Huangming

Chapter 263 New Military Agency Established, Tianjin Opens to Prosperity

Return to the East Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Youxiao slowly sat down and stretched.

"Whoo~"

The young emperor let out a long sigh of relief and raised his hand to rub his slightly sore temples.

He has barely had a proper rest these past few days due to the wedding ceremony.

Especially last night, on his wedding night, he and Empress Zhang Yan were inseparable until the third watch of the night before finally resting. This morning, he got up early to worship at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

One word: Exhausting!

However, this is also a happy kind of trouble.

After all, this is the kind of life that many people yearn for but cannot attain.

Moreover, as the emperor, this was his responsibility.

Therefore, although Zhu Youxiao felt tired at this moment, he still mustered his energy when he thought of the mountain of memorials to the throne.

Upon seeing this, Wei Chao, a eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs who was standing to the side, quickly offered a cup of warm ginseng tea: "Your Majesty, this is a nourishing tea that was just sent by the Imperial Kitchen."

Zhu Youxiao took the teacup, took a sip, and found that the bitterness of the ginseng tea was mixed with a hint of sweetness, which cleared his drowsy mind a bit.

"Have all the memorials arrived today?"

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Justice just submitted one hundred and forty-three documents."

Wei Chao bowed and replied, then gestured to the eunuch to neatly stack a pile of memorials on the left side of the imperial desk.

"The top few letters are military reports from Liaodong, written by Xiong Jinglue and Sun Butang themselves."

Upon hearing the words "Liaodong," Zhu Youxiao's eyes narrowed, and he immediately put down his teacup and picked up the memorial on the top shelf.

When he unfolded Xiong Tingbi's familiar handwriting, the fatigue of the past few days seemed to vanish instantly.

He began to review the memorials.

The candlelight flickers red, and the vermilion brush lightly touches the paper.

The warm pavilion was eerily quiet, with only the ticking of the water clock and the scratching of the vermilion brush on the memorial intertwined.

Zhu Youxiao would sometimes frown in deep thought, and sometimes pick up his pen and write quickly. The memorials on his desk gradually split into three piles: those awaiting approval, those already read, and those requiring a detailed audience for discussion.

These memorials cover a wide range of topics:

In a military report from Liaodong, Xiong Tingbi requested additional warhorses for support.
The governor of Shaanxi reported a severe drought and requested tax reductions or exemptions.
The censor of Southern Zhili impeached the Grand Canal transport office for rampant corruption;
There were even reports of Yunnan chieftains engaging in armed conflicts over the succession of their titles.
Another day of being treated like a beast of burden.

In the brief moment that Zhu Youxiao was reviewing memorials, he looked up and gazed out of the warm pavilion.

Through the carved window lattice, one could see Ni Yuanlu and Lu Xiangsheng bent over their desks, writing furiously. Their blue Hanlin official robes looked particularly simple and elegant in the candlelight.

The young emperor's lips curled slightly, and he suddenly spoke:
"Ni Qing, Lu Qing, come in."

The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, yet it startled both Hanlin scholars outside.

The two exchanged a glance, quickly put down their pens, straightened their hats, and stepped inside.

"Your Majesty, your humble servants Ni Yuanlu and Lu Xiangsheng pay their respects."

Zhu Youxiao looked at the two newly appointed talents before him.

One is gentle and refined yet possesses hidden integrity; the other is heroic and charismatic yet keeps his sharp edge hidden.

He deliberately raised his hand in a gesture of support, and said with a smile, "No need for such formalities."

"Your subject, Ni Yuanlu (Lu Xiangsheng), thanks Your Majesty!"

The two stood up, their eyes gleaming with flattery.

This is an immense blessing.

Since the inception of the imperial examination system, Hanlin scholars who could serve the emperor and participate in important matters have been extremely rare.

To be personally summoned to the warm pavilion by the emperor for a private conversation is an exceptional honor.

Wisps of smoke rose from the bronze incense burner at the corner of the palace, shrouding the figures of the emperor and his ministers in a hazy glow.

"I remember."

Zhu Youxiao casually picked up a memorial from the Court of Imperial Stud concerning the breeding of warhorses and asked softly, "Is Minister Ni from Shaoxing? Minister Lu from Changzhou?"

"Your Majesty is holy."

Ni Yuanlu bowed in response, but his fingers unconsciously curled up in his sleeve. He was thrilled that the emperor knew so much about their backgrounds.

Lu Xiang-sheng's eyes were filled with fervor.

Without a doubt, the current emperor is his idol!

The young emperor pushed the memorials forward and said with a smile, "The talented scholars from the water towns of Jiangnan should be able to help me. Take these memorials concerning military affairs and bandits, read them, and after you have finished reading them, draft your comments and show them to me."

This action caused both Hanlin scholars to catch their breath.

Ni Yuanlu felt a tightness in her throat, and a thin layer of sweat instantly appeared on her back.

According to regulations, officials in charge of recording the emperor's daily life were not allowed to interfere in political affairs. Their daily duties were merely to record the emperor's words and actions, and even glancing at the memorials was considered an overstepping of the bounds.

But now the emperor is actually asking them to discuss important military and national affairs!
Lu Xiang-sheng's eyes flickered uncertainly, and his breathing became increasingly rapid.

Even having experienced the glory of the Qionglin Banquet, she never expected the emperor to bestow such special treatment upon her.

Reviewing memorials?

This is a matter of utmost importance that even the highest-ranking officials of the Six Ministries must hold their breath in!
My father once said that when Yan Song was the Grand Secretary, he would wash his hands and burn incense before even touching a memorial to the throne.

And now, these newly appointed scholars who have just entered officialdom are actually asked to answer military questions on behalf of the emperor.

"I am terrified!"

Ni Yuanlu suddenly knelt down, her forehead almost touching the cold gold brick.

His blue official robe spread out like a lotus leaf, but his voice trembled slightly: "Reviewing memorials is the duty of cabinet ministers. How dare we, lowly officials, presume to overstep our bounds?"

The incense smoke in the warm room swirled around him, making his handsome face appear even paler.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Ni Yuanlu's trembling and fearful appearance, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"I am not asking you to review memorials, but to offer advice."

The young emperor paused, his gaze shifting between the two Hanlin scholars.

"Not all memorials, only those concerning military matters."

The candlelight in the warm pavilion flickered, illuminating Zhu Youxiao's young yet already dignified face.

He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and continued, "I review hundreds of memorials every day. Even with my boundless energy, I inevitably get tired sometimes. If you could offer me some advice, it would save me a lot of energy."

At this point, Zhu Youxiao suddenly stood up and stood with his hands behind his back.

The moonlight streaming through the window mingled with the candlelight inside the hall, casting a long shadow on him.

"I plan to establish the Grand Council in the Qianqing Palace to advise me on military matters. I think you are very suitable to enter the Grand Council."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight.

Riding on the momentum of the Liaodong victory, Zhu Youxiao decided to establish this institution, which would later become famous, ahead of schedule.

At this time, the Grand Council was still in its infancy, only able to advise on military matters and submit memorials, but the young emperor already had plans in mind.

This newly established institution can be gradually granted real power.

The establishment of the Grand Council was driven by Zhu Youxiao's profound political considerations.

Zhu Youxiao knew in his heart that he had not been on the throne for long, and most of the important officials in the court were old ministers left by the previous emperor. Although their loyalty was evident, they were bound to be conservative and stick to the old ways.

However, those young officials who truly share the same ideals and are ambitious, such as Ni Yuanlu and Lu Xiangshan, are unable to enter the central power structure in a short period of time due to their lack of seniority.

The establishment of the Grand Council was a brilliant move meticulously planned by Zhu Youxiao.

This newly established agency cleverly bypassed the constraints of the traditional cabinet system.

According to convention, it takes a long time to accumulate seniority before one can enter the cabinet and become prime minister. It often takes until one's hair turns gray before one can finally get into the position.

However, the Grand Council was different; it was unconventional and even newly appointed scholars could serve there.

This gave Zhu Youxiao great freedom in personnel selection, allowing him to bring talented young officials into his decision-making circle at any time.

More importantly, although the Grand Council was nominally just a staff agency, it actually harbored hidden secrets.

It was located in the Qianqing Palace, where it lived and worked alongside the emperor, participating in discussions of important military and state affairs.

This special position of "low rank but high power" neither excessively agitated the old ministers in the court, nor hindered Zhu Youxiao from directly cultivating his own faction.

Ni Yuanlu was still hesitating, countless stories of court infighting flashing through his mind.

Lu Xiang-sheng had already knelt down, his forehead striking the gold bricks with a clear, resounding sound: "Your Majesty's diligence in governing puts us humbled. Though I am dull-witted, I am willing to do my utmost to share Your Majesty's burdens!"

The voice echoed in the warm pavilion. Seeing this, Ni Yuanlu had no choice but to bow deeply and say, "Your subject will obey Your Majesty's command."

However, there was still a hint of hesitation in his voice.

Zhu Youxiao nodded in satisfaction and gestured for Wei Chao to deliver a stack of military reports from Liaodong to the two Hanlin scholars.

Ni Yuanlu was terrified, feeling as if he were walking on thin ice, while Lu Xiangshan seemed to be deep in thought and had some kind of understanding.

The two Hanlin scholars immediately began the most unusual task of their official careers: advising the emperor on important military matters. Inside the warm pavilion, only the sound of turning pages could be heard, occasionally interspersed with Zhu Youxiao's soft inquiries.

Strangely enough, with the help of these two discerning eyes, Zhu Youxiao was able to review memorials much faster.

Military reports that previously required careful consideration can now be decided quickly with just a glance at the comments drafted by the two Hanlin scholars.

The young emperor was finally able to focus more of his energy on memorials concerning the very foundation of the nation.

How should the drought in Shaanxi be addressed, and how should the long-standing problems of the Grand Canal be rectified?
These administrative matters, which were previously overshadowed by military affairs, can now be carefully considered.

Just as Zhu Youxiao was discussing important military matters with two Hanlin scholars, a series of light footsteps came from outside the warm pavilion.

Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, tiptoed forward and knelt respectfully three steps from the Emperor's desk, holding an ivory waist token in both hands: "Your Majesty, the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet, Li Ruhua, and the Minister of Revenue, Li Changgeng, are requesting an audience!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao paused slightly with his vermilion brush, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Have you said why you have come to pay your respects?"

These days, whenever these two ministers come to see each other together, nine times out of ten they are there to plead poverty and ask for money.

If that's the case, he won't even see those two people!

Do they really think his personal treasury is an inexhaustible mountain of gold and silver?

If he hadn't amassed wealth through various means since ascending the throne, the logistical supply to Liaodong would have been cut off long ago, and there would have been no surplus to distribute the soldiers' rations and rewards.
Moreover, the imperial treasury also had to support the more than 100,000 troops of the Beijing Garrison. Even if he really ran a bank, he wouldn't have enough money.

Now, whenever he hears the names of Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng, he gets a headache as a conditioned reflex.

Wei Chao, observing the situation, quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I heard them say that they came about the Tianjin Maritime Trade Office."

Upon hearing the words "Tianjin Maritime Trade Office," Zhu Youxiao's previously weary eyes suddenly shone brightly.

He suddenly felt less tired.

This is a crucial matter concerning generating revenue through open source!

Zhu Youxiao straightened his clothes, his voice filled with anticipation: "Let them in!"

"Slave, you obey!"

Wei Chao bowed and withdrew from the warm pavilion, and soon led two important officials inside.

Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng, with their orderly official steps, knelt down in unison five steps away from the imperial desk: "Your subject, Li Ruhua (Li Changgeng, Minister of Revenue), respectfully wishes Your Majesty a long and peaceful life!"

"I am well, please rise."

Zhu Youxiao raised his right hand in a gesture, indicating to Wei Chao that he should be given a seat.

The old eunuch quickly directed the young eunuch to bring over two huanghuali armchairs.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

The two ministers respectfully expressed their gratitude and slowly took their seats.

Just then, Li Ruhua caught a glimpse of two figures in blue robes hunched over a desk in the corner of the warm pavilion, writing furiously.

Aren't those the newly crowned top scorer Ni Yuanlu and second-place finisher Lu Xiangsheng?

They were actually holding vermilion pens and reviewing memorials!
The old minister was startled and exchanged a shocked look with Li Changgeng.

However, their shock quickly dissipated.

Having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for decades, they knew all too well that within the Forbidden City, there were things one had to pretend not to see, even if one witnessed them.

Moreover, they have come here today on important business.

This is related to whether the imperial court can resolve its dire financial straits.

Zhu Youxiao noticed the shocked expressions on their faces, but he pretended not to see them and steered the conversation toward the purpose of their trip.

"Tell me, what brings you here today?"

Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng exchanged a glance, and the former braced himself and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. According to the report of victory sent by Xiong Tingbi, the reward for the soldiers and the compensation for the wounded and the injured will cost at least 500,000 taels of silver."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and said with a hint of grievance, "However, the treasury is nearly empty, and we simply cannot raise such a large sum of money in a short period of time."

"Playing the poor card again?"

Zhu Youxiao shook his head speechlessly.

"I heard from Wei Dadang that you have come for the Tianjin Maritime Trade Office? Why are you complaining about being poor again?"

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

Seeing the opportunity, Li Changgeng immediately took over the conversation, his voice suddenly rising several decibels.

"Your humble servants are foolish and dare not presume to propose increasing the tax on Liaodong, but considering that Tianjin is the northern gateway of our dynasty, we have some ideas."

As he spoke, he took out a meticulously drawn nautical chart from his sleeve and slowly unfurled it on the table that Wei Chao had brought over.

Zhu Youxiao's gaze sharpened as he saw the Bohai Bay on the map resembling a crescent moon embracing a pearl, with Tianjin Wei standing like a bright pearl adorning a strategic location.

He leaned forward unconsciously, his eyes showing great interest, and asked, "What good plan do you have, my dear minister?"

This question, like a stone thrown into water, stirred up a thousand ripples.

Li Changgeng perked up upon hearing this.

He pointed towards the Bohai Bay, his voice steady and powerful:

"Your Majesty, please allow me to report that the Tianjin Maritime Trade Office is located at the throat of the Bohai Bay, and is indeed the maritime gateway connecting Liaodong, Korea, and Japan. It is not only the northern hub of the Grand Canal, but also has the Zhigu River running through it. Its convenience of water and land transportation is second to none in the north."

He explained in detail:
"Firstly, Tianjin can be established as the central hub for military supplies and trade. I have found that the soldiers in Liaodong are most in need of gunpowder and ironware, while Korea is lacking in high-quality cotton cloth. If the government purchases and sells these goods in a state-run manner, it can not only prevent unscrupulous merchants from driving up prices, but also allow us to obtain Liaodong specialties such as ginseng and sable fur at high prices."

"Secondly, monopolizing high-profit goods."

A glint of light flashed in Li Changgeng's eyes.

“Japan’s silver is cheap. If we could trade with them, we could earn a million taels a year. Korean ginseng is more valuable than gold, and spices from Southeast Asia are priceless. If the Maritime Trade Office were to monopolize the trade and collect a 30% tariff, the annual revenue would be well over a million.”

"Thirdly, regarding the issuance of 'ship permits.' I have already investigated and found that in Dengzhou alone, there are no fewer than a hundred smuggling merchant ships every year. If special permits are issued and each ship is taxed at five hundred taels, and taxes are further reduced by 30% for northern maritime merchants, why would merchants not flock to Tianjin?"

Zhu Youxiao listened intently, nodding from time to time.

Seeing this, Li Changgeng seemed to feel acknowledged and quickened his pace:
"Fourth, escort fees. Currently, pirates are rampant and the Jurchens frequently harass us. If we use the navy to escort the ships, we can charge one percent of the value of the goods, which will not only ensure the smooth flow of trade routes but also allow us to train troops and raise funds."

"Fifth, take advantage of the canal. Concentrate Suzhou and Hangzhou silk, Jingdezhen porcelain, and Wuyi Mountain tea in Tianjin and resell them overseas, which will at least double the profits."

At this point, Li Changgeng's audience continued; he spoke without pause, continuing:

"Furthermore, I request that a special foreign trade area be established to serve foreign merchants and collect land rent and transaction taxes. There is another solution: Liaodong is short of horses, so merchants can be allowed to use horses to offset taxes. One warhorse can be used to offset twenty taels of tax, which will not only solve the urgent need for military supplies but also relieve the financial burden."

At this point, the old minister took out an account book from his bosom and said with great pride, "This is the annual revenue estimate calculated by me and Grand Secretary Li. Please review it, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao took the account book and saw that it was filled with a dense list of various incomes and expenditures. The final total was written as 'Annual income can increase by at least 1.8 million taels'.

Upon seeing the talent of the open-source expert, Zhu Youxiao did not hesitate to praise him.

"This is the kind of vision that the Minister of Revenue of our Great Ming Dynasty should have!"

Do you think crying about being poor will bring you wealth?
You still need to know how to make money!
However, Zhu Youxiao was not blindly optimistic.

Opening a maritime trade office in Tianjin would certainly be profitable.

But earning this money is not so simple.

"The strategies you have offered are all ingenious ways to generate wealth. However, I'm afraid there are quite a few difficulties among them?"

Before Li Changgeng could speak, Zhu Youxiao began to list the difficulties he would face in making money in Tianjin.

"Firstly, how could those powerful families in Jiangnan, who have been merchants for generations, sit idly by and watch the newly opened trade hub in the north open up? They have been operating in Songjiang and Ningbo for many years, and now they want a share of the pie in Tianjin."

Zhu Youxiao gave a cold laugh.

"I fear that tomorrow an imperial censor will impeach me for competing with the people for profit."

"Secondly, the Tianjin Navy has only a dozen or so warships. How can it protect this vast sea frontier? If it is attacked by pirates or raided by the Jurchens, and the trade routes are cut off, the Maritime Trade Office will become a tree without roots."

"The most important thing is the third point. Those powerful people who made their fortunes through smuggling, from princes and nobles to local officials, if their source of income is cut off, it is hard to guarantee that no one will secretly sabotage them."

His Majesty knows more than they do.

Li Changgeng and Li Ruhua exchanged a glance.

It seems that fooling His Majesty won't be so easy.

now.

Zhu Youxiao has returned to the throne, and he has set the tone for the opening of the Tianjin Maritime Trade Office:

"However, these difficulties are not a reason for us to back down!"

He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clink.

"What I want are concrete solutions to these problems!"

Zhu Youxiao's gaze swept across Li Changgeng and Li Ruhua's faces with lightning speed.

"My esteemed ministers, do you dare to conspire with me on this matter that benefits the country and its people?"

ps:
burnt out.

Another 10,000-word update!