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

When the imperial carriage, adorned with golden dragons and drawn by eight magnificent horses, slowly entered the designated area of ​​the port and came to a stop amidst a large retinue of guards, all the officials present immediately straightened their robes and, at the announcement of the master of ceremonies, knelt down in unison, kowtowed, and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" in a thunderous roar.
"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome Your Majesty's arrival! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

After a moment of silence, the carriage door was opened by the eunuchs who were standing by.

Emperor Chongzhen, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing a winged crown, slowly stepped down from the carriage with the help of two eunuchs.

Although he tried his best to maintain the dignity of an emperor, the trace of fatigue from the long journey between his brows, as well as the subtle tension and bewilderment that he unconsciously revealed when facing the vast sea in the distance, were still keenly noticed by Zheng Zhilong and others nearby.

Emperor Chongzhen stood still, his gaze slowly sweeping over the kneeling officials and the distant, boundless blue sea with its gently rippling waves, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He then cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound steady and strong:
"Everyone is safe."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After the ministers bowed again, they rose and stood respectfully with their hands at their sides.

Emperor Chongzhen did not immediately exchange pleasantries with the local officials. Instead, his gaze swept past the crowd and fell upon the mountain of ships moored at the dock, especially the largest of the Zheng family's flagships, with their forest of masts and menacing cannons.

The thought that he would soon be riding on these colossal wooden structures into the unfathomable, unpredictable sea to face the legendary raging waves and even the terrifying sea monsters that might exist made Chongzhen feel a chill run down his spine, and his calves even felt a little weak.

He grew up in the inner palace and only occasionally took a boat trip on a calm inner lake like Taiye Pond in the West Garden.

His knowledge of the real ocean came entirely from books and reports from his ministers; it was a world full of unknowns and dangers.

In contrast, although the traditional canal transport routes were slow, they were all on relatively stable inland waterways, making them much safer.

At that moment, a strong thought of retreat did indeed surge deep within him:
How about we switch to canal transport? Safety first!
However, he forcibly suppressed the thought as soon as it arose.

Because he remembered the core purpose of this southern tour: to break the maritime ban, open up new sources of revenue, and deter the southeast.

If even the emperor himself dares not set foot on a sea voyage, how can the people of the world believe in the court's determination to open up the seas? And how can it deter those powerful families who have dominated the seas for generations?

This sea route is a symbol of the new policy's determination, a "risky move" that had to be taken.

Emperor Chongzhen took a deep breath, trying to transform his fear of the deep sea into a calm and resolute expression.

He knew that countless eyes were watching him at that moment, and he must not show the slightest fear.

Getting back to the main point, after the brief welcoming ceremony at Tianjin Port, Emperor Chongzhen's imperial carriage and entourage entered Tianjin Garrison City in a grand procession, accompanied by Tianjin General Cao Youyi, Tianjin Governor Feng Yuanyang, Zheng Zhilong, and other local officials.

Although Tianjin Weicheng was far less magnificent than Beijing, as the gateway to the capital and an important hub for canal and sea transport, its city walls were quite sturdy, with high and thick walls and imposing crenellations.

Because of its proximity to the dock, the city streets are lined with shops, bustling with vehicles and pedestrians, and filled with a unique atmosphere that blends the faint salty sea breeze with the everyday life of the city.

The people in the city had long heard that the emperor was coming, and they flocked to the streets, crowding outside the cordon formed by soldiers, eagerly hoping to catch a glimpse of the emperor.

Upon seeing the emperor's imperial carriage and massive entourage, shouts of "Long live the emperor!" frequently erupted from the crowd, creating a lively and boisterous atmosphere.

According to the established itinerary, Emperor Chongzhen would stay in Tianjin for three days.

These three days were intended to allow the imperial carriage, which had traveled a long distance, to rest and replenish its supplies.

On the other hand, it is also an opportunity to personally inspect this key city that is crucial to the success or failure of maritime trade, meet with local officials and important figures, declare the court's determination to open up the sea, and stabilize public sentiment.

The temporary palace where the emperor stayed was located in the former Tianjin Three Guards Commandery. Although it had been hastily renovated and furnished and could not compare to the luxury of the palaces in the capital, it was still clean and solemn, and all living necessities were prepared in accordance with royal regulations.

On the night of their arrival at the imperial palace, Emperor Chongzhen specially ordered a banquet to be held in the main hall of the government office to entertain the main civil and military officials of the Tianjin area, as well as some prominent gentry representatives and maritime merchant leaders.

For these local officials and wealthy merchants, being granted a banquet by the emperor was an immense honor, and also an excellent opportunity to guess the emperor's intentions and observe the prevailing winds.

Therefore, upon receiving the imperial edict, no one dared to be negligent in the slightest. They all bathed and changed clothes early, dressed in their most formal court attire or ceremonial robes, and arrived at the palace gates ahead of time with nervous anticipation.

As dusk fell, the main hall of the imperial palace was brightly lit.

Dozens of rosewood tables, arranged in order of rank, are laid out, with exquisite imperial dishes and local seafood delicacies already laid out on them.

The eunuchs and palace maids stood with their hands at their sides, their movements light and orderly.

With a loud announcement from the Grand Eunuch, "His Majesty has arrived!", the previously noisy hall instantly fell silent.

Emperor Chongzhen, surrounded by several close eunuchs, slowly walked into the main hall. Today he had changed into a more casual dragon robe, but the majesty of the emperor was still so imposing that no one dared to look him in the eye.

Zhu Cilang followed closely behind, also dressed in the everyday clothes of a crown prince, with a calm expression.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome you! Long live the Emperor!"

All the officials and gentry in the hall knelt down in unison, their voices loud and clear.

"Rise, my lords, and take your seats."

Emperor Chongzhen's voice was calm, and he raised his hand in a gesture of support.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After bowing again, everyone carefully took their seats in order, each with a straight back and a respectful expression, not daring to be the slightest bit improper.

As the banquet began, the soft sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments filled the air, creating a seemingly relaxed and harmonious atmosphere. People clinked glasses and exchanged pleasantries.

But almost everyone was on edge, knowing that this banquet was far from a simple social gathering.

The emperor's visit to Tianjin and the sudden hosting of a banquet must have a deeper meaning.

Those officials and merchants who had close ties with maritime trade and even smuggling were especially anxious, unable to eat properly, and constantly observing the emperor's expression on the throne. Zhu Cilang sat quietly at a table below Chongzhen, eating discreetly, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones with Zheng Zhilong beside him.

On this occasion, he, the crown prince, was not the focus.

In the minds of most Tianjin officials, Emperor Chongzhen was the supreme ruler, while he, as the crown prince, was merely the heir apparent.

These Tianjin officials were unaware of the subtle shifts in the power structure of the imperial court, and even less aware that many of the reform strategies actually originated from Zhu Cilang. Therefore, they kept praising Emperor Chongzhen by mentioning Zhu Cilang's achievements.

Although Chongzhen was somewhat embarrassed, he also quite enjoyed it.

Zhu Cilang, of course, wouldn't embarrass Chongzhen at this time; instead, he was happy to have some peace and quiet.

He was certain that after the series of compromises made previously, Chongzhen would not and had no need to play tricks on him or vie for control at this moment. Now that the overall situation was settled, working together to promote the new policies was the only option.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the banquet atmosphere seemed to have reached a harmonious climax.

Just then, Chongzhen gently put down the jade chopsticks in his hand and picked up a bright yellow silk handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth.

This subtle movement, however, was like a silent signal, instantly turning the previously quiet lobby into a place so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were involuntarily drawn to the throne.

Emperor Chongzhen's gaze slowly swept across the entire hall. His initially gentle expression gradually turned solemn. He cleared his throat, his voice not loud, yet possessing an undeniable penetrating power that clearly reached everyone's ears:

"My beloved ministers, I am very pleased to have gathered here with you all today. However, amidst this joyous occasion, I also have a few words from the bottom of my heart that I wish to say to you."

coming!

Everyone tensed up, immediately becoming extremely alert. They put down their chopsticks and cups, sat up straighter, and held their breath. The entire hall was silent, and even the musicians in the corners wisely stopped playing.

Emperor Chongzhen paused briefly, as if carefully choosing his words, before continuing, his tone calm yet each word carrying immense weight:
"Regarding the matter of maritime smuggling, I am well aware of the situation. You have long served as officials and merchants in Tianjin, making a living and seeking wealth amidst these waves. The reasons behind this are complex and intertwined."

"I may speak frankly: of the eight or nine out of ten of you, you were involved in the past events to some extent, whether you were aware of them, participated in them, or secretly benefited from them."

With a "whoosh," these words exploded in everyone's minds like a bolt from the blue!

Despite being mentally prepared, the immense fear still gripped the hearts of most people when the emperor so bluntly and mercilessly pointed it out to their faces!

Especially those officials and businessmen with guilty consciences turned pale instantly, and large beads of sweat instantly appeared on their foreheads!

Almost as a reflex, a loud commotion erupted as more than 80% of the people sprang from their seats, frantically trying to kneel down and shout things like "Your Majesty is guilty!", "Your Majesty, please see the truth!", "Your Majesty is wronged!"

However, before their knees had fully bent, and before their words of explanation were even swirling in their throats, the Chongzhen Emperor's voice rang out again, carrying an unquestionable authority:

"Halt! No need to kneel, no need to say more! Let me finish speaking!"

The voice seemed to possess a magical power, instantly freezing everyone in place.

Those who wanted to kneel and beg for mercy were frozen in place, unsure whether to kneel or stand. Their faces were filled with fear, and they swallowed back the words of protest that were about to come out of their mouths. They could only lower their heads in terror and wait for the final judgment.

Even the few officials who were relatively honest and had not been involved in this matter dared not stand out and could only bow and stand solemnly with him, feeling uneasy.

Emperor Chongzhen took in everyone's reactions, understood their intentions, and continued in that calm yet subtly sharp tone:
"I am bringing this up today not to settle old scores, nor to punish you. Whatever you have gained in the past, I will not hold it against you."

These words were like a miraculous escape from a dead end. All the hearts that had been hanging in suspense suddenly fell back to reality. Many people even swayed slightly due to the intense emotional fluctuations and almost lost their balance.

They simply couldn't believe their ears! The Emperor... he actually said he wouldn't pursue the matter?
Chongzhen didn't give them much time to process what he was saying, and continued:
"I only look at the present and the future! I have received the 'contribution' funds that you have recently submitted, and I am quite satisfied with the amount."

"What is even more commendable is that you were able to understand the court's intentions and cooperate in the rectification. This demonstrates your understanding of the big picture and your consideration for the overall situation."

"Therefore, I hereby give you a clear decree: regardless of what happened before, I hereby pardon all your crimes and forgive all past offenses!"

He paused, his tone suddenly turning stern, his gaze sharpening as he swept over the crowd like a drawn sword:

"However, my leniency is by no means indulgence! From this day forward, from the date I issue the edict to open the seas, all maritime trade must comply with the new laws of the court, pay taxes according to the law, and must not engage in evasion, concealment, smuggling, or other illegal activities! If anyone dares to outwardly comply but inwardly defy the law and return to their old ways, then today's leniency will be ironclad evidence for tomorrow's conviction! I will settle all accounts with them, both new and old!"

"When that time comes, don't blame me for not warning you; the law shows no mercy!"

A combination of kindness and severity, carrot and stick! First, pardon to appease the people, then use severe punishment to warn the future! These words were spoken with resounding force, full of imperial decisiveness and authority.

After a brief silence, Cao Youyi, the Tianjin General, was the first to react. He knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling with excitement, yet unusually loud:
"Your subject Cao Youyi kowtows in gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace! Your Majesty's magnanimity and wisdom are like a second creation! We will surely repent and reform ourselves, diligently perform our duties, strictly abide by the laws of the land, and do our utmost to serve the court, in order to repay Your Majesty's grace of not punishing us! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

With him taking the lead, the rest of the crowd seemed to awaken from a dream, and they all knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly, their cries of gratitude rising and falling, merging into a single sound:
"We kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Thus, this purge, which could have easily turned into a bloody storm, was quietly resolved by Chongzhen's superb political skills.

This achieved the goals of deterrence and warning, while also stabilizing public sentiment to the greatest extent possible, preserving the foundation of local governance, and clearing away the most direct interpersonal obstacles for the upcoming opening of the sea.

Beside the throne, Zhu Cilang quietly watched this scene, silently nodding in approval of Chongzhen's handling of the situation.

Although he was the one who came up with most of the ideas, it was Chongzhen who implemented them, and the effect was indeed better.

Zheng Zhilong, seated at the head of the list of meritorious officials, had a calm expression on his face, even showing a hint of indifference as if he had already expected it.

Having navigated the seas and officialdom for decades, he was intimately familiar with this art of power: "raising it high and then letting it fall gently."

The country needs money, stability, and their efforts, so it naturally won't really start a mass killing spree at this time.

This outcome was entirely within his expectations. (End of Chapter)