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Under the glorious reign of the Ming Dynasty, the military was invincible, and all under heaven submitted to its rule.

However, in the east and south of the empire, there were still two regions that made Su Ning, who lived deep within the Forbidden City, feel like he had a bone stuck in his throat...

Those are the Japanese archipelago across the sea and Annam, a land that has repeatedly surrendered and rebelled. These two places are just too troublesome.

The atmosphere in the imperial study was solemn.

The Ministry of War and the Five Military Commissions have just submitted a report on the fact that the daimyo of the Japanese coast still allow ronin and pirates to harass the Ming coast from time to time, and that although the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Commission has been established in Annam, the remaining forces are still stubbornly resisting in the mountains and forests and inciting civil unrest.

Especially with the recent extraordinary development of maritime trade in the Ming Dynasty, these beasts have become increasingly greedy, always trying to test the attitude of the Celestial Empire.

The newly appointed Grand Secretary Yang Shiqi frowned: "Your Majesty, the islands of Japan are fragmented and divided, and the Shogunate is practically useless and difficult to control. Although it is a minor ailment, their pirate raids have damaged our maritime trade and harmed our people, and must be eliminated. Annam has a complex terrain and a fierce populace. Its people are misled by the rebel leader and are difficult to win over. Repeated suppressions have failed to eradicate them, wasting money and resources, and this is not a long-term solution."

Marquis Jinghai Ping An said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this humble general is willing to lead another brigade across the sea to the east, sweep away the islands of Japan, and capture their false emperor and shogun! I am also willing to lead troops south, deep into the mountains and forests of Annam, to wipe them out completely and eradicate their roots!"

Su Ning tapped his fingers lightly on the imperial desk, his gaze falling on the huge global map, finally settling on Japan and Annam, before slowly moving towards the vast continent known as "Yinzhou," especially the South Asian region later known as "A-San-Land" and the land of poison.

“Conquering across the sea is a laborious and distant expedition. Although we may win, governing them will be extremely difficult. The Japanese are unruly, and Annam is fickle. The root cause lies in their national character and culture, which are very different from those of China and difficult to assimilate.” Su Ning’s voice was calm and profound, with an almost cold insight. “Forcibly occupying them will only deplete the country’s strength and may become a long-term bleeding wound for the empire.”

He paused, then uttered words that sent chills down the spines of all the high-ranking officials present: "Since the people here are difficult to educate, and the land is not irreplaceable, why not try a different approach?"

"Your Majesty means...?" Yang Rong seemed to have caught something and asked tentatively.

"Immigrant settlement is an ancient practice. But today, what I intend to do is 'exchange'!" Su Ning pointed heavily at Japan and Annam, then drew a long arc, pointing directly to the unknown, wild land of Yudu. "The Japanese are fierce and warlike, while the Annamese are accustomed to the humid heat and dense forests. Yudu needs these 'characteristics' to develop! Issue my decree!"

He stood up and issued a commanding order that was destined to be controversial and bloody:

"First, appoint Marquis Ping An of Jinghai as the Grand General of the Eastern Expedition, commanding the land and naval forces to wipe out all resistance forces from Japan and confiscate all weapons! All Japanese nobles, samurai, and their immediate family members are the primary targets for relocation, along with all Japanese who dare to resist and have a history of rebellion, all of whom are forcibly relocated to the poisonous lands of South Asia! Let them go there to live among miasma and ferocious beasts, and open up that barbaric land for our Great Ming!"

"Second, order the Annam Commander to intensify the crackdown on the resistance forces in Jiaozhi! Captured rebels, their families, and all stubborn Annamite people who refuse to submit to the king's rule should also be forcibly relocated to the poisonous land in batches! Japanese and Annamite people can be mixed together to make them check and balance each other and make it difficult for them to unite."

Su Ning's gaze swept over the crowd, his expression resolute: "During this process, anyone who gathers a crowd to resist or flees will be executed without mercy once captured! I will use swift and decisive measures to completely eliminate the root of instability in these two places, once and for all!"

Grand Secretary Yang Shiqi took a deep breath. He understood the cruelty behind the order, but he also saw its strategic "efficiency." He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, after the relocation, the islands of Japan and the land of Annam..."

“This is the third point,” Su Ning continued, “The land and houses vacated in these two places will be taken over by the imperial court to establish prefectures and counties. We will recruit poor people and landless refugees from densely populated areas within the country, such as Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hubei, and provide them with land, farming tools, and seeds, reduce or exempt them from taxes, and rename them ‘Yingzhou’ or ‘Dongying Province’ and Jiaozhi Province! We will encourage migration! We must ensure that our people and our culture truly take root there! This is a fundamental solution and a long-term strategy for assimilation!”

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent and then readily accepted the decree.

They understood that the emperor intended to use the most direct and cruel method to fundamentally resolve these two chronic problems.

Once the decree was issued, the army sprang into action.

In Japan, the Ming army's operations were efficient and thorough.

The once unruly samurai families were uprooted, and cities fell under the fire of cannons.

Countless Japanese were bound together with ropes and escorted by Ming soldiers, crying as they boarded huge ships and sailed to the distant and unknown land of Yudu, known as the "Hell of Heat Waves".

The heads of the rebels were hung on the docks and ruins as a warning to others.

In Jiaozhi, the Ming army's suppression became more systematic, and the living space of the resistance forces was constantly compressed. The captured rebels and families regarded as destabilizing factors also embarked on the same path of no return.

At the same time, immigration notices were posted throughout urban and rural areas of the Ming Dynasty.

For impoverished farmers with limited land and a large population, the fertile "unclaimed lands" overseas hold immense appeal.

With the organization and support of the government, batches of Han Chinese sons and daughters, filled with hope for the future, embarked on journeys to Japan and Jiaozhi (Vietnam), where they would rebuild their homes and completely transform those places into Han territory.

This was a massive migration filled with blood and tears, yet it profoundly altered the demographic and cultural landscape of East Asia and the world.

In this almost ruthless way, Su Ning eliminated border troubles for the empire, expanded its territory, and transformed two potential long-term problems into a pioneering group far overseas that could no longer threaten the Central Plains.

The primitive and wild land of Yudu is destined to begin a bloody and cruel history of integration because of the arrival of these uninvited guests.

Next, a prince from the Ming Dynasty will be appointed to oversee the poison, which can be seen as giving the Zhu imperial family a new possibility.

……

In the sixtieth year of Tiangong's reign, spring.

The Forbidden City in Beijing, having weathered sixty years of history, appears increasingly solemn and magnificent thanks to meticulous maintenance and the addition of some new technologies that conform to regulations. At the same time, it subtly exudes a unique charm that blends classical and modern elements.

On this day, a grand abdication ceremony, unprecedented in scale, was held in the Forbidden City.

Although the 85-year-old Emperor of Heavenly Craftsmanship, Su Ning, has white hair, he is still vigorous and his eyes remain wise and profound.

Dressed in a robe embroidered with twelve imperial symbols, and under the watchful eyes of civil and military officials, members of the imperial family and nobles, as well as envoys from major Ming vassal states and allied nations around the world, he personally handed over the Imperial Seal, symbolizing supreme imperial power, to the Crown Prince Zhu Wenren, who was already in his sixties, and established the reign title as Xingmin.

"Ren'er," Su Ning's voice, clearly amplified by the loudspeaker, echoed across the vast square, carrying the satisfaction and entrustment of an elder and a founder, "I have wielded this divine instrument for sixty years, relying on the blessings of our ancestors, the assistance of our ministers, and the hard work of our people, to ensure that all that the sun and moon shine upon is Han territory, and all that the railway tracks reach are subjects of the king. Today, I entrust this magnificent land to your hands. I hope you will remember the teachings of 'the workings of nature reveal the secrets of things, and the pursuit of knowledge,' uphold the belief that 'the people are the foundation of the state,' carry on the legacy, and ensure that our Great Ming Dynasty's prosperity lasts for ten thousand years!"

The Crown Prince, now the new Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Wenren, knelt respectfully, accepting the heavy jade seal with both hands. His voice was steady and firm: "Your subject will follow your father's teachings! I will be diligent in my duties, care for the people, promote the study of the classics, and protect the country. I will never fail the high expectations of my father and our ancestors!"

"Good! As expected of my eldest son, this beautiful land will be yours from now on. You must raise the next generation of the Zhu family well and absolutely cannot produce any fools who are all talk and no action."

"Yes, Father."

This moment witnessed the transition between the old and new eras.

The "Tiangong Era," which Suning pioneered and led for a full sixty years, has officially come to an end, while a new era, built upon its solid foundation, has begun.

Looking back over these sixty years, the Ming Dynasty has undergone a complete transformation, becoming a truly modern industrial empire:
The railway trunk lines, like the steel skeleton of the empire, not only connect the two capitals in the north and south, but also extend to the Western Regions, Liaodong, Yunnan and Guizhou, and even cross the strait to connect Hainan Island and Taiwan.

The test line for the high-speed railway has also been put into operation.

On the highways, horse-drawn carriages are no longer the only mode of transport; buses, freight trucks, and even private cars powered by internal combustion engines are no longer a rarity, shuttling between urban and rural areas.

In the sky, although they were still just airships and early biplanes used for testing and military purposes, humanity's dream of conquering the sky had become a reality.

Electricity, once a miracle in laboratories, has now entered thousands of households.

From the Forbidden City to ordinary people's homes, electric lights replaced oil lamps and candles, illuminating the night.

Telegraph and telephone lines connected the provinces, allowing messages to be transmitted instantly.

Radio technology had also begun to emerge, and government decrees and opera news broadcast on the radio became new media for information dissemination.

In the city, trams clang and clatter; in the factories, electric machines roar incessantly.

A vast industrial system supported the empire's operation.

From power plants and steel mills scattered throughout the country, to precision machine tool manufacturing and shipbuilding, and then to emerging automobile factories, chemical plants, and pharmaceutical factories...

The industrial capabilities of the Ming Dynasty were unparalleled in the world.

The standardized, assembly-line production model has resulted in unprecedentedly strong material production capacity.

The empire's territory reached an unprecedented breadth.

The local provinces were well-governed, and effective rule or control had been established in southern and western Mongolia, Lelang in Korea, Japan, Jiaozhi, Yudu, and even some important strongholds on the islands of Southeast Asia and the west coast of Yinzhou.

The border troubles that once plagued the empire have been largely resolved through various means, including immigration, assimilation, military garrisons, and economic ties.

The "Tiangong Law," a set of laws that integrated traditional Confucian ethics with modern legal concepts, became the fundamental guideline for the operation of the empire.

Moreover, at this time, the spirit of "investigating things to acquire knowledge" had taken root in people's hearts.

Modern schools were set up throughout the prefectures and counties, teaching science, mathematics, engineering, and humanities and social sciences.

The Tiangong Institute has become a global research mecca, continuously attracting scholars from all over the world.

Significant progress has been made in various fields such as medicine, agriculture, and geology.

After absorbing new technologies, Chinese civilization has been revitalized with unprecedented vitality.

After the abdication ceremony, Su Ning, who had abdicated and become the retired emperor, returned to live in a quiet villa outside Xiaoling Mausoleum in Nanjing.

He often stood on high ground, gazing at the brightly lit city that never sleeps, watching the train lights streak across the railway line like shooting stars in the distance, listening to the faint factory whistles, and a calm and satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He knew that he had done the best a time traveler could ever achieve.

He not only changed the fate of the Ming Dynasty, but also, through his own efforts and the efforts of countless others, propelled the entire Chinese civilization into the industrial age hundreds of years ahead of schedule, laying a solid foundation for its continued development.

The future of the Ming Dynasty may still present challenges and turmoil, but its foundation is already solid and its direction is already clear.

“This is the best of times…” Su Ning murmured softly, the evening breeze ruffling his snow-white beard and hair.

Inside the Forbidden City of Beijing, the new Emperor Zhu Wenren sat in the familiar study of the Qianqing Palace, the place where his father had toiled day and night.

On the desk was the latest global map, which clearly marked the territory and sphere of influence of the Ming Dynasty, and also indicated the direction of future exploration and development.

He knew that maintaining the status quo was difficult, and expanding it was even more difficult, but he was confident that he could lead the Ming Dynasty to an even more glorious future based on the precious legacy left by his father.

The end of the era of divine craftsmanship is not the end, but the beginning of an even more magnificent story.

The banner of the Ming Dynasty will continue to fly high in the strong winds of industrial civilization.

……

In the first year of the Xingmin era of the Ming Dynasty, the hustle and bustle of the succession ceremony had long since subsided, and Beijing gradually returned to its former order and tranquility.

Su Ning, who abdicated and became the retired emperor, moved to a quiet royal villa at the southern foot of Xiaoling Mausoleum in Zijin Mountain, Nanjing.

The place is lush with trees and has flowing streams. It retains the elegance of a traditional Chinese garden while cleverly incorporating ingenious creations such as glass greenhouses and water-powered fountains. It was a place he specially built for himself to enjoy his retirement in his later years.

This was where he began his conquest of the world, and it's quite perfect that it's also where he's ending his reign.

The night was deep, but the main study was lit by a soft and steady electric light.

Eighty-five-year-old Su Ning dismissed all his servants and sat alone behind his large desk, playing with a warm and smooth ancient jade in his hand. His gaze seemed to pierce through time and space as he reviewed his magnificent life.

From the initial fear and trepidation when Zhu Yuanzhang was wary of them, to the fierce battles of the Jingnan Campaign; from the precariousness at the beginning of their reign, to their glorious military achievements sweeping across the northern deserts, conquering Korea, and displaying their might in Southeast Asia; from the arduous birth of the first railway, to the industrial prosperity of today with power grids covering the entire country and railways connecting all corners of the world…

Sixty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Just as his mind was immersed in the glorious past, a long-lost, cold, and mechanical voice suddenly rang out from the depths of his mind:

【ding dong——】

[The host has been detected to have completed the main quest of this world: Rebuild the Ming Dynasty, usher in industrial civilization, and achieve a smooth transfer of power.]

[System comprehensive evaluation in progress... Evaluation complete.]

[Task Completion Rating: SSS+]

[Civilization Progress: Exceeded Target]

[Impact Assessment: Global, Epoch-Making]

Overall rating: Five stars (Perfect)

Even though Suning had weathered countless storms and his will was as firm as a rock, he couldn't help but tremble slightly at this moment.

The system that accompanied him from the beginning of his transmigration, helped him lay the foundation for his career, and then remained dormant for decades, has finally reappeared.

Based on the score, the task rewards are now being distributed:

[Reward 1: One Nascent Soul Pill. Grade: High-grade Spirit Level. Effect: Greatly increases the success rate of condensing a Nascent Soul, strengthens the foundation and nourishes the soul.]

(Note: The spiritual energy in this world is scarce, and the path to immortality is not prominent. This pill is specially made by the system based on the host's subconscious desire for longevity.)
A pill the size of a longan, shrouded in a faint purple aura and with mysterious cinnabar patterns on its surface, appeared out of thin air on the desk, instantly filling the room with fragrance and invigorating the spirit.

Su Ning could clearly feel the immense and pure energy contained within, far surpassing any so-called "miracle cure" he had collected over the past sixty years.

[Reward 2: 0.5% of the host's damaged memories are restored.]

A faint yet clear warm current flowed into Su Ning's mind, and some extremely blurry and fragmented images and pieces of information flashed by:
It was like an endless starry sky, the indescribable ruins of magnificent buildings, a battle scene beyond his comprehension...

But these fragments were too scattered, like a fleeting glimpse, vanishing without a trace in an instant, merely confirming to him that he was not from this world, and...

His past experiences are probably far from simple.

This 0.5% recovery was more like opening a window, allowing him to glimpse a corner of the vast universe outside, but also making him more aware of his own insignificance and the vastness of the unknown.

[Reward Three: Free Travel Permission (Basic). The host may choose to leave this world at any time and return to the main world (coordinates have been recorded), or travel to a new mission world (unlocked upon meeting specific conditions). Alternatively, the host may choose to remain in this world permanently; upon the end of their lifespan, their soul will be reclaimed by the system.]

[All rewards have been distributed. The system is about to enter hibernation maintenance mode. We look forward to our next encounter.]

The cold, electronic sound fell silent, as if it had never existed.

The study returned to silence, with only the occasional chirping of insects coming from outside the window.

Su Ning's gaze first fell on the "Nurture Pill," and a burning desire flashed in his eyes.

He had already enjoyed all the pleasures of life, including power, wealth, and beauty. Only "immortality" remained a realm that even emperors could hardly attain.

This elixir points to a more transcendent path.

Then, as he savored the 0.5% of memory that had been restored, his brow furrowed slightly.

Although the information was scarce, it fueled his even stronger desire to explore his own origins.

"Main World", "New Mission World"...

These words suggest that his past experiences and future possibilities are far more complex and grand than managing a Ming Dynasty.

Finally, his gaze swept across the study.

Here are displayed countless rare treasures he has collected over the past sixty years: there are calligraphy and paintings by famous artists that have been lost from previous dynasties, huge gemstones that were tributes from the Western Regions, luminous pearls salvaged from the deep sea, perfect crystals synthesized by the Tiangong Institute using the latest technology, as well as mountains of gold bricks and silver ingots, and certificates representing the huge shares and maritime trade profits of the Royal Trading Company...

These are his "wealth" in this world, the accumulation of the empire over sixty years, and the manifestation of his power.

However, compared to the "Nurture Pill," "Memory Recovery," and "Travel Permission" rewarded by the system, the importance of these worldly, even the richest, fortunes seems to have instantly diminished.

They are more like souvenirs of a glorious journey than a reliance for the future.

Su Ning slowly stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the dazzling Milky Way in the night sky.

He gently stroked the Infant Nourishing Pill in his hand, feeling the power it contained that led to another level.

"Sixty years as emperor, is it an end, or is it a true beginning...?" He murmured to himself, a relieved yet expectant smile playing on his lips.

Should one choose to take the elixir and try to pursue the elusive path to immortality in this world?

Or should we use the teleportation ability to return to the "main world" within those memory fragments and uncover the mystery of ourselves?

Or perhaps, it's about exploring new and unknown worlds?

All of this will be a brand new story for "Suning".

The legend of "Emperor of Heavenly Craftsmanship" Su Ning, along with the jade seal that passed on the throne, is forever engraved at the very top of the glorious history of the Ming Dynasty, for all generations to admire.

...(End of chapter)