Chapter 441: Bai Yin is the Blood and Sweat Money of the Common People

Bai Yin is silver; it is a natural currency. Zhu Yijun did not quite grasp the premise of the question, but he became even more interested in the research conducted by the two Ministers, Wang Guoguang and Wang Daokun. In the current Ming Dynasty, scholars and officials overlap to a high degree, especially in the realms of politics and economics, because the conclusions they draw are not based on fantasy, but are summaries combining experience with practice.

Zhu Yijun places extreme importance on their research.

The Emperor did not use his own privileges to inquire; instead, he waited quietly for them to finish their research, write it into a memorial, and submit it to him.

Wang Daokun is of the Zhejiang Party; among the many who ran about to seek redress for Hu Zongxian, Wang Daokun was one. Wang Guoguang, meanwhile, is a defector from the Shanxi Party; when Wang Chonggu left, the first thing he thought of was to hand over the leadership of the Shanxi Party to him.

Regardless of their individual talents or status, one only needs to think for a moment to know that whatever they are cooking up together is definitely not simple.

Chen Chengyi had a dinner at Tonghe Palace. Zhenwu Dadi, it was because His Majesty asked many questions. Chen Chengyi answered carefully, and Zhu Yijun gained a great deal.

This conversation lasted until dinner time, so Zhu Yijun simply kept Chen Chengyi for the meal—a small favor to win over a person's heart.

The craftsmen led by Chen Chengyi will transport 12 million jin of red copper to the Ming Dynasty this year. Added to the 6.5 million jin of Yunnan copper, the Ming Dynasty can cast as many as 1.3 billion Wanli Tongbao coins this year. If the fire loss is low, it might even be possible to cast up to 1.4 billion coins.

As Emperor, Zhu Yijun treating Chen Chengyi to a meal is only right and proper; it is also a sign of imperial favor.

Wanli Tongbao coins have denominations of two qian, five qian, four qian, eight qian, and nine qian, with the two-qian denomination being the most common. Below the two-qian coin, a small-denomination coin was also trial-produced, weighing about one qian. The Mint Bureau under the Ministry of Works' Bureau of Currency once submitted these small coins, which were roughly the same as the privately minted "flying money" on the market. These coins were truly too easy to damage, so they were ultimately set at two qian.

A two-qian Wanli Tongbao coin is roughly equal to five zhu. One jin is sixteen liang, one liang is twenty-four zhu, and one liang is also ten qian.

Zhu Yijun inquired about matters in the Southern Ocean.

Regarding the conflict between the Ming Viceroyalty and the Goa Viceroyalty: the Goa Viceroyalty has operated in the Strait of Malacca for sixty years. Wherever there is a strategic point, there is a fort of the Red-Haired Barbarians; these are hard bones that can only be gnawed away bit by bit. In the Southern Ocean's Yuanxu Archipelago, over 150 footholds have already been established, and these footholds are gradually evolving into plantations. The Spanish colonists on Mindanao are very well-behaved; previously, these colonists tried to retake the Cebu Archipelago, but now they are too lazy to even mobilize.

They cannot win in a fight, so doing a bit of business is more reliable.

In short, under the pioneering efforts of Yin Zhengmao, the Southern Ocean is gradually becoming the Ming Dynasty's backyard.

Chen Chengyi took his leave of His Majesty and departed Tonghe Palace. During this time in the capital, Chen Chengyi had truly come to understand His Majesty well. He is not the tyrant who kills without blinking as rumored; on the contrary, he is quite kind, and when he laughs, he is bright and sunny. One wonders why rumors say His Majesty kills even while sleeping; such street gossip is not worth believing.

Wang Daokun and Wang Guoguang arrived at the Quanchu Guild Hall once more and found the Grand Tutor and Senior Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty. Because they had a memorial they wanted Zhang Juzheng to look at first before submitting it, Zhang Juzheng waved his hands repeatedly, signaling the two not to do so! With no grudges or enmities, why would they want to harm him, Zhang Juzheng, to such an extent?

Because the last person who did such a thing was named Hu Weiyong.

Wang Daokun and Wang Guoguang immediately went to invite Wan Shihe, and only then did Zhang Juzheng allow the several gentlemen to enter.

Wan Shihe is a die-hard member of the Emperor's faction. With Wan Shihe joining, the issues discussed would not be hidden from His Majesty. Submitting memorials to His Majesty lightly when ideas are not mature is an extremely rash approach. However, it is also dangerous for His Majesty to know nothing of what they are discussing. After adding Wan Shihe, this "all-purpose" man, everything ceased to be a problem.

Zhu Yijun has emphasized more than once that the court needs such an all-purpose figure.

"What exactly are we to discuss? The Ministers of Personnel, Revenue, Works, and Rites are all here." Wan Shihe took a sip of tea. He had been studying Xu Jiugao's maritime notes to compile the *Records of Overseas Barbarian States*. Being suddenly called to the Quanchu Guild Hall, he asked with considerable curiosity.

"Nothing much, just what silver actually is." Wang Daokun said with a serious expression: "What is silver? The Ming Dynasty is poor in silver; the Ming Dynasty's silver mines combined produce no more than 100,000 liang a year. All silver flows in from overseas. The Ming Dynasty's silver is the concrete manifestation of the labor of the Ming people. To put it more clearly, silver is the blood and sweat money of the Ming commoners who labor diligently."

The question Wang Daokun has been researching during the seven months since he entered the capital is what silver actually is. The Ming Dynasty's silver production is very low, so silver all flows into the Ming Dynasty. He went to Songjiang Prefecture and managed it into the Ming Dynasty's number one port, exchanging a ceaseless stream of goods for the inflow of silver.

These goods are inextricably linked to everyone in the Ming Dynasty.

The women and children raising silkworms for silk, the peddlers collecting silk cocoons from street to street, the weavers processing cocoons into raw silk, the weavers in the weaving bureaus weaving damask and satin, the dyers in the dye houses, the porters moving goods, the kiln workers in the porcelain kilns, the shipwrights in the shipyards, the commoners felling timber, the long industrial chain of tung oil, and so on—all goods are inextricably linked to the Ming commoners.

During his nine years in Songjiang Prefecture, Wang Daokun witnessed countless industries emerge from nothing in Songjiang Prefecture; he witnessed the birth of goods. The sails that covered the sky at the new port are the miracle of Ming maritime trade.

And the diligent labor of the Ming commoners created the miracle of maritime trade.

And the inflow of silver is the concrete manifestation of that labor.

"What the Minister of Works says is reasonable." Wan Shihe was silent for a moment, always feeling that these words of Wang Daokun's would likely lead to a bloody storm!

"What does the Senior Grand Secretary think?" Wang Daokun asked for Zhang Juzheng's opinion. He and Wang Guoguang had argued countless times before finally determining the fact that the essence of the silver flowing into the Ming Dynasty is the blood and sweat money of the Ming commoners.

Zhang Juzheng took a sip of tea. He did not answer immediately because he knew his stance would directly influence the direction of the court. In a flash, Zhang Juzheng thought of a thousand things. He looked at Wang Daokun, then at Wang Guoguang, waved his hand, and said: "Say no more, say no more."

"Sir!" Wang Daokun stood up abruptly. He had envisioned countless possibilities, but the only one he hadn't expected was Zhang Juzheng playing the part of the feigning-ignorance secretary!

Zhang Juzheng is truly too disappointing!

Wang Guoguang tugged at Wang Daokun's clothes and advised: "Stay calm, stay calm. The Senior Grand Secretary is the Chief Grand Secretary of the state; he must prioritize the overall situation. This is no small matter. If you define it this way, many things will have to change. The Senior Grand Secretary has his own difficulties."

Zhang Juzheng is the Empire's Grand Tutor and Senior Grand Secretary; his status dictates that he cannot easily state his position. His stance will affect the future direction of the Ming Dynasty. Zhang Juzheng actually knows that Wang Daokun is right: silver is indeed the blood and sweat money of the common people.

He has been writing the second volume of *On Class*, which is the volume on distribution.

He cannot write it—not because he hasn't thought it through, but because he doesn't know what kind of impact it will cause if written. Thus, he has delayed putting pen to paper. He is not a court censor who prattles on about whether he understands or not; he is a Chief Grand Secretary who possesses partial decision-making power.

Once this sentence of Wang Daokun's came out, even the Emperor was struck by it. Every cent of real gold and silver the Emperor uses is the fat and cream of the people. Take this wedding of Prince Lu, for instance—the waste is quite heavy. Similar issues... these words of Wang Daokun's will likely become a knife pointed at the Emperor.

Furthermore, once these words are out, on what grounds do the hereditary official class, the military nobility, and the imperial clansmen deserve to hold their titles hereditarily?

The meaning of these words is equivalent to "Are kings and nobles born with high status?"

It is confirmed: after Tan Lun left, the greatest radical in the Ming court is Wang Daokun!

Is this Zhejiang Party planning to be radical from beginning to end?

"Discuss specific issues specifically." Zhang Juzheng pondered for a while and decided to set limits for Wang Daokun. The issue of silver can be discussed, but the Emperor cannot be dragged into it.

Wang Daokun frowned. He didn't know to what scope this "specific" referred. It wasn't that he was dull; it was just that he had been trapped by this problem for some time. Suddenly thinking it through, he was incredibly excited and hadn't considered the terrifying power of these words.

Wang Guoguang looked at Wan Shihe, and Wang Daokun immediately understood. He had an idea of the scope.

Matters of subjects should not be elevated to the monarch!

Those in the Ming Dynasty who oppose opening the seas are all conservatives. Conservatives hate change the most, and conservatives have always advocated for protecting the Emperor. This massive inflow of silver makes people's hearts restless. The great debate over humanistic thought, financial affairs, and political systems—if one is not careful, it will affect imperial power.

Wang Daokun was stuck; he was speechless for a moment because what he was about to say would definitely involve topics that could not be touched.

"What the Minister of Works thinks is that the blood and sweat money of the Ming commoners is being wasted." Wang Guoguang pointed out what Wang Daokun specifically wanted to say. His Majesty advocates frugality; this has been known to the world for many years, so discussing waste will not affect His Majesty. It is a safe topic.

"Right! Waste!" Wang Daokun's eyes lit up. Limited to this scope, it would definitely not involve His Majesty, who wears blue robes!

The experienced Minister of Works still understands the art of speaking.

No one can accuse the Ming Emperor of being extravagant and immoderate, because His Majesty wears blue robes. Which Emperor wears blue robes?

"The Ming Dynasty's silver is all the blood and sweat money of the Ming commoners, and this blood and sweat money is being wasted. This waste is mainly concentrated in three aspects: first, the stagnation of capital; second, repetitive sinking; and third, outflow overseas." Wang Daokun opened the floodgates.

The stagnation of capital has been discussed many times; Wang Daokun did not elaborate further. It basically means that money always flows to places that are not short of money.

Repetition means that the Ming Dynasty's handicraft workshops are always doing repetitive things repetitively. Even though one family has completely conquered or accidentally found a way to increase productivity, they just close their doors and use it themselves. If others inquire a little, they are deeply guarded. There is a lack of a mechanism to reduce repetitive investment.

And "sinking" is what makes Wang Daokun feel extremely heartbroken. Ming handicraft workshop investments are poorly managed and eventually left vacant. Huge investments are shelved, as heartbreaking as fertile fields left uncultivated. There is also a massive amount of silver buried in pigsties!

Outflow overseas is a new contradiction in the Ming Dynasty after opening the seas. The wealthy families of the Ming Dynasty fear the court's majesty and oppose the court's interference, taking the Ming Dynasty's blood and sweat money overseas. The development of the Yuanxu Archipelago, which is in full swing, has reasons related to this. The Ming Dynasty's silver is flowing away, escaping.

"If you want to talk about waste, this can be discussed." Zhang Juzheng was relieved. It turned out it wasn't aimed at the Emperor, so it could be discussed.

"Having been the Songjiang Governor for nine years, looking at the sunset today, the Minister of Works is no longer who he was back then. Back then, the Minister of Works was best at writing some miscellaneous dramas." Zhang Juzheng looked at Wang Daokun with considerable emotion. This fellow was best at writing miscellaneous songs back then and was a playwright. Having served in Songjiang Prefecture for many years, time has passed, and now he has become the most radical among the radicals.

Wang Daokun thought about the silver issue very well.

Phenomena, the problems behind the phenomena, the causes of the problems—Wang Daokun spoke eloquently. But having reached this point, it was still empty talk. Wang Daokun must produce concrete and feasible methods, or at least have a clear program.

"Then how should this problem of silver waste be solved?" Zhang Juzheng asked curiously. He had some ideas, but they were immature.

Wang Daokun stood up, his face flushed, and said loudly: "The best way is asset appreciation! As long as the silver of liquid assets can be fixed as the Ming Dynasty's fixed assets—overseas plantations, tung oil gardens in the Ming hinterland, reclaimed land, handicraft workshops, residential houses, large factories, government-run group manufacturing, and even training naval forces and craftsmen—all count as letting the Ming Dynasty's assets appreciate."

"As long as fixed assets appreciate, there is no waste!"

Zhang Juzheng nodded, beginning to understand Wang Daokun's words. In fact, if the "lowly scholars" and the students of the Imperial Academy were to hear this, they wouldn't understand what Wang Daokun was talking about at all. Zhang Juzheng could understand.

Are overseas plantations overseas also considered the Ming Dynasty's fixed assets? Indeed they are, because the output of these plantations cannot be digested by overseas barbarian states and will eventually feed back into the Ming Dynasty. Overseas plantations are also part of the Ming Dynasty's fixed assets.

Can naval forces and craftsmen also be considered fixed assets? To fully understand this, one must be proficient in *Illustrated Production*. *Illustrated Production* divides assets into supply, liquid, and fixed. And a person's experience is also a fixed asset, especially a large number of educated talents, which are the Ming Dynasty's precious fixed assets. Naval forces are also part of the Ming Dynasty's fixed assets.

Is there an inevitable connection between asset appreciation and silver waste? The connection is very close, and the speed of asset appreciation is not much different from the speed of silver inflow, which can allow silver to circulate smoothly and play the role of a thoroughfare for goods.

"If Philip II knew of the Minister of Works' talent, he would likely spare no effort to snatch the Minister of Works back to the West to be his Minister of State." Zhang Juzheng said sincerely.

Only then did Wang Daokun sit down and say: "Ah, this... actually, it is just that a fool's thousand thoughts must have one gain. The Senior Grand Secretary praises me too much."

Conducting examinations on asset appreciation becomes a typical example of using administrative power to interfere with the market. And the appreciation of these fixed assets can be quantified and then examined. The Ming Dynasty's overall fixed asset appreciation speed must reach at least 70% of the silver inflow to be considered efficient. It doesn't even require too much administrative input; one can make a rough inference just from the quantity of various commercial goods exported through maritime trade.

Zhang Juzheng's mind was already churning; countless policies already had a prototype.

Zhang Juzheng was stunned to discover that he had pushed for the New Policies originally to solve problems, but as a result, for every problem solved, two more popped up! He thought that after he had finished with the major tasks of the Examination Law, the land survey, the rectification of school administration, and the strengthening of the military, he should be able to enjoy the changes the New Policies brought to the Ming Dynasty. As a result, Wang Chonggu tossed him the "Equalization of Land and Labor," and Wang Daokun tossed him "Asset Appreciation."

This... when will the busyness end? Although the feeling of being busy is good, it is too fulfilling.

"I have a few immature ideas. For example, regarding this silver outflow overseas, can we levy a capital gains tax on it? If he takes silver out, he must pay 50% of his assets in the Ming Dynasty at once. After leaving the Ming Dynasty, taxes should be increased accordingly, raising tariffs to at least 20%." Wang Daokun said tentatively.

Capital gains tax—this design is not only to ensure tax fairness and prevent tax loss caused by wealth transfer, but also to facilitate the Tax Inspection Court's tax collection and prevent tax evasion.

Once the radicals make a move, it's a killer blow. Before opening the seas, the Ming Dynasty didn't need to face this problem, but after opening the seas, this problem became particularly important. The silver inflow obtained from the hard labor of the Ming commoners is just flowing away in vain; the loss is the Ming Dynasty's!

Finding ways to fix the silver of liquid assets is Wang Daokun's main purpose.

"How to implement it?" Zhang Juzheng pondered for a while and felt that the execution difficulty was extremely high.

The Minister of Revenue, Wang Guoguang, immediately said: "It's very simple. Just block gold, silver, and copper from going to sea. If the wealthy families really want to escape, they will definitely turn all the assets in their hands into silver and then leave with the silver. Land, houses, and workshops cannot be taken away. Therefore, it is called a capital gains tax, which is an additional tax levied on silver going to sea."

The wealthy families only need to exchange the assets in their hands for silver, and then they can swagger away. How can there be such a good thing? In the past, it couldn't be transferred because there was no silver inflow. Now that there is a sufficient general equivalent, this will inevitably happen.

Zhang Juzheng nodded. He had to admit that when the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue get together, and these two scholars get together, they come up with good methods.

Blocking silver from flowing overseas blocks assets from escaping.

"Why would they want to leave? The Ming Dynasty is the Celestial Empire. Taking silver and running overseas—isn't that putting the cart before the horse?" Wan Shihe frowned, feeling that Wang Daokun was alarmist. The wealthy families aren't stupid. Looking at the whole earth, the Ming Dynasty is the most prosperous one. Are they running abroad to bare their teeth at gorillas? Overseas are all barbarian lands.

Wang Daokun was questioning the gold content of the Celestial Empire.

"Attachment to one's native land is the nature of the common people; attachment to flesh and blood is the wish of human feelings." Wan Shihe explained his doubts. He felt that Wang Daokun was somewhat shooting at shadows. Where does the Ming Dynasty have such a problem now? Under the culture of attachment to one's native land, how could such a problem exist?

These wealthy families—why don't they be good wealthy families and instead run overseas to be refugees? The commoners only become refugees when they can't survive. What kind of brains do these wealthy families have to do this?

It doesn't make sense logically.

To be more precise, Wan Shihe, this Minister of Rites, doesn't believe it.

"Yes, attachment to flesh and blood is the wish of human feelings." Wang Daokun said with considerable emotion: "If I hadn't seen this strange phenomenon with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either. Do you know why the wealthy families want to flee? They feel the Ming Dynasty has no freedom."

"Freedom?" Wan Shihe's face was full of question marks.

This reason stunned even Wan Shihe, who was well-versed in ancient and modern times. He boasted that he had read at least 100,000 volumes of books. Wan Shihe was truly puzzled by this reason.

Wang Daokun said with mixed feelings: "Yes, freedom. They feel the court manages things too broadly. In the past, there was no way, but now if there is a chance, they will run overseas. They would rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. They would rather be arrogant and domineering overseas than be constrained by the court again. In their cognition, wealthy families are just pigs waiting to be slaughtered. As long as they are fattened, the court will slaughter the pigs. When the court is short of money, it will slaughter the pigs."

"Yin Zhengmao tore down doors and moved beds, even taking that door to Luzon to be the door of the Viceroy's Mansion. Ling Yunyi simply killed people; those who refused to donate or give up wealth had their heads rolling. Zhang Siwei, the Kong family in Yanzhou, the Yang family in Xindu, the land survey in the Southern Yamen, the Tax Inspection Court..."

Wang Daokun just gave a few simple examples. Standing from the perspective of the wealthy families, it is the Ming court that is harsh on the noble clans. Even the Kong family has fallen. It would be strange if they had a sense of security. They always feel a chill behind their necks, dreaming of sharp swords hanging over their heads, ready to die at any time.

"They don't violate Ming law, so the court has nothing to do but stare at them?" Wan Shihe spread his hands.

Wang Daokun smiled and said: "Making them obey Ming law is more uncomfortable than killing them."

"This capital gains tax is good." Zhang Juzheng said with considerable approval: "Very good. Is there a memorial? I can co-sign it."

If they co-sign, the one who gets scolded is him, Zhang Juzheng. Lice don't itch when there are many. Compared to a few scoldings, the waste of silver is the problem that urgently needs to be solved.

The essence of Ming silver is the blood and sweat money of the Ming commoners; there is no doubt about this, because all commercial goods are created by the commoners with their own hands. The massive inflow of silver is stagnating, sinking repetitively, and flowing overseas, preventing the inflow of silver from exerting its function as currency. Facing this problem, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue gave the method of examining asset appreciation and restricting silver outflow.

Just like the memorial on the five matters of clearing and revitalizing the Beijing Camp by Zhai Luan, Minister of War and Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, back then—phenomena, problems, causes, and feasible solutions were all provided by Zhai Luan, but it just couldn't be carried out. It was noisy and repetitive for many years, and ultimately there was no result.

But the Ming Dynasty in the ninth year of Wanli does not have the problem of being unable to execute. Zhang Juzheng's personal prestige and the institutional construction of his New Policies can ensure the smooth flow of government decrees. The restoration of the Ming Dynasty's administrative power is the foundation of all New Policies.

Zhang Juzheng communicated with Wang Daokun and Wang Guoguang for a long, long time, mainly strengthening the circulation of silver from six aspects.

Capital gains tax is just one of them.

Second: Coinage. Ming silver coins with a face value and weight of one liang must be expanded in the capital. Currently, the Ming court presses no more than 400,000 silver coins a year. This number must become 1 million silver coins within five years, and within ten years, increase to the point of being equal to the inflow of silver, only then can silver initially become a real currency. Wanli Tongbao must reach 5 billion coins within five years, and exceed 8 billion coins within ten years, only then can the stagnation be thoroughly pierced.

The Ministry of Works has the Bureau of Currency, and the Ministry of Revenue has the Bureau of Paper Money; these are the places where the Ming Dynasty casts Wanli Tongbao and prints paper money. This time, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue joined forces, assisted by the Military Equipment Bureau under the Inner Secretariat, to press and cast silver.

Third: Ministry of Commerce. The institutional construction of the Ministry of Commerce, establishing a three-level merchant management agency among merchant firms, merchant groups, and sitting merchants, perfecting management functions, and even establishing a Ministry of Commerce when necessary—six ministries becoming seven ministries, specializing in commercial management. With the massive inflow of silver, the court has deeply felt the power of money, so this power must definitely not be allowed to lose control, and administrative management must be carried out for commerce.

Excessive administrative management will lose vitality, but without any administrative management, it will degenerate into the slave era. The Central Plains has already gone from slavery, feudalism (enfeoffing land and building states), to the prefecture and county system. Necessary administrative management is the only way to prevent the loss of coordination among social strata and collectives.

Fourth: Schools. Craftsman schools and naval schools must be expanded. This needs to be realized based on government-run group manufacturing. Cultivating talents is a necessary step for the Ming Dynasty's fixed asset appreciation. The ability of man, as the subject, to change nature is the definition of productivity. Departing from the program of putting people first will lead to losing the way of the world.

Jinzhou, Tianjin, Mizhou, Ningbo, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, and other nine places where merchant ships frequently travel, relying on the Shipping Commissioner to establish maritime schools, has become a five-year plan.

Fifth: Circulation. Folk credit bureaus have already appeared among the people. Based on the Kowloon Post Road leading to all parts of the Ming Dynasty, relying on post stations, they carry out government-run acceptance and exchange. This is to increase commercial circulation, and it is also to increase the conversion of silver to silver coins. The problem solved is the problem of Ming wealthy families burying silver in pigsties. Bai Yin buried in pigsties is also a typical feature of the blood and sweat money of the Ming commoners circulating in the hands of a few.

Bai Yin as currency has its own limitations. Whether it is large-scale trade or small-amount transactions, there are many limitations. For example, the Ming Dynasty's silver ingot forgery technology can be described as superb, which makes large-scale trade fall into the dilemma of verification, while small-amount transactions require cutting silver. It is most convenient to calculate transactions in units of liang. Because of the long-term absence of Ming Tongbao, the downward precipitation of silver is also a part of waste.

Sixth: Opening technology. Relying on the Imperial Estates, pricing technology, turning technology from intangible assets into purchasable and tradable assets. Anyone needs to purchase technology from the Imperial Estates before they can apply it. And part of the harvest of the Imperial Estates needs to be partially divided among individuals or collectives that have made technological breakthroughs. This is a solid encouragement for private workshop investment, while reducing internal friction.

"Actually, I think at the moment, it is better for the Imperial Estates to buy out technology directly and then sell it." Wan Shihe had been listening, but when it came to his professional field, he put forward his own opinion.

The Imperial Estates buying out directly relies on the Emperor's firm reputation to be carried out. It is not strong-armed robbery. Although His Majesty is stingy, he has never forcibly occupied any technology. Whether it is Wang Chonggu's *Records of Woolen Government Factories* or all the achievements of the Imperial Academy of Things, whoever it belongs to, it is theirs. Even the *Theory of Contradictions* has Zhang Juzheng's signature.

Individuals facing the barbaric occupation of wealthy families have no ability to resist. It is better to borrow the imperial power.

"This opinion of yours is very good!" Zhang Juzheng's eyes lit up when he heard it. For things like "offering to the throne," one still has to look at the Emperor's faction; others are no match.

There will be one more hegemony in His Majesty's imperial power, and that is technological hegemony. Even if the Ming imperial family are unfilial descendants in the future, this technological hegemony will be enough to be well-fed and well-clothed.

"Will the Assistant Grand Secretary Wang oppose it?" Wang Daokun said with some worry.

Zhang Juzheng said very affirmatively: "No, Wang Chonggu is busy beating his son recently."

Wang Chonggu beating his son—idleness is idleness. This matter of the old Wang family has become a joke in the capital, known to everyone.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 442 =====