Since that's the case, it naturally means that since many members of the imperial clan don't appreciate kindness, Zhu Yunying has no need to go out of his way to offer benefits; he's not that shameless.
Whether the bank can be successfully implemented and whether it can bring more vitality to the economy of the Ming Dynasty are questions that Zhu Yunying is somewhat apprehensive about, and he dares not say that everything will go perfectly.
However, as the emperor, Zhu Yunying should also show absolute confidence at this time. He knew that many people were watching him and wanted to see more clues from the emperor's state.
If Emperor Zhu Yunying always seemed worried or lacking confidence, it would be strange if his subordinates didn't panic.
When that time really comes, even those who initially had some confidence in the banks might all rush to withdraw their silver, potentially causing the banks to fail at the last hurdle.
Zhu Yunying was indeed very concerned about banks. The Ming Dynasty was naturally an agrarian civilization, and a certain degree of emphasis on agriculture and suppression of commerce was necessary. However, this didn't mean Zhu Yunying didn't want to see the Ming economy stagnant; he still hoped the Ming Dynasty would be as prosperous as the Song Dynasty.
Moreover, the introduction of banks was a bold attempt by Zhu Yunying. Although he accomplished much in the Ming Dynasty and brought about certain changes, this was not without its challenges.
However, this was the first time in history that a bank had actually appeared, which was quite different from some of Zhu Yunying's previous minor reforms.
Previous changes were at most minor improvements and filling gaps. But banks were different; this was the first thing to appear in the history of the Ming Dynasty, and even the first institution to appear in Chinese history.
The lack of readily available experience naturally meant greater risk. Even though Zhu Yunying believed he was well-prepared, there was still a certain risk of failure.
Regardless, having come this far, Zhu Yunying would certainly not back down. Even with certain risks, he needed to withstand the pressure and get the bank up and running.
It might not be considered a radical overhaul, but it was definitely a significant change, especially considering that Zhu Yunying had a series of other actions planned.
It's not quite a case of "one move affects the whole body," but while many things aren't exactly interconnected, they are certainly related to some extent. Zhu Yunying naturally didn't want this first shot to fail.
The pressure was real, and it wasn't just because Zhu Yunying was worried about failure. There were also dissenting voices within the court and among the people.
Don't be fooled by Old Zhu's previous intervention or the apparent authority he displayed when he sent Little Zhu. The point was that last time, everyone was deciding on the ownership of the Maritime Trade Office—which side would ultimately control this golden goose.
The existence of banks was seen by some scholars as the emperor neglecting the fundamentals and encouraging people to pursue commerce. This was clearly unacceptable; no matter how much one secretly desired gold and silver, one had to outwardly appear to disdain such wealth.
Moreover, throughout history, people have generally regarded agriculture as the foundation of society, but now Emperor Ying Shi of the Ming Dynasty seems to be giving those low-class merchants more convenience.
These matters are naturally seen as a fundamental misalignment by some. As a court official concerned for the country and its people, it is only natural that I need to offer my advice to His Majesty.
The advice and remonstrances did not surprise Zhu Yunying at all, and he listened patiently. As long as they were not too outrageous or arrogant, Zhu Yunying did not intend to punish any dissenting officials or stifle their opinions.
However, Zhu Yunying wouldn't be lenient with officials who were too outspoken or who sought to be honest and upright. No one could stop him from implementing new policies, and if anyone dared to become an obstacle, Zhu Yunying would definitely kick them aside without hesitation.
And so, amidst the cacophony, things about the banks became increasingly clear. State regulations emerged, and it was time to consider starting small-scale pilot programs.
The ports of Quanzhou, Songhu, and Tianjin were naturally to be included, as they were the locations of the Maritime Trade Office.
Yingtianfu, currently the capital of the emperor, and Beiping, which is slowly beginning to prosper, are also pilot areas for this program.
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