Since the victory at the end of the Annan War, there has never been another sight on the official road in the south.
Even if Wang Zhonghe, the chief envoy of Fujian Province, rebelled, and the chieftain of Guangxi rebelled in the first month of the year, the court was of no use to them.
"It's urgent." When the people along the way heard the news, they did not stop holding their sickles. No urgent matter was as important as their own crops. But our emperor said that when friends come, there will be good wine, and when enemies come, there will be divine machine guns. Worry. What, there is nothing that a hundred divine machine cannons cannot solve. If there are, then add another hundred. Our Ming sergeants are very powerful.
The merchants avoided the road one after another, looking at the messengers galloping past with their whips waving, and couldn't help but ponder: What urgent things can be done in that little territory of Nanyang? The kings and princes of various countries have just watched the military parade, and they have just returned here. If you dare to make a fuss for a month, you will have to wait for a few months to get angry.
Listen carefully, what else did the messenger shout? Zheng He? What! Did you hear just now that the messenger called Zheng He just now?
The businessman shook the boy, who was almost knocked unconscious. Yes, he heard the messenger shout something
"Zheng He is back." This doesn't count as eavesdropping. The boss shouldn't be so nervous, right? The post envoy was galloping, and the leading general Liang Xing shouted at the top of his voice: "Zheng He's fleet is back. We are in urgent need. Get out of the way!" The straight and flat concrete road made the sound of horse hooves. Countless people looked up and watched the news. It started to spread like a storm.
Chunhua Town. Scholar Zhang Ze, as usual, went to the market early in the morning carrying a basket to sell, so that he could buy medicine for his old mother.
People were coming and going in the market, and Zhang Ze also received forty cash. When a buyer was asking for a price, there was chaos in the distance of the market. Countless people came to the side one after another. Then the sound of the messenger beating the gong was heard. There was also a shout immediately after the gong: "It is urgent, get out of the way. Inform the world that Zheng He's fleet is back!" Zhang Ze was stunned for a moment, and did not recover until the messenger left.
Zheng He's fleet is back? ! Zhang Ze left the buyer and the basket behind, turned around and ran home. Because he ran too fast, he didn't pay attention and fell to the ground. His hands were scratched and his face was injured, but Zhang Ze couldn't take care of it. These, get up and run.
Back, back! Zhang Ze shook off the obstructive tears from his eyes, rushed home, and started shouting from a distance: "Mother, mother, there is news about Zheng He's fleet, there is news, my brother is coming back!" The door was hit. On, it's loud.
Zhang Ze's wife, Mrs. Liu, looked at her husband complainingly. Zhang's mother was sitting on the bedside, looking haggard, and the room was filled with the smell of herbs.
Zhang Ze took two steps, knelt directly on the bedside, took Zhang's mother's withered hand, and shouted with a choked voice: "Mom, there is news about Zheng He's fleet, there is news, their fleet did not sink." Zhang's mother looked at Zhang Ze and shook her head sadly: "My child, you are a scholar. Don't lie to deceive your mother. If you bully your mother today, you will bully your king tomorrow, how can you stand between heaven and earth?" Zhang Ze wiped his tears. His mother was once considered a scholarly family, but his father died young and worked hard for most of his life to raise himself and his brother.
After her brother Zhang Cheng sailed away with Zheng He's navy, her mother never looked forward to her brother's return.
From September of the fifth year of Jianwen, for one year, two years, and three years, there has been no news. No matter how you inquire or ask, there is no news about Zheng He's navy!
In the ninth year of Jianwen's reign, his mother fell ill. There is news that Li Su's fleet, which followed Zheng He's fleet on its voyage, has returned to the capital, but there is still no news about Zheng He's fleet.
The court must be hiding something, Zheng He's navy must have sunk, and everyone was killed...Endless worries and crazy waiting tortured the family of every Zheng He navy sergeant.
Some old people passed away without waiting for their sons to come back, leaving endless regrets. Some children simply don't know what their fathers look like.
The court said nothing, but everyone knew that Zheng He's navy was probably gone. After all, there is no such thing as a voyage that does not return home for four years. It is time to come back even after traveling to the end of the world!
No news, not a word. By April of the 10th year of Jianwen, four years and seven months had passed since Zheng He's navy set sail. It has been too long, too long... Zhang Ze looked at his unbelieving mother, raised his hand and swore: "Mom, how can a child lie? , how could it be possible to lie about such a thing. Once the lie was discovered, wouldn't it make my mother even more sad? Just now, the imperial emissary ran over. It was them who reported the news. Zheng He's fleet was really back, and the news had spread. It's over!" Mother Zhang's hands began to tremble, tears dripped from the corners of her eyes, and she whispered: "Didn't you lie to me?"
"No!"
"Are you really not lying to me?"
"really!"
"Help me out of bed, I want to see your brother come back, otherwise I won't be able to see your father..."
"Mother!" Zhang Ze burst into tears. The messengers rushed around day and night, and the news spread at an alarming speed. When the news was sent to Jinling at the tail end of dusk, and then to the capital of the Ming Dynasty, it completely ignited the capital.
Countless people took to the streets, merchants closed their doors, and scholars stopped classes, and began to walk toward West Chang'an Avenue outside the palace. Countless people wanted to hear accurate news.
Navy Commander's Mansion. Li Jian's eyes were red when he heard the news about Zheng He's fleet, and Chen Hui was even more excited. Before the two of them walked out, Xu Huizu and Xu Yingxu arrived first.
Xu Huizu hurriedly asked: "Where is Zheng He's fleet?" Li Jian shook his head: "I just received the news, and I haven't gotten the intelligence yet. The messenger has entered the palace. Let's go, let's go see the prince." Xu Huizu held the hand Fist, striding ahead: "There is news. If you don't come back, the family of the navy sergeant will probably be in despair. Go, hurry up, get the news as soon as possible, and appease the people as soon as possible." Doesn't Li Jian not know this truth? , the sergeants that Zheng He took away were all veterans of the Navy, and behind them were more than 26,000 families. These family members could not wait for the news of the return of their sons, husbands, and fathers, and even believed that the fleet had sunk. If it weren't for the unlucky circumstances and the delay in the court sending any news, they would probably have made a tomb.
With so many sergeants not returning home, the navy is under great pressure. Whether they are dead or alive, they must have accurate news.
Now there is finally news about Zheng He’s fleet! There was a sensation in the court. Originally, the government office had
It was "off duty", and as a result, the news about Zheng He's navy caused countless people to return to the government office. The junior officials were waiting for the news in the government office, the senior officials went to the cabinet to wait for the news, and the cabinet took people to Wuying Palace to hear the news.
Zhu Wenkui and Han Xiayu were in the East Palace guessing where his father, Zhu Yunwen, had gone and which corrupt official he was dealing with, when the news came from the chamberlain.
Hearing that there was news about Zheng He, Zhu Wenkui no longer cared about etiquette and ran to Wuying Hall in casual clothes.
The post envoy general Liang Xing led people to salute. Xie Jin, Yang Shiqi, Xu Huizu, Tie Xuan and others also saluted.
Zhu Wenkui sat down and raised his hands and said eagerly: "You are all exempt from courtesy, the messenger will report the news quickly." Xie Jin coughed lightly: "Your Highness, you should be as steady as a mountain in your actions. No matter how big the news is, do not rush. I lost my sense of proportion." Zhu Wenkui did not follow Xie Jin's instructions this time. He raised his hand and said, "Zheng He's news is too important. If you lose your sense of proportion, it will be lost. Post envoy, report the news!" Although General Liang Xing was a little strange , why did Emperor Jianwen not show up for such important news, but he still hurriedly said: "Report to His Royal Highness the Prince, receive information from merchants, and verified by Nanyang Navy that Zheng He Navy arrived at Old Port on March 2nd to replenish supplies, and was on its way north at this time. . When the end of the world is approaching, the Nanhai Navy has already dispatched to greet..." Zhu Wenkui slammed the table, stood up, and said excitedly: "Okay, okay, okay! Where is Liu Changge? Immediately report to his father and tell Zheng Please report the news about the fleet and ask your father to return to the capital!" Liu Changge went out and said, "As ordered." There was no need to hide the news about Zhu Yunwen's private visit in disguise, after all, everyone knew it.
Liu Changge no longer waited. After leaving the palace, he arranged for Yue Sihai and Xiong Wucheng to lead the team northward in person.
Inside Wuying Hall. Zhu Wenkui was excited, and the officials were even more excited. But after getting excited, Zhu Wenkui realized a major problem and quickly asked: "How is the damage to Zheng He's navy?" As soon as the words came out, the originally bustling Wuying Hall suddenly became quiet.
Liang Xing solemnly said: "Your Highness, I don't know the specific information about Zheng He's navy. I believe that in a few days, more detailed information will be sent to the capital. But it is said that the loss is very big." Zhu Wenkui's immature expression There was sadness on his face. Zheng He's mission and mission were clear to Zhu Wenkui. Zhu Yunwen concealed the news from the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, but he would not hide it from Zhu Wenkui.
The long and almost endless voyage, the loneliness and vastness that can kill a person, the waves and storms, and countless unexplainable dangers, it is simply a miracle to come back alive.
Zhu Wenkui looked at Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi: "I heard that countless people have gathered outside the palace, waiting for news from Zheng He. It is up to the cabinet to arrange how to draft documents and appease the people." Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi agreed.
Zhu Wenkui looked at Li Jian and Chen Hui from the Navy Commander's Office: "Father said that no matter how many losses Zheng He's fleet suffered, those who lived or died were all worthy heroes of the Ming Dynasty, and their families are heroes. Family members, ask the Navy to go door to door and tell them that Zheng He and the Navy officers are going home." Li Jian and Chen Hui nodded heavily.
Zheng He's naval voyage took too long, with only five months to go until five years. It is impossible not to suffer a lot of losses during such a long period of time. Logistical problems alone are enough to kill people.
Anyway, they went home. Those who are alive, go home. The dead return to their roots. Zhu Wenkui pondered for a moment, then looked at Chen Xingshan, the Minister of Rites, and said: "The Ministry of Rites should draw up a new system to welcome the return of Zheng He's naval officers and soldiers with the highest standards. Don't be afraid of exceeding the rules. Father said that when Zheng He returns, he can bear the etiquette of a saint! "
