Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

A moment later, Zhang Mingzhen strode into the hall, saluted, and immediately reported: "Your Majesty, we have detailed intelligence on the military situation in Heilongjiang and Taiwan. Please review it."

Zhu Cilang nodded, motioning for Zhou Shixian to hand him the report. He flipped through the information, his brow furrowing. The situation on Taiwan was growing increasingly tense, and the Dutch military deployment there was becoming increasingly intensive. All of this meant that the situation on Ming's borders was becoming even more complex.

After careful analysis, Zhu Cilang had already gained a preliminary understanding of the Dutch's movements on Taiwan. He didn't say much to Zhang Mingzhen and Zhou Shixian, simply saying, "The defense of Heilongjiang and Taiwan requires long-term consideration. With the situation at this point, we can no longer sit idly by."

He looked up at the two of them and said in a firm voice:

"These two places are related to the future of Ming Dynasty. You must speed up your pace to ensure that we can gain the upper hand in the upcoming battle."

Zhang Mingzhen and Zhou Shixian looked at each other and understood Zhu Cilang's determination. Future battles were inevitable.

Zhang Mingzhen raised his eyebrows slightly. He knew that although Zhu Cilang did not often reveal his true thoughts easily, the emperor was always meticulous when it came to matters concerning maritime trade, military affairs, and the lifeblood of the country.

Zhu Cilang immediately stood up and greeted Zhang Mingzhen with a smile as he walked into the inner courtyard. Zhou Shixian followed behind him. He had a smile on his face and looked quite humble, but his eyes were very sharp.

"Some things in the court involve a wide range of issues. If I don't ask Hou Fu to take action, it will be difficult for me to handle them." Zhu Cilang's tone was relaxed, but the meaning behind his words was extremely serious.

When Zhang Mingzhen heard Zhu Cilang's words, he suddenly felt a little proud in his heart, and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously. He always had a clear understanding of his position as a pillar of the court.

"I am your Majesty's subject. As long as your Majesty needs me, I will do my best no matter what." Zhang Mingzhen clasped his hands together, his tone revealing unwavering loyalty.

After the two sat down, Zhou Shixian stood beside Zhu Cilang. The atmosphere gradually became relaxed. The eunuchs in the palace quickly brought tea and served it to the two ministers. Zhu Cilang picked up the teacup, took a sip, and savored it carefully.

After a moment, he looked gentle and concerned and asked:
"Hou Fu, I heard that since the last time you were busy with court affairs, you have been staying at your residence on West Street and haven't been out and about. Is there something bothering you recently?"

Zhang Mingzhen was slightly startled, then revealed a gentle smile, and with a hint of gentle humility in his tone, he said, "Thank you very much, Your Majesty, for your concern. I don't have anything to worry about, but I have been staying at home all day with nothing to do, which is indeed a bit boring."

He pondered for a moment, then said with a hint of resignation, "Your Majesty knows that I am not the type to sit idle, so I learned carpentry at home, which is quite interesting."

Zhu Cilang couldn't help but smile after hearing this. A gentle smile rarely appeared on his usually serious face. "It turns out that Hou Fu actually has such a hobby. It can relieve my boredom."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and the atmosphere became more relaxed. The topic gradually shifted from personal matters to more serious topics. Zhu Cilang put down his teacup, turned his eyes, and gently tapped the table. Suddenly, he became more serious:

"Hou Fu, to be honest, the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade has been increasingly prosperous recently, especially with the Li family's growing influence in it."

Zhang Mingzhen's eyes flashed, and he immediately became alert. He knew that the "Li family" mentioned by Zhu Cilang must be referring to Li Xiaolin.

Zhu Cilang continued, "I intend to transfer Li Xiaolin to the post of Maritime Customs. This position is extremely important, controlling the Ming Dynasty's maritime economy and military pay. However, I am truly troubled by how to plan the future maritime trade situation, especially how to arrange for successor managers."

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Shixian quickly turned sideways, holding a secret letter in his hand, and quietly handed it to Zhu Cilang. Zhang Mingzhen's eyes flashed, and he calmly took over the topic and said:
"Your Majesty, I understand your concerns. Maritime trade involves a wide range of issues, with complex interests involved. Improper management can easily lead to turmoil. Li Xiaolin has a deep foundation in maritime trade, but from an overall perspective, the Ming Dynasty now needs a completely new management structure."

Zhu Cilang nodded, his eyes gleaming with a hint of meaning as he continued, "That's exactly right. While the Maritime Customs Office controlled by Li Xiaolin can ensure the stability of Ming Dynasty's maritime trade for a period of time, the future of maritime trade cannot rely solely on the efforts of one person. Furthermore, with the Li family's growing power within the court, I dare not easily entrust such an important position to a single person. Without checks and balances, we are bound to repeat the same mistakes."

Zhang Mingzhen pondered for a moment, nodded slightly, and whispered, "Your Majesty is indeed deeply concerned. If such a vast maritime trade system were solely controlled by the Li family, it would likely pose enormous risks. If other forces could be brought in to implement appropriate decentralization and checks and balances, perhaps the long-term development of maritime trade could be better protected."

Zhu Cilang looked at Zhang Mingzhen, a flicker of approval in his eyes as he said, "Hou Fu truly has a keen eye. This is exactly what I'm worried about. Today, Ming Dynasty's maritime trade has become the nation's economic lifeline. If mismanaged, it will not only affect the livelihoods of the people but could even threaten the stability of the Ming regime. If Li Xiaolin is too focused on his own interests, it will inevitably disrupt the overall layout of the court."

Zhang Mingzhen smiled, a hint of sharpness in his eyes. He said, "Your Majesty, I admire your wise decision. The most critical issue now is how to distribute power effectively in the short term, so that maritime trade management can proceed in an orderly manner without becoming overly centralized."

Zhu Cilang pondered for a moment, then said firmly, "Hou Fu, I trust your judgment. The next maritime trade reform will definitely require the participation of someone like you who is committed to the country."

Zhang Mingzhen's heart was slightly shaken, but his face remained unchanged. He gently bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to share your worries and do my best."

Zhu Cilang nodded, a smile on his face as he said, "Then please, Hou Fu, lead all capable people to revive the glory of Ming Dynasty's maritime trade."

Zhang Mingzhen's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this, a hint of delight flickering in his eyes. Ever since he retired to his residence to recuperate due to illness, the political landscape had subtly shifted, and he had missed out on many crucial personnel transfers. Seeing his former colleagues flourish in their respective fields while he remained in a semi-retired state, how could he not feel resentful?
Now, Zhu Cilang took the initiative to summon him, and his words revealed his reliance on him. This was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

However, Zhang Mingzhen was well versed in the ways of the officialdom. Though his mind was active, he didn't betray any clues. Instead, his brow furrowed slightly, his face pensive, as if this matter truly posed a challenge to him. He spoke slowly, his tone steady, each word carefully considered. "This matter is indeed difficult to handle. Coastal merchants have always relied on the Li family as a bond, either governing independently or under the protection of the Li family. This is especially true in the Fujian officialdom, where many of Li Xiaolin's former subordinates are deeply intertwined, forming an unbreakable community of interests."

Maritime trade is always complex and intricate. While it may seem like business on the surface, there are also many secret transactions going on behind the scenes. It involves a wide range of people, and without a strong controller, it would be difficult to untangle the intertwining relationships."

Having said this, he paused slightly, glanced up at Zhu Cilang, and saw that the emperor had a calm expression and was listening to his analysis with great interest. He knew that the other party had made up his mind, so he continued:

"Now that Li Xiaolin is about to be transferred to the Maritime Customs, he will undoubtedly take with him a number of trusted personnel. This will create a vacuum in the leadership of maritime trade affairs. While this situation will benefit Your Majesty in completely reforming the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade system, if no suitable person is appointed to take over, it will likely cause chaos in the short term.

In my humble opinion, Your Majesty must appoint someone who is familiar with maritime trade and has a group of capable assistants. Otherwise, a hasty change may cause unrest among coastal merchants."

After hearing this, Zhu Cilang nodded slightly. He was not in a hurry to express his opinion, but waited quietly for Zhang Mingzhen to continue.

He knew that although Zhang Mingzhen was modest, he was not someone who would be willing to lag behind others. Summoning him to the palace was already a clear signal to him that the opportunity was right in front of him, and it depended on how he fought for it.

Sure enough, seeing that the emperor did not deny his words, Zhang Mingzhen continued:

"Ever since the imperial court lifted the maritime ban, smuggling in Jiangnan, Shandong, Fujian, and Guangdong has revived and even become more rampant. The Zheng family has dominated this trade, having already established a formidable power. Nowadays, merchant ships traveling to Japan and Southeast Asia are almost always required to fly the Zheng family's flag; otherwise, they are isolated and vulnerable to being exploited.

Your Majesty has vigorously revitalized the Ming Dynasty. The scale of maritime trade is bound to continue to expand. However, with this growing profit comes not only prosperity for merchants, but also the rise of those lurking in the shadows. The Red-haired nations have become increasingly active at sea in recent years, inevitably leading to conflicts with Ming Dynasty maritime trade. If we are not careful, we may face even greater external threats."

Zhang Mingzhen's tone rose slightly, and his expression became more serious.

"Therefore, if Your Majesty were to choose someone to manage maritime trade, this person must not only be well-versed in the ways of commerce but also well-versed in military affairs, so as not to be helpless in the face of external threats. Ideally, this person would have a certain reputation within the Jiangnan business community and good relations with local forces. This way, at critical moments, they could communicate internally and externally, ensuring that the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade system would not be destabilized during the transition period."

He paused for a moment, as if waiting for Zhu Cilang's reaction, but the emperor remained calm, as if trying to figure out his intentions.

In reality, Zhang Mingzhen knew Zhu Cilang's intentions well. He would never allow someone so closely connected to financial power to truly control military power, and he himself would not seek trouble by fighting for a position that was destined to be out of his reach.

But he was determined to gain control of the maritime trade—not only because he was already quite interested in it, but more importantly, it was an extremely lucrative piece of fat meat. Since being bedridden at home, although Zhang Mingzhen had not personally intervened in the government, he was well aware of the major events in the court.

Zhu Cilang has recently been vigorously promoting military and political reforms, weakening the power of local tyrants and reshaping the Ming bureaucracy. He still holds considerable influence within this new system. This time, he must take the initiative. Otherwise, if he misses this opportunity, he will likely find it difficult to intervene in maritime trade in the future.

Thinking of this, he bowed again and said in a firm tone:

"Your Majesty, although I have not held a position in the court for a long time, I still have some understanding of the situation of Ming Dynasty's maritime trade. If Your Majesty trusts me, I am willing to contribute to Ming Dynasty's maritime trade to ensure the stable development of this vital industry during the reform period. At the same time, I can also cultivate a group of maritime trade talents loyal to the imperial power for the court, so as to completely break the situation where the Li family has absolute control at the central level and the Zheng family secretly dominates the local areas."

Zhu Cilang narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze lingering on Zhang Mingzhen for a moment, and finally a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He nodded gently and said slowly, "Hou Fu, you really did not disappoint me."

Zhang Mingzhen breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. He knew he had successfully entered the chess game set by Zhu Cilang, and he was about to occupy a crucial position in this game.

With the establishment of the Maritime Customs Office, the formation of the Four Great Naval Armies, and the reorganization of the Li family's maritime trade system, the entire maritime trade landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. Even Zhang Mingzhen, who once dominated the seas, can no longer threaten the imperial court's centralized power with his personal strength.

The strict supervision of the Maritime Customs and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce meant that even if he could still get a share of the maritime trade, he would only be a "legitimate" manager and it would be difficult for him to use maritime trade as a force independent of the court.

In other words, Zhu Cilang's reforms were both a profound adjustment to the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade system and a reshuffle of the court's internal power structure. He aimed not only to completely revitalize Ming Dynasty overseas trade but also to ensure that no single power outside the court could gain unchecked influence.

Zhang Mingzhen remained composed as he listened quietly to Zhu Cilang's analysis. After a moment's silence, Zhu Cilang slowly raised his head, gazed at him intently, and spoke with a hint of a meaningful smile, "Hou Fu's words are quite sensible. Without both civil and military proficiency and prestige, it would be difficult for someone to hold such a high position."

Hearing this, Zhang Mingzhen straightened his back, his chest rising and falling slightly. The ideal candidate he had just described was actually tailor-made for his own characteristics. In the Ming Dynasty, when it came to managing naval warfare, trade, and even the situation in Southeast Asia, who else but Zhang Mingzhen could truly handle it?

Zhu Cilang's lips curled up slightly as he continued, "If the Ming Dynasty wants to gain a foothold on the sea, it will inevitably face conflict with the red-haired barbarians. The Dutch are attempting to bypass us and trade directly with Japan, even aiming to monopolize the South China Sea trade and become the dominant force at sea. The Spanish are also keeping a tight watch on our Ming merchants in places like Luzon and Taipei, and could raise their butcher knives at any moment."

Hearing this, Zhang Mingzhen's expression changed slightly. He was well aware of the complex and ever-changing overseas situation, but now that the emperor had spoken out, it meant that the court was no longer solely focused on the land, but had officially set its sights on the vast ocean. (End of this chapter)