Hearing that the other party reported to his home, Zhu Zhanji paused for a moment and remembered the identity of the other party. He asked with some surprise: "It was Chen Yuanwailang in person, when did you come back?" ”

Chen Cheng hugged his fists and Li Liang for a long time, and then said: "The minister returned to the capital today, and Li Zhongguan returned to the palace to play, and the minister wanted to return home, but he learned that Lord Jin had died today." A few years ago, I worshipped Lord Jin as a teacher to learn the Tao, and as a disciple, I should do the gift of a disciple. ”

Zhu Zhanji became a little excited, and the lieutenant Li Da was escorting the envoy sent by Shahru, the king of Timur, to return to China in September the year before last. Those who accompanied him included Deputy Envoy Li Xian, Dian Secretary Chen Cheng, Yang Zhong and others.

Knowing that Li Da had returned, Zhu Zhanji couldn't stay any longer. However, looking at Chen Cheng in front of him, he still opened his mouth and invited: "Lone is also quite interested in the situation in the Western Regions, I don't know if the outsider can teach?" ”

Chen Cheng hesitated in embarrassment, and said: "I can get His Royal Highness's love, and the ministers are grateful, but there is no queen of the family...... The minister wants to be a disciple ......"

Zhu Zhanji interrupted him and said: "No, Lord Jin has a young son now...... invited Zhao to come forward with Jin Da to greet Chen Cheng, Zhu Zhanji also understood what Chen Cheng meant, so he said: "Then today I will not bother the outsider, but tomorrow when Shen, I will be alone...... Jixian Building washes the dust for you. ”

When Zhu Yuanzhang decided to make the capital of Yingtianfu, he ordered the Ministry of Industry to build 16 government-run restaurants in Yingtianfu, headed by Jixian Building on Chang'an Street. Although there are more and more restaurants in Yingtianfu now, Jixian Mansion is still one of the main meeting places for court officials.

Chen Cheng looked at the child in Zhao's arms and was a little surprised, and was reminded by the people around him before he hurriedly said, "The minister must go to the banquet on time." ”

was sent out by everyone, and Ji Gang also left with solemn farewell. His official reputation is not good, and staying by Zhu Zhanji's side all the time is not only not beneficial, but also has an impact on Zhu Zhanji's reputation.

Therefore, although two people can enter and exit together, they still have to pay attention to the impact.

After Ji Gang left, Zhu Zhanji had no interest in returning to the Navy Headquarters, and said to Li Liang with some excitement: "Drive back to the palace." Then you go and call me Li Da. ”

Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but be excited about this matter, in addition to paying attention to the affairs of going to sea, the most important thing he now is not Dongying, but the Western Regions.

In the Ming Dynasty, Dongying did not pose a fundamental threat to the Ming Dynasty. No matter how rampant those pirates were, they were just skin ringworms, and they didn't hurt the roots.

But the Western Regions are different, the pattern of the entire Central Asian region in later generations is actually left over from this era, and the stability of the Western Regions also directly affects the stability of the Ming Dynasty.

Today's Qinghai-Tibet area has been sent by Hou Xian to submit to the Ming Dynasty, but now there are still two vicious wolves in the Western Regions that have to be guarded against.

One is the kingdom of Timur, who once watched the Ming Dynasty, although Timur died on the way to conquer the Ming Dynasty, but the strength of this country should not be underestimated.

The five Central Asian countries of later generations, including Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and other countries, as well as the northern region of India, were all the territory of the Timurid kingdom.

The ethnic pattern of these regions was formed under their influence.

The second is the Chagatai Kingdom, which was destroyed by the Timurid Kingdom, and the Eastern Chagatai that remained, which is now the three kingdoms of Yili, Turpan, and Yarkand.

They are the Eastern Chagatai that survived after the division of the Chahatai Khanate and the occupation of the Timurid kingdom by the Timurid Kingdom.

Although these three kingdoms were slightly weaker and bowed to the Ming Dynasty, they colluded with the current Northern Yuan Tatars and Warat to face the threat of the Ming Dynasty.

Although he knew that the threat to Daming was not very great now, Zhu Zhanji had also been thinking about how to change the pattern there.

Taking religious belief as an example, today's Western Regions actually believe in Buddhism today. When Zhu Zhanji first learned about this, he was very surprised, but this is a fact.

He didn't know when it began, but greenery became the main religion here.

It is very difficult for the current Ming Dynasty to immigrate to the past, first of all, the population of the Ming Dynasty is not large, and now is not the era of hundreds of millions of people in the future, and there are no 100 million people in the Ming Dynasty today.

Secondly, the restrictions of transportation conditions also make it difficult for the Ming to completely rule the area there, and a march will take more than half a year and a year, and the supply alone can drag down the economy of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, if you want to govern the Western Regions, you still have to rely on other strategies, and you can't go to war unless you have to.

Now, he is thinking about how to use the land of the Western Regions to grow cotton and use the economy to control the Western Regions, when he meets the delegation of the Western Regions to return home, which is really sleepy and meets the pillow.

In the palace, Zhu Zhanji also met Li Da, the head of the mission to the Western Regions.

As a retainer, Li Da bowed down as soon as he met, and kowtowed three times before saying: "Minister, Li Da, knock to see His Highness." ”

"Hurry up, Young Eunuch Li, take a seat." Zhu Zhanji personally helped him up and said: "Since you went to the Western Regions, you have been looking at it alone. Last winter and November, I learned that you had arrived in Harai, the capital of Timur, and there was no news for several months after that. ”

Li Da half sat down at the bottom of Zhu Zhanji, and said with a smile: "The early stage of this trip was not smooth, such as Beishi Bali and other countries were lukewarm to their ministers, and even providing some horses was delayed. However, when the news of His Majesty's defeat of the Warat Department in Mobei reached the Western Regions, all the small countries were shocked, and they had a different attitude. ”

"In this return, 17 countries, including Harie, Tunmaerhan, Alduzun, Badashang, Dielimi, Shalu Hague, Right Spencer, Thirsty Stone, Yangyi, Beishu Bali, Huozhou, Liuchen, Tulupan, Dashigan, and Bufan'er, have sent envoys to pay tribute to our Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Zhanji nodded and said, "Then can I complete the task I gave you?" ”

Li Da smiled and took out two bound bamboo paper books from his sleeve and said with a smile: "Chen Cheng, a member of the ministry, is a rare talent, and in the past two years, he has written two books on the way. One is "The Chronicles of the Western Regions", which mainly introduces the specific situation of the countries in the Western Regions, including the lords and forces in the court, including the military and the people. The other volume is "Itinerary of the Western Regions", which mainly describes the customs, topography, and product output of various places in the Western Regions. ”

"His Royal Highness has been entrusted, naturally he does not dare to be sloppy, although his ability is limited, but he also knows how to make good use of it. These two books are mainly written by Chen Cheng alone, and the ministers and others are all assistants, and they dare not take credit. ”

That being said, the words are boastful both inside and out. But this is inevitable, he is the chief official, no matter how much Chen Cheng contributes, his contribution is indispensable.

And he also knew the temper of Zhu Di and Zhu Zhanji, and he didn't dare to hide Chen Cheng's credit. Otherwise, when Zhu Di and Zhu Zhanji asked him to discuss the content of the book, but he couldn't answer, it would be the crime of defrauding the king.

These ministers are all retainers and are not protected by national law, even if Zhu Zhanji directly killed him, no one spoke for him.

He took the two books as if he had received a treasure, and said to Sun Lin on the side: "The last time the Luzon Kingdom presented the tortoiseshell, I will reward Li Zhongguan with a box." Lieutenant Li sit down for a while, I'll read this book first, and then I'll talk to you. ”

Li Da said with a smile: "Your Highness, please take it, and the ministers should be waiting for you." ”

Zhu Zhanji first read a general look, because the book "Chronicles of the Western Regions" is not suitable for the outside world to know because it has written about the military affairs of many countries.

However, the book "Itinerary of the Western Regions" describes the customs, climatic characteristics, and topography of various parts of the Western Regions, which is suitable for dissemination.

However, since it is to be disseminated, some sensitive content in it must also be deleted, and of course, some private goods can also be added.

After reading for about half an hour, Zhu Zhanji roughly understood the contents of the book and asked, "Has the emperor's grandfather ever read this book?" ”

"This book is in duplicate, and the other copy has been presented to His Majesty. After a cursory reading of this book, His Majesty instructed the Cabinet to transcribe the contents of the book and distribute it to all the adults. ”

Zhu Zhanji nodded and said: "This time back and forth, Zhongguan Li has also worked hard, and if you rest for a few days first, I will not treat you badly." In addition, Lone has already met Chen Yuanwailang, and asked him to have dinner in Jixian Building tomorrow, and you will also summon the envoys and others to entertain Lone. ”

Seeing Sun Lin bring a small box, Li Da also heard it and knew that Zhu Zhanji was sending off a guest. Hurriedly said: "His Royal Highness is about to get married, the minister has nothing to congratulate, this time Timur Kingdom has offered two ungelding sweat and blood BMW stallions, six mares, and eight Persian beauties, Your Majesty has instructed you to pick first, so the minister has the courage to ask His Royal Highness to move to Honglu Temple, pick two beauties first, and arrange to enter the palace after teaching them the rules." ”

How could Zhu Zhanji be interested in seeing any Persian beauties, now there are a lot of beauties in the palace, and he hasn't figured out what to do!

Now he is concentrating on planning the Dongying strategy, and when Dongying is done, he is ready to go to sea, and he has no time to train no matter how many beauties there are.

So these beauties in the palace, he definitely hasn't had time to deal with them in recent years.

can't just let these beauties wither in the palace, so Zhu Zhanji is also ready to discuss with Zhu Di to send the concubines below Liangyuan home again, or to the generals in the army.

So he just said to Li Liang: "You know Lone's preferences, so go and help Lone pick two people." As for the sweaty BMW, Gu already has four horses, and they are still handed over to the Imperial Horse Supervisor to breed good breeds. ”

After Li Da left, Zhu Zhanji drove out all the people around him, and watched "Itinerary of the Western Regions" quietly in front of the case.

The description of the Western Regions in this book is still very clear, and the relationship between the countries in the Western Regions, including the ethnic contradictions, is also very clearly analyzed.

But this book also has the usual problem of the Ming Dynasty, that is, it emphasizes politics and ignores economics.

There is not much ink on the output of products in various places and the basic livelihood of the people, although some of them are written, I am afraid that it is also because Li Da knows Zhu Zhanji's preferences and specially let people add them.

However, in this way, it will also be convenient for him to add some private goods into it, and when he meets Chen Cheng tomorrow, he will discuss this matter with him.