Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Chapter 1493 County-level Governance Manual

"What the hell did you say? Say it again?"

Sun Dadao was startled by Tang He's imposing manner, but he remained defiant.

"I said Enko is a fake! Why can't people say that?"

Tang He punched Sun Dadao in the stomach, and Sun Dadao staggered back a few steps, dropping the paper in his hand to the ground.

But just then, someone in the crowd shouted again.

"Burn the notice! Enko is fake! Burn it!"

It's Qian Liu.

Qian Liu took a tinderbox from his sleeve and threw it at the notice on the wall.

The tinderbox traced an arc in the air, about to land on the notice—

Zhu Qiwu took out a smoke bomb from his pocket, lit it, and threw it in Qian Liu's direction.

The moment the smoke grenade landed, a thick plume of smoke rose up, engulfing Qian Liu completely.

Qian Liu coughed from the smoke, and his tinder fell to the ground and went out.

The crowd began to panic.

"What happened? Is there a fire?"

"It's not a fire, it's smoke! Run!"

Zhu Qiwu picked up the megaphone and shouted loudly.

"Don't move! These are Enko's smoke grenades, non-toxic! Nobody is allowed to run! Anyone who runs will be disqualified from the exam!"

The crowd fell silent immediately.

As the smoke slowly dissipated, Qian Liu was choked by the smoke, his eyes watering, and he squatted on the ground coughing.

Tang picked up Qian Liu as if he were a chick.

"You think you can burn down the notice? Don't you even know where you are!"

Zhu Qiwu's gaze swept across the crowd and landed at the very back.

Zhao Wenli has disappeared.

Zhao Wenli ran away.

He scanned the area with his upgraded version of Super Ear, but couldn't find Zhao Wenli's voice.

But he found another voice.

Very light footsteps came from behind the examination hall.

Zhao Wenli didn't run away. He went to the back of the examination hall.

Zhu Qiwu immediately shouted to Tang He, "Tang He! Behind the examination hall! Zhao Wenli went behind the examination hall!"

Tang He threw Qian Liu on the ground and ran behind the examination hall with ten personal guards.

Zhu Qiwu also ran down from the second floor and rushed towards the back of the examination hall.

Behind the examination hall was an open space piled with miscellaneous items. When Zhu Qiwu arrived, he saw Zhao Wenli standing in front of a pile of old tables and chairs, holding a tinderbox in his hand, with a stack of papers in front of him.

That stack of papers is a backup notice for today's results announcement.

Zhao Wenli smiled when he saw Zhu Qiwu.

"Seventh Prince, you arrived faster than I expected."

“Zhao Wenli.” Zhu Qiwu stood ten feet away, staring at him. “You can’t escape. There are soldiers everywhere outside.”

“I didn’t intend to run away,” Zhao Wenli said. “I just wanted to burn these notices. If I burned them, no one would believe in the imperial examination. Even if you manage to get thirty-five people pass, if nobody believes it, they won’t become officials.”

“You can’t burn it,” Zhu Qiwu said. “Tang He has already brought his men.”

Zhao Wenli looked back and saw Tang He leading his men to surround them from behind.

But he didn't panic.

"Young Master Qiwu, do you think I only have this one trick up my sleeve?"

Zhao Wenli threw the tinderbox onto the pile of papers.

The paper is burning.

But just as the paper was about to burn, Zhu Qiwu pulled out a second smoke grenade from his pocket, lit it, and threw it over.

Thick smoke rose again, smothering the fire.

When the smoke cleared, only a corner of the pile of paper was burned; most of it was still intact.

Zhao Wenli's expression changed.

"you……"

“Zhao Wenli, you’ve lost,” Zhu Qiwu said.

Tang He rushed up from behind and grabbed Zhao Wenli.

Zhao Wenli struggled a few times, but Tang He was much stronger than him and pinned him to the ground in two moves.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Zhao Wenli was still shouting.

Zhu Qiwu walked up to him and squatted down.

"Zhao Wenli, your cousin Zhao Bulan is in my hands. You are in my hands now too. None of you Zhao brothers will escape."

Zhao Wenli's face turned pale instantly.

"What...what did you do to my cousin?"

"Nothing much. He's locked up. He's eating well and sleeping well, but he just can't get out."

Zhao Wenli's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Zhu Qiwu stood up and said to Tang He, "Take them back and lock them up with Zhao Bulan. Let the two brothers keep each other company."

Tang He picked up Zhao Wenli and carried him away like a chick.

Zhu Qiwu stood behind the examination hall, looking at the pile of paper where only one corner had been burned.

Then he turned and walked forward.

The results announcement isn't over yet.

Back at the entrance of the examination hall, the crowd had quieted down again.

Fang Zijing is reposting the notice that Sun Dadao knocked down.

Zhu Qiwu went up to the second floor and picked up the megaphone tube.

"Fellow citizens of Yingtian Prefecture! Someone tried to burn the notice for the special imperial examination, but they've been caught. The special imperial examination is real; those who pass will be given official positions. Anyone who doesn't believe it can come and see the list now. The names of thirty-five people are all on the wall. Not one is missing."

An even louder cheer erupted from the crowd.

"Well done, Seventh Young Master!"

"Enko is real! Enko is real!"

Zhu Qiwu put down the megaphone and looked at the thirty-five names on the wall.

Chen Zilong, Lu Wenzhao, Zhao Wenbin, Fang Zijing, He Wenchang...

Behind every name is a living, breathing person. Every single one of them will become a pawn in Fourth Brother's conquest of the world.

No, not a chess piece. A person.

He was selected by Zhu Qiwu through the special imperial examination; he was capable of governing the county, bringing peace to the people, and enabling ordinary people to live a good life.

As he was thinking, he suddenly saw someone crying in the crowd.

It was Qian Tinggui.

The traitor marked in red on the list given by Lu Wenzhao, the one who wavered during the exam.

Qian Tinggui stood in the crowd, looking at the names on the wall, tears streaming down his face.

His name is not on it.

Zhu Qiwu looked at him, and a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on welled up inside him.

Qian Tinggui cried for a while, then wiped away his tears and turned to walk out of the crowd.

Zhu Qiwu called out to him.

"Qian Tinggui."

Qian Tinggui stopped in his tracks. He turned around, looked at Zhu Qiwu, his eyes red.

"Young Master Qiwu... I... I didn't pass the exam..."

"I know."

"Can...can I still take the exam later?"

Zhu Qiwu looked at him and remained silent for a long while.

"Yes, there will be an additional exam next year. But the questions will be even more difficult. If you want to take it, go back and prepare well."

Qian Tinggui's tears fell again. He bowed deeply to Zhu Qiwu, then turned and left.

As Zhu Qiwu watched his retreating figure, he suddenly recalled Lu Wenzhao's words: "The common people won't starve; they can endure more than we think."

No. It's not that ordinary people can't bear it. It's that they have no choice.

If given a choice, who would be willing to take the burden?

He turned and went back to the council chamber.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat in the main seat with a bowl of porridge in front of him. When he saw Zhu Qiwu enter, he waved to him.

"Finished the exam?"

"The exam is over."

"How about it?"

“Thirty-five people, all of them are excellent.” Zhu Qiwu sat down and briefly recounted the announcement of the results, including Qian Liu, Sun Dadao, Zhao Wenli, and even Qian Tinggui’s tears.

Then he said something. "Seven-five, give me the names of those thirty-five men. I need to see them tomorrow."

"it is good."

"And another thing," Zhu Yuanzhang said, looking at Zhu Qiwu, "Zhao Wenli, what did you find out during the interrogation?"

"The trial hasn't started yet. But Fourth Brother, Zhao Wenli is more difficult to deal with than Zhao Bulan. He's not here to cause trouble; he's here to see what we're made of. Once he's done, he'll go back and report to Zhang Shicheng."

"What are you reporting?"

"The report that our special imperial examination was genuine, and those who passed it are truly capable," Zhu Qiwu said. "Fourth Brother, this isn't a bad thing. Letting Zhang Shicheng know our capabilities will actually deter him from making any rash moves. Because he'll calculate—he can't win against us."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Qiwu with a deep look in his eyes.

"You little rascal, you've thought of everything."

"It wasn't that we figured it out, we were forced into it," Zhu Qiwu chuckled. "Fourth Brother, Zhang Shicheng isn't giving us a chance to breathe, so we have to calculate faster than him."

Zhu Yuanzhang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside.

The sky over Yingtian Prefecture was very blue, as if it had just been washed.

"75."

"exist."

"Enke has finished his exams; next up is Suzhou."

"Fourth Brother, when?"

“After those thirty-five men take office,” Zhu Yuanzhang turned around, “they will govern the counties, and I will fight the wars. If the counties are governed well, we'll have soldiers. With soldiers, we can take Suzhou.”

It wasn't because he was good at fighting.

It's because he's thought everything through. Every step he takes paves the way for the next.

The special imperial examination is not the goal, but a means. Those who pass the exam are not just scholars, but the future rulers of the country.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, then patted Zhu Qiwu on the shoulder.

"Go on, get some rest. You have a lot to do tomorrow."

Zhu Qiwu walked out of the council hall and stood in the courtyard of the Wu Prince's Mansion.

The sunlight shone on him, warm and comforting.

He opened the system panel and looked at all the rewards for the day.

The loyalty test card was used, the upgraded version of the "Ears of the Wind" was used, the night vision binoculars were given to Lu Wenzhao, the megaphone tube was used, two smoke grenades were used, and three are left.

On the public opinion index card, the support rate of the people of Yingtian Prefecture for Zhu Yuanzhang was 76%.

It's three points higher than yesterday.

The effect of posting the results was immediate.

He put away the public opinion index card and was about to return to his own courtyard when he suddenly saw a person standing at the gate.

It is Lu Wenzhao.

Lu Wenzhao leaned against the door frame, holding the folding fan in his hand, his expression complex.

"Seventh Young Master, has Zhao Wenli been captured?"

"We've caught them."

"Then can I go see your fourth brother?"

Zhu Qiwu looked at him and smiled.

"Let's go. I'll take you there."

The two walked towards the council chamber one after the other.

Halfway there, Lu Wenzhao suddenly said something.

"Young Master Qiwu, I have a question."

"explain."

"Your third question in the third round of the Enke competition—'How would you cooperate to avoid being discovered?' What would your answer be?"

Zhu Qiwu thought for a moment and then said something.

I won't answer.

Lu Wenzhao was stunned.

"Not answering?"

“No answer,” Zhu Qiwu said. “Because a truly capable official doesn’t need to cooperate with corrupt officials. He will drive the corrupt officials away.”

Lu Wenzhao looked at Zhu Qiwu and remained silent for a long while.

Then he laughed.

That smile was different from before. Before, it was the smile of a cat watching a mouse; now, it was the smile of someone who had found their direction.

"Seventh Prince, I'm convinced."

"Good that you've accepted it," Zhu Qiwu said. "Go inside. Fourth Brother is waiting."

The two entered the council chamber.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat in the main seat, looking at Lu Wenzhao with eyes like knives.

"You're Lu Wenzhao?"

"Yes." Lu Wenzhao cupped his hands in greeting. "Lu Wenzhao, Zhang Shicheng's chief strategist. I've come today to pledge my allegiance to His Highness Prince Wu."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't speak, he just looked at him.

Then Zhu Yuanzhang said something.

Why did you come?

Lu Wenzhao closed his folding fan and tapped it in his palm.

"Because I saw something in Enko's exam room."

"What is that?"

“Hope,” Lu Wenzhao said. “Zhang Shicheng can’t give me hope. But your fourth brother can. The questions your brother set weren’t testing academic knowledge, they were testing people’s hearts. The person who can answer those questions well will be the one who brings a better life to the people in the future. I want to work for such a person.”

Zhu Qiwu nodded to him.

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a while, then stood up and walked to Lu Wenzhao.

"Lu Wenzhao, I, Zhu Yuanzhang, don't judge people by their background, only by their abilities. Since you're here, I'll give you a chance. You'll be in charge of training those thirty-five people who passed the special imperial examination. If you train them well, I'll give you an official position. If you don't, you'll go back to where you came from."

Lu Wenzhao's eyes lit up.

"Your Highness, rest assured. In my life, I, Lu Wenzhao, only respect two people: you and your younger brother."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled.

"That's good. Go ahead. You'll take up your post tomorrow with those thirty-five people."

Lu Wenzhao cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Zhu Yuanzhang, then cupped his hands again towards Zhu Qiwu, before turning and leaving.

As he walked out of the council chamber, his white figure shone brightly in the sunlight.

Zhu Qiwu stood next to Zhu Yuanzhang, looking in the direction where Lu Wenzhao had disappeared.

"Fourth Brother, do you really believe him?"

“I don’t completely trust him,” Zhu Yuanzhang said, “but I trust you. If you say he’s capable, then use him. If he’s used wrongly, I’ll deal with him.”

Zhu Qiwu laughed.

"Fourth Brother, you're too good to me."

"Stop flattering me," Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him. "Go and rest. There are important matters to attend to tomorrow."

Zhu Qiwu turned and walked out.

As they reached the door, Zhu Yuanzhang said something from behind.

"75."

"exist."

"Thank you."

Zhu Qiwu paused for a moment.

He didn't turn around, but the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Fourth Brother, we're brothers. No need for thanks."

He pushed open the door and went out.

The sun was shining brightly outside, and the streets of Yingtianfu were bustling with people—sellers of sesame cakes, people carrying loads on shoulder poles, people riding horses, and people walking—each with an indescribable expression on their face.

That thing is called hope.

Zhu Qiwu took a deep breath and then walked towards his own courtyard.

Tomorrow, thirty-five people will take office.

But he still has a lot to do.

The sign-in rewards for tomorrow are already waiting on the system panel.

He didn't know what the reward would be tomorrow.

But he knew that whatever it was, he could handle it.

The next morning, before dawn, Zhu Qiwu woke up.

I wasn't woken up by noise; I woke up on my own. My mind was full of things, and I couldn't fall back asleep.

He sat up and opened the system panel.

*Ding! Check-in successful.* Reward: A set of County-Level Governance Manuals, comprising five volumes: Official Administration, Finance and Taxation, Public Security, Water Conservancy, and Agriculture and Sericulture. Each volume details the entire process of a county's transformation from chaos to stability. Bonus: A talent file folder, capable of recording detailed information on up to one hundred individuals, including their abilities, personality, weaknesses, and loyalty, accessible anytime, anywhere. (End of Chapter)