Chapter 1015: I Do Things, Why Do I Need to Explain to Others!

The Emperor made a terrifying decision: the Wenchua Hall court discussions, which had been maintained for twenty years, were canceled.

This meant that if the ministers didn't take the initiative to go to the Tonghe Palace, they could only see His Majesty at the Great Court Session on the third day of every month, but the Great Court Session did not discuss matters.

After the Wenchua Hall court discussions were canceled, it caused a huge uproar. Inside and outside the Great Ming, the system of court discussions was highly recognized.

This system effectively limited the Emperor's nonsense, especially negligence of government.

The phenomenon of Great Ming Emperors neglecting government was extremely serious. From the time of Ming Xianzong, it was extremely difficult for ministers like Peng Shi and Shang Lu to see the Emperor even once.

In the seventh year of During Chenghua, Emperor Xianzong had only been on the throne for seven years and had already begun to neglect government. Peng Shi saw a meteor streak across the sky and took the opportunity to see the Emperor on the grounds that "Heaven's changes are to be feared," but later he could never see him again.

Even the Ming Xiaozong, who was highly revered by the scholar-officials, only five years after ascending the throne, that is, in the fifth year of Hongzhi, gradually showed signs of "neglecting the morning court." Later, he was even more late for the morning court, delayed the approval of memorials, left many things in the middle, rarely saw ministers, did not discuss state affairs, and wantonly conferred titles on officials.

Except for filial piety, Xiaozong was not considered a wise ruler in other aspects.

In the eighth year of Hongzhi, the Senior Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Xu Pu, and others finally could not bear it any longer and ran to the Left Shun Gate to petition, asking Xiaozong to open the early court again. Xu Pu submitted a very, very long memorial. A month later, Xiaozong summoned Senior Grand Secretary Xu Pu and others, but that was it.

Xiaozong had only one Empress and no other harem. What was Xiaozong doing in the harem, not seeing ministers, not managing state affairs? The answer was alchemy. There was a eunuch named Li Guang who coaxed Xiaozong into cultivating immortality in the harem every day.

Therefore, the ministers being able to see the Emperor every day was a special situation of the Emperor Wanli Reforms.

For the ministers, they had long been accustomed to clarifying matters in front of the Emperor, and the Wenchua Hall court discussions made the ministers the actual decision-makers of national policy.

Although the Emperor clearly stated that it would be restored in the future, the ministers did not have that confidence.

When the people of the capital heard the news, they were all scolding the ministers for not having a submissive heart, which led to His Majesty's thunderous rage. The people also recognized the system of court discussions.

Because the things decided in the Wenchua Hall were argued to death inside, and the people couldn't hear them, but the benefits of not being able to disobey in public while complying in private and not being able to destroy things outside the hall were something the people felt solidly.

For the people, what they feared most was the morning order being changed in the evening. If the court's policies were like flipping a pancake, the result would be that each Southern Yamen would act according to its own will, and the people would be the ones suffering.

The suspension of court discussions was different from the negligence of the past.

Regarding negligence, the ministers had also summarized some struggle experience. If there was negligence again, they would send someone like Hai Rui to carry a coffin and remonstrate. As long as the Emperor wanted some face, he would handle state affairs.

This time, His Majesty was not neglecting government, because government was like flowing water, still very efficient. His Majesty still would not let memorials stay overnight. The machine known as the nation was still operating efficiently.

This suspension was the Emperor taking back the power to participate in decision-making that had been granted to the ministers.

In this situation, the ministers soon thought of inviting Zhang Zhang Juzheng back. Ling Ling Yunyi, as the Vice Grand Secretary, led the new Cabinet Minister Shen Shen Shixing and Cabinet Minister Shen Li to the Yicheng Hou Fu to invite Zhang Zhang Juzheng back to the court.

October 23rd was the last time the Emperor went to the Quan Chu Hui Zhen Guan to cadge a meal. The next day, Zhang Zhang Juzheng moved out of the Quan Chu Hui Zhen Guan completely, leaving the Quan Chu Hui Zhen Guan to Shen Shen Shixing.

From then on, cadging meals would be at the Yicheng Hou Fu, not the Quan Chu Hui Zhen Guan.

The three Cabinet ministers, Ling Ling Yunyi, Shen Shen Shixing, and Shen Li, went to the Yicheng Hou Fu. Zhang Zhang Juzheng closed his doors and refused to see them. Ling Ling Yunyi sat on the stone lion in front of the door and said he wouldn't leave until he saw him.

As a dignified Vice Grand Secretary, playing such a rogue, Zhang Zhang Juzheng had no choice but to go out to welcome them.

"Vice Grand Secretary Ling, it's not that I don't want to return to the court, it's that my body really can't hold up." Zhang Zhang Juzheng had You Ge Shouli serve good tea before explaining the reason.

"That Duke of Wencheng, at the advanced age of seventy-five, still manages affairs. The Senior Grand Secretary is only sixty-eight, how can you be unable to manage affairs? I am seventy-three this year, and although I have a broken body, I can still share the worries for His Majesty. Senior Grand Secretary, you are joking. If the Senior Grand Secretary wants to return to the court, can His Majesty stop you?" Ling Ling Yunyi looked at himself. He was seventy-three, five years older than Zhang Zhang Juzheng, and he felt his energy was still very vigorous.

Wang Wang Chonggu had been in office until he passed away, and even at the end, he went to the official factories to handle some miscellaneous affairs.

"I am different from the two of you." Zhang Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "I have rarely left the capital and have never participated in military affairs. My physical strength is insufficient."

Wang Wang Chonggu fought Japanese pirates in Yangzhou, fought the Northern Tatars in Datong, and wielded a seven-star ring-headed saber like a military general; Ling Ling Yunyi pacified Japanese pirates and Yao rebellions in Guangzhou, fought horse bandits in Shandong, killed powerful local bullies in Henan, and searched for Japanese pirates and remnants of the deposed Korean king in Korea. It can be said that he spent his whole life running around.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng was a typical scholar-official, sitting still for a long time, in a long-term sub-healthy state. He had all kinds of ailments on his body—cervical spondylosis, periarthritis of the shoulder, liver and kidney deficiency. Previously, state affairs were heavy, and he couldn't take care of them. This time, he caught a cold, and these minor illnesses that he wouldn't pay attention to on weekdays broke out all at once.

Although he was blessed by Heaven to recover, his body was not as good as before.

A person lives on a breath of spirit. Zhang Zhang Juzheng knew clearly that his breath of spirit had dissipated. He valued the Emperor Wanli Reforms most, and His Majesty could let the Emperor Wanli Reforms continue. Naturally, he became a bit lazy. Resting his body and enjoying his twilight years became something he was eager to do.

And His Majesty finally allowed him to enjoy his twilight years. This was His Majesty's true feelings.

Ling Ling Yunyi flicked his sleeves three times and said, "With the Senior Grand Secretary not in the court, His Majesty has even stopped the court discussions."

"I know, His Majesty told me." Zhang Zhang Juzheng's expression was a bit strange, "This is not because of you all, for not letting Shen Shen Shixing enter the Cabinet steadily and safely? You had to frame Shen Shen Shixing. Is that framing Shen Shen Shixing? That is framing His Majesty!"

"It's fine now. It fulfilled your wishes. His Majesty forced Shen Shen Shixing into the Cabinet despite the opposition. Vice Grand Secretary Ling, when you were voting, didn't you think this would happen? Or do the ministers all think His Majesty is easy to fool and can't see that you are voting?"

Zhang Zhang Juzheng took half a month of sick leave, and this group of ministers actually dared to vote! It was simply daring to defy the heavens!

It looked like they were putting pressure on Shen Shen Shixing, but in reality, they were forcing the Emperor to cast a key vote. In the future, if Shen Shen Shixing made any mistakes, it would be the Emperor's fault for not knowing people, and it would have nothing to do with the ministers. If this premise was established, they could make a big fuss about the government decrees!

After all, if problems appeared in the execution of government decrees, it would all be Shen Shen Shixing's fault, and the Emperor's fault for not knowing people.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng sipped his tea, looked at Ling Ling Yunyi, and said, "What the ministers are thinking, I know very clearly. Isn't it just thinking that with Xu Wenzhang and Wu Qi, His Majesty has lost one of his arms, so His Majesty is easy to bully?"

"His Majesty is easy to bully... When General Qi returned from the Danning Guard in the fourth year of Emperor Wanli, he knew His Majesty was not easy to bully. It is only His Majesty who bullies the ministers!"

When Qi Qi Jiguang returned from the Danning Guard sixteen years ago, Zhu Zhu Yijun pretended to be pitiful and said the ministers were bullying the Emperor. Qi Qi Jiguang was furious, but after thinking about it carefully, it was laughable.

Who could bully the Emperor? The Emperor had more ideas than Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

The truth that Qi Qi Jiguang understood sixteen years ago, the ministers didn't understand. They still thought that without Zhang Zhang Juzheng, the power of the ministers could move forward a little bit, not knowing at all that it was Zhang Zhang Juzheng who was blocking the front, so the imperial power didn't move forward.

It's fine now, they are all honest.

People are like this, they don't remember lessons.

Actually, it's normal. Qi Qi Jiguang and Zhang Zhang Juzheng could understand because they were the Emperor's true confidants. The Emperor never hid anything from them, but in the eyes of the ministers, it was the Emperor relying on two ministers to implement government decrees.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng sighed and said, "Take the official selection law as an example. You think it was my idea? That was His Majesty's idea. I just executed it on his behalf."

"Try it, you just try it. Do you really think His Majesty has a good temper?"

The Civil Service Appointment Law includes the reassignment of craftsmen in government workshops; this decree, which can be mentioned in the same breath as the Single Whip Law, was not planned by Zhang Zhang Juzheng himself, but rather originated from the Emperor's intent.

But in the eyes of the ministers, this was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's ability and talent.

That's why the ministers dared to vote to test the Emperor this time. This test, and something happened.

"Then what should we do now?" Ling Ling Yunyi spread his hands and asked Zhang Zhang Juzheng what to do.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng said with schadenfreude, "What should you do? Only Heaven knows."

"Haha, you all scold me in private for being a madman, usurping power, shaking the master with authority, causing disaster, and taking advantage of favor to succeed! Now you know how uncomfortable it is?"

Although Zhang Zhang Juzheng had not retired and still held the position of Senior Grand Secretary, he was effectively idle, so he could stand from the perspective of an outsider to think and speak.

In the twenty years he was in power, although the officials of the Great Ming dared not scold him on the surface, there was no shortage of nonsense in private.

Now, His Majesty gave them a big slap in the face, and they were all honest.

"Alas." Ling Ling Yunyi said helplessly, "Actually, when I raised my hand, I felt something was wrong. I didn't approve of Shen Shen Shixing entering the Cabinet at this time. If he entered the Cabinet, how could the Senior Grand Secretary return to the court? But when I saw there weren't enough people, I hurriedly raised my hand, but it was too late."

Ling Ling Yunyi didn't approve of it, but there weren't enough votes, so he hurriedly raised his hand, but it was too late. He was not the organizer of this vote, or rather, this vote had no organizer; it was a universal tacit understanding. They didn't hope that there would be another Senior Grand Secretary in the court who had the final say.

"Don't worry too much. When I pass away, His Majesty will naturally restore the Wenchua Hall court discussions." Zhang Zhang Juzheng said with great emotion, "I am such an old man, His Majesty doesn't need to pay such a high price. Is it the friendship between teacher and student? As long as the government doesn't die with the person, that's enough."

"Hmm?" Ling Ling Yunyi patted the armrest and reacted, surprised, "Does the Senior Grand Secretary mean that even without this vote, His Majesty was still going to stop the court discussions?!"

"Hmm." Zhang Zhang Juzheng nodded.

Voting belongs to the scope of the court struggle between the ruler and the ministers. His Majesty is not a ten-year-old child; he had long expected it. He wouldn't be so furious. The reprimand of the ministers was just a side issue. The real purpose was to protect Zhang Zhang Juzheng's posthumous reputation.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Wang Wang Chonggu were different. Zhang Zhang Juzheng was the initiator of the Emperor Wanli Reforms. Wang Wang Chonggu's official factory system was a part of the Emperor Wanli Reforms, which made the difference.

Protecting Wang Wang Chonggu's posthumous reputation was simple because there was a very specific struggle goal, which was the official factories. Sending craftsmen down the mountain was the Emperor's warning.

But protecting Zhang Zhang Juzheng's posthumous reputation was much more troublesome.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked at Shen Shen Shixing's slightly confused appearance and Shen Li's thoughtful appearance before saying, "Where should I start? Let's start with the 'Strategies of the Warring States'—'Strategies of the Warring States: Qin I': Duke Xiao implemented it for eight years, became ill and could not rise, and wanted to pass the throne to Lord Shang, but Lord Shang declined and did not accept."

Eight years after Shang Yang's reforms, Duke Xiao of Qin was seriously ill, lying in bed, and summoned Shang Yang, intending to pass the throne to Shang Yang, but Shang Yang declined and did not dare to accept.

After Duke Xiao of Qin died, King Huiwen of Qin succeeded to the throne, and this matter became a knot in the hearts of the ruler and the minister. Soon, Shang Yang used old age as an excuse to say goodbye to the ruler and return to his fief, which led to the later tearing apart by five chariots.

King Huiwen of Qin used Shang Yang's death to give the old nobles an explanation, but he did not abolish Shang Yang's new laws.

Saying he wanted to pass the throne to a minister seemed absurd, but Liu Bei also did this. At the White Emperor City, Liu Bei told Zhuge Liang that if Liu Shan was not capable, he should take his place, but Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang never reached this point.

But this was not the reason why Shang Yang was torn apart by five chariots. The 'Strategies of the Warring States' stated it very clearly, the reason being: "Now the women and infants of Qin all speak of Lord Shang's laws, and none speak of the King's laws. It is Lord Shang who has become the ruler, and the King who has become the minister."

The women and infants of Qin were all discussing Lord Shang's laws, but no one was talking about the King's laws. Lord Shang, this minister, had instead become the ruler, and the King had instead become the minister. The whole of Qin only knew Lord Shang, and did not know the King.

Therefore, King Huiwen of Qin had to treat Shang Yang this way, to turn Lord Shang's laws into the King's laws.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's situation at this moment was somewhat similar to Shang Yang's back then. The hundred officials in the court were all discussing his Evaluation Law and Official Selection Law, only knowing him, Zhang Zhang Juzheng, and not knowing His Majesty. But it was only similar and could not be generalized.

After all, His Majesty's new policies were also numerous—valuing agriculture and sericulture, opening the seas, revitalizing the military, the Dinghai School System, paved roads, etc. They were all the Emperor's laws, and it hadn't reached the point of "the people of the country only know Jiangling, and do not know the Saint Ruler."

If His Majesty was just a lying-down dog hiding under Zhang Zhang Juzheng's wings, perhaps King Huiwen of Qin's choice would be the Emperor's only choice.

But His Majesty was wise and martial, and now he had more choices: take back the decision-making power issued by the court discussions, one-yuan autocracy, I alone am supreme, and with strong imperial power, maintain his posthumous reputation.

But from a purely utilitarian perspective, it was not worth it, because the investment was too large and the gain was small.

Until now, what Zhang Zhang Juzheng sought was still that the government would not die with the person, not his personal honor or disgrace.

His Majesty should have cooked this running dog of his, given the people of the world an explanation, partially negated Zhang Zhang Juzheng's government decrees, and made the decrees more moderate and more suitable for the current Great Ming.

Not only did Zhang Zhang Juzheng think so, Ling Ling Yunyi, Shen Shen Shixing, and all the court officials in the world thought so, because they had lived like this for thousands of years, and it had always been like this.

On the 23rd, when the Emperor cadged a meal, Zhang Zhang Juzheng spoke bluntly and said this more stable and cost-effective choice.

The Emperor asked: It has always been like this, but is it right?

Zhang Zhang Juzheng felt it was not good. This choice was a bit impulsive and not rational enough, and it shouldn't appear on a monarch. This wasted too much imperial prestige, and the harvest was meager.

The Emperor said: Why should I give them an explanation! I do things, why do I need to explain to others!

Zhang Zhang Juzheng realized that His Majesty was still that Majesty. His Majesty was very domineering. Chen Yang Youren slandered Qi Qi Jiguang for pacifying the Japanese pirates, and His Majesty killed him on the street.

His Majesty was qualified to say such words. Almost all the increments of the Emperor Wanli Reforms came from His Majesty himself.

Overseas plantations, overseas silver mines, wars against Japan, the Pan-Pacific Commercial Alliance, the Lu Prince's fief, centralized production in official factories—all the increments of the Emperor Wanli Reforms came from His Majesty. Then His Majesty naturally had the qualification to say such words.

This didn't even count the ten thousand elite troops of the Beijing Camp and the sixteen thousand navy's violence.

His Majesty not only said it, but also did it. The Emperor stopped the court discussions and once again solemnly declared the promise of the fifth year of Emperor Wanli: those who criticize the Master's mistakes will be beheaded.

Shen Shen Shixing had read history books thoroughly. Hearing Zhang Zhang Juzheng talk about the 'Strategies of the Warring States', he said with great emotion, "So that's how it is. The student understands."

"So, I have no choice. If I were in my prime, in the fifth year of Emperor Wanli, I wouldn't need you to invite me; I would naturally come out of the mountains. But the fifth year of Emperor Wanli was fifteen years ago. You coming again is just climbing a tree to catch a fish, or carving a boat to find a sword." Zhang Zhang Juzheng stood up and sent away the three Cabinet ministers.

It wasn't that Zhang Zhang Juzheng refused to help, but that he really didn't have that energy anymore.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked left and right, and took out a book from the drawer with a sense of guilt. As the Senior Grand Secretary and the Emperor's teacher, he had always been upright, so he was so guilty. If others saw him reading such miscellaneous books, wouldn't it make people laugh their heads off?

This could also be considered a small hobby for his twilight years. The wind and rain outside the door had nothing to do with him.

"It's simply nonsense. When I came to the capital for the imperial examination, why didn't I have such good luck?!" Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked at the book, a bit dissatisfied. In these years, the Great Ming's books were all about talented scholars and beautiful women.

This beautiful woman let the scholar who came to the capital for the imperial examination stay, and then there was a love story. Zhang Zhang Juzheng indicated that this was completely made up!

Because scholar-officials usually got married when they were scholars. If there really was a beautiful woman, she wouldn't be willing to be a concubine.

When Great Ming candidates came to the capital for the imperial examination, the court provided post-horses for the first time, but for the second and third times, the candidates had to pay for themselves. If they wanted to stay in the capital to study under a master, it would be even more expensive. There really was no such beautiful woman who was almost equivalent to a pie falling from the sky.

But Zhang Zhang Juzheng still read it with great interest. After being busy for so many years, he finally had a moment of leisure to do what he wanted to do.

Without the court discussions, it was actually more efficient than before. His Majesty was still as diligent as ever. His Majesty's decisions, compared to the decisions of the court discussions, were more radical and decisive.

For example, this preaching in the Great Academy and Normal Academy, sentenced to beheading, spreading evil spirits, implicating family members, and punishing those who harbor them with the same crime, was very, very radical, leaving no room for any leeway, but the ministers couldn't say anything to oppose it.

In September of the 20th year of Emperor Wanli, a case occurred in the Songjiang Great Academy. A medical student in the medical academy was preaching the Extreme Joy Sect on campus, causing an extremely bad influence.

A medical student held a knife and killed two children, and three six-year-old children were injured. This incident shocked the court and the public, directly alarming the Holy One, which was why there were such strict laws.

And the purpose of this medical student's murder was just to prove his faith in Extreme Joy.

The Extreme Joy Sect's hunting of infants was a ritual for fanatics to prove themselves. It was truly crazy to the extreme.

The Dinghai School System had only been implemented for five years. According to the school system plan, it would take at least thirty to fifty years to have initial results. This was just the first step, and such a thing happened. The Emperor's severe punishment was completely justified.

The perfection of the system always advances through stumbling. This case sounded an alarm for the Great Ming. Songjiang Prefecture, as the bridgehead for opening the seas, conducted a comprehensive investigation again, which could be considered mending the fold after the sheep had been lost.

In November of the 20th year of Emperor Wanli, the Governor of Lu Song, Yin Yin Zhengmao, suddenly recalled his son, Yin Yin Zongxin, who was stationed at Chijun Mountain Port, back to Manila. Yin Yin Zongxin and Princess Hu Yingjia rushed back to the Manila Governor's Mansion in December.

Yin Yin Zhengmao lay on a lounge chair, carried by four sedan chair bearers, and placed in the small courtyard of the Governor's Mansion.

"The time is near." Yin Yin Zhengmao tightened the blanket on his body. Manila in winter was very warm, but he still felt cold. He hadn't been able to eat well for half a month.

"Father, you will get better." Yin Yin Zongxin's eye sockets were red. He sat beside his father, grabbed his father's hand, and said softly.

"Son, I am eighty this year. Being without illness, disaster, or pain is a happy funeral." Yin Yin Zhengmao tried to sit up straight, but he was no longer the burly man who wore armor and held a sharp weapon at Guangzhou Dianbai Port. He couldn't support his own body.

Yin Yin Zhengmao looked at the bright sky, smiled at his son, and said, "After I die, cremate my ashes and bury them. You carry the coffin back to the capital. I want to be buried in the West Mountain Mausoleum. His Majesty promised me that as a meritorious minister of the reforms and prestige, I would be entitled to be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum."

"This child knows." Yin Yin Zongxin wanted to say something but stopped. He was unwilling to cremate his father. If he piled up some ice, he could still return to the capital.

Yin Yin Zhengmao looked at Yin Yin Zongxin and knew what he was thinking. He shook his head and said, "Stupid. Just do what you are told."

"The Great Ming soldiers fighting abroad, because the water journey is too far, can only be cremated and buried. Although they return to their roots, their bodies are gone. I let you do this so that His Majesty will remember that I am a Great Ming person in life and a Great Ming soul in death. I fight for the Great Ming. This is blood righteousness."

"Dead is dead. The body is not important. What is important is that the Marquis Marquis Sishui Hou Fu can continue."

"Lu Song, ah, it is a piece of fat meat now. Everyone wants to take a bite."

Yin Yin Zhengmao felt that his son had become more and more like a reckless man in the past few years of fighting abroad, rather than a strategist. He had to point out this truth.

In the future, if someone covets this piece of fat meat, Yin Yin Zongxin can use this matter to beg for imperial favor.

"Do you think your father has calculated for a lifetime, and even calculated himself in when he was about to die?" Yin Yin Zhengmao was a bit angry, but soon he was relieved. He shook his head and said, "Yes, you are right to think so. I calculated for a lifetime, but I miscalculated one thing."

"What is it?" Yin Yin Zongxin frowned and asked.

Yin Yin Zhengmao was full of worry and said, "Lu Song almost copied the old affairs of the Qian Kingdom Duke Mansion's Wang Hua in Yunnan. His Majesty also married Princess Hu Yingjia to Lu Song. His Majesty and I both felt that this was enough."

"But His Majesty and I didn't expect that Lu Song is richer than Yunnan. Now, the tax revenue and population of a Lu Song are almost equal to Yunnan."

If this piece of meat were thinner, Yin Yin Zhengmao wouldn't have to calculate to this extent, but he found that Lu Song's development to this day was already richer than Yunnan.

There are many reasons for Lu Song's wealth.

The first is that after the Great Ming opened the seas, maritime trade was unprecedentedly prosperous. Lu Song is the most important link in the small triangular trade. A large number of Japanese slaves provided surging power for Lu Song's development. Now that the Pan-Pacific Commercial Alliance has been established, Lu Song's development speed will only be faster;

The second is the vigorous development of plantation economy. Lu Song, as one of the Great Ming's most important raw material production bases, whether it is copper materials or agricultural products like abaca, are important raw materials, and Lu Song was developed earliest, with the most and most mature plantations;

The third is that Lu Song's natural endowment is better, and it can support more people. After Lu Song was developed, the upper limit of the population it could bear was almost two to three times that of Yunnan. This is not because Yunnan is not livable, but because Yunnan has many mountains and little land, with little land suitable for farming, while Lu Song has more land.

These three main reasons determined that Lu Song was richer than Yunnan, which also meant that the Marquis Marquis Sishui Hou Fu was more dangerous than the Qian Kingdom Duke Mansion of those years, and more people coveted it.

There is another reason why Yin Yin Zhengmao calculated this way: Lu Song is overseas and does not directly border the Great Ming by land.

If the Great Ming wants to launch a punitive expedition, it will have the obstacle of the ocean. Deploying a large number of troops for expedition by long-distance sailing is still a huge test for the Great Ming, even with the current fast sailing ships.

Overseas Governor's Mansions are easier to be abandoned. It is abandonment, not the Governor's Mansion seeking independence. As outsiders, within two hundred years, the Governor's Mansion has no possibility of independence.

During the Yongle period, the Great Ming had a Lu Song Governor's Mansion in Lu Song. Later, they were all abandoned under the wind of precise calculation.

The Great Ming court rarely carried out active Wang Hua (civilizing) of Lu Song. Even the land tax was collected by the Lu Song Governor's Mansion itself, not by the court's active Wang Hua.

The Great Ming court is composed of strips and blocks. From the court to the local level, the Six Ministries have strips, and the local areas form blocks. These strips and blocks are the basic pattern of the Great Ming officialdom, and the relationship between the court and Lu Song has no strips, only blocks.

Although the military, political, economic, and cultural control is deepening, it is still just control; the imperial court rarely interferes directly in the decisions of the Viceroy's Office.

There is a reason why Yin Yin Zhengmao, this pioneering meritorious minister, is still alive. After all, excessive interference might cause dissatisfaction in the Governor's Mansion. As a meritorious minister, the court gives more autonomy to maintain a sufficiently good relationship.

"Third son, if you can't hold on, return to the Great Ming. His Majesty treats meritorious ministers well. It's not bad to be a rich man in peace." Yin Yin Zhengmao looked at Yin Yin Zongxin and took out a memorial and handed it to Yin Yin Zongxin, saying, "When you return to the capital, present this memorial on my behalf."

"Wealth moves people's hearts. Since ancient times, there have been countless sages, but who can manage their posthumous affairs?"

Yin Yin Zhengmao looked up at the full sky of stars and revealed a smile. The time was near. He looked at the stars, as if he saw himself in his youth. He reviewed his life, and he could tell himself that he had a clear conscience. He had not lived in vain, and he was worthy of himself in his youth. ===== CHAPTER 1016 =====