As Zhao Ce said, history will always move forward, and it is imperative to launch a sea ban.

When Emperor Hongzhi was dealing with political affairs today, he looked at the memorials on the table one after another requesting the lifting of the sea ban, and he just scanned them casually a few times with a calm expression.

After sweeping them, put them aside, put Liu Daxia's on top, and leave them all in the middle.

On the table, there is also "On Sea Power" that I took from Zhao Ce's house yesterday.

It has to be said that Zhao Ce really surprised him every time.

Even as an emperor, he had never thought of the boldness of this "On Sea Power".

Emperor Hongzhi looked more and more frightened yesterday.

However, the more I looked at it, the more I realized there was something really beautiful about it.

However, things cannot happen overnight.

He could only temporarily put aside "On Sea Power" to deal with the current conservatives who opposed the establishment of a sea ban.

Li Dongyang will leave for Shandong in the next two days to preside over the reconstruction ceremony of the Confucius Temple.

He looked at these memorials one after another and said, "I'm afraid the opposition will be louder later."

Emperor Hongzhi smiled.

Xie Qian and Liu Jian had already left today. He left Li Dongyang behind to discuss with him the rebuilding of the Confucius Temple.

Now there are only two people in Nuan Pavilion, the monarch and his ministers.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Master Li, do you think I am wrong?"

Li Dongyang sighed softly.

"To be honest, I have reviewed the previous transactions that our Ming Dynasty conducted with tributary countries every year."

"Huh? What's the result?" Emperor Hongzhi asked knowingly.

Li Dongyang said: "The result is exactly as someone said."

"The huge proportion of profits it brings here is really tempting!"

"It's just because the transaction amount is too small, the profit does not seem to be large."

"If we expand trade, it will definitely bring us a good income for the Ming Dynasty."

Emperor Hongzhi knew clearly about the person Li Dongyang was talking about.

He smiled and said, "Master Li, your words are enough."

Li Dongyang shook his head: "Mr. Liu has a stubborn temper. I'm afraid your Majesty will have to spend some time trying to appease them later."

"If I go to Shandong to be the Chief Envoy, I won't be able to help you much."

After a pause, Li Dongyang said: "If the reaction is too drastic, Your Majesty can delay the opening of the sea ban for some time."

"First stabilize the situation between North Korea and China."

Emperor Hongzhi had always been gentle and got along well with civil servants like them.

What Li Dongyang said was to let him hold off if he really couldn't bear it.

If he is not in the government, many major events will be delayed.

It sounds like Liu Jian supports the establishment of a sea ban, but it’s hard to say what the real meaning is.

Although Xie Qian did not object, he did not express his position at all.

Each of them represents various interests behind them.

Li Dongyang listened to Zhao Ce's comprehensive analysis and consulted a lot of relevant data, so he was willing to fully support Emperor Hongzhi's matter.

However, when people are not in the imperial court, there are always some constraints.

According to past practice, if Emperor Hongzhi couldn't bear it anymore, he would first comfort him.

Later, I will take a closer look at it.

However, this time, Emperor Hongzhi was unusually determined for some reason.

He said: "Master Li, I am sure to win this opening of the sea."

Li Dongyang rarely heard such decisive and straightforward words from him, and he raised his drooping eyelids in surprise.

"Why is Your Majesty so determined?"

Emperor Hongzhi's eyes flashed, but he did not tell him what Zhao Ce told him about the Jinshan Silver Mine.

He said: "Does Master Li still remember what happened on the border two years ago?"

Li Dongyang nodded: "Two years ago, Meng Yuan led his people into our Qinghe Fort in Liaodong, reached Miyun, and turned westward."

"Qiu Fu sent five thousand horsemen to invade Chang'an Fort in Liaodong."

He asked: "Your Majesty is worried that the border defenders are not enough to defend against the enemy, so he is so eager to seek external power?"

"But haste makes waste. It's really not advisable to rush this matter."

Emperor Hongzhi sighed softly.

"I have actually been thinking about the border issues in the past two years."

"At first I wanted to send troops to defend against the enemy, but several masters and Liu Shangshu and others came up to stop it."

"At that time, the Mongols were allowed to plunder our Han land. How many people were killed or injured?"

"We have raised so many soldiers in the Ming Dynasty border area just to resist the invasion of foreign enemies."

"In the end, I could only watch my own people being robbed and killed."

Emperor Hongzhi lowered his eyes and clenched his fists.

He rarely showed his emotions in front of his courtiers like this.

"Every time I think about it, I always feel sleepless at night."

"It is true that what Liu Shangshu said at the beginning was reasonable. Our Ming Dynasty is currently suffering from external and internal troubles, and the generals and horses are far inferior to those in the Taizong period. If you are not careful, the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers at the border will be ruined. It is really not appropriate to go to war."

"However, I set up a nine-border town and raised so many troops, but when the people of the Ming Dynasty needed it, I was unable to send troops to save the people from fire and water..."

Emperor Hongzhi wiped his face with regret in his tone.

"Master Li, I really..."

After hearing his words, Li Dongyang sighed in time.

Although he did not have the intention to defend vigorously at the beginning, he did not say anything to stop Liu Jian and others' defensive strategy.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to blame yourself."

"When it came to the border, defense was the best choice."

"If opening the sea is really useful, the border will also get a lot of benefits."

"When our troops and horses are strong, why should these old Mongolian and Yuan troops be afraid?"

Emperor Hongzhi seemed to be comforted by him and smiled lightly.

"Master Li said that I was confused for a moment."

Li Dongyang smiled and said: "Now that the sea is about to open, your Majesty has been even more busy with political affairs recently."

"You still have to pay attention to rest."

Emperor Hongzhi smiled and said a few gentle words to Li Dongyang.

By the time Li Dongyang left, the expression on his face had completely cleared up.

He casually placed a hand on his thigh and tapped it lightly with his fingers.

After thinking for a while, he ordered: "The leader of the Jinyi Guards, Mou Bin, has an audience."

After the announcement, a tall man with steady steps walked in soon.

The visitor knelt down and made fists with both hands.

"Your Majesty."

Emperor Hongzhi extended his hand and excused himself.

He directly said to Mou Bin: "I have an important thing to entrust to you, and you should handle it yourself."

It would naturally not be a trivial matter if it was left to the commander of Jin Yiwei to handle it personally.

Mou Bin did not dare to neglect and listened to the emperor's words attentively.

"This time we open the sea, you and your people will set off with the official ship."

"The official ship will stop at the Japanese Kingdom. I want you to take people to find two mountain ranges in a place in the Japanese Kingdom."

"..."

Emperor Hongzhi told Mou Bin roughly what Zhao Ce had said to him.

As for the location of the Jinshan Silver Mine, Zhao Ce could only point to a general location.

The details will have to wait until Mou Bin takes people there to detect it before we can confirm it.

Seeing Mou Bin walking out of Nuan Pavilion, Emperor Hongzhi smiled bitterly and said: "Uncle Yong Xi, I hope what you said is true..."
Chapter completed!