Ming Dynasty, 1627: The Sagely and Mighty Forefather

At Coal Hill, Chongzhen died blaming his ministers to the very end, never understanding the root causes of the Ming dynasty’s collapse. Even if he regained the throne, with his old perspective he could only keep the dynasty alive for a few more years. Its fall would be inevitable. But in this life, he has a complete plan to save the country. At the start of his reign, the Donglin faction and the eunuch faction fight for power at court. He turns their rivalry to his advantage, confiscating corrupt officials’ ill-gotten wealth to fill the imperial treasury. He also trains the elite Tengxiang troops, recruits capable generals, modernizes firearms, and establishes the Proclamation Office to break civil officials’ monopoly over public opinion. He refuses to squeeze the refugees, instead taking on the hard nut of the gentry and wealthy merchants, while balancing the factions at court. The once stubborn and powerless emperor is utterly transformed. He sweeps away a century of accumulated ills, quells internal unrest, repels foreign threats, and personally overturns the fate of a doomed dynasty, restoring the Ming to an age of prosperity.