Yongli Ming Dynasty

Chapter 354 Mission
Guangzhou, the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, in the dead of winter, the weather is freezing cold
In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the cold wind howled outside the hall, but it was warm inside the hall. Although Zhu Lang did not renovate the palace, the Hall of Supreme Harmony and other commonly used palace rooms were all equipped with floor heating according to Zhu Lang's requirements.
Guangzhou is located in the south. Although the temperature in the south rarely drops below zero in winter, the air humidity is too high, so the weather in the south is still freezing cold during the coldest period of the year.

Even people from the north often find it difficult to adapt to the cold winter in the south.

In the hall, the ministers stood in their respective rows and talked in low voices, their faces looking quite relaxed.
Today is the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, and it is also the last grand court meeting before the New Year. The important matters in the court have been dealt with long ago, and the court is free of official business. The ministers are now waiting for the seal of the government office to be sealed and go home for the New Year.
Soon, the eunuchs' message came from the hall. When the ministers saw His Royal Highness the Regent walk out from the back of the hall, they all stopped talking and stood in silence. After the ministers saluted, today's court meeting officially began.

Zhu Lang was also quite relaxed at this time. The granting of land to the army took two or three months, and finally all the land in the two prefectures was distributed to the soldiers before the New Year.
The imperial guards were stationed in the two prefectures and counties, and there were hundreds of reserve officials from the Chuxian Hall to assist. The gentry of Chaohui had been killed by the imperial guards in a conspiracy, and they no longer dared to incite the common people and tenants to make trouble. Without these gentry leading the way, the grant of land was also smoothly carried out.

Now the land of the two prefectures has been distributed, and we can start farming again and resume production in the spring of next year.

Zhu Lang glanced at the briefing on the table and found nothing noteworthy, so he spoke

"Has the military's New Year's money been distributed?"

"According to your Highness's instructions, the army has allocated one penny of silver per soldier for the New Year's Day expenses. The Imperial Guards were all distributed the day before yesterday. The same applies to soldiers in other provinces. The governors of all provinces have been notified to distribute the money to the army."

Chen Zizhuang stepped out to report. Zhu Lang nodded and said:

"Although the imperial court is in the south now, the weather has been different in recent years, and the winter is still cold. The cotton clothes in the army can be distributed in place."

"Before the winter month, the Ministry of War had already sent the cotton clothes to the Five Military Governor's Office, and the Five Military Governor's Office had already inspected and issued them."

The ministers below felt jealous when they heard this. His Highness the Regent really took good care of the army. He gave them food and clothes, and refused to miss any opportunity to win the hearts of the army. He was really very attentive.
Looking back at these court officials who work day and night, it is almost the New Year, but His Highness has not expressed any opinion.
Now is a time of turmoil, and the ministers all know the importance of re-arming the army in times of turmoil, but Your Highness the Regent is too partial.
The ministers were filled with resentment and decided to write a note about His Royal Highness the Regent in their diary after returning home.

Although the ministers were dissatisfied, no one was so ignorant at this time, and no one shouted to ask for a reward from His Royal Highness the Regent.
They are dignified scholars and sons of saints. They come out to assist Your Highness for the sake of the country and the people, not for the official positions and money!

Although the court has been raising funds in various ways this year, at least it has paid out enough salaries this year.

The court officials' salaries have already been paid. If they ask for rewards again, wouldn't they be seen as those villains who seek official positions and profits in the eyes of others? Who can afford to lose this person?

Zhu Lang did not notice the complaints of his ministers below. After learning that the rewards had been distributed, he was also satisfied.

It was the end of the year, and Zhu Lang knew that the officials in the court were distracted, and even Zhu Lang himself had relaxed.

Zhu Lang was not going to drag the officials any longer. After the court was dismissed today, all the government offices would seal their doors. The next time they would be opened would be on the sixth day of the first lunar month of next year. The officials would leave and go home, and Zhu Lang would be happy to have some free time.

Zhu Lang was about to announce the reward and dismiss the court, but at this moment Lu Daqi suddenly stepped out and said

"I have something else to do that needs to be decided before the New Year."

"The Ryukyu delegation in the Sifang Pavilion has submitted another petition, requesting to see His Majesty the Regent during the New Year's Day court session. This year is His Majesty's first New Year's Day court session. Should the Ryukyu delegation be allowed to come to the court to pay their respects?"

Although Zhu Lang had been on the throne for three years, due to various reasons, he had not held a single New Year's Day ceremony.

Zhu Lang ascended the throne in 1646 and immediately led his army to attack Fujian Province after the great victory in Guangzhou. On the first day of 1647, Zhu Lang was leading his army to fight against the Qing invaders in Fujian Province. On the first day of 1648, Zhu Lang had just returned from Sichuan Province to fight against the Qing invaders in Huguang. In a few days, it would be the first day of 1649.
Although the ministers accompanying the army also went to the court to pay their respects and congratulate the emperor on New Year's Day in the past two years, strictly speaking, this year was Zhu Lang's first official New Year's Day court.
The ministers below were also quite excited. After three years of fighting in the court, they finally gained a foothold in the south. If a vassal state could come to the court to pay homage during the New Year's Day, it would also show the new dynasty's momentum.
Zhu Lang was also stunned when he heard what Lu Daqi said. In the first year of Gui's reign, that is, in 1647, the Ming court defeated the main force of the Qing army in Fujian Province and captured Fuzhou. Then they captured the Ryukyu envoys in the city.
After these Ryukyu envoys were brought back to Guangzhou, they had been imprisoned in the Guangzhou Sifang Pavilion for nearly two years. If Lu Daqi hadn't mentioned it at this time, Zhu Lang would have almost forgotten the existence of these people.

Zhu Lang thought for a moment and then said

“Have you verified the identities of these people?”

"It has been verified that one of the Ryukyu envoys was named Jin Yingyuan. He was the chief envoy of Ryukyu and visited Nanjing during the Hongguang reign."

"I have asked the officials of the Honglu Temple in Nanjing to identify them. They are indeed the Ryukyu envoys."

The Ming army captured these Ryukyu envoys in the Fuzhou government office. According to the government interpreter, these Ryukyu envoys had actually met with Zhang Cunren, the governor of Fujian Province of the Qing Dynasty.

According to the captured Fuzhou officials, if the Ming army had arrived half a month later, this group of people would have set out north to the capital to pay homage to the Qing emperor.

Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Ryukyu has always been a vassal of the Ming Dynasty. After hundreds of years of tribute, Ryukyu has gained countless benefits from the Ming court.
However, the Ming court had only been lost for two years, and the Ryukyu delegation was already eager to defect to the Qing. This naturally angered the court officials such as Qu Shisi and Lu Daqi.

After being brought back to Guangzhou, these Ryukyu envoys were detained in the Sifang Pavilion. Except for a few days a month when they could be taken out for a walk, they were trapped in the Sifang Pavilion at other times.
In the past two years, these Ryukyu envoys have continuously submitted petitions to meet Zhu Lang, but the court has been busy with major events in the past two years, and no one has the heart to care about these Ryukyu envoys.

During the Ming Dynasty's New Year's Day, in addition to the congratulations of all officials, envoys from the Ming Dynasty's vassal states would also come to the court to pay homage, to show the grand occasion of the Ming Dynasty's court's submission to the barbarians.
The Ryukyu envoys were on diplomatic missions all year round, so they naturally knew this rule of the Ming court.
As the New Year is approaching, the people of Ryukyu have begun to submit petitions to participate in the New Year's Day worship. There is actually another reason why the Ryukyu envoys are so eager.

According to Ming law, Ryukyu was required to pay tribute every two years. Last year, Jin Yingyuan and his men were detained in Guangzhou and could not send back any news. Meanwhile, a major event happened in Ryukyu, so no Ryukyu tribute ship arrived at Ming last year.
This autumn, the Ryukyu tribute ship arrived in Fuzhou with a large number of Japanese swords, sulfur and other items, but was directly expelled from the country by the Ming court.

The tribute ships that came to Ryukyu this year not only failed to complete the tribute trade, but also failed to sell the goods they carried, and returned to Ryukyu with these local products.
After Jin Yingyuan and others who were trapped in Sifang Pavilion learned about this, they finally became completely terrified. They could tolerate the Ming Dynasty imprisoning them, but they could not tolerate the Ming Dynasty banning trade with Ryukyu.
Jin Yingyuan and others were high-ranking officials in the Ryukyu court, and they knew the current situation of the Ryukyu better than anyone else. For the Ryukyu, the tribute trade with the Ming court was no longer simply for the sake of profit.
For Ryukyu at that time, if the Ming court really cut off trade relations with Ryukyu, it would be uncertain whether the Ryukyu Dynasty could continue to exist. That is why Jin Yingyuan and others were so panicked when they learned that the Ryukyu tribute ship was expelled.
Lu Daqi thought for a moment and then spoke again

"Since the Ryukyu delegation learned that the Ryukyu tribute ship had been expelled, the Ryukyu envoys have repeatedly submitted petitions to explain themselves and plead guilty. According to reports from the officials of the Sifang Pavilion, the people of Ryukyu were all quite frightened."

Zhu Lang chuckled when he heard this.

"Quite frightened? I think their excuses and pleas for guilt are fake, they are really afraid of being cut off from Fujian Province's maritime trade supply."

When Lu Daqi heard this, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes. What was the Ryukyu asking for by paying tribute to the court every year regardless of rain or shine? In fact, everyone in the Ming court knew it very well, but knowing it was enough. How could they say it so bluntly in public at this moment?
His Highness the Regent is good in everything, but he is too direct. This matter is clearly the result of the Ming Dynasty's power and prestige, which has attracted the four barbarians to come and pay tribute.

But after hearing what His Royal Highness the Regent said, things immediately changed. What was originally a good tribute became a matter of seeking profit, and the fun in it was instantly gone.
Zhu Lang didn't care what Lu Daqi was thinking. After a little thought, he said

"Maritime trade is a major source of income for the court, and Ryukyu is the hub for traveling to Japan."

"The court still has some plans for Ryukyu. Don't rush to invite them to the court. Let's leave them alone for a while."

There are two sea routes from Ming Dynasty to Japan. The northern route starts from Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, and it takes only five or six days to reach Hirado Port in Japan by following the ocean current. This is also the fastest sea route to Japan.

The southern route starts from Fujian Province, passes through Taiwan Island, Chiwei Island, Diaoyu Island, and then passes through Ryukyu to Nagasaki, Japan.
The good thing about this route is that there are islands along the way for supplies, so even if you encounter a storm at sea, you can find shelter as soon as possible. However, the disadvantage is that this sea route is too long, and it will take at least half a month to reach Japan.
Now in Zhejiang Province, the Ming Dynasty controls southern Zhejiang, while northern Zhejiang such as Ningbo is still in the hands of the Qing Dynasty.
If the Ming court wanted to trade with Japan, the only sea route left was Fujian Province, and Ryukyu, as a hub, became increasingly important.

Upon hearing this, Lu Daqi returned to the train. Lu Daqi raised this matter as a routine matter and did not care much about Ryukyu.
Although the Ming Dynasty now only has half of the southern part, even at this time, the Ming Dynasty is far from being comparable to a small country like Ryukyu.

"Do you have anything else to discuss?"

Zhu Lang glanced at the people below. All the ministers were standing respectfully in the ranks. No one stepped out to report. Seeing this, Zhu Lang spoke directly.

"In this case, this year's court meeting will end here."

"All the ministers in the court have worked hard, and the court and other places have been quite peaceful this year. You have really made great contributions."

"Tomorrow, all the ministries in the court will seal the documents. After the court is dismissed, all officials in the capital can go to the Ministry of Revenue to receive a portion of New Year's silver. Officials above the fourth rank will receive five taels, and officials below the fourth rank will receive three taels. After receiving the silver, you can go home to celebrate the New Year."

"We thank Your Highness for your grace."

When the ministers below heard this, their hearts were filled with tears. Your Highness only gave the army one penny of silver, but gave them three taels of silver.
What does this mean? This means that His Highness is still the good His Highness, and His Highness still has them in his heart.

The officials in the hall, led by Qu Shisi and others, bowed and thanked the emperor, and the court meeting was dispersed.

After the court was dismissed, all the officials went directly to the Ministry of Revenue to receive their rewards. For the officials in red robes, three taels of silver were nothing, but for the low-ranking officials in the court, these three taels of silver were already a considerable income.
The officials in the court went to collect the silver happily, but their good mood only lasted for a moment.

After the officials received their reward silver from the Ministry of Revenue, the excitement of the officials in the court disappeared instantly.
In the hall of the Ministry of Revenue, Liang Chaozhong, the chief official, sat at the table. Beside Liang Chaozhong was a bamboo basket filled with strings of brand new copper coins.

"Chen Zheng, the censor of the Inspectorate, should receive three taels of silver. If everything is correct, please sign."

Chen Zheng signed his name in the book, and Liang Chaozhong took out three copper coins from the bamboo basket under him and hit them on the table with a slight bang.

Chen Zheng looked at the small pile of copper coins on the table, but his face was dissatisfied, and he said

"Didn't they say it was three taels of silver? Why are they paying out copper coins?"

"Three strings of copper coins equals three taels. What's the problem? Aren't copper coins money?"

Chen Zheng heard this, but he didn't buy it. Since the Jiashen year, the world has been in chaos. Now the only hard currency on the market is silver. Although copper coins can also be used, the copper coins on the market are of different qualities and there is no standard exchange rate.
Moreover, due to the scarcity of silver in the market, copper coins were rapidly depreciating. These three strings of copper coins were said to be worth three taels, but if they were put on the market, they might not even be able to be exchanged for one tael of silver.

Chen Zheng looked at Liang Chaozhong in front of him and said

"In this case, it is possible to exchange these three strings of money for silver."

"What do you think?"

Liang Chaozhong rolled his eyes. His Highness the Regent distributed money just to warm up the issuance of the new currency. If he gave these officials silver at this time, what was the point of distributing new currency?

The Ministry of Revenue is already short of funds. If it wasn't for the promotion of the new currency, how could it give silver to these officials? Do they really think that the Ministry of Revenue's money came from the wind?

Seeing that Chen Zheng was still trying to argue, Liang Chaozhong's face flashed with impatience, and he spoke directly

"Do you want it or not? If not, leave now."

Liang Chaozhong was about to take back the copper coins on the table. Seeing this, Chen Zheng looked anxious and snatched the copper coins from the table, put them in his sleeve, and said

"This is the reward from the court. Why don't you want it? You are trying to take the reward from the officials in front of everyone. Be careful. I will report you to the court!"

Although the expected three taels of silver turned into one tael, one tael of silver is still silver, so don't waste it.

If he didn't accept it now, the money would surely be embezzled by the man in front of him. As an imperial censor, how could he watch the officials in the court go astray?

(End of this chapter)