I was compiling the daily records during the Wanli reign

Seven days later.

Korean merchant Park In-gui returned to the Liaodong General's Office with 30,000 taels of silver.

He claimed to have found four partners, and the five of them together guaranteed annual sales of one million taels of goods.

However, due to a lack of prior preparation, he first put down 30,000 taels of silver as a deposit, and would make up the remaining 70,000 taels within a month as a deposit (i.e., earnest money) for the purchase of ten standard seven-masted armed merchant ships.

The other four partners will also put up a deposit of 100,000 taels within three months to obtain priority trading rights in Jibei Port.

Park In-gui was in such a hurry because he had heard some news about the Ming Dynasty's construction of Jibei Port and was worried that if he waited any longer, there would be no more spots available.

These messages were naturally sent out by Shen Nian's people.

Immediately, Shen Nian had Zhang Xueyan sign the contract with him.

After Shen Nian finished making the sample, he handed over the task of selling the priority trade rights of Jibei Port to Zhang Xueyan, the governor of Jiliao.

Over the next two years, the construction of Jibei Port, Jibei Shipyard, and even Dongfang Port will all depend on this money.

Shen Nian will continue to give special treatment to the first batch of merchants who settled in Jibei Port, so that they can make a lot of money.

In this way, people will be willing to go to the even more remote Eastern Port.

What Shen Nian needs to do next is to ensure that Jibei Port can be operational by next spring.

At the same time, he needed to attract many merchants from the Ming Dynasty to Jibei Port and get them to prepare sufficient goods.

Examples include: raw silk, satin, porcelain, tea, medicinal herbs, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

These are all hard currencies for export.

Once Jibei Port is operational, specialties from Jiliao, Jurchen, and Mongolia can be sold through this port, giving Shen Nian a continuous source of profitable trade.

With money, they had the confidence to build Winter City and Eastern Harbor.

……

Before we knew it, it was October.

October in Liaoyang is quite cold, and Shen Nian has to wear a mink coat when she goes out.

Currently, the three main lines planned by Shen Nian are progressing in an orderly manner, with minor setbacks but no major problems.

……

This afternoon.

Li Chengliang arrived at the back hall of the Liaodong Metropolitan Censorate, where Shen Nian handled official business.

He sat down on a chair to the side and said, "Ziheng, I want to discuss something with you, something I've wanted to do for a long time!"

Shen Nian thought for a moment and said, "Lord Ningyuan, if you want to increase military spending, I advise you not to ask. I'm already being very lenient by not touching the Liaodong military spending. I'm very poor right now!"

At present, Shen Nian is short of money, and he has decided to use all the money he earns for trade between Ji and Liao.

He would not touch the military funds allocated by the court to Jiliao, nor would he increase the military funds for Jiliao. After three years, the court would stop paying the military funds, and the military expenses would have to be borne by the taxes of Jiliao.

Li Chengliang slightly pursed his lips.

“Ziheng, what kind of person do you think I, Li Chengliang, am? I’m not asking you for money. On the contrary, I’m prepared to fund the construction of an academy myself.”

"Huh?" Shen Nian's eyes lit up, and she stood up in surprise, asking, "Is it like the Jingwu Academy?"

"No, our Liaodong soldiers learn in actual combat, so there is no need for further martial arts training."

"Recently, I've been listening to Elder Hai's lectures and I've become quite engrossed in them. You know, I come from a military family in Liaodong. My family was poor when I was young, and I have no means of support. Currently, I have to have my memorials written by my staff, unlike General Qi, who came from a military family and was well-versed in military strategy. I want to build a scholar's academy similar to Wansong Academy, Bailuzhou Academy, and Xiangshan Academy!"

"I will personally fund the construction and appoint Elder Hai as the supervisor (second-in-command of the academy) to be in charge of lecturing. You need to speak to Elder Hai about this, and then you will need to find more than ten renowned local scholars for me."

"No problem, but it's not really appropriate for me to be the headmaster. I might not have that much free time to manage the academy's affairs!" Shen Nian saw that he had placed Hai Rui in the position of supervisor, which was tantamount to making him the headmaster.

Li Chengliang blushed and pointed to himself.

"I'm funding this myself, so naturally I'm thinking of becoming the headmaster. After I retire in a few years, I'll take charge of the academy and write some books, including a few military treatises. As for you, you can be an instructor when you have time. I've already thought of a name for the academy: Chengliang Academy, meaning that everyone can become a pillar of society!"

"Hahahaha... What pillar of society? Aren't you just thinking of naming it after yourself?" Shen Nian and Li Chengliang have become close friends despite their age difference, and their relationship is such that they can tease each other at will.

He never imagined that Li Chengliang, this battle maniac and burly man, would have a dream of entering the literary world and writing books.

Li Chengliang's face turned red again.

"Ziheng, this is going too far! I paid for it myself, so why can't I be the headmaster and name the academy after myself?"

"No problem! I just find it a bit funny, but I fully support it. As long as I don't have to spend any money, I can help with anything else. My father and father-in-law know many great scholars in Jiangnan. I'll tell them about this later and have them write letters to invite these scholars over!"

"That's wonderful! I've already chosen a location, and Chengliang Academy will be built soon."

"By the way, don't tell Zhang Ziyu (Zhang Xueyan) yet. I want to give him a surprise. If he knew right now, he'd probably be laughing even harder than you!"

“Okay!” Shen Nian replied.

Immediately, Li Chengliang put his hands behind his back and swaggered away from Shen Nian's office. He was already imagining what it would be like to become the headmaster of the academy.

Shen Nian couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

Some people become more endearing with age, and Li Chengliang is clearly one of them. He detests war more than anyone else and thus dreams of becoming a scholar.

……

October 25th, afternoon.

Shen Nian finished her short rest and was just about to sit down to handle her official business.

Qi Hu strode in and reported, "Your Excellency, Shen Maoxue, the Trade Commissioner of Liaodong, requests an audience!"

"Jun Dian is here? Quick! Invite him in!" Shen Nian said. Shen Maoxue was in charge of site selection for Dongcheng and Dongfang Port, and had not been heard from since he parted ways with Shen Nian at the end of May.

Now that he has come all the way from Kaiyuan City, which is more than 300 miles away from Liaoyang, he must have something important to report.

soon.

Shen Maoxue, covered in dust and carrying a bundle, strode in from outside.

Judging from his appearance, he had obviously come running.

"Your humble servant Shen Maoxue pays his respects to Minister Shen!" Shen Maoxue knelt down and bowed.

Shen Nian quickly walked up to Shen Maoxue and said, "Jundian, get up quickly. There's no need for such a grand ceremony unless there are outsiders present!"

Then, Shen Nian looked at the servant beside her and said, "Quickly prepare hot water and towels."

Shen Maoxue tidied his long hair that was scattered at his temples and said, "Minister, could you please give me something to eat first? I... I haven't eaten all day because I'm rushing on my way!"

"Bring some snacks and tea first, then prepare the meal!" Shen Nian said.

"A little snack and tea will suffice, Minister. I...I have something important to report to you!"

"No rush, no rush, let's fill our stomachs first and then talk about it!" Shen Nian said she wasn't in a hurry, but she was actually very excited.

Shen Maoxue was not the kind of official who would report to Shen Nian every time he did something small. He must have achieved something great to rush over three hundred miles to report to Shen Nian.

soon.

Two plates of snacks and tea were served to Shen Maoxue.

This former top scholar and renowned scholar ate snacks and drank tea with gusto.

Those who don't know him might mistake him for a rude and uncouth warrior.

Shen Maoxue wolfed down his snacks, then quickly took out his bundle and pulled out a map made of animal hide.

He spread the map out on the table and pointed to one of the spots, saying, "Minister, the location of the Eastern Port you want should be right here. It's situated at the southernmost tip of a peninsula, completely sheltered from the northeast monsoon and sea storms, making it perfect for ships to dock."

Shen Nian looked at the map and, after careful observation, confirmed that the place Shen Maoxue was pointing to was Vladivostok in later generations.

What is the current situation in this place?

"Currently, this place is under the control of the East Sea Jurchen Warka tribe. No port has been formed here. Within a radius of 300 miles, there are less than a thousand people. The Jurchens living here live by fishing for sea cucumbers and fish and hunting wild animals. They are very backward. No tribe is willing to fight for this place. It is a completely uncivilized and barbaric land!"

Upon hearing that this place was still in a primitive tribal state, with no tribes fighting over it, Shen Nian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

The more primitive it is, the easier it is to build.

Shen Maoxue continued, "I have already sent people to the East Sea Jurchen Warka tribe. They will bring back more detailed maps and information about the local indigenous people around the end of the year."

"Currently, I have two ideas."

"Firstly, we can conquer by force. We can assemble a fleet of warships to sail directly to this place. A thousand soldiers would be enough to drive away all the Jurchens. We can then possess as much land as we want. We can build high walls and send soldiers to guard them. Inside the high walls, we can first build a port, then a city. We can also transport our workers, materials, and daily necessities by sea to avoid attacks from the Jurchens!"

"Secondly, we should negotiate with the Warka tribe of the Eastern Sea Jurchens to buy that land, let them find another place to live, and then send troops to guard it, build a port and a city!"

After hearing this, Shen Nian couldn't help but shake her head.

"We're there to do business, to help Han Chinese, Koreans, Jurchens, and Mongols live together in harmony. We're not invading, and we certainly won't drive out the original inhabitants. In our eyes, it's a wild and uncivilized place, but in the eyes of those Jurchens from the East China Sea, it's their home!"

“I suggest we buy that place, and not only should we not drive out the natives, but we should also protect their safety and ensure they have enough to eat and wear. Only then will they welcome us and work with us to build this winter city.”

“Here’s what I’m thinking: after buying this place, we’ll first build Dongfang Port, and then we’ll send merchants to collect their goods, such as the bears and deer they hunt, and the ginseng and herbs they pick. These can fetch a lot of money in Jiangnan. We’ll exchange our porcelain, silk, cookware and other practical things with them. What I hope to see is that after Dongfang Port is built, many grass markets will spontaneously form around it. Once there’s trade, teahouses, restaurants and taverns will appear, and then a market town will be formed. As the population grows, a city will gradually form.”

"In my plan, Winter City for the first three years should be a city without walls. As the coordinators, we will establish trade rules within it, welcoming people from all ethnic groups to come and exchange for what they need. Of course, if there are any raiders, we will exterminate them according to Winter City's trade rules. I hope that Winter City, without the protection of walls, can become an orderly city without war, so that kind and peace-loving Han Chinese, Mongols, Jurchens, Koreans, and others will all come to love this place and be willing to make it their home!"

"Once this sense of home is successfully created, and many people begin to settle here permanently and become inseparable from this place, we will launch another appeal: anyone willing to live in Wintertown can become a Wintertown resident. We will issue them identity certificates, and with these certificates, they can receive our protection and fair treatment!"

……

"This is the Winter City I envisioned, the Winter City I want to build: a fair, bustling city, free from discrimination and war, where everyone can find enough to eat and wear. Once this city is successfully built, more people will oppose war and exploitation, and the North will be more peaceful!"

Shen Nian spoke with confidence based on the fighting strength of the soldiers in the northern border of the Ming Dynasty.

Without a strong enough fist, opening a business will not only fail to make money, but will also make you a victim of robbery.

Currently, anyone who dares to rob Ming Dynasty merchants will be killed without a burial place by Shen Nian.

……

Shen Maoxue was stunned; Shen Nian's idea was a hundred stories higher than his.

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Are all those who enter Winter City considered citizens of my Great Ming?"

Shen Maoxue asked a very crucial question.

Shen Nian smiled slightly and said, "We won't force them. Anyone who is willing to come to Dongcheng to develop is a Dongcheng person. If the people of each tribe are willing to become citizens of the Ming Dynasty, we will write Ming Dynasty citizenship on their identity documents. If they are not willing, they can still stay in Dongcheng and become a Dongcheng citizen."

"I have great confidence in our culture. Within ten years, everyone in Winter City will be speaking Chinese and celebrating the customs and festivals of our Great Ming Dynasty, because our culture is profound and inclusive enough to make all foreigners better!"

"Alright, in that case, I will personally go to the East Sea Jurchen Warka tribe to settle this matter completely. Keep this map, and I will return to Kaiyuan City now!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nian glared and said, "Shen Maoxue, are you crazy? At this rate, I think you'll be dead before Dongfang Port is even built!"

"Minister, I...I'm full of energy right now, very excited, and I have plenty of strength!"

Shen Nian glared at him again.

"Listen to me now. You'll rest in Liaoyang for three days, wander around the city, catch up on some sleep, and maybe listen to Elder Hai's lectures. After three days, I'll assign three hundred Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) armed with firearms to escort you to the Warka tribe. The weather will get colder from here on out, so if you can travel by carriage, don't ride a horse. If you have an accident due to overexertion, I won't pity you; I'll scold you severely. Do you understand?"

Shen Maoxue felt a lump in his throat and said, "I understand. I will definitely take care of my health and avoid taking risks or acting impulsively!"

"That's more like it!" A smile immediately appeared on Shen Nian's face. (End of Chapter)