Chapter 50: Drive the Wolf to Swallow the Tiger

Inside the Hall of Wuyi.

Jiajing sat serenely upon the Daoist platform, cradling Frostbrow in his arms, and gazed at his son who had just hurried over through the rain.

A sneer flickered across his face.

"He, Yan Shifan, actually dares to speak of executing treacherous ministers?!"

Zhu Zaiyi glanced at the cat being held by the old Daoist priest. Perhaps because he hadn't brought any dried fish today, the cat gave him a few looks before appearing somewhat listless.

Upon hearing the old Daoist's words at this moment, Zhu Zaiyi immediately smiled and said, "This time, regarding the candidates for the grand coordinators of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, amidst the fierce wrangling at court, Zhu Heng unexpectedly secured the post, which has likely caught all factions, including the Yan family, somewhat off guard. As for the endeavor of opening the seas in Laizhou Prefecture, having Gao Gong and Yang Jisheng step forward will inevitably breed resentment."

After all, whenever anything was tied to the two words "opening the seas," it entailed endless profits and benefits.

With the maritime trade and smuggling through the capital garrisons in the four regions of Nanzhi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong going on for a century, how could others truly not turn green with envy?

This time, choosing Laizhou in Shandong as a trial site for opening the seas meant that the people of Shandong alone, upon hearing the news, were likely already dreaming of making a thousand pieces of gold a day.

Jiajing glanced at his son and asked, "What did Yan Shifan promise you?"

Zhu Zaiyi immediately answered truthfully, "Yan Shifan said that the Left and Right Administration Commissioners of Shandong, the Surveillance Commissioner, and the Prefects of Dengzhou and Laizhou are all men of the Southeast. Now that the maritime raiders have attacked Laizhou, he can submit a memorial at court to impeach them and pull down everyone who might secretly obstruct the opening of the seas in Laizhou Prefecture."

In truth, this was also the very thing that gave Zhu Zaiyi a headache.

The Left Administration Commissioner of Shandong, Ying Kuang, was a native of Chuzhou Prefecture in Zhejiang. The Right Administration Commissioner, Shi Jian, was a native of Ninghai in Zhejiang.

Meanwhile, the Surveillance Commissioner, Wang Ji, was a native of Suzhou Prefecture in the Southern Direct Administration.

Prefect Zhang Xiang of Laizhou was a native of the Southern Direct Administration.

And Prefect Chen Huan of Dengzhou was a native of Zhenghe County in Fujian.

From the Shandong Provincial Administration Commission down to the prefectural offices of Dengzhou and Laizhou, the officials holding the seals in the main halls were almost uniformly of southern origins.

Jiajing gently stroked Frostbrow under his palm and spoke, "Luo Jiong, the Grand Coordinator of Shandong, is fair-minded, and Surveillance Commissioner Wang Ji can also be considered upright and dutiful in the execution of his office. With them around, the various provincial offices in Shandong would not dare to act too audaciously. What Yan Shifan said to you was merely intended to give you a fright."

Zhu Zaiyi wore a smile. "Your Majesty is wise; your subject thought the very same thing."

Jiajing chuckled. "He has said so much—what does he want? Yan Shifan's style has never been to stir without profit."

At this moment, Huang Jin had already brought tea for the Emperor and casually fetched a soft stool for the Crown Prince.

After sitting down, Zhu Zaiyi replied, "Yan Shifan did not spell it out explicitly, but merely said that his coming to see your subject today was, first, due to Grand Secretary Yan's intentions, and second, because he was willing to exert himself. However, in his words, he did harbor intentions toward the Ministry of Works' commissions for constructing the Jiaozhou port and shipyards."

"He wishes to enter the Ministry of Works?"

A mocking expression surfaced on Jiajing's face.

Zhu Zaiyi nodded. "I imagine that is the case. By entering the Ministry of Works, he could naturally direct construction matters, allowing them to better manipulate matters for their own benefit."

Hmph!

Jiajing immediately let out a cold snort, the sneer on his face deepening. "Does he take the Ministry of Works of the Great Ming Dynasty to be a private estate granted to his family?!"

Having uttered this rebuke, Jiajing looked back at his son.

"He has already made his demands known. If this matter is handed over to you, how do you intend to handle it?"

Zhu Zaiyi's expression remained steady. Knowing that the old Daoist still harbored the intention of testing him whenever matters arose, he spoke in a low voice, "Yan Shifan has already held the post of Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices for five years; by rights, he is due for promotion."

With that, he looked toward the old Daoist, whose expression remained calm.

Zhu Zaiyi immediately changed tack: "However, how can official posts of the imperial court be bartered away as private favors? Even less can a minister use them to make threats!"

Hearing this, Jiajing finally nodded with an expression of satisfaction.

Yet he still offered no verdict, clearly intending to let Zhu Zaiyi continue.

Zhu Zaiyi continued, "However, since we now know what Yan Shifan desires, we can deal with him at our leisure. Since he wants a commission in the Ministry of Works, we must all the more withhold it from him for now. We must keep his appetite whetted, driving him to lock horns with the Southeast faction over the opening of the seas in Laizhou. It would be best if, after a few days when Weng Wanda returns to the capital to take up his post at the Ministry of War, Yan Shifan can be made to clash with him."

It had been some days since the imperial decree was issued recalling Weng Wanda to the capital to assume the post of Minister of War.

By rights, by the end of the month or early next month, he would be able to arrive in Beijing City.

Jiajing wore a curious look and teased, "Since he is a man who never stirs without profit, what if you give him nothing and he refuses to clash with the Southeast according to your wishes?"

Zhu Zaiyi had long since prepared his response. He immediately replied, "Your subject believes it would be best to first promote him to the rank of Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices—which carries the same official rank as the Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries—and additionally grant him concurrent authority to manage and reform the coastal garrisons and naval forces for opening the seas in Laizhou from the capital."

Having finished speaking, Zhu Zaiyi quietly fell silent and sat upright on his soft stool.

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was already a high-ranking court official of the Upper Third Rank.

And the Vice Ministers of the Six Ministries happened to be of the Upper Third Rank as well.

Hearing this proposal, Jiajing's eyes lit up.

Instead of answering Zhu Zaiyi directly, he turned his head and looked sideways at Huang Jin, smiling. "How much longer before Weng Wanda enters the capital to assume his post at the Ministry of War?"

Huang Jin immediately replied, "Your Majesty, military affairs along the Three Frontiers of Xuanfu and Datong have been heavy of late. No matter how fast Weng Wanda travels, he can reach the capital no earlier than the end of the month."

Jiajing smiled and asked, "Guess what the very first thing Weng Wanda will do after returning to the capital and taking up his post at the Ministry of War will be?"

Hearing this, Huang Jin lowered his head silently.

After a short while, having finished his deliberations, he finally spoke.

"This servant believes that he may first submit memorials concerning the affairs of the Three Frontiers, and only then discuss the culpability of the Shandong Regional Military Commission."

Listening to Huang Jin's reply, Jiajing turned his head back to look at his son. "What do you think?"

Zhu Zaiyi gathered his focus and steadied his breath. "Grand Eunuch Huang's words may well be true."

Having said that, he glanced at the old Daoist before explaining, "When Weng Wanda returns to the capital as Minister of War, in accordance with the saying that a new official applies three fires, the things he wished to say but could not while serving in the Nine Garrisons over the years will inevitably be submitted in a joint memorial now, in the hope of gaining Your Majesty's approval. Doing so will also demonstrate his capability as Minister of War."

Having finished these words, Zhu Zaiyi shifted the topic. "And now that Laizhou Prefecture has suffered an invasion by maritime raiders, with countless casualties in Jiaozhou, Weng Wanda, newly appointed to the Ministry of War, will inevitably demand accountability from the Shandong Regional Military Commission to demonstrate his impartiality in handling affairs."

A shimmering light moved within Jiajing's eyes. "And besides that?"

Zhu Zaiyi furrowed his brow slightly. "Aside from that, your subject believes he might seize the opportunity of holding the Shandong Regional Military Commission accountable to drag out and stall the matter of reorganizing and drilling the coastal garrisons and naval forces for opening the seas. As long as these garrisons and naval forces cannot be formed into an army at an early date, merchant vessels sailing out from Laizhou may once again invite attacks from maritime raiders, and thus the endeavor of opening the seas will be endlessly delayed."

Hearing this clear explanation, Jiajing smiled, his gaze filled with satisfaction.

Silently stroking the cat, he said with a smile, "So you intend to promote Yan Shifan to Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, with concurrent duties in reorganizing the coastal garrisons and naval forces for opening the seas?"

Zhu Zaiyi also smiled, a crafty look appearing on his face.

Meeting Jiajing's gaze, he slowly laid out his plan.

"Promote Yan Shifan to Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, giving him a tangible benefit and letting him see a glimmer of hope that he might be transferred to become a Vice Minister in the Six Ministries."

"Then burden him concurrently with the task of reorganizing the coastal garrisons and naval forces for opening the seas, throwing sand into Weng Wanda's eyes before he enters the capital and takes up his post."

"At that time, Weng Wanda will be the Minister of War, yet Yan Shifan will concurrently hold a commission that rightfully belongs to the Ministry of War. How could they possibly live in peace with one another?"

"Your subject's humble measure might be summed up as driving a tiger to devour a wolf."

Seeing that his son had indeed arrived at the very same conclusion he intended, Jiajing was overjoyed, his voice carrying an extra trace of laughter. "A magnificent stroke of driving a tiger to devour a wolf!"

A sharp edge and a calculating gleam flashed across the Emperor's face.

With anticipation and a cold chuckle in his voice, he said, "Since Yan Shifan claims he wants to execute treacherous ministers, let the lot of them go into the same den and fight it out!"