"Stand up!" The emperor sat up straight and ordered the palace servants to bring an embroidered cushion. "Please take a seat."
After thanking the emperor, the three ministers sat down on the embroidered cushion and remained silent for a moment. Bi Ziyan took the lead and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Governor-General of Luzon, Li Dan, has requested the establishment of a Bank of China branch to facilitate inter-regional remittances."
Over the years, Li Dan had done well in Luzon. According to the emperor's ideas, the reputation of the Luzon Free Port grew, and trade was very prosperous.
The annual tax revenue sent to the imperial court remained stable at around one million, which was largely invested in naval development, making the Ming navy unrivaled in Asia. Even compared to the Western Barbarians, the gap was rapidly narrowing.
The emperor reached out and pointed at the memorial on the table, saying, "I have read it. I order the Bank of China to send someone to investigate and verify it. If the conditions are met, a branch will be established."
Inter-regional remittances had long been established in the mainland, with Mekong Province being the first, but it wasn't considered an overseas branch. Luzon was the true overseas branch, though it might eventually come under the direct jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty.
Having set a precedent in Luzon, the emperor could foresee that the governors of Pontianak, Temasek, and other places would also make similar requests. After all, the convenience and speed of inter-regional remittances greatly promoted trade.
Of course, first of all, there must be strong financial resources, that is, a deposit. The Luzon Governor Li Dan proposed 10 million, and the emperor asked the Ministry of Revenue to negotiate, but he did not expect to make the final decision himself.
"Your Majesty," Tao Langxian bowed and said, "I have discussed with Lord Bi of the Supervisory Office the declaration of officials' property, and we can try it out first in the capital."
The emperor nodded, feeling even more confused. What kind of big deal was this? It was his own suggestion to try it out!
Seeing the emperor's gaze shift to him, Xiong Tingbi smiled bitterly and bowed, saying, "The Southwestern Tusi coalition will launch an offensive this year. I request that the court send artillery support. Furthermore, now that we have reached an agreement with the Portuguese, the navy can enter the Indian Ocean and dock at Portuguese strongholds first."
"Okay." The emperor said a simple word, glancing at the three ministers, waiting for them to tell him their true purpose.
Bi Ziyan and others exchanged glances, feeling very embarrassed and conflicted.
Finally, Bi Ziyan stood up and bowed, saying, "Long live the wise and mighty Emperor. His achievements surpass those of the Qin Emperor and Han Emperor. This is a blessing for our country, our ministers, and our people. We hope that our emperor will continue to govern the country diligently, so that our Ming Dynasty will prosper for thousands of years."
"We, your humble servants, hope that our emperor will continue to govern the country diligently, so that our Ming Dynasty will last for thousands of years and its prosperity will last forever." Tao Langxian and Xiong Tingbi also stood up and bowed, echoing each other.
The emperor lowered his eyes, a sudden realization dawning on him. The three ministers had come to him to advise him. Clearly, his recent performance had left them feeling he was being negligent.
Well, that makes sense. Compared to previous years, I have indeed been lazy, but it is definitely not what they think.
After understanding the minister's intention, the emperor pondered for a while, and the hall fell into silence. It was unclear whether it was the calm before the storm, or the calm was the suppression that erupted.
"My lords, please take your seats!" The emperor finally spoke in a gentle tone, which made the three important ministers who had bowed their heads feel a little relieved.
The emperor had carefully considered his words and spoke slowly, "It is true that I have not been as diligent in my duties this year as before, but this is not due to any negligence. There is a deeper meaning behind this, which you may not understand."
"Your Majesty's teachings are to be listened to respectfully." The three ministers bowed their heads and accepted the teachings.
The emperor waved his hand, signaling the palace servants to serve tea. This was already a high courtesy. After all, there were only three important ministers in the palace, so a slight breach of etiquette was not a big deal.
"Inheritance! I'm here for the inheritance of the Ming Empire." The emperor took a sip of water and said in a deep voice, "It's not about the country, but the model and the philosophy. A hundred years from now, I don't want the Ming Empire to fall back into its old ways after its demise."
"The Spring and Autumn Period is in its prime, so don't talk about ominous things lightly."
The emperor smiled, waved his hand at Bi Ziyan, the oldest of the group, and said, "What do you mean by 'Long live'? It's rare for a person to live to seventy. What's so auspicious about me saying 'he's still here'?"
Pressing his hand downward, the emperor continued, "I simply want to tell you three that this year's inaction is actually a sign of decentralization. The system is becoming increasingly refined, the officials are becoming increasingly competent, and the government affairs they handle are very much to my liking, or in other words, in line with the national policies I have formulated and implemented. This is very gratifying to me, so why should I personally handle everything?"
The emperor's voice echoed through the hall, stirring the hearts of his three ministers. "The rise and fall of the empire depends on the emperor's wisdom or stupidity. This is what I worry about most, and I am working hard to prevent it. No one can predict what my successor will be like. There are even those who are wise at first but foolish later, leading to the misfortune of the country and the people."
"Our national policy of expansion for the benefit of the people has taken shape, and the concept of pioneering and enterprising spirit has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Even if our Ming Empire declines, it will also rise again. I appear to be at ease, but I am actually observing and investigating, to ensure that each successive minister can understand my intentions and appreciate my heart..."
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