Chapter 767: Internal Crisis

Responding Heaven, Heaven-Bearing Hall.

The time for early court had passed, but the hall was still filled with voices.

At the front of the civil officials' ranks, Left Senior Censor Yang Xian of the Censorate held a jade tablet, his beard and hair all bristling.

Since Your Majesty issued policies such as 'National Fortress Defense' and 'Workshop Reform,' the five northern provinces have conscripted over two million laborers!

With spring plowing approaching, all able-bodied men go to the frontiers to build forts and enter factories to smelt iron, leaving fields fallow—how can the old, weak, women, and children survive?

His voice echoed among the beams and pillars of the hall.

What's more, the Investigation of Things Institute newly established the ranks of 'Artisan Master' and 'Artisan Scholar,' actually allowing their descendants to enter the Imperial Academy and take the imperial examinations!

Once this precedent is set, artisans of lowly status will stand alongside scholars—where then are rites and laws? Where is the moral order?!

As his words fell, a wave of agreement rose from the civil officials' ranks.

The military officials' ranks, however, remained silent.

Xu Da lowered his eyes, Tang He expressionless.

Li Shan-chang stood at the head of the civil officials, closing his eyes to nurture his spirit.

Upon the Dragon Throne, Zhu Yuanzhang (Zhu Yue) calmly watched all of this.

His fingers lightly tapped the armrest—once, then again.

Yang Xian.

He spoke.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

You say the fields are fallow—do you have evidence?

I do!

Yang Xian produced a thick memorial from his sleeve.

This is the spring household registration of able-bodied males for the thirteen prefectures of the three provinces of North Directly Governed, East Mountain, and South River. Compared to last year, registered able-bodied males have decreased by forty percent, while wasteland has increased by thirty percent!

In every prefecture and county, the old and weak kneel at the government office, weeping and pleading to let their sons return home to farm!

Zhu Yuanzhang received the memorial passed up by the eunuch and opened it.

Numbers filled the page densely.

He glanced at a few pages, then closed it.

Anything else?

There is!

Yang Xian drew a deep breath.

The Investigation of Things Institute has recently been expanding 'machinery'; the steam engine at Dragon Spring Mountain consumes hundreds of stone of coal daily, yet three to four out of ten of the ironware and spearheads it produces are defective!

What's more, in an attempt to produce the so-called 'Strange Electric Gun,' they have melted down thirty thousand strings of coins, yielding only a few iron rods that grow hot!

Such extravagance—how can the national treasury bear it?!

This time, even the military officials' ranks showed some agitation.

Tang He couldn't help but glance at Zhu Yuanzhang.

The matter of melting coins to cast weapons was also something he had never heard of before.

Have you finished speaking?

Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

……Subject, I have finished speaking.

Yang Xian bowed.

Zhu Yuanzhang slowly rose to his feet.

He descended the steps and approached Yang Xian.

You say too many able-bodied men have been conscripted, leaving the fields fallow.

Then I ask you—

Is it more frightening that the fields lie fallow, or that the land is contaminated by Yuneng Pollution, breeding man‑eating monsters?

Yang Xian opened his mouth.

You say allowing artisans into the Imperial Academy throws the moral order into chaos.

Then I ask you—

Is it more important to uphold the moral order, or that frontline soldiers wielding broken copper and rotten iron are being slaughtered by bone demons?

His voice was not loud.

But each word struck the ground like a hammer.

You say melting coins to cast weapons is wasteful.

Then I ask you again—

Zhu Yuanzhang turned, facing the assembled civil and military officials.

Is money more important, or life?!

The hall fell dead silent.

The Pure State to the north is feeding living people to their war nests!

They are using our people to produce even more monsters!

While you sit here discussing moral order and extravagance with me, outside Brocade Prefecture City, Chang Yuchun's thirty‑seven soldiers, men and horses alike, have turned into a pool of pus!

His gaze swept over every face.

Why?

Because the swords in their hands cannot cut the bone demon's shell!

Because they have no equipment to counter the poison mist!

Because our firearms can't pierce those monsters' chests!

He walked back to the Dragon Throne, but did not sit down.

You think I am too hasty.

You feel I am being too harsh.

Then let me tell you—

He raised his hand, pointing north.

It is not I who am forcing you.

It is the Qing's blade, held to the neck of every Ming person!

They will not wait for us to deliberate slowly, nor will they wait for us to proceed step by step!

They only need one opening to swarm over and devour this land, leaving not a bone behind!

Only heavy breathing filled the hall.

Yang Xian.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked again at that censor.

You worry about the people's livelihood; you are a loyal subject.

But your eyes see only the barren fields, not the bloody seas of the frontier.

From today onward, you will go to Jinzhou.

Not to supervise the army, but to accompany it. Follow Chang Yuchun's cavalry, to look, to listen, to smell the battlefield.

In three months, come back and tell me whether the barren fields are more urgent or the front line's shortage of men is more urgent.

Yang Xian's face turned ashen, his lips trembling.

But in the end, he bowed deeply.

Your servant…… obeys the edict.

Court is dismissed.

Zhu Yuanzhang turned and walked toward the rear hall without looking back.

The side chamber of Wenhua Palace.

When Liu Ji had finished boiling the second pot of tea, Zhu Yuanzhang finally took off his court robes, changed into everyday clothes, and walked in.

Your Majesty, you have been overly harsh today.

Liu Ji handed over the tea cup.

Although Yang Yushi is somewhat clumsy, he is indeed a pure stream, and his reputation among the scholar-officials is quite high.

I know.

Zhu Yuanzhang took the tea but did not drink it.

Precisely because he is a pure stream, I want him to go to the front lines to see for himself.

Some things are useless to just talk about.

He walked to the window and looked at the faintly visible street outside the palace walls.

Bo Wen, tell me the truth.

The common people…… how are they really doing now?

Liu Ji fell silent for a moment.

Rumors are spreading everywhere.

Some say Your Majesty obtained an overseas elixir of immortality, hence your ageless appearance, but you are actually over a hundred years old.

Some say the devices of the Investigation of Things Institute are 'licentious craftsmanship,' draining the nation's fortune, which is why the northern border campaigns have been unfavorable.

And some say……

He paused.

What are they saying?

……they say Your Majesty is so eager because you know your lifespan is ending, and you wish to accomplish everything in one go before you die.

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed.

His laughter gave no hint of joy or anger.

They are good at guessing.

And what do you think?

Liu Ji set down the teapot.

Your subject only sees that since Your Majesty took charge of the Investigation of Things Institute and introduced the new policies, battlefield casualties have been decreasing month by month.

Although the armor-piercing spears are few, they have already killed eleven bone demons.

Although the steam engines are costly, the output of the Longquan Mountain ironworks has already tripled.

As for Your Majesty's lifespan……

He lifted his eyes.

I have faith in Your Majesty.

I believe everything Your Majesty does is for the sake of a path to survival for the Ming realm.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at him.

After a long while, he raised his hand and patted his shoulder.

With you in the court, I can rest easy half the time.

He sat back down in his chair.

But rumors cannot be ignored.

Especially the rumors about my lifespan... there is likely someone fanning the flames behind the scenes.

Liu Ji's eyes turned cold.

Your Majesty means...

Investigate.

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice was very cold.

Start the investigation from Yang Xian's sudden provocation today.

See who he has met these past days, whose letters he has received, and which literary gatherings he has attended.

Also, the Ministry of Works' melting coins to cast vessels is a secret. Investigate how the news leaked as well.

I understand.

Furthermore.

Zhu Yuanzhang's finger drew a circle on the table.

After the spring begins, I will set up a 'Platform for Questioning Governance' outside the Meridian Gate.

On the first and fifteenth of each month, I will appear in person. Anyone among the people who has doubts, grievances, or advice may ascend the platform to speak directly.

I want them to see with their own eyes what kind of emperor I am.

And let them hear with their own ears what the situation on the northern front really is.

Liu Ji took a deep breath.

Your Majesty, this plan... is too risky. If there were an assassin—

Then let them come.

Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted him.

I want to see whether the northern monsters will take my life first, or the southern people will grow restless first.

The sound of bells came from outside the window.

It was the time to lock the palace gates.

There is one more matter.

Liu Ji said in a low voice.

The Crown Prince... has been frequently entering and leaving the Wen Yuan Pavilion lately, borrowing to read the classics of past heirs who supervised state affairs.

Several lecturers of the Eastern Palace have also begun privately discussing, 'Since Your Majesty has obtained longevity, you should early establish the heir.'

Zhu Yuanzhang's hand, holding the tea cup, halted in midair.

The water surface in the tea cup rippled with faint waves.

Biao'er...

He softly murmured the name of his eldest son.

Then he set down the tea cup.

I understand.

You may withdraw.

Liu Ji bowed and withdrew.

Only Zhu Yuanzhang remained in the hall.

He walked up to the bronze mirror.

The person in the mirror had a firm countenance and sharp eyes, the very picture of a man in his prime at thirty.

But only he himself knew that.

Beneath this skin lay a soul so anxious, so fearful.

He feared there was not enough time.

He feared the reforms were too slow.

He feared that before aid arrived from beyond the light curtain, the Great Ming would already rot from within.

Even more, he feared...

He feared that the longer he lived, the more those around him would fear him.

He feared that his son would start calculating how many more years his father had left to live.

He feared that those loyal ministers would begin to ponder whether to serve the present emperor or the future one.

He raised his hand, wanting to touch his own face.

But his hand halted in midair.

Outside the window, twilight deepened.

In Ying Tian City, myriad lights flickered on one by one.

This realm he had single-handedly won now stood at the edge of a precipice.

And he must stand here.

Standing bolt upright.

Standing until the very last moment.

Even if dark currents surged behind him.