Huangming

Chapter 407 With the Korean situation settled, maritime trade brings enormous profits.

Not long after Zheng Renhong left the government office, another group of messengers arrived.

The leader was dressed in coarse linen clothes, with a short knife at his waist, followed by two attendants carrying gift boxes. He was the envoy sent by King Jeon Hwan of Seoul.

Although Jeon Hwan claimed to have 100,000 troops in Seoul, in reality, most of his troops were temporary refugees and defeated soldiers, totaling less than 50,000 men, most of whom lacked training and could not even muster a decent set of weapons.

Upon hearing that Park Hee's 50,000-strong army of refugees had been defeated by Mao Wenlong's 2,000 cavalry within ten days, Quan Huan was already in a state of panic.

He knew full well that his "100,000-strong army" was nothing but a bluff. If the Ming cavalry turned around and attacked, he would be no match for Park Hee and probably wouldn't last even three days.

Therefore, they promptly dispatched messengers to express their submission.

"I am an envoy under King Jeon Hwan of Seoul. I have come to pay my respects to General Mao, to offer a small gift, and to express my willingness to submit to the Ming Dynasty!"

The envoy bowed respectfully outside the door, his voice deliberately humble, and gestured for his attendants to open the gift box.

Inside were several bolts of fine brocade, several kilograms of dried ginseng, and a dagger inlaid with gemstones. Although not particularly valuable, it was the best item Quan Huan could offer.

The Ming guards relayed the message, and a reply came shortly afterward:
"The commander-in-chief said that the gifts have been accepted and the envoy need not come to the camp to pay his respects. He can return on his own and tell Quan Huan to behave himself."

Upon hearing this, the envoy felt somewhat disappointed, but also relieved.

Mao Wenlong's acceptance of the gift was tantamount to acknowledging his submission, and the fact that he did not immediately send troops to attack was the best possible outcome.

"Please put in a good word for me and General Mao. My king is not a mutinous army, but a righteous army. If the Ming Dynasty gives any orders, we will obey them without question."

As he spoke, he stepped forward and handed a few pieces of silver to the guard who was delivering the order.

"hehe."

The guard chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I'll put in a good word for you."

Having received the promise, the envoy quickly bowed again and then did not linger.

He hurriedly left with his entourage, eager to fly back to Seoul immediately and tell Jeon Hwan the "good news".

at the same time.

Inside the government office, Mao Wenlong looked at the gifts Quan Huan had sent on the table, a faint smile playing on his lips.

A bodyguard standing nearby couldn't help but ask, "General, Quan Huan is also a rebel. Why didn't you take the opportunity to wipe him out, instead of accepting his gifts?"

“Jeon Hwan and Park Hee are not the same.”

Mao Wenlong put down the dagger in his hand, his tone carrying a certain degree of certainty.

“Park Hee was well-educated and understood the people’s hearts. His slogans, such as ‘Are kings and nobles born with special privileges?’ and ‘Destroy the officials and gentry and distribute the land,’ struck a nerve with the Korean people. That’s why he was able to quickly gather 50,000 refugees and even almost killed Yi Jong.”

Such a person is cunning and adept at manipulating public sentiment; he is a major threat and must be eliminated as soon as possible.

"Quan Huan is different."

This man was a pure martial artist. Investigations revealed his martial arts skills to be exceptionally high. He wielded a long, fine iron staff, which moved with incredible speed, capable of striking five times in a single breath. Ordinary soldiers couldn't even get close to him, and within Korea, few could withstand a single blow from him.

When Quan Huan's martial arts skills were mentioned, a hint of approval flashed in Mao Wenlong's eyes, but it was only for a moment.

"But he had no other strengths besides bravery."

Gathering refugees through military intimidation and governing Seoul through simplistic and brutal military law—lacking strategy and inspiring slogans—such people cannot achieve great things.

The guard suddenly realized: "General, you mean that Quan Huan can only be arrogant for a while and can't cause any big trouble, so we don't need to pay attention to him for now?"

"Exactly."

Mao Wenlong nodded, his gaze falling on the location of Hancheng on the map.

"What Korea needs most right now is a balance. With Yi Jong and Yi Hun keeping each other in check, and Jeon Hwan holding Seoul, the three sides can maintain a balance of power so that the Ming Dynasty can reap the benefits."

If we eliminate Jeon Hwan, either Yi Jong or Yi Hwan will lose a check on them, which might actually allow one of them to grow stronger, making it harder for us to control Korea.

He picked up a secret report from the table, which recorded Jeon Hwan's actions in Seoul.

He forcibly requisitioned grain, oppressed the people, and constantly clashed with the surrounding gentry, yet he never put forward any appealing propositions, only relying on force to maintain his rule.

“Look, Jeon Hwan’s life in Seoul is not easy. The refugees are disaffected, and the gentry are secretly resisting him. It is unknown how long he can hold on.”

Mao Wenlong put down the secret report, his tone carrying a hint of contempt.

"This kind of person, we don't even need to lift a finger, he'll be overthrown by his own people sooner or later, or swallowed up by Li Zong or Li Hui. Why should we waste our energy dealing with him?"

Upon hearing this, the guards fully understood Mao Wenlong's considerations.

The purpose of eliminating Park Hee was to remove the "threat to the hearts of the people" that threatened the rule of the Ming Dynasty.

The purpose of sparing Jeon Hwan was to maintain the division in Joseon, allowing the various factions to wear each other down, so that the Ming Dynasty could better control the overall situation.

Between this suppression and release, there is nothing but weighing and stratagem.

"The commander-in-chief is wise!"

The guards flattered him sincerely, their admiration for Mao Wenlong's shrewdness growing ever stronger.

"Don't be so wise. Send people to gather more information. We need to figure out the situation in North Korea before we leave!"

The guard immediately shouted, "Yes, sir!"

Time flies.

The ten-day deadline agreed upon with Zheng Renhong has arrived.

And this 86-year-old man also appeared in the main hall of the government office at the last minute.

However, he looked tired.

During those ten days, he sent envoys back and forth between Pyongyang and Huaiyang, arguing with King Yi Hun of Joseon countless times, but in the end he had no choice but to accept Mao Wenlong's conditions, which were almost tantamount to "the destruction of the country".

"Your subject Zheng Renhong greets the General."

Zheng Renhong bowed deeply, his voice even lower than before.

"His Majesty the King... has granted all the general's requests."

Every word Zheng Renhong uttered seemed like he was swallowing bitter medicine.

"I urge the general to fulfill his promise and help my king quell the internal strife and eliminate the traitor Li Zong."

Mao Wenlong sat upright in the main seat, and upon hearing this, a smile appeared on his lips.

"Prime Minister Zheng is indeed a wise and capable man who knows when to act."

He changed the subject, but his tone became indifferent.

"However, the Prime Minister said last time that the Ming Dynasty is a celestial empire and should not interfere in the internal affairs of its vassal states at will."

The conflict between Yi Jong and your king is a domestic matter for Korea, and I, the commander, will naturally not send troops to 'annihilate' him.

All I can guarantee is that I will no longer provide support to Li Zong.

These words, though spoken in a grand and dignified manner, left Zheng Renhong speechless.

But he knew in his heart that Mao Wenlong's so-called "no support" was probably for some other reason.

He said meaningfully:

"According to the envoy, the general seems to be transporting provisions to Li Zong. Isn't this supporting Li Zong?"

Indeed, Li Zong's army was well-ventilated.

Mao Wenlong sighed inwardly, but his expression remained calm.

"Li Zong's army's provisions were purchased from Ming Dynasty merchants at a high price."

Freedom of trade can't really be considered 'support', can it?

A sly glint flashed in his eyes.

"If your king also wants to buy grain from the Ming Dynasty, as long as the price is right, Ming merchants may well sell to him."

After all, our Great Ming Dynasty had a good sweet potato harvest this year, with surplus grain.

Zheng Renhong's expression darkened slightly.

How could he not understand what Mao Wenlong meant?
This is clearly an attempt to sit back and watch the two factions in North Korea fight, and even to profit from the "grain sale"!
But he had no room for negotiation at this point, and could only suppress his dissatisfaction and slowly nod:

"That's... very good."

He was prepared for Mao Wenlong's refusal to send troops and his provision of provisions to Li Zong.

On the way here, he had already thought about it:
If the Ming army intervened directly, it could quickly eliminate Yi Jong, but it would also allow the Ming Dynasty to gain deeper control over Joseon. At that time, Joseon might not even be able to preserve its last bit of "autonomy".

The Ming army's promise not to provide support makes quelling the internal strife more difficult, but it also reduces the risk of excessive Ming intervention, which may not be a bad thing.

Moreover, in his opinion, Li Zong's strength was not worth mentioning at all.

The so-called "50,000 troops" were nothing more than a hastily recruited rabble, unable to even muster enough armor and weapons.

While their own king, Li Hui, was incompetent and tyrannical, he held legitimate power over the four southern provinces. These provinces had not been plundered by the Jurchens and had a more abundant population and food supplies, making them far stronger than Li Zong.

As long as the Ming army doesn't intervene, it's only a matter of time before Li Hui quells the internal strife.

Transporting some grain and fodder is not important. As long as no troops are sent, and no warhorses, firearms, or similar items are delivered, Li Zong will not be able to turn the tide!

"I urge the general to keep his promise and cease all dealings with Li Zong."

Zheng Renhong bowed again, his tone both pleading and wary.

He feared that Mao Wenlong might go back on his word, so he secretly continued to provide support to Li Zong.

Mao Wenlong chuckled and said with great certainty, "Rest assured, Your Excellency, I am a general of the Great Ming Dynasty, and I always keep my word."

However, Prime Minister, when you return, you should remind your king not to forget the promise made today.

Chinese language instruction, the travel of nobles to Beijing, and the performance evaluation of officials—all of these must be implemented one by one.

Jeong In-hong's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "Your subject will remember this and will certainly convey it to the King of Joseon."

After reaching an agreement, Zheng Renhong did not linger and got up to take his leave.

As he walked out of the government office gate, he glanced back at the "Ming" banner hanging high, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Although his monarch temporarily preserved the "legitimacy," he was completely reduced to a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, and those harsh conditions would eventually erode the foundation of Joseon's nation.

But he had no choice but to return to Seoul with this heavy "achievement" and prepare for the Northern Expedition to quell the rebellion.

. . .

With the conclusion of the power struggle between Mao Wenlong and Li Hui and Li Zong, the situation in North Korea indeed fell into a delicate state of division and checks and balances, just as he had predicted.

Yi Jong held the three provinces of Pyongan, Hamgyeong, and Hwanghae, barely managing to survive on grain and fodder purchased from Ming merchants.

Li Hui gathered troops in the four southern provinces, under the banner of "legitimate suppression of the rebellion," but dared not venture northward rashly due to fear of the Ming Dynasty's attitude.

Jeon Hwan's hold on Seoul appears to be secure, but in reality, the displaced people are disaffected and supplies are scarce, making it a "buffer zone" that neither the North nor the South wants to make the first move.

This division will not last.

Mao Wenlong knew that North Korea's national strength could not sustain a long-term three-way standoff, and sooner or later one side would be defeated due to running out of food or internal collapse.

But he was equally certain that this chaos would not end quickly:
Yi Jong had the support of the Ming Dynasty's trade routes, Yi Hun had the wealthy lands in the south, and Jeon Hwan had the natural defenses of Seoul. The three sides checked and balanced each other, which could at least delay the situation for one or two years, or even longer.

This period of time was enough for him to go south to resolve the Dutch threat and then return north to clean up the mess in Korea.

By then, both Yi Jong-seung and Yi Hun-seung would be severely weakened, and the Ming Dynasty could easily bring Korea completely under its control with a simple push.

Now that the matter with North Korea is settled.

It's time to go back.

Over the next two weeks, the Ming army began to withdraw from Korea in an orderly manner.

Mao Wenlong first withdrew the Ming army instructors stationed in Li Zong's army.

These people had helped Li Zong train new recruits, and their departure now cuts off Li Zong's only channel for improving his combat strength.

Subsequently, in addition to leaving 2,000 troops to garrison the strategic ports of Busan and Uiju.

The remaining 7,000 Ming soldiers gathered at Nanpu Port, boarded warships, and sailed south through the waters off Pi Island.

On the day of the evacuation, light snow was falling at Nanpu Port. Li Zong, along with his officials, soldiers, and civilians, stood on the dock, watching the Ming warships slowly raise their sails, their eyes filled with reluctance, and even glistening with tears.

Those tears were definitely real.

He truly couldn't bear to see Mao Wenlong leave, nor could he bear to see the Ming army leave.

With the Ming army present, he was a force supported by the Ming Dynasty, and Li Hui dared not act rashly.

Without the Ming army, he had no idea whether his 20,000 "ragtag troops" could stop Li Hui's southern army.

"General Mao, take care on your journey! If you need anything from Korea, please send someone to deliver a message!"

Li Zong shouted loudly at the warship, his voice choked with emotion.

Mao Wenlong stood on the flagship's deck, and upon hearing this, he simply nodded and said nothing more.

Li Zong's "reluctance" was nothing more than a desire for his support.

but.
He didn't have time to stay in North Korea.

Mao Wenlong stood at the bow of the ship, watching Li Zong's figure on the harbor, and thought:
I hope that when I return to North Korea, Li Zong will still be alive.

Li Zong was undoubtedly a more suitable candidate to support a puppet ruler.

Although the current king of North Korea is also incompetent, he has been king for more than ten years and still has a solid foundation.

Yi Jong's power base was unstable, therefore, he was more suitable to be a puppet than Yi Hun.

However, Mao Wenlong quickly brought his thoughts back to the present.

The matter with North Korea has come to an end, so there's no need to dwell on it anymore.

Now he needs to focus his energy on the Dutch.

"Let's set off!"

He raised his hand to signal the fleet to set sail, and the warships slowly sailed away from Nampo Port, leaving Li Zong's figure and the Korean snowstorm far behind.

The warships sailed through the waves, passing Pi Island and crossing the Bohai Sea. Half a month later, on February 10th of the second year of the Tianqi reign, they finally arrived at Dagu Port in Tianjin.

As Mao Wenlong stood on the deck, gazing at the Tianjin port, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Compared to when he left three months ago, Dagukou is now a completely different place.

The port was filled with masts, and ships of all sizes were densely packed at the dock, including many Western merchant ships with imposing hulls and unique sails.

These ships came from Portugal and Spain, and there were even a few Dutch merchant ships mixed in.

It is clear that the news of the Ming Dynasty establishing a maritime trade office in Tianjin and opening up maritime trade has spread throughout the countries of the South China Sea.

In addition, there were many Ming Dynasty merchant ships flying flags bearing surnames such as "Zhu," "Xu," and "Li," which were clearly merchant caravans belonging to members of the imperial family, princes, and nobles.

At this moment, these merchant ships are busy loading and unloading cargo, and the dock is bustling with activity.

"It seems that the benefits of maritime trade will soon become apparent."

The deputy general standing next to Mao Wenlong couldn't help but sigh.

"With so many merchant ships, the customs duties alone can earn the imperial court a lot of silver."

Mao Wenlong, however, was not so optimistic. He looked at the Western merchant ships and frowned slightly.

The greater the profit, the more people will covet it.

Behind these Western merchant ships lies the ambition of various countries to covet the Ming Dynasty.

Meanwhile, on the Ming Dynasty's coastal borders, there are still pirate forces that have been entrenched for many years. They will surely covet the huge profits from maritime trade, and it is possible that they will collude with the Western barbarians.

The Dutch, in particular, wanted to seize trade routes and had the backing of their navy; they would never be content to be just "ordinary merchants."

"Pass down the order that once the fleet enters port, immediately take inventory of the military equipment and inspect the warships."

Mao Wenlong turned to his deputy and gave the order.

"The burden on the Tianjin Navy is heavier than it was in Korea."

They not only had to protect the safety of trade routes, but also guard against attacks from the Dutch and pirates.

One wrong move and everything is lost.

The Tianjin Navy was established with the full support of the nation.

If the naval battle is lost and the warships are destroyed, it is unknown how long it will take to restore their fighting strength.

Therefore, everything must be done with caution.

The lieutenant, naturally understanding this principle, quickly bowed and replied:

"The general will obey the order!"

. . .

the other side.

Forbidden City.

The East Warm Pavilion was warm and inviting.

The underground heating system was burning brightly, warming the sandalwood imperial desk.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, sat upright on the throne.

Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, dressed in a scarlet official robe, stood before the imperial desk, his posture upright and his expression respectful.

Yang Hongbei, the Director of the Ministry of Rites' Department of Receptions, stood beside Fang Congzhe with a scroll in his hand, ready to answer the emperor's questions at any time.

Both men were important officials in the court who handled foreign affairs. They came together to report to Zhu Youxiao the final agreement on trade with the Western barbarians.

"Your Majesty, the trade treaties negotiated with Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands have been compiled into a book. Please review them."

Fang Congzhe bowed respectfully, his voice steady and powerful.

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand to signal, and the eunuch quickly presented the details to him.

He slowly flipped through the pages, his gaze lingering on items such as "Scope of Trade," "Goods Quotas," and "Restrictive Clauses," a smile gradually spreading across his lips.
"Although this treaty is a rudimentary one, it has grasped the key point: it only discusses trade and does not involve anything else, which is quite prudent."

As Zhu Youxiao stated, the core of this trade treaty revolved solely around "trade" and did not involve complex issues such as territory or diplomacy. It can be considered the "basic framework" for trade between the Ming Dynasty and the Western barbarians.

The most noteworthy aspect was the complete relaxation of the Ming Dynasty's restrictions on Western ships.

The treaty clearly stipulates that as long as there are goods needed by the Western Barbarians within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, regardless of the quantity, the Western Barbarians may order them as needed, and the Ming government shall not obstruct them without cause.

"Your Majesty is holy."

Yang Hongbei spoke up at the opportune moment, adding:
"After receiving the treaty, the three countries quickly submitted their first orders. Portugal ordered 100,000 bolts of raw silk and a ship of porcelain, for a total price of 450,000 taels of silver."

Spain was even more extravagant, ordering 200,000 bolts of raw silk, a ship full of porcelain, and two ships full of tea, for a total price of 1.2 million taels of silver.

Only the Netherlands adopted a perfunctory attitude, ordering only 50,000 bolts of raw silk, worth 150,000 taels of silver.

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing the amount of the order from the Netherlands.

The Dutch are ambitious and have repeatedly provoked China in the South China Sea. Although they are now participating in trade, they remain hesitant and unwilling to invest too much.

It seems there are malicious intentions involved.

But he didn't pay much attention to it. Instead, he pointed to the total order amount on the details and smiled at the two of them:

"This first batch of orders alone has already amounted to nearly two million taels of silver, which shows that the profits from maritime trade far exceed expectations."

Fang Congzhe quickly echoed, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. We had not anticipated that the Western barbarians would have such a strong demand for our Great Ming's raw silk, porcelain, and tea. However..."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more cautious.

"Can our Great Ming Dynasty truly provide so much raw silk?"

Is it going to follow the example of the Jiajing era and convert rice paddies to mulberry fields?

Zhu Youxiao smiled lightly and said, "Your Excellency need not worry about the raw silk. The looms improved by the Academy of Sciences now produce ten times more silk, so production is not a problem."

Academy of Sciences?
Fang Congzhe was stunned for a moment.

I never expected that what His Majesty put together would actually be useful?
He was somewhat shocked.

Is it
Has His Majesty already prepared for the opening of the seas?

If so
Your Majesty's plans are far too far-reaching.

Call ~
He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and voiced another of his concerns.

"Your Majesty, I have another concern. With the surge in cargo volume, we must ensure the safety of transportation."

If these goods are plundered in Ming Dynasty waters, the Western barbarians may become suspicious and may not be willing to trade with us again in the future.

Zhu Youxiao nodded in agreement.

"I have already considered this matter. Relaxing restrictions on ships is intended to attract Western barbarians, but if the safety of goods cannot be guaranteed, then it is putting the cart before the horse."

The Tianjin Navy must strengthen patrols of coastal shipping routes, especially the trade route from Dagu Port to the South China Sea, to ensure absolute safety.

"While on patrol, also check whether these Western barbarians are involved in smuggling."

The Ming Dynasty's relaxation of restrictions on ships and permission for Western barbarians to order goods as needed was not without conditions.

The treaty clearly states:
All Western barbarian countries must immediately cease smuggling activities along the coast of the Ming Dynasty. If the Ming government discovers any smuggling activities, it will immediately revoke the country's trade rights in the Ming Dynasty and will not be allowed to reapply for three years.

"His Majesty's decision to establish this provision is a radical and decisive move."

Fang Congzhe's eyes were full of admiration.

"The gentry of Jiangnan colluded with pirate groups to profit from smuggling for many years, which not only caused the loss of customs duties for the imperial court, but also disrupted the order along the coast."

By using trade rights as leverage, we can effectively combat smuggling and give the imperial court control over maritime trade.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's expression turned serious:
"The gentry of Jiangnan amassed enormous wealth through smuggling, yet were unwilling to share the burdens of the imperial court."

Pirates plunder civilians and endanger coastal defense; such chaos should have been rectified long ago.

This trade was not only to earn silver, but also to leverage the power of the Western barbarians to force these forces to restrain themselves.

If they dare to continue smuggling, they will be making enemies of the imperial court, and I will not tolerate it.

After discussing the contents of the treaty, Zhu Youxiao changed the subject and mentioned the establishment of the Maritime Trade Office:

"Now that the scale of trade has increased dramatically, the existing officials of the Maritime Trade Office are finding it difficult to cope."

Additional officials must be dispatched immediately, and these new officials must be proficient in commercial tax accounting, foreign language communication, and goods inspection; unqualified personnel are strictly prohibited.

"The Maritime Trade Office was the window for trade between the Ming Dynasty and the Western barbarians, and also the key to the collection of customs duties."

If unprofessional officials cause the loss of customs revenue, or if the Western barbarians look down on our Great Ming, that would be a serious crime.

Yang Hongbei quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I will obey! I will immediately begin the selection of officials, giving priority to those from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue who are familiar with foreign affairs and financial accounting, to ensure the efficient operation of the Maritime Trade Office."

Zhu Youxiao nodded in satisfaction, closed the trade details, and handed it to the eunuch for safekeeping.
"Let's proceed according to this treaty for now. If any problems arise later, please report them promptly."

Maritime trade concerns the fate of the Ming Dynasty and must be handled with utmost care, allowing no room for error.

"I will obey your orders!"

Fang Congzhe and Yang Hongbei bowed in unison.

Zhu Youxiao looked at the two men who had accepted the order, his eyes flickering.

The gates to maritime trade in the Ming Dynasty have been opened, and silver will flow into the Ming treasury in a steady stream.

With the crackdown on smuggling and the strengthening of coastal defenses, the Ming Dynasty's maritime borders will become increasingly secure.

And this is just the beginning.

The Ming Dynasty is the land of the sun and moon; all the lands illuminated by the sun and moon belong to the territory of our Great Ming!

In the future, the Ming Dynasty will explore even wider horizons at sea, making it a true land of the sun and moon!
ps:
There will be an extra chapter tonight, I'll read it when I wake up tomorrow~
The author really went all out.

o (╥﹏╥) o
(End of this chapter)