Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

"Your Majesty is absolutely right!" Zhang Mingzhen immediately clasped his hands and said, "There are Ming people in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and other places. If we can properly guide them, they can become a powerful force, helping our Ming Dynasty gain a foothold overseas and consolidate the foundation of maritime trade. Otherwise, they will be slaughtered by the red-haired barbarians and become prey to other countries!"

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, looked at Zhang Mingzhen with a sharp gaze, and continued:

"In recent years, the maritime trade of our Ming Dynasty has grown rapidly, but this has also attracted the covetousness of foreign barbarians. To truly control the order at sea, relying on rules and regulations alone is not enough; a strong and independent naval force is also needed. The red-haired barbarians are ambitious. If we can't deal with them and fight them without breaking them, once we become enemies, we must have the strength to confront them head-on. And this is definitely not something that ordinary people can do."

Zhou Shixian, standing nearby, then interjected thoughtfully, "Your Majesty's concerns are precisely the most pressing. Maritime trade not only involves enormous profits but also concerns the very lifeblood of our nation. The current situation is vastly different from before. Without someone truly capable of navigating the storm, I'm afraid these reforms will struggle to achieve long-term results."

He paused, then asked himself, "But it's really not easy to find such a talent..."

Zhang Mingzhen smiled slightly, gave Zhu Cilang a meaningful look, and said firmly, "If these red-haired barbarians really dare to attack the people of our Ming Dynasty as Your Majesty has said, then we must let them know who has the final say in this sea area! Otherwise, they will really think that no one in our Ming Dynasty dares to challenge us!"

Zhu Cilang slowly stood up, his eyes swept over Zhang Mingzhen, and with some indescribable deep meaning in his eyes, he said:
"The Zheng family had long been dissatisfied with the red-haired barbarians who were eyeing the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade. They had always believed that the Dutch, Portuguese, and even Spanish might not be able to truly suppress the Ming Dynasty's navy on the turbulent seas.

What's more, the people of the Ming Dynasty have taken root in Taiwan, Siam, Cambodia and other places. As long as these forces are carefully managed, they can become an indispensable force and even lay a solid foundation for the Ming Dynasty to regain its voice at sea.

"Your Majesty and the Prince Consort are absolutely right!" Zhang Mingzhen's expression stern, his chest heaving slightly, his eyes gleaming with a sharp edge, his tone brimming with arrogance and ruthlessness: "Maritime business is always bloody. If we don't burn a few of their ships and make them lose hundreds or even thousands of lives, why should all that silver go into the pockets of us Ming people?"

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly. He knew Zhang Mingzhen's character well - tough, decisive, and swift in his actions. More importantly, he would never tolerate foreigners committing atrocities within the Ming Dynasty's sphere of influence.

At this moment, Zhu Cilang's eyes were calm, and he slowly spoke: "Hou Fu is indeed well versed in the ways of the sea. This sea is ultimately a battlefield where the strong prey on the weak. Whoever has the bigger and more artillery can call the shots and set the rules. Otherwise, they will just be thrown into the sea to feed the fish!"

"Sir Zhang, if you are willing to come out of retirement, His Majesty won't have to worry about such trivial matters anymore. What a pity, what a pity..." Zhou Shixian sighed lightly, his tone regretful. If someone didn't know his background, they would probably think he was expressing his feelings sincerely.

At this moment, Zhu Cilang did not rush to express his opinion, but looked at Zhang Mingzhen quietly, his eyes deep and firm. He did not say anything extra, because he knew that Zhou Shixian's words had already revealed his true intentions, and he believed that Zhang Mingzhen would definitely understand.

As expected, Zhang Mingzhen's heart trembled slightly. Since leaving his position, he'd been living in seclusion, though he jokingly called it seclusion. But deep down, his passion for maritime adventures had never cooled. He knew this opportunity was right before his eyes. If he let it go, he feared it would never come again.

However, as a minister who had been away from the center of power for a long time, he couldn't appear too eager, otherwise it would arouse Zhu Cilang's suspicion and even make the young emperor wary. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to suppress his inner impulse.

However, seeing that Zhang Mingzhen was still hesitant, Zhou Shixian sighed inwardly, then changed his strategy and began to list several possible replacement candidates one by one - analyzing their backgrounds, abilities, and shortcomings one by one, and finally rejecting them one by one in an orderly manner.

Zhu Cilang listened, occasionally nodding in approval. Zhang Mingzhen, on the other hand, alternately pondered and sighed, seeming to be deeply regretful. After this deduction, all three of them realized that, in terms of experience, ability, and prestige at sea, there was no other suitable person in the court. Only Zhang Mingzhen could handle this position!

Under this carefully planned situation, Zhang Mingzhen's ability was recognized and he gained face. At the same time, his attitude did not seem anxious, but rather calm. Finally, under Zhou Shixian's "regret" and Zhu Cilang's "expectation", he finally spoke slowly:
"Never mind. I originally wanted to rest at home and study carpentry, but I never thought that Your Majesty and the officials in the court still had expectations of me. If the Ming Dynasty needs me, I will do my best."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhu Cilang's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. This "persuasion" had finally come to an end. Now that this last layer of window paper had been broken, the conversation between the three of them finally no longer needed to be evasive and could get straight to the point.

Zhu Cilang adjusted his sitting posture slightly and said in a deep voice, "Since Hou Fu is willing to return to the throne, that is exactly what I want. Today's matter is not only to revive maritime trade, but also to completely rebuild the maritime power of the Ming Dynasty. Currently, the Li family's maritime caravans are dominant. I intend to reorganize them to no longer be a monopoly, strengthen the power of other caravans, and promote the further development of Southeast Asian trade, even expanding to more western regions."

Zhang Mingzhen narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this, lost in thought. He knew this wasn't just a simple adjustment to the maritime trade layout, but also a reorganization of maritime power. It could even be said that this was a personal test and power-reduction exercise by the Emperor against the Li family.

Zhu Cilang paused, then continued, "I am well aware that merchants are driven by profit. If Ming Dynasty maritime trade is still monopolized by one or two factions, it will become too powerful to be controlled in the long run. Therefore, I have decided to strengthen the court's direct intervention in maritime trade, while also cultivating emerging maritime merchant forces to form a counterbalance with the Li family."

Hearing this, Zhang Mingzhen nodded silently. He knew that, despite Zhu Cilang's youth, he already possessed a deep understanding of statecraft. If they simply supported the Li family, they would simply become a maritime hegemon with a different name. However, if they broke the monopoly and allowed all factions to compete, the interests of the Ming Dynasty would be maximized.

After a moment's contemplation, Zhang Mingzhen slowly said, "Your Majesty's concerns are quite true. To control maritime trade, the imperial court must take the lead, with merchants as a supporting force, to ensure that national interests are not eroded. I am willing to share your concerns and rectify maritime trade affairs."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Cilang's smile widened. Zhang Mingzhen had originally assumed that Zhu Cilang's maritime trade strategy would proceed according to his previous assumptions, so he wasn't surprised by the previous plans. Lately, he'd heard rumors that His Majesty was making significant moves in the trade sector. But when the conversation turned to the Spanish in Luzon and the complex international trade relationships behind them, he was somewhat surprised.

He listened to Zhu Cilang's analysis in silence, a wave of shock rising within him. Only after careful reflection did he realize the profound meaning of His Majesty's words—it turned out that maritime trade was more than just transporting silver for barter. It involved far more than just coastal merchants and imperial tax revenue; it encompassed a web of intertwined interests across East Asia, Southeast Asia, and even the Western powers.

Zhang Mingzhen considered himself well-informed. After all, he had witnessed the turbulent times of the Ming Dynasty over the years, experiencing countless ups and downs, and he thought he had a clear understanding of the general trend of the world. However, today, in front of Zhu Cilang, he suddenly felt that his vision was too narrow.

His Majesty, despite his youth, has such a clear understanding of the world situation and has even begun planning for the future. This vision is truly admirable. He naturally knows that the greatest wealth generated by maritime trade is silver. He also understands that Japan, with its abundant copper, silver, and even gold, occupies a special position in East Asian trade.

However, when Zhu Cilang explained how Japan, Luzon, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal were interconnected and mutually constrained in the global trade chain, he realized that his understanding of international trade was so superficial.

Zhu Cilang looked at Zhang Mingzhen's slightly furrowed brow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. He then continued, "After the integration, we will operate the caravan as a joint-stock company. This will not only enable us to more effectively manage resources from all parties, but will also maximize the enthusiasm of all sectors of society."

He paused, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Not only those original business families, but also our military generals, officials from various departments, and even wealthy merchants from Jiangnan and other places can subscribe to shares and share in the profits. Unlike previous collusion between officials and businessmen, the essence of this plan is to completely bind merchants, the military, and civil servants into the Ming Dynasty's maritime trade system, forming a community of shared interests."

Zhang Mingzhen was slightly shocked when he heard this and couldn't help asking, "Your Majesty, is this move intended to weaken the influence of the aristocratic families in the court?"

Zhu Cilang smiled slightly, his tone leisurely, "There's no need to be so blunt. I simply believe that in the past, the wealth of the Ming Dynasty was controlled by a few people. From now on, I want to transform it into a truly dynamic and large-scale system. All those willing to work for the Ming Dynasty should have the opportunity to grow their wealth."

He turned his gaze to the maritime trade sketch on the table and continued:

"The structure of this joint-stock company isn't much different from our old trading companies, but it requires some minor adjustments. The key lies in how to ensure the rights of investors while preventing capital from completely overriding the imperial court. Therefore, in terms of institutional design, I have decided to adopt a 'same shares, different voting rights' model—officials and the military can hold shares, but are prohibited from interfering in specific operational rights. While ordinary merchants can lead day-to-day affairs, major decisions still require the final decision of the imperial court."

His tone was calm, but the meticulous planning revealed in his words made Zhang Mingzhen and Zhou Shixian nod involuntarily. This move would both maintain market vitality and prevent merchants from becoming too powerful and undermining the authority of the imperial court.

Zhu Cilang continued, "Furthermore, the army must maintain its enterprising spirit and aggressiveness, something a stable land can never provide. Only maritime trade, which is full of risks, struggles, and extremely profitable, can ensure that our army always maintains its fighting spirit and desire to advance!"

He stood up, hands behind his back, and gazed out the window with a deep gaze: "In the future, when we have completely defeated the surrounding enemies and restored the entire Ming Dynasty, and we are truly free to do so, our ultimate destination will definitely be the ocean. The ocean is our future territory, wealth, and backbone!"

Zhang Mingzhen's heart trembled upon hearing this. He suddenly realized that Zhu Cilang's gaze was no longer limited to trade along the southeastern coast, but was now focused on a much wider world—the entire ocean, the vast seas, and the world that had yet to be truly ruled by the Eastern Dynasty!

"So this is the real reason why His Majesty chose a joint-stock trading company." Zhang Mingzhen murmured in a low voice, with complex emotions in his eyes.

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly, looking at him with a piercing gaze. "Hou Fu, you've always been in charge of the navy. You should know the current state of the Ming navy better than anyone else. Whether our warships and our navy can survive future ocean campaigns, and whether we can gain an advantage against the Western powers, depends on how we build a truly powerful maritime system in this era."

Zhang Mingzhen pondered for a moment, then slowly stood up, bowed, and said solemnly, "Since Your Majesty has decided on this plan, I am willing to do my utmost to help the Ming Dynasty step into a broader world!"

Zhou Shixian watched the two men's heated exchange from the sidelines, his heart awash with mixed emotions. He had originally assumed this meeting was merely a discussion of how to adjust trade policy, but he had never imagined that His Majesty's plans were far more far-reaching than he had anticipated.

Zhu Cilang smiled and said slowly, "Okay, if that's the case, then from today on, we will officially begin the integration of caravans, the implementation of a shareholding system, and the reconstruction of the maritime trade system. I want this ocean to truly become the golden land of the Ming Dynasty, rather than a mere possession of other countries."

Zhu Cilang took a sip of tea and smiled slightly, his eyes revealing profound meaning:
"The Zheng family rose to prominence as maritime merchants, dominating the southeast for over a decade and remaining a major force in coastal trade. Profit-seeking individuals abound—whether in the military or at court, everyone is well aware of the enormous profits to be made from maritime trade. While the general public still places greater trust in land, believing it to be a secure asset, that's only a plan for them once they've earned enough money.

Nowadays, everyone knows that maritime trade can bring huge wealth. With such an opportunity before us, even the most cowardly person would be tempted to give it a try. (End of this chapter)