To save the Great Ming Dynasty from peril, the Wanli Emperor chose to become a renowned novelist.
This would be tested in the imperial examinations annually.
Launched in the twenty-fifth year of Wanli, it was a mandatory publication for scholars across the land, the sole designated imperial examination textbook of the Great Ming.
The author received the Great Ming's 2025 Wanli Annual Best Creator Award.
It was recommended that a directive be issued to every county and township; the trifecta was essential!
"In this way, wouldn't we be able to mass-produce divine ghosts aligned with our faction?"
The Wanli Emperor voiced this idea to Old Shen.
Old Shen grinned, "That's possible, but it offers no real benefit to the nation. If everyone is engrossed in novels and storybooks, prioritizing entertainment, who will govern the country?"
"Furthermore, if you use this method to create a large number of divine ghosts, but the origin of these divine ghosts lies solely in your manuscript, once the manuscript is stolen or destroyed, these divine ghosts will also directly dissipate."
"It's like how the fundamental principles of magic originate from the manifestation of the Great Dao, but the Great Dao itself will never disappear. It cannot even be said to have a tangible form. What the world sees are merely the edges of the Great Dao, mere phantoms descending upon the mortal realm."
"It is formless yet exists truly, while the divine ghosts created by novels, though they have form, are illusory existences, not real."
Old Shen sighed, suddenly entering a state of recollection.
"However, there is a method by which wishes can appear in printed publications. Your Majesty seeking me out is precisely the right course."
"When I first met Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he proudly showed me the usage of 'Golden Crow Jade Rabbit Collection.' A group of Onmyoji infused their wishes into the book, and the monsters within manifested their true forms and spirits."
"By depleting one's national destiny, one can empower printed publications, turning the false into the true."
The Wanli Emperor was startled, "Depleting national destiny? Has Hideyoshi gone mad?"
"Accumulating national destiny is no easy feat. It requires peace and prosperity for the populace, and a relatively peaceful era for national destiny to strengthen. Once too much national destiny is lost, natural disasters and man-made calamities will follow, creating a vicious cycle."
"Even unsuccessful wars can lead to the loss of national destiny, and simultaneously, national prestige will be eroded."
"Historically, we have only heard of bestowing titles upon divine ghosts using national prestige, never using national destiny to confer titles upon divine ghosts! National destiny is the foundation of a nation; once depleted, it is difficult to recover. Is he gambling everything? Has he not considered that if he fails to conquer Joseon, his own Japan will collapse entirely?"
Old Shen smiled, "Perhaps not necessarily. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi mentioned national destiny, he claimed to have found a method for its rapid growth, though I do not know what it is."
The Wanli Emperor felt a slight surprise and asked, "What about the matter of you sending him elixirs? Were they truly poison pills?"
Old Shen recalled, "The elixirs I gave him at that time were indeed poison pills that reversed the five elements. I didn't just give them to him; I also gave them to three other high-ranking officials, telling them they were elixirs for longevity."
"If a person consumed such a pill, the vital energy of their internal organs would become uncoordinated. Within days, the human body would transform from robust to weak, and their flesh and essence would be consumed."
"Yet, after he consumed it, there was no abnormality. He could still meet with me as usual. Perhaps my pills were too crude and were deciphered by the Onmyoji of the Wokou."
The information obtained from Old Shen was limited, but in the end, Old Shen added a remark.
The last time Toyotomi Hideyoshi met him, he carried a strong scent of incense, a smell of blood, and a very faint, strange odor that resembled the smell of decay.
However, after much thought, he could not find anything abnormal about Toyotomi Hideyoshi during their fifth meeting. Although there was a smell of decay on him, he was still a living person, with a ruddy complexion, a heartbeat, and robust vital energy.
Fragrance, the smell of blood, the smell of decay.
"Regardless of which scent, they are all very strange. The mixture of the three is not something a normal person could tolerate."
"If one cannot truly meet, one cannot ascertain the other's condition or the source of their peculiar behavior. But the matter of increasing national destiny is likely not something that can be easily discerned. Our vast Divine Land, since the time of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, has seen countless capable individuals and immortals, yet none have researched similar sorcery. How can Japan, a mere speck of land, possess such a technique?"
"This method likely harms heavenly harmony."
The Wanli Emperor analyzed it thoroughly.
He frowned, mused for a moment, saw through the scheme, and abandoned the plan.
However, one point was certain.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi had become a rabid dog, and the Korean War must be concluded immediately! Otherwise, it might leave a great hidden danger. The divine ghost incident that occurred on June 19th, the Wanli Emperor now believed that this day was definitely not a good day.
The Wanli Emperor angrily questioned Old Shen again, "Why didn't you tell me this news sooner?"
Old Shen immediately grinned, "At that time, Your Majesty was furious and had me apprehended directly from the battlefield. Upon arriving at Suncheon, I was immediately thrown into the Imperial Prison and sentenced to death. I had no opportunity to tell you!"
Ji Xiang then spoke.
"If printed materials cannot spontaneously generate form and spirit, but require the borrowing of national destiny for consecration, can one not directly use corpses or similar forms and spirits?"
Shen Weijing was taken aback, then ran a hand through his hair and chuckled,
"Then I can probably understand the situation."
In fact, without Old Shen speaking, Ji Xiang already understood.
This so-called necromancer.
The true "underworld operation," wasn't it?
The operation was similar to that of the Song Dynasty, but the actual usage was much cruder than that of the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty's spirits were attached to divine positions, not only retaining the power of the divine generals themselves but also enhancing the strength of the possessor. If Japan were truly using the inferior operation of transforming corpses into divine ghosts, then there would be no need to worry too much.
This was merely their final madness.
"Anything involving wishes becomes very peculiar. This kind of power, when used for good, can save a nation; when used for evil, it can destroy a dynasty. When used to spread doctrines, it can grant evil gods righteousness and turn righteous people into evildoers."
The Wanli Emperor, having heard Old Shen's words, felt a deep resonance.
At that time, it seemed the Fire Lord and others were planning a similar operation, aiming to make everyone in the world abnormal, so they could control all changes in the new era.
With this thought, the Wanli Emperor suddenly solidified a conviction.
To counter such evil doctrines, writing books and establishing oneself as a sage ruler was imperative!
Old Shen was still muttering, "But it still doesn't explain why they are using national destiny for consecration. Perhaps they are truly mad."
"Could it be that their national prestige is insufficient?"
The Wanli Emperor was rather pleased. If their national prestige was insufficient, it meant the other side could not continue fighting. This was the best outcome.
Old Shen shook his head and looked at Ji Xiang's dark red robe, murmuring, "A Daoist official, a not-lowly status. You seem unfamiliar, may I ask which Daoist friend you are?"
"Wudang."
Old Shen cupped his hands, "Once I am released, I will no longer dabble in court affairs. I hope the higher-ups will take me in."
The Wanli Emperor laughed in exasperation, "You are still here, and you are already thinking of leaving?"
Old Shen grinned, "Your Majesty, your personal visit here indicates you will not kill me. I am truly happy. You are a wise and enlightened ruler, with keen insight."
The Wanli Emperor waved his hand, instructing the people of the Northern Commandery to look after Old Shen well. They were to wait for the next batch of intelligence from the front lines and ensure he was not treated too harshly. He also instructed them to take care of Minister Shi.
Ji Xiang smiled and agreed to Old Shen's request. After all, a master who had achieved Five Qi Towards the Origin could be promoted to a Golden Core Earth Immortal at any time. Having another Earth Immortal to guard the land was an incredible power. If an expert willingly joined, the more the merrier.
"Liu Mengyin, come with me."
The Wanli Emperor then led Liu Mengyin away, pulling him aside. Liu Mengyin was very flustered, repeatedly calling out "Long live the wise Emperor."
The Wanli Emperor's first sentence, however, was, "I intend to write a novel. Come and help me polish the draft."
"Ah?!"