Royal study room.
The two chatted casually for a few words, and Yang Xuan brought the topic to the sea.
"I see that you are training sailors and ordering people to build warships."
"Are you preparing to open the sea?"
"Eh? How do you know?" Zhu Di was surprised.
"There are not many places where the Ming Dynasty can use its navy. If it is just for the safety of coastal areas, the navy left by the Hongwu Dynasty is barely enough."
"After all, Ming's biggest enemy is on the grasslands in the north." Yang Xuan said.
Hearing this, Zhu Di nodded, acknowledging Yang Xuan's words.
"The Hongwu Dynasty implemented a sea ban policy, and in the later period, my father ordered that no one be allowed to enter the sea."
"Last year, private smuggling was detected in Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places."
"I asked Jin Yiwei to check it out. Good guy, overseas trade is really profitable!"
Speaking of this, Zhu Di's eyes lit up.
“Nowadays, Ming Dynasty needs money everywhere.”
"I'm worried!"
"Look, my hair is all white."
Zhu Di stretched his head in front of Yang Xuan, wanting him to see clearly.
Yang Xuan did see the white hair on Zhu Di's head, but not much.
"Alas~"
"We have to provide disaster relief, we have to dredge the canal, and we have to fight a war."
"I also want to edit a book, but I don't have the money."
Zhu Di sighed again.
Yang Xuan understood that Zhu Di wanted to do too many things.
He wanted to tell Lao Zhu that he had not seen the wrong person.
"Overseas trade can indeed alleviate Ming Dynasty's financial problems."
"The Southern Song Dynasty was in a corner, with only half of the country, but its annual fiscal revenue exceeded 10 million yuan."
"On what basis?"
"It depends on overseas trade."
"It can be said that there is gold everywhere overseas."
"We have ships and people in the Ming Dynasty, but why is our fiscal revenue far less than that of the Southern Song Dynasty?"
"It's because our eyes have always been on this land."
"Granted, there are other reasons, but that's not why we don't see the world overseas."
"I'm very pleased that you can see the benefits that overseas trade has brought to Ming Dynasty."
Yang Xuan said slowly, with a serious tone.
Zhu Di:......
"Why do you sound like you are educating a junior?" Zhu Di asked with a lowered eyebrow.
"Ah? Haha, is there any?" Yang Xuan laughed and refused to admit it.
Zhu Di is the emperor after all, so he has to give him face!
"It's best not." Zhu Di snorted.
In fact, he didn't care. He knew what kind of person Yang Xuan was.
"However, from what you just said, you seem to know a lot about overseas." Zhu Di said.
"Not really."
"I just read too much," Yang Xuan said.
He had created a persona for himself as someone who liked reading a long time ago, so Zhu Di had no doubts about his words.
"Then tell me about the situation overseas." Zhu Di said.
"Okay." Yang Xuan nodded.
So the two started chatting overseas.
However, Yang Xuan was basically talking and Zhu Di was listening.
It can be seen that Zhu Di listened with great concentration and was full of curiosity and yearning for overseas.
The future described by Yang Xuan is really too beautiful.
Seeing that Zhu Di was almost crying, Yang Xuan smiled proudly in his heart.
'Let your old Zhu family draw cakes for me. '
Today, he also drew a pie for Zhu Di.
Of course, it is also to make them pay attention to overseas development.
If he remembered correctly, the hundred years of suffering began when the great powers opened the country from the sea with strong ships and cannons.
Damn wild boar... he cursed in his mind.
He still remembers that period of hundreds of years of suffering relatively clearly.
I really dare not forget it!
Forgetting history is tantamount to betrayal, and the blood of the martyrs will be shed in vain.
If the Ming Dynasty falls again in the future, it will be fine as long as the next dynasty is still the Han Dynasty, but he will never let the wild boars take over the Central Plains again.
"Say, keep talking!" Zhu Di was listening intently when Yang Xuan suddenly stopped.
"Oh, I was distracted." Yang Xuan came back to his senses and said.
"I'm not telling you, you were distracted during the meeting, and now we are just two people, and you are still distracted."
"What are you thinking about every day?" Zhu Di asked angrily.
Yang Xuan smiled and scratched his head.
Some things cannot be explained at all.
If you can't explain it, then you won't explain it.
So, Yang Xuan changed the topic.
"If you plan to sail to sea, I think the Zheng He you rewarded today is a talented person and can be the commander of the fleet."
"Sambo? Are you talking about him?" Zhu Di was stunned for a moment.
"I talked to him and he has been yearning to go abroad since he was a child."
"The family also knows a lot about overseas countries."
"If the sea opens, I plan to let him go."
Zhu Di said again.
"Can you call me to talk to him?" Yang Xuan asked.
He really doesn't know much about Zheng He.
"sure."
So Zhu Di shouted towards the door and asked someone to pass on Zheng He.
Not long after, Zheng He arrived.
"Slave Zheng He comes to see His Majesty!"
"I've met Marquis Changping!"
"Get back on your feet!" Zhu Di said.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zheng He stood up.
"Marquis Changping has something to tell you," Zhu Di said.
Upon hearing this, Zheng He suddenly felt nervous.
He remembered the way Changping Hou looked at him during the court meeting.
Not long after the court meeting ended, Marquis Changping came to see His Majesty and asked to see him by name.
I'm afraid you don't have any ideas?
He knew that some big shots had special hobbies.
Marquis Changping, could it be that... there is one, right?
The more Zheng He thought about it, the more afraid he became, but in front of Zhu Di, he could not panic.
"This servant listens to the advice of the Marquis." Zheng He forced himself to calm down and said.
Yang Xuan did not speak immediately. He looked at Zheng He carefully.
Although he is a eunuch, he has red lips, white teeth, and handsome appearance, enough to make many women jealous.
However, it was this look that made Zheng He even more frightened.
He was worried that his guess would come true.
Relying on the relationship between Marquis Changping and His Majesty, as long as Marquis Changping opens his mouth to His Majesty, Your Majesty will definitely not refuse.
He is unwilling to give in. He has his own ambitions and ideals.
He doesn't want to be a plaything!
But he is just a slave and has no right to refuse.
At this moment, Zheng He felt that his life was gloomy.
Fortunately, Yang Xuan didn't know Zheng He's psychological activities, otherwise he would have jumped up and cursed.
Does he seem like a guy with special quirks?
"Your face looks a little ugly. Are you sick?" Yang Xuan noticed the change in Zheng He's face and the sweat on his forehead, so he asked.
"No...no, I'm fine, slave." Zheng He replied, feeling extremely frightened.
At this moment, Zheng He was almost certain of his guess.
Otherwise, why should you care about a slave like yourself?
Zheng He: Family members, who understands?
He almost cried inwardly.
Is this what my life is like?
He is not willing to give in!
He wanted to go overseas to see what the holy land his fathers said was like.
It was his dream to go to the Holy Land to worship.
He is not Han, but is from Hui Hui. His family believes in Islam. His father and ancestors have been to holy places to worship, and he wants to go.
(In the literature of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there are sporadic records about Zheng He being "originally born in Huihui", being the descendant of Sai Dianchi Gansi Ding, and having a surname of Ma; the "Gu Ma Cemetery Epitaph" discovered at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China specifically records Zheng He's and family situation, and can form mutual evidence with other inscriptions and documents to a certain extent, which is particularly important.)
(As for Zheng He’s main religious beliefs, there are three main views: Islam, Buddhism, and Taoism. There is no conclusion in the academic world.)
[The above content is copied from Baidu Encyclopedia. If you are interested, you can search it yourself. Only a little bit is copied here. Regarding Zheng He’s belief, let’s choose Islam. 】
"His Majesty said that you know something about overseas, right?" At this time, Yang Xuan asked again.
"Back to the Marquis, yes."
"My grandfather and father have both been overseas." Zheng He replied. He didn't know why Marquis Changping asked him this.
But he could only answer honestly.
"Oh? Can you tell me more about it?"
"I'm very curious about your family." Yang Xuan smiled.
"There is nothing you can't do." Zheng He said.
Then he talked about his family's history.
Through Zheng He's narration, Yang Xuan also expanded his knowledge points.
During the Yuan Dynasty, diplomatic exchanges with various countries were frequent, and there was an endless stream of envoys, missionaries, and business travelers sent by various countries.
You know, the establishment of Mongolia connected the Eurasian continent and made the two continents closely connected.
Although the Yuan Dynasty was later established and the several khanates gradually became independent, the connection was not broken.
The entire Yuan Dynasty was open to the outside world.
Zheng He's family began to believe in Islam at that time.
However, after the Ming Dynasty was established, the connection between the Central Plains and Europe was gradually severed.
Therefore, going to the Holy Land to worship could only be a dream for Zheng He.
After listening to Zheng He's story, Yang Xuan also talked about his knowledge of overseas countries.
The scope of Yang Xuan's lectures was broader, and some of the things he taught were very novel, and Zheng He was quickly attracted to them.
He also forgot the worries and fears in his heart, and just started chatting with Yang Xuan.
The more we chatted, the more speculative it became.
Zhu Di on the side saw this and found that he couldn't speak at all.
There were many things he had never heard of before.
He curled his lips and glared at Yang Xuan dissatisfied.
At the same time, he was a little curious as to how Yang Xuan knew so many things.
As far as he knew, Yang Xuan had never been overseas!
Could it be that these are all learned in books?
Zhu Di fell into deep doubts.
He remembered that Yang Xuan used to like to read some miscellaneous books in his spare time.
Some are quite unpopular.
He even helped find it.
However, you are the emperor and can take charge of the overall situation. Leave professional matters to the professional people under your command!
So, he leaned on the dragon chair and continued to listen to Yang Xuan and Zheng He chatting.
Sometimes he even shows a 'that's it' expression.
It's a pity, it would be nice if there were some melon seeds... Zhu Di muttered in his heart.
I don’t know how long it took, but the two finally finished talking.
Yang Xuan looked at Zhu Di and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, no one in the court of the Ming Dynasty today can match Zheng He in terms of understanding of overseas affairs."
"If you want to lead a fleet across the ocean, then Zheng He is definitely the best choice."
"I listened to what you just said. I originally had this plan."
Zhu Di said.
Listening to the conversation between the two, Zheng He felt a little dizzy.
Why can't he understand something?
He looked at Yang Xuan and saw the latter smiling and nodding at him.
He seemed to understand somewhat.
His Majesty wanted to open the sea, and Marquis Changping felt that he could take on the important task.
So the way Changping Hou looked at him before was just because he knew overseas, not what he thought?
It's really scary!
After thinking about this, Zheng He quickly said humbly: "Master Marquis, I really don't want to be a slave."
"When it comes to understanding overseas, Mr. Hou is the first person in the Ming Dynasty."
Then, he turned to face Zhu Di: "Your Majesty, if we want to open the sea, perhaps Changpinghou can take on the important task."
Zhu Di's eyes also lit up after hearing Zheng He's words.
He quickly looked at Yang Xuan.
Yes, such a talented person is right next to me, how could I forget about it?
Sensing Zhu Di's fiery eyes, Yang Xuan shook his head repeatedly, his face full of rejection.
Are you kidding me to let him go to sea?
Under the current conditions, it would take too long to go to sea.
If you have this time, you might as well spend more time with your family!
Then he quietly glared at Zheng He: Are you backstabbing me?
"Your Majesty, I think we should give young people more opportunities."
Yang Xuan looked at Zhu Di with evil eyes.
The latter understood Yang Xuan's eyes, coughed slightly, nodded and said: "What Changping Marquis said makes sense, we must give young people a chance."
"Sambo, since Marquis Changping is not willing to go, then you can go with the fleet!"
"I'm already asking people to build warships and train sailors."
"As for you, you can make preparations now."
"In normal times, you can also chat more with Marquis Changping."
"My slave obeys the order!" Zheng He said, suppressing the excitement in his heart.
In his lifetime, he will also have the opportunity to go to the Holy Land to worship.
"Well, you go down first!"
"Don't say a single word of what I said today without my permission."
Zhu Di said.
"yes."
Zheng He exited the imperial study.
As soon as he left, Zhu Di's true colors were revealed.
"You, you, what did you look at just now?"
"threaten me?"
He pointed at Yang Xuan and asked.
"Letting you lead the fleet to sea is a sign of trust in you. Why don't you know what is good and what is bad?"
"Okay, I'm not good at water fighting."
"And any accident can happen at sea. I have no experience at all."
"It's better to let others handle this matter."
Yang Xuan said casually.
"Oh, what a good opportunity!" Zhu Di put down his hand, feeling a little regretful.
"It's no pity, and I'm optimistic about Zheng He." Yang Xuan smiled.
"Okay, it's up to you." Zhu Di didn't care anymore.
He finally saw clearly that Yang Xuan was just lazy.
Since the court situation was stable and the prince's ability was recognized by Yang Xuan, this guy really didn't care about anything.
"By the way, please take a leave." Yang Xuan seemed to have remembered something.
"What are you doing?" Zhu Di asked.
"I promised Anqing before that I would take her to pay homage to King Min of Qin and King Gong of Jin if I had the chance."
"After all, they are brothers and sisters from the same mother. They didn't even see each other for the last time before they died."
"So I want to help her make up for her regrets."
Yang Xuan explained.
Although King Min of Qin Zhu Ping has a very bad character, it is undeniable that he treats his sister Anqing well.
Zhu Di was silent for a moment. His three brothers died too early.
If one of them is still alive, I don’t know what the outcome of the Battle of Jingnan will be.
"Okay, I agree."
"how long it takes?"
"More than half a year, the longer the better." Yang Xuan said.
"I'm just going to pay homage. Does it take so long?"
"Hey, I finally have a chance to go out, but I don't want to have a good time."
"No, I have to come back before the end of the year at the latest."
…
