I'm really not doing business

Chapter 1089 His Majesty Has Me in His Heart
The censors demonstrated their flexibility. The vast majority of them were not outspoken and upright officials. They would weigh the pros and cons, consider the gains and losses, and hesitate, unlike Shen Li, who submitted four memorials in a row to oppose the movement.

The first time Ke Chen demonstrated flexibility was when it was a fact that everyone knew, but lacked records, documents, and sufficient evidence. Fearing being falsely accused and implicated, he dared not step forward, but instead went to find the person who had made a mistake in copying the book.

The second time was Ye Xianggao. Ye Xianggao was impeached and brought down. Then someone had to replace Ye Xianggao and go to Jilin. In those days, going to Jilin to develop the land was no different from being exiled.

Shen Li is not flexible enough. When something is wrong, he will speak out and object instead of weighing the pros and cons.

Since Tan Lun's death, every time a high-ranking official passes away, the court officials know that the emperor will do everything in his power to protect the posthumous reputation of these officials, but they still try to pass the imperial examinations.

The reason for testing the emperor's reaction and public opinion was that the potential gains were too great. If these ministers could be made into villains, then the righteous side could rightfully and legitimately inherit the legacy.

For example, after Xu Jie brought down Yan Song, he would use Hu Zongxian to definitively label Yan Song a treacherous minister, and then take over all of Yan Song's faction, protégés, former officials, and the political and economic resources he controlled.

As for whether Xu Jie or Yan Song was more cunning and posed a greater threat to the country, that was less important in the context of political struggles.

Zhu Yijun personally believes that Xu Jie was more cunning than Yan Song. As the chief minister, Yan Song quelled the Japanese pirates in the southeast and resisted the invaders in the northwest. Although he faced numerous difficulties, he managed to maintain the situation and even ended up winning the victory of the Ming Dynasty in the quelling of the Japanese pirates in the southeast.

After becoming Grand Secretary, Xu Jie did nothing but embezzle money and engage in infighting.

But such tests were actually rare. The censors weren't stupid; they knew perfectly well that some ministers could only be sarcastic and sarcastic, while others could be completely ruined.

For example, once the treacherous minister Wang Chonggu died, he lost all his usefulness. The court officials would no longer be in danger of attacking Wang Chonggu, because Wang Chonggu had only committed the crime of usurpation.

The emperor was neither able nor comfortable intervening excessively in protecting them, so he had no choice but to send the craftsmen down the mountain.

For example, Ling Yunyi, this murderous star, committed the crimes of killing and disrupting order. Skilled warriors are punished, especially after he destroyed the Kong Mansion in Yanzhou, which was a challenge to the order.

The struggle was based on facts and was within the emperor's permitted scope.

With his posthumous title confirmed and Ling Yunyi buried in Jinshan Cemetery, the matter came to a complete end.

The censors, after much infighting, discovered a very frightening problem: all their struggles revolved around secondary contradictions, and the idea that success lay in addressing these secondary contradictions was a one-sided view.

The main problem lies with Jinshan Cemetery, and there's simply no way to resolve it.

The political struggles of the Ming Dynasty were completely confined by His Majesty to a limited scope, lasting only seven days. Once the seven-day mourning period was over and the deceased was buried in Jinshan Mausoleum, no further action could be taken. The scope of the struggle was limited to debating the magnitude of merits and the specifications of posthumous titles, rather than a complete denial. The intensity of the struggle was reduced to a level that was almost mild.

The Confucian scholar's specialty—thorough, complete, and total negation—is completely unworkable because Jinshan Cemetery cannot be excavated.

Once a person is buried in Jinshan Cemetery, they become a hero of the Wanli Reforms, a torch illuminating the way forward, and a pillar supporting China.

Anyone who wants to escalate the struggle to the point of digging up graves will have to back down in the face of Jinshan Cemetery, because if they want to dig up graves, they will face the siege of all the ministers, who also want to be buried in Jinshan Cemetery to receive the highest honors after death.

Even the eunuch Feng Bao hoped to be buried in Jinshan Cemetery with extraordinary honors. He was so obsessed with it that he dared not cause any trouble. He could only hope that those ambitious people would have the courage to stand up for themselves.

In other words, the Jinshan Mausoleum and the Martyrs' Shrine, which were built by order of the emperor, have become part of the order and have formed a 'royal mausoleum' that effectively belongs to the meritorious officials.

After discovering the main contradiction, the censors found that the construction of Jinshan Mausoleum began in the fifth year of the Wanli reign.

By this time, the censors and officials could only admire the emperor's foresight and selflessness.

When the Jinshan Mausoleum was being built, the Ming Dynasty's tax revenue was not as high as it is now, amounting to tens of millions of taels of silver. At that time, the emperor faced a choice: whether to build the Jinshan Mausoleum or to repair the imperial tombs of the previous emperors, which could not be properly repaired due to severe financial losses.

In the fifth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, the emperor allocated 1.2 million taels of silver for the construction of Jinshan Mausoleum and the Martyrs' Shrine, and tens of thousands of taels of silver were also invested in its maintenance every year. However, the late emperor's mausoleum was only symbolically given 100,000 taels of silver by His Mausoleum, and then it was never taken care of again.

This demonstrates foresight and selflessness, further confirming Zhang Juzheng's constant emphasis that technique is inferior to principle; no matter how well one masters technique, one cannot defeat those who follow the great way.

On March 2nd, Zhu Yijun went to Beitu City to hold a spring inspection. The next day, the Ming emperor prepared to travel to Songjiang Prefecture. The serious illness of the previous year could not stop the emperor from continuing to travel between the two places.

Before his departure, Zhu Yijun summoned Shen Shixing and Gao Qiyu and gave them instructions on many matters after leaving the capital.

"Chief Minister Shen, you need to change your personality. How can you please everyone?" Zhu Yijun advised Shen Shixing again. It's good to be fair, but if you always try to please everyone, you'll end up hurting yourself and easily making yourself disliked by everyone.

Shen Shixing helped the Crown Prince cover up the emperor's serious illness, and he immediately became the treacherous minister who plotted to harm the emperor. If the emperor really passed away, Shen Shixing would probably be sent away by the capital garrison.

"Your subject will respectfully follow Your Majesty's instructions." Shen Shixing bowed again. He knew his own shortcomings, but each time he subconsciously hoped to be thorough in every aspect.

“You won’t change even if I tell you, forget it, I won’t say anything more.” Zhu Yijun waved his hand. Shen Shixing’s problem wasn’t that he was bad; he just wanted to cover everything up because he was capable.

"Young Master, keep an eye on the Crown Prince. If he makes any mistakes, tell him directly. I have instructed him to listen to the two gentlemen. If he does not listen, tell me, and I will supervise him to correct his mistakes." Zhu Yijun looked at Gao Qiyu.

Gao Qiyu bowed again and said sincerely, "Your subject obeys the decree."

He was a loyal minister; if His Majesty were to fall seriously ill and pass away, and he did not go with him, he would have no standing in the court.

"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present." Seeing that His Majesty had finished discussing the important matters, Gao Qiyu took out a memorial and handed it to Zhang Hong to present to His Majesty.

Zhu Yijun looked up and frowned. After reading the memorial, his brows relaxed, and he revealed his signature bright smile.

"Young Master, when you return later, take two fish to Mr. Zhang's residence. If Mr. Zhang accepts them, everything will be fine; if he doesn't, then forget it." Zhu Yijun gave Gao Qiyu a hint.

"Huh?" Gao Qiyu looked puzzled, but then he understood what His Majesty meant. If Zhang Juzheng accepted him, it meant that he recognized him as a disciple, and he might be able to advance further. But if his teacher did not accept him, the meaning couldn't be clearer.

Gao Qiyu's memorial, "The Essentials of Loyalty and Righteousness in Military Spirit," touched upon military affairs, which displeased the emperor. However, its contents aroused the emperor's appreciation for his talent.

Because Gao Qiyu observed in detail the formation process of the Ming Dynasty's military spirit and made a summary.

The memorial was long, but simple and easy to understand. Gao Qiyu told a story about a sharp soldier in the Beijing garrison, explaining it in a clear, concise, and insightful way.

The spirit of the Beijing Garrison is a collective consensus, which is composed of individuals. Individuals are complex and people are changeable. The key to consolidating this consensus is to come from the people and go back to the people.

Gao Qiyu keenly observed that the newly recruited soldiers of the Beijing garrison lacked military spirit. Apart from training, they spent their days reading, which filled them up, yet they were somewhat muddled and even seemed to be just going through the motions.

But every soldier like this, once he goes on patrol, will be completely changed.

For example, during the autumn floods of the 20th year of the Wanli reign, the Beijing garrison dispatched 60,000 soldiers to various parts of Beizhili to prevent the autumn floods from causing enormous damage to production and daily life. The newly enlisted soldiers were busy for several months and were so tired that they would fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow every day.

A soldier named He Chonghua went to Daming Prefecture to dredge the Zhang River for six months. After the autumn flood, the officers and soldiers of this battalion repaired all the river channels and ditches to prevent any further disasters.

When He Chonghua left, people on both sides of the river saw him off. They bid him farewell with reluctance, expressing their gratitude in their local dialect. Some even knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

At that moment, He Chonghua felt as if he were shining. The confusion and dazedness in his eyes completely disappeared, replaced by a heartfelt pride that he was a member of the Beijing Garrison.

Of course, if He Chonghua hadn't been hit by half a pig and gotten dizzy, his tour would have been perfect.

This is the construction of self-identity. Only by completing the construction of self-identity can the construction of the overall military spirit be completed.

Go among the people, don't be afraid of them, and don't let them be afraid of you. This process is about solving one of the biggest problems in military administration since ancient times: the three key questions of "who am I, who am I for, and who do I rely on?"

I am a soldier in the Beijing Garrison. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty, for His Majesty, and for the people, I can only rely on His Majesty and the people. This is the significance of my military and political duties in the process of inspecting flood control and dredging ditches.

Gao Qiyu concluded by summarizing the two words "loyalty" and "righteousness": "Loyalty is the correctness of virtue, keeping the mind in the middle, upright and unbiased; righteousness is the manifestation of all virtues, purifying the mind and actions; only loyalty and righteousness can rectify the mind and body, cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state and bring peace to the world; only loyalty and righteousness can maintain integrity and remain steadfast in one's will."

His memorial actually explained a problem: some soldiers, once they leave the Beijing garrison, will revert to their original state because they no longer go among the common people due to the lack of environment.

Some soldiers will not change, because even after retirement, they will still maintain their loyalty and integrity.

Gao Qiyu systematically discussed the establishment, formation, refinement, and maintenance of the Ming Dynasty's military spirit. This was part of the ritual and law, representing that this elite Beijing garrison, with the world in their hearts, would not easily change its stance.

As for unfilial children and grandchildren, that's another matter entirely.

Shen Shixing and Gao Qiyu left Tonghe Palace. Shen Shixing pulled Gao Qiyu aside and asked, "You can't go, but His Majesty wants you to go, so the teacher has no choice but to accept. Let's not beat around the bush. Using the teacher's reputation to exchange for your future, do you feel guilty about this?"

Zhang Juzheng's acceptance of these two fish signifies that the events of the past were at his behest, a way of using his reputation to gain a capable minister for His Majesty.

This seems reasonable, but Shen Shixing forbids Gao Qiyu from doing so.

“If you were even human, you wouldn’t do that! Back then, because of your momentary lapse in judgment, the Master was repeatedly attacked by Wang Chonggu, Ge Shouli, and others, and was put in a passive position. You can’t go.” Shen Shixing said firmly. At this point, there was no way to be lenient, because it was impossible to be lenient.

Zhang Hong stood aside with a serious expression. Sometimes, people can't teach you everything, but you can learn something after just one lesson. Shen Shixing finally made a substantial change.

“His Majesty sent me, which means His Majesty and Master have agreed that I can enter the sect. So why can’t I go? Shen Shixing, you are just a disciple. Don’t overstep your bounds. What gives you the right to make decisions for Master?” Gao Qiyu retorted immediately upon hearing Shen Shixing’s words, flicking his sleeves.

"Get to the point! Don't beat around the bush! Get to the point about whether or not to visit, and don't ramble on!" Shen Shixing was a seasoned official. When Gao Qiyu tried to change the subject, Shen Shixing immediately saw through him and insisted that Gao Qiyu give a direct answer.

Gao Qiyu originally wanted to exchange a few more moves, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that they were all taught by the same master and he couldn't break through their moves anyway, so he said directly, "I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to buy fish."

Shen Shixing tried to catch up, but Gao Qiyu walked faster and faster until he disappeared from sight.

Shen Shixing immediately went to the Marquis of Yicheng's residence to see Zhang Juzheng.

"On the 23rd, His Majesty came to visit and told me about Gao Qiyu. So much time has passed, let's put it all aside." Zhang Juzheng saw Shen Shixing's anxious expression in the Wenchang Pavilion and said with a smile, "It's not a big deal. I brought it up with His Majesty. Gao Qiyu is quite decent and capable, and with Shen Li vouching for him, let's leave it at that."

"The 20 years of the Wanli Reforms have already proven my loyalty. These are all trivial matters and have no major implications."

Things are different now. Zhang Juzheng has completely returned power and retired. What happened back then is in the past, and there's no need to keep dwelling on it.

"How could this be! If Gao Qiyu dares to come today, I'll make sure he doesn't leave alive!" Shen Shixing's expression changed drastically, his hands half-raised, ready to fight Gao Qiyu directly!
Zhang Juzheng looked Shen Shixing up and down and said with great certainty, "You can't beat him. He went to the West and Japan as an envoy. Why was he able to come back? Because he was originally skilled in martial arts."

"Huh? This..." Shen Shixing was stunned for a moment. Then he remembered that Gao Qiyu was able to enter and leave dangerous places unscathed because he, like Wang Chonggu, Tan Lun, and Xiong Tingbi, was a martial arts expert.

Shen Shixing's original surname was Xu. He lived under someone else's roof, his life was precarious, and it was already a miracle that he could study. Gao Qiyu was the pride of the family. Although he couldn't be called both scholarly and martial, Gao Qiyu could easily take on five Shen Shixings. "If you fight him, this old body of mine can't help. When he comes later, be polite." Zhang Juzheng said with a smile. Even though Shen Shixing was the Grand Secretary, sometimes he was still like a child.

This was originally a political exchange. Zhang Juzheng's contributions were great enough, and he had received enough imperial favor. Now that he posed no threat to the imperial power, this exchange was possible.

"Sir, you don't hate him?" Shen Shixing asked doubtfully.

Zhang Juzheng sighed and shook his head, saying, "Hate, how can I not hate? That was the most embarrassing time of my life. But it wasn't Gao Qiyu, it was someone else. At that time, I was not the prime minister, but the de facto ruler, which was the main reason. There will always be people who have wild ideas."

"So be it."

Shen Shixing fell silent and eventually waited with Zhang Juzheng at Wenchang Pavilion, but Gao Qiyu never showed up.

After leaving Tonghe Palace, Gao Qiyu was overjoyed. He bought two of the most expensive fish and many other gifts. He then led his men, carrying the gifts, towards the Yicheng Marquis's residence.

He walked slower and slower until he finally stopped less than ten zhang away from the Marquis of Yicheng's residence. He looked at the Marquis of Yicheng's nameplate and suddenly hesitated.

"Is this really what I want?" Gao Qiyu stopped and stared at the sign for a long, long time.

"Throughout my life, I've prided myself on my unparalleled talent and wisdom, yet I've ultimately failed to see myself clearly and reflect on my actions. I've lived in vain." In the end, he raised his hand, waved, and left the Yicheng Marquis's residence with his men. He didn't go in, nor did he even request an audience; he simply left.

At this moment, Gao Qiyu suddenly understood something. He realized that although Zhang Juzheng had expelled him from the Zhang family and even refused to see him, he had never actually given up on him. It was Gao Qiyu who had never truly understood life.

He considered himself smart, but he was stupid for twenty years.

"Even buying fish takes so long!" Shen Shixing complained angrily. Gao Qiyu had left so quickly, and it was almost sunset, yet Gao Qiyu still hadn't arrived.

As soon as Shen Shixing finished speaking, You Shouli hurriedly walked in, handed him a letter, and said, "Sir, a letter from the Junior Minister of Rites."

"Oh?" Zhang Juzheng picked up the letter with great surprise. After reading it, he sighed and said to Shen Shixing, "He's not coming. To be precise, he came, brought fish to the door, but went back."

He finally understood a principle: people should be masters of power, not slaves to it.

The fundamental reason why Zhang Juzheng disliked Gao Qiyu was, as he explained clearly to the emperor, that Gao Qiyu was too ambitious and too eager to advance his career.

Driven by lust for power, people are capable of anything.

The imperial system has inherent flaws. There is an irreconcilable conflict between the emperor and the crown prince. The older the emperor gets, the more intense this conflict becomes. Historically, it is not uncommon for fathers and sons to fight each other. Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Gaozu of Tang, and Emperor Taizong of Tang are all examples.

Gao Qiyu is extremely capable. As a cabinet minister, he will inevitably exacerbate the conflict between the emperor and the crown prince in order to gain power, advance further, and contribute to the succession of the emperor.

Over the years, Zhang Juzheng had been suppressing Gao Qiyu with extremely ruthless methods. However, the more he suppressed him, the more Gao Qiyu, under the pressure and the emperor's protection, repeatedly made outstanding contributions, even daring to risk his life, and climbed higher and higher. The higher and faster he climbed, and the greater his contributions, the more ruthless Zhang Juzheng's suppression became.

Now, Zhang Juzheng could no longer suppress Gao Qiyu. Politics is inherently a process of constant compromise. In order not to put the emperor in a difficult position, Zhang Juzheng took the initiative to offer his own reputation in exchange for Gao Qiyu's further advancement.

In the final step toward his success, Gao Qiyu finally understood the truth that Zhang Juzheng had taught him for twenty years without making it clear.

“People can’t teach people no matter how they try, but they can learn from experience. He finally understood why he had to suffer these hardships.” Zhang Juzheng was quite gratified. He was not good at teaching his disciples. It took him twenty years to teach such a simple principle.

Gao Qiyu, this disciple, is too smart. People who are too smart are prone to arrogance and cannot see their own shortcomings. It is also because he is smart that he did not take this step.

Shen Shixing said with a bewildered look, "Man is the master of power, isn't that how it should be? I control power, how can I be controlled by power? How can power control me?"

"Is this the principle he needs to learn for twenty years?"

Zhang Juzheng looked at Shen Shixing and said with a smile, "You are different from Gao Qiyu. What you think is the natural order of things is a truth that he needs to spend half his life to understand."

"Everyone has their own limitations in understanding. For example, you like to be thorough in everything. Even after experiencing the upheaval of His Majesty's serious illness, you have only learned a little bit and still haven't learned the meaning of letting go."

Everyone's points of confusion are different.

Gao Qiyu couldn't grasp that people are the masters of power; Shen Shixing couldn't understand the meaning of "willingness to give up"; Your Majesty also has your own limitations in understanding. Your Majesty is too attached to class theory, and some things cannot be solved by class theory.

Zhang Juzheng also had his own limitations. He was overly fixated on the revival of the Ming Dynasty and overlooked some issues. Upon self-examination, he realized that before returning power to the emperor in the tenth year of the Wanli Emperor's reign, he had been too demanding of the emperor.

His Majesty harbors no resentment; it is because His Majesty is magnanimous and broad-minded, and for the sake of the revival of the Ming Dynasty, he does not concern himself with such matters.

Your Majesty is the emperor, a born nobleman. Zhang Juzheng's strict demands can easily breed the rebellious mentality of a born nobleman. The more you forbid me from doing something, the more I will do it.

“Sir, you are right,” Shen Shixing swore, having already done his best to control himself.

Gao Qiyu returned to the Ministry of Rites for his work. When Shen Li saw Gao Qiyu return, she asked curiously, "You and your husband reconciled, but didn't he invite you to have a meal and reminisce about your teacher-student relationship?"

"I didn't go," Gao Qiyu answered the question with a complicated expression.

"Incredible!" Shen Li exclaimed in astonishment. As Gao Qiyu's superior, Shen Li knew the immense pressure he faced and the extent of Gao Qiyu's ambition for power.
Shen Li knew all too well Gao Qiyu's desire to improve, but Gao Qiyu actually held back.

"Actually, I regretted it as soon as I turned around. This might have been my only chance in this life, and I gave it up like that." Gao Qiyu shook his head with some frustration: "But once the move is made, there's no going back. Now that I'm back, there's no reason to go back."

"Why aren't you going?" Shen Li was curious as to why Gao Qiyu had changed his mind.

Gao Qiyu solemnly said, "Zhang Juzheng's new policies do not belong to you personally, but to the entire Ming Dynasty. Since the Wanli Reforms, a strange consensus has formed inside and outside the Ming Dynasty: that Zhang Juzheng has the means."

"When you encounter an insurmountable obstacle, go to the Master. In the fifth year of the Wanli reign, the Master was in mourning. People in the court would go to the Western Hills to invite the Master. Shen Shixing could not persuade His Majesty to rest, so he could only go to the Master for help. Sure enough, the Master persuaded His Majesty."

"This strange consensus is actually sacredness."

“I can only be a traitor, otherwise I would be destroying this sacredness, which would be detrimental to the Wanli Reform.”

When Zhang Juzheng was in mourning in the fifth year of the Wanli reign, if there were any difficulties in the capital, people would say, "Quickly go and invite the Old Ancestor of the Western Hills." This kind of joke gradually became a peculiar consensus that Zhang Juzheng was omnipotent.

Gao Qiyu refused to enter the house, and the reason he gave in his letter to Zhang Juzheng was this very reason.

The phrase "Zhang Juzheng's New Policies" no longer belonged to Zhang Juzheng alone after his retirement; it became the public property of the Ming Dynasty. Gao Qiyu's act of bringing two fish undermined this sacredness.

If a god is tainted, he is no longer a god.

"I am truly ashamed of my inferiority in the field of etiquette and law, Junior Minister Gao!" Shen Li nodded repeatedly, Gao Qiyu's understanding of etiquette and law was indeed profound enough.

"Serving in the Western Study is already quite good," Gao Qiyu comforted himself, and continued to attend to the important matter of the Nine Border Construction Academy. He had indeed given up the possibility of entering the cabinet, but he had not given up the ultimate honor of being buried in Jinshan Cemetery.

If he has enough merit to be buried in Jinshan Cemetery, then his past mistakes are just detours he took on his journey.

In the future, when people talk about it, they will say, "No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes."

"Has Gao Qiyu finally come to his senses?" Zhu Yijun was quite surprised when Zhang Hong told him about Gao Qiyu's refusal to enter the cabinet. He was astonished that Gao Qiyu would make such a decision after arguing with Shen Shixing, acting as if he was going to enter the cabinet today.

"If Shao Zongbo had such a mindset back then, how could he have gone through so much hardship?" Zhang Hong also sighed with emotion. Gao Qiyu had gone through so much hardship and suffered so many losses, yet he was still able to maintain such a mindset and composure, which was truly rare.

"Everyone has a youthful phase." Zhu Yijun could understand. He never overestimated himself. He knew his own rationality, but sometimes he couldn't control his desires, which were insatiable.

Zhang Hong glanced at the busy Emperor. Because of the upcoming southern tour, the Emperor had to finish processing all the memorials before leaving. Zhang Hong's expression was somewhat complicated. Everyone has a youthful time, but the Emperor did not.

In Zhang Hong's memory, there was no mention of His Majesty's youth, not in terms of age, but in terms of mindset.

When His Majesty was feeling down, he would listen to Empress Wang play the zither in the side hall of Wenhua Hall. The most indulgent thing His Majesty ever did was to shoot fish in Taiye Pond. Later, the fish in Taiye Pond hid away, so His Majesty stopped going there.

Your Majesty has always maintained the utmost restraint and rationality, preventing power from becoming corrupted, and has always existed as the master of power.

On the third day of the third lunar month, the emperor officially traveled south to Songjiang Prefecture. On the eighteenth day of the third lunar month, the emperor arrived smoothly at Yanqing Palace in Songjiang Prefecture and began his six-month stay. When the emperor's dragon boat arrived, the entire Songjiang Prefecture breathed a sigh of relief.

His Majesty fell seriously ill when he returned to the capital last year, and everyone in Songjiang Prefecture was on tenterhooks, fearing that His Majesty would not come this year. After all, it was a matter of life and death. However, His Majesty arrived on time as always, which means that the policies of the Ming Dynasty will be very stable, the opening of the sea will continue, and the prosperity of Songjiang Prefecture will continue.

After the fishing season opened, Songjiang Prefecture benefited the most. As long as the fishing policy remains stable, Songjiang Prefecture will continue to prosper.

"What are you trying to do? No way, this is ridiculous!" Zhu Yijun rejected Hu Junde's memorial as soon as he arrived in Songjiang Prefecture.

Hu Junde wanted to hold a grand welcoming ceremony for the emperor's stay, from the naval review to the lantern festival at Aoshan, plus a fireworks show on the third night, making it a three-day extravaganza. Zhu Yijun rejected the proposal outright.

Even though Songjiang Prefecture is wealthy, it shouldn't go to such lengths. Although it can stimulate consumption, the Emperor's Birthday Celebration is already sufficient.

Zhang Hong said with a smile, "This was requested by the powerful and influential people of Songjiang Prefecture. To express their gratitude, His Majesty released these powerful and influential people from prison just last year when he was in good health. They would be worried if we didn't show our appreciation."

The powerful and influential people who were released were indeed implicated and innocent. Releasing them was fair and just, but fairness and justice are always a matter of favoritism. Those in power understand this better than the poor and laborers because they never give the people fairness and justice.

In short, Your Majesty cares about me.

"If they have any sense of obedience and money to burn, they can buy some government bonds. I need to build schools for the nine border regions, but I don't have the money." Zhu Yijun didn't care about these superficial formalities.

Zhang Hong pulled out the memorandum and handed it to His Majesty, saying, "Your Majesty, Yingtian Prefecture and Songjiang Prefecture have shared a special national bond of six million taels of silver. The powerful families of Songjiang Prefecture seized four million taels of silver. If it weren't for the Yingtian Governor Wang Xiyuan forcibly keeping it, the powerful families of Songjiang Prefecture wouldn't have wanted to give Yingtian Prefecture a single tael of silver."

For the powerful and influential families of Songjiang Prefecture, His Majesty did not seize the coastal trade business; His Majesty did not engage in collective punishment; His Majesty corrected Hu Junde's tyranny as soon as he recovered a little; His Majesty only wanted some money, and it was for building schools, and His Majesty even returned the money!

Because of its thriving trade, silver flowed into the Ming Dynasty through Songjiang Prefecture. Therefore, in Songjiang Prefecture, paper money was silver, and paper money was also silver; they were all the same kind of money.

Actually, Your Majesty could have just robbed it! If Your Majesty had actually robbed it, there would have been absolutely no way to stop them. They would have had to kneel down, kowtow, and shout "Long live the Emperor!" three times. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been robbery, but the extermination of nine generations of your family.

"That's good, but it would be even better if they could channel their energy into paying the craftsmen and poor laborers for their work." Zhu Yijun knew that the powerful and wealthy in Songjiang Prefecture had pocketed most of the special national debt.

(End of this chapter)