My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Zheng Zhilong blushed and nodded with a wry smile:

“Your Majesty is wise… but there are a few tough nuts to crack. They are all old brothers who have followed me through thick and thin. Now that there is peace and no more fighting, their spirits have risen, but their discipline has fallen apart. If I punish them severely, I fear it will chill the hearts of my old subordinates; if I let them go, I fear it will break the rules of the navy.”

"Then let's use this 'sea escort' pretext to send them all to the vassal kings to serve as mercenaries."

Zhu Cilang's words were understated yet piercingly incisive.

"If they achieve merit, it's a blessing for the vassal king and a benefit for the court; if they perish overseas, it's their fate and the vassal king's job. In the end, the navy will be quiet. Father-in-law, can you understand this calculation?"

Zheng Zhilong was taken aback at first, then his eyes gleamed, and he slapped his thigh so hard he almost knocked over the cup on the table:

"Brilliant! Your Majesty is truly brilliant!"

His voice trembled with excitement.

"How could I not have thought of this! These troublemakers are beyond my control under normal circumstances, but the princes can! Sending them overseas to serve the princes will not only clean up the navy, but also preserve my relationship with my old subordinates... Your Majesty's wisdom is profound, I... I admire you!"

Seeing his father-in-law's look of sudden realization and relief, Zhu Cilang's lips curled up slightly, and he resumed his gentle tone:

"By the way, how's it going with my brother-in-law?"

"Return to Your Majesty."

Zheng Zhilong immediately replied:
"Success on Pi Island is excellent. We have set up checkpoints along the island chain exactly as His Majesty ordered, and merchant ships can pass through without hindrance by paying a 'peace fee'. Now, the waters around that island are bustling with merchants and no pirates dare to invade anymore. Pi Island has become the first solid barrier for the Ming Dynasty's maritime borders."

"Hmm, well done."

Zhu Cilang nodded.

"And what about the Japanese?"

Mentioning Japan, Zheng Zhilong's expression instantly turned serious, and he lowered his voice, saying:
"This is exactly what I was about to report. Since Your Majesty destroyed the Jurchens and recovered Taiwan, the Japanese have been terrified. The Tokugawa Shogunate is now closing itself off from the world, seemingly retreating, but in reality, it is secretly building ironclad ships and training its troops and cannons day and night. I have learned that they seem to have anticipated this and are preparing for the Ming Dynasty to punish them in the future."

"Scared?"

Zhu Cilang sneered, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"That's natural. A good start prevents a hundred blows. However, I'm not in a hurry about Japan."

He paused, his tone becoming calm and unhurried:
"Let Chenggong continue to collect his peace fee as usual, and ignore the Japanese's petty tricks. In two or three years, when my railway is completed, we will settle the score then. At that time, I will give them an even bigger 'surprise'."

"Two or three years..."

Zheng Zhilong pondered this timing, a chill running through him. He understood that the Emperor was waiting for the Ming Dynasty's own industrial strength to mature, intending to use a more thorough and crushing approach to deal with Japan, rather than waging a costly amphibious landing war now.

Just then, hurried yet gentle footsteps came from outside the hall.

The eunuch Ma Bao hurried over and reported in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is feeling unwell, likely due to a cold caused by the dryness of autumn. The imperial physician has already gone to take her pulse. The Emperor Emeritus requests your presence."

Zhu Cilang's expression tightened, and he immediately stood up:

"Father-in-law, little sister, please eat first. I'm going to visit my mother."

Zheng Xiaomei quickly stood up, her face full of concern, but she didn't follow, instead obediently replying:
"Your Majesty, please go quickly. It is rare for Father to come to the palace. I will accompany Father for a meal."

Zhu Cilang nodded and left in a hurry.

Only the father and daughter remained in the pavilion.

Zheng Zhilong looked at his daughter, and seeing that no one was around, lowered his voice and earnestly instructed her:
"Little sister, His Majesty is now the most powerful man in the land, and he is busy with countless affairs of state. But you must remember that the most important thing is to have offspring. You must produce an heir for the royal family as soon as possible and give birth to the eldest son. Only in this way can your position be as stable as Mount Tai, and only then can our Zheng family stand invincible in this court."

Listening to her father's words, Zheng Xiaomei recalled her husband's tenderness towards her earlier, and the way he had personally poured tea for her father. Two blushes instantly rose on her cheeks, and she lowered her head shyly, replying in a voice barely audible:

"Father... I understand."

A few days later, reports from the Ministry of Works flooded into the Qianqing Palace like snowflakes.

Shipyards across the country have completed more than a thousand warships of various sizes, which are sufficient in terms of both transport capacity and firepower to support a transoceanic expedition.

On this day, Zhu Cilang, in the West Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, did not make a big fuss, but calmly wrote down an imperial edict, which was then issued through the Office of Transmission:
"The princes in the capital are permitted to set sail and go to their fiefdoms in Annam, America, and North America next spring."

The imperial decree caused an uproar in the capital, but the reactions from all sides were quite different.

First were the regional princes.

Ever since receiving the "list of military supplies" with clearly marked prices, and after witnessing the power of flintlock muskets and hot air balloons after the Emperor's birthday celebrations, this group of the most elite members of the Ming Dynasty's imperial family had been unable to contain themselves.

Now that the imperial decree has been issued, the entire royal family circle is in an uproar.

The Chu King's Mansion, the Zhou King's Mansion, the Lu King's Mansion... carriages shuttled between the post stations.

The princes no longer spent their days in restaurants and teahouses, but instead busied themselves recruiting refugees, selecting retainers, and taking stock of their belongings.

For them, the capital city was a good place, but they were subject to the control of the imperial court and had to endure the disdain of the upright officials.

Now, being able to go overseas and become a "local tyrant," possessing one's own army, fiefdoms, and trade privileges, is like transforming from a caged bird into a tiger in the forest.

Overjoyed beyond measure.

Secondly, there were the court officials.

When Hong Chengchou, Li Banghua, Ni Yuanlu and other cabinet ministers saw the imperial edict, they exchanged knowing glances.

No one objected, and no one even said a word.

They all breathed a sigh of relief in private.

These "ancestors" in the capital consume astronomical sums of rice, brocade, and silver every year, and they also frequently cause trouble for local officials by occupying land, seizing people, and violating regulations.

Sending them overseas now, while taking away some troops, also completely rids them of a huge financial burden and a potential threat to stability.

This is a win-win situation, so who would bother to obstruct it?

Finally, there were the people of the capital.

Compared to the officials' "relief," the public's reaction was more direct and enthusiastic.

In the teahouse, the storyteller, striking his gavel, was no longer reciting the Investiture of the Gods, but rather newly composed tales:
"When the coming year arrives, our Ming princes will sail on their grand treasure ships, leading thousands of elite soldiers and the 'Divine Iron Fortress,' and with a thunderous roar, they will smash down those overseas red-haired devils' castles! Our Ming princes are going overseas to conquer the world!"

The tea drinkers below the stage cracked melon seeds, whispered among themselves, and wore expressions of relief that "we've finally sent these old men away" and pride that "our Ming Dynasty reigns supreme over the world."

"That's right. With these princes gone, the price of rice in the capital will be two coins cheaper."

"Hey, as long as there's no war and they can make money, they can go anywhere!"

November has arrived.

The north wind whipped up snowflakes that pelted the glazed tiles of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, making a soft, rustling sound.

The bronze cranes and tortoises in front of the hall were covered with a layer of white snow, and from a distance they looked like some huge white birds and beasts crouching on both sides of the steps.

The setting sun peeked through the clouds, casting its last rays of light and bathing the entire Forbidden City in a vast, pale golden-gray hue.

Zhu Cilang stood by the window on the second floor of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, one hand behind his back and the other gently resting on the window frame.

A crack opened in the window, and a cold wind blew in, causing his clothes to flutter slightly. But he seemed oblivious, his gaze fixed on the distance, beyond the palace walls, beyond the gray rooftops, beyond the snow-covered Qiongzhou Island, all the way to the horizon.

There was nothing on the horizon.

Only lead-gray clouds hung low, so low they seemed to be touching the ground.

He stared at it for a long time.

Behind him, a thick stack of memorials was piled on the imperial desk, the ink of the imperial annotations still wet.

The memorials came from all over the country. The governor of Beizhili reported a bumper harvest, saying that although there was a spring drought this year, the sweet potatoes were drought-resistant and the yield per mu was still around two thousand jin, so the people were able to get through the winter safely.

The Liaodong military commissioner reported that the land reclamation efforts had yielded excellent results, and that the Liaodong people who had been in exile for many years were gradually returning. Last year, 300,000 mu of land were reclaimed, and another 200,000 mu were added this year. The granaries were full, and the sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard everywhere.

The Grand Canal Transport Commissioner submitted a memorial stating that the canal was operating smoothly, all the grain transported from the south of the Yangtze River had been transported north, and there had been no disturbances by the canal workers along the route. There was not a single piece of bad news.

Zhu Cilang's lips twitched slightly, it was hard to tell whether it was a smile or a sigh.

But he knew this was just the beginning.

"Your Majesty, it's time for dinner."

Ma Bao's voice sounded from behind, cautiously, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Zhu Cilang did not turn around:

"Wait a little longer."

Ma Bao dared not say more, and bowed as he retreated to the door, like a shadow nailed to the corner of the wall.

Zhu Cilang's gaze remained fixed on the hazy horizon.

His mind was racing with numbers, the year-end settlement just reported by the Ministry of Revenue: 60 million taels of tax revenue for the year, plus war spoils, confiscated property of rebels, and accumulated reserves in the Imperial Treasury, totaling 160 million taels of silver in the national treasury and the Imperial Treasury combined.

160 million.

Is the amount of silver a bit exaggerated?
Zhu Cilang has finally decided to do what he has always wanted to do!
That was the Industrial Revolution!
And he has now fulfilled the three prerequisites needed for the Industrial Revolution!

The first prerequisite was the political premise, which he achieved.

The factional strife ended, the nobles became obedient, and the emperor's orders were strictly enforced. Once an imperial decree was issued, no one dared to outwardly comply but inwardly defy it.

The second prerequisite, the economic one, has also been met.

The Imperial Bank of the Ming Dynasty had established a nationwide network, and its paper money circulated freely throughout the Ming Dynasty. It collected 60 million in taxes, had 160 million in reserves, and supported a huge population with sweet potatoes and potatoes...

Those aren't just numbers; they represent real labor, tens of millions of ordinary people who are no longer starving.

The third technological prerequisite has also been achieved.

The steam engine has been running for more than three years, and cement roads have been paved from the capital to Tianjin, Nanjing, and Liaodong, making horse-drawn carriages travel quickly and steadily on them.

All three prerequisites have been met.

Zhu Cilang took a deep breath, and the cold air filled his lungs, making him feel refreshed.

"We can begin."

He said to himself.

He returned to his desk, unfolded a huge sheet of Xuan paper, picked up his brush, and dipped it in ink.

That wasn't ordinary paper for memorials; it was specially ordered from Xuanzhou, measuring three feet long and two feet wide, and when spread out, it took up almost half the tabletop.

The paper was covered with dense writing, repeatedly erased and revised, with some areas having several layers of ink overlapping, thick like a scar.

That was a plan he had repeatedly considered and revised over the years, a complete roadmap for the Industrial Revolution.

The first step is to lay the foundation for the system.

Standards, patents, and education are the three pillars that support this foundation. Interchangeable parts, incentives for technological inventions, and skilled workers who can read blueprints and understand numbers are all indispensable.

The second step is demand-driven.

Using state orders to feed heavy industry—coal, steel, cement, machinery—these things don't make money at first; someone has to pay for them first.

The biggest buyer of the Ming Dynasty was the imperial court itself.

The third step is the financial closed loop.

Money cannot be printed indiscriminately; every banknote printed must be backed by substantial industrial output.

Bank loans should flow to factories, mines, and roads and bridges, and should not be left to circulate aimlessly on land and grain.

The fourth step is social diffusion.

Industrial products are going to the countryside, and agriculture is being upgraded, so that every ordinary person can feel the changes. Cloth is cheaper, farm tools are easier to use, roads are better to travel, and there is hope for the future.

But these are not the most difficult parts.

Zhu Cilang placed his brush on the inkstone, his gaze falling on the lower right corner of the paper, where there was a line of small characters, written very lightly, as if afraid of being seen.

How can imperial power coexist?

He stared at that line of text for a long time.

Historically, the Industrial Revolution and imperial power have never truly coexisted.

The Glorious Revolution in England saw the monarchy rendered power ineffective, while the French Revolution saw the monarchy overthrown.

When capitalists have money, they want power; when they have power, they want to overthrow the emperor.

This logical chain sounds impeccable.

But Zhu Cilang did not believe it.

It wasn't because he was a time traveler, but because he felt that something was missing from that logical chain: the binding of interests.

Why do capitalists overthrow emperors?

Because the emperor blocked their way, the emperor took their money, and the emperor didn't give them a chance to speak.

What if they find that the emperor doesn't block their way, doesn't rob them, and even gives them opportunities?

What if they discover that overthrowing the emperor is not only unnecessary, but could also cause them heavy losses?

Zhu Cilang picked up his pen, drew a large circle below the line of small characters, and then wrote four characters inside the circle.

"Dividing interests."

It was not that imperial power opposed the Industrial Revolution, but rather that imperial power became the largest shareholder and institutional designer of the Industrial Revolution.

He closed his eyes, and a clear image appeared in his mind.

Royal Holding Company is the nation's largest coal, iron, arsenal, and cement road company. The royal family owns 51% of the shares, while merchants and ministers own the remaining 49%.

The more they earn, the more the royal family gets.

They were the emperor's partners, not his enemies.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry convenes representatives from various industries to discuss matters such as industry and commerce taxation, road construction, and mining.

The emperor did not hold elections; he appointed officials.

They could submit memorials, offer suggestions, and complain, but they had no decision-making power; the decision-making power always remained in the hands of the emperor.

Industrial nobility, a new system of titles.

Anyone who can improve existing tools and production equipment and whose work is recognized by the market can be granted official titles and ranks. They have no fiefdoms or armies, only money and titles.

Their glory was bestowed by the emperor, and their wealth depended on the imperial order.

And there's ultimate force.

The most elite musketeers, artillerymen, and future steam tank units were directly commanded by the emperor.

The Royal Navy holds absolute control over all the arsenals.

Anyone who dares to harbor ill intentions will be taught a lesson by the Emperor using even more advanced weapons! (End of Chapter)