In 1645, Nanjing fell.
Lin Chen, a mediocre history student, opened his eyes to find himself the Yongli Emperor, Zhu Youlang, who fled west in panic and died in Burma, according to the history books.
As Qing forces trampled through the palace gates, a mysterious elite army calling itself the Nanyang Guard rescued him.
“Your Majesty, the three thousand li of Ming territory in the South Seas and its million people all recognize you as the rightful ruler!”
“Your Majesty, the descendants of Zheng He’s fleet guard Africa’s eastern coast, while trading posts in Dongshengzhou (the Americas) bring in ten million taels of silver a year!”
“Your Majesty, every land shown on the Universal Map of the Yongle Era belongs to the Ming!”
Lin Chen was stunned.
Wasn’t the Southern Ming supposed to be barely clinging to life?
How had a hidden empire spanning Asia, Africa, and the Americas suddenly appeared?
The Qing court had altered the historical records, erasing the Ming’s most glorious chapters.
And this puppet emperor held a trump card that could overturn history!
No military power? No problem! Modern management techniques would reorganize the exiled court. He would establish an intelligence bureau, build an institute of science, improve firearms, and train a new army.
A weak foundation? No fear! He would head to the South Seas to gather a hundred thousand Ming people in Luzon, join forces with Zheng Chenggong to sail the East China Sea, and reopen the Silk Road trade routes through the Western Regions.
As Li Dingguo’s cavalry stormed across Huguang, Korea and Ryukyu raised their banners against the Qing, and the gold mines of the Americas rallied beneath the Ming dragon banner, Lin Chen stood atop Nanjing’s walls, gazing out over a vast realm.
Dorgon was stunned and furious. “Where did Zhu Youlang get this kind of power?!”
Wu Sangui trembled. “The Ming Dynasty... never fell at all?!”
Lin Chen smiled.
I may be a fake emperor, but the Ming is a real empire!
Watch as a mere scholar kindles the Ming’s fading glory and rebuilds the land beneath the sun and moon,
Very good, writing about the Ming Dynasty from this perspective