After a night of tenderness, Xiao Ming woke up lazily at noon the next day.
The month of travel had exhausted him, and having been separated from Fei Yuer for a month, they spent time frolicking and whispering sweet nothings in bed.
Moreover, for Xiao Ming, reports from Pang Yukun and others were one thing, but Fei Yuer’s personal account was another.
“The Confucians have truly become ‘rats crossing the street’ as Your Highness calls them, with everyone shouting to beat them,” Fei Yuer told Xiao Ming about the changes after the last Confucian disturbance. “However, my father sent a letter from Chang’an, saying that there is much criticism in the court regarding this matter. Officials led by Cui Hao even publicly denounced Your Highness in court for defying Confucian classics and disrespecting Confucianism, even demanding that the Emperor strip Your Highness of the title of two-pearl prince.”
“Hmph, these petty individuals.”
Xiao Ming showed disdain. It was precisely because of these treacherous individuals in court, who only attacked their colleagues, that the court affairs were increasingly neglected.
“What else did Chancellor Fei say?” Xiao Ming asked, as Fei Ji generally wouldn’t write to him unless it was a major matter.
“Father also said that the Emperor suddenly fainted some days ago and has not been as healthy since waking up. He also misses morning court every now and then,” Fei Yuer’s expression grew serious as she spoke.
“If I’m not mistaken, Father Emperor is fifty-nine years old today, right?” Xiao Ming pondered.
Fei Yuer nodded, “Father said the same in his letter.”
Xiao Ming narrowed his eyes. Fei Ji mentioning this in his letter must have a deeper meaning, perhaps he believed that Emperor Xiaowenxuan truly didn’t have many years left to live.
And for Xiao Ming, it was already not easy for Emperor Xiaowenxuan to live to this age. After all, Emperor Wu of Han only lived to sixty-nine, and the average lifespan of emperors in contemporary history was only around thirty-nine.
“Hmm, I understand.”
Xiao Ming frowned. Emperor Xiaowenxuan was currently the balancing point of the Great Yu Empire. He didn’t wish for Emperor Xiaowenxuan to fall so soon, as he didn’t want to lose a stable environment for development.
However, if it truly happened, he could only adapt to the circumstances. Fei Ji mentioning this was merely a reminder to him to be prepared.
After all, the ministers were all aware that Emperor Xiaowenxuan was ill, but perhaps not many knew about his fainting, otherwise, it would have caused a huge stir in the court and among the public.
After some small talk, Xiao Ming and Fei Yuer washed up, dressed, and had a simple meal before he headed to the industrial district.
Xiao Ming had given instructions regarding white sugar upon his return to Qingzhou. The sugarcane he had transported back from Ryukyu was also shipped to Qingzhou upon his return, along with the craftsmen from the white sugar workshop on Ryukyu Island.
These craftsmen would be responsible for helping Xiao Ming establish a white sugar workshop in Qingzhou and train a group of sugar-making craftsmen. As for the sulfurous acid needed for refining white sugar, he had also sent someone to inform Lu Tong upon his return.
“Your Highness, we officials have brought the sulfurous acid.” Lu Tong was already waiting for Xiao Ming in the industrial district. In his hand was a glass bottle containing sulfurous acid solution.
The manufacturing process of sulfurous acid is actually very simple: high-temperature calcination of sulfur to obtain sulfur dioxide, which is then passed into water to obtain sulfurous acid. This process was not a problem for Lu Tong and others, as they were already capable of preparing sulfuric acid.
“From now on, your chemistry workshop will be responsible for providing sulfurous acid solution to the white sugar workshop. I hope to see clean white sugar within these two days,” Xiao Ming said.
The significance of white sugar to him was not just about consumption, but more importantly, it would provide another industrial category for Qingzhou, moving him further towards a complete industrial system.
Lu Tong had already learned Xiao Ming’s purpose for the sulfurous acid. He nodded at this point, also very interested in white sugar. In his opinion, this was also a wonderful chemical reaction.
At this time, the craftsmen from Ryukyu, with the cooperation of the craftsmen from the machinery department, were already producing the equipment needed for the white sugar workshop, and Chen Wenlong had selected an empty house from the industrial district and handed it over to these craftsmen.
After inspecting the preliminary preparations for the white sugar workshop, Xiao Ming had a plan in mind. In his opinion, formal production would take at least seven days.
While he was instructing the craftsmen, a sudden clamor came. Xiao Ming looked towards the source of the sound and saw Li Kaiyuan almost being pushed towards him by merchants. The leading merchants were Cao Zhengyang, Ding Wu, and Dai Zixing.
Upon reaching him, Li Kaiyuan looked helpless. He said, “Your Highness, this official couldn’t help it. I originally intended to come and find Your Highness in a couple of days, as Your Highness needs time to rest after a long journey. But the merchants of the chamber of commerce are all like ants on a hot pan right now, and this official really couldn’t stop them.”
“What’s going on, why are you all so excited?” Xiao Ming’s eyes swept across the faces of the merchants.
These merchants all looked excited, their mouths agape, revealing their teeth, as if they had encountered a great joyous event.
Cao Zhengyang had now become the representative of the merchants. He said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, it is said that the Qingzhou Navy went south this time to reclaim Ryukyu, and reached an agreement with the Dutch. From now on, the sea trade routes will belong to Your Highness.”
As Cao Zhengyang spoke, the other merchants all eagerly waited for Xiao Ming to confirm the news.
“As expected of the Cao family, your news is very well-informed. That’s right, I have reclaimed Ryukyu, and have stationed troops in Zeelandia. From now on, the coastal routes are under my control.”
As soon as Xiao Ming finished speaking, the merchants suddenly fell silent.
Then, a huge cheer suddenly erupted.
“Your Highness has great talent and strategy, and will surely be remembered in history!”
“This is a great achievement that will benefit generations!”
“Wise, Your Highness!”
“…”
The merchants were all overjoyed beyond measure. They had long coveted maritime trade, and now knowing that the right to maritime trade was in Xiao Ming’s hands, how could they not be excited?
Among them, Cao Zhengyang was the most excited. Ever since the relationship between Prince Chu and the Dutch broke down, the Cao family’s maritime trade plummeted. Now, he had finally found an opportunity to revitalize the Cao family.
“Your Highness, does this mean that from now on, we can sell goods through maritime trade?” Cao Zhengyang asked expectantly.
“Of course not.” Xiao Ming’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured on the merchants’ heads, but his next sentence gave them hope again, “Only merchants under the unified jurisdiction of the Chamber of Commerce can conduct maritime trade, and all merchant ships engaged in maritime trade must pay taxes. If anyone dares to evade taxes in my enfeoffed territory, they will forever lose the right to maritime trade.”
“Your Highness, paying taxes is a matter of course. We will certainly not engage in fraud,” Ding Wu guaranteed.
“Your Highness, rest assured, we absolutely dare not.”
“…”
The merchants spoke one after another, patting their chests in assurance.