After transmigrating into the newly enthroned Wanli Emperor, what did I inherit? The Great Ming? No, it was the mess Zhang Juzheng left behind, border troops clamoring for food, and Jiangnan gentry swallowing up farmland!
The censorate accused me of “sheltering Zhang Juzheng's remaining faction,” Empress Dowager Li pressured me to “choose a woman from an imperial in-law family as empress,” and even Nurhaci was sharpening his blades in Liaodong.
Give up and let things slide? Not a chance!
I confiscated corrupt officials' wealth to replenish the treasury, reformed taxes to stabilize people's livelihoods, built cannons to strengthen the border defenses, and brought Feng Bao, Qi Jiguang, and Zhao Xueyan into my camp. I would build my own team!
When Shandong gentry resisted the land survey, I seized the ringleaders and redistributed hidden farmland, and the refugees switched sides on the spot. When Japanese pirates attacked Quanzhou, I formed a merchant-protection fleet and recruited pirates to strike back. When Joseon cried for help, I sent 50,000 troops to cut off supplies and won a low-cost victory with commercial taxes!
Later, all the officials knelt and pleaded, “Your Majesty is wise. The dynasty's revival is within reach!”
I glanced at the accounts and sneered. “Pay the commercial taxes Jiangnan owes first, then we'll talk!”
After Zhang Juzheng's death, the court had no money? That's too fake. Where did the money from Wanli's Three Great Expeditions come from?
The eighth son of Jiajing, six died, and two became adults. He suffered ten fires in his life and was assassinated once by a palace maid.
Focusing on government affairs, it's interesting but not very good, it's plain and simple. Regarding one's own safety, the direct army did not describe it, and the interest groups described it briefly, which was almost like a running account.
Watched too many domestic dramas
This was the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. There was no Western learning during the Wanli period, alas. Not a Qing palace drama
It looks so frustrating
Leave the Yongle Grand Ceremony aside without studying it, abandoning the basics and chasing the last
Just so-so, I use too much AI! There is no power struggle, it's just like playing a game and the next order is executed from top to bottom!
Good books
One moment Zhang Siwei was the chief assistant, and the next he became the chief minister. One moment Shen Shixing was the chief assistant, and the next he retired. Messy