Over the span of several months, Liu Maopao's footsteps spread across the entire land.
Every major city with even a hint of influence saw his arrival. From morning until night, he stood on the busiest streets, speaking tirelessly about what he intended to do for the people. His voice became a constant presence in marketplaces, crossroads, and public squares, weaving itself into the daily rhythm of life.
Applause followed him wherever he went.
The voices of the people, their complaints, their hopes, and their expectations, began to flow upward through the system, reaching the representatives of the People's Congress across the nation.
By New Ming Calendar Year 14, Shan Shier stepped down due to age, and the Prime Minister election began.
Liu Maopao won by an overwhelming margin.
The gap between him and the other young politicians was so vast that they could not even see his shadow, let alone compete with him. While many were still marveling at how calculated and strategic he had been in building his reputation, Liu Maopao had already moved on.
He went straight to work.
Twelve years of experience as an apprentice in the Prime Minister's office had given him an unusually sharp understanding of the country's weaknesses. Every policy he introduced targeted a critical issue. Every reform struck directly at areas that demanded change.
Under his leadership, New Ming surged forward with unstoppable momentum, its national strength rising at a breathtaking pace.
In Year 15, under Liu Maopao's direction, the Dadu Kingdom on Yizhou Island was formally incorporated into New Ming. The expansion of territory greatly boosted his prestige, and his name began to carry even more weight.
By Year 16, having tasted the benefits of expansion, Liu Maopao turned his gaze outward. His ambition grew bolder. He sought to secure even greater territories for the nation.
The fleets of New Ming swept across Asia and Europe and reached the shores of the Americas.
Colonial ports sprang up across the world, each one built rapidly under his command. Construction never stopped. Troops were dispatched in large numbers, spreading across distant lands.
The world began to call him the Iron-Willed Prime Minister.
Yet reality was less forgiving than ambition.
At a time when transportation was still limited and the population of New Ming had only just surpassed one hundred million, manpower was already stretched thin. The homeland itself, vast and demanding, required enormous effort to develop. Even with all available resources, it was barely enough.
To expand overseas on such a scale was to stretch the nation beyond its limits.
The colonial ports scattered across the globe became a heavy burden. Logistics strained under constant pressure, and transport fleets were forced into relentless motion, barely able to keep up.
Resistance movements broke out one after another.
Everywhere required troops.
Zheng Chenggong, Shi Lang, and Li Dingguo became like firefighters rushing from one crisis to another. They were either suppressing unrest in one colony or on their way to the next.
By Year 22, Liu Maopao stared at the financial report submitted by the Ministry of Revenue and slowly closed his eyes.
"I was wrong."
His voice was low, almost hollow.
"The rapid expansion brought back gold and silver at the beginning. It looked like wealth, like victory. But everything we gained has been spent maintaining those same colonies."
He tightened his grip on the report, his expression breaking.
"This was not profit. This was a complete loss."
Tears streamed down his face as he spoke.
"I have harmed the nation. I have caused its strength to decline instead of grow. There is no way to make up for this except to take responsibility."
"I resign."
In Year 22, Liu Maopao stepped down.
Shan Shier, though already ill, returned to office to stabilize the economy and prevent further decline.
Liu Maopao returned to his former role as an apprentice.
By day, he assisted with administrative work. By night, he sat quietly in the library, studying the Heavenly Books left behind by Dao Xuan Tianzun.
One day, a few young men in the library noticed him.
"Look over there. That is Liu Maopao, the former Prime Minister."
"So he is the one who made those mistakes. No wonder he got removed. Now he can only hide here and spend the rest of his life reading."
"What a waste. He will never rise again."
"My brother answered his call and went to conquer the Americas. He died from a poisoned arrow. I hate him."
Their voices were not loud, yet not soft either. They were pitched just right to reach his ears.
Liu Maopao stood up immediately and walked over. Without hesitation, he bowed deeply, his body bent at a full ninety degrees.
"I am sorry. Your brother's death was caused by my immaturity. If you are angry, you may strike me as you wish, as long as you do not kill me. If you kill me, it will bring you trouble with the law. But if you only injure me, I will not report it."
The man froze, clearly not expecting such a response. After a moment, he sighed, turned away, and left with his companions.
Liu Maopao watched them go without saying another word. After a long silence, he returned to his seat and picked up another book.
There were countless Heavenly Books, covering politics, military strategy, and economics.
He used to favor political theory.
Now, he read economics.
Four years passed in the blink of an eye.
Shan Shier, having spent those years restoring the economy, could no longer continue. His health forced him to step down once more, and a new election began.
In Year 26, Liu Maopao stood again before the people.
"This time, I have no grand promises to make," he said calmly. "I only wish to speak honestly. I love my country. I once led it in the wrong direction, but this time, I will reclaim everything it has lost. If you are willing, please choose me again."
He won.
Once more, by an overwhelming margin.
But this time, he was different.
He no longer sought glory through expansion. He no longer chased the fame of conquest. Instead, he turned his full attention to the economy.
A strong economy meant a better life for the people.
If the people could live in peace and prosperity, then it did not matter whether his name was remembered in history.
Under his leadership, the nation stabilized. Growth became steady and sustainable. The people lived more comfortably, and the country regained its strength.
Those who had once followed him across the world could not help but feel that Liu Maopao had become someone else entirely.
He was no longer the Iron-Willed Prime Minister.
He became known as the Gentle Prime Minister.
In Year 30, he was re-elected unanimously.
In Year 34, he was re-elected again.
In Year 38, once more.
By Year 42, when everyone expected yet another term, Liu Maopao refused.
He understood something deeply.
To remain in power for too long would damage the very foundation of collective governance.
Under his insistence, new faces stepped onto the political stage.
Before leaving, he spoke one final time.
"I love my country just as you do. That love does not differ because you are ordinary and I once held power."
"But I also understand that my words and actions carry greater weight. When an ordinary person makes a mistake, it harms a family. When I make a mistake, it harms a nation."
"So I have always walked carefully, as if on thin ice."
"I hope those who come after me will remember this."
And with that, Liu Maopao stepped away, leaving behind not just policies and achievements, but a lesson carved deeply into the heart of New Ming.