Huangming

Chapter 408 A Heroic Demeanor, A Budding Strategist (Bonus Chapter for 800 Monthly Tickets!)
Dong Nuan Pavilion.

Zhu Youxiao temporarily put aside his ambitions.

He was pondering what Fang Congzhe had just mentioned about ensuring the safety of business routes.

To ensure the safe passage of these merchant ships laden with silver, the Tianjin Navy was of paramount importance. But had Mao Wenlong's fleet already reached Dagu Port?
"Tianjin Navy..."

He silently calculated the days in his mind:
Mao Wenlong set sail from Nampo, North Korea in early February, and according to the normal speed of a seagoing vessel, he should be arriving by now.

"It should arrive at the port in the next few days."

Thinking of this, he suddenly turned his head and looked at Wei Chao standing beside him.

The Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was standing with his head bowed, barely breathing.

"Wei Dadang".

"Immediately give the order that once news comes from Tianjin that Mao Wenlong's navy has returned to Dagu, there is no need to wait. Summon him to the palace for an audience. I have important matters to discuss with him."

Wei Chao's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly bowed and replied, "This servant obeys! This servant will arrange for someone to go to Tianjin immediately, and will not dare to delay for even a moment."

Zhu Youxiao nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the matter of trade.

"The Dutch have placed so few orders; they must have other plans in mind."

The Dutch fleet has a long history of harassing Portuguese merchant ships and plundering their cargo in the South China Sea.

"There's a saying that goes, 'If my neighbor hoards grain, I hoard guns; my neighbor is my granary.' They probably wanted to wait for Portuguese and Spanish merchant ships to be fully loaded with goods, then rob them halfway and reap the benefits."

Wei Chao, who was standing nearby, quickly echoed this:

"Your Majesty is wise! The governor of Fujian and the eunuch in charge of the Jiangnan garrison have recently sent word that Dutch ships have been frequently active and acting suspiciously along the Fujian and Zhejiang coasts, and are likely spying on trade routes."

If Mao Wenlong's navy can return in time, it will be able to deter the Dutch and protect the trade routes.

"That is precisely why I am in such a hurry to see Mao Wenlong."

Zhu Youxiao's tone became more forceful.

"The secret reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the memorials from local officials are all on my desk. It is time to formulate a maritime defense plan."

Which sea areas need to be prioritized for defense, how to coordinate with coastal garrisons, and how many cannons the naval warships should be equipped with—these all need to be discussed and decided upon to ensure a sound outcome.

Just as Wei Chao was about to turn around to deliver the imperial decree, the curtain of the East Warm Pavilion was suddenly lifted gently.

Wang Tiqian, carrying a bright yellow brocade box, hurried in. His face showed some urgency, but he still did not forget etiquette, kneeling down to report:

"Your Majesty, General Mao Wenlong of the Tianjin Navy has sent a secret memorial by express messenger. It is a report on various matters concerning Korea and requires Your Majesty's personal attention."

"Oh? Mao Wenlong's secret report?"

Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up instantly, and his previous anxiety vanished.

It's true what they say, "Speak of the devil and he appears."

Just as he was eagerly awaiting Mao Wenlong's return, he received Mao's report first.

"Send it over quickly!"

Wang Tiqian quickly stood up and presented the brocade box to the imperial desk with both hands.

Zhu Youxiao personally took it, checked the seal with the jade seal at his waist, and with a gentle flick of his finger, opened the brocade box and took out the secret fold inside.

Unfolding the letter, Mao Wenlong's vigorous handwriting came into view, detailing everything from the balance of power among the three factions in Korea to the deliberate creation of a potential "struggle for the throne," and the deployment of troops in Busan and Uiju.

The more Zhu Youxiao looked, the stranger his expression became, until finally he couldn't help but chuckle.

He closed the secret document, handed it to Fang Congzhe who was standing beside him, and shook his head, saying:
"Mao Wenlong's methods are truly those of a troublemaker."

This inevitably reminded Zhu Youxiao of Dai Ying from later generations.

The "divide and rule" strategy that Britain later used in its overseas colonies deliberately left behind territorial disputes and ethnic conflicts, ensuring that the colonies would never be peaceful, so that they could maintain control.

Mao Wenlong's actions in Korea were exactly the same as those of Great Britain.

With Yi Jong occupying the north, Yi Hun holding the south, and Jeon Hwan trapped in Hanseong, the three sides were mutually restraining each other, and none of them could destroy the others.

They also left behind clauses on 'Chinese language teaching' and 'nobles going to Beijing,' gradually eroding Korea's foundation.

Isn't this exactly the kind of 'despicable thing' Britain did in places like Hong Kong, Pakistan, and India?

Leave them a mess, let them fight amongst themselves, and reap the benefits.

Fang Congzhe watched from the side, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Your Majesty, Korea is, after all, our vassal state. Is it not appropriate to treat it this way?"

Fang Congzhe still uses the same old ways of thinking.

Zhu Youxiao, however, said: "A vassal state is ultimately not the same as one's own country."

Only by taking North Korea can we use it as a springboard to take down Japan.

However, Fang Congzhe would never understand his thoughts.

Zhu Youxiao couldn't explain much to Fang Congzhe either. He raised his hand to take back the secret report and handed it to the eunuch to keep safe.

"Now that Mao Wenlong has made proper arrangements for the Korean issue, it's time for him to focus on dealing with the Dutch in the South China Sea."

Although Fang Congzhe couldn't figure out the emperor's intentions, he knew that the affairs of Korea were something they couldn't interfere with.

Especially after winning battles on the front lines, these ministers had even less say in military matters.

"Your Majesty, we shall take our leave."

The two immediately chose to leave.

"can."

Zhu Youxiao nodded, and the two immediately left the East Warm Pavilion.

After the two left, Zhu Youxiao also focused his attention on reviewing memorials.

Even after being screened by the Grand Council, Zhu Youxiao still had to review at least one hundred memorials every day.

Hey~!

What Tianqi Emperor?
He should change his reign title to "Emperor of the Ox and Horse".

The time spent reviewing memorials always passed very quickly.

It seems like only a short time has passed.

The sun outside the window then sank westward, dyeing the horizon a warm orange.

Zhu Youxiao rubbed his aching wrists, finished approving the last memorial concerning the canal transport in Jiangnan, and wrote "Approved" before letting out a long sigh of relief.

The candles on the table had been lit by the palace maids, and the flickering flames reflected his slightly tired eyes.

From discussing trade in the early morning to reviewing memorials in the evening, a day's work had already consumed most of his energy.

"Your Majesty, it's time to serve dinner."

Wei Chao gently reminded him, his gaze falling on the emperor's slightly furrowed brows, and carefully added.

"The ladies of each palace have already sent people to ask if they wish to dine at their respective palaces."

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand, stood up and stretched his back, his bones making a slight cracking sound.

"There's no need to summon the other palaces. Set out for Kunning Palace and have dinner with the Empress."

Eight months have passed since Zhang Yan became pregnant with the dragon's offspring last June.

Zhang Yan's belly was already swollen like a drum, making it increasingly difficult for her to move around.

If the child in her womb is a prince, then he is the legitimate son of the Empress, and the future crown prince of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Youxiao naturally attached great importance to it.

So during this time, he always thought about going to Kunning Palace to spend more time with her.

Firstly, he was worried about his wife and children; secondly, he was simply overwhelmed by the "enthusiasm" of the other concubines in the harem.

Thinking of the concubines who longed day and night to give birth to imperial heirs, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself:
He felt constrained by the strict rules of the inner and outer palaces, which forbade concubines from spending the night with the emperor.

Now that he has broken the rules, the concubines have no more scruples and look forward to him choosing them every night. After several rounds of demands, how can his "small body" withstand it?

Only now do I truly understand that the rules set by our ancestors were actually for the emperor's health.

"Fine, fine. I broke the rules myself, so I have to keep going even if I'm crying."

Zhu Youxiao muttered to himself, but quickened his pace and headed towards the imperial carriage.

Fortunately, Zhang Yan was pregnant, so sexual relations were naturally impossible. Going to Kunning Palace allowed her to accompany the Empress and also give herself a "breathing of fresh air," which was a win-win situation.

Soon, the imperial carriage arrived at Kunning Palace.

Zhu Youxiao deliberately forbade the eunuchs from announcing the imperial decree and slowly entered the Kunning Palace.

now.

The Kunning Palace was warm and cozy, with a faint aroma of dried tangerine peel permeating the air, which was both warming and conducive to a safe pregnancy.

Zhang Yan lay half-reclined on a couch covered with thick brocade cushions, wearing a loose-fitting palace dress in moon-white with dark embroidery. Her belly was high and protruding, and even raising her arms seemed a bit difficult.

During her pregnancy preparation, she gained some weight, and her cheeks became more chubby, which actually made her look even better.

Tap tap tap~
Hearing footsteps outside the palace, Zhang Yan looked up slightly and saw that it was Zhu Youxiao. She quickly gestured for the palace maid to help her up.

"Your Majesty has arrived! Help me up!"

Just as she was about to get up and bow, Zhu Youxiao, who had rushed in, grabbed her and helped her up.

"Don't bow, be careful not to upset the baby."

Zhu Youxiao held her slightly cool hand, his tone full of concern, and carefully helped her sit down again. He then sat beside her, gently placing his palm on her pregnant belly.

Not long after I placed it on my belly, I felt a slight fetal movement, like the little one kicking.

"Look, the little guy is so energetic, he even kicked my hand!"

Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up, and he gently stroked Zhang Yan's hand in rhythm with the baby's movements, afraid of hurting her.

Seeing Zhu Youxiao's nervous expression, Zhang Yan smiled gently, her eyes brimming with happiness.

She gently patted Zhu Youxiao's hand that was resting on her stomach and said, half-jokingly:
"This child is so restless even in my belly. After he is born, I will have to discipline him properly."

"He needs to be disciplined properly. He even dared to kick me. I think he deserves to be taught a lesson!"

Zhu Youxiao was also joking around.

Just as the Emperor and Empress were having a warm conversation, soft footsteps came from outside the palace. Eunuchs from the Imperial Kitchen, dressed in blue palace robes, filed in one after another, carrying vermilion lacquered trays covered with bright yellow brocade, the edges of which were embroidered with lotus patterns. Their footsteps were so light that they were almost inaudible.

The head eunuch bowed and waited for Zhu Youxiao to nod in acknowledgment before waving for everyone to place the tray on the rosewood dining table.

As the brocade was lifted, four dishes of wine, two kinds of staple food, and a bowl of hot soup were revealed one after another, with steam carrying the aroma.

The braised mutton was sliced ​​as thin as cicada wings, and the steamed chicken lay on a white porcelain plate with its skin glistening white and its broth clear and bright, with a few emerald green scallions floating on top, exuding freshness and tenderness.

The goose pieces with pepper and vinegar were neatly arranged, the braised pork was stewed until tender, and the thick sauce clung to the meat, even the bones were infused with the aroma of the sauce.

The main dishes are sesame oil cakes and small steamed buns with fillings.

The last dish was a bowl of pork soup, milky white in color, with chopped greens and wood ear mushrooms floating in it, steaming hot.

"Your Majesty, let's have a meal together."

Zhu Youxiao gestured for a palace maid to help Zhang Yan to the dining table.

Zhang Yan bowed slightly and slowly rose with the help of a palace maid. The wide skirt of her palace dress swayed gently with her movements. She carefully sat down on the soft stool next to Zhu Youxiao, not forgetting to use her hands to protect her bulging belly.

Zhu Youxiao picked up his jade chopsticks, first taking a piece of steamed chicken, carefully removing the bones, and then placing it on the small plate in front of Zhang Yan:
"Try this. The Imperial Kitchen said it's made with a three-pound young chicken, which is very nourishing."

Zhang Yan smiled and nodded, scooped a small piece with a silver spoon and put it in her mouth. She chewed it carefully, took a sip of soup, and then put down her chopsticks.

Pregnant women naturally have a light appetite, and the imperial physician advised her not to overeat at each meal, so she only ate three or four bites before feeling satiated.

"Why don't you eat?"

Seeing that she had stopped eating, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but ask.

Zhang Yan said softly, "I have already eaten quite a lot. If I eat any more, I will feel uncomfortably bloated. Your Majesty, please enjoy your meal."

A palace maid quickly stepped forward, cleared away Zhang Yan's bowl and chopsticks, and handed her a cup of warm tea to help her catch her breath.

Zhu Youxiao ate slowly, occasionally picking up a piece of roast pork with his jade chopsticks. His gaze fell on Zhang Yan, and he suddenly remembered the gifts he had sent to Zhang Weiying, the Emperor's father-in-law, through the Imperial Household Department a few days ago. So he casually asked:

"Have they received the gifts I bestowed upon my father-in-law a few days ago?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of helplessness flashed in Zhang Yan's eyes, and she responded softly:

“Received it. Father also sent a servant to deliver a letter to express his gratitude.”

Your Majesty, however, the reward you have given is far too precious.

Five thousand taels of silver, plus twenty bolts of brocade—it would be quite a hassle for them to take back.

Since she was made empress last year, Zhu Youxiao has frequently bestowed gifts upon the Zhang family, such as gold, silver, or precious jewels. However, after this happened so often, she became somewhat uneasy.

Zhu Youxiao raised an eyebrow, put down his jade chopsticks, picked up a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth, and spoke with a hint of teasing:

"Other concubines and their families are eager for me to bestow more rewards, so why do you complain that the reward is too heavy?"

"Your Majesty is naturally happy that Your Majesty remembers your family, but..."

Zhang Yan lowered her eyes, her tone becoming more somber.

"The country is still in a difficult time. We need to guard against the Jurchens in Liaodong, prepare for the Dutch in the South China Sea, and there are disasters in the local areas. As the Empress, how can my family only care about receiving rewards?"

If the relatives of the empress are too flamboyant, they may attract criticism and cause trouble for His Majesty.

She paused and added:
"Moreover, my father and mother said that after a few days, they would return to their hometown in Xiangfu County, Kaifeng Prefecture."

They're not used to living in the capital and always miss their old home. I'm truly worried about them carrying so many imperial gifts on their journey.”

Zhang Yan's parents went back to their hometown in Xiangfu County last year, but they came back for the Spring Festival.

It's about time to go back now.

As for why Zhang Yan's parents didn't stay in Beijing, besides not being used to the living conditions, they were also afraid of being taken advantage of.

At this point, her voice carried a hint of worry.

"I heard from a palace maid a few days ago that things are not peaceful in Henan and Shandong. Many people have lost their harvest due to last year's drought and have become bandits in the mountains. They even dare to rob merchant caravans."

"With so many valuables, it would be bad if something went wrong on the way."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youxiao frowned slightly.

He had truly forgotten about the local banditry.

Last autumn and winter, Henan and Shandong suffered severe droughts, resulting in no harvest and a surge in the number of displaced people. Many of them turned to banditry, robbing passersby. Local officials tried to suppress them several times but failed to completely eradicate them.

It was indeed dangerous for the Zhang family to embark on their journey with such a large reward.

Zhu Youxiao unconsciously stroked the carved edges of the dining table, gazing at the deep night outside the window, and suddenly murmured softly:
"If only there were 'delivery services'..."

As soon as he said it, he paused for a moment,

Images of the convenience of modern logistics flashed through my mind, and in contrast to the trouble the Emperor's father-in-law was going through to move the gifts, I blurted out this inappropriate word.

Zhang Yan was sipping her tangerine peel tea when she heard this. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her eyes were full of doubt. She put down her teacup and asked softly:

"Your Majesty, what is 'express delivery'? I have never heard of such a term before."

Zhu Youxiao snapped out of his daze, realizing he had spoken out of turn, and quickly rubbed his temples, offering a perfunctory excuse:

"It was just a convenient idea that I came up with on the spur of the moment. I thought that if there were any items that could be easily sent far away, it would be fine without having to go through so much trouble. Your Majesty need not investigate further."

He abruptly changed the subject, bringing the issue back to the immediate problem.

“Speaking of which, carrying gold and silver is troublesome. If we could exchange them for ‘silver notes,’ it would save us a lot of trouble.”

However, most of the banknotes issued today are printed by money shops run by merchants in Jiangnan. They can only be exchanged in one city or a few neighboring prefectures. To exchange them from the capital to Kaifeng is as difficult as climbing to heaven, and ultimately, they cannot achieve "universal remittance."

These words struck a chord with Zhang Yan, and she nodded slightly in agreement.

"That's right. A few days ago, a servant reported that Father was taking the silver back to Xiangfu County and needed to hire more than ten escort agencies to protect him. He also had to disguise himself as an ordinary merchant caravan, and was still afraid of encountering bandits on the way."

If banknotes could be redeemed anywhere, there would be no need for such fear.

As Zhu Youxiao listened to her words, his gaze gradually shifted from casual to serious.

This casual conversation with Zhang Yan was like a pebble thrown into water, creating ripples in his heart.

An idea about "currency reform" quietly emerged.

He looked at Zhang Yan and suddenly remembered the drawbacks of silver.

"Does Your Majesty know that the currency of the Ming Dynasty is now entirely supported by silver?"

But silver is the most 'indestructible' thing.

Wealthy families in Jiangnan hid millions of taels of silver in cellars, where they remained uncirculated for years.

Ordinary people would save up their spare silver, either to make silver jewelry or to hide it in jars.

If this continues, the amount of silver on the market will only decrease.

Although Zhang Yan didn't understand finance, she sensed a hint of worry in his voice and asked softly:

"Will there be any problems if there's less silver?"

"There are many problems with this."

Zhu Youxiao sighed.

"Does Your Majesty still remember the 'Single Whip Law' that I mentioned to you?"

During the Wanli era, Grand Secretary Zhang implemented a policy of converting land taxes and corvée labor into silver for collection.

If there is less silver on the market, silver will become more expensive.

In the past, a shi (a unit of dry measure) of rice cost one tael of silver, but in the future, a shi of rice may only be worth half a tael of silver.

But the common people grow crops and do handicrafts, and what they earn is still the same amount of grain and cloth. If they want to exchange it for enough silver to pay taxes, they have to give up more.

If this continues, the people will only become poorer and poorer, eventually leading to bankruptcy, exile, or forcing them to become bandits or sell their children.

"More importantly, a significant portion of the Ming Dynasty's silver came from the West."

Merchant ships brought silver from Luzon in exchange for our raw silk and porcelain.

However, things have been quite turbulent in the West in recent years. I've heard that many countries are at war, and there are fewer and fewer merchant ships. I'm afraid that even less silver will flow into the Ming Dynasty in the future.

If a true "silver shortage" were to occur, the imperial court would be unable to collect taxes, local governments would lack funds to maintain their armies, and border defense, grain transport, disaster relief... everything would come to a standstill. The entire tax system would collapse, and the very foundation of the Ming Dynasty would likely be shaken.

Zhang Yan's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. Although she was in the inner palace, she knew what the phrase "foundation shaken" meant. She subconsciously grasped Zhu Youxiao's hand, her voice tinged with worry:

"Does Your Majesty have a way to deal with this?"

Zhu Youxiao grasped her hand in return, squeezing Zhang Yan's soft little hand, but gradually made a decision in his heart.

"Therefore, monetary reform now seems to be an urgent matter."

We can no longer allow the lifeline of the Ming Dynasty to rest solely on silver.

A vague idea had begun to emerge in his mind.

Perhaps we could emulate the banknotes issued by money shops and have the imperial court issue a type of paper currency that could "connect the whole country," backed by the Ministry of Revenue, and enforce its circulation.

Further regulate the use of silver, restrict private silver hoarding, and allow silver to flow back into the market.

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he knew it wouldn't be easy.

During the Hongwu era, Zhu Yuanzhang promoted the "Da Ming Bao Chao" (Great Ming Treasure Notes), which eventually collapsed due to excessive issuance. To this day, the people still harbor doubts about paper money.

Moreover, currency reform involves the Ministry of Revenue, local governments, merchants, and money shops; the slightest misstep could lead to chaos.

"But this matter cannot be rushed; it requires careful planning."

Zhu Youxiao gently patted Zhang Yan's hand, his tone softening.

"We need to consult with a minister who understands finances first."

I wonder if there are any people in the Ming Dynasty who understand finance.

If not, given his understanding of future financial systems, creating things like currency and banks would be too taxing on his brain.

but.
Things that need to be done still need to be done.

Once paper money is in place and the financial system is stabilized, Zhu Youxiao can acquire wealth by printing paper money.

The nuclear-powered printing presses of the United States in later generations could simply print money to reap the benefits of the entire world.

His Ming Dynasty might not be unable to do it!
By the time.
The Ming Dynasty's finances might actually be able to be revived!
Bonus chapter complete!

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(End of this chapter)