After writing the seventh chapter, both the author and the readers had a strong sense of completion.

In fact, I said it the month after this book was put on the shelves that there are two plans. Plan A is to write a complete book of 3.5 million words. This is the most economical number of words that will satisfy the readers.

Now it has 3.8 million words, which is exactly the point where it has been written, so I have the feeling that the book can be completed.

But I was so impulsive that I chose Plan B. This meant that the book would have to be completed at 5 million words. This was a self-inflicted hardship, because Plan A was about embarking on the path of reform. Plan B, on the other hand, would continue to write about the deep waters of reform, and the inevitable struggle between reformers and conservatives, and even the struggle within the reform group, which everyone liked to see.

At this stage, Mr. Zhao's ideal of making everyone happy is bound to fail to be implemented. It would be a bit too inappropriate to write a happy ending like the ending of the seventh chapter... Of course, I will try my best to treat the characters in the book gently. After all, after being hurt by the adviser, I vowed not to hurt my readers anymore.

Anyway, this time I want to write to the end to see what the scenery is like at the end of this world.

However, the great changes of the times need time to brew, the new class needs time to grow, and the contradictions need time to accumulate. If it is written step by step as before, it will not be intense enough and too bland. The Wanli Dynasty lasted for 48 years. If it is written year by year, it will take a long time to write.

Only by skipping those insignificant events and eras and focusing on major events and historical turning points can the characters shine from time to time. And this time should be in units of ten or twenty years. After the early preparation, the story of this book has a solid enough foundation, and it is ready to take a roller coaster ride and experience the ups and downs in the long river of history.

So starting from the eighth chapter, I will adopt a faster pace, focusing on telling a complete and long story. As for the character's growth and fate, they must be subject to this long-term narrative. Of course, it is difficult to write like this, but only when it is well written can it truly shock people's hearts. The fate of the characters and the direction of the story will be gripping.

This is really difficult. After getting up today and adjusting my state of mind, I have been sorting out the outline for the rest of the story. Even my wife has come to help. Just arranging some of the main characters and plots has given us a splitting headache. Because from now on, all the characters and plots have to be taken care of for decades to come. And the story of decades has to be condensed into 1.2 million words, which is really a brain-killing task.

I have only just decided on the content for the next article, and my brain is no longer able to think, so I cannot update today.

I can only go to bed early and get up early tomorrow morning to write.

In addition, I haven’t finished the subsequent outlines yet, but I have to go to Shanghai and Jiaxing to attend the annual meeting from next Thursday to Sunday. It’s too difficult for a middle-aged monk to keep updating. It’s better to relax and use this time to work out the subsequent outlines.

Relaxation and tension are the two ways of both civil and military life. Lenin said that those who cannot rest cannot work.

And who said that sharpening a knife is not as good as chopping wood?

Well, the plan worked!

So we will update normally from tomorrow to next Wednesday, and I would like to ask for leave from next Thursday to Sunday (June 3rd to 6th).

When I come back, I will code to the real ending in one go!

I am risking my integrity as a writer. I want to write the last two volumes at the highest level!

above.