Chapter 773: Setting the Strategy

Li Shimin grew angrier as he spoke, shouting: "The Japanese are even more shameless—last time, two embassies arrived at the port, each vying to prove their tally-trade permit was genuine, and they fought right here in Quanzhou, looting our people and causing two Great Ming generals to die! If the tally-trade permit system worked, the Maritime Trade Office wouldn't be in its current state!"

"Then what do you propose? What do you propose?" Chen Xun pounded his chest and stamped his feet, weeping: "The Taizu edict forbade even a single plank from going to sea—now the fishermen along the coast are already in their third generation, but even after relocating, they still can't survive, still can't survive!"

Everyone fell silent.

Yang Pu sighed and called out to Cao Nai, Chen Xun, and Li Shimin: "Come into the Grand Secretariat."

The men followed Yang Pu into the inner chamber, while the other officials gathered outside the door, whispering and arguing.

Yang Pu pulled out a letter: "Chen Xun, was the Jiangnan Inspectorate Censor you just mentioned Xue Shao?"

After a pause, Chen Xun said: "Yes."

Yang Pu handed him the letter: "This is a letter Xue Xuan sent today—I think his proposal has merit."

Chen Xun took it, broke the seal, and Cao Nai boldly leaned his head over to read it too.

Xue Shao has an idea—it's not a great one, but it's damaging.

He suggests establishing five tiers of tribute returns based on the gifts given during Taizu's reign.

The types and quantities of state gifts are fixed; they can be matched according to each vassal state's conduct and tribute offerings.

No matter how many people each country's embassy brings, each tier specifies the exact number of allowed envoys—the court will only accommodate that number; any additional personnel must apply to enter the border like ordinary civilians.

Cao Nai read it and exclaimed: "This idea is good."

Chen Xun looked troubled: "It might damage the Great Ming's prestige—seems too stingy."

Cao Nai glared: "Where's it stingy? Taizu treated them with generous gifts, and now we're giving back items of equal kind but better quality—I think it's fine. Set the rules firmly, so they won't keep pushing for more."

Chen Xun: "It will shame the imperial family—Your Majesty may not agree."

Cao Nai muttered: "Pretending to be rich by puffing up your cheeks."

Yang Pu shot him a sharp look.

Cao Nai was his chosen successor, but he was always so stubborn, so quick-tempered—Yang Pu was always worried.

Chen Xun's temper flared too; he threw the letter at Cao Nai: "I think this idea's good too—go convince Your Majesty yourself."

He snorted: "Do you think I enjoy contradicting you? I'm giving you advance warning—right now I'm asking you, but when we reach court, it'll be Your Majesty and the others asking you—and they won't be as gentle as I am."

Yang Pu seized the opening: "We all support lifting the maritime ban—we must unify our stance. Wang Zhangyin raised this issue; I doubt it's impulsive. Don't be impulsive yourselves—switching from opposition to support one moment and back again the next."

Chen Xun fixed his gaze on Cao Nai.

Cao Nai felt the remark was aimed at him; he frowned, thought deeply, and realized Yang's chief advisor was right.

The Emperor clearly supports Wang Zhen's proposal—this may even be the Emperor's own idea.

Wang Zhen—the knife-eared one.

He's a double-edged blade; the Emperor uses him, but risks cutting himself.

Cao Nai sighed: "Chief Advisor Yang, what do you estimate the Emperor's chance of approving this?"

"The Emperor deeply despises the barbaric acts of the Wala and the Japanese—he will agree," Yang Pu paused, then added: "But watch out for Wang Zhen—he's grown too close to the Wala. Last time, when the Wala embassy committed offenses, it was Wang Zhen who pleaded for them."

Cao Nai suddenly remembered: "Wasn't there an Inspectorate Censor from Datong who submitted a memorial accusing border troops of colluding with the Wala to sell weapons? What's the status of that investigation?" Everyone fell silent.

Cao Nai: "... Why are you all staring at me? Isn't that memorial submitted to the Grand Secretariat?"

Zhang Yi: "Wang Zhangyin took it and handed it to the Censorate."

Cao Nai pressed: "Has it been investigated?"

Li Shimin snapped: "Investigated? Wang Zhen took the memorial—the matter's already been buried."

Cao Nai narrowed his eyes: "Wang Zhen's hand has reached the frontier garrisons—this case is the biggest opening! Why not use it?"

Chen Xun sighed: "We could mention it to pressure Wang Zhen into backing down, but to fully investigate this case would take over a year—our maritime policy can't wait."

Li Shimin was more direct: "Not even a year or two—three or five years might pass without resolution, and even if resolved, it'll be buried. The Xue Pan case took three years to clear, but what good did it do? Only Xue Xuan and Pan Hong were exonerated, the five Pan families restored—but only two culprits were punished, and Wang Zhen didn't lose a single hair."

Yang Pu: "At least Chen Fulin and Wang Shan have been executed—that's some comfort to the dead."

Li Shimin and Cao Nai both snorted coldly. Cao Nai suddenly realized: "Was the Datong Inspectorate Censor Pan Hong?"

Yang Pu nodded: "He's been recalled to Jingcheng—he's now Right Vice Director of the Court of Colonial Affairs."

Cao Nai frowned tightly: "Then this matter—"

"Pan Hong is upright—if we can retrieve his memorial, I believe he'll be willing to present the case in court."

Chen Xun lowered his head in thought, then said: "The New Year is approaching—the border troops' pay and winter clothing have already been distributed—I can plant a hint."

Yang Pu's gaze swept the room, finally settling on Li Shimin: "Pan Hong's eldest son, Pan Yue, is studying at the Imperial Academy…"

Li Shimin: "You're choosing well—Pan Hong has already angered Wang Zhen, and he's no longer a censor. If we ask him to impeach Wang Zhen again, he might…"

Yang Pu: "Pan Hong is Pan Yun's father."

Li Shimin immediately changed his tone: "Then we might try."

Pan Yun has done considerable service—not only did she present the silver mountain, though the silver mountain is overseas;

she also presented the port, though the port is overseas and requires our own personnel to manage;

more importantly, she collaborated with the Ministry of Public Works to mine silver and brought back two hundred thousand taels.

The Emperor is always soft-hearted and image-conscious—he won't harm Pan Hong, even if only out of regard for Pan Yun.

If not now, when?

The men discussed other matters in the Grand Secretariat, finally settling on a strategy: if the Emperor agrees to fixed tribute tiers, they will concede one step—allowing the Imperial Household to participate in silver mountain mining, while simultaneously fully lifting the maritime ban.

Establish Maritime Trade Offices in Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Fuzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, and Tianjinwei; permit civilian ships to sail the seas; and set annual fishing moratoriums for each sea region—outside these periods, fishermen may fish freely.

Do not force already relocated fishermen to return to the coast, nor compel them to abandon farming for fishing—the court will levy only a head tax annually, and impose no additional taxes for now.

Cao Nai added: "Regulate that all Japanese silver brought back must be divided between the Imperial Treasury and the State Treasury at a fixed ratio—the State Treasury must receive at least seventy percent!"

Seeing everyone silently stare at him, Cao Nai ground his teeth and amended: "Minimum is fifty percent."

Everyone finally looked away.

(End of Chapter)