The world of film and television begins with the God of Medicine.

Chapter 1548 Change your destiny
"I heard you run a fleet of ships with Hu Zongxian?"

After eating and drinking a few glasses of wine for a while, Hai Rui asked this question.

No secret stays hidden forever. The fact that Zhao Zhenji learned of the news earlier meant that the upper echelons were already aware of it. Now that even an official of Hai Rui's rank has heard about it, it indicates that the information has spread widely, and it also suggests that something bad is about to happen…

Before Wang Yan could answer, Hai Rui continued, "When I first arrived in the capital, you went to Tongzhou to pick up the ship. Was that the gift that Hu Zongxian sent to His Majesty?"

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "What else have you heard?"

Hai Rui shook his head, and Wang Yongji continued, "Ziyan, I have heard some things. Before the New Year, Generals Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang came to the Shuntian Prefecture to see you. Some people say that the two generals also got involved in your fleet with Hu Zongxian."

"We're all on the same side. Since it's already spread this far, there's no harm in telling you all about it."

Wang Yan said, "This matter was facilitated by my desire for overseas goods, Hu Zongxian's desire to save his life, and His Majesty's desire for money. After the matter was settled, the Imperial Guards confiscated the ships of several wealthy families in Zhejiang. Qi Jiguang selected and trained some new recruits to serve as sailors and naval personnel, and also allocated some military equipment from various sources. Then, we began maritime trade with Southeast Asia."

Yu Dayou joined the effort after being transferred to the position of General of Guangdong. His Majesty ordered him to train the navy, specifically to oversee the construction of ships and expand the naval force. The two of them came to me together to seek my advice and to cooperate with Hu Zongxian in making development plans for this year.”

Hai Rui asked, "What about the current fleet...?"

"More than three thousand men, with a force of over a thousand, are enough to dominate the South Seas. We are not afraid of anyone who comes. My goal for the fleet is to expand to three thousand men this year."

Wang Yan smiled as she looked at the two who were somewhat taken aback by the discovery of such a hidden detail. "So you understand?"

"Understand what?" Wang Yongji was still a little confused.

Hai Rui was quite quick-witted. He said, "Someone deliberately spread this rumor to create a stir."

"Those big families along the coast?" Upon hearing this, Wang Yongji finally understood.

"Xu Jie, Yuan Wei, Yan Ne, Li Chunfang..."

Wang Yan read out a long list of names, all from the southern coastal areas, and said, "Whether these people were involved or not, they are not innocent."

Hai Rui seemed to have learned something new: "Is that how you distinguish them?"

“I’ve always made this distinction. Why bother differentiating them one by one? That’s too tiring. All officials from the Southeast can be considered as instigators of this incident. Whether they are innocent or not, there’s no need to dwell on that.”

"This is partisan infighting!"

Wang Yan was puzzled: "Isn't this always been the case? South and North, East and West, the capital and the provinces, when has it ever been without factions fighting each other? There's only so much grain growing in the fields, and everyone wants a bigger bite. What can we do without fighting? If we share food from the same pot, everyone will go hungry."
"Leaving aside distant examples, take Shuntian Prefecture for instance. Didn't I also rob the powerful and wealthy before the common people had a much easier life? Isn't this just factional strife? It's simply that no one is forming a faction with me, no one is helping me, I'm the only one fighting them, isn't it all the same? If we're really talking about it, my accomplice is His Majesty."

Remembering Zhao Zhenji's words, Wang Yan added, "I am His Majesty's subject."

Hai Rui was speechless. He realized that all the big principles were in Wang Yan's hands, and that whatever Wang Yan said made sense.

Wang Yongji asked curiously, "So how did you deal with it?"

Wang Yan shook his head: "Brother Runlian, you are completely wrong. It's not about how I should respond, it's about how His Majesty should respond! They're not targeting me, are they? Everyone knows I'm His Majesty's pawn. They're targeting His Majesty! A bunch of traitors!"

……

Jiajing glanced at the indignant Wang Yan, and Lü Fang said, "Just answer whatever they ask you. How will they make their move?"

When asked how to respond, the desired answer is, of course, how to deal with it. This is the advantage of being in a position of power: transmitting pressure downwards…

Wang Yan seemed to ponder for a moment before speaking: "Your Majesty, I think it's nothing more than the Japanese pirates causing more trouble. They're not a big deal to begin with. How much more trouble can they cause? Surely not all the people in the southeast will become Japanese pirates? At most, there might be a few more peasant uprisings, but they won't create much of a stir."

Your humble servant believes that Yu Dayou, Qi Jiguang, Liu Xian, and others should be permitted to recruit new soldiers to expand the army and deal with the scourge of the Japanese pirates. Furthermore, 40,000 troops from the capital garrison should be dispatched, with 10,000 stationed in Shandong and 30,000 in Nanjing. This would both safeguard the Central Plains and exert pressure on the southeast.

With a large army stationed in Nanjing, they could also use their military might to collect "cleaning fees" in Yingtian Prefecture, conduct land clearing and population checks, and promote the new paper money. The soldiers in the Beijing garrison were already accustomed to using the new paper money in the capital, so it wouldn't be a problem for them there. With these two prefectures operating in tandem, supporting each other, these three initiatives could be directly promoted throughout the Central Plains.

Once the Central Plains are conquered, and the entire Ming Dynasty is thoroughly cleansed, this great land will once again be radiant and prosperous. In fact, we won't even need to wait until the entire Ming Dynasty is cleansed; conquering the Central Plains alone will be enough to destroy the northern tribes like Altan Khan, and then it will be a golden age of peace and prosperity. Your Majesty's achievements surpass even those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Taizu of Song.

Jiajing wanted a solution, and Jiajing provided one. Judging from the current situation, it really is a good time. Many things can be resolved by taking advantage of this unrest in the southeast.

As for the claim that the capital was being emptied due to the withdrawal of troops from the Beijing garrison, that's untrue. As long as there are enough weapons, Wang Yan can muster 100,000 troops in Shuntian Prefecture within a week.

Moreover, even if 40,000 were transferred, the three major camps would still have 100,000 troops. Even if those who were drawing salaries without working went there, there would still be at least 60,000 troops. At this time, the Ming Dynasty's regime was stable, and there was no major unrest among the people, so there was absolutely no chance of any major chaos.

Even if powerful and wealthy families wanted to rebel, it wasn't something they could just do on a whim; they had to consider the practicalities. In Shuntian Prefecture, no matter how much they talked, not many ordinary people would join them in rebellion, and that was only considering the possibility of some truly foolish people. Ordinary people with sound minds wouldn't follow suit.

After all, this is the most difficult period of their lives, and even the most difficult period passed down through generations, yet it is also the best time they have ever lived. So many prosperous times in the past have not been as good as their current lives…

Jiajing snorted: "A mere prefectural governor, having only been in charge of Shuntian Prefecture for a few days, dares to presume to talk about military affairs?"

Wang Yan immediately slid to his knees: "Your Majesty knows me well. I am straightforward and young, and when faced with a problem, I tend to confront it head-on. The current situation is stable, which is the perfect time for internal military action. It is impossible for the whole country to rebel. With a large army in hand, how could they possibly turn the world upside down?"

"Shuntian Prefecture is fine, but other places are not." Jiajing sat cross-legged on the platform, his voice still full of vigor. "The army's departure requires money, and it's being poured out like water with little effect. If the southeast is truly in chaos, how can the nation remain stable?"

“Your Majesty is absolutely right. Your Majesty sees the whole land, while I only see what is in front of me.” Wang Yan skillfully changed the subject. “In that case, Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should first let Yu Dayou and others expand the army and prepare for war, so as to deal with any changes as they occur. Those treacherous officials may be able to stir up some waves, but they cannot capsize the treasure ship of our Great Ming.”

As for the expenses incurred in expanding the army… I imagine the Cabinet and the Ministry of War would not agree to such an expenditure. To share Your Majesty's burden, I will halt some of the projects in Shuntian Prefecture and allocate one million taels of silver to support this effort. However, I believe it would be more appropriate to issue paper money for this purpose. The Royal Bank could be established there to handle the exchange of gold, silver, and copper, just as it was initially done in Daxing. Gradually, the people will become accustomed to using the new paper money.”

"Do banks have that much gold, silver, and copper now?" Jiajing asked the key question.

Emperor Jiajing was a very intelligent man, and he had already figured out the various problems with the new paper money. He knew that once the Imperial Bank was overrun and unable to redeem cash in silver and copper coins, the new paper money would collapse, and the entire situation would completely fall apart. Just like the paper money before it, panic would spread, and the Ming Dynasty would face a major money shortage, the consequences of which would be quite terrible.

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "Your Majesty, there is plenty of money in the banks. Because of the interest subsidies on deposits, people are willing to deposit their copper coins here."

"They're still willing to take copper coins? They've also earned several years' worth of new paper money. Doesn't depositing paper money earn interest just the same?" Jiajing was somewhat puzzled.

But then he realized, "It's because more and more people are accepting paper money, making it easier to do business and turn over cash. Merchants outside Shuntian Prefecture also recognize it, and they don't have enough paper money in their hands."

"Nothing escapes the master's discerning eye," Lü Fang flattered smoothly.

"Your Majesty is wise, that is indeed the case. I have intentionally controlled the amount of paper money issued, making it very stable. Moreover, before the New Year, I spread the word that a copper mine had been discovered in Shanxi, with vast reserves. At the same time, the banks have begun to crack down on counterfeit coins. As a result, copper coins have recently begun to appreciate in value."

"Shanxi? Copper mines?" Jiajing frowned.

Lu Fang said, "Your Majesty, this is something Wang Yan has been doing for a long time. The Imperial Guards also participated. They searched for two years and found a copper mine in the Zhongtiao Mountains of Shanxi."

Jiajing nodded; this wasn't a big deal. He didn't even ask about the reserves, because the key wasn't the amount, but the existence of the copper mine and the fact that the reserves were 'very large.' That was enough.

The price of copper dropped, but copper coins were scarce, so the exchange rate remained one-to-one with the new paper money. However, at the same time, the crackdown on privately minted copper coins meant they were no longer considered currency, naturally increasing the value of copper coins. So what happened to the copper ingots that were no longer considered valuable, and the large quantities of privately minted copper coins held by wealthy individuals?

Privately minted copper coins could certainly be indistinguishable from genuine ones, but the proportions of materials used were incorrect. Since ordinary people couldn't tell the difference, they didn't want copper coins, but only paper money…

Of course, this would take some time, but in any case, Wang Yan would eventually exchange the banknotes for more copper. He then minted more coins and sent them to Fujian and Guangdong, where he would travel around again.

This is something you can't prevent, since the law is in Wang Yan's hands and the military is in the hands of Yu Dayou and others. Anyone who dares to cause trouble and refuse to pay compensation will really lose their head.

Only the common people suffered no losses, since they didn't have much savings. Those in Shuntian Prefecture had already deposited their money in banks to earn interest, and they barely had any copper coins left…

And so the matter was settled. Jiajing thought for a moment and said, "I heard that Prince Yu has caught a cold recently. Go and take a look at him."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will go immediately."

Wang Yan bowed and took his leave, then turned and left Yu Xi Palace.

Lu Fang came out to see him off again, and Wang Yan said, "Please rest assured, Your Excellency, I understand the rules. Remember that steward of the Wang residence named Feng Bao? He is Your Excellency's godson. If there is anything, I can tell him directly, and I guarantee Your Excellency will know immediately."

"That's what I mean," Lü Fang sighed. "These are turbulent times, so you must be cautious in everything you do."

"Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law. I have been attacked and killed more than a dozen times, and I am already numb to it." Wang Yan laughed heartily. "They are far from being able to kill me. They can't kill me with their private schemes. The only way they can kill me is to rebel. Then they will definitely die before me."

"Don't say such unlucky things," Lü Fang said with a smile. "I have some good news that will make you happy."

"Father-in-law, please speak."

"Yan Shifan returned to his hometown without permission, acted arrogantly and domineeringly, harmed innocent people, and even had the intention of gathering a crowd to rebel..."

Wang Yan burst into laughter: "He's courting death. That old dog Yan Song probably won't live much longer. When that time comes, I'll send people to become bandits and rob all their silver."

"Nonsense! His Majesty remembers the good things about Yan Song and Yan Shifan. To be honest, Yan Song has had a tough time over the past twenty years. Stop thinking about their money."

So Wang Yan changed the subject: "Eunuch, is the Wanshou Palace finished? When will His Majesty move there?"

“After all, I was planning to go into seclusion today to choose an auspicious day,” Lü Fang replied with a smile.

Wang Yan nodded knowingly; they were going to use him, Wang, to draw attention again...

Emperor Jiajing and Wang Yan worked together seamlessly. Whenever something happened, Jiajing would go into seclusion, and Wang Yan would naturally go out and cause trouble for others. As the saying goes, anyone who could cause Jiajing trouble was already in the capital; dealing with one would expose a whole string of others.

Wang Yan was the acting magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture, and all of them were within his purview. He called Yan Song an old dog, but in reality, Wang Yan himself was a dog; he would bite anyone who crossed Jiajing.

Chaos is about to break out, and it is the perfect time for Jiajing to go into seclusion. If things end quickly, he can stay in seclusion for ten days or half a month; if things drag on, it doesn't matter if he stays in seclusion for half a year, since he won't be attending court anyway.

To be honest, Emperor Jiajing was really fortunate to have Wang Yan. Otherwise, in the original drama, he would have been very old and nearing the end of his life by this time. Unlike now, he is still full of energy and in excellent health.

She practices strength exercises all day long and eats according to the diet plan set by Wang Yankai, so she is very healthy.

If I had to point out something, it would be that Jiajing's alchemy practice was flawed. By now, after several iterations, the various heavy metal toxins have been eliminated, and the main benefits are health maintenance and a degree of hallucination, making people feel energetic and healthy after consuming them.

This actually did cause some harm to Jiajing, but Wang Yan mitigated it by administering medication on one side and detoxifying on the other, thus achieving a semblance of balance. Furthermore, he had been spending money freely and without constraints or worries for the past two years. With a peaceful mind and clear spirit, his body naturally remained in a relatively good state.

Based on the current situation, Wang Yan estimates that Jiajing will live for another ten or eight years...

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