Chapter 1104: What Use is Your Navy Anyway?
The moment Lian Guoshi's name was spoken, Cui Weihua sighed, "So Lian Guoshi has arrived after all? He's quite a well-known figure, an eighth-generation descendant of the famous minister Lian Zining."
His subordinate queried, "Ah? Such an important person? How did someone so formidable get transferred to one of the six ministries in Nanjing?"
Everyone knew that the Nanjing ministries were places where officials were sent to retire, and Cui Weihua's subordinate was no exception.
Cui Weihua explained, "I heard that this Lian Guoshi, during his three years as Governor of Shaanxi, never once submitted the full quota of taxes."
His subordinate gasped, "Not even once?"
Cui Weihua nodded. "Although Shaanxi suffered a great drought at the end of the Tianqi era, there haven't been reports of widespread drought in Shaanxi in recent years. The drought has shifted to Shanxi and Henan. For Governor Lian Guoshi to fail to collect the full taxes even without a drought... I imagine he must be either incompetent or a neglectful official. The Emperor, wishing to promote Sun Chuanting after he vanquished the Dashing King, couldn't find a suitable position, so he settled on this Governor Lian Guoshi."
Only then did the subordinate understand. "No wonder he was transferred to Nanjing's Six Ministries to retire."
Cui Weihua rallied his spirits. "Let's go, just deal with him. He's probably just putting on a show as a new appointee, he'll take a look around and then leave."
Cui Weihua led his subordinates out of the camp.
Lian Guoshi replied, "I came to inspect the geographical location of the naval camp."
Cui Weihua was quite baffled. "Why inspect this?"
Lian Guoshi said, "The Huangpu River next to your naval camp doesn't seem shallow at all. I see quite large vessels anchored here."
At this, Cui Weihua brightened, chuckling, "Indeed. During the Yongle era, Minister of Revenue Xia Yuanji managed the waterways of Suzhou and Songjiang, connecting the Suzhou River to the Huangpu River. The Suzhou River became a tributary, significantly increasing the Huangpu River's water volume and greatly improving its navigation conditions. Although it's merely a river, it can accommodate massive seagoing vessels, even better than some coastal ports. That's why this official chose this spot for the naval base. You see, how vast our navy is now? This entire area is filled with our ships."
Lian Guoshi looked left, then right, then forward, surveying the entire surroundings before nodding. "It truly is an excellent location, an excellent location indeed."
Cui Weihua accompanied him with a foolish grin.
Just as he was smiling happily, he suddenly heard Lian Guoshi's tone shift. "Such a good location, what a waste to use it as a naval base. Since the navy won't be needing it anymore, this place should simply be turned into a commercial dock."
"What?" Cui Weihua was utterly astonished. "What do you mean, 'won't be needing it anymore'?"
Lian Guoshi countered, "Otherwise, Lord Cui, what use do you think you have? Can you strike north against the Japanese or south against the Franks?"
Cui Weihua stammered, "Er..."
Lian Guoshi offered a mysterious smile. "As this official understands, Lord Cui, this fleet of ships of yours wasn't captured by your own efforts, was it? They were gifts from others."
Cui Weihua felt a critical blow land, clutching his chest and stumbling back several paces.
Lian Guoshi continued, "This is such a splendid location. Ships from the sea can sail directly into the inland river and unload here. It's far more convenient than unloading at Nanhui Mouth, making transport to Suzhou and Nanjing much easier. By the same token, goods from Suzhou and Nanjing can also be transported here more conveniently."
Cui Weihua spluttered, "Lord Lian, you... you..."
Lian Guoshi suggested, "How about this: you relocate your naval base to a more secluded spot. Let me think... Hmm... How about Chongming Island?"
Cui Weihua was speechless.
This was simply too much!
Cui Weihua seethed with anger.
Although his rank was lower than Lian Guoshi's, being bullied like this was unacceptable. He took a deep breath, ready to unleash a tirade. At worst, he would call upon all his friends, fellow townsmen, classmates, and mentors in officialdom to wage a fierce battle.
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That's right! He could ask Shi Kefa for help. He heard Shi Kefa was doing very well and was about to be promoted to Governor of Anqing and Lu Prefecture. With a governor friend backing him, why should he fear a mere Assistant Minister of Revenue from Nanjing's retirement ministries?
Just as he was about to jump up and curse, he heard Lian Guoshi say, "Once this place is converted into a commercial dock, I plan to levy two parts tax on foreign ships, and one part on local merchants... As long as commerce thrives, tax revenue will surely soar. With more money in our hands, we can allocate more funds to your military."
Cui Weihua's indignation instantly subsided. "What? Increased military funding? Can you... can you make that decision?"
Lian Guoshi stated, "The Ministry of Revenue currently has no one in charge, only this official overseeing things. Yes, I can make that decision."
Cui Weihua asked, "You won't report to the capital?"
Lian Guoshi scoffed, "Local money should be spent locally. Why send it to the capital for those grand old officials to embezzle?"
Cui Weihua was thunderstruck!
Damn, no wonder you served as Governor of Shaanxi for three years and never once submitted the full taxes. So you kept the taxes there for local use.
This behavior was utterly outrageous, a deed worthy of execution.
You played such tricks in Shaanxi, causing your esteemed position as governor to be reassigned to a sinecure in Nanjing, and now you plan to do the same in Nanjing?
Cui Weihua was grudgingly impressed.
But when he heard the phrase, "Why give it to the grand old officials in the capital to embezzle," it struck a chord within him...
Exactly!
How difficult was it to collect taxes locally? It drove the common people to desperate rebellion.
Yet, these funds, once transported to the capital, would immediately be pilfered by the grand old officials, each taking their fill, until hardly anything remained. The officials in the capital grew fat and prosperous, while the local regions couldn't even pay their soldiers.
It would be better to keep the money locally.
His grand naval fleet was sorely in need of maintenance funds.
In that instant, Cui Weihua actually felt that Lian Guoshi was a good man.
Lian Guoshi blinked. "Lord Cui, so we're agreed then. You'll hand over this Shanghai port for me to manage civilian affairs."
Although Cui Weihua commanded a fleet, he was actually a civil official, not a military one.
When it came to such discussions, he possessed a keen intellect. "Lord Lian, are you planning to relocate the Nanhui Mouth market here?"
Lian Guoshi nodded. "Nanhui Mouth is situated at the tip of a peninsula, making land transport inconvenient. Moving it here, to the bank of the Huangpu River, transforming it into an inland river port, will make cargo handling far more convenient."
Cui Weihua agreed with this point. He lowered his voice. "However, I fear that those Westerners and Southeast Asians might be unwilling to conduct trade in this inland port. They are accustomed to their wild ways at sea; entering an inland port, they might worry about being trapped and exploited."
Lian Guoshi smiled. "As long as we have sufficiently superior goods, they will be willing to come, no matter how great the risk."
Cui Weihua conceded, "You have a point."
Lian Guoshi addressed him, "Lord Cui, although my words just now were harsh, you might as well consider this: after the Imperial Merchants' giant ships arrive, how much use will your assortment of small wooden boats be for naval battles in the future?"
Cui Weihua was stumped. "This..."
Lian Guoshi concluded, "Let this naval fleet of yours transform into the Huangpu River Patrol. From now on, they will maintain peace on the Huangpu River, ensuring that merchants from the sea can conduct normal trade here. Fostering a good business environment is the only way to attract more Western merchants and take a slice of their profits."
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(Note: "8 Latest Address" is assumed to be a placeholder for a website or chapter link in the original webnovel, and as per instructions, it is left untranslated and untouched, but the surrounding text is adapted.)
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