The seventh year of Hongzhi (1494), May, Great Ming, Ningbo Port.

Green bricks connecting to white tiles, the layered shops and houses stretch along the port, displaying three hundred exquisite shops. The Three Rivers converge at the estuary, the prosperous "Mingzhou" is right by the river and sea, extending thirty miles of bustling life. And at the end of this flourishing era stands the thousand-year-old Ayodhya Temple, quietly situated in the eastern suburb of Ningbo. At this moment, the morning bell echoes through the tranquil woods.

"Dong! Dong!…"

Shi Wende knelt before the Buddha statue, bowing his head in prayer for a moment, muttering something silently. Then, he stood up, and a servant beside him placed the scholar's black gauze hat on his head, while another servant handed the dean a weighty offering of sincerity. Then, amidst the dean's "earnest" chanting, the three left the temple and walked straight toward the wooden stake where the horses were tethered.

"Master? Would you like some snacks?…"

"No need. Just paid my respects to Buddha, taking advantage of the meditation and Buddha's aura, it's perfect to meet the viceroy. The viceroy's guest house is near this temple, he's fond of bodhi. When we meet, bring up the morning's temple experience, it might foster some closeness and provide a chance to mention that matter…"

"Ah! Master is insightful! All wisdom is blessed by Mazu!…"

"Haha!…"

This comment, though seemingly an ill-fitted flattery, revealed the essence of the Chongming Shi family. Shi Wende laughed and mounted his horse, maintaining a steady pace, leisurely riding for half an hour. The distant harbor emerged once again before his eyes, and the large parked "barbarian vessels" were the source and symbol of astonishing wealth at this port!

"Barbarian vessels, barbarian ships… ships of barbarians, ships of Japanese… But how many barbarian, Japanese ships are there in Ningbo's harbor? Behind these barbarian vessels, there is more or less the shadow of Zhejiang sea lords! Yet, how difficult it is to acquire a paper validation of a treasure trove?… Even if one could traverse overseas, collecting valuable goods from the barbarians and Japanese… wanting to legally bring them back to Ningbo, and openly trade them here… what great struggle that would be?!…"

Gazing at the bustling port, Shi Wende's complex emotions rose and fell with the horse's back. From the Grand Ancestor's ancestral instruction, the Ming enacted a sea ban openly. Legal overseas trade could only occur at the "Ningbo Shipping Bureau" in Zhejiang, "Quanzhou-Fuzhou Ship Management Office" in Fujian, and "Guangzhou Ship Trading Office." Moreover, the trading ships had to be ostensibly "barbarian vessels," namely "overseas barbarian ships," and concurrently possess Tribute validation trade permissions!

Since the Grand Ancestor established the Market Department, the guiding political principle was "exclusively manage tribute goods, treat distant peoples gently, and make four directions submit." Ningbo mainly faced Japan, Quanzhou-Fuzhou faced Ryukyu, Guangzhou faced Southern Ocean vassals, and they must "divide and rule, not allow communication."

In other words, when designing, the Market Department was essentially a diplomatic department! It was not an economic department, nor was it a customs office for import-export trade, trade was never its responsibility!

Hence, from a court political logic viewpoint, if vassals were very compliant, the political goal of "four directions submission" was completed, the Market Department could be closed entirely or overseas trade greatly reduced. And if vassals rebelled, this goal couldn't be accomplished, then the Market Department could be closed, like when Japan's Southern and Northern Dynasties were in turmoil before… this is the most common political consideration behind banning the sea a few times over the past hundred years.

However, over a hundred years have passed, the initially "simple" political design by the Grand Ancestor is no longer in line with the Empire's commercial prosperity! And however stubborn the Imperial Ming's ancestral instruction may be, under prolonged soaking in wealth and interests, various degrees of relaxation will inevitably appear.

Currently, under the management of eunuch officials, the actual functions and tasks of the three major Market Departments have undergone various degrees of changes. The number of "barbarian vessels" trading in the three major Market Departments and ersatz "barbarian vessels" by Ming ships are increasing, far exceeding the permissions granted. Even taxes initially nonexistent have naturally emerged under the eunuch officials' management. Here, the Guangdong Maritime Trade Office takes the lead, creating "Foreign Vessels Water Money," directly distributed through the entire government!

Thus, the extent the sea ban loosening gap could allow a few "barbarian vessels" to trade, how many times they could trade, what percentage of water tax is extracted, whether strictly adhering to "Tribute" frequency is necessary… all depend on the eunuch officials' flexible "bottom line" and "law enforcement standards."

Of course, the basic political principle is that trading "barbarian vessels" must affiliate… no, must possess a valid validation issued to vassal countries by the Ming to avoid "forced enforcement" by the Great Ming Navy. If there is a "Golden Leaf Document" granted by Ming to vassal countries, the space for maneuver becomes even larger!

The leniency in enforcing the sea ban usually inversely correlates with the distance from Shuntian Prefecture and the degree of central control. The Guangdong Maritime Trade Office's enforcement is the most lenient, with the largest scale of "barbarian vessel" trade, and is the most prestigious external posting. The Fujian Maritime Trade Office enforcement is slightly lenient, eunuch officials must be careful. As for the Zhejiang Maritime Bureau, enforcement is the tightest, even a slight mistake could cost someone their head!

"Our Great Ming has been founded for one hundred and thirty years! Zhejiang's population is flourishing, relying solely on the land long divided beyond repair, how could it sustain? And the taxes imposed by the court on Zhejiang far exceed those of the entire nation… Hence, as the coastal Zhejiang people go to sea, it is out of necessity! Just like our Chongming Shi, with that thin island land, how could it ever feed the clan members…"

"However, if there is no validation document, and the Middle Officers manipulate fake 'barbarian ship' trades... Though the clandestine cuts demanded are heavy, compared to the lucrative sea trade, they are still bearable. But the court's laws fluctuate, and the Middle Officers in the Imperial Court come and go... A slight misstep could lead to the destruction of one's family!"

"Just like since the current Emperor's ascension, Chief Eunuch Liang Fang was executed, the 'treacherous officials' were expelled, and 'gentlemen' were trusted, leading to 'virtuous officials filling the court.' The Middle Officers of the Market Department are all anxious, afraid of being impeached by Imperial Censors. The sea trade aperture has also tightened significantly! Especially at Zhejiang Ningbo Port, the Middle Officers cannot make decisions; first, it was controlled by Viceroy Liu of the governor's office. As Viceroy Liu was just transferred to manage the Yellow River, Viceroy Wang came to continue overseeing Ningbo Port!"

"This Viceroy Wang is an Advanced Scholar from the Northern Land, promoted from a border town in Shanxi, reportedly has accomplishments in frontier defense, unlike a virtuous clean official... For the future of my Chongming Shi clan, I have no choice but to take this desperate measure and try to secure a validation document! If unsuccessful, with Taiping Ao Inspection Bureau's increasingly stringent inspections... that sea trade would either have to venture into private trade or be stalled for a few years!"

Considering those bribes unfit for the public eye and that sea trade could only proceed in such a manner, Shi Wende frowned, feeling a sense of walking on thin ice. This was the challenge that most sea merchants of the Ming Dynasty had to face for life!

And once the test fails, if the crime of impersonating barbarian ship trade is judged, not even a thousand jin can bear the weight, the government's guillotine would ruthlessly fall! By then, there would be no other path than abandoning ancestral properties and fleeing overseas!

Contemplating such a tragic outcome, Shi Wende pursed his lips, and his heart raced a bit faster. After all, in the Ming Dynasty, a merchant was merely at the bottom rung. To the government, a sea merchant was tantamount to lawless bandits. The only "righteous path" was...

Before a yard with white high walls, Shi Wende dismounted from his horse several paces ahead. Then, he entrusted the horse to the servant, adjusted his scholar's black gauze hat. Subsequently, he walked gently to the red door at the yard, slightly bowed toward the gatekeeper with a Qin-like appearance, and wore a friendly smile. His hand in the sleeve had already touched a letter, swiftly exchanged with the gatekeeper's hand.

"Student Shi Wende, paying respects to the Viceroy... Three days ago, I already sent a visiting card, scheduling for today."

The gatekeeper squinted, weighed the envelope in his sleeve, then replaced his expression with a smile, responding courteously.

"So it is Scholar Shi! The master has already instructed... Please follow this way!"

Shi Wende followed the gatekeeper into the first courtyard. Later, in a side room, he washed his hands and face, attended by servants to arrange his attire. Here, "attend" was merely a tacit security check. Then a servant served tea and snacks, asking Shi Wende to wait patiently. Usually, depending on status difference, the host might not meet guests immediately or even not at all.

"..."

Shi Wende waited for a total of two hours, drinking two pots of tea. Finally, waiting from morning till afternoon, the steward appeared personally. With a Qin-like appearance from Shan, he smiled as he led the way.

"The master just woke up from his nap and instructed to see Scholar Shi in the study..."

"Yes! It is an honor for a student to see the Viceroy..."

Shi Wende thanked with a smile, then followed the steward into the second courtyard. He proceeded to the third courtyard's plum garden, where he finally saw Viceroy Wang Zhe, the Right Governor of Zhejiang. This Secondary Second Grade official in his fifties or sixties was fully engrossed in reading a book.

"..."

Shi Wende had to stand silently waiting for the Viceroy to finish reading. He waited for half an hour, then cautiously glanced up, seeing the back cover of the book vaguely inscribed with five vertical characters...

"Li Wenxi's Collection."