Chapter 123: The Great Ming Dynasty

Listening to the elderly eunuch speak softly with a smile, watching Gou Ye’s demeanor, he said, “Alright, now that your head is safe, you must protect it well. Remember to write diligently and present your works to His Majesty frequently. Being able to get close to the emperor is a blessing that many would pray for over several lifetimes. Our family has accompanied His Majesty for many years, but this is the first time I’ve seen him so casually bestow his token upon someone else. The emperor favors talented individuals. Next year’s imperial examination must be approached earnestly. Once you achieve fame and rank, serve the country well—His Majesty will not treat you unfairly.”

“I hope Elder Bai will continue to support me in the future,” Gou Ye said. With that, he took out several ingots of silver and placed them in the eunuch’s hand. Although Elder Bai hesitated at first, he accepted the silver with a pleased expression. The eunuch escorted Gou Ye only as far as the inner city gate, where they parted ways.

This entire experience felt like a dream. Having only arrived in the capital a few days ago, Gou Ye had already met the reigning emperor. Despite living in this era for so long, he had yet to truly understand it. Thankfully, no major mistakes had been made today. He resolved to familiarize himself thoroughly with this era upon his return.

Back at home, everyone awaited him in the main hall, especially Yun Niang, who appeared particularly anxious. Seeing Gou Ye return safely, she couldn’t help but smile. Sitting in the hall, Gou Ye recounted his encounter to all present. Upon hearing this, Jia Zhengyi immediately applauded, laughing heartily. “Young Master Gou, you truly have extraordinary luck! Just by arriving in the capital, you’ve earned the emperor’s favor. Your future career will surely ascend smoothly. Elder Bai spoke wisely—you must frequent the palace often. Even if you don’t get to see the emperor, you must ensure he is always aware of your presence. Once you become familiar in the palace, the examiners will undoubtedly treat you favorably during the imperial examinations.”

However, Gou Ye was not as jubilant as Jia Zhengyi. He spoke quietly, “Being able to encounter such a towering figure is undoubtedly beneficial and brings many conveniences. But every coin has two sides. I don’t know the emperor well yet. If ever he grows displeased, it could all end in ruin.”

“I believe you will find the right balance, Young Master Gou. I will visit the Shang family shortly to inform Lord Xiao of this news. I’m confident he will be delighted. I seem to foresee your future, where you will hold both fame and fortune in your hands,” Jia Zhengyi said with a smile, gazing at Gou Ye. His heart was more joyful than anyone’s. Gou Ye was his recommendation; the better Gou Ye did, the better Jia Zhengyi’s own prospects would be. Perhaps this young man before him held the key to his own future. He was glad he had insisted on recommending Gou Ye in the first place.

“Everything must proceed gradually and steadily. Moving too fast is not necessarily good. The faster you go, the harder you may fall,” Gou Ye replied. After chatting briefly with everyone, he returned alone to his study once Jia Zhengyi had left.

Gou Ye was quite fond of this study. The collection of books was substantial, rivaling a small bookstore, making it convenient to research various materials.

He found the History of the Ming and other historical documents and read them carefully. To know oneself and one’s enemy is to win a hundred battles without peril. Since he was unfamiliar with this era and the capital’s imperial court, how could he survive without understanding them?

Gou Ye spent over two hours engrossed in these texts, even eating lunch in the study. Through these historical records, he finally gained a preliminary worldview of this era.

At present, only two major states had established significant scale and systems: the Great Ming and the Chen Kingdom. There was also a northern tribe known as the Bei Qiang. According to Gou Ye’s judgment, they were much like the Xiongnu of his own time, mostly tribal and unorganized, hardly qualifying as a proper nation. Yet, he dared not underestimate the Bei Qiang. After all, in his own era, the Great Ming had once been overthrown by the Jurchens.

Setting aside other details, the Great Ming was quite different from what Gou Ye had imagined. The history deviated greatly from his own era. The literati and poets he knew no longer existed because in this timeline, the Sui Dynasty had never fallen. It was an age that valued military might over literature, so great literary figures like Li Bai and Du Fu never appeared.

The general historical progression went: Qin, Han, Sui, Song, Ming—five dynasties in total. There were periods of fragmentation like the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, but these were brief and barely mentioned in the records. Notably absent were the Tang and Yuan Dynasties, causing significant divergence from Gou Ye’s own timeline.

According to the texts, the Ming Dynasty was established at the end of the Song Dynasty due to rampant corruption and widespread popular discontent. At that time, the Chen Kingdom did not yet exist; the entire territory belonged to the Song. Following numerous uprisings, only two dynasties remained: Ming and Chen.

The two nations fought for nearly a century. Initially, the Ming held the advantage, but then Chen Kingdom’s sudden rise—under the leadership of Yun Shang who changed national policy—led it to surpass Ming within a few years. This resulted in multiple battles where Ming lost substantial territory. Later, the two nations entered a prolonged period of peace, allowing Ming to recover. The history barely mentioned Yun Shang’s father, only briefly describing him as an unparalleled genius and a prodigious wealthy man. Gou Ye suspected that the peace between the two nations was closely linked to Yun Shang’s death.

Returning to the Ming, three emperors had reigned since its founding: the first being Ming Chengzu Zhu Yuanzhang, which remained unchanged; followed by Zhu Wen, and now Zhu Qiyu. There was no Zhu Di in this timeline, possibly because Zhu Yuanzhang’s son had not died, and Zhu Wen’s appearance replaced Zhu Biao’s birth. Since its inception, the Ming had entered a century-long era that prized literature over military might, resulting in a flourishing of scholars and officials. Yet, behind the peaceful and prosperous facade, the dynasty was inherently fragile due to its disdain for martial strength.

The current emperor, Zhu Qiyu, was considered relatively capable. Against great opposition, he expanded the military, reformed the army, selected talented generals, and promoted skilled warriors. Only then did he gain the leverage to negotiate with the Chen Kingdom. Now in his sixties, he had passed the prime of youth. With major wars absent, the Ming had reverted once more to its literary-focused governance.