Chapter 76 – Heart-to-Heart Talk

Xu Chun wore an expression of astonishment; when Fang Zijing saw that Xu Chun was no longer the eloquent young man he had been moments ago, but rather a boy at a loss, he couldn’t help but chuckle, nodding his head. “I didn’t intend to reveal it, but given Fang Zixing’s sake, you should trust me more now, shouldn’t you?”

Xu Chun murmured, “You’re supposed to have lingering injuries and often be ill.”

Fang Zijing sighed deeply. “A non-dynastic vassal king, a minister from the previous dynasty: each one of these factors makes us easy targets for suspicion. Therefore, the Fang family, guarding the southeast, has always kept this overseas escape route ready.”

Xu Chun was stunned. “The court has always held you in high esteem…”

Fang Zijing smiled wryly. “Are you talking about marrying a princess? The late emperor arranged the marriage with the princess and bestowed the rank of marquis. This was intended to bind us through marriage and bloodlines, ensuring that our descendants would inherit the vassal territory: a method of suspicion, albeit a softer approach.”

“But after the late emperor passed away, the Empress Dowager and the regent grew increasingly suspicious, quickly imposed blame. They sent countless officials to cause trouble. At that critical juncture, I had no choice but to personally venture out to sea, taking charge and managing this escape route. The Sheng family’s maritime trade should make sense to you. Maritime traders have always been strictly guarded by the court. Which major maritime trader hasn’t established overseas properties as a backup plan?”

Xu Chun thought of Brother Nine. “The Emperor…does he know?”

Fang Zijing said indifferently, “The Emperor doesn’t know. The princess doesn’t know. Neither does Zixing. This maritime business has always been controlled and operated by the eldest son of the direct line.”

Xu Chun was dumbfounded.

Fang Zijing continued, “After His Majesty took personal control of government affairs, he eliminated the regent, pacified the north, and displayed profound tactics and firmness that shocked the nation. Afterward came the abolition of the vassal kingdoms. Zixing, having accompanied the Emperor since childhood, was suddenly ordered to return to Guangdong. He shared the idea of abolishing the vassal kingdom with the family, promising that everything except the title of king and military power would be retained: the territories, salt and iron rights, and all other privileges. Both sons could inherit the title, and if future generations proved capable, they could continue to inherit.”

“The current Emperor is one who cannot be deceived. Had we disagreed then, we probably would have been the first to be dealt with: the grandfather was thinking of testing the waters, so he made the first move to declare our intention to abolish the vassal kingdom.”

“Afterwards, I also brought the princess back to the capital, mainly to closely observe the political situation. You see, Zixing…is a sincere individual. The Emperor treated me generously. I would merely claim illness on a daily basis, occasionally coming here to visit.”

Xu Chun looked at Fang Zijing. “Then you’re not worried…not worried that I might tell others?”

Fang Zijing looked at him and smiled. “That’s child’s talk. Since I dared to reveal my identity to you, I’m naturally unafraid. What’s so great about having the entire clan flee abroad? His Majesty may not be unaware. He wants to unify the empire, but he can’t swallow it whole. Moreover, I’ve noticed that his actions have slowed down in recent years: I wonder if he’s tired of it or considering a period of rest and recuperation.”

Xu Chun stared at Fang Zijing for a long time without speaking, but Fang Zijing knew that this youth was extremely intelligent and must have realized that such an operation wasn’t simply a fallback option for a single family: it could also serve as a support for a family’s rebellion. Suppose the emperor had been more corrupt, or if the other vassal kings had engaged in mutual destruction, leaving the state in disarray and the country in chaos. In that case, they could have risen up and perhaps seized the throne.

But no matter how they assessed the situation, they knew that allowing Fang Zixing to return and privately persuade them already indicated the Emperor’s stance. Abolish or not? If not, face a preemptive strike.

The other vassal kings were all members of the imperial family. With a fabricated charge of treason, the court could dispatch troops, and the vassal kings of the imperial family would naturally respond to the imperial command and join forces against them. If a non-dynastic vassal king were to rebel, it could only happen during times of great turmoil. Otherwise, with so many vassal kings of the imperial family present, who would tolerate a non-dynastic vassal king plotting rebellion first? Furthermore, Guangdong was prosperous. As long as the emperor offered some incentives and promised to divide the fiefs, it was likely that the vassal kings wouldn’t need the court to intervene: they would devour each other first.

To directly abandon and flee overseas? After enjoying wealth and honor for so many years, who in the entire clan would be willing to become exiles in a foreign land, especially in the South Seas? Which capable ruler wouldn’t want to pacify the barbarians of the sea borders? Even if they went to the South Seas, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t be affected in the future. Retreat step by step, and the Fang family’s foundation would vanish completely, forcing the entire clan to leave their homeland. It wasn’t a good choice.

His Majesty was ruthless. Now that he was using Fang Zixing to persuade them, employing kindness and far-reaching plans, there was still hope for survival.

Thus, they abolished the vassal kingdom. And when the powerful and wealthy Pingnan King agreed to abolish his vassal kingdom, the other vassal kings were shocked. Soon, other vassal kings began to voluntarily submit requests to abolish their own vassal kingdoms. The Fang family understood that this Emperor had undoubtedly worked behind the scenes to divide and conquer them, gradually dismantling the major vassal kingdoms and transferring military power to the governors-general.

Afterward, the military system was reformed. It was remarkable how he maneuvered left and right, reforming the military system and eventually centralizing military power. By this point, no vassal king in the empire could easily rebel or cause unrest. This young emperor, once controlled by the regent, was seen by everyone as a mere puppet. Who would have known that once he took action, he revealed himself to be a brilliant sovereign, adept at the arts of imperial rule.

Grandfather sighed deeply before his passing. “Meeting a wise ruler is both a misfortune and a great fortune for the Fang family.”

He gazed at Xu Chun with emotion. “Let’s not speak of that anymore. Let’s discuss what to do with the Lu family’s book. I know that His Majesty has his eyes set on unifying the four seas sooner or later. Your idea of bringing this book back to engrave and print it for the court’s shipbuilding is commendable, which is why I decided to spend so much money in one go.”

Xu Chun snapped out of his chaotic thoughts. “Yes, ever since I set sail, I’ve heard everywhere that the ships built by the Lu family are excellent. My family also has ships made by the Lu family, and General Ji Xiao also said that his family builds ships there. Wang Guangyuan orders ships for war from them. I understand that this book is significant to their family. After I return, I’ll have people transcribe and engrave it, and then promptly return it.”

Fang Zijing shook his head. “If you think about it, this book is hundreds of years old, a record by Lu Xiufu. The shipbuilding techniques inside might have been kept secret, but after a century, more advanced methods must have replaced them. Just compare the shipbuilding technology of the previous dynasty to that of the Song and Yuan dynasties: it’s significantly stronger. Frankly speaking, apart from being a sacred object within the Lu family, your family might find that the techniques described in this book are less advanced than those used by your own Sheng family.”

“You should understand that these technologies accumulate generation after generation through practical experience. Just like firearms and cannons, today’s firearms and cannons are certainly more perfected than those of the Song era. Your Sheng family surely has some shipbuilding techniques that you keep secret. The Lu family’s success in shipbuilding today and the techniques they possess certainly won’t be found in this book: there must be other methods.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Chun was half-convinced, half-skeptical. “Indeed?” He felt disheartened. “Then this book isn’t worth so much money…”

Fang Zijing couldn’t help but laugh. “One million two hundred thousand taels. The Lu family never expected there would be a fool like you willing to spend so much money on this book. But for you, you don’t care about the authenticity of their ancestors’ handwriting. You want the techniques. In that case, I suggest you target the people instead. Return the book to them and exchange it for someone proficient in shipbuilding techniques.”

Xu Chun’s spirits lifted. “So I should offer one million two hundred thousand taels to hire them to work as instructors at the naval academy?”

Fang Zijing shook his head. “The Lu family, exiled abroad, might not be willing to easily submit to the court. Moreover, their patriarch is stubborn and would never easily pass on their shipbuilding techniques. Otherwise, the Lu family would have been invited away long ago. Why would they remain in the South Seas?”

Xu Chun asked, “Then what does Lord Hou mean?”

Fang Zijing smiled. “Call me Brother Zijing. But when we go outside, call me Island Master.”

Xu Chun pressed on. “Brother Zijing must have a solution, right?”

Fang Zijing replied, “Downplay your desire for the shipbuilding techniques to put them at ease. This leads to how this book ended up in our auction house. There’s a direct-line descendant in the Lu family named Lu Jiugao. He’s incredibly smart, and most of the new ships built by the Lu family in recent years were under his supervision. He has a widowed mother. Two years ago, she developed a mysterious lump in her abdomen. Doctors diagnosed it as stagnated blood forming a mass in her uterus. They prescribed medicine to activate the blood and dissolve the mass, but it proved ineffective. The lump kept growing larger.”

“Lu Jiugao is extremely filial. Because he had previously participated in auctions to purchase medicine and spread rumors, the servants were all aware of this matter. They heard that countless doctors only prescribed medicine and soup, with no effect. Seeing the lump grow bigger every day, they finally invited a Western doctor to examine her. That doctor demanded a high price, saying that he needed to perform surgery to remove the mass to cure her, but the operation carried risks. The asking price was a staggering ten thousand taels of silver.”

“That Western doctor was said to have caused deaths in his home country and collected corpses, possibly publishing some strange book that was not accepted by the local church, leading to his expulsion. He fled to the South Seas. Whether this is true or not, Lu Jiugao should seek another renowned doctor for a second opinion.”

“Unfortunately, the illness seemed indeed severe, and Lu Jiugao, in desperation, wanted to try the surgery. However, the Lu family was extremely conservative and never allowed women to leave the household. When they learned that Lu Jiugao wanted to invite a Western doctor to perform abdominal surgery, they vehemently disagreed and refused to allow him to withdraw money from the treasury.”

“The Lu family pooled all the profits earned and distributed them among the clan members for their daily expenses. Without funds from the treasury, he had no choice. Usually, he was a man of high integrity, but in his anger, he directly stole the book from his home to sell it at auction.”

“I heard that he even booked a ship, planning to leave immediately upon receiving the auction proceeds. But news leaked, and now he and his mother are detained by the clan, awaiting the return of the book before they are punished. The Lu family punishes traitorous clan members severely. They lock them in the hull of a ship and execute them at sea, a certain and painful death.”

Xu Chun looked at Fang Zijing in shock. Fang Zijing explained, “General Ji Xiao has some friendship with Lu Jiugao. Earlier, I was actually hoping that if I could convince you to return the book, I could ask them to spare Lu Jiugao’s life.”

Xu Chun muttered, “Your suggestion is…to get Lu Jiugao?”

Fang Zijing nodded. “Exactly. The person who builds ships truly possesses the most advanced techniques. Moreover, if you can bring him and his mother back to the Central Plains, he could teach you countless apprentices. You should know that the younger generation of shipbuilders in the Lu family were trained by him. That’s why, when he got into trouble, his nephews secretly tried to help him, hoping to save his life. But if he stays in the Lu family, even if he survives, he’ll only be assigned to menial labor.”

“Now that you hold the upper hand, demanding this talent in exchange would not be a loss. However, you must ensure that his mother is brought along as well. Otherwise, the Lu family might use her as leverage, preventing him from leaving without worry.”

Xu Chun asked, “Can I take a look at that book?”

Fang Zijing chuckled. “Of course. To be honest, when you started bidding on that book in a fit of passion, I consulted the appraiser responsible for it. Most of the content inside revolves around shipbuilding methods from hundreds of years ago, quite outdated. Some craftsmanship techniques are praised, but they aren’t closely guarded secrets. It was merely a ploy to increase the auction price and generate hype. The estimated value didn’t exceed thirty thousand taels, which was already an overestimation. Look at the ancient books you bid on earlier; how much did they cost? This price rose higher and higher because the Lu family competed with you. Their patriarch probably never imagined encountering a fool like you. Thus, he only brought one million taels of silver, assuming it would be sufficient.”

As he looked at Xu Chun, he couldn’t resist laughing. He instructed someone to fetch the book. After a while, a servant carried it in a box and quietly retreated.

He opened the box and saw that the pages were extremely thin and yellowed. Fortunately, they were made of high-quality paper, or they might not have survived. He carefully flipped through it, seeing the sharp and bold handwriting of the ancestors. Knowing the tragic history, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of respect.

Fang Zijing said, “Lu Jiugao must have memorized this book. If you can exchange him for it, it will definitely be more worthwhile than buying the book. I guarantee it on behalf of my entire clan.”

Seeing the sincerity in Fang Zijing’s eyes, Xu Chun thought for a moment and said, “I’ll follow Brother Zijing’s advice. Please, Island Master, act as the intermediary. Once we have the person, we’ll set off immediately. Once we return to the Central Plains, we’ll be safe.”

Fang Zijing rose with a smile and bowed. “Prince Xu is a man of high morals. You will surely receive blessings in the future.”

Xu Chun responded, “Brother Zijing told me the family’s secrets to convince me. I’m only following the straight path.”

Fang Zijing grinned. “I won’t hide this from Prince. Even if you don’t tell anyone, His Majesty will likely find out about our meeting today. So, you don’t have to be too moved.”

Xu Chun was surprised. Fang Zijing glanced at him and couldn’t resist teasing him. “Zixing is the leader of the inner guards, training all the palace guards. These methods are also ours, the Fang family’s. Your bodyguard behind you, the moment we met, I recognized him.”

“He carries our Fang family’s secret crossbow in his waist. Of course, he doesn’t recognize me, but he’ll definitely report truthfully when he returns. I’m guessing that this person has the ability to identify people. When he goes back and sketches a portrait, His Majesty will probably figure out it’s me. But it’s good that we’ve now gone public.”

Xu Chun was shaken again. “You’re saying that Dinghai…the guard is an inner guard?” Wasn’t he the bodyguard chosen by Grandpa for him? How could he be arranged by Brother Nine…Brother Nine?”

Fang Zijing smiled faintly. “Naturally, Zixing didn’t reveal these details upon returning. But the methods we, the Fang family, use to lead troops are inherited.”

Xu Chun looked uncertain. “Would the Emperor blame and distance himself from Brother Zixing because of this matter…”

Fang Zijing laughed. “Other monarchs might, but not His Majesty. He is an expert in controlling his ministers. Placing Zixing by his side is a sign of trust.”

“His Majesty wants to build the nation and pacify the seas. He will inevitably need the Fang family. Using this opportunity to show our loyalty, His Majesty, seeing that we are useful, won’t hold this against us. Of course, how things will be in the future remains to be seen. No one knows what lies ahead. His Majesty doesn’t yet have a crown prince. It’s feared that after he has pacified the four directions and establishes his legacy, it could quickly be squandered by his successor. It’s not guaranteed that our Fang family will last for a hundred years or more. We can only stabilize one generation at a time.”

He looked at Xu Chun, his words carrying deeper meaning. “In his position, who wouldn’t fear the suspicions of the emperor? The intentions of the emperor are unpredictable. One day, he views someone as a trusted advisor; the next, he annihilates their entire clan. Who could bear such a reversal?”