Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 279 The Japanese Pirates' Loving Father Qi Jiguang! Father, are you having an attack?
From afar, Hu Shouren could see the lights on the coast.

He was slightly short and stout, with a murderous glint in his eyes.

Upon hearing Qi Jiguang's question, he snapped out of his reverie and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Reporting to the Junior Guardian, the last time was in the 42nd year of the Jiajing reign. I followed the General to destroy the enemy's lair in Fujian and pacify the sea garrison. This battle completely wiped out the remnants of the Japanese pirates on the Fujian coast. It was truly a thrilling and epic battle!"

At this point, Hu Shouren's eyes couldn't help but gleam.

Suppressing the Japanese pirates was his and Qi Jiguang's proudest achievement.

It was precisely because of these accumulated merits that Qi Jiguang was granted the titles of Left Commander-in-Chief, Junior Guardian, and Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince by the imperial court.

When this matter was mentioned, Qi Jiguang looked out at the vast and boundless sea and couldn't help but sigh.

"Nearly twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. I wonder if the Japanese have risen up on the seas since then."

Hu Shouren truthfully replied, "General, there are still many remnants of Japanese pirates and sea bandits along the southern coast, but they are no longer a threat."

After Qi Jiguang quelled the Japanese pirates, the Ming Dynasty shifted its focus of border defense to areas such as Ji and Liao.

Over the years, Qi Jiguang guarded the northern frontier, while Li Chengliang fought against the Tuman and Jurchen forces in Liaodong.

Overall, the Ming Dynasty's borders were relatively peaceful; otherwise, Qi Jiguang would not have been secretly transferred to the sea.

"It doesn't matter!"

Qi Jiguang let out a hearty laugh.

"If they don't come looking for us, then we'll go looking for them. The Japanese pirates have committed all sorts of atrocities in our Ming Dynasty, burning, killing, and looting. It wouldn't be too much to kill them and cut off a few more heads!"

When it comes to dealing with Japanese pirates, no one in the entire Ming Dynasty was more familiar with it than Qi Jiguang.

He naturally felt no pity for these inhuman beasts.

Hu Shouren, however, was somewhat puzzled. He thought about the imperial edict he had received on this trip, frowned, and asked.

"Lord Qi, according to His Majesty's wishes, our voyage this time is not only to curb the arrogance of those Japanese pirates, but also to get them to negotiate with us?"

He sounded rather displeased.

"What's the point of talking to the Japanese pirates? They're all a bunch of inhuman beasts. We might as well kill them all."

"No, no, no~"

Qi Jiguang shook his head repeatedly.

"According to Shiyuan, we are not just going to fight the Japanese pirates, but to beat them into submission."

His expression was strange.

"He said that the Japanese are inherently base, and if you can't talk to them nicely, you have to beat them into submission and make them grovel before they will do business with you properly."

Now, Hu Shouren's expression also became somewhat strange.

"Zhang Tongzhi is right to say that the Japanese are inherently base, but why do we need to do business with them? What's so interesting about doing business with them?"

"It is said," Qi Jiguang seemed somewhat puzzled, "that the Japanese have a lot of silver and a market yet to be developed?"

He recalled the contents of Zhang Yunxiu's letter and recounted them with considerable difficulty.

At this point, Qi Jiguang felt a bit annoyed and simply waved his hand and said...

"There's no need to worry about so much. I don't understand the reasons behind it, but I just feel that fighting the Japanese pirates is very satisfying, much better than being stuck in the Jiliao region all day long."

"We will not fail Your Majesty's grace; we will proceed towards Moon Harbor."

Hu Shouren didn't know whether Qi Jiguang was genuinely confused or pretending.

However, this voyage was indeed a secret, and the only people in the court who knew about it were probably the Wanli Emperor and the Zhang family father and son.

He didn't want to ask any more questions, so he just nodded and said...

"Zhang Tongzhi is known for his brilliant strategies, so he is sure to be right this time."

Zhang Yunxiu's reputation is somewhat tarnished, but his intelligence is unanimously recognized by everyone.

"Hey!"

Qi Jiguang said with a hint of pride.

“When this kid was wearing open-crotch pants, I even held him in my arms. If I’m talking about it, he should call me Uncle.”

He seemed proud, after all, the continued favor the Zhang family enjoyed from the court meant that Qi Jiguang had a guarantee of security.

Over the years, he has come to understand all too well that his fate and Zhang Juzheng's fate were intertwined.

After thinking for a moment, Qi Jiguang asked.

"Hey~ Didn't that kid Shiyuan also send over a nautical chart, saying it was for the route from Yuegang to Lusong, with all the coastlines, islands, capes, and reefs clearly marked?"

I'm still a little uneasy. It's unbelievable that this kid knows the South China Sea map without ever leaving the house.

Take it out and examine it frequently along the way to verify its authenticity.

Upon hearing the mention of the nautical chart, Hu Shouren's expression immediately turned solemn. He reached into a box in his pocket, took it out, and carefully opened it.

A nautical chart made of cowhide was slowly unfurled under the moonlight.

Hu Shouren said with a slightly trembling voice, "Lord Qi, please forgive me. I carry this nautical chart with me at all times and dare not make the slightest mistake. When we headed south, the nautical chart marked many routes in various places, so it was very clear and easy to understand."

Furthermore, the latitude and longitude lines and isobaths pioneered by Zhang Tongzhi are simply exquisite!

This has been proven true throughout the entire journey.

He looked somewhat agitated.

"Lord Qi! If we had had this naval map ten years ago, we could have wiped out the Japanese pirates at least three years earlier, saving countless lives!"

Seeing that Hu Shouren was somewhat out of sorts, Qi Jiguang quickly comforted him, patting him on the shoulder and saying something.

"Ten years ago? Shi Yuan was still learning to walk in Handan when he was just trying to learn how to walk. You expect him to be able to draw such blueprints?"

He offered a sneer in response.

"Shiyuan has extraordinary talent, yet he claims that the blueprints were obtained from the Franks. Do you think I don't know what kind of people the Franks are?"

"We should be overjoyed that the Zhang family has such a gifted son."

Hu Shouren immediately understood the meaning behind Qi Jiguang's words. He frowned and looked towards the distant western coast.

"The Affairs of Jiangnan"

"Heh!" Qi Jiguang said with a sneer. "They're nothing but a bunch of chickens and dogs."

He raised his eyebrows.

"A few days ago, His Majesty just appointed Shi Yuan as the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which is a third-rank official position, complete with a flying fish robe. The old man who wrote the medical book also received a similar reward. What do you think His Majesty thinks about this?"

Anyone with discerning eyes could see from these rewards that the emperor's trust in Zhang Yunxiu had reached a peak.

The official gazette was issued in a high-profile manner, which was sending a signal to the world.

The Wanli Emperor not only wanted to thoroughly investigate the "Wuxiang Case," but also supported Zhang Yunxiu's actions in Jiangnan.

That means they're really going to fight the Jiangnan gentry to the bitter end!

"But this Jiangnan region..." Hu Shouren still had some concerns.

"In this world, with the Emperor, the Grand Secretary, and this young scholar Shi Yuan, is there any reason why they can't accomplish what they set out to do?"

Qi Jiguang grinned and said.

"We just need to go into battle and kill the enemy. We'll have Mr. Yuanfu and Shiyuan back us up from behind."

Speaking of this, he thought of the supplies in the cabin, especially the allicin-like medicine, as well as the citrus fruits and bean sprouts that Zhang Yunxiu had specifically instructed him to bring.

Those who fight at sea know how formidable that weapon is.

Nanjing.

Yingtian Governor's Office.

study.

"The aristocratic families have made a move."

Zhang Jianxiu leaned against the table and pushed a letter to Hai Rui and Yin Zhengmao.

Hai Rui's brows furrowed a few more times, and his temples grew increasingly gray. After a quick glance at the contents, he couldn't bear it any longer and slammed his hand on the table, saying something.

"That 'Book of Ten Thousand People' again! What right do these sycophantic scoundrels have to use the 'Book of Ten Thousand People' to represent all the common people of the world? It's utterly absurd!" The hard work of the past few days had made Hai Rui somewhat irritable again, and the wound on his arm, wrapped in white gauze, was still throbbing with pain.

Yin Zhengmao sat to the side and carefully read the contents of the letter, which contained the results of the investigations conducted by Zhang Jianxiu's Jinyiwei in various parts of Jiangnan.

The Book of Peoples is just one of them.

“Since October, the Jiangnan region has been in chaos. There have been nearly twenty incidents of students causing trouble, and local elders have led the people to the government offices to appeal for justice. There have also been more than fifty cases of accusations against the Jiangnan Textile Bureau and Xishan Money Exchange for oppressing the people.”

Yin Zhengmao's expression was somewhat solemn as he pointed to the contents of the letter.

"The price of rice in Jiangnan has now risen to four taels of silver per shi (a unit of dry measure), even comparable to that of a year of severe drought. The prices of cloth, clothing, and medicine are also rising. If this continues, Jiangnan will truly be ruined in our hands!"

If the two chief officials were like this, then the lower-level officials were even more so.

Hai Rui glanced at Zhao Rui, who was covered in sweat, and couldn't help but remind him.

"Manager Zhao, how is the matter with the Jiangnan Textile Bureau going?"

Zhao Rui quickly cupped his hands in response.

"My lords, our Jiangnan Textile Bureau has achieved some success in promoting the 'Heavenly Craftsmanship Loom.' Last month, thanks to the weavers of the bureau and the small-scale weavers in various places, we produced a total of more than five million bolts of cotton and silk cloth, which is equivalent to the monthly output of Songjiang Prefecture."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was shocked and bewildered; this was considered good news amidst a sea of ​​bad news.

It should be noted that the Jiangnan Textile Bureau was just starting out, and it used only a little over 10,000 looms, less than 20% of the number used in Songjiang Prefecture. Yet, it contributed nearly twice the amount of cloth produced by Songjiang Prefecture, which was simply astonishing.

This data is based on the possibility of improper operation by ordinary people, resulting in various losses.

Hai Rui's expression grew increasingly serious, and he spoke in a deep voice.

"Can we sell all this raw silk and fabric?"

Zhao Rui said with a bitter face, "Prefect Yin, Prefect Hai, it's not that I, Zhao Rui, am incompetent, but it's just that business in Jiangnan is difficult. All the raw silk, cotton, and cloth produced by Tiangong Textile Machinery are resisted by gentry and merchants in various parts of Jiangnan. The people can't sell them, so we can only buy them at the price."

At this point, he glanced at Wang Shishun, who had been sitting to the side.

Wang Shishun, who came from a Huizhou merchant family, had long been tied to Zhang Yunxiu's carriage, but at this moment he was also frowning and stood up, cupping his hands in greeting.

"To be honest, gentlemen, I have been a merchant for many years and have some friends all over the country. We Huizhou merchants also have sales channels, but we can't possibly consume so much cotton cloth and raw silk."

He sighed softly, his expression complex.

“A bolt of cloth costs about five hundred coins. If we buy it and sell it to other places, we might make some profit. But how can we sell five million bolts of cloth so easily?”

By transporting the goods to Beizhili, much of the damage from the long journey was eliminated.

There is not much demand for raw silk and cotton cloth in Beizhili. If this continues, even with the support of the futures market, we will find it difficult to sustain ourselves.

Last month, Xishan Money Exchange used every means to purchase cloth and raw silk, but still had a million bolts of cloth stockpiled, resulting in a loss of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver in just one month.

Even with its immense wealth, Xishan Money Exchange was not a sustainable long-term solution.

Wang Shishun really did his best this time.

But what can you do when the Jiangnan region is so monolithic, with the gentry and powerful families holding the common people hostage and refusing to buy your cloth and raw silk?

"This can't go on any longer!"

Yin Zhengmao slammed his hand on the table, his tone resolute.

"According to my advice, the futures market must be suspended first."

"Then report to the court, mobilizing troops to slaughter the leading aristocratic families, letting blood flow in Jiangnan, before any policies can be implemented!"

In Yin Zhengmao's view, the futures market is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it can indeed greatly allocate resources, but on the other hand, it has become a tool for those with ulterior motives to drive up prices.

Now, all the powerful families outside are mocking Zhang Yunxiu for shooting himself in the foot.

The move of "futures market" has stirred up chaos throughout the land. If this continues, the entire Ming Dynasty may be thrown into turmoil.

Yin Zhengmao didn't understand economics very well, but he could still see how critical the situation was.

He was a soldier by birth, and his first thought was to suppress the Jiangnan gentry with swift and decisive measures. Although this method had its own hidden dangers, it was also a way out.

"No!"

Zhang Jianxiu stood aside and answered without hesitation.

"The futures market must not be suspended under any circumstances. All matters must proceed according to the original plan, and we must not change the subject."

Even Yin Zhengmao grew anxious, slamming his hand on the table and saying, "Jiangnan is already in ruins! Zhang Shiyuan is far away in the capital; does he know the situation in Jiangnan?"

But Zhang Jianxiu seemed very confident: "My younger brother's wisdom is unparalleled. This is just a temporary setback. How can we back down because of this?"

"you!"

Yin Zhengmao was furious, but he couldn't do anything about it. Zhang Jianxiu came to Jiangnan as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and was the eyes and ears of the Wanli Emperor and Zhang Juzheng, no different from an imperial envoy.

Although Yin Zhengmao was the governor of Yingtian and handled various affairs on a daily basis, Zhang Jianxiu's opinion was naturally very important at crucial moments.

"Ruxian!" Yin Zhengmao looked at Hai Rui, who had always been upright and incorruptible, "What do you think of that futures market? You were against it from the beginning!"

Hai Rui raised his eyes and said, "This futures market has its merits. I have carefully studied its system and found that it is still beneficial to farmers. The rise in the price of cotton cloth is also beneficial to textile manufacturers."

Hai Rui always viewed issues from the perspective of ordinary people.

As a result, prices have indeed risen, but the people involved in textile production have indeed gained a livelihood.

Even small businesses could secretly sell their cloth, and at today's market prices, they would certainly make a fortune.

Furthermore, grain prices have risen. Unlike other parts of northern Zhili, the Jiangnan region has abundant grain production, so people won't starve. However, farmers who grow rice are truly benefiting.

Most importantly, the futures market can also play a regulatory role.

Yin Zhengmao felt that the other party had been fooled by that so-called economics, and said with great distress, "Ruxian! The overall situation is important. If Jiangnan is in ruins, the farmers will not be able to bear it sooner or later!"

But Hai Rui slowly stood up, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and gradually his sharpness seemed to soften.

“Your Excellency, I must take my leave now. The Hua family of Changzhou Prefecture has committed many crimes in the land survey, and I will investigate them thoroughly on this trip.”

"Ruxian! Hai Gangfeng! Hai Bijia!"

Yin Zhengmao shouted loudly, but Hai Rui left without turning his head.

With a loud "bang!", he slammed his hand on the desk, his face already flushed with anxiety.

Zhao Rui then comforted him, saying, "Your Excellency, Magistrate Hai cares deeply for the people. Investigating these powerful families further could lead to a definitive conclusion, which would also be a way out. So please don't be anxious."

Before he could finish speaking, Yin Zhengmao slammed the inkstone down, making a loud bang on the floor.

"How could I not be anxious? The livelihoods of millions of people in Jiangnan all depend on me alone. Zhang Shiyuan can strategize in the capital, but I, Yin Zhengmao, cannot!"

“Governor Yin,” Zhang Jianxiu said with some dissatisfaction and a strong sense of protectiveness. “You must not slander my younger brother. He is now the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the emperor’s personal guard.”

These words further enraged Yin Zhengmao, who retorted angrily.

"Someone! Send a letter! It must be delivered by express courier! I need to speak with Zhang Jiangling!"

Zhang Family Residence.

backyard.

Zhang Juzheng stood in his study, staring blankly at the painting hanging under the beam.

In the portrait, a cute little raccoon dog with long whiskers is smiling at him.

As he watched, Zhang Juzheng seemed to grow angry, feeling as if the raccoon was mocking him.

"You unruly cat, I almost fell for your trick!"

After saying that, he moved a chair over and took down the raccoon dog statue.

But when he held it in front of him, he found the raccoon quite endearing. Apart from its strange shape, the portrait had a touch of otherworldly elegance.

"You have always been by my side, and our mutual support and affection cannot be ignored. There is something commendable about this relationship."

After saying that, he moved the chair back and hung the portrait up.

But as soon as it was hung up and he stood below it, Zhang Juzheng felt that this guy was high and mighty. He, the Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty, was actually being subservient to a cat. This was intolerable!

Then I thought about stepping on a chair to pick it down.

But just as I stepped on it, I heard a suspicious shout from behind me.

"Father, are you having an attack?"

(End of this chapter)