[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-ming":3,"chapter-stealing-ming-stealing-ming-chapter-301":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Stealing Ming",{"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},1220918,1614,"Chapter 301: Section 54: Raging Tides (Part 3) (I)","stealing-ming-chapter-301",301,"\u003Cp>The first year of the Chongzhen reign, second month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fujian Provincial Governor had already announced the imposition of a Sea-Pacifying Tax to consolidate coastal defenses. This time, he staked his entire official career on it, managing to persuade the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission to take only thirty percent of the Sea-Pacifying Tax in the future. Nominally, this money was to be used by Funing Garrison to build post stations and official roads. In the past, the maritime taxes of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou only levied fees on ships anchoring in port, bringing in roughly one hundred thousand silver taels a month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Huang Shi and Zhu Yifeng had now devised was vastly different from the old maritime taxes. The Sea-Pacifying Tax stipulated that all ships passing through the Taiwan Strait must pay duties, and the price was to be set by Funing Garrison alone, without needing to report to the imperial court for approval. Thus, everyone understood that the revenue from this Sea-Pacifying Tax would be far greater than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, in the past, the bulk of maritime taxes had to be forwarded to the central government. The Fujian Provincial Administration Commission could generally only retain twenty or thirty percent, and half of that still had to go to Funing Garrison. Now that a sea ban had been decreed, not a single tael of tax silver needed to be shipped to Nanjing or Beijing, so officials at all levels of the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission were considerably interested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even calculated by the old maritime tax rates, the Provincial Administration Commission could get thirty thousand taels of silver a month for nothing. If Huang Shi raised the tax rates further, local officials believed fifty or sixty thousand taels a month was not impossible. As for Funing Garrison, which would take the lion's share, an annual income of one or two million taels was naturally no surprise. This news quickly spread throughout Fujian, and as a result, even more people volunteered to join or marry into Funing Garrison, practically canceling out the negative impact of the troops' recent setbacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the foundation of this Sea-Pacifying Tax, Funing Garrison finally launched the long-planned Great Sea-Pacifying Loan. This was a high-interest loan with a term as long as twelve years. Starting from the third year, Funing Garrison would repay thirty percent of the loan principal each year, achieving a total repayment of three hundred percent after twelve years. Funing Garrison vigorously touted the Great Sea-Pacifying Loan as being mortgaged against the Sea-Pacifying Tax, with its quality absolutely guaranteed, and also backed by the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To facilitate fundraising this time, Huang Shi specially organized people to print exquisitely crafted loan certificates. The Great Sea-Pacifying Loan certificates came in five denominations from top to bottom: one thousand taels, one hundred taels, fifty taels, ten taels, and one tael. They were bearer negotiable securities. Huang Shi hoped this approach would allow the securities to circulate more widely, meaning he could borrow more money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, anti-counterfeiting was also very important. Over the past month, the Funing Garrison Ordnance Department had been busy with this and finally produced a set of original watermarks and engraved patterns. In the end, the bonds were densely stamped with all manner of seals, and even Huang Shi's personal signature was carved into a block and printed onto the Sea-Pacifying bonds in one go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recently, because the pirates had been causing such havoc, Fujian merchants had large sums of money tied up and nowhere to spend it. This time, with a world-renowned figure like Huang Shi acting as guarantor, and given that the one-year Pingman Loan had been repaid quite well, many people came to purchase the Great Sea-Pacifying Loan. In this era without insurance companies, running a business abroad carried considerable risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now Huang Shi had opened a mysterious door before everyone. Behind that door was a brand-new road to wealth, leading to a treasure vault never seen before. In the future, they would need to do nothing at all — just sit in their own courtyards and gaze at the sky, and within twelve years, the combined principal and interest would total three hundred percent. These terms were simply too tempting, and many flocked to it like ducks to water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twentieth day of the second month, Quanzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, the Great Sea-Pacifying Loan officially began sales. For the first batch of bonds, Huang Shi had printed a total of one million taels of silver. Because Huang Shi was in urgent need of money, he gave purchasers a small discount of two months on this batch of bonds, with the loan period starting from the first day of the first month of the first year of the Chongzhen reign. The purchasing situation exceeded the expectations of both Huang Shi and Zhu Yifeng. In just one day, over seven hundred thousand taels' worth of the one million Great Sea-Pacifying Loan bonds had been bought up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the crowds eagerly buying bonds outside the Provincial Administration Commission, Huang Shi said thoughtfully, \"It seems necessary to print an additional five hundred thousand taels of bonds as quickly as possible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, inside the government office, besides Zhu Yifeng and Huang Shi, there were also several trusted Fujian Provincial Administration Commission officials of Provincial Governor Zhu. Upon hearing Huang Shi's words, their faces turned somewhat pale. Unlike the delighted Huang Shi, as more and more bonds were sold, these local officials' hearts grew tighter and tighter. If this money could not be repaid in the future, the imperial court would certainly execute someone as a scapegoat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi was the only person in this group who was not worried. He even explained to the civil officials, \"Gentlemen, rest assured. This is called using future prosperity as collateral to overcome the current difficulties. It is also called spending tomorrow's money today — the most magical and excellent method of financial management in this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't that just eating next year's grain this year?\" a civil official muttered quietly behind his back. Huang Shi merely laughed heartily upon hearing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, Zhu Yifeng had shed all the airs of a civil official. He urgently said to Huang Shi, \"Marshal Huang, let us quickly build a navy. This war must be won, otherwise where will we find so much silver within a few years?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we can borrow even more silver, won't we be able to clear out the sea bandits even faster and then start collecting the Sea-Pacifying Tax?\" Huang Shi retorted nonchalantly. After a brief pause, he muttered to himself, \"It's settled then. I shall return to Xiapu immediately and print an additional five hundred thousand — no, one million taels of the Great Sea-Pacifying Loan, and send them back to Provincial Governor Zhu's office.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Huang Shi walked out the door, Zhu Yifeng grabbed his clothes again and said, his face full of agitation, \"Marshal Huang, this war must be won. Otherwise, where will we find several million taels of silver?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, haha.\" Huang Shi laughed aloud a few times and comforted Zhu Yifeng, \"My lord Zhu, rest assured. If the sea bandits are not pacified within two years, we won't need to worry about repaying the money anyway.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhu Yifeng's face turn pale, Huang Shi hurriedly consoled him again, \"My lord Zhu, rest assured. For the sake of these many righteous people supporting the Funing Army, we will sweep away the sea bandits and return a peaceful world to the elders of Fujian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since Marshal Huang has such confidence, I shall await news of victory.\" Zhu Yifeng seemed somewhat displeased by Huang Shi's definition of the bond purchasers as \"righteous people.\" He turned around to look at the large crowd of merchants and commoners outside the government office and said coldly, \"What righteous people? They are clearly a bunch of profit-seekers, reeking of the stench of copper.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the twenty-fifth day, Xiapu, Funing Garrison headquarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Great Marshal, our Funing Army has driven the bulk of the sea bandits out of southern Fujian. The losses of the Rock Battalion and the Vanguard Battalion were negligible. However, the bandits still hold positions at Zhongzuosuo (Xiamen), Tongshan, Penghu, and other places. Our Funing Army has no navy and cannot drive them out. The bandits frequently land and harass us. Our forces are insufficient and, for a time, cannot cover the entire Fujian province.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mm.\" Huang Shi looked at the map without speaking for a long time. After the destruction of the Funing Army's navy, Zheng Yiguan had firmly seized control of the sea. Over ten thousand pirates could maneuver back and forth via the sea routes, while the Funing Army could only rely on their two legs to run. To guard against unforeseen events, the Firefighting Battalion now had to remain at the Xiapu main camp and could not be deployed for combat. Facing Fujian's long coastline, the government troops' forces were stretched far too thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the months that Huang Shi had been away, over five thousand bold men had come to Xiapu to enlist. Combined with the troops of the Tianyi Battalion, they could almost form two more battalions of combat troops, only lacking technical arms. Currently, the Training Corps was drilling them at the Xiapu main camp. Huang Shi planned not to assign artillery or engineer units to these two battalions for now. Once the pikemen and arquebusiers were trained, he would send them out to defend key points along the Fujian coast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A staff officer emphasized again, \"The sea routes are blocked, causing Fujian's revenues to plummet sharply. General Liu has written to say that the Pingman Loan can no longer provide much silver.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first batch of the Pingman Loan had already entered its repayment period. Coupled with the greatly increased risk of maritime shipping to Fujian, Liu Qingyang's monthly profits had now fallen below one hundred fifty thousand taels. Adding in redemption issues, the silver Shandong could subsidize Huang Shi with each month had dropped below one hundred thousand taels. Liu Qingyang wrote again to complain, telling Huang Shi that the Dark Council was a hen that laid eggs very well, but the current top priority should be fattening it, not killing the goose for its eggs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, however, the \"Great Sea-Pacifying Loan\" had been handled fairly successfully. Huang Shi's troops could still find a way to survive for the time being, so the pressure on the Dark Council was not too great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two hundred thousand taels of silver were spent by Huang Shi in the blink of an eye. The mass-production model of the twelve-pounder cast-iron cannon was finalized. The test version of the eighteen-pounder cannon was taken off the boring lathe yesterday and would begin test firing today. At the same time, Bao Jiusun's Ordnance Department also submitted to Huang Shi a production plan for twenty-four-pounder cannons. This plan was merely a formality with Huang Shi; once he signed it, the Ordnance Department would add the design, production, and testing of the twenty-four-pounder cannon to the schedule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, ten warships were already under construction. This time, Huang Shi went all out and simply decided to build a disposable fleet, directly cutting fresh timber to build the ships. Although these ships would fall apart after sailing for a dozen or so months, that time was basically enough for Huang Shi. He had no intention of fighting a protracted war of four or five years with the sea bandits anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Envoys from Funing Garrison were dispatched to the coast of Zhejiang. These men were all former officers of the Funing Garrison navy. Huang Shi ordered them to scout the Zhejiang coast for large ships that could be converted into warships and to report back quickly after ascertaining the prices. At the same time, officers were also sent to Yunnan and Guizhou. At this critical juncture, besides continuing to have Shandong merchants purchase timber from Chen Jisheng, Huang Shi also decided to use the convenient Yangtze River waterway and begin purchasing timber from Yunnan and Guizhou as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the numerous production plans under his command and the material figures growing by the hour, Huang Shi was the person who could most viscerally feel the vibrant energy of Funing Garrison. He smiled at the surrounding staff officers and said, \"The civil officials at court are all waiting to laugh at our Funing Garrison. They all know, to varying degrees, that I, Huang Shi, am already up to my ears in debt, and they all think there is no way I can scrape together the silver to build a navy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faces of several staff officers were filled with admiration. Almost in unison, they loudly replied, \"They are wrong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, they are wrong. Because the civil officials are not a monolithic bloc. Although countless people want to see me, Huang Shi, come to grief, just as many want to share in the merit and silver from my endeavors. Soon, the my lords at court will pin their hopes on my inability to pacify the sea bandits, and that in the end, I will have no choice but to go crying to them to pull me out of the mire.\" Huang Shi grinned as he swept his gaze over his staff officers and asked loudly, \"Will they succeed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The staff officers each straightened their chests and answered with high spirits, \"No, those corrupt officials will never succeed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good, gentlemen, exert yourselves!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first year of the Chongzhen reign, third month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial court's envoy arrived in Fujian. Yu Zigao was immediately released and ordered to report to the Funing Garrison headquarters as soon as possible to atone for his crimes through service. At the same time, this imperial envoy also brought another decree...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the seventh day of the third month, Xiapu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Huang Shi, Zhao Manxiong, Jin Qiude, He Dingyuan, Yang Zhiyuan, Jia Minghe, and other senior officers of Funing Garrison were all present. They had all come to see Wu Mu off. The Chongzhen Emperor had decreed the recall of eunuchs from all over the country, which naturally included the Army Supervisor eunuchs in various regions. According to past conventions, civil officials were responsible for deployment, while eunuchs were responsible for supervising provisions and pay. Now Chongzhen had ordered that the eunuchs' authority also be transferred to the civil officials. All Army Supervisor eunuchs were to return to the palace to await assignment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For Marshal Huang and all the generals to come see me off today, your great kindness is fully evident!\" Wu Mu raised his wine cup and toasted everyone in a circle. Then he tilted his head back and drained it in one gulp, followed by casually wiping his mouth with his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, Eunuch Wu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Please, Ambassador Wu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voices of the crowd, however, were all very low. After speaking softly, they all gently and slowly finished the wine in their cups, then slowly set them back on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haha, I am no longer Ambassador Wu... Ah, I was never really an ambassador to begin with. It was all due to the generals' flattery.\" Wu Mu now wore only a plain, unranked cloth robe. This imperial decree had stripped him of his official rank and declared him a criminal awaiting investigation. Chen Ruike and Zhang Gaosheng were also simultaneously recalled to the capital to await assignment, and the decree ordered them to escort Wu Mu back to the capital along the way. Now these two still stood behind Wu Mu as they always did, but at this moment, they were like two schoolboys who had done something wrong, cowering and seemingly very ill at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Battalion Commander Zhang, Battalion Commander Chen, may the wind be at your backs.\" Huang Shi again took the lead in toasting these two men. Years ago, when they had followed Wu Mu to Changsheng Island, they had been nothing more than two Squad Leaders. But now they were both awe-inspiring Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commanders. The capital was currently deliberating their merits in the southwest, and it was said they would likely be rewarded with the rank of Guard Commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you.\" The two Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commanders replied quietly and drank their wine in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since stepping onto Changsheng Island, the three then-insignificant figures — Wu Mu, Chen Ruike, and Zhang Gaosheng — had always gathered together to drink and boast, casually discussing their aspirations for wealth and rank. This habit had not changed over all these years. Seeing the two finish their drinks, Wu Mu, just as he always did during their drinking sessions, boldly lifted the wine pot and refilled the cups of his two escorts. The two men nodded like pecking chicks, just as they always had: \"Thank you, Eunuch Wu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Word has already come from the palace. Several people have reported that I am one of Eunuch Wei's...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Mu had only just begun when Chen Ruike and Zhang Gaosheng cut him off, shouting in unison, \"Eunuch Wu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Mu still wore an expression of utter indifference. He smiled dismissively and said, \"What do I have to fear? Even if the whole world calls Eunuch Wei a traitor, I will still call the old man Eunuch Wei!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crowd remained silent, and Wu Mu continued his earlier topic on his own: \"Some in the palace say it was Eunuch Wei who selected me for the palace. They also say it was Eunuch Wei who sent me to Changsheng Island. They also say it was Eunuch Wei who kept promoting me... They are not wrong about any of this. So this time, when they frame Eunuch Wei for treason, they say I am also a conspirator.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Donglin Party wants to thoroughly prosecute this case. They want to record my confession. They want to force me to personally admit that Eunuch Wei plotted treason.\" The crowd still remained silent. Wu Mu instead laughed heartily: \"But I will only loudly say: This is not true. Even if Eunuch Wei made ten thousand mistakes, he was utterly loyal to the Late Emperor.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Mu had already written a memorial. He handed this memorial to Chen Ruike to forward to the Emperor: \"I hear that most people have spoken ill of Eunuch Wei, and those who refused to go along were beaten to death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke of this, the muscles on Wu Mu's face twitched, and his mind recalled the pain of the board striking his buttocks: \"I will absolutely not fall into the hands of those petty men. I will absolutely not weep and beg for mercy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi could not help but speak up: \"Eunuch Wu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marshal Huang, you need say nothing!\" Wu Mu abruptly thrust his right arm forward, his five fingers spreading open to block Huang Shi's words back into his stomach. After stopping Huang Shi, Wu Mu slowly drew his arm back, placed both hands slowly on his knees, and sat boldly on the bench, speaking with fervor and assurance:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know Marshal Huang wishes to advise me to endure for a while, to get through the immediate crisis first. But I will not do so. Since childhood, I roamed the rivers and lakes with my master, and from the very beginning, I knew that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. Without Eunuch Wei, I would have starved to death on the streets years ago. Without Eunuch Wei, I would never have been sent to Changsheng Island, would never have had the chance to meet Marshal Huang and all the generals, and also...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Mu turned again toward Chen Ruike and Zhang Gaosheng, cupping his fists: \"Nor would I have had the chance to know two such brothers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both men cupped their fists respectfully in return: \"Eunuch Wu is too kind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Mu turned back to face Huang Shi, his expression calm: \"I have lived well for many years. I have saved up a fair amount, and Eunuch Wei even permitted me to adopt a son, so the ancestral incense will not be extinguished. Though I am a eunuch, I am a eunuch with backbone — repaying kindness with enmity is something I cannot do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi said with a solemn face: \"Eunuch Wu is loyal to the sovereign and loves the realm, righteous and untainted in person. I toast you, Eunuch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Mu gave two dry laughs. He drained his cup again in one swallow: \"All these many years, I have considered myself diligent and devoted, loyal to the sovereign's affairs, although…\" Wu Mu's voice suddenly dropped lower: \"although I accepted quite a few ceremonial gifts from Marshal Huang, yet…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Mu's voice abruptly rose again: \"yet the errand His Majesty entrusted to me, I have kept it in my heart at every moment. I have never held back the officers and soldiers, never schemed to frame or harm anyone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi nodded in agreement: \"That Eunuch Wu could come to serve as my Army Supervisor is truly Huang Mou's great fortune.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having received Huang Shi's affirmation, Wu Mu shook his head and sighed for a long while, finally giving a bleak smile: \"Ah, if I were a civil official, with so many years of toil, I could at least have met a good end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the final analysis, Wu Mu was only a eunuch. However the Emperor dealt with him, no one would raise any objection. Wu Mu's spirits flagged a little, then rallied again. He untied a small bundle beside him, drew out a silk-wrapped package, and handed it to Huang Shi with great solemnity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi received the silk-wrapped package with both hands — square, solid, and weighty. Under Wu Mu's expectant gaze, he carefully opened it. Inside were several thick volumes, and on the cover, in crooked, ungainly characters, were written the large words: \"Wu's Art of War.\" It was clearly the hand of someone who had only learned to write a few years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the labor of my heart these past years,\" Wu Mu said, his eyes still fixed on the volumes, his gaze as warm as if looking upon his own children, his tone turning gentle: \"I often hear people speak of 'a single scroll that leaves a name for ten thousand ages.' Ah, I can have no progeny, so I have always thought to leave something behind — to count as not having walked this mortal realm in vain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Marshal Huang, I wish to ask you to look over this book. If there are any small oversights, please help me correct them. In the future, my son can publish it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wu Mu spoke, his face was full of expectation. Huang Shi nodded gently: \"Eunuch Wu, rest assured. I will certainly revise it well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My deepest thanks, Marshal Huang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like the banquet before departing Changsheng Island, Wu Mu drank himself into a stupor at the end. During the feast, he once again performed a long stretch of opera for the officers of the Funing Army. After the drinking, Wu Mu had Chen Ruike support him as he staggered toward the boat that would escort him back to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi suddenly recalled a matter. He hurried forward two steps to catch up, unfastened the sword that Wei Zhongxian had gifted him, and placed it into Chen Ruike's hands, though his eyes looked at Wu Mu as he spoke: \"This sword was placed into my hands by Eunuch Wu. Who knows how much living blood has stained it. Eunuch Wu, take it to defend yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Ruike was briefly startled, then quickly took the sword and put it away. Wu Mu had always been somewhat superstitious, forever worrying that his yang energy was insufficient and that after death, evil spirits would violate his tomb — not only disturbing his rest but also harming the prospects of his adopted son. Wu Mu often said that this sword of Huang Shi's was brimming with gang qi, so Huang Shi gave it to him, to serve as a burial companion and to protect Wu Mu. Reeking of drink, Wu Mu cupped his fist once more toward Huang Shi: \"To have known Brother Huang in this life — it is enough!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once aboard, Zhang Gaosheng helped Wu Mu fasten a rope and an iron ball around his waist. Wu Mu first bade the two farewell, then waved toward Huang Shi and the others on the shore, turned his head, and threw himself over the side of the boat…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander Chen Ruike and Zhang Gaosheng reported: On the eleventh day of the third month of the first year of the Chongzhen reign, the imperial convict Wu Mu, catching others off guard, drowned himself out of fear of punishment. The body has been recovered and sent back to the capital for identification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, the tenth day of the third month, night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These past two days, Huang Shi had gone to the study every night to take out Wu Mu's manual and read it for a while. At first, Huang Shi had been quite patient, helping him revise it, but by the second night, Huang Shi had grown somewhat impatient. Tonight, after opening Wu Mu's posthumous manuscript and reading two pages, Huang Shi finally lamented: \"Revising this is more exhausting than rewriting it from scratch. Eunuch Wu completely missed the point.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After grumbling, a moment passed, and Huang Shi finally mustered the resolve to examine it once more. Though the characters in the volume in his hand were all crooked and twisted, they were not the least bit sloppy. Every character was written clearly and meticulously. Reading through the entire book, there was not a single correction anywhere, which made Huang Shi sigh again — one could well imagine how many drafts the book's owner must have gone through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi gently closed Wu Mu's book and carefully wrapped it in the silk cloth. Then he took several volumes from the bottom of his own book chest. These were the training insights Huang Shi had written in his own hand, always kept secret and never shown to anyone. Interspersed among them were numerous battle case studies from the time he had raised his army. Huang Shi stroked the covers for a moment, then opened the fruit of his own labor and, by candlelight, found what he was looking for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were Huang Shi's command diaries from every campaign, recording in detail his pre-battle assessments of the situation and the battlefield, as well as the reasons for his choice of corresponding strategies and tactics. Xiong Tingbi's commentaries and analyses on these battlefields were also included. These volumes of manuscript were all written in neat, regular small-standard script, each battle accompanied by topographical maps and the commander's self-critique of gains and losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi's brush flew like the wind. He recast many of the first-person narratives into dialogues between two people, making it seem as though Wu Mu had gathered them from Huang Shi through conversation. The chapter on the Battle of Jinzhou was quickly revised. Huang Shi checked it through from the beginning and felt there were no major issues — with similar revisions, as long as one was careful, there would be no flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tearing off the original cover, Huang Shi added new blank covers to his manuscript, then wrote upon them in neat, precise characters: \"Wu's Art of War, Compiled by Wu Mu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",4583,"2026-06-04T07:54:54.057Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","4ba3c7efe6ad9e250b3cd1b88a7ae1de19553b7d3e5c27a13525b5f17eec2bd1","stealing-ming-chapter-302","stealing-ming-chapter-300",323,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-ming-cover.jpg"]