Everyone understood.
Sinking merchant ships would cause diplomatic conflict, naturally forcing the court's hand. Unlike the situation in Xuanda, on the sea, Zhu Mo was the one in need of the Western and Southern Ocean countries. Once the weaving bureau's goods couldn't be sold, the reforms would be completely ruined, and there would be nothing left to discuss.
This move was, naturally, the most vicious.
Yan Song's heart tightened upon hearing this, and he murmured, "I've always said that Zhu Mo's reforms must not be carried out; it will lead to great chaos. Isn't this chaos now... Alas, what can be done at this point? Tingyi, is there anything else? Tell me more, tell me more..."
Zhang Jing coughed and said, "Your subordinate has only thought of these things."
At this moment,
Yan Maoqing suddenly said, "Esteemed Elder, Young Esteemed Elder, Brother Tingyi, I have an idea... When those pirates sink merchant ships, they should fly the flag of the Great Ming navy! This way, the Western and Southern Ocean countries will officially protest, and may even send envoys to the capital. Then Zhu Mo will be in deep trouble..."
Hiss!
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Hiss!
The more everyone listened, the more their hearts trembled!
At the same time, they were thinking: You, Yan Maoqing, were beaten by Zhu Mo impersonating a Yan household retainer last time. You haven't let go of that grudge, and now you're returning the favor in kind...
However, this move was indeed brilliant!
The deterioration of Great Ming's foreign relations was a major issue for the court, but it was the most fatal blow to Zhu Mo's next step of industrialization. Once silk and tea could no longer be sold, and even without Japanese pirates landing, Zhu Mo himself would be finished.
Pa pa
Pa!
Yan Shifan applauded and laughed:
"Good! Old Yan, you've finally come up with a good idea this time..."
He stood up again, patted Yan Maoqing's shoulder, and said earnestly:
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"You all are talented... Keep thinking, and ideas will come! The battle for reform is roughly like this! Simply put, it's about forcing the court's hand through diplomacy. Old Luo, think about how to use your four decrees to stir up trouble among the people... And that Hu Zongxian also needs to find a solution; we can't keep delaying..."
At this time,
He walked to Yan Song's side, helped him sit on the couch, and then continued:
"Old Father, we can't be careless this time. If that Hu Zongxian wants to do it, let him do it; if not, then let him be! We don't have time to wait him out... Old Father, you must make a decision. Your son knows you like him, but this is an emergency. We can't afford to ruin ourselves because of him..."
Old Yan Song sighed deeply, shook his head, and said:
"This Hu Ruzhen, why is he so foolish... Zhu Mo's reforms are aimed at changing the system of the sages. Doesn't he understand? Shifan, Ruzhen has been with me for twenty years. We can't just abandon him like this. Write him a letter, reveal a little, and see what he chooses... If it really doesn't work, then let the Japanese pirates kill him..."
Hiss!
Everyone suspected they had misheard.
They were really going to kill Hu Zongxian?
Indeed,
Yan Song added, "He knows too much. Either he listens to me, or if he doesn't, we can't let him be of use to anyone..."
He stood up again, scanned everyone, and slowly said, "In my life, I have always seen things through when it comes to employing people and treating scholars. But this time is different. Zhu Mo is changing the system of the sages. Even if I wanted to be partial, I wouldn't dare... If the system of the sages collapses, it is called the fall of the world! Do you understand? If we don't stop it, we will become sinners for all time!"
Hiss!
Everyone was stunned.
Yan Shifan also sighed, "You don't know. Ruzhen and I are like sworn brothers... But if he goes down this path, what can I do? You all must be afraid; the old man has no choice..."
Right, right.
Yes, yes.
The Esteemed Elder has done his utmost.
He, Hu Zongxian, lacks clarity of purpose. Even the Esteemed Elder cannot save him...
Everyone immediately chimed in.
"Shifan, write it now and send it tonight... Time waits for no one. Everything depends on Hu Ruzhen's own choice..."
Yan Song had deep feelings for Hu Zongxian, but considering the repeated blows from Zhu Mo, and now that the reforms were about to achieve substantial breakthroughs, at this critical juncture, his protégé was still indecisive. To indulge him further would be a disservice to himself.
"Yes, Father."
Yan Shifan sat down, picked up his brush, and after a moment's thought, wrote fluidly:
"To my brother Ruzhen:
The night in Jiangnan is dark and treacherous. Brother, you alone are holding up the crisis, working tirelessly, but you must not neglect your sleep and meals. Brother's ailment of qi and blood has been attended to by Physician Li, who will head south soon. Tonight, my father, remembering the decades of master-disciple affection, has not shed tears in vain. I know all that has made the situation tenable until now is due to brother's efforts. https:/
I have recently heard that the Japanese pirates at Jinshanwei are planning something. I fear that the overall situation in the southeast may change, and I urgently inform you of this. Brother, as a minister of the state, must be able to strike the enemy first. Shifan."
After Yan Shifan finished writing, he handed it to Yan Song, who then passed it to everyone.
Everyone praised it without exception.
Gao Hanwen laughed and said, "Young Esteemed Elder truly possesses great skill. Your subordinate does not have such superior literary style."
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Hahaha,
Yan Shifan laughed and said, "Mo Qing, you shouldn't be so modest... My meager talent has long been steeped in wine over the years! It's good enough to make things clear! Hahaha..."
Luo Longwen said fawningly, "Young Esteemed Elder's wording is truly exquisite. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to say it... The intention is to deliberately reveal a little to him, to see what he will do? Even if he doesn't understand at first, when the merchant ships are attacked next, he will surely understand upon remembering this letter..."
Mm-hmm,
Brilliant!
After all, Young Esteemed Elder is one of the three prodigies!
Everyone then praised him sincerely.
...
At the same time,
On the coast north of Jinshanwei.
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Zhu Mo, with Lü Kun, stood by the sea, looking at the faint lights on the sea in the distance.
The fisherman guide, an old man, pointed and said, "Scholar Zhu, those lights are the water strongholds of the Japanese pirates. Further north is Ligang. These pirates are very cunning; their water strongholds are spread everywhere. They are temporarily constructed with warships. Sometimes they are here, and a month or two later they are gone, very elusive!"
Mm-hmm,
Zhu Mo had also heard of this. The Japanese pirates were adept at establishing strongholds along the coast, relying on reefs and islands. However, the Ming army currently lacked warships and was caught in a two-front war on land and at sea, making them extremely passive and exhausted. They had no way to deal with these outer water strongholds.
Only by seeing it with his own eyes did he realize how difficult the Japanese pirates were to contend with. It was already a remarkable feat that Qi Jiguang could contain them in Taizhou Guard.
Along the way,
He had naturally inquired that Ligang was still a smuggling base. Although its scale was more than ten times smaller than Shuangyu, it was still very busy.
The Jiajing Emperor had issued a ban on maritime trade several years ago, but within a few months of its enforcement, fishermen and coastal prefectures, counties, and guards could not bear it, and everything returned to normal.
This had formed a very peculiar situation—
On one hand, the government troops repeatedly skirmished with the Japanese pirates, while on the other hand, smuggling continued unabated. The government troops couldn't manage it even if they wanted to. Coupled with the connivance and support from gentry and the Yan faction behind the scenes, it became a situation where "you fight yours, I smuggle mine..."
The populace was also clearly divided into two groups. One group eagerly engaged in smuggling, even pushing their children onto pirate merchant ships and warships as laborers to earn money, while the other group was irreconcilably opposed to the Japanese pirates. Conflicts often occurred between these two groups even in normal times.