MLMD -Chapter 407 Thirsty for Talent

After hearing Yue Yang’s words, Wu Qing shook his head.

“My lord, you overestimate me. I only traveled through Shandong for two years, and I don’t really understand military affairs. You’ve asked the wrong person.”

“Oh?” Yue Yang frowned slightly. “San Shi, could it be that with such vast maritime borders, Great Ming doesn’t have a single person proficient in naval warfare?”

Wu Qing gave a bitter smile. “My lord, you know this as well as I do. Although Great Ming possesses extensive seas, ever since the Yongle Emperor, none of our emperors have truly valued the navy. Coupled with our tradition of valuing civil officials over military ones, we no longer have a navy worthy of mention—let alone people skilled in naval warfare. Still, nothing is absolute. Perhaps you could go take a look at Weihai Guard. There might still be some people there.”

“Weihai Guard?” Yue Yang looked at Wu Qing strangely. “Does Weihai Guard even still have a navy?”

“Well…” Wu Qing hesitated before saying, “I’m not entirely sure either. You could go and see for yourself.”

Weihai Guard was established in the 31st year of Hongwu (1398) to defend against Japanese pirates, its name meaning “to awe the seas.” When Zhu Yuanzhang founded it, his intention was to guard against maritime threats. Initially, it had over eight thousand infantrymen and a naval force. During the Yongle era it reached its peak: Weihai Guard’s navy possessed over thirty large fuchuan ships as its core, along with eagle ships, mother-and-son ships, tower ships, mengchong, fighting ships, haihu, fast boats, and patrol boats—more than two hundred vessels in total. At that time, the Ming navy boasted over 3,800 ships altogether: 1,350 patrol ships, 1,350 warships, more than 400 large vessels stationed at the Xinjian Base in Nanjing, and over 400 grain transport ships, including 250 ocean-going treasure ships. In addition, there were numerous patrol, law-enforcement, and messenger vessels guarding the seas and rivers. The famed Zheng He fleet was in fact only one mobile naval force within this mighty Ming navy, which at the time was unquestionably the strongest in the world.

However, after Zhu Di’s death, encouraged by court officials, successive emperors lost interest in maritime development. By the Hongzhi era, when Western European nations were borrowing heavily from Venetian bankers to build their navies, Liu Daxia—then a senior official in the Ministry of War, who prided himself on mastery of classics, astronomy, and geography—destroyed invaluable navigational records obtained at the cost of decades of life-and-death voyages by Zheng He’s fleets. Such a crime, worthy of the harshest punishment in later generations, was praised by all Ming officials at the time. If Zheng He’s spirit were aware of this, he would surely weep bitter tears.

Recalling the former splendor of the Ming navy, Yue Yang grew lost in thought. After a long while, he sighed softly. “Very well. Let’s go take a look at Weihai Guard.”

Several hours later, Yue Yang and Wu Qing took a boat from Liugong Island under a guide’s direction and arrived at the former garrison of Weihai Guard—only to be greeted by a shocking sight.

Before them lay a vast expanse of open land stretching several miles. Along the coastline stood watchtowers and more than a dozen artillery platforms, but the platforms were empty; the cannons that once stood there were long gone. Behind them stood more than a dozen dilapidated houses, and nearby a dozen poorly dressed women were mending fishing nets.

Yue Yang could hardly believe his eyes. Pointing ahead, he stammered to the guide, “Th-this… this is Weihai Guard?”

The honest-looking guide nodded repeatedly. “My lord, this truly is Weihai Guard.”

“Then… where are the garrison troops? And the navy stationed here?”

The guide gave a bitter smile. “My lord, Weihai Guard hasn’t had a navy for a long time. It was dissolved back in the Wanli era. There were still over a thousand military households scraping by here, but during the Tianqi years the court disbanded them as well. Most scattered to make their own living. Only a little over a hundred who didn’t wish to leave remained, and now even those are few.”

“What… such a thing happened?”

Yue Yang’s emotions churned like an overturned spice jar—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty all at once. He had assumed that even if the navy was gone, the guard households would still exist to defend against maritime threats. Instead, Weihai Guard had become an entirely undefended harbor.

Their arrival quickly alarmed the locals. The women hurriedly packed up and hid inside the crumbling houses. Soon, over a dozen dark-skinned, gaunt men emerged.

One stepped forward, bowing deeply and speaking ingratiatingly. “My lords, may I ask what brings you here?”

Before Yue Yang could answer, Chen Dazhi shouted, “Our lord is the court-appointed Loyal and Brave Marquis and the current Governor of Shandong! He has come on official business—quickly summon whoever is in charge!”

The men instantly dropped to their knees in panic. The leader trembled as he said, “M-my… Marquis… we haven’t gone out to sea in years! Just now… those women were only mending nets out of boredom—we truly haven’t gone fishing!”

“What?” Yue Yang was dumbfounded.

Seeing this, the guide hurriedly explained, “My lord, the court strictly forbids going to sea—not even fishing. If discovered, the lightest punishment is shackles and imprisonment; the worst is execution.”

“There’s such a rule?” Chen Dazhi scratched his head in confusion. “But we’ve heard that merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang trade by sea all the time—no one’s getting beheaded.”

The guide only smiled bitterly and said no more.

Yue Yang stopped Chen Dazhi from pressing further and scolded him, “Enough. I’ve told you to read more, but you never listen. Look how ignorant you sound.”

Chen Dazhi muttered, “If I’d studied, I’d be a general by now.”

Yue Yang frowned. “Is being my personal guard captain beneath you? Should I transfer you elsewhere?”

“No, no—just joking!” Chen Dazhi panicked.

Yue Yang then turned back to the men. “Are you all former military households of Weihai Guard?”

“Yes,” the man replied. “Our ancestors served here. After the guard was dissolved, most left, but we stayed. We only hope to be buried here after death.”

Looking at their ragged clothes, Yue Yang sighed. “Do not fear. I’m not here to arrest fishermen. I’m here under imperial orders to recruit soldiers and craftsmen to rebuild the navy.”

The men stared in disbelief.

“That’s right,” Yue Yang said firmly. “I intend to reestablish the Weihai Guard navy. If you’re willing, you may join.”

The man smiled bitterly. “We are but humble commoners—how dare we speak of serving the state?”

Seeing their caution, Yue Yang shook his head inwardly. Years of maritime bans had instilled deep fear. Trust would not come easily.

“Very well,” he sighed, patting the man’s shoulder. “In a few days, people will come to recruit laborers to rebuild the harbor. The pay will be generous. If you wish, you may help.” With that, he turned away. Rebuilding the navy would indeed be a long road.

Leaving Weihai Guard, Yue Yang headed straight for the prefectural office of Dengzhou.

The prefect, Wei Yingjiang—already past fifty, with a thin beard—hurriedly welcomed Yue Yang. Yue Yang took the seat of honor without ceremony.

“Wei Prefect,” Yue Yang said, “I’ve come regarding the reopening of maritime trade. Dengzhou will be at the forefront. How are preparations?”

Wei Yingjiang’s face fell.

“The governor’s directive was issued two months ago,” Yue Yang said coldly. “Have you made no preparations?”

Wei Yingjiang dropped to his knees in terror. “My lord, it’s not that I didn’t prepare—but the matter is complicated!”

Wu Qing scolded, “Isn’t reopening the seas just issuing notices and letting people fish and trade?”

Yue Yang stopped him and asked gravely, “Prefect Wei, are the obstacles coming from the people, not the officials?”

“Exactly!” Wei Yingjiang wiped sweat from his brow. “In truth, the maritime ban exists in name only. Fishermen still sneak out; officials turn a blind eye. Merchants already sail to Southeast Asia and beyond—the only difference is taxation.”

“So what’s the problem?” Wu Qing asked.

“The merchants don’t want to pay taxes,” Wei Yingjiang said bitterly. “And pirates won’t want the court strengthening maritime defense either.”

At this, Yue Yang nodded. “If Great Ming rebuilds its navy, pirates will have no future.”

Understanding dawned on Wu Qing.

After a pause, Yue Yang asked, “Prefect Wei, how long have you governed Dengzhou?”

“Eight years.”

“Eight years? Aren’t officials rotated every three?”

Wei Yingjiang smiled wryly. “Dengzhou is poor. No one wants this post.”

Yue Yang then asked, “Do you know of any naval commanders or shipbuilders here?”

Wei Yingjiang hesitated, then brightened. “There is one—Guo Jingxian. Formerly a top general under the pirate Liu Xiang. After Liu’s defeat, he surrendered to the court, but with no navy left, he was left idle. He now runs a shop in Laizhou.”

“Is that so?” Yue Yang’s interest was instantly piqued.