Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

"The Martial Arts Temple has been cracking down on the Seven Stars Hall over the years, and the Star Moon Sect has clashed with the Martial Arts Temple multiple times, but within the borders of our Da Rong, they have always been repelled!"

"This time their attack on Yu State City is very likely due to the Martial Arts Temple's crackdown on the Seven Stars Hall."

Emperor Yanping looked at the document in his hand, his expression growing increasingly grim.

Regarding the forces of the East South Sea Domain, Da Rong has always adopted a policy of non-interference with one another.

Since the Navy is Da Rong's weak point, the Da Rong Court has always focused its human and material resources on the nine border towns, resulting in virtually no deterrent power of Da Rong's Navy over the seas.

And there are as many pirates in the East South Sea Domain as there are stars in the sky; in Da Rong's eyes, any force in the East South Sea Domain can be referred to as pirates.

"Star Moon Sect!"

Emperor Yanping's eyes gleamed fiercely. He could disregard the other forces in the East South Sea Domain, but this Star Moon Sect must be eradicated.

The Star Moon Sect has previously supported the Seven Stars Hall in causing trouble within Da Rong's borders, and now they even commanded pirates to attack Yu State.

If Da Rong were to swallow its pride this time, then in the future, all the forces in the East South Sea Domain might deem Da Rong weak and easy to bully.

Moreover, times have changed. In the past, Da Rong could only barely maintain the nine border towns, but now the Da Rong Court is not short of Silver, and Da Rong has the capacity to wage a large-scale war in the East South Sea Domain, to boost the national prestige of Da Rong.

"Ming Zhong, summon the Cabinet ministers, Chiefs of Staff of the Six Ministries, Left Imperial Censor, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Duke Ning, Duke Rong, Marquis Changping, Marquis Jianchang to discuss matters!" said Emperor Yanping.

Zhang Mingzhong bowed and responded: "As you command!"

About an hour later, all the summoned ministers arrived at the side hall of Taiji Palace.

Emperor Yanping, accompanied by Wang Zhongzhi, came to the side hall, and the ministers bowed, saying, "We greet Your Majesty!"

"Ministers, please rise."

"Wang Zhongzhi, recount the matter of Jiangnan to the ministers once again!"

Wang Zhongzhi took a step forward, standing before the ministers and relayed the whole sequence of events.

After he had finished, a look of displeasure crossed the faces of all the ministers.

"Your Majesty, this matter must be thoroughly investigated. It is not only the Market Shipping Department, but I fear that the Jiangnan Governor's Office and the Inspector General's Office may also be involved!" Song Yuange was the first to step forward and speak.

He was concerned about the officials in Jiangnan caught up in this, while the matter of the Star Moon Sect was not his focal point.

Beside him, Zhou Yunsong, with his head lowered, glanced at him, his aged face showing no emotion.

The Jiangnan governor and Inspector General were both his protégés, and Song Yuange's statement was like stabbing him in the back.

Emperor Yanping looked at Wang Zhongzhi, who shook his head slightly, "Your Majesty, there has not been enough time, and the Secret Martial Guards have only investigated the officials from the Jiangnan Maritime Trade Department. As for whether other officials are involved, the Secret Martial Guards have not yet found any evidence!"

The Secret Martial Guards were formidable, but not omnipotent. Just two months to thoroughly understand the situation with Jiangnan's silk merchants and the Market Shipping Department was quite an accomplishment. As for the others, it would be difficult to get to the bottom of it only through covert investigation.

Emperor Yanping nodded slightly. The Star Moon Sect must be destroyed, and the Jiangnan official circle must be cleansed. The silk trade alone, worth tens of millions of taels per year, if the Market Shipping Department were to tax according to regulations, would yield a tax revenue of at least a million taels.

And that's just the silk trade. Jiangnan is the most developed region in Da Rong in terms of commerce and trade, and it is also the region with the most prosperous maritime trade.

The Market Shipping Department must have tampered with more than just the silk trade, and it's estimated that they have embezzled a significant amount of Silver from other industries as well.

"Investigate, regardless of who is involved, conduct a thorough investigation!"

"The investigation shall be led by the Inspector General's Office, with the assistance of the Ministry of Criminal Justice and the Ministry of Justice, together with the support of the Secret Martial Guards and the Martial Arts Temple!"

Emperor Yanping was prepared to wield the executioner's blade; the amount of tax skimming involved by the Jiangnan Maritime Trade Department reached millions of taels of Silver, yet the tax remitted by this department in recent years was even less than that of the Liao'an Maritime Trade Bureau.

The Liao'an Maritime Trade Bureau, responsible for the maritime trade in the Liao Sea area, draws its main taxation from the Tenglong Guard, yet the tax stipulated by Yang Zhenshan for the Tenglong Guard was much lower than that of other maritime trade bureaus.

Even so, the tax revenue from the Jiangnan Maritime Trade Department was still less than that of the Liao'an Maritime Trade Bureau, which suggests the inconceivable amount of tax revenue embezzled by the former.

This matter could not possibly be borne by a single maritime trade department alone; there must be other officials involved, perhaps even those from the Capital City.

Emperor Yanping's gaze landed on Zhou Yunsong, who kept his head down and said nothing.

He clearly understood what Emperor Yanping suspected, but he truly had not partaken in this matter.

For him, the more he said, the more mistakes he could make; it would be better to say nothing and actively avoid suspicion.

Inspector General's Office's Left Imperial Censor Guan Wenshuo, Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice Wei Rong, Minister of the Ministry of Justice Yan Ruishu, as well as Wang Zhongzhi and Zhang Luan, swiftly stepped forward and answered, "Your servants obey the decree!"

Emperor Yanping nodded and continued, "The calamity in Yu State was caused by the Star Moon Sect, and the court must not show leniency towards the Star Moon Sect this time. I intend to eradicate the Star Moon Sect!"

"Do any of my courtiers have objections?"

"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers replied.

"Then do my courtiers have any suggestions?" asked Emperor Yanping.

The ministers fell into contemplation, then Duke Ning, Zhou Mao, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, to besiege the Star Moon Sect, we must deploy the Navy. At present, our Da Rong has only the Tenglong Advanced Guard, Jin Hai Guard, Hai State Left Guard, Quanhai Guard, and Leizhou Guard as the five naval forces fit for significant action!"

"However, given the Star Moon Sect's considerable presence in the East South Sea Domain, I fear that these five naval forces may not be sufficient to eradicate the Star Moon Sect!"

Da Rong's Navy is its weakness, and the most robust naval force at present is the Tenglong Advanced Guard. Despite being established for less than a decade, they now possess a formidable power that deters the northeast sea domain of Da Rong.

As for the other Four Guards, the Jin Hai Guard serves as the protector of the Capital City's waters and is somewhat capable, whereas the other three guards can be considered barely competent.

Zhou Mao, well-acquainted with Da Rong's entire military, could only think of these as the viable naval forces in the short term.

"Does our Da Rong not have any other naval forces to utilize?" Emperor Yanping frowned discontentedly.

Zhou Mao became silent, while Duke Rong, Duan Rui, pondered before suggesting, "Your Majesty, the Jiujing Naval Forces might also be of use!"

"The Jiujing Naval Forces are inland river forces; I fear they are not suited for sailing on the high seas!" Zhou Mao added.

In truth, the Jiujing Naval Forces also comprise an elite contingent. Boasting five Guards— front, rear, left, right, and center— with a manpower exceeding twenty thousand, they are primarily tasked with defending the waters of Bashu, Yun Gui, and Jiangnan provinces.

The issue, however, lies in the fact that the Jiujing Naval Forces are riverine troops, unversed in sea warfare. Their vessels are small in size, lacking large junks, with the main force composed of medium and small patrol boats and birdboats.

If the Jiujing Naval Forces were to engage in naval combat at sea, they would indeed need to be equipped with large junks.

Liang Chu joined the conversation, "In my opinion, it's not impossible. With a bit of training, the Jiujing Naval Forces can go to sea. We may, however, need to supplement their ships!"

Zhou Mao glanced at Marquis Changping. You were the one who suggested this; you will be responsible if something goes wrong.

Liang Chu also gave him a look, indicating that in times of no other choice, it was better to present some solutions, especially when His Majesty was in a moment of wrath.

Exchanging glances and silent agreement, Zhou Mao seemed to have grasped Liang Chu's line of thought and thus closed his mouth.