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

Chapter 324 It should be a time of a thousand sails racing and ten thousand chariots setting off in unison.

As this stroke of genius was completed, the atmosphere in the hall subtly changed.

The focus of the discussion shifted, like the tide, from outlining grand plans to how to turn those plans into reality brick by brick.

Previously, the experienced and shrewd Bi Ziyan had been in charge of the overall situation and would report to the king.

At this moment, the Minister of Revenue slowly sat down and turned his gaze to Cui Erjin, who was not far away beside him.

The main characters in the hall quietly changed from Bi Ziyan to Cui Erjin, who was about to shoulder this heavy responsibility, along with Ni Yuanlu and Huang Daozhou beside him.

These three newly appointed "directors" and "co-directors" were just moments ago so excited by the divine favor that they could hardly contain themselves, but now they have all composed themselves, their faces serious, and they are sitting upright.

The refined, scholarly air about them seemed to have faded somewhat, and their expressions gradually transformed into a composure and sharpness born from the weight of immense responsibility.

They knew that every question they asked from now on was like walking on a precipice; one wrong step could not only ruin their own future, but also betray this once-in-a-lifetime imperial favor and this grand undertaking that concerned the fate of the nation.

The emperor's gaze, like a precise carving knife, fell upon Cui Erjin.

His voice carried an unambiguous penetrating force: "Minister Cui, the name of the General Administration has been decided, and its framework is clear. However, the beauty of a building lies in the solidity of its foundation. This 'Central Hub,' which I call the 'Heart,' is the lifeblood of our Great Ming's logistics and information. Its location cannot be taken lightly. For months, you and I have repeatedly deliberated on it, studying plans under the lamp and sketching strategies on the sand. Now, do you have a conclusion in your mind?"

When the emperor asked the question, the entire hall fell silent.

Cui Erjin felt an invisible pressure mixed with the faint scent of ambergris from the throne, making him gasp for breath.

This felt completely different from when I was speaking under the tutelage of my mentor, Bi Ziyan. Back then, he was a corroborator; now, he was the one in charge!

Cui Erjin forced himself to suppress the pounding of his heart, which was about to leap out of his chest, and subconsciously glanced at Bi Ziyan beside him out of the corner of his eye.

His mentor sat upright like a pine tree, and though he did not speak, he gave him an encouraging and trusting look.

Upon receiving that look, Cui Erjin's mind settled instantly, and the initial bewilderment caused by taking on such a great responsibility was immediately replaced by a sense of duty that he was the only one who could shoulder the burden.

He rose from his seat and stepped into the hall. He bowed and clasped his hands in greeting. His voice was slightly hoarse from nervousness, but it was firm and resounding: "Your Majesty! Your subject... has received the decree! We have followed Your Majesty's will and have spent days repeatedly studying the maps and considering the advantages and disadvantages of various regions. We have identified four of the most crucial locations for this 'central hub'."

He raised his head and met the emperor's gaze on the throne, his eyes filled with determination: "We believe that the capital, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Yangzhou should be chosen as the four main stations of the Imperial Transportation Bureau of our Great Ming Dynasty!"

"Oh?" Zhu Youjian raised an eyebrow slightly, neither confirming nor denying, but instead posed a sharp question: "The capital? I know its importance. But if we only consider the convenience of water and land transportation, and the benefits of trade in the north, Tianjin seems to have the upper hand. Tianjin is located at the lower reaches of the nine rivers and the gateway to maritime transport. Why abandon what is close by and choose the capital as the main hub of the north?"

The moment this question was posed, the atmosphere in the hall tensed up again.

Cui Erjin's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "They're here!"

He knew that His Majesty was meticulous and would never easily overlook any suspicious point.

He composed himself and replied calmly, “Your Majesty is wise and your concerns are very valid. If we consider only the profit-seeking of merchants and the convenience of goods transportation, Tianjin Wei certainly has its advantages. However, we believe that the primary task of the General Bureau should not be ‘profit’, but ‘control’!”

Cui Erjin emphasized, "The capital is the northern capital of our Great Ming Dynasty, right under the emperor's nose, a vital area. All the decrees of the empire originate from here, and the military supplies of the nine border regions all depend on it. By establishing the central hub in the capital, we can firmly control the heart and brain of this empire in His Majesty's hands."

All government orders and military intelligence could be delivered instantly to all directions through the General Administration's rapid postal service. This was the power to "rule the world and command all directions," and its political and military significance far exceeded the mere transit advantage of Tianjin.

Moreover, the capital city, with its million soldiers and civilians, is the largest market for both official and civilian supplies in the north. Controlling the capital city means controlling the very foundation of the northern kingdom.

As for Tianjin, it should be established as the largest port under the jurisdiction of the capital's hub, serving as a supporting force. Only by integrating the two can a truly comprehensive strategy be achieved.

His words were well-organized and demonstrated a broad perspective.

By closely integrating commercial interests with imperial control and the overall political situation, they had already broken free from the confines of being mere merchants.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian was overjoyed and clapped his hands, laughing, "What a wonderful 'not about profit, but about control'! Well said! Minister Cui, I am very pleased with your insight."

He turned to look at Bi Ziyan, "Minister Bi, your disciple is showing signs of surpassing his master!"

Bi Ziyan quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's careful guidance; I dare not take credit for it."

He was secretly overjoyed, extremely satisfied with the performance of his student.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand, signaling them to continue.

His gaze turned to Yingtian Prefecture: "I will not ask much about Nanjing. It is the place where Emperor Taizu rose to power and the source of wealth in Jiangnan. It is only natural that the capital be established here. I am only concerned with how to make good use of this hub and connect the money bags of the Jiangnan gentry and wealthy merchants with the national treasury more closely, rather than letting them become a country on their own."

Cui Erjin immediately changed his tune, saying, "Your Majesty is wise! My intention is to establish the regulations and tallies in Jinling. Then, branches should be set up in production areas such as Songjiang, Suzhou, and Hangzhou. All bulk goods leaving the town must be inspected, graded, and taxed locally before obtaining the 'Imperial Transport' tally as proof."

"In this way, goods can travel freely without hindrance, while accounts and taxes are all handled by the central government. This is a policy of 'power in the center, benefits in all directions,' which neither disturbs merchants nor hinders their business, but also allows them to reap all the benefits!"

"What about Guangzhou Prefecture?" Zhu Youjian's interest grew even stronger. "It's not easy to make money from Westerners. Those Portuguese and foreign barbarians are all ravenous wolves at sea who eat people without spitting out the bones."

"Your Majesty, though wolves are fierce, they fear even stronger tigers." Cui Erjin smiled slightly, appearing much more confident.
"The key to Guangzhou's status as a hub lies in its 'monopoly' and 'regulation.' Since the maritime trade of our Great Ming Dynasty is based in Guangzhou, it is appropriate for the General Administration to exclusively handle all customs declarations, warehousing, and inland transportation of all large-scale import and export goods."

All goods from Western merchant ships shall be stored in our Guangzhou "foreign warehouses," where our General Administration shall appraise, tax, and sell them on our behalf.

If they want my Great Ming's raw silk, tea, and porcelain, they must place their orders through my headquarters.

We set the price!
In this way, not only can smuggling be eliminated, but the pricing power of overseas trade can also be firmly grasped.

"The Portuguese silver dollars and the barbarian firearms—if they want to do business in China, they'll have no choice but to obediently flow into the treasury of the Great Ming Treasury."

"Good!" Zhu Youjian slammed his hand on the armrest of his throne, his eyes gleaming. "This is the demeanor that a Celestial Empire should have! Finally, let Yuan Lu speak about Yangzhou Prefecture."

Ni Yuanlu, the waterway coordinator, whose name was called, quickly stood up.

He was more scholarly than Cui Erjin, and his speech was more refined: "Your Majesty, if the key to the capital lies in 'power,' the key to Yingtian lies in 'wealth,' and the key to Guangzhou lies in 'external', then the key to Yangzhou lies in the word 'connectivity.'"

What he depicted was no longer an ordinary strategic point on land and water, but a magnificent panorama of mountains and rivers:

"Your Majesty, please look, the Grand Canal is like a dragon, winding its way from the north; the Yangtze River is like a tiger, stretching across from east to west."

Where dragons and tigers meet, there lies Yangzhou!
This place marks the beginning of the northward transport of grain, the source of official salt in the Huai River region, and the boundary between southern and northern boats. Seven or eight out of ten goods traded here either pass through or originate here.

Setting up this central hub in Yangzhou is like a chess player placing a piece at the center of the board, instantly making all four sides active and the entire game flow smoothly.

In my opinion, the key to Yangzhou's development lies in building it into a world-class port city by both land and water. I dare to imagine that in the future, Yangzhou will be a place where thousands of sails compete and tens of thousands of vehicles set off simultaneously.

Transporting goods by boat and cart is as easy as using one's own arm or fingers, flowing smoothly and effortlessly, free from the past suffering of layers of exploitation and time-consuming delays. In this way, the extravagance of merchants throughout the land can be reduced by thirty percent, and the profits will be immeasurable!

Zhu Youjian listened with great interest, nodding repeatedly: "What a wonderful word 'connected'! What a wonderful port for combined land and water transport! I can almost see that scene before my eyes."

At this moment, Huang Daozhou, who had been silent all along, frowned slightly and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, what Lord Cui said about warehousing and distribution is a great strategy for governing the country, and I admire it. However, I have heard that there is another provision in the General Administration's regulations, which is to open a 'Tianxia Ke General Store' within the hub, exclusively for wealthy merchants and high-ranking officials passing through to rest."

Your Majesty, I humbly believe that our dignified Imperial Bureau is a public institution of the court. If it becomes too deeply involved with merchants and establishes such extravagant establishments, it may damage official conduct and foster a culture of flattery and collusion, which is unbecoming of our sage dynasty.

Huang Daozhou's statement represents the views of a considerable number of traditional scholar-officials.

They are naturally wary of businesses, believing that officials should not compete with the people for profit, let alone be tainted by money.

Zhu Youjian smiled upon hearing this.

He looked at Huang Daozhou and said gently, "Minister Huang, your concerns are those of a gentleman, and I understand them. But let me ask you, do you understand the principle that 'water that is too clear has no fish'?"

Huang Daozhou was taken aback, then replied, "Your subject... understands."

"Very well." Zhu Youjian continued, "Let me ask you again, do those incredibly wealthy merchants, those officials who hold great power in their regions, need a place to make connections and exchange resources?"

"...I suppose it is necessary."

"Is it better for them to make friends right under my nose, or to secretly collude in some hidden corner where I can't see them?" Zhu Youjian's voice suddenly became sharp.

Huang Daozhou was speechless for a moment, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He suddenly realized what was going on, felt a chill down his back, and was immediately filled with admiration.

He bowed deeply and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty is wise and far-sighted. Your subject is... foolish and dull. Your subject is in awe!"

The proceedings continued.

Bi Ziyan, as Minister of Revenue, raised a very practical question: "Your Majesty, the cooperation between the General Bureau and the General Bank of Paper Money to issue 'Dragon Notes' in lieu of cash is indeed an excellent method. However, the danger of counterfeiting must be guarded against. Once counterfeit notes are circulated, it will shake the credibility of the entire General Bureau and even the court, and the consequences will be no small matter."

“What you’ve thought of, Minister Bi, is exactly what’s crucial,” Zhu Youjian praised. “I’ve also considered that. The dragon tokens I envisioned are by no means ordinary paper and ink.”

The paper used must be a special blend of cotton and linen, supplied exclusively by my private treasury, with colored silk threads that are difficult to see with the naked eye mixed in.

Its ink requires specially made ink, and different colors can be seen when held up to the light.

The printing plates had to be hand-carved by the most skilled artisans in the palace, and the intricate lines could not be replicated without years of work.

Most importantly, each dragon ticket has a unique serial number, which is recorded in a separate register.

Upon redemption, the ticket number, stub, and holder's seal must all match for the ticket to be redeemed. With these multiple layers of security, even the most skilled counterfeiters will find their efforts futile.

As the emperor recounted this incredible method of preventing counterfeiting, Bi Ziyan and the others were dumbfounded. They could only think of one word to describe it: divinely inspired.

With the central framework established, the next step is to gather all the knowledge and wisdom of the world.

Zhu Youjian looked at the map, his finger lightly tracing its path, and said in a deep voice, "The four major hubs are the foundation of the nation. Below them, there are also 'regional transit points' to facilitate the flow of resources between the provinces. Minister Cui, how do you plan to arrange these scattered nodes?"

Cui Erjin's spirits lifted, and he pointed to the map, his voice more steady and powerful than before: "Your Majesty, in addition to the four major hubs, we propose to establish seven regional transit points as a support."

"The first priority is Xi'an Prefecture in Shaanxi!" He pointed heavily to the northwest corner of the map. "This is the northwestern gateway of our Great Ming Dynasty. Establishing a station here allows us to connect with Henan to the east and radiate influence to the border towns of Gansu and Ningxia to the west. The transport of military supplies for the nine border regions can be coordinated from here. Its strategic significance is of paramount importance!"

Zhu Youjian nodded: "Approved! The northwest border defense is of paramount importance. This station must be built to military station standards."

"Secondly, Wuchang Prefecture in Huguang!" Cui Erjin's finger slid to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. "This place has been a 'crossroads of nine provinces' since ancient times. It sits on the Yangtze River, connecting the east and west, and linking the north and south. Goods from Sichuan can go down the river; goods from Guangdong and Guangxi can go north via the Xiang River, all converging here. With Wuchang, we can control the shipping of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River."

"Furthermore, Chengdu Prefecture in Sichuan." He moved his finger to the prosperous basin to the west, "The Land of Abundance is rich in resources. This station serves not only as a distribution center for goods from the southwestern provinces, but also as an important piece in laying the groundwork for the imperial court's future control over the southwestern chieftains."

Zhu Youjian agreed wholeheartedly and nodded.

Cui Erjin's finger returned to the heart of the Central Plains: "Kaifeng Prefecture in Henan Province, located in the Central Plains, is a well-connected city, linking the north, south, east, and west; this goes without saying. Taiyuan Prefecture in Shanxi Province, however, is of paramount importance!"

"Oh? What do you mean?" the emperor asked.

This time, before Cui Erjin could answer, Huang Daozhou, who had been in charge of land route planning, got up.

His expression was solemn, clearly indicating that he had given this issue considerable thought: "Your Majesty, the reason why Shanxi merchants were able to dominate the north was because of their extensive network of 'bank draft banks' that spanned the entire country."

In my opinion, the primary task of Taiyuan Station is not to transport goods, but to use the convenience of my "Great Ming Treasure Notes," the credibility of my "Dragon Notes," and the official background of the General Bureau to squeeze out and swallow up their money exchange business!
His Majesty gave them a choice: either merge them into my Baochao Headquarters system, becoming an appendage of my General Administration; or let them have no business to do under the General Administration's swift and decisive measures! This is a drastic measure to cut off their lifeline!

"Hahahaha!" Zhu Youjian laughed loudly, "What a brilliant move to undermine our strength! Minister Huang, you, a Hanlin scholar, actually have such domineering thoughts. I like it! Let's do it this way!"

Huang Daozhou blushed and bowed as he withdrew.

Cui Erjin finally pointed to the coast: "The last two places are Linqing Prefecture in Shandong, which is a key point on the northern section of the Grand Canal, to alleviate the problems of the canal transport; the other is Fuzhou Prefecture in Fujian, which echoes Guangzhou Prefecture and together locks down trade along the southeast coast. In this way, the seven major transit points and four major hubs will be like a big net, encompassing the most precious places of our Great Ming!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire main hall of Huating Post Station fell silent.

Everyone was deeply awestruck by this magnificent and breathtaking blueprint.

Zhu Youjian stood up and walked to the huge map. Looking at the nodes circled in red ink by Cui Erjin and others, he felt a surge of pride.

He spoke slowly:
"This net is very good. But the threads that weave it are people."

No matter how good the plan is, without capable people to implement it, it will ultimately be a castle in the air.

I have already issued an edict to select literate, physically strong, and quick-witted individuals from among the displaced people in Shaanxi, Shanxi, and other places who have been displaced by natural disasters to serve as the first batch of staff and laborers for this bureau.

"I moved them from the north to the south, firstly to give them a way to survive, lest they be driven to desperation and join rebels; secondly, and most importantly," his gaze swept over the crowd, "I want to fill this new government office with these outsiders who only know how to be grateful for the emperor's favor and have no connection with the local area! I don't want to see this newly cleaned house quickly become a new nest for local gentry and bullies!"

Upon hearing this, Cui Erjin and the others felt a chill run down their spines once again.

(End of this chapter)