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February of the first year of the Tiangong era, in the Forbidden City, at the Fengtian Hall.

The chill of early spring had not yet completely dissipated from between the massive pillars and stone steps of the hall, but the air inside seemed to have solidified, so heavy that it was hard to breathe.

Civil and military officials lined up on both sides, dressed in solemn court robes, but their eyes were all focused on the high dragon throne.

The new ruler, Su Ning, sat upright, his posture dignified.

The open copy of the "Great Ming Code" in front of him seemed exceptionally heavy, as if it carried the weight of over two hundred years of ancestral rules and shackles.

The young emperor's fingertips lightly traced the yellowed pages of the book. When he looked up, his gaze was as clear as the morning star, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

"My beloved ministers," Su Ning's voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in the empty hall, striking the hearts of everyone present, "I have been reviewing and rereading the Great Ming Code day and night recently, carefully considering every word and phrase, and I often feel uneasy. Many of the articles, especially those concerning torture to extract confessions, slow slicing, waist-cutting, skinning alive and stuffing straw, are too cruel and no longer in line with the spirit of the first year of Tiangong."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the faces below, some puzzled, some astonished, and some deep in thought.

"Such cruel torture not only violates the virtue of Heaven's love for life and runs counter to benevolent governance, but also makes it easy for officials to seek shortcuts and extract confessions through torture, resulting in countless wrongful convictions! Human life is of paramount importance; how can it be treated lightly?"

Before the words were finished, Yan Zhenzhi, the Minister of Justice, immediately stepped forward, holding his jade tablet, his voice loud and urgent: "Your Majesty! I have something to say! When Emperor Taizu Gao established the Great Ming Code, he clearly instructed, 'Severe punishments are used to govern chaotic times!' Such punishments are precisely to deter villains and make wicked people tremble in fear. They are the cornerstone of our Great Ming Dynasty! If they are easily abolished, I fear... I fear that the law will be relaxed and evil people will have no scruples!"

Su Ning was not angry, but his gaze sharpened as he looked at Yan Zhenzhi: "Minister Yan, the saying 'severe punishments are necessary in times of chaos' is true. However, now that the world is at peace and the country is gradually becoming tranquil, do you still think that our Great Ming is in a 'chaotic world'? Do you want the people of our Great Ming to live in fear of harsh laws and punishments forever?"

He leaned forward slightly, his tone resolute: "My mind is made up! From this day forward, a 'Law Revision Committee' will be established, under my personal supervision. Its primary task is to abolish all torture and inhumane methods of interrogation!"

"Your Majesty!" Fang Xiaoru, the Hanlin Academician who had been silent all along, couldn't help but bow and step forward. His brows were furrowed, and his tone was full of worry. "Your Majesty's efforts to govern are admirable. However, the ancestral system concerns the foundation of the country. Changing it suddenly would have far-reaching consequences, and we fear it would cause unease throughout the court and the country, and shake people's hearts. Perhaps... perhaps we could proceed gradually?"

Su Ning slowly rose from the dragon throne, the hem of his black dragon robe brushing against the steps of the imperial palace.

He walked to the edge of the imperial steps and looked down at his ministers.

"Lord Fang," he addressed him respectfully, his tone softening yet still firm, "I ask you, what is the ancestral system? Is the core of the ancestral system these cruel articles, or the original intention of the founding emperor to 'stabilize the world and bring blessings to the people'? If the founding emperor were to ascend the throne today and see peace throughout the land, would he still cling to the extraordinary laws implemented at the beginning of the war? Laws must adapt to the times in order to ensure the stability of the empire. Blindly adhering to old rules is by no means a true act of filial piety towards our ancestors."

This question left Fang Xiaoru speechless for a moment, and he fell into deep thought.

Moreover, Su Ning directly abolished Zhu Yuanzhang's posthumous "Imperial Ancestral Instructions of the Ming Dynasty," and Zhu Yuanzhang really thought he could control the Ming Dynasty for ten thousand years.
Su Ning stopped looking at him and turned to face all the court officials, his voice growing louder: "The new Ming Code will retain only four main punishments: death penalty, imprisonment, exile, and confiscation of property. In addition, I have decided to establish the 'Ming Royal Law University' to specifically train legal professionals who understand the law, are knowledgeable about the law, and uphold justice!"

At this moment, the newly appointed Minister of Rites, Chen Di, couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "Your Majesty is wise, but... where will the students of this Law University come from? Will they still be recommended by local official schools?"

"Good question!" Su Ning revealed a meaningful smile. "This leads to the second reform I am about to announce today—effective immediately, the imperial examination system and the eight-legged essay will be abolished, and new learning will be promoted throughout the land!"

"what?!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was in an uproar!

Even Tie Xuan, the Vice Minister of War who was always regarded as a staunch supporter of reform, looked up in shock and exclaimed, "Your Majesty! The imperial examination system has been the cornerstone for selecting talents and stabilizing the foundation of the country throughout history, and it is the hope of all scholars in the world! How can... how can it be abolished in one day? This... this is too shocking!"

Suning seemed to have anticipated the flood of criticism.

He gently raised his hand to signal, and the chief eunuch Afu, who was standing to the side, immediately directed several junior eunuchs to carry over several heavy sandalwood boxes.

The box was opened, revealing neatly stacked piles of brand-new books, with the faint scent of paper and ink wafting out.

"My dear ministers, there is no need to panic. After all, Xiaoling Academy has already proven the new learning. Also, take a look at these textbooks." Su Ning casually picked up the top book, whose cover had four eye-catching characters in regular script: "Elementary Principles of Investigating Things".

"These are the textbooks for the new school. In addition, there are also 'Essentials of Arithmetic,' 'General Knowledge of Geography,' 'Modern Grammar,' 'History of China,' 'Basic Knowledge of Physics,' 'Introduction to Chemistry'... You may all take a look."

With mixed feelings, the ministers carefully passed on these unprecedented books.

Turning the pages reveals a systematic exposition of natural principles, precise geometric figures, clearly drawn world maps, and an argumentative style distinct from traditional policy essays.

The content is novel and the arrangement is scientific, completely subverting their familiar "Four Books and Five Classics" category.

The old minister Huang Zicheng held a copy of "Essentials of Arithmetic" in his hands, his voice trembling slightly, and said in disbelief, "Your Majesty... This old minister is foolish, this... this knowledge is unheard of, profound and mysterious, I do not know... I do not know where it comes from?"

Su Ning smiled calmly, avoiding the main point: "Minister Huang, there's no need to inquire about the source. I only ask, compared to spending one's life studying the eight-legged essay, which is more practical for governing the country, ensuring peace and prosperity, and strengthening the people and the army?"

Without waiting for a reply, he continued to deliver a series of well-planned decisions: "At the same time, I have decided to establish four institutions of higher learning: the 'Great Ming Royal Military Academy' to cultivate generals and commanders; the 'Great Ming Royal Academy' to specialize in profound subjects such as physics and arithmetic; and 'Yingtian University' and the future 'Beiping University' to draw on the strengths of various schools and cultivate well-rounded individuals. The four institutions will stand side by side to cultivate talent for the nation!"

Upon hearing the word "construction," Song Li, the Minister of Works, immediately felt a chill run down his spine. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty! The construction of so many grand universities will consume enormous sums of money and grain. The national treasury... I'm afraid it will be unable to support such a massive expenditure!"

"Minister Song, there's no need to worry about money and supplies," Su Ning said confidently. "I have my own arrangements for raising funds; it won't involve using the national treasury's regular funds. Moreover..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, before uttering a decision that would shake the entire Ming Dynasty: "I have decided to build a new capital in Beiping! Once the new city is completed, the court will immediately move the capital north!"

"Your Majesty!" Fang Xiaoru, who had remained silent all along, could no longer keep his mouth shut. His voice was filled with astonishment and dissuasion. "The matter of moving the capital concerns the fate of the nation and the lifeblood of the people. How can it be decided so lightly? Nanjing was established by Emperor Taizu. It has deep roots. How can it be abandoned so easily?"

"Lord Fang. Beiping has a majestic and imposing terrain. To the north, it can control the remnants of the Mongol Yuan dynasty; to the south, it overlooks the heart of the Central Plains; to the east, it connects to the Bohai Sea; and to the west, it links to the Taihang Mountains. It is a natural capital for emperors! More importantly..."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping intently over the faces in the hall representing the old power structure. His voice was calm yet powerful: "Nanjing is deeply entrenched in the old system, its problems deeply entrenched! Only by moving the capital to a new city can we break free of these shackles and allow the new policies to be fully implemented! This is the way to break free from the cocoon and be reborn!"

"But……"

"This matter should not be discussed any further! Nanjing's isolation in a corner of the country is not conducive to the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty."

……

The court session ended, but the storm had only just begun. News of the new policies spread like wildfire across the calm lake, creating ripples that quickly reached every corner of Nanjing.

Along the banks of the Qinhuai River, scholars and literati gathered in teahouses and taverns, discussing the matter animatedly.

"Abolish the imperial examination? What use are all those years of studying hard, hanging our heads from the rafters and pricking our thighs with awls, learning the classics and sages?" An old scholar with gray hair beat his chest and stamped his feet, almost crying out loud.

“It may not be a bad thing,” a younger scholar in a blue robe said thoughtfully, flipping through a new academic catalog copied from somewhere. “Look at these books, ‘Investigation of Things’ and ‘Arithmetic,’ both are practical subjects. If one can truly master them, they may be able to serve the country better than those empty, formulaic essays.”

"But where will the new teachers come from? Where will the teaching materials come from? This is not something that can be accomplished overnight."

"Move the capital to Beiping? That's a bitterly cold place!"

The discussions were chaotic, filled with confusion, anticipation, resistance, and unease.

……

Meanwhile, the Wenhua Hall in the Forbidden City was brightly lit.

Suning is meeting with the first batch of officials selected for the "Law Revision Committee," many of whom are young.

On the table lay the thick original manuscript of the "Great Ming Code," along with some sketches personally drawn by Su Ning.

"Gentlemen," Su Ning tapped his fingers on the table, drawing everyone's attention, "revising the law is not simply a matter of deleting words like 'death by a thousand cuts' and 'waist-cutting.' What we need to do is establish a completely new and comprehensive judicial system to ensure that 'fairness' is no longer just empty talk."

He gestured for Afu to unfold a huge architecture diagram, on which three parallel systems were clearly marked.

"Look here. I have decided to divide judicial power into three: the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and the Court of Judicial Review. The Ministry of Justice will be responsible for investigating cases and apprehending criminals; the Censorate will be responsible for reviewing evidence and initiating public prosecutions; and the Court of Judicial Review will conduct trials independently and determine guilt and punishment according to the law. Each of the three will perform its own duties, supervise and check each other! No one may act arbitrarily!"

The newly appointed Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Zhao Wenbo, looked at the chart, pondered for a moment, and raised a question: "Your Majesty, such a division of power is cumbersome in procedure. Won't it... affect the efficiency of handling cases? If an urgent major case is encountered, it may cause a delay."

"It's better to be slower than to make a mistake!" Su Ning's answer was firm and unquestionable. "From now on, in handling any case, we must adhere to the principle of 'emphasizing evidence over confessions'! All confessions obtained through torture or coercion shall be deemed invalid and shall not be used as the basis for a verdict! What we need is irrefutable evidence, not a piece of falsehood obtained through torture!"

……

In the following months, the Ming Dynasty, like a giant clockwork mechanism, began to change at an unprecedented speed.

Traditional academies across the country were quickly converted into modern schools, and all private schools and folk academies were incorporated into the official education system.

The first batch of new textbooks, still fresh with the scent of ink, were swiftly delivered to various prefectures and counties through the already established network of the Ming Dynasty Royal Trading Company, sparking countless curiosity and studies.

The paper money issued by the Ming Dynasty Royal Bank was officially named "Dragon Yuan". It steadily established its credibility by redeeming old banknotes and checks at a clear exchange rate.

Most remarkably, under Suning's almost tireless personal guidance and promotion, the new "Great Ming Code" completed its main framework revision in just three months.

When the "Great Ming Code," with its clearer provisions, more humane punishments, and more complete system, was promulgated throughout the land, many insightful people, after careful study, finally realized...

A brand new era has truly begun.

Fang Xiaoru held the trial edition of the "Great Ming Code," which was still fragrant with ink, and carefully read through it page by page. The worry on his face was gradually replaced by admiration.

He approached Su Ning and exclaimed sincerely, "Your Majesty, the precision, benevolence, and perfection of this law are truly unparalleled in my life, worthy of serving as a model for future generations. However... Your Majesty, the pace of reform is so rapid, like a galloping wild horse, I... I am still worried that old problems have not been cured and new ones have arisen, and if it is not properly managed..."

“I understand your concerns, my dear minister.” Su Ning stood on a high point in the palace, gazing at the bustling construction site of Yingtian University in the distance. The sounds coming from there were not the resounding chants of Confucian classics, but the shouts of craftsmen tamping the foundation and the clanging of wood and stone.

His gaze was firm and far-reaching.

"To destroy and then rebuild, one must always endure growing pains. This is the inevitable trend and a necessary process. I will spend ten years building a magnificent Ming Dynasty that is unprecedented and far surpasses the Han and Tang dynasties!"

As the new policies were implemented one by one, the ancient ship of the Ming Dynasty, under the firm and powerful helmsmanship of the young emperor, began to slowly but irreversibly adjust its course.

Although there will inevitably be storms ahead, the breath of new life has already spread, and a bright future seems to be emerging faintly from the horizon.

Meanwhile, in faraway Beiping, the surveying and preliminary preparations for the new capital had already quietly begun.

Countless building materials began to converge, and blueprints were passed from hand to hand among skilled craftsmen.

No one knows how dazzling the new city, conceived in the emperor's grand plans, will shine in the future and become a world-renowned heartland.

"Your Majesty, now that the realm has been newly pacified, should we allow the Chang family's uncle to return and assist you?"

"Well, my eldest uncle's health has not been good these past few years, and he needs to be brought back to Nanjing to recuperate, or he could go to teach at the military academy. My second and third uncles will assist me in reforming the military system, and from now on, the military power of the Ming Dynasty can only be concentrated in my hands."

"Your Majesty is wise."

"Your Majesty, as for the Zhao family, they indeed cannot hold real power. For the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty, the presence of maternal relatives is absolutely unacceptable."

"I understand."

"Also, now that the world is at peace, it's time for us to have our own children."

"what……"

...(End of chapter)