Chapter 711: Help from the Heavens

Over the past half month, several ships from Siam, Champa, and Vietnam have successively docked at the wharves of Huangpu Town. After paying tribute and exchanging goods for rewards, these foreign merchants set up businesses in the market streets. Naturally, the merchants already gathered in Guangzhou awaiting the order to set sail flocked over, vying to purchase the goods from these ships. When more ships arrived that afternoon, they initially thought they belonged to some Western nation. Only after realizing they bore the flags of the Ming Dynasty and learning they set sail from Ningbo port the year before last did these merchants calm down.

However, seizing such a group with experience in overseas trade, these shrewd Cantonese merchants didn’t want to miss the opportunity. They chose one person to lead and jointly hosted a banquet at the Eight Directions Inn. Though the one in charge was a limping man relying on a cane, they cared more about business acumen than appearance, so they flattered him eagerly. Amidst the drinking and bantering, Chu the Fat, who had long coveted overseas trade, was the first to probe further.

“Brother Liu, although we’ve both done business with foreigners, we’ve only been merchants based on land. This time you’ve been at sea for a full year and a half—how many places have you visited, and what’s the market situation and product conditions in those countries?”

Liu Da, habitually holding his cane, replied with a smile, “Doing business overseas boils down to four words: boldness and carefulness. After setting sail, I headed straight to Ceylon, sold all my goods except silk to get cash, but didn’t buy any of Ceylon’s specialty gems. I heard that previous ships sold large amounts of silk and bought lots of gems, causing gem prices to soar while silk prices plummeted.

Besides, in our Ming Dynasty, only wealthy merchants and nobles buy gems. If you bring back too much, it loses value. When I arrived in Siam, a princess was getting married, and I sold my high-quality Jiangnan silk at twice the price in Ceylon. On the way back, since the court had brought too much spices like logwood and pepper on previous expeditions, I casually bought some ivory carvings, peacock feathers, amber, sandalwood, etc., and also brought some dyes, using large wooden crates as ballast. When passing by Java, I noticed that rice there was harvested three times a year, so I specifically asked the locals about the secrets to such fertile land…”

Liu Da’s earlier insights made everyone nod in agreement, feeling they had gained a lot. But when he mentioned that rice could be harvested twice or even three times a year, the merchants became less interested. Only one or two asked a few curious questions, while most focused on asking which goods sold best in which countries and what the rulers of those countries preferred. The merchants asked eagerly, and Liu Da answered calmly, unbothered as he shared his experiences. The man and woman sitting at another table shook their heads the whole time.

“Merchants are driven by profit. Telling them these things is like teaching a apprentice to starve the master. Uncle Liu is just too honest!”

“Honest? Our foster father is indeed honest, unlike you! I used to admire scholars, but now I realize it’s you scholars who have the most cunning schemes!”

“Can’t you stop bringing up those old things? They’re in the past now. I’ve completely given up hope. Besides, this time in Champa, if it weren’t for my extra caution, with both sides fighting fiercely, how could we all have returned safely with such a small group? Uncle Liu is a good man, but he only thinks about his own concerns. Having no distractions can be an advantage, but sometimes it’s also a flaw. Just like you—sharp-tongued but kind-hearted, though your words are sometimes still pleasant to hear.”

“Pah, you can’t expect ivory from a dog’s mouth… Hey, who are those over there…?”

Seeing Xi Er’s expression suddenly change as she stared intently in another direction, Fang Rui also turned to look. When he recognized the people entering through the main gate, he was stunned as well. Meeting Zhang Yue was one thing, but how could his younger brother Fang Jing happen to be here too? He almost instinctively stood up, only to meet Fang Jing’s gaze.

After sending Fang Rui away by sea, Zhang Yue, relieved, explained everything to Fang Jing. Fang Jing had always trusted Zhang Yue. As Hanfan declined overnight, he felt both fear and joy. So when he saw his long-lost elder brother, his first reaction was to think he was seeing things. He blinked hard, and once convinced it wasn’t an illusion, he showed extreme joy and rushed forward in two steps at a time.

“Elder brother!”

Since leaving Fang Jing at the Duke of Ying’s residence that year, Fang Rui had only visited his brother a few times, briefly dropping by to leave something and leaving before they could talk much. Now, seeing his brother standing right in front of him, he felt his eyes sting with emotion and didn’t know what to say.

It had been many years since they last saw each other. The shy little boy of once had now grown tall, dressed in a sky-blue round-collared robe with right-side pleats, paired with cloud-patterned silk shoes, looking neat and spirited—truly like a young adult. Compared to the aloofness and dissatisfaction he had seen on his brother’s face when he visited before, the expression on his brother’s face now made him feel much more at ease. Indeed, he had gone through so much trouble only to take a detour.

When the brothers met, Fang Rui didn’t know what to say, but Fang Jing was overjoyed and, not caring to pay attention to others, bombarded him with questions one after another. Eventually, it was Zhang Yue who noticed that everyone else in the inn’s hall was looking over, so he stepped forward to stop the overly excited boy, greeted Xi Er, and then signaled the two to follow him to a small courtyard over there to talk. Seeing Liu Da, who was engrossed in conversation with the merchants, give him a subtle wink, he naturally didn’t disturb them.

For a spacious and quiet place, Zhang Yue had earlier ordered an entire small courtyard to be reserved—three main rooms and two rooms in each of the east and west wings, more than enough to accommodate everyone. He handed his already asleep son to Mother Cui, who came to greet them, and asked her to take some snacks back to share with everyone. Then he pointed to the empty west wing room. Without hesitation, Fang Jing pulled Fang Rui inside. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but smile, thinking that if he hadn’t made up his mind to act quickly after Zhu Gaoxu’s death, it would have been difficult to rescue them.

“Lord Zhang, have you been transferred to Guangzhou Prefecture? Also, I heard from Brother Fang that his younger brother is fully dedicated to the imperial examinations. How coincidental that he came along as well?”

Hearing this voice, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but turn around and examine Xi Er. After so many years, she had shed her former shyness and looked much plumper, but her eyes were clearer and purer than before. She wore a closely fitted slanted-collar top and a white silk skirt, with only her pearl earrings standing out. Seeing her stand there so confidently, unafraid of his gaze, he nodded in approval.

“I’ve just been appointed as the governor of Guangdong. I came to Huangpu Town today to watch the dragon boat race tomorrow. Who would have thought I’d run into you all by chance? As for Little Fang, he failed the imperial examinations last year. I thought it wouldn’t be good for him to keep studying in the capital, so I encouraged him to come along to change his mood. The weather is perfect for heading back now. Why are you stopping in Guangzhou?”

When Xi Er heard that Zhang Yue had now been promoted to a high-ranking official, her face immediately showed an expression of disbelief. She was no longer the ignorant girl who had been unwilling to spend her whole life farming in the countryside and had aspired to rise to higher positions. After spending so many years outside, she had even pretended to be a servant and followed Liu Da to visit various people, so she was no longer unfamiliar with different ranks and positions. Realizing that Zhang Yue was now a high-ranking official, she thought her past aspirations were truly foolish. She blushed slightly and quickly coughed to cover it up.

“Isn’t it all because of that scheming bookworm? He was restless on the ship from the start, always thinking about how to escape back. It wasn’t until we reached Ceylon that he gave up, though he kept mocking us. Eventually, when we encountered pirates, his adoptive father saved him, and then he gradually came to his senses. His adoptive father asked him to help manage matters on the ship. But this guy never gave up. On the return journey from Champa, he suggested stopping in Guangzhou first. As soon as he got off the ship, he heard that the Han regime had fallen, and naturally, he lost all interest.”

Zhang Yue wasn’t surprised by Fang Rui’s attitude. This man had joined the Han King out of anger and self-interest. He might still be somewhat loyal to Zhu Zhanpeaceful, but he certainly wouldn’t stick by Zhu Gaoxu, who didn’t even regard him highly. Still, considering Xi Er’s feelings, he felt a stir in his heart but didn’t press the issue further.

“You’ve been at sea for over a year this time and must have visited many countries. There must be plenty of interesting stories. Since Xiao Fang is stuck with his elder brother and Master Liu is still talking with those merchants outside, you might as well come inside and sit down. Let everyone hear about what you’ve seen and experienced along the way.”

Since Zhang Yue had invited her, Xi Er agreed without hesitation and followed him into the main house. Back when the White Lotus Sect was suppressed in Qingzhou, her voice had been silenced by poison, which also led to her meeting Xiao Wu and Lingxi. Now, seeing Zhang Yue’s family again, though she wasn’t as panicked as before, she still couldn’t help but glance at Du Wan a few times. After all, they used to be the most enviable official family she knew. However, as she talked excitedly about the exotic customs of those places, she gradually forgot about the past and kept talking nonstop.

Neither Du Wan nor Lingxi Hupu Qiuhen were women confined to the inner chambers, but they still had no experience traveling across the country or visiting various nations. Hearing Xi Er describe the customs and practices of those foreign lands, they became utterly captivated, and even the maids were the same. Zhang Yue, on the other hand, listened while pondering Liu Da’s intention to build good relations with those merchants. It wasn’t until Peng Shisan’s voice was heard outside that he stood up, said a few words to Du Wan, and then stepped outside.

It was already the third watch of the night, with a crescent moon high in the sky. Peng Shisan stood outside holding an ordinary oil-paper lantern, with Liu Da right beside him. Seeing Zhang Yue come out, he quickly raised the lantern. Only after seeing Zhang Yue stand firmly did he smile and say, “I listened outside for quite a while just now. It’s the first time I’ve heard that Brother Liu is not only skilled with his hands but also with his words. In just a short while, those merchants outside became completely obedient.”

“It’s not me who did it; it’s because I had other plans, so I had to stay alert and respond appropriately.”

Liu Da first bowed to Zhang Yue. After they sat down in the east wing room, he explained, “They just want to buy the goods I brought back and, at the same time, try to get information from me, so they’re trying hard to ingratiate themselves. After all, my goods are better than those of the foreign merchants, and since I’m a native, they’re more reliable despite being more expensive. However, according to the regulations, I must deliver these goods to the Ningbo Maritime Administration before selling them. I’m not sure if there’s any flexibility now.”

“That’s not possible for now, but you can stay for a few days. Once the imperial decree comes out, it should be fine. I’ve discussed this with the emperor before—the 30% tax rate for sea merchants is too low. Starting this year, with the opening of the Guangzhou Maritime Administration, the tax rate will be 30%, dropping to 20% after three years and 15% after another three years. This rate will apply going forward. All goods leaving port are taxed once at departure, and if they bring goods in upon returning, they’re taxed again. A permit is required to leave port, and upon returning, they can enter at any of the three major maritime administrations.”

“That’s great! No need to sail from and return to the same port, which will save a lot of trouble. I plan to ship goods from Guangzhou this time and take local specialties back to the north. By the way, I’d like to suggest to your Excellency that Ningbo, Quanzhou, and Guangzhou are all established seaports, but they’re all in the south. Since the capital is in the north, we could establish another seaport in Tianjin or Dengzhou in Shandong, allowing maritime communication between the north and south.”

These words certainly touched Zhang Yue’s heart. He nodded and then sighed, “I’ve thought about this as well. After all, the north relies on water transport for grain. If grain could be shipped by sea, the north would surely need to open another port. The emperor has taken note of this and is likely considering it, but since opinions in the court are divided, things won’t go smoothly any time soon. The elders are cautious and find it hard to accept so many changes. Leaving aside that for now, you’ve been away for over a year—have you achieved anything?”
“Of course I have, and not just a little. Moreover, since the lord is now the governor of Guangdong, it couldn’t be better,” said Liu Da. He then took out a small pouch from his belongings and handed it to Zhang Yue. After Zhang Yue took it, Liu Da excitedly continued, “The small kingdoms in the south have summer all year round, with weather similar to that in Guangdong and Hainan. Along the way, I collected many crop seeds and selected some to bring back. These are samples. In my opinion, three-season rice from Java can be grown in many places in Guangdong and Hainan. Even in areas where only two seasons are suitable, other crops can be interplanted.”
Holding the pouch, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but think of the seeds he had asked Zheng He for through Zhang Qian. Although he had tried planting them in his own fields, most of those were tropical crops with low survival rates and yields. Besides, the person who brought back the seeds wasn’t an expert in agriculture. Now, with Liu Da’s words, he saw great prospects and was naturally very encouraged.
“Great! If this succeeds, Guangdong will be free from hunger!”