My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

As for the other nobles and officials, they were thinking pretty much the same thing.

It is also worth mentioning that most officials actually agreed with this matter, because most northern officials did not interfere in smuggling in the south.

In fact, even if they wanted to intervene, the nobles and Donglin Party members in the south would not pay them any attention.

Because the Donglin Party consisted mostly of southerners, they were unwilling to accept northerners, which led to a stark opposition between the northern and southern factions.

Soon, the civil and military officials arrived at the palace. Their expressions were quite varied, some gloating, others worried. The atmosphere was unusually eerie, like the calm before a storm.

After everyone had settled in the main hall, a shrill voice suddenly rang out:

"Your Majesty is here!"

The sound, like a sharp sword, shattered the silence within the hall.

However, no one was surprised. After all, it would be strange if Chongzhen didn't show up today for such a big event.

Immediately afterwards, Chongzhen appeared before everyone and then sat steadily on the dragon throne.

Zhu Cilang also appeared here, sitting to the lower left of Chongzhen.

The ministers then knelt down and bowed in greeting.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor!"

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"

Chongzhen said:
"Everyone loves you!"

After the formalities were completed, Xue Guoguan stepped forward before Chongzhen could speak.

Holding his tablet, he walked firmly to the center of the hall and then proclaimed:

"Your Majesty, I have something to tell you!"

In an instant, the hall fell silent, and all eyes were fixed on Xue Guoguan.

The real show is about to begin.

Emperor Chongzhen sat upright on the dragon throne, his expression seemingly calm, but in reality, his heart was churning with turmoil.

Because he naturally knew what Xue Guoguan was going to report in court today. It turned out that Zhu Cilang had rushed into the palace early this morning and told Chongzhen everything that had happened last night.

Emperor Chongzhen was naturally overjoyed upon hearing this.

The father and son then discussed in detail how to handle the opening of the fishing season that day.

However, even though he already knew about this matter, Chongzhen had to pretend to be completely unaware in court.

The next second, Emperor Chongzhen's gaze slowly swept over Xue Guoguan below, and he said softly:
"What does Minister Xue have to report?"

Xue Guoguan hurriedly and carefully pulled out a memorial from his wide sleeve, and then said:
"Your Majesty, the grain from overseas finally arrived in the capital yesterday. I am well aware that the overseas regions are rich in resources. If the seas are opened, we can obtain more grain and wealth. This is a memorial written by me, several cabinet ministers, and the six ministers after discussing the matter. I earnestly request Your Majesty to open the seas."

After saying this, Xue Guoguan raised the memorial high with both hands.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen's expression remained unchanged, his demeanor as calm as still water.

He then turned his head slightly and gave Wang Chengen, who was standing to the side, a wink.

Wang Chengen naturally understood and hurriedly went down to Xue Guoguan, respectfully accepting the memorial with both hands. Then he quickly returned to Chongzhen's side and handed the memorial to Chongzhen.

Just as Emperor Chongzhen slowly opened the memorial and pretended to examine it carefully, some officials in the court were already in an uproar, like ants on a hot pan.

They had a vague feeling that what the Da Ming Daily was talking about today was related to the opening of the sea, but they never expected that Xue Guoguan, the Grand Secretary, would play this trick on them.

To their even greater surprise, other cabinet ministers and ministers of the six ministries joined him in submitting memorials.

What exactly are these old guys, who usually have their own agendas in court, up to?

When did the cabinet and the six ministries all side with the emperor?

In their eyes, these people were all traitors!
Many officials in the south were extremely anxious, as their families were deeply involved in smuggling activities in the south, and the huge profits from smuggling had long made them unable to give up.

However, if the imperial court were to open the seas, legal overseas trade would inevitably flourish, and their families would certainly suffer enormous financial losses.

What's worse is that if the imperial court investigates this seriously, they might be implicated, and it's not impossible that they could even lose their heads.

Upon realizing this, some officials couldn't help but step forward.

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable! How could Your Majesty possibly violate ancestral rules? Besides, opening the seas would be competing with the people for profit, it is absolutely unacceptable!"

As soon as he said this, dozens more officials stood up.

Some of the officials were flushed, while others were visibly agitated; they shouted in unison:

"Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable!"

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely impossible!"

In an instant, a large group of officials knelt down on the ground like wheat blown down by the wind.

Upon seeing this scene, Emperor Chongzhen finally slowly raised his head. His gaze, like two sharp swords, swept over the kneeling officials, and then he said:
"My dear ministers, please wait until I have finished reading this memorial before we speak."

Upon hearing this, everyone had no choice but to shut their mouths. The court fell silent, with only the sound of breathing and the faint sound of bells in the distance.

Then, Chongzhen looked down at the memorial in his hand.

However, there's really nothing to see here, because Zhu Cilang had already given him a detailed retelling of the contents of this memorial.

It must be said that Emperor Chongzhen was quite satisfied with the contents of this memorial.

This memorial is logically rigorous and clearly organized, explaining the benefits of opening up the sea from multiple perspectives.

It not only mentions that the abundant resources overseas can bring huge economic benefits to the country, but also analyzes in detail the important role of opening up the sea in solving the domestic food shortage problem.

At the same time, the memorial also refuted and answered the concerns of those who opposed it, such as competing with the people for profit, violating ancestral rules, and being a pirate or Japanese rabble.

After he finished reading it, he casually handed the memorial to Wang Chengen, who was standing beside him, and said:

"Otomo, read the contents aloud."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chengen did not hesitate at all, picked up the memorial and began to read it aloud.

For a moment, a shrill voice echoed throughout the vast palace:
"I have heard that the sea is the bulwark of the nation and the source of benefit for the people. Our dynasty has a vast maritime territory spanning thousands of miles. However, the long-standing maritime ban has led to blocked trade routes, unemployment for fishermen and woodcutters, and the lack of imported rice, making people's livelihood increasingly difficult."

The proposed lifting of the maritime ban and the reorganization of the navy would have four advantages.

Firstly, trade stabilized grain prices. In Southeast Asia, such as Siam and Luzon, rice and wheat were plentiful each year, and rice prices were low. In the past, when the maritime ban was not strictly enforced, merchant ships transported hundreds of thousands of shi (a unit of dry measure) of foreign rice annually, and rice prices in the capital and other places remained stable, allowing people to have enough to eat.

However, the current policy of banning the sea has caused rice prices to soar during years of floods and droughts, making life unbearable for the people, with many suffering from hunger.

If the ban is lifted, foreign rice will arrive, granaries will be full, grain prices will be lowered, and all people will have food. This is the primary policy to benefit the people.

Secondly, promoting trade will increase employment.
As Wang Chengen read on and on, the expressions of the ministers who were kneeling on the ground begging not to open the sea immediately changed.

Their faces, which had initially held a hint of hope and stubbornness, were now completely replaced by terror and despair.

The reason was simply that the memorial was so well written, explaining the benefits of opening up the sea from all aspects, and even taking into account all the problems they were worried about, such as competing with the people for profits, violating ancestral rules, and pirates and Japanese pirates.

Add to that the news in today's Da Ming Daily about the drop in grain prices, and all of this combined leaves no room for argument.

If they oppose opening the sea to the sea, it's tantamount to preventing the people from eating cheaper food!

They might get hit on the head from behind one day while walking down the street.

In an instant, the officials turned pale and knelt on the ground, trembling. They truly regretted not listening to the whole memorial before stepping forward; now they could never go back.

Before long, Wang Chengen finally finished reading the above content.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at the crowd with a cold gaze and said:
"My esteemed ministers, you have all heard the contents of this memorial. What do you think of the matter of opening the seas? Is it beneficial or harmful to the country?"

As soon as Chongzhen uttered these words, the atmosphere in the court immediately became tense.

Just as an official was about to speak, the Duke of England, the head of the nobility, suddenly stepped forward.

He took a step forward, bowed slightly, and said in a loud voice:

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes that opening up the seas is indeed beneficial to the country. It can not only increase the country's tax revenue, but also bring in a large amount of grain from overseas to solve the domestic famine."

"To be honest, Your Majesty, I received today's 'Daming Daily' early this morning. The 'Daming Daily' says that since the grain entered the city yesterday, the price of grain has dropped to two taels of silver per shi today, which is a full third cheaper than three taels per shi two years ago."

"This is a real benefit for ordinary people. If it weren't for this overseas grain, I don't know how many people would still be unable to afford to eat today."

"Therefore, I believe that opening the seas is imperative, and anyone who dares to oppose it is a treacherous minister or a sycophant."

Good guy!
Upon hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen was overjoyed.

To be honest, he hadn't actually consulted the Duke of England about this matter, but he never expected that the Duke of England would actually stand up and agree.

The Duke of England held immense prestige among the nobility, and his words undoubtedly gave a strong boost to the plan to open the seas.

The next second, the other nobles also stood up and unanimously expressed their agreement:
"Your Majesty, we also believe that opening the seas is imperative. We request that Your Majesty issue the order to open the seas immediately."

“That’s right. Opening the seas is beneficial to the country and its people. Those who oppose this are all ill-intentioned. I beg Your Majesty to punish them severely.”

In an instant, the atmosphere in the court became incredibly harmonious. The cabinet, led by Xue Guoguan, along with the senior officials of the six ministries and the nobles, led by the Duke of Yingguo, all agreed to open the seas. This immediately made the officials who had just begged not to open the seas feel their palms sweating.

With the heads of civil officials and noble families both supporting the opening of the sea, what else could they possibly say?
Just then, Xue Guoguan felt that it was still not enough, so he quickly gave a wink to some of his former students and officials in the crowd.

Without exception, all of these people were from the north, and none of them were members of the Donglin Party.

They had a close relationship with Xue Guoguan and were deeply cultivated and promoted by him, so they naturally belonged to the imperial faction.

After receiving Xue Guoguan's signal, they quickly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I also believe that opening the seas is beneficial to the country and the people. I humbly request Your Majesty to open the seas."

Immediately afterwards, another official also spoke loudly:

"Your subject also supports opening the sea!"

Subsequently, more and more officials stepped forward, expressing their willingness to support the opening of the sea.

Now, two-thirds of the people in the court supported opening the sea, while only one-third remained standing.

Without exception, these people were all officials deeply involved in smuggling in the south, and some of them were even engaged in smuggling activities themselves.

Their faces showed hesitation and fear, and they secretly groaned inwardly.

To be honest, if only half of the people in the court supported opening the sea, they could still continue to oppose it, since they also had their own set of arguments and influence.

But now two-thirds of the people support opening the sea, and the reasons for opening the sea are irrefutable. What else can they do?

Not to mention that the civil officials, led by the cabinet, and the nobles, led by the Duke of England, all supported opening the seas. Their power was already very limited, so it was better to go with the flow.

Thinking of this, some people exchanged glances privately, and soon someone stepped forward:
"Your Majesty, opening the seas is a matter that benefits the country and its people, and I am willing to support it."

Then, another person said:

"Your subject is also willing to support the opening of the sea!"

Now, those officials who knelt on the ground begging not to open the sea seem like clowns.

Their faces showed embarrassment and frustration, as if they wished they could disappear into the ground.

Seeing that things were going so smoothly, Chongzhen was somewhat surprised.

You should know that whenever he made a decision in the past, his civil and military officials would always jump out to oppose it, causing him a lot of trouble, and in the end, nothing would come of it.

He was shocked to find that such a big event as opening the sea to the sea would receive so much support.

However, upon closer examination, this is quite normal, since Zhu Cilang had made thorough preparations.

Therefore, this outcome is reasonable.

After regaining his composure, Chongzhen continued:
"Since all of you ministers support opening the sea, then this matter is settled."

"The specific implementation plan will still be discussed by the Cabinet and the Six Ministries."

As he spoke, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly looked at the ministers who had been kneeling on the ground pleading against opening the seas to the sea. His gaze turned stern, and he said:

"As for you few, why exactly do you oppose opening the sea? Explain in detail. If what you say makes sense, I will let bygones be bygones. If what you say makes no sense, I will punish you severely."

Upon hearing this, those people were immediately terrified, breaking out in a cold sweat and trembling uncontrollably.

They have no logic to speak for them!

They couldn't very well tell the emperor directly that their family was also involved in smuggling, could they?

Isn't this courting death? (End of Chapter)