Chapter 1549: The Great Ming Turning the Corner

Glass is a good creation, and glass windows are a good application.

On a cold winter day, when the sun is high, sunlight penetrates the glass, raising the temperature in the room, making people inside very comfortable.

If in such a warm environment, being illuminated by the sun, and then playing with cats and dogs, drinking some hot tea, it is simply a great enjoyment.

However, young people probably don't have the patience for such enjoyment. They always want to move. Their lives are still too short, and their blood is still full, urging them to act.

Only when people reach a certain age will they want to slow down, enjoy the sunshine, enjoy the tranquility, and enjoy everything.

Jiajing slowed down.

In the Yuxi Palace, Jiajing was lying on a recliner, in the sun, with his eyes closed. Every time the chair swayed weakly, Lu Fang, who was serving on the side, would add a little force to let the recliner swing a little bigger.

Wang Yan stood respectfully not far behind Jiajing and talked about the arrangements for Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang.

Jiajing also asked the same question: "Do you want to go to war with the Tatars?"

"Your Majesty, our Great Ming's current national strength is not enough to support the expenses of advancing north. The subject is thinking..."

After hearing Wang Yan's way of economic sanctions, Jiajing immediately thought of the wealthy families in Hebei, Shandong, and Shanxi, and his eyes opened suddenly.

"You really don't let me have peace. Does it mean I can only stay in seclusion?"

Wang Yan heard the annoyance in the words, as well as some expectations.

So he understood the spirit very well and said: "Your Majesty, this matter cannot be achieved overnight. We can first open a market. This is also to facilitate mutual trade between the two sides, and it is also to provide convenience for those wealthy families, concentrating transactions. In this way, whether it is transportation or settlement, it will be more convenient."

"Once the wealthy families come, we will collect the first transaction tax. Let's start with a 20% tax. If the trade is several million taels of silver a year, that is an income of several hundred thousand taels of silver."

"At the same time, to prevent them from trading privately without going through the market and not paying taxes to the government, we must dispatch the army to patrol the line and investigate strictly. If we catch those trading privately, we will detain the goods and add fines. If they don't pay the fines, we will impose interest. If they still don't pay, we will confiscate their land until the fines are paid. If we find other evidence of crimes in the process of confiscating land, that would be even better—raid their houses directly and exile the whole family."

"This is the reason why the subject asked Qi Jiguang to train troops and prepare for the border. We cannot fight out, but we can always defend, and we can always prevent these rebellious subjects from colluding with foreign tribes, and also prevent people inside from making trouble."

"At the same time, on Qi Jiguang's side, he can also pull out a merchant fleet to purchase things from the Tatars himself, transport them to the capital and other wealthy places for sale, which can earn another sum."

"When the time comes, we will open the Imperial Bank to the market, let the Tatars gradually adapt to treasure notes, and when that time comes..."

From beginning to end, Wang Yan didn't say what the disadvantages were, saying only the benefits. Because Jiajing already clearly knew the biggest disadvantage, saying he wouldn't come out of seclusion.

What Wang Yan wants to do is to let Jiajing fully recognize the benefits. As long as Jiajing feels that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, Jiajing will definitely support it.

How to say they have been in contact for a long time, Wang Yan understands that Jiajing is a wise man, a practical man, a man who likes benefits, and also a man with an adventurous spirit, as well as a strong rebellious spirit and action ability. The three-year Great Rites Controversy fully proves Jiajing's various qualities.

"Your Majesty, as long as we arrange slowly and plan gradually, we can subdue them without fighting. At the same time, we can clean up those rebellious subjects and make them spit out all the land and silver they swallowed. It is absolutely a good thing with multiple benefits."

Jiajing didn't express anything, swaying on the recliner, comfortable.

Lu Fang said on the side: "Assistant Prefect Wang, then in your opinion, who is suitable to be the Governor of Jiliao?"

"Tan Lun is still the best. He fought well in the South, didn't hold back, prepared military supplies with heart, and was decisive and dared to take action. He is also an old friend of Qi Jiguang. It is appropriate for the two of them to manage Jiliao."

Wang Yan didn't avoid anything. After all, Jiajing had already let him start forming a faction, so there was nothing he couldn't say.

"After two years, my term as Assistant Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture will also come to an end. Shuntian Prefecture wants to be a place where things are not picked up on the road and doors are not closed at night, with prosperous and stable common people and a thousand scenes in the capital. At that time, whoever comes to govern Shuntian Prefecture, as long as they don't collude with the powerful and wealthy in the capital, Shuntian Prefecture won't be bad."

"At that time, the subject will go to Jiliao, occupy the territory of the Jurchens first, and if there is a good opportunity, the army will attack and wipe out the Tatars. Besides, two years of time is just right for managing the market. When the subject goes over, I think it will be the most intense time. As long as Your Majesty supports me, my head is hard and my life is hard, I will definitely be able to withstand the pressure just like governing Shuntian Prefecture, and the eternal peace of our Great Ming will start from this."

"You arranged it quite clearly."

Jiajing gave a light laugh, "Then follow what you said. I want to see what you can do in the North. Lu Fang, go through the procedures with the Cabinet later."

"Yes, Master. Assistant Prefect Wang does things reliably, this matter will definitely succeed. Scattering the wealthy families in Shandong, Shanxi, and Hebei, the Master can be worry-free in the future."

Wang Yan followed up with a few words of loyalty, saying, "Your Majesty, Hu Zongxian wrote to entrust me to ask if Your Majesty has any other appointments for him."

"Didn't you use him quite well? Tell me, what appointments do you have for him?"

"Your Majesty is scolding the subject. The subject is wholeheartedly for the Great Ming's state affairs. Tan Lun, Yu Dayou, Qi Jiguang, and others have all just made great achievements, and it is just the right time to continue to use them in places where they are needed more. They have all done very well, and the subject has a clear conscience."

"Hu Zongxian can be considered to have a deep friendship with me. After the Battle of Taizhou, he came to Chun'an specifically to see Hai Rui and me on his way home. What appointments he has, of course, is all up to Your Majesty. Your Majesty can arrange it however you want. It's just that he asked the subject to help ask, so the subject couldn't refuse."

"You really asked when he asked you to ask?" Lu Fang was helpless.

"I have to do things in place." Wang Yan said with sincerity, "At that time, letting him run the fleet and train the navy was because he was thinking about the past of the Yan Song incident, and waiting for Xu Jie to go down. After all, he is only fifty-something, so he still has a chance to be re-employed. I also promised him that if he wasn't killed, I would speak for him."

"Now that the Southeast has won a great victory and the wealthy families in the Southeast have been suppressed, the outgoing fleets have decreased by several percent. Hu Zongxian has indeed played an important role in this. He is impatient and wants to be re-employed. The subject believes it is understandable."

"It is mainly because Your Majesty values friendship, so the subject has the courage to ask. Otherwise... the subject would have to think of ways to go around it, or ask Eunuch Lu to mention it when Your Majesty is happy, so I can have an explanation for Hu Zongxian..."

"You are really practical." Jiajing laughed happily.

"The subject has always been loyal to Your Majesty, without half a word of falsehood. Unlike those rebellious subjects, who only think about fooling Your Majesty, ruining Your Majesty's reputation, and damaging Your Majesty's majestic image in the hearts of the common people."

"Alright. Let him and Yu Dayou manage the fleet well and train the navy well, and stabilize the situation in the Southeast first. When there is a position for him, I will naturally think of him."

Jiajing rarely spoke so directly, which shows that he was very satisfied with Wang Yan's statement.

He was always like this, hot and cold, occasionally saying a few words to suppress others just to show off his authority.

However, from another perspective, ever since he became a shut-in, very few people could see Jiajing. That he would treat Wang Yan this way shows just how important Wang Yan was to him.

After finishing the discussion about Hu Zongxian, Jiajing gave no further indication, so Wang Yan tactfully left the Yuxi Palace and headed toward the outside of the imperial palace.

Yet, the person seeing him off today caught him quite by surprise.

"Eunuch Chen, why trouble yourself to see me off?"

Chen Hong laughed: "What are you saying, Magistrate Wang? We are all serving His Majesty the Emperor; what is there to talk about regarding trouble?"

Having served as an official in the capital for nearly four years, Wang Yan had, of course, met Chen Hong long ago. Come to think of it, the Directorate of Imperial Gardens was under Chen Hong's responsibility, and the cooperation with the Shanglin Garden and the various green vegetables bestowed by Jiajing naturally passed through Chen Hong. Because Wang Yan loved to eat and Chen Hong managed the Directorate of Imperial Banquets, they had some interaction in these areas. Thus, the two were not strangers.

So, after leaving the vicinity of Yuxi Palace, with only the two of them walking in front and the serving eunuchs following far behind, Wang Yan simply asked directly.

"Eunuch Chen, there is no one nearby; if you have something to say, feel free to speak plainly."

"Oh, there really is nothing," Chen Hong said. "It's been so many years, and I've never had the chance to get close to Magistrate Wang. Today was just a coincidence; I happened to run into you leaving, so I thought I'd see you off and have a casual chat to pass the time."

"My greatest amusement is being frequently ambushed and killed, and those who kill me say I've done all sorts of evil and deserve a bad death. Don't you think that's amusing, Eunuch Chen?"

Chen Hong laughed heartily: "They are all just a bunch of rebellious traitors, completely lawless. If you ask me, having the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard led by Huang Jin is a real waste."

"Eunuch Huang hasn't wronged me," Wang Yan said with a smile, then changed the subject. "Eunuch Chen, you lead the Directorate of Imperial Gardens. I've been thinking lately about gathering some people to specialize in agricultural affairs. Researching how to farm for high yields, cultivating high-yield seeds, preventing various pests and diseases, and increasing output per mu. I wonder if you have any interest, Eunuch Chen?"

"Of course I'm interested. If we really achieve some results, that would be a great benefit to the country and the people, and I would be basking in your reflected glory, Magistrate Wang. I'll have someone find you later. This matter certainly won't show results in the short term, so we shouldn't delay a moment; the sooner we start, the better."

"Eunuch Chen is absolutely right, then it is settled. I will draft a proposal when I return. The silver will be provided by the Shuntian Prefecture, and you just need to dispatch suitable personnel. Finding people who are good at farming and also good at research is truly not easy."

Chen Hong said: "No need to worry. Our Great Ming has plenty of people. Finding some who know how to farm and love researching it is no big deal. It's settled then, start as soon as you can."

"Eunuch Chen, please don't be impatient. These are slow tasks. To achieve anything, we'll have to wait until spring. To see results, we certainly won't see anything in a year; it will take at least two."

"We must make all preparations complete first, so that when we actually start working, it will be more efficient."

"Eunuch Chen is a wise man. Rest assured, I will have people start acting as soon as I return."

Just like that, the two strolled along, chatting all the way until Chen Hong saw Wang Yan out of the West Garden, at which point he stopped and warmly bid Wang Yan farewell. They never spoke of anything else; it was truly just a casual chat.

Wang Yan did believe Chen Hong's intent was just to chat. In the past, Chen Hong really hadn't had many opportunities to interact with Wang Yan. Mostly it was Lu Fang communicating with Wang Yan, followed by Huang Jin, whom Lu Fang favored more. Additionally, Huang Jin led the Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard, so there was much more cooperation with Wang Yan.

Relatively speaking, Chen Hong was far behind. Even if there were ties to departments like the Directorate of Imperial Gardens or the Shanglin Garden, it wasn't Wang Yan dealing directly with Chen Hong.

Running into each other directly like today hadn't happened more than a few times over the years. That Chen Hong could spare the time to specifically see Wang Yan off was only possible today.

After leaving the imperial palace, Wang Yan had someone send word to Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang, telling them the arrangements were settled and to set their minds at ease. Wang Yan still cared a great deal about their emotions.

It was truly hard to be a military officer, and even harder to be an honest one who didn't stir up trouble; they would be tossed about for no reason. Truth be told, stirring up a little trouble could actually bring stability; after all, they were generals leading troops, stationed abroad with complex local entanglements, so they still had considerable bargaining power...

Upon returning to the Shuntian Prefecture office, Wang Yan immediately gave instructions regarding the food research.

He had been having people do it before, but it was unsystematic and lacked momentum. Now, by joining forces with the palace, the goal was to speed things up.

By this time, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes had already spread to the Great Ming. Over the past two years, Wang Yan had already found the seeds. What he needed to do next was the same action he had been repeating: cultivate these food seeds and improve them bit by bit until they were high-yielding.

He didn't ask to reach modern standards; as long as the yield per mu was higher than it was now, that would be a huge success. Moreover, this minimum requirement wasn't that difficult to achieve.

With the problems in the southeast resolved, aside from Altan Khan occasionally causing trouble, the entire Great Ming entered a rare period of stability. Of course, various natural and man-made disasters were inevitable, but there were no events with widespread impact.

The damned Jiajing didn't die, and other problems were not problems either. This empire, which had regained some vitality because of Wang Yan, was still steadily moving forward.

Wang Yan also had a rare period of stability. He didn't encounter any more ambushes. He worked steadily on construction in Shuntian Prefecture, focused on the promotion of paper currency nationwide, and remotely managed the border markets in Jiliao. Everything was going very smoothly.

And besides handling these matters, Wang Yan finally got married. She was a girl from a declining imperial relative's family, five generations removed. She was very beautiful and very sensible.

Jiajing personally chose her and even specifically bestowed a title, revealing his favor for Wang Yan beyond any doubt...

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