Chapter 843

Xu Xu Guangqi sincerely invited Galileo to study at the Royal Institute of Technology, as the confirmation of gravity's existence demanded more talent to jointly research its calculation.

"The acceleration due to gravity is identical for all objects." This was Galileo's expression of his current understanding of gravity.

The exact value of this number was unclear to Galileo, and the Ge Wu Academy had no idea either, as more precise measurements and observations were required to determine it.

"No, no, no—before that, we must first establish one thing: are all things in motion? I mean, will an object maintain its state of motion unless acted upon by an external force? This is what we must determine first." Xu Xu Guangqi excitedly discussed his discovery with Galileo.

All things in the world seem to exist in either motion or stillness, until an external force intervenes.

After their meeting, the two set aside all other topics and began exploring the infinite principles of all things; Xu Xu Guangqi was certain he had uncovered truths about force.

The exploration of the infinite principles of all things was the mission of the Great Ming Ge Wu Academy.

The Ge Wu doctors enjoyed exalted treatment; their task was to explain how the world operated and how people should use these rules to alter nature and enhance humanity's ability to transform nature—that is, to increase productivity, a point already clearly explained in the Illustrated Treatise on Production.

Human labor, broadly defined, endowed nature with value; minerals lying idle held no value, for extracting them was extremely difficult. It was human labor that repaired roads, bridges, and canals, enabling these minerals to flow continuously from mines into workshops and become usable goods, thus giving nature value.

Mines, like land, held no value when left untouched; it was human labor that conferred value upon goods—this was the core theory of the Illustrated Treatise on Production.

On the ninth day of the ninth month of the sixteenth year of Emperor Wanli, autumn was at its peak; the maple forests had dyed the entire Western Hills crimson. The autumn sun hung high, its transparent rays piercing thin clouds and spilling over the maple groves, adding a touch of brightness. The autumn breeze stirred the fiery red leaves, and the forest teemed with visitors, while below the hills, carriages and horses filled the roads.

On the Double Ninth Festival, people climbed heights to gaze afar, admired chrysanthemums to welcome autumn, wore cornel branches, and drank chrysanthemum wine. On this bustling day, a large group of foreigners dressed in strange attire entered the capital through the southern gate, Yongding Gate.

They were envoys from the Lao Laos Xuanweisi, come to the capital to pay tribute.

Dao Dao Lansheng, the Laos Xuanweisi of Lao, personally led twenty of his clansmen and a variety of Lao specialties to the capital of Great Ming.

The reason for this visit was that the road from Great Ming to Lao had been completed; Dao Dao Lansheng's secondary goal was to request the Great Ming Emperor to formally designate his son as heir—a recognition vital to Lao.

Without Great Ming's approval, he did not know what plight Lao would fall into.

Jiongjing 。

Prince Mu Mu Changzuo of Qian pledged that as long as Lao guaranteed the supply of Jingjue Salt, the Qian Prince's mansion in Yunnan would guarantee a knife always pressed against Annan's waist, deterring it from invading Lao.

Mu Mu Changzuo kept his word; Annan dared not invade Lao again. This security guarantee was expanded two years prior, with unchanged terms but an expanded scope to include the Dongyu Burmese bandits.

Over the years, Lao had suffered greatly at the hands of Annan and Dongyu; the Dongyu Burmese bandits had even breached Lao's capital, Nanghan (Vientiane), three times. Had it not been for Great Ming's intervention, Dao Dao Lansheng could never have reclaimed Nanghan.

"Do you understand Han speech?" asked Yu Yu Liangshi, the Junior Director of Grand Honglu Temple, addressing the interpreter. According to reports from Yunnan, Dao Dao Lansheng did not speak Han; the junior director and interpreter confirmed this.

The interpreter flipped open a thick volume of Barbarian Rituals, found the page on Lao, and said: "He doesn't understand. Though Lao has paid tribute thirty-four times since Yongle, they always turned back at Weng Dali in Yunnan. In recent years, they've been attacked twice by Annan and thrice by the Burmese bandits—each time nearly annihilated. Dao Dao Lansheng does not speak Han."

From limited records, Dao Dao Lansheng could not read Han script.

"I can!" Dao Dao Lansheng, unaware of who the Ming official before him was, pointed to himself and said: "My Han is poor, but I do speak it. I studied for two years, but without good teachers, I learned poorly."

"In Lao, from elders to children, all are learning Han speech, for only then can we trade and do business with the people of Great Ming."

Yu Yu Liangshi studied Dao Dao Lansheng's appearance and smiled: "It's good you speak Han, but you still need an interpreter."

An interpreter was needed to prevent heated arguments from escalating.

If Dao Dao Lansheng dared to quarrel with the Great Ming Emperor, word would reach Yunnan and Lao would be destroyed—this was a feudal imperial age where the humiliation of the ruler meant death for the minister. To prevent possible quarrels, the interpreter's role in calming tempers became vital.

Of course, Dao Dao Lansheng came to the capital to pay homage to his elder brother; he feared Great Ming had no demands—better if Great Ming demanded more, even better if it directly annexed Lao, sparing Lao from so much humiliation.

As Ministry of Rites officials said, over the years Lao had appealed five times, yet Great Ming only advised, never intervened militarily, because Great Ming had no interest in Lao—nothing worth taking. Simply speaking a word of justice was already more than enough.

Finally, Jingjue Salt—a mineral Great Ming now desired—had emerged. Lao must seize this opportunity.

Minerals lying idle hold no value; only through human labor, extraction, and transformation into goods do they gain value. For Lao, those mines were inexhaustible.

"We brought some gifts—

?? because we are truly poor, with nothing of value, we brought some beauties, and of course, Jingjue Salt." Dao Dao Lansheng gestured to his retinue behind him. Yu Yu Liangshi glanced and frowned; Lao had not deceived them—these were indeed carefully selected beauties, with fine figures, at least enough to feed children.

This was also a regional custom; many beauties tributed from the Three Xuan and Six Wei were like this.

Yu Yu Liangshi, a Ming Jinshi of the second year of Emperor Wanli, under the Han-Yi distinction, had little interest in these beauties. The junior director escorted Dao Dao Lansheng to the Sanyi Pavilion.

"You've come from afar—what do you seek?" Yu Yu Liangshi offered no pleasantries. Under two successive Grand Secretaries of Rites, the Ministry's tone had grown coarse; officials viewed barbarian tribute as insincere, driven by hidden agendas, so they cut straight to the point.

"Can we be annexed into Great Ming?" Dao Dao Lansheng asked solemnly.

"Wait a moment." Yu Yu Liangshi raised his hand to halt him, puzzled: "Is your Han so poor, or did I mishear? You mean the Laos Xuanweisi of Lao wishes to be annexed into Great Ming? Know this: if annexed, you will no longer be king."

This was a strange request—Yu Yu Liangshi had never heard such a thing.

"Your Excellency does not know—I have never truly been a king. I merely struggle to keep my people barely alive."

Dao Dao Lansheng's face bore sorrow as he sighed: "My journey to the capital was long—I saw everything. I saw the good and bad of Great Ming: corrupt officials demanding bribes. We wish to be annexed—we accept all, good or bad."

"We have no power to protect ourselves. The Burmese and Annamese constantly bully us. If Great Ming annexes Lao, I will have fulfilled my duty to my people."

"Your Excellency, Annan even allied with Japanese pirates to attack us, forcing us to send envoys to the Japanese capital to pay tribute!"

Dao Dao Lansheng was utterly pragmatic: what conditions could Lao offer? What did Lao possess that Great Ming valued? While Great Ming showed interest, annex now!

What if Great Ming lost interest tomorrow? Would he not regret it then?

Great Ming is vast—those mines, though undiscovered now, will surely be found someday.

Even a crumb from Great Ming's fingers would spare Lao's people daily terror. Dao Dao Lansheng had no idea where Japan was—yet they demanded tribute from Lao! He was utterly done with this life!

Was this a king? Merely a punching bag for anyone to trample.

Yu Yu Liangshi well knew that for the past two or three years, Great Ming had searched tirelessly for Jingjue Salt but found no rich deposits.

"This is the capital of Great Ming. Every word you speak will be taken seriously by the court. Are you certain you wish to be annexed?" Yu Yu Liangshi said, weary:

"Annexation is irreversible."

"The people of Great Ming value face—if today you say annex, tomorrow you renege, it is an insult to Great Ming. Its elite soldiers and generals cannot endure such humiliation."

"Of course." Dao Dao Lansheng affirmed firmly.

Yu Yu Liangshi would not know that after Lao reestablished contact with Great Ming, Lao's elite had once considered a possibility: deliberately attack Great Ming's troops, provoking an invasion to force annexation.

But Lao nobles deliberated and deemed it too reckless—fighting Great Ming was too dangerous. What if Great Ming's forces, once unleashed, slaughtered them all?

"Here is the petition of allegiance, signed by all Meng lords. Please present it to His Majesty." Dao Dao Lansheng, sensing opportunity, pulled out a crumpled memorial and handed it to Yu Yu Liangshi.

The paper itself had been obtained from the Qian Prince's mansion.

"Meng" meant city-state; "Meng lords" were the rulers of all city-states under the Laos Xuanweisi of Lao. This petition, written in Han script, bore the signatures of every Meng lord, affirming their approval.

"For us, the people of Lao, some dream of fleeing to Annan or Dongyu, for at least there they might be safer. Why not think of coming to Great Ming? Because we dared not."

"When Great Ming demanded Jingjue Salt, I saw it as a chance to attach ourselves to greatness." Dao Dao Lansheng's Han was poor; he could not express himself precisely, but he conveyed his intent.

This was nearly the sentiment of every Meng lord.

"For Great Ming, this is advantageous. Great Ming is at war with Dongyu. As Prince Mu said, our position is a knife pressed against their waist." Dao Dao Lansheng added the benefits of annexation.

In Dao Dao Lansheng's view, Lao's annexation into Great Ming was pure loss—otherwise, Great Ming would have long since marched south from Yunnan. For years, Great Ming showed no interest, clearly disdaining the region.

Yu Yu Liangshi pondered and said: "I will report this truthfully to His Majesty. This is your final chance to retract. Are you certain you wish to be annexed?"

"I am certain." Dao Dao Lansheng said without hesitation: "I will remain in Great Ming as a hostage; my son will return to Lao to help Great Ming establish rule!"

Dao Dao Lansheng had met three times with Prince Mu Mu Changzuo, who taught him what to say and what to avoid.

"Very well. I will report truthfully to His Majesty." Yu Yu Liangshi had assumed Dao Dao Lansheng sought tribute trade; for the sake of Jingjue Salt, Great Ming might permit commerce with Lao. But annexation? This was beyond a junior director's authority.

Soon, Yu Yu Liangshi drafted a memorial detailing Lao's request. It passed through the Tongzheng Office to the Grand Secretariat, where the Grand Secretaries deliberated, drafted their recommendations, and sent them to the Tonghe Palace.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Wang Wang Chonggu were summoned by the Emperor to the Tonghe Palace's imperial study.

"No need for formalities—sit and speak." Zhu Zhu Yijun had just returned from inspecting troops at the Northern Camp and saw Dao Dao Lansheng's petition.

"I have read all the Grand Secretaries' opinions. Four ministers, four views: the Ministry of Rites supports, the Ministry of Revenue opposes, the Ministry of Justice defers to the Emperor's judgment, and the Chief Grand Secretary reserves his opinion. Again, disagreement." Zhu Zhu Yijun sat on the dragon throne, smiling at the memorial: "Chief Grand Secretary, explain your opposition."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's silence was deafening; his reserved opinion usually meant opposition.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng did not conceal his stance: "Useless land. Do not annex for the sake of winning."

"The current relationship is ideal. Lao can sell Jingjue Salt only to Great Ming, with nowhere else to go. Great Ming provides security guarantees, and Lao submits. No need to annex—it is not a profitable deal. Annexation would require incalculable manpower, resources, and funds to sinicize Lao."

"Expanding territory is a heavenly merit, but some lands, though appearing as heavenly merit, are merely vanity."

"I believe the sea is Great Ming's true long-term goal and interest. Such investment is better spent seizing Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka)—a vital node in the Western Seas and the capital of the Goa Governorate."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng spoke plainly: on this issue, he was the calculating, frugal Confucian, blocking the Emperor's imperialist ambitions.

Zhu Zhu Yijun gazed at the vast map hanging in the study: "Master speaks truly. Sinicizing lands is not easy. Emperor Taizu ordered General Xu Da to reclaim lands north of the Qin Ling Mountains; everywhere he went, the people wore left-lapped robes, lost Han clothing and customs, abandoned Han script and literature, had no poetry, music, or education. When Xu Da captured the Northern Court, the people of Yan and Yun did not know of Han or Tang."

The people of Yan and Yun did not know Han or Tang—these sixteen prefectures had been outside the Central Plains for over four hundred years; their people took pride in being barbarian lackeys.

"After two centuries of patching, Great Ming's two capitals and thirteen provinces became Han lands again." Zhu Zhu Yijun stared blankly at the map, sometimes wondering: without Zhu Zhu Yuanzhang, without Great Ming, what would the Central Plains be like?

In another few centuries, would Han script vanish? Would the brilliant flame of civilization be extinguished in history's river? If Han script's transmission broke, would all be like the Inca murals and carvings—unintelligible to future generations?

"Master, had it not been for the opening of the seas, the development of oceanic navigation and celestial navigation, would you also have abandoned Korea?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked an intriguing question: without the Emperor Wanli-era sea opening, would Korea's fate have been another restored royal house?

After all, without sufficient ships, Korea's territory was too costly to govern by land transport alone.

"But we cannot let Japanese pirates land." Zhang Zhang Juzheng stated his position clearly: if Japanese pirates invaded Korea, Great Ming must drive them back to sea. If they landed, Great Ming would be guilty for ten thousand generations.

As for Korea, let it remain as it was—no mines, no fertile land. Why claim it?

The root cause was the cost of rule. To some extent, Zhang Zhang Juzheng supported the retreat and abandonment policies begun in the Renxuan era, for rule was costly. Now, it was different: the cost of ruling Korea was low, even Japan could be absorbed.

Sea transport cost far less than land transport—that was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's logic, and why he opposed annexing Lao: Lao was a landlocked country with no seaport; Great Ming's interest in Lao was solely Jingjue Salt. The current arrangement was perfect.

"What does the Deputy Grand Secretary think?" Zhu Zhu Yijun turned to Wang Wang Chonggu.

"I defer to His Majesty's judgment." Wang Wang Chonggu gave no clear opinion, maintaining his stance: the Emperor decides.

For the Engineering Party, Jingjue Salt was vital, but on annexation, Wang Wang Chonggu was indifferent. He shared the Ministry of Rites' view: annexation was not bad—merely nominal annexation, with actual joint administration like Mubang and Meng Yang, gradually replacing native chieftains with imperial officials, slowly sinicizing.

For the Labor Party, Jingjue Salt was important, but Wang Wang Chonggu was utterly indifferent to whether it should be annexed; his view echoed that of the Ministry of Rites—that annexation was no harm, merely nominal, with actual joint administration like Mubang Prefecture and Meng Yang Prefecture, gradually replacing native rule with imperial administration, gradually bringing it under the influence of the Son of Heaven.

"Annexing Lao into Great Ming would be one of my achievements, giving me something to tell my ancestors." Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head, gazing at the map: "A symbolic win is fine—just a claim."

Zhu Zhu Yijun made his final decision: annex Lao into Great Ming, providing a touch of emotional value to the people.

Administratively, Lao would be like Mubang and Meng Yang: nominally a prefecture, but retaining the basic framework of the Three Xuan and Six Wei—military, economic, cultural, and political indirect rule.

Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled: "This is precisely what Lao wants. They suffer between two powers: the Burmese beat them when angry, the Annamese beat them when pleased, even Japanese pirates demand tribute. Enduring so much humiliation, better to submit to Great Ming. Lao seeks safety, stability."

"Great Ming has great interests in Lao: Jingjue Salt mines. Great Ming cannot find them elsewhere soon. As long as the mines exist and enemies threaten, Great Ming cannot stand idle—it must act. A formal claim helps."

"Your Majesty is wise." Wang Wang Chonggu bowed. The Emperor made it clear: this was a symbolic win, not immediate sinicization.

"Does Your Majesty mean not to invest heavily and rapidly sinicize Lao as was done in Suiyuan?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng understood: the Emperor wanted both face and substance—but no silver.

"Does His Majesty mean not to follow Wang Hua's example in pacifying the frontier—pouring in vast sums to sinicize it thoroughly in a short time?" Zhang Zhang Juzheng understood the emperor wanted both face and substance, but would not provide the silver.

The Emperor's reasoning was sound: regardless of whether Lao was incorporated, Great Ming had immense interests there; whoever attacked Lao, Great Ming must assist—sending men and resources—or the Jingjue salt supply would falter, for a pinch of Jingjue salt in fertilizer made crops grow strong.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded and said: "Even if I spent the next decade's revenues from both state and imperial treasuries, I could not sinicize Dongyu and Lao. Better to leave it to the Prince of Qian's household to handle gradually."

Lao differs from Suiyuan: Suiyuan is the heartland of Great Ming, demanding massive investment, even the reopening of the Western Regions to ensure strategic security for Great Ming's core territories.

"Then I have no further reservations," Zhang Zhang Juzheng immediately agreed—no spending was ideal.

Zhu Zhu Yijun stated clearly: "I will instruct the Ministry of Rites to make it plain to Dao Dao Lansheng: sinicization never happens overnight. It requires the cooperation of the Lao people with the Prince of Qian's household, all efforts aligned toward one goal. If he refuses, the status quo may remain."

"Chen Lin, Governor of the Ryukyu Governorate, has submitted a memorial requesting the abolition of the Ryukyu Governorate's structure and its incorporation into prefectures and counties," Zhu Zhu Yijun said, referring to another newly received memorial.

The Ryukyu Governorate differed from others in that its governor, Chen Lin, the Marquis of Shuri, was a naval commander who rarely resided in Ryukyu; thus, the three Ryukyu islands were effectively administered by Songjiang Prefecture.

Zhu Zhu Yijun pointed to the map and said: "My plan is to place the Ryukyu Islands under Songjiang Prefecture's jurisdiction, while Keelung Island and Penghu Police Inspectorate fall under Fujian's control."

Zhu Zhu Yijun tapped the map and said: "Master, Songjiang Prefecture is too small. Even as the world's trade and economic center, one prefecture should not have its own Provincial Governor. Incorporating the Ryukyu Islands into Songjiang will make the Songjiang Provincial Governor's title truly deserved."

"Fujian is simply too poor. Even with Keelung Island and Penghu Inspectorate added, its cultivated land still does not qualify as a large province. This will better enable Fujian to coordinate manpower for reclamation and timber harvesting on Keelung Island."

The Ryukyu Governorate was the least visible of all governorates—not because Ryukyu was unimportant, but precisely because of the Great Black Gully, forcing all ships to detour through Ryukyu to reach Songjiang, making Ryukyu extraordinarily vital: the world's maritime bridge, especially in the age of sail.

From the outset, the Great Ming court intended to incorporate Ryukyu into prefectures and counties; thus, the Ryukyu Governorate never had a proper governorate structure nor ever slipped from imperial control. Now, rule is being directly strengthened.

"My view aligns perfectly with yours: we must advance on both land and sea, but our main focus remains the sea—fully bringing the Southern Seas and Juezhou under Great Ming's tributary sphere is what I must do." Zhu Zhu Yijun always practiced what he preached; he never misled his ministers, always explaining clearly what he intended and why.

Expanding tributary control over the Southern Seas and Juezhou was Zhu Zhu Yijun's historical mission. To truly build five large brick houses, land expansion and its returns were insufficient.

Zhu Zhu Yijun continued: "Chen Chen Dazhuang, Commander of the Great Iron Ridge Guard, is taking another risk—he has entered the heart of Juezhou. Along the way, he saw only scrubland and steppe, not desert. Is Juezhou truly a wasteland?"

"Chen Chen Dazhuang believes not: rainfall exceeds twelve inches there, far better than the Western Regions. Remember, the Western Regions have been digging karez wells since Han times, right up to today. By comparison, the Western Regions are the true wasteland."

"Juezhou's natural endowment vastly surpasses that of the Western Regions—there are at least ten million hectares of pasture suitable for herding."

The Star-Gazing Vessel severely underestimated Juezhou's natural endowment. True, compared to Java's fertile fields, Juezhou falls short—but it is still arable land. Long-term development would yield far greater returns than reopening the Western Regions.

"Your Majesty is wise," Zhang Zhang Juzheng said—his aim was to restrain the Emperor from recklessly sinicizing Lao, a decision unfit for Great Ming during the Emperor Wanli Reforms.

The gains of the Emperor Wanli Reforms were best spent on the Dinghai Education System and the Official Selection Examination—putting the finest steel to the sharpest edge.

The Emperor's edict reached the Ministry of Rites swiftly; Assistant Minister Yu Yu Liangshi conveyed the imperial will.

"The Emperor's decree is clear: Lao, as Lao Prefecture, shall be directly administered by Yunnan's Three Boards. Great Ming may accept Lao, but its status shall equal that of Mubang Prefecture and Meng Yang Prefecture." Yu Yu Liangshi further clarified: the court would not invest heavily in sinicizing Lao.

"Your servant kneels to thank Heaven's grace!" Dao Dao Lansheng was overjoyed, bowing three times before carefully stowing the edict.

Yu Yu Liangshi added: "Ah, the conditions are still quite strict."

"It's already excellent. Great Ming's court is distant, but the Prince of Qian's household stands right before us. Only when Lao becomes part of Great Ming can the Prince of Qian's household intervene directly when Lao is in trouble. This is already good enough," Dao Dao Lansheng said with evident delight.

Lao had appealed to Great Ming five times, and Great Ming never sent troops—because there was no just cause. Without legitimacy, even the Prince of Qian's household could not act. Now, if Great Ming recognizes Lao as its territory, Annam and Dongyu will no longer dare oppress the Lao people.

To be Great Ming's dog is the greatest honor—not like stray dogs, running wild, unaware of their master.

Dongyu is such a stray dog: barking at Great Ming, beaten into submission for four years, and still to be beaten further. Mang Mang Yingli cannot even die—he does not own his own head; it belongs to Great Ming. Only when Great Ming permits may he die.

"Dongyu's Burmese bandits have oppressed us most cruelly: killing our men, seizing our women and children, capturing our capital, burning our royal palace. Great Ming's imperial army severely punished Dongyu and avenged us—it is only right that we submit to Great Ming." Dao Dao Lansheng explained why the Lao lords all accepted joining Great Ming: to the Lao people, Great Ming had avenged a blood debt they could never repay themselves.

Come, Great Ming has avenged for them the blood feud they could never avenge themselves.

Yu Yu Liangshi recalled Wan Shao Zongbo's "Barbarians Must Find a Father" doctrine: in Wan Shao Zongbo's view, barbarians must find a father to feel secure. For Lao, after all choices, Great Ming was indeed the best father.