Chapter 772
Our own people split into two factions
Chapter 772 Our own people split into two factions
Pan Yun thoughtfully rolled up the letter exactly as it was and put it into the bamboo joint. She carefully used a knife to seal the opening with red clay, making it look exactly the same as before. Then she tied the bamboo joint to the pigeon's leg and released it.
Cao Jixiang brought the silver back to the Maritime Trade Office. Those with some inside information knew that the cart was loaded with silver, so they secretly observed the number of carts and boxes on them, and then roughly calculated how much silver there was based on the wheel tracks.
Hmm, this isn't difficult.
Wang Cong was clever; he must have performed very well to make them think he could be won over and cultivated.
Then they wouldn't be part of the Sun family, since Wang Congran was referring to the sulfur business.
Pan Yun cracked his knuckles. The wolf was probably a pirate they had captured, but who was the rat?
Pan Jun stood there for a while, but couldn't think of anything, so he decided to put it aside and go back to the city.
When she returned to the room, Pan Xiaohei was already back, lying on the headboard. He raised his head when he heard the noise and stared at her with his dark eyes.
Pan Jun sensed a hint of resentment in its gaze, so she stepped forward, picked it up, and asked softly, "Have you finished watching people? I've just finished too, and I had a good haul. How about you?"
Pan Xiaohei knew that if he shared his thoughts, she would have much more to say.
As for reasoning, it could never win against her, so it snorted to itself and then honestly told her about the people it had been keeping an eye on.
Pan Jun hugged it and stroked it, seemingly lost in thought: "In that case, we can ask Prefect Lu to investigate that sulfur merchant."
Pan Xiaohei asked in confusion, "Why not invite Cao Jixiang? Aren't you two in cahoots?"
Pan Jun looked down at it, flicked its forehead, and chuckled, "How could I be on the same side as him?"
Pan Xiaohei's eyes widened, and after a moment he tilted his head and drooped his cat ears, saying, "You humans are really strange. When I thought you were enemies, you formed an alliance. When I thought you were friends, you said you weren't with him."
Pan Yun: "We can be friends, but we can't be in cahoots. When we have common goals, we don't mind forming alliances."
She placed Pan Xiaohei on the pillow, got up, took off her coat, and tossed it aside: "Even when we have a common goal, I don't mind temporarily allying with my enemies."
"Like Wang Zhen?"
Pan Jun turned around and smiled slightly: "For example, Wang Zhen."
Wang Zhen is also a seasoned politician, and he thinks the same way.
Therefore, when Cao Jixiang submitted a memorial, and the Maritime Trade Office and Pan Yun presented 200,000 taels of silver to the Japanese and had already sent people to escort the silver to the capital, Wang Zhen strongly urged the emperor to lift the maritime ban.
Half of the officials joined in the persuasion.
The emperor was deep in thought.
Wang Zhen understood immediately and proposed that people from the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Works go to Japan to mine silver.
The emperor was intrigued.
The officials stared wide-eyed and unanimously objected.
If the Imperial Household Department were to participate in the mining of the Silver Mountain, what would become of the national treasury? Absolutely not!
The court meeting ended unhappily.
However, the emperor was not angry, but just sneered repeatedly: "They want to use the national treasury to control me. Without money, there are indeed many things that cannot be done. I have already backed down from the silver mines in Zhejiang, Fujian and Jiangxi, and only intend to take the silver mountains of Japan, but they still obstruct me in many ways."
Wang Zhen naturally sided with the emperor and whispered, "Your Majesty, a message from the Quanzhou Imperial Guards via carrier pigeon says that a fire broke out in the prison where the pirates were being held, killing several pirates. It seems that the pirate leader also died inside."
The Emperor said, "Report this matter through the Cabinet."
Wang Zhen bowed his head in agreement and said softly, "There is also the Ryukyu delegation. They have traveled north by ship and have already arrived at Tianjin."
The Emperor nodded: "Please invite them to the capital. The Ryukyu royal family has always been very respectful. They have rendered meritorious service in rescuing the mission and should be richly rewarded."
Wang Zhen smiled and agreed.
A message passes through the cabinet, and all officials learn of it; an order travels from the inner court outwards, and all officials become aware of it.
Officials who opposed the Imperial Household Department's involvement in the mining of silver mines in Japan immediately split into two factions. One faction, led by Cao Nai, the Minister of Personnel, insisted on their opinion: "Pan Yun is presenting the silver mines to the Ming Dynasty, which naturally belong to the monarch. However, the money should go into the national treasury. The practice of the Imperial Household Department participating in silver mining should absolutely not be allowed to continue. Otherwise, if today we say we are only participating in the mining of silver mines in Japan, who knows if tomorrow it will include silver mines all over the country?"
The Ming Dynasty was already facing a silver shortage, and the imperial family had already acquired a sufficient amount of silver.
They preferred to keep the silver in their warehouses rather than take it out. The paper money was unreliable, and merchants would run out of silver whenever they made large transactions, which led to a growing shortage of silver.
They were truly afraid that if the Imperial Household Department got involved, the silver that was brought back would just gather dust in the treasuries of the emperor and various noble families.
If you don't use silver, it's just a pile of stones.
The wasteful and labor-intensive mining ultimately harms the people.
One faction, led by Chen Xun, the Minister of Revenue, argued that a step back should be taken. "Quanzhou is already in such chaos over the matter of lifting the sea ban. Today the prison was burned down, who knows what will happen tomorrow? If no conclusion is reached, this matter will likely be left unresolved. It would be better to take a step back and have the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Household Department jointly mine the silver mines in Japan in exchange for His Majesty lifting the sea ban."
"The Imperial Inspector of Jiangnan said that foreign maritime trade is thriving and the silver earned is no less than that mined. Instead of clinging to that silver mountain, we should focus on maritime trade."
“Maritime trade? Is that the Maritime Trade Office that needs subsidies from the national treasury every year?” Zhang Yi, standing behind Cao Nai, said, “The Ryukyu delegation is about to arrive. They’re going to be generous with their gifts. I wonder how much the national treasury will have to prepare in return this time.”
Cao Nai said in a deep voice, "King Shiming of Ryukyu has always been respectful, and he has also helped the mission this time. He deserves whatever reward he receives. However, Japan, the Oirat and other countries are cunning and treacherous. It is very frustrating to treat them with such generosity."
Li Shimian, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, said: “It’s not just frustrating, it’s infuriating! The Oirat envoys this time number over two thousand, ten times more than the two hundred allowed by the court. And look at what they brought.”
"A few tattered furs, a few horses, and a few knives—you think you can exchange them for the silver, copper coins, and bows and crossbows of my Great Ming? How outrageous!"
“Oh dear,” the supporters stamped their feet, “This is the policy for foreign countries set by Emperor Taizu Gao. Can you overturn it? This is also the style of a superior country, to benefit and support small countries. It is the way our emperor cares for foreign people. You all know why the Maritime Trade Office needs subsidies. You should find a way to make the Maritime Trade Office self-sufficient to make up for the deficit. Tell me, is there a better way than lifting the sea ban?”
"Hmph, I'm afraid that's just wishful thinking on your part. No matter how prosperous the maritime trade is, if they all trade using tally certificates, wouldn't the Maritime Trade Office lose even more money?"
"A new order can be issued, strictly regulating the number of people and the quantity of goods coming to the court..."
Li Shimian flew into a rage and questioned, "Does our dynasty not have regulations regarding the number of people and goods that the Japanese and Oirats bring to the court? When have these two vassal states ever complied with them? The Oirats are shameless; they brought over two thousand people directly. How much grain, meat, and vegetables does each person need to eat every day? And how much gift does each person take with them when they leave?"
(End of this chapter)