"Ah! Our Ming Dynasty takes agriculture and mulberry cultivation as its foundation, and pacifying military affairs as its essential task. Yet, sea trade is deemed the source of chaos for all under heaven?!..."

In the courtyard study, upon hearing such words, Shi Wende was greatly shocked, almost unable to sit steadily on the half chair. The reason for his shock was naturally not the saying itself that "agriculture is primary, sea trade is calamitous."

In fact, he had heard the mainstream scholars' rhetoric of "agriculture as primary and commerce as secondary" countless times and quite despised it. These coastal scholar-official families, on the face of it, championed "valuing agriculture and suppressing commerce, and advocating education," but secretly seized lands, merged fields, directed sea merchants and pirates, and seized goods and silver brought back from sea trade without any hesitation!

However, at this moment, for the Zhejiang Governor, the highest official in Zhejiang Province, to say such words to him, a sea trader who barely made it to the scholar rank, the weight of it?! To directly characterize sea trade as the "source of chaos," the implications of reprimand and warning?!...

"Hmm? Sicheng, do you have any misunderstandings?"

"Ah... Student... student listens to the governor's teachings and suddenly feels enlightened! The saint Zhu Xi once said... the most important thing for people is to fill their stomachs... the same applies to the state..."

Shi Wende stammered, saying a few phrases of the "agriculture as basic" rhetoric he heard when debating with others. And the Governor Wang Zhe glanced at the sweaty Shi Wende, laughed, and pointed out.

"Sicheng, Zhu Xi's collected annotations form the basis of our Empire's civil service examination system, it is still something to be studied well... Zhu Xi's original words were 'the basis of examination for the people's livelihood is sufficient food, therefore the state must focus on agriculture and value grain.' And the way of governance lies in 'agriculture as the foundation,' lies in 'stability.'"

"The reasoning within it is also Zhu Xi's study of 'Qi Theory.' From the human principle of 'people base their lives on food,' to the heavenly principle of 'state bases itself on agriculture!' For the people, commerce, luxury, superficial extravagance, all are secondary details. As long as 'restraining desires and cultivating oneself,' can be controlled. Only 'agriculture and mulberry cultivation,' having enough to eat and wear warmly, must be met. Otherwise, there is no way for the people to live, and the state will be in turmoil..."

"Therefore, we follow the teachings of the Saint in governing one region... The primary task is to 'persuade agriculture!' From the second month of each year, we patrol all prefectures and counties of the province, 'extend audiences with local elders, inform and encourage the sons to work diligently in farming.' Such as this time, I started from the provincial capital Hangzhou, have been inspecting for more than two months till now. And opening the Ningbo Port's Market Department is the last stop of my inspection!..."

The Governor's office of Zhejiang Province is naturally in the most critical Hangzhou Prefecture. The mansion of the Right Governor Wang Zhe is also in Hangzhou.

The agricultural production of the Hangzhou-Jiahu Plain has always been a top priority for the entire Zhe Province, it is the most important indicator of the Ming Dynasty's provincial governmental assessment, which must be tightly supervised. And after completing this round of spring plowing inspection, the Right Governor Wang Zhe chooses the commercial opening of Ningbo Port as the last stop of inspection, lingering here for a long time... On careful consideration, it is indeed quite meaningful.

Just as Wang Zhe, after arriving last year, instructed his servants to set up a villa in the commercially opened Ningbo Port which connects with Japan, frequently coming to inspect. For this Governor hailing from Northern Shanxi, who once served in Shanxi as Assistant Governor and guarded against the 'Northern Barbarians' in the borderlands, likely already perceives Ningbo as the largest 'instability factor' of Zhe Province, seen as the most unstable 'border town.'

"Ah! Yes... The governor's teachings are... The learning of Zhu Xi is profound and vast, all-encompassing. Regarding the ways of 'Nature' and 'Qi Theory' in it, I still need to study carefully... For any incomprehensible parts, I will eagerly seek advice from erudite sages like the governor!..."

Shi Wende, full of smiles, sincerely flattering, scooted forward on his seat, sitting only on the edge. Zhu Xi's scholarship has always been the standard answer for the Ming Dynasty's civil service exams, equivalent to the 'national exam's' original text. Yet the truly profound aspects within, how could a sea merchant's son lacking master teachers and family scholarly tradition like Shi Wende comprehend it?

This is not the later world where consulting is developed, wanting to learn some true knowledge for the civil service exams is extremely difficult. Each academy, each prominent family, has a tradition based on the 'original text,' with its own 'annotated interpretation,' namely different 'Shuzhu.'

And the Chief Examiner reviewing the exam papers only needs to glance at the content of the essay, seeing the 'ideology and mindset of Shuzhu,' can most likely guess the examinee's master background and family academic tradition. This kind of 'ideological' judgment would become the main reference for the civil service examination admissions!

Therefore, without joining a famous master, without a family academic foundation, relying solely on the ordinary poor family's 'original text' of the Four Books and Five Classics, it is entirely impossible to become an Advanced Scholar in the Ming Dynasty. No matter how talented in writing, how well the essay is written, if it doesn't conform to the examiner's 'ideology,' the scholar rank would be the highest one could attain!...

As for Zhu Xi's study of 'Nature' and 'Qi Theory,' dividing things into material 'Qi' and 'substance,' and the objective rules above material, 'Theory.' With such a cognitive tool, further researching and explaining every aspect of issues, thereby gave Confucianism a 'major upgrade.'

The most formidable point of this 'Theory' is that it not only includes 'objective rules,' includes 'scientifically unchanging parts,' but also integrates 'human morality,' incorporates 'spiritual transformation parts.' Consequently, 'theory' becomes all-encompassing, pervasive, almost with the flavor of religious doctrines, forming a very complete logical system of things!

The so-called unification of 'Heaven's Way and Human's Way,' from personal 'settling the heart, sincerity, cultivation of self,' to societal 'ordering family, governing state, bringing peace to the world,' can all be included within. The 'Ritual Law' of Confucianism, thus finally reaching completion, can penetrate into every aspect of society! The current Ritual Law clearifies all orders from life to death, its strength to the utmost, sufficient to make all 'Monotheism,' feel ashamed and powerless...

"Hmm... The study of Zhu Xi is broad and profound. Sicheng, if you truly have a heart for learning, the future path of the Saint's way may not be limited to just reaching the scholar rank! ...Of course, my scholarship, compared to Mr. Li, pales in comparison..."

Upon hearing Shi Wende's statement of "diligent study", the Governor Wang Zhe raised his eyelids, glanced at him, and once again placed his hand on "Li Wenxi's Collection". Unfortunately, what Shi Wende could not forget was still the official set tone that "sea trade is the source of chaos".

If this is the set tone, then how should the Shi family's maritime business be handled now? This daily lucrative sea trade cannot really be completely abandoned, right? And if it is abandoned, even though the Shi family has accumulated enough silver and bought enough land, earning a reputable title, without sea trade, they could still sit peacefully as a great landlord.

But how could these two or three hundred "sailors" on the sea be disbanded obediently? These people, who have seen so much quick money, are accustomed to wielding knives and spears, and have no family burdens. If any trouble is stirred up, would it not be blamed on them? They can't just hand over their heads to the official army, can they? It's of no concern if the sailors lose their heads, but if the official army catches a whiff, the Shi family would still have to skin off a layer!

Thinking about these dilemmas, Shi Wende felt truly restless. He licked his dry lips, forced a smile on his face, watched Wang Zhe's demeanor, and cautiously sought advice.

"Governor... I... I once heard someone say that during the Southern Song, sea trade flourished, the people were prosperous, and the tax revenue filled the treasury, so our Ming Dynasty can also emulate this... Ah! Such words must be fallacies and heretical. It's just that many people in the world are ignorant. How should we refute these and make them suddenly awaken?..."

Upon hearing this, Governor Wang Zhe took a deep look at Shi Wende. He lowered his eyelids, pondered for a moment, and then spoke softly.

"Regarding the evaluation of Song people, there has long been consensus among our Ming Dynasty scholars. Si Cheng, since you sincerely seek guidance, I shall, out of respect for your mentor Mr. Liu, offer you some pointers..."

"Firstly, the loss of territory by the Song, leaving future troubles at the borders, while the profits of maritime trade were unable to secure the borders and defend the country. Secondly, the Song used commerce for national needs, domestic politics declined, merchants became increasingly arrogant, and governance could not last. Thirdly, Song people were extravagant with imported goods, indulging in luxury, and lost the elegance of the Central Plains..."

"And among these three points, the most important is the first point! The loss of territory by the Song, isolated to one corner, gradually lost Northern Central Plains! The Southern Song, where sea trade was most prosperous, even established its capital in Hangzhou, completely ignoring the fate of Han people in the fallen Northern regions!"

"This is the biggest difference between the two Songs and our Imperial Ming! The two Songs first set the capital in Central Bianliang, later in Jiangnan Lin'an, though commerce flourished, it did not aid national affairs, and rather gradually declined in power. Whereas our Imperial Ming, setting the capital in Shuntian Prefecture, the Emperor guarding the national gate, focuses on the Great Wall borders, Liaodong Northwest, which remains our Imperial Ming's main concern!"

"However, Northern regions are barren, life is difficult for the people, compounded by frequent barbarian invasions. I was born in Shanxi, and since I have memory, every year we prepared for barbarian raids. Where the marauders passed, no person or livestock was spared. In the 14th year of Zhengtong, the Wala army invaded southwards, and Yingzong personally led an expedition north, which resulted in the disaster at Tumu Pass!... Later, when I served as Shanxi Governor Assistant, presiding over defense against the barbarians, I saw once more the barbarian threat in the Northwest..."

"Northern battles are continuous, troops stationed at Nine Borders, grain self-sufficiency is difficult. Jiangnan's money, grain, and silk absolutely need to be transported to the border, only then can the provisions and supplies be adequate! Therefore, when our Imperial Ming devised national policies, not only was Jiangnan considered, but also areas north of the Great River, the Nine Borders such as Shan, Jin, and Liao, and the North Zhili protecting the Imperial City! These two capitals and thirteen provinces, they are indeed united as one north and south..."

"To balance north and south, the Grand Ancestor not only imposed heavy taxes on Jiangnan, but also introduced the 'Kai Zhong Fa'... this was to support northern border affairs with Jiangnan's money, grain, and silk!"

At this point, Governor Wang Zhe's gaze was profound. As a scholar from Northern origins, having governed both the poorest Shaanxi and the wealthiest Zhejiang, he understood better than anyone. The extent to which the wealth of the south and north of the Ming Dynasty was imbalanced! One could say, the money, grain, and silk output of Hangzhou Prefecture alone, surpassed that of the entire Shanxi province.

But since Ming Taizong set the capital in Shuntian Prefecture, the Ming Dynasty has focused on the northern borderlands as its core, using North Zhili as the "head", and Liaodong and Ganshan as the "arms". As for Jiangnan, its role was as the logistics base for "grain and silk". To put it bluntly, it was the "butt".

This transport "butt" needs to heed the "head", obediently farming and weaving, handing over money, grain, and silk. Jiangnan should not have excessive political power and status, nor should it have too many military forces! Otherwise, with power, resources, and military at its command, wouldn't it just cultivate a second "head"?! By then, would this second "head" still obediently act as a "butt" paying money and grain?

If, like during Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean, sea trade was greatly opened, with Southern Zhili establishing thousands of ships, tens of thousands of naval forces, frequently venturing out to sea on a large scale... not to mention the consumption of southern money and grain affecting transport to the northern borders. The sheer unbalance of the Empire's economic and political structure, with the south outweighing the north, an inverted power hierarchy... the political structural issues this brings, would be immense! Should we relocate the capital back to Southern Zhili from North Zhili?...

Of course, this imbalance in political considerations between north and south, the scholar-officials, especially those from the north, although understanding in their hearts, it was hard to speak so plainly. At this moment, Governor Wang Zhe spoke in a gentle tone, but with stern expression, offering an indisputable conclusion.

"With the opening of sea trade, Jiangnan becomes even wealthier, and the north appears even more destitute. And as Jiangnan prospers, the 'Kai Zhong Fa' gradually fails, the grain transported to the Nine Borders diminishes. If this continues, the border will inevitably languish waiting for supplies, deteriorating the border affairs, and North Zhili will also find it difficult to remain stable!"

"During my inspection of Zhejiang, I discovered many prefectures and counties have converted good fields from rice to mulberry, and the output of grain is increasingly reduced. The pursuit of profit by people, disregarding national interests, indeed leaves me deeply concerned!"

"The Song people took Jiangnan as their base, abandoning the north, hence they greatly opened sea trade... whereas our dynasty takes the north as its base, if Jiangnan's sea trade opens, the people would cunningly pursue profit, Japanese disturbances would plague the seas, and it would undoubtedly lead to endless trouble!!..."