Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

The next day, at the Wenhua Hall.

Lu Chen picked up a vermilion pen and wrote the character "Agreed" on the slip of paper submitted by the Cabinet for the third time.

The chief ministers of the Ming Dynasty were quite adaptable.

Although he did not have the power to issue direct decrees, he held a veto power and was not afraid that they would not compromise.

As expected, the cabinet compromised on this third occasion.

In any case, the seal of the Old Port Pacification Commissioner and the imperial edict of investiture that Shi Zeng brought could withstand the inspection of the Ministry of War's Military Selection and Appointment Office.

Made by master craftsmen with superb skills, directly from the copy kept in the imperial archives, how could it not be a "genuine" item?

But this matter is ultimately not something that can be discussed openly, nor can it be made public, much less be personally involved in.

Sending Qin Fang to Shuangyu Port to find a buyer for the goods, asking for five hundred taels of silver, was naturally a well-considered decision.

Five hundred taels of silver may not be a lot, but it's enough to buy a large Fujian-style ship with a capacity of four hundred liao. For the small and medium-sized maritime merchants of Shuangyu, that's a huge investment.

When Qin Fang was looking for buyers, he would lie and say that he had considered impersonating a descendant of the Shi family and going to the capital to request the court to grant him the title of successor.

It's like they just slapped the instruction manual for these things right in the buyer's face.

In this situation, a buyer willing to pay five hundred taels of silver must be planning to impersonate someone else to take over the job!

However, Lu Chen did not expect it to happen so quickly.

On Liuhang Island, Qin Fang encountered Xu Quan, the guide he had hired when he first went to Shuangyu Port.

Knowing that he wanted to keep the matter as secret as possible, Qin Fang simply entrusted Xu Quan to find a buyer again.

Xu Quan was also very efficient; just two days later, he handed over five hundred taels of silver to Qin Fang.

This "Shi Zheng" is, of course, the buyer.

This person is certainly not a descendant of the Shi family, and his name is also fake. He should be a merchant from Shuangyu Port.

But no matter who wins this super prize, Lu Chen doesn't really care!

Having succeeded to the position, he now possesses the right to claim territory over the former site of the Old Port Pacification Commissioner's Office!

No one knew better than himself how terrifying the potential of a maritime merchant with the status of an official appointed by the imperial court was.

. . .

A few days later, at the same hall.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

I, the Emperor Taizu, unified the world, and the Emperor Chengzu pacified the remote regions, establishing officials and offices to quell distant barbarians.

Shi Jinqing, the Pacification Commissioner of Jiugang, was the first to submit to the emperor at the beginning of the Yongle reign. He sincerely submitted and helped capture the pirate Chen Zuyi. He was commended by the court for his loyalty and diligence and was granted a noble title, which was extended to his descendants.

Although our teachings have been separated for over a hundred years, I have never forgotten the contributions of your ancestors.

Today, Shi Zeng, a direct descendant of Jinqing, carries the imperial edict and seal of the previous dynasty, and travels across vast oceans to the capital to petition for the succession.

I admire your ancestors for their loyalty and obedience, and you also admire the Chinese culture and do not forget your family's traditions. You deserve my sympathy.

I hereby respectfully request that you assume the post of Pacification Commissioner of Old Port, and be granted the following as a reward: a rank-three Pacification Commissioner's hat and belt, a court robe, a casual robe, four layers of colored satin, four bolts of gauze, and a saddle and horse, as a sign of my bestowal.

You shall faithfully uphold your duties as a subject, govern and harmonize your people, respectfully perform your duties and pay tribute, and not disobey my orders.

All valid tribute documents have been issued by the relevant department, and you are permitted to pay tribute once a year, which shall be sent by the Guangdong Provincial Administration Commission to the capital as usual.

You should be even more steadfast in your loyalty and obedience, and forever secure the defenses. Respectfully yours.

Therefore, this is an imperial edict.

After the eunuch finished reading the last sentence, he slowly closed the imperial edict and announced in a loud voice...

"Shi Zeng receives the imperial decree."

"Your subject, Shi Zeng, accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude."

The middle-aged man kowtowed, raising his hands above his head, and responded in a trembling voice.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

. . .

That evening, in a guest room at the Huitong Hotel.

"I never expected things to go so smoothly, we really succeeded!"

After confirming that no one was eavesdropping outside the door, Xu Quan picked up the wine pot and filled the three wine cups on the table.

"This is, after all, the imperial court's meeting place. We can't let drinking ruin everything and cause us to fail."

Shi Zeng picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

"Just one cup will suffice."

From now on, I am "Shi Zeng". Do not mention my old name again, or it might cause trouble if someone with ulterior motives overhears it.

"Still the king..."

Ye Bichuan stopped mid-sentence and quickly changed his words.

"My brother has thought things through very well."

I'm not well-educated, and I only understood a small part of the imperial edict. Besides agreeing to the succession, what else did the court say?

"He was rewarded with a set of attire befitting a third-rank Pacification Commissioner, as well as some colored satin and gauze."

Xu Quan explained,

"Not only that, the imperial court also issued a tribute certificate for one year."

"This result is even better than our most optimistic expectations."

Shi Zeng nodded.

"Now I am the 'Shi Zeng' Pacification Commissioner of Old Port, appointed by the imperial court. Although the local officials do not receive a salary from the court, this is a real official position of the third rank."

From then on, I could legitimately recruit people and organize a fleet as the Old Port Pacification Commissioner.

My men are no longer ordinary maritime merchants, but the navy of the Old Port Pacification Commission!

Every year we can also go to the Guangzhou Maritime Trade Office to conduct survey and trade.

Trade with the Japanese was highly coveted. Back then, two different Japanese fleets fought tooth and nail in Ningbo over who got to pay tribute.

This also led to the imperial court abolishing the Ningbo Maritime Trade Office.

So what if the Old Port Pacification Commission has already fallen into the hands of foreign powers?

Now that I am the Imperial Commissioner of Old Port, appointed by the Imperial Court, it is perfectly legitimate for me to reclaim the former territory of our ancestors.

If we can really take it back, it will be a hereditary territory, and I, a mere merchant, will have the opportunity to become a regional lord!

"At that time, I will certainly share this legacy with my two brothers."

. . .

The Ministry of War, the cabinet storehouse.

"Found it, see for yourselves."

The clerk placed a thick stack of dusty documents on the table.

"The complete list of those who were exiled in the ninth year of the Jiajing reign is here."

We had an agreement, and I won't return the twenty taels of silver, whether you find it or not.

"I took a risk by letting you access the files without my permission. If I get caught, I'll definitely get a beating."

"Of course, thank you very much, sir."

After thanking the clerk, a young woman dressed as a man sat down at the table and began to look through the documents.

Another young man who was with her went with the clerk to the entrance of the storehouse to keep watch.

. . .

Half an hour later, outside the Ministry of War.

"Miss Chuntao, have you found the whereabouts of your wife's elder brother?"

The young man walked up to the woman dressed as a man and asked in a low voice.

"Found it."

Chun Tao nodded.

"After the misfortune befell the lady's family, both of her brothers were exiled to Guyuan to serve in the army."

"The Mongols have been raiding Guyuan every year, but now, eleven years later, Guyuan has experienced dozens of battles, large and small."

The young man frowned.

Whether the two young masters Chen are still alive is probably unknown.

"Let's go to Guyuan."

Chun Tao walked to a carriage at the street corner.

"No matter what, we must find the whereabouts of the lady's two brothers."

Even if the person is no longer alive, if possible, we should bring their remains back to Ningbo.