Chapter 3: The Iron-Blooded Emperor of an Era, Yet Manipulated by a Time Traveler?

Ancient people were ignorant and superstitious, with the concept of the Divine Right of Kings deeply ingrained in their hearts.

Now, nine thunderbolts had allowed Qin Feng to turn danger into safety and preserve his life. Why not use such a supernatural phenomenon to make Old Zhu firmly believe in his identity as a time traveler?

Qin Feng took a deep breath and said with feigned solemnity, "Your Majesty, I wonder if this power of thunder is enough to prove my identity as a person from the future?"

Old Zhu’s legs felt a bit weak. Those nine thunderbolts from just moments ago were truly rare, and they had genuinely terrified him. If he had really slaughtered the youth before him, he might have dropped dead on the spot. With Heaven expressing its wrath and issuing a warning, how could he dare to defy the divine will?

Old Zhu smiled bitterly and said, "I am now deeply convinced of your identity, sir. You mentioned just now that you wanted to sever the dragon veins for the Great Ming; what did you mean by that?"

Qin Feng replied, "I only said that out of desperation. Didn't I tell you? I come from the future, so I naturally understand the historical trajectory of the times to come."

"Historical records indicate that the dynasty following the Great Ming originated from the Changbai Mountains, but I despise the rulers of that dynasty deeply."

"If I could cause it to perish from the start, perhaps I could extend the fortunes of the Great Ming Dynasty."

Old Zhu asked in confusion, "Why does the dynasty after the Great Ming make you harbor such hatred?"

"Closing the country to the outside world, allowing others to bully us, ceding territory, paying indemnities, humiliating the nation, groveling, and selling out the country for glory! That period of history is a disgrace so profound that even all the bamboo in the world would not be enough to record it!"

Qin Feng spoke incessantly to Old Zhu about the various unequal treaties signed between the Manchu Qing government and foreign powers since the Opium War. After listening to Qin Feng’s account, the expression on Old Zhu's face shifted from calm to curiosity, from curiosity to astonishment, and from astonishment to rage...

Such humiliation to the nation was enough to make both man and god indignant!

Old Zhu slammed the table and stood up, furious. "Preposterous! How could such a weak and humiliating Manchu Qing dynasty usurp the Great Ming's empire?"

"If I were still there, when would it ever be the turn of these barbarian thieves to ride roughshod over the Han people?"

"I ask you, sir, to assist me. I am determined to drive out the Tartars and restore our rivers and mountains!"

Qin Feng shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I am actually not suited to be an official. As a person from the future, my etiquette, behavior, speech, and way of thinking are vastly different from the people of this era."

"If I were to enter the court as an official, I fear I would be out of place, and it would only draw criticism from the ministers."

"Besides, I do not like the red tape and infighting of the court. Why not arrange a sinecure for me instead?"

Having finally traveled through time and made a connection with the Emperor, Qin Feng did not want to experience the life of a wage slave again. He only wanted to "lie flat" in the Great Ming, living the life of a young master who didn't have to worry about his livelihood and had concubines to serve him. With the knowledge and insight in his mind, just pulling out a little bit was enough to shock these ancient people!

"Your Majesty, I will be honest with you. I came to reveal my identity not only for the sake of my livelihood but also because the Great Ming is my favorite dynasty, and I hope to see it become even stronger!"

"The Great Ming Dynasty exemplifies the integrity of the Han people. Your descendants even uttered the heroic words: 'No ceding of territory, no payment of indemnities, no marriage alliances, no tribute; the Emperor guards the frontiers, and the monarch dies for the country!'"

"Whenever I read those records in the history books, my heart surges and my blood boils! Therefore, for the strength of the Great Ming, I am willing to contribute everything I have!"

Qin Feng spoke with great enthusiasm and passion!

Old Zhu was extremely shocked and moved!

"The Emperor guards the frontiers, and the monarch dies for the country!"

These were the heroic words spoken by his descendants?

How satisfying!

It was truly worthy of the descendants of his Zhu family to be able to say such stirring words. Old Zhu was instantly overjoyed, his heart filled with ecstasy. Even the gloom brought by the news of Zhu Biao’s illness and death vanished from his heart. Compared to the integrity of the Great Ming being remembered for thousands of years, the news of Zhu Biao's illness seemed trivial.

"What you have said, sir, has stirred ripples in my heart. Please, I beg you to teach me everything you know!"

*Ahem.*

Qin Feng coughed twice and said with a straight face, "Your Majesty, when I say I am willing to contribute everything, I mean that we must have an equivalent exchange. I am not providing technology to our Great Ming for free; you must not neglect the rewards that are due."

"That goes without saying. My Great Ming rewards and punishes clearly, something those Manchu barbarian lackeys could never compare to."

Old Zhu stood tall and proud, his face filled with arrogance and pride. If his Great Ming Dynasty could be praised so highly by a person from more than six hundred years in the future, it proved that his Zhu descendants were worthy enough!

"Your Majesty, have you thought about what kind of sinecure to arrange for me? It should preferably be a high-ranking position, but one that is sufficiently leisurely."

Old Zhu racked his brains, and suddenly, inspiration struck. He smiled and said, "How about appointing you as a Junior Tutor? To be a teacher for my princes, to preach the truth, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts?"

Old Zhu had his own agenda in making this arrangement. If Qin Feng was truly from the future, all the advanced knowledge and insights in his mind would be passed on to the Zhu descendants. And his descendants would be able to carry it on, preventing it from being squandered!

"Being a teacher is indeed a leisurely position, but the official title 'Junior Tutor' sounds terrible. Let’s call it 'Grand Tutor' instead!"

*Grand Tutor?*

*Great Father?*

*Why does it feel like my sons are being taken advantage of by this lad, yet I have no evidence...*

Old Zhu smiled slightly and asked, "Do you have any other requests, sir?"

"Your Majesty, you see, I am a man from the future, so please exempt me from the rituals of the palace."

"Furthermore, I love freedom and dislike the constraints of the palace. Could you grant me the privilege to enter and exit the palace at will?"

"Otherwise, I fear I might be in a bad mood if I stay in the palace for too long. And if I am in a bad mood, I don't mind summoning the power of thunder again to play around."

Upon hearing "the power of thunder," Old Zhu reacted as if triggered, his whole body trembling. When those nine thunderbolts descended upon the Wuying Hall, he had been frozen in shock. If that happened again, he feared he might drop dead on the spot.

Old Zhu smiled bitterly and said, "Please do not use your supernatural powers again; I grant all your requests."

"My Great Ming cannot withstand many such heavenly phenomena, or it will draw criticism from the ministers, and I will not be able to rule as Emperor in peace."

"I shall bestow upon you a token that allows you to enter and exit the palace freely, exempt you from palace etiquette, and I will arrange the position of Grand Tutor for you as soon as possible..."

"It is 'Grand Tutor'!!!" Qin Feng could not help but correct him.

"Yes, yes, yes, if you say Grand Tutor, then it is Grand Tutor. I will also bestow a mansion upon you, and all your future food and daily expenses will be fully supplied by the imperial court. How is that?"

Qin Feng nodded with satisfaction. With the Hongwu Emperor backing him, he would have no problem living a carefree life in Yingtian Prefecture for decades!

Meanwhile, Old Zhu felt incredibly depressed. As a iron-blooded emperor, he was being completely manipulated by the other party.

It was stifling!

So damn stifling!

If it were any other minister who dared to make such excessive demands, they would have been torn to pieces long ago. But he couldn't afford to offend the Qin Feng before him. He was a sage with great fortune, capable of triggering supernatural phenomena at will—who could handle that?

"Can the mansion bestowed by Your Majesty be arranged today?"