The ministers reacted differently upon hearing Bi Ziyan's words.
Most of the fifth and sixth-rank officials in the capital were overjoyed.
"Now that the imperial court has money, they shouldn't stop paying our salaries anymore, right?"
"That's really good news."
However, some people looked displeased.
"This silver can't just appear out of thin air. If the imperial court has more silver, then the common people will have less silver."
"Isn't this just competing with the people for profit?"
But the "people" in their hearts are probably not the ordinary people.
In the past, they would have stood up and criticized the emperor long ago.
But now no one dares to speak up.
After all, the lessons learned from the Donglin Party and the gentry of Jiangnan are still there.
As for Zhu Youjian, he was also somewhat surprised.
"Oh? It's only been a little over six months since the fishing season opened, and it's already had such great effects?"
Bi Ziyan nodded and said, "Your subject dares not speak presumptuously."
"This year alone, the imperial court will collect at least three million taels of silver more from the Maritime Trade Office."
Zhu Youjian nodded slightly after hearing this, his mind racing.
Although the idea of opening up the sea was proposed by Gao Qingyun, he also strongly agreed with it.
But in his view, it would take at least two or three years to profit from maritime trade.
"It's a pity that my brother and grandfather didn't think of this."
"Otherwise, how could the Jurchens have grown so powerful?"
After a moment of reflection, Zhu Youjian said to Bi Ziyan, "I understand what you mean. You may leave now."
Then Zhu Youjian looked at the other ministers.
"My esteemed ministers, what are your thoughts?"
"Does this also mean that the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue advise me to stop while I'm ahead?"
After a period of discussion, the ministers all nodded in agreement.
"Your Majesty, we think so too."
"Although the Jurchens have suffered repeated defeats in the past year or so, they are not so easy to deal with. We should indeed proceed cautiously."
Some people even offered direct suggestions.
"The Beijing garrison has only been training for a little over half a year and is not yet considered an elite force. It would be better to let them settle down and cultivate land there after they capture Guangning, and train there as well."
"In this way, in two or three years, the local area of western Liaoning will be able to supply the Beijing garrison, and there will be no need to transport grain from within the Great Wall."
"When the imperial court sends troops to attack Liaodong, there will be a 100% chance of victory!"
Zhu Youjian instinctively wanted to nod in agreement, after all, this suggestion was indeed a wise and prudent one for governing the country.
But before he could say it, he remembered something.
"Master Gao once told me that if you don't have the skills, you should do less micro-operations."
"I have never actually led troops into battle, and most of my ministers have done the same."
"If I listen to them and force the soldiers at the front to stop while they're ahead, and we miss a crucial opportunity, it will be too late for regrets!"
Zhu Youjian made up his mind.
"But I have a different opinion!"
Upon hearing this, the assembled officials all looked up in bewilderment.
"Your Majesty, what do you want to say?"
Zhu Youjian quickly replied, "Since I have already ordered Li Ruolian and Qin Liangyu to send troops to Liaodong, then I will not use those I doubt, and I will not doubt those I use."
"They should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding the situation on the front lines."
"I cannot remain high above the throne and remotely control the front lines, micromanaging them!"
The term "micro-management" is something none of you ministers have ever heard of.
But the word was very intuitive, and they understood its meaning after a little thought.
The minister who had just made the suggestion quickly shook his head and said:
"Your Majesty, how can this be called micro-management?"
"Since ancient times, there has been a saying that generals in the field may disobey orders."
"But if we really let the generals act on their own, it won't be good for the court!"
But Zhu Youjian had already made up his mind.
"My dear ministers, there is no need for further words."
"I will issue an edict immediately, allowing Li Ruolian and Qin Liangyu to make their own decision."
"Whatever decision they make, I will support it!"
After hearing this, the courtiers dared not offer any further advice.
But deep down, they all felt a sense of helplessness.
"The emperor trusts them!"
"But... are they trustworthy?"
After the court session ended, the officials gathered together.
“The Jurchens are not easy to deal with. Li Ruolian previously took advantage of the Jurchens’ underestimation of him and stole two victories.”
"But once the Jurchens get serious, I'm afraid he'll suffer a great loss!"
"The Battle of Guangning may still be subject to change."
Zhou Yanru watched the other ministers whispering among themselves, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
"These people are really stupid."
"They can't even understand something this simple!"
After this period of time, Zhou Yanru regained some supporters in the imperial court.
Although he cannot be compared with the Donglin Party of the past, he at least had someone he could use.
Several third-rank officials stood behind Zhou Yanru and cautiously asked, "Sir, what makes you say that?"
Zhou Yanru said calmly, "Don't you understand either?"
"Tell me, since our emperor ascended the throne, is there anything he hasn't been able to accomplish?"
The officials were taken aback for a moment, then shook their heads in unison: "His Majesty seems to have never failed."
Zhou Yanru nodded and said:
"If that's the case, how could the imperial court possibly be defeated this time?"
The logic behind this statement was somewhat far-fetched, and the officials were clearly not convinced.
I just felt that Zhou Yanru was flattering him again.
"Even the emperor can't hear it, so why is he working so hard?"
"No wonder the Donglin Party collapsed, but Zhou Yanru was not implicated at all, and instead rose rapidly in rank."
"His flattery skills are truly amazing!"
Zhou Yanru glanced at them and immediately saw through their thoughts.
He sneered inwardly:
"These people still don't understand how powerful His Majesty is!"
Although Zhou Yanru is not as good as Li Ruolian and Wang Chengen.
They were far inferior to Gao Qingyun's students, such as Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong.
But now, he can be considered half of Zhu Youjian's confidants.
He had frequent contact with the emperor.
The more he interacted with the emperor, the more alarmed he became.
"Your Majesty is definitely not simple. That Master Gao is probably able to know three hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future."
"Under Master Gao's tutelage, our emperor is becoming more and more powerful."
"How could a mere Jurchen be a match for him?"
Thinking of this, Zhou Yanru felt a sense of pride.
"Heh, how could you ministers possibly know the emperor's capabilities?"
He put his hands behind his back, smiled, and walked away.
On the other hand, after leaving the court, Zhu Youjian felt that his decision was absolutely correct.
He strode to Taiye Pond and presented himself to Gao Qingyun to claim credit.
"Haha, Master Gao, this time I trusted the people I hired, didn't I have a lot of... a lot of the demeanor of a village chief?"
Gao Qingyun smiled and nodded: "Xiao Zhu, you have indeed matured a lot recently."
Hearing Gao Qingyun praise him, Zhu Youjian's face was full of smiles.
"Even Master Gao said that about me, so it seems I've really improved!"
As he laughed, Zhu Youjian remembered what Bi Ziyan had said.
He asked, "Master Gao, tell me, why didn't anyone in the Ming Dynasty think of opening up the seas?"
Gao Qingyun burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"Xiao Zhu, you're wrong about that."
"Don't think that people in ancient times were dumber than people in modern times."
"In fact, during the Wanli era, he did indeed take action against the Jiangnan region, but the eunuchs and civil officials he sent to Jiangnan were all rejected by the local gentry."
"They even staged a farce of resisting taxes."
Gao Qingyun spread her hands:
"Emperor Wanli was unable to collect the salt and mining taxes that should have been collected."
"Even if some discerning people say that we should open up the sea, it definitely won't work!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian immediately understood.
His predecessors had also considered expanding their sources of revenue.
However, they simply couldn't deal with the gentry of Jiangnan.
The reason they dared not touch the gentry of Jiangnan was simply because they lacked reliable troops.
"Master Gao was right when he said that: without a gun, you have nothing!"
Zhu Youjian sighed again.
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