Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 756 A simple exchange of words

Shen was taken aback by Shen Guangzuo's rhetorical question. A doubt instantly arose in his mind, and the smile on his face slowly froze. He even began to suspect that Shen Guangzuo's visit today was simply because he had received a summons from the Ministry of Revenue and wanted to persuade him to join him in opposing the "tax reform" policy.

But upon further reflection, Shen felt something was amiss. Shen Guangzuo's visit wasn't sudden; his visiting card had been delivered last month, while the summons from the Ministry of Revenue had only arrived at the Shuntian Prefecture office today. Moreover, this topic wasn't something Shen Guangzuo had brought up himself.
After a moment's thought, Shen suppressed his doubts. He didn't say a word more, but simply nodded slightly, adopting an extremely confident demeanor, and said, "That's right, replacing silver with paper money benefits both the country and the people. There is no better policy in the world!"

"Why?" Shen Guangzuo asked almost instinctively.

“Of course it’s because…” Shen’s brows furrowed slightly, but quickly relaxed. “Your Majesty is wise!”

In reality, Shen did not entirely agree with the policy of "replacing silver with paper money." However, his more than half a year as a cabinet minister had already allowed him to understand the mind of the emperor on the throne. Although the current emperor was not the kind of monarch who would do things his own way and not listen to any advice, he was by no means the kind of person who could be easily changed by his subjects, especially when the emperor's will was already set.

Although the emperor has not yet formally discussed the establishment of banks and the promotion of banknotes with the cabinet or the Ministry of Revenue, all indications suggest that his mind has long been made up. The full implementation of the policy is only a matter of time. Forcing a remonstrance would only cause him distress and serve no other purpose.

Shen was powerless to dissuade him, nor did he want to, so there was no need for him to say anything beyond support.

Moreover, speaking too frankly with someone you barely know is a major taboo in officialdom. Although Shen Guangzu was also from Zhejiang, he was never a close confidant of Shen's. Shen was always wary and naturally wouldn't reveal any thoughts that might give others ammunition against him in front of such an outsider.

However, Shen didn't mind testing Shen Guangzuo's resolve. He looked at Shen Guangzuo with a half-smile on his face: "Judging from your expression, Brother Yanfu, are you still prepared to continue to argue the pros and cons and oppose this matter, just like before?"

Shen Guangzuo believed from the bottom of his heart that the current emperor's policy of "replacing silver with paper money," which bypassed the court and was pushed forward by eunuchs, was essentially a replica of Hongwu's "precious paper money" system. Although, to date, every silver note was backed by real silver, the emperor, seemingly having learned from the lessons of the precious paper money system, was preparing to repatriate the silver notes through taxation.

However, this method of rapidly expanding the national treasury and increasing revenue solely through printing money is inherently prone to inciting the monarch's boundless greed. Even if the current emperor is wise and knows how to exercise restraint, who can guarantee that future rulers will not repeat the same mistake of endlessly printing money, causing the currency to plummet, the people's wealth to be plundered, and ultimately the court's prestige to be completely destroyed?

In Shen Guangzuo's view, it would be better to nip this dangerous loophole in the bud from the very beginning than to experience another cyclical catastrophe a hundred years later.

However, Shen Guangzu was nearly sixty years old. Having navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for decades, he was certainly aware of Shen's unwavering obsequiousness. If, at this moment, one were to presumptuously analyze the pros and cons and launch into a lengthy argument of opposition, there would be no point in even asking for favors later.

Shen Guangzuo remained silent for a moment, his gaze shifting slightly from Shen's face to the painting "The Sixth Patriarch Chopping Bamboo," his tone becoming increasingly gentle: "It's not that I object. It's just that... I inevitably have some concerns."

"Concerns?" Shen immediately pressed, "What are your concerns, Brother Yanfu?"

Shen Guangzuo was silent for a while: "Issuance is excessive. I'm afraid that one day these banknotes will be issued indiscriminately like the paper money."

Shen's expression remained unchanged, and he showed no intention of delving into the discussion with Shen Guangzuo. Instead, he pressed on with increasingly sharp questions: "So, what are you planning to do when you go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow, Brother Yanfu?"

Shen Guangzuo's pupils contracted slightly, and he shook his head helplessly: "If the Ministry of Revenue decides to proceed, Shuntian Prefecture has no choice but to comply."

Shen smiled gently: "Wang Wuyuan is so eager to invite Brother Yanfu to his residence for discussion, it certainly isn't to hear any objections."

The world has no shortage of capable and obedient officials. If Wang Yingjiao was unwilling to act according to the emperor's wishes, then simply replacing him with a new Minister of Revenue would suffice. Besides, Wang Yingjiao was the kind of person who, upon his first audience with the emperor, proactively proposed reforming officialdom, surveying land, and increasing commercial taxes. In Shen's view, how could such a shrewd person, adept at understanding the emperor's intentions, possibly contradict him upon assuming office? He even began to suspect that the Ministry of Revenue's hasty issuance of the summons to Shuntian Prefecture was due to instructions from the palace.

Shen Guangzuo also smiled, but his smile seemed somewhat dry.

At this moment, a servant came to serve Shen tea and snacks. Shen seemed to be a little thirsty, so he picked up the teacup from the tray. While skimming off the floating tea with the lid, he gently blew on the cup to cool it down and said, "Brother Yanfu, you've come here today, surely not just to talk to me about the Ministry of Revenue?"

Shen Guangzuo was clearly taken aback. This topic was obviously brought up by Shen himself and explored in depth, but now he was speaking as if he, Shen Guangzuo, had come specifically for this.
Although Shen Guangzuo was perfectly aware of the situation, he wouldn't be foolish enough to point it out. He forced a smile and replied, "Brother Mingzhen, you are wise enough to know that I have come here today with another matter to ask you about."

"Brother Yanfu, please speak freely." Shen put down his teacup, smiled, and gestured for him to continue.

"Recently, there have been rumors in the capital that the imperial court's dispatch of troops to Shandong is not to defend against Japanese pirates, but to cross the sea to Korea." Shen Guangzuo took a light breath. "Brother Mingzhen, I would like to ask if this is true?"

Shen was taken aback again upon hearing this. He had no idea why Shen Guangzuo wanted to ask him about this. "Brother Yanfu," Shen thought to himself, while calmly asking in return, "Where did you hear about this?"

"Rumors circulating, I don't know if they're true or not," Shen Guangzuo said, his tongue quickly brushing against his slightly dry lips, "so I've come to ask Brother Mingzhen for some confirmation."

"Rumors circulating in the streets." Shen frowned slightly and pressed, "Which street is this rumor from? And it's so detailed and convincing?"

"I heard about this from one of my servants when he went out to buy things," Shen Guangzuo shook his head. "After hearing it, I was so shocked that I forgot to investigate which neighborhood or alley it came from."

"When did Brother Yanfu hear this rumor?" Shen pressed.

“In other words,” Shen Guangzuo pondered for a moment, “the last two days.”

Shen Guangzuo lied. To be less precise, as early as late last month, when Shen Guangzuo received Mao Wenlong's vague letter of request, he had already vaguely suspected something unusual was happening in Liaodong. However, the letter was so cryptic and nonsensical that after reading through it all, Shen Guangzuo only understood that Mao Wenlong felt a promotion opportunity was before him and wanted his uncle, Shen Guangzuo, to lobby on his behalf in the capital. As for the reason for the promotion, and the official position he was requesting, there was no mention of it. Shen Guangzuo was furious as he read the letter. If it weren't for the earnest words in the letter and the accompanying 1,000 taels of "funding for activities," Shen Guangzuo would have even suspected that the brat was just toying with him.

For Shen Guangzuo, a thousand taels of silver was not a huge sum, but Mao Wenlong sending such a large amount of money was a clear indication that the matter was not false. So, while Shen Guangzuo wrote to Liaodong, urging Mao Wenlong to explain the whole story, he also began to secretly plan and prepare to help him.

"These past two days?" Shen Guangzuo looked at Shen Guangzuo, his eyes filled with even more deep thought.

Shen Guangzu felt uneasy under Shen's gaze, so he took the initiative to ask, "Brother Mingzhen, is this news really just a rumor?"

"Hmm," Shen said, feigning an air of knowing the inside story but unwilling to elaborate, "It's not exactly a rumor. I just didn't expect the news to spread so quickly."

Shen Guangzuo was taken aback by Shen's act, completely unaware that the Grand Secretary in front of him had been kept in the dark by the Emperor: "So, the court has really sent troops to Korea?"

"Yes. Since Brother Yanfu has already heard, then I won't hide it from you." Shen wasn't guilty at all. His expression remained unchanged, and his tone was as certain as if he had participated in the entire decision-making process. "The imperial court has indeed sent troops to Korea. The main force consists of the Beijing garrison and Shandong troops. In addition, there is a battalion of troops from Liaodong who were transferred to Korea, most of whom are from Zhejiang. The army swore an oath to cross the sea on the first day of the fifth month. Judging by the time, the royal army should have already entered Seoul and deposed that incompetent and tyrannical emperor."

"Deposed!?" Shen Guangzuo was truly taken aback this time.

“Yes,” Shen’s eyes flickered slightly as he looked at him with a hint of inquiry, “Brother Yanfu, haven’t you already heard about it?”

Shen Guangzuo hurriedly shook his head, his face still showing shock: "I... I only heard bits and pieces that the court's dispatch of troops to Shandong was a feint, not a covert operation. I didn't know they were going to depose the king." Combined with Mao Wenlong's letter, he at most thought the court wanted to strengthen the defenses of Korea. He never expected that they would actually carry out the deposition and installation of a new king.

"How could that be?" Shen asked. "Brother Yanfu, you must have read the memorial written by our Grand Minister Xu, right?"

"A memorial to the emperor?" Shen Guangzuo asked blankly. "What memorial to the emperor?"

"It was in the 47th year of the Wanli reign, after the recent defeat in Liaoyou, that Grand Minister Xu submitted his memorial, 'The Peril in Liaozuo is Extremely Difficult.'" Shen's brows furrowed involuntarily at the mention of Xu Guangqi.

"The 47th year of the Wanli reign." Shen Guangzu recalled for a moment, then shook his head. "At that time, I should still be serving in Guangdong, and I haven't heard of any memorial titled 'The Dangers of Liaodong Are Extremely Severe.' What does this matter have to do with that memorial?"

"What does it have to do with anything? Hehe," Shen chuckled softly. "The proposal to supervise Korea and depose the king was first put forward by Xu Guangqi in that memorial."

Shen Guangzuo was taken aback at first, then a look of sudden realization appeared on his face: "So that's how it is! No wonder he could..."

Shen Zheng picked up his teacup, paused slightly upon hearing this, raised his eyes, and asked seemingly casually, "Can...can what?"

Shen Guangzu swallowed hard, swallowing back the words that were about to come out, and said something more neutral: "No wonder Xu Zixian was able to gain the Emperor's favor."

"Hmph, yes, he is indeed highly valued." Shen took a sip of tea, his voice seeming to deepen: "So, Brother Yanfu came to my residence today to inquire about matters concerning Korea?"

"Yes." Shen Guangzuo nodded. "I apologize for bothering you today. Firstly, I wish to verify the authenticity of this matter with Brother Mingzhen. Secondly, I would like to ask, after a slight pause, how exactly is the imperial court deploying its forces in Korea?"

"The imperial court's deployment in Korea." Shen's brows furrowed completely. "Why is Brother Yanfu asking about this? This matter doesn't seem to have anything to do with Shuntian Prefecture, does it?" He was quite certain that Shen Guangzuo had just lied.

Shen Guangzuo couldn't see Shen's expression, but his face still became uneasy: "Mao Wenlong, does Brother Mingzhen know him?"

“Mao Wenlong…” Shen’s eyes twitched slightly, and he quickly recalled that he seemed to have heard about this person from Cui Jingrong recently. “That Zhenjiang guerrilla?”

“It’s him!” Shen Guangzu nodded quickly.

"What's wrong with him?" Shen put down his teacup and looked at Shen Guangzuo. "Is he an old acquaintance of Brother Yanfu? Or..."

“To be honest,” Shen Guangzu licked his slightly dry lips, his voice lower, “Mao Wenlong… is my nephew.”

Shen's brows relaxed slightly, and a look of surprise and realization flashed in his eyes at the same time: "Nephew?"

“He is my eldest sister’s son.” Shen Guangzuo nodded, a look of reminiscence on his face. “He was orphaned at the young age of nine, and his family fell into poverty. Although the Mao family had some savings, they couldn’t support three children, and later they were almost destitute. As his uncle, I couldn’t bear to see them like this, so I took them in and raised them alongside my own children.” Shen Guangzuo picked up his teacup, skimming off the floating tea leaves as he sipped.

“At first, I also hoped that he could devote himself to the imperial examination and bring glory to the family, so I hired famous teachers to teach him. But alas,” Shen Guangzu shook his head and smiled bitterly, “this child is naturally unruly and unrestrained. He doesn’t care about production, nor does he admire poetry and literature. He only has a fondness for discussing military strategy and swordsmanship. I remember once he was drinking with several of my disciples in a restaurant. When he was halfway through the drinks, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table and shouted, ‘A true man should not rest until he is ennobled!’ Everyone present was shocked.”

"Later," Shen Guangzuo continued, a complex emotion in his voice, "an old friend of mine, well-versed in military strategy, visited. During the gathering, he explained 'Sun Tzu' and 'Wu Zi.' Wenlong overheard this and became completely engrossed. Afterward, he begged me to lend him those military books. I didn't think much of it at first, but who knew that after he got the books, he would read them day and night, never putting them down. When discussing military formations, tactics, and the interplay of surprise and deception, he would often come up with unique insights, which amazed even my military-savvy friend, who remarked that this young man might have innate talent. Seeing his enthusiasm and talent for military affairs, I stopped insisting that he pursue the orthodox path of the imperial examinations."

(End of this chapter)