MLMD -Chapter 383 How to Make Money

Looking at Yue Yang in front of him, Zhu Youjian asked casually, as if unconcerned, “Beloved Minister Yue, I’ve heard that you already have one wife and several concubines. Is that true?”

What does the emperor mean by asking this? Yue Yang muttered inwardly, then replied, “In reply to Your Majesty, this humble subject already has one wife and five concubines at home, and three children as well.”

“What? That many already?” Chongzhen was startled. “Last year, when you reported to the Ministry of Rites, you only had one wife and two concubines. How did you gain three more so quickly?”

Strangely enough, Yue Yang had never really respected Chongzhen much, but when this topic came up, he inexplicably felt guilty. He stammered, “Well… um… last year this subject made a trip to Jinling… so… I took three more.”

Hearing this, Empress Zhou—who had previously held a good impression of Yue Yang—slightly furrowed her graceful brows. He’s a decent man, she thought, but how can he be so lustful? So young, yet already with one wife and five concubines. If Meichuo were to marry him, would she really be happy?

If even Empress Zhou thought this way, Zhu Youjian, as a father, had even more misgivings. This boy is so fickle—would Meichuo have any good days if she married him? His gaze toward Yue Yang grew even stranger.

Seeing the couple’s rather “hostile” looks, Yue Yang felt completely baffled. What does it matter to you whom I marry? I haven’t slept with your daughter—why are you staring at me like I owe you a blood feud?

Clearing his throat twice, Yue Yang cupped his hands again. “Your Majesty… Your Highness… do you have any further instructions?”

What he really meant was: If there’s nothing else, I’d like to leave. This meal has been baffling enough, and the two of you are acting so mysteriously that I can’t make sense of it.

Seeing that Yue Yang seemed ready to take his leave again, the imperial couple grew anxious. In a flash, countless thoughts raced through Chongzhen’s mind. In the end, the fate of the realm outweighed everything else. He cast a look at Empress Zhou.

Helpless, Empress Zhou asked, “Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, I’ve heard that your principal wife is a Mongol woman. Is that so?”

What on earth are these two plotting? Yue Yang truly couldn’t figure it out. Why were they so interested in his wives? Still, since he was asked, he answered honestly: “That is correct. This humble subject’s wife is the daughter of the leader of the Mongol Khorchin tribe. She is two years older than I am, and two years ago she bore me a son.”

“Oh, I see.” Empress Zhou blinked, carefully choosing her words.

“In that case… Marquis, you are a noble of Great Ming, sharing the fate of the state. Yet you have taken a foreign woman as your principal wife. If word of this spreads, it may not sound very proper. Would you not agree?”

What does that mean? Are you dissatisfied with my wife? Yue Yang felt displeased. My wife hasn’t offended you, has she? Why are you picking faults and speaking so indirectly?

Just as Yue Yang raised his brows to speak, Empress Zhou continued, “Marquis, please do not misunderstand. I know you and that Mongol woman are deeply in love. What I say is not meant to separate you from your first wife. It is merely that, as a noble of Great Ming, having a foreign woman as your principal wife may invite gossip. For the sake of propriety, perhaps… perhaps…”

At this point, Empress Zhou felt her face grow warm and could not continue. After all, speaking ill of a young couple was hardly befitting the mother of the nation.

Now Yue Yang began to understand. Could it be that this couple wants to arrange a marriage for me?

Seeing that Empress Zhou could not continue, Zhu Youjian grew anxious and nudged her foot with his shoe, urging her to go on. With no choice, she said, “Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, this palace wishes to act as a matchmaker and marry a young lady to you as your wife. What do you think?”

As she spoke, Empress Zhou felt as if fine sweat were forming on her forehead. Usually calm and composed, she now found herself strangely tongue-tied.

“Uh… this…” Yue Yang was stunned. The news came far too suddenly, leaving him completely unprepared. After a long pause, he cautiously asked, “May I ask whom Your Highness intends to marry to this humble subject, and how old she is?”

At this point, Zhu Youjian interjected, “That person is my beloved daughter, Meichuo. This year she is… she is ten… twelve years old.”

“What?!”

Even with all the storms he had weathered, Yue Yang nearly lost his balance at these words. Meichuo—Zhu Meichuo. If he heard correctly, Zhu Youjian meant the famous Princess Changping of history. To be honest, Yue Yang wasn’t particularly averse to the challenge of becoming a royal son-in-law—but the problem was that Princess Changping was only… only twelve years old! No—people of this era counted age differently; she was probably only eleven. In modern times, if the police knew about this, being dragged out and shot would be considered lenient punishment.

Seeing Yue Yang’s mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg, Zhu Youjian added awkwardly, “Of course, the princess is still a bit young. But I think you can first settle the betrothal, and marry when she turns thirteen.”

Yes, under Ming law, girls could marry at thirteen—but… I don’t want to marry a grade-schooler!

Looking at the couple’s earnest expressions, Yue Yang nearly cried. What exactly are these two doing? His own age was about the same as Zhu Youjian’s, perhaps differing by only a year or two. You want me to marry a little schoolgirl—should I be a principal instead?

Seeing Yue Yang’s expression of mixed laughter and tears, Zhu Youjian and Empress Zhou—truly a matched pair—both nervously dug their nails into their palms. At this moment, in a side hall behind a pillar, two figures were also secretly peeking inside.

The one in front was a naturally beautiful young girl. Lightly powdered, charming and delicate, she wore a pale green gauze dress embroidered with butterflies, with wide cuffs edged in white and multicolored peony embroidery, making her look like a painting come to life. Behind her stood a pretty little palace maid in blue robes. Both were peering intently at Yue Yang sitting beside Zhu Youjian. The girl was none other than the future Princess Changping—though for now, her title was Princess Kunxing, Zhu Meichuo.

Looking at Yue Yang seated beside her parents, Zhu Meichuo’s face flushed red. She turned and whispered to the maid, “Zi Ying, do you think Father and Mother will be angry if they find out we sneaked over here?”

The little maid dared not say much and only whispered back, “Princess, in this servant’s view, this future consort looks fairly proper. I’ve also heard he’s a marquis who has rendered great service to the state. He wouldn’t disgrace Your Highness. But since no one has seen us yet, we should hurry back.”

Zhu Meichuo ignored her, pouting in distress. “But I’m not that grown up yet. Why are Father and Mother already marrying me off? I don’t want to leave them…”

Seeing that the princess was about to keep peeking, the maid Zi Ying hurriedly pulled the reluctant Zhu Meichuo away from the side hall, and the two slowly returned to their quarters.

Meanwhile, Yue Yang looked at Zhu Youjian and Empress Zhou with great vexation. He wasn’t stupid; he could guess Zhu Youjian’s intention. The emperor was trying to bind him to the Ming dynasty’s war chariot through marriage. If he refused, it would amount to openly breaking with the imperial house—clearly very unfavorable to him. But should he accept? If he truly became Zhu Youjian’s son-in-law, where would the Ming dynasty’s chariot ultimately go? The more he thought, the more tangled his mind became.

At last, as if having made up his mind, Yue Yang raised his head and said, “I am deeply grateful and honored that Your Majesty and Your Highness would condescend to marry the princess to me. However, there is one matter: this humble subject is already married and cannot cast aside my first wife to climb higher, lest I be scorned by all under Heaven.”

At this, Empress Zhou interrupted, “I have already considered this. If you are willing, after Meichuo marries you, she may stand on equal footing with your Mongol wife as your principal wife. The two will share the same status, with no distinction of seniority. What do you think?”

Yue Yang knew that by saying this, Empress Zhou had already lowered herself to the utmost. A princess of the realm was willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with his existing wife—if he still refused, there would be no path left but open hostility.

Hearing this, Yue Yang clenched his teeth, stepped forward, and knelt on one knee before Zhu Youjian and Empress Zhou. “With such gracious favor from Your Majesty and Your Highness, how could this humble subject dare refuse!”

Though his voice was not loud, it sounded like a huge stone dropping to the ground in the ears of Zhu Youjian and Empress Zhou. This troublesome fellow had finally bowed his head. Zhu Youjian, in particular, was overjoyed. From the moment he arrived today, Yue Yang had constantly tested his nerves. Now he finally dared not bristle anymore. His gloomy expression vanished, replaced by an uncontrollable smile. Beside him, Empress Zhou’s beautiful eyes narrowed into crescents.

No wonder it was said that marriage alliances were the best way to draw closer. Once Yue Yang agreed, both sides immediately felt the distance between them shrink, and everything seemed more cordial. Empress Zhou looked at Yue Yang with the unmistakable gaze of a mother-in-law appraising her son-in-law.

In high spirits, Zhu Youjian waved his hand and called out, “Someone! Bring wine! I wish to drink heartily with Beloved Minister Yue!”

Soon, two eunuchs arrived, each carrying a small wine jar, and filled the cups before the three of them.

Raising his cup, Zhu Youjian smiled at Yue Yang. “I haven’t touched wine in a long time. Today, you shall drink a few cups with me.”

Empress Zhou, however, chided gently, “Your Majesty, this is a family banquet. Yet you keep calling him ‘Beloved Minister.’ Couldn’t you use a different form of address?”

“Haha… You’re right. My fault entirely. Zhenghong—come, let us raise our cups together!”

Hearing Chongzhen even use his courtesy name, Yue Yang could only smile wryly and raise his cup. “Your Majesty, it should be this subject who toasts you.”

With their relationship now settled, Chongzhen naturally viewed Yue Yang differently. Previously, he had been wary, fearing that this fellow might one day go mad and overturn his throne. Now that he was his son-in-law, things were different. Yue Yang had become family—someone trustworthy. Thus, the drinking was particularly pleasant.

Halfway through, Chongzhen, slightly drunk, asked, “Zhenghong, bandits are rising everywhere within the passes, and the court’s tax revenues are nearly exhausted, barely sustaining us. Do you have any good strategy?”

“This…” Yue Yang hesitated. Empress Zhou smiled and said, “Zhenghong, do not worry. We are now family, and this is a family banquet. Speak freely—His Majesty will not blame you.”

“Yes, just speak your mind,” Chongzhen added.

“Very well, then I shall speak plainly,” Yue Yang said, setting down his cup. After organizing his thoughts, he continued, “The problem of Great Ming is actually quite simple: no one pays taxes. During the Hongwu era, our taxes were the heaviest—around thirty-two million shi of grain annually. In the Yongle era, they were slightly lower, but still about twenty-seven million. After that, they declined year by year, until now, when there are barely four million.

Why is this? Has no one been farming? No. It’s because the land has all been taken by officials, gentry, and merchants. Those merchants even take pride in tax evasion. Thus we have rich merchants and a poor court. They pay no taxes, shoulder no corvée, yet the court still spends silver to protect them. Is that not strange? The common people are suffering terribly, nearly starving, yet must bear heavy corvée to support wealthy gentry rolling in riches. How could the court possibly have silver under such conditions?”

The hall fell silent. Chongzhen’s face darkened, and even Empress Zhou frowned. After a long while, Chongzhen asked heavily, “Then what is your solution?”

Yue Yang did not answer immediately, instead glancing at the eunuchs and maids around. Seeing this, Chongzhen said coldly, “All of you, leave. Without summons, none may enter. Disobey, and you’ll be beaten to death!”

After the attendants filed out, Yue Yang raised his cup, drained it in one gulp, and set it down with a sharp clap. “There are two methods. First: make officials and gentry both serve and pay taxes equally. Second—lift the maritime ban. If so, the court would find it impossible not to make money!”

“What?!” Yue Yang’s words shocked both Chongzhen and Empress Zhou. Chongzhen’s eyes turned sharp as he stared at Yue Yang. “Do you know that the Founder left an ancestral injunction forbidding even a plank to go to sea? Yet you urge me to lift the ban—what are your intentions?”

“My intentions?” Yue Yang chuckled, shaking his head. “Your Majesty, are you truly confused, or merely pretending? The Founder imposed the maritime ban because the Japanese pirates were rampant. It was a necessary measure to restrain and punish them. In fact, by the Yongle era, the ban already existed in name only. It was only during the Jiajing reign, after the ‘Ningbo Tribute Incident’—when two Japanese embassies fought over tribute rights—that the court reinstated the ban. With the encouragement of coastal gentry in Jiangnan, it has continued to this day. Why cling so stubbornly to this ancestral rule? Once the ban is lifted, the court gains a vast source of revenue. Do you know how much silver flowed into Great Ming from the West during the Longqing and Wanli years?”

As Yue Yang explained, Chongzhen and Empress Zhou listened intently. Though Chongzhen was emperor, officials had long demonized maritime trade; no one had ever explained these matters to him.

Empress Zhou asked curiously, “Exactly how much silver entered Great Ming?”

Yue Yang smiled and held up three fingers. “From Longqing to Wanli, over those decades, at least three hundred million taels of silver entered Great Ming. Think how much that could accomplish.”

“His—!” Both Chongzhen and Empress Zhou sucked in sharp breaths. Chongzhen could hardly imagine such a sum—perhaps enough to pave all of Beijing.

Seeing Chongzhen’s pale face, Yue Yang continued, “Your Majesty, if the court taxed that silver—even at one-tenth—it would be thirty million taels. With thirty million taels, what would you still worry about? And that’s not all—this would be annual income. Even five million taels a year—how much could the court accomplish? Would you still need to live so frugally?”

Chongzhen was truly shaken. Yue Yang’s words opened a whole new world to him. He had never imagined the maritime ban concealed such enormous profits.

Empress Zhou, however, asked somewhat innocently, “Zhenghong, if maritime trade is so profitable, why do the court officials desperately oppose lifting the ban?” As soon as she spoke, she realized how foolish the question was.

Chongzhen and Yue Yang exchanged bitter smiles. “What else could it be?” Chongzhen said slowly. “Nothing but—self-interest. I truly have been too foolish.”

“Indeed,” Yue Yang sighed. “Perhaps the entire court knows that maritime trade is the most profitable of all. Everyone knows—except Your Majesty.”

“Those selfish, self-serving traitors!” Chongzhen’s face darkened immediately as he spoke.