My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Of course, all the drawbacks and chaos mentioned above are things of the past, representing the predicament faced by the old Ming Dynasty, which was deeply entrenched and on the verge of collapse.

Since Zhu Cilang swiftly purged the inner court, gradually seized power, and implemented a series of reforms, the Ming Dynasty had undergone earth-shattering and transformative changes in just two or three years.

Although the administration has not been completely cleansed, the rampant corruption has been severely suppressed.

After military equipment was reorganized and modernized, combat effectiveness rebounded significantly, and finances improved greatly due to tax reforms and crackdowns on powerful clans and aristocratic families.

This wave of reform naturally swept through Tianjin, which served as the gateway to the capital and the throat of the empire.

Because of its special geographical location, when the imperial court issued its decree to strengthen coastal defense, crack down on smuggling, and clear obstacles for opening up trade, Tianjin's response speed was the fastest in the country.

The civil and military officials here, from the generals and governors down to the officials at the circuit, prefecture, and county levels, all knew exactly what was going on:
That's because Tianjin is just too close to Beijing!

If the emperor were to show any displeasure, tens of thousands of elite troops from the Beijing Garrison could arrive in an instant, their blades held to their necks.

Under such inescapable deterrence, any wishful thinking or outward compliance is tantamount to courting death.

Therefore, when they learned through special channels that the emperor was about to make a southern tour and that his first stop would be Tianjin, and that he intended to take this opportunity to thoroughly clean up the long-standing smuggling problems, local officials such as Cao Youyi, the general of Tianjin, and Feng Yuanyang, the governor of Tianjin, almost overnight summoned their confidants to discuss countermeasures.

Without the slightest hesitation or delay, they immediately employed all available means to launch an unprecedented high-pressure crackdown on the large and small maritime merchants, shipping guilds, and even local powerful figures with intricate connections to smuggling along the Tianjin coast and in various ports.

Their methods were direct and effective. First, they sent troops to "invite" the heads of various maritime merchants, explained the advantages and disadvantages, and bluntly stated that the emperor was about to arrive in person. If they did not end their shady dealings as soon as possible, they would face the calamity of having their families confiscated and their clans exterminated when the emperor was enraged.

At the same time, they were given a way out: they voluntarily confessed to their involvement in smuggling and offered to hand over half of their family property as "redeem" and "serve the country." In return, the court would not hold them accountable, and their legitimate trade could be included in the new maritime ban regulations that were about to be lifted.

However, if they remain obstinate and attempt to conceal their assets or flee abroad, they will be executed without mercy, and all their property will be confiscated.

This "carrot and stick" strategy precisely targeted the weaknesses of these maritime merchants.

Having been in Tianjin for a long time, they were well-informed and had already sensed the dramatic shift in the imperial court's political climate.

The emperor's various actions, including cracking down on the nobles, purging the Shanxi merchants, and even sharpening his knives against the powerful clans in the south, all indicate that this is no child's play.

Therefore, faced with the "final ultimatum" issued by General Cao and Governor Feng on behalf of the imperial court, these extremely shrewd merchants quickly weighed the pros and cons.

resistance?

This is undoubtedly like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Although the Tianjin garrison is not as elite as the Beijing garrison, it is more than enough to deal with these merchants. What's more, the entire state apparatus is behind them. Can you resist them?

run away?

That’s even worse!

The Tianjin Navy had already been ordered to blockade the main sea outlets, so they had no way to escape. The recent seizure of several ships had completely extinguished any remaining hope they might have.

Not only were those ships seized, but the people on board were also killed!
However, these maritime merchants were not fools. Some of them keenly realized that the imperial court's move was intended to establish its authority and amass wealth, to raise funds and set rules for the upcoming new maritime trade policies, and that it was not really trying to exterminate them.

After all, the Crown Prince's father-in-law, Zheng Zhilong, is the largest and most "legitimate" representative of the Ming Dynasty's maritime power. His rise to power is inseparable from smuggling, and he continues to engage in smuggling even today.

If the imperial court truly intends to thoroughly investigate the smuggling matter, Zheng Zhilong will be the first to be implicated!

But is it possible? Obviously not!

In the future, the imperial court will need to rely on Zheng Zhilong's naval power and trade network for many matters related to opening up the seas. Since Zheng Zhilong can be given leeway, it is natural to prefer to "punish them" and observe their future actions, since their scale is much smaller.

Once you understand this, all that's left is to "cut your losses".

Under the strong urging of Cao Youyi and Feng Yuanyang, and the intimidation of the secret investigations by the Jinyiwei spies stationed in Tianjin, the large and small maritime merchants in Tianjin, despite their heartache, had no choice but to obediently submit and begin to take stock of their assets.

For a time, the major silver shops and banks in Tianjin were bustling with activity, as boxes of gold ingots, silver coins, and strings of copper coins were unearthed.

The valuable goods such as spices, silks, and porcelain in the dock warehouses were registered and valued, and even some land deeds, house deeds, and ship deeds were included in the list.

Several days before Emperor Chongzhen left Beijing, hundreds of carriages loaded with valuables, escorted by elite soldiers dispatched by the Tianjin governor's office, had already entered the capital in a grand procession, delivering the first batch of "penalty" payments and a list of valuables to the Ministry of Revenue.

According to subsequent statistics, the cash and easily convertible assets turned over in Tianjin amounted to more than ten million taels of silver!

This does not include fixed assets that require time to dispose of.

Of course, the process was not without its challenges.

There are always one or two businessmen who rely on their powerful backgrounds or take chances and try to conceal some of their assets or secretly transfer their family's valuables.

However, their actions were already under the surveillance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Upon learning of this, Cao Youyi showed no mercy and immediately dispatched troops to arrest him with swift and decisive action. All his property was confiscated, and the main culprits were shackled and sent to the capital prison for trial.

This act of making an example of someone had an immediate effect; all the remaining onlookers immediately became incredibly "cooperative," even offering "extra" prices when handing over their assets, fearing that any flaws would be found.

As for how to calculate this "half of the family property" and whether there was any false reporting or concealment, the imperial court naturally had a backup plan.

Among the local officials in Tianjin, there were many capable clerks who were good at accounting and valuation, but more importantly, there were the all-pervasive Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Based on intelligence reports, market conditions, and covert investigations over the years, they had already made a rough estimate of the assets of major maritime merchants.

Trying to pull any tricks under these people's noses is extremely difficult.

In general, faced with strong political pressure and clear interests, Tianjin became the first and fastest region in the country to fully respond to the imperial court's policy of opening up the sea and rectifying the situation.

Nothing more than being near you!

So close that the power of the emperor could reach this place without diminishing, so close that no one could muster the slightest thought of resistance.

Our gaze shifts to Tianjin Port.

In spring, the Bohai Bay is calm and tranquil, with the sea and sky blending into one, and the azure waters shimmering in the sunlight.

The area around the confluence of the Sancha River and the Haihe River in Tianjin is no longer the chaotic scene of merchant ships that once filled the area.

After initial cleaning and planning, the port appeared well-organized. Most notably, dozens of large ships of various shapes and sizes, all flying the Ming Dynasty dragon flag and the Zheng family's flag, were neatly moored at the berths prepared specifically for the emperor's southern tour.

These ships were the main force of the escort fleet personally mobilized by Zheng Zhilong.

Among them were the "Fujian ships" and "Guangdong ships," which were slender, equipped with multi-masted sails, and suitable for long-distance sea voyages.

There are "Haicang ships" and "Yao ships" with sturdy hulls, suitable for coastal patrol and combat.

There were also several improved gunboats that were particularly large, with gun ports on the sides of the hull that revealed menacing gun muzzles.

This is the result of Zheng Zhilong's recent years of drawing on and improving Western technology, and it can be called a behemoth in the East Asian seas of this era.

The sailors and soldiers on board were carrying out final preparations in a tense but orderly manner, carrying boxes of food, fresh water, fuel, and various supplies onto the ship via the gangplank.

Then inspect the sails, anchor chains, and cannons; hang colorful flags and arrange the royal cabins.

The entire port was bustling with activity, yet orderly, demonstrating the Zheng family's navy's high level of organization and discipline.

Two people stood side by side on a watchtower with a great view on one side of the dock.

One was Zheng Zhilong, and the other was Cao Youyi, the General Commander of Tianjin.

The two leaned on the railing and gazed into the distance, looking at the magnificent sight of thousands of ships in the harbor and the vast scenery where the sea and sky met in the distance. They were filled with emotion.

Cao Youyi took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze and spoke first, his tone filled with disbelief and heartfelt admiration:

"Lord Zheng, it all seems like a lifetime ago! Just a few years ago, the Jurchen cavalry was knocking on the gates in the north, and the capital was in constant danger. In the north, bandits were ravaging several provinces, and war was raging everywhere. In Tianjin, smuggling was rampant and the military was in disarray. I was overwhelmed with problems and almost in despair."

"Who could have predicted that in the blink of an eye, the Jurchens would be driven back to Liaodong and the bandits would be wiped out? Your Majesty is truly an unparalleled sage ruler and a wise monarch rarely seen throughout history!"

His words were both heartfelt sentiments and tinged with obvious flattery, after all, the father-in-law of the emperor was a very influential figure in the eyes of the emperor and the crown prince.

It's always good to say something nice to him!
Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhilong revealed a meaningful smile, stroked his short beard, and echoed:

"General Cao is absolutely right. His Majesty is indeed wise and insightful, and possesses great talent and strategic vision."

However, Zheng Zhilong's words were not sincere, because deep down he was thinking of the Crown Prince, who was too young but shrewd and far ahead of his time.

The great victory in Liaodong, the suppression of the bandits, and even the current spirit of opening up the sea—behind every single one of these achievements, is the shadow of His Highness the Crown Prince.
Although Emperor Chongzhen was the nominal decision-maker, Zheng Zhilong knew perfectly well who the real instigator and planner was.

He could only keep these words buried deep in his heart and would never tell Cao Youyi them openly.

After a moment's hesitation, Zheng Zhilong steered the conversation back to reality. He turned to look at Cao Youyi, his tone becoming more serious:

"General Cao, His Majesty will be arriving in Tianjin soon. Have all the arrangements been made, especially for the local merchants? We must not make any mistakes, lest we alarm His Majesty and cause unnecessary trouble."

Cao Youyi naturally understood what Zheng Zhilong meant, and quickly bowed and replied:

"Rest assured, Your Excellency! This matter is being personally overseen by Governor Feng and I. We will not dare to slack off in the slightest. All the prominent local merchants are willing to support the court's crackdown on smuggling. Furthermore, half of their assets have already been registered, and the first batch of cash and valuables was safely delivered to the Ministry of Revenue in the capital the day before yesterday."

"I can vouch for it with my life. Within the Tianjin territory, everything has been handled clearly and transparently in accordance with His Majesty's decree and the court's regulations."

He paused, a perfectly measured look of guilt and worry appearing on his face, and lowered his voice slightly:
"However, to be honest, my lord, as the General of Tianjin, I have a duty to defend this territory. In the past, although I have cracked down on smuggling within the territory, I have inevitably made mistakes in supervision and failed to manage my subordinates properly. I am always terrified when I think about this."

"This time, I have also contributed half of my family's savings over the years to express my remorse."

"I only hope that Your Majesty will be so gracious as to remember my past insignificant contributions and my desire to atone for my crimes, and grant me leniency for what I have done."

"At that time, I hope that Your Excellency will put in a good word for me before His Majesty."

After saying that, he bowed deeply to Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong understood what Cao Youyi was doing after watching his performance.

The other party was afraid that the emperor would use this as an excuse to hold them accountable for their dereliction of duty, so they wanted to buy insurance in advance.

However, Zheng Zhilong was also aware that the emperor and the crown prince's primary purpose for this southern tour was to establish their authority, appease the people, and promote the opening of the sea. Stability was paramount, and they would not actually conduct a large-scale purge of local officials at this time, especially in a crucial place like Tianjin, where local strongmen like Cao Youyi were needed to maintain the situation.

Moreover, if even a "smuggling tycoon" like himself could remain unscathed, why would the emperor be too harsh on a "negligent" general?

Cao Youyi's worries were somewhat excessive.

However, on the surface, Zheng Zhilong still showed enough politeness and reassurance. He reached out to help him up and smiled:

"General Cao, there's no need for such formalities. We are both officials in the same court, serving His Majesty. General, you have made great contributions in guarding Tianjin. His Majesty is wise and will make a fair judgment."

"If the opportunity arises, I will certainly present the truth to the General and beg Your Majesty for leniency."

These words saved face for the other party while leaving room for maneuver.

Cao Youyi wanted Zheng Zhilong to show this attitude, and upon hearing it, his face immediately showed gratitude, and he repeatedly said:

"Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you, Your Excellency! I will never forget your kindness!"

Time flies, and the appointed day is fast approaching.

On this day, Tianjin Port was under heavy guard, with flags waving in the wind.

The main roads leading from the port into the city have been cleaned with water and paved with yellow earth.

The civil and military officials of Tianjin, led by Governor Feng Yuanyang and General Cao Youyi, dressed in their most solemn court robes or official robes, had already stood solemnly waiting in front of the imperial dock at the port according to their rank.

Because of his special status as the emperor's father-in-law and imperial envoy, Zheng Zhilong stood at the front of the civil officials' line, his expression calm but with a hint of subtle scrutiny.

At the exact hour of Si (9-11 AM), dust rose in the distance, and the vanguard cavalry of the Imperial Guard appeared first, followed by the bright yellow dragon banners and ceremonial guards, with the sound of drums and music approaching from afar.

Emperor Chongzhen's southern inspection team finally arrived at Tianjin Port! (End of Chapter)