Chapter 10: Assassination

Zhong Jinwei continued: "Currently, the Ming Dynasty faces numerous issues. If we are to govern from the root, it is possible that by the time we see results, it may already be too late to remedy the situation. However, we cannot simply respond to every occurrence as it arises. Coughs and colds can be caused by various factors, and if we do not treat the symptoms appropriately, the situation will only worsen. Historically, this has indeed been the case, as the Ming Dynasty fell more than a decade later."

The phone actually did not get much water damage. It was placed in the pocket of my swim trunks, and after the watch fell into the water, I immediately got back to shore. Once on land, the phone was retrieved. It had been left for more than a day in the dry northern climate, and with the hot weather in June, the moisture had long since evaporated.

Others were soon drawn to the commotion in Zhong Jinwei's hands. Wen Tiren approached, Wang Cheng'en looked up, and even Aqi, who was serving at the edge, quietly moved a few steps closer to Zhong Jinwei.

Thus, he hurriedly said to Wang Cheng'en: "Quickly summon His Majesty, just say that the mobile phone is usable. Let His Majesty come quickly to see the things of future generations, otherwise he won't be able to see them, and it will be forever out of reach."

Having finished speaking in all directions, Wen Tiren no longer stroked his long beard and asked Zhong Jinwei, "Is that all done?"

Neither of the two noticed that it might be more reasonable for Zhong Jinwei to meet Emperor Chongzhen. In the past, if a minister had said, "Hey, go summon the emperor to see me," that would have truly been asking for trouble

At this point, Zhong Jinwei looked at Wen Tiren and said with a smile, "Lord Wen, this depends on you, as this is your forte." Wen Tiren was at a loss whether to laugh or cry; was this a compliment or a sarcasm

Zhong Jinwei looked and awkwardly said: "This is not it, it's a movie, it's about singing opera, Iron Man, it's fake"

Wen Tiren stood up, walked to the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk to examine it, and then attempted to write on the blackboard. It was quite awkward, but writing was still no problem.

Zhong Jinwei skillfully played around. Suddenly, he remembered something and quickly opened the photo album on his phone. He discovered that many of the photos he had taken contained characteristics of the era. Upon further inspection, he really wanted to scold himself for not charging his phone before traveling through time; now it showed only one bar of battery left.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen immediately left the court, abandoning his ministers in haste. The ministers, looking at one another in confusion, did not dismiss the meeting but remained, forming small groups of three to five, and began to whisper quietly among themselves.

Wang Cheng'en and Wen Tiren remained silent, quietly watching Zhong Jinwei, awaiting the next words.

Emperor Chongzhen watched the startup of the mobile phone while turning it over to examine the back, then flipping it back again. Once the device was powered on, he looked at it but did not dare to touch it, fearing he might damage the object in his hand, and thus signaled to Zhong Jinwei with his eyes

After discussing the Southwest, everyone turned their attention to the Southeast of the Ming Dynasty. Zhong Jinwei continued to explain: "As for the pirates along the southeastern coast of the Ming Dynasty, aside from currently pacifying Zheng Zhilong, who is a thief among thieves, the most important task is to gather shipbuilders to construct a true fleet for the Ming Dynasty, train diligently, and strive for the situation where the clam and the snipe fight, allowing the fisherman to benefit."

Zhong Jinwei was indeed aware that his words were astonishing, but if he did not speak up, he feared that some strong measures would not be taken due to a lack of courage. It was better to speak frankly, especially since he had already done so multiple times in front of Emperor Chongzhen, so what was there to fear

Zhong Jinwei stated, "In fact, everything now stems from the seeds of disaster sown during the founding of this dynasty. I will analyze this for you shortly; for now, let us take a break."

Wang Cheng'en blinked his eyes, what does it mean, can he not see anymore

During the break, he took out his phone again, hoping to see if it could be powered on. Unexpectedly, upon pressing https://www.hetushu.com, the screen lit up, followed by a familiar startup sound. Zhong Jinwei excitedly exclaimed "Yay".

Indeed, Zhong Jinwei is not to be taken lightly; with a reasonable system in place, the manpower and resources of the Ming Dynasty could easily rival those of small nations like England and Spain.

He had long noticed the benefits of the blackboard and chalk for teaching. Those who have studied, especially those who have been teachers, are particularly sensitive to this. (Emperor Chongzhen did not pay much attention to it because his teaching was not centered around the teacher, but rather around himself, with one-on-one instruction. Being a wealthy individual, he would not be concerned about the cost of a few sheets of paper and pens; thus, the functions of the blackboard and chalk naturally did not register with him.)

Upon hearing this, Zhong Jinwei realized that he had been somewhat inattentive. It was always Emperor Chongzhen who came to see him, and he had grown accustomed to it, which clearly seemed to violate the proper etiquette. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile awkwardly. He quickly explained to Wen Tiren what this was, in an effort to divert his attention.

Once the temperature-regulated body settled down, Zhong Jinwei said: "Lord Wen, please allow me to continue. We are primarily discussing methods to resolve the issues at hand, rather than focusing on whether the problems are serious or extremely serious. As for the current situation of the Ming Dynasty, Lord Wen has already mentioned it. Now, I would like to share my thoughts on potential solutions."

Zhong Jinwei's expression turned serious as he solemnly stated: "Of course, everything depends on His Majesty's determination, on whether there is the courage to break the ancestral system and withstand the pressures brought about by the reform process. Many aspects of the ancestral system are no longer suitable for the present. For instance, the military garrison system, the tax system, the official system, and so on. If His Majesty has the resolve to shatter the old constraints and start anew, it can lead to the rejuvenation of the Ming Dynasty and enable it to stand at the pinnacle of the world, truly achieving the status of a nation to which all others pay homage."

In the blink of an eye, Zhong Jinwei suddenly pushed Emperor Chongzhen. The dagger pierced through the sleeve of Emperor Chongzhen's left hand and stabbed into Zhong Jinwei's right arm.

Zhong Jinwei, like most people in his past life, suffers from a smartphone syndrome; he feels an itch in his hands if he doesn't touch his phone.

Zhong Jinwei smiled and then said: "This question, in both past and present lives, I have contemplated. Referring to historical precedents, there are indeed methods to resolve it, but while it is easy to speak of, putting it into practice will still encounter many difficulties"

At the last moment, Wang Cheng'en understood and quickly turned around to run out

Wen Tiren had never heard of this before; upon hearing it, he immediately stood up and exclaimed, "Do not speak nonsense!" In contrast, Wang Cheng'en was already accustomed to such things and stood up to comfort Wen Tiren

Zhong Jinwei hurriedly said: "The phone only has one bar of battery left, how foolish, it will run out of power soon... it will lose its functionality."

Zhong Jinwei saw Wang Cheng'en running out and quickly turned off his phone, using it less and less. Wen Tiren beside him asked, "What is this? In such a hurry, you still dare to let His Majesty come to see you?"

Zhong Jinwei looked up and saw behind Emperor Chongzhen, an elderly eunuch was holding a dagger that gleamed with a blue light, aiming it at the back of Emperor Chongzhen.

Wang Cheng'en stepped forward and quietly mentioned the matter of the mobile phone, stating that Zhong Jinwei said the mobile phone's power was running low, and requested His Majesty to visit it as soon as possible

In fact, he is recalling the speech of Zhong Jinwei, striving to remember every word. It is not easy, as many of the terms used by this modern individual are unfamiliar to him, yet they are fresh and easy to comprehend.

Wen Tiren stroked his long beard beneath his forehead with his hand, remaining silent

Zhong Jinwei took a sip of tea to clear his throat: "Of course not, the most important part has yet to be discussed. These are merely temporary measures and * diagrams * for reference."

As soon as Emperor Chongzhen arrived, Wen Tiren stepped aside, intending to kneel and pay his respects. However, Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "Wen Qing need not be overly formal." He then disregarded Wen Tiren and directly asked Zhong Jinwei, "Is the mobile phone available? Bring it to me so I can take a look."

Zhong Jinwei continued, "I propose to dispatch some of the Guanning Iron Cavalry to the northwest disaster area to quell the rebellion, and I recommend Cao Wenzhao. Strike with immense force, like a hawk seizing a rabbit, not allowing the bandits any opportunity to catch their breath or retaliate, minimizing the destruction caused by the bandits to the greatest extent; at the same time, I suggest sending civil officials to transport grain and aid for disaster relief, and I recommend Hong Chengchou for this task. With a big stick in one hand and a carrot in the other, eliminate the leading bandits and cut off the breeding ground for banditry. Strike with immense force, like a hawk seizing a rabbit, not allowing the bandits any opportunity to catch their breath or retaliate, minimizing the destruction caused by the bandits to the greatest extent; at the same time, I suggest sending civil officials to transport grain and aid for disaster relief, and I recommend Hong Chengchou for this task. With a big stick in one hand and a carrot in the other, eliminate the leading bandits and cut off the breeding ground for banditry. The chaos caused by the disasters in the northwest region, if not resolved in the near future, will at least no longer pose a threat."

Thus, after Zhong Jinwei opened his phone, he presented it to Emperor Chongzhen

At that moment, a sudden scream from Archie pierced the air: "Watch out!"

Zhong Jinwei gestured with his hand to circle the phrase on the blackboard, "Civil officials do not love money, military generals do not fear death," and then said, "This is the most critical point, and also the most difficult. As for how to deal with those civil officials who love money and military generals who fear death."

The Jianji Hall (renamed to the Baohe Hall during the Qing Dynasty), is centrally located at the back, elevated above the three-tiered white jade railing, directly opposite the Qianqing Gate. To its sides at the back are the East Rear Left Gate and the West Rear Right Gate, collectively known as the Left and Right Gates of the Cloud Platform, also referred to as the "Platform." The ministers stand solemnly, while Emperor Chongzhen sits there, discussing state affairs.

Zhong Jinwei retrieved the mobile phone from Emperor Chongzhen, then opened the photo gallery to show the emperor various images, introducing him to skyscrapers, airplanes, and photos of clouds taken from the airplane, as well as majestic mountains (which were secretly captured after the plane stabilized). Emperor Chongzhen stared curiously at the phone screen and suddenly pointed at one image, exclaiming, "Can people fly?" Upon hearing this, Wang Cheng'en and Wen Tiren were both very surprised, stretching their necks in hopes of catching a glimpse.

At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen saw Wang Cheng'en hurriedly approaching. Knowing that he must have urgent matters to disturb him, and that it was certainly related to Zhong Jinwei, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious and immediately summoned Wang Cheng'en to come forward

Wang Cheng'en sat there motionless, his eyes fixed on a spot in front of his feet, clearly lost in thought

Wen Tiren was truly taken aback; to speak of the founding emperor of our dynasty in such a manner was indeed reckless. He thought to offer some advice, observing Zhong Jinwei, who seemed unperturbed. He also glanced at Wang Cheng'en, who appeared indifferent as well, so he could only keep his thoughts to himself.

Zhong Jinwei mentioned here, pointing to the southwest of Daming on the blackboard: "The Southwest Tusi Rebellion is challenging due to the terrain and transportation, which is difficult for us Han people to adapt to. Therefore, I would also like to recommend a historically renowned female national hero, Qin Liangyu. The White Pole Army she led was an elite mountain warfare unit, and employing her would certainly help pacify the southwest"

Zhong Jinwei, upon reaching this point, looked at the two listeners in front of him. Wang Cheng'en seemed to have gained some insight, but Wen Tiren slightly nodded yet shook his head; Zhong Jinwei smiled and said, "Lord Wen, please hold your comments until I have finished speaking."

Zhong Jinwei finally got to the point: "The current situation is actually still a good time; there are still many loyal ministers and capable generals. Regarding the issue of the Jurchens in Liaodong, I believe we should appoint Sun Chengzong to replace Yuan Chonghuan, overseeing the military affairs at Shanhaiguan, Ningyuan, and Jinzhou, primarily using infantry and cavalry to advance steadily. However, this does not necessarily mean we must adopt a city-building approach, as the costs are too high. Additionally, Dongjiang Town should operate independently, with Lu Xiangsheng as the commander, giving equal importance to Shanhaiguan, focusing on naval and cavalry forces, and prioritizing harassment and raids. By employing a dual approach, the strategic depth against the Jurchens is too shallow; there is no retreat, and the numbers are too few; losing one is losing one. By employing a dual approach, the strategic depth against the Jurchens is too shallow; there is no retreat, and the numbers are too few; losing one is losing one. Sun Chengzong is steady, while Lu Xiangsheng is valiant, combining firmness and flexibility; the Jurchens are not a significant threat."