While Gao Family Village was boldly advancing into the southwestern regions, Former Shaanxi Governor Lian Guoshi, after a long and exhausting journey, completing entry procedures, searching for a residence, relocating his household, and settling various tedious affairs, finally arrived at the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue.
At last, it was time for him to formally assume office.
The moment he stepped into the Ministry's office hall, Lian Guoshi immediately sensed the atmosphere. Several officials glanced at him with faintly resigned expressions, as though silently remarking, Another unfortunate soul has arrived.
Lian Guoshi respectfully bowed to everyone present with proper courtesy.
"Greetings, gentlemen. I am Lian Guoshi. From today onward, I will serve as the Left Vice Minister of Revenue. I humbly request your guidance."
"Oh?" replied one official lazily. "I am the Right Vice Minister. One on the left and one on the right, we shall stand like twin guardians. Let us cooperate well in the future."
The words themselves were polite and perfectly proper, yet the man's eyes never left the book in his hands, and he did not even bother to look up at Lian Guoshi.
Suppressing his irritation, Lian Guoshi glanced at the title of the book. The cover read Slapping the Table in Amazement, a collection of popular vernacular stories that had gained fame only in recent years.
Reading storybooks during working hours?
Was this truly how a dignified Right Vice Minister conducted himself?
Before Lian Guoshi could react further, another voice called out from behind a desk.
"I am the Minister of Revenue, Minister Lian. I have long admired your reputation. Though you are the Left Vice Minister and I hold the senior post, let us not fuss over such trivial formalities. Think of us as brothers—let us simply enjoy ourselves."
Hearing the voice but seeing no one, Lian Guoshi was startled. He walked around the desks and found the speaker sprawled across a massive sheet of paper spread over the floor. Instead of official robes, the man wore a Daoist gown and was completely absorbed in painting with a brush.
Painting during working hours?
Was this truly how a Minister of Revenue behaved?
Sweeping his gaze across the hall, Lian Guoshi observed that some officials were writing calligraphy, others were painting landscapes, a few were humming tunes, and several were leisurely sipping tea. The entire ministry resembled a gathering of idle scholars rather than a central government office.
Although Lian Guoshi had long heard that the Six Ministries in Nanjing were little more than comfortable retirement posts for officials, witnessing the reality with his own eyes left him speechless.
"Gentlemen," he asked carefully, "is the Ministry of Revenue always so… unoccupied?"
The Minister of Revenue added another satisfied brushstroke before replying without lifting his head.
"There is truly nothing for us to manage, Minister Lian. You are new, so it is natural that you are full of enthusiasm. When I first arrived, I was even more energetic than you. Unfortunately, after searching diligently, I discovered there was simply nothing to do. If you doubt it, feel free to try. Handle whatever you like. We certainly will not interfere."
Lian Guoshi fell silent.
"So I may do as I wish?"
A faint smile curved his lips as he began examining the Ministry's records.
Before long, he found documents related to Gao Family Village.
Near Nanhui Fangcheng, an emerging marketplace had formed, officially recorded as the "Nanhui Mouth Maritime Merchant Market." Over time, it was gradually becoming a critical hub for north-south trade. Goods transported along the Yellow River and Yangtze River converged there with commodities arriving by sea. Ming merchants, Western traders, and Nanyang merchants all conducted business in the area, and its prosperity was quietly beginning to rival that of Quanzhou Port.
However, Nanhui Mouth itself was not ideal for constructing a true harbor. The coastline lacked a natural deep-water port, the seabed was shallow, and vessels frequently risked running aground. Merchants were actively searching for a more suitable anchorage.
As Lian Guoshi reviewed the documents, a clear strategy began to take shape in his mind.
These so-called merchants were, in truth, people from Gao Family Village. They were searching for a proper deep-water harbor.
Since Zhoushan's Dinghai Port was already being developed into a military harbor, it was only logical to establish a commercial port elsewhere. Shanghai, with its advantageous position, was clearly more suitable than Zhoushan Island for such a purpose.
He allowed himself a soft chuckle.
"The first task I shall undertake here is to assist the Heavenly Lord in establishing a proper trade port—one where ships from Gao Family Village, Western vessels, and Nanyang traders may freely dock and conduct commerce."
"In the Heavenly Lord's words, we must learn to exploit foreign markets."
"Very well. I shall see it done."
He quietly transferred the Nanhui documents to his own desk. Even if the other officials noticed, it likely would not matter—none of them appeared inclined to concern themselves with anything substantial.
In that moment, Lian Guoshi suddenly realized that working among a group of idle bureaucrats had its advantages. With no one obstructing him, he could proceed entirely according to his own designs.
Huangpu River, Shanghai Port – Ming Navy Camp
Cui Weihua, Military Preparations Commissioner for Suzhou and Songjiang, was conducting an inspection of his fleet.
It was, without exaggeration, a fleet.
Only a few years earlier, he clearly remembered commanding a modest force of 402 militiamen, 400 Zhejiang soldiers, 1,003 sailors, seven Fujian Cangsashan ships, thirty sand ships, five paddle boats, and sixteen small Hu boats. Of these vessels, only the Cangsashan ships could be considered respectable warships; the rest were little more than dilapidated relics barely fit for service.
Their combat capability had once been pitiful.
Now, however, as he conducted a full tally, something felt wrong.
Twenty junks. Eighteen Red Seal ships. Each was no smaller than his former Cangsashan vessels. When combined with various cargo ships, armed merchantmen, and other auxiliary craft, the total exceeded two hundred ships.
It could now be called a super fleet.
Cui Weihua scratched his head in confusion.
"Since when did I acquire so many ships?"
A subordinate stepped forward to report.
"On a certain date, Lord Shi Kefa's forces delivered five small boats seized from Huangmei river bandits."
"On another date, Imperial Merchant Tie Niaofei presented four junks captured from pirates."
"On yet another occasion, Imperial Merchant Tie Niaofei gifted five Red Seal ships taken from Japanese pirates."
The list continued.
Cui Weihua had never paid much attention before. Whenever ships were gifted, he simply ordered his sailors to take possession and begin training. Only now, seeing the grand total, did he realize the scale of the problem.
"With so many vessels," he asked slowly, "can we even afford to maintain them?"
The subordinate wiped sweat from his brow.
"Minister Cui, I was about to raise this concern. We have reached the limit of what we can sustain. Our sailors are limited in number, yet every additional ship requires a full crew. We are severely understaffed."
"Moreover, each newly acquired vessel requires repairs and refitting, which consumes considerable funds."
"In addition, the hulls must regularly be scraped clean of barnacles and marine growth. In the past, when we had fewer ships, the sailors could manage easily. Now, with such numbers, we simply cannot keep up. Several ships are already heavily fouled."
Cui Weihua's eyes widened in alarm.
"Damn it…"
At that very moment, another subordinate hurried over.
"Report! The newly appointed Left Vice Minister of Revenue, Lian Guoshi, has arrived. He requests to inspect the coastal situation."