Although Zhu Fuyu stayed in Beijing for a few years when he was young, he can no longer remember it clearly, but he is quite familiar with Hanoi.
Saying goodbye to his reluctant mother and concubine, he set off for Haiphong Port.
Among the routes to the north, the safest route is naturally to go up via Guangxi, but it is too long and the fatigue of traveling and traveling is unacceptable.
Therefore, he could only choose to take a boat to Guangzhou, then continue north along the coastline to Hangzhou, and then reach Beijing through the canal.
The wharf of Haiphong Port is also quite lively. What surprised Zhu Fujiu were the people carrying the goods:
His upper body was naked, with just knee-length shorts, a pair of straw sandals on his feet, a straw hat on his head, and a half-wet towel on his shoulders.
His tanned skin and short hunchback body were impressive.
This outfit is really different from ordinary people.
"No matter how poor our country of Qin is, we won't have no clothes to wear, right?"
"Di Xia, this is for coolness!" Those who accompanied him to the north naturally accompanied him to study.
The sixteen-year-old boy dressed in white explained respectfully: "Your Highness governs the country with kindness, but the people are always poor and blessed, so they naturally have to endure hardships."
"However, our Qin country has not had any refugees for many years, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. This is one of the rare prosperous times in history..."
"Your Majesty is the future monarch of the Qin Kingdom. You should imitate Your Highness in implementing benevolent policies..."
"Yeah!" Zhu Fuxu nodded as if he understood.
In his heart, his father had single-handedly regained Annan for the Ming Dynasty, and he was truly a first-rate Holy Master.
After walking around the dock for a while, he got on the boat.
Several thousand-material warships escorted the ship, and a large ship with a scale of three thousand materials served as the flagship. It was the ship that the prince was riding.
"Your Majesty, this ship is named Nanning. It is a battleship of the Nanyang Navy. It is equipped with twenty-four cannons and carries two hundred sailors..."
The captain bowed slightly and introduced the situation of the ship. His face was full of pride: "The Nanning is here, so you can keep it without worries!"
Zhu Fuxu nodded.
Such a huge ship is quite eye-opening.
Riding the wind and waves, we arrived in Guangzhou City in two days.
The prosperity of Guangzhou city exceeded Zhu Fuxu's expectation.
This is a city larger than Hanoi and with a larger population.
In particular, the dock was so densely packed with ships as far as the eye could see, and there were as many sails as clouds in the sky, that he still remembered it vividly.
The Westerners, the Japanese, and even the Qin people were all looking around, thinking about how to make money.
The huge pier, with the sound of gold and silver flowing, is vulgar and fascinating, making people forget to leave.
Today's Ming Dynasty is an era of merchants, and it is also an era of pursuit of gold and silver. People are happy to talk about money and are proud of making more money.
Although there were various incomprehensible murmurs in his ears, Zhu Fuxu understood that these people were important tax targets of the country.
When he arrived in Hangzhou, the soft Jiangnan Wu language made Zhu Fuxu feel like his bones were going to be crispy.
At the same time, the wealth here also opened his eyes.
In the streets and alleys, there are many people wearing brocade clothes, and there are also many ordinary people wearing fine linen and clean clothes.
"fair and clear!"
This is his first impression.
Although he is young, he understands that only those who work less will not get tanned.
White is a symbol of wealth.
"Jiangnan is the most prosperous place in the Ming Dynasty, right?"
"Your Excellency, yes!" the young man in white replied, his face full of admiration and longing:
"The people here, even Lifu, can earn fifty or sixty cents a day, eat white rice every now and then, and own two or three sets of clothes."
"You can even send your children to study and gain fame."
"Studying? Are there so many schools?"
Zhu Fuxu said puzzledly.
He had been playing in Hanoi City since he was a child and was taught by teachers. He had also heard that teachers did not pay attention to the vassal court, especially school issues.
In Hanoi, a city of half a million people, there are only about five or six social schools and about ten private schools. The number of students enrolled in the twenty schools is about a thousand at most.
"Di Xia, it is said that in the entire Hangzhou Prefecture, although not every village has social studies, every town must have social studies."
The young man thought for a moment and revealed an exaggerated number:
"It is said that the capital city of Hangzhou governs Qiantang and Renhe counties, with a population of about 300,000. There are about 20 official social schools and private schools ranging from 30 to 50!"
As he spoke, he pointed to the Di newspaper in his hand.
Zhu Fuxu was stunned. He took it over and took a look: "Hangzhou government newspaper!"
"I just heard the Ming Dynasty Gazette?"
"Your Excellency, the government newspaper has been published in the past two years. It is directly subordinate to the government office and covers matters within the government. There is also a provincial newspaper, which is managed by the governor!"
At this time, Hangzhou Tongpian smiled:
"The communiqués are too big and mostly contain official documents. Therefore, in recent years, provincial newspapers and government newspapers have become popular, telling the things happening around the people. They are quite popular!"
The Hangzhou government newspaper naturally had to introduce the political achievements of the governor. Culture and education were indispensable, second only to taxation.
Zhu Fuxu read it back and forth, basically including official documents, political affairs on river construction and paving roads, where disasters occurred, what cases occurred, etc., as well as interesting stories about literati, deeds of famous people, etc.
Compared to the official document, it is a bit more interesting.
"Last year in Hangzhou Prefecture, 30 people were elected, accounting for 30% of the total. It is really the place where Zhejiang's literary style flourishes!"
Tong San showed off.
Zhu Fuxu was silent.
It is a well-known fact that the Jinshi of the vassal state is equivalent to the Juren of the Ming Dynasty.
But Zhu Fuxu had to sigh.
I'm afraid that even if Qing Qin came to Hangzhou, he might not be able to pass the exams of these talented people.
After walking around, the prince rested for the night and set off directly to the north the next day.
By the time he arrived in Beijing, it was already the end of March and it took him more than half a month.
"My grandson is here to meet the imperial grandfather!"
The twelve-year-old prince kowtowed to the emperor respectfully, not daring to go beyond the rules.
Seeing his grandson growing up vigorously, Zhu Yixi felt quite emotional for a while.
This was his eldest grandson. Cheng Huan had been his grandson for two or three years, and now he could vaguely see his features when he was young. Time had passed in the blink of an eye, how could he not make people feel sentimental.
He thought of himself.
My waist is tired and my legs and feet are not feeling well. In the past, I indulged in a group of people playing mahjong all night. I only tried it occasionally, but it was not as refreshing and eager as before.
I'm fifty-two, and I can't bear to accept old age.
"Get up quickly!"
Zhu Yixi blinked her eyes and woke up from her memories. She looked at her young grandson and smiled amiably:
"My son has been away for nine years, and his return today makes my grandfather very happy!"
"Sit, sit closer!"
The friendship between grandparents and grandchildren is inexplicably stronger.
Men Dongzi could clearly see that this was a surprise after a long separation, and it was also because of the scarcity of royal grandchildren.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince worked extremely hard over the years, but one of the two sons he gave birth to died in infancy, as well as a daughter.
Therefore, the prince is almost thirty, but he only has four sons and two daughters. It can be said that he has very few heirs.
There are only five or six grandchildren in Beijing, so how can we not be close to them?
Furthermore, the emperor saw this eldest grandson grow up when he was a child. With this relationship, it can be said to be a reunion after a long separation.
"Is Prince Qin's Mansion still empty?"
"The Qin vassal envoy lives in the side courtyard!"
"It just so happens that the emperor's grandson can live in it, and there will be someone to take care of it!" Zhu Yixi recounted the love between ancestors and grandson, and she became much calmer as expected:
"Go and pick some older and sensible maids, and the eunuchs will serve you!"
"Yes!" Mendong's eyes turned and he immediately knew what the emperor meant and hurriedly responded.
The emperor's grandson is twelve years old, and the young man admires him. He cannot let a girl serve him, lest he waste his life, he can only let an old aunt serve and look after him.
After taking the emperor's grandson out of the palace, Mendong ordered the eunuchs one by one: "Go and select a few older and good-tempered palace maids, and then find three or four eunuchs to serve in Prince Qin's palace."
After giving the instructions, he personally took the Prince of Qin out of the palace and placed him in the palace.
Naturally, he did not need to make specific arrangements. The envoys of Qin and Fan had already made preparations and did not dare to neglect.
"Master, you will only stay here for a few days!"
Seeing the emperor's relatives leave, Zhu Fuxu suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
There were already people kneeling in front of him.
"I will come to see you at the Crown Prince's residence!"
"Pingshen!" Zhu Fuxu raised his hand in a calm and unhurried manner.
When he checked into the palace, he felt that it was not much different from the East Palace in Hanoi, and it seemed even more spacious.
"Your Majesty, the front yard is a place for ministers to take risks, and the back yard is your residence. All the servants have been arranged..."
"Get down!"
Zhu Fuxu only felt tired.
After two days of rest, he got up early in the morning and rushed to Dongnuang Pavilion School.
The eunuch led the way and turned around to arrive.
Dongnuan Pavilion is actually a side hall of Qianqing Palace, divided into several rooms, where princes and grandsons of different school ages are admitted.
The eldest is the sixteen-year-old Prince Xu, the twenty-second son of the emperor.
The number of princes studying there reached twelve.
Among the emperor's grandchildren, Zhu Fuxu met the eldest son of the prince and the future successor of the Ming Dynasty: Zhu Fuyi.
The same seniority and rare name make their identity unique.
"Brother!" Zhu Fuyi saluted enthusiastically, leading several younger brothers to do the same.
Zhu Fuxu was the eldest among the third generation, so he naturally had an extraordinary status, and Zhu Fuyi was the second.
But he was not a fool. He said politely: "Second brother, there is no need to be polite. You and I will be polite and forget about it!!"
After saying that, the two of them sat back and forth and discussed school affairs.
Zhu Fuyi said with great interest: "The morning is literature class, which basically involves reading and recognizing words, reciting poems, and mastering sentence reading."
"In the afternoon, it's more relaxed, maybe riding and shooting, or playing chess..."
As an old student, Zhu Fuyi knew everything about it.
"It won't take a few days, brother, you will get used to it."
After class in the afternoon, Zhu Fuyi took this eldest brother to the palace wall: "Brother, there is a fat orange cat in the palace, living in this gap."
Zhu Fuxu smiled and thought of himself as a child. I am twelve years old.
But he still teased the cat together. This was a rare sibling play.
Holding the fat cat in his arms, Zhu Fuyi said softly: "On my day off, I will take you to watch horse racing and cockfighting. That is really interesting..."
Just like that, in less than half a month, the prince of Qin learned to watch plays and fight cocks, and learned how to play with the children of the capital.
…
Beihai Governor's Mansion, Qianshao Town.
In order to develop the huge Hanhai area, the Beihai Governor's Mansion established outposts one by one at intervals of one or two hundred miles, and settled about a hundred households.
At the same time, because of prey, wood and other resources, the outposts turned into small trading points and gradually developed.
Qianshao Town, formerly known as Qianshao Camp, later became Qianshao Town as the population increased. Nowadays, the permanent population has reached more than 2,000, making it the largest town in Hanhai.
The Beihai Governor's Mansion set up inspections and jurisdiction here.
Zhang Cheng got up from the bed, feeling the residual warmth on the bed, and trembled all over.
He looked up and saw a Rakshasa woman with long brown hair, a high nose and deep eyes, filling the fire with firewood and cooking food in the iron pot.
A few pieces of venison, a pot of potatoes, and some pastries on the side of the pot were the food for the two of them today.
The woman buried her head in front of the iron pot, and her slightly protruding belly looked flat, but Zhang Cheng knew that there was his seed inside.
In the past few years, with the development of Qianshao Town, conflicts have naturally arisen with the previously settled Rakshasa people. There have been more victories than defeats, and many Rakshasa people have been captured.
Settlement was taken and property became spoils of war.
Naturally, so do women.
In the Hanhai area where women are scarce and there are more trees than people, Zhang Cheng could only kill the enemy bravely and get the reward:
A Rakshasa woman.
Although he dislikes it, it is better than nothing. The hybrid is also his own species, right?
"It's time to eat!" The woman trembled slightly. Looking at Zhang Zheng who woke up, there was no fear on her face.
"Oh!" He got up, took a piece of charcoal and brushed it between his teeth, then rinsed his mouth.
The couple enjoyed the hot meal.
"You are pregnant, how can you eat potatoes every day!"
Zhang Cheng looked at the woman, gave her a piece of boiled venison, and said softly: "Eat more meat, this thing is not as good as steamed buns!"
"Yeah!" The woman nodded obediently.
After devouring his meal, Zhang Cheng opened the door. A cold air hit his face, and snowflakes had already buried the threshold.
The snow is more than a foot deep.
Fortunately, the door opens inwards.
"It snowed again all night yesterday!"
Wow!
At this time, the snowflakes at the door shook, and a gray-white, fluffy big dog stood up, his eyes full of desire.
"Eat it!"
Potatoes and broth, the big dog ate with relish.
Zhang Cheng picked up the ax and stepped out, ready to continue cutting down trees and store more firewood.
"Lao Zhang!" At this time, a neighbor a dozen steps away shouted: "My dog has had another litter, do you want it?"
"Yes, I must!" Zhang Cheng put down his axe, wiped his sweat and said impatiently:
“In this damn place, there are more blind bears than people, so it’s really hard not to have a few dogs!”
"Okay, I'll give you a hug in a few days!" The neighbor smiled.
After cutting down trees for a long time, when he was tired and panting, there was a sudden sound of gongs.
"Dong, dong, dong——"
The rhythm of three consecutive knocks continued for a long time.
This is a notification sound in the town, there is a wild beast nearby.
"There are wolves nearby!" he muttered.
The first sound is assembly, the second sound is blind bear, and the third sound is wolf.
If the bell rings, it means that the enemy is attacking, and you need to be ready to regroup and counterattack immediately.
"This is the vast sea, a bitter cold place!" Zhang Cheng smiled bitterly.
What can he do? He can only live with it!
(End of chapter)
