Chapter 100: Drawing a Circle on the East Sea of the Great Ming

The wine had been served three times, and the dishes had been tasted five times.

After a bout of toasting and drinking, Zhang Yunxiu asked directly about the main business: "Magistrate Wei, where is the Sea Chart you mentioned? Don't clutch it like a treasure anymore; hurry up and bring it out for me to see."

"Oh, look at my memory." Wei Ming slapped his forehead, stood up with an apologetic face, and soothed him: "Director Zhang, please wait a moment; I will go and fetch it for you."

As he spoke, Wei Ming walked with light steps, turned and walked out of the dining hall, and returned shortly after, holding a scroll wrapped in yellow silk in his hand.

Zhang Yunxiu stood up as well and gestured for Wei Ming to walk to the side.

The two of them spread out the scroll on a small table, and Wei Ming brought over an oil lamp; only then could Zhang Yunxiu see it clearly.

Black dots represented islands, horizontal lines represented water, and long hooks represented routes.

Heading south, one first reaches Luzon, and moving further forward, one arrives at the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra; passing through the Malacca Strait between the two, one crosses the Pacific Ocean and enters the Indian Ocean.

Although it was somewhat crude, it was still better than having nothing at all.

"Good!" Zhang Yunxiu clapped and praised it after looking it over; he looked at Wei Ming and smiled, "Magistrate Wei, you have performed a great service this time; this small chart alone is enough to save us several years of effort."

"That is my duty; it is nothing worth mentioning." Wei Ming smiled modestly and reminded him, "Director Zhang, I must also remind you that this Sea Chart is an old object from over a hundred years ago; perhaps some places are different now."

"I am aware."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded and pulled Wei Ming to sit back at the round table.

A hundred years may seem like a long time, but for mountains, rivers, and the vast ocean, it is merely the snap of a finger.

He did not believe that in this short hundred years, this route could undergo any major changes.

However, for the sake of caution, he still had to send people to familiarize themselves with the route first.

At the same time, establishing supply ports along the coast was also a matter of urgency, as it was inevitable to encounter wind and waves at sea.

These coastal supply ports could truly save one's life.

Suddenly, Zhang Yunxiu recalled the geographical advantage of Songjiang Prefecture and hurriedly stood up, asking: "Magistrate Wei, do you have a map of the entire Songjiang Prefecture in your home?"

Wei Ming nodded and ordered someone to fetch it; Zhang Yunxiu took it and looked.

Nowadays, the territory of Songjiang Prefecture reaches Jinshan Guard in the south, Shanghai County in the east, Jiading of Suzhou in the north, and borders Qingpu in the west.

Zhang Yunxiu had a bold idea—to make Songjiang Prefecture independent and place it directly under the jurisdiction of the central government.

He took a deep breath, picked up a brush, and drew a large circle around the aforementioned places.

"Director Zhang, what are you doing?" Wei Ming asked, puzzled.

Zhang Yunxiu did not answer him directly, but instead asked with a smile: "Do you want to be promoted?"

Isn't that a rhetorical question?

Wei Ming muttered in his heart, then straightened his expression and clothing, bowed toward the direction of the capital, and replied with feigned composure: "Whether I am promoted or not is up to the evaluation of the officials of the Ministry of Personnel; I dare not speak recklessly."

Pretend. Keep pretending.

If you didn't want a promotion, would you act as a filial son and grandson to the Xu Family and lower your status to beg me, a mere youth? Smiling and shaking his head, Zhang Yunxiu, under Wei Ming's gaze, explained the whole matter: "Songjiang Prefecture is in a strategic location, controlling the East Sea with the territory of a single prefecture. After I return, I intend to request an imperial decree from the Emperor to make Songjiang Prefecture independent and place it directly under the Emperor's jurisdiction."

"Directly under the imperial court? Would the Yingtian Prefecture Governor agree to that? To lose such a large piece of fertile land for nothing—they would argue for many days just over that." Wei Ming was somewhat shocked.

"Why would I need them to agree? As long as you agree, isn't that enough?" Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand with a smile and added, "If Songjiang Prefecture becomes independent, the rank of all officials can be raised by one grade. You, Magistrate Wei, would directly become a sixth-rank magistrate; wouldn't that be delightful?"

At this, the Magistrate was tempted.

A sixth-rank magistrate was a status only held by magistrates in the North Zhili region.

"If this matter can be accomplished, it will be of great benefit to both Songjiang Prefecture and the imperial court." Ignoring the change in the Magistrate, Zhang Yunxiu continued, "Songjiang Prefecture has developed maritime transport; in the future, as maritime trade prospers, the customs duties will surely be substantial. If it is made independent and the Ministry of Revenue sends officials to collect customs duties directly, it will also prevent Yingtian Prefecture from concealing the revenue."

The local and central governments have been in opposition since ancient times.

Local officials are always eager to save as much money as possible under their own governance to prepare for unforeseen needs.

The central government is different; it needs to consider the peace of the entire world and has more places to spend money.

Managing the Yellow and Huai rivers, supporting the soldiers of the Nine Frontiers, and providing disaster relief whenever and wherever disaster strikes—the imperial court needs to be able to act immediately.

Therefore, whether a dynasty can continue depends on how much money and grain there is in the capital.

Wei Ming pondered for a moment, raised an eyebrow, and couldn't help but tease: "In this way, the Ministry of Revenue will indeed have more income, but the officials of Yingtian Prefecture will probably be cursing up a storm."

"Let them curse; we will do our work." Zhang Yunxiu didn't care at all and continued speaking, "Not just Songjiang Prefecture, but Tianjin Guard must also be carved out and placed directly under the jurisdiction of the central imperial court."

As Zhang Yunxiu spoke, he paced back and forth, while Wei Qing, who was to the side, nodded frequently.

By this time, the sky had turned completely dark, and the chirping of nightingales interrupted Zhang Yunxiu's train of thought.

He shook his head with a smile and mocked himself: "Forget it, such a major matter must be discussed with the Emperor after I return before a decision is made."

"Director Zhang has worked hard, and the dishes have grown a bit cold. Shall I order someone to replace the table?" Wei Ming interjected with a smile.

"No need, let's just eat something simple."

Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand and sat back down at the rosewood round table. Wei Ming sat down as well, raised a cup of wine, and said ingratiatingly: "Director Zhang is favored by the Emperor; it is my honor to be able to invite you to dinner. In the future, if you have any commands, I will surely go through fire and water without hesitation!"

"Magistrate Wei is too kind." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and raised his cup to clink it against his.

The banquet lasted until the Xu hour (7-9 PM); seeing that it was getting late, Zhang Yunxiu rose to take his leave.

The Magistrate tried to persuade him to stay, but Zhang Yunxiu smiled and refused: "Magistrate Wei, please stay; I do not need you to see me off.

Remember my words: if this Songjiang Prefecture becomes independent, its prominence will be beyond what you can imagine."

"This subordinate understands."

The Magistrate bowed and replied.

Early the next morning, Zhang Yunxiu struggled to sit up from his bed, rubbed his aching head, and it took a long time for him to recover his spirits. Last night, he had obtained a Sea Chart of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Oceans; the matter of going to sea finally had some direction.

There was another matter: making Songjiang Prefecture independent and building it into a super-large city cluster in the east.

The significance of this was even greater.

For one, it could create a siphon effect, causing the wealthy merchants of Suzhou to flock here, and Songjiang Prefecture would become even more prosperous.

For another, the central imperial court would have such a fertile and wealthy enclave in Jiangnan, which would be like driving a nail into Jiangnan.

Not only could it disgust the officials of Jiangnan, but it could also increase the tax revenue of the imperial court.

The Yingtian Prefecture Governor is only a third-rank official; if the head of the Songjiang Special Zone is also a third-rank official, he certainly wouldn't fear him.

Just as he was thinking this, the warm sun outside the window spilled in, landing on Zhang Yunxiu's face and forming patches of golden light.

Outside the room, a burst of footsteps suddenly sounded, then stopped, and someone called out, "Young Master Zhang, are you awake?"

"I'll be right there."

Zhang Yunxiu scrambled in a flurry, tidied up haphazardly, pushed the door open, and followed the servant who had come to fetch him toward the main hall.

Inside the main hall, Xu Yuanchun was already waiting there.

Seeing Zhang Yunxiu, Xu Yuanchun smiled, stood up, called him "brother-in-law," gestured for him to sit, and simultaneously signaled the servants to bring tea.

The two sat down, and Zhang Yunxiu took a small sip of tea before looking at Xu Yuanchun and asking, "For you to invite me here so early in the morning, brother, truly makes me feel quite overwhelmed."

His own date of return was already set, and Xu Yuanchun had previously told him in private that the dowry the Xu Family was giving to Xu Ruoxi amounted to a full ten thousand mu of land.

Now, it should be time for the harvest.

Although he heard the teasing in Zhang Yunxiu's words, Xu Yuanchun had great self-restraint and remained completely unmoved, only wanting to retort: "In the future, we will be one family; what, is it impossible for me to want to see my own brother-in-law?"

"I just wanted to chat with you, brother-in-law, there is no other major matter."

"How can you say that, brother?" Zhang Yunxiu was in a great mood and was happy to shoot the breeze with him.

Xu Yuanchun knew this matter could not be rushed, so he tried his best to look normal, leaned to the side, and asked, "I heard you have already met with Ruoxi in the back garden?"

"It was purely a lucky coincidence for me." Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand with a smile, though a peerless, stunning figure unconsciously appeared in his mind.

Since that day, the two had met in secret once more, which could be considered as having pledged their lives to each other.

Remembering how he had almost tripped himself up by plagiarizing literature, Zhang Yunxiu raised an eyebrow and let out a snort of laughter.

Hm? Was it that funny?

Xu Yuanchun did not understand the reason and was made very nervous by this; he glanced at the foolishly grinning Zhang Yunxiu and asked again, "Brother-in-law, what do you think of my sister?"

Zhang Yunxiu did not reply.

Now Xu Yuanchun was even more nervous, and he raised his voice to shout again: "Brother-in-law!"

"Ah?!" Zhang Yunxiu only just woke from his sweet memories, looked at Xu Yuanchun with a face full of astonishment, and asked, "Brother, what did you just ask?"

"What do you think of my sister?" Xu Yuanchun composed his thoughts and asked once more.

"Ruoxi is well-read and sensible, imbued with the scent of ink, and possesses a beauty that could topple a kingdom, as if she were a fairy descended from the heavens. I feel somewhat ashamed of my own inferiority when I see her, fearing I might soil such a fairy who does not eat the food of mortals." Zhang Yunxiu smiled, not sparing any words of praise.

"I see that in your eyes, brother-in-law, your lover is a Xi Shi," Xu Yuanchun's brow ridge twitched as he waved his hand with a smile, "This girl also has a bad temper; if there is any clash after the wedding, you must be more tolerant."

"Rest assured, brother, I will certainly treat Ruoxi well."

The two chatted aimlessly, shooting the breeze, and in the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed.

Zhang Yunxiu's stomach gave a few rumbles, and just as he was about to take his leave, Xu Yuanchun suddenly called out to him: "Stay a moment, brother-in-law."

Zhang Yunxiu sat back down and asked, "Do you have more to say, brother?"

Xu Yuanchun's face flushed, and he fidgeted for a moment before saying, "There is indeed a matter, and I hope your esteemed father can help."

"Oh, why didn't you say so earlier." Zhang Yunxiu slapped his thigh, his voice rising, "I really thought you had nothing to do this morning, brother, and came specifically to shoot the breeze with me!"

Stung by this hidden "jab," Xu Yuanchun felt uneasy inside, but thinking that he needed a favor, he dared not put on airs and instead played the emotional card: "Brother-in-law, we are one family, so let's not speak as if we are two; my grandfather once had a teacher-student relationship with your esteemed father, and you have married my sister."

"Tell me, isn't our relationship close?"

"As close as brothers." Zhang Yunxiu spat out the four words.

Xu Yuanchun let out a long sigh of relief, a smile spread across his face, and he said, "With those words from you, brother-in-law, my heart feels as sweet as if I had eaten candied fruit; then I won't stand on ceremony with you, brother."

"Just say what you need to say, brother."

Tell me, what official post do you want after your mourning period ends? Xu Yuanchun did not stand on ceremony either and stated his request directly: "Li Shun, the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner, has less than three years left in his term; if I could go to that position after my mourning period..."

"Oh, so you had this planned all along, brother." Zhang Yunxiu laughed out loud and added, "You are a Director in the Nanjing Ministry of Rites; according to official rank, you are on par with that Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner. Wouldn't that be a loss for you, brother?"

A loss, my foot.

The Nanjing Ministry of Rites was a dead-end office, and he wasn't even the head official there.

Although the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner was also a fourth-rank official, he held independent authority and controlled the Salt Permits for the entire Lianghuai region; it was a position of low status but high power, a top-tier lucrative post.

Xu Yuanchun did not believe Zhang Yunxiu was unaware of the difference in value, only assuming he was holding out for more benefits.

After collecting his thoughts for a moment, Xu Yuanchun continued: "Rest assured, brother-in-law, as long as I can secure that position, I will never leave you short on Salt Permits in the future, and when Ruoxi marries, I will send you another generous gift."

Zhang Yunxiu felt a surge of joy inside, but on the surface, he did not commit fully: "Brother, it is truly not that I am trying to shirk, but there are many people eyeing that position. If I cannot get it done, please do not blame me."

Seeing him relent, Xu Yuanchun was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "As long as you speak up, brother-in-law, I will accept whatever the outcome may be."

(End of chapter)