Chapter 1554: Adapting to the Present Being the Great Han, Not the Great Ming

The ruler of a nation must handle a vast and complex array of affairs daily; it is impossible to read every memorial from the central and local governments. The former Ming dynasty managed to cope by establishing the Directorate of Ceremonial to assist the sovereign in state matters. However, the new dynasty has abolished eunuchs and drastically reduced the scale of the palace. The Confidential Secretariat beside the emperor can only receive and sign for memorials, not review them on the emperor's behalf. To reduce the drain on energy, after several years of adjustment, the central government of the new dynasty has formed a convention: routine official documents are reviewed and issued directly by the Cabinet, while important affairs are summarized by the Cabinet into brief documents delivered to the emperor, usually with the Cabinet's recommendations attached to speed up the processing of affairs.

The Dutch proposal to borrow troops involved military matters, a major affair that only the emperor could decide, so the Cabinet also had to report it upward. To accelerate the process and make a recommendation as soon as possible, the Chancellor had no choice but to convene two ministers to discuss it together.

After stating the topic, the Chancellor wasted no further time and looked directly at Kong Zhang. "Director Kong, the Dutch matter is ultimately a foreign affair and should be your responsibility. Have you and the officials of the Foreign Affairs Department reached any conclusions in your discussions?"

"Chancellor, we only received the report the day before yesterday and immediately reported it that same day, so the time left for us has been rather rushed, and it may be difficult to make a fully considered judgment for the moment." After laying this groundwork for himself, Kong Zhang presented the opinions of the several Foreign Affairs Department officials he had consulted. "However, in our view, the struggle between the Spanish and the Dutch is nothing more than Westerners biting each other like dogs. Whoever wins or loses would not fundamentally affect the interests of our dynasty. After all, no matter who it is, they will still have to seek trade with our dynasty..."

As he spoke, Kong Zhang carefully observed the Chancellor's attitude.

The Chancellor remained noncommittal, his expression very calm, merely picking up the teacup beside him to take a sip of tea. But Kong Zhang knew, from this habitual gesture, that the Chancellor was not very satisfied with his answer. Thus, he became even more resolute in his earlier determination and immediately shifted his tone. "However... the South Sea borders our dynasty's maritime frontier and is a vital artery for trade routes. If our dynasty simply stands by with folded arms, that would be unjustifiable. We feel this might be an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the Westerners' internal strife, supporting one faction to suppress another. This would not only strengthen our dynasty's control over the maritime frontier but even... even allow us to gain some territorial footholds in the outer seas, who knows... In short, this is a good opportunity and should not be easily let go."

"So, Director, your meaning is to agree to the Dutch proposal and get involved?" The Chancellor remained impassive.

"After deliberation within my department, it is indeed feasible to do so." Kong Zhang nodded, but to leave himself some leeway, he added an explanation. "However... getting involved does not necessarily mean actually going to war against the Spanish alongside the Dutch. The degree of involvement can be decided later; it could be overt assistance or covert aid. In short... we believe we should not stand by with folded arms."

He was now a direct subordinate of the Chancellor and was wholeheartedly seeking to transform the Foreign Affairs Department into a full Foreign Affairs Ministry, becoming a true Cabinet minister himself. Therefore, he needed to consider two points above all in his actions: first, to please the Chancellor and follow his intentions; second, to demonstrate the importance of the Foreign Affairs Department, providing a solid justification for its elevation in status.

The struggle between the Spanish and the Dutch truly would not affect the interests of the Great Han. But now that the Dutch had come begging at their door, if they remained mediocre and inactive when an opportunity presented itself, that would run counter to their purpose and certainly would not win the favor of the Chancellor or His Majesty.

Therefore, after deliberation with the officials in the department specifically responsible for Western affairs, they ultimately reached the conclusion that intervention was necessary.

"I understand your meaning." The Chancellor set down his teacup, then looked at Commerce Minister Zhou Xuezhi, who had remained silent all along. "Minister Zhou, what is your opinion?"

"Chancellor, I feel it is better to be somewhat more prudent." Zhou Xuezhi unhurriedly voiced his view. "At present, the Westerners are locked in chaotic warfare, slaughtering each other, and have yet to determine a victor. Since the outcome is undecided, why should our dynasty get involved? Their fundamental base of power is in the West, not here. If our dynasty aids the Dutch, and then Spain wins in the West, wouldn't all our previous efforts be wasted? Furthermore, compared to Luzon, which the Spanish occupy, I believe trade with the Westerners is far more important to our dynasty, especially the gold and silver in Spanish hands, which is absolutely crucial to us. If our dynasty remains neutral, no matter how fiercely the Westerners fight among themselves, they must still trade with us and ship gold and silver over. If our dynasty gets involved, regardless of whether the Dutch win or lose in the Eastern or Southern Seas, the flow of silver from the Americas will certainly be cut off for a time... Perhaps the Dutch would give our dynasty some compensation after the war, but how could that compare to the silver lost? Besides, if our dynasty helps the Dutch win this war, then on the future trade routes to the West, the Dutch would hold a monopoly. That probably would not be a good thing either..."

Zhou Xuezhi was the Commerce Minister, and in his daily work, he had always been dedicated to developing commerce and expanding the dynasty's sources of revenue, thus he valued commercial stability above all. In his view, the Westerners' internal strife was nothing but dogs biting dogs, unrelated to China's interests. If they got involved in the Westerners' internal conflict, it would greatly affect China's commercial interests and, even more likely, turn the Netherlands into the sole maritime merchant monopolizing East-West trade. Better to do nothing.

Seeing his opinion directly overturned, Kong Zhang shifted uneasily. Yet the Chancellor remained noncommittal, merely drinking his tea, seemingly intending to let him debate with the Commerce Minister before making a decision.

"Speaking entirely from a commercial standpoint, Minister Zhou truly can be called pragmatic and dutiful..." He first smiled, intending to get on the Commerce Minister's good side.

"As I hold the post of Commerce Minister, it is only natural that I speak from a commercial perspective and consider the dynasty's commerce." Zhou Xuezhi, however, was completely solemn, as if unwilling to be swayed. "Sticking to the facts, considering the dynasty's commercial interests, there is truly no need to get involved. The Dutch proposal should simply be rejected outright. Besides, the Dutch themselves have not yet reached a unified internal opinion; instead, they sent word ahead through Nagasaki. Given that, why should our dynasty get involved?"

Kong Zhang was a Director, while he was a Minister; in his view, their statuses were not equal. Moreover, he was an old subordinate who had risen with His Majesty from the very beginning and had no need to get overly familiar with a Director who had only joined the Zhao Camp midway.

Sensing that faint sense of rejection from the other party, Kong Zhang also grew somewhat displeased. "The Minister considers the nation's commerce, but I, Kong Zhang, unworthily occupying the Foreign Affairs Department, must also consider the dynasty's foreign affairs interests. The Dutch are currently the largest customers of our dynasty's foreign trade and have never had direct conflicts with us. They come requesting our help because they trust our dynasty's strength and sincerity. If we easily refuse, wouldn't that damage the tacit understanding between the two sides?"

"As Commerce Minister, I have personally presided over the trade between the two sides and have never heard of any tacit understanding with the Dutch." Zhou Xuezhi still gave Kong Zhang no face. "Indeed, the Dutch now sell us spices and timber, and help transport Western artisans and machinery for us, but others can do these things; it is not as if we must rely on the Dutch. Nor do the Dutch trade with us out of affection; it is for profit. How does it follow that we must take orders from the Dutch? There is no such principle."

"Minister Zhou, I never said we must take orders from the Dutch." Kong Zhang grew increasingly displeased, his expression darkening. "As a foreign affairs official of the Great Han, what I naturally think about is how to expand the Great Han's influence and territory!"

"No one doubts Director Kong's earnest loyalty, of course, but matters have their priorities and urgencies. There is no need to rush about setting fires everywhere with the Westerners right now, is there?" Zhou Xuezhi remained calm and composed. "Especially helping Westerners fight other Westerners."

"Although they are all called Westerners, there are still differences. The Dutch are cunning and sly, but what they seek is merely trade and profit. The Spanish, however, are ferocious, cruel, and vicious wolves. Minister Zhou, do not forget that it was the Spanish entrenched there who repeatedly massacred the subjects of the Great Han in Luzon. Tens of thousands perished over time. The former Ming court was fatuous and ignored it. Can our dynasty also ignore it?"

"You..." Zhou Xuezhi had not expected Kong Zhang to use this topic to corner him, and his brow furrowed. "Minister Kong, one matter at a time. The Spanish massacre of Great Han subjects back then was certainly an atrocious crime, but that was, after all, many years ago. If blame is to be assigned, blame the former Ming's accumulated weakness, which allowed the Spanish to act without scruple. Now it is different. Our dynasty's national power is flourishing, enough to intimidate and suppress the Spanish. We have threatened them with trade, and they have already guaranteed several times that they will never do such a thing again. So let us not keep bringing up the past. Director Kong, do not use the grand title of 'Great Han subjects' to pressure people, forcing everyone to follow only your opinion! It is easy to say 'avenge the Great Han subjects'; you can't lose by saying that. But how can worldly affairs be so simple? If we only think of revenge, seeking vengeance here and there, will there ever be peace under heaven?"

Because of Kong Zhang's words, his tone grew heavier and heavier, carrying a faint hint of reproach.

"Minister Zhou, those words are somewhat harsh!" Kong Zhang did not back down either. "I never said we must attack the Spanish solely for revenge. My point is simply that the Spanish have the ambitions of wolves and are inherently cruel by nature. Compared to ordinary Westerners, they are far more ruthless. Although the Portuguese and Dutch are also deceitful, they at least hold some respect for our dynasty. These Spanish truly need to be taught a lesson several times. I am extremely in favor of helping the Dutch deal with the Spanish. If we can drive all these Spanish out of Luzon, or even the entire outer seas, not to mention avenging the subjects who died before, it would also bring many benefits to our dynasty."

"Heavenly Dynasty" is actually a blocked term; what a baffling display of subservience.