"Dalang, how is the British male's health? Is he feeling better?"
"Reporting to my father, because the weather has gotten warmer, the British Duke's health has gotten better. When I went to visit my doctor yesterday, he got up from his bed and went to the second door to greet him. I saw that he looked good, and he didn't Why are you coughing?"
"Okay, that's good... His disease can't tolerate cold. It won't be a big problem after winter, but it's too cold here in Shuntian Mansion after all. Chen Li, why not take advantage of the warm weather this year?" When the time comes, move your father to a warmer place?"
In the court hall, Zhao Kai, an official of the Song Dynasty, asked his son Zhao Lun about yesterday's visit to the patients in Yizhuang, the villa of the British Gong Chen Ji. In his words, he seemed very concerned about Chen Ji's condition, and even talked to Chen Li about giving Chen Ji a place to recuperate.
What Chen remembered was lung disease. It was hard to say whether it was caused by a virus or bacteria, but it was definitely not lung cancer because he had been sick for several years. The disease usually occurs when the weather is cool and is relieved when the weather warms up.
A few days ago, when the weather was cold, I had a big breakout and almost died, but I still managed to survive.
Hearing Zhao Kai's question, Zhishuntian Mansion Affairs Chen Li, who was also in the court today, felt warm in his heart, but at the same time he was also a little worried.
Although Zhao Kai did not prohibit the kings and ministers from making friends, he even encouraged it. However, unless an important minister at the level of Chen Ji was related to a certain king, he would still keep a distance from the kings, especially the kings of Zhao and Qin.
For example, Yue Fei has such a good relationship with his son Yue Yun and Zhao Ping, but he never visits the Qin Palace. The King of Qin, Zhao Ping, has never visited the Zhongshan Palace...even though the Qin Palace and the Zhongshan Palace are right next to each other. A street.
So Chen Li didn't know how Zhao Kai would react after Zhao Lun came to visit the patient. After all, it is difficult for others to understand Zhao Kai's "crazy official" approach.
"Guan family," Chen Li hurriedly came out of class to report, and said tentatively, "I have this intention, so I want to take a leave of absence and accompany my father to the south to recuperate..."
"What kind of leave are you asking for?" Zhao Kai waved his hand and said with a smile, "I'll just change your official position... You can become the Fujian Road pacifier and know about Quanzhou affairs!"
Chen Li was so happy!
Get promoted and make a fortune!
The Fujian Road pacifier is a bigger deal than knowing about Shuntian Prefecture, and knowing about Quanzhou is better than knowing about Shuntian Prefecture... Now Quanzhou is the center of southern maritime trade!
Of course, Chen Li didn't want to make a lot of money in Quanzhou. What really made him happy was Zhao Kai's attitude.
Zhao Kai's attitude determines everything!
When Chen Li was about to thank the emperor for his kindness, Zhao Kai spoke again: "Chen Li, I didn't ask you to go to Fujian just so that the British Lord could have a warm place to recuperate. I know that you are talented and willing to do things, so I want you to go to Fujian and take care of the affairs of Quanzhou Bao Shipyard."
The treasure shipyard Zhao Kai mentioned was of course the factory that built treasure ships. As for the so-called treasure ship, although it is named after the treasure ship that sailed to the Western Ocean in the Ming Dynasty, it is not that big (not as big as the large treasure ship). It is only a large fortune ship with a cost of 2000 materials. The size is similar to the previous Shenzhou series sea-going ships, but the quality is much better. It uses oak wood (oak wood) produced in the Northeast, rouge wood (teak wood) produced in Xuanhua Prefecture (later Siamese generation) in southern China, and wood produced in China. Ironwood from Guangdong and Guangxi.
In addition, the shape of the treasure ship has also been greatly improved on the basis of Shenzhou - Shenzhou adopted a bulkhead design. The treasure ship adopts the design of ship ribs, which is not only stronger but also has larger storage space.
Moreover, the treasure ship also redesigned the gun deck and selected the latest 5-pound and 10-pound bronze cannons as ship-borne firearms, making the combat effectiveness even more powerful.
The most important improvement lies in production... Although the Shenzhou series of sailboats also have relatively fixed ship types, they do not adopt standardized and mass production methods. So yields are low and quality varies.
The issues of standardization and mass production have been greatly improved during the production of treasure ships.
Beginning in the 20th year of Hongwu, Zhao Kai ordered people to open treasure shipyards in Fuzhou in Liaodong, Jiaozhou in Shandong, and Nanjing, Shanghai, Quanzhou, and Guangzhou in the southeast, specifically for the construction of treasure ships for long voyages.
Among them, the three treasure shipyards located in Fuzhou, Nanjing, and Shanghai are directly responsible for the Naval Metropolitan Control Department.
The three treasure shipyards located in Jiaozhou, Quanzhou and Guangzhou are in charge of the pacification envoys from Shandong, Fujian and Guangdong and Guangxi.
After 10 years of development, the three treasure shipyards affiliated with the navy are relatively on track, and each has 20 dry docks. The annual output has reached more than 20 pieces.
However, the three treasure shipyards in Guangzhou, Quanzhou, and Jiaozhou are not doing very well. Although there are many dry docks, their production capacity and quality cannot be compared with the naval shipyards.
After hearing Zhao Kai's "supreme instructions", Chen Li quickly bowed and bowed: "I will live up to my orders!"
Zhao Kai nodded, and then said to King Zhao, "Da Lang, the Bao Shipyard in Jiaozhou is not very good either. How about you become the pacifier of Shandong Road, know the affairs of Jiaozhou, and put the Jiaozhou Bao Shipyard in good order. "
Jiaozhou is the Qingdao area in later generations. It originally belonged to Mizhou and Laizhou. There is also a Banqiao Town Commercial Port in the local area, which is the largest port in the north.
After the two Song Dynasties were unified and the Huang-Huai River was diverted (the Yellow River entered the sea from Haizhou, thus causing sedimentation in Haizhou Bay), Banqiao Town developed rapidly, so Zhao Kai established the Jiaozhou Bay near Banqiao Town. He moved to Jiaozhou and served as the residence of the Shandong Road Appeasement Envoy.
In the 20th year of Hongwu's reign, Zhao Kai ordered people to establish the Huangdao Bao Shipyard in Jiaozhou Bay, which was under the jurisdiction of Fusi, Shandong.
However, Jiaozhou Shipyard, Quanzhou Shipyard and Guangzhou Shipyard, because they are under the jurisdiction of Fusi rather than the Navy, are relatively poor in shipbuilding technology and quality control - the Navy has a special shipbuilding school, and the shipbuilding officers trained are equivalent to " In the second year of high school, they studied mathematics, physics and chemistry, and learned the management methods of the army. Although the cost of the treasure ships they built was relatively high, the quality was guaranteed. Moreover, it can also carry out standardized (relatively) production, which is incomparable to the three local shipyards.
"Father," Zhao Lun actually doesn't want to leave Shuntian Mansion to work in Shandong. Now is a critical moment in the battle for the reserve position. "The navy's three treasure shipyards are enough. The combined annual output of the three plants can reach There are already 60 boats. In another year or two, we can produce 120 boats per year...which is enough."
This is a production of 120 treasure ships a year!
If the annual output of Jiaozhou, Guangzhou, and Quanzhou shipyards can reach 120 ships, then the total output will be 240 ships a year. The navy does not need so many ships at all!
"Is it enough?" Zhao Kai looked at his son Zhao Lun with a smile, "Da Lang, do you know what I want so many treasure ships for?"
Zhao Lun smiled and said: "Of course it is for the expedition to Rome."
Zhao Kai nodded and said with a smile: "Southern Emperor Zhao Chen reported recently, "He has reached an agreement with Kuilong, a seaport city-state owned by believers of the Church of God Worship in Tianzhu. Kuilong will be responsible for our Western expedition. The army provides supplies. With Kuilon's supplies, I can launch a Thousand Ships Expedition to the West!
I will gather thousands of treasure ships, carry 200,000 land troops, borrow a lot of food, expedition to Rome, and eradicate the remnants of the golden thieves in one fell swoop! Dalang, are you willing to lead this army for me? "
Of course Zhao Lun is unwilling... Zhao Kai's expedition plan is a bit crazy no matter how you look at it!
There are at least 100,000 sailors on 1,000 treasure ships, plus 200,000 land divisions, that’s an army of 300,000!
So many armies have to cross the South and West, and also use the food country to attack Rome... How much will it cost?
And what happens after Rome is captured?
It seems like I can’t occupy it!
Besides, what’s so good about Rome? They don’t even have a piece of paper to wipe their butts…and they don’t have a big territory, and they’re not very wealthy either. If you want to conquer Rome, you might as well cross the Atlantic Ocean and go to the Eastern Continent to occupy some territory! The place is rich in gold, silver and copper, it seems, and the food is also very rich. "Beef" runs on the ground, "roasted passenger pigeons" fly in the sky, and various "fish meats" swim in the water.
The land is also said to be particularly fertile, and anything can be harvested...
And the most important thing is that the "Frankish natives" and "English natives" there are very weak. Apart from gold, they can't refine other metals, can't make bows and arrows, can only throw obsidian short spears, and don't know how to make bows and arrows. horse. Facing the Song Dynasty expeditionary force armed with divine arm bows, warzi armor and camel cannons, they had no ability to resist.
If we leave the good Dongzhou continent to conquer, how can we defeat Rome?
However, Zhao Lun did not dare to disobey Zhao Kai... He was still waiting to become the prince!
"Father, I am willing to level the castle for you and capture Xie Bao alive!"
The spirit is commendable!
Zhao Kai nodded with satisfaction. Just when he was about to say a few words of approval, the King of Qin Zhao Ping also stood up and spoke: "Father, I am also willing to expedition to Rome for you! Please give your son an army of 50,000, I. Let’s go overland and travel by land and sea together with my elder brother!”
Zhao Kai glanced at his second son. Although this child was tall and strong, he was very elegant and did not look as fierce as his elder brother. But he's not a good guy either... Not only is he an army commander, but he's also a philanderer! When he was fighting in that corner of the Northeast, he used some means to sleep with Yelu Dashi's daughter Yelu Pu and became the county prince (little wife).
"Ping'er," Zhao Kai said to Zhao Ping with a stern face, "you should think about how to pacify the Mobei grassland! Your uncle died early and left a mess. If you and Pu Su can't clean it up, who can Go and clean up?" He paused, "I'll give you two years, and you can pacify Mobei for me!"
"I accept the decree!" Zhao Ping had no choice but to accept the decree.
Zhao Kai then said to Zhao Lun: "King Lun, I will give you two years to help me reorganize the shipyard in Jiaozhou... In addition, all the treasure ships built will be concentrated in Jiaozhou Bay for training. I will also give you the control. Within two years, you can build a fleet for me that can sail far away. I will definitely not treat you badly."
