Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 100 This is a chaotic fate!

[This is an extremely ridiculous imperial edict!]

[So much so that all the court officials, including you, were inevitably confused after receiving this imperial edict: What does it mean to embezzle according to imperial order?]

[Everyone is actively trying to change for the better, so why is Your Majesty still dissatisfied? Is it really so unbearable to see everyone change their ways...]

【Do not! 】

You pondered for a moment, and quickly grasped His intention from your confusion.

Before you took up your post in the capital, the Divine Emperor's primary purpose in tolerating corruption was to maintain their loyalty, and to use the corrupt court to coerce the people into rebellion, thus providing Him with a stable target for revenge.

[After you entered the capital, the Divine Emperor's purpose in preserving corruption became to provide you with a stable target for revenge. Only if the corrupt officialdom persists can you self-sufficiently support the tens of thousands of Jinyiwei and thereby save Him divine power expenditures!]

[So according to this logic, the Divine Emperor's seemingly outrageous imperial edict becomes very reasonable: if the officials reform and become good, it will certainly be a good thing for the Ming Dynasty, but for you and the Jinyiwei, it will be equivalent to losing the basis for hatred...]

[This is indeed the case. During the nearly year-long Hundred Officials' Spinning Top Competition, the Jinyiwei's enthusiasm for spinning tops has clearly waned. After all, they lack a deep understanding of the overly broad concept of "class hatred," and it's difficult for them to truly solidify this broad hatred in their hearts.]

On this basis, the "class hatred" they see is not an irreconcilable feud that requires a life-and-death struggle, but rather a temporary hatred that can be compensated, weakened, or even forgiven.

[So, as the spinning top continued to spin longer and longer, and as the officials began to fall, the Jinyiwei's hatred for them was largely washed away... And when hatred is let go, the initial passion will naturally cool down, and the initial excitement will eventually become numb...]

[The officials are growing numb, and the Imperial Guards are also gradually growing numb. The result of this numbness is that the divine power gained from spinning the top is becoming less and less...]

[Perhaps this is a good thing for you, because the fundamental goal of your struggle is to make the people of the Ming Dynasty better and better, and divine power is just a bonus. But for the Divine Emperor, the two are exactly the opposite!]

[He issued this imperial decree to "embezzle according to imperial order" in order to increase the Jinyiwei's divine power...]

So, what should we do next?

You held the imperial edict in your hands, lost in thought: "Should I accept it and force the officials to continue their evil deeds, or...disobey it?"

【This question is very important! 】

If you choose to accept the order, you will be betraying your political ideal of saving the world and becoming the Divine Emperor's chief lackey in maintaining his dark rule!

If you choose to disobey, you will be openly challenging the Divine Emperor. If you anger Him, you will most likely be taken down by Him, repeating the same mistakes you made in your previous life!

[Thinking this way, you find yourself in a dilemma...]

[Ding! At this quandary, you truly don't know which path to choose, so you can only hope in the mysterious "Black Hand" to help you make up your mind... Your choice: (?)]

A: Disobey the order! A family with a son who speaks out will not ruin it, and a country with loyal ministers will not perish! I should bravely question and oppose Your Majesty's erroneous order, and do my utmost to maintain this hard-earned good situation!

[B: Obey the decree! Being the Divine Emperor's dog is the greatest favor. I will bite whoever the Divine Emperor points at. I will remain His Majesty's most loyal and devoted dog! Loyalty! Sincerity!]

……

"Disobey the order or accept it?"

This choice was placed before Zhou Liang, causing him to frown:

"Option A is disobeying the emperor's order. If you choose this, you might be carried away on the spot by the enraged Divine Emperor..."

"However, it also has positive significance, because from past lives, we know that the Divine Emperor's humanity is occasionally receptive to honest advice that may be unpleasant to the ear... If the simulated character truly disobeys His orders and speaks frankly to His face, the Divine Emperor might actually listen..."

Creating a peaceful and prosperous era has always been Zhou Liang's wish. Although he still can't eliminate the source of darkness, the Divine Emperor, he has surprisingly achieved results comparable to his previous life's reforms by spinning his top! If he can maintain this situation, this life should also bring a relatively beautiful and prosperous era to the people of the Ming Dynasty...

"And if it was an imperial decree, then apart from anything else, this matter naturally violates Zhou Liang's political ideals..."

Is the reason why "Zhou Liang" spins the top so vigorously simply for the divine power?
Obviously not. His political ideal has always been to create a peaceful and prosperous era in the Ming Dynasty, and obtaining divine power is just a way for him to achieve this ultimate goal.

Therefore, accepting the imperial edict is really a choice that puts the cart before the horse...

But then again, although accepting the order is a bit of a waste of time, it is not without benefits. If this is chosen, then "Zhou Liang" can continue to take the opportunity to expand his power in preparation for overthrowing the Divine Emperor in the future... After all, the Divine Emperor is the ultimate boss. If He is not overthrown, no matter how peaceful and prosperous the world is, it will only be a castle in the air.

Therefore, accepting the imperial edict also has two sides. For Zhou Liang, he has reasons to choose it and reasons not to choose it...

Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages. Zhou Liang thought about it for a long time but couldn't really tell which one was better.

And since that’s the case, let’s try them one by one!

Zhou Liang made up his mind:
"Choose A first!"

[Ding! You chose option A, disobeying the imperial order! A family with a son who speaks out will not ruin it, and a country with loyal ministers will not perish! I should bravely question and oppose Your Majesty's erroneous order, and do my utmost to maintain this hard-earned good situation!]

【…】

[Holding this heaven-defying imperial edict, you contemplated it, going through an extremely difficult ideological struggle, and ultimately decided to take the risk and disobey the order!]

[After all, you are well aware of the current situation: Ming Dynasty needs a peaceful and prosperous era!]

[Whether this prosperous era was created directly by you or indirectly brought about by you using the spinning top method, it is equally beneficial to the people of the Ming Dynasty.]

"If that's the case, how can you be willing to continue being the Divine Emperor's loyal lackey and personally destroy this hard-earned good situation?"

【So, you choose to take a gamble! 】

[You are going to gamble on the Divine Emperor's humanity, and the stakes are your life...]

【…】

In the fifty-second year of Chongzhen's reign, the Divine Emperor issued an edict to the imperial court, demanding that all officials continue to be corrupt and not do good deeds!

[That year, the nine-year-old Jinyiwei commander Zhou Liang declared in the court: "This is a chaotic order, I will not obey it!"]

[As soon as these words were spoken, all officials looked at him with awe, and the Divine Emperor was stunned...]

"Are you trying to challenge me to a duel?!"

[Your audacious act of disobedience has shocked and enraged the Divine Emperor!]

Your expression was stern: "A family with a son who speaks out will not ruin it, and a country with a minister who speaks out will not perish! Your Majesty, as the ruler and father, how could you issue such a chaotic order that would bring disaster to the nation and its people?"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to revoke your order!"

……

(End of this chapter)