My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 369 The Silver Carriage from Jiangnan Enters the Capital

"Brother Zilin, something terrible has happened!"

Shen Yiguan rushed into the newspaper office and said to Su Ze:

"Brother Zilin, have you heard? After the Honglu Temple held a joint discussion, Grand Secretary Yin returned to the Grand Secretariat and had a big argument with Grand Secretary Zhang. Then Grand Secretary Yin went to request a private audience with the Emperor!"

Su Ze's expression changed upon hearing this.

Requesting a private audience with the emperor is extremely damaging to the unity of the cabinet. Yin Shidan's actions are tantamount to openly turning against Zhang Juzheng!
After listening to the details that Shen Yiguan had found out, Su Ze roughly understood the cause and effect.

Just then, Luo Wanhua asked in confusion:

"How did you know such details, Brother Jianwu?"

Yes, logically speaking, how could Shen Yiguan know such confidential information so clearly? His description was vivid, and he even described the expressions and actions of the several Grand Secretaries.

Shen Yiguan said:
"The news has spread throughout the Secretariat!"

Hearing this, Su Ze had an even bigger headache.

The secretaries of the Secretariat were very strict about political discipline. If this had happened in Li Chunfang's cabinet, Li Chunfang would probably have issued a strict gag order to prevent the secretaries from spreading the news.

If the Grand Secretary issues a gag order, and it involves infighting among cabinet ministers, even if the Secretariat scribes secretly leak the information, it is impossible for them to disclose it so openly, let alone to the point that it becomes known to everyone in the outer court.

As the Grand Secretary and a politically astute and capable minister, was Gao Gong acting intentionally or unintentionally?
Su Ze quickly realized the answer—it must have been intentional!
Making the conflict between Zhang Juzheng and Yin Shidan public was beneficial to Gao Gong, the Grand Secretary.

Zhang Juzheng was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue for many years. After the reforms in recent years, the Ministry of Revenue expanded its power and controlled financial affairs. Its influence over various government departments even exceeded that of the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhang Juzheng served in the cabinet for even longer than Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng also had his own political views, which were not aligned with Gao Gong's.

When Li Chunfang was alive, the two could keep to themselves, but this balance was broken when Gao Gong became the Grand Secretary.

Exposing the conflict between Zhang Juzheng and Yin Shidan would help weaken Zhang Juzheng's authority in the outer court.

This "not issuing a gag order" is Gao Gong's action.

Su Ze never expected that after Li Chunfang left, the Ming Dynasty cabinet would not even be able to maintain a semblance of peace.

Is this the system unleashing its power?

For a moment, Su Ze regretted forcing the passage of this memorial.

But Su Ze quickly shook his head.

The conflict between Yin Shidan and Zhang Juzheng had a long history, and their fundamental differences in political stance were absolutely irreconcilable.

Moreover, Zhang Juzheng was in charge of finances, while Yin Shidan wanted to promote educational reforms; these two points were bound to conflict.

In the original timeline, Yin Shidan also briefly served in the cabinet before resigning after a conflict with Gao Gong.

It can only be said that Yin Shidan has a strong personality, and it would be strange if sparks didn't fly when he clashed with the two powerful Grand Secretaries, Gao and Zhang.

Now it remains to be seen how Yin Shidan will persuade the emperor.
-
The next day, Shen Yiguan came to the newspaper office again, this time bringing detailed information.

"Grand Secretary Yin persuaded His Majesty to open the Hetao Horse Market, using the profits from the Hetao Horse Market to support education in Shaanxi and Gansu!"

"Grand Secretary Yin also vouched for him in his capacity as Grand Secretary, saying that he would persuade Shaanxi officials to levy commercial taxes within a year, and if that failed, he would resign and return to his hometown."

"His Majesty has approved Grand Secretary Yin's request to allocate funds from the Imperial Treasury to help establish schools in Shaanxi and Gansu!"

After listening, Luo Wanhua said with admiration:
"Grand Secretary Yin truly cares for the people of Shaanxi and Gansu!"

Su Ze never expected that Yin Shidan would risk his political future for the sake of establishing schools in Shaanxi and Gansu.

However, Su Ze quickly understood Yin Shidan's actions.

The so-called annual contract meant that whether he could remain in office depended on the emperor's attitude.

If the Longqing Emperor were willing to retain him, Yin Shidan could naturally continue in his post.

His attitude is also a way of putting pressure on officials in Shaanxi and Gansu.

One can only say that Yin Shidan's calculations were so brilliant, but it's unknown how long the Longqing Emperor would live.

Su Ze shook his head. The good news was that his proposal to establish schools in Shaanxi and Gansu had been approved.

The system also popped up a settlement report.

The "Joint Discussion on the Religious Affairs of Huozhelai Gong and Shaanxi-Gansu Religious Affairs" was adopted.

The imperial court established primary schools in the Shaanxi and Gansu regions to educate the people in remote areas.

The gradual popularization of modern education eroded the missionary foundation of a certain religion in Northwest China.

The missionary work of a certain religion in Northwest China was hindered, and a large number of underground churches were destroyed by the government.

However, the large number of graduates trained through the new education system are unable to find enough jobs in the Shaanxi-Gansu region, leading to rising discontent among students in the area.

The dynasty's fate remains unchanged.

[Prestige Value +200]

[Remaining Prestige: 1290]

Su Ze looked at the settlement report; everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

The same principle applies to the increase in literacy rates and the popularization of education.

The increase in the literate population accelerates the spread of ideas, and those who have read books are more easily organized.

With the popularization of education, people who have received an education are naturally not satisfied with doing their original jobs, and therefore need industrial upgrading to provide enough high-end positions.

However, industries cannot upgrade forever, but the pace of education popularization is very fast.

When there is a lack of high-end jobs in society to meet the demand for talent, this can become a source of instability.

Of course, this is not a problem that Su Ze needs to think about right now.

The problems of future generations are for them to worry about; for now, I just need to focus on making the pie bigger.

At this moment, Luo Wanhua asked again:

"What should the court do about the tribute envoy from the Fire God?"

Shen Yiguan said with satisfaction:

"The imperial court has reached a consensus on the issue of the Fire God, so the Grand Herald will naturally not hold back."

"Huo is a vassal state of our Great Ming. It is naturally the duty of a vassal state to pay tribute. However, the tribute envoy from Huo has shown contempt for the court and disrespect for our Great Ming."

"The Grand Herald requests Your Majesty to severely punish this envoy who brings tribute from the fire."

"His Majesty is benevolent. He merely ordered that the Fire God delegation be tattooed on his face and forbade him from setting foot in the Ming Dynasty again, and then expelled the Fire God delegation back."

Luo Wanhua clapped his hands and cheered:
"Excellent! This Fire-wielding delegation has ulterior motives; the imperial court should take action against them!"

Shen Yiguan said again:

"The Grand Herald drafted another ultimatum, warning Prince Zhongshun, Ma Heima, not to harm the Han Chinese people of Huozhe, and to ensure the safety of the Han Chinese people doing business in Huozhe."

"His Majesty also decreed that all ancient temples of the Fire God recorded in the Central Plains books belong to the Han people and must not be destroyed at will."

Su Ze hadn't expected Wang Shizhen to be so tough.

Ancient books from the Central Plains contain numerous records of temples in the Western Regions. This would mean that a large number of temples would be attributed to Han origin.
Shen Yiguan said again:

"The Censorate is also preparing to send an imperial inspector to Jiayuguan to receive the complaints from the monks whose temple property was seized. This temple property must be returned!" Luo Wanhua couldn't help but praise, "The Grand Herald's move is truly brilliant!"

Wang Shizhen had served as an envoy many times, and his diplomatic skills had become unparalleled.

By exploiting the internal conflicts among the Fire element, they supported the relatively weak and harmless Buddhist forces to obstruct the missionary work of a certain religion.

Su Ze also thought that Wang Shizhen's backup plan was very clever. It not only preserved the image of the Ming Dynasty not interfering in the internal affairs of its vassal states, but also deterred the separatist forces within the Fire Clan.

Shen Yiguan looked at Su Ze and asked:
"Brother Zilin, what do you think?"

After thinking for a moment, Su Ze decided to share his thoughts with his two friends:

"The Western Regions are the former territory of the Han and Tang dynasties, and should rightfully belong to our Great Ming."

"!?"

What does "the former territory of the Han and Tang dynasties" mean? Does it mean the reconquest of the Western Regions?
Shen Yiguan originally thought that Wang Shizhen, the Grand Herald, was tough enough, but he did not expect Su Ze to be even tougher than Wang Shizhen!
But upon closer examination, Su Ze's statement wasn't entirely wrong.

With the Ming Dynasty's strength growing rapidly, and the Western Regions truly being the homeland of the Han and Tang dynasties, it wouldn't be surprising if the court were to discuss reclaiming the Western Regions one day.

Su Ze continued:

"Of course, that's for later."

For some reason, Shen Yiguan breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He was genuinely afraid that Su Ze would pull out a blank memorial and submit it!
Although he also felt that the time was not right and that the emperor and the officials in the court would probably not allow it.

However, Su Ze's reputation as "Second Su" was so great that he was really afraid that His Majesty might act rashly and actually approve Su Ze's memorial to send troops to the Western Regions.

Su Ze's mind wasn't that heated, of course.

Both the Han and Tang dynasties had strategic needs in controlling the Western Regions.

The Han dynasty used it to attack the Xiongnu from both sides, while the Tang dynasty used it to deal with the Turks and Tibetans.

The Ming Dynasty has temporarily defeated the steppes, and Tibet is now relatively submissive, with no strong strategic impulse to occupy the Western Regions.

Therefore, it would probably take a massive amount of prestige points for the imperial court to recover the Western Regions.

But this is something that must be done.

In modern times, with the rise of nationalism, the cost of territorial expansion has become increasingly high.

The Western Regions not only possess abundant resources, but also serve as a strategic buffer zone in the northwest and a frontline defense against the influx of various evil spirits and demons from Central Asia.

This is a problem that must be solved by our generation.

Of course, Su Ze has plenty of time; he can leave it until he joins the cabinet.

The current educational reforms in Shaanxi and Gansu, aimed at strengthening local national identity, are laying a solid foundation for future expansion into the Western Regions.
-
November of the fifth year of the Longqing reign.

The controversy surrounding the Western Regions and education in Shaanxi and Gansu was quelled by Yin Shidan's willingness to sacrifice his political life to secure the outcome.

The Yuefu Xinbao newspaper published some popular science articles about the history of the Western Regions during the Han and Tang dynasties, introducing the history of the Han and Tang dynasties' management of the Western Regions.

Luo Wanhua then dug up the Hanlin Academy's records, implying that Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty also had the ambition to recover the Western Regions in the early Ming Dynasty, but ultimately gave up due to domestic problems.

Su Ze's retainer, Xu Wei, created a play called "Return to Tang" based on the Guiyi Army of the Tang Dynasty, which became a sensation in the capital for a time.

However, for the people of the capital, the Western Regions were still too far away.

The Western Regions that scholars and writers yearned for were merely a pursuit of exotic customs; few officials truly realized the importance of the Western Regions to the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, Su Ze was already quite satisfied. These articles were merely intended to provide some public opinion for the future reconquest of the Western Regions and to plant a seed in people's hearts.

The focus of attention in the capital quickly shifted to the share offering of the Zhili-Wu Railway Company.

On November 2nd, gentry from the three prefectures of Suzhou, Songjiang, and Changzhou arrived in Beijing in a high-profile manner.

In order to raise funds for the Zhili-Wu Railway, the gentry of the three prefectures traveled north by boat from Songjiang, and then changed to horse-drawn carriages from Zhigu to enter the capital.

The gentry of the three prefectures brought silver dollars collected from Jiangnan, which they packed into the chests of their carriages.

Because the capital city was collecting commercial taxes, these carriages formed a long line outside the city. Each carriage would open its trunk for the tax collectors to inspect as it passed through.

When the capital city saw so many carriages and so many silver dollars, everyone was shocked by the wealth of Jiangnan!

It is said that the gentry from Jiangnan brought two hundred thousand silver dollars this time!
Of course, the people of the capital city, under the emperor's nose, had all seen and experienced much.

The scale of fundraising by the Woyin Company was much larger than that of the Zhiwu Railway.

But the Wa Silver Company is a project that the imperial court attaches great importance to, and it also has the imperial court's franchise rights, making it a sure-fire way to make money.

What is the Zhiwu Railway?
Railways are certainly a good thing, but whether they can actually make money is something no one really knows.

The Japanese silver company was different; it seemed like a sure-fire way to make money.

The fact that gentry from Jiangnan transported 200,000 silver dollars to Beijing for a railway project whose profitability was uncertain further demonstrates the financial strength of Jiangnan.

Following this, these gentry from Jiangnan hosted banquets at several guild halls in the capital to entertain their fellow townsmen.

The reason why a banquet could spark discussion among the people of the capital was because the invitation to the banquet was very special.

The invitations to this banquet were not sent directly; instead, Gu Xiancheng wrote one and published it in the "New Gentleman's Daily".

The invitation stated that anyone from Jiangnan, whether an official, scholar, merchant, or ordinary citizen, could go directly to the guild hall for a meal.

As natives of Suzhou, Su Ze and Shen Shixing also received special invitations.

However, neither of them planned to attend the banquet.

Luo Wanhua sighed to Su Ze, "Now I realize that Jiangnan is indeed incredibly wealthy, the richest place in the world."

Luo Wanhua then asked:
"But one should not flaunt one's wealth. Why are the gentry of Jiangnan suddenly so high-profile?"

Su Ze smiled and said:

"Isn't this all to scare away competitors?"

Joint ventures are not difficult to understand; similar business models have existed in Jiangnan for a long time.

Su Ze said:

"The shareholding system is essentially a system of 'equal financial power,' meaning that the party that invests more has control."

"The Zhiwu Railway is of great importance to Jiangnan. The Jiangnan gentry are flaunting their wealth in order to scare away other competitors, obtain a majority of shares in the Zhiwu Railway, and gain control of the railway."

Luo Wanhua understood now.

The gentry from Jiangnan brought silver to Beijing, causing such a commotion, precisely to demonstrate Jiangnan's wealth and power, and to deter others from competing with them for the majority stake in the Zhili-Wu Railway.

Luo Wanhua said:
"It seems their plan is going to succeed. I've heard that many people are preparing to give up subscribing to Zhiwu Railway's shares."

The Jiangnan gentry indeed had a keen business sense, and they even launched a propaganda war to suppress other subscribers.

It's a pity that man's calculation is not as good as God's calculation.

On November 4th, Crown Prince Zhu Yijun summoned Su Ze to the Eastern Palace and excitedly said:

"Master Su! The Woyin Company's fleet has returned to port!"

(End of this chapter)