[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor":3,"chapter-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-326":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Wanli, the Enlightened Emperor",{"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},2322148,4542,"Chapter 326: Imposing Power, Offending Heaven","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-326",326,"\u003Cp>The celestial scepter moves to Pingle, rainbow banners gather at Shanglan. Suddenly, a thousand horsemen converge; swiftly, six camps form in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They raise their spirit with drums and bells, advance with jade chariots in front. Light clouds bear emerald canopies; the sun glows upon crimson banners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the archery inspection, the Minister of War knelt and reported the grand review complete; the Emperor rode slowly, asking after the troops’ hardships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Honglu Temple officials proclaimed the imperial decree and called for kneeling, all officials bowed their heads; gongs, drums, and grand music erupted together; the mounted soldiers retreated to Chang’an Left Gate, collectively bidding farewell as the Emperor ascended his carriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid repeated cries of “Ten Thousand Years,” the grand review of the first month of Wanli Eighth Year concluded Yuanman — the subsequent ceremonies planned for the next two days, including the Ministry of War’s formal report and the Emperor’s audience with victorious officers and bestowal of rewards, were purely ceremonial formalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ceremony ended, but its influence lingered unceasingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps due to inviting commoners and soldiers to observe, this grand review—after a decade’s gap—ignited an unexpected wave of public debate across court and countryside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In teahouses and taverns, all spoke of the nation’s martial glory, faces flushed with pride; old men in alleyways recalled their heroic youth, filled with emotion; scholars composed poems and verses, singing praises of virtue; merchants and porters clapped their hands in joy, hoping foreign enemies would retreat and cease raiding the capital region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From private academies to temples and Daoist shrines, all discourse lauded the splendor of the grand review.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Contemporary accounts declared: the Son of Heaven donned armor, selected 120,000 troops; crowds lined the streets near and far; the military’s grandeur was unmatched in recent memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days passed, and the fierce debate showed no sign of abating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It drew Wang Shizhen, the literary leader, to personally pen an evaluation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The dragon banner gleams in the sun over Yan and Ji; the rainbow banners flash like lightning over the Hutuo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Swords and halberds gleam, reflecting the cold green of the Western Hills; cannons split the air, shaking the lofty walls of the Northern Palace…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alas! To revive martial glory after the humiliation of Tumu; the Azure Heavens bestow blessings for a thousand autumns! To strengthen the army after the shock of Gengxu; the phoenix calendar endures for a hundred generations!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang the leader’s writings were always granted exceptional leeway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he directly criticized the Tumu Incident and the Gengxu disturbance, voicing the unspoken sentiments of countless scholars and commoners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to this, he occasionally leaked insider news in the *Yanzhou Gazette*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, introducing new weapons displayed during the review, announcing punishments of incompetent officers, and declaring the Emperor’s order to halt all military commercial activities to benefit soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these sparks, public reaction grew even more fervent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, some criticism also emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, condemning the court for wasting people’s wealth and labor, staging empty pageantry merely to convince the people they were protected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or suggesting this display of martial might was merely recent intimidation against the populace, due to the rising number of conspirators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even claimed the Emperor disregarded ancestral law, pursued endless warfare, and sought only to extract taxes from the provinces to suppress dissent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In past dynasties, the court either arrested unlucky scapegoats to assert authority, or accepted the rhetoric of open speech, enduring the noise until it faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the current approach was vastly different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tongzheng Office immediately activated its propaganda machinery, unprecedentedly appointing a Hanlin Academy scholar as a special commentator to publish lengthy, bilingual evaluations in the new newspaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hanlin Academy held that since the proliferation of Yangming’s later disciples, our dynasty’s military image had deteriorated, national consciousness had declined, and loyalty to home and country had become distorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hanlin Academy pointed out that political rituals are tools of norm, procedure, and symbolism—only their efficacy matters, not their moral goodness or evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hanlin Academy emphasized that this grand review, though costly, was worth every coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Functionally, it displayed the face of the capital garrisons, constructed national identity, and fostered collective memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In governance, it integrated public consciousness, forged political allegiance, extended the reach of state policy to more commoners, and thus propelled the Great Ming and its people toward a brighter future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the Hanlin Academy responded to concerns over excessive militarism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hanlin Academy stated that Emperor Xuanzong’s strategic retreat was based on the heavy tax burden of his time; now, after years of recuperation, taxes have greatly improved and the treasury grows steadily—such comparisons are invalid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clinging to Xuanzong’s laws like a man carving a mark on a boat to find his lost sword is a partial argument, an isolated perspective, a subjective mindset; they suggest studying logic for two years before engaging in such nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All this and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clearly a battle for control of public opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the verbal war raged fiercely, on the twenty-sixth of the first month, the Emperor issued two edicts of amnesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The loyal and obedient Lady of the Tumet Tumen, Nayan Chu Zhonggen Hatun, commands troops, halts warfare, builds Hancheng, oversees tribute markets; now, with both peoples bound in trust and harmony, bound as father and daughter, this bond shall never change.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thus, she is hereby granted the title of Princess Yongning, bestowed the name Zhu Xuanji, and given a city as her fief!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The King of Korea, Li Yan, reveres Confucianism and the Dao, embodies filial piety from heaven, guards the border for two hundred years, sends tribute and exchanges envoys across fourteen generations, loyal and sincere as ever, never altered; now, in the spirit of neighborly benevolence and the deep affection of the superior realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The maritime ban on Korea is lifted; the Laizhou harbor is opened for mutual trade!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the edicts were issued, the Korean envoys entered the palace to thank the Emperor, then hurriedly departed Beijing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Third Lady followed step by step, receiving a simple investiture ceremony at Huangji Gate, accepting the decree with thanks, calling the Emperor “Father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, shrewd merchants immediately sensed the scent of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially the Princess Dowager, the Imperial Uncle, the Duke of Ying, and others—all dispatched shop managers to Guihua City and Laizhou; wealthy merchants rushed to follow, flocking eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Court and countryside, military and state affairs, tributary states and foreign vassals, scholars and merchants—all took turns in the spotlight, blazing with intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Throughout Beijing, amid clamor and haste, the first month passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wanli Eighth Year, second month, sixth day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were always endless tasks before and after the New Year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having concluded the grand review, the princess’s investiture, and the opening of Korea’s trade port, preparations now turned to the spring imperial examination on the ninth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As discussions on the selection ceremony concluded, it was time for Prince Lu to leave the palace and take up his residence—work by the Ministry of Public Works was slow; the Fifth Prince’s mansion was only half-built, yet Prince Lu pressed daily, personally overseeing construction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Zhu Yijun canceled his noon rest, carving out time to fulfill his duty as elder brother, personally escorting him partway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over the years, I have conferred titles upon the Two Imperial Mothers, the Empress, the Nine Concubines, you, and the Fifth Princess; the gold, silver, and precious stones aside, the silk alone totaled eighty-seven thousand bolts—our inner treasury now holds little left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Added to this, Suzhou and Hangzhou suffered disasters, river dikes collapsed; I have ordered the Directorate of Palace Affairs to cut textile production by half—this year’s shortfall cannot be made up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My meaning is: you are only thirteen next month, still young; do not rush into marriage. Stay in Beijing for two more years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun covered his mouth, yawning repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His younger brother’s wedding would cost dearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it would not, as in history, drain the inner court, divert ninety thousand taels of military funds, and plunder Zhang Juzheng’s household for a grand spectacle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Empress Dowager still lives; Zhu Yijun’s younger siblings’ weddings cannot be handled carelessly—a proper standard must be maintained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inner court’s budget this year is nearly exhausted; “next time” is all that remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu walked half a step behind, following closely beside the Emperor, bowing as he listened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Emperor finished, Prince Lu cautiously replied: “Your Majesty, I seek no great jewels or pearls; truly, my Yuan Yang has been restless, drawn to beauty…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished, a palm—fingers slicing the air—struck solidly against the back of his head!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Self-sabotage! Sabotage what? Who taught you this nonsense?!” Zhu Yijun yanked Prince Lu’s collar, cursing, “You look so foolish—I’d have to be mad to suspect you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Empress Dowager had long been sent to the Western Garden to retire; after entrusting her son’s education to court ministers, Prince Lu smoothly passed his rebellious phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, correction often overcorrects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knows whose doing, but Prince Lu’s current cautious demeanor now rivals that of the Chu Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spends his days sneaking out to flirt with common girls, inviting aristocratic youths to gambling duels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At only thirteen, he’s already planning ahead, petitioning to depart for his fief!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, ministers like Shen Shixing stared straight ahead, calm and composed, reminding: “Your Majesty, mind your bearing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun snorted, then released Prince Lu’s collar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu awkwardly adjusted his neck, meekly murmuring: “Your Majesty’s reprimand is just; your Majesty’s reprimand is just.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Emperor’s expression softened slightly, he sighed bitterly and lowered his voice: “Your Majesty, I do not fear my elder brother; truly, last year Liu Yingjie’s rebellion used me as a front—it nearly ruined me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu was still young; seeing the Emperor’s fraternal affection, his grievances welled up, and he spoke plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Liu Yingjie’s affair, court ministers have periodically scolded him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was bad enough; scholars at least reasoned with him, and after he agreed to leave the palace, they calmed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worst was when noble youths invited him to ride donkey carts, imperial guards offered to teach him axe techniques, and eunuchs kept sneaking to his bedside at night, whispering while he was half-asleep: “Are you preparing for your great plan? We’re all ready to follow you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterwards, he always saw these men in the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Eastern Depot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This chaos made him eager to depart for his fief as soon as possible—to live a quiet life away from court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu bowed deeply, face etched with bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun listened, then glanced at Zhang Hong and Shen Shixing, opening his mouth to speak—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing their innocent, apologetic smiles, he swallowed his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun fell silent a moment, then sighed and softened his tone to comfort Prince Lu: “Leaving the palace won’t make things quiet; court ministers are still reasonable. Others won’t come knocking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu, hearing this, offered profuse thanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even bowed and smiled at Shen Shixing and Zhang Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t listen to your close advisors—they’re always doing empty, pretentious things.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun spoke with solemn earnestness: “You’re still young; you have time and energy. Learn from Li Chengming. Do something you truly enjoy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t think your reputation doesn’t matter. When you one day rule your own domain, your character as Prince Lu will define the entire Lu branch. I don’t want to see ‘Prince Lu’ in any censor’s memorial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Zonglu  has been reduced, the Lu branch is far from being stripped to commoner status after seven generations; further cuts won’t hinder the Prince’s comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wealthy idle man, if he plays the part long enough, becomes truly corrupt. Better to cultivate proper hobbies like Li Chengming, and live peacefully in retirement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu stole a glance at the Emperor’s expression; seeing his elder brother’s sincerity, he finally exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I take your teaching to heart,” he quickly replied. “When Cousin Chengming recovers, I will invite him to my mansion—we’ll study and practice together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun paused, curious: “Isn’t Li Chengming lately tinkering with Mohist mechanisms with Deng Shaoyu? Did he pinch his fingers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never required these close noble youths to do anything specific.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only forced them to study mathematics and engineering, and strictly banned bad habits—after that, they naturally began exploring curious, useless, yet fascinating pursuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu, upon hearing this, looked utterly bewildered, clearly unaware himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun turned his head and cast a questioning glance toward Zhang Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, Lieutenant Li and the heir of the Dingyuan Marquis were recently experimenting with mechanisms when they accidentally added too much gunpowder and were injured by flying metal shards on the shoulder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker was Li Jin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Li Chengming were at least uncle and nephew, so he knew more about these matters than Zhang Hong did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun frowned. No wonder the boy had been absent lately: “Is he alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Jin stepped forward quickly and explained: “Your Majesty, the physician has seen him—no serious harm, but the workshop was burned down, and two craftsmen were frightened away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid scolding from Empress Li, Li Chengming specifically instructed them not to tell the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now the Emperor was asking face to face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun slowly nodded, then pressed: “How did they get involved with firearms?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jin paused, weighing how to explain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, he replied: “Your Majesty, it was not firearms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Earlier, Scholar Liu insisted on the view that ‘force is what causes form to move,’ but in recent years he found contradictions in it, so he entrusted Lieutenant Li and the Dingyuan Marquis’s heir to conduct several experiments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun involuntarily hummed from his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew perfectly well what this was about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Force is what causes form to move” was Mozi’s saying, one of the foundational principles Liu Dunkai had once summarized—objects are inherently still, and only move when acted upon by force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Zhu Yijun did not boastfully lecture Liu Dunkai on uniform linear motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Science, after all, is the progressive evolution of relative truths; self-correction is an indispensable part of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After absorbing Western knowledge, Liu Dunkai could truly be called learned across East and West.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he seemed to have sensed the subtle flaws within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After completing the experiments, Lieutenant Li, for some reason, began muttering constantly about ‘driving force’ and bought a workshop to tinker with water wheels and other mechanisms.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Last month, a craftsman proposed an idea: inspired by observing military firearms and the historical case of Wan Hu, gunpowder might serve as a ‘driving force.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thus, Lieutenant Li approached the Dingyuan Marquis’s heir, intending to use gunpowder to power mechanisms…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest, naturally, need not be elaborated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fate of Wan Hu, who once sat atop rockets attempting to reach heaven, was still vividly remembered; Li Chengming’s small workshop exploding was perfectly normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing, Li Jin quietly stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu, walking beside the Emperor, stole a glance at him from the corner of his eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the Emperor’s solemn expression and twitching lips, he sensed trouble and cautiously slowed his pace, fearing the Emperor’s wrath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial party descended from the platform of the Huangji Hall and arrived before the Wumen Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. I’ll see you only as far as Wumen. The rest of the journey, you must manage yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun waved his hand, signaling Prince Lu to go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Lu stepped back three paces, bowed deeply: “Your humble brother will remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun gave a slight nod: “Remember to enter the palace on the first and fifteenth of each month to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned and walked away without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Prince Lu remained, solitary and respectfully bowed in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of court ministers and imperial guards clustered around the Emperor and turned back, making a show of their procession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing seized the opportunity and hurried forward: “Your Majesty, Grand Coordinator Wen is still waiting in the Wenhua Hall. Should we allow Your Majesty a brief rest in the warm pavilion before summoning him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke of letting the Emperor rest, but inwardly wished to delay him from returning directly to the Western Garden to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun waved his hand: “Tell him to wait at Donghua Gate. I’m going out of the palace—I’ll explain on the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” Shen Shixing looked up in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was about to say more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Emperor had already quickened his pace, turning sharply toward Donghua Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhu Yijun arrived at Donghua Gate, Wen Chun was already waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the imperial procession, he hurried forward to pay his respects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun reached out to help him up, getting straight to the point: “Have the Bozhou people returned?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many affairs to handle, Bozhou’s matter was still too minor to be prioritized, so he had left it entirely to Wen Chun to manage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun rose and matched the Emperor’s pace: “Your Majesty, the report submitted by Governor Wang Ning of Guizhou was greatly inaccurate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun had already changed into his special imperial robe for leaving the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, he exchanged a glance with Shen Shixing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last year, when Yunnan was invaded, Governor Wang Ning of Guizhou reported that the Yang clan of Bozhou was stirring, maintaining close ties with the rebel Yueyang of Longchuan, and that Beijing might be under threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such distance and delay, it took over half a year to reach any conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the tone here clearly contradicted Wang Ning’s original report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun pulled a memorial from his sleeve and said: “Your Majesty, for many years, Sichuan and Guizhou have competed to recruit Bozhou’s guest troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the forty-second year of Jiajing, although Bozhou’s native troops were officially assigned to Guizhou, their ties with Sichuan remained stronger, causing Guizhou officials to harbor deep resentment toward the Yang clan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After Yunnan was invaded last year, the Yang clan did not notify the Guizhou Provincial Governor’s office but unilaterally dispatched six thousand ‘raw Miao’ troops to reinforce Yunnan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ‘raw Miao’ behaved lawlessly, looting multiple counties in Guizhou during their Wangfan . When Wang Ning tried to punish them, he failed, so he submitted a memorial accusing Yang Yinglong of illegally mobilizing troops, secretly crossing borders, and plotting treason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he presented the memorial with both hands to the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>¤C〇\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun stopped walking, reached out to take it, and flipped through it while asking casually: “So certain and clear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guizhou was remote; how could details be so thoroughly verified? Strange indeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun paused, then slowly replied: “Your Majesty, Han civilians are everywhere in Bozhou, prosperous and wealthy. Officials throughout Guizhou all believe the time is ripe for replacing native chieftains with imperial-appointed magistrates.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Some Guizhou officials have privately written to me, urging me to stir the pot on the Bozhou matter, to complete a seven-hundred-year legacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this, he bowed again deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unspoken implication was mutual understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Replacing native chieftains with imperial magistrates in the southwest was not something Wen Chun had decided on a whim. Such major decisions, beyond strategic and central governance needs, often reflect tactical timing and the collective demands of countless minor officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, replacing the Bozhou chieftaincy had long been Guizhou’s most desired achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, any official hoping for territorial expansion achievements inevitably came to pay homage to Wen Chun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was not superior investigative ability—it was simply that Guizhou’s officials had laid everything bare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun lowered his head, reading the memorial, saying nothing in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed the completed memorial to Shen Shixing beside him and mused: “Wen Qing, your general plan for replacing native chieftains cannot bypass Bozhou. What are your thoughts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of all the native chieftains in the empire, none could rival the Yang clan of Bozhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Native chieftains are not feather-plumed, camouflaged savages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yang clan had ruled the southwest as local emperors for seven hundred years, commanding a population of hundreds of thousands, infantry numbering in the tens of thousands, controlling the entire southwest’s timber export trade, along with tea, rice, and other sideline businesses. Officials who visited were always astonished: “Roads are passable by cart, residents are wealthy, it has the air of Jiangnan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, their wealth and geographic position—access to the Yangtze via the Chishui River—ensured a vast network of relationships across the empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They sent half their annual goods to officials: “Each year, over ten thousand planks of huashan wood are cut; half are bribes to passing officials, half shipped to Suzhou and elsewhere for sale.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their marital alliances were not with the Zhang Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain, but with imperial clan members of the Tang princedom, occasionally marrying nieces of central ministers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Yang clan of Bozhou had long merged with the Yang clan of Taiyuan into the first major Yang lineage; noble titles like Marquis of Yingyang and Marquis of Changping were obliged to address Yang Yinglong as “uncle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had money, troops, and deeply entrenched connections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Guizhou would never have drooled over the prospect for so long without daring to directly petition for replacing the Bozhou chieftaincy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun bowed his head: “Your Majesty, since the Tang dynasty, Bozhou has been cut off from the imperial court. After the Yang clan took control, they opened mountain passes, recruited powerful leaders, established schools to nurture scholars, and transformed native customs. From two Battalion Commander, their population has grown to over one hundred thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I do not speak of the Yang clan’s unprecedented achievements, but of their fundamental admiration for Chinese civilization.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Previously, the branches grew too strong while the trunk weakened, causing the Yang clan to forget their place and dare utter such arrogant words as ‘The Emperor has ten thousand troops, I have ten thousand mountains.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, to replace the chieftaincy, the central court need only strengthen the trunk and nurture the root, then prune the branches at the right moment—they will naturally recognize the situation and relinquish their chieftain title themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yang clan differed from other native chieftains: they were not merely sinicized—they had fully identified as Han Chinese. With such a mindset and no outward difference, they were indistinguishable from Han people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Wen Chun’s view sharply diverged from that of Guizhou officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ning wanted to crush Yang Yinglong’s power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun advocated appeasement—waiting for Yang Yinglong to recognize the times and cooperate with the court’s replacement of the chieftaincy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Zhu Yijun did not overlook the premise of Wen Chun’s proposal and pressed: “Setting aside strengthening the trunk and nurturing the root—how exactly would you prune the branches?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, too, was self-evident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Yuan dynasty invaded Bozhou’s territory, the Yang clan dared not utter a word; when the Ming court weakened, Yang Yinglong dared massacre Qijiang County.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Yang Yinglong commands ten thousand troops, how can he be expected to “surrender with courtesy” without being weakened first?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun’s expression remained neutral, maintaining his respectful bow: “Your Majesty, since Yang Yinglong inherited the position of Pacification Commissioner, he has been young and headstrong, ruling harshly, and the cultural divide between Han and native peoples has deepened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As a result, among the two Pacification Commissions and six Longsi Offices in Bozhou—eight offices total—five have deteriorated relations with Yang Yinglong, engaging in plundering, assassination, and arson; within ten years, they have become irreconcilable enemies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The seven major families within the state—Tian, Zhang, Yuan, Lu, Tan, Luo, and Wu—were once Yang Yinglong’s trusted allies, helping him consolidate power, yet now they have written to me exposing his treasonous acts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The deep rifts among these native chieftains offer us a perfect opportunity to intervene.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing had been listening quietly beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to recall something, opened his mouth to speak, then raised his head just as his gaze met Wen Chun’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter shook his head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing glanced at the Emperor, hesitated for a long while, but ultimately said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor remained silent for a moment, as if still pondering, his steps slow and deliberate, unconsciously walking past Donghua Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A group of close ministers followed closely behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Zhu Yijun spoke slowly: “I understand Wen Qing’s meaning—in one phrase, divide and weaken them, then bring them under control like dogs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Governor Wang Ning of Guizhou seems unfit for this great task. Does Wen Qing have any suitable candidates to recommend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun immediately stepped back, bowed deeply, and said: “Your Majesty’s wisdom is sovereign; I dare not presume to speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Censorate had no authority to interfere in personnel appointments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The proper procedure was for the Ministry of Personnel to nominate candidates; during the court nomination, if the Emperor wished to appoint someone, he would naturally select from those Wen Chun had voted for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor never followed conventional patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that is so,” the Emperor’s voice rang out among them, “would you be willing to go yourself, Wen Qing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun looked up in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor’s expression was gentle, revealing no extra emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing’s gaze flickered back and forth between the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, he cautiously bowed to the Emperor and asked: “Your Majesty, would it not be… inappropriate for the Censor-in-Chief to also serve as Provincial Governor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun interrupted Shen Shixing with a kind expression: “The Censorate would bury Wen Qing’s talents; it is not befitting a great minister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Wen Qing can handle this task well, he deserves a better post.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for the Censor-in-Chief… let Hai Rui finish his land survey and return quickly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Zhu Yijun brushed dust from the hem of his Daoist robe: “That is settled. I am going to the National Academy and the Colleges. Shen Qing, see Wen the Governor off, and inform Minister Wang of the Ministry of Personnel about this matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, the eunuchs and Secretaries of the Imperial Secretariat quickly surged forward to occupy positions behind the Emperor, surrounding him as he departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Shen Shixing and Wen Chun remained standing, respectfully seeing him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing stared at the Emperor’s retreating back, lost in thought: “What does His Majesty mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, transferring a Censor-in-Chief to a Provincial Governorship was a demotion, yet the Emperor’s words also seemed to pave the way for Wen Chun’s entry into the Grand Secretariat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was ambiguous—impossible to discern clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun kept his gaze straight ahead: “The sovereign’s heart is unfathomable; overthinking is useless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His posture clearly indicated he wished to say no more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Shen Shixing did not let Wen Chun off the hook; he sighed: “Then what did Jingwen mean? Why deceive the Emperor about Bozhou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Addressing him by his courtesy name, he adopted the tone of private confidences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing knew quite a bit about Bozhou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Wen Chun told the Emperor was true—but he concealed Yang Yinglong’s crimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did the Five Offices and Seven Clans oppose Yang Yinglong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plainly put, Yang Yinglong exploited his subordinates—“All petitions and official documents must bear the Seal of the Pacification Commission, and he constantly demanded bribes without end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was bad enough, but he was also cruel and brutal, killing without hesitation, and especially loved to humiliate daughters before their fathers, seduce wives before their husbands, cut off ears, gouge out noses, and castrate men to make them eunuchs… the list went on endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the people petitioned the palace to cry out for justice, Yang Yinglong sent his subordinates to secretly capture and kill them, even massacring their families afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concealing Yang Yinglong’s crimes and presenting them to the Emperor was a complete inversion of cause and effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun shook his head, his expression cold and hard: “Now, among the clans of Bozhou, only the Yang family claims to be Han. Even in pruning branches, there is hierarchy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remove the Han and retain the native, and you achieve half the result with double the effort; remove the native and retain the Han, and you achieve double the result with half the effort.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for Yang Yinglong—a man of such monstrous crimes—once weakened, he should be publicly executed to appease public outrage!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun was now openly disregarding right and wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He valued only Yang Yinglong’s cruelty and brutality, his frequent massacres of entire households.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He intended to let Yang Yinglong run rampant, incite internal strife among the native chieftains, wait until Yang had devastated the local people, then step in as their savior, kill Yang Yinglong, and Shunshi  implement the policy of replacing native chieftains with imperial officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had long sensed something amiss—otherwise he would not have hesitated so long before the Emperor without exposing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It violates Heaven’s harmony.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing sighed again, expressing his inner turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wen Chun nodded without hesitation: “So let us not make the Emperor’s burden heavier. Let them blame me or praise me—let future generations judge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Shixing clasped his hands behind his back, sighing as he turned and walked back toward Donghua Gate: “Do you think I am not burdened too? I wonder whether His Majesty has already sensed the truth…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Wen Chun looked up again, gazing toward the direction the Emperor had departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hard to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>",4888,"2026-06-20T16:31:35.124Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2b1c9a545fa12036e7e4849692d27b98d4a14c31737ded5305d8d1075054b2a5","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-327","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-325",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwanli-the-enlightened-emperor-cover.jpg"]