Yun Xi remembered that the Bering Strait should be near the Arctic Circle, that is, about 66.5 degrees north latitude, and when they arrived at 66 degrees north latitude this time, they almost arrived at the Bering Strait. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

So when they looked far to the east, the land they saw was the American continent. Yun Xi thought.

Yunxi is very satisfied with this exploration so far. Basically, the discovery of the Bering Strait, the possibility of discovering the American continent, knowing the inside story of Fuso, and mediating the war between the Ainu and Fuso, has exceeded Yunxi's initial expectations.

However, Fang Mingqian will give him a bigger surprise later.

Fang Mingqian continued: "Your Majesty, the minister then went south along the island that the Ainu people said, and since he was familiar with the way back, he returned to the southernmost tip of that island after twenty days. ”

After carving stone records there, he marched north along the west side of the island. Although it was difficult for the minister to accurately measure the longitude, it was clear from the direction of the sun that the island was to the east of the place where the former minister followed his uncle to explore the north (Chapter 324), so the minister concluded that it should be a continent that stretched for thousands of miles. ”

"But just before the minister was about to leave, the minister found a gold mine there! Or just exposed gold mines on the ground! ”

"The ministers took tens of thousands of catties of gold and filled the entire fleet with ships, and then some of the ships continued north, and the others returned south."

At that time, it was not easy to continue north. Although all the crew members knew that all the gold could not fall into their own hands, they could always keep some, so they were in a hurry to go home. Fang Mingqian took great effort and used his authority to finally select a few ships to continue north, and the rest of the ships returned full of gold.

The crew members of the ships that were selected to continue going north were full of grievances, if it weren't for Fang Mingqian's life and his life guarantee, they would definitely not lose their gold, and these crew members also secretly hid some gold on the ship, they would definitely not be willing to continue north.

"After returning to the port of Shanghu County this time, a total of 30,000 catties of gold were counted, and the minister has ordered someone to send it to the capital to congratulate His Majesty on the New Year."

30,000 catties of gold is 480,000 taels of gold, at this time it is more than 3 million taels of silver, and the tax of Daming a year is only about 10 million taels of silver at this time, which is equivalent to more than 30% of the financial revenue of Daming a year.

'No wonder the Spaniards and Portuguese went crazy to the New World, this Nima is too easy to get money, just such a trip to so much money, it's for nothing! Yun Xi thought.

Of course, Yunxi was very happy, and this was a big surprise. Yun Xi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Fang Aiqing's gift is too big, I am very relieved!" ”

"But, to be honest, did you keep some gold for yourself?"

Fang Mingqian said: "Don't hide it from Your Majesty, the minister also left a hundred taels of gold in private, and the two thousand households also left almost a hundred taels each. The hundred households and the deputy thousand households each left fifty taels, and the rest of the people also left. I also ask Your Majesty for forgiveness. ”

Yun Xi smiled and said, "Where is the guilt is forgiven!" ”

Yun Xi calmed down for a moment before letting Fang Mingqian continue to talk about his northern tour.

Fang Mingqian said: "Your Majesty, the minister led the rest of the fleet to continue north, and found the place where the minister's uncle had been. Then he marched west along the coast. ”

"Then the coast gradually went south, and after another twenty days came to the mouth of the great river which he had visited before."

"The minister continued to go south, and found a large island in the east that is thousands of miles long from north to south, and he talked with the natives on the island and learned that this is what the Ainu people call the northern Ainu island."

"The people of the land lived very comfortably because they were not disturbed by the Fuso, and although the various tribes sometimes attacked each other, they were relatively peaceful."

"The minister continued south along the coast of the western continent, and at about 42 degrees north latitude the coast turned westward."

After that, the minister continued his march and found a natural harbor in a very advantageous location. After carving stone records here, the minister continued south. ”

Soon after, the minister saw a large river, and there were people who seemed to be Jurchens moving around the river. The minister tried to talk to them, and found that some of them knew Mongolian, and then learned that they had reached the Tumen River. ”

Soon to the south, I saw the villages of Korea. The officials of the local area were very surprised, but they were quite enthusiastic and gave the minister a lot of food, fruits and vegetables. ”

He then continued south and arrived in Pusan in November.

Coincidentally, in Busan, Chan met a fleet of ships heading south to transport gold back. After inquiry, the minister learned that after going south from there, they crossed the strait between Minami Ainu and Honshu Island, and traveled south along the east coast of Fuso, only to be discovered by the local pirates when they were resupplying, and the pirates attacked them. ”

"Because of the surprise, several small boats were sunk or captured, and then they came to their senses to repel the pirates. But the ship was also damaged. ”

"They tinkered and hid all the way to the port of Busan. After that, he stayed at the port of Busan for a long time to repair the ship. This time, it was kept tightly hidden, and local North Korean officials did not know about it. ”

Yun Xi and Fang Mingqian both understood that the people who were officials on the beach at this time were more or less connected with pirates. The officials don't dare to do anything on the surface, but leaking it to the connected pirates is enough for them to drink a pot.

"After that, for the sake of safety, the entire fleet of ministers and others went north to Seoul to pacify Korea."

"The minister remembered what His Majesty had instructed the minister, and asked the Korean monarch to allow the Ming sailors to stay in Pusan for a long time to help Korea fight piracy."

"Because before this, the minister had already told the local officials in Busan, and the officials in Busan did not oppose it, but on the contrary, they were very much in favor, and the minister thought that the Korean monarch would also agree, but he politely refused."

Yun Xi understood after a little thought. At present, the family power in the Korean region is still very large, similar to the Wei and Jin dynasties in China. However, now Zhu Fangyuan of North Korea has been trying to expand the power of the Korean monarch, and there is a great contradiction with the local clans.

Busan, as an important trading base for Fuso, has an important position in the whole of Korea, and Zhu Fangyuan has always tried to control this place, and the local big families are certainly unwilling.

At this time, Daming suddenly proposed to anchor the sailor here, and the local family must have wanted to use the sailor of the Ming Dynasty as a backer to play with Zhu Fangyuan, so of course he was willing to send a sailor to be stationed in the Ming Dynasty; But on the other hand, Zhu Fangyuan was of course unwilling, and it was expected that he would refuse. Although Yoon-hee had no intention of supporting the Busan family against Joo Fang-won's Korean Central Committee.

Yoon-hee doesn't care much about Busan either. For at least 400 years, the Ming Dynasty did not have to worry about threatening the Ming Dynasty by the forces occupying Busan. Now the focus of the DPRK is to appease Zhu Fangyuan and slowly assimilate.

Fang Mingqian continued: "After that, the ministers rested in Jianghua Bay for a few days and set off to return to Daming. The Korean envoys were sent over, so the envoys returned with the Korean envoys. ”

Yun Xi asked a few more details, and Fang Mingqian answered them one by one. Then while Yun Xi didn't speak, Fang Mingqian knelt down and said: "Along the way, in addition to Ice and Fire Island, there are also stone records carved in many places, and now Your Majesty is asked to name these places." ”

Although Yun Xi's naming skills are not good, he loves to be famous, and when he heard this, he said: "Since this is the case, I will be named." ”

"The northernmost point you have reached, because it is deserted, I have named it 'Beijing'."

"That big island, since there is gold on the island, I named it Jinning." Yun Xi had actually roughly guessed that this so-called island was the Kamchatka Peninsula, but since Fang Mingqian said it was an island, he also said that it was an island. Anyway, the name Jinning is similar when used as an island or a peninsula.

"This sea to the west of Jinning, I remember that the Tang Dynasty documents called it Beihai, so it should be called Beihai." (Sea of Okhotsk)

"That big river is called Heilongjiang."

"The land of the Ainu in the north and south, according to their names for the time being."

"The natural harbor that Aiqing said is probably the area of Yongming City in Mengyuan, and I named it Vladivostok."

"This sea to the east is named the Yongming Sea."

……

Yun Xi named all the places that Fang Mingqian explored this time, although some of the names were very vulgar, but at least they were very pleasant names.

After that, Yun Xi said to Fang Mingqian: "Fang Mingqian." ”

"The minister is here."

"This time you have gone north to explore, and you have achieved a lot of success, and you have also discovered a large gold mine, I want to reward you."

Yunxi said: "Zhejiang Dusi commanded Tongzhi Fang Mingqian, led his troops to proclaim Ryukyu, Fuso, Ainu, North Korea and other places, mediated the disputes between the Ainu and Fusang people, opened up territory for the Ming Dynasty, and declared his authority to the barbarians, and made great contributions. I crowned you as the Marquis of Beiwang, Lu 2,500 stones, hereditary replacement, and gave Danshu iron coupons. ”

"I will crown your eldest daughter as the county lord of Beijing, and posthumously crown Aiqing's mother as Mrs. Yipin."

Fang Mingqian immediately threw himself on the ground and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty Longen." Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live! ”

Yun Xi's reward is indeed a very high standard. Now there are only a few hereditary marquis in the Ming Dynasty, and Fang Mingqian was suddenly crowned as a marquis, which is indeed a very great grace.

But no one can say anything. If you have any opinions, you have also found a large gold mine dedicated to your majesty 480,000 taels of gold!

Yun Xi continued: "Two thousand households, each given to the hereditary commander Tongzhi. The rest of the deputy thousand households, hundreds of households and others also have their own rewards. ”

Fang Mingqian said: "On their behalf, thank Your Majesty Longen." ”

After that, Yun Xi asked Fang Mingqian to retreat, and he also returned to the harem. However, Yunxi was very happy even in the harem, which made the concubines who were sleeping tonight very surprised and very comfortable.