Emperor Wanli

Author: Li Derong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-05-01
Features: Zhu Yijun was originally the son of a concubine of the Prince of Yu in the capital. In his early years, he inherited the throne and became Emperor Wanshi. At the beginning of his reign, he benefited from the guidance of his strict mother, the Empress Dowager, and the assistance of the famous minister Zhang Juzheng, which temporarily restored the state's strength. However, after Zhu Yijun took personal control of the government in adulthood, no one could restrain him. He became willful and reckless, refusing to attend court lectures, neglecting ancestral rites, and indulging in debauchery in the imperial harem. He was also greedy for wealth and luxury, dispatching notorious mining and salt tax officials to stay in the, exploiting the people for money, causing widespread anger and resentment, and leading to uprisings all over the country. This book follows history as its framework, with a twisting plot and vivid characters. It boldly exposes the depravity of human nature in the struggles for power in the palace, and vividly portrays the wisdom of the clever and the bravery of the courageous in the clash of the two rivals. Reading it will undoubtedly stir the mind and soul, leaving readers reluctant to put it down.