In April of the eighth year of Xuande.
The sea made waves, and the waves slapped the ship's plank, but they could not shake the majestic treasure ship that was dozens of feet tall.
The blue sea and sky are connected, and the morning mist is filled, misty and magnificent.
On the deck, Sanbao was leaning on the deck chair, looking sideways at the magnificent sea, reminiscing about his magnificent life.
The sea breeze lifted his white hair and blurred his eyes.
In a trance, he saw the splendid Fengtian Palace, with Emperor Taizong sitting majestically on the dragon chair, calm and majestic.
Just as he was about to take a closer look, the style of the painting changed, and Taizong on the dragon throne turned into Renzong, with a gentle look on his face, as if he was smiling at him.
Sanbao wanted to talk to him, but Renzong on the dragon throne became Emperor Xuande again, and the distinguished gentleman wearing a mask also disappeared.
Sanbao was holding a tomato in his hand, but it was already shriveled up and no longer as bright red as before, just like his withered body.
Looking at the tomato in his hand, Sanbao felt a little regretful. It was once so bright red and sweet.
On second thought, he smiled again and murmured: "They will eat it, everyone will eat it."
His smile is very healing, just like that boy and the tomato, so bright.
His life was laborious and glorious.
He made great contributions in the Battle of Jingnan and captured pirates during the voyage; he promoted the national prestige of the Ming Dynasty and also promoted the economy and people's livelihood of the Ming Dynasty.
He is a eunuch, but he is also a man!
The shriveled tomatoes fell, and Sanbao left with a smile and infinite longing for the future of the Ming Dynasty...
~
July, the capital.
Fengtian Temple.
Zhu Zhanji was silent for a long time, and the officials in the court were also speechless.
They don't like eunuchs, they even hate them extremely, except for Sanbao.
You may not like it, but no one can speak ill of him without conscience.
After a long time, Zhu Zhanji said: "Zheng He was buried with a royal homage, and all the ministers went to mourn."
After a pause, "I will go too, and the court will be over."
The ministers were shocked, but seeing the grief on the emperor's face, they did not dare to raise any objection.
…
~
East Palace.
The six-year-old child wore bright yellow clothes and said in a childish voice, "The sky and the earth are dark yellow, the universe is vast, the sun and moon are waxing, and the stars are arrayed..."
Zhu Zhanji made a silence gesture, but Yu Qian did not salute.
After a while, the little guy finally finished reading.
Yu Qian's meticulous face showed a hint of vague satisfaction, "Well, it's not bad."
"It's really good." Zhu Zhanji strode into the school with a smile on his face.
One big and one small hurriedly saluted: "The little ministers (son ministers) see the emperor (father emperor)."
"Flat body."
Zhu Zhanji pulled up a chair and sat down, picked up his son and put him on his lap to play with him for a while before putting him down, "Let's go play for a while."
"Thank you, Father." The little guy was very happy and walked away with his short legs.
Zhu Zhanji looked at his son's back and smiled, turned around and said, "Yu Qian, sit down too."
Yu Qian cupped his hands and sat down.
"Why do you look so depressed?" Zhu Zhanji said with a smile, "Are you unhappy being the prince's teacher?"
"I don't dare." Yu Qian cupped his hands and said, "But I really want to do something practical."
"It is also practical to teach future kings." Zhu Zhanji asked, "What is so important?"
Yu Qian was speechless and said with a smile: "There are so many learned people in the Hanlin Academy, but in terms of knowledge, the humble ministers are not outstanding."
"Those idiots who only know how to study and have no political experience at all are not qualified to teach the prince." Zhu Zhanji curled his lips and hummed: "I just like you, and you will bear with me if you have any resentment in your heart." Well, if you really want to blame it, blame it on Li Qing, he recommended you."
Yu Qian: "..."
"Okay, I'll find something for you to do."
Yu Qian perked up and said, "Your Majesty, please speak."
Zhu Zhanji teased: "You are so happy when you hear that you have something to do. Is it possible that my son is so disliked by you?"
"...The emperor should just talk about it."
Zhu Zhanji cleared his throat and said, "Sambo brought back a new crop this time, called... Xuande eggplant."
Although Xuande persimmon is more appropriate, there is ambiguity, so Zhu Zhanji changed it to Xuande tomato.
I don't believe that this overseas crop can be called Xuande eggplant... Yu Qian cupped his hands and said, "The emperor wants his ministers to promote this crop?"
"Yes," Zhu Zhanji said happily, "according to the three treasures' suicide note, this crop has leaves like mugwort and flowers like pomegranates. It is three to four feet high and can produce twenty or thirty fruits."
"Such a high yield?" Yu Qian was shocked and murmured: "Isn't this several times more productive than Yongle rice?"
Zhu Zhanji sighed and said regretfully: "Don't be too quick to be happy. This is not food, but vegetables. It cannot be stored for a long time."
"That's it." Yu Qian's excited expression faded a lot, but he was still excited, "As long as you can eat it, it's always good to eat this and save that."
"That's true." Zhu Zhanji also smiled and took out the picture drawn by Sanbao, "This is the Xuande eggplant. Take a look, there are planting processes and precautions below."
Yu Qian took it and sighed after looking at it: "It's really high-yielding. Even the vegetables are excellent."
After a pause, "I think this crop is similar to tomatoes and was introduced from the West. How about calling it tomatoes?"
Zhu Zhanji: (￢_￢)
Yu Qian: "...I'm talking too much."
Zhu Zhanji rolled his eyes and hummed: "Go to the south of the Yangtze River, choose a few places to try planting, and see the effect first. By the way, go see Li Qing on my behalf."
Yu Qian sighed, "Marquis Yongqing has left."
"Left?" Zhu Zhanji asked in surprise, "Where did he go?"
"I don't know either." Yu Qian shook his head and couldn't hide his sadness. "He left before winter last year. He transferred the Yongqing Marquis Mansion to his cousin."
"Cousin..." Zhu Zhanji had a flash of realization, and then a touch of sadness emerged, "Okay, let him rest, it's time for him to rest."
Yu Qian didn't understand, but he didn't talk in depth and asked, "Your Majesty, when will I leave?"
"Go back and tidy up. Let's go tomorrow." Zhu Zhanji added, "Go back quickly. I have to deal with state affairs and teach the prince, but I am too busy;
The planting season has passed now. You should make preparations first and come back before the end of the year. I will let others take over next year. "
Yu Qian was speechless: "Your Majesty, there are so many talented people in the Hanlin Academy, you can..."
"Don't let them teach!"
"What about the cabinet?"
Zhu Zhanji asked calmly: "What do you think?"
Yu Qian was no longer a newcomer to the officialdom. After careful consideration, he felt that his proposal was inappropriate, so he said no more.
Zhu Zhanji said calmly: "If it hadn't been for Li Qing's strong recommendation, I wouldn't have let you, the Minister of War, teach the prince. Okay, go ahead and prepare."
"I'll leave." Yu Qian handed over his hands and turned to leave.
Zhu Zhanji stood up and walked out of the school. When he saw his son who was having a great time playing with his eldest friend, his face was full of love and he sighed softly: "You are still a happy child, and you don't have so many worries."
"Er smash." He stretched out his arms, "Come here."
The child turned around and Dian Dian'er ran over, "Father..."
After throwing himself into his arms, Zhu Zhanji lifted his son high and sat on his neck, "Let's go, my father will take you to ride a horse."
"Father, aren't you riding a horse?"
Zhu Zhanji was stunned and put his son down.
After a while, the child cried and moaned.
Zhu Zhanji sighed happily: We still have to give him a complete childhood.
…
Maritime trade is in full swing, bringing high taxes to the Ming Dynasty. The current tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty is no less than that of the Song Dynasty. If it develops for more than ten decades, it will definitely surpass the peak taxation period of the Song Dynasty.
Zhu Zhanji's face was full of joy. With such a solid foundation, it didn't matter even if his son didn't have great talents.
He has done enough and good enough.
The hard work of three generations of my ancestors and grandchildren has created a Ming Dynasty that is definitely beyond the reach of Jianwen's group... Zhu Zhanji said in his heart.
"Father..." the child cried, "are you still riding a horse or not?"
Zhu Zhanji raised his eyebrows, and then the child cried louder: "What I said is a real horse."
"Haha... let's go, father will take you to ride."
The child's sadness came and went quickly. Soon, the tears were gone and he was laughing happily.
Big hands holding small hands, the father and son shook hands and walked all the way out.
~
Dongyuan, martial arts arena.
Zhu Zhanji put his son on the horse, got on the horse, and asked with a smile: "Are you afraid?"
"Not afraid." The child's eyes were full of happiness, but there was no trace of fear.
"Okay, he is indeed my son." Zhu Zhanji laughed loudly and jerked the reins: "Drive...!"
The war horse raised its front hooves, almost upright, and the child's face immediately turned pale, "Father, I'm going to fall."
"I have a father, so I'm very scared." Zhu Zhanji whipped up his horsewhip and took his son to gallop around the school grounds...
