Chapter 269: Heat Fades, Cold Comes, Wasps Stir in the Heart

Emperor Wanli Seventh Year, Autumn.

Guide Prefecture, Henan Provincial Administration Commission, Yucheng County.

…

The autumn air was crisp and clear, the sky boundless and cloudless.

Inside the county seat, a carriage rushed in, surrounded by a fifth-rank ceremonial retinue, signaling the occupant's status as one of the top figures in the entire prefecture.

The entire contingent of Yucheng's chief officials followed behind the carriage, bowing low and walking step by step in deference.

Apparently arriving without warning, the local county magistrate had had no time to clear the streets of pedestrians or remove vendors from the roadside.

Passersby now scattered to the eaves of houses or slipped into shops, silently gathering to watch with their eyes.

The carriage halted outside a mansion.

It was a residence steeped in scholarly tradition—not grand or imposing, but radiating the quiet depth of a family that had endured for a hundred years.

Above the gate hung a plaque inscribed with the words "House of Virtuous Deeds," though partially veiled by white cloth.

On either side of the gate stood tall white paper banners, further emphasizing that an elder of this household had passed away.

The carriage curtain slowly parted, and a middle-aged man in official robes, around forty, stepped out.

He halted his retinue, strode quickly to the gate, and personally pressed the door knocker, striking it several times.

His demeanor was remarkably humble.

Among the onlookers in the roadside tavern who had not been driven away, many recognized him.

"Is that the Deputy Prefect?" someone asked from afar, voice uncertain.

The Prefect governed an entire prefecture.

The Deputy Prefect, naturally, assisted in governance—essentially the vice-prefect.

"Don't say 'maybe'—in Guide Prefecture, only Sima Vice Prefect uses a fifth-rank ceremonial retinue." Someone, judging from the retinue and robes, made a definitive assertion.

Many watching from the tavern nodded in agreement, gently fanning themselves.

"Is Sima Vice Prefect here to pay condolences at the Shen residence? The funeral was three months ago—even a new official doesn't need to grovel so blatantly."

A student from the county school shook his head in disdain at such high-ranking officials kowtowing to a family.

Suddenly someone countered: "Groveling? Brother, you're too slow to catch on. Sima Zhi has always been infamous among the Tong Jinshi of the Emperor Wanli Second Year cohort for his ruthless methods."

"After taking office as magistrate of Zhenyang, he was initially proper, avoiding conflict with local officials. But then, for reasons unknown, his temper turned vicious—he persecuted subordinates, destroyed families, killed without restraint."

"A tyrant like this arriving at the Shen residence today can't be for anything benign."

Those around didn't know of this new official's record, and now they glanced again at Sima Zhi as he knocked.

Seeing his formal courtesy, he didn't look like he'd come to cause trouble. Some began to doubt: "The Shen family supports the poor and aids the distressed, treats others kindly. They've never harmed the people or broken a single regulation. Why would Sima Zhi, just because he's new in office, start burning bridges?"

"Besides, Master Longjiang Shen Li, though retired since Emperor Wanli Second Year due to illness, has never been stripped of his official rank. Last year, after the completion of the Shizong Veritable Records, he was promoted one grade for his contribution."

"A sixth-rank Left Central Advisor outranks a fifth-rank Deputy Prefect by more than a notch."

"How would Sima Vice Prefect dare act rashly?"

At this, everyone agreed, nodding in approval.

The earlier speaker, however, shook his head alone, his expression laden with implication: "The Shen family, of course, behaves properly."

"But as a hundred-year aristocratic clan, the foremost of Guide Prefecture's Eight Great Families, they couldn't have amassed their wealth solely from official salaries."

He shook his head, silent, his expression saying: "This involves something large—those who understand know; those who don't needn't ask."

The onlookers in the tavern scratched their heads in frustration.

At that moment, a man dressed as a merchant stepped forward: "I just returned from Beijing this month, and along the way I heard rumors…"

"After this autumn's grain harvest, the central government may conduct a land survey and verify household registrations."

At these words, everyone turned sharply to stare at the merchant.

"True?"

"Why didn't you say this sooner!?"

"A land survey is one thing—but verifying household registrations? That'll spark chaos…"

A student suddenly realized: "Autumn grain—wasn't that harvested last month?"

He looked around, seeking confirmation.

Someone stroked his chin slowly: "So… Sima Zhi has targeted the head of Guide Prefecture's Eight Great Families—the Shen clan."

Everyone suddenly understood, their faces filled with shock and suspicion as they stared at Sima Zhi, the Deputy Prefect of Guide.

They saw him being ushered inside the Shen mansion.

He vanished from view.

…

"In reply to Deputy Prefect Sima, this humble one's name is Shen Ju Jian, styled Jicheng."

Shen Ju Jian walked ahead, gesturing respectfully to guide Sima Zhi into the mansion, answering with neither subservience nor arrogance.

Yet Sima Zhi bore none of the fearsome reputation he'd gained outside.

He smiled warmly: "Did your father give you a sobriquet containing the character 'die'?"

Shen Ju Jian froze.

He sensed this Deputy Prefect had ill intent—he'd even dug up details about his status as an adopted son.

He grew more wary: "Yes, my sobriquet is Dieyun."

Seeing the young man still didn't grasp why he'd asked, Sima Zhi lost interest and shook his head, ending small talk.

He had come to seek Shen Li—the day lecturer who had taken leave due to illness in Emperor Wanli Second Year.

He had little interest in anyone else in the household.

He followed Shen Ju Jian through the courtyard into the hall, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Deputy Prefect, please wait a moment—my father will join you after changing his robes."

Shen Ju Jian respectfully invited Sima Zhi to sit, gave the instruction, then bowed and turned to leave.

Sima Zhi naturally made no effort to detain him: "Jicheng, go ahead."

He sat down calmly.

He adjusted his robes, then closed his eyes to rest.

Since being selected as a Hanlin junior scholar and posted out in Emperor Wanli Third Year, over four years had passed.

He had spent four years as magistrate, entangled in struggles with prefectural superiors, local gentry, county officials, and powerful clans.

The Ministry of Personnel praised his diligence and competence, and this year promoted him to Deputy Prefect of Guide.

From seventh-rank to fifth-rank—four promotions at once. Even if demoted from central minister to deputy, it was still a significant advancement.

But it was still too slow.

According to past norms, Tong Jinshi posted as magistrates often rose to Provincial Administration Commissioner within three to five years; some even advanced directly to Provincial Administration Commissioner the next year.

If the central government continues down this path of overcorrection,

Sima Zhi might never wear the crimson robe before retirement.

He had no choice but to take desperate measures!

Just then, footsteps sounded outside.

Sima Zhi broke his thoughts and looked out.

A tall, slender middle-aged man, clad in mourning robes, stepped slowly into the hall.

Sima Zhi, seeing his noble bearing, inwardly marveled at his fine appearance—no wonder the Emperor favored him.

He rose immediately to greet him: "Master Longjiang."

Sima Zhi was forty-two; Shen Li was forty-nine. Neither was old, and their ranks weren't vastly different, so no honorific "gong" was used.

Shen Li returned the bow formally, without the slightest arrogance: "If you come on official business, address me by my title; if privately, use my style."

Sima Zhi smiled ambiguously: "Both official and private—we're both scholarly families; let us use each other's styles."

Shen Li's style was Zhonghua; his sobriquet, Longjiang—the meaning of "carp becoming dragon" was embedded within.

So too was his adopted son: Shen Ju Jian, styled Jicheng, sobriquet Dieyun—clearly a modest talent, entrusted with the hope of emerging from the cocoon as a butterfly.

This was the unmistakable mark of a scholarly lineage—something no nouveau riche could emulate.

Shen Li bowed again before taking the main seat: "What brings you, Jingfu, to my door?"

At these words, Sima Zhi straightened his back, sitting upright.

In an instant, he assumed the commanding presence of a regional governor, imposing without raising his voice.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

Sima Zhi stared fixedly at Shen Li, speaking slowly and deliberately: "I have come today to offer you a warning, Zhonghua…"

He paused, his gaze stern: "The tide of the world is like a river reversing, a mountain collapsing. The Shen family must not stand in its way—lest you be crushed to dust."

The pressure and hostility in his tone were unmistakable.

Shen Li, of course, felt the tension.

Yet he showed no anger.

Instead, he stared blankly for a long moment.

He frowned in confusion: "What do you mean, Jingfu?"

Sima Zhi was taken aback—Shen Li's reaction was nothing like he'd anticipated.

He inwardly cursed: This man is difficult indeed.

He had deliberately adopted an arrogant posture to provoke him into revealing his true nature—but Shen Li showed not the slightest reaction.

He found himself at a loss for words.

Shen Li, seeing Sima Zhi's reaction, seemed to gradually understand.

He paused, then explained: "In the second year of Emperor Wanli, the physician said my thoughts were too excessive, my spirit worn thin, my heart and brain both failing—I was in mortal danger."

"After His Majesty permitted me to return home on grounds of illness, I carefully restrained my thoughts and paid no attention whatsoever to the state of the empire or the affairs of my clan."

"Either I cultivated the Daoist canon to calm my mind, or chanted Buddhist sutras to pray for my deceased father."

"So I know nothing of the grand trends of the realm or the state of the Shen family—please, Jingfu, speak plainly."

Hearing this, Sima Zhi suddenly found himself unable to fathom this Shen Longjiang.

He had come prepared to clash with this Shen Shen Zhongyuan.

Either he would accept Shen's terms and make peace.

Or he would use this Shen Shen Zhongyuan as a stepping stone to cement his reputation as a ruthless official.

But Shen Li outright claimed ignorance, leaving Sima Zhi uncertain.

The Shen family's hands were far from clean; he would not believe for a moment that Shen Li, as head of the family, knew nothing.

Even if Shen Li enjoyed great virtue in officialdom and among the literati of Guide Prefecture, he was still the patriarch of the Shen family.

Especially since a scholar-official's reputation meant little.

Official posts lasted only one generation; reputation could endure ten generations—especially for him, the sixteenth-generation descendant of Sima Guang, who still benefited from that legacy.

Thus, in Sima Zhi's eyes, Shen Li had no halo.

He studied Shen Li's calm demeanor for a long while.

Moments later.

Sima Zhi silently shook his head and resolved to change tactics.

He paused, then cut straight to the point, locking eyes with Shen Li: "Zhonghua, in the Two Capitals and Thirteen Provinces, after winter arrives, they will begin land survey and population verification!"

Land survey and population verification!?

Shen Li glanced at Sima Zhi in surprise.

Then suddenly, he understood.

No wonder.

No wonder the clan members had been deliberately avoiding him.

As an imperial close aide and former tutor to the Crown Prince, he naturally knew what new policies the Emperor and Grand Secretariat had been planning at the transition from Emperor Longqing to Emperor Wanli.

Whether reorganizing the Beijing garrison or implementing the Kaocheng Law, all were merely preparations for shaking the very foundations of the realm.

Land measurement, tax reform, institutional change…

These were the real hard bones.

So this was merely a storm approaching—and one drop had fallen right before his eyes.

As for Sima Zhi…

Shen Li did not take his probing seriously.

He understood why Sima Zhi appeared so aggressive.

The Shen family was the foremost of the Eight Great Clans of Guide Prefecture.

He did not know how much land his clansmen had seized under his name.

He had never counted how many clerks he had placed in the prefectural and county yamens.

Nor had he paid attention to the clan's frequent intermarriages and ambiguous ties with neighboring great families.

He knew only this: any attempt to survey land and verify population must first pass through the Shen family of Guide Prefecture.

Sima Zhi was trying to be the new Xu Jie.

Shen Li couldn't help smiling.

But he was not Xu Jie.

After his smile faded, he immediately composed himself, meeting Sima Zhi's gaze with solemnity: "My father died suddenly four years ago; my mother, grief-stricken, passed away this year. In these four years, I have been convalescing and observing mourning—I have not yet even inquired into the clan's ancestral estates or landholdings."

"Since the court intends to survey land and verify population…"

"Sima Vice Prefect, begin with the Shen family."

He paused: "Let official business be handled officially—I will restrain my entire clan."

He had switched to addressing him by official title.

Sima Zhi stared at Shen Li, astonished.

Then his expression turned suspicious; he could not help asking a foolish question: "Zhonghua, truly?"

Since entering the room, Shen Li's responses had continually defied his expectations.

Now he did not know whether to believe him.

The Shen family was the foremost clan of Guide Prefecture; this reaction seemed too easy.

If Mr. Longjiang's personal integrity were truly so pure that he would betray his own clan for the court, then… when he died, not even his own kin would bury him.

Seeing Sima Zhi's skeptical expression, Shen Li said nothing, but called out toward the courtyard.

His adopted son, Shen Ju Jian, heard and hurried in.

After Shen Ju Jian completed his bow, Shen Li gave a direct order: "Bring me the clan's land and tenant registers."

Shen Ju Jian looked up sharply.

Shen Li nodded calmly and waved him off.

Shen Ju Jian had no choice but to comply.

Soon, stacks of ledgers piled up in the center of the room.

Seeing this, Sima Zhi finally believed Shen Li was serious.

His face lit up with joy: "Zhonghua, you are truly a true gentleman who cares for the state!"

Praise—"noble virtue, upright spirit"—spilled from his lips without restraint.

He moved to grasp Shen Li's hand, imitating the Emperor's famed gesture.

Shen Li showed no reaction to such flattery.

He casually freed his hand and said: "Sima Vice Prefect, you look as if facing a dire threat—what fierce backlash have you encountered?"

At this question, Sima Zhi fell silent.

At this point, he believed Shen Shen Zhongyuan truly had no knowledge of worldly affairs.

After a long pause.

Sima Zhi sighed, finally revealing his true feelings: "The imperial edict arrived in Guide Prefecture early this month, ordering us to begin land survey after autumn."

"On that day, Prefect Xiao Xiao Yinggong immediately resigned and left office."

Xiao Xiao Yinggong was also a Tong Jinshi of the second year of Emperor Wanli.

But his background was better: top ten of the second rank, selected as a Hanlin junior scholar, two years as county magistrate, two years as assistant prefect, then directly promoted to prefect.

In talent and ability, he was among the best.

Yet even this man, upon seeing the land survey edict, abandoned all retirement benefits and simply resigned.

This incident shook the Henan bureaucracy.

Shen Li could only remain silent—resigning in protest was esteemed in scholarly circles, indicating disinterest in power; but fleeing a policy beneficial to the state was not virtuous either. He did not know how to judge such conduct.

Sima Zhi continued: "That was bad enough—I could still hold up the prefectural administration alone; acting as interim prefect was even good for my record."

"But the prefectural clerks are entangled with powerful families in every county."

"The news could not be kept secret."

Shen Li understood perfectly.

When his grandfather Shen Han served as Fujian prefect, he easily secured his son a post as registrar in Shuntian Prefecture.

This was the unwritten rule of officialdom: you hire my son, I hire yours—gradually, the great families monopolized all local posts.

"Once the great families learned of the land survey, they would not sit idle."

"Mid-month…"

Sima Zhi glanced at Shen Li and smiled: "They came to the prefectural Prefectural Yamen, threatening me under your name."

Shen Li remained unmoved.

He merely shook his head expressionlessly, offering a brief explanation.

He was used to such things.

If not for them exploiting his name and sweeping through like locusts, how could the Shen family have grown so rapidly over the past decade?

Sima Zhi continued: "I could not yield easily—otherwise, would I not tarnish the Sima family's name?"

"After that, I kept my eyes fixed on you… them, fearing they would secretly sabotage me."

"And so it happened."

"The night before last, from Zhao Pizhai in LanYang County to Lingjiazhuang in YuCheng County, the levee was blown up with gunpowder—flames shot into the sky!"

Sima Zhi spoke lightly.

Shen Li was startled, leaping to his feet in horror: "Blasted the levee!?"

Even his cultivated composure could not mask his alarm.

Sima Zhi nodded, his face still pale with fear: "It did not break—only cracked a fissure, already sealed."

"Thank heaven the deputy commissioner in charge of the levee, Zhang Shiluan, had a conscience—he did not cut corners too badly during construction. Otherwise, if such an incident occurred under my jurisdiction, even if I escaped being sent to the capital in chains, I would have to step down for investigation."

Shen Li remained shaken, pacing before Sima Zhi.

His brow furrowed in thought—clearly, the first time since his illness in Emperor Wanli's second year that he had begun to think deeply.

Perhaps because he had not thought for so long, it took him a while to understand.

Shen Li let out a long breath and sat back down. "They wouldn't be this insane—this stretch of dike is over two hundred and twenty-nine li long, with five hundred and seven thousand seven hundred and forty-one laborers employed. If it's blown up, it won't be fixed in a day or two."

"If the Yellow River breaks its banks, the entire prefecture will be flooded—no matter how wealthy or poor, whether fertile or barren land, all will be drowned! When the court investigates, it'll be another massacre."

"They won't do something so foolish, and they don't have the nerve."

"This is forcing you—to make you sit down and negotiate, to force you to give ground!"

Sima Zhi had long understood this logic; he didn't need Shen Li's reminder.

He helplessly spread his hands and smiled. "So today I came to the Shen family."

I had assumed these people were truly backed by Shen Li, this great Buddha.

For this, I made countless preparations.

But it turned out to be a false alarm.

Yet… this outcome is even better than I expected.

Shen Li heard this and nodded indifferently. "In the past hundred years, my family has also seized much land. They're using my clan's property to provoke me against the court."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but sneer.

What do they take me for? Do they think I'd lift a finger for such petty, scheming tricks?

Clan property—admittedly, Shen Li had once valued it greatly.

As for now…

His wife suffered irregular menses; over thirty years, she conceived eleven times, and all but two daughters were stillborn.

Nine was the ultimate number—extinguishing his last hope.

He had accepted his fate: no bloodline continuation.

Correspondingly, he had grown indifferent toward clan affairs and clan property.

More than clan ties, he clung to spiritual continuity—that's why, despite his kin constantly urging him to abandon his wife and take concubines to bear sons, he remained unmoved.

Clan property?

Even if I had as much as Xu Jie, what meaning would it hold?

Better to leave behind a personal spiritual imprint—a useful legacy for the world.

Sima Zhi glanced at Shen Li.

He couldn't help but hold him in higher regard.

At this moment, he had abandoned his original plan and formed a new strategy.

Sima Zhi cleared his throat and slowly rose.

He stepped before Shen Li and performed a deep bow: "I dare to intrude—please, Lord Longjiang, assist me in implementing land surveying."

With that, he bowed low.

I am a rotating official, in Henan for only four years.

Since Shen Han passed the imperial examination, the Shen family has flourished for a hundred years, rooted in Guide Prefecture—they are native magnates.

If I gain Shen Li's aid, success will come tenfold!

Shen Li fell silent for a long while.

Finally, he spoke slowly: "My mother passed only three months ago; I am still in mourning. I cannot appear publicly."

"I'll accompany you to the prefectural Prefectural Yamen first and instruct my clan's clerks to fully assist Commissioner Sima."

Two-tenths of Guide Prefecture's clerks are from my Shen family.

A single word from me will ensure Sima Zhi no longer struggles for manpower or support.

Sima Zhi didn't dwell on whether these clerks belonged to the Shen family or the Great Ming.

He merely clapped his hands in delight: "Excellent!"

He stepped forward again, seized Shen Li's hand, and pulled him toward the door.

…

On the road from Yucheng back to Guide Prefecture's capital, the procession trailed far behind the carriage.

Shen Li and Sima Zhi sat facing each other in the same carriage.

"Since I left the capital, how has the empire's situation changed?" Shen Li asked seriously.

Henan's roads differed from those near Beijing—bumpy and uneven, making the ride unbearable.

Sima Zhi paused, then replied: "Once we reach the Prefectural Yamen, I'll bring you the official gazette and the new newspaper. After reading them, you'll understand everything in full detail."

Shen Li was surprised: "The new newspaper has reached Henan?"

He recalled that in Emperor Wanli 2, it was only sold around Zhili.

Sima Zhi nodded. "Now, except for Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Sichuan, every provincial administration has established a News Office, directly under the Wu Tongzheng Office, with printing presses under its control."

"These papers are urgently copied alongside the official gazette and printed by the presses for distribution to every prefecture."

"They're about a month behind Beijing."

Shen Li nodded thoughtfully.

The Wu Tongzheng Office's authority must have expanded further.

It may finally earn its rightful status among the Nine Ministers.

Shen Li shook his head, dismissed the thought, and continued: "Then tell me the major events, Jingfu."

Sima Zhi didn't refuse.

As the carriage jolted, Sima Zhi spoke steadily: "After your retirement, the Three Xuan-Da region launched a campaign against the Tümed Right Wing's Duoyan Guard. In this campaign, Commander Qi Qi Jiguang killed Dong Huazi, and Hu Wang Shouren captured Chang Ang and brought him to the capital for tribute."

"In November, the Emperor selected a consort, formally enshrined the Empress, and married her in March of the following year, beginning his personal rule."

Hearing this, Shen Li was startled: "So early? Does the Emperor now have an heir?"

Sima Zhi sighed. "That's precisely what's causing the uproar."

"The Emperor still has no heir. The court has debated for over a year whether to replenish the harem."

"Beyond that, some accuse the Grand Secretariat of acting too hastily, harming the Emperor's vitality."

Shen Li frowned: "Who says the Emperor has necessarily harmed his vitality?"

That's a cruel accusation.

No heir doesn't mean his vitality is damaged—could it not simply be that he's still young, and hasn't sown enough?

Even if he truly had been damaged, how could anyone openly declare it?

Otherwise, shouldn't court officials start considering who should succeed the throne?

Sima Zhi sighed. "Who said it no longer matters—now, from south to north, everyone is spreading this."

"Even the two palaces have tried to explain that the Emperor is too busy with state affairs to spend time with his consorts—but officials and commoners refuse to believe it. Behind closed doors, rumors grow louder."

Shen Li gave a sardonic laugh. "Besides those with ulterior motives, who else could be behind this? I suspect there's more than just this."

Sima Zhi glanced at Shen Li in surprise.

He felt that, along this journey, Lord Longjiang had grown sharper.

Sima Zhi nodded frankly, unafraid to speak openly: "Prince Lu is now twelve, has come of age, and the Chief Grand Secretary has repeatedly petitioned for him to leave the palace and take his fief."

"But Empress Li and several court officials firmly oppose it."

"The court has debated this several times—I hear it's become a furious brawl."

"The Emperor is caught between his mother, his younger brother, the Grand Secretariat, and the court—deeply torn, unable to decide. Yet still, some accuse him of neglecting familial bonds and mistreating his royal kin."

Shen Li stared at Sima Zhi in shock.

He spoke in disbelief: "Has it come to this?"

Debating whether Prince Lu, the Emperor's own brother, should leave the palace is essentially plotting over the succession!

How is this different from cursing the Emperor to remain childless and meddling in succession?!

Why has it reached this point?

Sima Zhi pulled back the carriage curtain and confirmed no outsiders were nearby.

Then he sat back and said: "This is simply the state of affairs. The Emperor has suppressed too harshly—backlash naturally erupts endlessly."

"In July of Emperor Wanli 3, His Majesty opened examinations for recruitment to the News Office's subordinate clerks."

"The content was mostly common knowledge from the Four Books and Five Classics, arithmetic, plus some odd logic."

"In Emperor Wanli 4, His Majesty gradually purged hereditary officials from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and revived the News Office's recruitment system, opening examinations in astronomy and mathematics."

"Among them were the ninth-rank officials: Five Officials of Astronomical Observation, Five Officials of Calendar, Fifth-Rank Five Officials of Morning Duty, and Doctor of Timekeeping."

"In December of Emperor Wanli 5, a new system was established for selecting officials in Shuntian Prefecture: no longer by superior recommendation, but by unified examination."

"Last year was the first examination, testing the Four Books and Five Classics, mathematics, logic, and composition."

Shen Li opened his mouth: "Day by day, inch by inch—is he planning to expand this system further?"

This is becoming institutionalized—it clearly isn't a passing whim.

Sima Zhi didn't respond. Whether it would expand further—he had no way of knowing.

Shen Li murmured to himself: "No wonder the backlash is endless."

The Emperor's actions—beyond court officials, even I find them absurd.

The people he's alienating aren't merely clerks.

How do clerks come into office? By officials' appointments!

Like my uncle, who wasn't even a juren, was recommended by my grandfather as chief registrar of Shuntian Prefecture.

Why are so many clerks in Guide Prefecture from the Shen family? Because all it takes is one nod from me—effortless.

If the Emperor and Grand Secretariat's method prevails, how will court officials place their relatives?

How will local gentry families continue to embed themselves in the Prefectural Yamen and grow stronger?

If this continues… those dissatisfied with the Emperor will naturally grow in number.

Shen Li pondered deeper, unconsciously rubbing his temples.

Sima Zhi, seeing Shen Li made no reply, continued from where he left off: "Besides this matter, there was the enshrinement of Wang Wang Yangming in the Confucian Temple in the sixth month of the second year of Emperor Wanli."

"The Confucian lineage was thus settled: preceded by Confucius and Mencius, followed by Cheng and Zhu, then the Seven Sages."

Shen Li nodded.

He was aware of this matter—after all, by the time he left the capital, the Emperor had already publicly demonstrated his authority, and his intent was plain to all.

Sima Zhi went on: "In August of the third year of Emperor Wanli, Li Zhi, drawing upon the Emperor's teachings and grounding himself in the concept of 'practice,' revitalized the term 'progress'—calling it 'craftsmanship.'"

"The Court has an obligation to promote craftsmanship: mechanical ingenuity, plowing with fire and slash-and-burn, firearms, carts and ships, and so forth."

"In March of the fourth year of Emperor Wanli, Li Zhi, again basing himself on 'practice,' revitalized the term 'fairness'—calling it 'distribution.'"

Sima Zhi paused here, offering no further elaboration.

"The Court has an obligation to allocate resources."

"The balance of these two principles depends on the evolution of the age, requiring careful adjustment—much like the Dao of yin and yang."

After hearing Sima Zhi's words, Shen Li could no longer count how many times he had shown astonishment.

He looked at Sima Zhi, speechless.

Sima Zhi met his gaze and nodded with deep significance: "This land survey and population verification is grounded in the latter doctrine."

(End of Chapter)