"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." The Thirteenth Prince bowed.
"No need for formalities. Thirteenth Brother, are you here to plead for Eighth Prince?" Yongzheng asked casually.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I just feel that Your Majesty now holds great power and the court is stable."
"Letting the myna go to sea allows it to stay away from the court while still making a name for itself; it's a smart move," the Thirteenth Prince said frankly.
Yongzheng didn't respond, but changed the subject: "Thirteenth Brother, this voyage is no small matter."
His fingertips traced the winding routes on the nautical chart.
"I have ordered the navy to intensify patrols along the waterway from Taicang Port to Changle Port, but pirates are rampant in the South Seas, so we must remain vigilant."
Yunxiang nodded: "Your Majesty's concerns are very valid. Your humble servant has consulted the old records of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean. Back then, the treasure ships were equipped with muskets, crossbows, and special warships for escort."
Our artillery is now far superior to what it used to be; if attacked by the enemy, we will certainly be able to cope.
Yongzheng nodded slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Not only should we defend, but we should also take the initiative to attack."
I have ordered the Ministry of Works to rush-produce thirty new cannons, with a range of up to three li, to be mounted on the main warship.
He paused, then added, "In addition, each ship is equipped with two hundred elite naval personnel, all lightly armored and carrying flintlock muskets."
Yunxiang's eyes revealed admiration: "Such equipment is enough to deter villains. However..."
He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Some people in the court are saying that this move is too costly and may cause hardship to the people and waste their resources."
Yongzheng sneered: "Short-sighted! Back then, Zheng He made seven voyages to the Western Seas and brought back all sorts of rare treasures and superior seeds from overseas. Were they not all beneficial to the country and its people?"
Now I am merely imitating the sages of the past, yet they have become so noisy.
Yongzheng then changed the subject: "However... with such a well-equipped navy, do you think... it can be handed over to the Eighth Prince?"
Yongzheng wanted to see how his thirteenth brother would handle the situation. He chuckled inwardly, marveling at Yun'er's intelligence, which had inadvertently solved his headache.
"This..." Thirteenth Prince Yunxiang couldn't think of a solution for a moment.
Emperor Yongzheng chuckled, no longer keeping him in suspense, and unfurled a scroll:
"The General Commander is in charge of military affairs, while commerce is coordinated by a special commissioner from the Ministry of Revenue, with a separate Inspectorate to report independently. Profits and losses are distributed according to shares, and all crew members are entitled to a share of the profits."
Yunxiang was stunned: "Isn't this...isn't this a business transaction?"
“Exactly.” Yongzheng glanced at him. “The court provides ships and cannons, and merchants bring goods as shares. If they make a profit, the national treasury will be full; if they lose money, it won’t hurt the foundation.”
Yunxiang clapped his hands: "Brilliant! Back then, Zheng He emptied the national treasury by simply throwing money away."
Fourth Brother's method both enhances national prestige and generates wealth!
Yongzheng nodded: "The most important thing is that they can check and balance each other, unless the Eighth Prince can buy off everyone."
But how could that be? Most of the people on the ship were his men.
Everyone's waiting for their dividends, so what can Lao Ba give them?
We'll see how things go then, and then make the next decision.
The Thirteenth Prince, Yunxiang, repeatedly exclaimed in admiration: "Your subject is utterly impressed. With this, there will be no more worries about the future."
Outside the window, the blazing sun cast a golden glow over the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Emperor Yongzheng rose and walked to the map, his finger sweeping southward from Taicang Port:
"This time, I will let the whole world know the might of the Great Qing!"
…………
The next day, Yongzheng summoned Wang Yueting, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, and said in a deep voice: "Minister Wang, you should secretly allocate a batch of imperial seeds to Taicang in Jiangnan. When the overseas mission returns, you should declare that these are superior seeds brought back from overseas."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yueting felt a huge weight lifted from his heart and immediately kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise! This method preserves the dignity of the imperial family and is readily accepted by the people; it is truly a win-win solution."
Emperor Yongzheng nodded slightly: "This matter must be handled with caution, and we must not let the news leak out."
Wang Yueting solemnly agreed: "Your subject will personally oversee the matter and ensure that there are absolutely no mistakes."
After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he wiped the sweat from his brow, let out a long sigh, and thought to himself, "The Emperor is indeed far-sighted. In this way, everyone in the court and the country is happy, and I can finally report back."
Another day later, Yongzheng announced the list of those going to sea in the court, which included the eighth and tenth princes.
Ninth Prince was overjoyed and went to tell Eighth Brother about it after court.
He arrived at the Imperial Clan Court, where the Eighth Prince was engrossed in reading. Upon seeing the Ninth Prince's visit, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he immediately rose to greet him.
"Eighth Brother," Ninth Master said with a cupped-hands smile, "your little brother has brought you good news."
Eighth Master's expression shifted slightly: "Ninth Brother, please speak."
"Fourth Brother has approved it. You'll be going with the naval mission." Ninth Master lowered his voice. "This is a good opportunity to redeem yourself."
Eighth Master was stunned. After a moment, he solemnly bowed deeply to Ninth Master: "Ninth Brother, thank you for your help. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have wasted my whole life here."
Ninth Master quickly helped him up: "Eighth Brother, there's no need for this. Fourth Brother is still kind-hearted. You must seize this opportunity and not go down the wrong path again."
Eighth Master smiled wryly, his eyes showing more composure: "Ninth Brother, rest assured, I have thought it through and seen through many things. This time at sea, I will do my best and live up to Fourth Brother's kindness."
Fourth Brother must have been absolutely certain of victory, otherwise why would he have released him?
Enough of that. Let's give up on that idea and just focus on serving the court properly.
It must be said that Master Ba's ability to read people's minds is unparalleled.
Ninth Master patted his shoulder: "That's good. Your brother is waiting for your triumphant return."
Eighth Master nodded and looked out the window; the daylight was just right.
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