Chapter 21: Resolving the Maritime Ban

“Your son dares not accept the emperor’s generous praise.”

As the Jiajing Emperor spoke so highly of his family’s prodigy, Zhu Zaizhen quickly bowed and declined the compliment.

But Jiajing waved his hand, a smile unwavering on his face.

“Across the realm, among princes of your age, how many can truly see through the matters of the south and north as you do?”

He was genuinely pleased.

And truly satisfied that the Crown Prince possessed such vision and wisdom, his grasp of affairs was far beyond ordinary.

Seeing the old Taoist priest so delighted, Zhu Zaizhen no longer hesitated to refuse, only smiling as he lowered his head.

He accepted the elder’s praise.

Jiajing then joyfully struck the bronze chime on the Taoist altar.

A resonant hum filled the air.

Only then did Jiajing speak in a clear, hopeful tone: “Since the Crown Prince understands these two matters, if you were to take action, how would you handle them?”

At that moment,

Jiajing’s heart suddenly grew calm.

His son had recently brought him so many surprises and unexpected insights.

Even if he did not know how to handle these two issues presently, it was not a problem.

After all,

the Crown Prince was only fourteen years old.

Jiajing was no ambitious man who sought lofty and unattainable goals; as long as his son remained sharp in governance, he could teach him how to command the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming.

However, at this moment, hesitation stirred within Zhu Zaizhen.

But facing the emperor before him,

Zhu Zaizhen could only focus and reply: “Your son is dull-witted and unfit to discuss state affairs. Yet since the emperor asks, I must answer. I believe that the current matters concerning Fujian and Zhejiang with the provincial inspector Zhu Wan, or the defense of the three border regions under Governor Weng Wanda, must all be handled against one’s will.”

“Against one’s will?”

Upon hearing these words, Jiajing, who had not expected much, suddenly brightened.

He adjusted his posture, making himself appear more solemn on the altar.

“Against one’s will? Then how should one proceed?”

Zhu Zaizhen’s expression darkened: “The provincial inspector Zhu Wan, overseeing Fujian and Zhejiang as well as maritime military affairs by imperial edict, has stirred discontent among the military and civilians, causing unrest. His duties are difficult, and as he has been impeached by court and local officials, he should be stripped of his dual provincial post, recalled to the capital for investigation, and the position abolished to calm the unrest in these provinces.”

After speaking on the coastal maritime ban,

Zhu Zaizhen continued: “The nine border regions are as weighty as Mount Tai; the memorials and advice from the civil and military officials there directly affect the security of the capital’s defenses. Governors, provincial inspectors, and commanders’ requests relating to border defenses should be approved. Those who dare to offer counsel should be rewarded by imperial decree to encourage loyalty.”

Having finished,

Zhu Zaizhen bowed deeply and looked up at the old Taoist priest.

“I have thus completed my report, Your Majesty.”

At this moment, Jiajing’s face grew serious, and the calm within him stirred once more.

The Crown Prince’s words truly seemed the best course.

If such decisions were made, all turmoil and impeachment within the court would dissolve like mist; the court would regain peace, and he himself could find tranquility without the constant clamor.

But soon, Jiajing asked in a complicated tone, “This method you call ‘against one’s will’—if I do not wish to act against my heart but follow my true will, what then?”

After asking, Jiajing leaned slightly forward.

He wished to listen more attentively, to hear what more his son could say.

Zhu Zaizhen lowered his head: “If one does not act against one’s heart, then Zhu Wan, by imperial command to handle Fujian and Zhejiang as he sees fit, acts only for the state’s benefit and commits no fault. The officials in the capital and provinces who dare to impeach him should be reprimanded by imperial decree.”

“To prevent harm from befalling Zhu Wan, imperial guards such as the Jinyiwei should be dispatched for close protection. To guard against greed born of maritime smuggling in Zhejiang and Fujian, veteran generals and nobles residing in the capital should be sent to those provinces, commanding Nanjing’s garrisons to remain vigilant, while the commanders and officials of Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Guangdong are ordered to secure the borders firmly.”

“Select officials in the court who have no dealings with these two provinces as reserves; should unrest arise, immediately question provincial officials and dispatch trusted officers to govern locally.”

This approach was essentially intent on overturning the situation in Zhejiang and Fujian entirely, leaving no stone unturned.

He went on: “Regarding the three border regions of Xuanda, stabilizing the people’s hearts must come first. Based on reports from Governor Weng Wanda and his military officers, the Ministries of War and Revenue should jointly allocate funds and supplies.”

“Reward merits and services to Weng Wanda and other officials at the border, as well as the three orphans and the three tutors and young masters of the Eastern Palace, generously bestowing titles and honors. Such heavy rewards will surely summon them back to serve in the capital, in positions ranging from ministers of the six ministries, commanders of the five armies, governors to even members of the Grand Secretariat.”

“Assign trusted officials to command border garrisons and train the capital’s troops to replace the border forces. Rotate garrison troops from Henan, Shandong, and Hebei to the capital for training, aiming to fully substitute the soldiers and officers at the three border regions.”

“This will take years, even decades, but eventually the border garrisons will be under the emperor’s full control, and no one will be able to rely on bandits or wield border defenses to assert their own power.”

Even Zhu Zaizhen believed the border affairs should be approached gradually, with border fortifications as the foremost priority.

Thus, if the court truly wished to handle the nine border regions, it could not be reckless but must advance by retreat.

Even appointing powerful border ministers into the cabinet was not excessive.

As long as they were removed from the border, their influence would diminish over time.

Then, by reorganizing and training the capital and northern provincial troops, these border commanders could be dismantled.

On the altar, Jiajing slowly closed his eyes.

He leaned back and sighed deeply.

Zhu Zaizhen was left somewhat bewildered, glancing sideways at Huang Jin, who stood nearby.

Huang Jin smiled and shook his head, signaling to the Crown Prince to remain calm.

This chief eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial bore a sincere smile.

He was inwardly gratified.

First, for the emperor—after all, the heir to the Eastern Palace now showed such talent and ability; the future would surely not be bleak.

Second, he truly believed that under such a sage ruler, the Ming would prosper.

On the altar.

Time passed, unknown how long.

Jiajing sighed once again, rose, opened his eyes, and fixed Zhu Zaizhen with a steady gaze.

“These days, I have often said you resemble me deeply, that my son has grown into a prodigy.”

“But these were all my hopes, and also…”

“And also a father’s earnest expectations of you.”

Jiajing’s smile was pure, radiating from within as he said, “But today, I truly feel my son has come of age!”

Hearing these words, Zhu Zaizhen finally exhaled in relief.

He stepped forward and softly said, “Your son is dull, and these years since Your Majesty moved to the Western Garden, though I cannot daily ask after you in person, I have not forgotten the way you govern the state, from which I have gleaned some understanding.”

Jiajing waved his hand, smiling, “Among all fourteen-year-old youths in the realm, whose son could be wiser than mine?”

After this rhetorical question,

Jiajing rose happily, descended from the altar, and before Huang Jin’s eyes, grasped Zhu Zaizhen’s wrist.

Such intimacy made Zhu Zaizhen’s eye twitch.

But he dared not move rashly, only allowing the elder priest to lead him out of the inner palace to the high platform outside the main hall.

There,

Jiajing stood atop the hall’s platform, gazing forward.

“The method you call acting against one’s will, I will not choose. And the method of following one’s heart at will is truly unusable. As a father, I now feel perhaps my son has another way beyond these two, the most suitable way to handle these two matters currently?”

Unconsciously,

Jiajing had changed the way they addressed each other during their time together.

Zhu Zaizhen, perceptive, turned slightly to face Jiajing and smiled: “Father, I believe the nine border matters should proceed gradually. Remove those with selfish ambitions from the border posts, even if it means giving them positions as ministers or elders in the capital.”

Jiajing smiled upon hearing this.

Zhu Zaizhen continued, “Besides this, the border issues cannot be rushed. We should first complete the training and reorganization of the capital troops and the garrisons in Hebei, Henan, and Shandong. Select capable nobles to shoulder important duties, and from the army, regardless of background, carefully pick a batch of new officers and commanders. When a loyal and capable group of soldiers and officers is formed, they can replace today’s border forces.”

Jiajing smiled again: “Oh? My son thinks those nobles in the court, whom the outside world calls pigs and dogs, can still be entrusted?”

Zhu Zaizhen almost lost composure at the sudden remark but drew a deep breath and replied: “Nobles share the fate of the nation. Though after the Tumu Incident they are not as reliable as in the founding days, they are still more trustworthy than ordinary court officials. These are extraordinary times; we must make the best of what we have.”

Jiajing nodded: “And what of the southeast? What do you truly dare to propose? Surely you do not expect me to slaughter people in the coastal provinces?”

The nine border regions must be stabilized above all.

Therefore, Zhu Zaizhen’s greatest concern now was indeed the southeast coast.

He spoke softly: “Your son believes…”

“Since the maritime ban is difficult to enforce, perhaps it is better to open the seas and lift the ban?”