April 20th, sunny and breezy. Ten miles west of Longjiang Pier, naval officers patrolled the Yangtze River with sixteen new steam-engine ships, directing passing merchant ships and civilian ships to dock and not allowing them to go downstream by boat.
Fifty or a hundred paces west of Longjiang Pier, dozens of large fortune boats were lined up, connected with iron cables, and tied to iron pillars on both sides, forming two pontoon bridges across the river.
The floating bridge blocks the Yangtze River, like a barrier across water, allowing the north and the south to meet each other. The Navy Commander's Mansion led Zheng He's family members to the pontoon and placed them one by one, allowing them to welcome their long-lost relatives here, whether they were alive or gone.
A square has long been opened on the shore of Longjiang Wharf. Countless people are standing there, many of them unable to even turn around.
Only the central area of the pier was empty, with a high platform and guarded by Yulin guards. Huanhuan stood on tiptoes and looked around, but Li Sheng was not anxious at all. He spread out the Jianwen newspaper and placed it on the back of his father Li Laosan in front of him, looked at it and said, "Don't worry, don't worry, there's still half an hour." Li Laosan rubbed his hands and said to Li Jiu on the side: "This time, I have to go to the emperor to ask for some new grain seeds. The yield of ten stones per mu is auspicious!" Li Jiu's eyes were full of desire, and his mouth was full of desire. He cursed: "There are still people who don't believe what the emperor said, haha, they are a bunch of idiots. The emperor said that dredging will open the river. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has been open for several years! The emperor said that we need culture and education. How many social schools are built in a year? The emperor said If so, which one didn’t come true?”
"Others don't dare to believe or ask for a crop that yields ten stones per acre. They don't even urinate and look after themselves. Who begged to give it to them? The navy worked hard and spent nearly five years to find this." My treasure! It’s not that the imperial court is begging for the common people, but we are begging for the imperial court’s favor to give to us! A bunch of white-eyed wolves..." Li Laosan nodded repeatedly and looked at Li Jiu with great satisfaction: "We are people who have received the emperor's favor. Trust the emperor. Even if the emperor is wrong, you must follow him without hesitation." On the other side, Chen Yu took Hua Niang's arm and said in a low voice: "I have inquired about it from the queen, and Zheng He brought back a lot of crops. "The emperor also has a menu, such as wolf-toothed potatoes, cold potatoes, drunken peanuts, spicy chicken, fish head with chopped pepper... In short, if mom wants to open a small restaurant, she should make something special." Hua Niang looked smart. Chen Yu was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law and nodded repeatedly: "Okay, let's make dishes made from new grains. The emperor is looking forward to it. It makes no sense." Huang Eryue quickly advised: "Mother, this The new grains are seeds, and they must be planted. I'm afraid they won't be used this year..." Hua Niang agreed upon hearing this. The seeds that Zheng He had worked so hard to bring had to be planted several times. The products are rich. I dare to eat it only if I eat it now. Isn’t it a sin to eat it now?
Chen Yu glared at Huang Eryue: "Don't you know how to go to Shangshan Prison and come back soon? I still don't believe it, the emperor won't eat?" Huang Eryue almost fainted, my dear, who of us dares to steal the emperor's food? , you can't lose our family's head just to save face. If you want to be shun, you should also go shun the queen, she has a good temper...
"The vassal king is here." I don't know who shouted. Countless people looked sideways and saw a group of officials walking on the official road in the distance. The one walking at the front was King Yan Zhu Di, followed by Zhu Gui and Zhu Di. Zhi and other vassal kings.
Among the vassal king's team, there are also the princes of the vassal palace, county princes, etc., including Mei Yin and other Lao Zhu's sons-in-law and a large family.
Following the vassal king were cabinet ministers Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi, followed by civilian and military generals such as the Sixth Ministry, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, the Fifth Army Governor's Office, and the Navy Commander's Office. There were more than 1,500 officials, large and small, almost occupying One-third of the capital officials.
Thousands of people are empty in the streets, and hundreds of officials are empty in government offices.
"The Queen Mother has arrived." Countless people were shocked. Empress Dowager Lu rarely left the palace, but this time she left the palace for Zheng He. Seeing the charitable Empress Dowager, countless people were a little excited.
Empress Dowager Lu also brought concubines from the harem, including Concubine Shu, Concubine Ning, A Xiaomu, Yizhen'er and others, and naturally there were also young princes and princesses such as Zhu Wenyuan and Zhu Wentang.
The feudal king and officials saluted and greeted him.
"The prince has arrived." Zhu Wenkui walked slowly, accompanied by Han Xiayu and others. Compared with Zhu Wenkui in "The Story of a Young Man", Zhu Wenkui at this time appears more mature and steady. He monitors the country from time to time and has developed an impressive nobility. Coupled with his innate tough personality, his pace is full of steady.
Everyone saw Zhu Wenkui and the third generation successor of the Ming Dynasty. Although he was still very young, he did not have the shadow of a playboy. He had the shadow of Zhu Yunwen.
With such a prince, the destiny of the country will be determined for a hundred years of the Ming Dynasty! The role of an excellent prince in psychological stability and calming the people's hearts is irreplaceable.
The vassal king and officials saluted the prince.
"The emperor and empress have arrived, and all the people are exempt from courtesy." After the vassal kings and officials stood up, the voice of the chamberlain came.
Empress! The emperor and the queen came together. This specification indeed exceeded the imagination of countless people. Zhu Yunwen and Ma Enhui walked side by side, one dragon and one phoenix, one majestic and the other gentle, one resolute and the other charitable, walking slowly.
Zhu Di led the vassal king, Xie Jin led the civil and military forces, and the mountains shouted long live. Although the people could not salute, they still echoed the words
"Long live long live, long live long live", the sound waves gathered together and swept across the Yangtze River. The fish jumped up one by one, and when they entered the water again, they brought out bursts of spray.
"Be level." Zhu Yunwen stepped onto the high platform, waved his sleeves and shouted. The feudal kings and officials stood up. Zhu Yunwen looked towards the river, and saw a war horse galloping in the distance. The knight shouted: "Zheng He's navy is five miles away from the pier!" Not long after, the knight came again to report: "Zheng He's navy is three miles away from the pier!" In fact, it was already three miles away from the pier! No notification is needed.
On the surface of the river, a ship has appeared, with the proud sun and moon flags fluttering, and the tattered sails telling the story of suffering.
Closer. People on the boat can already be seen. As treasure ships and big fortune ships arrived one after another, countless people fell into shocked silence.
The flag of the treasure ship was faded, and the sail was full of patches and even holes. Even the ship's side is somewhat imperfect. The broken ship's side is like a high-rise building without guardrails.
The ship's body was even covered with scars. Some ships even had several masts broken! Where have they been and what have they been through? This group of people looks like they are coming out of hell!
Could it be said that they really went to hell and took away the most precious new grain seeds in the most terrifying environment?
Zheng He stood on the bow of the ship and heard the loud sound of bugles and the thundering sound of war drums. The pier in the distance was full of people, and you could even see Jianwen Emperor Zhu Yunwen on the high platform!
Zheng He, who had always been strong, had wet eyes at this moment. The soldiers behind him stood up straight, but tears were streaming down their faces.
Four years and seven months of sailing! Four years and seven months of separation! Four years and seven months of missing you! came back!
We're back! Carrying the greatest mission, traveling through countless dark seas of demons, and making sacrifices one after another, we finally completed our mission and came back!
"Lower the sails!" Zheng He ordered. The crew moved quickly to furl the sails. Long oars stretched out from both sides of the treasure ship, and the helmsman steered the treasure ship slowly to the shore.
After several deep excavations and constructions, Longjiang Wharf is now large enough to accommodate twenty treasure ships at the same time. When Zheng He returned, there were only fifteen large and medium-sized treasure ships and three large fortune ships.
Li Jian, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy Commander's Office, had red eyes, and his colleague Chen Hui also clenched his fists. Xu Huizu looked sad, and Tie Xuan and Yang Rong couldn't help but feel sad.
According to Li Su's report, when Zheng He's fleet separated from Li Su in Africa, they took away 20 large and medium-sized treasure ships, 20 large fortune ships, and more than 26,000 soldiers!
But now, they only have fifteen treasure ships and three big fortune ships! As many as five of the powerful treasure ships were damaged, while almost all the great fortune ships were destroyed, leaving only three!
Just looking at the damage to the ship is enough to see the tragedy of its voyage! You must know that the tonnage of the treasure ship is unusual, and it can withstand ordinary storms, but even so, they still suffered damage to five ships!
The ship slowly docked and anchored. Zhu Yunwen looked at Zheng He on the boat, and their eyes collided again after many years.
Zheng He couldn't help but think that this was the emperor who changed his life. He had endless secrets and infinite magic power. He knew unknown places and could see into the world tens of thousands of miles away, just like a god.
But looking now, this god is still a human emperor. He is watching me and waiting for me.
Just like a relative standing here, waiting for a child who has not returned home for a long time. He is not a god, he is a warm haven, a place where the soul rests, and an emperor who thinks about it day and night.
I'm back and I've lived up to your trust. Zhu Yunwen's thoughts fluctuated, Zheng He, you are finally back. I have waited so hard for you.
I know that if there is anyone in this world who can complete this desperate journey, reach the primitive land, and cross the endless ocean, it must be you!
I read you right. You are my most trusted voyage hero, and you will also be the greatest voyage hero in Ming Dynasty, no, in the entire history of China!
Although you had a tragic childhood, you, Zheng He, will have greatness that countless people cannot match. Your name will always be engraved in the hearts of everyone in the Ming Dynasty!
When I was here to see you off, I said I would take you home. Now, I'm here to pick you up.
The rope ladder was thrown down, and Zheng He led the navy soldiers to disembark. On the pier, the navy officers and soldiers returning home lined up, just like at the beginning of the voyage, they lined up towards the emperor.
However, the returning team was much smaller than the sailing team... Zheng He, Zhu Neng, Luo Guanying, Zhao Shiyu, Shen Wei, Wang Jinghong, Wan Qinglin, Kuang Yu, Yu Zhen and others walked step by step On the high platform, walk towards Zhu Yunwen.
As they approached, the navy lined up neatly, and their mighty aura instantly burst out. Zheng He took a step forward and saluted: "Zheng He, deputy commander of the Navy, was ordered to search for new food crops in unknown places. It lasted four years and seven months. He fulfilled his mission and captured them one by one. He is now back to pay the order!" At this moment, the sound shocked the world!
