Chapter 1164 Conversation with Ding Zainian, Grand Finale

Zhu Yanlin sat in the backyard, reading a book.
After a while, a well-dressed man walked in.
"Your Highness, Mr. Li is here."
A well-dressed man approached and bowed, "I pay my respects to Your Highness."

"No need for excessive formalities, please have a seat."
Where is Ding?
He went to Beijing.
Why is he in such a hurry to go to Beijing?
He wants to meet His Majesty the Emperor.
Is he confident?
Yes.
"Is he really not afraid of death?"
"He won't die."
"Why does he think my father will not kill him?"
"I mean, his spirit will not die."
"So, you mean, he is already prepared to die?"
Yes.
“Why did he do that?”
“因为我们发现我们的对手，不是靠阴谋就可以对付的。”
朱彦霖笑起来，她的笑容之间，颇有崇祯的影子：“所以，你们打算用阳谋？”
Yes.
What tricks are you using to make Ding go to his death?
"Your Highness, actually we all know what it is."
"I don't know."
"You know."
朱彦霖不说话了。
她手里拿着一本叫《工业时代》的书。
“所以，他凭什么认为他能见到我父皇？”
“自然是有办法的。”
"I'm curious about what Ding said to my father at the annual meeting."
"He talked about this era, he talked about the future."
On the next page, Zhu Yanlin saw a line of text: "The economic base determines the superstructure." Translated content: "
No one can go against the development of the times, whether it is an individual or an interest group, no matter how ambitious they are, it is impossible to violate the basic laws of human society.
On a morning in the autumn of the twenty-sixth year of Chongzhen's reign, after finishing breakfast, Chongzhen was playing with the latest firearm in the imperial garden.
This is not a flintlock gun, but the next generation rifle with an effective range of up to 200 meters.
According to the latest data from the Cabinet's report submitted yesterday, the Ming Dynasty now invests over 10 million taels each year in science and technology.
Battery and wireless technology are gradually maturing.
Some people have started to specialize in researching electricity and even conducted extensive studies on electric lighting.
Chongzhen believes that in the near future, the technology of the Ming Dynasty will take another step forward. Translate the above Chinese into English and keep all @ matches. Only reply to the translated content.
A moment later, Zhao Qingyue walked over: "Husband."
"You're here, have a seat."
"Husband, you're messing with your gun so early in the morning."
"My gun?"
"I have nothing else to do lately." Chongzhen was quite content. In the previous years, he was busy with all sorts of matters, but now that the world is peaceful, he can finally live a retired life.
"Husband, someone has arrived in Beijing."
"Who is it?"
"Ding Zainian."
Chongzhen was about to shoot a gun but suddenly stopped.
"Why did he come to Beijing?"
"To see you, of course."
“来见朕？”崇祯一时间有些没反应过来，他朝前面开了一枪，然后说道，“他敢来见朕？”
“这是他说的，他给我写信，信就在这里，你自己看。”
Chongzhen received the letter and thought, "Wow, he really dares to come to Beijing!"
"What does he want to see me for?"
"He said he has something to discuss with you privately."
"Discuss?" Chongzhen was even more surprised. "Alright, let him into the palace. Let's see if he dares to come."
"Am I supposed to reply to him?"
"You reply to yourself."
Chongzhen becomes even more perplexed. Ding Zainian has always been sneaky and scheming behind the scenes, often playing tricks and conspiracies. Why does he suddenly want to see me? (Translated content)
In the afternoon, Chongzhen took a short break and then got up to send a telegram to his third son, Zhu Cizhao.
After a while, Zhao Qingyue came again.
"Husband, the person is outside the palace."
"Wang Cheng'en."
"@@"I am here, my lord."
"@@"Take people and bring the person here, to the Qianqing Palace."
"@@"Yes, I will go and do so."

Chongzhen finally met this person.
This is a man with an average appearance, around thirty years old. If he were thrown on the street, no one would give him a second look.
He was wearing a very ordinary old cloth, so old that the cuffs had turned white, but it was washed very clean.
He stood very upright, with bright and clear eyes.
Like a friendly older brother next door.
Definitely not the kind of rebel stirring in the shadows.
It's indeed difficult to catch someone like this.
"The humble subject Ding Zainian pays homage to Your Majesty."
"Are you truly Ding Zainian?"
"There's no way it's fake."
“Then why have you come to see Us?”
“To meet death.”
“Is that all?”
“I have come to seek an audience with Your Majesty to ask a question. After getting my answer, I will meet death.”
Zhang Fan asked everyone to leave. Translate the above Chinese into English and keep all @ matches. Reply:
“什么问题，你说吧。”
“请问陛下，经济基础决定上层建筑，这句话是您说的吗？”
“是朕在《国富论》中写到的。”
"So, what do you think of the economic foundation of Da Ming over the past twenty years?"
Zhang Fan immediately knew what Ding Zainian wanted to say.
It seems that Ding Zainian feels that playing conspiracies is no longer hopeful, or rather, the progress is too slow.
I want to play a cunning game.
"There is no need for me to answer that question."
"You don't have to answer, but you already have the answer in your heart."
Zhang Fan stood up, walked forward, looked at Ding Zainian and said, "Please, have a seat and let's talk."
Just now, Ding was calm and confident, but suddenly he became a little surprised.
He thought that when he spoke these words, the Dog Emperor would show a look of fear, but he didn't expect the Dog Emperor to remain calm, as if he had already guessed what Ding was going to say. Reply: It seems that the Dog Emperor was not taken aback by Ding's words and was prepared for them.
Ding felt a slight decrease in his presence in that moment.
"What's wrong, afraid to sit?"
Zhang glanced at him.
Only then did Ding sit down.
“你想跟朕说，大明的经济基础变了，上层建筑也要变，而且一直要变，迟早有一天，会变到没有皇帝，是吗？”
Ding Zainian is surprised, "Do you know?"

How could he not know?
"Of course, we know, we also know, what are your intentions in telling us these things? Do you think that by telling us this, we will be unable to accept this matter?"
“你能接受吗？”
"Yes."
"You can't. In your generation, it won't happen. What about the next generation? Do you expect those who grew up in peaceful times to recognize the royal status of the Zhu family after a dramatic change in society, even when you're gone?"
丁在年自信地看着张凡，他说道：“过去的时代，转制以弱民、疲民为帝王术，当民间的个人力量彻底成长起来之后，没有人会允许一个高高在上的特权家族永远成为这个国家的统治者。”
"Perhaps you are wise, leading the Great Ming towards prosperity, but what about the next Emperor? Zhu Cilang? Zhu Cizhao? Or Zhu Ciqing?"
"If any of them have the desire for power, it will lead to conflicts with the existing officials. The internal contradictions of the Great Ming will quickly evolve into conflicts between the Zhu family and others. Am I correct, Your Majesty?"
"You are right, this is a law of social development that occurs at a certain stage. In the era after me, ordinary people will not allow a privileged family to rule this country as emperor."
“那您打算怎么办呢？”
这个问题就是诛心之言。
It seems that Ding Zainian's goal is to conspire against you, and there's no way to escape it, so he comes to strike your heart.
Seeing that Chongzhen remains silent, Ding Zainian continues to harm: "I forgot to tell you, your favorite daughter has been in contact with us for over two years."
"We know."
“你知道？”丁在年再次惊讶。
“知道，她跟朕提及过。”
“那为何她要延长在南大陆的任期？”
"Because she also knows what you said, she agrees with you, there's nothing strange about it. It's possible that the girl is cooperating with you to lure you out. She might want to kill you."
“小丫头心机倒是不浅。”
张凡笑而不语。
“Why would you agree?” Ding Zainian was shocked, “You are the emperor, why would you agree to such consequences? Shouldn't you be in pain? Aren't you supposed to immediately start consolidating power to pave the way for your descendants?”
Zhang Fan said, "Don't you know, right?"
"Know what?"
"We are the same kind of people."
Ding Zainian was slightly taken aback, not fully understanding what Zhang Fan meant. But when he looked into Zhang Fan's eyes, it seemed like he instantly understood again.
张凡说道：“你走吧。”
丁在年没想到皇帝居然不杀自己了。
“为什么放我走，你不是一直在抓我吗？”
"No, you misunderstood. I haven't been chasing after you all along. My daily routine consists of attending to state affairs and spending time with my family. If there are any updates about you, I might take a look."
With that, Ding suddenly forced a bitter smile and said, "It seems that in the eyes of Your Majesty, I am just a clown jumping around."
"No, you are not a clown jumping around. It seems you have not understood the true meaning behind my words."
"Which sentence?"
"The economic base determines the superstructure."
"Please enlighten me, Your Majesty."
"Daming has always been changing. In past eras, you were seen as a threat when faced with external enemies and internal turmoil. However, several decades into the future, your ideas may partially be correct, and your actions may be just." Translated content:
"The same thing, placed in different environments, will have different outcomes."
Zhang Fan concluded, "You are not an ambitious person, you are just an idealist. We will not kill you, so you can leave."
丁在年 feels that he has lost, but also feels that he hasn't lost.
He stands up, bows to Zhang Fan, and turns around to leave the Qianqing Palace.
As he walks out, Ding Zainian realizes that all his actions, plans, and even organizations are meaningless now. Translated:
It's another spring when peach blossoms are in full bloom. Zhang Fan sits under a tree and drinks wine.
Life is only a short few decades.
As he drinks and starts feeling tipsy, Zhang Fan remembers his previous life, remembers his childhood, remembers his parents, and remembers his friends.
Suddenly, he saw a mysterious shadow under the tree, approaching him.
Some memories in his subconscious seemed to be triggered.
"So that's how it is."
【Author's note】: Dear readers, this is the finale of the book. There are truly countless words I want to say, but I am at a loss of where to begin. Thank you for accompanying me throughout this year and more.
I have met many readers here and remember their IDs. Although I may not be active in the comment section later, I do read every comment.
Actually, my biggest regret is that the first part of this book, "Reborn as a Tyrant in Ming Dynasty," was taken down, and many readers can't access it.
Writing this book really killed a lot of brain cells, consulting various materials and books. I have already lost count of how many notes I have taken.
Enough talk, the new book is already being serialized, you can see it by joining the group, group number: 887460300.