The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 253

“Keep digging. I don’t believe they can build this dam any deeper.”

After confirming that forcibly breaching the dam was virtually impossible, the leader gritted his teeth and said.

Upon hearing this, the group exchanged glances, made up their minds, and began digging down the edge of the embankment.

After digging for a long time, down about half a meter, they were devastated to discover that the dam seemed to be going even further down, and they couldn't see the dam's roots at all.

To ensure the stability of the dike and to prevent anyone from secretly digging it up, Zhou Chu ordered all the workers to dig nearly two meters deep into the ground outside the original dike, and at the same time, he had people drive solid wood, about the thickness of an arm, into the ground.

Then, people used bamboo to bind these solid woods horizontally together to form a whole. Although this method is not as strong as steel bars, it can still ensure that the entire dam will be a single unit after it is poured. With the existing methods, it would be extremely difficult to dig through the dam.

Therefore, Zhou Chu initially taught the migrant workers on the dike how to do the work little by little. After the first batch of migrants learned, Zhou Chu dispersed them to various places and let them teach other migrants.

"who?"

While a group of people were still digging the dike, a group of patrolling soldiers on the dike spotted the crowd below and immediately shouted.

The moment the soldiers spoke, those digging the dam were startled. They put down their picks and rakes and scattered in all directions.

"Grasp!"

The leading officers and soldiers naturally wouldn't let these people go. They led their men down the embankment and then quickly chased after them.

In the capital, the court assembly continued, and the civil and military officials gradually accepted Zhou Chu's exaggerated military achievements and the emperor's rewards to him.

"Now that Annam has been recovered, its outlet to the sea radiates across the entire southeastern coast. I believe we should take this opportunity to lift the maritime ban and allow our Ming Dynasty's silk and porcelain to be exported overseas. Only in this way can our Ming Dynasty truly become prosperous."

Emperor Jiajing finally put forward his long-planned idea: to lift the sea ban.

The time was ripe. The smuggling routes of the Jiangnan gentry had been basically cut off, and the Xuanwu Army was also watching them from the sea. If they wanted to continue making money at sea, there was only one way for them: to lift the sea ban and let everyone make money together.

In this way, the pirates at sea, especially the Xuanwu pirate group, became the enemy of the Ming Dynasty, rather than the enemy of the gentry in Jiangnan.

Both publicly and privately, these people have no reason to oppose opening the sea to the sea.

However, everything needs a reason, and that reason must be given by Jiajing.

"Your Majesty is wise. I also believe that our Great Ming Dynasty should pacify the four seas."

The Vice Minister of War immediately stepped forward.

Everyone else looked at this person with strange expressions upon hearing this. The reason was simple: this person was from the Jiangnan Group, and when Yang Tinghe was still around, he was completely subservient to Yang Tinghe.

During the Zhengde era, Zhu Houzhao occasionally mentioned opening up the sea, and the most vehement opponents were people like Yang Tinghe. Yang Tinghe once vehemently refuted Zhu Houzhao, saying that opening up the sea would violate ancestral precepts. After all, the sea ban was set by Emperor Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang. Every time an emperor proposed opening up the sea, the civil officials would use this as a basis for rebuttal.

Yang Yiqing was quite impressed by this man's shamelessness. Although Yang Yiqing understood why he so strongly supported the emperor's opening of the sea, such a drastic change in attitude was laughable.

"Shi Cong, what do you think?"

Zhu Houcong naturally wouldn't let Yang Yiqing escape unscathed. Adhering to the old man's attitude, Zhu Houcong had to ask Yang Yiqing's opinion on every matter.

Upon hearing this, Yang Yiqing sighed inwardly, knowing that the emperor was deliberately tormenting him. However, he had been resting and recuperating at home for the past few days, and he also kept a piece of scallion in his mouth before each court session. Although it was difficult, it wasn't a big problem.

"Your Majesty, I believe that although the sea ban should be lifted, it should not be done hastily. At present, the Japanese pirates along the southeast coast have not been quelled and bandits are rampant. In particular, pirates are rampant at sea. If these problems are not resolved, it will be more harmful than beneficial to lift the sea ban rashly."

Yang Yiqing naturally wouldn't comply with Jiajing's wishes, but his words were all reasonable. Without resolving the Japanese pirate problem, lifting the sea ban would pose a great hidden danger.

Yang Shen, unusually, did not object to Yang Yiqing's words.

"Shi Cong is right. The Japanese pirates have always been a major threat to our Great Ming. As long as the Japanese pirates are not quelled, our Great Ming will not be at peace. In that case, why not trouble two people with one task? Let Zhou Hengqi quell the Japanese pirates. What do you all think?"

This time, Jiajing did not ask these people to recommend candidates, nor could he hold court meetings until late morning every time, as that would be too obvious.

"I believe this move is very appropriate. With Zhou Hengqi's ability to lead troops, the mere threat of Japanese pirates is nothing to fear."

Yang Yiqing was well aware that opening the seas was an inevitable trend, which would be beneficial to the emperor, the people of Jiangnan, and the entire Ming Dynasty. If he were to obstruct this trend, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock.

Yang Yiqing is no fool for being able to reach his current position; he knows what should be stopped and what shouldn't be stopped.

As for Zhou Chu's campaign to suppress the bandits, given his previous achievements, Yang Yiqing had even less reason to oppose it. Opposition would be useless anyway, so why should Yang Yiqing make a fool of himself? It would be better to comply with the emperor's wishes and leave court early than anything else.

Jiajing was very satisfied with Yang Yiqing's tact and understanding, which showed that yesterday's reprimand had not been in vain.

Since Yang Yiqing agreed, the other officials had no reason to object. The officials in Jiangnan couldn't wait for the sea to open up. Although Zhou Chu's suppression of the pirates made them grit their teeth, they had no choice but to accept it.

"Effective immediately, Zhou Heng is hereby reinstated as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and concurrently appointed Governor-General of Jiangnan Province to lead the full-scale suppression of the Japanese pirates and restore a bright and clear world to the southeast of our Great Ming Dynasty."

Jiajing announced it directly.

No one objected to Zhou Chu's reinstatement as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. After all, whether he was Commander or not, the power Zhou Chu held was the same. Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion? What a joke! What Embroidered Uniform Guard Centurion commands tens of thousands of troops?

After announcing Zhou Chu's latest appointment, Jiajing did not bother Yang Yiqing any further and immediately adjourned the court, which relieved Yang Yiqing.

Zhou Chu was having dinner with Princess Deqing and Lin Yao at the Tang residence when Shen Lian suddenly appeared beside him.

"My lord, Commander Chen requests an audience."

Zhou Chu was somewhat surprised to hear this. He knew Chen Zhao's personality; if it weren't for an urgent matter, Chen Zhao wouldn't have come to the Tang residence to bother him.

"Teacher, Princess, I have some official business to attend to."

Zhou Chu smiled apologetically.

"You go about your business, official duties are important."

Princess Deqing smiled.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu got up and went to the door, where he saw Chen Zhao waiting.

"Your subordinate greets Your Excellency."

Chen Zhao, wearing a straw raincoat, bowed and greeted them.

"Let's talk about it."

Zhou Chu waved his hand and said.

"Sir, the soldiers responsible for patrolling the dike have caught a group of people who wanted to dig the dike. I don't know how to deal with them, so I came to ask for your advice."

These people should have been handed over to the Suzhou government, but now the security of the entire Suzhou prefecture is the responsibility of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, including the dikes.

Yan Song naturally had no objection to this.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chu immediately perked up.

"Lock them up first, keep a close watch on them, don't let them die, I'll have a good talk with them later."

Zhou Chu sneered.