The Ming Dynasty Is About to Fall, and You’re Worried I’ll Wipe Out Your Clan?

When he opened his eyes, he had become Chongzhen, the last emperor of the Ming dynasty, and from the start he was facing a dead end beneath a crooked-necked tree.

The treasury held only 300,000 taels. The civil officials did nothing but talk and squabble. Inside, refugees were rising everywhere; outside, the barbarians were battering the passes.

What was he supposed to do?

In history, Chongzhen had killed the powerful eunuch Wei Zhongxian to win himself a good reputation, only to be destroyed by the civil officials.

Zhu Youjian, a modern-day project manager, sneered. “Only a fool would think he has to choose. I want it all!”

I won't kill Wei Zhongxian. I'll put him to work!

“Go. You have three days to confiscate the estates of all your disciples and followers and scrape together three million taels for military pay!”

“Remember, from today on, you, the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old, are my dog. I'll tell you who to bite, and you'll bite them!”

Fight poison with poison, and evil with evil!

With the Eastern Depot as my blade in one hand and the Embroidered Uniform Guard as my eyes in the other, I'll first use the sharpest blade of the eunuch faction to carve away the fattest cuts from the civil officials and nobility!

Once the treasury is full and the army is strong, I'll turn this rotten Ming dynasty into a mighty empire that sweeps across the land once more!

A crooked-necked tree? I'll chop you down myself and burn you for firewood!