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

Chapter 290 Oda Nobunaga in the Trench? The Sky in Jiangnan is About to Change Color!
"The gentry of Jiangnan are deeply entrenched, like a naughty child. They need a strong hand to hold them down, and a strong medicine will cure them."

Yin Zhengmao patted his chest, looking very smug.

“We will arrest a few members of the Jiangnan gentry and make an example of them, so that these people will not dare to act recklessly.”

"Following my method, this crisis can be resolved in a month."

Upon hearing these words, the aide felt a wave of dizziness and nearly fainted.

So Yin Zhengmao wasn't against the new policies, nor was he a moderate or conservative; he was a staunch advocate of war!

The aide slid off his seat and knelt down at Yin Zhengmao's feet with a thud, his voice filled with pleading.

"My lord! No! Absolutely not!"

A wail and sob came from inside the carriage, drawing the attention of passersby.

On Tiger Head Mountain, southeast of the Penghu Islands.

At this moment, Qi Jiguang was dressed in a coarse linen outfit, with an exquisite short musket at his waist, a red turban on his head that tied his hair up, and even a gleaming broadsword on his back.

In less than two months, the former Ming Dynasty general has become the true overlord of this sea area, and can be considered a true "pirate king".

He held a grilled fish in his hand, stood on the rocks, and wolfed it down with warm yellow wine, all the while cursing at his deputy general Hu Shouren beside him.

"Those dog-like Japanese! Damn it! I've been waiting for a whole month, and there's still no sign of them! The money they stole is enough for me to marry ten wives for the rest of my life. Are these Japanese people made of tofu?"
So far, there hasn't even been a decent counterattack.

Even if there's no counterattack, you damn well better send someone to negotiate!

"I can't be a pirate for the rest of my life, can I?"

Hu Shouren, who was squatting to the side, had messy hair and his face was so black that he was almost unrecognizable. He was gnawing on a large octopus, his face shiny with oil, and he laughed loudly.

"General Qi! I'm starting to think that being a pirate isn't so bad after all!"

Having spent so much time at sea, he even picked up a local dialect.

"Bastard thing!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Jiguang slapped the grilled fish in his hand onto the deputy general's head in an annoyed manner.

"Look at you, what kind of general-in-chief of the Ming Dynasty do you look like?"

Hu Shouren was not annoyed, and took a bite of the grilled fish.

"Hmm~ the taste is not bad."

He sighed for a moment, then smiled and said.

"Commander Qi, it's not that I've lost my fighting spirit, it's just that the money came too fast and blinded the brothers."

This voyage is expected to earn hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. After several days at sea, the brothers have not only not lost weight, but have actually become quite plump.

"We might have a battle sometime, and we'll be kings of the seas, each of us getting several thousand taels of silver. Who wants to leave?"

Hu Shouren was no stranger to naval battles or sea voyages, but none of his voyages had ever been as successful as this one.

He finally understood why so many pirates were rampaging at sea, and why the imperial court had been unable to stop them despite repeated attempts.

Anyone would be envious of such four, five, or even ten times the profit, let alone a group of military officers who were disliked in the imperial court.

"Having said that."

Qi Jiguang rubbed his nose, and to be honest, he was starting to enjoy the freedom of life at sea.

"But His Majesty's decree must not be forgotten. Our purpose in coming here is to facilitate the trade of those Japanese, not to become pirates."

Qi Jiguang was well aware of the situation. After all, he couldn't really become a "pirate king." Without the logistical support of the Ming Dynasty and the continuous supply of materials from Xishan, he would definitely be unable to support the army alone.

Just then, a soldier rushed over and reported.

"General Qi! General Hu! The Japanese are here! The Japanese are here!"

Qi Jiguang went up and kicked him, saying angrily.

"So what if they're here? What's the big deal? Send someone with a loud voice to tell the Japanese to hand over all the samurai and supplies on their ships, and I, Zhang Yuanjing, the Pirate King of the Great Ming, will spare the rest of them."

He was clearly already very familiar with these words.

"Don't forget to have the Japanese send a leader over. I want to explain to him the benefits of trade."

"No, that's not necessary."

The soldier was so excited that he stammered.

"That Japanese man said he came from Japan and was a messenger with a heart of gold, who came specifically to pay his respects to Commander Qi!"

"Oda Nobunaga!"

Upon hearing this name, Qi Jiguang reacted as if a starving wolf had caught the scent of a sheep, grabbing the soldier by the collar and speaking.

"Is this true?"

The soldier quickly said, "Commander Qi, how could I dare to lie to you? This person has already been brought here by us. Please come forward and see him, Commander Qi."

"Hahahaha!"

Qi Jiguang patted the dust off his clothes and said with a ruddy complexion.

"That damned Oda Nobunaga, he finally remembered to send someone!"

"Fellow villager, there are techniques to operating the spindles. The most crucial aspect is the finger placement. Each yarn corresponds to a different spindle, so your hands and feet must work together."

In a village under the jurisdiction of Nanjing, Hai Rui rolled up the sleeves of his official robe and demonstrated to the farmers as he spoke.

The farmers standing to the side saw Hai Rui as if he were their savior, and each of them wept bitterly.

It can be said that, after the publicity by Xishan Theater, Hai Rui's reputation as an upright and just official has become deeply rooted in people's hearts.

However, Zhang Jianxiu stood aside with a group of Imperial Guards, looking on high alert, listening intently and keeping a close watch on everything, as if afraid that an assassin might jump out from the crowd.

After finishing their conversation with the farmers, the group went out onto the main road and into the carriage, and Zhang Jianxiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at the dense crowd outside, Zhang Jianxiu felt a lingering fear. Nowadays, opinions about Hai Rui are polarized in various villages and towns.

Those who admire him regard Hai Rui as a true upright and just official, while those who dislike him believe that Hai Rui has become a lackey of the court, serving the treacherous officials and helping them deceive the emperor.

The two extreme groups of people were locked in a fierce confrontation. If it weren't for the presence of yamen runners and imperial guards, they would have definitely fought over Hai Rui.

"Three men can make a tiger," goes the saying; "Many voices can melt metal," so be lenient with yourself.

Zhang Jianxiu also quoted a line of poetry and said with great emotion.

"Hai Xiantai's reputation in Jiangnan is well-known, and no one around him can find fault with him. However, the gentry and merchants can still spread rumors and make many people feel that Xiantai is a lackey serving the court. It is truly lamentable."

"It may seem like it's targeting me, but its real intention is not what it seems; it's aimed at the new policies."

Hai Rui's eyes flickered, clearly showing he understood the matter perfectly. He shook his head and said...

"I have a clear conscience, so let them say what they want. As long as the government can be implemented and more people can make a living, that is the greatest merit. Everything else is just empty fame."

After spending these past few months with Hai Rui, even Zhang Jianxiu had come to admire him. Whether you called him honest and upright or someone who sought fame and fortune, he remained steadfast and unwavering in his resolve.

But all of this must eventually come back to reality.

The "loan law" implemented by the Jiangnan Textile Bureau and Xishan Money Exchange truly benefited the poor people who struggled to make ends meet.

Families with meager possessions invariably seek protection from powerful and influential families; only the destitute, who cannot even afford to eat, will genuinely support our new policies.

Having spent some time in Jiangnan, Zhang Jianxiu had already thoroughly understood the problems in the area.

Hai Rui closed his eyes to rest, and upon hearing this, slowly nodded: "That is enough."

“It’s far from enough.” Zhang Jianxiu shook his head, his brows furrowed with worry. “The poor people have indeed benefited, but the gentry and wealthy merchants have suffered real losses. These people have been entrenched in Jiangnan for generations, how could they let this go so easily?”

"The common people make up the majority of the country." Hai Rui's tone was calm, but his eyes held a stubbornness.

"What's the use then?"

Zhang Jianxiu's voice carried a hint of resentment.

"There are countless poor people in the world, yet in the end they are still manipulated by gentry and merchants."

Nowadays, how many of those who insult Hai Xiantai on the streets are just ordinary people who barely make ends meet?

They were nothing more than pawns in the hands of the wealthy and powerful!

Zhang Jianxiu was furious about this.

Clearly, all the policies they implemented were beneficial to ordinary people.

Small businesses that clearly benefited from low-interest loans turned around and joined the gentry in criticizing the new policies.

“The common people are not educated and are naturally deceived. This is not the fault of the common people, but the fault of the court in educating them.”

Hai Rui lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips and looked at Zhang Jianxiu beside him.

"This is only a temporary confusion. Once the people see the granaries gradually filling and the taxes decreasing day by day, they will understand our good intentions. Vice Minister Zhang, there is no need to be impatient."

He pondered for a moment, then offered another reminder.

"In my opinion, the Jiangnan Textile Bureau may not only be involved in textile production. Firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea are all necessities for people's livelihood."

With the credibility of the imperial court and the financial support of Xishan, the Textile Bureau could use the guise of merchants to actually benefit the people—by setting up numerous official shops to sell grain and salt at fair prices, thus both stabilizing prices and cutting off the path of wealthy merchants hoarding and speculating.

Only in this way can the people truly appreciate the benefits of the new policies.

Zhang Jianxiu seemed more pessimistic than Hai Rui. He shook his head and said, "This is just a drop in the ocean."

Seemingly tired, Zhang Jianxiu was unwilling to argue with Hai Rui any longer. After the carriage arrived in Nanjing, he got off first.

As Zhang Jianxiu rode his horse along, looking at the somewhat desolate city of Nanjing, he began to have some doubts.

In the past, Hai Rui would have been indignant and submitted a memorial to the emperor when he saw the people suffering. He was not even afraid of the emperor, so why would he be afraid of the power of Zhang Juzheng and Zhang Yunxiu?

Even Zhang Jianxiu sometimes felt that the "loan law" and the promotion of Tiangong textile machines were perhaps too radical.

But Hai Rui, after arriving in Jiangnan, gradually changed his nature and even became more supportive of his younger brother Zhang Yunxiu's methods than he had.

Nanjing Imperial Guard Commandery.

After Emperor Yongle moved the capital to Beijing, Nanjing retained the Jinyiwei (Imperial Bodyguard) system, which was also subordinate to the Nanjing Ministry of War and controlled by the Five Military Commissions. However, over the past century, Nanjing's functions have become increasingly weakened, and its various government offices have largely become nominal positions.

The highest-ranking official in the Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters was only a thousand-household commander. Zhang Jianxiu, however, was a commander sent from the capital, so he directly controlled the entire Nanjing Embroidered Uniform Guard, which numbered about two thousand men.

These days, without his two thousand men, Nanjing would have been hard-pressed to maintain its stability.

"Zhang Shiyuan! You dog-like bastard!"

As Zhang Jianxiu stepped into the Jinyiwei headquarters, he thought of his younger brother and couldn't help but curse him angrily.

As soon as he stepped into the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office, the commander rushed over in a panic, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"Lord Qianshi! Lord Qianshi!"

Zhang Jianxiu was feeling irritable, so he kicked the latter in a bad mood.

"What are you shouting for? I'm not dead yet! Where are you causing trouble again?"

"It's not about causing trouble!"

The officer, looking excited, took out a sealed letter from his robes and spoke.

"This is a secret report from the Imperial Guard. His Majesty's imperial edict has traveled all the way to Nanjing by express courier. I was just about to present it to you, sir!"

Zhang Jianxiu was taken aback. The Embroidered Uniform Guards were not only responsible for arrests and patrols, but also had the function of internal communication, transmitting confidential intelligence to the Embroidered Uniform Guard commander and the emperor in various places.

Now that Zhang Yunxiu has been promoted to Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard, he is essentially the head of the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard system. (The Vice Commander and the Chief Commander are two different systems.)

Anyone with a brain knows who leaked this news to Nanjing.

"Damn it!"

Zhang Jianxiu cursed, but didn't forget to check the integrity of the seal before sending the officer away. He then rushed to the study and cut it open with a knife.

"Zhang Shiyuan is like a dog!"

His hands were trembling slightly, and he kept cursing under his breath.

"It's been so long, and we haven't even received a single letter. If this continues, Jiangnan will truly fall into our hands, and the Zhang family will become sinners for all time!"

"Let's see what other brilliant plans you have!"

Zhang Jianxiu sounded very blaming, but his eyes couldn't hide his anticipation.

My younger brother is often like this; he only reveals his hand at the last moment.

Based on past experience, Zhang Yunxiu will definitely reveal the key to victory this time!
Zhang Jianxiu took two deep breaths, slowly unfolded the yellowed Xuan paper, and focused on reading the contents word by word.

But as he looked at it, his expression suddenly froze.

"Third Brother, take a stroll on the Yangtze River more often when you have time."

Indeed, a large sheet of Xuan paper can hold hundreds of characters, yet it only produces a small line of crooked, illegible writing.

These ugly handwritings are clearly the work of Zhang Yunxiu.

Why go to such lengths, even deploying the Imperial Guards, just to deliver this one message?

Zhang Jianxiu thought he was seeing things, so he looked at the letter again and again, and even lit a kerosene lamp to try to see if there were any hidden compartments in the letter.

Then, recalling the stories in "Detective Dee of the Tang Dynasty," she brought over a pot of tea and carefully poured it on the surface.

No text appeared, but I did get my pants wet.

Zhang Jianxiu was in a sorry state and was so angry that he was about to explode.

"That scoundrel Zhang Shiyuan! He's playing tricks on me again!"

Dead memories began to attack Zhang Jianxiu again, and all the scenes of being "tricked" by Zhang Yunxiu in the past surged back into his mind.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. He threw the letter on the ground and kicked it twice, still not satisfied.

"Zhang Shiyuan! If I believe you again, I'll go eat shit."

That night.

Zhang Jianxiu then led a group of trusted Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) confidants toward the Jiangnan Textile Bureau. However, they did not go directly to the Jiangnan Textile Bureau, but instead went to the dock closest to it.

Nanjing is located near the Yangtze River, but to get to the docks, you would basically have to go either to the outer city or the suburbs.

Zhang Jianxiu and his entourage boarded a boat and sailed down the Qinhuai River along the inner city wall to the Yangtze River.

Despite their disguises, the large ship was still quite conspicuous, causing many boats that were enjoying themselves on the Qinhuai River to scramble to make way in fear.

Zhang Jianxiu resisted looking at the provocative courtesans on the opposite ship and instead asked the captain beside him.

"Have I reached the Yangtze River yet? Have I noticed anything unusual?"

The captain, not understanding the reasoning, shook his head and said...

"Commander, we've already left Dinghuai Gate. The brothers have all their eyes wide open, and all they can see are the pale thighs of the courtesans. They haven't noticed anything else unusual!"

Zhang Jianxiu said irritably, "Open your eyes wide! If you look at the courtesans again, I'll break your legs!"

After saying this, he couldn't help but glance at the opposite ship before giving the order.

"Full speed ahead! Tonight we will patrol the rivers and will not tolerate any Japanese pirates invading!"

The school was filled with doubt, wondering where the Japanese pirates came from in Nanjing.

If they were to go, they would go to the Taicang Prefecture or Songjiang Prefecture area. Why would the Japanese pirates come to Nanjing? Wouldn't that be suicide?

There have indeed been some Japanese pirate raids recently, but they are limited to a small scale and are most likely being secretly supported by some gentry families in Jiangnan.

Fortunately, there weren't many wharves in Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty, and soldiers were stationed at most of the key checkpoints where people entered the Yangtze River.

That night, Zhang Jianxiu led dozens of his men down the Qinhuai River, patrolling all the wharves, including Sanshan Wharf, Longwan Wharf, Longjiangguan Wharf, and Shangxinhe Wharf.

Along the way, aside from having enough of the perfumes and cosmetics on the river and the prostitutes who were still exposing their thighs and arms in the autumn, he was also mistaken for a suspicious person by the soldiers at the dock.

For three consecutive days, Zhang Jianxiu stayed up all night, taking in the sights of the Qinhuai River and the Yangtze River, and even caught more than a dozen fish, without seeing a single ghost.

On the fifth day, Zhang Jianxiu looked at the carp he had caught on the Qinhuai River and was so angry that he almost threw away his fishing rod.

"Damn Zhang Shiyuan! What exactly do you mean? Are you trying to play dumb like Zhuge Liang? What else is on the great river besides courtesans and fish?"
Surely we can't rely on courtesans to solve the problems plaguing Jiangnan?

Zhang Jianxiu cursed alone on the deck, occasionally stopping to take out his binoculars and survey the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River, especially to see if any important figures from Nanjing were lingering there.

If I, Zhang Jianxiu, can't enjoy it, none of you can either. If we manage to catch one or two big rats, then this trip will have been worthwhile.

The boat made a round trip, sailing onto the Yangtze River, then turned back towards the Qinhuai River, and was almost near the Longjiang Pass Wharf.

It was already midnight, and the river had gradually quieted down. Looking at the bright moonlight, the captain sighed and said...

“Commander, let’s go back. There’s nothing on the Yangtze River and the Qinhuai River. It’s a waste of our time.”

Zhang Jianxiu leaned against the deck railing, glanced at the quiet Longjiangguan Wharf, and felt somewhat disheartened.

"Alright, let's go to the dock and find a place to rest. We don't need to come tomorrow."

His third brother had done everything he could, patrolling the Qinhuai River for five consecutive nights without finding any trace. He could only blame his younger brother Zhang Yunxiu for being a step behind.

"You brat, what kind of tricks are you hiding? You can't just conjure up a God of Wealth out of thin air at sea, can you?"

Zhang Jianxiu was both angry and worried.

The root of the problem in Jiangnan can be summed up in one word: "silver".

With vast amounts of silver in their hands and control over various rations, silk, and cloth, the gentry of Jiangnan were able to sit back and relax.

Zhang Yunxiu greatly improved textile efficiency with his "Tiangong Textile Machine," but what good was it? People still wouldn't buy his silk fabrics.

The Jiangnan Textile Bureau lacked sales channels; even selling to Beizhili was a long journey, let alone to other places.

The Jiangnan gentry seized upon this, gradually raising prices to incite the people to turn their anger towards the imperial court, waiting for the Jiangnan Textile Bureau and Xishan Money Exchange to disintegrate on their own.

The solution is simple: have a huge amount of silver and find a reliable trade route.

Maritime trade is a viable option, but the imperial court has long prohibited maritime trade; how can this be possible?
Just as Zhang Jianxiu was filled with worries and was about to fall asleep with his eyes downcast, he suddenly heard the captain's shouts beside him.

"Assistant Commander~ Assistant Commander~"

Zhang Jianxiu suddenly shuddered and looked at the other person.

"What did you find?"

The captain was also pleasantly surprised and pointed to a small dock not far away.

“Sir, there are several suspicious ships over there that don’t look like ships from our Great Ming.”

"what?"

Zhang Jianxiu stared wide-eyed, looking quite incredulous, and quickly took out his binoculars to look in that direction.

When he put down the telescope, his face was filled with utter shock.

"Assistant Commander?" The captain asked, somewhat unsure. "What did you see?"

"Japanese pirates," Zhang Jianxiu muttered to himself.

"Japanese pirates!" the captain exclaimed in surprise. "Should we send someone to the governor's office to inform the governor? This Japanese pirate incursion is a very serious matter."

"and many more."

"Huh? What are we waiting for!" The captain was getting impatient, thinking that Zhang Jianxiu had lost his mind.

Zhang Jianxiu slowly turned his head and said, "Have you ever seen two groups of Japanese pirates fight each other?"

"Huh?" The captain was completely confused. Could it be that Zhang Jianxiu was possessed?

But then, Zhang Jianxiu gave an order.

"Listen up, all you guards! Turn your rudders immediately and approach stealthily. Load the gunpowder into your muskets, but don't startle anyone!"

Pick a few sharp-eyed and quick-handed people to investigate—all must be on their guard, there can be no mistakes! If this matter is handled well today, the weather in Jiangnan might change dramatically!

His voice was decisive and firm.

(End of this chapter)