Volume One, Chapter 16: Reorganization

“Where?”
“They are fleeing outside the city!”
A cold gleam flashed in Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Pursue them!”
A cavalry unit charged out, giving chase beyond the city walls.
Zhu Youjian stared at the distant flames, his face darkening.
“Your Majesty,” Sun Chuanting said, “shall we—”
“No need,” Zhu Youjian waved his hand. “First, quell the rebellion within the city.”
The sounds of shouting and clashing gradually subsided.
Zhu Youjian glanced back at the imperial city.
Amidst the firelight, the palace walls still stood majestic.
“Return to the palace,” he said calmly.
The reinforcements escorted Zhu Youjian back to the imperial city.
Along the way, corpses lay scattered, blood flowing like rivers.
Zhu Youjian observed it all, his expression grim.
“Your Majesty,” Sun Chuanting said, “the rebels have already—”
“Clear the battlefield,” Zhu Youjian interrupted. “Hang the rebels’ bodies on the city gates.”
“As you command.”
Zhu Youjian entered the main hall.
The bloodstains on the floor had yet to dry.
The body of Wei Zhiren was carried inside.
“Your Majesty,” a eunuch knelt, “Eunuch Wei—”
“Bury him with honor,” Zhu Youjian said coldly. “Posthumously grant him Chief Eunuch.”
“As you command.”
Zhu Youjian approached the dragon throne.
An arrow still stuck in it.
He reached out, pulled the arrow free, and examined it closely.
“Your Majesty,” Sun Chuanting approached, “Wen Tiren has—”
“Dead?”
“Yes,” Sun Chuanting said. “He poisoned himself.”
Zhu Youjian sneered, “That old fox.”
He sat back on the dragon throne, gazing at the disarray in the hall.
“Summon my decree,” he suddenly said.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“From this day forth, double the number of Eastern Depot guards.”
“Yes.”
Zhu Youjian looked toward the distant firelight. “Also—”
“Your Majesty, any other orders?”
“Leave no one from the Donglin Party alive.”
Sun Chuanting bowed deeply. “As you command.”
Zhu Youjian stood and walked to the window.
The firelight in the distance gradually dimmed.
Dawn was breaking at the horizon.
“Your Majesty,” a eunuch whispered, “do you wish to rest—”
“No need,” Zhu Youjian waved him off. “Send for Cao Huachun.”
“Yes.”

Not long after, Cao Huachun hurried in.
“Your servant pays respects, Your Majesty.”
“Rise and speak,” Zhu Youjian said calmly. “How are things on your end?”
“Your Majesty, all is—”
Before he finished, a sudden thunderclap echoed from afar.
Zhu Youjian went to the window, looking at the darkened capital.
“Your Majesty,” Cao Huachun cautiously said, “shall we—”
“Investigate,” Zhu Youjian interrupted. “Root out every rebel.”
“As you command.”
Zhu Youjian continued to stare outside.
Another thunderclap resounded.
Raindrops began to fall.
“Your Majesty,” Sun Chuanting approached, “Outside the city—”
“What is it?”
“We’ve found traces of Huang Daozhou.”
A cold flash lit Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Where?”
“He is fleeing north.”
“Pursue!”
A cavalry squadron charged into the rain.
Zhu Youjian stood by the window, watching it all unfold.
The rain intensified, gradually washing away the blood on the ground.
“Your Majesty,” Cao Huachun said, “shall we—”
“No need,” Zhu Youjian waved him off. “You continue your investigation.”
“Yes.”
Zhu Youjian gazed at the rain-soaked capital.
Another thunderclap rolled across the darkness.
Countless eyes watched everything silently.
Sun Chuanting observed Zhu Youjian’s back and quietly withdrew.
Zhu Youjian sat within the Palace of Heavenly Purity, surrounded by stacks of memorials and history books.
He opened the Zizhi Tongjian, carefully studying the rise and fall of dynasties since Han and Tang.
“All dynasties fall from internal strife,” he murmured, his finger tracing the pages. “External enemies are easier to repel; internal threats are harder to guard against.”
Closing the book, he walked to the hanging map of the Ming Empire.
His gaze wandered among the provinces before resting on the Jiangnan region.
“Since the Yongle era, the Jiangnan gentry have grown powerful. Today’s calamity originates here.”
He took out a roster listing official appointments, noting that Donglin Party members held many key posts in Jiangnan.
“These men entered office through the imperial exams, formed factions, and eroded the court’s authority.”
Zhu Youjian returned to the dragon throne and sat, fingers lightly tapping the armrest.
He recalled the founding emperor Zhu Yuanzhang’s methods.
“The founding sovereign deeply understood the dangers of powerful ministers.
Hence, he established the Five Military Governorates to divide military power across the land.”
But the current situation was different.
The Donglin Party’s influence pervaded court and countryside; even if some were killed or arrested, it was difficult to eradicate them.
He stood and returned to the map. “The Jiangnan gentry are deeply entrenched. They cannot be removed overnight.”
At that moment, Wang Cheng’en approached quietly. “Your Majesty, Cao Huachun requests an audience.”
“Summon him.”

Cao Huachun entered swiftly and knelt, bowing his head. “Your servant pays respects, Your Majesty.”
Zhu Youjian studied the young eunuch, a thought stirring within him. “Rise and speak. Have you heard any rumors outside?”
“Your Majesty, the common people say—” Cao Huachun hesitated.
“Say what?”
“They say the court will purge the Donglin Party. The populace is very worried.”
Zhu Youjian sneered. “Worried about what?”
“They fear officials being arrested and disorder in the provinces. Jiangnan is especially unsettled.”
Zhu Youjian walked to the window, gazing at the distant palace walls. “Tell me, what should I do?”
Cao Huachun was momentarily stunned. “This...”
“Speak freely. No need to hold back.”
“Your servant believes,” Cao Huachun said carefully, “that rather than slaughtering openly, it’s better to—”
“Better how?”
“To exploit divisions from within. The Donglin Party is not a monolith.”
A sharp gleam lit Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Continue.”
“For example, Huang Daozhou, though a Donglin leader, has long been at odds with Wen Tiren’s faction. If we can—”
“Incite internal strife among them?” Zhu Youjian took up the thought.
“Exactly,” Cao Huachun said. “Also, though the Jiangnan gentry are entrenched, they have weaknesses.”
“What weaknesses?”
“Their wallets.”
Zhu Youjian reflected. “You mean—”
“The Jiangnan wealthy families prosper mainly from salt taxes and the silk trade. If we control these—”
Zhu Youjian nodded. “Good. Strike at their economic base.”
He returned to the throne and sat. “Anything else?”
“Your Majesty, I think we could also...”
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside.
“Your Majesty!” Wei Zhiren hurried in. “Urgent news from the north!”
“What is it?”
“The Jurchen army is at the gates of Shanhai Pass!”
A cold light flashed in Zhu Youjian’s eyes. “Perfect timing.”
He stood and approached the map. “Issue my orders: mobilize all forces and defend Shanhai Pass rigorously.”
“Your Majesty,” Wei Zhiren hesitated, “but—”
“What is it?”
“All troops are currently engaged in suppressing bandits. Mobilizing now—”
Zhu Youjian sneered, “This is an opportunity to reorganize the military.”
Turning to Cao Huachun, he said, “You were right. We must strike at their economic foundation.”
“Your Majesty means—”
“Order a reform of the salt administration. The Jiangnan wealthy rose by controlling salt taxes.”
Cao Huachun’s eyes brightened. “Your Majesty is wise!”
Zhu Youjian continued, “Also, establish a branch of the Eastern Depot to monitor Jiangnan’s officials.”
“This...” Wei Zhiren voiced concern, “won’t it—”
“Won’t what?” Zhu Youjian sneered. “I want to see how much longer these people can keep rebelling.”
He approached the desk and began drafting an edict: “Effective immediately, reform the salt policies and conduct a thorough investigation of Jiangnan’s merchants.”