I, Am a Living Yama; Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm

Yang Yi had deliberately brought up the “Rebellion of the Seven States,” and, naturally, he had his reasons.
In his previous life, he had read in the records of Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty that during a certain year of the Hongwu era, Zhu Yuanzhang had discussed his recent studies with Crown Prince Zhu Biao.
Zhu Biao had mentioned that he had been reading the
and analyzing the Rebellion of the Seven States.
Zhu Yuanzhang had then asked, “Who was in the wrong in that incident?”
Zhu Biao had replied, “The fault lies with the Seven States.”
However, Zhu Yuanzhang had explained that when Emperor Jing had been Crown Prince, he often played games with the heir of the King of Wu, which had sown seeds of resentment. After ascending the throne, Emperor Jing had rashly trusted Chao Cuo’s advice and hastily reduced the territories of the Seven States, thus igniting the rebellion.
Zhu Yuanzhang, a self-made emperor who had risen from humble beginnings to establish the vast Ming Dynasty, had often acted with bold confidence. He believed he had pinpointed the root cause of the rebellion and was determined to avoid such pitfalls.
For this reason, Zhu Yuanzhang fundamentally supported the enfeoffment of princes, convinced there was no issue with the system itself.
Yang Yi’s proposal of a three-line defense seemed perfectly aligned with Zhu Yuanzhang’s intentions.
From beginning to end, Zhu Yuanzhang had never truly trusted those outside his family. To him, only his kin would remain loyal to the Ming Dynasty.
Yang Yi was confident that Zhu Yuanzhang would not reject his proposal, even if it came from an outsider like him.
The hall fell silent.
Yang Yi smiled and picked up where Zhu Yuanzhang had left off.
“The emperor’s lack of kindness breeds resentment among his subordinates,” he said. “But what if the emperor is generous?”
The officials stared at Yang Yi in stunned silence.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s expression shifted. “How generous?”
Yang Yi’s eyes glimmered with a hint of satisfaction as he continued, “It’s simple. Treat all members of the royal family generously.
“The emperor’s eldest son will become the crown prince, and the other princes will become dukes, with official robes of the first rank. Below the dukes, their eldest sons inherit the title of duke, while the other sons are titled marquises, with second-rank official attire.
“The eldest son of a marquis inherits the title of marquis, while the other sons are titled generals of the state, with third-rank official attire. The sons of state generals are titled assistant state generals, with fourth-rank official attire.
“The sons of Assistant Generals of the State shall be titled Generals of the Nation, with Fifth-Rank Official Dress. The sons of generals of the nation shall be titled lieutenants of the state, with sixth rank official attire.
“The sons of lieutenants of the state shall be titled assistant lieutenants of the state, with seventh rank official attire. The sons of assistant lieutenants of the state shall be titled lieutenants of the nation, with eighth rank official attire.
“From General of the State to Assistant Lieutenant of the State, the titles are inherited with a reduction in rank. Below Assistant Lieutenant of the State, however, the titles are no longer reduced. Even after ten generations, they will still receive stipends and remain titled Assistant Lieutenant of the State…”
When he finished, the hall plunged into a deeper silence.
The officials looked at Yang Yi in astonishment. His proposal was astonishingly comprehensive, as though he had thoroughly studied the Ming Dynasty’s needs.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s gaze was heavy with scrutiny. The system Yang Yi had proposed matched perfectly with his own nascent ideas.
“Was Yang Yi truly advising in the Ming Dynasty’s best interests?” he mused silently.
After a tense pause, Zhu Yuanzhang’s voice broke the silence.
“This method indeed demonstrates the emperor’s great benevolence. Future generations of our Ming Dynasty will owe you their gratitude.”
Yang Yi smiled lightly. “They should thank Your Majesty. I only made a humble suggestion.”
Zhu Yuanzhang’s sharp eyes seemed to pierce through Yang Yi.
“Prime Minister Yang’s strategy is brilliant. But I have a question: as a minister of the Zhou Dynasty, why are you offering strategies for my Ming Dynasty?”
The atmosphere grew tense. Suspicion crept into the eyes of everyone in the hall.
Yang Yi remained composed. He had anticipated Zhu Yuanzhang’s doubts. A figure as shrewd as Zhu Yuanzhang would easily detect ill intentions, but the brilliance of his plan lay in its subtle pitfalls, masked by apparent wisdom.
Folding his hands, Yang Yi responded calmly.
“The Yuan people are enemies to all nations, not just the Ming Dynasty. If the Ming builds a three-line defense to block the Yuan in the north, it will benefit the Zhou Dynasty as well.”
He elaborated, “The Zhou Dynasty wouldn’t need to deploy a single soldier to enjoy peace in the Central Plains. Why wouldn’t I offer my advice?”
The hall once again descended into silence.
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. He felt Yang Yi’s words weren’t entirely sincere, yet he couldn’t pinpoint any flaws in the reasoning.
After a moment, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a hearty laugh.
“Prime Minister Yang’s reasoning is sound. The Yuan dogs are indeed a common threat. Your strategy is like adding wings to a tiger for the Ming Dynasty. For that, I must thank you.”
Yang Yi maintained a sincere demeanor.
“The Zhou Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty are allies. It is my honor to assist the Ming Dynasty. United, we can fend off foreign threats and secure peace.”
Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his beard, his tiger-like eyes filled with laughter.
“Well said! I regret not meeting you sooner, Prime Minister Yang. After Prince Zhu Xiang’s wedding, don’t be in a hurry to leave. I still have much to discuss with you.”
Zhu Biao, standing to the side, took a deep breath. His father’s regard for Yang Yi far exceeded the usual treatment of officials. He had never seen Zhu Yuanzhang so warm to anyone.
Even Mao Xiang, Zhu Yuanzhang’s trusted bodyguard, was astonished. Zhu Yuanzhang, known for his ruthlessness, was treating Yang Yi with unprecedented respect.
Yang Yi smiled faintly. If Zhu Yuanzhang wished to continue their discussions, he certainly wouldn’t decline. After all, there were more plans to unravel—strategies to reshape history itself.