Huangming

Chapter 264 With a spirit of enterprise, the centurion receives his orders

Qianqing Palace.

Dong Nuan Pavilion.

The lamplight on the gilded dragon candlestick flickered slightly, illuminating the warm pavilion.

Zhu Youxiao sat upright behind his desk, his gaze calmly sweeping over the two senior officials seated below him.

Grand Secretary Li Ruhua and Minister of Revenue Li Changgeng exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of hesitation in each other's eyes.

Finally, Li Ruhua stood up, cupped his hands, and reported:

"Your Majesty, I have heard that Chen Qiyu has made considerable progress in reorganizing the navy in Tianjin. Although banditry is rampant along the coast, it should not be difficult for the Tianjin navy to wipe out a few pirates."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and he then shook his head, saying:
"Dozens of small boats, not even a single decent Fujian-style ship, how can they be called a 'naval force'? If they can barely defend themselves, how can they deter pirates?"

His voice was calm and unhurried, yet every word struck the hearts of the two ministers like a heavy hammer.

If the Tianjin Maritime Trade Office were not commanded by a powerful navy, wouldn't it be like opening the door to thieves?
Li Changgeng hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously:
"Your Majesty, although the Ministry of Revenue can raise funds if you wish to increase the number of warships, shipbuilding and recruiting soldiers are not tasks that can be accomplished overnight..."

Zhu Youxiao's gaze turned slightly cold, and his tone unconsciously became more forceful:

"Minister Li, what I want is not 'gradual planning,' but immediate results."

Of course, Zhu Youxiao was not the kind of leader who would shirk responsibility; he did offer some solutions.

"I have come up with two solutions:"
Firstly, the Ministry of Works and the Fujian Shipbuilding Bureau quickly dispatched craftsmen northward to build ships as fast as possible.

Secondly, the Imperial Guard was ordered to thoroughly investigate any collusion between coastal noble families and pirates, and anyone found to be in league with the bandits was to have their entire family wiped out.

Both Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng were shocked upon hearing this.

It seems His Majesty is about to take drastic measures.

"These few methods alone are far from enough. If the Maritime Trade Office is opened, Tianjin will become the gateway to the Ming Dynasty. Without a secure gateway, how can we talk about trade? How can we talk about peace on the coast?"

Zhu Youxiao was eager to strengthen the Tianjin navy because the current situation along the coast had reached a point where it could not be ignored.

Piracy was rampant, especially among the "King of Merchants" Li Dan, who dominated the southeastern seas.

This man used Quanzhou as his base and controlled a vast trade network between Japan and Southeast Asia. He commanded three to four hundred warships, a force comparable to a small navy.

Their main warships were mostly Fujian-style ships, each equipped with ten to twenty cannons, supplemented by light and swift bird ships, and some fleets were even equipped with Portuguese matchlock guns and breech-loading cannons purchased from the West.

What's even more alarming is that Li Dan had an armed trading post in Hirado, firmly controlling the lifeline of the Sino-Japanese silver trade.

If the Tianjin Navy is barely able to protect itself, how can it possibly wrest trade routes from such figures?
Upon hearing this, Li Ruhua broke out in a cold sweat and stammered, "Your Majesty... perhaps you could summon the officials of the Ministry of War to discuss this together?"

When faced with something you can't solve, shifting the blame is always a safe bet.

Zhu Youxiao shook his head slightly, dissatisfied with Li Ruhua's answer.

“These pirates are not unusable. If they are given some official positions, they can be used by our Great Ming. That would not be a bad thing.”

To recruit and incorporate them into the government.

As a unified dynasty, Zhu Youxiao had plenty of ways to deal with these pirates.

There's no need to actually go against them.

Using one's weaknesses to attack another's strengths is the worst strategy!

"Furthermore, the establishment of the Tianjin Maritime Trade Office has cut off the livelihoods of countless people. However, there is no need to fear these people; they are smugglers and bandits after all! If the court tolerates these parasites, wouldn't it be destroying its own foundation?"

"Therefore, anyone who dares to obstruct the new policies will have their head taken by me as a warning to others!"

The air inside the hall suddenly froze, and Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng both felt a tightness in their chests.

The emperor is using the blood of princes and nobles to pave the way for new policies in Tianjin!

"As for this 'ship permit'... it's just a piece of paper, but without it, no matter if you're a member of the royal family, you can forget about taking half a tael of silver out of Tianjin Port!"

"Liaodong is short of warhorses, Shandong is suffering from a grain shortage, and Tianjin is lacking warships."

"Anyone willing to contribute horses, transport grain, or build ships will be granted double the ship licenses! Want a share of the maritime trade? Sure! But first, you'd better sharpen the sword for the court!"

Li Ruhua suddenly realized.

The emperor is using the promise of ships as bait to force powerful families to pay out of their own pockets to maintain the navy and supply the military for the court!

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

He prostrated himself and shouted, but Zhu Youxiao scoffed:
"Don't rush to proclaim your wisdom. Tell those nobles and powerful figures that if they want to make money, they'd better follow my rules. If anyone still dares to plot against pirates or engage in secret operations..."

"I wouldn't mind using their family fortunes to add a few new Fujian ships to the Tianjin Navy!"

After a moment, Zhu Youxiao caught his breath.

"I know this matter cannot be accomplished overnight, and it is indeed difficult to ask you to come up with a perfect solution immediately."

"Regarding the Tianjin matter, you should summon the officials of the Six Ministries for a detailed discussion. Within three days, I need to see a practical and feasible strategy."

Seeing that the emperor did not continue to exert pressure, Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng both breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as the two were about to take their leave, Zhu Youxiao said again, "As for the rewards and pensions for the soldiers in Liaodong, we must expedite the process. The funds must be raised within this month and sent to Liaodong to reward the troops by the end of the month."

Minister of Revenue Li Changgeng immediately replied, “Your Majesty, if the new policies in Tianjin are implemented, the 500,000 taels of silver for the military service will not be a problem. After all, the benefits of maritime trade far outweigh the mere relief funds.”

"That would be best, but what if this is messed up..."

Zhu Youxiao narrowed his eyes, causing a large patch of sweat to soak Li Changgeng's back.

If this matter isn't handled perfectly, I'm afraid I'll lose my job.

"Your Majesty, we will certainly do our utmost to live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

The two expressed their opinions immediately.

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, signaling them to step back.

"I hope these veteran ministers will not disappoint me."

After Li Ruhua and Li Changgeng bowed and left the warm pavilion, Zhu Youxiao sat back down at his desk.

He casually opened a memorial to the throne, and just as he dipped his vermilion brush in ink, a soft sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

Wei Chao, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, bowed and wore a fawning smile as he carefully carried an ivory waist token forward.

"His Majesty."

He spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of ingratiation.

“Zhang Xianyong, the Celestial Master of the Celestial Master’s Mansion on Longhu Mountain, is requesting an audience.”

Zhu Youxiao paused slightly in his writing, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Zhang Xianyong?"

He put down his vermilion brush and repeated the name thoughtfully.

“I remember he arrived in the capital three days ago.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Chao bowed even lower.

"Your Majesty is holy."

He said with a fawning smile, "Master Zhang did indeed submit his petition for three days, but he has not been able to see the Emperor. Today, having no other choice, he came to this servant."

As he spoke, he took out a silver note from his sleeve and respectfully presented it with both hands.

"Zhang Xianyong is quite generous; he gave me a silver note worth ten thousand taels just to get a meeting with His Majesty."

Zhu Youxiao's gaze sharpened as it fell upon the silver note in Wei Chao's hand.

It was a banknote from a Nanjing money shop, its vermilion seal standing out prominently in the candlelight.

"hehe."

He sneered, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"This Celestial Master's Mansion is truly as rich as a country."

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, his voice tinged with sarcasm.

"I just don't know where this money came from."

When Wei Chao saw that the emperor did not accept the silver note, he was secretly pleased and quickly stuffed the silver note into his sleeve.

His eyes darted around, and he tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, would you like to summon Zhang Tianshi?"

Zhu Youxiao sneered, shook his head, and said, "I won't see you!"

"I have summoned him to the capital time and again, but he has always declined, citing illness. Now that he has arrived in the capital, he wants me to receive him personally?"

A cold glint flashed in the young emperor's eyes.

"Zhang Xianyong has quite the grand entourage!"

Wei Chao quickly echoed, bowing even lower: "Your Majesty is wise! That Zhang Xianyong is ungrateful and should be left to languish for a few more days."

He stole a glance at the emperor's expression and added fuel to the fire, saying, "However, the fact that he can casually take out ten thousand taels to bribe officials shows that the Celestial Master's Mansion is indeed very wealthy."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's lips curled into a meaningful, cold smile.

"To be able to produce ten thousand taels of silver as a bribe, I must thoroughly investigate the financial channels of the Celestial Master's Mansion. Issue my imperial decree, ordering Wang Tiqian, the Director of the Western Depot, and Luo Sigong, the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to come to the palace for an audience immediately!"

"Slave, you obey!"

Wei Chao quickly responded and backed out of the warm pavilion.

Once outside the hall, he eagerly pulled the silver note from his sleeve, examined it closely under the palace lantern, and a greedy smile appeared on his face.

Inside the warm pavilion, Zhu Youxiao was still pondering matters concerning the Celestial Master's Mansion.

As the ancestral home of the Zhengyi sect, the Tianshi Mansion on Longhu Mountain has a large number of believers throughout the government and the public, and its influence should not be underestimated.

"Now that the Tianjin Navy is about to be rebuilt, it is time to start reforming these Taoist priests."

Thinking of those reclusive people who chanted scriptures and cultivated Taoism all day long, Zhu Youxiao shook his head with disdain.

Since you're eating the rice of my Great Ming Dynasty, do you still want to ignore matters outside the world?

no way!

He wanted to transform these complacent Taoist priests into pioneers with an enterprising spirit.

This was to prepare him for future expansion and colonization overseas.

And
He also wanted to make good use of the influence of the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain in the officialdom of Jiangnan.

Soon after.

A series of hurried yet restrained footsteps came from outside the hall.

The eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial bowed and led the two men inside. Wang Tiqian, the director of the Western Depot, and Luo Sigong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, entered the hall one after the other and knelt down in unison three steps away from the imperial desk.

"This servant is Wang Tiqian!"

"Your subject, Luo Sigong!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Wang Tiqian's voice was high-pitched and obsequious, his forehead almost touching the gold brick floor; Luo Sigong's voice was booming, his flying fish robe spread out like wings, and the gilded cloud patterns on the embroidered spring knife sheath at his waist shimmered in the candlelight.

Zhu Youxiao's hand holding the vermilion brush did not stop; he merely lifted his eyelids and glanced at the two of them.

"Flat body."

He put down his pen and tapped his fingertips twice lightly on the ivory dragon-carved paperweight.

"Wei Dadang, explain yourself clearly."

The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, who was standing to the side, immediately bowed and stepped forward, holding the ten-thousand-tael silver note from the Nanjing bank, and recounted in a soft voice how Zhang Xianyong had bribed his way to an audience.

When he said "ten thousand taels at a casual glance," he deliberately dragged out the tone, while stealing a glance at the emperor's expression out of the corner of his eye.

"Is the incense money at Longhu Mountain really so much that it could kill someone? A casual gesture can cost ten thousand taels of silver?"

The murderous intent flashing in Zhu Youxiao's eyes seemed genuine.

"Investigate! Thoroughly investigate the accounts of the Celestial Master's Mansion over the years!"

"I want to see whether this silver is a gift from the Daoist Ancestor or a life-saving payment from the salt merchants of Jiangnan!"

"Or is it that Zhang Xianyong has the guts to challenge me to a duel?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Tiqian's hand trembled with excitement.

After years of preparation, the West Depot has finally found a job where it can truly showcase its talents.

He immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to report. This servant had previously collected evidence of the Celestial Master's Mansion's crimes, and now it comes in handy!"

It turns out that Wang Tiqian had already noticed the Emperor's attention to the Celestial Master's Mansion. At the beginning of the Western Depot's preparations, he ordered the Western Depot to keep an eye on the Celestial Master's Mansion's movements.

Especially after incorporating some of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot.

The evidence of many crimes committed by the Celestial Master's Mansion has been almost fully collected.

"it is good!"

Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up, and he said, "Then let's give Zhang Xianyong a good talking-to, let him know what kind of Celestial Master he is? Does he really think he's a god? Who's really in charge of this Ming Dynasty?"

"Furthermore, since the Celestial Master's Mansion is so wealthy, we should ask them to contribute some money to support the construction of the Tianjin Navy and to provide compensation and rewards to the soldiers in Liaodong."

If you have money, don't keep it in your pocket.

Zhang Xianyong, it's time for you to serve your country!
The next morning.

The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) office in Dongjiang Rice Lane was shrouded in a somber atmosphere.

As the sun rose, Lu Jianxing, dressed in a brand-new centurion's robe, stood with his hands behind his back in front of the vermilion gate of the yamen, his embroidered spring knife at his waist gleaming coldly in the morning light.

He was followed by two sworn brothers.

The three men, all dressed in flying fish robes and with embroidered spring knives at their waists, exuded an imposing aura.

Lu Jianxing glanced back at the two men and lowered his voice, saying, "When we get to the yamen, you'd better keep your mouths shut before you're told to speak! The Embroidered Uniform Guard is not like an ordinary yamen; the rules are very strict. One wrong move and you could get a beating or even lose your head!"

Shen Lian stood with his arms crossed, his expression cold and stern, and simply replied, "Don't worry, brother, we know the rules."

Jin Yichuan looked slightly nervous, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the hilt of his knife, and he whispered, "Brother, will anything go wrong with our trip this time?"

Lu Jianxing snorted coldly: "What's there to be afraid of? We made a contribution in Tianjin. Now we're just going through the motions to remove the word 'prospective' from our position as prospective centurion."

He was secretly relieved.

If the emperor hadn't expanded the recruitment of Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards), with his seniority, it's unknown how many more years he would have had to wait to fill this vacancy as a centurion.

Now, thanks to Tianjin's contribution, I can finally rightfully wear this centurion's robe, which can be considered a stroke of good fortune.

"go!"

Lu Jianxing took a deep breath and strode towards the yamen.

The guards in front of the yamen saw that the three men's waist tags were correct and let them in.

After passing through several courtyards, the three finally arrived outside the council hall.

The hall was solemn and imposing, with faint whispers emanating from within.

Lu Jianxing straightened his clothes and turned back to remind him again, "Remember, no matter what happens later, don't say a word!"

Shen Lian nodded slightly, while Jin Yichuan swallowed and nodded in agreement.

The three stepped inside, officially entering the core of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's power.

Inside the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) council hall, wisps of smoke rose from the bronze incense burner on the sandalwood table, softening the grim atmosphere somewhat.

The main seat in the hall was empty, and Commander Luo Sigong was nowhere to be found. Only a middle-aged official dressed in a robe with a qilin emblem sat upright in a side seat.

It was Li Ruoxing, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The man was fair-skinned and beardless, with a hint of sinister intent hidden between the fine lines at the corners of his eyes. The gilded ivory pendant hanging from his waist gleamed coldly in the candlelight.

Lu Jianxing clasped his hands in a salute, the hem of his flying fish robe swaying slightly with the movement: "Your subordinate, Lu Jianxing, a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, greets the Vice Commander!"

His voice was loud, but he subtly reduced the force at the end of each note.

The man before them, Li Qianshi, was a well-known figure of real power within the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and it was said that he had close ties with Wang Tiqian, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Li Ruoxing slowly picked up the blue-and-white porcelain teacup, slightly raised her eyelids, and her gaze swept over Lu Jianxing like a knife.

"Lu Jianxing, right?"

He took a sip of tea and suddenly a half-smile appeared on his face.

"You did a great job in Tianjin; even His Majesty praised you. You should fill the vacancy of a centurion."

"Thank you for your guidance, Commander!"

Lu Jianxing felt a sense of relief, and his tense back relaxed slightly.

He had thought that such a powerful position would require some bribes, but he hadn't expected it to go so smoothly.

Li Ruoxing suddenly slammed the teacup down, the sound of the porcelain bottom hitting the table making Lu Jianxing's heart skip a beat.

"I will instruct the Records Department to handle the official appointment documents. However, there is an urgent matter that I cannot leave to you."

Lu Jianxing immediately knelt on one knee, clasped his hands above his head, and said, "Please give your instructions, Vice Commander! I will go through fire and water for you!"

His voice was firm, but he secretly clenched his fist in his sleeve.

Within the Embroidered Uniform Guard's headquarters, the more eloquent the words spoken, the more dangerous the tasks often lie behind them.

Upon hearing this, Li Ruoxing's lips curled into a meaningful smile, her fingers gently stroking the blue-and-white porcelain teacup on the table: "Very good!"

He suddenly lowered his voice and leaned forward slightly: "Zhang Tianshi of Longhu Mountain is in Beijing right now."

As he spoke, he took out a stack of documents from a hidden compartment in the desk and slammed them onto the table with a thud.

"These are the deeds of the Celestial Master's Mansion that have seized farmland from the people over the years."

His withered fingers traced the documents, then he opened another ledger.

"These are the accounts of their dealings with officials in Jiangnan."

Finally, he pulled out a secret letter and sneered, "As for this, it is irrefutable evidence that Zhang Yingjing accepted bribes from salt merchants."

He gave Lu Jianxing a deep look, and finally revealed his purpose:
“Such a thing has happened at the Celestial Master’s Mansion. It needs to be thoroughly investigated and someone must be held responsible. Go and arrest Zhang Xianyong’s son, Zhang Yingjing, and take him to the Imperial Prison.”

Lu Jianxing's pupils contracted slightly.

Zhang Tianshi of Longhu Mountain?
That was the leader of the Zhengyi sect, a prominent figure with disciples and old friends all over the country.

For a mere centurion like him to be tasked with capturing the son of the Celestial Master was clearly a hot potato.

"how?"

Li Ruoxing narrowed her eyes, and slammed her teacup down heavily on the table.

"Does Commander Lu have some kind of difficulty?"

Lu Jianxing broke out in a cold sweat.

He clearly saw the cold glint in Li Ruoxing's eyes; this was not an inquiry, but a test.

Refusing such a task would likely result in him suffering greatly, even before the Celestial Master's Mansion could retaliate.

"Yes, sir!"

He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and spoke with a strong and clear voice, but secretly gritted his teeth.

“Remember to invite people in a respectful manner.”

"My subordinates will remember it."

Lu Jianxing, carrying a thick stack of incriminating documents, strode heavily out of the Jinyiwei yamen.

The rising sunlight stung his eyes, making him squint, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in his heart.

He subconsciously touched the Embroidered Spring Blade at his waist, the cold touch of the scabbard calming him down slightly.

"Brother, why do you look so worried?"

Shen Lian quickly followed, the hem of his flying fish robe fluttering in the wind.

"Could there be something fishy about this job?"

Lu Jianxing stopped and turned to look at his brother, who always frequented brothels. He sighed, "I told you to pay more attention to the political situation, but you've been wasting your time on those places. Now you can't even tell right from wrong when the commander says something."

Shen Lian rubbed his nose and muttered under his breath, "If I don't go to those brothels, where else can I go?"

The image of the beautiful girl from the Jiaofangsi (a type of entertainment venue) appeared before his eyes.

Her waist was so slender it could be encircled by one hand, yet her chest was full and snow-white.

The most wonderful thing is that when the passion is at its peak, the girl will always murmur "Where is my husband?" with her eyes glazed over. How could these rough men in the government office compare to such charm?

Seeing that he was distracted, Lu Jianxing snorted coldly: "Never mind!"

He tightened his grip on the documents in his arms.

"I'll handle this task by myself. You two stay at the yamen and wait for orders."

Shen Lian was taken aback upon hearing this: "Brother, this is against the rules. We are brothers of one mind. How can you leave us behind when trouble comes?"

"Shut up!"

Lu Jianxing suddenly interrupted sharply, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"I said don't follow, so don't follow!"

He turned and strode towards the stables, mounted his horse, and rode off into the distance, cursing inwardly as he went:

Damn it, the Celestial Master's Mansion is such a behemoth, if they're going to hold a grudge, they should hold a grudge against me alone, why drag the brothers into it!
As the sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance, Shen Lian watched his elder brother's departing figure and suddenly felt that the sunlight today was particularly dazzling.

He touched the embroidered spring knife at his waist, feeling that something big was about to happen.

ps:
The inclusion of some characters from "Brotherhood of Blades" will not affect the plot. This is to inform you.

(End of this chapter)