Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 124 Go ahead and attack me!
After the two of them sat down...

Yan Maoqing had already changed his tune, his eyes gleaming as if Gollum had seen the One Ring, darting between the two of them.

"May I ask what brings you two to my residence today?"

Shen Kun felt uneasy under Yan Maoqing's gaze and instinctively pushed Wu Cheng'en forward:

"Please excuse me, Shangguan. It is actually my brother-in-law who has been asking me to introduce him to someone since he heard that we are both in the Hanlin Academy. I couldn't refuse, so I shamelessly came to bother you."

"I made many inquiries before I learned that Shangguan is the Niubi Shanren who wrote the extraordinary book 'Xuanpo Cangqiong,' so I had no choice but to come and pay him a visit!"

Wu Cheng'en didn't mince words and got straight to the point.

"This... I wonder what advice the Hermit of Sheyang has for me?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Maoqing felt even more guilty.

Calling this a remarkable book wouldn't be an exaggeration, since there are practically no "feel-good" novels these days, and it truly stands out as "remarkable."

But as for literary value, even if Yan Maoqing were the most arrogant person in the world, he would never dare to compare this book with "Journey to the West"—they are simply not on the same level.

How could he possibly gain such attention from Wu Cheng'en? Wouldn't that be going against the natural order of things?

Then Wu Cheng'en continued:

"I have one question: I heard from the bookstore that Niu Bishanren has stopped writing. Why doesn't he continue writing?"

"Uh... I was recently promoted, and as an official in the court, I should prioritize national affairs. How can I neglect the greater good for the sake of trivial matters?"

Yan Maoqing hesitated for a moment, thinking to himself that this person might be here to urge him to update the chapters, but he gave an excuse that even he himself wouldn't believe.

"Shangguan, you must keep writing!"

Wu Cheng'en immediately widened his eyes and said expectantly,
"Otherwise, with the current interruption in such an in-between state, wouldn't it be too... regrettable for those who have read this book?"

"..."

Yan Maoqing could clearly sense that Wu Cheng'en's word "regret" should have been two vulgar words, but due to his status as a fifth-rank official, he had to swallow the words back.

So they really did come in person to urge me to update, and judging from their eyes, they were practically carrying razor blades...

However, this is also one of the strengths of later "cool" novels; which of those online writers isn't a scoundrel who is well-versed in the art of exaggerating and cutting out chapters?

Yan Maoqing was originally a plagiarist in Chinese translation, and in the process of plagiarism, he naturally copied this kind of inhumane stuff, and even deliberately amplified it in this kind of journal format.

This has nothing to do with literary merit, the depth of the book, or the reader's cultural literacy.

As long as the beginning can draw the reader in, evoke their emotions and expectations, and then abruptly end when those emotions and expectations are high, then it can be considered a true break.

Judging from Wu Cheng'en's current state, he probably just accidentally got caught up in the story...

That would be even more infuriating!

After all, while the "broken chapter dog" is despicable, it is certainly not as despicable as the "eunuch dog" who has been abandoned.

Even Yan Maoqing himself couldn't imagine what kind of mental state he would be in when he saw a book abruptly stop at a crucial point just as it was about to reach its climax, and then that lousy writer just abandoned it like that.

He figured if he knew where that bastard lived, he'd probably just go straight there...

How about... a complete outline escape?

Meeting Wu Cheng'en's slightly resentful, pleading gaze, Yan Maoqing considered for a moment, then decisively delivered a rather thorough spoiler:
"There's no need for the hermit of Sheyang to be so anxious. Actually, there's not much to see in the later parts."

"It's just that the protagonist collected the seven different flames on the Flame Ranking, obtained the inheritance of a peerless master, and also gained a few confidantes. Finally, after winning a three-hundred-round battle against an enemy whose strength was magnified ten thousand times, he returned to his original place and went into seclusion."

"The process is nothing new; it's just a matter of increasing your strength a little each time you encounter an enemy. You don't even need to use your brain."

"Ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times, keep repeating the same approach. If you feel you can't keep making it up, change the scene and start over from the beginning, and continue repeating the same approach."

"That's about it... Isn't it boring? Is it even worth watching anymore?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Cheng'en was taken aback. Sure enough, he already felt a sense of boredom and even felt that he could continue writing for Yan Maoqing.

But why does this fifth-rank official in front of him seem even more hateful than before? Shen Kun was also dumbfounded, and suddenly had a new understanding of Yan Maoqing. This person knew how to make someone completely give up, and it could even be said that he could destroy their spirit.

Therefore, the matter of suppressing the Japanese pirates, which he previously brushed off with the words "no comment," should no longer be hoped for...

Just as I was thinking this.

But then Yan Maoqing chuckled again:

"By the way, Shen Xiuzhuan, there were too many people around at the Hanlin Academy last time, and there were some things that were really inconvenient to mention in public, so I had to decline your offer. I hope you won't misunderstand me because of that?"

"Huh? What does Shangguan mean by that..."

This time, it was Shen Kun who was stunned, looking at Yan Maoqing with a face full of surprise.

Little did he know that things were just different now compared to then!
At that time, Yan Maoqing was not a fifth-rank official and did not even know that Zhu Houcong had secretly bestowed the White Dew. He was thinking that if he could do something minor, he could retire smoothly and return to his hometown. Therefore, he did not want to get involved in too many consequences.

Given the current situation, if he doesn't do something a little bigger, with his current status, he probably won't be able to achieve his goal of retiring and returning to his hometown in this lifetime.

"I have long heard about the frequent raids by Japanese pirates and sea pirates in the south. If it is truly possible to do my part for the people of my Great Ming, I will certainly do so without hesitation!"

Yan Maoqing straightened his back and said righteously and sternly,

"However, as far as I know, the threat from the Southern Japanese pirates is more subtle and profound than that from the Northern barbarians. The two are fundamentally different and cannot be governed by the same methods. Therefore, they should be dealt with using different techniques."

"Therefore, we must consider this carefully. I wonder if Compiler Shen agrees?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Kun immediately straightened up, looking at Yan Maoqing with delight, and bowed respectfully.

"What you say is absolutely right, but I wonder what your opinion is?"

"In my opinion, the most important thing now is to get the Emperor to take the Japanese pirate threat seriously. Only then can we move on to the next step. Otherwise, it will all be just empty talk."

Yan Maoqing said solemnly,

“I have read Sheyang Shanren’s articles, and Shen Xiuzhuan is the newly appointed top scholar.”

"Your writing skills are naturally beyond question, and you have also personally witnessed the Japanese pirates harassing the villagers."

"Then please exaggerate what you have seen and heard in a literary way, especially exaggerating the ferocity and brutality of the Japanese pirates by a hundred times, and write it down and give it to me to handle."

"To spare the people of the South from the threat of Japanese pirates, I think you two have no objections, right?"

As he spoke, Yan Maoqing had already figured it out.

You two unlucky bastards can go stand aside!

It would be most appropriate for me to initiate the Japanese pirate raids in this lifetime. At that time, it would affect the interests of a large number of officials and wealthy merchants in the south. They might even unite with court officials to attack me alone.

I'm not afraid you won't come; I'm only afraid your efforts won't be enough to help me retire and return to my hometown!

As for how to resolve the Japanese pirate problem.

Yan Maoqing was not unaware of the situation.

Historically, there have been three main approaches: short-term, medium-term, and long-term.

In the short term: deliver a devastating blow to the Japanese pirates on the battlefield and stabilize the situation;
Mid-term strategy: Appease pirates and break up the alliance between coastal pirates and Japanese pirates;
Long term: Lifting the sea ban met the livelihood and trade needs of coastal people, fundamentally eliminating the breeding ground for the resurgence of "Japanese pirates".

However, in Yan Maoqing's view, rashly opening the sea would also have caused considerable harm to the Ming Dynasty, and might even have been greater than the "Japanese pirates".

During this period, Japan had already discovered the Iwami Silver Mine, which had a huge output, while Spain had also reached South America, which was rich in silver resources.

Once the seas are opened, a large amount of silver will immediately flood into the Ming Dynasty. Although this will indeed promote the economic activities of the Ming Dynasty in the short term, it is also equivalent to the Ming court handing over the right to mint coins.

When Europe subsequently went into full-scale war, the amount of silver Spain transported from South America decreased dramatically.

The Ming Dynasty, having lost its right to mint coins, was unable to effectively regulate and intervene in the market.

The treasury will collapse immediately, and the country will be quickly dragged into a crisis of national extinction!

(End of this chapter)