Zhu Youtang frowned and finished reading Ma Wensheng's memorial.
He rubbed the space between his eyebrows and wrote a simple reply on the memorial,""Stabilize the southeast and collect evidence. Don't alert the enemy first.”
After approving it, he handed the memorial to Zhang Min and said,"Have the Embroidered Uniform Guards send it to Ma Wensheng as soon as possible.”
"Yes."
After Zhang Min left, there was only Zhu Youtang left in Yangxin Hall.
Under the dim light, Zhu Youtang's brows were tightly knitted for the first time.
He could intimidate merchants, foreign races, and ministers with violence.
However, what should Zhu Youtang do with the people along the coast?
He had thought about the chaos in the southeast, but he had never expected it to be this chaotic.
The commoners colluded with the government, and the government colluded with the Ming army. The three forces formed a huge smuggling profit chain.
Now that Zhu Youtang didn't know what these people were smuggling, would they be bold enough to smuggle the Ming Armament to Franki and Japan in exchange for huge profits?
Zhu Youtang had a big question mark in his heart.
All the emperors of the previous dynasty had their eyes on the northern border.
Few people paid attention to the Southeast.
In fact, the northern borders were easy to fight. The border troops of the Ming Dynasty were very strong, but the financial constraints had caused the morale of the troops to be low.
Once the border army rallied, the two nomads in the north would not be enough for Da Ming.
This was also why Zhu Youtang had always called the Wala and Tartar tribes in the north small thieves.
But the southeast was different.
The chain of interests here was too huge. One move could affect the entire situation!
If Ma Wensheng was careless, it was very likely that he would force the people along the southeast coast to rebel.
These people were all supporting the Imperial Court's opening of a trading company.
Now that the shipping company was open, the pirates were frequently seen in the southeast. It was obvious that someone was using the hands of the pirates to secretly shut down the Ming shipping company so that they could continue to smuggle profits from the sea.
Zhu Youtang naturally did not expect the hearts of the people to return. That was just talk.
Every citizen was an independent individual with their own thoughts and interests.
For the sake of money, what wouldn't the people of the Southeast do?
The common people can ignore the interests of the Ming Dynasty, but Zhu Youtang cannot.
Once the Japanese pirates in the southeast broke out, the entire southeast of Ming would be in chaos.
If the southeast was in chaos, the southeast navy would be in chaos.
Zhu Youtang was in the southeast, and the navy, treasure ships, and cannons that he had secretly planned to build would also be affected.
This was what Zhu Youtang was most worried about.
The southeast must not be in chaos!
……
The next morning.
All the officials came to see him.
The morning court session began.
As soon as the court session began, the governor of Zhejiang stepped forward and said,"I respectfully request Your Majesty to close the shipping company.”
Zhu Youtang stared at him and said expressionlessly,""Reason."
"This official has been patrolling Fujian and Zhejiang for more than a month. I discovered that since the opening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the activities of the pirates along the coast have become more frequent, threatening the people of Fujian and Zhejiang.”
Zhu Youtang ignored him and looked at the officials."Are there any more memorials?"
The officials were silent.
"Retreat." Zhu Youtang nodded.
"The cabinet will follow me to the Hall of Cultural Splendor."
……
Wenhua Hall.
Zhu Youtang was reading the Tao Te Ching with great interest.
Until the Third Pavilion Elder sat down.
Zhu Youtang put down the book in his hand and asked the old Taoist of the three pavilions,"The Tao Te Ching says that governing a country is like cooking a small fish.”
" Managing a big country is like cooking a small fish," Liu Jian said with assurance." The oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar must be just right. It can't be too much, and it can't be lacking.”
Zhu Youtang asked,"What is governing the country?"”
"Min," Liu Jian blurted out.
Zhu Youtang nodded.”
Liu Jian paused and looked at Zhu Youtang suspiciously.
"This lowly official is stupid and does not know what the emperor means.”
Zhu Youtang said,"Ma Wensheng urgently told me about the situation in the southeast last night."”
The three of them listened attentively.
Zhu Youtang didn't keep him in suspense." The officials, civilians, and army in the southeast have colluded. May I ask how we should govern them, sir?"”
"Your Majesty, I still don't understand."”
Zhu Youtang said," After the opening of the sea, the officials and people of the southeast all applauded. But why is there more and more talk about closing the market and shipping companies in the court recently?”
Liu Jian's breathing became faster and faster.
As intelligent as he was, how could he not understand what Zhu Youtang meant?
He became more and more shocked.
When did the Southeast become so rotten?!
Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, who were sitting beside Liu Jian, also began to feel their hearts pounding.
"After returning to the cabinet, find the Minister of Personnel. All of you can arrange a promotion record for the officials in the southeast.”
"After the list is out, draw out the suspicious officials and secretly send them to Ma Wensheng.”
Zhu Youtang said to the cabinet.
"Yes!"
"Also, come up with a plan as soon as possible.”Zhu Youtang suddenly spoke.
"I'm stupid. What is the plan?" Liu Jian asked.”
Zhu Youtang said indifferently,"After I slaughter the officials of Fujian and Zhejiang, how will I stabilize the people of Fujian and Zhejiang?!"”
……
When the three cabinet elders left the Hall of Cultural Splendor, the three of them shook their heads and sighed as they walked.
"Isn't Your Majesty making a mountain out of a molehill?”Li Dongyang was a little worried.
"If the officials of Min and Zhe were to suppress and massacre, I'm afraid it would be a huge blow to their vitality.”
"Has the Southeast really reached such an unbearable state?" Xie Qian asked suspiciously. Was Ma Wensheng worrying too much?”
Liu Jian sighed." I hope His Majesty and Ma Wensheng are overthinking things. Let's go to the Ministry of Personnel Affairs first."”
"Good!"
……
In the harem.
The Embroidered Uniform Guards and the East Hall had been searching for two days, but they still could not find any trace of that expert.
Both of them were terrified.
This was already considered a great dereliction of duty and incompetence.
They were deeply afraid of alarming Zhu Youtang.
Hall of Heaven.
Zhu Youtang waved at Zhang Min and said,"Ask Mou Bin and Huai 'en to come over!"”
What kind of thief could make the Brocade Guard and the East Hall in such a big trouble?
Zhu Youtang wanted to ask clearly.
At that time, the palace maid said that there was a thief in the palace, but Zhu Youtang did not care. He thought that Huai 'en would deal with it quickly.
However, two days had already passed.
He, the Governor of the East Chamber, had no choice but to find the Brocade Guard.
The factory guards had worked together to handle the case, but there was still no progress in two days. This made Zhu Youtang somewhat vigilant.
Outside Yangxin Palace Hall.
"Old Cao, you've made me suffer. I shouldn't have accepted this task." Mou Bin cried.”
Wynn wiped the sweat off his forehead." Don't complain anymore. Hurry up and go to the Emperor to receive your punishment!"”
Mou Bin's heart began to beat again.
he is afraid of Zhu Youtang.
Ever since he met Zhu Youtang for the first time, Mou Bin had been reluctant to come to Yangxin Palace Hall.
"This old servant Huai 'en/humble Mou Bin greets the Emperor.”
"This old servant has neglected his duty and deserves to die ten thousand times.”
Zhu Youtang looked at the two of them lying on the Fengtian Hall and waved his hand unhappily.""Stand up and speak. What kind of thief is it that makes the two of you so troublesome? Tell me!"
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