Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

Feng Ziying, Cao Bianjiao, and Yin Jiayun's words shocked them so much that they almost jumped off their seats. Even the usually composed Lu Xiangshan changed color abruptly, his brow furrowed in disbelief.

Since the Japanese pirate raids during the Jiajing era and the Wanli invasion of Korea, the term "Japanese pirates" had long been associated with "fierce and stubborn" and "maritime threat" in the minds of the Ming people.

Jia Yun's suggestion is simply outrageous!

Cao Bianjiao was the first to lose his temper, abruptly standing up: "Brother Jia! Have you gone mad from reading too much? The Japanese pirates are such wolves in sheep's clothing, repeatedly violating our maritime borders. During the Wanli era, they even brazenly invaded Korea, coveting the Celestial Empire! To trade with such tigers and wolves is tantamount to aiding the enemy! It's simply... like seeking the skin of a tiger!"

He was straightforward and his words were already tinged with anger.

Feng Ziying waved his hands repeatedly, his face showing worry: "Yun-ge'er, these words are not only spoken by you but also heard by me. You must never spread them again! If those censors and officials in the court hear them, they will slap a 'collusion with the Japanese' label on you, and you will have no way to defend yourself even if you have a thousand excuses!"

Although Lu Xiang-sheng did not explicitly oppose it, he stared intently at Jia Yun and said with a puzzled look, "Brother Jia, this proposal is too risky. Moreover, Japan is a tiny country, and I have heard that it is barren and impoverished. What products can it offer for trade? And how much profit can it possibly make? I'm afraid it will be a losing proposition."

Jia Yun had anticipated their strong reaction.

He sighed inwardly, realizing that when it came to classics, history, philosophy, literature, essays, military strategy, or even personally leading troops into battle, he was probably not even worthy of carrying the shoes of these ancients.

Jia Yun knew his own limitations all too well.

But looking back from hundreds of years later, he could see clearly that one of the root causes of the collapse of this once glorious empire was "money"!

The fact that the imperial treasury was empty and the border troops were short of pay and food was not unknown to anyone. However, many high-ranking officials always thought they could cover up the financial problems with their "patriotism" of loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, and filial piety.

They seemed to think that by reciting more Confucian classics, the soldiers of Liaodong would become detached from worldly concerns.

What troubled Jia Yun even more was that, looking through historical records, even though the Southern Song Dynasty was only able to maintain its partial rule, the gentry and wealthy merchants in Jiangnan still knew that no egg could remain intact when the nest was overturned, and were willing to contribute money and effort to support half of the country.

But what about now?

Looking around, how many wealthy and powerful families are only concerned with acquiring land, hiding fields, and evading taxes? They are truly parasites who won't give a penny! If given the chance, Jia Yun would love to uproot these vermin of the country and wipe them out completely!

However, Jia Yun then offered an even more shocking reason: "Gentlemen, please calm down. My proposal to open trade has three advantages, but the most crucial one is... to contain Korea."

"Contain Korea?" Lu Xiang-sheng keenly caught this inconceivable phrase, his brow furrowing. "Korea is the most subservient vassal state of our Great Ming Dynasty. During the Imjin War, our dynasty mobilized its entire national strength to rescue them, thus preserving their ancestral temples. Why should we contain them now?"

Jia Yun's gaze turned cold, and his voice grew increasingly somber: "A vassal state? Loyal? Brother Lu, what if I told you all that while our Ming soldiers were fighting a bloody battle with the Jurchens in Liaodong, suffering from shortages of food and supplies, this 'loyal' vassal state of ours was secretly supplying the Jianzhou Jurchens with grain, ironware, and even information about our army's movements through border trade?"

"What?!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"How dare North Korea do this!"

This time, even Lu Xiang-sheng gasped in shock, and the three of them were filled with unprecedented anger and astonishment.

If this is true, it's tantamount to stabbing someone in the back!

Cao Bianjiao suddenly stood up, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth, saying, "Brother Jia! What proof do you have?!"

Feng Ziying also said anxiously, "Yun-ge'er, this matter concerns the diplomatic relations between our two countries. Without solid evidence, it could be a terrible disaster!"

Jia Yun smiled bitterly to herself.

Evidence? He certainly had it; it was clear evidence from historical records hundreds of years later, which had already established the facts regarding Korea's fence-sitting and forced betrayal at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

But how could he possibly produce it now?

Jia Yun could only resort to another mysterious, yet the only, excuse to explain his previous "foresight."

He revealed a hint of confusion and seriousness on his face at the right moment, and slowly said, "The evidence... I can't produce any written proof right now. This matter, along with the discovery of a huge silver mine in Japan (Iwami Silver Mine), and the fact that the lord of Japan (Tokugawa Shogunate) is eager to trade with our Great Ming Dynasty to consolidate his power, all stem from... from some bizarre dreams I've had recently."

He paused briefly, meeting the three men's astonished and uncertain gazes, and continued, "In my dream, it seemed as if immortals whispered to me, showing me maps of overseas lands, products from Japan, and even... a vague vision of secret trade between the Korean border people and the Jurchen tribes. Upon waking, all this information was unusually clear. At first, I also found it absurd, but upon careful consideration in connection with the situation in Liaodong, it all came true! Therefore... I dare to make this shocking statement."

Jia Yun attributed the source of this ineffable information to "dreams," which, in an era where supernatural beliefs still held sway, was more likely to evoke skepticism than any meticulous reasoning.

The study fell into a deathly silence.

Feng Ziying, Cao Bianjiao, and Lu Xiangsheng looked at each other, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion.

Jia Yun's prediction that Ningyuan would remain intact has come true.

So how credible are these even more bizarre "dream visions"? Is North Korea funding the enemy? Does Japan have silver? Can opening the seas solve the predicament?

All of this completely overturned their preconceived notions, but Jia Yun's previous "miraculous" abilities prevented them from easily dismissing it as nonsense.

Lu Xiang-sheng was the first to recover from the shock. After a long silence, he slowly said, "If... if even one in ten of what Brother Jia's dream was true... then opening the sea ban, attracting Japanese silver, and countering Korea's treacherous actions would truly be a... risky move, a move that puts you in a do-or-die situation!"

He had clearly already mentally considered the enormous changes this move might bring.

Cao Bianjiao sat back down heavily, gritting his teeth, and said, "If Korea truly dares to commit this injustice, I... I will definitely volunteer to lead troops to punish them!"

Even so, he knew that the imperial court would never wage war against Liaodong and Korea at the same time.

Feng Ziying shook his head with a wry smile: "Yun-ge'er, does every word you utter have to make our hearts jump? Just how many shocking things are you hiding in your belly?"

Seeing that the three men's expressions had eased slightly, Jia Yun's mind raced. He knew that the idea of ​​"colluding with the Japanese pirates" was too shocking and needed a more acceptable pretext.

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious: "Actually, if we're talking about ways to open up new sources of revenue, besides overseas, there's another place... right in front of us. But if we start working on it, it will probably have far-reaching consequences."

"Where?" Lu Xiang-sheng immediately asked.

Jia Yun dipped his fingertip in tea and slowly wrote the character "South" on the small table, saying in a low voice: "Jiangnan. Half of the wealth of the southeast goes to the national treasury, and the other half ends up in the pockets of... powerful and wealthy gentry."

Upon hearing this, the three men reacted with varying expressions.

Feng Ziying and Cao Bianjiao were both sons of noble families and were not aligned with the Jiangnan civil official group. Upon hearing this, they merely raised an eyebrow.

Lu Xiang-sheng, a scholar by birth, frowned again: "Brother Jia, do you mean... to impose additional taxes? The court has done this before, but..."

Everyone understood what he meant by not saying more: additional taxes would often end up falling on the shoulders of ordinary people, only increasing public resentment, while the truly powerful and wealthy would have their own ways to circumvent them.

"It's not just a simple increase in taxes," Jia Yun shook his head. "I'm reminded of the old days of the Southern Song Dynasty. Back then, the court was in a precarious situation, and its expenditures were enormous, yet it managed to sustain itself for 150 years. Aside from the profits from overseas trade, its reforms of taxation in Jiangnan and its restrictions on tax exemptions for gentry might offer some lessons. At least, the powerful families of Jiangnan at that time understood the principle that without the skin, what can the hair cling to? They were willing to lend a hand when the court was in crisis. In contrast, look at today..."

He sighed and didn't say anything more, but his meaning was obvious.

Lu Xiang-sheng remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "The old system of the Southern Song Dynasty certainly had its unavoidable reasons. However, our Great Han Dynasty has been at peace for a long time, and the preferential treatment of gentry is an ancestral system. If we forcibly abolish it, it may cause public opinion and shake the foundation of the country. Moreover, the public opinion of the scholars in Jiangnan is not to be underestimated..."

Although he felt that Jia Yun's words were to the point of addressing the current problems, he was also well aware of the difficulties involved.

"Therefore, this proposal, like trade, is a risky move, but also a long-term strategy. Trade may solve the immediate crisis by bringing in foreign silver; while reforming Jiangnan is a fundamental measure to strengthen the nation. Comparing the two, trade may seem alarming, but in reality, it may not affect the interests as much as it does the gentry of Jiangnan. After all, the profits from maritime trade can be shared by the court, nobles, and even the powerful families along the coast, while surveying land and verifying tax exemptions directly competes with the scholars of the country for profits."

His analysis laid out the pros and cons of "colluding with Japanese pirates" and "reorganizing Jiangnan".

Feng Ziying and Cao Bianjiao exchanged a glance. They both felt that although the term "colluding with Japanese pirates" sounded unpleasant, if it could really bring huge profits as Jia Yun said, it seemed to be "easier" than dealing with the deeply entrenched gentry in Jiangnan.

At least, the knife handle is in our own hands.

Lu Xiang-sheng's heart was filled with turmoil.

He had to admit that Jia Yun's two proposals, one focusing on external factors and the other on internal ones, were both groundbreaking and directly addressed the core of the court's financial difficulties.

This young man's thinking is unrestrained and imaginative. Although it may seem like he is just talking theory, one has to admit that his sharp insight and bold planning are beyond the reach of ordinary people.

After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Yun-ge'er's theory, though... though it may seem unorthodox, upon closer examination, is indeed a profound plan for the country. However, with so many issues to consider, how to proceed requires careful and thorough deliberation."

Jia Yun said no more at this moment, only smiled calmly: "The world is vast in dreams, and time is long in a pot. Whether what I say is an illusion or reality, we shall wait and see. However, if our Great Ming Dynasty wants to be revitalized, it can no longer confine itself to its own territory. It must open its eyes to the world beyond, and it must also... scrape the bone to remove the poison and clean up the internal malpractices."

This conversation, which transcended time and space, stirred up a storm in the hearts of the three.

Jia Yun's reputation for being "possessed by ghosts and gods" and "possessing profound wisdom" also quietly spread within certain circles through them.