The Iron Guard of the Ming Dynasty

Better than I expected; it wasn't written on a whim. I hope you'll add more supporting characters with compelling backstories to enrich the late Ming Dynasty world. After all the fighting and killing, I want to see more of the underlying power struggles. I enjoy reading about the world controlled by the protagonist from the perspective of the ordinary, executor-like figures.

Occasionally, some plot points are just too toxic. Removing those plot points might not necessarily improve the story. For example, the trope of using women to climb the social ladder might be fine once or twice, but every time the protagonist encounters a superior with a daughter, and then the protagonist flaunts this daughter to gain favor, it's disgusting.

A simple way to measure tax revenue in the late Ming Dynasty is to look at the annual revenue of the Taicang granary. The income from the Taicang granary was the money left over after the provincial and prefectural treasuries in the capital had spent their funds.

What grudge do you have against the peasant army that you're smearing them?

It's embarrassing to watch. They dare to take action against salt smugglers right off the bat? Don't they know how powerful they are? They're not just underworld bosses; they have powerful backers! Late Ming Dynasty maritime merchants and smugglers in border towns—this is the biggest power!

I don't understand why there are so many novels these days about time travelers saving the so-called Ming Dynasty. Shouldn't a country perish in its final stages? Only the first two Ming emperors could control the civil officials; the rest were a bunch of eccentric rulers.

I quite like this style, even though it's a bit niche. I support the author and recommend it.

The storytelling ability and pacing are both skillful, and the historical perspective aligns with my personal taste. I hope the author stays true to their principles and doesn't let too many comments sway their thinking. Rebellions like those of Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong only cause destruction and lack construction.

The author is naive; their understanding of human relationships is at a middle school level. Modern people only know a little more about natural sciences than the ancients; they can't compete with the ancients in matters of human relationships. A single example of Yanzi's mission to Chu could easily outmaneuver all diplomats of the past century. Yet the author insists on showing off their own social skills, trying to create a protagonist who can manipulate people's hearts—it's laughable.

This novel is so well written! I also recommend another book to my friends, "The Left Ming Dynasty". The author, Lao Baizhu, already has a 3 million-word completed novel, "The Commoner of the Late Ming Dynasty", and a 1.6 Million-word completed novel, "Traveling Through the Ming Dynasty: The Eternal Legacy of the Han". If you're looking for something to read, you should check them out.