Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 393 Want a pillow just because you want to sleep? I want a prince!

Since fishing flourished in Ningbo, the imperial court circulated it throughout the country through official gazettes. Emperor Wanli even personally participated in the fishing, consuming seafood to experience the hardships of the common people.

Following the example set by their superiors, coastal prefectures across the country launched large-scale fishing campaigns.

Especially in Tongzhou Baodi County, Wenyu River, Tonghui River and other places, the fishing industry began to flourish due to the convenience of being connected to the Haihe River.

Compared to the ocean-going naval garrison in Ningbo Prefecture, this naval force established in Tongzhou was smaller in scale, but it could catch just as many fish and shrimp.

At first, these fresh fish were only bought by wealthy families to enjoy, but like briquettes, soap, and silk fabrics, as production increased, they began to enter thousands of households.

Most importantly, this occurred during a time of spring famine and food shortages, and these fresh fish indirectly alleviated some of the pressure on the Ming Dynasty.

Wenyuan Pavilion.

Zhang Juzheng had recently been eating a lot of fish and shrimp, so he even replaced most of the meals in his residence with fresh fish.

At first, it was quite novel, but later on, eating seafood made me feel a bit nauseous.

To avoid wasting food, he forced himself to finish the entire plate of shrimp in front of him, then couldn't help but gulp down several cups of tea, shaking his head repeatedly as he spoke.

"A report came from Ningbo Prefecture that the people in the prefecture were exhausted from eating fish and shrimp every day, and were terrified of seafood."

The students felt that the Ningbo prefect was talking nonsense, that seafood was a luxury, and that someone had eaten until they were stuffed.

After eating fish and shrimp for several days, the students finally realized that while the fish and shrimp were delicious, eating them all day without any other food was indeed a form of torture.

The ancients often said that too little is as bad as too little, and this seems to be the reason why.

Shen Shixing, of course, was unaware that seafood protein is highly nutritious but lacks carbohydrates.

Zhang Juzheng finished eating the last crab leg without any expression, then picked up a handkerchief and wiped his face.

Upon hearing Shen Shixing's words, his expression became slightly strange.

The statement that "seafood is a luxury" feels rather jarring.

Zhang Juzheng shifted his position and sat up straight as he spoke.

"Have the Ministry of Revenue draft a table to compile statistics on the catch of fresh fish in various coastal areas. Fresh fish can indeed alleviate the spring famine, but it is still not enough to feed the entire world with fresh fish."

Just as Shen Shixing had previously worried, seafood can indeed relieve stress, but it cannot be a staple food.

Eating seafood for a long time can cause health problems.

Ultimately, the imperial court needs more grain to completely resolve the current crisis.

Shen Shixing sighed and said, "In the end, it all comes down to having grain. I wonder if the grain crop in Xishan will yield a good harvest?"

"Sticking to one side will surely lead to disaster."

Zhang Juzheng emphasized as he spoke.

“We can’t rely on Xishan for everything. Does the court really have to rely on Zhang Shiyuan alone for important matters?”
Send more envoys to Annam. Wang Yuanyu has already set off with his mission, hasn't he? Write him a letter as well.

If the Annamese are willing to provide more grain and better seeds, what harm is there in providing more goods from Xishan?

I've heard that the South Seas also produce grain, and that foreigners and vassal states are eager to buy our Ming Dynasty's silk and cloth. We can also purchase more grain from abroad, so that everyone can get what they need.

Zhang Juzheng thought a lot about the issue of grain. The problem of silver in the Ming Dynasty was gradually being solved, but the problem of grain was of paramount importance.

Shen Shixing nodded slightly and said, "Your Excellency's words make sense."

After a quick lunch and a short rest, the Wenyuan Pavilion bustled with activity once again.

There were piles and piles of memorials to the throne, and it was almost impossible to finish processing them all.

However, in the afternoon, another urgent report from Ningbo Prefecture caught Shen Shixing's attention.

Since the last time, the Wenyuan Pavilion has clearly paid much more attention to news from Ningbo Prefecture. Shen Shixing cleared the memorials on the table and carefully looked at their contents, hoping that Ningbo Prefecture could still give him a surprise.

He thought this way, but he didn't really have any hope. After all, Zhang Shiyuan could scoop out hundreds of thousands of catties of fish and shrimp from the water. Could he possibly shoot down birds and dragons from the sky?

Even after reading the contents of the memorial submitted by the Ningbo prefect, Shen Shixing couldn't help but rub his eyes.

"This giant whale was shaped like a towering mountain, its spray like billowing clouds. The soldiers were brave and skilled in battle, known for their ability to brave the waves. They formed ranks, supported by strong ships and cannons, and attacked with sharp blades and powerful crossbows, engaging the giant whale in a standoff for half a day."
After the giant whale was captured, it was put on the market in Ningbo Port. A pound of whale meat was priced at only six coins. Whale meat, which used to be a rare delicacy, is now available to ordinary people.

The aroma of cooked whale fills the streets and alleys of Ningbo, bringing joy to young and old alike—a true blessing for the people.

Furthermore, whale blood is rich and can replenish essence and energy; whale oil is clear and can be used for lighting lamps, lubricating machinery, and preventing rust—its benefits are immeasurable.

Shen Shixing gasped, looking at the text over and over again, only to see Wu Wenzhong boasting behind him.

"Now, the entire Ningbo Prefecture is filled with the auspicious signs of a bountiful year. The pots, pans, and bowls in the government office are overflowing, and the treasury is also filled with these rare treasures, which are of great practical use."

"In my observation, this successful whaling operation demonstrates the unstoppable prowess of our ocean-going fleet. It is a testament to the wise ruler's governance, which has brought about peace and prosperity to the seas and the people. The court's policy of opening up the seas is a blessing for the people, a blessing for all, bringing tranquility to the maritime frontiers and ushering in a golden age!"

Wu Wenzhong's writing appears to have been carefully crafted, vividly depicting the situation in Ningbo Prefecture.

Shen Shixing couldn't help but stroke his beard and sigh as he spoke.

"The sea is mysterious and unpredictable. A single giant whale can be worth the cargo of several voyages. With hundreds of thousands of catties of fish meat now on the market, it is likely that from now on, Ningbo Prefecture will no longer suffer from famine."

Thinking of this, he became somewhat excited and immediately summoned the officials of the Ministry of Justice to inquire about it.

"Were there any other items sent along with this memorial?"

The official thought for a moment and said, "There is also a small box, which has a very strong fishy smell. I'm afraid it will offend your eyes."

Shen Shixing's eyes lit up and he said, "That's the box. Quickly bring it to me so I can have a look."

The official from the Office of Transmission dared not be negligent in the slightest. Although he did not know why the gentlemen of the Wenyuan Pavilion attached such importance to this greasy and smelly box, he still presented it respectfully.

Shen Shixing and his companion took the box and opened it. Inside was a brownish, viscous liquid that emitted a strong, fishy odor. No wonder the officials of the Ministry of Justice found it so repulsive.

He carefully put the box away and hurried towards the guardhouse.

Upon entering the duty hut, one sees Zhang Juzheng writing at his desk. He slightly raises his head to look at Shen Shixing and speaks.

"Ru Mo, you've come at the right time. The draft of the detailed rules for the Tongzhou fishery still needs some consideration. Go find Zhang Ziyu and make sure he is meticulous and thorough, without the slightest carelessness."

This concerns a matter of vital importance to people's livelihood.

Shen Shixing, however, ignored him. He placed the box on the table, unwrapped the cloth bag, opened the lid, and took out a small spoon to add lamp oil.

He scooped out a large spoonful of whale oil from the box and then added it to the lamp oil stand in the hut.

Suddenly, the oil lamp's flame grew brighter, and the whole room became even brighter.

Zhang Juzheng, who was sitting to the side, was initially quite puzzled, but after seeing this scene, his eyes widened in surprise.

Shen Shixing smiled and said, “My lord, there is a saying that if you use whale oil to make candles, they will shine brighter than firewood candles at night, and the light will be very bright and they will burn for a long time without going out.”

This whale oil is a really good thing.

Zhang Juzheng's expression suddenly turned serious again, and he said, "Are these products from the Tongzhou coast again? Whale oil for lighting lamps is a luxury item. Tell Tongzhou not to send any more from now on." Since ancient times, whale oil and ambergris have been luxury items. Apart from the imperial court and wealthy families, almost no ordinary people could afford them.

Even within the imperial court, the reserves of whale fat are limited.

The reason is that whales are so rare that they can only be caught a few times a year, and the only way to bring them ashore is by catching them stranded.

Shen Shixing shook his head, showed the box containing the whale oil to Zhang Juzheng, and explained.

“Your Excellency is mistaken. This product is not from Tongzhou, but is a product sent from Ningbo Prefecture.”

Zhang Juzheng was somewhat displeased: "Both are the same."

“Completely different,” Shen Shixing unexpectedly retorted. “This whale was not stranded, nor was it plundered by the Ningbo government to curry favor with the court; it was caught by the ocean-going navy.”

Hunting giant whales?

Such outrageous remarks would seem like utter nonsense to anyone who heard them.

If we go back another twenty years, Zhang Juzheng would have suspected that the auspicious omen was fabricated by the prefect of Ningbo to curry favor with the emperor.

The face is gone.

However, the news coming from Ningbo Prefecture was something Zhang Juzheng could not ignore.

He immediately took the memorial handed to him by Shen Shixing, glanced at it briefly, and his gaze immediately froze.

"Training troops by capturing giant whales? This is a method that Qi Yuanjing came up with?"

Shen Shixing smiled and said, "It must have been Commander Zhang's idea."

He then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

“My lord, we can see the beginnings of success in deep-sea fishing. Whale oil and ambergris are certainly precious, but if they can be caught every month, they will gradually become cheap, like glass.”

All of this whale oil will benefit scholars all over the world.

And this whale meat, which can be equivalent to three or four catches in one go, will be another huge boost to market confidence.

I think grain prices need to drop further.

Shen Shixing couldn't stop smiling. It was like someone had just handed him a pillow when he was sleepy. With the news of the successful capture of the giant whale, the Ministry of Revenue would be under even less pressure.

"This boy."

Zhang Juzheng chuckled and cursed, then quickly composed himself and gave a reminder.

"The capture of the giant whale is a result of the successful training of the ocean-going navy, but the high-quality grain seeds are still of paramount importance, and the negotiations with the Annamese must not be neglected."

"Rest assured, Your Excellency." Shen Shixing nodded slightly and asked tentatively, "I read in the memorial submitted by the Prefect of Ningbo that the whale bones should be transported to the capital so that all the officials there can see the magnificent form of this giant whale?"

But Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "There is no need for that. Transporting whale bones to the capital is simply to demonstrate the benefits of going to sea to the world. However, now that Ningbo Prefecture has made such a big fuss, the gentry and merchants of the world are all profit-driven and will verify it themselves."

Only counterfeit goods require proof; the hundreds of thousands of catties from Ningbo Prefecture need no proof whatsoever.

Displaying whale bones was simply a way to demonstrate to the world the imperial court's determination to open up the seas and to show the world the benefits of going to sea.

However, the imperial court already possessed both of these.

Of course, Zhang Juzheng had other considerations. The opening of the sea to the Ming Dynasty was only a small part of the fishing industry. If it were to be promoted on a large scale, it would be putting the cart before the horse.

Trade is of paramount importance.

Emperor Wanli was playing chess with Consort Zheng in the inner palace when he heard the good news from Ningbo Prefecture. He immediately jumped up and exclaimed excitedly.

"Good heavens! A giant fish several meters long! I've only ever seen such a thing in novels. Quickly order the prefect of Ningbo to send this giant whale to the capital so I can see it for myself!"

Zhang Jing said awkwardly, "Your Majesty."

He briefly recounted what Zhang Juzheng had said, and then added some further details.

“What the Prime Minister said is not without reason. The capital city is thousands of miles away from Ningbo Prefecture. The giant whale is huge. If it had been traveling long distances, it would have already rotted and spoiled.”

"You may take its bones." The Wanli Emperor was rather displeased.

Zhang Jing shook his head again and said, "Your Majesty, whale bones are enormous. Transporting them to the capital would be beyond the capabilities of ordinary carriages and horses, and would require a great deal of effort. I fear the officials of the court might have some objections."

To be honest, Zhang Jing was not on good terms with Zhang Juzheng in the past, and he was not even in Feng Bao's faction. He only got to this position because of Emperor Wanli's desire to check and balance the government.

It wasn't until he took this position that he realized personal likes and dislikes were no longer so important.

The most important thing is to hold onto this position.

Seeing that the emperor was hesitant to make a move, Consort Zheng sat to the side and said leisurely.

"Your Majesty, in this game of chess, the pieces are always ready to fight for you without the slightest carelessness. I have never heard of a chess player having to listen to the principles of the pieces."

Zhang Jing glanced at the other person and wisely chose to remain silent.

Emperor Wanli's face turned red, but he instead reprimanded him.

"Enough. If you're going to play chess, then play it properly. When did it become your place to interrupt?"

Consort Zheng, who had been confident of victory, was terrified by the emperor's reprimand and immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"Your Majesty, I have spoken without thinking. Please forgive me."

Emperor Wanli glanced at Consort Zheng and said in a rather cold tone.

"You may return to the palace now; I am not in the mood for chess today."

"His Majesty."

Consort Zheng raised her head, her eyes filled with a pitiful look.

But Emperor Wanli showed no mercy, waving his hand as if he had lost patience.

"Then I shall take my leave now, Your Majesty. Please do not overwork yourself."

After rising and bowing, Consort Zheng hurriedly left the Qianqing Palace.

After leaving the palace gates, she looked back with great reluctance, her face filled with grief and indignation.

It's unclear when it started, but she gradually fell out of the emperor's favor and became nothing more than a tool for companionship.

The emperor trusted himself far less than he trusted Zhang Yunxiu, an outsider.

That's secondary; after all, the Zhang family's influence is now unmatched both inside and outside the court.

But once Consort Zheng thought about Consort Wang, who was in Renmin Medical Hall, and who was pregnant with a child and whose due date was only a few months away, if she were to give birth to a prince, her future would be truly bleak!
She gripped her lower abdomen tightly; never before had she wanted to be pregnant more than now.

(End of this chapter)