"You...who are you?"
When Gu Yan looked at the group of people gathered in front of him, a trace of panic flashed across his face, and then he mustered up the courage to ask.
"Are you Gu Yan?"
The leader was quite indifferent. After looking Gu Yan up and down, he confirmed.
"I am Gu Yan, what do you want from me..."
Before Gu Yan could finish his words, he was coldly interrupted by someone coming.
"Mr. Yan Ge and Mr. Xu Ge jointly recommended you to His Majesty. Please come with us!"
After Gu Yan heard what the visitor said, his face was full of disbelief and he couldn't help but confirm.
"Wha...what, what did you say?"
"Mr. Yan Ge and Mr. Xu Ge of the cabinet jointly recommend this official to Your Majesty?"
Perhaps because his patience had been exhausted, the visitor did not answer Gu Yan's question. After glancing at Gu Yan, he immediately ordered his subordinates to lead the way and walked away on his own.
"Wait, I'll go with you!"
Seeing this, Gu Yan quickly took three steps and two steps at a time, followed the pace of the person coming, and marched towards the Forbidden City together.
…
Forbidden City, Hall of Nourishing Heart.
"Your Majesty, all the things you asked your slaves to do have been completed."
As soon as Lu Fang entered the Yangxin Hall, she knelt on the ground respectfully and reported to Jiajing.
"Well, I understand, get up."
Jiajing responded rather perfunctorily, without stopping the brush in his hand, with a look of concentration on his face.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After receiving Jiajing's permission, Lu Fang slowly stood up from the ground.
At this moment, Lu Fang's heart was full of curiosity.
"What is it that can make His Majesty so selfless?"
Time passed by slowly. During the whole process, Lu Fang did not make any sound. He was like a statue, waiting quietly.
After a long time, Jiajing put down the brush in his hand, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and laughed loudly.
"Haha, it's finally done. Lu Fang, come and take a look."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Lu Fang, who had been waiting on the side for a long time, heard this and immediately stepped to the desk.
When he saw the work completed by Jiajing, his face was full of horror and he trembled.
"Your Majesty, this...this is!"
Jiajing was not surprised by Lu Fang's reaction, nodded, and then explained.
"Well, yes, this is the world map I drew before!"
"It's just that this map is more detailed than the one I drew before in the Imperial College, and there are more places marked on it."
After Lu Fang heard what Jiajing said, she immediately asked with trepidation.
"May I ask Your Majesty, is this map prepared for the fleet that will sail around the world?"
"Well, yes, didn't you see the specific route marked on it?"
Facing Lu Fang's inquiry, Jiajing nodded and then patiently explained.
"This is our Daming Dynasty. We start from Daming Dynasty, then pass through Jiaozhi and Tianzhu, then pass through the strait here, and then..."
Lu Fang looked along where Jiajing pointed, and soon, a complete circumnavigation route appeared in Lu Fang's mind.
Then, Lu Fang looked excited and suddenly fell to his knees on the ground, saying in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, if you do this, there will be no possibility of failure!"
"At that time, when the fleet returns, we will be able to prove that the theory proposed by your Majesty is correct."
Hearing Lu Fang's words, Jiajing's face was filled with helplessness. He helped Lu Fang up from the ground and explained.
"The purpose of sending the fleet this time is not just to prove that the theory I proposed is correct, but has a more important purpose."
"Look here!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, after the ink on the paper dried, he carefully turned it over and pointed to the sweet potatoes and corns painted by himself.
"Your Majesty, are you sending the fleet to look for these two things?"
Lu Fang looked along where Jiajing pointed. On it were not only pictures of the actual objects, but also corresponding notes to describe their appearance and taste.
"Well, that's right, I sent the fleet this time to find these two things!"
"Lu Fang, you know, if we have these two things, the people of Ming Dynasty will never have to go hungry again."
Jiajing looked away from Lu Fang and looked at the scenery outside, and couldn't help but sigh.
"Your Majesty, you just said that as long as we have these two things, people will no longer have to go hungry?"
After hearing what Jiajing said, Lu Fang might have been too excited, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably, speaking word by word.
"Well, that's right. As long as we have these two things, the people of Ming Dynasty will no longer have to suffer from hunger."
Jiajing just nodded in response, looking calm.
"Besides, I have already marked the specific place on the map just now!"
"Just follow the map and you will be able to find these two things."
Perhaps because he was tired of looking at it, Jiajing withdrew his gaze and then added.
Then, Lu Fang fell to her knees on the ground with a plop and cried.
"Your Majesty's Holy Might, slave... slave..."
Lu Fang choked and couldn't speak anymore.
"Get up, I am the king and father of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty. The two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty are all carried on my shoulders!"
"The people are naked and hungry. As their king and father, I have the obligation to free them from this life."
“I want children to grow up strong, I want the elderly to be taken care of, and I want the people of the world to regain their confidence in our Ming Dynasty, so that they can feel proud of being born in the Ming Dynasty from the bottom of their hearts! "
"No matter who dares to stand in front of me, I will make him regret coming to this world!"
After hearing Jiajing's murderous words, Lu Fang's eyes became more determined.
He will do his best to help His Majesty achieve this goal!
It doesn't matter no matter how many people die in the process.
"This slave is willing to swear allegiance to Your Majesty to the death. Long live my Emperor!"
Lu Fang looked calm, and after kowtowing respectfully three times, he spoke word by word.
"Well, get up."
When Jiajing saw this, he took his eyes away from Lu Fang and ordered.
Then I saw Jiajing sitting back on the dragon chair, stroking the carved dragon head with his hand, wondering what he was thinking.
At this moment, an eunuch came in from outside the Yangxin Hall and reported respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Gu Yan is already waiting outside the palace."
"Well, let him in."
Jiajing said, stood up, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and then gave instructions.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After accepting the order, the eunuch left the Yangxin Hall.
After a while, Gu Yan entered the Nourishing Heart Hall under the leadership of a eunuch.
As soon as he entered the Yangxin Hall, he knelt down on the ground with a plop and saluted Jiajing respectfully.
"I'm a humble minister, I'd like to see you, your majesty. Long live my emperor!"
"Well, get up."
When Jiajing saw this, he waved his hand and gave random instructions.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After getting the emperor's permission, Gu Yan stood up from the ground.
Since it was his first time to meet the emperor, Gu Yan couldn't help but feel a little nervous. There were beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Do you know why I came to you this time?"
Jiajing didn't talk too much and went directly to the topic.
"Your Majesty, I don't know."
Facing the emperor's question, Gu Yan's face was full of humility. After pondering for a moment, he answered.
"Yan Song and Xu Jie recommended you to me as the commander-in-chief to lead the fleet for this global voyage."
Jiajing took in the expression on Gu Yan's face, a smile appeared on his face, and explained to him.
(End of chapter)
