The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 926 The Source of Calamity
The empire has always severely cracked down on divination and prophecy.

Liu Zhaosun once used this to rise to power, using apocryphal and prophetic techniques to plot and scheme against the Ming Dynasty and establish the Qi State. Therefore, later generations were quite wary of such evil arts.

Emperor Taizong Liu Kan, the second emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty, executed Taoist priests in Tianxin City at the beginning of his reign. He later exterminated the Shani people and strictly prohibited all divination and prophecy, even forbidding the local people from presenting auspicious omens.

In summary, the first few emperors of this dynasty (except for the rebellious princess and others) strictly prohibited matters of ghosts and spirits and prophetic arts, avoiding them at all costs.

However, by the time of Liu Ye, a century had passed, the empire had enjoyed a long period of peace, discipline had loosened, and various taboos no longer existed.

Most importantly, the emperor was no longer the supreme and all-powerful ruler, but was reduced to a mascot symbolizing the glory of the empire.

According to current laws, the subjects of the empire have freedom of religion, which means that subjects have the right to freely believe in religions such as Western religions, Buddhism, and Taoism, as long as they do not violate current laws.

In other words, whether subjects believe in ghosts and gods or believe the earth is flat is a matter of personal freedom, and the government cannot interfere.

Freedom and civilization became the New Deal’s touted achievements, but the definition of freedom is not easy to explain.

The cruel tortures of the Taizu era, such as skinning people alive and stuffing them with straw, are no longer used; the methods of intimidation have become less effective with each generation.

With the decline of imperial power, fallacies and heresies found fertile ground to spread, and all sorts of evil and crooked doctrines resurfaced.

The art of divination and prophecy has made a comeback.

Power cannot be allowed to be in a vacuum. Around the time of the Prime Minister's death, various rumors began to spread in Tianxin City.

It is said that Li Wei will likely follow in the footsteps of Zhang Juzheng of the Ming Dynasty, and that the Li family will soon be raided and exterminated.

The parliament and the emperor were in constant conflict. The emperor would use beautiful women and gold and silver to win people's hearts and defeat the members of parliament one by one.

What emperor will emulate the story of Dong Zhuo, reclaim the power to recruit soldiers and levy taxes in various regions, and change the current predicament where each vassal state acts independently and refuses to obey the orders of Tianxin City?

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On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, a spectacular astronomical phenomenon appeared in the sky above Tianxin City, with a white rainbow piercing the sun. Then, a dragon was spotted in the direction of Shaanxi. At least tens of thousands of people witnessed this extraordinary sight at the same time.

As for the white elk, the black giant snake, and countless other miracles, they are too numerous to mention.

All of these factors were seen as signs that a sudden change in the empire was imminent.

Something big is about to happen in Tianxin City.

In early August, a minister dreamed of Emperor Taizu.

Liu Zhaosun, his face covered in blood, walked toward the assembled officials, shouting, "Slay them all!" "Leave no one alive!"

This nightmare quickly spread throughout the capital, and amidst the discussions, everyone believed that the restoration of imperial power was a foregone conclusion and would perhaps happen soon.

When these rumors reached Prince Liu Xuan's ears, he felt uneasy, because the development of public opinion was almost exactly as he had expected. Could it really be the will of Heaven?

The next day, the prince entered the palace to pay his respects to his father. From afar, he saw his father staring blankly at the mountain of telegrams on his desk, and he knew that it was the "auspicious omens" from various places that had caused the trouble.

After paying his respects to his father, Liu Xuan tentatively asked:

"Father, I heard that Prime Minister Li's funeral is to be postponed. Is this true?"

Liu Ye shifted his attention from the memorials on the imperial desk to the prince, and said with a surprised expression:

"The funeral has been postponed? Where did you get that information?"

Liu Xuan stammered and dared not answer.

"Say it!"

"Your Majesty, I heard it from my servants; they said it's related to auspicious omens..."

Liu Ye said angrily, "They're all talking nonsense from those stupid men and women, and you actually believed them! I'm so disappointed in you!"

Liu Xuan gasped, not expecting his father to react so strongly to the auspicious omen. He cautiously examined the old emperor's face; his sallow cheeks were aged and weak.

The prince stood patiently by the emperor's side, waiting for his anger to subside before mustering his courage to speak:
"Father, please calm your anger. I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."

The old emperor looked up at the prince, stared at Liu Xuan's young and handsome face for a long time, and asked in confusion:
"What do you want to say?"

Liu Xuan hesitated for a moment before steeling himself and saying:
"Father, there is no need to be angry. Auspicious omens are appearing one after another, which shows the people's sentiments. The people have been disgusted with democracy for a long time. Father, you can take this opportunity to take back power from the parliament."

"What nonsense!"

Liu Ye slammed his hand on the table and stood up. With a bang, the teacup on the table fell to the ground, and tea splashed onto Liu Xuan's trouser leg.

"How dare a mere child like you discuss matters of state! Instead of studying diligently with your master, what nonsense are you spouting here?"

"Father, have you forgotten? Master Qian was exiled to Nagasaki last month, and his fate is unknown."

"Don't worry! Your master is very tough, he won't die so easily. Hasn't he always wanted to go to Japan to see the world?"

Liu Ye suddenly realized he had lost his composure and said with displeasure:
"Liu Xuan, do you know that democracy and freedom were the principles set by the late emperor, and limiting imperial power was the core of them! How can we change course just because of a few so-called auspicious omens? Didn't your Master Guo tell you that when the founding emperor acted arbitrarily, the people suffered hellish calamities?"

The old emperor emphasized, "Do you want to go back to the past?"

"Going back to the past is not impossible."

Liu Xuan was not intimidated by his father's imposing presence; instead, he countered sharply:
"Father, if the council continues to act recklessly like this, the people of Great Qi may not be far from a true hell!"

Liu Ye stared blankly at the prince, then nodded slightly, signaling his son to continue.

"Father, since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, have the people ever truly experienced happiness? In which year have the weather been favorable and the harvest plentiful? In which year have there been no wars, and in which year have there not been countless deaths from starvation?"

"Democracy is not suitable for this land unless there is a change in the blood and the people."

Liu Ye, his plea deflated, could no longer hold on and slumped weakly into his chair. "I know all that you're saying, but what can I do? The ancestral laws cannot be changed. Emperor Taizong said that only a figurehead government can save the Great Qi..."

"That's utter nonsense! Has it been saved? Now, not only has the Great Qi submitted to Britain, but even Japan has become independent, and feeding the people is a problem."

"Corrupt officials are everywhere in the court and the regional military governors are acting recklessly. They all want to suck as much blood as possible from the empire's body. As for when this great ship will sink, no one cares, and no one pays attention. Father, do you want to be a ruler who brings about the downfall of the country?"

The old emperor was speechless.

Liu Xuan deliberately raised his voice and said in an unquestionable tone:

"Therefore, we must change course."

"Emperor Taizu's polarism was not necessarily wrong, but..."

The prince noticed the astonished look on the old emperor's face and slowed down his speech slightly.

"It's just that Emperor Taizu didn't implement it thoroughly enough back then. If we can continue to follow his established path and persevere, in time we will surely achieve the Great Qi Dynasty."

Liu Ye looked terrified.

The prince's words were so shocking to him that they were simply outrageous.

"Not thorough enough? Give it time?"

"Yes, Father, if there could be a reform that truly cleanses people's hearts, all sorts of deep-seated problems could be eradicated..."

Liu Ye interrupted, "What reforms?"

Liu Xuan said, word by word: "A great reform, a tough man cutting off his own arm, letting the die-hards fight each other... in the end, perhaps two hundred million people will die."

"Two hundred million people..."

Liu Ye gasped, stunned and speechless.

"This is the price that reform must pay, Father. Ten thousand is a number, two hundred million is also a number, and you should be the one who writes the numbers!"

Liu Ye was completely petrified.

The prince continued, "Although the laws formulated by the Parliament are quite rigorous and have improved the legal system of the Empire to some extent, the implementation of everything still ultimately requires human intervention."

"Since it is decided by people, everything can change as long as people's hearts change."

Liu Ye finally realized what was going on: "Who told you these things?"

"Master Qian."

Master Qian's understanding of Daqi is quite profound.

The people on this land are filled with despair, base and selfish, indifferent and brutal, sometimes sheep, sometimes wolves.

As the economy deteriorated and survival became increasingly difficult, the first thought of hundreds of millions of subjects was not to improve the laws, but to call for a more powerful slave owner.

Perhaps only a more powerful slave owner could defend the rights of slaves, or perhaps this is just an illusion.

In short, what freedom and equality cannot provide can only be sought from their opposite.

"Father, as far as I know, after the Prime Minister fell seriously ill, the supply of goods from Europe to Qi has decreased."

Liu Ye listened patiently: "So what if it is?"

As Liu Xuan said, Tianxin City is getting worse and worse.

The residents' living standards have been declining. What used to be a common sight of buttered bread, fruit, and snacks is now almost nowhere to be seen.

People line up every day to buy bread, and sometimes they still can't get any; newborn babies can't get sweet milk...
People's hearts are yearning for change.

"Various ideologies are brewing beneath the surface of Tianxin City. It's time to make the empire a true empire again. What makes an empire an empire?"

Liu Ye asked, "What is it?"

"They need you, Father Emperor, who is an emperor who makes absolute decisions."

~~~~~~~
Prime Minister Lee Wee's funeral was exceptionally grand.

Representatives from various European countries gathered at Tianxin City to pay their respects. The hall was packed with blond-haired, white-skinned Europeans who raised their glasses to express their respect for this meritorious paper-mending craftsman who had served three dynasties.

Even the empire's enemy, the newly independent Ezo Kingdom, sent an envoy to present Li Wei with a funeral couplet, which read as follows:
No matter how difficult the task, I will bear all the hardships and burdens, be tolerant and forgiving, and live my life as a man to the very end.

I cannot escape calamity, I am worried about the country and forget my family. My heart is exhausted, and the emperor regards me as his great-grandfather.

It refers to Prime Minister Li's forbearance and humiliation, and his relations with the Kingdom of Britain, the Kingdom of France, and...

The prime minister's sudden death created a power vacuum, and although the emperor was very reluctant, he still took over some of the prime minister's power.

This is considered a landmark event in the resurgence of imperial power.

Time returns to the present.

No one knows what the future holds for the empire.

However, one thing is certain.
Once disaster begins, it cannot be stopped.

Only by burning everything.