A great and magnificent undertaking can sometimes begin for extremely mundane reasons.

Because of a seemingly inconspicuous potato, in the Ming Dynasty in the seventh year of Wanli set off an unprecedented turmoil, after the "Ming Pao" report, the capital up and down the potato yield of 3,000 catties per mu, it can be said that everyone knows, in the world surprised by its high yield at the same time, but also full of interest in overseas high-yield crops.

The hunger gene has long been engraved in the bones of this nation, so much so that when people discovered that there were crops that could avoid starvation overseas, they naturally became interested in it. Compared to ordinary people talking about potatoes there, the emperor's reaction to potatoes was also extremely direct.

Almost as soon as the emperor learned about potatoes through the newspaper, he summoned Zhang Juzheng, carefully inquired about the yield and taste of potatoes, and even specially sent internal officials to Shitaiguan to bring potatoes.

"Mr. Zhang, since there are so many high-yield crops and livestock overseas, then you might as well give him a concession by the imperial court as Shi Yiwen asked, so that he can build a ship in Tianjin and go to sea to find crops and livestock, so that the people of the world will never have to go hungry again."

There is no more high-sounding reason than this!

Even the most stubborn opponents are unable to offer anything to refute this reason.

"This is not a merchant going to sea, but looking for food for my billions of people in the Ming Dynasty!"

This sentence alone is enough to leave any opponent speechless, of course, in fact there are not many opponents, except for a few officials with close ties with the maritime merchants in Zhejiang, most of the officials agreed, and of course, many people saw this as an opportunity. In particular, some of the lords who were good friends with Zhang Ju saw this as a good opportunity, after all, everyone knew that this overseas merchant was often ten times more profitable. In the past, they couldn't get involved in the port in Zhejiang, but now they want to build ships and go to sea in Tianjin, so they are naturally unwilling to miss such an opportunity.

In the evening of this day, Zhu Yingzhen, the Duke of Chengguo, who had just attacked the lord, came to Zhang's mansion, because Zhang Juzheng had a good relationship with his grandfather Zhu Xizhong, so after his attack, Zhang Juzheng also took good care of him, because the relationship between the two families was special, so he was not outside.

Looking at Zhu Yingzhen, Zhang Juzheng was leisurely sipping tea, and he had long understood his intentions, he was not the first, and he would not be the last.

Now, the lords of Jingzhong seem to see the benefits of Tonghai.

Being looked at by Shoufu with his eyes, the new duke's heart was anxious, and he stammered again

"Ahem, ahem...... Its, actually, the next, the late, the younger generations come, come to see the first assistant, also, not for official business, only, just the family nervous, so, so listen, I heard that the court, the court wants, to open the sea in Tianjin, just, just seek, think, for, for the court to share worries, also, also ask the first, the first assistant to take care of the ......".

"Okay, okay,"

Zhang Juzheng interrupted Zhu Yingzhen's words with a smile. If Zhu Yingzhen is allowed to stutter like this, I don't know how much time it will take. Looking at his words and colors, he saw Zhu Yingzhen's complex mood of awe and anxiety, and his heart was satisfied, and the so-called Guogong was nothing more than that.

"When you talk in the future, don't get excited, speak calmly, no one will force you, if you stammer, you will definitely not be able to say clearly." 

"Okay, okay."

Zhu Yingzhen said with relief. 

Zhang Juzheng looked at him again and said.

"The imperial court wants to open the sea in Tianjin, this is something that has not been discussed, and it is estimated that it is spread out of the outside." 

"Ahh......h Yes, yes......"

Zhu Yingzhen hurriedly responded.

"However, the imperial court is indeed ready to issue a special release, and the Xu family will go overseas from Tianjin to look for high-yielding and high-quality livestock overseas to meet the needs of the people.

Isn't that the same, it's better this way, but there is no one to compete in Tianjin, so wouldn't it be possible to make more money? Zhu Yingzhen, as the new Duke of the Prince, knew the use of silver money from the day he took charge of the Mansion, without silver money everything was empty talk, the power of the Mansion was given by the emperor, but dignity had to be maintained by money, and it was not enough to rely on the emperor's money. It's not that there are no nobles in this capital who only rely on Yulu to eat, and the life of that day is a little better than that of ordinary people, there is no decency or pomp, if you live like that, you won't let people die of burial.

"This, this is also taken care of by the first and first assistants."

After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yingzhen said again.

"Late, junior, no, it's not that I took the liberty of asking the first assistant to take care of it, in fact, there are so many families, there have always been domestic slaves in the family engaged in the shipping of timber in Liaodong, and they are familiar with things at sea, so after the younger generation heard about it, they thought about contributing to the imperial court, after all, this going to sea is not an ordinary thing, and it is impossible to do without some experience." 

Compared with just now, Zhu Yingzhen has calmed down, and he is no longer so stammering, at least he knows what his advantages are.

"Moreover, the younger generation, the ship is also ready-made, and as long as the first assistant agrees, he can set off for the sea, and he will definitely not delay the major affairs of the imperial court!"

"Well, you have a heart."

Zhang Juzheng stroked his long beard and said.

"The matter of going to sea is indeed not handled by ordinary people casually, since there are domestic slaves in the Chengguo Mansion who are good at selling sea, it is also a lot more convenient, about this matter, the court will make a decision in the next two days, what you just said, I wrote it down, and I will decide on it later, and then talk about this matter."

Shoufu's answer made Zhu Yingzhen's heart excited, and after responding, he saw that Shoufu intended to send off guests, so he got up and said. 

"The junior said goodbye first."

When leaving, Zhu Yingzhen gave another compliment, even if he was a national prince, but in front of Zhang Juzheng, he still held the junior courtesy and was still cautious. Aware of the huge profits of trade abroad, he seemed quite excited.

When Zhu Yingzhen left, Zhang Juzheng looked at his slightly excited appearance, but he couldn't help but sigh, and then said to himself.

"Now there is another Chengguo Gong, such a thing, I don't know how many people want to control it, but among so many people, how many people are really for the court and the people?"

For the thoughts of these people, how could Zhang Juzheng not know that what they were asking for one by one was never overseas crops, but the huge profits of trade, thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh.

"If you give them the errand, I'm afraid you'll really do something bad!"