[Fantasy] A Strange Encounter with an Immortal (Complete) - Chapter 31 (End)

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Chapter Eight: The Truth Revealed.

Zhu Chuanzong stopped pressing for answers and ordered them all temporarily detained. He assigned people to supervise them, essentially to protect them. If any one of them was harmed in the slightest, the guards would be executed.

Since they had reminded him, Zhu Chuanzong knew that the treacherous minister they spoke of must be a powerful figure, perhaps one of his most trusted ministers. This matter could not be taken lightly; he had to carefully send trusted confidants to uncover the truth, otherwise, a leak could lead to a coup.

It was summer, and the Dingtian River near the capital had been experiencing continuous heavy rains for several days. On the sixth day, a report stated that the Dingtian River had breached its banks near the capital, flooding hundreds of villages in Pingdawan and Tianxing counties. Hundreds of people were missing, and tens of thousands more were homeless and heading towards the capital.

Without needing to investigate or verify, Zhu Chuanzong stood atop the city wall and looked around. The fields were a vast expanse of water, and in the low-lying areas, only treetops were visible. Several villages had vanished without a trace. Zhu Chuanzong urgently ordered the capital to properly resettle the flooded refugees and commanded the counties of Pingdawan and Tianxing to use all the grain and silver from their treasuries for relief, lest the people be displaced again.

A day later, reports of the disaster arrived like snowflakes. Many places were experiencing continuous torrential rain, and the Zuyuan River, the largest river in the Great Liang Kingdom, had risen by more than two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). Before the next day, another report arrived: the Zuyuan River had

breached its banks at Fengyi and Yangguan! A day later, another report came: the Zuyuan River had breached its banks at Fengkai; at the north bank of Jiewuying Dam… Seven or eight breaches in succession along the Zuyuan River were unprecedented in history; this was the greatest natural disaster the court had encountered in twenty years.

Zhu Chuanzong hurriedly led his men out of the capital to investigate. Along the way, he saw groups of refugees, and Zhu Chuanzong was deeply worried. The annual cost of the river works was several million taels of silver—an astonishing sum—but what effect had it had? Breaches everywhere? Where had all the money gone? What was the effectiveness of the river control efforts?

Zhu Chuanzong continued his journey, witnessing villages flooded and people displaced. The Dingtian River near the capital alone had suffered such devastation; what kind of disaster would the breach of the Zuyuan River bring? Could they possibly ignore the suffering of the people?

Zhu Chuanzong grew increasingly alarmed. At the urging of his ministers, he returned to the capital. Upon entering the city gates, he found it teeming with refugees, hundreds in groups, dozens in clusters, filled with sighs, cries, and wails.

If the plight of the refugees wasn't addressed quickly and properly, wouldn't chaos erupt? Upon arriving at the palace, Zhu Chuanzong immediately ordered the granaries to be opened and grain distributed, instructing officials and soldiers to assist the refugees. He also warned all regions to do their utmost to aid the people and prevent the spread of plague and other diseases. Meanwhile,

officials began impeaching the River Conservancy Commissioner, Qian Tianxiang. It turned out that Qian Tianxiang was outwardly benevolent but inwardly greedy. Qian Tianxiang's river management efforts were characterized by the use of cheap and useless materials, such as hemp mixed with sand and hollow straw stacks. He was known among the people as the "Tofu-dreg Governor."

Conversely, the construction site was teeming with frivolous items: fox fur, sable, bear paws, deer tails, and more. River officials lavishly used public funds to purchase luxurious silks, satins, and delicacies, then reimbursed them under the guise of river construction material costs. Even key river officials used public funds to buy their way into official positions, securing promotions upon completion. Opportunism was rampant. Such instances of using national funds for river management to buy official positions were not uncommon but widespread. Furthermore, those recommended for rewards after the projects were completed were often relatives and friends of these officials, and it was not uncommon for individuals who had never even visited the construction site to be listed on the recommendation lists.

Zhu Chuanzong was horrified by what he saw and flew into a rage. He ordered Qian Tianxiang arrested and brought to the capital, but Qian Tianxiang fled to avoid punishment. Zhu Chuanzong then issued a nationwide warrant for his arrest while discussing river management with his ministers.

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's fury, the ministers fell silent. Shui Fengliang, witnessing this, knelt down and begged for punishment, accusing his subordinates of corruption, incompetence, and poor judgment.

The other ministers, seeing this, also followed suit and begged for forgiveness.

Seeing their reaction, Zhu Chuanzong sighed, "Get up! It's all my fault, really. So many of my officials are corrupt; I can't blame you all."

The ministers stood up, and Shui Fengliang said, "I believe that before managing the river, we must first govern the officials. Otherwise, with corrupt officials, river management will be a mere formality. However, in this urgent situation, we cannot resort to mass killings. If we send all these officials to jail, there will be no officials who understand the river management. Let them atone for their crimes through meritorious service; perhaps they can manage it! These are my heartfelt words; please reconsider, Your Highness!"

The other ministers echoed his sentiments. At this moment, the memorial from Huang Tianyou, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who was on an inspection tour, arrived. The memorial stated

, "I believe that to manage the river, we must first govern the people, govern the officials, govern the bureaucrats, and govern corruption. Otherwise, the country will cease to exist." Reading the memorial and recalling the corruption within the bureaucracy, Zhu Chuanzong felt a pang of heartache. As a subject, he deeply hated corrupt officials and was determined to eradicate corruption and rectify officialdom once he came to power. However, after more than a decade in power, despite his tireless efforts, executing many and arresting countless others, the number of corrupt officials had only increased. What was going on? Zhu Chuanzong knew Huang Tianyou's words were true, but could he really address the officials before controlling the river? When would that be? River control was an urgent matter! Besides, he couldn't just kill all these officials, could he? Officialdom was crucial to the survival of the nation, a sentiment Zhu Chuanzong firmly believed. But whether it was controlling officials or controlling the river, the immediate crisis had to be addressed. Could they allow the seven or eight outlets to flow day and night? They couldn't just leave them unattended, letting the Zuyuan River forever overflow, leaving it without a stable course next year. The river needed to be controlled! But who should be sent? Zhu Chuanzong finally thought of Shui Fengliang. Of all the ministers, only the Right Chancellor, Shui Fengliang, remained. He was known for his integrity and competence. After much deliberation, Zhu Chuanzong decided to send Shui Fengliang as an imperial envoy to oversee the river management project, allocating him five million taels of silver and appointing him as the chief administrator. Autumn arrived quickly. Despite the severe national disaster and the overwhelming workload at court, the country managed to overcome the crisis thanks to nationwide relief efforts. In reality, the dead and injured were mostly ordinary people, their lives cheap and insignificant. What did it matter how many died? The total number of deaths and injuries across the country, including drowning, starvation, and disease, reached 600,000. This was only after local authorities concealed or withheld reports as much as possible. Despite this, the Ministry of Rites still publicly announced that the death toll from the disaster was only 100,000, stating that this calamity was a once-in-a-century event, beyond human control. However, under the wise leadership of the Regent, with the concerted efforts of officials nationwide and the active cooperation of the people, a major victory was achieved. He then commended the heroes who participated in the disaster relief efforts. Among them, the magistrate of Jiuhe County, who had fallen into the water and died while fleeing during the flood, was portrayed as having fought on the front lines of disaster relief, leading by example and dying in the line of duty. Some of the officials' relatives among the common people were also praised for pretending to have saved a few people, and their good deeds were then widely publicized. As for the soldiers who died unexpectedly in the flood, they were naturally given special favors, and their deaths were further publicized throughout the country to ensure everyone knew about them. Thus, a great disaster was averted. The officials of the Ministry of Rites happily said, "Although a disaster occurred, a bad thing, thanks to our propaganda, the people of the whole country have united, supporting the court and expressing their gratitude. A bad thing has turned into a good thing." Zhu Chuanzong was also pleased that the disaster had been averted. However, as late autumn approached, the weather suddenly turned cold. One day, Zi Xian caught a cold and became bedridden, her illness quite severe, causing him great worry. Zhu Chuanzong was heartbroken and summoned renowned physicians from the Imperial Hospital and the capital to treat Zi Xian, but her condition did not improve. Seeing Zi Xian growing thinner day by day, he felt immense pity and stayed by her bedside all day, personally caring for her. Seeing Zhu Chuanzong, a prince of such high status, personally serving her medicine, not resting properly, his face gaunt and his eyes lifeless, Zi Xian felt both heartache and gratitude, and tears streamed down her face as she said, "Your Highness, I am but a lowly person, I do not deserve your kindness."

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and said, "What's this about whether it's worth it or not? Don't talk nonsense. You are the one I love, I cherish you like a treasure. What is this little thing? As long as you get better, I'm willing to do anything for you, no matter how difficult."

Zi Xian burst into tears and said, "Your Highness, I'm sorry, I..."

Seeing her haggard face, Zhu Chuanzong comforted her, "We can talk about it later! You look pale, you need to rest more. Once you're better, just say what you want to say, and I'll agree to it."

Zi Xian's tears flowed like a spring, and she sobbed, "My heart is sick, it won't get better. Your Highness, don't take me to heart anymore. I don't deserve your pity. I've been lying to Your Highness all along! I don't deserve your love at all!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Silly child, look at how sick you are, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Zi Xian cried and said, "I've been lying to you all along, I've been using Your Highness all along. Your Highness is a smart man, what don't you understand? Forget about me from now on. After I die, don't bury me, just cremate me and let me drift away with the wind."

After saying this, she was out of breath and coughed.

Zhu Chuanzong held her, gently patting her back and tenderly comforting her, saying, "Don't think nonsense. Even if you've been lying to me, I won't hold it against you. If you keep blaming me for not giving you a proper title, once you recover, I'll marry you properly and make you my princess, okay?"

Zixian, instead of being upset, became even more agitated upon hearing this and coughed up blood. Seeing her so ill, Zhu Chuanzong was heartbroken and immediately summoned the imperial physician.

However, for some reason, Zixian refused to let the doctor examine her. Zhu Chuanzong, at a loss, remembered that Zixian was always closest to Xue Jinxian, and they talked about almost everything. Xue Jinxian was well-educated, intelligent, and perceptive. Therefore, he asked her to speak with Zixian to find out what was wrong with her and why she was so determined to die.

Xue Jinxian and the other women of the Zhu family had always felt that Zixian was suspicious and secretly sent people to investigate her family background, but to no avail, which only increased their astonishment. Over the years, Xue Jinxian had kept a watchful eye on her. Seeing Zixian in this state, he knew she must have something on her mind. A woman's life revolves around love and family. Since Zhu Chuanzong had been so accommodating to Zixian, even offering her the title of his principal wife, it couldn't be about love. That left only family. Did Zixian have any relatives she was worried about?

Xue Jinxian probed subtly, and sure enough, Zixian burst into tears at the mention of these topics.

Xue Jinxian was now convinced she had living relatives and a compelling reason for her situation, so he appealed to her emotions and reason.

Moved by Xue Jinxian's words, Zixian revealed a shocking secret. It turned out that Zixian's parents and brothers were still alive, but they were imprisoned in a place no one knew, used as leverage to blackmail her. From a young age, Zixian had been trained in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, and other skills, as well as how to serve and please men. After this, through clever arrangements, she was brought close to the Prince and eventually ended up by Zhu Chuanzong's side. The mastermind behind this was none other than the current Right Chancellor, Zhu Chuanzong's trusted and beloved minister, Shui Fengliang.

Upon hearing this news, Zhu Chuanzong, sitting in his chair, nearly broke it, nearly collapsing to the ground. The news was too shocking for him to believe.

Zhu Chuanzong personally went to Zi Xian to verify it. Zi Xian, with tears streaming down her face, said, "It's all true. Lord Shui recently asked me to poison the Prince to harm you. I... I couldn't bring myself to do it, so I'd rather have my whole family killed than not reveal this secret. The Prince has been incredibly kind to me. I'm so ill; I'm not going to live anyway. I'll just go to the underworld with my parents and family."

Zhu Chuanzong murmured, "I don't believe it, I don't believe it! You are the woman I love most, and he is my most trusted confidant. How could this be? Besides, all the common people and officials in the world speak well of him. I don't believe what you're saying. You must be delirious from your illness!"

Zi Xian said, "The Prince is exceptionally intelligent; he should understand immediately." "Chu Cai is the best. The common people's understanding of officials is all hearsay; they can't see them with their own eyes. If someone spreads rumors about how good Lord Shui is, the common people will naturally believe it after hearing it so many times. As for the officials, because Lord Shui has many women in his possession, and he has sent beauties to many officials, these officials are initially grateful. Later, when these women obtain information about the officials and have leverage over them, these officials become his puppets. Who would dare to speak ill of them?"

Zhu Chuanzong finally understood the whole story. No wonder Shui Fengliang understood him so well and followed his wishes; it turned out that Zi Xian had tipped him off. He was indeed a man of great courage and wisdom. After regaining his composure, he knew that this matter was of great importance, more dangerous than anything he had experienced before. The only people he could trust now were his beloved wives. Therefore, he invited Hua Caiyun, Zhu Shuiyue, Shui Ling'er, Yue Keren, Xue Jinxian, Xiao Yu, and Nuanyun to discuss this important matter.

Zhu Chuanzong recounted the perilous situation, saying, "Things have reached their most dangerous point. All the officials in the land are Shui Fengliang's men. We are outnumbered and outgunned, with no one we can trust. What we must do now is secretly appoint trustworthy people to take control of the military, and then launch an attack."

After discussing the matter, they began to act.

Hua Caiyun secretly went to the palace to visit the Empress Dowager and, in a secluded place, told her everything that had happened.

Shui Ling'er and Yue Keren went to find Wang Dingkun to persuade him to help Zhu Chuanzong. The women all found their relatives and told them what to do. After finding a foolproof excuse, Zhu Chuanzong suddenly announced in court that he was appointing Prince Wu, Wang Dingkun, to regain control of the capital's troops and concurrently serve as the supreme commander of the national army. The ministers vehemently opposed it, but the emperor and the Empress Dowager approved of Zhu Chuanzong's appointment. Shui Fengliang was away managing river projects and could not return to the capital. It had been Zhu Chuanzong's women who were in charge of the operations, so Shui Fengliang's spies had not paid any attention and had not received any news. He was caught off guard by Zhu Chuanzong's actions. They hadn't privately discussed how to deal with the situation; by the time it happened and they realized what was going on, it was too late. Thus, Wang Dingkun took over military power.

Upon assuming office, Wang Dingkun immediately appointed his former cronies, replacing all the officers in the army with his trusted men. Following this, the court also began replacing officials throughout the country, brooking no opposition from ministers. Zhu Chuanzong and the emperor acted swiftly and decisively, appointing new, trustworthy people to all positions.

For those officials who desperately resisted, threatening to resign, Zhu Chuanzong and the emperor granted their request, stripping them of their posts. The events were so sudden that officials in the bureaucracy sensed an impending catastrophe.

Sure enough, the turmoil was only the beginning. Next, Zhu Chuanzong declared martial law in the capital. All court officials were forbidden from leaving their residences or communicating with the outside world. All news and orders in the capital had to be personally approved by Zhu Chuanzong before being released to the public.

The army declared martial law in the capital and then launched a massive crackdown on officials, uncovering the truth of the case. It turned out that many of the wives and concubines of high-ranking officials were spies

for Shui Fengliang. Having discovered the inside story, Zhu Chuanzong immediately ordered Shui Fengliang's arrest. However, Shui Fengliang had many informants in the court and, having received prior intelligence, fled to another country with his family.

In the end, Zhu Chuanzong emerged victorious in this thrilling case, but afterwards, he still felt fear.

Regretting the massive conspiracy within the court, Zhu Chuanzong embarked on a path of redressing wrongful convictions.

With the assistance of many new ministers, Zhu Chuanzong personally investigated cases among the common people, uncovering numerous abuses and revealing the true state of society.

In the present-day Great Liang, official corruption was rampant, and many abuses had occurred, as evidenced by numerous poems circulating among the people. One such poem reads: "When will the injustices and tortures end? How many wrongful convictions are there? The judge was furious the other day, the verdict was unbearable to recall in despair. The law should still be there, only its implementation has changed." How much hatred can one harbor? It's a heart full of grief and indignation flowing through my chest.

Second poem: *Shuidiao Getou* - Awaiting Redress for a Wrongful Injustice: When will justice be served? I weep and ask Heaven. I wonder how corrupt the officials of today are. I wish to ride a crane to the west, but I fear my enemies will laugh at my cowardice. Why is it so difficult for the common people to seek their rights?

Flipping through law books, consulting judges, sleepless nights. National and personal grievances, how can they be recounted in a short time! There are causes and effects, right and wrong, but alas, no one dares to intervene. One can only hope that divine intervention will bring vindication.

Such cases are countless.

And many shocking cases are even more astonishing. Many projects under the Ministry of Works, due to annual neglect or embezzlement of funds intended for safety, resulted in the deaths of a vast number of craftsmen and laborers.

These laborers, dying from work-related injuries, should have received at least two hundred taels of silver in compensation according to law—enough for an average family's income for twenty years. However, officials ignored this, only paying one tael and calling it a day. When the families of the deceased laborers filed complaints, no government office would accept them.

Because of the large number of deaths, public opinion was in an uproar. Officials then issued a document stating that the laborers' low moral character was the cause of so many injuries and deaths; it was all their own doing. Regarding this matter, a scholar adapted an ancient story into a new one.

Many people died while Qin Shi Huang was building the Great Wall, including Meng Jiangnu's husband, Wan Xiliang. Upon hearing this news, Meng Jiangnu felt the world darken and fainted. When she awoke, she wept bitterly, her cries so mournful that the heavens and earth seemed to weep, and the sun and moon lost their light. She wept for an unknown amount of time when suddenly, a deafening roar shook the earth, and dozens of miles of the Great Wall collapsed, revealing countless skeletons. Meng Jiangnu bit her finger, dripping her blood onto each skeleton, silently praying: if it was her husband's remains, the blood would seep into the bones; if not, it would flow in all directions. Finally, Meng Jiangnu found Wan Xiliang's remains using this method. Holding the pile of bones, she cried, "Old Wan, your death is related to your low moral character!"

Furthermore, many government projects owed wages to laborers. Without money to survive, the laborers had no choice but to desperately go to the government offices to demand payment, only to be repeatedly beaten. Some, weaker, went home; others, more resolute, hanged themselves at the government offices, threatening suicide. In response,

the government enacted a law: prohibiting malicious wage demands.

Originally, repaying debts was a matter of course, as it has always been, but now it has become "malicious wage demands," leading to a popular joke. During

the Song Dynasty, the poor scholar Chen Shimei passed the imperial examination with top honors and was chosen as the emperor's son-in-law. His wife, Qin Xianglian, brought their two sons to the capital to find him, but Chen Shimei turned his back on her. Qin Xianglian was heartbroken and vowed to repay her debt of love. Chen Shimei was furious and submitted a memorial to the court, stating, "I believe that the capital has always been a sacred place; how can outsiders be allowed to enter at will? A population access system should be established! At the same time, those who maliciously demand unpaid wages or plead for favors should be resolutely punished!"

Originally, the common people were making up a joke to satirize the court, but unexpectedly, a more shocking real case occurred in Cangzhou County, Beihe Province. A yamen runner heard a singing girl in a tavern, and seeing her beauty, he raped her. The girl cried and said she would go out and report him,

so the runner actually strangled her to death. Later, the yamen ruled that the girl had "maliciously committed suicide," intending to frame the yamen runner of Daliang. Truly, Daliang is a land of wonders.

Hearing these tales, Zhu Chuanzong was speechless with anger. However, these were just the tip of the iceberg. Many coal mines were operated by local officials in collusion with their relatives, with no regard for the safety of the miners. Countless poor people were crushed to death in the mines every year. After accidents, the official documents invariably stated: the injured are in stable condition, the families of the deceased are emotionally stable, and the cause of the accident is under investigation. The entire county government, under the wise leadership of the magistrate, did its utmost to rescue the victims, and the families of the deceased expressed their gratitude, etc.

Zhu Chuanzong was shocked by what he saw and heard and launched a campaign to rectify the officialdom. However, he couldn't simply kill all the officials, could he? He also feared that without these officials to help suppress the people, his actions would be more bark than bite.

Nevertheless, at this critical juncture, a few officials still ran afoul of the law. Three officials were drinking in a tavern when a merchant sent them a prostitute for their amusement.

After drinking some wine, the three began to harass the prostitute. Unfortunately, the prostitute was menstruating that day and didn't want to be intimate with the three men. The three officials berated her for being ungrateful and then stripped her naked and threw her off the building.

After the prostitute died, her family went to the government office to file a complaint. The office declared it a suicide, stating that the prostitute had a history of mental illness and suicidal tendencies, therefore the three officials were innocent. The case was thus closed.

When this case reached Zhu Chuanzong's ears, he personally dispatched an imperial envoy to investigate and execute all the officials involved, shocking the entire bureaucracy.

However, there were too many cases of corruption and crime, and Zhu Chuanzong, with only one pair of ears, had limited knowledge. So, no matter how much he struggled in the cesspool, he couldn't find any clear water.

Zhu Chuanzong was overwhelmed by these matters and felt his health deteriorating. His women comforted him, telling him not to be too anxious or agitated, that matters of governance required patience and could not be rushed.

Over the years, Zhu Chuanzong realized that he hadn't treated these women who loved him well. No matter his circumstances, they had always wholeheartedly helped and comforted him, deeply moving him.

Zhu Chuanzong apologized to the women, but they all smiled and couldn't bear to blame him.

His beloved Zixian, whose parents had rescued her in time, was also forgiven by the women, who, out of kindness and understanding of Zixian's situation, for hadn't harmed her. Zixian

, who had been seriously ill, gradually recovered thanks to everyone's care, as her illness was primarily emotional.

Zhu Chuanzong's family was harmonious, with beautiful wives and concubines, making his family life quite fulfilling. Although he was confused and disillusioned with politics, he was able to persevere thanks to the support of his family.

Chapter Nine: Constitutional Monarchy.

Another year passed in the blink of an eye. March of that year was a lean season, a time of scarcity. Widespread crop failures and ineffective official relief efforts led to mass starvation among farmers, leaving them with no other options. This sparked peasant uprisings in Ningzhi and Jianghuai provinces, which quickly spread.

Fearing the uprisings would spread nationwide, Zhu Chuanzong dispatched troops from across the country to suppress them while closely monitoring the situation in other parts of the country, particularly near the capital. Although the farmers in this region were not yet driven to desperation, morale was extremely unstable. To stabilize the populace, Zhu Chuanzong ordered the opening of granaries in various regions to provide relief, with the provinces making up any shortfalls, and dispatched imperial envoys to supervise the process.

A few days later, Zhu Chuanzong, with his personal guards protecting him, led 5,000 troops out of the capital to Ningzhi province, the hardest-hit area. His purpose was twofold: to assess the disaster situation and to bring relief supplies.

Upon reaching Ningzhi Province that day, Zhu Chuanzong rode his horse and surveyed the surroundings. He saw fields lying barren, houses collapsed, a desolate scene. Further on, countless refugees and starving people, dressed in tattered clothes, carrying earthenware pots and wicker baskets, and carrying young children on their backs, swarmed like ants and bees.

Zhu Chuanzong sighed, "Why has Ningzhi Province become so desolate and miserable in just a few years?"

He ordered his men to stop and told one of his personal guards, "Go and summon some of these refugees. I have some questions for you."

The guard obeyed and soon brought several people to Zhu Chuanzong's horse. It was a family of four: the man was emaciated, the woman was skin and bones, and they were crawling weakly on the ground with two children.

Zhu Chuanzong's heart ached at the sight. Were these the people under his rule? He quickly dismounted and asked, "How did your family fall into such a state?"

The man was initially frightened and refused to speak, but Zhu Chuanzong spoke softly, "Don't be afraid. We are sent by the imperial court to provide disaster relief. Didn't you see the large amount of grain and fodder? Speak your mind, and I won't blame you."

Hearing his gentle tone, the man finally mustered his courage and said, "This year, after the floods, there was a severe drought. Not a single inch of our land can be harvested. To make matters worse, Prefect Liu of Baocheng Prefecture frequently sends troops to the countryside, claiming to be suppressing rebels and bandits, but they can't even catch a glimpse of the rebels. Instead, they burn, kill, and plunder us ordinary people. We can only flee everywhere; we simply can't survive."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chuanzong's eyes blazed with fury as he cursed, "What a vicious and wicked official! How dare you trample on the laws of Liang and harm the people! I

'll show you what I'm made of!" He then ordered his men to take the family of four into the ranks. Simultaneously, he stationed his troops in the nearby southern county, setting up soup kitchens to provide relief to the disaster victims.

Zhu Chuanzong led his soldiers on their way, entering the territory of Baocheng Prefecture. Along the way, he saw corpses of the starving everywhere, a truly heartbreaking sight. Zhu Chuanzong looked on, his face somber, silent, his heart heavy.

When the army arrived at the city gates of Baocheng Prefecture, Prefect Liu Ke, upon hearing that the imperial court had sent troops to provide disaster relief, and that it was even the Regent himself leading the expedition, was terrified and rushed to the city gates to greet them.

Entering Baocheng Prefecture, he found the city orderly and peaceful, without a trace of disaster.

Liu Ke was smug, thinking that the Regent would be pleased to see such a peaceful scene and would promote him. Unexpectedly, Zhu Chuanzong sent people to inquire and learned that Liu Ke was forbidding the disaster victims from entering the city, leaving them to starve to death outside, or forcing them to flee to other places. At this time, many rural people had rebelled and were fighting against the government troops.

Zhu Chuanzong was immediately furious, beheaded Liu Ke, and hung his head on the city wall. At the same time, he sent people to deliver grain to the disaster victims, and forgiving the rebellious people, as long as they surrendered, they would still receive grain.

The rebellious people were only after food, so they all surrendered one after another, and gradually the military situation was no longer urgent.

Zhu Chuanzong also asked the wealthy families in the city to help with disaster relief. The wealthy families were also afraid of a disaster rebellion, so they all contributed money, and the flames of war gradually subsided.

Zhu Chuanzong personally went all over the country to provide disaster relief and extinguish fires. The bandits and disaster victims in various places were properly resettled, and gradually this great disaster was finally brought under control.

Zhu Chuanzong returned to the capital exhausted, feeling as if the past years had been a dream. He had diligently governed the country, believing that even if things didn't improve dramatically, the people would at least live in peace and prosperity. However, he was misled by treacherous officials, who had brought the country to ruin, leaving him utterly devastated. It seemed that even the strongest human power could not defy fate; when disaster struck, the world would not be at peace. Therefore, upon arriving in the capital, Zhu Chuanzong requested the emperor to personally officiate at the Heaven-worship ceremony.

The emperor was already eighteen years old. Previously, Zhu Chuanzong had presided over such grand ceremonies; this time, the emperor's personal presiding signified his formal right to govern personally.

On the day of the ceremony, after three deep, resonant horn calls, the drums and gongs sounded slowly and rhythmically nine times, filling the land with solemnity and majesty. The vast army remained

completely silent. The troops stood in orderly ranks, waiting, not a single person moving. Even the mouths of the distant warhorses were tightly bound and guarded.

At the head of the solemn and orderly procession, the emperor knelt first, followed by Zhu Chuanzong and all the ministers, who knelt devoutly. All the entourage followed suit. The emperor burned incense and kowtowed to the heavens, then burned incense and kowtowed again, sprinkling wine and kowtowing once more, praying for favorable weather and averting disasters throughout the country.

Various abundant offerings were laid out beside him. After nine kowtows, just as the emperor was about to rise, a long neigh was heard, and a broken warhorse galloped towards them. Everyone, immersed in the previous ceremony, was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

Seeing the warhorse about to trample over the place of worship and charge at the emperor, in a flash, two highly skilled guards leaped forward and tackled the horse. One grabbed the reins, while the other quickly wrapped his arms around the horse's neck. After the horse was reined in and led away, Xin Shi brought everyone back to their senses. Two eunuchs hurriedly stepped forward to help the emperor up, and the accompanying ministers quickly knelt down to pay their respects and apologize to the emperor. Zhu Chuanzong was also very angry.

Everyone followed the emperor back to the palace, where two soldiers escorted a man who was the minor official in charge of the horses. He had accidentally let one horse run away, startling the emperor.

The Emperor, furious that his first time presiding over a grand ceremony had turned out so ominous, waved his hand dismissively without even consulting Zhu Chuanzong, and declared, "Take him out and execute him!"

Just as the soldiers were about to push the man away, Zhang Bingzhi, the head of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, hurriedly knelt and pleaded, "Your Majesty, this man's dereliction of duty alarmed Your Majesty and deserves death. However, today is a day of great sacrifice, and bloodshed is inappropriate. We beg Your Majesty to reconsider."

Zhu Chuanzong added, "Murder is inauspicious. This man is spared death, but not punishment. He should be exiled to the frontier as a guard, never to return!"

At this point, the Emperor calmed down, his expression returning to normal, and said, "Your Highness is absolutely right."

The man immediately knelt and kowtowed to thank Zhu Chuanzong, then thanked the Emperor, but this action greatly displeased the Emperor.

After the ceremony, Zhu Chuanzong returned to his residence. Because of the incident, the ceremony had not gone smoothly, and he was somewhat sullen. Seeing his unhappiness, the women came to comfort him.

Just then, a letter arrived from his subordinate; it turned out to be from Zhao Laosi.

After dealing with Shui Fengliang and his accomplices, and because evidence of Zhao Laosi and his group's corruption was also in hand, Zhu Chuanzong had them all severely punished. However, considering their past contributions, he had them all imprisoned in a large courtyard, providing them with food and drink.

Because of their experience as officials, and now that they were out of office, they frequently submitted memorials to express their opinions and help the court. One day, Zhao Laosi submitted a memorial telling a story.

More than two thousand years ago, in the State of Wei, a minor official named Xu Mi was exposed for corruption and fled to the State of Wei. The ruler of Wei wanted to ransom him with fifty gold pieces, but Wei refused. The ruler then offered to exchange a city for him.

A minister asked, "Is it worth exchanging a city for an official?"

King Si of Wei replied, "The rule of law is neither worthwhile nor not worthwhile. If the rule of law cannot be established, those who should be killed cannot be killed, and those who should be sentenced cannot be sentenced. What use are ten cities then? Once the rule of law is established, those who should be killed are killed, and those who should be sentenced are sentenced. Even if ten cities are lost, it will not cause any harm! Moreover, if corrupt officials all flee abroad, won't the country's wealth be emptied?"

Later, King Si of Wei finally exchanged a city for a minor official from the State of Wei and punished him according to the law. Exchanging

a city for an official—King Si of Wei spared no expense in punishing fleeing officials. His purpose was to uphold the dignity and unity of the rule of law.

Zhu Chuanzong found this very reasonable. If corrupt officials were all like Shui Fengliang, embezzling domestically, transporting the money abroad, and then fleeing overseas, and if all officials followed suit, the country would become increasingly impoverished and inevitably perish. Throughout history, no matter how corrupt or wicked an official was, no corrupt official had ever dared to smuggle money abroad.

If this precedent were set, how would posterity judge Zhu Chuanzong? The more Zhu Chuanzong thought about it, the more frightened he became. Finally, he made a painful decision: he would stop at nothing to bring Shui Fengliang back and execute him.

Zhu Chuanzong sent envoys to the Western Liao Kingdom to demand Shui Fengliang's return, sparing no expense, and mobilized troops, ready for war at any moment.

Seeing that the Great Liang was willing to go to war to bring back this corrupt official, the Western Liao Kingdom had no choice but to agree, happy to gain some benefits. After Shui Fengliang was brought back, he should have been executed by being cut into a thousand pieces, but Zhu Chuanzong, remembering his years of service, softened his heart and allowed him to commit suicide by poison, preserving his body intact.

After the execution of this treacherous minister, Shui Fengliang, the atmosphere in the Great Liang Kingdom was greatly uplifted. The people, seeing the court's resolute crackdown on corrupt officials, were overjoyed and supported him.

Although the emperor had reached adulthood and should have been able to govern personally, Zhu Chuanzong, seeing his youth, was uneasy. The ministers were also accustomed to reporting matters to Zhu Chuanzong, so the emperor remained a figurehead with no real power.

Zhao Laosi, Qian Laoliu, and others frequently submitted insightful opinions, which Zhu Chuanzong implemented, greatly benefiting the country.

Several months passed. One day, Zhu Chuanzong realized that although Zhao Laosi and Qian Laoliu had been officials for many years and were no longer the ignorant young men they once were, they couldn't possibly possess such profound insights. He suddenly remembered someone, summoned them to his residence, and interrogated them face-to-face.

The group knelt down and admitted that all of this was taught by Mr. Wu Siyuan, but Mr. Wu had repeatedly instructed them not to reveal his whereabouts.

Zhu Chuanzong recalled Mr. Wu's many brilliant insights, all of which had now proven correct, and all his previous predictions had come true. Therefore, he decided to repent and personally visit him for guidance.

Zhu Chuanzong threatened them, and they dared not disobey, agreeing to take him to the visit.

Led by Wang Daniu and the others, Zhu Chuanzong disguised himself and set off for Wu Siyuan's hermitage. It was a remote place, becoming increasingly secluded the further they went, until they finally arrived at a small village. At the edge of the village, they encountered a lean and handsome old man in his fifties fishing.

The group was tired, so they all sat down to rest.

Zhu Chuanzong, seeing the old man's extraordinary appearance, inquired about the situation there. After chatting for a while, Zhu Chuanzong, impressed by the old man's refined manner, and initially intending to continue on his way, sat down and began to engage in a lengthy discussion with him.

The old man had a keen understanding of officialdom; he had served as a secretary for several officials, though it was unclear why he had left. When discussing stories of official life, he recounted a tale: Several county magistrates went to the provincial capital to pay their respects to the provincial governor. They waited from early morning until noon before the governor finally arrived at his study. After exchanging greetings, they sat down. Before the governor could speak, one of the county magistrates suddenly stood up and asked, "May I ask your rank, Your Excellency?"

The governor replied, "My ancestral home is Daxing."

The magistrate pressed further, "Which prefecture does it belong to?"

The governor answered, "Shuntian Prefecture."

The magistrate nodded, saying, "Yes, I see,"

and sat down.

The magistrate was talkative and eloquent, and he and the governor gradually became very congenial.

The governor, pleased, then asked the magistrate where he was from. The magistrate replied, "Your Excellency, I am from Xiguang." The provincial

governor then asked, "What is the local custom like in your area?"

The magistrate answered, "Your Excellency, our county has very few local products, but there are many monkeys in the mountains."

The provincial governor asked, "How big are the monkeys?"

The magistrate said, "Your Excellency, the small ones are no bigger than puppies, while the large ones are like adults."

He meant "like adults" in his previous address to the provincial governor as "Your Excellency," making it seem like there was no difference.

Those present couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. The provincial governor was furious, stood up, and sternly rebuked him, "Someone like you dares to call himself a parent to the people?"

He then stormed off. That very day, the provincial governor issued an order for the magistrate to "resign due to illness and return to his hometown."

Zhu Chuanzong, finding the old man's story amusing, was overjoyed to have encountered such a wise man in the mountains.

The two chatted increasingly congenially, eventually discussing the personnel matters in officialdom.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Officials solemnly proclaim in various occasions: 'Our principle for appointing officials is based on merit, not favoritism.' This certainly sounds respectable, but in reality, it's not like that at all; favoritism is rampant, which is disheartening."

The old man said, "Not only is meritocracy not at the top of the list, but favoritism has to be relegated to the bottom!"

Zhu Chuanzong, sensing the unusual nature of this opening statement, quickly asked, "Oh, how do you know?"

The old man calmly replied, "Listen to me, the top priority is 'appointing superiors,' meaning you must understand the intentions of your superiors and appoint whomever they tell you to. Otherwise, if your superiors are displeased, your position will be unstable, let alone any chance of promotion."

Zhu Chuanzong felt enlightened and said, "That makes sense. Then, shouldn't it be either favoritism or meritocracy next?"

"Still not on the list,"

the old man said. "Second on the list is 'recruiting cronies.' The current officialdom is complex and the struggles are fierce. On the surface, everyone seems to be on good terms, but in reality, everyone is sabotaging you from below. If you're all alone in the officialdom and don't have a few like-minded friends helping you from all sides, you can't do anything you want. Not only can you not get anything done, but you won't even be able to hold onto your position for long. You'll be ousted very quickly."

Zhu Chuanzong suddenly understood and stopped interrupting, letting him continue.

The old man said, "Once you've taken care of things above and arranged everyone around you, you can move on to the third step: 'appoint people based solely on money.' Why? Because money is more important than kinship. After all, kinship is still someone else, but money goes straight into your own pocket.

The fourth step is 'appoint people based solely on flattery.' Once you've secured your position and amassed your wealth, it's time to surround yourself with a few sycophants to enjoy. Praises fill your ears like heavenly music. Don't underestimate flattery; it's an art, not something anyone can do well. If you do it wrong, you'll only make a fool of yourself; but if you do it well, skillfully, the person being flattered will find it incredibly enjoyable. Let me put it this way, it's like drinking alcohol—it's addictive!"

"Fifth on the list is 'appointing the best to boast.' Superiors like achievements, but you can't be too outrageous, or you'll make a fool of yourself, and they'll be unhappy. Of course, if you're stubborn and only report the actual increase in achievements, then the superiors will be even more unhappy! You're dragging them down! Superiors also want to advance, don't they? So, 'appointing the best to boast' is also very important.

"Sixth on the list is 'appointing relatives.' We people of Daliang value family ties. If you've taken care of everything, you should also take care of your relatives and friends, otherwise it will seem too heartless. Being too heartless will get you scolded."

As the saying goes, "There are wise men hidden in the countryside," Zhu Chuanzong knew he had encountered a wise man among the common people, and couldn't help but marvel at the advanced wisdom of the people of Daliang.

Zhu Chuanzong was filled with admiration and exclaimed, "Sir, you are truly a master!"

The old man waved his hand and said, "I wouldn't call myself a master. If anyone is truly a master, there is one living in Dongshan."

Zhu Chuanzong suddenly stood up and said, "Could it be Mr. Wu Siyuan?"

The old man exclaimed in surprise, "Indeed! You know him?"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and said, "I am his disciple."

The old man was taken aback, then laughed heartily, "So it is the renowned Regent Prince!"

The two looked at each other and laughed. It turned

out that the old man was Wu Siyuan's neighbor and also his good friend.

The old man led Zhu Chuanzong to a small courtyard. Although the courtyard was not luxurious, it had a unique charm and appeared quite elegant.

As soon as Zhu Chuanzong saw the white-haired old man, he immediately bowed. Wu Siyuan laughed and helped him up, saying, "Your Highness hasn't knelt for many years! Even the Emperor wouldn't dare to accept your kneeling. I cannot bear such a kneeling!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Sir, you are my teacher. This is only right. Why are you so polite?"

He then tried to kneel again.

Wu Siyuan stopped him, saying, "We can forgo worldly formalities; there's no need for such politeness."

Zhu Chuanzong insisted on completing the formalities before taking his seat.

The two hadn't seen each other for many years and poured out their hearts to one another. Zhu Chuanzong gradually brought up the corruption in officialdom, worrying about the future of the Great Liang dynasty.

Finally, Zhu Chuanzong asked, "Sir, what do you think we should do to ensure the Great Liang's longevity?"

"Reform is necessary; the system must be changed,"

Wu Siyuan said with a smile.

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback and said, "I would like to hear more details."

Wu Siyuan said, "If we can distribute some power to the people, with both the ruler and the people supervising each other, officials will be unable to deceive the emperor. With clean governance, the people's lives will improve, and they will not rebel."

Zhu Chuanzong asked with great interest, "How can the people supervise?"

Wu Siyuan replied, "A constitutional monarchy should be implemented."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "A constitutional monarchy? Tell me about it!"

Wu Siyuan then explained the constitutional monarchy system.

A constitutional monarchy, also known as a "figurehead republic," is a system of government. It preserves the monarchy while establishing popular sovereignty and limiting the monarch's power through a constitution, thus achieving a de facto republic.

Although the monarch remains the highest-ranking official in the country, their rights and obligations are clearly defined by the constitution. This limits the monarch's power to some extent.

Sovereignty must be concentrated in the hands of the monarch alone and cannot fall into the hands of the subjects. The subjects' freedoms are stipulated by law and granted by the government, not according to the will of the people, and so on. The significance of a constitutional monarchy lies in "respecting the national system and strengthening monarchical power," and further points out three major advantages of constitutionalism: a permanent throne, reduced external threats, and the suppression of revolution. In this constitutional monarchy, the monarch is sacred and inviolable, as administrative responsibility rests with the ministers. Based on impeachment by parliament, the government can resign and a new cabinet can be formed, much like the traditional dynastic political principle of "the prime minister may change in an instant, but the monarch's throne remains unchanged for eternity.

" Zhu Chuanzong asked, "Then what does the emperor do?"

Wu Siyuan replied, "The emperor supervises the cabinet's operations but has no right to directly interfere in state affairs. The people elect parliament, parliament drafts the constitution, elects the cabinet, and the cabinet governs the country."

Zhu Chuanzong slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his eyes gleaming with authority, saying, "Do you expect me to hand over the Liang dynasty?"

Wu Siyuan was not afraid and replied without hesitation, "The people are paramount, the state is secondary, and the monarch is least important. Throughout history, how many dynasties have risen and fallen? By the time of the last emperor, the people were bleeding profusely, and the royal family was almost wiped out. The ways of Heaven are ever-changing; if we don't do this, how can the dynasty remain unchanged forever?"

Zhu Chuanzong thought for a long time and sighed, "Even banning books can't... " "It's not a bad idea to cut off some of the emperor's power through reform, in exchange for the longevity of his descendants and the happiness of the people. When considering benefits, one should consider the benefits of the world; when seeking fame, one should seek fame for all ages. What you say makes sense, sir."

Wu Siyuan said hopefully, "If you really do as I say, you will be laying the foundation for the people's eternal prosperity, and you will also ensure the continuous existence of your descendants. The Great Liang will also become stronger as a result."

Zhu Chuanzong thought of the rampant corruption among officials and said, "Alright, write down the details of the reform in an article, and I will take a closer look."

Chapter Ten: Even Chickens and Dogs Rise to

Heaven Zhu Chuanzong left the capital and stayed in Wu Siyuan's small mountain village for seven days, asking him all sorts of questions in detail. He was deeply moved by Wu Siyuan's theories and returned to the capital to prepare for the reform.

The reform could not be carried out without the support of Empress Dowager Zhang Duanyi. Moreover, Zhu Chuanzong was shocked by the new ideas he heard. He was so excited that he wanted to confide in someone. Zhang Duanyi was not only his old lover, but also the mother of his beloved son and the Empress Dowager. Therefore, Zhu Chuanzong went to the palace to see the Empress Dowager and told her everything about his trip.

Zhu Chuanzong spoke eloquently, recounting all the advantages of a constitutional monarchy. Seeing the Empress Dowager's bewildered expression, he smiled and said, "It's normal that you didn't understand; you'll gradually understand. Just thinking about how everyone in our Great Liang can live in peace and prosperity, how our descendants can rule the world generation after generation—it's truly wonderful."

Zhang Duanyi forced a smile and said, "Your explanation sounds very profound, but is it really effective? Won't it make the emperor a mere figurehead? What's the point of being emperor then? Our son wouldn't be happy about that."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "The emperor still has considerable power; how can you say he's just a figurehead? It's just that, of course, he doesn't have as much power as before. But look at me all these years; with so much power, I've actually brought chaos to the world. Only by relinquishing some power can the people live a good life!"

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's excited expression, Zhang Duanyi knew that nothing she said could stop his thinking now, so she remained silent.

Zhu Chuanzong began to promote new policies in the court, wanting to implement a new system. The ministers, upon hearing this, all voiced their opposition, saying it was absolutely unacceptable, citing the inviolability of ancestral laws, and arguing that continuing in this way would lead to the loss of the Liang dynasty and the emperor's power. They further argued that officials should not be subject to the judgment of the common people, whom they considered ignorant and foolish; if the people were allowed to elect officials, wouldn't the world descend into chaos?

Zhu Chuanzong was extremely annoyed and dismissed these ignorant and foolish officials, appointing new ones instead. However, while the officials dared not openly oppose him, they offered only passive resistance, which infuriated Zhu Chuanzong.

To achieve his ideals, Zhu Chuanzong invited Mr. Wu Siyuan back to court to help him implement the new laws.

He and Wu Siyuan began implementing the new system, but the officials refused to relinquish their power and accept the supervision of the people, resisting fiercely.

Many officials then banded together and appealed to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

Seeing the turmoil in the court, Empress Dowager Zhang Duanyi consulted with Zhu Chuanzong, urging him to abandon the new laws.

Zhu Chuanzong refused to listen, and the Empress Dowager said helplessly, "You have ruled the country for so many years. Now that the emperor is an adult, you should let him govern. You can then enjoy a more relaxed life."

Zhu Chuanzong sighed, "How could I be an ambitious person? It's not that I'm unwilling to relinquish power, but I want to establish a system that can lay the foundation for an everlasting dynasty, so that our descendants can enjoy honor for generations, and the common people can live a good life. These are all important matters for the sake of future generations."

Seeing his resolute will,

the Empress Dowager felt helpless, as persuasion was futile. The emperor, unable to govern personally, was dissatisfied. His ministers seized the opportunity to pledge their

allegiance to him, pleading with him to intervene on their behalf. The emperor tearfully recounted the ministers' grievances to the Empress Dowager, begging her to intervene. The Empress Dowager couldn't resist her son's pleas, and besides, she feared that Zhu Chuanzong would use the pretext of reform to depose the emperor. A woman, when she has a son, loves her son most. Therefore, for her son's sake, she began to devise ways to deal with Zhu Chuanzong.

The claim of legitimacy stemmed from the fact that the empire belonged to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. The Empress Dowager supported the Emperor's covert power grab, and the mother and son arranged for ministers who had aligned themselves with them to hold important positions, gradually gaining control of crucial departments such as the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhu Chuanzong, focused solely on reform, paid no attention to the mother and son.

One day, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor invited Zhu Chuanzong to the palace for drinks. The Emperor confided his feelings to Zhu Chuanzong, recognizing him as his father. The three enjoyed a harmonious family time,

and Zhu Chuanzong became completely drunk. When he awoke the next day, he found himself bound. By this time, a dramatic change had occurred in the court. The Emperor declared himself emperor, abolished Zhu Chuanzong's princely title, and demoted him to a commoner. He also rounded up Wu Siyuan and other ministers who advocated reform, either killing them or demoting them.

Before his death, Wu Siyuan sighed, "I do not grieve for myself, for I have lost this good opportunity. I fear that there will be no more such opportunities for reform in the future. Fate is irresistible. Heaven has made the people of Daliang suffer for generations to come. I have devoted my life to changing this matter, and although I have failed at the last hurdle, I have no regrets."

In his last will and testament, Wu Siyuan wrote, "I had the will to reform, but I was powerless to defy Heaven. I die a worthy death, how joyful!"

Wu Siyuan was burned to ashes in the raging fire, but his thoughts could not be extinguished. He illuminated the path for many who dedicated their lives to this goal.

Afterwards, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor imprisoned Zhu Chuanzong in the Prince's Mansion, forbidding him from leaving.

More than a month later, Wang Dingkun arrived at the Prince's Mansion with a large army and surrounded it.

A subordinate was about to knock on the door, but Wang Dingkun waved his hand to indicate that it was unnecessary. He dismounted himself and knocked on the door. After the door opened, a maid invited him in.

Wang Dingkun entered with only a few trusted confidants.

After traversing many secluded paths, deep within a garden, Zhu Chuanzong, surrounded by beautiful women, sat down at a table laden with wine. Upon seeing Wang Dingkun, he invited him to sit, and two stunningly beautiful women poured them wine.

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and replied, "I never imagined that after so many years, we would be drinking together again under these circumstances. Thinking back on our past experiences feels like a lifetime ago."

Wang Dingkun remained silent for a long time, then sighed deeply, saying, "I have so much to say to you, but now I can't utter a single word. Why don't we drink together?"

The two laughed heartily and drained their cups.

One cup after another, they emptied their glasses completely. Zhu Chuanzong said, "If it weren't for my own son trying to kill me, I would have rebelled against the capital immediately if I had even the slightest chance, and led the armies of the land to fight him to the death. But he is my son, how can I bring myself to do it? Besides, the people of the land have suffered enough, and I can't bear to let them suffer any more."

Wang Dingkun said, "You have a shrewd and courageous son; you should be happy. The land will belong to him from now on, no matter what his surname is, he is still your son! You can die in peace."

Zhu Chuanzong sighed, "I sigh for the people of the land. But I am truly old, and besides, I don't know if starting another bloodbath is right or wrong. Let the people of the land handle the affairs of the land! If the people are wise, they will pursue the life they want."

Wang Dingkun nodded in agreement, and the two drank themselves into a stupor.

After finishing their drinks, Zhu Chuanzong said, "My whole family is here—my wives, concubines, maids, and son. Go ahead and do it!"

Wang Dingkun stared at him for a long time, then suddenly said, "Please, Your Highness, take your family and leave! I will send my trusted men to escort you all away; everything is arranged."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "If you release us, how will you explain to the Emperor?"

Wang Dingkun said, "I'll just say you took your whole family to heaven. You've done things that no one else could, and I think the Emperor will believe it. Besides, the Emperor sent me to kill you; it's clearly a two-birds-with-one-stone plan. If I killed his own father, would he spare me?"

Zhu Chuanzong remained silent, then sighed, "I hope so."

He said nothing more, leading his entire family away without looking back.

Only after Zhu Chuanzong and his family had left the capital did Wang Dingkun report back to the Emperor that Zhu Chuanzong had ascended to heaven with his family. Even the chickens and dogs of Zhu Chuanzong's family flew into the sky; many soldiers witnessed the entire family ascend to heaven.

The emperor, after listening, pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "You've done well. The old prince was a valiant warrior throughout his life, said to be a celestial being descended to earth to protect our Great Liang. Now that I have ascended the throne, he and his family have ascended to heaven—a cause for celebration!"

The emperor then pardoned all of Zhu Chuanzong's crimes, restored his princely title, and personally bestowed upon him a posthumous title.

Zhu Chuanzong and his family left the capital and went to a remote place to live in seclusion. However, their family was surrounded by beautiful women, attracting attention even in a small town. Therefore, they eventually found a small island overseas, settled there, and lived a carefree, idyllic life.

Xiao Yu, no longer worried about Zhu Chuanzong's safety, naturally married him and gave birth to a healthy and chubby son!

Meanwhile, after Tang Hui ascended the throne, he worked diligently to govern the country. While Zhu Chuanzong's rule wasn't exactly a period of absolute peace and prosperity, it was still a relatively enlightened era in history, laying a solid foundation for his rule. Tang Hui, on the other hand, was diligent and caring towards the people, actually establishing a golden age.

However, after several generations, the Great Liang Dynasty became increasingly corrupt, eventually leading to peasant uprisings and widespread unrest. A small neighboring state, the Houqing tribe, a nomadic people, took advantage of the internal strife in the Great Liang and launched a massive invasion, successfully conquering the country.

After unifying the land, the Houqing tribe established the Houqing Kingdom.

To deceive the people, the Houqing Kingdom implemented a harsh policy of keeping them ignorant. Because the Houqing tribe was a corrupt group, its power was even greater. In previous dynasties, there was conflict between the emperor and the civil service; the civil service could still do some good for the sake of propriety. However, the Houqing tribe was different; they transported the wealth they had exploited back to their former countries, causing a huge outflow of wealth. To

maintain their rule, the Houqing tribe claimed that they wanted to simplify the script for easier writing, and thus drastically changed the writing system. The idea itself wasn't bad; if the intention was good, simplifying characters could save writing time and make literacy faster—a good policy.

However, they were merely using simplification as a pretext to deceive the people. By simplifying characters, the original books could be legitimately abolished, effectively confiscating all the books in the country.

This had significant advantages. A nationwide book ban was impossible in previous dynasties; the people weren't stupid enough to hide their books. But by changing the characters, the goal of book banning was achieved, because the banned books hidden by the people would become incomprehensible to children after a decade or so.

Furthermore, books are extremely expensive. Confiscating tens of millions of books nationwide would be a massive undertaking, requiring enormous manpower, resources, and time to reprint. Therefore, with book shortages and an education system filled with books designed to make people less intelligent, the people became increasingly less intelligent.

Under the rule of the Houqing tribe, the people of this land grew increasingly foolish and stupid. Although there were several opportunities to change this system, which was even more corrupt than the imperial system, it seemed as if heaven was punishing the people of this land. Each time, the backward civilization triumphed over the advanced one, plunging the people of this land into misery.

The people of this land were cursed by heaven. Although many of them were unwilling and longed for a civilized and free life, they could not resist the power of the violent and corrupt Houqing tribe. Therefore, their vast power continued to rule this land. They were evil gods sent down by heaven, waiting for the next benevolent god to save them. Although they did not know how long the wait would be, there was still hope. Intelligent readers, don't you agree?

The End

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