When it came to the art of screwing people over, Zeng Cheng felt he was second to none. After all, he had managed to become a prefect during the Great Qing era; if he hadn't been skilled at deception, he would likely have been scammed to death long ago.
When it came to screwing over an entire nation, Zeng Cheng believed it wasn't entirely impossible. The example of the Great Qing was right there. If one tried hard enough, one could definitely screw things up.
But when it came to screwing over all the other countries on the entire small broken sphere…
Aside from the peculiar gadget known as the "small broken pot," Zeng Cheng truly couldn't think of any other method.
However, even the "small broken pot" had no possibility of screwing over all the countries on the small broken sphere.
For example, France, England, Russia, and the United States.
The calculation by Great Ming against Russia, and France and England's plan to carve a piece of meat off Russia, were operations that were exclusive to the Five Great Benevolent Ones. Other members of the "small broken pot" absolutely did not have the qualification to play like this.
As long as Emperor Zhu hadn't completely decided to abolish the "small broken pot" and still wished for it to operate normally, the interests of these Great Benevolent Ones like France had to be guaranteed.
Otherwise, who would take the "small broken pot" seriously?
However, what Zeng Cheng did not expect was that Zhu Jinsong merely chuckled and asked, "Minister Zeng, what do you think is the best way to screw over other countries? Is it to make those countries fall into chaos from the bottom up? Or to target their economies? Or perhaps to directly incite those countries to fight each other?"
Zeng Cheng bowed and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this minister believes that to screw over all other countries on the small broken sphere, the best method is undoubtedly to make them chaotic from the bottom up. Once they are in chaos, their economies will collapse, and the possibility of them fighting their neighbors will naturally increase infinitely."
Zhu Jinsong hummed in response and continued to ask, "Then, Minister Zeng, how do you think we can make them chaotic from the bottom up?"
Zhu Jinsong's question rendered Zeng Cheng momentarily speechless. Even Liu Huaiwen and other prominent figures frowned.
As the saying goes, the eminent officials in the Great Ming court, when combined, possessed as many as 10086 schemes. It was incredibly easy for them to make one country chaotic from the bottom up. But to make all the other countries on the entire small broken sphere chaotic…
Perhaps even 68001 schemes wouldn't be enough!
After careful consideration, Liu Huaiwen tentatively suggested, "Perhaps we can start with the economies of these countries, making their economies chaotic first?"
But as soon as Liu Huaiwen finished speaking, Zeng Cheng shook his head and said, "That's impossible. The economic collapse of these countries after they fall into chaos is one thing. For our Great Ming to actively cause their economies to collapse is another matter. The former has no impact on our Great Ming, but the latter requires our Great Ming to actively gamble its credit on treasure notes and dragon dollars, which also has a significant impact on our Great Ming."
Seeing Liu Huaiwen's suggestion rejected, Liu Hemming spoke up, "Send people to assassinate the heads of state of other countries and frame their neighbors?"
Zeng Cheng glanced at Liu Hemming and retorted, "Commander Liu's suggestion is truly excellent—the heads of state of all other countries on the small broken sphere are all assassinated, yet our Great Ming remains untouched. Isn't this like protesting too much, revealing guilt?"
Liu Hemming unconvincingly argued, "Even if I am protesting too much, what can they do about it? In terms of fighting, can our Great Ming not take on the entire small broken sphere single-handedly right now!"
"Then is that still called screwing them over?" Zeng Cheng retorted indignantly. "Your Majesty spoke of screwing over all the other countries on the small broken sphere, not you leading troops to directly confront other countries on the small broken sphere."
Seeing that Zeng Cheng, Liu Huaiwen, and Liu Hemming couldn't convince each other, and were even on the verge of a quarrel, Zhu Jinsong simply coughed and said, "If you still can't guess, then should I just tell you the answer?"
Zeng Cheng immediately bowed and said, "Please enlighten Your Majesty?"
Liu Huaiwen and Liu Hemming, along with the other prominent figures, also bowed in unison, "Please enlighten Your Majesty!"
Zhu Jinsong hummed, coughed again, cleared his throat, and then slowly said, "Arise, ye slaves, who are hungry and cold! Arise, ye suffering people of the world! Our blood and flesh have been devoured… A free and beautiful life will surely be realized."
Zhu Jinsong's speaking pace was not fast, and his enunciation was very clear.
Therefore, Zeng Cheng and the other prominent figures' faces immediately darkened.
To become the masters of the world?
Not relying on an immortal emperor?
The most hateful thing is that poisonous snakes and fierce beasts have devoured our blood and flesh?
Eliminate them completely?
If they were not in the Wenhua Hall of the Great Ming Imperial City, and if it weren't for the legend that the Son of Heaven was protected by national destiny and that all evil spirits and outer ways could not approach the Son of Heaven's dragon body, Zeng Cheng would have thought that Zhu Jinsong, the Emperor of Great Ming, was possessed!
After a long period of anxious contemplation, Zeng Cheng hesitantly said, "Your Majesty, this…"
Zhu Jinsong chuckled and asked, "What, does Minister Zeng perhaps think I have lost my mind?"
Zeng Cheng really wanted to say – if he hadn't lost his mind, what other emperor would openly say such things?
However, Zhu Jinsong looked at Zeng Cheng, Liu Huaiwen, Liu Hemming, and the other prominent figures, and asked seriously, "What the hell does this song have to do with our Great Ming?"
With Zhu Jinsong's words, Zeng Cheng and the other prominent figures almost spat out three meters of blood!
Who are the masters of the world?
It is Zhu Jinsong, the Emperor of Great Ming!
Not relying on an immortal emperor?
You, Zhu Jinsong, happen to be the Emperor of Great Ming!
Also, it seems that I, Zeng, and these prominent figures in the court are the poisonous snakes and fierce beasts you are talking about, aren't we?
Eliminate me, Zeng, and all the prominent figures of the court?
However, upon further reflection, Zeng Cheng suddenly felt that Zhu Jinsong's last sentence was very true – what the hell does this song have to do with Great Ming?
Does Great Ming have slaves?
Great Ming has no slaves. All the people of Great Ming have their household registration in Great Ming. Apart from the rule that one must bow when seeing the emperor and the priority given to soldiers, the people of Great Ming did not need to kneel to anyone.
Devouring blood and flesh? Reclaiming the fruits of labor?
Great Ming did not seize the fruits of labor of any citizen.
Not only did they not seize it, but they also provided various welfare benefits to the people. They had the right to allocate land and homesteads at birth. From the day they were born, they had the right to study in school and then freely choose to join the army, become officials, farm, or engage in business. When migrating outwards, they could even receive concubines allocated by the government. Who would snatch even a small amount of property from the common people?
Did they really think the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Heaven and Earth Society were mere decorations!
However, even though they knew this song had little to do with Great Ming, Zeng Cheng and the other prominent figures still felt uneasy. Meng Fanzhi, the head of the Ministry of Rites, even bowed directly and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, if this is a song, then its incitement is too strong. Once it spreads…"
Zhu Jinsong smiled and waved his hand, saying, "It is precisely because this song is too incendiary that I intend to have it spread. Not only spread, but spread throughout the entire small broken sphere."
Speaking of this, Zhu Jinsong said word by word, "If the people of Great Ming also agree with this song, and feel that I, the Emperor of Great Ming, have devoured their blood and flesh, then it can only mean that I, this emperor, am truly the poisonous snake and fierce beast described in the lyrics!"
"If such a situation occurs, what do you ministers think, can this song not be spread and we can rest easy?"
"Think about the Chongzhen Emperor's era, did this song exist then? Did Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong not rebel because they hadn't heard this song?"
"Also, during the Mongolian Yuan dynasty, did Emperor Taizu Hongwu ever hear this song? Did he embark on his military campaign because he hadn't heard this song?"
Zeng Cheng and the others felt that Zhu Jinsong's words made a lot of sense, but they still felt something was not quite right.
After pondering for a long time, Zeng Cheng discovered the problem – Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong had not heard this song, and the founding Emperor Hongwu of Great Ming had not heard this song either. But if they had heard this song earlier, they would probably have started a rebellion long ago!
No.
If this song had existed during the Chongzhen period or the Mongolian Yuan period, the rebels might not have been limited to just a few of them!
After careful consideration, Zeng Cheng still couldn't help but advise, "Your Majesty, it is best not to spread this song? This minister does not doubt that this song can make all other countries on the small broken sphere chaotic, but this…"
This is too damn ridiculous!
An emperor composed a song titled "Not Relying on an Immortal Emperor" and then spread this song throughout the entire world?
It can only be said that this emperor is ruthless, ruthless enough to even screw himself over!
After another period of silence, Zeng Cheng tentatively said, "If Your Majesty truly wants people to spread this song, this minister feels it would be best to first spread it in Europa."
Zhu Jinsong chuckled and said, "Not only will I have people spread it in Europa first, but I also plan to have this song translated into the French language and sung in French and English."
Upon hearing Zhu Jinsong's words, Zeng Cheng couldn't help but exclaim "Holy cow!"
This is too vicious!
It must be said that although the national strength of France is nothing compared to Great Ming, France is still considered an old and strong country in Europa. The French language is definitely more widespread in Europa than the official language of Great Ming.
Let's put it this way: before the rise of Great Ming, nobles in Europa took pride in speaking French. It wasn't until the sudden rise of Great Ming, and Louis XVI and the French nobles actively became Great Ming's lapdogs, that the official language of Great Ming began to spread in Europa.
But how many years has the official language of Great Ming been popularized?
There are definitely a large number of French-speaking nobles in Europa!
And English, although previously considered the language of barbarians and its influence in Europa was less than that of French, its status in Europa's martial arts world has also risen sharply since the Seven Years' War, and the number of speakers is considerable!
If, as Zhu Jinsong said, this song were first translated into French and English, then this song would definitely spread throughout Europa in the shortest possible time, and it could even reach the United States!
As for the Russian language… Zeng Cheng believed that Emperor Zhu would certainly send people to create a Russian version.
The problem is that France, England, and Russia are all among the Five Great Benevolent Ones of the "small broken pot." On the small broken sphere, they are equivalent to the double flower red sticks under Great Ming!
Emperor Zhu is not letting even his own subordinates off the hook!
The more he thought about it, the more distressed and conflicted he became. In the end, Zeng Cheng simply gritted his teeth and stomped his foot, giving up completely!
As the saying goes, the thought of giving up instantly broadens the mind. Anyway, it is the barbarians in Europa who are being screwed, and it is the barbarians in Europa who are unlucky. As long as the Great Ming court does not court death, this song, no matter how widely sung, will not affect Great Ming!
However, what Zeng Cheng and the other prominent figures did not expect was that Zhu Jinsong, the instigator, asked with a proud look, "I said earlier that I could screw over all countries on the entire small broken sphere. Do you ministers believe it now?"
Zeng Cheng and the other prominent figures certainly believed it.
For example, in Russia, Russia is still using the serf system. The serfs who are largely bound to farm owners and nobles were doing better before hearing this song. Once they hear this song, and someone describes the tempting prospects in the song to them, will the Russian serfs still obediently tolerate being oppressed by farm owners and nobles?
For example, in the United States, farm owners in the United States are very fond of using Kunlun slaves to grow cotton.
According to popular rumor, if the Kunlun slaves in the United States perform well, they can be rewarded with watermelons…
If they perform poorly, they can only endure the scolding of the farm owners, and their lives might not even be guaranteed.
If the Kunlun slaves in the United States were to hear this song…
What about the commoners and Kunlun slaves in France and England…
Suddenly, Zeng Cheng realized that something was wrong. "Your Majesty, our Great Ming does not have slaves, but our Great Ming still has a large number of laborers. If these laborers hear this song, won't it be a disaster?"
Zhu Jinsong, however, smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Laborers? What does Great Ming have to do with laborers? Don't forget, the laborers are all dispatched by England and France!"
With Zhu Jinsong's words, Zeng Cheng was suddenly at a loss for words.
And Zhu Jinsong continued, "Furthermore, although our Great Ming has laborers, doesn't our Great Ming also have supervisors? Moreover, those supervisors are all ruthless Japanese barbarians—the laborers are dispatched, and the supervisors are from Japan. What does this have to do with our Great Ming?"
"From the very beginning, I never intended to let the people of Great Ming get their hands dirty."
"As the saying goes, if all realms sin, the sin lies with me."
"It is the rules I set, and the responsibility lies with me, not with the people of the world."
Zeng Cheng suddenly felt that all his years of studying the words of the sages had been in vain.
At the very least, the phrase "if all realms sin, the sin lies with me" should not be interpreted like this, right?
Also, which Emperor of Great Ming sitting on the dragon throne back then was shouting "if all realms sin, the sin lies with all realms"?