My father is Jiajing

The moment Luo Longwen's excerpt from his confession appeared in the official gazette, the entire capital was abuzz with excitement.

While everyone was angrily condemning Luo Longwen for corruption and breaking the law, they were also envious of the three million taels of silver that Luo Longwen had hidden in North Korea!
Such enormous wealth is an astronomical figure that is simply unimaginable for ordinary people!

After all, at this time, the people of the Ming Dynasty had not yet developed into an era of information explosion, and had not yet evolved their consciousness to the point where earning three thousand a month made them feel that a small goal was not a big deal.

At this time, the people of the Ming Dynasty were still very simple and honest.

After all, the best ordinary families in their class earn only three to five taels of silver a month, less than ten taels. The information and people they come into contact with are also at roughly the same level.

Now, I suddenly hear that a wanted criminal who had been on the run overseas for several years was brought back, and he had actually amassed a fortune of three million taels of silver overseas.

Such an impact on ordinary people is naturally unimaginable!
Therefore, in this situation, all the common people and officials inside and outside the capital who saw or heard the contents of the imperial gazette were excitedly discussing the legend of huge profits from overseas.

It seems that as long as they have the opportunity to go overseas, they can also be as successful as Luo Longwen and obtain super wealth that they can't spend or use up in this lifetime, no, in ten lifetimes!

Therefore, with this support, Zhu Zaiji effortlessly and perfectly controlled the shift in public opinion.

At the same time, the cabinet was also actively discussing who to recommend to go to North Korea to demand the return of the three million taels of silver that Luo Longwen had hidden there.

After rounds of intense discussions, Tan Lun, the Minister of War, and Zhao Wenhua, who had been transferred to the position of Minister of Rites, were appointed to the important mission of going to Korea.

Under normal circumstances, even if the imperial court wanted to send officials to inform the emperor of something, it would at most send a minor official of the fifth or sixth rank from the Ministry of Rites or the Court of State Ceremonies.

These officials of the fifth or sixth rank might not be considered high-ranking or prestigious in the Ming Dynasty.

However, when they represented the Ming Dynasty on visits to vassal states, their status could soar to the point where they could sit and talk to the kings of the vassal states on equal footing. In fact, when they spoke on behalf of the superior nation, the kings of the vassal states had to be humble and obsequious.

Of course, this kind of situation can only occur in vassal states that are actually controlled by the Ming Dynasty.

If a vassal state is inherently rebellious and constantly tries to cause trouble for its superior state.

At this point, only a mighty imperial army could make the other side obey; an envoy carrying an imperial edict and making empty promises would be completely ineffective.

Furthermore, to ensure the smooth recovery of the stolen silver, Zhu Zaiji specifically appointed Yu Huatian and Qi Jiguang's troops, who were temporarily stationed on Jeju Island, as deputy envoys to provide support for Zhao Wenhua and Tan Lun's actions at any time.

After all, that was a fortune of three million taels of silver. Even a tiny country like Korea might not be able to collect that much cash even after decades of taxation.

If they become obsessed with the silver and try to keep it for themselves, thus disobeying the Ming Dynasty, then we'll be in trouble.

Therefore, in order to resolve this trouble, Zhu Zaiji's attitude and the cabinet's petition were to use force to decisively resolve the issue of the three million taels of illicit silver.

At the same time, we should also hold North Korea accountable for why they protected the crimes committed by the Ming Dynasty's imperial envoy, and incidentally discuss the issue of Jeju Island's ownership.

After all, the Ming Dynasty now knows about the Japanese silver, so Jeju Island, as a key transit point for the Ming navy, certainly cannot be allowed to be controlled by Korea.

The Ming Dynasty should also properly sort out the issue of the ownership of these places.

Of course, as a superior nation, the Ming Dynasty couldn't be so greedy. Otherwise, future vassal states would think that the Ming Dynasty was an unethical and unruly country, and would gradually become alienated from it. This would not necessarily be a good thing.

Therefore, when demanding Jeju Island, it's essential to offer North Korea some incentives as well.

Otherwise, if we only have the big stick, and when we need to use Koreans to help with overseas exploration and mining, they will be unwilling and refuse to cooperate, which will cause the Ming Dynasty to lose a lot of labor resources.

Moreover, if the Ming Dynasty navy were to remain stationed on Jeju Island, it would certainly require various supplies and services from the nearby North Korea.

Therefore, in dealing with North Korea, we should still leave some face and benefits.

After all, at this moment, the reverence that Joseon held for the Ming Dynasty was deeply ingrained. From top to bottom, they truly regarded the Ming Dynasty as their father.

Unlike in the original history, where he was portrayed as a rebellious son who turned against the Heavenly Gang hundreds of years later.

But in retrospect, it's hard to blame North Korea much. They are a small and humble country that adheres to the principle of acting like a big country.

Since they've already changed fathers in the new world order, they'll definitely have to bare their teeth and grin at their former fathers to ease their guilty conscience and show their loyalty to their new fathers.

This mentality is not worth paying attention to, because this is how rebellious sons of small countries survive.

If one day in the future the world order changes dramatically again, and the new father is not as good as the old father.

They will also adjust their attitude in an instant and realize who their new master is.

Therefore, Zhu Zaiji would not waste his time making trouble for small countries that lacked their own stance and only sought survival.

And don't be fooled by the fact that they seem to be thriving after hundreds of years of history, and have the title of a developed country.

But in reality, their development is merely a favorable link in the existing world order's industrial chain.

Without this link, their dilapidated place has neither minerals nor much fertile plains suitable for cultivation.

Want to get rich? That's just wishful thinking!
If you don't believe me, you can look at their brothers to the north.

The reason their northern brothers are doing poorly is because they are blocked and isolated by the existing world order, and have no opportunity to develop outwards.

Moreover, their former trusted elder brother suddenly passed away during a serious illness, causing them to lose their most crucial support and assistance.

Therefore, it is only natural that things get worse and worse as they go along.

After all, only the most powerful rule-makers can afford to use such underhanded sanctioning methods as blocking.

For the rest to break through this rule-based blockade, they either need to actively strengthen themselves or kneel down and become someone else's dog.

Just like Taiwan centuries later, it was exploited and sold off again and again. But because of the selfishness of a few vested interests, they used lies to manipulate populism and made a living by forgetting their roots. They were just like those ugly aristocratic families who migrated south during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Each of them is focused on their existing interests and benefits, and they don't think about working for the benefit of ordinary people or restoring the beautiful land of the north.

He only thought about how to use the existing rules to realize his selfish dream of being a descendant of royalty for generations.

This is absolutely outrageous and inhuman!

Of course, these problems have not yet arisen in the present Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty only needs to do its duty and gradually recover, restoring its national spirit of vigor and confidence.

Then, as strength increases, the remaining problems can be solved more perfectly and smoothly!

For example, the Western Regions, which Zhu Zaiji would focus on in the future. These places have also been important since ancient times.

However, due to the constraints of reality, Zhu Zaiji can only coax and deceive the Tatars into expanding in that direction, so that the Ming Dynasty can free up its time and energy to manage the seas, which are easier to profit from and strengthen the country.

Once the Ming Dynasty has straightened out the interests and order at sea and obtained huge returns from it, then...

Therefore, the future recovery of the Western Regions, which have been separated from the Central Plains dynasties for nearly a thousand years, will be a natural and effortless matter.

Therefore, Zhu Zaiji had no ambitions toward North Korea, since North Korea was just a tiny country confined to a barren peninsula.

When the time comes, the Ming Dynasty will simply take control of its key ports and islands. As for the so-called magnificent land, they like to pretend to be something they're not, so let them keep pretending.

After all, such a poor and barren place would be a losing proposition and an extremely unprofitable political deal if forcibly merged with it by force.

If Zhu Zaiji really had to choose, he would prefer to go further north and have actual control over Sakhalin Island and the Bering Strait.

Once these two places are controlled, it will be of paramount importance to the Ming Dynasty, whether it's the journey along the northeastern coast to the Americas or the control of the key passage into the Arctic Ocean.

Of course, given the current climate and technological capabilities, Zhu Zaiji could only dream about it.

After all, a mini ice age lasting several decades will soon be coming to the whole world.

At that time, the weather will be bitterly cold and the weather will be chaotic.

The area is frequently plagued by freezing temperatures, droughts lasting for years, epidemics, locust plagues, and other life-threatening challenges.

Therefore, instead of looking too far ahead, it's better to take advantage of the time and opportunity we still have to make thorough preparations.

We need to establish food and material reserves.

In this way, if a truly devastating meteorological disaster or a devastating black terror like a plague or locust plague occurs, we won't be powerless to do anything and simply watch helplessly as the end times arrive.

Therefore, Zhu Zaiji's next priority in governing will be development!

It means striving to develop every opportunity for survival, and striving to develop every opportunity that can make survival more fulfilling.

Apart from that, other achievements can be discussed later.

It can also leave some opportunities for future generations, allowing them to demonstrate their abilities and create a historical tale of several generations of wise rulers in power.

Zhao Wenhua, Tan Lun, and Yu Huatian are now serving as the Ming Dynasty's envoys to Korea.

Now it can be said that everyone is living in harmony and happiness.

After all, there is no direct competition between the three of them. Now that they are assigned to the same mission, they are naturally going through thick and thin together, sharing both glory and disgrace.

Zhao Wenhua, in particular, was in an exceptionally good mood.

Some time ago, he was transferred to the position of Minister of Rites, although his power was probably much less than when he served as Minister of Personnel.

However, according to convention, this position is the closest to the cabinet.

If the demand for the three million taels of silver hidden in Korea by Luo Longwen is successful, it will also bring the Ming Dynasty actual control over Jeju Island, Busan Port, and other places.

So after he returns to the capital in glory, he can accumulate more experience and perhaps even advance further to become a highly prestigious Grand Secretary of the Cabinet!

Although Tan Lun, as a junior, was also the Minister of War of equal rank to Zhao Wenhua, his foundation was still too shallow, and his seniority could not compare to that of Zhao Wenhua, a minister who had served as minister of several ministries.

Therefore, Tan Lun was very clear about his position this time. He was responsible for acting as a bridge between the delegation and Yu Huatian and Qi Jiguang.

At crucial moments, he could use his position as Minister of War to directly work on-site to finalize the official documents for Qi Jiguang's expedition to Korea.

Apply maximum pressure to North Korea to make it clear to all North Koreans how serious the consequences will be for those who attempt to passively resist the Ming Dynasty and embezzle the silver of Ming Dynasty's imperial convicts!

Yu Huatian's feelings and self-awareness were even simpler.

He only needed to demonstrate the attitude of the Ming Emperor he represented at crucial moments, making it clear to the Joseon monarch and his officials that this diplomatic mission was not a mere formality like usual, where a decree was issued and their internal affairs were ignored.

This made it clear to the Korean monarch and his ministers that the will of His Majesty the Emperor of Ming would not tolerate any past acts of disrespect.

Therefore, Yu Huatian's job was relatively easier.

Moreover, Yu Huatian was also thinking about his own benefits. Although Zhu Zaiji did not give him any direct reward this time, he made him hang a portrait of an imperial horse eunuch.

It should be noted that the Imperial Horse Administration was an important eunuch office with equally important powers as the Directorate of Ceremonial.

He was a military eunuch who was fully responsible for the command and training of the capital's garrison troops inside and outside the imperial city.

With such a status, if he can make new contributions during this trip to Korea, even if he is not promoted to the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Horse Administration, he will still be able to achieve his goal.

Perhaps he might even be rewarded with a crimson python robe!

You should know that when you're working in the palace, appearances are the most important thing.

Those eunuchs who could wear bright red python robes, weren't they all super eunuchs with high positions and great power, comparable to the six ministries of the cabinet?

He is still so young. If he could wear a bright red python robe, his future would be limitless.

Maybe we can also trace back to Wang Zhi, the chief eunuch of the Western Depot during the reign of Emperor Xianzong!
This is Yu Huatian's idol!

When he went on a sea patrol overseas with Wang Zhi, the general of Shuangyu Guard, he wondered if Wang Zhi could bring him some good luck.

Now it has been proven that Wang Zhi did indeed bring him good fortune, transforming him into a more powerful and influential eunuch supervising the Japanese navy.

This identity may not sound very impressive at first glance, but it is actually quite prestigious.

Even Qi Jiguang, the commander-in-chief of the Japanese navy, had to give him face and allow him to sit on equal footing at important military conferences of the Japanese navy.

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