The ragged cloak was on his shoulders, swaying in the wind.
Zheng He stood on the bow of the treasure ship, staring at the sea in the distance. The sun and moon flags hanging high on that ship were extremely bright and dazzling, and they were moving in cheers.
Wang Jinghong, Kuang Yu, Yu Zhen and others standing next to Zheng He had already lost their strength and had tears in their eyes.
On the left side of Zheng He's flagship was the treasure ship controlled by Zhu Neng. At this time, Zhu Neng was holding the rudder with one hand, holding back his excitement, fine-tuning the course, and wanted to shout loudly, but only a low voice came out: "The sails have fallen." .”
On the right side of Zheng He's flagship, Luo Guanying walked to the bow, took off the cloth hanging his left arm from his neck, ignored the doctor's obstruction, shook his left hand, gritted his teeth and said: "This injury is nothing. Brothers ,Bros!"
A low sound and a high sound!
"In front of us is the Ming Dynasty's naval fleet. The sails have been lowered and the whole army is lined up!"
Luo Guanying shouted at the top of her lungs.
A ship lowered its sails, and as the order to anchor came down, the huge and heavy anchor pierced the sea and headed straight for the seabed.
Zheng He's navy was stationary on the sea, and the captains and vice-captains of each ship received orders to assemble the flagship.
Zhu Quan pressed the sun and moon flag forward, and the fleet slowly approached Zheng He's fleet and anchored fifteen feet away. Zhu Quan, Li Su, Zhao Yan, Yang Shan and others got off the treasure ship one after another and took small boats to Zheng He's flagship.
Zheng He, Zhu Neng, Luo Guanying, Yuan Yichen, Kuang Yu, Yu Zhen and others looked at the first person who climbed onto the treasure ship and couldn't help but widen their eyes. Isn't this Ning Wang Zhu Quan?
Zhu Quan strode forward, looked at Zheng He and others, and said excitedly: "Deputy Commander Zheng, you are finally back!"
Zheng He quickly led others to salute: "Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Zheng He, led the navy officers and men and met King Ning."
Zhu Quan supported Zheng He and motioned for everyone to excuse themselves. He glanced around and saw that the skin of each of the soldiers was much darker, and there were not a few injured on their bodies. Some had lost their arms, and some had wounds on their faces. There were scars, and some people had cloth strips tied around their bodies. From the looks of it, the bandages were used up.
Li Su climbed up and saw the miserable situation of everyone, and couldn't help shouting: "Deputy Commander-in-Chief, everyone!"
Zheng He, Zhu Neng and others looked at Li Su with mixed feelings.
Li Su was a general who sailed with Zheng He and others, but Zheng He left him in Africa to mine and did not take him to South America.
Zheng He looked at Li Su and nodded heavily: "Li Su, when we passed by the African stronghold, there were only warehouses left there. I guess you have returned to the capital. I didn't expect to meet you here."
Zhao Yan, Yang Shan and others boarded the ship, and more and more Zhu Quan naval officers boarded the ships of Zheng He's fleet. Each ship was filled with the joy of reunion.
How lucky we are to meet each other in a foreign country after a long absence from the Ming Dynasty!
Zheng He is a strong man, and he couldn't help but wet his eyes at this time. From the time I left the capital in September of the fifth year of Jianwen to November of the ninth year of Jianwen, it took more than four years. I finally encountered the Ming Dynasty’s fleet on its way back, with familiar voices and familiar sun and moon flags!
Wan Qinglin and Zhao Yan hugged each other and cried non-stop. At this moment, many soldiers dropped all their defenses, hugged their close comrades, looked at each other with tears, and told their farewells with choked voices.
Years of loneliness, long voyages, murderous intentions in the rainforest, returning to the boat on cold seas, countless sacrifices, countless waves, but finally there is the voice of an old friend.
Zhu Quan ordered the sergeants to drink and dine, and there will be a three-day celebration.
Zheng He did not refuse. When the fleet arrived in Guli, it was already time to rest and it was unable to return to the old port in winter. Guli was an important transit station during the Ming Dynasty. A large amount of food and trade supplies were stored here, enough for the fleet to rest for a long time and wait for the monsoon.
Banquet.
Zhu Quan looked at Zheng He, Zhu Neng, Luo Guanying and others, frowned slightly, and asked: "Where is General Zhang Yuzhang?"
As soon as the words came out, there was an instant silence.
Zheng He looked sad, and Luo Guanying and others lowered their heads.
Zhu Quan, Li Su and others became depressed.
Zheng He took a deep breath and said sadly: "General Zhang exhausted his vitality in order to complete his mission and died of illness on the way home."
Zhu Quan had expected this result, but was still shocked when he heard Zheng He say it himself. Zhang Yu is the core figure of Zheng He's fleet and the first person under Zheng He. He is also an important general of the Ming Dynasty navy. Since the first year of Jianwen, he has been fighting on the front line. He is the only one who fights pirates. His contribution to the fight against Japanese pirates is also his. He was never absent when Zheng He went to sea.
Now, this veteran with outstanding military exploits is gone.
Zhu Quan was devastated.
Zheng He stood up, picked up the wine glass, and said to Zhu Quan: "Please allow me, Your Majesty, to present this first glass of wine to the sacrificed General Zhang and to the 14,382 sacrificed soldiers!"
Zhu Quan held the wine glass violently, spilling most of the wine.
Li Su and Zhao Yan even burst into tears.
Fourteen thousand three hundred and eighty-two soldiers, what a huge sacrifice!
Zheng He's eyes were firm, he raised his glass, sprinkled it in front of him, and said with strong and unyielding will: "These sacrificed soldiers are the heroes and pride of the Ming Dynasty Navy. Their names will forever be engraved on the Monument of Heroes." !”
Zhu Quan blinked his hazy eyes and asked, "So, you are already there, right?"
Zheng He nodded heavily and uttered four words: "The mission will be fulfilled."
Zhu Quan slapped the table and shouted: "Okay! Well done! You are well-deserved heroes, and your glory will be bestowed by the emperor. I believe that the emperor will never treat you and your families badly, including the families of the sacrificed soldiers!" "
Zheng He believed, Zhu Neng believed, and no one doubted this. Emperor Jianwen knew the dangers and sacrifices of this trip, as well as the greatness and glory of this trip, and would never ignore the dead soldiers and their families.
Zhu Quan sat down and looked at Zheng He and others longingly: "Can I see those mysterious seeds and fruits?"
Zheng He agreed: "It's okay if the prince wants to see you. Luo Guanying, go get some potatoes, peanuts and corn for the prince to see."
Luo Guanying agreed, went to the cabin to get some fruits, and gave them to Zhu Quan.
Zhu Quan weighed the potatoes that were bigger than his fist, the corn that was longer than his hand, and the peanuts that were as big as his little finger. Hearing Luo Guanying's introduction, he couldn't help being secretly surprised, and asked in a low voice: "You can get these fruits only according to the emperor's instructions." Where did you find it?"
"That's right."
Luo Guanying answered readily.
Zhu Quan stared and asked: "Why does the emperor know that there are fruits in that unknown place that the world has never heard of?"
Luo Guanying shrugged.
Zheng He shook his head.
Kuangyu said with a smile: "It doesn't matter how the emperor knew it. What matters is that with these crops, the Ming Dynasty will soon get rid of famine. There will be no hunger in the world, no starving death in the world, and the saints will prosper!"
Yu Zhen looked at these treasures, his eyes full of tenderness: "Your Majesty, there are some things that I don't know are the best results. There is no need to ask to the end. As long as these things take root, sprout, bloom and bear fruit in the Ming Dynasty, that is more important than anything else."
Zhu Quan peeled the peanuts, put them in his mouth and chewed them, with a trace of awe hidden deep in his eyes.
Ever since Zhu Yunwen came to the throne, he seemed to have become another person. With his strong power, he oppressed King Yan Zhu Di so much that he finally surrendered.
Zhu Yunwen was no longer the frail scholar he was familiar with, no longer the indecisive and easily influenced nephew who talked about running the country through Confucianism. He was transformed into a son of the Ming Dynasty who emphasized both Confucianism and Legalism, acted decisively, and was extremely independent and courageous. He has a frightening vision and wisdom into the future, and has incomprehensible whimsical ideas that are proven right!
Everything is easy to explain, and it makes sense to classify him as smart or genius. But only Africa, South America, peanuts, corn and potatoes cannot be explained by genius, nor can intelligence explain them.
There is only one explanation:
Zhu Yunwen is a god and the real emperor!
Zhu Quan raised his hand and pressed it gently on his chest, as if cold black iron was burning his chest. Thinking of the past, he had thought about fighting Zhu Yunwen, had ambitions to covet the throne, and wanted to rely on wisdom and strength to hold the throne. The seal of power controls the world!
But now I realize that I am like a frog at the bottom of a well, not knowing how high the sky is!
Zhu Quan put down his hand and wanted to take a bite of potatoes, but was stopped by Luo Guanying. How delicious is this stuff when eaten raw?
Everyone began to lively, asking about the voyage of Zheng He and others, and the atmosphere became depressing when they talked about the huge sacrifice. Luo Guanying was a little depressed, and quickly changed the topic: "Your Majesty, you can tell me, how is my brother-in-law?"
Zhu Quan was stunned for a moment, who is your brother-in-law? Oh, I went, I forgot, sorry...
"The emperor is in good health. Your sister has given birth to a little princess for the emperor. She is very favored. By the way, at the beginning of this year, the imperial court also sent a large army to sweep away the Jurchens, the savage people in the Northeast. This group of disobedient wild monkeys were driven to the extreme The land in the north. Also, the imperial court has divided the navy into four parts. Don’t you know? Da Liuqiu and Xiao Liuqiu are already part of the Ming Dynasty. Most of Boni Island has also been included in the Ming Dynasty, and it has become the Nanyang Navy. The teacher's office..."
"So fierce?"
Zheng He and others were a little shocked. They had only been out for four years, and the patterns of the East China Sea and Nanyang had changed.
Li Su said from the side: "What's more, you don't know that our navy is undergoing the transformation of steam engine ships. Some steam engine ships can no longer wait for monsoons and ocean currents, and can go north in winter and south in summer with ease."
Zheng He asked in surprise: "What is a steam engine ship?"
Li Su explained, Zhao Yan added a few words, and Zhu Quan continued to make gestures.
Zheng He, Zhu Neng, Luo Guanying and others were shocked. After four years away, the strength of the Ming Dynasty Navy has been turned upside down! Steam engines, pulleys, and iron ships all began to be manufactured.
Unimaginable!
The Imperial College has become the largest university, standing at the top of the Ming Dynasty's academic institutions. The imperial examination has gradually weakened, and the Imperial College graduation examination has become the key to the imperial court's selection of scholars.
Timur conquered the east, was defeated by the Ming Dynasty, and lost his life. The entire Western Region has been absorbed by the Ming Dynasty and became the Western Xinjiang Province.
Different from the past, different from previous years, everything is changing, especially the territory of Ming Dynasty is changing.
