Sky Curtain: The opening scene explains the four major cases of the Ming Dynasty plus the early Ming

Of all professions, only studying is noble!

These ten words, though brief, were like ten towering mountains, crashing down with overwhelming force!

It weighed heavily on the minds of Emperors Tang and Han, making them feel an unprecedented sense of absurdity!

This was seen by Qin Shi Huang and Zhu Yuanzhang, who witnessed a tragic future where the spirit of a nation was being emasculated!

It pressed down on countless soldiers, craftsmen, farmers, and merchants across countless worlds and timelines, making them feel a deep-seated humiliation of being belittled and denied!

Is everything inferior?

What about those of us who don't read books, or who don't have the opportunity to read books?

We forge weapons to protect our homes and country; are we doing something inferior?

We cultivate grain to feed the world; are we inferior beings?

Are we inferior beings who build palaces and create all things?

Is it a lowly thing for us to exchange goods and resources to boost the economy?

Why should I?!

Just because you've read a few books of sages and saints?

At this moment, an invisible resentment transcended time and space, gathering in the sky and pointing directly to the source of that sentence—Zhao Guangyi!

During the Taiping Xingguo era of the Song Dynasty.

Having just suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Gaoliang River, Zhao Guangyi was in a frenzy dealing with the aftermath and suppressing criticisms in the court about the instability of his rule. Looking at the scene in the sky, he trembled with rage!

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"

He pointed at the sky and roared at the assembled officials, his voice fierce but his heart weak.

"What does this ignorant brat from later generations know about the principles of governing a country?!"

"I advocate reading to educate the people, to select virtuous and talented individuals, and to bring order and harmony to the world. What's wrong with that?!"

"As for the Gaoliang River... that was due to unfavorable weather! It was the Liao army's cunning! What does it have to do with my decision?!"

He tried his best to defend himself, attempting to maintain his already crumbling imperial dignity.

But His Highness's civil and military officials, looking at the barrage of comments on the screen such as "God of War on the Donkey Cart" and "The Shame of Emperor Taizong," all lowered their heads, wanting to laugh but not daring to, their facial expressions extremely difficult to manage.

They all knew just how humiliating the defeat at Gaoliang River was.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall in the first year of the Kaibao era.

The young Zhao Guangyi looked at the words on the screen and at his brother's extremely cold eyes. He knew he could no longer continue acting.

His legs buckled, and with a thud, he knelt down on the ground!

"Your Majesty! My brother... my brother is innocent!"

"This celestial curtain is spreading heretical rumors; it must be a demon from beyond the realm, intending to wreak havoc on our Great Song Dynasty! Your Majesty, you must not believe it!"

He wept bitterly and kowtowed repeatedly, making a final struggle.

"Injustice?"

Zhao Kuangyin laughed, a hoarse laugh filled with endless sorrow.

He slowly stepped down from the dragon throne, walking step by step to Zhao Guangyi.

He looked down at his younger brother, whom he had watched grow up.

"Tell me, is the 'Candle Shadow and Axe Sound' incident a false accusation?"

Zhao Guangyi's body trembled violently, and his face turned deathly pale!

"Tell me, was the Golden Chest Covenant a miscarriage of justice?"

Zhao Guangyi lowered his head even further, his back instantly soaked with cold sweat!

"Tell me again!"

Zhao Kuangyin's voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder, "My Defang, my Dezhao, weren't their deaths also damn unjust?!"

Zhao Guangyi completely broke down!

He couldn't understand why these secrets, hidden deep in his heart and never daring to be spoken of even in his dreams, would be completely exposed by this strange sky!

"Your Majesty...your younger brother...I..."

He was incoherent and could not utter a single word except for kowtowing.

Seeing his pathetic state, the last vestige of brotherly affection in Zhao Kuangyin's eyes vanished completely.

He slowly turned around, no longer looking at him; his back view was filled with the resoluteness and ruthlessness of an emperor.

Meanwhile, in the sky above, Judy Jun's trial continues!

"Family members, if Zhao Da's emphasis on civil affairs over military affairs is to say that he has loosened the chains around the neck of the tiger that is the civil official group."

"Zhao Er personally handed this tiger its sharp fangs and claws, telling it, 'Go ahead and eat people; the more you eat, the happier I'll be!'"

"The saying 'Of all professions, only studying is noble' has a far greater impact than we imagine!"

Zhu Dijun's voice became extremely serious.

"It fundamentally divided the entire society!"

"It created a privileged class of 'educated people'! It's as if simply having read books makes one superior and allows them to look down on all other professions!"

"It drove the nation's elite to desperately try to climb the corporate ladder, instead of researching technology, developing the military, or expanding commerce!"

"When the brightest minds in a country no longer pursue territorial expansion or technological innovation, but instead engage in infighting and factionalism for a little power in the imperial court, how far is that country from becoming impoverished and weak?"

Zhu Dijun's words plunged countless people across countless worlds into deep thought.

Datang.

Li Shimin thought of his founding ministers who were both literate and military: Fang Xuanling was good at governing the country and also advised on military affairs; Li Jing was a military genius and also had outstanding literary talent.

Civil and military affairs should not be absolutely opposed!

Ming dynasty.

Zhu Di thought of Zheng He's treasure ships, the Yongle Encyclopedia, and the firearms of the Shenji Battalion.

A powerful empire needs talent from all walks of life, not a bunch of bookworms who can only quote classics and engage in empty talk that harms the country!

"So, family members, do you understand now?"

Zhu Dijun's voice pulled everyone back to reality.

Why was the military of the Song Dynasty chronically weak?

"It's not that the soldiers can't fight, it's not that the generals don't know how to fight!"

"It's because the entire national system and the prevailing social atmosphere tell you—joining the army is a dead-end job! It makes you inferior!"

"Military officers were trampled underfoot by civil officials, and were frequently impeached and suspected!"

"And what's most shameful is that soldiers in the Song Dynasty had their faces tattooed. Were they an army meant to protect their country, or prisoners of war?"

"In such an environment, who would be willing to risk their life? Who could still maintain that fearless, indomitable spirit?"

"This is the most vicious legacy that Zhao Guangyi, the 'God of War on the Donkey Cart,' left to his descendants!"

"With the phrase 'Only studying is noble,' he personally emasculated the martial spirit of the entire Chinese nation!"

"This also laid the final and most crucial foundation for the Ming Dynasty's civil service group to grow completely powerful centuries later, ultimately leading to the Tumu Crisis!"