Cao Huachun stood quietly at the side, listening from beginning to end without interrupting, his posture relaxed yet attentive, as if he had already decided that today was not a day for him to speak.
Zhu Youjian slowly turned his gaze toward him, his expression carrying a trace of dissatisfaction mixed with curiosity.
"Old Cao, you used to be firmly in favor of war. Back when Gao Qiqian was still alive, the two of you argued endlessly, day after day, as if neither of you could stand the other's opinion. So why is it that recently, you have suddenly gone silent instead?"
Cao Huachun lowered his eyes slightly, his thoughts moving faster than his expression.
I have stayed by your side for so many years, how could I not understand your temperament by now? At a time like this, speaking less is the safest path, because the more I say, the more likely I am to step into trouble and make unnecessary enemies.
He steadied his breathing, his gaze settling calmly as if he were meditating, to the point that he almost looked like he might start chanting a Buddhist scripture at any moment.
With a composed tone, he replied, "This old servant's understanding is shallow, far beneath Your Majesty's foresight. All matters should naturally be decided by Your Majesty alone."
That answer immediately eased Zhu Youjian's mood.
Yes, this was how things should be. Cao Huachun was dependable, unlike those so-called officials outside who dared to criticize him without restraint, calling him a foolish ruler and accusing him of delaying military opportunities, even going so far as to claim that he was ruining the nation.
The more Zhu Youjian thought about it, the more indignant he felt.
Am I truly a ruler who brings harm to his country? That is simply absurd.
For more than ten years since ascending the throne, he had governed diligently, working tirelessly without rest, saving countless civilians during the great drought, suppressing the chaos caused by roaming bandits, and now even achieving a great victory against the Manchu forces.
Each of these accomplishments stood as undeniable proof of his ability.
I am clearly a wise and virtuous ruler, a monarch destined to restore the Ming Dynasty to its former glory, and yet these people dare to call me incompetent.
The thought alone made his expression darken.
If I were to follow their suggestions now, would that not be equivalent to admitting that I am indeed a foolish ruler? That is something I will never accept.
With a cold face, he gave his order.
"Send commands to all Jinyiwei across the land and instruct them to act immediately. Every instigator must be arrested and brought to justice without exception."
Cao Huachun bowed deeply and replied, "This servant obeys."
The imperial decree was issued at once, spreading outward from the capital.
However, once it left the palace, it was as if it had fallen into an endless sea, vanishing without a trace of effectiveness.
The Jinyiwei across various regions rushed about busily, searching everywhere with great enthusiasm, yet despite all their efforts, they failed to capture even a single target, their actions resembling a group of confused fools chasing shadows.
Zhu Youjian understood very well that information did not travel quickly. News from the provinces would take several days to reach the capital, and after he issued his orders, it would take several more days for them to arrive at their destination. By the time the local Jinyiwei began their operations, even more time would have passed.
Under such circumstances, there was nothing he could do except wait patiently.
What he did not realize was that the people of Gao Family Village were operating under an entirely different system, one in which information moved with astonishing speed, almost as if it were happening in real time.
Throughout the major cities within the Liberation Zones of Dao Xuan Tianzun, enormous Immortal Treasure Mirrors had been installed at city gates and marketplaces, allowing citizens in urban areas and nearby regions to quickly grasp developments across the entire realm. Through the extensive Solar Bus Network, this information was then carried outward, spreading efficiently from cities into the countryside.
On Gao Family News, a young scholar appeared before the camera, speaking with confidence and clarity.
"Dear viewers, a group of students in Yan'an recently submitted a joint petition to the Emperor, requesting that he issue an order to attack Shenyang. Unfortunately, our petition has once again been ignored, as it was withheld without response. Not only did the Emperor refuse our request, but he has also dispatched the Jinyiwei to arrest us."
Across from him, the female reporter widened her eyes slightly, deliberately exaggerating her surprise.
"Does that mean you are now in great danger?"
The scholar smiled calmly, showing no sign of panic.
"There is no need to worry. We are perfectly safe, and the Jinyiwei will not be able to find us."
The reporter tilted her head, her tone light.
"Really? Because I found you quite easily."
The scholar's smile froze instantly, his expression turning stiff as he struggled to respond.
At that very moment, a loud knocking sound echoed from outside, followed by a firm voice.
"Jinyiwei, open the door."
The scholar reacted as if struck by lightning, leaping to his feet in a single motion.
"I will take my leave first."
Without waiting for another word, he rushed out of the frame, leaving the camera focused solely on the reporter, who maintained her composed smile as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Our interview subject has temporarily withdrawn. Whether he will be captured or not remains to be seen, so please stay tuned for our next report."
The audience watching the broadcast immediately grew anxious, their concern evident in their reactions.
"This is bad, those students in Yan'an might really get caught."
"If they are captured, they will definitely be thrown into the imperial prison."
"I just hope they manage to stay safe."
The scene shifted once again.
This time, the camera appeared at the entrance of Luoyang University, where a reporter stood with a professional smile.
"Hello everyone, I am currently standing outside a private academy established by Mr. Gu Yanwu. It has been said that the students here recently held a discussion forum, so let us go inside and learn more about it."
As she entered the campus, she immediately noticed something unusual.
The school was completely empty.
There were no teachers, no students, and no signs of normal activity.
Instead, a group of Jinyiwei could be seen wandering around the grounds, their presence creating an atmosphere of tension.
The reporter blinked in surprise before stepping forward.
"Excuse me, officers, may I ask what is happening here?"
One of the Jinyiwei turned toward her, his expression impatient.
"This is an official investigation. All unrelated individuals must leave immediately."
The reporter smiled politely, her tone calm yet firm.
"I am not an unrelated individual. I am a journalist. Dao Xuan Tianzun has clearly stated that the government should be subject to supervision by the press, so I request to report on your actions in full."
The Jinyiwei frowned, clearly irritated.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Leave at once, or do not blame us for being rude."
As he spoke, his attention shifted to the large device behind her, his confusion evident.
"What exactly is that thing doing?"
Behind the reporter stood a massive recording device, nearly the size of a door panel, carried steadily by a team of special operations soldiers.
Naturally, the Jinyiwei from the capital had never seen such a thing before.
The reporter smiled gently as she explained, "This is a recording device. It captures everything that appears before it."
The Jinyiwei frowned even more deeply.
"And what use is that?"
The reporter's smile grew slightly brighter as she answered.
"For example, if someone were to accept bribes while carrying out official duties, this device would record everything. Later, the footage could be displayed on the Immortal Treasure Mirror for everyone to see."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The faces of the Jinyiwei darkened, their expressions turning grim.
To an organization that had already begun to decay, such a device was nothing short of a disaster waiting to happen.
The leading officer quickly made his decision.
"Destroy it."
Several Jinyiwei stepped forward, preparing to carry out the order.
However, before they could get close, they were stopped by the special operations soldiers standing guard.
The two sides faced each other, tension rising rapidly.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Obstructing a Jinyiwei investigation is punishable by arrest."
The next moment, the confrontation erupted into chaos, with blows exchanged in quick succession, the sounds of impact echoing across the empty campus.
In a remarkably short time, the Jinyiwei were forced into retreat, fleeing in disarray without even attempting to maintain their dignity.
Once they were gone, the quiet campus suddenly came to life.
Several concealed panels in the ground opened, and from beneath them emerged a large number of students and teachers, including Gu Yanwu himself, all of whom appeared completely at ease, as if the danger had never truly concerned them.
They waved cheerfully at the reporter.
"Oh, a journalist has arrived. Are you here for an interview? Please hurry, while the Jinyiwei are unlikely to return anytime soon, we should make the most of this opportunity."
The camera turned toward the students as the reporter smiled and began her questions.
"We have heard that the students of Luoyang University recently held a debate. Could you share what topic you discussed? Was it about whether Zhu Youjian is a foolish ruler?"
One student representative stepped forward, shaking his head calmly.
"No, whether Zhu Youjian is a foolish ruler is no longer important to us."
Another student continued, his tone steady and thoughtful.
"The real question we are concerned with is something deeper."
A third student spoke, his voice clear and firm.
"What kind of system gives rise to a foolish ruler in the first place?"
The first student concluded, his words carrying weight.
"Our topic is this."
"That absolute power leads to absolute corruption."