Chapter 181 – My Journey Forward

After several days, under the guidance of Shen Mengzhen, Fang Zijing, and others, Xu Chun worked with the senior managers of the Sheng family to refine the memorial titled “Memorial on the Request to Prepare Military Affairs in Jinhai.” Finally, they perfected the memorial, which presented suggestions such as the establishment of military farms in Jinhai, the opening of a bank to issue bonds, the establishment of schools, the construction of shipyards, and machinery factories.

The memorial was first discussed in the Imperial Cabinet. Xie Yi asked Ouyang Shen about the results of the discussion, and Ouyang Shen cautiously replied, “The proposals are generally commendable, but the required silver funds are enormous. The state’s expenses have a fixed budget, and cannot be arbitrarily approved. Moreover, issuing bonds to raise silver for the construction of shipyards and machinery factories might lead to complications. If handled carelessly, it could harm the country and the people. We propose to reject the memorial.”

Ouyang Shen knew that His Majesty favored Xu Chun and intended to promote him. However, this memorial was too radical. Issuing bonds to build shipyards, establish machinery factories, and schools was simply too risky. He stole a glance at Xie Yi, who remained as unfathomable as usual. “There happens to be free time in the afternoon. How about convening a meeting in the Purple Morning Hall?”

A meeting? Was His Majesty actually going to personally preside over the meeting?

As Ouyang Shen accepted the decree, he pondered His Majesty’s intentions. “Convene a meeting of the cabinet ministers, the heads of the six departments, and the nine officials to discuss this memorial?”

Xie Yi said, “Yes, and summon Xu Chun to the hall to answer questions.”

Ouyang Shen was taken aback and diplomatically suggested, “Xu Chun is still young, and he has never participated in court discussions before. He might not be able to handle the questioning from the cabinet ministers. Should we return the memorial and point out the problematic areas, raise doubts, and order him to explain each point before submitting another memorial?”

Xie Yi replied, “I’m very busy. Is the Imperial Cabinet idle? Let’s settle the matter during the meeting. Those responsible for executing the orders should do so immediately. There’s no time for them to engage in verbal sparring.”

Ouyang Shen hurriedly responded, “Your subject obeys.”

At the appointed hour, the cabinet ministers and the high-ranking officials had already arrived early at the Purple Morning Hall. The eunuchs of the inner study had prepared handwritten copies of Xu Chun’s memorial for the officials to peruse.

Ouyang Shen had already read it and sat there, calm as a bell. Beside him, the Minister of War Lei Ming asked in a low voice, “What is His Majesty’s true intention?”

Ouyang Shen replied, “We’re having a meeting, so naturally, there are doubts. We’ll question Xu Chun later and see how he defends his arguments before making any decisions.”

Lei Ming said, “His Majesty has been making unilateral decisions for many years. If he has made up his mind, why would he allow us to hold a meeting?”

Ouyang Shen glanced at him. “You want to support Xu Chun, don’t you?”

Lei Ming chuckled. “During the cabinet meeting, I’ll follow the majority. After all, I can’t match the foresight of the other ministers. But if His Majesty asks for my opinion, I’ll speak frankly. I think having a military factory is great; it can reduce casualties in wars. As for bonds, I don’t understand them either, but I think Xu Chun, backed by the Sheng family, is indeed a master at generating wealth. If it’s really feasible, why not give it a try? Jinhai is just a small place. What’s the harm in experimenting there? It won’t shake the foundations of the nation.”

Ouyang Shen said, “I knew you were actually in favor of it.”

Li Meiyao sat there quietly and asked Shen Mengzhen, “You must have given pointers on this memorial, right? Didn’t you tell him that it wouldn’t pass through the cabinet?”

Shen Mengzhen closed his eyes to rest, not even looking at him. He kept his hands in his sleeves and remained silent, but his thick eyebrows furrowed into frown lines.

Li Meiyao hadn’t seen him like this for a long time and realized that Shen Mengzhen had concerns. He became more eager to chat with him. “Your student is quite bold. Don’t blame me if I scold him until he cries later.”

Shen Mengzhen flicked his eyelids and casually glanced at him. “It’s not the first time you’ve scolded him. Go ahead and scold him then.”

Li Meiyao chuckled as if savoring a memory. “He was particularly naive back then. A few harsh words turned his face, ears, and neck red. His eyes welled up with tears, and his lips trembled. Ah, if an official in the court can’t handle criticism, the other party will be even more vicious. Has he improved over the years following you? I heard he went to the battlefield. Such a delicate and precious gentleman, did you really let him go to war?”

Shen Mengzhen remained silent and unmoving, his heart in turmoil.

Then an eunuch announced, “His Majesty arrives.”

All the officials rose to pay their respects. Xie Yi sat down calmly and spoke succinctly, “Rise, everyone. Sit down. Today, we are convening a meeting to discuss the memorial of Prince Jingguo’s heir, Xu Chun, titled ‘Memorial on the Request to Prepare Military Affairs in Jinhai.’ Ouyang, you said the cabinet had many reservations and proposed rejection. I have summoned Xu Chun to answer questions. If anyone has doubts, feel free to question him.”

After waving his hand, someone led Xu Chun in.

Xu Chun entered and paid his respects according to protocol. Xie Yi ordered someone to offer him a seat. “Minister Xu, your memorial has raised doubts among the cabinet ministers. You may defend yourself.”

Xu Chun bowed in gratitude. “Your subject obeys.”

Xie Yi instructed Ouyang Shen, “Begin.”

Ouyang Shen followed the order. “Let the ministers of the six departments ask their questions first.”

The Minister of Revenue Luo Hengrui was old and had a steady personality. He slowly said, “The state’s expenses have a fixed budget. The required funds mentioned in Minister Xu’s memorial are indeed excessive. Regarding the military farms, the previous dynasty had already built embankments to prevent flooding and experimented with rice cultivation. However, rice farming was labor-intensive and the results were poor. Jinhai is densely populated, and the people are strained. Now that Minister Xu wishes to continue cultivating military farms and promote rice cultivation to alleviate military expenses, it is indeed a good thing. This proposal is feasible.”

“But regarding the issuance of bonds, currently, interest on private loans is capped at three percent monthly. Now, bonds offer three percent interest for three years, four percent for five years, and five percent for ten years. Initially, it might be possible to patch the east wall to fix the west wall, borrowing capital to repay interest, but according to this calculation, the required profits accumulate annually, necessitating a high profit to maintain operations. I wonder if Minister Xu has carefully calculated the annual repayment amount for these bonds? How can you ensure that the profits can be realized? And how will you respond if there is a run on the bonds by the public?”

Xu Chun calmly stood up and bowed. “In response to Minister Luo, this official has meticulously calculated everything. The issuance of three-year, five-year, and ten-year bonds has been strictly controlled. The total amount of silver collected, the amount to be repaid after three years, five years, and ten years, is detailed in the memorial. Your Excellency can verify the calculations. The total amounts are controlled, and there is a thirty percent reserve fund that cannot be touched…”

“There is another memorial that details the total amount of orders we have received. The annual profits align with the bond issuance.”

“Additionally, there is a list of costs for establishing schools, machinery factories, and shipyards, planned annually. The annual expenditure is also listed, corresponding to the bonds. Thus, income, expenditure, and profits can reach equilibrium.”

Luo Hengrui stroked his beard, listening to Xu Chun’s eloquent explanation, quite satisfied. He reported to Xie Yi, “After receiving the three tables attached to this memorial, I had someone verify the calculations. They are basically accurate. Prince Xu put effort into this memorial; it’s not a castle in the air. I have finished asking my questions.”

Xie Yi nodded slightly.

The Minister of Rites Wang Xiujie couldn’t wait to speak. “In ancient times, King Kaoliet of Chu borrowed money to raise an army against Qin. Overwhelmed by debt, he lost the trust of his people. Minister Xu’s implementation of public bonds is laborious, and the risks are significant. Since ancient times, no wise ruler or capable minister has pursued this path. Please proceed with caution, Your Majesty.”

Xu Chun responded without hesitation. “The ways of governance change; a country does not adhere to ancient laws. If it can strengthen the nation, we need not follow old practices; if it can benefit the people, we need not follow old customs.”

The ministers looked at him with slight surprise when he casually quoted the words of Shang Jun. After all, Shang Jun’s fate wasn’t good, and comparing oneself to him was rather ominous.

Wang Xiujie said, “Nowadays, the world is peaceful, and wars have subsided. The people need a period of rest and recuperation. Weapons should be stored away, and horses should graze on southern hills. Spending such a large sum of silver, taking it from the people, to build cannons and ships, and to strengthen military equipment, is truly regrettable! It would be better to use it on improving people’s livelihood and disaster relief, and on educating the populace, to demonstrate the benevolence of His Majesty.”

Xu Chun smiled. “Does Minister Wang believe that the world is peaceful? The northern Tartars are our long-standing enemies, a deep-rooted illness. Our mortal enemy still exists. Meanwhile, the foreign barbarians and pirates overseas have long relied on their powerful ships and guns, wreaking havoc on the seas.”

“In this major military campaign, our dynasty suffered many casualties. In the final battle of Changhu Xia, we almost perished at sea, but fortunately, we had purchased submarines at a high price before. They could move underwater and unexpectedly launch torpedoes, thus turning the tide of the battle. However, purchasing ships, cannons, and torpedoes at high prices is not a long-term solution. Only by learning Western techniques to manufacture cannons and ships can we secure the eternal benefits of our dynasty.”

Wang Xiujie was speechless. He didn’t understand these matters well, but the Minister of War Lei Ming said, “Our weapons and military equipment have indeed been neglected for a long time. Faced with the firepower of foreigners, we cannot fight. Currently, we rely on spending large sums of money to buy ships and cannons, allowing the Westerners to earn all the money. Indeed, we should plan ahead soon to produce our own cannons and ships.”

Wang Xiujie could only bow and say, “Your subject has finished asking questions.”

Lei Ming’s eyes shone as he asked, “Minister Xu, I have one question. Your machinery factory will certainly require coal and iron. If using river or sea transportation, it will inevitably incur costs. How will you solve this?”

He had considered building a munitions factory in Minzhou and encountered the same problem. Therefore, upon seeing Xu Chun’s memorial, he immediately thought of this critical issue.

Xu Chun said, “If the court grants permission, this official is willing to dispatch troops to excavate the Kaiping coal mine. Using Western machinery for mining will supply the Jinhai Machinery Bureau.”

Luo Hengrui said, “Mining is another expense, requiring a huge amount of manpower.”

Xu Chun calmly replied, “This official has ordered the purchase of the latest mining machines overseas, which can greatly improve mining efficiency.”

Li Meiyao, who had been waiting for his chance, finally launched his attack. “Prince Xu was born into nobility and prefers ease. Now, he boldly proposes issuing public bonds to raise funds. If a misstep occurs, and actions are not handled properly, it could easily lead to problems, corruption, and embezzlement. How will you address this? How can you guarantee that you aren’t using the name of national righteousness to enrich yourself at the expense of the public, using the credibility of the court for your personal desires?”

His words were sharp and cutting, without any politeness. The cabinet ministers couldn’t help but think that Li Meiyao was indeed at odds with Prince Jingguo’s heir, as rumors suggested. They watched to see how Xu Chun would respond.

Xu Chun calmly replied, “This official is mediocre in talent and shallow in knowledge, but I have a single-hearted devotion to serving the country. The entire wealth of the Jingguo Duke’s Mansion is at stake. If unable to cover the losses, this official is willing to sell my family home to repay the bonds and request punishment from His Majesty.”

Li Meiyao sneered. “His Majesty’s clear reputation and the court’s public credibility, can you afford to compensate? What can your head be worth?”

Xu Chun said, “In ancient times, the feudal lords despised Qin, but Shang Jun’s reforms revitalized the power of six generations. Generations later, everyone followed Qin’s laws. How can you know that this humble official isn’t a pioneer for the ages? I am willing to lead the way for His Majesty. Despite the millions, I will proceed.”

The ministers fell silent.

Xie Yi suddenly spoke from above. “Xu Chun.”

Xu Chun hurriedly bowed. “Your subject is here.”

Xie Yi said slowly, “Shang Jun’s methods involved strict laws and harsh punishments, undermining commerce and weakening the people. He exterminated strong enemies abroad and strong people internally. This is not the path I choose to follow.”

Xu Chun blushed and knelt, saying, “This subject lacks knowledge and improperly cited history.”

Xie Yi looked at him again and said, “The citation wasn’t entirely inappropriate. Shang Jun was determined to reform and contributed to the strength of Qin, but he met his end through dismemberment. I will not treat those who are resolute in reforming the nation’s pillars as he was. Minister Xu must not speak inauspicious words.”

Xu Chun knew that Xie Yi was displeased with his cursing himself and repeatedly bowed, not daring to speak further.

Xie Yi saw his slightly red ears and knew that he had acknowledged his mistake. Then he said, “Your determination to reform and your loyalty to the country are fully known to me. However, the court will not issue an imperial edict allowing you to issue public bonds in the name of the court.”

Xu Chun responded, “Yes.” However, he wasn’t too surprised. Issuing public bonds was a major matter, and it was unlikely the court would approve. Even Ninth Brother couldn’t ignore the opposition of the high officials and use the court’s credibility to raise silver for him.

Xie Yi continued, “You may issue bonds in Jinhai under the name of the bank, and the court will not prohibit it. However, if you fail to repay the silver at maturity and the public sues, the court will punish you according to law. You must be aware of this.”

Xu Chun solemnly replied, “Your subject understands.”

Xie Yi added, “Establishing new-style schools, constructing shipyards, and setting up machinery factories, as well as the excavation of the Kaiping coal mine, will similarly not be prohibited by the court. However, all expenses must be self-funded by Jinhai Guard.”

Xu Chun happily responded, “Your subject obeys the decree!”

The senior officials all looked at him in surprise. Was this man foolish? The court wasn’t providing silver, yet he was excited about raising silver himself and taking such a big risk?

Xie Yi looked at them and smiled inwardly. This was the phoenix I taught.

The young phoenix’s voice is clearer than the old phoenix’s. My phoenix’s wings have hardened, ready to spread and fly. Yet, they only see the fierce winds in the sky and the treacherous waves, failing to comprehend the phoenix’s aspirations to soar into the clouds, and even less understand the broad-mindedness of my phoenix.

Looking at Xu Chun below, his emotions surged, but his tone remained as calm as ever. “This matter is settled. Today’s meeting ends here. Dismissed.”

=====

Several days later, the imperial decree for rewards came down. It deliberated on the military merits of the southeastern campaign against the Japanese pirates. Wu Yinghou was enfeoffed as the First Rank Marquis Wu Yinggong and appointed as the governor-general of Zhejiang and Fujian.

Nong Siji, the crown prince of Guangyuan Wang, was enfeoffed as the First Rank Marquis Zhongjinghou and granted the position of Fujian Navy Admiral, commanding eighteen naval battalions.

Jingguo Duke’s heir Xu Chun was enfeoffed as the First Rank Marquis Linghaihou and officially appointed as the commander of Jinhai Guard, concurrently serving as the director of the customs office.

The other meritorious officers and soldiers were each rewarded according to their achievements, with silver rewards as per regulations. Rewards for mourning the deceased officers and soldiers, bestowing grace, and silver rewards were also as per regulations.

Xu Chun accepted the decree and, the next day, bid farewell to his relatives and friends, rushing to Jinhai Guard to implement the grand plans in his heart.

Meanwhile, Fang Zijing, promoted to Marquis Wu Yinggong, returned home with Nong Siji, eager to embrace his chubby son.

While leisurely playing with his son and feeling deeply satisfied, Fang Zijing couldn’t help but mention to Princess Heshun, “This time, I obtained His Majesty’s approval to quickly find a marriage for Zi Xing. His Majesty said to do as we wish, without any restrictions. Once we decide on a family, he can grant the marriage.”

Princess Heshun said, “I have a few families in mind for Zi Xing’s wife. I’ll ask him about his thoughts when the opportunity arises.”

Fang Zijing knew that the princess always had her plans and felt slightly relieved upon hearing her words. He added, “By the way, we should also look for suitable matches for Nong Siji and Xu Chun. From what I see, no one in their families is planning their marriages. It’s fine for Nong Siji. I heard that he was previously married in Yizhou, but his original wife passed away due to illness and he hasn’t remarried since. Now that he has a bright future, I think it would be good to find him a step-wife in the capital. The court would likely welcome this.”

“As for Xu Chun, he was indeed delayed before. I heard that his reputation wasn’t good, and Jingguo Duke was a fool. Although Jingguo Duke’s wife was smart, she probably didn’t have many connections in the capital. He’s already of marriageable age, yet he hasn’t arranged a marriage. When you have the time, please find suitable matches for them.”

Princess Heshun said with a smile, “Men don’t understand these things. What you think is perfect might not necessarily be a good match. It’s not easy to find a suitable match for Prince Nong. After all, he will most likely return to Yizhou in the future. Not many people would be willing to marry far away to the South China Sea. If they suffer any injustice, their maternal family can’t provide much help. Even if they become a princess consort, what good is it? Truly caring families wouldn’t marry their daughters to him. Families that don’t care about their daughters wouldn’t have daughters with proper upbringing, who are unworthy of being a princess consort. In the future, they would be unhappy couples. I’ll consider it.”

Fang Zijing said, “That’s true. Xu Chun would definitely be a good husband, right?”

Princess Heshun smiled. “Only you think so. His reputation for having a preference for men is well-known. Which family would be willing to marry their daughter to him?”

Fang Zijing asked, “Isn’t that just a rumor?”

Princess Heshun replied, “What rumor? He openly sought male lovers in the capital. Who in the capital doesn’t know? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Besides, look at his graceful demeanor—I heard that Zi Xing and he were close, and I was somewhat worried. Later, I saw that Zi Xing was upright and their interactions were open and aboveboard, straightforward and honest. I assumed it wasn’t the case and felt relieved.”

Princess Heshun turned to look at Fang Zijing holding their child by the window, staring in shock, and asked curiously, “What’s wrong, my lord? It’s understandable. You spend little time in the capital and don’t like to socialize with the nobility. Naturally, you wouldn’t know about these rumors.”

Fang Zijing felt as if thunderbolts were crashing overhead in his mind. In an instant, all the events that had puzzled him for days connected in his mind. Suddenly, everything became clear—the reason behind His Majesty’s special regard for Xu Chun, and why Xu Chun was so eager to achieve military success, unafraid that His Majesty would retract his support after crossing the bridge. When he first met Xu Chun, he was still young, yet he had a royal guard protecting him. The protection of the commander of the imperial guards, Fang Zixing, for Xu Chun, and the identical accessories and hairpins he shared with His Majesty…all pointed to one answer.

Between the emperor and his minister, there was no suspicion, which made him doubt whether it was due to his own twisted mind.

The answer to the coronet on the day of his coming-of-age ceremony was also revealed. The Son of Heaven loved him and wanted to share the governance.

He looked at his wife, stunned for half a moment, and said with difficulty, “I was thinking about how His Majesty has treated me with kindness and tolerance.”

But should he still prepare that escape route to the South China Sea?