Wanli Ming Emperor

Chapter 244 Seizing the Opportunity to Open the Seas, Making a Move with a Blade of Fire
The eighth year of the Wanli reign, the seventh month, the day of Bing Shen.

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs requested the creation of a new imperial banner with dragon design, and the Ministry of Works was immediately ordered to emulate the style of Emperor Wuzong and allocate craftsmen to assist in the production.

Luo Sigong, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was transferred to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Five Armies Commandery, with a personal guard of 600 men.

……

This year can be described as the year in which conflicts have erupted intensively since the Long Wanli era.

The major towns in the north were revitalized by the Five Military Governorates, which redistributed the power of command, and no one below the rank of general could live in peace.

In the Central Plains and Guandong region, people suffered greatly from the land survey and verification by the imperial land inspection offices. Civil unrest and demonstrations rose and fell in quick succession, and the sound of people beating each other with carrying poles was incessant.

The southwestern provinces each have their own unique strengths.

Yunnan suffered repeated attacks from foreign enemies of the Toungoo Dynasty, and was exhausted from resisting them, enduring untold hardships; corrupt officials in Sichuan were reprimanded for several years, and after Hai Rui left, they vaguely reverted to their old ways; the chieftains in Guizhou were enjoying themselves by raping women and castrating Han people, but Yang Yinglong of Bozhou reported them, which angered the governor Wen Chun to the point of his execution.

The Jiangnan region was even more chaotic, with civil unrest triggered by the land survey and household registration reform, the Huizhou Prefecture's early abolition of the poll tax, and inexplicable regional disputes, seemingly with endless troubles.

The entire Ming Dynasty was truly like boiling soup, constantly churning.

but.

Even though the world is in such turmoil, there are still peaceful places.

For example, the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission has not encountered any trouble since the Southern Suburbs Heaven Worship Ceremony last year.

This was because Governor Li Zaiting was a former official from the capital who had been transferred to a position in the provincial administration. He had gone through countless struggles and battles before gradually climbing back to power.

He flattered his superiors and acted ruthlessly towards his subordinates, bringing down countless superiors and colleagues. After years of cultivating his power as a regional governor, he now holds real power and his word is law.

Let alone the case of newspapers like those in Zhejiang sending letters to coerce the governor and provincial officials.

Even though the lower-ranking official Hao You was a little late to the meeting at the governor's office, three or five burly men immediately grabbed him under their arms, pulled away his seat, and made him stand and listen.

This fellow, however, was a corrupt official who didn't care about his reputation. He was obsessed with officialdom and had his mind full of thoughts about pandering to the new policies and returning to the central government. He spent his days exploiting his colleagues with performance evaluations and putting on a show of achievements.

The Fujian officialdom, from top to bottom, was forced to tighten its grip, even curbing its abuse of local power, resulting in a lifeless atmosphere.

Furthermore, thanks to the first-mover advantage of starting the pilot program in the sixth year of the Longqing reign, the land survey in Fujian proceeded step by step and was completed in an orderly manner. After the land survey in Fujian was completed, the Ministry of Land and Resources reported that it should be published as a book and included in the Yellow Register to prevent unscrupulous and powerful people from causing trouble.

In addition, the Japanese pirates who had frequently harassed the area had been eradicated in the years before Yu Dayou was promoted to the Five Military Commands, and after Fujian further lifted the maritime ban and reorganized the Maritime Trade Office, the situation visibly calmed down considerably.

The struggle was not intense enough, and the atmosphere in officialdom and among scholars was lukewarm.

However, precisely because of this, small businesses and ordinary people in the province have been given a chance to catch their breath under the heavy mountains, and have become much more lively.

Especially the ports.

Yuegang, which opened during the Longqing era, is a must-see. Its two-mile coastline is dotted with seven wharves, and the foreign trade market offers 124 kinds of import and export goods, making it a favorite place for Zhangzhou residents to stroll around.

Fuzhou Port, which flourished during the Han and Tang dynasties, declined considerably due to the maritime ban at the beginning of the dynasty, but quickly regained its glory after the ban was lifted in the early Wanli period.

As the location of the Fujian Maritime Trade Office, a stopover point for near-sea trade, and a necessary passage for foreign tribute missions, Quanzhou Port, under the supervision of officials and the people, built several large Mazu temples, attracting ordinary people and merchants to worship every day.

Anping Port in Jinjiang County, Quanzhou, is the only one that falls short.

Originally intended as a supplement to the decline of Quanzhou Port, this port flourished due to smuggling. After the imperial court lifted the sea ban, it was reorganized and reorganized, supposedly to be used as a port for ocean voyages, just like during the Yongle era.

However, since the time of Zheng Gong, the dynasty had long since stopped ocean voyages, and with no ships sailing from the ports, there were naturally few people to be seen.

There's only something exciting to see at certain times.

For example, the replica of the Yongle Treasure Ship No. 2, made by Longjiang Shipyard, was assembled at Liujiagang in Taicang. After circling Tianjin, Dengzhou, and Huai'an for trial voyages, it arrived at Anping Port in Fujian last month.

The massive, dark treasure ships, along with over a hundred accompanying ocean-going vessels, cargo ships, and escort warships, sailed into the port one after another, anchoring in neat rows.

This attracted a large crowd of merchants and ordinary people to watch, creating a lively scene.

Since it's about waiting for the right wind to open the ocean, this lively event will naturally involve both inflows and outflows.

This means that today marks the second major event – ​​everything is ready, and the Wanli Treasure Ship is finally about to set sail!
Before dawn, a large crowd of onlookers had already gathered at the dock.

A large crowd gathered, craning their necks to watch.

The salty, fishy smell carried by the sea tide crashes onto the shore.

In the darkness, the creaking of the cables against the wooden stakes, the helmsman's shouts of direction, and the muffled thud of the anchor chain hitting the water were incessant.

I don’t know how long it took.

The red sun slowly rose from the sea.

The harbor, stretching for miles, was quietly illuminated by shimmering gold light.

A colossal treasure ship, its hull embroidered with cloud and dragon patterns, slowly appeared in the sunlight, like a small mountain lifting its covering curtain.

It instantly captured everyone's attention.

Everyone looked up.

A colossal vessel, nineteen zhang long, lay across the harbor, its five masts and seven sails soaring into the clouds. A tiger head relief on the bow glared fiercely, and cannon barrels, gleaming coldly, encircled the hull, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws.

Small Fujian-style ships, warships, and sunshade boats dotted the surrounding area, making it appear as if it were the great father of the ship.

The golden hue barely pierced through the sun-blocking ship, its shadows mingling with the surrounding landscape, covering the countless mortals gazing upwards on the dock.

As the sunlight shone through, the treasure ship appeared, and the entire port seemed to come alive instantly.

Red flags fluttered, drums and gongs resounded, and firecrackers crackled.

Small business owners and ordinary citizens alike were all beaming with excitement, gesturing wildly with joy.

Bigger is better! Bigger is stronger! Bigger is more impressive!
at the same time.

Inside the dockside government office, the final handover of official documents was underway.

"Measurements show that the treasure ship is 19 zhang long, 3 zhang 2 chi wide, and 1 zhang 5 chi deep, divided into 23 cabins. The main mast at the front is 7 zhang 4 chi long and 6 chi 6 cun in circumference, and the mast at the rear is..."

"Approved: 800 bags of rice, 400 barrels of drinking water, a quantity of medicinal herbs, and a container of bean sprouts..."

The sounds of accounting and verification continued incessantly.

Only after confirming that everything is correct will the official seal of the Fujian Maritime Trade Office be affixed.

Of course, this is the job of petty officials, a job that's exhausting and tiring.

The truly high-ranking officials, untouched by worldly affairs, had already retreated to the upstairs attic to rest and await the departure of the treasure ship.

Sun Long vaguely heard the commotion downstairs and sincerely said, "I must thank Minister Li for his efforts in providing supplies for this voyage."

The treasury certainly allocated silver for this voyage.

However, procuring a large quantity of supplies in a short period of time is not as simple as just asking for a price.

"Serving the country is the duty of an official, and ocean voyages are official business. There is no question of thanking them."

Li Zaiting sat opposite him at the tea table, holding the teapot in his right hand and circling it counter-clockwise around the teacup. Hearing this, he didn't even look up, but replied with a smile.

Sun Long glanced at the expression of the person across the table and felt inexplicably uneasy.

This Governor Li, having been away from the capital for many years, somehow developed the same habit as Yan Song back then, always greeting people with a smile, just like a smiling tiger!

His squinting smile, in particular, is truly creepy!
When is Sun Da Dang expected to return from this trip to the remote island?

Li Zaiting stopped his "Guan Gong patrolling the city" gesture, poured tea, and spoke with concern.

Sun Long subconsciously sat up to show his inferiority: "Minister Li, according to the established route, the round trip will take at least a year."

Li Zaiting gently waved his hand, pretending to hold down Sun Long, who was half-standing up: "Is it via Champa, Palembang, or Luzon?"

Sun Long forced a smile and said, "Excuse me."

He sat back down on the pins and needles, and reached for the cup with both hands: "His Majesty has ordered us to anchor in Malacca and make contact with the Han people."

At this point, Sun Long seemed to remember something and added, "In the past two years, the Siyiguan (Foreigners' Bureau) has reinterpreted the names of various overseas places. Malacca is now called Malacca."

Li Zaiting didn't show much expression, and nodded casually, indicating that she already knew.

Since the emperor has explicitly ordered the cessation of operations in Malacca, it is clear that he intends to revive the Old Port Pacification Commission.

They couldn't even protect the Nurgan Commandery in the capital, and now they're already thinking about regaining their overseas enclaves. It's truly...

Truly worthy of being called His Majesty!

With such a broad mind, encompassing the entire world, who besides the founding emperor and the founding emperor could compare?
In contrast, Sun Long at this time was still a long way from truly internalizing flattery.

After mentioning the emperor, Sun Da Dang didn't offer a single word of praise before hastily continuing his explanation.

"So the journey took us through the Taiwan Strait, past Champa, and a temporary stop in Malacca. Then we traveled south from Sumatra, through Surabaya in Java, and stopped in Timor, also known as Cherighan, before finally arriving at the island, which took about 120 days."

"After exiling Liu Shiyan's family and more than 170 death row inmates, the Earl of Jinghai still needs to explore the local area and build a port, which will take at least two months."

"The return journey will only pass through Banten, and then we will resupply along the way and return directly from the Dongsha Islands, which will take about 100 days."

Although the routes obtained through archaeological investigations are largely accurate when compared with the nautical charts presented as tribute by foreign vassal states, there is no guarantee that no unforeseen events may occur.

Just like when Zheng He first set sail and passed through the country of Majapahit, he had no choice but to fight against the two kings of the country.

In addition, there are pirates from various places who need to be recruited.

The Han Chinese of the Old Port Pacification Commission were reunited.

Buying and selling local goods, dumping tea, silk, sesame oil, and so on...

Because there are too many uncertain factors, the timeframe can only be estimated as "at least".

In any case, this period of being far from home and adrift will not be less than a year.

Despite the difficulties, Sun Long appeared exceptionally excited.

Even eunuchs wanted to make a name for themselves in history!

This is from the history of Zheng He!
On the day of training, the warships were dispatched and swiftly sailed on the raging waves, causing more than thirty countries in Yanzhou to rise up and attack the crowned states. Even Ban Chao and Fu Jiezi were not surprising!

Moreover, who among men would willingly be content with being cunning, weak, and insignificant when such a great achievement is right before their eyes?

Having captured the bandit leader three times and become a force to be reckoned with overseas, Sun Long's achievements on this trip are now comparable to those of Zheng Gong!
The two people inside were talking.

A clattering sound came from outside.

Li Zaiting and Sun Long both looked outside.

The door was not closed, and a figure in armor appeared outside.

"Lord Kuri, Chief Envoy Sun."

It was none other than Zhu Shitai, the Earl of Jinghai, who strode in with one hand on his sword.

Sun Long quickly stood up to return the greeting.

Li Zaiting sat up and gestured with a smile.

"Earl of Jinghai".

Since being granted a title, Zhu Shitai has been in charge of the household for many years and has long since shed his former frivolity.

At this moment, when reporting on official business, he was solemn and serious: "Envoy Sun, our department has inspected all the treasure ship and the hundred accompanying ships."

"The accompanying officials, soldiers, interpreters, stargazers, foreign laborers, helmsmen... all arrived."

"The Cheng Yi Earl's clan has a number of death row inmates, who have already been properly detained."

Logically speaking, nobles should have a higher rank.

However, matters like voyages to the Western Ocean depend on the specific personnel assigned to them.

Since there was an imperial edict, "sending eunuchs Sun Long and others to deliver imperial decrees to the Western countries and bestow upon the kings gold-embroidered silk, brocade, and colored silk of varying amounts," Zhu Shitai had to report his work to the eunuchs.

Sun Long nodded in understanding.

With everyone accounted for, it was time for him and Zhu Shitai to board the ship.

He turned around, cupped his hands in greeting to Li Zaiting, and said, "I have troubled Minister Li for many days; it is time for me to set off."

The port document verification was not yet finished, but the envoy was not idle either, and had to board the ship in advance to make some preparations.

In plain terms, it means it's time to get on board, shout slogans, and get everyone mobilized.

Li Zaiting also stood up and said apologetically, "The Maritime Trade Office still has some unfinished business to attend to, so I can only apologize and see you off."

After saying this, he bowed towards the capital city and earnestly wished, "May the Emperor protect you all and may you have smooth sailing."

Sun Long and Zhu Shitai exchanged a glance and bowed to the north in unison.

"We will certainly live up to the weighty trust placed in us by the Emperor!"

The two sides were merely acquaintances in official circles, so there was naturally no need for any sentimental farewells.

After the two envoys said their goodbyes, they simply turned around and left.

Li Zaiting watched him leave with a smile.

Zhu Shitai lagged behind, glanced at the Fujian governor inside the room, hesitated for a moment, and then closed the door behind him.

The sound of footsteps on the stairs gradually faded away, and the house returned to silence.

Li Zaiting then stopped smiling, looking somewhat tired.

I glanced down and saw that the teacups on the table had just been brewed and remained untouched.

He shook his head and sighed, then reached out and grabbed a cup in each hand, tilting his head back to gulp it down.

Seven years.

It took a full seven years to bring the situation in Fujian to its current state!
Compared to when we first arrived in Fujian, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we've accomplished a great mission!

At that time, when the land survey order was issued, the prefectures and counties merely went through the motions, "ordering the people to report their own land holdings, without ever actually measuring the land."

Today, the poems of Hao You, which express hatred for the Qing dynasty, have become the best footnote to its end.

Having measured out all the mountain fields and paddy fields, only the vast sea and blue sky remain. Where are the idle islets now? I send this message to the sandpipers: do not sleep idly.

At that time, the authority to patrol the sea was in a state of chaos, and the governor's office intended to make adjustments, transferring the authority to patrol the sea from the Zhangnan Circuit, which was overwhelmed with other matters, to the Maritime Circuit.

The imperial envoy, tasked with overseeing military preparations and concurrently managing the Zhangnan Circuit's Assistant Surveillance Commission, brazenly defied orders, rallying his soldiers and declaring, "How can the Zhangnan Circuit not concern itself with military affairs?!"

Now, under Yu Dayou's control, all matters concerning the selection of officers and soldiers for coastal fortresses, outposts, and camps in Fujian, the inspection of provisions and pay, and the repair and construction of ships and equipment are reported to the provincial governor for detailed instructions and are left to his exclusive management. Yu Dayou's old troops from Jinjiang are naturally keen on suppressing the Japanese pirates and are like an extension of the governor's office.

At that time, the Maritime Trade Office was merely a name without substance.

The provincial government had infringed upon his rights, and the garrison eunuch repeatedly appealed to the prefectural government to "follow the imperial edict and clarify his duties," but the Three Departments Inspection Office remained unmoved.

Below them were the "cliques" of various ports, including the clerks and officials of the tax collection office and the coastal defense office. They colluded with each other, turned the tables, and even formed a situation of monopolistic power. "The officials above were exploited, and the merchants below were corrupted. Half of the goods were concealed when reporting them, and one-tenth of the ships were concealed when measuring them. Even though the officials were corrupt, the clerks were still rich. The tax was short, but the clerks were all well-fed."

Even something as simple as a plank going to sea couldn't be decided by the Maritime Trade Office!

now……

Li Zaiting stretched and slowly walked to the window.

The voyage of Wanli's treasure ship this time means that the last piece of the puzzle has been completed!

It's time for him, the governor of Fujian, to be promoted!
"Fourth Uncle..."

The sudden sound startled Li Zaiting.

When I turned around, I realized it was my nephew standing behind me!
Startled, Li Zaiting, disregarding all the details, angrily rebuked, "What Fourth Uncle! When you were bitten in the testicles and sent to the palace, I warned you to distinguish between inside and outside, and to address each other by their official titles!" (Chapter 64)
Li Wen shrank back, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.

He was, after all, a nephew by blood. All he did was have a homosexual relationship with his brothers and couldn't carry on the family line. Why was he being so vicious?
No wonder gossip about Fourth Uncle is circulating all over Fujian. His smiling face to his superiors and his unpredictable temper towards his subordinates is really not likable!

He had no choice but to compose himself and forced a bow: "This humble official is the Deputy Director of the Fujian Maritime Trade Office. I have something to report to the Minister."

Li Zaiting cursed once, and his anger subsided a bit.

He gave a soft "hmm": "We're all family, no need for such formalities. So, what is it?"

Li Wen choked, almost unable to catch his breath.

For a moment, neither bowing nor getting up seemed right.

He stood there, on the verge of tears, and simply omitted the title: "The Maritime Trade Office has already completed its inspection of the ships for this long voyage."

Li Zaiting did not react when she heard this.

This means that once customs registration is complete, we can set sail at any time.

However, that's not the point; that's clearly not what Li Wen wanted to say.

Sure enough, Li Wen paused, looked up at his fourth uncle, and said vaguely, "In addition, there are more than twenty ocean-going ships and small Fujian ships that we want to take this opportunity to go to sea together."

Li Zaiting was confused and frowned again.

His expression was displeased, and he said coldly, "Explain yourself clearly: whose ship is it? Where are we heading? To some remote island? What do you mean by 'taking this opportunity'?"

Seeing that his fourth uncle looked unwell, Li Wen quickly spilled the beans, revealing the whole story: "It was a ship belonging to the Grand Princess, the Marquis of Wuqing, the Duke of Ying, and the Earl of Pingjiang!"

"We're not going to a remote island, we're going to Japan!"

"They said that they were turned away by the Marquis of Ding'an in Zhejiang, so they came here seeking help, hoping to follow behind Sun Long so as not to attract attention."

The Grand Princess's ship?

Li Zaiting pondered for a while before suddenly realizing what was happening.

Currently, near-shore trade is gradually being relaxed, while ocean-going shipping has only just taken its first steps.

The Grand Princess and her group, on the one hand, pleaded with the Emperor to legalize their relationship, but on the other hand, they probably still had the idea of ​​making money first and then completing the formalities later! These imperial relatives are truly parasites!
Thinking of this, Li Zaiting looked at his nephew again, sizing him up.

Without realizing it, he tilted his head and squinted his eyes.

Li Wen felt a chill run down his spine as he was being scrutinized.

He forced a smile: "Fourth Uncle..."

He was interrupted before he could speak.

Li Zaiting's eyes narrowed into slits: "You only come to tell me now that the Maritime Trade Office has already issued the approval, right?"

Li Wen's expression changed, and he subconsciously stammered in denial: "No, no..."

Upon hearing this, Li Zaiting remained motionless, simply watching quietly.

There was a moment of silence between the two, and the atmosphere gradually cooled down.

A dense layer of cold sweat soaked Li Tiju's back.

I do not know how long it has been.

Li Wen finally couldn't hold on any longer, and his whole body collapsed from bone to skin. He cried and said, "The Grand Princess has sent me a lot of things over the years. The ban on overseas trade is going to be lifted this year. It's just a small matter with no risk, so I agreed."

"But I'm also afraid that my fourth uncle will find out beforehand and probably won't agree..."

He looked remorseful and spoke in a pleading tone.

Li Zaiting seemed somewhat disheartened and sighed silently.

I don't know why I sighed.

He shook his head with a melancholy expression: "How did they manage to bring so many ships on their first voyage to Japan?"

Li Wen quickly replied, "I heard that you brought quite a few people. Japan is currently in the midst of war and needs private soldiers for self-defense."

"In addition, there were also more than a hundred Taoist priests who were skilled in feng shui and geomancy, and their messy rituals took up quite a lot of space."

Li Zaiting was taken aback.

Feng shui consultation? Is this for business or tomb raiding?

Li Wen hesitated for a moment before carefully explaining, "It seems to be a secret that Marquis Wuqing heard when he went to the palace to see the Empress Dowager."

"One of the purposes of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean was to find the whereabouts of the Jianwen Emperor."

"After seven attempts, we finally found some clues!"

"Said to be……"

Li Wen suddenly stopped and looked around.

Seeing that the buildings here were old, he had to carefully lower his voice to the lowest level and said furtively, "It is said that Emperor Jianwen once took the Nanjing national treasury with him and fled to Zhaoqing Temple to become a monk and seek refuge under the protection of his former subordinates."

"Then he followed Jianzhen's example and went east to Japan. He lived a carefree life for half his life, relying on the wealth of the people from the national treasury, and finally died on the northern coast of Japan!"

"Because he renounced the world and became a monk, Emperor Jianwen never had any children. In his final days, he built a tomb and buried all his treasures with him."

"According to information I obtained from Chen Yinzhao, the heir of the Earl of Pingjiang who was on the ship, the Jianwen treasure may very well be hidden in the Sado Island area."

"His wealth is worth tens of millions of taels of silver! It's comparable to a mountain of silver!"

After Li Wen finished speaking, he couldn't help but wrinkle his nose, gesturing earnestly with his hands dangling in the air.

"puff……"

What followed was the merciless mockery of Fourth Uncle.

"Hahaha, Jianwen's treasure!"

"What a treasure trove of Jianwen's knowledge!"

Li Zaiting clutched his stomach, seemingly unsteady on his feet, and then grabbed his nephew's shoulder, bursting into laughter.

Li Wen was so embarrassed that he didn't know what to do. He asked somewhat insecurely, "Uncle, is Chen Yinzhao lying to me because of your reaction?"

This secret, which was finally extracted from the heir of the Marquis of Pingjiang after several days of manipulating him with the maritime prohibition document and drinking him down for several nights, was mocked like this!
What a shame!
Li Zaiting wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes, causing the grass and trees to tremble: "Palace secrets are naturally impossible to fabricate, but the title is too childish, and I couldn't help but laugh for a moment."

Any official with a sound mind would not take it seriously.

Unfortunately, the Grand Princess, the Marquis of Wuqing, the Earl of Pingjiang, and others actually assembled dozens of ships to explore the so-called "Jianwen Treasure."

That's utterly foolish.

Oh right, his nephew is included too.

Why does every dynasty decline?
It is precisely because such fools are multiplying in aristocratic families, embezzling wealth, and occupying central positions.

The Jianwen Treasure Trove.

It was fortunate that the emperor addressed the problem effectively, condescending to come up with such a solution to guide maritime trade.

It took Li Zaiting a great deal of effort to finally stop laughing.

Seeing his embarrassed nephew, he waved his hand, which was unusual for him: "That's fine, let them go out to sea."

Upon hearing this, Li Wen was quite puzzled as to why his fourth uncle's expression changed so drastically upon hearing about the treasure.

Could it be that they also want to take a share of the pie?

He was about to ask further questions.

Li Zaiting was already impatient and wanted to get rid of him: "While you're still the Deputy Director of the Maritime Trade Office, why don't you hurry up and get things done?"

"I will soon send a document to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner to prosecute you for embezzlement and bribery. At that time, you will lose both your official position and your wealth, and be sent back to the capital. At least you will still have the favor of the noble lords."

This wasn't just said in anger.

This nephew is so stupid; once I leave my post in Fujian, I'm afraid he'll be completely taken advantage of.

Li Wen was taken aback upon hearing this, and then his expression changed drastically!

Before I could react, I felt a boot forcefully imprint on my butt!
In an instant, the world spun around, and wild dogs began to gnaw on the food.

Li Wen rubbed his buttocks and came to his senses, only to find himself slumped outside—he had been kicked out by his fourth uncle!
"Oh, Li Tiju, you've come to see the Minister as well? Why are you sitting slumped outside?"

Li Wen paused in her kneading motion.

His right hand silently moved up from his buttocks, giving his lower back a couple of aimless rubs, and then, with a yawn, he stretched and stood up.

"It's nothing. I just received some guidance from the Minister and have been organizing my thoughts. Please feel free to do as you see fit, Imperial Censor Zhang."

As he spoke, he calmly turned around, brushed past the person who came, and walked down the stairs before he began to mutter incantations, praying that his fourth uncle was just saying things in anger.

The Imperial Inspector Zhang Wei glanced at the eunuch's back and felt completely bewildered.

He shook his head and knocked on the door, which was not closed.

Benedict.

Tuk Tuk.

Li Zaiting looked up and saw that it was the Imperial Inspector. He quickly stepped forward to greet him with a beaming smile: "Brother Zhang, have you also come to witness the Wanli Emperor's treasure ship setting sail?"

That's what I asked, but I actually had some doubts in my heart.

The governor's office is in Fuzhou, which is quite a distance from Jinjiang County in Quanzhou. He should have planned to come earlier and travel with me. Why would he only come now?

Zhang Wei shook his head and got straight to the point: "In nineteen days, it will be His Majesty's birthday. The Portuguese, Greeks, and Luzon will come to pay tribute. The governor's office has already issued a decree allowing them to travel by land through the Grand Canal to the capital."

"Now we have to trouble the minister to stamp this document and retrieve it."

The emperor's birthday is August 17th, which is the last day for envoys to pay tribute.

"Folangji," "Gansila," and "Luzon" refer to Portugal, Spain, and the Philippines, but Zhang Wei is not yet used to the new names used by the Siyiguan (Foreigners' Bureau).

Li Zaiting took the document from Zhang Wei, somewhat puzzled, and frowned, saying, "Retrieve it? Why is that?"

The governor's official seal was not something the provincial inspector could handle; to retrieve it, the governor himself had to sign and affix his seal.

The question is, what's the point of recovering it?
Zhang Wei paused for a moment, then realized: "Since the Minister is stationed at Anping Port, he must not have seen the Ministry of Rites' official document yet!"

Li Zaiting looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Zhang Wei said briefly, "The Ministry of Rites recently issued an official document stating that His Majesty's southern tour will not allow all tribute envoys to enter Beijing, but will instead proceed via Nanjing."

Li Zaiting then realized what was happening.

So it turns out His Majesty is on a southern tour; no wonder he wanted to retrieve the official document that cleared the way for the envoys to enter the capital.

Since we're going by land, it should still be possible to sign and agree to change the route now.

Li Zaiting took out the governor's seal from his bosom—this was a lesson learned from the past experience of Zhao Xian, the governor of Huguang. Now, governors are most afraid of their official seals being stolen, so they usually carry it with them at all times.

He spread the documents out on the table and raised the governor's seal to stamp them.

Suddenly the seal stopped in mid-air.

Li Zaiting looked up, then belatedly glanced at Zhang Wei, and exclaimed in astonishment, "Ah? His Majesty is on a southern tour!?"

……

"What are you babbling about? Has His Majesty gone on a southern tour?"

In his daze, Deng Yizan's speech became slurred.

Wei Zhongde coughed lightly: "Lord Deng, it's not already done, His Majesty's southern tour will have to wait until next month."

Before Deng Yizan accepted this imperial edict, he was a commoner who had not yet been reinstated and could only be addressed as "Gong" (公).

Wei Zhongde's emphasis on the title was also a reminder to Deng Yizan to accept the imperial decree first.

Deng Yizan was still in a daze.

Why the sudden decision to make a southern tour!

What was the outcome of the court deliberations? What was the cabinet thinking? What were the censors and officials doing?
Did no one try to dissuade the emperor?!
Is the Southern Tour really such a good thing? Do you really think it's as easy as the awkward poems written by Emperor Wuzong? What about the saying, "Zhengde's illustrious name has spread far and wide, daring to be the first in the southern and northern campaigns. His lifelong might has brought peace to the world, forever guarding the land for ten thousand years"?

In the end, there was no such thing as a thousand years; he fell ill directly from a capsized boat and perished in the Leopard Chamber.

Regardless of who caused it, just consider how dangerous it is to be far from the Forbidden City. When Emperor Shizong went on a southern tour, he burned down the imperial palace. When Emperor Yingzong went on a northern tour to study in the Oirat Mongols, neither of them had a peaceful life!

"Ahem, Lord Deng, it's time to receive the imperial decree." Wei Zhongde coughed again.

Deng Yizan then came to his senses.

He sighed silently. Regardless of whether the emperor made a southern or northern tour, he still had to accept the edict to reinstate him.

Because of the land survey, he was tricked by the gentry in Henan.

Not only has the land survey progressed slowly, but my son has also broken his leg.

If I don't avenge this, I'll be unworthy of being a gentleman!
He quickly composed himself, bowed deeply, and accepted the imperial edict with both hands: "Your subject accepts the edict and expresses his gratitude."

The emperor reinstated him, clearly intending for him to clean up the mess himself.

This time, we can't afford to make the same mistake again!

Instead of eagerly helping Deng Yizan up, Wei Zhongde cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards the capital and said, "It is His Majesty's decree."

"Deng Qing is capable, but he has not rid himself of selfishness and has not managed his household strictly. Now that he has made a comeback, we hope he will take this as a warning."

These words almost made Deng Yizan so ashamed that he covered his face and sobbed.

He faced north and bowed deeply, saying, "Your subject will remember."

How can we move forward if we don't admit defeat?

Wei Zhongde then put on a smile and helped Deng Yizan up: "Minister Deng, there's no need to blame yourself too much. His Majesty said in private that a few petty schemes are nothing to worry about. As long as you serve the country, even if you fall and rise three times, he will definitely protect you."

Upon hearing this, Deng Yizan became even more speechless and choked with emotion.

With such a ruler by his side, he can continue to serve for another twenty years!
But personal honor and disgrace are ultimately trivial matters. He slowly stood up and reiterated his earlier statement: "Your Majesty regards me as your brother, and I regard you as my heart and soul!"

"Please wait a moment, Eunuch Wei. I have a letter of advice to dissuade His Majesty from making the southern tour!"

After saying that, he turned around and was about to go inside to fix the books.

Wei Zhongde quickly grabbed Deng Yizan's hand.

Before the latter could break free, he said with a wry smile, "Minister Deng, the matter has been settled. The Wenhua Hall is now discussing who will oversee the country."

Deng Yizan was displeased and retorted, "Discuss? Isn't His Majesty known for his decisiveness and magnanimity?!"

Being stubborn and magnanimous is also akin to being headstrong and self-willed.

With Emperor Wuzong's masterpiece as a precedent, which court official would agree to such a thing?

How many court officials did Emperor Wuzong demote during his southern tour?
How many officials were flogged and killed during Emperor Shizong's southern tour?
The current calm and tranquility could not be attributed to anything other than the emperor's willful actions. Deng Yizan could not conceive of any other possibility.

In response, Wei Zhongde sternly corrected Deng Yizan's stereotypes.

The former shook his head seriously: "Of course not."

"This matter was first proposed by Fan Yingqi, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and the Governor of the Granaries."

Fan Yingqi?
Deng Yizan took a deep breath. "There's a treacherous minister in the court!"

"However..." Wei Zhongde changed the subject: "Although His Majesty reluctantly agreed, he could not resist the ministers of the outer court who vied to remonstrate, hoping that His Majesty would rescind the order and punish Vice Minister Fan."

Deng Yizan nodded firmly.

Punishment? They should just be dismissed!

At this point, Wei Zhongde suddenly became emotional: "Subsequently, this caused endless disputes in the court."

"Memorials from the censors and officials were sent into the Western Garden like snowflakes."

"Officials from various ministries and departments successively went on hunger strikes and knelt outside the Meridian Gate."

"Even inside the Wenhua Hall, the situation remained deadlocked. Then, Vice Minister Wan instructed his grandson Wan Jing to sneak into Vice Minister Fan's home and beat him so badly that he was unable to attend court for several days."

Wan Gong is a repeat offender.

When rumors circulated in the capital that the emperor was incompetent and had no heir, Wan Gong assumed that it was his uncle Zhu Zaiyu who had secretly spread the rumors and instructed his grandson Wan Jing to climb over the wall and beat up his uncle.

Deng Yizan then realized that the emperor's southern tour was not as peaceful as he had imagined.

However, it seems that in the end, the emperor's wishes were still granted.

Wei Zhongde met Deng Yizan's gaze and continued calmly, "Seeing the situation, His Majesty knew that there was no time to delay, and immediately made a magnanimous and decisive decision."

"At the morning court session a month ago, I ordered the court officials in the Wenhua Hall to present their arguments on the pros and cons, and to decide whether or not to hold a court election behind closed doors and anonymously!"

Deng Yizan looked bewildered.

I could understand each of the three words, but each one sounded so strange.

What does it mean to present the pros and cons?

What does "closing the door and remaining anonymous" mean?

What does "whether or not to hold a court election" mean?
Is this an evolution of the Tingtui faction, or a mutation of the Southern Suburbs faction?
He remained silent for a long time before asking, as if speculating or affirming, "After the palace doors were closed, did His Majesty explain the pros and cons and make the final decision?"

Wei Zhongde nodded eagerly: "His Majesty spoke at length, but I am incompetent and can no longer remember most of it."

"I only remember the last sentence."

His expression was as serene as gazing at the sea and mountains, and his lips moved as he said, "His Majesty said he will never allow the country to be torn apart!"

……

"What do you mean by 'the country must not be torn apart'? Does the emperor mean that we are the ones tearing the country apart?"

Zhao Nanxing scoffed, his expression full of resentment.

This was the Office of the Ministry of Justice in Southern Zhili, which also served as the joint editorial office of the Imperial College and the Donglin Journal.

As public spaces, generally speaking, it's fine as long as no one dies there.

However, since parting ways with Gu Xiancheng, Li Sancai and others, Zhao Nanxing has become inexplicably arrogant, and his competitive spirit is almost ubiquitous.

Not only did they fund the renovation of the newspaper office, but they also invited several literati to compose poems and paint pictures.

So much so that even an inconspicuous duty room was decorated with a simple and elegant style, exuding a scholarly air.

With the three gentlemen of Donglin controlling two major newspapers and producing frequent, insightful articles, it almost became a sacred place for Confucian scholars in Jiangnan.

At that moment, there were only three editors in the duty room.

Zhao Nanxing pointed at the official documents sent from Beijing, sneering incessantly.

Zou Yuanbiao, who was also demoted to the southern suburbs, was equally full of resentment.

However, he was now extremely uneasy, his expression panicked: "The emperor is coming! What can we do?"

Only Luo Yuren remained unmoved, continuing to write swiftly with his brush.

Upon closer inspection, one can see the incredibly disobedient words: "Your Majesty is indeed greedy for wealth, so how can you punish your subjects for their gluttony? Your Majesty is indeed prone to anger, so how can you persuade your subjects to be harmonious?"

"Who has caused such extreme division of territory as the ruler?"

(End of this chapter)