Chapter 23 Fang Family Chart
Without him, the Ming court was not really friendly towards private maritime trade. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the powerful people who represented the maritime trade regime, including Fang Guozhen and the Pu family, did not end well. Speaking of which, it happened more than ten years ago, and many people still remember it.
Maritime trade, which was once open and honest, turned into a gray area during the Ming Dynasty.
Not to mention, when the Ming Dynasty cleaned up pirates, there were actually many accidental injuries.
Maybe it's not accidental damage. It's just one size fits all. It's like a maritime merchant who doesn't hesitate to be a pirate once in a while when no one is supervising him at sea. In the eyes of the Ming court, it was sometimes unclear who was a merchant or a pirate. In terms of law enforcement standards, it is a bit broad.
As a result, the circles that insist on engaging in maritime trade today are very secretive.
Of course, this was also the reason why He Xi was cleaning up the subordinate officials in Ningbo.
Without him, the real low-level subordinates are all black and white. If you want to do things in Ningbo Mansion, it is easy for the adults above not to know about it, but it is not easy for the little devils below to know about it. He Xi did a big cleaning. Break this circle into pieces.
Who dares to say this to He Xi.
Don't die.
This made He Xi extremely depressed. He Xi secretly thought: "Should I go to Fujian and Quanzhou? After all, Citong Port is famous all over the world. Maybe, there will be some discoveries there?"
The best seaport in Ming Dynasty is Ningbo. The most prosperous seaport in the Yuan Dynasty was Quanzhou Port.
However, Ming Dynasty's cruelty to the Pu family also interrupted Quanzhou's foreign trade chain. Quanzhou today is no longer what it was then. But I think there is still a three-point nail in the bad ship, if we can't find a breakthrough in Ningbo. I can only try it in Quanzhou.
However, the Fang family gave He Xi a big surprise.
------
When Fang Guan saw He Xi, he opened a sub-scroll without saying a few words.
He Xi was shocked when he saw it.
Although in He Xi's view, many of the terrains in this scroll were distorted. The scale is completely wrong. A lot of things are missing. But this is a sea chart. There are some islands marked on it that I don’t care much about, and there are also needle paths written on them.
The so-called needle path refers to the direction of the compass on the sea.
It is based on the stars and the location of the island. In a certain place, the number of degrees corresponding to a star's turn is the next course. He Xi could see clearly that the Fang family's nautical charts, starting from Ningbo, Taizhou and other places, to Japan in the east and India in the west, were all clearly marked on such a large sea area.
This was enough to shock He Xi.
However, despite being shocked, I also felt that it was natural.
After all, Zheng He's voyages to the West were only ten or twenty years later. The accumulation of experience in the ocean takes hundreds of years. Now that a few decades later, Zheng He was able to sail to Africa. That at least shows that in this era, nautical charts from the Ming Dynasty to Africa already existed.
He Xi estimated that since the Fang family had a nautical chart from the Ming Dynasty to India, the chart from India to the west was probably owned by Arab traders.
Even He Xi has to admit that the current maritime overlords are Arab merchants. The Ming Dynasty's influence in Southeast Asia was far inferior to that of Arab merchants.
He Xi watched it for a long time and said, "Is this your family's chart?"
Fang Guan said respectfully: "When my father was here, he drew up all the sea maps in the world."
He Xi sighed and said, "It's a pity, Mr. Fang."
It's a real pity. Fang Guozhen was only in her fifties when she died. If he were alive, he would only be sixty-seven or eighteen years old now. Still able to do things. Now Hexi has also determined what happened at sea. Fang Guozhen is the veteran, and he is more proficient than anyone under Zhu Yuanzhang.
It's just a pity that the person is dead.
However, with this chart, He Xi's confidence has greatly increased.
He Xi said: "Fang Zhenfu."
Fang Guan said: "My subordinate is here."
He Xi said: "Do you know what I want you to do?"
Fang Guan said: "The general will know. Your Excellency has discovered a new channel."
He Xi said, "Yes. Do you believe that the earth is round?"
Fang Guan said, "I will believe it. It's not obvious from land, but anyone who travels on the sea knows that there is an arc at the intersection of sky and water on the sea. This corroborates what your Excellency said."
In fact, Fang Guan's statement that the earth is round is doubtful. Believe it or not, Fang Guan thinks there are some things that make sense. Say you don’t believe it, after all, it’s just a statement. There is no hard evidence. For a mere explanation, launch an ocean voyage. For Fang Guan, it is incomprehensible.
Fortunately, Fang Guan had already understood one thing after being ravaged for many years. Don't have too many things in this world that you can't understand.
The most important thing is not understanding, but opportunity.
You must implement it even if you understand it, and you must implement it even if you don't understand it. What does this round place have to do with him? He just wanted to seize this opportunity to make meritorious deeds. Of course, he was praying that the earth would be round at this moment, not because he believed in the round earth theory, but after weighing it, he found that it would be in the greatest benefit to him if the earth were round.
He Xi said: "Okay. This voyage is very difficult and requires elite soldiers and strong generals. Do you have any manpower to recommend?"
Fang Guan said: "Xiaguan recommended himself. Xiaguan was born in the sea. He travels to the sea all the year round. There are also veterans in his sect. He is very familiar with the situation at sea. I am determined not to delay the important affairs of the court."
He Xi said: "You------," He Xi sighed and said, "Okay. However, this time we need to set off in three ways. Do you have anyone selected?"
He Xi recommended himself to the other party, which was a bit unexpected. In his impression, Fang Guan was Fang Guozhen's heir. He Xi always regarded Fang Guan as a prince. As everyone knows, Fang Guozhen's glory back then has long since been blown away by rain and wind.
If the Fang family still has a huge power at sea. It would be impossible for Zhu Yuanzhang to allow the Fang family to survive until now.
Only after receiving the order and relying on the power of the Ming Dynasty could Fang Guan summon some old troops.
Although He Xi didn't quite believe the other party, but things had come to this, He Xi had no other choice except the Fang family. We always have to believe that Fang Guozhen was famous back then.
Fang Guan said: "If you don't mind me, I will recommend my cousin Fang Mingqian and Fang Mingshan to take up the post."
He Xi thought for a while and said, "Let's do this. I can't decide this matter alone. You have to prepare your candidates first, and you have to pass the test of trusting the Duke."
Fang Guan was overjoyed. I thought to myself, "Nine times out of ten, it's done."
Fang Guan still understood Tang He. After all, they had fought against each other on the battlefield back then. Tang He is a very cautious person. Zhu Yuanzhang almost handed over the matter to his son-in-law, and Tang He would not sing the opposite. It was Fang Guan who didn't know it was the Fang family recommended by Tang He.
If you know this, you won't have to worry about it.
This matter is finally settled. He Xi thought of the dilemma before her and asked, "Fang Zhenfu, how much do your Fang family know about the sea?"
Fang was concerned and said, "I don't know, sir, what you are talking about is ------?"
Among Hu Weiyong's crimes was Tongwa. Fang Guan is still very cautious about matters at sea. Don't dare to speak easily.
He Xi said: "Sea trade. This is actually the main thing I do when I come to the southeast this time. The other things are incidental. Now the court is short of money. Your majesty is kind and cannot bear to increase taxes on the people, because the treasure money harms the people. Therefore, even treasure banknotes are expected to be printed less in the future. But the country is full of waste. It always costs money. And there are only a few tens of thousands of taels in the market. The amount turned over to the court is only a few tens of thousands. It is really cold. That's why I am here. A trip to the southeast.”
"This is where I ask the experts."
Fang Guan naturally understands how beneficial maritime trade is. It can be said that most of Fang Guozhen's military expenditures came from maritime trade.
Fang Guan said: "Sir, to tell the truth, I haven't returned to eastern Zhejiang for more than ten years. All my connections at sea have been alienated. However, if you believe me, give me a few days. I will immediately check the current situation at sea." It’s clear. Report back to your lord.”
Although the Fang Family brand is old, it is also covered with dust. Not like before. If you want to use this brand to make a comeback, it is absolutely impossible. But it's just for information. But it is enough.
He Xi said: "Well, I'll leave it to Mr. Fang."
Fang Guan said, "It's hard to work for the imperial court." He paused slightly and said, "I would like to recommend someone to your Excellency. He may be able to help you."
