Chapter 89: Setting Sail

Chapter Eighty-Nine: Opening the Sea

Shi Changhen spoke: “The court’s expeditions to the Western Seas greatly elevated the prestige of the Han Chinese, and because of Grand Eunuch Zheng’s undertakings, the status of Han people in the Southern Seas improved. Before this, the sea routes to the West were dominated by the Hui, and even the countries of the Southern Seas were all Hui states.”

“For Han merchants to conduct trade in the Southern Seas, it was impossible without the support of the Hui countries.”

“Even Grand Eunuch Zheng’s voyages to the West were not bloodless.”

“But now the court has no intention of sending expeditions to the Western Seas, and the countries of the Southern Seas know this. When the court marched south in the past, they did so without relying on force; the Hui would not see this as mercy, but as weakness.”

“With the court’s warships no longer reaching the Southern Seas, the Hui naturally harbor intentions of striking back.”

“My ancestor foresaw this trend long ago. Unless the court maintains its Western Seas fleet indefinitely, once the court withdraws, the Hui’s counterattack would be more than our Shi family could bear.”

“That is why my ancestor passed the fleet to my father and left the Old Port to my aunt.”

Zhu Qizhen, listening, recalled the battles fought during Zheng He’s voyages and understood what Shi Changhen meant by the decline of the Chinese in the Southern Seas.

The root cause of this decline ultimately lay with Zheng He.

Zheng He’s greatest battle was the elimination of Chen Zuyi. Shi Jinqing himself had once been Chen Zuyi’s subordinate. The Shi family’s strength was far inferior to Chen Zuyi’s.

But Chen Zuyi was a pirate.

In this era, however, merchants were often also pirates. It is hard to precisely distinguish between pirates and sea traders.

Eliminating Chen Zuyi was not necessarily a mistake; after all, Chen Zuyi’s own conduct left much to be desired. But by eliminating him, the Ming court merely replaced him as the protector and patron of the Chinese in the Southern Seas.

At that time, Zheng He himself was a Hui and prioritized harmony, getting along well with the various countries. In other words, the power of the Hui did not wane; it may even have grown.

The reason is simple: tributary trade replaced the previous commercial system.

The Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties all had deep maritime trade traditions, so the traditional trade routes of the Southern Seas were dominated by the Han. The policy of seclusion, coupled with the institution of tributary trade, meant that private commerce naturally became the greatest casualty.

Of course, where there’s a main road, there’s also a footpath.

Han Chinese maritime traders were tenacious and not easily deterred by political constraints. Although the Ming sea ban was not as severe as in later times, it was still very real.

In fact, these maritime traders continued to develop rapidly.

One might label them collectively, but that does not mean these Han maritime traders were truly united; indeed, their internal strife was often fiercer than their struggles with outsiders.

Thus, the Shi family’s decision to intermarry with the local Hui and enter their trading networks was perhaps not a poor choice.

The Ming’s voyages to the Western Seas always relied on the Old Port, which served as an indispensable hub—the Ming’s transit station for the Western Seas. The Ming may have abandoned their interests here, but the Hui certainly would not.

Zhu Qizhen had never considered the rise and fall of the Southern Seas from this perspective before. In truth, the power of trade alone is formidable. Why are there so many Hui states in Southeast Asia? Is it not the result of Arab maritime commerce?

Zhu Qizhen regarded Shi Changhen with increased esteem and said, “Minister Shi, I imagine you have already guessed my intentions. Indeed, though the Old Port is the Shi family’s Old Port, the basis of your family’s hereditary position is that the Old Port is the Ming’s Old Port Pacification Office.”

“If the Old Port is no longer our Ming’s Pacification Office, then there is no need for the Shi family to exist.”

“The Celestial Empire of the Ming gives and takes away as it pleases; what is given to you can also be taken back. Your aunt fails to understand this.”

Shi Changhen immediately knelt and said, “Your servant was born a subject of Ming and shall die a spirit of Ming. My loyalty is witnessed by Heaven and Earth.”

Zhu Qizhen smiled faintly and said, “Rise. Whatever you say, I will not believe it, but I shall give you a chance. Reclaim the Old Port, and as for your future, just be sure not to err through your own doing.”

Shi Changhen replied, “Rest assured, Your Majesty. As long as I live, the Old Port will remain Ming’s Old Port.”

On this point, Shi Changhen spoke with utter sincerity.

If nothing else, the Ming’s Western Seas fleet still stationed at various coastal ports had not been destroyed, merely idled. Shi Changhen had witnessed the overwhelming might of the Ming fleet; it was not something they could ever hope to oppose.

Zhu Qizhen said, “Tell me, how do you wish me to support you?”

Shi Changhen answered, “I ask only two things of Your Majesty. Grant me these, and I shall immediately return and retake the Old Port.”

Zhu Qizhen asked, “And what are these two things?”

Shi Changhen said, “I beg Your Majesty to issue a decree of investiture.”

Zhu Qizhen replied, “That is easily done.”

This was something Zhu Qizhen would have done even if Shi Changhen had not requested it. A single document—though Zhu Qizhen’s power was constrained by the Empress Dowager, he was, after all, the Emperor. On major affairs of state, he would be advised, but such an overseas appointment could be made without her approval.

Shi Changhen continued, “I ask that the Old Port Pacification Office be exempt from the restrictions of the ‘permit system’ in its dealings with the court.”

Zhu Qizhen’s expression darkened. “You mean you wish to open the seas?”

Shi Changhen realized he had gone too far and hastened to explain, “Eunuch Wang has said before that the court cannot deploy its main forces at this time. However, my second aunt commands several thousand private troops at the Old Port and has ties with Samudera and Majapahit, and can mobilize tens of thousands. I have several dozen warships and over a thousand soldiers at sea, but we are no match for them.”

“If I may borrow strength—if Your Majesty permits this plan, I will not need a single coin from the court to reclaim the Old Port, and will return tens of thousands of marines to the service of the empire.”

Zhu Qizhen asked, “Is maritime smuggling truly so rampant? Or is it, as they say, there have always been Japanese soldiers but never Japanese pirates?”

Upon hearing this, Shi Changhen shivered and knelt again. “None are more sagacious than Your Majesty. Though there are base men who disguise themselves as pirates, we who make our living at sea would never dare affront Imperial might.”

Zhu Qizhen could not make a decision at once.

To open the seas was a matter of utmost gravity.

It was an ancestral institution.

As stated before, not changing the ancestral system is itself a form of filial piety.

Zhu Qizhen had not yet formally taken the reins of power, yet he had repeatedly tampered with ancestral institutions—whether effective or not, the political implications alone were troubling.

He fully understood the interests at play.

Shi Changhen only needed this policy to rally the Southern Seas’ maritime traders, who would then fight desperately to retake the Old Port and use their status as residents there to trade with China.

As for where the goods they bought in China ultimately ended up, that was hard to say.

Nor would the Shi family need support from the mainland to hold the Old Port. The maritime traders of the Southern Seas would strive to keep this gateway open, and even the Hui might not dare touch it.

The reason was simple: while the Hui might lose the route from China to the Old Port, the routes from the Old Port westward to India and Arabia remained under their control.

All under heaven labor for profit, and all flock to profit—it is only natural.

Moreover, these Han maritime traders would become the Ming’s future assets in managing the Southern Seas. Zhu Qizhen could not help but be tempted, but he feared the resistance, especially from the court itself.

It was not something to be accomplished quickly.

Zhu Qizhen changed the subject. “Let us set this matter aside for now. Your name, however, bears too much bitterness.”

Shi Changhen immediately understood and said, “I beg Your Majesty to bestow a new name.”

Zhu Qizhen said, “Your father’s grievances will surely be resolved. From today forth, you shall be called Shi Changan—may the Old Port, under your family’s stewardship, enjoy lasting peace and stability.”

Shi Changhen—now Shi Changan—replied, “Your servant obeys.”

Zhu Qizhen consoled Shi Changan briefly and dismissed him. He then sent orders for Yu Qian, Zhang Zhong, Jin Ying, Ma Shun, and Ruan An to gather at the Hall of Heavenly Purity. If Liu Dingzhi had not already departed for the northwest, he too would have had a seat in the hall.

Once all were assembled, Zhu Qizhen instructed Wang Zhen to repeat Shi Changan’s words. Then he spoke, “This matter is of great consequence. I cannot decide alone. Gentlemen, what counsel have you for me?”