Chapter 315 Zheng He’s voyages to the West
"Why do you only focus on these two types of ships? What are the differences between them?" Ying Zheng asked again.
Does Qin An want to compare the Chinese ships and the European ships to see which ship is more powerful?
Qin An smiled and replied: "Because the sailing battleship was the most popular type of ship in Europe from the 17th to the 19th century.
The ship Zheng He used for his voyages to the West was the world's largest seagoing ship at the time, but his design drawings have been lost.
I just simulated it based on sporadic records in historical books, and finally summarized the shipbuilding technology of ancient times, especially the Ming Dynasty, and finally made the treasure ship.
I don't know much about today's ships, but I can build them if I want. But in a word, it's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without straw due to lack of materials.
But I can build treasure ships and sail battleships. It’s just that I’m very curious. The village doesn’t need a boat. "
"The village really doesn't need it," Ying Zheng said, "but Lao Meng and the others need to learn."
Meng Sheng immediately said: "Learn, you must learn, sir, please give me some advice."
Gongshu Yang followed and said: "I want to learn too, there are many people in Gongshu who also like to build boats."
Qin An hesitated for a moment and finally agreed: "Okay, but I think you should learn the most advanced shipbuilding technology instead of ancient shipbuilding technology."
"Sir, do you have advanced shipbuilding technology?" Gong Shuyang asked.
"I don't have the most advanced ones, but I do have the design drawings of steamships." Qin An said, "When I was studying steam engines, I studied everything about them. When you copy the steam trains, you can also copy the steamships and other things. some documents."
"That's great." Gong Shuyang and Meng Sheng both said excitedly.
"Don't get too excited too soon." Qin An immediately poured cold water on him, "Even if you have the blueprints, it is very difficult to build steam engines, steam trains, steam ships, and other steam engine-related machines.
But if you really want to learn, you must remember that failure is the mother of success. Don’t be afraid of failure. "
"Thank you sir for your advice." Meng Sheng and Gong Shuyang bowed at the same time.
Ying Zheng said: "Qin An, let them copy it now, and tell me something about Zheng He's voyages to the West.
When you just talked about the Age of Discovery, you talked most about the European countries, but you only said a few words about China.
But you just said that the ships used by Zheng He were the largest sea ships in the world, and they also sailed to the Western Ocean.
Then why did China not have colonies and earn a lot of gold and silver? "
Qin An sighed and said: "That's because the purpose of Zheng He's voyages was to find Emperor Jianwen and to show the majesty of the Celestial Kingdom, so Zheng He went to send wealth, not to invade.
Therefore, there is no colony. Even if there are gold or silver mines, they belong to the other party, and Zheng He will not seize them. "
"Confused." Ying Zheng said, "With such a good opportunity to expand the territory, the emperor at that time did not do it.
Such an emperor is really useless. If the First Emperor were in power, he would definitely take over all the land for his own use. "
"The village chief is wise." Li Si and others applauded and said.
Feng Quji said: "It's indeed very good. The emperor at that time should have occupied those gold and silver mountains to enrich his treasury, occupy various countries, and increase his own territory, just like other European countries. This would benefit China at all. It's really unclear. , why don’t they do it?”
"This has something to do with China's internal situation." Qin An sighed, "Yongle Emperor Zhu Di is actually a rebel emperor.
The original emperor Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen was Zhu Di's nephew. To put it simply, he was an uncle who rebelled against his nephew. "
"Why is this happening?" Ying Zheng asked.
"It's not because Zhu Di's father, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, named his sons vassal kings.
Then after Lao Zhu died, he passed the throne to his grandson.
Because Zhu Yunwen was young, he was encouraged by a group of close ministers to cut down the feudal vassal. This vassal reduction was not a favor order, but a slash of the sword, which directly confiscated the fiefdoms of these vassal kings, leaving only the title of one vassal king. "Qin An explained.
"So cruel." Li Si said.
"Stupid." Ying Zheng said harshly, "This Zhu Yunwen is really stupid. The great country is in his own hands. He must first establish his own foothold and then take action slowly.
How could you strike blindly and then be so ruthless? Isn't this forcing everyone to take action? But I am very curious, Zhu Yuanzhang should have many sons, why was only Zhu Di rebelling? "
Qin An replied: "This is Zhu Yunwen's cleverness. He did not blindly cut down the vassal, but arrested all the vassal kings who had violated the law, and then demoted them to common people. First, he eradicated Zhu Di's brothers.
Zhu Di was also going to be caught, but he pretended to be crazy and even ate shit to prove that he was really crazy.
When the imperial envoy returned to the court and proved that Zhu Di was crazy, Zhu Yunwen began to thoroughly implement the reduction of vassal status.
Zhu Di also started to raise troops. In the end, Emperor Jianwen was defeated and fled the capital. He disappeared without a trace. There is no record in history where Emperor Jianwen went, making it a mystery.
After Zhu Di came to the throne, he worked hard to develop the economy, promote culture and education, and took many measures to vigorously develop the economy, making the world prosperous, the country prosperous, and the territory vast.
Without such a strong family background, how could Zheng He make seven voyages to the West? "
"That's it." Ying Zheng and others suddenly realized that they had a good impression of Zhu Di. It was gratifying to have such a junior.
Li Si nodded slightly and said, "Even so, what does it have to do with us going to sea to expand our territory?"
"My father-in-law, as I just said, the first reason is related to China's experience. China is a large agricultural country and can be completely self-sufficient, so we don't like overseas things.
But Western countries are different. They cannot be self-sufficient and cannot develop without robbing.
The second is the cultural difference. We have always regarded ourselves as a heavenly country, a land of etiquette and noble sentiments. For the sake of our own reputation, we will never allow banditry to occur.
Moreover, China has always paid attention to persuading people with virtue, and even the Chinese emperors have this saying: There is nothing in the world but the king's land.
He believed that the world belongs to the emperor, and overseas is also one of the world, and should belong to the emperor. Therefore, the whole of China has no desire to develop overseas. Therefore, Zheng He did not attack each other during his seven voyages to the West. Instead, he regarded it as a money-splitting boy. China's good things are given to other countries.
Porcelain, tea, and silk are things that the whole world wants.
Especially in those European countries, silk, tea, porcelain and other items can only be enjoyed by nobles. Things sold cheaply in us can be sold at sky-high prices in Europe. "
Some people died, but not completely...
