Taking Stock of the Ming Dynasty

Emperor Chongzhen was a very diligent emperor, but he lacked experience and was easily misled. The protagonist's role now is crucial, guiding Chongzhen on how to act better. Chongzhen shouldn't be considered a foolish ruler, right?

To be honest, after reading many novels set in the late Ming and late Song dynasties, I've realized one thing: without a system-based system and a privileged background, it's basically all nonsense. Without passing the imperial examinations and becoming a top scholar, you wouldn't even have the ability to enter the capital's social circles.

The authors who wrote about the late Ming Dynasty were all heroes and valiant men. Influenced by Confucianism, most authors confine their works to their own small plots of land, engaging in endless fighting and killing before finally dying—truly boring. Few venture onto vast planets and oceans. Compared to our ancestors who used swords and fire, constantly exploring unknown lands on foot, these authors use their pens to express hope, which is commendable.

When Emperor Chongzhen died, he cursed his ministers as ministers who had brought about the downfall of the Ming Dynasty. But he forgot how many loyal ministers and generals had died in the seventeen years of fighting against the Manchus and rebel bandits, and how many had sacrificed their lives for the Ming. Chongzhen was harsh, ungrateful, stubborn, and indecisive.

"Ruling the country at age 6? That's ridiculous! Someone whose brain isn't even up to par!"

The rise and fall of dynasties ultimately boils down to the distribution of benefits. It's all about data.

Could Europe have had four or five hundred million people during the Chongzhen era? That's absurd. Britain had four or five million people then, Russia, the most populous country in modern Europe, has over 100 million, and Germany has 80 million. What's the point of forcibly raising the bar?

If Emperor Chongzhen hadn't lacked knowledge, experience, and was easily fooled, would those ministers who had already killed three emperors in eight years have been able to put him on the throne?

After chapter 1000, the power level is forcibly raised, highlighting European strength; it's no fun.

The book is good, so why are the grades so bad? I feel it's much better than those books that give characters super-powerful abilities from the start. Most importantly, the protagonist is consistently calm. Many things that are hard to accept in history books, Zhu Cilang in this book can endure, and instead of resorting to political maneuvering in the court, he wins over eunuchs and the…