Chapter 93 Rewards for Navigation Skills
Zhu Yuanzhang stared at these three crops, holding them in his hands and tasting them carefully, as if he were looking at priceless treasures.
Fang Chengfeng agreed and immediately explained the planting techniques in detail.
Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Fang Chengfeng's words and looked at these three crops.
Corn on the cob was actually pretty small in this day and age. It's probably only a dozen centimeters long. And the corn kernels on top are also very small. And sweet potatoes versus potatoes. Not too big either. Sweet potatoes still have the appearance of later generations, but they are just scaled down. But potatoes, really potatoes.
Even though Fang Chengfeng had already picked up the big one. It's still a lot smaller than an egg, and it really looks like a bean dug out of the soil.
The name potato is not without reason.
We will see a lot of grains and vegetables in later generations. They have been improved from generation to generation. In particular, the development of science and technology in later generations has had very significant effects in agriculture. However, even so, these three crops are still very important.
In fact, corn is not replacing wheat, but sorghum and millet.
In many places in the north, one acre of land can only harvest a few bushels of millet. Not to mention sorghum. If it’s not delicious, don’t cut it out, and the yield is not as good as that of millet. Corn can replace these things, even if the yield of corn is not as exaggerated as that of later generations. It is enough to make a big leap in people's lives.
After all, receiving an extra three to five dou is already a very happy event for the people. And switch from sorghum and millet to corn. That's not as much as three or five buckets more. At least one stone.
As for sweet potatoes vs. potatoes. It can even be planted in mountainous areas.
With these products. The land that was originally uncultivated in the mountains and forests has become valuable. Especially the South. The climate in the south is humid and mostly covered with mountains. Soil erosion is already there. But it's not serious.
There are already many terraced fields in Fujian. But those mountains cannot be transformed into terraces. Crops can also be planted.
This is the true purpose of these Americas. Otherwise, even in later generations, wheat and rice, the two main food crops in the north and south, have not wavered.
After a while, Fang Chengfeng finished speaking. ,
Zhu Yuanzhang began to ask questions. Just a few words. Fang Chengfeng was speechless.
Without him, Zhu Yuanzhang asked too carefully. Which solar term is best to plant and how much water should be poured. How deep should the corn seeds be buried? One palm or several fingers? Can sweet potatoes be grafted with vines? Etc., etc. It's just down to the smallest detail.
Without him, Zhu Yuanzhang was an expert in farming.
Now in the palace, there are several acres of land opened by Zhu Yuanzhang himself. On the one hand, he teaches by words and deeds to let his children know the difficulties and dangers of farming. On the other hand, these acres of land are also a ruler in Zhu Yuanzhang's mind. Without him, people who do not farm will never understand the impact of weather changes on crops.
How many acres of land are there? When does it dry up or when does it get flooded? No one needed to tell him. He knows it himself.
After all, drought in ancient times is different from what many modern people think. It does not mean that big rivers dry up, small rivers dry up, and the land is bare for thousands of miles, and the land is cracked with cracks as big as a palm. If this situation really happened, the world would have rebelled long ago.
But even if there is water, it cannot water the ground.
The crops all depend on the sky. It's something that many people can't imagine. Apart from anything else, generally speaking, if there are not a few heavy rains between spring and July or August of the lunar calendar, the crops are likely to fail. In ancient times, it was as big as the earth shattering.
But such weather has not never happened in later generations. But no one cares anymore.
No one noticed.
But Fang Chengfeng was different.
It is true that after Fang Guozhen, the Fang family in Wenzhou was severely suppressed. The largest official was just a Jingwei official, not even a commander. I can only assume that he is a middle- and lower-level officer. However, even so, the Fang family is a well-to-do family. Fang Chengfeng is the kind of person who has studied and practiced martial arts since he was a child and never works in the fields.
Even in America, he was responsible for the planting. But his responsibility was completely different from the responsibility in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, and there was no reason to go to the ground in person.
Zhu Yuanzhang inquired so deeply, how could Fang Chengfeng be able to resist.
Seeing this, He Xi said: "Your Majesty, there are several old farmers who have been to America with us. They know these things very well. If your Majesty has any questions, you can ask them. The father and son of the Fang family traveled thousands of miles to find grain for the Ming Dynasty. , and found the descendants of the Yin and Shang Dynasties. I think I will be rewarded heavily."
He Xi came to Fang Chengfeng's rescue not for Fang Chengfeng's sake, but to build up the sailing spirit.
Even if Fang Chengfeng is a bastard, since he has done such a thing, He Xi must ensure that Fang Chengfeng's high-ranking official is well paid. He Xi had a detailed discussion with Fang Chengfeng. Chengfeng knows the other party better. He is not a genius, just average. But it just happened to happen. Even in the matter of navigation, if the old man left behind by their father. He may not be able to come back from America.
But anyway. He Xi originally talked about the reward of knighthood.
It must be fulfilled today.
Zhu Yuanzhang naturally understood what He Xi meant, and he was not satisfied with Fang Chengfeng. But no matter what, the reward must be given. He said: "That's right. I sent an order to the Ministry of Rites and granted Fang Mingqian the title of Marquis of Henghai, and his son Chengfeng inherited the title of Bo of Henghai. I hope to continue to work hard and serve the court."
"As for these fine breeds, how many are there in total?"
Fang Chengfeng said, "It weighs more than two thousand kilograms in total."
After all, He Xi asked for this by name. Plus there's a lot of space on board. Naturally, you need to install more.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Half of it will be distributed to the chief ministers of the world to let the old farmers try planting, and the other half will be distributed to Liaodong, Peiping, and Nanjing. You will be responsible for Liaodong. King Yan will be responsible for Peking."
He Xi said, "I obey the order." He Xi then gave Fang Chengfeng a wink.
Fang Chengfeng immediately understood and said: "I have a lower level of kindness and a higher level of loyalty." Then the matter of gold was revealed to Fang Mingqian's death. He spoke out and said: "I brought fifteen hundred kilograms of gold from America, and I would like to dedicate it to Your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Filial piety is commendable, so I don't have to do it. I will leave all your hard work to your family."
Fang Chengfeng never expected that Zhu Yuanzhang would say this. First, he was extremely happy. One thousand five hundred pounds of gold. It is almost equal to two hundred thousand taels of silver. With Zhu Yuanzhang's words, it is equivalent to exceeding the obvious. Fang Chengfeng immediately knelt down and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Your father also died for the country, and the Ministry of Rites is in charge of the funeral. This period of time. After waiting for this period of time, you will have your errands."
After Fang Chengfeng thanked him, there was no need to mention his resignation.
After Fang Chengfeng left, Zhu Yuanzhang said: "How about my horse bones, which are rich in gold? Does it suit your liking?"
He Xi said: "Your Majesty is wise, and I cannot hide my little thoughts from Your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled softly.
He Xi worked so hard to speak for Fang Chengfeng, how could Zhu Yuanzhang not know why. Naturally, I took advantage of the trend and added more money. To be honest, it was 1,500 pounds of gold. It still made Zhu Yuanzhang's heart jump. Many of the total taxes paid by the Ming Dynasty may not be this amount.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang still let it go.
On the one hand, it is too shameful for the emperor to seize the gold and silver from his ministers. On the other hand, it allows Fang Chengfeng to show off boldly. Let the world know what is happening overseas. Paving the way for overseas immigration in the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Niuzhuang is an important place for water and land. What arrangements do you have here?"
He Xi said; "There are three most important things here in Niuzhuang. The first is the pier. Your Majesty has just seen it. The other is the farm. More than 10,000 people who migrated from Goryeo have settled near Niuzhuang. There are countless It’s a big farm. Although it hasn’t produced food yet, the foundation has been laid. Then there’s the textile factory.”
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Textile factory? Is it the kind of textile factory that you said started the so-called industrial revolution?"
He Xi said: "Exactly."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Then I'm going to take a look."
He Xi said: "Your Majesty is tired from the journey, why not take a rest here, it's not too late to go again." He Xi saw that Zhu Yuanzhang didn't care at all. He had no choice but to continue: "At least have a meal, and you always have to take a look at the military situation on the Goryeo battlefield."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Okay. Let the following prepare. What happened over there in Goryeo? Was Lan Yu defeated?"
He Xi said: "Of course not. However, Yongchang Hou is also furious. At this moment, he is so angry that he wants to kill someone."
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little curious. Said: "Since we have not lost the battle, why is Lan Yu angry?"
He Xi said: "Your Majesty, Goryeo has perished."
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and shocked, and said: "How is it possible? Lan Yu was killed? Then why is he angry? Just wait until he is promoted to Duke."
He Xi said: "If it was Marquis Yongchang who did it, he would have already won the victory at this moment. It is precisely because it was not Marquis Yongchang who did it. He is angry. Didn't Goryeo invite Japanese reinforcements before? The Japanese reinforcements numbered tens of thousands, so the question of Japanese Kyushu is huge. Uuchi Yoshihiro was the main general, and the Kyushu Otomo family, Aso family and other alliances sent out troops together. After arriving in Goryeo, at the reception banquet in Busan, they captured the leader of Goryeo and sent them to Kyoto, Japan. Ouchi Yoshihiro To ensure the interests of the major families of Goryeo, the remaining land of Goryeo was divided into four kingdoms. Each of them was owned by the daimyo who went out to conquer Japan, and the major families of Goryeo became retainers of these daimyo."
"It's also because of the cooperation of these big families. By the time Marquis Yongchang knew about it, it was already too late to mobilize troops."
"Not to mention. The Japanese country also sent envoys. They professed their vassalage to the Ming Dynasty and asked the Ming Dynasty to make the Japanese shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu the king of Japan and Goryeo. Your Majesty, this is a combination of soft and hard tactics."
This change on the Goryeo battlefield not only surprised Lan Yu. Even He Xi was shocked. He never expected that he could still perform this trick after not seeing each other for a few days. However, it was just an unexpected change in Daming. For Zheng Mengzhou and others, it was a devastating situation.
At the Hongmen Banquet in Busan Port, Zheng Mengzhou finally made his final stand as a loyal minister of the Goryeo Dynasty. Zheng Mengzhou committed suicide. Hundreds of people died.
But no one said a word.
Five hundred years of the Goryeo Dynasty. That's it.
