Wanjin Lady

Chapter 270 Sea Ban
"Your Majesty can understand this as...prescribing the right medicine for the right condition."

After hearing this, Wei Zheng frowned slightly and held the lamp closer so that Wen Wan could see it more clearly. His tone was unclear whether it was praise or sarcasm. "Junior Sister Wen doesn't seem to be doing business... It's more like marching and fighting."

Wen Wan folded the city defense map and carefully placed it in her sleeve. Then she smiled and said, "People often say... the business world is like a battlefield. Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes. Principles and experiences can be shared. It's just that the Marquis kills the enemy, and we rob them."

Wei Zheng pursed his lips and listened carefully, "This statement... is quite fresh."

"Don't worry, my Lord. I won't use the city defense map to do anything that would harm the interests of the people." Wen Wan's expression grew more serious. "Now, please tell me about the Bingzhou smuggling case."

Speaking of business, Wei Zheng's expression became serious. "Junior Sister Wen... do you know about our dynasty's maritime ban policy?"

Wen Wan sneered, "My Lord, please don't lie to me. In the seventh year of Xianping, His Majesty made a solemn statement: anyone who dares to discuss the maritime ban policy will be killed without mercy."

Wei Zheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, Junior Sister Wen, we are talking today and we can't leave this room."

Although Wen Wan is a businessman, it is not easy for a businessman to be adopted as a daughter by the teacher.

What's more, Wen Wan was seeking justice for her father, and in just a few days, she had found out the whole story.

Wen Wan is a smart person.

Wei Zheng really wanted to hear Wen Wan's advice.

Wen Wan pursed her lips, looked up at the moonlight outside, and seeing that the courtyard was empty, she spoke softly, "Six years ago in the Xianping period, nations from all directions came to our dynasty to pay tribute. Your Majesty was sympathetic to these small nations' journey across the ocean, and also to enhance our nation's prestige. Therefore, when these small nations left, they took away a large number of gifts from the Chen Dynasty."

"Later, the barbarians in the north repeatedly harassed the Ministry of Revenue, and His Majesty began to consider imposing a maritime ban."

This is also easy to understand.

If poor relatives have been begging for money for a long time, no one can resist being fleeced like this.

Chen Chao wanted to save face, so he couldn't just say that his family had no money and that his poor sons shouldn't call him dad.

What's more, the son has no blood relationship with him.

But the countries that always took advantage of the Chen Dynasty could not stand this situation.

After all, tribute in the past never returned empty-handed. Now I give you as much as you give me back. What does this mean?
If you look down on me, just fight me!

You have to give it to me even if you don’t want to today!

Wei Zheng replied calmly, "In the eleventh year of the Xianping reign, over 1,200 Japanese invaders landed on the coast of Bingzhou from Aigua Island and invaded 600 miles of our coastline. They advanced without a trace, leaving the garrisons unable to resist and resulting in nearly ten thousand casualties. The Japanese even killed members of the royal family of Tianshui Prefecture, mocking the men of the Chen Dynasty for being as weak as Japanese women. His Majesty was enraged and immediately ordered the closure of the coast. Any Chinese civilians or merchants who came into contact with foreigners would be charged with treason. However, maritime smuggling remains rampant, and the court is helpless. Private merchants have even colluded with foreign powers to circumvent the court's maritime ban and develop maritime trade, forming a smuggling community where merchants and pirates coexist."

However, maritime transport itself brings huge profits. Just because the imperial court doesn't want this piece of fat meat doesn't mean that the big coastal companies won't take a bite.

After the Chen Dynasty imposed a maritime ban, maritime smuggling continued despite repeated bans. From the common people along the coast to the dignitaries in the court and the royal family, it was hard to say who was clean in this matter.

The maritime ban only enriched the wealthy and powerful families.

Wei Zheng frowned slightly, looking somewhat tired. "The previous governor of Tianshui Prefecture, Zhang Heng, executed many merchants and pirates in an effort to strengthen coastal defenses. Unexpectedly, the rebellion came not only from powerful families but also from ordinary people who depended on the sea for their livelihood." "In the Bingzhou area, the land no longer provides enough food, so people rely solely on the sea. Nine out of ten live on foreign ships. The maritime ban deprived them of their source of income, and thus, incited by the wealthy, they rose up in anger, smashing the Tianshui Prefecture government office and fleeing to the sea with their families, becoming pirates. To quell public anger, His Majesty had no choice but to order Zhang Heng's execution."

Under the dim light, Wenwan glanced at Wei Zheng.

There were faint dark circles under his eyes, and he looked thinner than when he was in the Wen family.

She suddenly remembered the conversation between Sun Qunfang and Yan Shouli in the study today.

The position of governor of Tianshui Prefecture seems to be high and powerful, but it is also the most dangerous place.

Your Majesty was suspicious of the Wei family, so he sent Wei Zheng to take over this hot potato.

Wen Wan suddenly felt a little distressed for the figurine.

"So, smuggling cases shouldn't just focus on the big players; the countless civilians implicated are also involved." Wen Wan's voice dropped even lower. "Maritime transport generates enormous profits. If a Maritime Customs Office were established to manage it, as they did before, it would surely revitalize the Chen Dynasty's economy. Furthermore, blocking is worse than unblocking. Opening up maritime transport would also provide a way out for the people living along the coast. Why, then, does Your Majesty insist on closing the sea?"

Wei Zheng coughed softly and looked into the curious eyes of the young lady across from him. He leaned forward a little and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "This matter...is a matter of great concern to His Majesty."

The man's voice was rustling and low, very suitable for a night like this with low stars and a gentle breeze.

Wen Wan recalled the countless nights of intimacy between the two of them. Wei Zheng's hoarse, rapid breathing and the red tips of his ears under the bed echoed in her ears, and she couldn't help but feel distracted.

Everything is reviving... Spring is here... It's the season for learning again.

"During the Kyoto Incident, Prince Fu failed to force the emperor to abdicate and fled Kyoto with his men. According to the last report from the spies, they went into exile in a small country at sea."

Wen Wan's eyelids twitched.

Consciousness pulled back.

She had heard about the Kyoto Incident that year. Wei Zheng also lost his relatives in that palace fight. Was that Duke of Wei... the one who left the Chen Dynasty with Prince Fu?

Wen Wan understood this time.

The Chen Dynasty was plagued by internal and external troubles. In the north, barbarians were invading the border, and in the south, there was the threat of pirates. Whether from the perspective of strategic development or the selfish desires of the emperor of the Chen Dynasty, a maritime ban... was imperative.

There are rumors that the late emperor favored Prince Fu as the crown prince, making him the legitimate heir to the throne. But this legitimate heir is now adrift at sea, and could suddenly emerge one day to dethrone His Majesty. Who wouldn't be alarmed?

Seeing that Wen Wan understood, Wei Zheng gave another instruction with a deeper meaning: "Regarding the lifting of the maritime ban... Your Majesty is not to allow anyone in the court to mention it, and certainly not to allow the people to discuss it privately."

"The situation in Bingzhou is so complicated... If you make a mistake, your Majesty, you could lose everything." Wen Wan nodded, a look of worry on her face. "By the way, Lord Yan and Lord Sun... Your Majesty must be careful. These two lackeys are planning to report you to His Majesty and have you transferred out of Bozhou."

Wei Zheng's lips curled slightly, and he stared at Wen Wan with a half-smile. "Junior sister said at the Sun Mansion today... Lord Yan is a man of high moral character and integrity... and he had a very pleasant conversation with Lord Sun's eldest daughter. I thought Junior sister had already joined Lords Sun and Yan."

Wen Wan's expression froze slightly.

He is too stubborn to change his mind and subconsciously treats Wei Zheng as a family member.