Chapter 183: Maritime prohibition has lost its meaning.

Forbidding merchants from going to sea and monopolizing the trade, seizing the profits of exotic goods and precious jewels, Old Zhu believed that this way, he could make big money.

However, even though Zhu Yuanzhang tied the hands and feet of merchants, they still found ways to wriggle free. Today, they would use a secluded bay, tomorrow an unknown waterway, secretly engaging in trade.

Commonly known as Smuggling.

The Ming Dynasty had a long coastline, and there were no established agencies for checking smuggling or drug trafficking. You, Lao Zhu, said it’s forbidden, but can it be banned?

Zhu Yuanzhang imposed a ban for several years, only to discover that his own Maritime Trade office was experiencing a decline in business. What infuriated Zhu Yuanzhang the most was the fact that he couldn’t acquire any exotic goods, yet the market was flooded with a substantial amount of these commodities.

This was a bit excessive. After all, these goods were smuggled into the country without proper documentation or taxes paid. Engaging in clandestine transactions was one thing, but when these exotic items were openly sold everywhere, it became a bit too much.

Isn’t this slapping Zhu Yuanzhang’s face?

What does Zhu Yuanzhang’s face look like?

Is it something that you smugglers can slap?

So, in the seventh year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang, furious, shouted, “Revoke all the maritime trade office, from now on, no wooden boards are allowed to go to sea!”

The policy of “no wooden boards allowed to go to sea” likely emerged because Zhu Yuanzhang didn’t benefit from maritime trade and, as a result, became resentful. His mindset at the time was probably like this:

I won’t do business, and I won’t let you do it either!

The regulation of “no wooden boards allowed to go to sea” was clear and explicit, leaving no room for hidden operations, making enforcement easier.

When it came to the sea, as long as it was a person or ship of the Ming Dynasty, it was easy to handle; just arrest them.

It’s important to clarify that the “no wooden boards allowed to go to sea” policy was only directed at Ming Dynasty citizens. Foreign envoys arriving by ship would not be dealt with.

However, this prohibition did not extinguish the enthusiasm of smugglers. Goods such as spices, jewelry, and aloeswood from foreign lands still appeared in the market. After all, foreign envoys were also selling these items. If I bought them from the envoys and resold them, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn’t possibly execute me, right?

If you accuse me of smuggling, you need evidence…

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn’t solve this problem no matter how he dealt with it until the thirteenth year of the Hongwu era. In that year, Hu Weiyong was eliminated, and many others were implicated.

Many officials were frightened, as it seemed like heads were rolling every day, just like slicing watermelons, hundreds by hundreds. Who could endure such a situation?

Some officials wanted to escape, but Zhu Yuanzhang caught up with them.

Fearing that these people might escape overseas and intensify the enforcement of the sea ban, Zhu Yuanzhang became even more stringent and harsh in handling the situation.

In the region of Srivijaya, people relied on these foreign goods to improve their lives. Despite Zhu Yuanzhang’s maritime ban, they still needed to make a living. As a result, they dispatched many people to find new smuggling routes.

Opening new routes was risky, and many individuals were caught. In that year, the shocking “Srivijaya espionage” case occurred, which resonated throughout Ming Dynasty and the South Seas region.

Old Zhu had these spies eliminated. With many of their comrades dead, Srivijaya was naturally not pleased. Whether it was the former king of Srivijaya, the later smuggler Liang Daoming, or the pirate king Chen Zuyi, they were all angry. In retaliation, they blocked the eastern and western sea routes, as revenge to Ming Dynasty.

Good legitimate businesses faced difficulties, and the pirate trade was on the rise.

Chen Zuyi’s rise to becoming a prominent pirate king was likely related to Zhu Yuanzhang’s strict maritime restrictions.

With restrictions on smuggling becoming too severe, the domestic supply of spices in the Ming Dynasty was extremely limited, causing their prices to soar even higher than gold. Driven by the desire for profits, many individuals, regardless of sacrifices and dangers, were determined to engage in smuggling.

By this time, the benefits from the tribute system that Zhu Yuanzhang insisted on were no longer sufficient to cover the cost of a simple meal. Therefore, in the twenty-eighth year of the Hongwu era, Zhu Yuanzhang issued another decree:

the prohibition of private use of foreign goods and spices.

That means, during this period, if you wanted to season your food with spices or make a dish like braised pork, it would be considered illegal. If you wished to use imported incense for any purpose, you would be out of luck.

From the third year of Hongwu to the first year of Jianwen, over nearly thirty years, Ming Dynasty largely prohibited international trade and tribute became limited to a few land-based countries.

Rationally speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang’s anti-maritime policies were unsuccessful. His attempts to make money were futile, smuggling persisted despite his efforts to prohibit it, and his attempts to suppress piracy only led to increased piracy activities.

Now, it’s Zhu Yunwen’s turn.

Zhu Yunwen is well aware that the policy of forbidding ships from going to sea is not winning the hearts of the people.

As the saying goes, rely on the mountain to eat the mountain, rely on the sea to eat the sea. People along the coast have many options besides fishing. Engaging in import and export trade could improve their lives. Who did they offend?

Moreover, by blocking the sea now and closing the door, after a few hundred years, when others help you open that door, you might find yourself like a vulnerable woman, enduring pain and humiliation, signing hospitality contracts for decades or even centuries.

Zhu Yunwen is unwilling to host visitors and even less willing for the people of Huaxia to do so. Therefore, the sea must be opened up. As for tributary trade or anything else, it doesn’t matter, but regular trade must be reinstated.

Liang Daoming’s request is an excellent opportunity to push for the lifting of the maritime ban.

Looking at Ru Chang, Zhu Yunwen solemnly said, “It’s a fact that Srivijaya and the countries in South Seas are rich in resources. The ban imposed by Taizu for nearly thirty years has brought no benefits to the court but instead has bolstered private merchants. Continuing like this serves no purpose.”

“Since Srivijaya has requested to become part of our Great Ming, then I will agree. Xie Jin, you draft the decree. When the Great Ming navy mobilizes and goes to Srivijaya, it cannot just deplete the national treasury without gaining any benefits. How about this? The navy and the merchant fleet will go together to Srivijaya. The navy will provide protection on both sides, ensuring their safety. The profits from the merchant fleet’s sales will be divided, with the Great Ming navy taking thirty percents. What do you think?”

“Merchant fleet?”

Xie Jin and the others were confused.

Where would a merchant fleet come from?

Even if there were merchants interested in doing business in Srivijaya, they would need ships. Nowadays, aside from the court, who would have sea-going vessels…

Not long after, Zhu Zhi, Zhu Geng, and Zhu Gui, the three kings, were summoned to the palace.

That evening, the three kings hosted a banquet at the Qingyan Tower, inviting merchants from inside and outside the capital to attend.

In the capital, the grosgrain fabric merchant Qin Heng, the porcelain merchant Wang Zhongfu, the silk merchant Shen Yiyuan, the salt merchant Huang Facai, the pawnshop merchant Wu Tang, the grain merchant Zhao Dayu from Suzhou, and thirty-six other merchants all arrived as invited.

All the merchants paid their respects to the three kings. Zhu Zhi raised his hand and gestured for them to sit, saying, “Gentlemen, I am just a businessman, and the title of king is just a nominal one. Among us merchants, let’s conduct ourselves according to the customary business etiquette. Please take your seats.”

Seeing this, the attendees felt a sense of warmth and took their seats one after another.

Zhu Zhi glanced at Zhu Geng and Zhu Gui, who nodded in agreement. He then picked up his chopsticks, tapped the wine cup, and said, “Inviting you all here today, I wish to discuss two transactions. The first one is related to the leasing of ships.”

“Leasing ships?”

The group of merchants exchanged puzzled glances, wearing expressions of confusion.

Huang Facai, noticing the silence and all eyes on him, mustered the courage to ask, “My lord…”

Zhu Zhi interrupted Huang Facai, saying, “There is no ‘my lord’ here. Feel free to call me by my name. Brother Facai, you seem to want to ask: What’s the purpose of leasing ships, right?”

Huang Facai nodded vigorously.

Exactly, they were all merchants with a fair amount of capital. They had various means of transportation, such as carts, hand-pulled carts, mules, horses, and ships. Since they were not lacking in these, there seemed to be no need to lease ships.

Zhu Zhi continued with a smile, “Indeed, gentlemen, each of you has a fair number of ships. However, these river vessels can’t sail the seas.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yiyuan was astonished, staring at Zhu Zhi in disbelief.

“Can’t sail the seas?”

Does that mean when he talks about leasing ships, he is referring to leasing sea vessels?

Sea vessels?

Does this imply trading through sea routes, and where else could it be?

The South Seas!

In an instant, Shen Yiyuan grasped the intricacies of Zhu Zhi’s proposal, and his eyes gleamed with anticipation and desire. The other merchants, being astute individuals capable of amassing considerable wealth, were quick to catch on as well.

Qin Heng swallowed, moistened his slightly itchy throat, and asked, “What do you mean by that, Brother Zhu?”

Zhu Zhi laughed heartily, raised his wine cup, and said, “Meaning? Haven’t you heard about the great victory of the Ming Navy at Penghu? Now that the court has defeated the main force of the sea bandits, and with the envoy from Srivijaya’s king seeking submission to the Ming, the emperor has granted permission. In the coming days, the Ming Navy will head south and reach Srivijaya.”

Upon hearing this news, Shen Yiyuan, Qin Heng, Huang Facai, and others all showed joy on their faces, but they dared not believe it entirely.

Huang Facai quickly inquired, “The court’s navy heading south to Srivijaya has nothing to do with us merchants. Or is there some hidden information in this? Please enlighten us, Brother Zhu.”

Zhu Zhi encouraged everyone to drink, and when the cups were empty, a maid replenished them.

“The court’s move south to Srivijaya is unprecedented since the founding of our Ming dynasty. It undoubtedly incurs substantial expenses. To avoid burdening the people and exhausting the treasury, the emperor is considering engaging in international trade to fill the financial gap left by the expedition. Since it involves commerce, hehe, naturally, merchants like you all will be needed.”

After Zhu Zhi finished speaking, he smiled without saying more.

In an instant, the group of merchants became excited.

International trade?

The court actually allows merchants to engage in international trade?

Although there isn’t a clear policy yet, and there’s no mention of reopening the Maritime Trade office, the emperor’s action is already conveying to everyone: the maritime prohibition policy will gradually be lifted!

“What’s in South Seas, I don’t need to say much, right? But if you want to go to South Seas, the first thing you need is sea vessels. So, if you all want to accompany the Ming navy to South Seas, we need to finalize this first deal.”

Zhu Zhi looked at the people discussing and spoke.

Shen Yiyuan took a deep breath. What’s in South Seas?

Gold!

That’s right, the precious goods from Nanyang are now as valuable as gold in Ming. Extremely precious!

Items such as frankincense, ambergris, camphor, agarwood, sandalwood, cloves, benzoin, musk, patchouli… cardamom, star anise, fennel, pepper, cinnamon… pearls, agate, coral, and other exotic treasures…

These goods are mostly abundant in South Seas, and any one of them brought back can be sold at a high price, yielding enormous profits.

As for safety concerns during the journey, there’s no need to worry. With the Ming navy personally escorting, what’s there to fear from pirates?

Shen Yiyuan suddenly realized something. His initially excited mood gradually calmed down, and he asked, “Since the Ming navy is accompanying us, the number of sea vessels shouldn’t be too many, right?”

Huang Facai, Qin Heng, Wang Zhongfu, and others were suddenly stunned. They looked at Shen Yiyuan’s eyes, shifting from amazement to admiration. He was someone who could maintain rationality at any time.

All the merchants turned their gaze to Zhu Zhi. They also understood that the number of ships must be limited.

Zhu Zhi raised his wine cup, took a sip, and with a serious expression, said, “Sixty merchant ships, and this cannot be changed.”

Sixty ships?!

Although this number seems considerable, one must know that there were thirty-six merchants present. On average, not even one person would get two ships.

“How will these sea vessels be leased?”

Wang Zhongfu anxiously inquired.

If it was through competitive bidding, they would inevitably bleed.

Zhu Zhi clapped his hands, and a graceful woman walked over carrying a wooden box. The box was locked, but there was a fist-sized hole on top.

“Sixty ships, each leased for a fixed price of a thousand taels. The three of us will take six, leaving fifty-four. If anyone here is willing to lease, then each person temporarily leases one. As for the remaining eighteen, it’s up to luck. How about it?”

Hearing Zhu Zhi’s words, everyone couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. At least, they would have one ship to go out to sea, which was the best result.

Is a thousand taels expensive?

If you can find ambergris, one tael is enough to exchange for fifteen hundred taels of silver, and that’s when it’s not even on the market. Even if you can’t find ambergris, for other spices or pearls, which one wouldn’t yield dozens or even hundreds of times in profit when brought back?