[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor":3,"chapter-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-56":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},2321878,4542,"Chapter 56: Cooking Gold, Burning Jade, Exhausting Mind and Spirit","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-56",56,"\u003Cp>Outside Jingyun Gate, the drill field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afternoon was normally the time for imperial archery training, but today Hai Rui had been brought along as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the vast open ground, the sons of the Capital Military Academy were vigorously demonstrating their skills, hoping to catch His Majesty’s eye like the few lucky ones before them and ascend to greatness in a single step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Equestrian skills, fist techniques, drawing heavy bows to full stretch—each displayed their talents in various ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they saw the Emperor arrive, all the youths bowed in salute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun smiled warmly and told them to continue, then stood beside Hai Rui before Jingyun Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He summoned a eunuch close and ordered: “Go, bring them over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the eunuch went to fetch them, Zhu Yijun explained to Hai Rui: “My late father often regretted deeply whenever he thought of Xu Jie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He repeatedly instructed me to take such matters as a warning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your mission to collect taxes in the Two Huai regions will surely be more intense than Xu Jie’s return to his estate years ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At these words, Hai Rui immediately understood what the Emperor intended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the drill field, hesitating: “Your Majesty’s care for this humble minister moves me to the core. But… wouldn’t this be going too far?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor had personally formed a Three Judicial Offices for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had assigned him the hardest targets: the noble clans and imperial relatives, and officials of fourth rank and above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even feared Hai Rui might break from excessive rigidity, earnestly urging him not to seek complete success—achieving four-tenths of the goal would already be a monumental achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had gone this far—and now he was assigning Hai Rui personal guards!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Father-Emperor, Father-Emperor—by heaven and earth, Hai Rui felt paternal love for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun, oblivious, shook his head: “Though I have never personally visited the provinces, I understand what ‘popular unrest’ and ‘bandit gatherings’ mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hai Qing, if one attempt fails, there can be a second, a third.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if you fall in the Two Huai regions, I will be heartbroken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts drifted far away—this time, he truly had no room to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor said failure could be tried again and again, but could Hai Rui himself accept failure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at this young Emperor, filled with emotion, with no way to repay such grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered were the great men of the Two Huai, the high officials of Nan Zhili, the imperial relatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui now bore a sacred mission—he would kill gods who stood in his way, slay Buddhas who blocked his path!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stood still, each lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the eunuch led several men forward, who knelt and bowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them kneel, Hai Rui instantly knew they were either noble generals or military officers—civil officials would never bow so readily in public.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He subtly studied the men before him, guessing their identities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Zhu Yijun did not prolong the suspense; after ordering them to rise, he introduced each one to Hai Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Jiao Ze, deputy commander under Gu Huan, Viceroy of the Capital Garrison,” Zhu Yijun said, pointing to one man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble military men had no such pretensions; there was no need to introduce courtesy names, and many didn’t even have them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui looked at the broad-shouldered, muscular giant before him and silently praised him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next month, Jiao Ze will be transferred to Deputy Commander of the Grain Transport, leading a battalion of eight hundred elite troops to accompany Hai Qing to the Two Huai region.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These eight hundred men were composed of Gu Huan’s personal guards and selected elite soldiers from the Capital Garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they had trained for only a month, they had already taken basic shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the key point was that he had scrounged up funds to settle their back pay and even gave each an extra two taels as bonus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Gu Cheng, the soldiers had never trained with such vigor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Jiao Ze bowed again, Zhu Yijun pointed to another man and introduced him to Hai Rui: “This is Gu Chengguang, Assistant Regional Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui nodded again, satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This broad-shouldered Embroidered Uniform Guard was clearly a veteran of battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Commander Gu Chengguang, lead two hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards as Hai Qing’s personal escort for his inspection of the Two Huai region.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Embroidered Uniform Guards were not like common soldiers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many things common soldiers dared not do, the Embroidered Uniform Guards had no qualms about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chengguang bowed to Hai Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Luo Sigong, this year’s top graduate of the Capital Military Academy, specially granted the title of Gold Guard; and this is Chen Yinzhao, heir to the Marquis of Pingjiang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun pointed to the two and introduced them to Hai Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui passed over the first, glancing at the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smiled: “This heir, this humble minister met just a few days ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun paused, startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he recalled: when he had promised Li Wei the grain transport contract, the imperial father-in-law Li Wei had approached his in-law, the Marquis of Pingjiang, to join the venture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each had then sent men to inspect ports and acquire failing merchant guilds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Probably, the two had met by chance on their return to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved it off and explained: “Luo Sigong is exceptionally skilled in martial arts—he is perfect for guarding Hai Qing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Luo Sigong: “You must never leave his side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Sigong was no more than seventeen, but having risen to the top of the Capital Military Academy, he was not only skilled in combat but also intelligent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed: “Your servant obeys!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun continued: “The Commander of the Grain Transport, Marquis of Baoding Liang Jifan, has been impeached and is now idle. The current Commander of the Grain Transport is the Marquis of Pingjiang, Chen Wangmo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liang Jifan’s impeachment was his doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no choice—he was an in-law of Empress Chen’s family; to accomplish anything, he had to be wary and replace him with someone more reliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui understood at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just wondered why he was assigned such a slender, delicate heir as a guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he realized—it was to control this Marquis of Pingjiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a personal guard, he must never leave Hai Rui’s side; should anyone plot treason, the guard would be the first target, forcing the Marquis of Pingjiang to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui was again astonished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This young Emperor had anticipated every possible problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this single reassignment,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he had placed a thousand troops directly under Hai Rui’s command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had also used the heir to control the Commander of the Grain Transport, a noble lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Marquis of Pingjiang had once commanded troops in Guangdong and Guangxi, donning armor himself; when the rebel Zhang Xian rose, Chen Wangmo personally led troops and captured or killed over thirty thousand to quell the rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such battlefield-tested military nobles always had their own retainers; even if they couldn’t fully control the grain transport troops, they still held a solid core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, His Majesty hinted that the Viceroy Wang Zongmu would fully support this mission—if he resisted or delayed, Hai Rui was to appeal to the Duke of Ding’an for suppression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This display made it seem less like an investigation into corruption and more like preparation for war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After introducing them all, Zhu Yijun gave further instructions: obey Hai Qing’s orders, do not be arrogant or overbearing, and dismissed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui suddenly remembered something and asked curiously: “Does the Grand Secretariat know of this arrangement?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his understanding,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s assignment was manageable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the rest should have been difficult to arrange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiao Ze was originally a deputy commander of the Capital Garrison; his transfer to Deputy Commander of the Grain Transport required approval from the Ministry of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nan Zhili Vice Minister of Justice, Wang Xijue, cooperating with him—though seemingly simple—must have required consent from the Bei Zhili Ministry of Justice to relinquish authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Chen Dong, a full fourth-rank official and Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, being assigned to accompany him to the Two Huai region—this was highly unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He truly did not know how the Emperor had persuaded the Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun suddenly turned to Hai Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression was complex—filled with pity and a touch of pride: “Hai Qing, do you think my personal treasury’s one million taels of silver were given to the Grand Secretariat and Six Ministries for free?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Six Ministries’ affairs cost the imperial treasury one million taels—how could it not cost something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This money was not spent solely here, but seizing the opportunity to secure these political agreements was perfectly natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui thought for an instant, then immediately understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun grasped his hand: “Whether it is worth it depends on you, Hai Qing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hai Rui was speechless, choked with emotion, and could only reaffirm his pledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor and minister discussed further details, then exchanged some casual conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As evening approached, Zhu Yijun reluctantly watched Hai Rui depart the palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Hai Rui left,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun summoned a secretary and ordered: “Draft an edict for me: grant Hai Rui’s mother an additional honorific title; submit the details to the Grand Secretariat for deliberation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The secretary bowed and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun then called Zhang Hong: “Go, grant Hai Rui twenty taels of standard silver, and select a suitable concubine to send him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Hai Rui or his mother refuse, say... parental gifts must not be refused; do not betray the imperial grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply too sad—a good man, utterly alone, with no heir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had merely acted on impulse; whether it would succeed was up to fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did it casually; whether it would work or not was up to fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hong bowed and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned to Li Jin and asked: “How are the men chosen for Zhang Jing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jin hurriedly replied: “Your Majesty, they have been delivered to Zhang Jing—elite troops from the Imperial Stable Supervision.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun nodded: “Summon him here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jin was about to obey\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>when Zhu Yijun stopped him: “Never mind. There’s too much to do. You carry my message to him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jin bowed low, awaiting the Emperor’s decree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun paused, then spoke slowly: “Nanjing Garrison Commander was Zhang Hong’s former post. I know they have deep roots there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When Zhang Jing takes up the post, he need not do anything else—just suppress any unrest. No soldier, no armor, no order shall leave the camp without imperial decree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he cannot handle this simple task with the elite troops of the Imperial Stable Supervision, then let him commit suicide in Nan Zhili and never return to disgrace us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun waved his hand, signaling he was done, and told Li Jin to deliver the message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he had already sent elite troops to Hai Rui, he was not afraid of mere civilian unrest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he must guard against is collusion between insiders and outsiders, inciting soldiers to riot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nanjing Garrison Commander is charged with overseeing all Nanjing garrisons, typically held jointly by nobles and eunuchs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Jing is a ruthless man; historically, he overthrew Feng Bao to rise to power—his methods must be sharp. Sending him to Nan Zhili is to suppress the Nanjing garrisons and prevent upheaval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Preventing small problems before they grow is the utmost he can do. He only hopes Hai Rui will not disappoint him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jin slipped away silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After giving all orders, Zhu Yijun wearily rubbed his temples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remained alone on the drill ground, reviewing his strategy once more, checking for any oversight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once satisfied, he exhaled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These recent days had drained him mentally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was not yet time to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of it, he had servants help him don his wooden armor and began practicing fist techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dinner,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun finally opened the Analects and the Book of Rites to study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was utterly exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But remembering tomorrow’s lecture, he forced himself to focus and finish his lessons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He read quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes he pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes he picked up his brush to circle or annotate certain passages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After about half an hour, he slowly closed the books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too weary to continue, he closed his eyes for a brief rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dozing off, he stretched, sat up, and resumed his studies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cleared his mind, spread out paper, picked up his brush, hesitated, then wrote slowly: “Lecture Master Shi Xing told me: ‘At birth, human nature is good.’ Lecture Master Siwei told me: ‘At birth, human nature is evil.’ I am utterly confused, unsure which to follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After the lecture, I read widely through classics and texts, and learned of Mencius’s theory of innate goodness, Xunzi’s theory of innate evil, and Gaozi’s theory of neither good nor evil. All are words of the sages and lesser sages—yet I am more confused than ever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fortunately, the Kingdom of Joseon has relieved my father and sovereign by sending a man of primordial nature.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ordered the Inner Court to observe him for over a month, recording his actions and conduct, and now I have reached a conclusion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He encounters evil without annoyance, sees good without delight, acts according to desire, boundless in behavior, without inner rules.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When eunuchs taught him propriety and vice-directors imparted human ethics, he gradually, like the clear and turbid separating in heaven and earth, began to show conscience, good deeds, and gratitude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thus I conclude: at the origin of human nature, there is neither good nor evil—it is determined by what one encounters after birth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Therefore, I follow Gaozi’s view: ‘Nature is like flowing water; if you open a channel to the east, it flows east; if to the west, it flows west.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I also gained insight: disputes over theory cannot convince others without clear evidence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finished writing tomorrow’s lecture assignment in one breath, then blew gently on the ink, satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited quietly for the ink to dry, then turned to Jiang Keqian standing beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked casually: “When will Li Zhi arrive in Beijing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Keqian’s face was expressionless, his tone formal: “Your Majesty, Li Zhi has been traveling, seeking out scholars everywhere to debate and teach at academies. He is far behind schedule—perhaps two or three more days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun frowned. This man truly had no respect—he had urged him repeatedly, yet he still dawdled on the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he thought again: in this man’s eyes, Confucius was just a dog barking; surely the Emperor himself must be no better than dog dung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pressed further: “What of the Prince of Zheng’s heir?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Keqian shook his head: “Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Imperial Clan Office both sent envoys—he still refuses to come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun sighed. He still harbors resentment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, the Prince of Zheng petitioned the Jiajing Emperor, who flew into a rage, stripped him of his title, demoted him to commoner, and imprisoned him in Fengyang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the late Emperor showed mercy, restored his title, and released him, the grudge clearly remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the Prince of Zheng was imprisoned, his heir was only fifteen. He declared: “My father is innocent yet imprisoned,” then built a mud hut outside the palace gate, slept on straw, and remained alone until his father was freed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the Prince of Zheng was imprisoned unjustly, the blame is obvious—so the Prince’s heir has long resented the imperial family. His refusal to live in his mansion and choice to dwell in a mud hut is silent protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Prince himself, historically, refused his stipend, died in rags, eating only plain rice and vegetables.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder, when Zhu Yijun ascended the throne, this family sent not a single congratulatory memorial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, despite repeated invitations, they still refuse—this is understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For others, Zhu Yijun would not care; after all, it was Jiajing’s fault, and he felt no guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the problem is… this Prince of Zheng’s heir—he must have him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His name is Zhu Zaiyu, later known as the Saint of Tuning, a world-renowned musician and mathematician.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even “genius” falls short—he is a figure who used an eighty-one-bead abacus to compute square and cube roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historically, he proved that the intervals of equal temperament could be expressed as the twelfth root of two, accurate to twenty-five decimal places!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the twelve-tone equal temperament in music theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind that he preceded Europeans by decades—that alone is irrelevant. His mathematical talent alone makes him impossible to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mathematical genius has its own instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has, historically, calculated calendars, determined the geographic coordinates and magnetic declination of Beizhili, and precisely measured the length of the tropical year and the density of mercury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun could not imagine how magnificent it would be if this man, while pursuing music, also helped him advance and promote mathematics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his resentment cannot be ignored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Historically, Zhu Zaiyu voluntarily renounced his princely title to devote himself entirely to music theory—his spiritual height cannot be swayed by ordinary means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun pondered long, then made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spread another sheet of paper, picked up his brush, and wrote slowly at the top: “To the Prince of Zheng, my kin; to Prince Zaiyu, my kin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have heard the Prince of Zheng was stripped of his title for speaking truth, imprisoned without guilt. Though my late father corrected this injustice, he could not heal the wound to kinship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This was my grandfather’s fault. I accept it, and send this humble apology to the Prince of Zheng—pray, reconcile with your kin and find peace soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, I hear my kin Zaiyu is deeply interested in music theory. My close attendant Jiang Keqian also has skill in this field. Recently, he has made a discovery: he can expand the scale to twelve tones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you have leisure, come to Beijing, strengthen our kinship, and explore the way of music.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Await your reply.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After writing, Zhu Yijun took the private seal beside him and stamped it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the signature, he wrote: “Changwei Recluse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having finished, Zhu Yijun called Jiang Keqian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said firmly: “Jiang Qing, I hear you have gained new insight into music theory, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Keqian froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused, he replied: “No, I haven’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His compilation of qin texts was progressing slowly, with no new breakthroughs—he had no idea what the Emperor meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun waved his hand: “I say you have, so you have.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed Jiang Keqian the letter and instructed: “Send someone to deliver this to the Prince of Zheng’s mansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, attach your own letter, saying…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained in detail, imparting his strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He personally taught Jiang Keqian how to be cryptic, to feign profundity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some mathematical ideas he could no longer recall clearly, but as a STEM graduate, he still remembered calculus and abstract algebra—enough to play the mystic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If all else fails, just trick him to Beijing, then study together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reforming Ming taxation and finance requires restructuring the Ministry of Revenue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, the one talent he lacks most is clerks with basic mathematical skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he carries a mathematical system in his mind, it is now hazy and fading. To localize it, he needs these mathematicians to implement it concretely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Keqian nodded, half-understanding, preparing to memorize the Emperor’s words and write them in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took the letter, about to withdraw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yijun called him back and handed him the earlier essay on good and evil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ordered: “First, go to the Tongzheng Office. Copy this and submit it for the next issue of the Daily Morning News.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Same as always—use plain language.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Include the causes and consequences of the imperial lecture, and end with a commentary, saying that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Zhu Yijun paused, weighing his words for a long while before speaking slowly, each word deliberate: “In any dispute over declarations, proof comes first.”\u003C\u002Fp>",3332,"2026-06-20T16:31:33.303Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","33d3d122bcd9a78bd434ba09bdd954b9560ffdc4ddd698ab7d57e87ce2f18bc1","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-57","wanli-the-enlightened-emperor-chapter-55",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwanli-the-enlightened-emperor-cover.jpg"]