Chapter 362

What Yu Dayou couldn't let go of most was actually the Great Ming's maritime territory. Yu Dayou, who had spent his life suppressing Japanese pirates, knew clearly that the Great Ming's maritime territory was fraught with crises.

The Japanese pirates were changing quietly. The Japanese nation, which had been in civil strife for over a hundred years, was gradually moving toward unity. That Oda Nobunaga, who called himself the "Master of the World," was step by step integrating the various forces of the Japanese nation. Whoever integrated the various forces of the Japanese nation would be an imminent threat to the Great Ming.

The "Red-Haired Barbarians" (Dutch) were step by step encroaching on the Wanli Sea Embankment. They were gradually infiltrating their forces. The Wanli Sea Embankment, this backyard of the Central Plains, was step by step becoming a pirate nest that threatened the Great Ming at all times. The coastline of nearly ten thousand li would all become a breakthrough point. By then, it would truly be the critical moment of life and death for the Central Plains.

Fortunately, His Majesty had the ambitions of a swan.

Yu Dayou left without regrets. His only regret was being unable to "return his bones to the earth," but Yu Dayou could understand and support His Majesty's decision. Even if he died, he wanted to die in a way that was beneficial to the country. Since last year, the Great Ming had been migrating wealthy households to enrich the capital region. This was a pretext; the main thing was to alleviate the increasingly serious contradiction between people and land in the Great Ming. Until the very end, Yu Dayou was still cooperating with the Great Ming Emperor's government decrees. After he left, his General's Mansion also became a wealthy household.

Yu Dayou left without regrets. The Nagasaki Governor's Mansion had already gained a firm foothold and could deeply influence the situation in the Japanese nation. The King of Ryukyu had already moved into the Zhongshan Prince's Mansion. The Great Ming had carried out comprehensive "county-fication" of the Ryukyu Islands and Keelung Island, and Luzon was also under the control of the Great Ming. Overseas Imperial Manors, that is, plantations, were also scattered all over the Wanli Sea Embankment.

However, Zhu Yijun still had regrets. This beautiful landscape of the Great Ming—he hoped that this old man, Yu Dayou, could see it a few more times, at least to see the Ma Liujia Strait return to the hands of the Great Ming. Unfortunately, life is mostly like this; regrets are just so common.

Yu Dayou was somewhat born at the wrong time.

"Yu's Dragon, Qi's Tiger"—who was more formidable, Yu Dayou or Qi Jiguang? Zhu Yijun had actually asked Qi Jiguang this question. Qi Jiguang said that Yu Dayou was not as good as him in training troops, Yu Dayou was not as good as Tan Lun in logistics and dispatching, and in personal bravery and galloping, Yu Dayou was not as good as Liu Xian, but Yu Dayou was a comprehensive commander.

However, there are many who can be generals, but few who can be commanders.

Yu Dayou experienced five reigns: Hongzhi, Zhengde, Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli. By the time he truly displayed his talent, he was already over fifty years old. By the time he was truly entrusted with heavy responsibility, he was already over seventy. How great a regret it is for a commander who fights on the battlefield to only be able to unfold his ambitions at the age of seventy.

Zhu Yijun hoped that Yu Dayou could see the Great Ming he loved so much a few more times, but alas, alas.

On the seventeenth day of the seventh month of the seventh year of Wanli, Yu Dayou passed away from illness at the Military Lecture Hall in the capital. The next day, the Great Ming Emperor issued three imperial edicts in succession.

The first was to add the official title of Regional Commander of the Left to Yu Dayou, and to bestow the title of Marquis of Zhangping for his burial. His eldest son inherited the title of Earl of Zhangping and received an hereditary certificate. His posthumous title was set as "Wu Xiang"—"Wu" for suppressing chaos and "Xiang" for his labor in armor.

The second was to suspend court for five days to show mourning, ordering the Ministry of Rites to conduct an official burial for the Marquis of Zhangping, and specially bestowing five altars of sacrifice. That is, dispatching the Duke of Wei to sacrifice at the Heaven, Earth, Sun, Moon, and First Farmer altars. The highest standard is nine altars. Ordering all officials to go to the Left General's Mansion to see Yu Dayou off during his funeral procession. This was a special honor, considered a reward for Yu Dayou's life of rushing about for the Great Ming.

The third imperial edict was a memorial that caught people off guard: His Majesty had moved his palace to the temporary palace behind the Military Lecture Hall, the Imperial Institute of Investigation, the Buddhist Pagoda, the Prince De's Mansion, and the Prince Yu's Mansion. It wasn't to stay for a day or two, but to live at the Military Lecture Hall from then on.

This imperial edict was like throwing a thunderbolt in the capital. Everyone was discussing it. The Emperor gave three reasons: the first was that it was closer to the Northern Camp, making it convenient to inspect troops and horses; the second was that there was no one available to use, as Yu Dayou had left and no one could sit in charge of the Military Lecture Hall; the third was that the great affairs of the country lie in sacrifice and war, and military affairs cannot be delayed for a single day—using action to express the continuous promotion of military revitalization.

Zhang Juzheng sat on his carriage in front of the Wenyuan Pavilion. The carriage was a rail carriage pulled by two horses, which was more stable. It took only a quarter of an hour from the Left Shun Gate of the Imperial Palace to His Majesty's temporary palace. He looked out the window, his brows furrowed. In the box beside him lay a large pile of memorials, all opposing His Majesty's move, including one from Zhang Juzheng himself.

Zhang Juzheng had always opposed His Majesty living in the Western Garden. After the Daoist Emperor moved into the Western Garden, he began to "let things rot." Apart from a few auxiliary officials like Yan Song and Xu Jie, court officials rarely saw the Daoist Emperor. Zhang Juzheng was very resistant to the Western Garden, viewing the Daoist Emperor's move there as the iconic event marking the end of the Jiajing New Deal, the beginning of the Daoist Emperor's difficult end, and an inauspicious place.

Zhang Juzheng had always hoped His Majesty would move his palace. If His Majesty had moved to the Qianqing Palace, it would have been fine. Instead, he moved further and further away, even moving to a temporary palace outside the Imperial Palace!

"Grand Secretary, this time when we go to the temporary palace to see His Majesty, we must persuade His Majesty to return." The Wang Cifu Lu Diaoyang said with a hint of helplessness.

The point most criticized about Wu Xun was that he didn't like living in the palace. In the ninth year of Zhengde, Wu Xun hung firecrackers all over the Qianqing Palace, then stood outside and lit them, laughing and saying to others: "What a great display of fireworks!" After lighting the Qianqing Palace, Wu Xun moved to the Leopard House. After the Jiajing Emperor ascended the throne, the Leopard House was abolished.

Wu Xun was Emperor for sixteen years, and the total time he lived in the palace was less than nine years. Later, Wu Xun didn't even live in the Leopard House, but moved to Xuanfu.

"Wu Xun didn't live in the Imperial Palace, Emperor Shizong didn't live in the Imperial Palace, and His Majesty doesn't live in the Imperial Palace. If he doesn't live there, he doesn't live there. What's the big deal?" Wang Chonggu was the only auxiliary official in the Cabinet who supported His Majesty moving to the temporary palace at the Military Lecture Hall. He felt it wasn't bad if he didn't live there. The reason he didn't live there was because there were too many weird things happening in the Great Ming Imperial Palace, wasn't it?

Wang Guoguang furrowed his brows and said, "Is there no word from the Empress Dowager? Why doesn't she tell His Majesty not to mess around?"

Zhang Juzheng sighed, shook his head, and said, "The Empress Dowager did send an edict to the Cabinet, saying she intended to move to the repaired Buddhist Pagoda to pay respects to Buddha. Both Empress Dowagers planned to go. With His Majesty gone from the palace, and the Prince of Lu gone, the vast palace was somewhat desolate. I stopped them."

Both Empress Dowagers not only didn't stop him, but also wanted to follow along and mess around, moving to the temporary palace and the Buddhist Pagoda. What kind of thing was this? With the Emperor and Empress Dowagers all moved away, didn't this Imperial Palace just become a place for office work?

Although scholars had always been making a fuss about putting imperial power into a cage, and the world being the world of the people, the Imperial Palace becoming a place for office work was indeed a public instrument. But were the scholars of the Great Ming really prepared for "the world being the world of the people"?

However, the Empress Dowagers' reasons were also very sufficient: wherever the Emperor lived, that was the Imperial Palace. With the children all moved away, the two women living in this deep palace were somewhat lonely. Moving to the temporary palace and the Buddhist Pagoda to look after the children for the Emperor—and the Empress was also about to give birth.

The auxiliary officials said no more. They were just advising; His Majesty had made up his mind to do it, and no one could stop him. Zhang Juzheng couldn't either. Before his mourning period, he could, but after his mourning period, the seventy-four main bureaucrats of the Zhang Party all had to rely on His Majesty to get things done; they were already the Emperor Party.

"Actually, it's fine." Zhang Juzheng looked out the window and suddenly said. His opposition wasn't actually very strong. He looked out the window, his face melancholy, and said, "His Majesty's move this time is not messing around; he has his own purpose. It is for the Military Lecture Hall, to continue the momentum of military revitalization, and not give those 'petty scholars' any pretext to promote literature and suppress martial arts."

Yu Dayou had left. Whether to abolish the Military Lecture Hall had become a matter worth discussing. Previously, court officials generally believed that the Military Lecture Hall was a place the Emperor found for Yu Dayou to retire. Now that Yu Dayou had left, the Military Lecture Hall, with no one to guard it, should be abolished. His Majesty moving his palace might not be for the sake of continuing to run the Military Lecture Hall.

This place, the Military Lecture Hall, was simply too sensitive. The grassroots officers and commanders of the military—that is, the grassroots officers—whoever controlled the grassroots officers controlled the military.

"At His Majesty's age, it is precisely the age for messing around. I actually hope His Majesty would mess around a bit more. Sigh." Zhang Juzheng sighed heavily. His Majesty was only seventeen, yet his mind was as heavy as the Jiajing Emperor in his twilight years. Everything was calculated, and everything had a purpose. He didn't look like a young man at all. He was clearly very sad, yet refused to show it.

The Cabinet officials heading to the temporary palace said no more. They silently watched the roadside trees outside the window receding rapidly.

Zhang Juzheng got off the carriage in front of the temporary palace gate. The scale of the temporary palace was about the same size as the Western Garden, occupying no more than fifty mu of land. Though small, it was complete in every detail. The towering palace walls were quite reassuring. There were four palace gates, two of which were closed all year round, serving as emergency passages. There were watchtowers at the four corners, where firemen lived; if the palace caught fire, they were responsible for extinguishing it.

Next to the temporary palace was the station of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the capital, the old home of the "Tiqi" (Embroidered Uniform Guard scouts). After the temporary palace was built, the Tiqi moved their station there. Seeing this, Wang Chonggu immediately realized and said, "His Majesty didn't act on a whim, but had planned this long ago."

This temporary palace was also supervised by Wang Chonggu. He had found it strange at the time: what was the use of building such a temporary palace at the Military Lecture Hall? If His Majesty was delayed outside the palace, was there anyone who wouldn't dare to leave the gate open for His Majesty? If the time was delayed, just stop the water clock and wait for His Majesty to return to the palace before letting the water clock continue to count the time.

Now Wang Chonggu immediately knew that His Majesty had long had this idea.

"It seems that the Grand Secretary won't be able to persuade His Majesty this time. The imperial edict was only issued this morning, and it hasn't even reached noon, yet His Majesty has already finished moving." Wang Chonggu said happily. Being able to see Zhang Juzheng eat humble pie was a rare thing.

His Majesty and Zhang Juzheng were very, very much alike. Once they decided to do something, and had made preparations, they would definitely do it.

After passing through the Wengcheng (barbican), one reached the Dragon Hall. The Dragon Hall was mostly a guest building, a three-story row house. As long as there was a temporary palace, there was a Dragon Hall. Behind the Dragon Hall was the Dragon Pool, implying the land of the True Dragon. For example, the temporary palace built by Emperor Yingzong in Yinchuan had a similar layout, but Emperor Yingzong never went to the Yinchuan temporary palace even once.

Passing through the overhead walkway of the Dragon Hall and passing the Nine Dragon Wall, one saw the Imperial Study by the Dragon Pool. The Imperial Study was built by the water and divided into three parts: on the left was the Directorate of Ceremonial, in the middle was the Imperial Study, and on the right was the Library. This layout represented that the function of the Imperial Study was for His Majesty to handle memorials after returning to the palace. The half-room in the Zhao Wenhua Hall for the Directorate of Ceremonial was not abolished; this addition was for the convenience of document transmission.

Three treadle-operated water pumps were placed in front of the Imperial Study, and a small railway led to the Imperial Palace. That was another palace gate, the palace gate for official documents.

"Master, Wang Cifu, Cabinet Elder, His Majesty said that when you arrive, you may enter." Feng Bao waited outside the gate. Seeing Zhang Juzheng, he immediately led him into the Imperial Study. Young eunuchs were rushing about; since they had just moved in, those documents needed to be organized, and young eunuchs were busy everywhere.

Zhang Juzheng walked through the corridor, entered the Imperial Study, and saw His Majesty sitting on the grand master's chair.

"Your subjects pay respects to His Majesty. Is His Majesty's holy body at peace?" Zhang Juzheng, leading Lu Diaoyang, Wang Chonggu, and Wang Guoguang, bowed to pay respects.

"I am at peace. Everyone, sit and speak." Zhu Yijun said very calmly, closing the memorial in his hand and handing it to Zhang Hong, who was waiting on the side, to have it filed.

Zhu Yijun looked at the box Zhang Juzheng had brought, flipped through a few of the memorials inside, and then said, "Did the Master come to oppose my move to the temporary palace?"

"Yes." Zhang Juzheng said with great certainty. He still opposed it, feeling that living in the Qianqing Palace was better.

Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said very stubbornly, "I must live here."

"Then live here." Zhang Juzheng spoke the truth. His opposition was not firm. Just like when His Majesty wanted to live in the Western Garden, he hadn't opposed it too much, choosing to respect His Majesty's decision. His duty now was to support—to support every decision His Majesty made.

Since His Majesty insisted, let it follow His Majesty's decision. It wasn't a big deal; there was no need to make it look so ugly. As the Grand Secretary, Zhang Juzheng had to come once; as the Imperial Tutor, he chose to respect the Emperor's choice.

His Majesty had his own purpose.

"Ah?" Lu Diaoyang was stunned. He had thought he would be able to see a scene of forcing the palace, but upon arriving at the new Imperial Study, Zhang Juzheng surrendered in one sentence, which was truly beyond Lu Diaoyang's expectations.

Wang Guoguang thought for a moment but didn't speak. He was just a filler; he had entered the Cabinet just to let Zhang Xueyan return to the capital to serve in the Ministry of Revenue. For this kind of thing, Zhang Juzheng, who was charging into battle, had surrendered directly. Wang Guoguang chose not to speak. His coming was already very good. Look at Wan Shihe and Ma Ziqiang—when they encountered matters of ritual and law that involved arguing with the Emperor, they didn't even come, fearing they would attract disaster, mainly maintaining a flexible posture.

The sound of opposition in the capital to His Majesty's move was very loud, but among the court officials and Cabinet officials, there were few who firmly opposed it. Not firmly opposing meant supporting.

"The matter of moving the palace is a matter of great importance, and I have no one to use. The Military Lecture Hall is a matter of great importance; if one thing goes wrong, it will be a big deal. I don't know who else can sit in charge of the Military Lecture Hall, so I can only come personally." Zhu Yijun spread his hands and stated his reasons.

There were a few candidates for the position of Libationer of the Military Lecture Hall: Li Chengliang, Ma Fang, Liu Xian. Apart from them, no one else had the qualifications.

Ma Fang was a famous figure who had fought Altan Khan and forced Altan Khan to negotiate peace. He was the Deputy Regional Commander of the Capital Battalion. But Ma Fang was a person of the Jin Party. Just because of this background, Ma Fang could not be this Libationer, because the Military Lecture Hall was responsible for selecting the Tiqi, the Great Han Generals, and the Red Helmet Generals who guarded the palace.

Zhang Siwei had assassinated the King and burned the palace. As a key figure in the Jin Party, Ma Fang could not sit in this position. Even if he sat in it, he would be sitting on a fire rack to be roasted.

Liu Xian and his son needed to guard the southwest. Mang Yinglong of the Taungoo Dynasty was becoming increasingly rampant, repeatedly attempting to invade Yunnan to harass them. As long as Liu Xian and his son were in the southwest for one day, Mang Yinglong could only sigh at the sight of them, unable to move an inch.

As for Li Chengliang, even if Zhu Yijun agreed, Li Chengliang himself wouldn't. He was used to being a "mountain king" outside. Returning to the capital would cause a big mess. Zhang Juzheng would definitely not agree either. If, by any chance, Li Chengliang twisted off the Great Ming Emperor's head, who would be responsible?

In Zhang Juzheng's eyes, Li Chengliang was the An Lushan of the Great Ming. The reason Li Chengliang hadn't yet "held troops to maintain his own importance," "nurtured tigers to cause trouble," or "relaxed defenses to indulge the enemy" was because the time wasn't right. Once the Great Ming's Capital Battalion became weaker than Li Chengliang's retainers, Li Chengliang would truly become a mountain king.

Li Chengliang also had to be responsible for the "inch-by-inch" expansion in Liaodong and the reclamation of the Northeast.

"Indeed, there is no one to use." Zhang Juzheng highly recognized His Majesty's reasons. There was no one to use. This critical position, which involved the Emperor's own safety, currently had no suitable candidate. This position required His Majesty's absolute trust and absolute loyalty to His Majesty.

Such a person was too hard to find.

"I feel the palace is not safe, so I moved outside. I can also be at peace." Zhu Yijun stated his second reason. The newly built temporary palace was only fifty mu, less than 5% of the area of the Imperial Palace. Using fewer people made the organizational structure simpler, and it was not bloated, making it easier to guarantee the Emperor's safety.

"Sigh." Zhang Juzheng just sighed. He knew His Majesty would make it clear.

On the way here, Zhang Juzheng had also talked about this with the auxiliary officials. He thought again of the court discussion on the day Hence Hai Rui returned to the capital. Hence Hai Rui, a person who loved to speak the truth, said that Xu Jie had no merit in toppling Yan, and even less merit in following the dragon. He spoke of how Emperor Muzong was actually the Jiajing Emperor's only choice, and then talked about the old matter of the Jiajing Emperor having eight sons but only one surviving.

The Imperial Palace was truly not safe. There were nearly twenty thousand eunuchs in the entire Imperial Palace. With so many people, even if Feng Bao could read minds, he couldn't guarantee that every aspect would be taken care of. In the first year of Wanli, when His Majesty had just ascended the throne, there even occurred an incident where scholars bribed eunuchs to ride in carriages to tour the Imperial Palace.

The temporary palace was only fifty mu. The palace maids used from top to bottom were no more than two hundred. Feng Bao could finish looking after one round.

Zhang Juzheng didn't know how to refute these two reasons. They were extremely complex, complex to the point of irreconcilable conflicts of interest. His Majesty moving his palace might be the optimal solution under such helplessness.

One couldn't just not revitalize the military. Indeed, if one didn't revitalize the military, these two dilemmas wouldn't exist. Abolishing the Military Lecture Hall would seem to make things perfect, but the chain reaction caused by not revitalizing the military was something the Great Ming couldn't bear. If they didn't revitalize the military, the Northern Barbarians, who had already stepped one foot into the coffin, would probably wake up laughing from their dreams. The Goa Governor's Mansion would keep slapping their thighs and deduct dozens of horse ships to help the Great Ming "cheer up."

"Your Majesty, I have another matter to report. As of the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the seventh year, the Great Ming has established a total of 990 coastal defense inspection offices along the coast. This year, approximately over 1,800 coastal defense inspection offices will be organized, specializing in tax inspection and patrol duties. Next year, there won't be so many people refusing to pay that 6% tax. This is the quota set at the beginning of the year, and it has been completed ahead of schedule." Because court was suspended for five days, Zhang Juzheng chose to report this major matter in person.

"Very good." Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said, "How is the investigation and disposal handled?"

Zhang Juzheng thought for a moment and bowed, saying, "The first time, the goods are confiscated. The second time, the ship and goods are confiscated. The third time... there shouldn't be a third time. If it's found a third time, it should be a house raid. Since it's a knowing violation, the imperial court cannot be blamed for being heartless."

"Very good." Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and nodded, saying, "You have worked hard, Master. You have offended a large group of people again. Did those southeastern sea merchants not make any complaints?"

Zhang Juzheng looked strange and said, "Your subject did not see such memorials in the Wenyuan Pavilion. They probably didn't dare, rather than not having any."

Zhang Juzheng said those southeastern sea merchants probably didn't dare, and indeed they didn't dare. Zhang Juzheng, the person who put a muzzle on the hundred officials, was someone no one among the Great Ming civil and military officials could do anything about.

"Your subjects take their leave." Zhang Juzheng reported the matter of opening the sea and then left directly.

Actually, Yin Zhengmao had written him a letter about the conflict in the Ma Liujia Strait. The Goa Governor's Mansion was probably unable to withstand the pressure and was about to release the Great Ming's horse ships. On one hand, the Great Ming had captured the Jiugang and detained the Goa Governor's Mansion's ships; on the other hand, the Mughal Empire's Shah Mamet had been detained by the Goa Governor's Mansion, causing strong dissatisfaction in the Mughal Empire.

Shah Mamet was a noble of the Mughal Empire, so the Mughal Empire was naturally dissatisfied. Plus, because of the lack of naval ships, Akbar could only swallow his anger and be bullied by the Red-Haired Barbarians. Now that they had five-masted ocean-crossing ships, they naturally had to exert pressure.

The Mughal Empire and the Great Ming, two empires, serving one Goa Governor's Mansion—this was a great blessing.

But now there was no result yet. Zhang Juzheng didn't disturb His Majesty. His Majesty was in a bad mood and his spirits were low. Yu Dayou's departure clearly made His Majesty a bit sad. Similarly, dealing with the problems after Yu Dayou's departure was also quite tricky.

Yu Dayou had of course looked for someone to replace him, but he had looked for a long time and hadn't found anyone. Not to mention Yu Dayou, even the Emperor and the Grand Secretary and Grand Tutor couldn't find a suitable replacement.

After Zhang Juzheng left, Zhu Yijun read every memorial Zhang Juzheng had sent one by one. The court officials' opposition all made sense. The Great Ming Emperor not living in the Imperial Palace—what kind of decorum was that? It was not in accordance with ritual, not in accordance with the system, and had the suspicion of abandoning his duties.

Some talkative officials even directly named and scolded him, saying that Emperor Shizong suspected the Renyin Palace Mutiny, that there were evil spirits inside, that he was increasingly disgusted with the Great Interior, did not want to live there, moved to the Western Interior, sought longevity all day, did not attend suburban sacrifices, abandoned court lectures, and that those who were worried about the "Green Words" (Qingci) could not see the holy face or hear the holy teachings, the path of speech was blocked, factional strife started, and the monarch and ministers could not meet.

The scolding was indeed very ugly, and Zhu Yijun just drew an 'x'. But if there had been another Yu Dayou, Zhu Yijun wouldn't have moved from the Western Garden to the temporary palace again. They only knew how to scold; it would be better if they recommended a few people.

Some court officials who were worried about the country were actually worried that the Emperor would learn from the Daoist Emperor, ignore state affairs, and cause state affairs to completely collapse.

Rumors and gossip continued, but after court was suspended for five days, the Great Ming Emperor's carriage appeared outside the Zhao Wenhua Hall on schedule. After the Great Ming Emperor sat on the platform and listened to politics at the gate again, this worry gradually dissipated. Because Zhang Juzheng was still in the court, there was no need to worry too much. If His Majesty really neglected politics, Zhang Juzheng would be the first to go to the temporary palace to blame Chen Shan.

"The matter of moving the palace has been making a fuss without stopping. It is useless to discuss it more. Just wait and see. My mind is made up; do not discuss it again." Before the court discussion began, Zhu Yijun first stated one thing: there was no need to discuss it anymore. Such topics would be skipped. If such memorials were sent to the Imperial Study, he wouldn't look at them either.

"Your subject will handle it." Zhang Juzheng took this matter upon himself. Since he had promised, he wouldn't let the court officials make noise anymore. The Great Ming's system was that once the Emperor decided something, no one could substantially oppose it. The matter of "sealing and returning" (fengbo) seemed to be able to limit imperial power, but in reality, it was very limited. If it was sealed and returned, the Emperor would just issue another imperial edict. If they still refused, they would just be beaten with staves or dismissed.

The Great Ming's system was completely responsible to the superiors. It was easy to bully when the Emperor was young; when the Emperor grew older, they could only let the Emperor be.

The Great Ming's system was that once the Emperor decided something, no one could substantially oppose it.

The Minister of Rites, Ma Ziqiang, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, news has come from Luzon that Meneses has released the detained ships and has sent an envoy to follow the ships to the Great Ming."

Zhu Yijun finished reading the Ministry of Rites' memorial and still approved it. The Goa Governor's Mansion was now besieged on all sides. The Goa Governor's Mansion still hoped to turn the war into a diplomatic war to ensure their interests as much as possible.

"Hmm, arrange for an audience." Zhu Yijun used his vermilion brush on the memorial. The envoy could be seen. The Great Ming had a claim to the Jiugang Regional Military Commission. The Ma Liujia Strait, this "Jiayu Pass on the Sea," must be in the hands of the Great Ming. Meneses must be made to know the Great Ming's determination and abandon the idea of "dove occupying the magpie's nest" and "replacing peaches with plums."

In this memorial, what was more surprising was the attitude of Shah Mamet and Akbar. Shah Mamet had sent two thousand warhorses as a sweetener for the price increase to the Great Ming. Zhu Yijun had always thought this matter was very difficult to handle. Shah Mamet was just a special envoy; if he agreed but Akbar didn't, then he would have to buy them. Zhu Yijun had the horse ships carry enough goods, preparing to buy them if he couldn't get them as a gift. Who told the Great Ming not to have any?

Who knew that the Mughal Emperor Akbar had sent an extra five thousand, saying that if a ship capsized on the way, or if the horses died of horse plague, etc., and the number wasn't enough, wouldn't it show that the Mughal Empire wasn't sincere in doing business? So he sent an extra five thousand. Fifty horse ships, transporting twenty-five thousand horses, wasn't too strenuous.

To express his gratitude for the Great Ming's generosity, Akbar added an extra five thousand horses, five hundred of which were stallions.

Akbar spoke generously, naturally because the Great Ming Emperor himself didn't have enough silk, yet he still gave Shah Mamet one thousand bolts of silk. It was to thank him for this generosity, so he added an extra gift.

The Ministry of Rites believed that Akbar might value the five-masted ocean-crossing ships very much, so he was willing to use goods they didn't lack to express friendliness and obtain the Great Ming's five-masted ocean-crossing ships. Akbar had been beaten by the Red-Haired Barbarians at his own doorstep and could only "magnanimously" let the Red-Haired Barbarians go. Akbar had fought for so many years and had won repeatedly, but he could only suffer in naval battles. The resentment in his heart was probably higher than a mountain.

"Is the San Niangzi of Loyalty and Righteousness coming to the capital again?" Zhu Yijun saw the second memorial and asked Wang Chonggu with suspicion.

"To deliver the summer wool." Wang Chonggu bowed and said. The San Niangzi of Loyalty and Righteousness's reason was to personally deliver the wool. This was both out of importance and helplessness. The left and right wings of the Northern Barbarians were fighting fiercely, physically tearing each other's hearts and lungs out. The Great Ming took the opportunity of the war to lower the price of wool and take the opportunity to raise the prices of salt, iron pots, and tea. It was a very reasonable thing. The San Niangzi of Loyalty and Righteousness naturally had to come personally; she only hoped the price wouldn't be too expensive.

The Imperial Palace is not safe. Please vote for the monthly ticket, Aowu!!!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter)