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

The Western Depot Prison.

The flickering candlelight cast Wang Zhi's shadow as if he were a ghost.

He was going through the files and letters confiscated from Xiang Zhong's residence, searching for irrefutable evidence that could definitively condemn the former Minister of War.

However, as he watched, his movements stopped.

His gaze fell upon an inconspicuous official document record.

[In the spring of the thirteenth year of the Chenghua reign, an imperial edict was issued to investigate and retrieve old archives from the Yongle reign concerning Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean.]

[No results found.]

These sixteen short words caused Wang Zhi's pupils to suddenly contract!

He remembers it!

In the spring, he advised His Majesty to reopen the Maritime Trade Office and revive maritime trade to replenish the imperial treasury and strengthen the nation!

His Majesty agreed at the time and immediately issued an edict ordering Xiang Zhong, then Minister of War, to retrieve the nautical charts, records of the construction of the treasure ships, and hydrological data from the countries along the route.

That was the most precious treasure of the Ming Dynasty, and even the whole world!

However, Xiang Zhong replied that due to the passage of time, the archives had been lost and could not be found.

At the time, although His Majesty was disappointed, he did not investigate further.

But now, considering Xiang Zhong's numerous crimes of colluding with border generals and resisting imperial power, the phrase "nothing was found" seems extremely glaring!

"Someone come here!" Wang Zhi's voice turned shrill.

"Bring Liu Daxia, the Director of the Department of Military Affairs in the Ministry of War, to my residence!"

……

Above the sky, Judy Jun's expression became more serious than ever before.

"Family members, what is about to happen will be an eternal regret that has haunted countless history enthusiasts for centuries!"

"The secret that sent chills down Wang Zhi's spine is finally about to be revealed!"

"In the thirteenth year of the Chenghua reign, Wang Zhi was ordered by Emperor Xianzong to restart the Age of Exploration. He requested the Ministry of War to provide the archives of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean."

However, what he got in return was nothing!

Why?

"Because, it was the night before he demanded the files!"

"Liu Daxia, the then-director of the Carriage and Horse Management Department of the Ministry of War, a man praised by countless scholars of later generations as a 'wise minister' and 'capable minister,' did something... worthy of being nailed to the pillar of historical shame!"

The scene suddenly changes!

The Ministry of War archives late at night.

A figure was frantically searching for something by the dim candlelight.

It was Liu Daxia!

He found it!

A total of eighty-four boxes!

All of these are invaluable documents obtained by that invincible fleet during the Yongle era, who made seven voyages to the Western Ocean, using their lives and wisdom!

It contains the most accurate nautical charts, the blueprints for building the most sturdy treasure ships, detailed records of unknown continents, and diplomatic documents from exchanges with dozens of countries!

This is the legacy of the dragon!

This is proof that our civilization is ahead of the rest of the world!

However, when Liu Daxia looked at these priceless treasures, his eyes were filled with contempt and hatred!

"Zhang Yong's voyages to the Western Ocean cost hundreds of thousands in money and provisions, and tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians died. Even if he returned with rare treasures, what benefit would it bring to the country?"

"This is a particularly corrupt policy, and high-ranking officials should remonstrate against it. If their remonstrances are ignored, they should be put to death!"

"This thing should be destroyed to deter it from doing it again!"

He muttered to himself, looking like a madman!

Immediately afterwards, he did something that made everyone in all the worlds and timelines furious!

He raised the torch in his hand!

boom--!

The flames instantly engulfed those precious files!

Eighty-four boxes of treasures of human civilization, eighty-four boxes of keys that could change the world order, were turned into a pile of... irreparable ashes in the hands of this so-called "wise minister"!

……

Yongle Time and Space.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Dead silence.

A deathly silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Zhu Di stared blankly at the scene in the sky, at the towering flames, as if all his strength had been drained away.

His proud fleet, the splendor he built with the nation's utmost resources, the path to heaven he paved for future generations...

It was burned?

Was it burned by Zhu's own ministers?

"puff--!!!"

A surge of blood suddenly gushed out of Zhu Di's mouth!

His tall body swayed violently, and he almost fell to the ground.

Why...?

His voice was hoarse, like two rusty pieces of iron rubbing together.

Why?!

A roar filled with extreme grief and indignation resounded throughout the entire Forbidden City!

There is endless anger, the pain of having one's life's work destroyed, and the utter desolation of being betrayed by one's descendants and subjects!

"Rebellious ministers and traitors!!!"

"I will exterminate his entire family!!"

"I will tear him to pieces!!!"

The enraged Yongle Emperor has completely lost control!

……

The Chenghua Era.

Inside the Western Depot's prison.

When Liu Daxia was brought in, he showed no fear in the face of Wang Zhi's interrogation. Instead, he stood tall with the radiance of a martyr.

"That's right! The files were burned by me!"

He admitted it readily and decisively.

"With eunuchs in power, they are bewitching the emperor, attempting to emulate the Yongle Emperor's actions, wasting the people's resources—this is a path to certain death!"

"My act of burning the archives was to rid the country of a scourge! To plead for the people! What crime have I committed?!"

He looked righteous and self-assured!

Snapped! ! !

Without saying a word, Wang Zhi slapped him hard across the face!

This slap was delivered with all its might, causing blood to spurt from Liu Daxia's mouth and nose, and half of his face to swell up!

"To rid the country of a scourge?"

Wang Zhi laughed, a laugh that was utterly ferocious.

"We'll ask you again!"

"Xiang Zhong, are you aware of this?!"

Liu Daxia wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a hint of arrogance on his face: "Lord Xiang is of noble character and already knew about this matter, and greatly praised my righteous act! He has already reported to His Majesty, stating that the loss of the archives is unrelated to me!"

boom!

It was as if a thunderclap exploded in Wang Zhi's mind!

He finally understood!

It was all a setup!

A colossal lie orchestrated and protected by Xiang Zhong, the Minister of War, and executed by his "virtuous minister" Liu Daxia, was a deception of the emperor and a catastrophic blow to the nation's fate!

They were not just trying to stop the emperor.

They wanted to use this method to completely emasculate imperial power and turn the emperor into a puppet manipulated by their civil service group!

"Well done... well done, Xiang Zhong..."

"What a Liu Daxia..."

Wang Zhi's body trembled slightly from extreme anger.

He turned around, rushed out of the prison, and ran towards the Qianqing Palace as fast as he could.

When Zhu Jianshen heard Wang Zhi's report and saw the confession signed by Liu Daxia, he did not fly into a rage as Wang Zhi had expected.

He just sat there quietly, without saying a word.

But the air in the entire hall seemed to be frozen.

Wan Zhen'er could even hear a series of teeth-grinding "clucking" sounds coming from Zhu Jianshen's body as his bones strained excessively.

for a long time.

He slowly raised his head, looked at Wang Zhi, and his voice was frighteningly calm.

"deliver an imperial order."

"Take Liu Daxia to the Meridian Gate."

"I want to interrogate him myself."

"in addition……"

Zhu Jianshen paused, a blood-red light flashing in his eyes.

"Bring Xiang Zhong, who has already been dismissed from his post and reduced to a commoner, back to me!"

"Alive!"