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

[Han Dynasty, Weiyang Palace]

Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, the iron-fisted emperor who wiped the Xiongnu off the map, was staring intently at the sky.

His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were filled with scrutiny and apprehension.

"Strike down the local tyrants, capture the evil gentry, distribute the land, so that every family may have..."

He slowly recited the nursery rhyme, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Wei Qing, Huo Qubing."

"Your subject is here!" The two war gods stepped forward simultaneously.

"If all the people of the world believed this, would our great Han Dynasty still need an army on its borders?" Liu Che's voice echoed softly.

Wei Qing and Huo Qubing exchanged a glance and instantly understood His Majesty's meaning.

No need!

If every citizen were willing to fight for the country because they had been allocated land, then the Han Dynasty would be filled with soldiers everywhere, and everyone would be a soldier!

This army, united by the will of the people, will be more terrifying than any battle-hardened elite force!

"But..." Chancellor Gongsun Hong stepped forward tremblingly, "Your Majesty, this is tantamount to making enemies of the powerful clans of the land! The very foundation of the nation... the very foundation of the nation will be shaken!"

Liu Che gave a cold laugh and did not answer.

Kunimoto?

The foundation of Liu Che's state was the sword in his hand and the vast territory beneath his feet!

Instead of those local tyrants who were so deeply entrenched in the region that even the "Decree of Grace" couldn't eradicate them!

This Zhu Qiyu, seemingly crazy, is walking a path he wants to take, but dares not take it to such a desperate point!

[Tang Dynasty, Taiji Palace]

"Erlang, this boy... has such great courage." Empress Zhangsun sighed softly as she looked at the black iron torrent rushing southward in the sky.

Li Shimin stroked the sword at his waist, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He admired Zhu Qiyu's courage to declare war on the entire gentry class, but also instinctively felt a sense of fear.

Because the Li family's empire was built on compromise and cooperation with the Guanlong aristocratic families.

"Guanyinbi, tell me, what if, after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, instead of appeasing the Shandong gentry, I had followed this man's example and marched south, dividing their lands?"

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Empress Zhangsun's face paled slightly upon hearing this.

She dared not think.

That would be a civil war a hundred times more brutal than the one between Yang Guangzheng and Goguryeo.

The world will once again be reduced to scorched earth.

"Can he succeed?" Li Shimin murmured to himself.

This question was also a common concern for all emperors who glimpsed the future through the celestial canopy, including Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizu of Song, and Emperor Taizu of Yuan.

They both hoped that Zhu Qiyu would succeed and prove to them an unprecedented path to national strength.

They also feared Zhu Qiyu's success, because the phrase "distribute the land" was like a curse that would completely overturn the foundation upon which their rule rested.

……

The wind was biting cold on the banks of the Huai River.

Zhu Dijun's army was blocked by a muddy river.

In the river, more than a dozen cargo boats of varying sizes lay submerged, their hulls intertwined like giant chains, completely blocking the waterway.

In the reeds on both sides of the river, shadowy figures could be seen moving about, watching the army's every move.

"Your Majesty, these are ships belonging to Yangzhou salt merchants!" a centurion who had come from the local garrison said through gritted teeth. "They'd rather sink their ships than let us pass!"

Shi Heng's face turned ashen: "A bunch of damned unscrupulous merchants! This humble general is willing to lead an elite cavalry force, detour upstream, and surely drag them out and tear them to pieces!"

"No need."

Zhu Dijun's voice was calm and undisturbed.

He reined in his horse and stood on a high point on the riverbank, his gaze passing over the sunken ships and looking towards the prosperous Jiangnan region.

"Do they think that sinking a few ships can stop my advance?"

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Pass down the order."

"Tell the new brothers, and tell the people along the way."

"A reward of one hundred taels of silver will be given to anyone who can devise a plan to cross the river!"

"Whoever can lead my army to a new crossing point will be rewarded with a hundred acres of land!"

"Whoever has a boat and is willing to help the army cross the river, I, in the name of the Retired Emperor, guarantee that once the affairs of Jiangnan are settled, they will receive a share of the salt permits and grain transport revenue!"

As soon as the order was given, the entire army, especially the garrison soldiers who had just escaped their suffering and the civilians who came upon hearing the news, instantly erupted in excitement!

silver!

field!

Even... the salt permits and canal transport that we never even dared to dream of!

"I know! I know a shortcut that leads to a shallow area ten miles downstream!"

"My family...my family has a fishing boat! It's small, but it can ferry people across!"

"To hell with that Wang family tycoon! His cargo ships are hidden at the confluence of the three rivers to the west. I'll go steal them and present them to the Emperor Emeritus!"

The most primal desires of human nature were completely ignited.

In less than half an hour, dozens of paths were pointed out, and more than a dozen hidden boats were offered up voluntarily.

Those people who once feared the government troops like tigers have now become the most enthusiastic guides.

The massive army transformed into countless streams, bypassing the seemingly impregnable blockade line, and once again converged into a mighty river, continuing its southward journey!

Night falls.

The army marched to a narrow, hilly valley.

Suddenly, flames shot into the sky from the forests on both sides!

Countless haystacks and firewood soaked in tung oil were ignited at the same time, and two fierce fire dragons, mixed with billowing smoke, swept towards the army on the official road with the force of swallowing the sky and devouring the earth!

"A fire dragon has set the camp ablaze! There's an ambush!"

Warhorses neighed, and the crowd descended into chaos.

The scorching air and acrid smoke caused many soldiers to lose their bearings instantly.

Panic began to spread like a plague.

"Hold on! All troops, hold on!"

Shi Heng brandished his long sword and roared hoarsely.

However, right in the heart of this chaos, Judy Jun's figure stood like an unyielding, ancient rock.

He remained calm and sat quietly on his horse, letting the firelight cast flickering shadows on his face.

"Peng Shi".

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is here!" Peng Shi's face was covered in sweat from the heat, and his voice was trembling.

"Write it down." Judy Jun's voice was as cold as ice.

"All families involved in this matter today, regardless of whether they are gentry or merchants, shall be executed along with their entire clan, including nine generations of relatives."

"Seventy percent of their land and family wealth will go to the national treasury, and thirty percent... will be awarded to those who have made meritorious contributions in suppressing the rebellion today."

Peng Shi trembled. He knew that the Emperor Emeritus was using the bloodiest means to reward the army for its military achievements!

"Soldiers!"

Zhu Dijun suddenly drew the Emperor's Sword from his waist, pointed it at the sea of ​​fire, and let out a deafening roar.

"Did you see that fire?!"

"Behind the fire lies immeasurable wealth! The fields and houses you've always dreamed of!"

"Charge! Kill them!"

"Everything they have will be yours!"

"kill!!!"

A generous reward will surely attract brave men!

Moreover, this reward is the wealth of the entire Jiangnan region!

All the knights' eyes turned red; fear was completely replaced by greed.

They covered their mouths and noses with damp cloths, brandished their weapons, and followed behind their officers like a pack of bloodthirsty wolves, launching a desperate charge toward the area where the fire was weaker!

Just as Judy Jun's bodyguards were surrounding him, preparing to rush across the fire.

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—"

A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out from a patch of inconspicuous darkness on the flank!

Dozens of crossbow bolts tore through the smoke screen, forming a fan shape and covering the core area where Judy Jun was located!

This is a fatal blow!

"Protect the Emperor Emeritus!!"

The guards, their eyes blazing with fury, formed a human wall with their own bodies.

puff!puff!puff!

The sound of flesh being pierced was dull and desperate.

An arrow pierced through a gap in the human wall, whistling past Judy Jun's ear like a venomous snake!

A few strands of black hair were cut off by the strong wind and slowly drifted down.

A drop of warm blood slowly seeped from his earlobe, which had been slashed by the arrow, and slid down his cheek.

Zhu Dijun slowly reached out and wiped away the drop of blood.

He glanced at the crimson stain on his fingertips, then looked up in the direction from which the arrow had come.

There was no fear or anger on his face.

There was only one vast, bottomless, and tranquil expanse.

It was a kind of absolute tranquility that viewed death as nothing and the world as a chessboard.

He smiled.

That smile sent a chill down the spines of everyone who saw it, whether they were loyal guards or scheming men like Peng Shi and Xu Youzhen.

"very good."

He spoke softly, as if praising a delicious dish.

"It seems they are truly afraid."

"Send the order: the army must accelerate."

"I can't wait any longer; I want to twist their heads off myself."