Chapter 1: The Doctrine of Fate

"My younger brother shall be like Yao and Shun!"

It had been ten days since he crossed over.

A student of the arts from a parallel world still had those words left behind by his original brother echoing in his mind.

During these ten days, he had been constantly pondering two immensely important questions.

The first was: Why had he traveled back to the Ming Dynasty in the year 1627?

As a materialist of sorts, he did not really believe in such things.

Yet he firmly believed that the purpose of his existence was to accomplish a great cause.

Even if that cause appeared great only in his own eyes.

Thus, once he crossed over, one thought immediately and wildly took over every corner of his mind:

"Everything I have experienced before..."

"Was it all just a preparation for today?"

From the perspective of this parallel world art student, all the brilliance, achievements, failures... everything was merely groundwork for this very moment.

Fate had chosen him.

It had granted him the chance to accumulate experience, to better face the situation after crossing over.

And the meaning of his life was to lead the dynasty called the Great Ming towards the true pinnacle of the world.

Soon after arriving, he understood why he had traveled through time.

Moreover,

He accepted with great comfort the fact that he was Zhu Youjian.

The question of why he had crossed over was quickly answered soon after his arrival.

What truly troubled him was the second question: Why did the original owner perish along with his nation?

The art student... no, no—now he was Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian knew little about the Great Ming.

But in his youth, he had read many books.

Among them were histories of China, and he roughly knew that the Ming Dynasty would cease to exist in just over a decade.

Those historical books now became key evidence in his mind to verify fatalism.

Why had he seen those books, and why had he memorized those passages? — all for today!

But the question remained: How exactly did they lose?!

The current situation he found himself in, even a dog could not bring the country to ruin in such a short time, could it?

Indeed.

He now faced some somewhat tricky minor problems.

For instance, some ministers at court wanted to turn him into a puppet.

If he disobeyed, he might be drowned, die from a medical accident, overdosed... countless strange ways to die.

At the same time, internal natural disasters and land confiscations caused continuous uprisings.

The wealthy clans controlled the vast majority of taxes.

The soldiers’ combat effectiveness was severely lacking, and large-scale battles had ended in complete annihilation repeatedly (Sarhu, Liaoshen, Guangning).

Beyond the borders, a nation with strong military and organizational forces was watching him greedily.

Yet these problems...

Could they really be considered significant?

From Zhu Youjian’s current vantage, he truly could not understand how the Ming could fall due to such minor issues.

Moreover, after figuring out what resources he could mobilize, he was even more baffled.

He was the Son of Heaven, the emperor of a feudal dynasty.

At this time, that was the greatest trump card.

Theoretically, it meant that everything he did was right, and he could even summon a minister to grant death at will.

It represented near absolute power, scarcely restrained by anything.

The government treasury was in deficit, yet there were still over ten million taels of pure silver in annual tax revenue.

He had a trusted team brought from the princely household, especially Wang Cheng’en, who had grown up with him.

The palace had many eunuchs, who by their nature depended on him and most were loyal.

Though border warfare was difficult, it remained within controllable limits.

And his brother had left him a powerful card — Wei Zhongxian.

Now, the civil official faction wanted him dead.

That forced Wei Zhongxian to rely fully on Zhu Youjian.

He could use him to balance the civil officials.

Most importantly,

The Han people possessed an innate spirit of martyrdom.

From both subjective and objective perspectives, Han people were, in his eyes, the most superior ethnic group.

So...

How on earth did they lose?

Zhu Youjian spent ten days and nights pondering before finally reaching a conclusion:

The original owner was too useless.

Ministers disobeyed and sought to sideline him?

Use trusted aides and the emperor’s name to raise an army.

Then simply eliminate them all.

Corruption among officials prevented orders from reaching the grassroots?

Kill them all.

If you don’t want to be an official, there are plenty who do.

The wealthy clans monopolized resources and widened the wealth gap, leading to peasant uprisings?

Kill all the clans.

Threats from foreign invaders?

Kill them thoroughly!

Having understood these crucial points,

Zhu Youjian narrowed his eyes, a resolute ideal blossoming in his heart.

Great Ming, I will make you great once more!

This was his destiny!

At that moment, Wang Cheng’en bowed and entered the main hall.

“Your Majesty, it is time for the evening meal.”

Looking at the eunuch who had grown up alongside him, Zhu Youjian nodded slightly.

Though his elder brother’s remains still lay in the Qianqing Palace, it did not prevent Zhu Youjian from enjoying his dinner.

His original diet had been unhealthy.

But reality had proven his dietary views entirely wrong.

Without sufficient nutrition, how could one maintain a healthy body?

Without a healthy body, how could one lead the Great Ming to greatness?

Now, Zhu Youjian had evolved into an even more powerful political machine.

Personal preferences were so insignificant compared to his great ideal.

Wang Cheng’en, who was attending nearby, noticed the emperor’s good appetite today.

After a moment’s hesitation, he mustered courage and respectfully spoke:

“Your Majesty, your humble servant has a matter to report.”

“Speak.”

“Eunuch Wei has sent your servant eighty thousand taels of silver, seeking an audience.”