The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror
Chapter 369 - 164: Reading in Solitude, Cultivating Oneself and Regulating the Family (Please Subscribe)_3

Chapter 369: Chapter 164: Reading in Solitude, Cultivating Oneself and Regulating the Family (Please Subscribe)_3

However, in reality, Wang Gong had been exchanging secret glances with Prince Yu, and had effectively become one of Prince Yu’s men.

Nevertheless, Wang Gong supported the reforms.

This was also because Prince Yu himself supported the reforms.

Sooner or later, the world would be his.

No matter what, the reforms could only benefit Prince Yu.

When he takes power in the future, dealing with the Reform Faction elders who had offended various forces would be a matter for later.

After all, with a new Emperor comes new officials. Regardless of whether they belong to the Reform Faction or not, purging former Dynasty elders and promoting officials from the Hidden Residence is definitely the right move.

Chen Fu, on the other hand, didn’t have such an opportunity. While Wang Gong could jump ship, what’s crucial isn’t just that he’s the Minister of Revenue, but rather the Wang Family of South Zhili that stands behind him.

Even though Chen Fu’s family has been officialdom for generations, they can’t compare to the hereditary nobility of the Wang Family.

In the Middle Ages, during dynasties like the Western Jin, families of the Wang’s caliber could be considered one of the Dynasty’s shareholders.

Of course, nowadays, aristocratic families can no longer be as powerful.

Times have changed.

Even so, it determined that Wang Gong, as the Minister of Revenue, had a greater say than previous Ministers of Revenue. His flirtations with Prince Yu also indirectly created opportunities for Chen Fu.

Chen Fu dares not to jump ship, for doing so would surely provoke the Grand Secretary’s wrath. Therefore, he is even more diligent in his duties, naturally gaining more favor from the Grand Secretary.

Cheng Guang possesses the integrity of traditional scholars and serves as the Grand Secretary’s public face, for show. For actual work, reliance on people like Chen Fu is necessary.

As he did his job well, his power naturally increased, and now he could come and go from the Yanyue Hall much more casually.

The Grand Secretary handed over the intelligence regarding Xu Qing to Chen Fu.

After reading it, Chen Fu was equally surprised.

The Grand Secretary asked, "What do you think is going on with Xu Gongming?"

Chen Fu pondered, "This is actually a good thing. To get things done, you need a stable internal environment. If Xu Gongming were to keep causing trouble high-profilely everywhere, it might easily delay the Grand Secretary’s current important tasks. Now he’s withdrawn to study behind closed doors, cultivating himself and managing his household, stabilizing with silence - this is beneficial for maintaining overall stability."

The Grand Secretary said, "He’s chosen the timing well, which makes me wonder if I’m getting old. Can a young man really be this impressive?"

His gaze rested deep upon Chen Fu.

Chen Fu felt as if his whole being was seen through and hastily said, "Xu Gongming must have awakened his innate wisdom, and not to be measured by normal standards of age. Prime Minister is at his prime, and now you’re governing the world. How can Xu Gongming’s glimmer compete with the bright moon?"

The Grand Secretary laughed, "You don’t have to be so nervous. I was just speaking offhand. This crackdown on bandits is actually a probe into Fang Immortal Dao. Mr. Chen, do you still remember the event of the early Dynasty when Zheng He, the eunuch, sailed to the Western Ocean?"

Chen Fu replied, "I have heard a thing or two. It’s said that when Zheng He sailed to the Western Ocean, he was accompanied by tens of thousands of soldiers, and wherever his troops went, all would submit. It was also the time when our Dynasty’s maritime trade was at its peak."

Chen Fu was capable; his knowledge about Zheng He’s expedition to the Western Ocean was different from the common understanding among the Pure Stream faction.

According to what the Pure Stream faction propagates, Zheng He’s voyage to the Western Ocean was about bestowing silk, tea, porcelain, and other goods from the Heavenly Dynasty to foreign nations as gifts to demonstrate the dynasty’s majesty and show the grandeur of a great power.

This sounds quite splendid but subtly indicates that sailing to the Western Ocean was a waste of the people’s hard work and wealth.

The common folk would undoubtedly interpret it this way.

This would give the Pure Stream faction an excuse to prevent the Court from organizing similar expeditions.

In reality, Zheng He led tens of thousands of soldiers on campaigns against foreign nations, conducting business wherever the ships went, bringing back profits from maritime trade.

Moreover, he eliminated the great pirate Chen Zuyi in the Southern Ocean Islands and established a Provincial Governor’s office in an important port in the Southern Ocean to oversee affairs of the Southern Ocean countries.

It can be said that during that time, the Yu Dynasty was the de facto Supreme Emperor of these countries.

However, with the decline of central authority in the Yu Dynasty, combined with civil servants representing vested interests of the aristocracy, the rapid decline of naval strength, the rise of Fang Immortal Dao overseas, and other factors, the Great Yu Dynasty could no longer reap the benefits of maritime trade. Even the Provincial Governor’s office in the Southern Ocean was lost.

Instead, aristocratic families through smuggling, gained tremendous benefits from maritime trade.

And these factions’ officials became firm opponents of opening the seas policy, insisting that the Court choose to continue the maritime ban.

The Grand Secretary said, "Mr. Chen is indeed a key official of the country. This suppression of sea bandits appears to be a protection for the cadastral survey and the implementation of the One Whip Law, but in reality, it paves the way for future maritime trade. The One Whip Law is just a temporary measure."

He sighed, "Even if the One Whip Law is implemented, it would only temporarily increase the National Treasury’s income. At the root of it, it’s exploiting the peasant households’ interests. Hence, life will get tougher for the common people and civil unrest may arise."

"The meaning of the Grand Secretary, your humble official understands. After opening the seas, it will be possible to lighten the taxes, benefiting long-term peace and stability."

"This task is more difficult than the cadastral survey, but no matter what, in the end, it always comes down to governance. Without a clean governance, it’s difficult to implement personnel changes for reform. The case of the former minister, Wang Jingchuan, failed due to personnel issues, which serves as a cautionary tale." The Grand Secretary’s thought process was clear: through various activities, he mainly probed, and amidst the complex struggle, he identified who could be of use, who were staunchly against him, and whom he could potentially win over.

Only after clarifying these matters could he find reliable people and clean up the governance.

If he tried to reform the governance right from the start, how would he know whether the people he used were suitable, if they would hold him back, or harbor ill intentions?

Only through continuous struggles could the line between friends and foes be clearly drawn.

Of course, there might still be those who hide ably, but these struggles are necessary. Otherwise, there would be no way to purify the ranks and thus no way to work with people.

Wang Jingchuan failed because he was too hasty and did not have enough people he could rely on.

And Shang Yang had a new group of military meritocrats to support his reforms.

Taking history as a guide, it is natural for the Grand Secretary to be more cautious.

His actions seem risky and precarious, but in fact, each step is calculated with strategic forethought.

However, planning is man’s job, success is heaven’s decree.

Whether it is possible or not, it all depends on the will of heaven.