Northern Yuan prohibited the trading of horses — this was not difficult to understand.

Moreover, horses were costly to raise, and impoverished herdsmen mostly kept cattle and sheep; horses were largely confined to the hands of Northern Yuan nobles.

The Vice Minister of Personnel had assumed that when Pei Shaohuai spoke of “Da Qing profiting,” he meant acquiring horses through exchange — and so he had laughed derisively in open court.

Pei Shaohuai retorted with a question: “A thousand years ago, there was Chancellor Guan who governed Qi and devised the White Deer stratagem to bring Chu to submission. A thousand years later, our Da Qing stands unified, flourishing in national strength — yet in border trade, Your Excellency the Vice Minister can see nothing beyond the profit of horses. With such understanding of military strategy, Your Excellency had best step aside early and send someone else to debate with me.”

Pei Shaohuai laughed right back at him, then continued: “Chancellor Guan once said, ‘He who stores in an inexhaustible granary must tend to the five grains.’ Does Your Excellency not know that the five grains are worth more than horses, and carry greater military power?”

Da Qing could produce the five grains — that made it the “inexhaustible granary.”

The moment Pei Shaohuai finished speaking, before the Vice Minister of Personnel could even offer a rebuttal, everyone watched as Minister Ma of the Ministry of Finance slowly walked over to Pei Shaohuai’s side — a silent show of support. He had formerly served as Right Censor-in-Chief, and had once engaged in a great debate with Pei Shaohuai over the matter of “silver coins circulating overseas.”

Several officials from the Ministry of Finance followed and took their place beside him as well.

“Pei Shaohuai actually harbors intentions of feeding Da Qing’s grain to the Tartar menace — his heart deserves condemnation!” After these words came a wave of attacks, one after another without end.

The five Grand Academicians of the Cabinet stood to the left and right at the front of the hall. Senior Academician Xu and Senior Academician Zhang happened to be standing side by side.

Seeing that things below the hall were growing somewhat chaotic, Xu Zhannian asked in a low voice: “Senior Academician Zhang, should the two of us not make our position known?” If a Grand Academician spoke out in strong support of Pei Shaohuai, it would carry considerable weight.

“Wait a little longer.” Zhang Lingyi glanced at Chen Gongda below the hall and said, “Old Chen has just returned from the frontier. His temper may have grown a bit more fiery, but he is not a stubbornly ignorant man.”

He added with a jest: “Besides, we are nowhere near that point yet. With Boyuan’s talent for debate, what need is there for two old relics like us to step in?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than they saw Minister Chen of the Ministry of War step out from the ranks, apparently preparing to personally engage Pei Shaohuai in debate. Civil and military officials alike looked on with anticipation, wondering what earth-shattering words this notoriously hot-tempered Minister Chen might utter.

For a moment, the hall below fell perfectly still.

Then came the words: “This official finds himself partly in agreement with Advisor Pei’s views, partly in disagreement, and has certain points of confusion I wish to seek guidance on. The matters I am about to raise concern military secrets of the court, and are not suitable for general hearing. This official humbly requests that Your Majesty move to the Imperial Study, where further deliberation may be conducted.” His voice rang out with full force.

This drew looks of surprise from the assembled officials, followed by murmuring all around.

That Chen Gongda would say such a thing meant he had understood what Pei Shaohuai was saying — exactly as Zhang Lingyi and Pei Shaohuai had previously surmised.

“Granted.” The Emperor gave his assent, then ordered the Cabinet ministers, the heads of the Six Ministries and Nine Courts, and key military officials to proceed to the Qianqing Palace. At the last moment, the Emperor noticed the slightly green Pei Shaojin, considered for a moment, and said: “Pei — ah, Our beloved second subject from the Hanlin Academy, please come along as well.”

Pei Shaojin was both startled and delighted. The words he had prepared had already been spoken, yet he was still able to continue participating in the military deliberations — this was truly a rare opportunity.

A moment later, Pei Shaohuai patted his younger brother on the shoulder and said with a smile: “Let us go.” The Cabinet ministers and the heads of the Six Ministries and Nine Courts had already departed the hall ahead of them.

The two brothers walked side by side, stepping out of the great hall together. Two figures in blue robes, neither afraid — walking the same broad road, each pursuing his own path.

……

In the Imperial Study, a group of senior officials in scarlet robes took their places on either side of the room, leaving the center open.

Only Pei Shaohuai and Minister Chen remained to debate before the Emperor.

Minister Chen said: “Da Qing once employed a policy of appeasement — granting titles of king and peerage — in an attempt to sow division and discord among the various Northern Yuan tribes. Yet after several years, the ruse was eventually seen through, and the chieftain of the Uraankhai tribe used it to make extravagant demands.”

In the past, the court had first “brought over” the Uraankhai tribe of the Xi Liao River through a policy of appeasement, bestowing great quantities of wealth upon them — yet it had bought only a few years of peace. The moment gifts were reduced or cut off, raids and harassment would resume without end.

Minister Chen posed his question: “Why does Advisor Pei believe that using the arts of commerce to entangle the various Northern Yuan tribes would not face the same outcome?”

After all, Chen Gongda had once served as Governor-General of Ji and Liao — his words carried the weight of that authority.

Pei Shaohuai was undaunted, and responded with equal firmness: “Granting titles of king and peerage only bought off the Northern Yuan nobles — and a change of heart was merely a word from the chieftain. Border trade, however, is not directed solely at the Northern Yuan elite. How can the two be spoken of in the same breath?”

Trade was aimed more broadly at the Northern Yuan herdsmen. When herdsmen focused only on herding and not on fighting, the Northern Yuan elite would find it difficult to muster an army.

Defeating one chieftain only gave rise to another. What Da Qing needed to conquer was not the wolf’s head.

Minister Chen did not dispute this point. Instead, he continued to press: “If the court were to permit trade along the border defenses and open markets in frontier towns, what goods should be encouraged for trade and what should be forbidden — maximizing benefit while guarding against harm? Has Advisor Pei thought through this?”

This was the most critical question.

“The necessities of life for Northern Yuan herdsmen — cotton and linen cloth, needles and thread, pots and cauldrons, sea salt, sugar, dried fruits and sweets… and even grain. In my view, all of these may be freely exchanged at border markets. In return, obtaining cattle, mutton, animal hides, and wool felt from Northern Yuan herdsmen would also benefit Da Qing’s people,” Pei Shaohuai replied.

These were the goods to be encouraged.

“As for what should be forbidden from trade…” Pei Shaohuai paused deliberately, looked over at Minister Chen, and with a slightly sly expression asked: “That would depend on whether Your Excellency means forbidden on the surface, or actually forbidden in practice.”

There were things openly prohibited yet tacitly permitted in practice — that too was a form of strategy.

“Let us speak of what is to be prohibited on the surface.”

“Silk and brocade, jewels and ornaments — such costly and precious goods. The court may issue a prohibition on trading them, citing that ‘fine and rare objects are not to be acquired by those unworthy of them.'”

Only the Northern Yuan elite could afford to purchase such luxuries. The stricter the ban, the more they would prize them.

Selling to them quietly on the side would do the rest.

“And what is actually forbidden in practice?”

“Weapons and cannons, and also…” Pei Shaohuai said, “also tea.”

Every official in the Imperial Study was listening with complete concentration, for within the sparse exchange of words between the two debaters lay considerable layers of meaning — lose focus for even a moment, and one might miss something crucial.

The prohibition on weapons trade was easy to understand, but when Pei Shaohuai mentioned tea, those officials unfamiliar with military affairs all wore expressions of puzzlement.

Minister Chen’s face remained stern, yet he could not entirely conceal the admiration in his eyes, and deliberately pressed: “Why should tea be forbidden?” Tea farmers were shipping it by the basket-load to overseas markets.

Pei Shaohuai answered plainly: “Because to the northwest, there are the Qiang tribes.”

Da Qing followed the example of Emperor Wu of the Western Han — stationing heavy troops in the Gansu region and using tea to exert control over the Qiang — out of fear that the northwest Qiang tribes and the northern Tartar would join forces.

So the Northern Yuan people could not be allowed to obtain large quantities of tea, lest they cross Da Qing’s defensive lines and use tea to forge an alliance with the northwest Qiang tribes.

Those few words — “because to the northwest, there are the Qiang tribes” — deepened Minister Chen’s admiration further still.

By this point, the debate had taken on more the quality of a question-and-answer session: the questions precise, the answers brilliant, leaving nothing to dispute.

“If the court stations troops to oversee the border markets, at what prices should goods be exchanged?” This question came not from Minister Chen, but from Minister Ma of the Ministry of Finance, who added: “I have heard that in Datong there are civilian markets where ordinary people trade old clothing and miscellaneous goods for Northern Yuan cattle and horses — one bolt of coarse cloth for one sheep, one garment for one fur coat… In the short term, enormous profits may be had, but in the long run, I fear this will only do harm.”

These words, framed as a question, were more akin to a reminder.

“Minister Ma’s point is well taken.” Pei Shaohuai followed up on his words and said: “At border markets, if herdsmen find no profit in it, why would they devote themselves to raising cattle and sheep?”

Only sustained trade could create lasting bonds of dependency.

Minister Chen asked: “At what time of year would it be most fitting to hold the markets?”

There was a subtlety embedded in this question as well. Pei Shaohuai noticed that his younger brother’s lips had moved slightly, so he deliberately stepped back half a pace and gave him an encouraging look, inviting Shaojin to come forward and answer.

Shaojin was still nervous, his voice carrying a touch of uncertainty: “This official believes it should be after the Beginning of Autumn and before the Beginning of Winter…”

Seeing his elder brother give a slight nod of approval, he grew bolder and ventured his reasoning: “Over the past several decades, the Northern Yuan tribes have consistently launched incursions after autumn. This shows that with horses at their peak and autumn weather crisp and clear, their fighting strength is at its greatest at this time. To exchange a market for peace, this season would be most advantageous.”

As the debate neared its conclusion, Pei Shaohuai added: “Without strong troops stationed at the frontier to inspire awe in the Tartars and protect Da Qing’s peace, everything said today would be wishful thinking — none of it could be realized.” He offered his counsel to the Emperor: “This official agrees with Minister Chen’s position — when the imperial treasury is full, military salaries at the frontier should be increased, firearms at the garrisons improved, and the morale of officers and soldiers strengthened. If they dare to come and plunder, they must be made to pay a heavy price. Only then will the Tartars not dare to invade rashly.”

The Emperor gave an approving nod.

Minister Chen appeared to still harbor some doubt. He posed one final question: “Everything Advisor Pei has said just now sounds reasonable. However… although Da Qing has enjoyed successive bumper harvests in recent years with granaries full, in times of disaster the stores will eventually be exhausted. If a harsh winter persists for ten or even dozens of years in succession, where would the funds for frontier military salaries and the grain needed for the border markets come from?”

A full granary means a people at peace.

A single measure of grain — this was the greatest truth of this world.

“Open the seas.” Pei Shaohuai spoke with unwavering certainty. “The Book of Changes speaks of the way of yin and yang — and so it is with this world. When the north endures a long winter, the Southern Seas enjoy a long spring. Spring gives rise to crops, and maritime merchants will bring grain back to Da Qing in an endless stream.”

He needed a compelling example to prove his point, and so he cited the cotton weaving industry: “Last year, Your Majesty approved the promotion of cotton cultivation. Farming households in the various prefectures of North Zhili planted cotton on their barren hillside plots, yielding abundant harvests — estimated to produce hundreds of thousands of bolts of cotton cloth… Cotton cloth alone will be more than sufficient to sustain border trade for the next several years.”

He spoke of farming households in North Zhili growing cotton — not of cotton weaving mills.

Pei Shaohuai then made a pledge: “This official ventures a bold promise: within five years of opening the seas, results will be seen.” It was meant to break the deadlock — and also to hold himself accountable.

“The affairs of this world are interwoven and inseparable. Within Da Qing, if one deadlock is broken, light can be seen everywhere; if even one remains unbroken, nothing else can stand. This official pledges to see this matter through. If it cannot be done, this official is willing to accept punishment.” Pei Shaohuai spoke with conviction.

Before the Emperor could respond, Minister Chen strode forward slowly and took his place behind Pei Shaohuai, abruptly giving a deep bow: “This official — seconded!”

Then came Minister Wang, Minister Ma… one after another, the senior officials all came to stand behind Pei Shaohuai, declaring in unison: “Seconded.”

Since Pei Shaohuai had dared to make such a pledge, why not support him in seeing it through? Whether it was opening the seas or defending the frontier against Tartar incursions, what was five years?

Let alone five years — even ten, Da Qing could afford to wait.

Today’s debate, though centered on Northern frontier defense and border market trade, had also made the matter of “opening the seas” far clearer. Pei Shaohuai need not travel south burdened with worry — he could give free rein to his talents.

Seeing the assembled beloved officials in the Imperial Study in such rare harmony, free of their usual unending quarrels, the Emperor was most pleased. He said: “Bo… Beloved Subject Pei has such ambition and resolve — We are greatly heartened.”

Then he added: “Since everyone is here, let us take this opportunity to discuss — what reward would be fitting to bestow?” It was a rare chance to reward Boyuan without any reservations, not to be missed.