People of the Qing Dynasty once said that the Ming Dynasty was "far ahead of the Han and Tang Dynasties" - business was surging in the marketplace, and prosperity spread across the north and south; the "Yongle Dadian" in the Wenyuan was born, integrating ancient and modern classics into an eternal masterpiece; Zheng He's treasure ship set sail on the sea, and embarked on a majestic route of exchanges between China and foreign countries on his seven voyages to the West.
But behind the prosperity, there are also hidden deformities: the imperial power is at its peak, and it is tightening its control over the court step by step; factory guards and spies are all over the streets, spying on the words and deeds of officials and people; there are endless party disputes in the court, and factional strife consumes the energy of governing the country.
Where does this strange picture of prosperity and disadvantage come from? You might as well go back to those turbulent years, clear away the fog of history, and explore the truest appearance of the Ming Dynasty.
