"The Grand Ancestor established the laws, Taizong determined the capital, our dynasty is rooted in the North... Yes... Indeed! The guidance of the governor is enlightening! The student is truly... enlightened... enlightened!"

In the study, facing the guidance of Governor Wang Zhe, Shi Wende was in a daze, nodding repeatedly, unable to utter a single extra word.

The Saint's principles, the policies of the Grand Ancestor and Taizong, and the governance of the Ming Dynasty, all pressed together, how could he even dare to say "no"? Yet, in his heart, he still couldn't completely agree.

After all, the governor kept emphasizing "agriculture first, commerce second", "unity of the South and North", "common people pursuing profit", "merchants clever and deceitful"...

But in these years of Shi's family's sea trade, they've interacted with farmers, merchants, pirates, scholars, soldiers, officials, and various people. The direct experience he gained, what he saw and heard, was starkly different from the so-called "Saint's righteousness" that the governor spoke of!

The governor said, "Encourage farming and pacify the people." But in Zhejiang, the population flourishes, and scholars widely annex land, leading to more and more farmers with little or no land, with tens of thousands of suffering commoners. When people don't have fields to farm, how can one "encourage farming" and how can one "pacify the people"?

Just like the "sailors" recruited by the Shi family, aren't they all forced to go to sea for a living because they can't survive by farming? Zhejiang is slightly better, while further south in Min, it's predominantly mountains with little farmland! There are more sea lords in Min, the number of common folks dying in foreign barbarian lands in the South Ocean is incalculable!

Moreover, "changing rice to mulberry" reduces grain production. In Zhejiang's various prefectures, the villages that truly grow mulberry on a large scale are all places where the scholars and large households most aggressively annex land, aren't they? In practice, the bulk of sea trade profits end up in the hands of the "local tyrants" who supply and receive goods, all in the hands of those noble families!

And according to the Ming Dynasty law and unspoken rules, scholars have titles for protection and various connections, thus not paying taxes... Hmm? No, that's not right! My Shi family now holds the title of Scholar, barely able to squeeze into the tail end of the scholar ranks!...

Shi Wende fell silent for a moment, Wang Zhe stroked his beard without speaking, and the study instantly fell into silence. This silence brought more pressure than when the governor spoke. So, Shi Wende maintained his smile, keeping a humble student posture, and asked for guidance.

"Governor, you just said, the peace in Zhejiang does not rely on sea trade, primarily on encouraging farming... May I know specifically how to carry out this encouragement?"

"Hmm... The Saint's learning puts encouraging farming first. Zhu Zi once wrote an 'Encouraging Agriculture' text, which detailed the key points of 'encouraging farming'. Si Cheng, you must memorize this 'Encouraging Agriculture' text well... In our dynasty, the first evaluation for Advanced Scholars is 'loyalty and righteousness', second is to see how familiar they are with the study of 'encouraging farming'…"

Governor Wang Zhe, stroking his beard, shifted to speaking about academic matters, which surprisingly made him a bit gentle. Being eager to teach and guide newcomers, this is one of the most "heartwarming" relations in Confucian culture at this time.

"Regarding the matter of encouraging farming, besides government oversight, there are three key aspects. First is 'spring air is abundant, earth wakes', 'soak and transplant seedlings, deep plow and shallow seed'. Each prefecture and county must assign officials to educate farmers, ensuring adherence to farming seasons, and promoting meticulous cultivation to secure the yield of the fields."

"Second, 'though farming is the primary occupation, millet, beans, hemp, wheat, vegetables, and tubers are also edible'. Jiangnan focuses on rice cultivation, dry lands can grow millet, mountain areas can grow hemp, beans, vegetables, ponds can cultivate tubers... Need diverse crops to prepare for spring famine…"

"Changing rice to mulberry is harmful to the country and the people, not only due to the reduction in rice harvest, but also because mass weaving consumes excessive labor, easily delaying other miscellaneous grains and fruit harvests... This reduction continues, Jiangnan may end up not self-sufficient in grain, instead relying on Hu Guang for supplies! And we must know, the world's money and grain are fixed in amount! Money aside, grain cannot afford to be further reduced!"

At this point, Governor Wang Zhe furrowed his brows, a flash of anger in his eyes. This spring's inspection of Zhejiang's fields and certain people behind the scenes left him quite dissatisfied.

For a traditional Advanced Scholar from the Northern Land like him, the thriving commodity economy in Jiangnan, especially the profit-driven sea trade, makes the country's grain increasingly insufficient. As Hu Guang's grain pursues profits, shipped largely to Jiangnan, the grain reaching north of the Yellow River decreases, or the costs rise significantly. Jiangnan not growing grain, ultimately causing border areas to lack grain, is simply a cancer, a cancer poisoning the very roots of the Great Ming Dynasty!

"Hmm... And the third, which is the most crucial in encouraging farming, water management and farming cattle! 'The benefits of ponds, the core of agriculture, must be collectively supported for repair', 'the power of the plow entirely relies on cattle'. In Zhejiang, water management must be repaired and maintained diligently. Good water brings fertile fields, channels bring excellent fields! And these lands must be deeply plowed by cattle to further increase production. Anyone who slaughter farming cattle is committing a serious crime against agriculture. Once caught, they must face severe punishment, and serve as a warning to others!"

"The Saint's learning places agriculture as the foundation. And among agricultural matters, water management is the most pivotal. Therefore, the 'repair water' item brings immediate benefits, with enduring advantages for generations, it's paramount!"

"Last year's Yellow River flooding, even breaching several places. Mr. Liu resolutely took on the task of river repair, overseen the governance of the Yellow River... Compared to such saintly achievements, whether military achievements in border affairs, local education, or even the court's civil governance, all pale in comparison!"

Speaking about Liu Daxia managing the Yellow River, Governor Wang Zhe's face, surprisingly, showed vivid expressions, reflecting genuine admiration and longing.

In Confucianism's heavy emphasis on agriculture, no military expansion or emperor's ascension can compare to "water management"! And among all "water management", the most important is "river management", managing the Yellow River!

"Managing the Yellow River", is nearly the most esteemed, hardest to achieve, and highest honor and prestige among the Confucian scholar-official class! It's genuine "Saintly great achievement, benefiting the common people". Successful river repair instantly brings a smooth political path, respected by all in scholarly circles. Furthermore, the annals of history will certainly mark a prominent note, glorifying the family and descendants!

Compared to this, opening sea trade, military expansion, none match the "Saint's teachings", or "agriculture-based values". Even if these things succeed, they may not be meritorious. Once they fail, they undoubtedly become grave offenses!

"River repair and encouraging farming are indeed the Saint's righteous path! As for city ship sea trade..."

Governor Wang Zhe's gaze deepened, gently shook his head. He looked at Shi Wende's face, and in a tutoring tone, softly began speaking.

"Si Cheng, the world's money and grain have fixed amounts! Sea trade truly harms without benefit to our Ming Dynasty. Coastal scholars and civilians pursuing profit, changing rice to mulberry, drastically reducing grain... As I've mentioned before, it's precisely the 'grain' in money and grain."

"As for the 'money' in money and grain, which I previously did not discuss, is another great harm brought by sea trade! Foreign and Japanese merchants come with abundant luxurious goods, yet they take away our dynasty's copper coins and Tongbao... Causing a reduction in copper coins, even resulting in money shortages in Shanxi! Copper coins are used for rural trading, fewer copper coins lead to more desolate countryside!"

"The foreign and Japanese merchants also bring many silver taels, increasing their quantity... Whereas silver coins are used for urban trading, more silver money inflates prices. In Hangzhou and Ningbo City, rice prices are double those in rural areas, several times that of Shanxi…"

Governor Wang Zhe narrowed his eyes dangerously as he spoke, then continued squinting, staring thoughtfully at Shi Wende, speaking meaningfully.

"With covert sea trade, copper coins flow outward, silver coins multiply, both rural and urban citizens suffer deeply. Si Cheng, tell me, if sea trade's profits aren't received by the court, nor much by the commoners, who truly gains the most? And if genuinely flourishing sea trade were realized, would commoners really benefit? Would the court really benefit?"

"Considering this, at present, what's behind the Ningbo foreign ship trade? How much involves foreigners and Japanese, and how much involves coastal scholars and local tyrants?"