Chapter 424: Yan Shifan, a Heaven-Bestowed Prodigy At the banquet table, Yan Shifan had all but become the unquestioned protagonist of the evening, while Zhu Ping’an faded quietly into the background, reduced to little more than a supporting character. Several officials from the Hanlin Academy took turns approaching Yan Shifan, lifting their cups to toast […]
Chapter 423: Zhang Juzheng’s Grand Ambition Zhu Ping’an returned each salute in turn, acknowledging everyone with calm courtesy. Yet under the boisterous urging and playful heckling of several Hanlin scholars, he could only laugh helplessly and agree to treat everyone that evening—once again—to a hearty meal at the same tavern where they had gathered before.
Chapter 422: Cashing Out Gold Treasure Island? Who would have thought that the so-called barbaric, uncivilized Land of Wa—the distant islands of Eastern Japan—would carry the title of “Treasure Island”? Such a name implied that Japan was literally paved with gold and silver. And not only that—just moments ago, Zhu Ping’an had mentioned that Japan
Chapter 421: The Island of Gold and Silver “Preposterous! Utterly preposterous! Even setting aside the fact that beyond our Great Ming lie only uncivilized barbarians, why should the wealth of other nations ever be allowed to flow into the coffers of the Great Ming? And who do you think you are, anyway? Do other countries
Chapter 420: Li Mo at the Court Debate “No additional taxes on the people—yet the imperial treasury doubles!” What arrogance. What brazen, reckless nonsense from an overconfident junior! Among Li Mo’s faction, not a single person believed Zhu Ping’an’s claim—not one in ten million. Throughout history, how many towering statesmen and brilliant minds had come
Chapter 419: Zhu Ping’an’s Bold Words Flatterers really do rise through the ranks more easily! Within Li Mo’s faction, quite a few people shook their heads and let out quiet sighs of emotion, their expressions a mix of envy, disdain, and helpless resignation. An Attendant Reader of the Hanlin Academy was a full sixth-rank official.
Chapter 418: A Promotion Huang Jin prepared the imperial edict, but errands like this were still to be handled by the little eunuch Huang. When the little eunuch appeared once again at the Hanlin Academy, the scholars inside could hardly contain their inner outrage. Each of them felt as though a thousand wild horses were
Chapter 417: Summoned by Imperial Decree The ministers in the hall were still embroiled in endless debate over whether the maritime trade ban should be relaxed or tightened, their voices rising and falling like waves in a storm. High above them, seated upon the dragon throne, the Jiajing Emperor seemed utterly indifferent, his eyes scanning
Chapter 416: An Unexpected Turn At the doorway, the crowd that had been waiting to watch Zhu Ping’an make a fool of himself now stood dumbfounded, their mouths agape, as Zhu Ping’an handed two books to the young eunuch. The top book’s cover bore four large characters: “Taokun’s Strange Records”, a title that seemed to
Chapter 415: You’re Colluding with the Emperor “Records of Dao Kun’s Strange Tales,” “Cang Hai’s Treatises on Things”… Looking down at the two titles scribbled on the tiny slip of paper, everyone in the Hanlin Academy felt an almost irresistible urge to slap the paper against the face of the little eunuch who had delivered