Chapter 1555: Generals and Marshals Enter the Cabinet

"Benefits? I didn't hear much about any benefits in all that you just said?" After venting for a while, Zhou Xuezhi's attitude softened somewhat. "Director Kong, you are the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Cabinet, not a Tiger Guard in the army. If you think everything should be solved by the sword, then what are the rest of us supposed to do? Should we just let the military handle everything and simply shut down the Ministry of Commerce and the Foreign Affairs Department? For one thing, no matter how we help the Dutch, we will truly be falling out with the Spanish. When the time comes and the Spanish stop bringing silver from the Americas, what then? Do we send the navy over to occupy the Americas as well?"

Zhou Xuezhi's words were reasonable and well-founded, and subtly touched upon the civil-military conflict, immediately leaving Kong Zhang somewhat at a loss for words. Indeed, as a cabinet official, he also knew that the court was at a critical juncture in reforming the currency system, requiring massive imports of gold and silver every year. Spain, which held the Americas, was the largest source of silver imports for the Great Han. Every year, the Spanish shipped vast amounts of silver from the Americas to Luzon, then used it to trade with the Great Han, exchanging it for boatload after boatload of silk and porcelain to resell in Europe. The importance of this trade route to China was self-evident.

"Minister of Commerce, none of us ever intended to break with the Spanish and cut off the silver supply over this…" Kong Zhang had to soften his tone as well. "We merely want to teach the Spanish a lesson, to make them understand that the children of Huaxia are not to be bullied, and incidentally to further secure our maritime superiority. The Spanish are greedy by nature and need our goods. Even if they sever trade ties in a fit of rage, it won't lead to a permanent break. They will soon accept reality and seek peace with our court, and trade will continue as before."

"Is there any basis for this claim?" Before Marquis of Shangdang Zhou Xuezhi could question it, Chancellor Wang Zhaojing suddenly spoke up.

The Chancellor's sudden question startled Kong Zhang, but he quickly regained his composure. "Replying to the Chancellor, there is indeed a basis for this claim. As you surely know, in the present-day Western Ocean, the nations of Europe are like a multitude of feudal lords, constantly fighting amongst themselves without a single day of ceasefire, much like… much like the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period of Huaxia many years ago."

"That analogy is somewhat interesting, but it is also apt." The Chancellor nodded in agreement.

"The Chancellor naturally also knows that during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, the diplomacy of the various states was never constant. Today they would fight bitterly over some land and population, like sworn enemies with irreconcilable hatred, and tomorrow they would suddenly reconcile over shared interests, as if the previous war had never happened."

"That is also not wrong." The Chancellor nodded in agreement once more.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period, the various states indeed split and reunited, warring incessantly. Qi and Chu, Qin and Chu, and the Three Jins had periods of peace and periods of war many times over. These historical anecdotes were, of course, very clear to the well-read Chancellor. "You mean to say that the nations of Europe are just like those of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period—they fight when they fight, but they don't hold grudges. Even if we become their enemy, they won't fight us to the bitter end, but will instead be quite willing to negotiate peace?"

"That is precisely my meaning." Kong Zhang immediately replied. "These barbarians are the most inconstant, with only profit in their eyes. Therefore, we need not judge them by the great principles of ****, but simply assume the worst of them. Spain is currently a major power in Europe, but it also has many enemies around it. These enemies are now uniting against them, and the war is raging fiercely. How would they have the leisure to hold a grudge against us? Moreover, while we need the silver the Spanish bring, the Spanish need our goods even more. They will not fight us to the death forever. As long as we give them a way out, they will bow their heads. Therefore, in the view of our Foreign Affairs Department, we can fully assist the Dutch in beating the Spanish until they can barely survive, then force them to accept our terms, bow and seek peace, and then continue trading with them."

"…Are you certain?" The Chancellor furrowed his brow and looked at Kong Zhang probingly.

Clearly, hearing of such an ideal outcome, he was already tempted.

"I cannot claim one hundred percent certainty, but sixty or seventy percent is definite." Kong Zhang's face was full of assurance, as if he were very confident in his idea. "We have already assessed that as long as we act properly and leave the Spanish no room for stalling, they will cut their losses like a warrior severing his own arm and accept the fait accompli we create. After all, Europe is the fundamental and vital ground for the Spanish. To preserve their foundation, they will not fight a desperate war against our court."

"The outcome the Director describes is indeed the best, but will the Spanish simply act as we think they will?" Seeing the Chancellor leaning somewhat towards Kong Zhang's argument, the Minister of Commerce could not help but interject. "What if the Spanish do not act that way? Wouldn't all our schemes come to nothing?"

"Aren't we already fighting Japan? Once we conquer Japan, we won't need to beg the Spanish. If they cut off trade for a few years, we'll just make up for it from the Japanese." This time it was not Kong Zhang who answered, but the Chancellor himself.

"Chancellor…" Zhou Xuezhi was somewhat taken aback.

He was not surprised that the Chancellor did not accept his opinion, but rather that the Chancellor's words indicated his prior inclination was towards Kong Zhang's view. Did that mean all the arguments he had just made had instead displeased the Chancellor?

"Japan is rich in gold and silver. As long as we subjugate Japan, we should be able to obtain enough gold and silver to meet the court's needs. It's merely a question of whether we exploit them more harshly or more leniently." The Chancellor's expression was very calm; he had clearly made up his mind during the two ministers' debate just now. "If the Spanish are sensible, it will be easy. If they are not, we will still manage. So, it is they who need us, not we who need them."

"But… but…" Zhou Xuezhi wanted to say something more, but was cut off by a gesture from the Chancellor.

"The Minister of Commerce's considerations cannot be said to be wrong. State affairs are not a contest of pride, and even less can they be handled recklessly. However… we also cannot consider only profit and ignore the greater cause. You just said that the grudges of the previous dynasty have nothing to do with the new dynasty. Such words are fine to say in private within the cabinet, but if they were to spread, how much would they wound people's hearts? Marquis of Shangdang, I am not reprimanding you. You are also working for the state, just from a different starting point." The Chancellor waved his hand again, signaling Zhou Xuezhi not to defend himself. "But you are the Minister of Commerce, and I am the Chancellor. I cannot consider problems purely from the perspective of commercial interests, at the very least I cannot let the people of the realm think that is what we are doing. You know the current situation in the realm. The Great Ming has fallen, and the Great Han has secured the realm, but it has only been a few years. The people's hearts have not yet adjusted; they always feel that the Emperor and Cabinet of the Great Han are neither fish nor fowl. Think about it: if we raise the banner of avenging the children of Huaxia and strike at the Spanish, what a tremendous inspiration that would be for the people's morale! At that time, they will feel that our court is the one that truly cares for all the people of Huaxia!"

These words caused both court officials to change color simultaneously. Private cabinet meetings had always been without taboos, but to openly discuss the rights and wrongs of the Great Han court—these were probably words only the Chancellor dared to speak.

However, the Chancellor's meaning was clear. With the new dynasty just established, he wanted to use a war against Spain, fought under the banner of avenging the children of Huaxia, to further win the people's hearts for the new dynasty and consolidate its authority. In other words, his idea was even more radical than Kong Zhang's; he wanted to directly participate in the war against the Spanish.

"The Chancellor is absolutely right! Our court is the public instrument of the state and cannot act purely from commercial considerations in everything. Commerce is certainly important, but if we only consider commercial interests, we might as well just go and be rich old men!" Kong Zhang immediately echoed the Chancellor's words, looking utterly elated.

His display naturally displeased Zhou Xuezhi somewhat, but with the Chancellor having spoken, the weight of his words was naturally different from Kong Zhang's, and he could not openly oppose.

"Our court is currently occupied with the Japanese campaign; I fear it would be difficult to extricate ourselves, wouldn't it?" He expressed his objection in a roundabout way, conveniently giving himself a way out.

"No matter. Japan has a vast coastline but no navy. Dealing with their scrap metal won't require the navy to be unable to redeploy its forces. Once the army is transported to Japan, most of the warships can be transferred away." The Chancellor shook his head. "Besides, the Dutch are only here to communicate with us now; they aren't asking us to go to war immediately. There is still time."

In other words, once Japan is finished, we immediately turn around and move against the Spanish?

"Isn't this a bit too hasty? With beacons of war everywhere, the people also need rest…"

"In war, there are profitable ventures and loss-making ones. If we exhaust the entire nation's strength to attack on all fronts, that is naturally a loss. But if each time we only act within our means, appropriately deploy military force, and can obtain sufficient compensation, then it is profitable. As the Minister of Commerce, you are in the business of commerce, so you naturally know that one would rather not do a single loss-making deal, but would wish to do profitable deals from morning till night, right?" The Chancellor rarely joked with the Minister of Commerce, clearly in a very good mood. "Fighting Japan is a profitable deal. As long as we can dig out their gold and silver, this bit of military expenditure is nothing. Fighting Spain… if done well, is also profitable. I have heard that the Spanish have vast stores of silver in Luzon, along with large plantations. These are all wealth that can greatly meet the court's needs."

Then, the smile on his face grew even thicker, tinged with an indescribable meaning. "Besides, in fighting Japan, the army takes the leading role. Once that is done, it should be time to let the navy take the leading role."

…

Zhou Xuezhi and Kong Zhang looked at each other, both falling silent for a moment. They both sensed that the Chancellor's words carried profound implications and touched upon the extremely sensitive civil-military issue.

The Chancellor unhurriedly took another sip of tea, then gently exhaled. "I'm afraid you two don't yet know: a few days ago, when I had an audience with His Majesty, His Majesty told me that he has decided that henceforth, high-ranking army and navy officers shall become members of the Cabinet."