1627 Rise of the South China Sea

Chapter 3854

As preparations entered this large-scale, intensive phase, many measures began to be implemented openly or semi-openly, and Haihan's intentions gradually became clear, with less concern about the Ming Dynasty discovering them in advance.

The executive committee officials were well aware that even if the Ming Dynasty had now discovered the signs and intended to respond with a tough stance, it was too late to get the local areas organized to prepare for war and resistance.

When the news reached the capital, it indeed caused a minor commotion in the court. To deal with Haihan's offensive against Jiangxi, relying solely on the local armed forces in Jiangxi would certainly be far from sufficient; it would be necessary to mobilize Ming troops from nearby Hunan, Hubei, and other places to gather in Jiangxi.

Where would the money and provisions needed to mobilize the army come from? How would the gaps in local defenses after the mobilization be filled? Would those restless peasant armies seize the opportunity to rebel? These were all problems that the Ming Dynasty could not solve at present. No matter how much the cabinet officials argued, it was difficult to reach a reliable conclusion.

The Ming Dynasty had very few options left. After several days of brainstorming, a group of high-ranking officials in the Forbidden City could only come up with a plan that seemed somewhat feasible. The overwhelmed emperor knew that there was no better solution at the moment and could only issue an edict to carry it out.

The Ming Dynasty's response strategy can be divided into two parts. First, it ordered the three provincial-level government offices in Jiangxi to enter a state of war and immediately mobilize their resources to prepare for war. At the same time, it was necessary to suppress local unrest and prevent chaos before the battle, so as not to allow the Haihan to take advantage of the situation.

Secondly, an imperial edict was sent to Yue Shizong in Hangzhou, ordering him to immediately begin negotiations with the Haihan Executive Committee and, if possible, to stop Haihan's actions through negotiation. Yue Shizong was specifically authorized to make certain concessions on territorial sovereignty and foreign policy if the objective was achieved. In essence, this relied on the past practice of ceding territory and paying reparations to resolve the issue, hoping to maintain a fragile peace.

Of course, those in the capital probably couldn't have imagined that Yue Shizong, the negotiation genius they had been hoping for, had quietly switched sides under various external forces and was now working for Hai Han. Hoping to use his influence to persuade Hai Han to abandon his actions in Jiangxi was essentially a pipe dream.

One day in March, Tao Hongfang received Yue Shizong at the Executive Committee office building on the shore of West Lake. This may have seemed like just a diplomatic meeting between two dignitaries, but the content of their exchange was something the outside world could not have imagined.

"Is this the latest order issued to you by your court?"

After asking his question, Tao Hongfang first looked at the letter in front of him, then looked up at Yue Shizong, who was standing in front of him looking rather uncomfortable.

Yue Shizong quickly replied, "That's right. I received the secret order and dared not delay. I immediately contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and requested a meeting with the Executive Committee."

Apart from the better quality of the paper, this letter seemed no different from an ordinary letter, unlike the scroll-style imperial edicts that most people would imagine.

According to Yue Shizong's explanation, this was a secret edict sent to the embassy, ​​sandwiched among other documents. There was no eunuch accompanying the edict, and it had no conspicuous appearance. There was not even an imperial seal on the letter. There was only a small symbol in one corner of the letter—Yue Shizong said that was the mark of the secret edict.

This was only the second time he had received such a secret edict since he took office as ambassador in Hangzhou. The last time was during the war between the two countries in 1657, which shows how much the Ming court valued the current situation.

Tao Hongfang asked, "What is your opinion on the imperial decree?" Yue Shizong replied in a deep voice, "The current situation of the Ming Dynasty is like being trapped in a quagmire. Although the mind is still clear, the body trapped in the mud is unable to move, let alone save itself. Any idea that we can resolve the conflict between the two countries through negotiations is just prolonging our lives."

Tao Hongfang nodded slightly and said, "You seem to understand things quite well!"

Yue Shizong said, "The general trend of the world should be clear to anyone with a clear mind and sharp eyes. It's just that the Ming Dynasty, which has ruled the world for more than two hundred years, will never be willing to give up its power. It just so happens that your country does not want to seize the world through war, so it can only slowly wear things down like it is now. This is why the court still has illusions about negotiations, believing that it can achieve long-term coexistence with the Han Dynasty through continuous compromise."

Tao Hongfang listened attentively, and after he finished speaking, he replied, "Being involved in something can easily lead to confusion, but you have spent a long time in Hangzhou and have traveled to many places in our country, so you have a clearer understanding of the strength of the two countries. It's just a pity that those people in the Forbidden City in the north probably don't have this awareness."

Yue Shizong said, "Perhaps some people have seen this, but it's no use. There are only a few people in charge of the Ming Dynasty. As long as they are unwilling to let go, everyone will have to keep the Ming Dynasty a shell."

Tao Hongfang nodded and said, "A smart person like you deserves a higher position."

Yue Shizong understood Tao Hongfang's implied meaning and quickly replied, "I have no intention of returning to the Ming Dynasty to develop my career. Once this matter is settled, I plan to ask the court for permission to retire and return to my hometown."

Yue Shizong knew that Tao Hongfang meant to make some special arrangements for him, to let him gain some merit, and in this way, to obtain the opportunity for further promotion in the Ming Dynasty.

With Haihan's assistance, perhaps in three to five years he could rise another step and become the Minister of Rites. He might even be able to move up a notch and become a member of the cabinet.

But after the ups and downs of the past few years, especially the recent events, Yue Shizong had long lost the desire to continue his career in officialdom, let alone play the role of a high-ranking spy.

Although he had chosen to serve Haihan, he still harbored complex feelings for the Ming Dynasty and did not wish to personally destroy his former master. Therefore, after understanding Tao Hongfang's implication, he immediately declined the arrangement.

Tao Hongfang stared at Yue Shizong for a long time without speaking, as if trying to see through his heart whether he was resistant to this or wanted to demand better conditions.

After a long silence, Tao Hong finally spoke: "Since your ambitions lie elsewhere, we will respect your choice. After you resign from your official post in the Ming Dynasty, you can choose any place to settle in our country, and we will be happy to provide you with all the conveniences you need. Of course, if you wish to continue to contribute to our country, we will also be happy to arrange a suitable position for you."

In Tao Donglai's eyes, Yue Shizong was a talented individual. Regardless of whether he continued to serve Haihan, it wouldn't change Haihan's course of action against the Ming Dynasty. Even if the Ming Dynasty replaced Yue Shizong with someone else in the future, it would be difficult to achieve anything significant; the influence of diplomacy on the development of the situation had become negligible.