The ministers were all fired up, citing classics and scriptures to support their views. However, they were basically divided into two factions. One faction believed that the maritime ban should be lifted, the Maritime Customs Office should be opened, and maritime trade should be reopened. They were in the minority. The other faction believed that the ancestral law could not be changed and the maritime ban should be strictly enforced. They were in the majority.
"Your Highness Yang Tinghe has something to report."
"Whether it's the Japanese pirates or the Nine Border Rebellions in our dynasty today, the root cause is ultimately related to the word 'money'. Without money, the border troops are short of food and supplies, unable to resist the Mongol Altan. Without money, coastal armaments are stretched, unable to crush the Japanese pirates. Without money, we can't provide relief during natural disasters like floods, droughts, and locusts. If our dynasty had abundant money and grain, the border invasions and other minor problems would be minor. Under the leadership of His Majesty, the King of Song, we could achieve peace and prosperity."
As expected of the cabinet's chief minister, he received the exam papers in advance and made sufficient preparations. Indeed, without money, nothing can be done.
After Yang Tinghe's speech, no one else spoke. Zhao Huan stood up from the throne, looked at the courtiers below, and said, "Everyone has a point. I will also speak next."
"I've read the history books and have never heard of the term 'Japanese pirates' in any dynasty since before the Song Dynasty. Why did it appear in the Song Dynasty?"
"What's the situation in Japan? Why are there so many ronin and samurai roaming the sea? The Ministry of Rites is in charge of Song Dynasty's foreign affairs. Does it know anything about Japan?"
"Zhang Cong is absolutely right about one thing. Less than one-tenth of the pirates were Japanese. They were simply people from the southern coastal areas who gathered together for profit. Why weren't there pirates when Zheng He sailed to the West? When the market is open, pirates turn into merchants. When the market is closed, merchants turn into pirates. How can you say there wasn't an influence?"
"The laws of our ancestors cannot be changed, so why is there no prime minister in our dynasty?"
"Has anyone ever considered why the Japanese pirates always landed in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas? That's because the coastal areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang are silty and shallow, making large ships unable to navigate. Has the Ministry of Works considered building some small boats with shallow drafts, so that the large ships can blockade the enemy at sea while the small boats pursue them near the coast? Wouldn't that way we wouldn't be helpless every time?"
"And what about the coastal defense forces preparing for the Japanese invasion? They always say, 'Know yourself and your enemy, and you'll never be defeated in a hundred battles.' Have you done that?"
"I say this not to hold anyone responsible, but to remind you all: no matter what you do, think more about why."
"Today's discussion on the Japanese pirates ends here. All the ministers should think carefully about this and write a memorial when you have thought it through."
"Resign!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
