[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers":3,"chapter-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-347":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Restoring the Mountains and Rivers",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2364616,4623,"Chapter 347: Six Months Later","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-347",347,"\u003Cp>Provincial Military Command Headquarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, these memorial slips are from scholars who recently sought to become your disciples.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lan Linjie pointed to the pile of memorial slips covering the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the flood of scholars flocking to him, Li Mu showed no smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boundary between civil and military was clear; unless they were poor, powerless commoners, no scholar would join a military officer’s retinue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a powerful marquis, his situation was slightly better—but only just.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he could recommend men for office, those bearing his mark faced severely limited advancement after entering service.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Civil officials would tacitly suppress their progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either they’d block promotions outright, or give hollow promotions while exiling them to meaningless posts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were only that, it wouldn’t be so bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just getting an official post was already a blessing—what more could one demand?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even an official in a powerless post was still an official of the Great Ming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Low upward mobility meant only that they could never enter the Grand Secretariat or hold key posts like Minister of the Six Ministries or Censor-in-Chief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But reaching the rank of third or fourth grade was still possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if looked down upon, their official status was still far superior to that of pure commoners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What truly deterred people was the extreme difficulty of securing a recommendation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One needed not only sufficient ability but also to serve loyally for over a decade to qualify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Capable men could thrive anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Serving as an advisor to a civil official was vastly superior to serving a military officer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one aligned with the right patron, they could virtually receive an imperial examination pass by default—effectively guaranteed entry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The official path through the imperial examination offered far greater career prospects than any recommendation ever could.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do these bastards think I have so many posts that they can just show their faces without paying?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu couldn’t help laughing and scolding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High-ranking officials in court could recommend talent for office, but they bore political risk, and the number of slots was strictly limited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many spent decades of youth and effort only to end up with nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The official posts sold by the court were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as one met the Ministry of Personnel’s criteria, anyone could buy them, and the seller bore no responsibility for what happened afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, not all are trying to get in for free—some are willing to pay dearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their qualifications fall short of the court’s requirements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time required to complete the process of becoming a monitor student is too long; they fear the post will be sold before they finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So they’ve brought generous gifts, hoping you’ll hold the position open a little longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Lan Linjie’s explanation, Li Mu immediately saw a systemic flaw in the Ministry of Personnel’s barrier to buying office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary people couldn’t buy office directly, but monitor students could—and monitor student status in the Great Ming could be purchased with money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All this effort was just to extract one extra payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. But their price for office must be increased by thirty percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Full payment must be made in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after obtaining monitor student status will they be issued their official credentials.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu spoke without expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It proved that there was no shortage of people desperate to become officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how remote or backward a region, local magnates and merchants weren’t deterred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These men might even have their clan pooling money to buy them office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the poorest places had grease to squeeze—just a few quick grabs, and the cost was recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without corruption, an official’s status was a shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially for wealthy maritime merchants, becoming a county magistrate along the coast was like gaining a legal smuggling port.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his thoughts clarified, Li Mu silently took out the price list and began revising it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remote, poor inland counties could be sold for just a few thousand taels—but coastal counties with ports needed at least one extra zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he was selling wasn’t office—it was the security merchants craved most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frankly, the Great Ming still lacked experience in selling offices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Qing team were in charge, they’d sell provisional appointments outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unit price might seem low, but the sheer number of candidates made up for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To secure a real posting, the bribes needed often exceeded the original purchase price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those unwilling to spend on maneuvering would wait in line for life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if one fortunately secured a real posting, the location remained uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To get a desirable posting, one had to pay extra and wait for opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In comparison, the Great Ming was far more straightforward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Positions were clearly priced, and the assigned locations of real posts were openly disclosed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, rest assured. I will inform them of your terms immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m sure they won’t refuse your generosity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lan Linjie replied at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merchants held low political status; any chance to change their social standing, they would never let slip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merchants from Guangdong and Guangxi all looked to Grand Commander Li for favor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t even need to target them directly—just instructing subordinates to enforce laws strictly would make them suffer greatly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even local clans now had to tread carefully when dealing with the military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old social order had shattered; in the newly built grassroots power structures, military influence was everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had been no backlash, mainly because the rebels had terrified them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Battle of Wuchang, the situation in the southeastern provinces gradually stabilized; after a month of fierce fighting, the northern frontier troops halted at Xuzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for the still-intense war in Sichuan, the Great Ming entered a rare period of calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing his official duties, Li Mu returned to his pursuit of fatherhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More people than expected cared about his heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the Li clan’s pressure, the Jing family also showed intense interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This heir directly affected whether the political alliance between the two families could endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His subordinates watched eagerly, hoping he would produce an heir soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't that they wanted anything specific—just that this bond allowed them to continue sticking together in court in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Emperor Yongning joined in, bestowing numerous medicinal herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he cared for his subordinate, wanted another lever over him, or had other motives—no one could say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Li Mu used none of the herbs, choosing instead to let nature take its course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time flew; before long, half a year had passed, and Guangzhou’s weather entered its scorching summer phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My Lord, good news!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam is pregnant!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the news, Li Mu ignored the maid’s brazen intrusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take me there at once!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help being nervous—this was his first time becoming a father, across two lifetimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jing Yaqing’s pregnancy, regardless of gender, carried immense political significance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as both their bodies remained healthy, they could keep trying until a legitimate son was born.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an era that prized many children and much fortune, a lawful wife never used contraception if her health permitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more children she bore, the higher her status within the clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when legitimate sons were scarce did families produce numerous illegitimate ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main reason was the low infant survival rate—no one could guarantee a child would grow to adulthood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best strategy was to bear many; even if one or two died young, it wasn’t a major loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nanjingcheng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After absorbing Chu’s legacy, Wu’s overall strength increased further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet none of Wu’s high officials could feel joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Chu as a shield, they now faced the imperial army’s encirclement alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With autumn harvest approaching, everyone knew another major war was imminent; Nanjingcheng’s atmosphere grew heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, we’ve just received word: the false emperor in Beijing has flayed King Chu alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The execution lasted three days, with over three thousand cuts—the body…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Jingren spoke hesitantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the sorrow of “when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves” surged in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Chu Wang Weijiarui died too horribly—his body was stripped to bare bone, proving just how much the scholar-officials hated him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court dealt brutally with Prince Chu; they likely won’t spare them either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the rebellion fails, everyone here will meet a terrible end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Wei, you died so tragically!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I swear here before all, I will use the traitor emperor’s head to honor your spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Haoxuan performed a display of deep brotherly affection before the entire court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter past grudges, with Wei Weijiarui’s death, all was swept away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene before us was half staged for Chu’s former ministers, half genuine grief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the uprising, as high-ranking members of the White Lotus Sect, they had been close personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when they occasionally clashed, it was only verbal disputes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the Patriarch’s mediation, it was usually settled with a single drinking session.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the early days of the uprising, they were utterly loyal to each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the White Lotus Holy State was established did they gradually drift apart over conflicting interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, please control your grief!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ministers all urged together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of Prince Chu’s former officers wept uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Wei Weijiarui dead, they no longer feared the emperor suspecting them of loyalty to the old regime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the emperor led the performance, the more deeply they showed their sorrow, the more they proved their loyalty and righteousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The psychological barrier of betraying Chu to join Wu now vanished like wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ministry of Rites, bury Prince Chu with the rites befitting a prince and marquis.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First erect a ceremonial tomb with his robes and hat; once his body is recovered, conduct the proper burial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Order the palace attendants to prepare the sacrificial offerings—I will personally mourn Brother Wei.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Haoxuan immediately ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Granting honors to the dead is respecting the living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A great battle looms; unity of heart is essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newly absorbed former Chu troops must be stabilized, or future battles cannot be fought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your servant obeys!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister of Rites Hu Yuzhe immediately replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though this traditional scholar-official had no fondness for Wei Weijiarui, a rebel leader, now that he was among the rebel army, he had to forcibly change his views.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the emperor had spoken, every ritual must be observed without the slightest lapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the traitor regime is sharpening weapons and polishing armor; after the autumn harvest, a great battle will surely erupt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our preparations are still insufficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once fighting begins, we may suffer heavy losses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister of War Fan Xiwen reported anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Wu inherited Chu’s legacy, it also suffered heavy casualties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hundred-thousand-strong army that fought at Wuchang was shattered by imperial troops; survivors numbered barely one or two in ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Yin Mufeng barely filled the ranks by gathering Chu’s routed soldiers and conscripting civilian laborers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the sake of the greater cause, Fu Haoxuan chose to pretend he saw nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deceiving oneself was acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But deceiving the enemy would bring disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The absorbed Chu troops, though numerous, had little real combat strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their morale had been shattered by imperial forces; even after months of rest, they had not recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading such troops into battle to defeat imperial forces was simply too difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Fan speaks truly—our preparations are indeed insufficient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My ministers, do you have any brilliant strategies to defeat the enemy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Haoxuan asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike past battles, this one concerned Wu’s very survival—they could not afford to lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the imperial army is not a unified block; we can exploit their internal divisions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu has accumulated too many military achievements; other Yu generals may not speak of it, but they surely resent him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are also corrupt civil officials in the traitor regime who envy success—we can use them too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previous attempts to spread rumors failed because they were too absurd.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mu is a scion of the nobility; accusing him of conspiring with the Holy State to rebel would never be believed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, let us lower our aim: send men to exaggerate his achievements, to praise him to his ruin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great merit that intimidates the sovereign—few are not afraid of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intelligence gathered from Guangdong and Guangxi shows Li Mu’s wife has recently become pregnant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once public opinion stirs, to avoid suspicion, he may choose to remain in Guangzhou.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this great enemy gone, our chances in the coming battle increase by at least fifty percent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the discord between Liaozhen and the court can also be exploited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the only frontier vassal of Great Yu, they fear most being discarded once the prey is gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small trick can make them preserve their strength during battle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Yuzhe calmly presented his solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having spent half a lifetime in the Great Yu bureaucracy, he knew its inner workings too well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The measures he proposed targeted the enemy’s weaknesses precisely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minister Hu’s strategy is excellent, but it can only weaken the enemy; defeating them decisively remains extremely difficult.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To destroy Great Yu, we need more allies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The envoys we sent out have returned from various regions with notable results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Great Yu’s neighbors have all pledged to deliver a grand gift after the autumn harvest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the Annan—they harbor the deepest resentment toward Great Yu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The traitor emperor once beheaded an Annan envoy over a trivial matter, enraging them further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They long for revenge at every moment—perfectly giving us an opportunity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chancellor Xie Ruiyu said without expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inviting wolves into the house is deeply unpopular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single misstep could trigger great chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there is no choice; even knowing it is drinking poison to quench thirst, sometimes one must drink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after surviving this crisis can we consider the aftereffects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Both your suggestions hold great strategic value. Does anyone else have objections?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Haoxuan asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their proposals matched his own thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not immediately decided to implement them, mainly to avoid bearing the blame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he did not voice them himself, he could later clear his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ministers who participated in the discussion were naturally the best scapegoats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, the situation in Sichuan is shifting—the imperial army will likely fail to hold Chengdu Prefecture.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If necessary, we can ally with the Eastern King and strike Huguang from two sides.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2375,"2026-06-21T08:09:04.021Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","52e3dc355acf56db1652a2b3bd87b7f98c6d5231aa99b8219bfd5d0f81a9cc50","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-348","restoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-chapter-346",391,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frestoring-the-mountains-and-rivers-cover.jpg"]