately screamed as if it had been pricked by a needle, shaking its head frantically, trying to throw the yam out of its mouth. But the more it shook, the tighter the hair on the yam wrapped around its teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, it rolled on the ground in pain, and one of its teeth was even knocked out onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dading was still stunned, but Li You had already rushed up, struck the dog's head twice with the stick, picked up the black dog, threw it over his shoulder, and ran off in a flash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This operation was smooth and fluid, done in one go. Wu Dading couldn't help but be astonished: since when was the honest and simple Li You so good at stealing dogs?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the dry riverbed, a rich aroma of roasted meat permeated the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the two were gorging themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dading held a hind leg, his mouth full of grease, and said vaguely: \"It's a real pity that the charlatan Song isn't here, otherwise he could have eaten this good meal too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You responded. He thought of this Song Shenxian; for years, he hadn't taught them a single word of the Four Books and Five Classics, always acting mysterious, teaching them military tactics and divination, talking about the trends of the court and the wild, and bragging about how he was once an advisor to some Lord Yang or Lord Li. When drunk, he would also often say that those who would destroy the Central Plains would be the Eastern Slaves...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called River East and River West were bounded by the Sancha River in Liaodong. River East had the slave menace (Jurchen), and River West had the captive menace (Mongol).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These memories shocked Li You at this moment. Although his knowledge of history was limited to textbooks and he often confused things—unable to distinguish between Ximen Qing and Ximen Bao—he still remembered \"Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing\" clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Ming Dynasty came the Great Qing Dynasty with their queues. Song Shenxian was not a transmigrator at all; he truly had great foresight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a pity that in the ninth year of Chongzhen, he suddenly left Binzhou, saying he was going to Kaifeng, and there had been no news of him since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These treasured memories, especially Song Shenxian's sighs over the political affairs of the time, were undoubtedly a great treasure for the current Li You. Unfortunately, the historical knowledge from his textbooks had long been forgotten after more than a decade; otherwise, he could have opened a god's-eye view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he discovered that the \"goods\" in the original body's memory were not just a little bit; besides some miscellaneous arts of divination, strings of names popped out...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Emperor Chongzhen Zhu Youjian, Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, Hong Chengchou, Lu Xiangsheng, Yang Sichang, Nurhaci, Huangtaiji, Wu Sangui... Wait, didn't this Wu Sangui act in 'The Deer and the Cauldron'? So he was a high official of the Ming Dynasty? Then how did he become a prince of the Qing Dynasty? Hmm, this traitor deserves a volley of gunfire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother You, what are you thinking about? I'm talking to you.\" Suddenly, Wu Dading interrupted his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing, what did you just say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haven't you noticed that there are very few people in the city today?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard that yesterday, many refugees who committed minor offenses were all caught by the Yamen Runners. I heard they are going to be beheaded and executed at the South Gate tomorrow!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tomorrow? What crime did they commit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You was startled. Although he didn't understand history and didn't have a god's-eye view, he had already integrated the memories of this era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the saying goes, \"human life is a matter of great importance.\" Executing prisoners required review by the Surveillance Commission, reports layer by layer, and finally, the Son of Heaven had to sign and approve it to the Ministry of Justice before they could be beheaded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But right now, the Great Ming was already in a chaotic world. After the seventh year of Chongzhen, every place was killing people throughout the four seasons; where was there any need for layer-by-layer reporting?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What crime could they commit? It's just these bastards using heads to get promoted!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dading said: \"Between the fifth and sixth months, the Western King rose again in Gucheng, and Luo Rucai, the 'Cao Cao' of Fang County, and Zhang Tianlin, the 'Passing Star,' deployed troops in Xingshan and Yuan'an...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are rumors that Zhang Xianzhong's eldest son, Zhang Sihu, with the support of the 'Yao-Huang Bandit' Yuan Tao, had long entered Xixiang from Taiping and Zhenba, secretly moving east all the way, most likely coming toward Mianxian and Lueyang. At that time, I'm afraid they will coordinate with the Xian bandits from inside and outside... Governor Xiong is exhausted because of this, and the bounty issued is extremely heavy!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So they are catching refugees... and killing the innocent to claim merit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, it was that scholar Li Youyin who just arrived in Qingjian County who gave the bad idea, and he even said they should stuff the head of a bandit chief inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dading sniffed and smiled: \"Do you know why I remember this filthy thing? His name is very similar to yours, just one character more.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li You licked his lips and lost his appetite for a moment, watching Wu Dading eat the dog meat until only the two testicles were left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Dading patted his belly, picked up the testicles on his finger, and said carelessly: \"Damn it, let me eat another good meal tomorrow, so what if I'm dragged off to be beheaded...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish his sentence, a large group of Yamen Runners suddenly swarmed around the riverbed, and in the blink of an eye, they were tightly surrounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brat of about ten years old darted out from the crowd, and seeing the two dog testicles Wu Dading was holding, he immediately rolled on the ground in a tantrum...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My Black General was fine this morning, and now it's been eaten until only a pair of testicles are left... Dad, Dad, kill these two lowly bastards, hurry, hurry, kill these two commoners!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhong'er, get up quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A middle-aged scholar walked out of the crowd; he was the Jail Warden of Lueyang County. He squinted at Li You and Wu Dading and hummed: \"These two are remnants of the Xian bandits. Take them down and behead them tomorrow along with the other bandits!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2413,"2026-06-20T03:32:06.992Z","Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","e6520c8605e53c68644ca92a0084b16c759943ab7f37275bf78ef2712e042cac","overthrowing-the-ming-chapter-2",null,71,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Foverthrowing-the-ming-cover.jpg"]