Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

"Your Majesty's wise plan!"

Zhu Shuaiqin's eyes lit up, and an excited blush rose on his face.

"If this plan succeeds, Dezhou will become an impregnable fortress, comparable to the natural defenses of Xiangyang."

He looked incredulous.

"Thirty thousand farming tools can be transformed into a million soldiers; this is the best strategy to turn agriculture into warfare. We are truly impressed!"

Imperial Censor Lu Shique tucked his official tablet into his waistband, stepped forward three times, and bowed deeply to the ground.

"Your Majesty is wise! The diversion of the canal into a moat is a natural barrier that will surely terrify the Jurchens."

He straightened up, cupped his hands in greeting, and his voice resounded throughout the palace:

"Once this river is opened, Dezhou will become an impregnable fortress, serving as a shield for Shandong and facilitating the transport of grain, thus benefiting all the people."

"This is an unparalleled achievement, worthy of being recorded in history and shining for eternity!"

As soon as Lu Shique finished speaking, the officials in the hall bowed and echoed his words, and several military generals were beaming with joy, as if they could already see the day of success.

In an instant, cries of "Your Majesty is wise" rose and fell.

Amidst the fervent emotions of the crowd, only Jiang Yueguang appeared solemn and worried.

He took a few steps forward, bowed, and said:

"Your Majesty, I risk my life to ask: This river can certainly benefit the nation and the people, but what are the plans for the construction period?"

"Now that the bandits have not been pacified and the Jurchens are pressing in daily, I fear..."

"What Minister Jiang has considered is very reasonable, and it is clear that she has given it much thought."

Zhu Cilang raised his hand and waved it slightly, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"I have ordered the Ministry of Works to conduct a thorough investigation."

"The moat was no more than 15 feet deep (about 5 meters), and the water surface was 30 feet wide (about 100 meters). Gentle slopes were built on both sides to prevent collapse."

"The amount of soil to be excavated is no more than 77,000 cubic meters."

His gaze swept over the assembled officials.

"A single able-bodied man can dig more than three-tenths of an inch of soil in a day if he works hard. If we conscript 30,000 able-bodied men, who work from dawn till dusk, we can complete the task in eighty days."

Seeing that the ministers were all nodding in agreement, he continued to present his plans.

"I have specially allocated 100,000 taels of silver from the imperial treasury, with each man receiving a little over three fen of silver per day, totaling 90,000 taels. The remaining silver will be used for expenses."

"The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue shall jointly supervise the work, ensuring that the quality and quantity are met on time."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Jiding stomped his black boots on the ground and stepped forward to report:

"Your Majesty is wise and far-sighted. One hundred thousand taels of silver is equivalent to a million soldiers. It is truly a brilliant strategy with a huge profit margin."

"We, your humble servants, will supervise the construction day and night, and strictly order all departments to expedite the completion of the river defenses to secure the foundation of the nation."

Jiang Yueguang quickly calculated in his mind:

One and a half feet deep, thirty feet wide, more than 70,000 cubic meters of earth, 30,000 laborers for eighty days... Your Majesty has actually calculated the details of the project to this extent.

More importantly, the work-for-relief program not only benefits river defense but also wins over the hearts of displaced people and eliminates potential threats...

This plan is not only not a waste of manpower and resources, but is actually a wise and prudent strategy for pacifying the country and resisting foreign aggression.

Thinking of this, his brows suddenly relaxed, and he bowed deeply:

"Your Majesty's foresight is truly remarkable; this old minister is filled with admiration!"

"Now, by employing river works to accommodate displaced people, we not only alleviate their hunger and thirst but also gain the benefit of protecting the land and ensuring the people's well-being. This is truly a benevolent policy of our wise ruler, and we, your subjects, dare not fail to serve him with utmost sincerity!"

A soft sigh of relief filled the hall, the atmosphere suddenly eased, and the officials who had been looking at him with suspicion finally lowered their heads.

Amidst the discussions of the court officials, Zhu Cilang's gaze had already crossed the main hall and was fixed on the distant horizon.

A vast expanse of water, thirty feet wide, lies across the area. Though not as impregnable as Xiangyang, it still forms a formidable barrier.

But could a moat and the city of Dezhou alone really withstand the iron hooves of the Jurchens?

He suddenly issued a thunderous decree:

"Governor of Dengzhou and Laizhou, Jiang Yueguang!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly receive your instructions!"

"I hereby appoint you to oversee the construction of the city moat and grant you temporary authority over the canal. Within eighty days, you shall dig a 15-foot-deep trench and a 30-foot-wide channel."

"If the floodwaters aren't used to irrigate the moats before this year's flood season—!"

Zhu Cilang's drawn-out final note echoed between the beams and pillars.

Jiang Yueguang, with a solemn expression, untied the jade belt from his waist and placed it in front of the table:

"I hereby pledge my seal as governor! If the moat is breached by even half an inch, I request that my head be hung at the Dezhou Arrow Tower."

Zhu Cilang abruptly stood up, drawing everyone's thoughts back to that era of war:

"In the past, the Mongol Yuan army of 200,000 besieged Xiangyang and fought a bloody battle for six years, but failed to capture the city."

"If the moat is completed this time, I only require you to hold it for six months."

He turned to look at Jiang Yueguang.

"After June, I will lead the imperial army to break through the enemy's encirclement."

His voice seemed to pierce through time and space, returning to the blood-stained Han River 370 years ago.

The third year of Xianchun.

The Mongol army, raising high its battle banner proclaiming "First capture Xiangyang, then sail across the Han River into the Yangtze," launched a fierce southward invasion.

Kublai Khan's 200,000-strong army loomed over the city like a dark cloud, their hooves trampling the land of Jingxiang.

But those 25,000 Song soldiers stubbornly refused to retreat an inch, relying on the natural barrier of the Han River.

At that time, Lü Wenhuan was stationed in Xiangyang.

The moat, fifty-five zhang wide (about 180 meters), was filled with the floating corpses of Mongol soldiers.

The most dangerous section of the water, eighty zhang (about 200 meters) deep, was such that the Mongol cavalry's whips could not reach the Song city walls for the first time.

The Mongols were ultimately helpless against the fortified city.

General Ashu ordered the felling of all the ancient trees on Mount Lumen and the construction of a ten-zhang-high earthen fortress at the foot of Mount Wanshan. He also mobilized 70,000 naval troops and 5,000 warships to blockade the Han River, turning Xiangyang and Fancheng into isolated cities.

Six whole years!

In the first month of the ninth year of Xianchun, the garrison commander of Xiangyang finally surrendered due to exhaustion of food and reinforcements.

"We swear to live and die with this city! We will not yield an inch of land, we will fight for every drop of blood!"

The deafening sound of Zino interrupted Zhu Cilang's thoughts. He slightly raised his dragon head and continued to refine his plan:

"I will send a navy to garrison the Grand Canal, controlling its vital passages, forming a defensive alliance with the city moat."

"In this way, Dezhou City can be as solid as a rock, and even if the Jurchens have tens of thousands of iron cavalry, they will not be able to shake it in the slightest."

Jiang said Guang Shen Gong:

"Your Majesty is wise! The Caohe River is the bow, the city walls are the string, and Dezhou is the arrow piercing the clouds in Your Majesty's northern frontier."

"What a brilliant arrow that pierces the clouds!"

Zhu Cilang laughed loudly, his heroic spirit soaring to the heavens.

"I intend to use the three-thousand-mile-long Grand Canal as the dragon's sinew and the thirty-zhang-deep moat as the black armor, making Dezhou the national pillar I've secured at the gateway to Yan and Yun!"

Sunlight streamed through the windowpane, and shimmering gold fragments danced in his deep eyes.

This campaign was originally intended to last several months, but due to the Jurchens' arrogant advance, the Ming army was able to recapture Dezhou within a month.

After all the matters in the hall were settled, the officials bowed and prepared to leave—

But then Imperial Censor Lu Shique stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, there are still important matters concerning the law that have not been decided! The surrendered and traitorous officials Fang Dayou and Wang Aoyong are currently at the gate, humbly requesting Your Majesty's decision."

"What are your thoughts, Lord Lu?"

Lu Shique pressed his hand on the imperial censor's tablet and said proudly:

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"The two traitors, Fang and Wang, had been favored by the state for generations and held high positions in the government. Yet they betrayed their master for personal gain, inviting wolves into the house and causing great suffering to the people of Shandong."

His eyes were bloodshot and wide open.

"According to the Great Ming Code, these two traitors should be executed by slow slicing, their heads displayed along the nine border regions; all male members of their three clans should be beheaded, and their female relatives should be confiscated and enslaved."

Zhu Cilang's gaze sank into the deep shadows of the corner of the hall.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. As a piece of sandalwood ash silently broke, he turned to Lu Shique:

"What Minister Lu proposed is indeed in accordance with the law."

"However, the crimes of these two villains concern the safety of the nation and are the focus of the world's attention. If they are executed on the spot in front of the army, although it may please the people, it may be regarded as a reward for military merit, which would undermine the solemnity of the imperial law."

He paused briefly, then his voice became stern.

"The two traitors shall be escorted to the Southern Capital for a joint trial by the three judicial departments to be sentenced according to the law."

"Firstly, it demonstrates the strictness of the imperial court's laws and regulations."

"Secondly, this case can serve to deter disloyal thoughts throughout the land."

"Thirdly, to appease the resentment of the people of Shandong."

"Do you have any further suggestions?"

After a moment's thought, Lu Shique understood the Emperor's profound meaning and immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty is benevolent and kind. This not only demonstrates the solemnity of the national law but also the majesty of Heaven. Your subject respectfully obeys the decree."