“Haha, as expected of Lord Zhu—just a jest earlier,” Wang Zhi said with a hearty laugh, his face as warm as a spring breeze.
“Of course, when I said I carry a compact musket, that was a jest too,” Zhu Ping’an chuckled.
“Oh?” Wang Zhi straightened up.
“Actually, I brought two,” Zhu Ping’an replied with an honest, almost rustic expression, his face as guileless as a village lad.
Wang Zhi leaned back, his smile nearly faltering.
“Just kidding! I didn’t bring any. I invited Leader Wang to dine and discuss important matters—why would I carry a silly compact musket?” Zhu Ping’an waved his hand, laughing heartily, his face radiating sincerity.
Heh, you think I believe you?
Wang Zhi’s lips twitched.
“Leader Wang, please try this tea. It’s a tribute tea bestowed by His Majesty. I’m unworthy, only granted a single canister. I usually can’t bear to drink it, but today, thanks to your presence, we can enjoy it freely,” Zhu Ping’an said, lifting the teapot to pour for Wang Zhi.
“Thank you, Lord Zhu. Tribute tea, you say? I must savor it properly,” Wang Zhi said, his expression lighting up with excitement. He had never tasted tribute tea before and felt somewhat flattered.
Tribute tea—the tea the emperor drinks! To think I’d get to drink the same tea as the emperor…
Zhu Ping’an is treating me with great respect.
Wang Zhi’s favorable impression of Zhu Ping’an surged another +10086. The earlier jest only deepened his appreciation for Zhu Ping’an.
Smart people!
I love dealing with smart people. They’re reliable, unlikely to do anything foolish, and cooperation with them yields twice the results with half the effort.
Perhaps it was psychological, but when Wang Zhi took a sip of the tea, he felt an exquisite fragrance linger on his lips and teeth. The rich aroma seemed to burst through the crown of his head. This tea truly lived up to its status as tribute tea—compared to it, the tea he’d drunk for decades was like swill!
Closing his eyes, he savored it endlessly, as if floating among the clouds, a gentle breeze brushing his temples.
What a tea! Never in my life have I tasted such a fine brew!
Truly worthy of being tribute tea!
Wang Zhi savored a single sip, and it felt like a century passed in his mind, the aftertaste indescribable, his praise boundless.
At that moment, at a nearby table, Liu Dadao leaned toward Liu Daqiang and whispered, puzzled, “Isn’t that tea from the warehouse? When did it become tribute tea? How much did you say you paid for it?”
“I bought that tea from an old man’s stall at the market. A whole sack cost just ten taels of silver,” Liu Daqiang whispered back, inaudible to others.
“Then how’s it tribute tea? Did that old man’s tea happen to be the same as the emperor’s tribute tea? What a coincidence!” Liu Dadao said, astonished.
“No way. That old man’s tea was just ordinary. If his tea was tribute tea for the emperor, would he be selling it on the street? His family would be swimming in silver by now,” Liu Daqiang shook his head.
“Then how’s it tribute tea?” Liu Dadao asked, confused.
“The young master says it’s tribute tea, so it’s tribute tea. Why fuss over it?” Liu Daqiang shrugged.
“You’re right. If the young master says it’s tribute tea, it’s tribute tea,” Liu Dadao nodded, instantly convinced.
Fortunately, they knew the matter was sensitive and kept their whispers inaudible. To others, especially Wang Zhi, it only looked like they were murmuring, with no chance of overhearing the content.
Seeing Wang Zhi savor the “tribute tea” for so long, both men lowered their heads, stifling laughter, their shoulders trembling.
“Truly worthy of tribute tea—what an unforgettable sip,” Wang Zhi praised effusively.
“Three cups of wine for the affairs of the world, one pot of tea for a thousand years of dominance,” Zhu Ping’an said, refilling Wang Zhi’s cup.
“Lord Zhu, you’re truly a top scholar. That verse is brilliant. Unlike me, I took a sip and couldn’t find the words to describe its excellence,” Wang Zhi said, full of admiration.
“Leader Wang, you flatter me. Please, enjoy,” Zhu Ping’an said modestly, lifting the teapot to pour more tea.
“Thank you, Lord Zhu,” Wang Zhi said, clasping his fists in gratitude.
“This tribute tea is indeed delightful, but Lord Zhu didn’t invite me just to drink tea, did he?” Wang Zhi took another sip, savored it briefly, then set down his cup. “Shall we get to the point and discuss the important matters?”
“Of course,” Zhu Ping’an nodded.
“Haifeng told me that Lord Zhu also wishes to lift the maritime ban. Is that true?” Wang Zhi asked directly, his gaze piercing as he looked at Zhu Ping’an.
“Absolutely,” Zhu Ping’an nodded without hesitation. “Given the current situation, the maritime ban is outdated. For the Ming Dynasty, its drawbacks outweigh its benefits. Since that’s the case, lifting the ban is the better course.”
Wang Zhi’s face remained expressionless, but he pressed further, “Lord Zhu says the maritime ban is outdated and its drawbacks outweigh its benefits. Could you elaborate on what specific drawbacks the ban entails?”
“The most glaring issue is the pirate problem caused by you and your men,” Zhu Ping’an said bluntly.
“Oh? Lord Zhu is saying the pirate issue stems from the maritime ban? But surely you know the Ming Dynasty imposed the ban precisely because of the pirates—to prevent their incursions?” Wang Zhi shook his head, countering.
“They’re not the same. At the founding of the Ming, shipbuilding and navigation were strengths of Fang Guozhen and Zhang Shicheng’s remnant forces. Wenzhou, Taizhou, and Chuzhou were Fang Guozhen’s territories, while Ningbo, Shaoxing, Jiaxing, Suzhou, Songjiang, Tongzhou, and Taizhou belonged to Zhang Shicheng. After our Ming Taizu defeated them, their remnants continued to resist, occupying coastal islands, colluding with barbarian pirates—especially Japanese pirates—and launching terrorist attacks on our coasts. Back then, the Ming was newly established, with limited national strength, a struggling populace, and scarce resources. We lacked the means to clear out these remnants at sea, so the maritime ban was implemented to prevent the outflow of people and goods. But by the Yongle era, Fang and Zhang’s remnants were long gone. With Zheng He’s voyages, our Ming navy was mighty and unmatched—where was the pirate threat then?”
“Today, the maritime ban has led to rampant smuggling. Smugglers collude with pirates. The ban prevents coastal people from making a living from the sea, driving some desperate locals to join the pirates. Meanwhile, Japan is fractured, with warlords vying for power, waging endless wars. The defeated lose their lands, becoming ronin and turning to piracy. Even the victors need money and supplies, resorting to piracy to plunder wealth from our Ming lands, fueling their campaigns. This has caused the pirate scourge to run rampant.”
“So, the two are distinct and shouldn’t be conflated,” Zhu Ping’an explained slowly.
“There’s some truth to what Lord Zhu says. Open trade, and pirates turn to merchants; enforce the ban, and merchants turn to pirates. I’m a prime example. If I had any other option, I wouldn’t have chosen to be a pirate for even a day. All I ever wanted was to trade,” Wang Zhi nodded slightly.
