Take control of Wei Zhongxian at the start and confiscate 100 million from him!

Chapter 241 The Emperor Before Us Is No Jokes
As Zheng Zhilong's ship slowly entered Ningbo Port, this maritime overlord, who was enough to strike fear into the hearts of countless people in East Asia and even Southeast Asia, was not at peace.

The port was already under martial law, and the people standing on the docks were not ordinary naval forces, but rather elite soldiers of the Beijing garrison, their armor gleaming and exuding a murderous aura.

Further away, the figures of the Imperial Guards could be vaguely seen, scattered like ghosts along various key roads.

The entire Ningbo Port seemed to be shrouded in an invisible yet resilient net, completely impenetrable. Even a seabird flying by seemed to be scrutinized three times by that chilling gaze.

Zheng Zhilong took a deep breath of the salty sea breeze, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and recalled the emperor's edict.

The imperial edict was simple yet impactful—Zheng Zhilong, the Admiral of the Maritime Trade Office, was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, given the rank of General, and appointed as the first Admiral of the Customs Administration, in charge of all maritime affairs!
The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a third-rank official, is already a high-ranking official in the court!

The appointment of him as a general signifies that he has officially transformed from a local power who was both a merchant and a bandit, and who was recruited by the imperial court, into a general of the Ming Dynasty who holds military power.

Most importantly, the line “Admiral of the Customs Administration, in charge of all maritime affairs” seemed to contain immense force, making Zheng Zhilong feel breathless.

It means that the entire coastline of the Ming Dynasty, from Liaodong to Jiaozhi, including all ports, all sea routes, and all trade, will nominally be under his jurisdiction.

This is an unprecedented power, a true maritime hegemony that even the eunuch Zheng He did not possess during his voyages to the West!
Power is the best aphrodisiac, and Zheng Zhilong loves it more than anyone else.

But when this power came crashing down on him like a mountain, he felt not ecstasy, but a tremor and fear from the depths of his soul.

He was all too aware of the weight that power represented.

This was no longer a simple matter of appeasement and exploitation; it meant that the future of the entire Ming Dynasty's maritime borders was tied to Zheng Zhilong. He knew all too well that the young emperor who had given him all this also possessed the ability to take it all back, along with his life, in an instant.

Therefore, he felt extremely cautious on this trip.

Guided by the icy gaze of Tian Ergeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zheng Zhilong entered a temporary headquarters set up at the port.

The interior of the headquarters was simply furnished, yet it exuded a solemn and imposing aura.

On the throne, Emperor Zhu Youjian of the Ming Dynasty, dressed in a black casual robe, calmly looked at him. Standing beside him were Bi Ziyan, Minister of Revenue, Zhou Quan, Director of the Eastern Depot, and even the renowned female general, Qin Liangyu, the commander of the White-Spear Army.

Each and every one of them was a figure who could shake the Ming Dynasty with a single stomp of his foot.

Zheng Zhilong dared not be negligent in the slightest. Shedding all the arrogance of a maritime tyrant, he respectfully prostrated himself on the ground and performed the grand kowtow.

"Your subject Zheng Zhilong kowtows to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Rise." Zhu Youjian's voice was unreadable.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zheng Zhilong stood up, but still bowed.

"Have you received my appointment?" Zhu Youjian asked bluntly.

Zheng Zhilong's heart tightened, and he immediately knelt down again, his tone filled with fear and trepidation:

"Your Majesty! This favor and reward is earth-shattering! Your Majesty is humble and incompetent, merely a rough man from the sea. Your Majesty's favor in granting me the position of Director-General of Maritime Trade is already an immense grace from Heaven."

Now, the positions of Vice Minister of Revenue and Admiral of the Customs are both vital to the nation, and only those with exceptional talent can be appointed. Your Majesty, I...I dare not accept them! I humbly beseech Your Majesty to rescind your decree and choose another capable individual!

His words were sincere and heartfelt, perfectly portraying the image of a loyal but self-consciously inadequate minister. He needed to make the emperor understand that Zheng Zhilong was self-aware and knew how to conduct himself appropriately.

Bi Ziyan stroked his beard, expressionless, but inwardly he nodded in approval. This Zheng Zhilong, who had been able to roam the seas for so many years, was indeed no ordinary person; he knew how to advance and retreat.

However, Zhu Youjian seemed not to have heard his resignation at all, and merely glanced at him indifferently.

"Zheng Zhilong, I ask you, in the entire Ming Dynasty court, if we count everyone, who can compare to you in terms of understanding of the sea?"

Zheng Zhilong was taken aback; he couldn't answer that question.

Humility? That's deceiving the emperor. Admitting? That's arrogance.

Seeing his hesitation, Zhu Youjian's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile: "What? You dare not speak? Or do you think that Minister Bi is better at accounting than you, and even better at navigation? Or perhaps, Minister Tian's Embroidered Spring Blade can travel farther on the seas than your fleet?"

Upon hearing this, Tian Ergeng and Bi Ziyan lowered their eyes and closed their minds, as if they were old monks in deep meditation.

A fine layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out of Zheng Zhilong's forehead. Trying to outsmart the emperor was tantamount to courting death.

He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty! When it comes to matters of the sea, I dare not claim to be number one in the world, but... no one dares to claim to be number one before me!"

This is the true Zheng Zhilong! Arrogant, confident, and exuding an undeniable domineering aura!
"Good!" Zhu Youjian clapped his hands and laughed, his laughter carrying a hint of approval. "I want you to say that!"

He stood up, walked slowly to Zheng Zhilong, and personally helped him up.

"When I employ people, I always believe in not using those I doubt, and not doubting those I employ. Whether you, Zheng Zhilong, are a dragon or a snake, I know better than you do yourself. Since I dare to entrust this vast sea frontier to you, I am confident that you will be absolutely loyal."

"Your Excellency Bi will discuss the structure of the General Administration of Customs with me in detail. I have summoned you here today for another more important matter, which requires your full cooperation."

Zhu Youjian paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "I have issued an edict to establish the 'Great Ming Royal Naval Academy' in Tianjin and the 'Artillery Branch School' in Dengzhou!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhilong was greatly shocked!
Naval Academy?

He understood the weight of those four words better than anyone else!
What does his own fleet rely on?
It relied on years of experience accumulated in blood and fire, and on the skills passed down orally from generation to generation of sailors.

This model can create a powerful pirate force, or even a powerful private army, but it can never support the foundation of an imperial-level navy!

From the very beginning, the emperor had his sights set on this very foundation!
On his fleet, he must establish a system that belongs to the Ming Dynasty and can continuously cultivate naval talent!

"Zheng Zhilong, I order you to select at least three hundred of the most experienced and skilled captains, sailors, and gunners from your fleet and send them to the Tianjin headquarters and the Dengzhou branch to serve as instructors!"

"At the same time, the naval academy cadets have annual sea training courses. Your fleet is the best place for them to gain experience! I want you to take them to see real storms and experience real naval battles!"

Zheng Zhilong understood that the emperor was using him, but not completely relying on him.

The emperor is using his power to incubate an even larger and more terrifying ocean behemoth belonging to the Ming Dynasty!

Once this behemoth grows up, Zheng Zhilong's value will be infinitely diluted.

But this open and aboveboard scheme was so open that he couldn't refuse it, and dared not even utter a single complaint!
Refuse? Does he dare?

A bitter feeling welled up in my heart, but it was quickly replaced by an even stronger sense of pride.

Why did he accept the imperial pardon and help the court eliminate its rivals?
Isn't it all just to use the imperial court as a powerful banner to legitimately eliminate all competitors?

So-called maritime overlords, without the protection of official positions, are ultimately nothing more than drifting duckweed on the water, vulnerable to annihilation or replacement at any time.

Now, the emperor is granting me an official position unlike any I've ever held before!
In the past, he had to conceal his acquisition of wealth; in the future, collecting taxes will be his right, as he is acting on imperial orders! And he will also have status!

Why would someone who has amassed a fortune over the decades spend a huge sum of money building a luxurious mansion in their hometown of Anping?
Isn't it all for the sake of bringing glory to the family and for the Zheng family to truly rise above the ranks of the literati, from being merchants and pirates?

No matter how strong Zheng Zhilong is, he is ultimately just a martial artist.

But his descendants could rely on this favor to study, enter officialdom, and become truly superior people!

Moreover, this is a chaotic world!
To the north were the Tartars, and within the country were bandits; natural disasters and man-made calamities were rampant.

Zheng Yiguan, though capable of navigating the seas, also deeply understood the principle that no egg remains intact when the nest is overturned.

Attaching themselves to a powerful regime was the only way to preserve their family.

The young emperor before him was far more cunning, ruthless, and far-sighted than any bureaucrat he had ever met before!
This seemingly precarious Ming Dynasty appears to be unleashing astonishing power in the hands of this new emperor.

This is a true dragon worth investing in!
The emperor's overt strategy was to use his power to incubate the Ming Dynasty's own navy.

But so what?
The establishment of a navy is not something that can be accomplished in ten years.

Throughout this long period, Zheng Zhilong was an indispensable arm of the emperor at sea!

This reliance is his greatest protection!
Having grasped this point, all of Zheng Zhilong's doubts instantly transformed into an even more fervent ambition and decisiveness.

Zheng Zhilong knelt on one knee again. This time, his voice was devoid of any hesitation or pretense, filled with determination and resolve:
"If Your Majesty wishes to serve me, I, Zheng Zhilong, would gladly die ten thousand times over!"

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, extremely satisfied with his reaction. Then, his gaze turned to Qin Liangyu, who had remained silent.

"Zheng Zhilong, rise and listen to the second matter I have to tell you."

Zheng Zhilong stood up as instructed, looking at the legendary female general with some confusion.

The emperor's voice slowly rang out: "Since I have established the General Administration of Customs to manage maritime affairs, then there must also be people to maintain order along the coast and on land, so as to ensure the smooth flow of government orders and coordination between internal and external forces."

His gaze shifted between Zheng Zhilong and Qin Liangyu.

"From this day forward, from Southern Zhili to Zhejiang, Fujian, and then to Guangdong and Guangxi, I hereby establish the position of 'Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs of the Southeast Coast' to control all the garrisons and troops in the coastal provinces, specifically to suppress bandits, quell local unrest, and cooperate with customs operations!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhilong's heart skipped a beat.

He instantly understood the emperor's second layer of strategy.

This is a system of checks and balances!

Entrusting the ocean to Zheng Zhilong was a sign of trust and delegation of authority.

Therefore, handing over the land military command of the entire southern coastal region to another equally meritorious and loyal general would be an unbreakable shackle!

Zheng Zhilong may control the ocean, but his foundation, his family, and all his supplies are on land.

If he makes any unusual move, this "military commander" can cut off all his escape routes in an instant!

When he saw the person chosen to be the commander-in-chief, the last glimmer of hope in his heart vanished.

"Qin Liangyu," Zhu Youjian's voice softened, yet remained powerful, "I hereby appoint you as the first 'Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs in the Southeast Coast'! Your White-Spear Army will be expanded into the 'Southern Land Warfare New Army,' serving as the commander-in-chief's directly subordinate mobile force! I grant you the authority to execute first and report later! Anyone who disobeys orders or colludes with pirates, whether official or civilian, may be executed first and reported later!"

These words were like a thunderbolt from a clear sky to Zheng Zhilong, Bi Ziyan, Tian Ergeng, and others, but to Qin Liangyu, they were simply a tacit understanding between ruler and subject that she had long understood.

Before coming to Ningbo, the emperor had already had a private conversation with her.

From the necessity of checking and balancing Zheng Zhilong, to the foresight of stabilizing the southeastern coastal land frontier to support the maritime strategy, and to the absolute trust in her Qin family's generations of loyalty and bravery, the emperor had already thoroughly explained everything to her.

Therefore, her reaction at this moment was not shock, but a deeper sense of responsibility and a surge of heroic passion.

"General, I obey your order!"

Qin Liangyu stepped forward, her armor clanging loudly.

Her movements were steady and firm, and her eyes shone with an unprecedented light. In that light was gratitude for the king's recognition and favor, and even more so, fearlessness and responsibility in taking on this heavy burden!

This heroine, who dedicated her life to defending the country's borders, shifted her focus for the first time from the northern barbarians and the southwestern bandits to the wider south.

She knew that beneath this seemingly prosperous and bustling land lay turbulent undercurrents, and her mission was to safeguard a stable rear for His Majesty's massive fleet that was about to set sail!
Witnessing this scene, Bi Ziyan was horrified!

With Zheng Zhilong as the spear, they conquered the oceans; with Qin Liangyu as the shield, they secured the land borders. One sea, one land; one expansion, one contraction—leaving no room for error!

However, they soon discovered that they had underestimated the young emperor's appetite.

"Qin Aiqing, I have told you before that your 'Southern Land Warfare New Army' faces opponents that are not just a few petty thieves and bandits."

Zhu Youjian stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls of the military camp, looking towards the distant south. He paced slowly, his voice not loud, yet clearly sketching a grand strategic picture.

"In the southwest, Jiaozhi (Vietnam) has repeatedly harbored rebellious intentions and disrespected the king's rule; further south, Siam and Burma, possessing fertile lands, are ignorant of etiquette; across the ocean, Luzon and Malacca are both golden waterways and trade hubs, how can they be occupied by barbarians!"

He turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over everyone present.

"Our Great Ming is a land of etiquette. But etiquette is reserved for friends. As for those wolves who know no respect and dare to covet our Celestial Empire, I have only sword and blade!"

"I want you, and I want the whole world to remember this!" His voice suddenly rose, filled with an overbearing arrogance, "From this day forward, wherever my gaze falls, that is the territory of the Great Ming! Wherever my fleet goes, that is the sea of ​​the Great Ming!"

He declared, each word deliberate and forceful:
"I, the Emperor, wish to—expand—the—territory!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding loudly within the small headquarters!

Everyone present, whether it was Bi Ziyan, Tian Ergeng, or Zhou Quan, felt as if their hearts were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and their whole bodies trembled violently!
If it were a little over a year ago, when the emperor was still being sidelined by the eunuch faction and the civil service, the national treasury was empty, and the country was beset by internal and external troubles, anyone who uttered these four words would have been considered delusional and a huge joke!
but now……

Nobody could laugh.

They witnessed firsthand how this young emperor ruthlessly purged the court, how he filled the national treasury with confiscated wealth, how he formed the new Beijing garrison, and how he ruthlessly cleansed the Jiangnan region...

They knew better than anyone that the emperor before them was no joke!

Every word he said was gradually becoming a reality!

(End of this chapter)