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

Chapter 388 Father, you don't understand! My extravagant lifestyle is for the sake of the common people?
The saying goes, "Purple crabs emerge from their traps with two claws, while white fish hang from nets, their color surpassing even snow."

The deliciousness of these purple crabs has been renowned since ancient times.

Zhang Juzheng hadn't realized it before, but now it suddenly dawned on him.

Purple crabs are a famous aquatic product of the Tianjin area, and a batch of them are sent as tribute to Tianjin every year.

This silver fish and purple crab hot pot is one of the "Four Winter Delicacies" of Tianjin.

Now that it's late winter and early spring, it's quite normal to see purple crabs around this time of year.

He looked at the silver fish again; its white and fresh appearance indicated that it had just been caught and processed. If it had been transported by carriage, it certainly wouldn't have been of such quality.

"Is this a local delicacy from Tianjin?"

Zhang Juzheng's words suddenly lost their confidence.

Zhang Yunxiu chuckled and said.

"That's pretty much it. This batch of seafood is fresh fish from the Jiyun River, transported from Baodi County in Tongzhou. It was caught early this morning and delivered to the capital by fast horse in no more than half a day."

They then used ice in an icebox to keep it fresh, so the fish and crabs were still alive when they arrived.

"Is this true?"

Zhang Juzheng frowned, looked at the food on the table, and began to doubt himself.

"Of course it's absolutely true."

Zhang Yunxiu said with certainty.

"I'd like to say something: Father thinks that it would be a waste of resources and manpower for me and His Majesty to follow the example of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang in sending lychees by post."

But perhaps Father forgot that Ningbo Prefecture is nearly a thousand miles away from the capital. Even if the fastest horse travels non-stop, it would take at least three days.

This seafood has the word "fresh" in its name; even if placed in an icebox, it will lose its original flavor after three days.

It's not just that they lose their flavor; seafood that has been properly refrigerated for three days will basically have bacteria growing on it, and eating it could even be fatal.

In later generations, seafood was generally transported by quick-freezing, vacuum refrigeration, dry ice preservation, and so on.

Xishan clearly hasn't yet developed this kind of technology, nor is there any need for it to do so intentionally.

Zhang Juzheng was stunned. He suddenly realized that he had made a huge mistake.

The lychees that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang transported back then were quite different from the seafood.

Lychees, along with their branches and leaves, can be stored for up to three days during transportation and still remain fresh.

However, if seafood is not stored properly after it is taken out of the sea, it can rot and smell bad overnight.

This is why the ocean-going fleet had to sell seafood at low prices in Ningbo.

Because this thing is really hard to preserve.

Zhang Juzheng's face flushed slightly as he stared at Emperor Wanli and Zhang Yunxiu, feeling both ashamed and indignant.

His righteous and impassioned speech just now seems like a joke.

After a long while, Zhang Juzheng finally managed to utter a single sentence.

"This is during a time of spring famine; such extravagance is inappropriate."

He spoke in a much softer voice when he said this.

Although he said this, Zhang Juzheng knew in his heart that while frugality was noble, it was not the emperor's duty.

Even during times of famine, unless the emperor himself sets an example, there is absolutely no reason to deprive the emperor of his meals.

Zhang Yunxiu's face suddenly turned serious, and he spoke with righteous indignation.

"Father, you don't understand. Your Majesty and I are doing this for the sake of the common people."

Zhang Juzheng, who had initially restrained his anger, suddenly couldn't hold it in any longer and was almost laughing in anger.

"Nonsense! You are enjoying yourselves here while the common people are eating chaff and wild vegetables outside, and you say it's for the sake of the people."

"That's precisely why His Majesty and I are eating seafood!"

Zhang Yunxiu emphasized this point.

These words were so uttered that even the Wanli Emperor, who was standing nearby, could not bear to watch.

Although the emperor had some grievances against Zhang Juzheng, Zhang Juzheng was, after all, his mentor, and the emperor had to listen to his teachings on a daily basis.

You, Zhang Yunxiu, are quite something. As a son, why do you always talk back to your father?

Emperor Wanli put down his chopsticks, coughed, and said, "Your Excellency, today's events were my fault. It is truly inappropriate to indulge in gluttony at such a time."

This is one of the rare virtues of the Wanli Emperor.

As long as the advice from his ministers is substantial, he will not put on airs like an emperor and will sincerely admit his mistakes.

However, the scope of "subject" is somewhat narrow, and whether or not one corrects their mistakes after admitting them is another matter entirely.

Standing at the dining table, Zhang Juzheng heard this and first sighed, then bowed and said.

"Your Majesty is too kind. As long as Your Majesty has this remorse in your heart, it will be a blessing for the court and for all the people."

It's best to eat less of these luxurious seafood dishes in the future.

Just as the two were displaying a harmonious relationship as ruler and subject, Zhang Yunxiu spoke up again at an inopportune moment.

"Your Majesty, this seafood is absolutely essential and must be eaten."

"Zhang Shiyuan!"

Zhang Juzheng was truly enraged this time. It was one thing for his rebellious son to speak rudely at home, but to be so presumptuous in front of the emperor was unacceptable.

"Do you really think I can't punish you?!"

For the sake of the greater good, Zhang Juzheng was not incapable of putting righteousness before family ties.

The Wanli Emperor was somewhat moved.

Shi Yuan is so loyal! Even though I was craving seafood, he wanted to take the blame for me!
How could such brothers not be moving!
Zhang Yunxiu said without changing his expression, "Father, don't you know? The people of Ningbo Prefecture are already tired of eating seafood. How can seafood be considered a luxury?"

"I have come here today to inform Your Majesty of this matter. The fish and seafood obtained from Ningbo Prefecture can indeed alleviate the famine, but it is not a reason for your extravagant enjoyment."

"Now that the world is suffering from famine, this is precisely the time for the imperial court to set an example for the common people."

When Zhang Juzheng got angry, he addressed her directly by her official title, indicating that he wanted to handle the matter officially.

Zhang Yunxiu's expression grew increasingly strange: "Prime Minister, we eat seafood for the sake of all the people."

"You!" Zhang Juzheng was so angry that he was speechless. How could he have given birth to such a shameless child?

Emperor Wanli also felt embarrassed and pulled Zhang Yunxiu aside to say something.

"Shiyuan, that's enough, that's enough."

The other party went too far today. Is it so hard to admit a mistake?

Just turn around and secretly eat it later, that's all.

But Zhang Yunxiu frowned and said, "Does the Grand Secretary not understand, or has His Majesty forgotten as well?"

"Huh?" the emperor asked in surprise.

Zhang Yunxiu explained in a righteous and righteous manner.

"We are eating seafood here to set an example for all the people of the world."

The sea is teeming with fish, but in the past, due to strict maritime bans and a lack of fishing methods, it was difficult to provide relief to the people.

But things are very different now. The imperial court has issued a policy to open up the seas, and the new fishing methods developed by Xishan can be promoted. Moreover, there is a distant ocean-going navy to escort them to sea.

Now that the navy has set an example, the common people will naturally follow suit and rush out to sea to fish.

He narrowed his eyes.

"At present, the ocean-going fleet can catch tens of thousands of catties in two or three days. Although it is only enough for the needs of one city, if all seaports in the world follow this method and every household can go out to sea to catch fish, what a bountiful scene that would be."

Father, don't you understand?

"Soliciting nonsense!" Zhang Juzheng's face darkened abruptly, his tone utterly unforgiving. "Developing fisheries is a matter of national importance and people's livelihood. What does it have to do with your lavish banquet? Do you think that if you don't eat this seafood, the fishing industry of my Great Ming Dynasty will be unable to move forward?" He looked at his young son and had to admit that the boy was indeed exceptionally gifted in politics.

That is precisely why Zhang Juzheng was even more determined to set things right!

"The relationship is extremely important."

Zhang Yunxiu remained calm and even more confident.

"All subjects of the realm regard Your Majesty as the most honorable person. The saying 'what the superiors do, the inferiors follow' has existed since ancient times."

During the Zhenguan era, when a locust plague struck, Emperor Taizong even ate locusts himself to demonstrate his determination to eradicate them.

Today, our Great Ming Dynasty is suffering from famine, and the price of rice and wheat has soared like gold.

Your Majesty should set an example by switching to seafood, which would send a signal to the world that our Great Ming Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, has no shortage of food, and can survive by eating seafood.

If the people along the coast see Your Majesty doing this, and also learn to make seafood their staple food, although it will be harmful to their health in the long run, it is still better than starving to death!
His Majesty's actions have truly set an example for all his subjects, providing them with a path to survival!

These words stunned the Wanli Emperor, who was standing to the side.

Yo ho!

I merely ate a seafood meal, and now I'm setting an example for all the people?
When it comes to talent, Zhang Shiyuan is the best!
"That's a ridiculous and far-fetched analogy!"

Zhang Juzheng was cursing like this, but suddenly he felt that there seemed to be a sliver of truth to it.

In the past, due to the maritime ban, seafood was not well known to ordinary people, and many nobles and gentry regarded seafood as a luxury.

If we truly want to control grain prices with seafood and change people's perceptions of seafood, then it is certainly necessary.

"This is one reason, that Your Majesty sets an example for all subjects, making the consumption of seafood a popular and deeply ingrained habit."

Zhang Yunxiu spoke eloquently.

"Secondly, Father should now understand the importance of market confidence. The recent surge in grain prices is due to various factors such as spring famine and disasters, but ultimately it is nothing more than the lack of confidence among many gentry and merchants in this year's grain yield."

But if His Majesty eats like this, once the news spreads, everyone in the world will know that if the emperor can eat seafood in the capital, then tens of thousands of people in Ningbo Prefecture can also eat seafood. So how can there be a shortage of grain?

If people can't afford grain, they can eat seafood, regardless of the price of grain.

Over time, with less demand in the market and more supply of grain, grain prices naturally fall.

He then said with a cold laugh.

"There are always people in the market who want to see us fail, but when the sweet potatoes are ripe, the food problem will be completely solved."

Zhang Juzheng didn't quite believe in sweet potatoes, but he pondered deeply what Zhang Yunxiu had said earlier.

The cabinet and the six ministries still had the old mindset. During times of famine, the emperor and his officials set an example by advocating diligence and thrift.

The imperial court's solutions to problems all boiled down to the word "cost-cutting".

However, things are indeed very different now than before, and the "cost-cutting" approach no longer seems to be effective all the time.

Upon hearing these words, Emperor Wanli's face showed considerable excitement.

There are so many intricacies involved in eating seafood?

He puffed out his large belly, making a rumbling sound, as if he were ten months pregnant, and his belly was no less than that of Consort Wang.

What Emperor Wanli once found somewhat cumbersome, he now finds quite pleasing to the eye.

I am not eating for myself, but for all my subjects!
Zhang Juzheng's eyes were filled with complex emotions. He looked at Zhang Yunxiu, unsure of what to say.

What the other party said does make some sense, but somehow he seems more and more like a treacherous and wicked minister.

Fortunately, he was born into the Zhang family; if he had been born into the Yan family, the Ming Dynasty probably wouldn't have survived until now.

The following day, the Wanli Xinbao newspaper published the news on its front page that tens of thousands of catties of fresh fish had been caught in Ningbo Prefecture.

It even included a vivid illustration of a round-faced, wealthy man with a large belly, feasting on a table full of seafood.

The illustration looks festive; with just a few strokes, it makes the seafood on the table seem incredibly delicious.

This picture is clearly the work of the Wanli Emperor. The emperor's skills have become increasingly refined, and many illustrations in newspapers are drawn by him.

If it weren't to avoid suspicion, he would have definitely drawn it on himself.

When the people of the capital received the newspaper, they all found it novel.

Seafood is something I've heard of, but to catch tens of thousands of kilograms at once is unheard of.

Normally, eating dried seafood is considered an extreme luxury. How come in Ningbo, ordinary people eat it as a staple food?
One penny per pound, and I'm even sick of eating it?
How is this any different from the plots in storybooks?
Therefore, when this news spread, there were many criticisms.

"I'm afraid this is another case of following the old ways of the Jiajing era, where local officials, eager for advancement, flatter and fawn, exaggerating their achievements at each level, and then reporting auspicious omens to His Majesty when they reach the court!"

"Shameless! The Wanli Xinbao newspaper can publish such bizarre stories! Isn't that blatant flattery?"

"Tens of thousands of kilograms of fresh fish? Do you really think everyone in the world is an ignorant and foolish man and woman?"

Local gentry and scholars, who considered themselves knowledgeable, all condemned the news.

Some even wanted to emulate Hai Rui of old and write a memorial on public order to thoroughly criticize this fat emperor who was greedy for pleasure and ambitious for great achievements.

However, in the blink of an eye, grain prices inevitably fell in the futures market.

"How could this be?"

A scholar dressed in fine clothes sat in the teahouse, rubbing his eyes and looking at the price list in disbelief.

He was initially confident of success, heavily betting on futures such as rice and wheat. He spent his days drinking tea and chatting in the teahouse of Thirty-Nine Shops, and in the blink of an eye, he was able to earn more money than an ordinary person could earn in a lifetime.

Lessons learned? Even though the futures market has bankrupted countless people in the past, the allure of getting rich overnight is still as strong as a demon, drawing countless people to it.

"not good!"

Someone shouted from inside the teahouse.

"A letter from my kinsman in Ningbo Prefecture confirms that this matter is likely true!"

Chaos erupted in the teahouse as someone shouted.

"Don't panic. It's just a few hundred thousand catties of fish. Can fish really be eaten as a meal? Can Zhang Shiyuan borrow grain from the Dragon King of the East Sea every time?"

Do they really think he's some kind of divine being?

Despite his words, no one paid him any attention. Everyone crowded towards the counter, grumbling and cursing, but their actions betrayed their true intentions.

"Close my position! I want to close my position!"

"You old scoundrel, how dare you cut in line!"

"The sage said that at seventy one can do whatever one desires, but I am seventy-six years old, what business is it of yours!"

"You old geezer!"

"Zhang Shiyuan is too cunning. It would be best to close out our positions. I'm going to sell everything!"

On this day, the capital's futures market was once again plunged into a severe stampede. The gentry and merchants who held futures stocks panicked because of this news, and grain prices continued to fall.

Lower prices are indeed what the imperial court hopes for, but if prices drop too low all at once, it will only exacerbate the food shortage in the capital.

Therefore, after the price of grain in the futures market fell by thirteen percentage points in a single day, the circuit breaker mechanism was triggered, and all trading was suspended, which effectively stopped the market panic and frenzy.

Standing atop the Thirty-Nine Shops, Minister of Revenue Zhang Xueyan couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He sighed and said...

"Thanks to this circuit breaker mechanism, otherwise the price of grain would have fallen too sharply, and the capital would probably be even more short of grain."

Prices are never as good as they can be. If merchants lose their profits, grain from various regions will not be able to be transported to the capital, and the lowered prices will eventually rebound.

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and said, "The other day, the Minister inquired about price-related matters, and I suddenly remembered the crux of the problem. Fortunately, it came in handy."

If Zhang Xueyan hadn't asked, he would have almost forgotten about the circuit breaker, a crucial mechanism of this machine.

Zhang Xueyan breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Thanks to Shiyuan, the gains made by Ningbo Prefecture this time have given the imperial court a great respite."

Tens of thousands of kilograms may not seem like much, but the confidence it brings is extremely valuable.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and said, "Your Excellency, please watch closely; this is just the beginning."

(End of this chapter)