[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-stealing-ming":3,"chapter-stealing-ming-stealing-ming-chapter-305":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Stealing Ming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1220922,1614,"Chapter 305: Section 56: Reconstruction (Part 2)","stealing-ming-chapter-305",305,"\u003Cp>On the night of the first day of the fourth month of the second year of the Chongzhen reign, sea bandits launched a night raid on Quanzhou Harbor. Nearly all the officers and soldiers had gone ashore to drink. By the time Yu Zigao and Huang Shi struggled their way to the harbor’s edge, half of the Funingzhen naval fleet had already been reduced to ashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over ten thousand naval soldiers, together with their Grand Commanders and generals, were chilled to the bone by the wind. Yu Zigao stood dumbstruck, staring at the seething sea, unable to utter a single word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days earlier, after repelling the sea bandits, Yu Zigao’s old fault of arrogance and carelessness had flared up again. He had never, in his heart of hearts, held pirates in any regard. After a cursory search convinced him no pirates were following, the Funing Army did not raise its alert level to the highest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, it was Huang Shi who reacted first. He forced a smile and said to Yu Zigao, “General Yu, storms come without warning — there was simply nothing to be done about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This lowly general’s crimes deserve ten thousand deaths, ten thousand deaths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is no need to speak of it. The sea bandits came under cover of night — truly remarkable. Withdraw the troops.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grand Commander, our army still has half its warships — more than enough to fight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Say no more. What matters is that the officers and men are safe, that General Yu is safe. I will go at once to discuss the silver question with Provincial Governor Zhu. We must rebuild the navy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Huang Shi reached the entrance of Zhu Yifeng’s residence, he heard a chaotic uproar inside. Even the gatekeeper had vanished somewhere. In the courtyard, several servants were shouting and running wildly in the wind, darting between the halls. A vague sense of foreboding stirred in Huang Shi’s heart. He stepped forward and grabbed a man, asking what on earth had happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The servant’s answer gave Huang Shi a start: Zhu Yifeng had hanged himself, and it was unknown whether he was dead or alive. Upon hearing this, Huang Shi cast aside ceremony and decorum, bolting straight inside in three quick strides. Asking several more servants along the way, he headed directly to Provincial Governor Zhu’s rear hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Zhu household knew the gravity of the situation and did not fault Huang Shi for his brusqueness; they merely hurried the womenfolk out of sight and led Huang Shi straight to Zhu Yifeng’s bedside. His son stood behind Huang Shi and recounted the day’s events in full detail. It turned out that Zhu Yifeng had slept until the afternoon. The moment he heard the coast was on fire, he knew disaster had struck and hastily sent servants to investigate the seafront.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the servants returned in a fluster with their report, Zhu Yifeng’s face turned ashen. He rose and walked wordlessly toward his study. Along the way, his son repeatedly called out to his father, but Zhu Yifeng, utterly distraught, heard nothing. Once inside the study, he bolted the door behind him. Zhu Yifeng’s son, fearing the worst, pressed himself against the door with his ear to the crack, eavesdropping on the sounds within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, before long, a heavy clatter rang out. Young Master Zhu hesitated no longer — he sprang up from the ground, burst the door open, and found his father had indeed kicked over the stool and was dangling from the beam, swaying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being rescued, it was a long while before Zhu Yifeng faintly came to and opened his eyes, only to lapse back into unconsciousness. Huang Shi sat by Zhu Yifeng’s side for some time. When Provincial Governor Zhu finally awoke again, the moment he opened his eyes and saw Huang Shi, he could not help but shed tears. “Commander Huang, Heaven truly means to destroy the two of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord Zhu, why say such a thing? If the navy is gone, we simply rebuild it. Why abandon yourself to despair? Besides, the two-year deadline has not yet arrived. As long as we keep striving, the imperial court will still grant us another chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yifeng wept bitterly. “How can we rebuild the navy? There is no silver left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Borrow!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi’s reply was, as ever, terse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yifeng’s aged face streamed with tears. Sobbing, he said, “Commander Huang, we have already borrowed three million five hundred thousand taels and have not repaid a single mace. Where in Fujian province is there still silver to borrow? To be frank, that we managed to borrow three million five hundred thousand taels at all has already far exceeded this old man’s expectations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord Zhu worries too much. How could there possibly be no silver?” Huang Shi smiled faintly and declared with absolute conviction, “Never mind three million five hundred thousand — we could borrow thirty-five million taels if need be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?” Zhu Yifeng looked up at Huang Shi, puzzled and incredulous, his face full of blank disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord Zhu, the silver we borrowed was not thrown into the sea. We used the borrowed silver to buy fishing boats and farmhouses from the common people; we used the borrowed silver to pay the righteous people for their meals; we used the borrowed silver to purchase wrought iron and timber from the merchants; we used the borrowed silver to pay military wages, and the soldiers in turn used that silver to buy goods from the common people. The silver has made a full circle and returned to the hands of the people of Fujian. How could we possibly be unable to borrow more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… Commander Huang, wait a moment. Allow this old man to think it through carefully.” Zhu Yifeng furrowed his brow and pondered for a while. Suddenly he clapped his hands. “Indeed! This old man had indeed been thinking about it the wrong way. Hmm, I have also heard that many of the relocated fishermen, having no land to farm, saved up the righteous-people silver given to them and bought Pacify-the-Seas Grand Loan bonds. Yes — if we have no silver left in our hands, that means the silver has all returned to their hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly so, my lord Zhu. As long as the common people trust the government for even a single day, as long as they are still willing to support us for even a single day, then we can rebuild our military readiness again and again — even if we fail a hundred times, it will be the same.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But let’s not have a hundred times — let’s not! How much silver would we have to borrow then!” Zhu Yifeng thought a moment longer and gave another bitter laugh. “But first we were defeated in battle, and then we were raided by surprise — defeat after defeat! Even if the common people have silver, would they still buy our bonds and invite bad luck?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is my lord Zhu suddenly speaking like a Legalist?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Legalists hold that the common folk are absolutely driven by profit and the avoidance of harm, and thus can be driven by pure reward and punishment. My lord is a man of the Confucian orthodoxy, a disciple of the sages — do you not believe in the power of moral transformation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moral transformation? Hmm… hmm… I hope it is as Commander Huang says.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Zhu Yifeng said this with his lips, inwardly he was quietly puzzled that Huang Shi seemed even more of a bookish fool than himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest difference between Confucianism and Legalism is that Confucianism believes a “great righteousness” exists in every person’s heart, akin to the vast noble spirit between Heaven and Earth. Thus Confucius disapproved of the thoroughgoing utilitarianism of the Legalist school. Confucius believed there is a way in this world to make people willing to sacrifice for “righteousness” — for example, people can voluntarily make sacrifices for the national interest, without necessarily having to use harsh laws and severe punishments to force the common folk to do so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after mulling it over, Zhu Yifeng felt that the moral education work in Fujian province was no stronger than in any other province. Getting the common people to “forsake profit and choose righteousness” was probably still rather unrealistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Funingzhen navy was once again heavily damaged, the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission resolved to issue a new, fourth batch of Pacify-the-Seas Grand Loan bonds. After reporting this disaster to the imperial court, Zhu Yifeng and Huang Shi also made a public announcement to all the people of Fujian. In the official gazette, the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission frankly acknowledged the crisis the Funing Army had once again encountered, and thus could only turn to the righteous gentry and righteous people of the entire province, beseeching them to open their purses and help the Funingzhen rebuild its navy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after the proclamation was issued, many merchants came to inquire when the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission would issue bonds again. These merchants alone intended to subscribe to several hundred thousand taels of silver in bonds, which greatly astonished Zhu Yifeng, for this time the merchants seemed even more eager than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew when it started, or who took the lead, but suddenly shops began hanging signs at their doors reading “Fourth Batch Pacify-the-Seas Bonds Accepted,” and this trend swept through the entire city of Quanzhou in an instant. As the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission’s gazette circulated, this phenomenon also appeared in great numbers across every part of Fujian province. Even small food stalls along the roads between towns announced one after another that customers could pay with the soon-to-be-issued fourth batch of Pacify-the-Seas Grand Loan bonds, or with Funingzhen silver coins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Funing Army units in various locations reported to Huang Shi that large numbers of relocated righteous people had expressed their willingness to accept the fourth batch of Pacify-the-Seas bonds as their righteous-people stipends. The merchants supplying goods to the Funing Army also notified the Funingzhen that half the payment for goods could be offset with bonds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The continuous stream of good news made it almost impossible for Zhu Yifeng to believe it was real, and he truly did not understand why this was happening. The fourth batch of the Pacify-the-Seas Grand Loan was another one million taels. The night before the sale, people from out of town rushed over to wait to purchase, and by nighttime a long queue had already formed outside the Provincial Administration Commission office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the window, Zhu Yifeng saw that there were elderly people in the queue as well, so he promptly ordered the government office runners to go out and erect wind-sheltering tents for the crowd. To prevent any disturbance, Zhu Yifeng personally walked out the main gate to supervise the runners’ work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Zhu Yifeng stepped out the main gate, the common people outside all burst into cheers in unison:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhu the Blue Sky!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhu the Blue Sky!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An old man queuing at the front gazed at Zhu Yifeng and bowed. Provincial Governor Zhu felt utterly bewildered, his mind a muddled haze. He walked over and personally helped the old man up. “Venerable elder, go sleep in the tent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Many thanks, Your Lordship the Blue Sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… this official does not deserve such a title.” Zhu Yifeng felt even more confused. As a Provincial Governor overseeing an entire province, he rarely adjudicated cases, and over the years he had not collected one bit less in customary fees from the common people. He had never had any reputation for incorruptibility, so he truly could not understand how the title “His Lordship the Blue Sky” had fallen upon his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with so many people at the gate calling him that, Zhu Yifeng decided he must get to the bottom of this. So he personally helped the old man into a tent off to the side, and at the same time probed into the origin of his title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Zhu the Blue Sky so modest, the people queuing to buy bonds grew excited. They clamored noisily, all speaking at once:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the past, when the flames of war spread, it was always the common people who suffered. When residents were relocated, there were many instances of oppression by corrupt officials. But since Lord Zhu arrived, not only did he buy the people’s houses at high prices, he also gave them sustenance silver, sparing every person from hunger and cold. This is something unprecedented through all the ages!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The government is exterminating the sea bandits to restore a clear and bright world for the people of Fujian. Though the government lacks silver, it shows compassion for the common people, not adding a single fen in taxes, borrowing money to suppress the bandits, and clearly stating it will pay interest…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter the circumstances, no matter how urgently the government needs silver, His Lordship the Blue Sky never deceives the public in the gazette. He treats people with sincerity, cheating neither the young nor the old…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since His Lordship the Blue Sky has such a heart that loves the people, we will certainly give our full support to the government!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With great difficulty, Zhu Yifeng and the government office runners settled the enthusiastic crowd. As he walked silently back into the government office office, Huang Shi had already rushed over upon hearing the news. Zhu Yifeng exchanged a quiet greeting with Huang Shi. After a long silence, he suddenly blurted out, “That Fujian province should have so many righteous people — I have never known it, nor have I ever heard of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is entirely the result of my lord Zhu’s moral transformation.” Huang Shi had just heard the story outside from a government office runner. He smiled as he looked at Zhu Yifeng, paused briefly, and added, “My lord Zhu is truly a great Confucian of our age!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhu Yifeng was stunned for a moment, then stared at Huang Shi for a while. Pensively, he asked, “Commander Huang must certainly have studied Confucianism as well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Shi answered honestly, “After the Battle of Guangning, this lowly general retreated toward Shanhai Pass together with the late Prefect of Guangning, Lord Gao. Along the way, Lord Gao gave this lowly general some guidance and also presented me with several books.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This old man has long savored Lord Gao’s fragrant reputation; it is a pity I never had the chance to meet him.” Zhu Yifeng raised his head to look at the moonlight and said thoughtfully, “Commander Huang, hmm, I wonder if Commander Huang is in the mood now, and would be willing to engage in a discussion with this old man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To receive instruction from my lord Zhu would be this lowly general’s greatest honor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fourth month of the second year of the Chongzhen reign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on the smooth issuance of yet another Pacify-the-Seas Grand Loan, the Funing Army once again rallied its forces. Countless cannons and ship planks flowed out in an endless stream from the Military Works Department. Yu Zigao had also returned to Xiapu with ten thousand naval officers and soldiers. All along the way, the Funing Army was constantly surrounded by the cheers of the people of Fujian: “The Funing Army — our own Fujian sons and brothers! Do a good job, don’t let your elders down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After returning to the Ningde naval base, the officers and soldiers immediately began intense drilling, ready at any moment to fight the sea bandits to the finish once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after several days of wild celebration, the sea bandits of the Min coast once again plunged into tremendous panic. Because before this campaign, in order to boost morale, Zheng Yiguan, Liu Xiangqi, and the others had sworn to their subordinates with absolute conviction that the government troops could not withstand another defeat — but judging by the current situation, even if they crushed the Funing Army a hundred more times, the Funing Army would simply be rebuilt a hundred and first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the fourth month, Zheng Yiguan once again requested amnesty. This time Zheng Yiguan did not demand an official post, only a special pardon and permission to keep all the ships in their possession, plus preferential treatment on commercial taxes. Naturally, it was once again rejected by the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission — though this time Zhu Yifeng did not strike anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time this news reached Zhongzuosuo, it was already the tenth day of the fourth month. Upon hearing it, large numbers of sea bandit underlings erupted in uproar, furiously denouncing the head chiefs Zheng Yiguan, Liu Xiangqi, and the others for \"deceiving the masses.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a bout of vigorous suppression, this storm was finally quelled — but the undercurrents still surged beneath the crowd. Physically and mentally exhausted, Liu Xiangqi walked to the shore of Xiamen Harbor, helplessly seeking to clear her mind. At present, Xiamen's links to the mainland were almost completely severed; the common people of Min province had spontaneously organized to support the authorities' maritime prohibition. Liu Xiangqi faced the sea and let out a baffled, furious shout: \"Clearly we won the battles — we've been winning all along — so how has morale fallen to such a state? How is it that not a single merchant or commoner in all of Min thinks well of us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>",2915,"2026-06-04T07:54:54.057Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","89a12e82a863c2a5b07a4fab21129d5a676b515bf491a86026886c94b9a679e1","stealing-ming-chapter-306","stealing-ming-chapter-304",323,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstealing-ming-cover.jpg"]