"Governor... student... student understands!..."

"Hmm... finish your tea."

The sun slanted westward, dusk floating with golden glow, the day thus drawing to a close. The plum garden scattered with twilight, surrounded by rockeries and ponds, was indeed breathtakingly beautiful. However, Shi Wende had neither the mood nor the courage to appreciate the scenery. He simply kept his head down, sipping tea before Governor Wang Zhe, not daring to drink too fast to lose decorum, nor too slow to cause delay. The study fell silent for a while, almost quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

"East Fan Kingdom, Eastern Barbarians' tribute... Zhejiang Maritime Bureau, the middle officer of the Market Department... hmm... let me think..."

"Right now, the court is filled with upright officials, the saintly ruler accepts honest advice, so the middle officers probably don't dare to act recklessly, randomly opening tribute sea trade! If I find anything out, one report to the top, the gentlemen and virtuous people will all exert force, surely making these middle officers lose their heads!"

Governor Wang Zhe slowly sipped tea, his expression shifting in thought. Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty during Hongwu's reign, the tributes from vassal countries have mostly been promoted by the middle officers in the Imperial Court. This "tribute" has always been the grand accomplishment most desired by the middle officers. They only need to answer to the Emperor, and when the Emperor sees the nations coming to pay tribute and is "greatly pleased," the middle officers naturally receive rewards and promotions!

But such "tribute expansion" in traditional understanding is not necessarily the "good achievement" of scholar-officials, especially when accepting overseas tributes that "are of no benefit, irrelevant to the country." The entire Ming Dynasty scholar-official group, the bureaucratic class of the entire Ming Dynasty, has its own set of achievement evaluation standards conforming to the "saint's way," conforming to "Zhu Zi's Neo-Confucianism," conforming to "farming bringing peace to the people," and aligning with "scholar-official interests."

If it weren't for "Taizong" and "Xuanzong," these two "powerful rulers," raising strong middle officer and military officer forces to successfully suppress the whole scholar-official group's opposition... then Zheng He's seven voyages to the Western Ocean, that "immortal enterprise," would be completely impossible!

And now, under the imperial examinations of "Yingzong," "Emperor Xianzong," and "the current Emperor," the scholar-official group of the Ming Dynasty continuously produces "notable ministers and wise scholars," spreading the influence of civil officials. The capabilities and standards rolled out among millions of civil officials, along with the web-like connections, have already strengthened the power of the scholar-official group! Until the era of "the current Emperor" in Hongzhi, the "civil officials" finally completely suppressed the "middle officers" and "military officers," standing at the height of power!

It can be said, the Ming Dynasty's civil service system, the world's most complex and deep-rooted bureaucratic system at the time, has formed group consciousness. Through "academic inheritance and examinations," through selecting the smartest and sharpest from millions, those with the same ideology, the civil service system has finally with time's help, achieved control over the entirety of Ming's hierarchy!

Among these exam-selected advanced scholars, pick any one randomly, place him five hundred years later, and he could step by step become a big figure in the system. Conversely, take a transmigrator from five hundred years later, throw him among the scholars of the current Ming Dynasty, in such a mature bureaucratic system, he'd be akin to dust!

Even if you throw Xiulote here, within a prestigious Prime Minister's family, he might not necessarily rise to prominence. Even if he did rise, hoping to reform anything in the Ming Dynasty would be almost impossible, just thinking about it feels hopeless...

Even the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, if he lacks ability and doesn't have enough skill and prestige to subdue the scholar-officials. Then even if he kills more prime ministers, it's futile, he achieves nothing. In the most extreme cases, it would be like the two emperors who attempted reforms, triggering backlash from the entire bureaucratic system and middle officer cooperation, "drowning unrescued, falling ultimately..."

"Our Imperial Ming should accept overseas tributes with utmost caution. These opportunistic pursuits are not sought by true gentlemen... Moreover, overseas vassals coming to pay homage in these coastal regions can easily stir trouble. Once chaos erupts, I would be pointed at by thousands! ... And it's not just a one-time end, every vassal homage carries risk!... Ultimately, accountability falls back to the original accepting and recommending officials..."

Governor Wang Zhe lowered his eyelids, and in an instant, he measured the pros and cons clearly. Once accepting tribute, it was akin to digging oneself a deep pit, potentially harming future generations. So the choice became very clear.

"Governor..."

A moment later, Shi Wende finally finished his tea, and once more bowed long in salute. And Governor Wang Zhe sat motionlessly in his chair receiving the homage, still somewhat expressionless. Clearly, this was a "non-pleasant" stance given regarding Shi Wende's earlier "inquiry" about the "East Fan tribute."

"Go down! The matter of the Japanese, always keep it in mind. Let the Eastern Fan Barbarians settle themselves, not allowed to cause disturbances!"

"Yes! Governor!..."

"Hmm..."

Shi Wende bowed in salute, maintaining a respectful posture, retreated out of the plum garden. Then, under the guidance of the Qin people steward, he exited through the back door of the residence. Just before leaving, he sought a secluded unpeopled spot, and exchanged sleeves with the steward, handed over a heavy sealed package.

These visiting gifts were necessary. Not seeking favors, but asking others to magnanimously refrain from sabotaging one's affairs. Adding it up, a single delivery of visiting cards and an audience alone, merely greasing the wheels of the residence up and down, cost nearly a hundred taels of silver. Meanwhile, the annual clothing and food consumption for a small family of five amounted to only several taels.

Not to mention the gift given to the governor, that square piece of Song Dynasty "Huizhou She Inkstone" worth several hundred taels. This was because Wang Zhe was known for "clean reputation," restraining the residence, not advocating luxury, thus only accepting a "elegant artifact..."

"Scholar, the master has instructed, as soon as there is important news regarding the Japanese... you may take this card and send someone to report at the residence directly."

Before parting, the steward with a ceremonious smile, handed over a "name card." This card, entirely red, signified prestige. Only one line was written on it, "Zhejiang Governor, Wang Wenming, May 15 of the seventh year of Hongzhi," then marked with a hard-to-copy "signature." The "Wenming" part is Wang Zhe's courtesy name, the "signature" is the governor's handwritten "anti-counterfeit mark." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Yet this one "ordinary" card was Shi Wende's "protective amulet"! As long as this card was in hand, it would mean an extra life! Even if he, along with his boat, was seized into the water prison at the Coastal Inspection Office... submit this "Second Rank Governor" card, the inspectors from the Inspection Bureau, and the thousand households from the garrison, must nod and smile, and properly send him out!

"Yes... yes! The student is overwhelmed with fear, and will definitely exhaust effort in doing tasks for the governor!"

Shi Wende again lowered his head, saluting to the steward. And the steward reciprocated the salute, then left with a smile. It wasn't until this moment, standing at the back door of the residence, that Shi Wende let out a long sigh. He was utterly exhausted, leaning against the high white wall, barely able to stand. But even so, he tightly grasped that "name card," like clutching the lifeblood of the Shi clan!

Even when he newly reached adulthood at sixteen, first time travelling by boat with his father and grandfathers to Japan, facing hundreds of Japanese samurai... he wasn't as nervous, frightened, and scared as this "visit to the governor" at the age of thirty after being accustomed to storms!

This is the oppressive power of the Ming Dynasty governor, without the glint of sword and shadow, yet more brutal bloodstained, more cold and ruthless than swords! Just like this red "name card," handed to Shi Wende, it could exempt him from "Ming law." And if handed to the "Inspection Bureau," "garrison," "government office," with just one sentence, would make all three mobilize, causing the Chongming Shi family entire clan, bloodstained at home...

"Alas! Bodhisattva, Mazu!... The profits of sea trade, though there be a thousand taels of silver, tens of thousands of copper coins, able to support hundreds of sword-wielding strongmen... yet faced with this 'card,' it is nonetheless a paper window, punctured easily..."

"Father exerted all effort, enabling me to achieve distinction... but there is only this one way of distinction bridging the gap to protect the clan, to protect the household! In our Great Ming, all are inferior, ultimately only this path, upwards, being the right way!..."

"Without an official position, no matter how much family wealth the Shi family accumulates, what use is it? Merely attracting others' coveting, ultimately becoming the source of calamity!... And this maritime trade, the layout of Dongfan Island, perhaps, truly ought to be cut off when appropriate...right?..."

Shi Wende remained silent. After a while, he finally regained composure, looking towards Ningbo Port under the twilight. Ningbo Port glowed with sea-bound red clouds, thousands of sails competing. Ten li of prosperity resplendent, countless fine Chinese clothes unending. Yet this prosperity brought by sea trade, never belongs to the seafarers bringing this flourish!

This prosperity, beautiful yet fragile, like colorful shells on the beach. Once the advanced scholars lightly step, they crush to powder. And the tens of thousands living off the sea, Zhejiang people, are less than shells, merely indistinct sandgrains amid the surging tides~~