At the end of the twelfth century. The Nanyang Affairs Bureau of the Great Song Dynasty mentioned the picture presented by Zhao Xing to the imperial court. This map of the South Seas shows more than a dozen islands that he had newly occupied. Plus the Jaffna Peninsula, where the South Seas are at the throat. With the experience of Bo Ni. The Great Song Dynasty's handling of overseas flights has also gradually matured. This. The manager's candidate officer is in lightning motion. They all sought the position of overseas governor. I scrape out the newly occupied overseas domain quickly. These new officials were holding the official proclamation issued by the ministry. Hurried south to Hangzhou. Report to the Overseas Affairs Bureau. When they arrived in Hangzhou. It was not Zhao Xing, the chief officer of the Nanyang Affairs Bureau, who came forward to receive him. It's a malfeasance in Lang Zhong Wan Yong.

"Lord Taiwei went to Xiuzhou. Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to pay homage to Captain Ho. It is necessary to wait until around the winter solstice." Wan Qiyong replied with a straight face: "During this time." You can choose to go to Guangzhou. There is the Department of Colonial Affairs run by the Nanyang Affairs Bureau. There are some training subjects that you should be aware of. Of course. If you don't want to stay in Guangzhou. The Division also has a number of teaching materials. for everyone to learn. ”

These new governors of Nanyang have all heard that the rank of governor is lucrative. And the special spent a lot of money to buy the new official position. They are not afraid of the hardships of the South Seas. Climatic conditions are harsh. Dare to spend money to buy this official. At best, it is said that it is for the Great Song Dynasty to expand its territory and defend the country. At worst. These are all prepared corrupt officials with the temperament of a businessman. They went to the South Seas. I think that most of the new leaders in Nanyang are on the trade road. And it's a free trade zone. Guangdong's precedent is precedent. Every governor has made a lot of money. So they're special for the sport. Snatch this official position.

This is the first time that the Nanyang Affairs Bureau has elected officials to the imperial court. Many officials also thought that living conditions in Nanyang were worse than in Guangdong. And the phenomenon of Guangdong degrading officials passing away one after another. made them hesitate. Most officials have not yet woken up. Those who understand are smart people. More or less the family is involved in business. So they refused to stay in Guangzhou and waste their time. Many people are hesitant. Among them was a daring one. Arch hands and tell the truth: "Lord Wan Qi." I've heard that the road to Nanyang is a difficult one. Although there is a naval escort. But deep in the island country. It's best to have a boat at home...... I don't know what the current ship price is in Hangzhou? ”

Speech between literati. It takes a lot of intelligence to understand. This man said this. What it actually means is to ask: I am the Governor of Nanyang. It happened to be on the trade route again. Is it possible to own my own fleet?

Of course. With its own fleet. It was inevitable to hire sailors from within the country. After all, it is still the belief of the Great Song people. And these Great Song sailors. The most familiar is to operate ships produced in the country. These officials want to go to work as their own ships. Then there is no time to go to the Quang Nam Colonial Affairs Division to study......

Wan Qiyong replied: "Ah." Hangzhou has recently risen sharply in ship prices. The number of ships has risen to about 100,000. As for the sailors...... I advise you to hire from Fujian. Perhaps there were also some remaining sailors in Canton. But. This price is already ridiculously high. As for Hangzhou Ben's. within this year. The shipyard's shipbuilding list is fully booked. The sailors have no spare time. ”

Originally, there were two types of ships in the Great Song Dynasty. One is the Canton ship produced in Guangzhou. One is a fortune boat made in Quanzhou, Fujian. Among them, the Hirobune has a little Arabian flavor. But it's the same as Fukufune. It's all hard sailboats. And there is no steering wheel. The anchor is also not made of iron. It's stones. It is called "Ikari Stone". But at the moment history has changed slightly. The ship type of the Great Song Dynasty has added another genre of complete three-masted soft sailing ships.

This type of ship was born in Hainan first. But Hangzhou because of its proximity to the Central Plains. At the beginning of the Grand Canal. Although its annual shipbuilding volume is far less than that of Hainan Island. However, people still name this type of ship "Hangzhou ship".

Originally, Fukufune and Cantona were stacked with wooden planks. Attach the planks with a shrug-tie. This type of ship is more suitable for inshore sailing. But into the Indian Ocean. The waves of the Indian Ocean make it sink at a high rate. Modern salvage crews gather in the South China Sea. It also called the South China Sea a golden salvage route. It is because of the huge number of shipwrecks on this line. And it is full of Song Dynasty porcelain and goods.

For now. Hangers are the only ships suitable for entering the Indian Ocean. This also makes the supply of ships produced by Hainan and Hangzhou Shipbuilding Bureaus controlled by Zhao Xing exceed demand. These new officials are all people with good hands and eyes. After their arrival in office. All the way to Hangzhou. It's about buying new ships. Hire sailors.

Just now. Wan Qianyong's words were tantamount to agreeing to these new masters and servants to form their own fleet. And this kind of behavior. In the Great Song Dynasty, it was a violation of the laws of the imperial court. The imperial court did not allow officials to participate in maritime trade. Furthermore. These officials organize their own fleets. It will inevitably affect the trade volume of ordinary merchants. There is even the possibility of corruption and perversion of the law. This happens to be what Zhao Xing is trying to put an end to in China. But he was in the position of Governor General abroad. This opening was made.

Wan Qianyong once specifically asked Zhao Xing on this issue. Zhao Xing's answer was, "There is a difference between inside and outside." Overseas hardship. How did I implement the rule of the Great Song Dynasty overseas. Only for profit. Again. They go overseas. It is the Waiyi natives who are exploiting. The money after the exploitation was transported back to the Great Song Dynasty to enjoy. During this period. I still have to pay taxes to my Great Song. Why should I be anxious for the happiness of the foreigners? Let them be greedy. It's best to move all the wealth of the Waiyi people back to my Great Song Dynasty. ”

Reputedly. After Zhao Xing said this. The officials present were speechless. This also made Wan Qian Yong when answering the words of the new governor. The meaning is vague though. But there is encouragement and indulgence in it. You can smell it with your nose.

The new governors were overjoyed. After they took their leave. Immediately rushed to the Hangzhou Shipbuilding Bureau. Spend a lot of money to book your own boat...... Looks like now. Under the management of the Nanyang Bureau. There is no threshold for sea trade. Whether it's fish or shrimp, you can buy a boat and go south. Therefore. The price of a Hangzhou ship is already staggeringly high.

Meanwhile. Zhao Xingzheng led Li Jie to inspect Xiuzhou. Xiuzhou in the Song Dynasty was not a bustling city. Due to previous trade controls. It is not the county seat where the city is located. There is no right to conduct maritime trade. And the salinization of the soil by the sea is serious. Not suitable for farming. As a result, coastal cities do not have large populations. A small population means a small income. In addition, the soil near the sea is often affected by typhoons. Most people can't stand on their feet. Only a few salt farmers survive.

Originally, Xiuzhou was prosperous because of the salt industry. And a little bit of population. But after Zhao Xing opened the salt market in Guangdong. Ordinary people can also run the salt trade. This phenomenon has caused the salt industry in Xiuzhou to shrink sharply. Huating, a small county near the sea, is even more sparsely populated. It's getting more and more dilapidated.

Broken walls. Gray-yellow earthen house. Potholed roads. Yellow-faced and thin-skinned people. The eyes are godless, like the people of the walking dead. Zhao Xing looked at everything in front of him. sighed. Su Dun, the county magistrate of Huating beside him, also sighed. Li Jie followed and said, "It's a pity. A volt. ”

Zhao Xing in the bleak autumn sun. Squinted at the people of Huating. Shaking his head almost in despair, he said, "Not popular enough!" The desert is a business of people. The population base here is not enough to support a large market. If you want to develop Huating. I'm afraid it will take ten years. This time. It is longer than conquering a Liao country. ”

Su Dun sighed in disappointment. Li Jie said regretfully: "This is adjacent to the mouth of the Yangtze River. It's better to say than Hangzhou. There is a big tide of Qiantang in Hangzhou. There are several months of the year when it is not navigable. And it's navigable all year round. And the goods are stored here. It is possible to reach Yangzhou from the mouth of the Yangtze River. When it comes to convenience. There's nothing better than here. ”

Zhao Xing looked at the nearby streetscape. He said slowly, "So." We're going to build a free trade port without walls. I'm going to move the Navy Yamen here. Later, a deep-water pier was built here. I believe. Huating City Bosi will be able to surpass Hangzhou in the future. Become the largest port in the world. ”

Li Jie interjected slowly: "This." I'm afraid it will take a hundred years to build. ”

"On the Rational Superiority. On the advantages of the industry. On the ability to communicate within. Huating's unique nature. Let's get it done. Instead of sitting and talking. It's better to get up and do it......" Zhao Xing made up his mind resolutely.

this year. The Clark ship officially appeared. The nautical industry in Europe transitioned to a deadweight of five hundred tons. That is, the era of the Great Song Dynasty and the Thousand Materials of the Sea Ships. Right this year. Europe's seafaring capabilities caught up with the Great Song Dynasty. Because of this innovative ability of the Europeans. The navies of Europe faced the Arab warships. Take an overwhelming new advantage.

this year. Hainan Shipbuilding Bureau has finally made a breakthrough. Built a ship of 1,500 materials. This load had reached the time when Columbus sailed to the Americas. This new type of warship is known as the "Seawolf" class. And the sea wolf is the name given to sharks by the Song people.

After inspecting Huating County. Zhao Xing led Chao Buzhi to board the sea wolf warship moored outside Huating. The ship was much larger. There are five floors above the surface of the water alone. Zhao Xing followed the captain of the Seawolf. Walked through the new warship floor by floor. Appreciative: "I checked. Two-story gun bays. Each of our ships could be mounted on one hundred and forty-six guns. That's great. With these warships. I don't worry about the Arabs anymore. ”

Chao Buzhi asked curiously: "Leave people." You have been in Nanyang for more than half a year. Didn't you fight the Arabs when you first went with that in mind? ”

Zhao Xing stroked a steel cannon casually. Answer: "We are going to Nanyang." In Sriwijaya it was only a powerful intimidation. Then that country transferred the suzerainty of Sri Lanka to us. I know they don't believe it. But they gathered their strength to fight me. It will take at least a year. Let's put it away. We have food to eat slowly.

in Sri Lanka. We occupied Jaffna. The southern front had already cut off the back route of the invading army of the Zhulin State. I visited the temple in Colombo with great fanfare. Note: After the country knows. Immediately withdraw troops from Lanka. At this moment, Sri Lanka is united. With this small island in the Indian Ocean. Our routes to Africa are already open. But. The Arabs are not reconciled. The most powerful part of the Arab naval forces was on the southern front. Because the white people of the northern front occupied most of the fertile soil. The Arabs could not find good timber for shipbuilding. So their trolls are not strong. And that section of the route to the middle of the sea. No need to travel the oceans. So their sailors were also not as experienced as their southern counterparts.

The southern part of the tropics. There is a large amount of high-quality timber that can be used for shipbuilding. Moreover, the suzerainty of the southern route was in the Great Song Dynasty. Therefore. The Arabs had ten times more skilled sailors on the southern front than on the northern one. Their naval forces were also ten times stronger than those of the Northern Front.

We are not yet a good time to challenge the Arabs. At least until they gather all their strength. We're going to have a fight with them. Otherwise. The war continued year after year. I don't have that much time to spend with them. So I asked Chen Buqun to conclude an agreement with Arab businessmen in Colombo. And he returned.

That agreement stipulates: The merchant ships of our Song merchants sailed as far as Jaffna. West of Colombo was ruled by the Arabs, and the agreement was certain. We've barely managed to get through to Africa. My promise to the merchants of Guangzhou has been fulfilled.

The Arabs have dominated the South Seas for thousands of years. Suddenly let Song Shang get a piece of the pie. They must be reluctant in their hearts. I reckon. Those Arab businessmen would fann the flames in private. Not in three or five years. We will eventually have a war with the Arabs. ”

Chao Buzhi was puzzled: "Didn't you sign an agreement with them?" Will they be the first to tear up the agreement? ”

Zhao Xing shook his head lightly: "You don't know the habits of the Arabs. In their habits. Agreements with the enemy do not need to be observed. A promise to the enemy is not a promise. As long as he sees you as an enemy in his heart. Immediately and justifiably tear up the agreement. And the next moment of tearing up the agreement. If he decides you're friends again. He will immediately be confident that you will abide by the agreement. ”

Chao Buzhi said: "It turns out. The agreement was just a piece of scrap paper. ”

"Before the agreement is torn up. It's still an agreement." Zhao Xing patted the cannon body. Continued: "This time. The Arabs will certainly actively prepare for war. And we must constantly create new warships. New weapons. This is to ensure that we have the right to speak, and the Arab world is not a small country. The fleet of its northern front. It will also take the whole of Europe to muster forces to contend with it. So. During this time, I also need to gather all the forces of the Nanyang Affairs Bureau. ”

Chao Buzhi looked at the warship in front of him. After pondering for a while, he said, "According to the current technology." Such a large warship. You said you could sail to the far north. More than a hundred years ago. Someone in Europe has reached the Far North. There a piece of soil was found more than ten times larger than the entire Great Song Dynasty. And the soil is fertile. The product is abundant. Be? ”

Columbus arrived on the American continent on the 700-ton Clark ship. It is because the cargo capacity of such a warship is just enough to sustain a voyage for several months. Sailing in the sea is no better than on land. All supplies need to be carried with the ship. And the crew needs at least five kilograms of fresh water per day per person. Plus a few foods. Therefore. The amount of supplies per person is roughly calculated at 10 kilograms per day. A boat of 100 people. One ton of load capacity is consumed per day. There were only 700-ton warships. This allows the crew to find the next supply point in the vast sea. It is recognized that the deadweight of a ship can reach 700 tons is a threshold. This threshold has been crossed. It means that the Age of Discovery has arrived.

In time and space without Zhao Xing. The warships of the Great Song Dynasty have been hovering around five hundred tons. Even if by chance there are warships with a larger load. Also because of its unstable reliability. The Song merchants were unable to achieve the purpose of the Great Voyage. Right now. A new era has dawned. The Age of Discovery. That's right. The current Great Song Dynasty is rampant with corrupt officials and corrupt officials. Under the unspoken rules. 100 percent of the officials are corrupt officials. To a greater or lesser extent, they put the country's wealth in their own pockets. Meanwhile. The Great Song Dynasty struggled on the road of commercial civilization. And the pursuit of business civilization is fairness and justice. This is called the "spirit of contract".

If there is no Zhao Xing. The rise of the Hu people in the north. Plus the erosion of fiscal revenues and expenditures. The Great Song Dynasty fell into the abyss of decline. Right now. Zhao Xing's actions had already prevented the Great Song Dynasty from being affected by the war of the Crusaders. Therefore. The only hidden danger encountered by the Great Song Dynasty was a strong enemy in the north.

this year. The northern part of the Great Song Dynasty was under the strategy of Zhao Xing's past. Trees are planted extensively. The forests of the Shaanxi-Gansu steppe are gradually recovering. Fan Chun was after the two thousand Vermilion Bird Army was obtained. The guts are even thicker than normal history. His power did not allow people to harass Western Xia frequently. The envoys who made the Western Xia complain continued to be on the road.

Because of the existence of Zhao Xing, this variable. Song Huizong did not do as in normal history. He was extremely humble to the Tangut people. Pray for only one peace. Nanyang continues to expand its territory. Steady growth in the financial resources of the newly opened companies. It made him especially bold. Fan's pure bullying of Western Xia was nothing in his opinion. Because he hasn't transferred the tiger of the Great Song Dynasty back to Huanqing. Therefore, he did not approve of it and allowed the Privy Council to torture and ravage the Western Xia envoys.

The attitude of the Privy Council towards the Western Xia envoys was also different from that of normal history. Normal history. At this time, the old party is in power. Become one of the old party halls. Win the absolute right to speak of the old party in order to show their benevolence. There is a lot of tolerance for the Tangut people. Or even over-accommodating. But now. With the support of Zhao Xing. The New Party was not completely purged.

With a crowd of eyeing naysayers staring. The old party, which was in charge of the Privy Council, did not dare to go too far. Under the compromise of all parties. The Privy Council's attitude towards Western Xia was also cold. Try to procrastinate as much as possible. On the one hand, one eye was closed, and one eye was closed and Fan was allowed to torture the Tangut people purely. On the one hand, large quantities of gunpowder began to be stored.

Because of Zhao Xing's insistence. For the first time, the Ordnance Warden bowed his head. Elements of commerce are allowed to be involved in the production of ordnance. They adopted a system of tooth merchant bidding for gunpowder. Although the winning bid is still the firearms production bureau under Chen Yiyi's name. But this one opened his mouth. The private sector also began to study the manufacture of firearms.

The heavy wheels of history move slowly. Overall. It starts to move for the better. This is because the new party and the old party coexist. And the little emperor listened to Zhao Xing's words. It will no longer crack down on one row and one faction because of differences in speech and policy propositions. Therefore, the struggle of political parties does not turn to anti-corruption. Corruption has become a sharp weapon in the hands of both parties. It is used to attack the power officials and political party backbones of the other side.

And because of that. The division of the court gradually changed. Corruption is not as brazen as it was when one party was in power. Officials all over the world are cautious. lest I be caught by my political enemies...... As a result of the year. The political arena of the Great Song Dynasty was exceptionally incorruptible. Even many of the unspoken rules are gradually coming to a halt.

At the end of the year. Zhao Xing then inspected the area under his jurisdiction. Began to vigorously promote the Lantian Township Covenant. Support the village elders to supervise the officials. This move won the great favor of Shaanxi Luoxue and Guanxue. The new scholars of the imperial court sought various official positions under Zhao Xing. In the party to perform hard. In order to win, Zhao Xing's attention and recommendation. Followed by. Relying on the admiration and praise of these two schools. Zhao Xing founded the "Guangxue". Or "Hangxue" has gradually become one of the important schools of the Great Song Dynasty. It has become even the prominent school of the ward of the Southeast.

Gradually. History is changing more and more. The storm caused by the butterfly flapping its wings gradually formed. In the Great Song Dynasty. Reading people and doing business is no longer taboo. And Tong Guan's selling official. Inadvertently, the merchant also found a new way to go from merchant to merchant. Relying on his own wealth. Buy an officer. Become a gentry class...... But now. Their gentry position was useless.

Originally. The greatest benefit of the gentry class was tax exemption. But after Zhao Xing launched the "Gentry Integrated Tax Payment Order". They no longer enjoy the right to tax exemption. Although the development of maritime trade has made them more profitable. And their property is not taxed as before. Their resistance was not strong. But after being deprived of the privilege of paying taxes. The only benefit left for the gentry in the coastal provinces and cities was equality. Equality in the process of dealing with officials.

The "Gentry Unified Tax Order" brought about an increase in taxation. Song Huizong saw it in his eyes. This one loves flashiness. The young monarch who likes to enjoy it also promotes the gentry to pay taxes as a whole. But because the gentry did not have the convenience of maritime trade. They vigorously opposed the promotion of this decree. Outcome. The entire Great Song Dynasty presented a situation of one country, two systems. Coastal. Especially the southern coastal districts. South of the Yangtze River. It was the gentry who paid taxes as a whole. Supporting measures include the "Covenant Divine Decree". "Sacred Decree of Private Property". The "Patent Law", which was extended by the "Copyright Law......

Meanwhile. In the inland districts, semi-serfdom was practiced in which the gentry enjoyed privileges. A semi-commercial social system.

this year. In addition to the salt tax, tea tax. Eighty percent of the world's taxes come from the coast. This also made the officials of the Jinglu district no longer the highest-ranking officials of the Great Song Dynasty. Many people read after the imperial examination. If you can't enter the imperial court. Nor do they seek the district officials of Jinglu. On the contrary, the official positions of the southern coastal districts became the most popular. Of course. The southern coastal districts have implemented the Blue Sky Convention for the Elders of the Villages. These districts are the most welcoming to the disciples of Guanxue, Luoxue, and Guangxue.

The atmosphere of the Great Song Dynasty is changing. Weapons are also changing. At the end of the year. The 12,000 Guangjie troops who moved to Hangzhou began to change their clothes. The newly reloaded musket has been completely identical to the shape of a modern rifle. The only pity is that it is still a front-loading smoothbore gun. Gunpowder is ordered using a shell. The rate of fire could be increased to ten rounds per minute.

The Great Song Dynasty was not like the Ming Dynasty. All weapons are stored in the storeroom. In the Great Song Dynasty, soldiers were distributed, and weapons were distributed to the hands. Some of them even have traces of the military system of the Tang Dynasty. For example, utility requires the preparation of weapons, armor, and horses. This made Zhao Xing's old-fashioned muskets eliminated in the first few rounds of outfits marketable. With this year's big makeover. The hunters of the Great Song Dynasty also threw away their bows and crossbows. Began to equip muskets. This action is moving slowly. At first, it was the utility family members who were the first to use muskets and grenades. Then. Ordinary Orions can also afford to buy old-fashioned muskets. A real age of gunpowder has arrived.

The civilian population has an armed force. The conquest of such a country is no longer easy. And in the case of the village elders. Vertical management is carried out by the clans. The will of the people has a channel for expression. This made them seldom think of picking up a gun against the powerful government. On the contrary, the number of law and order cases has dropped sharply. Originally in a small county town. Fifteen foot archers could not have completely suppressed the riots in the county. Right now. But the burden of the archers was much lighter. Because the clan has spontaneously participated in the county administration.

The 1100 years have changed a lot. this year. The map of the ball has also changed a lot. Countless countries were founded. Countless nations perished. Numerous state reforms. Countless inventions and creations were established. In the first years of the twelfth century. The Great Song Dynasty has changed the most in the world. Later generations talked about the year. It is often said. The beginning of the XII century. It was the Great Song of Asia that lit the first candle of the new year.

The first candle of the new year was not lit by Zhao Xing. It was ignited by Zhang Yi. This slave was born. The self-taught Confucianism of the Song Dynasty specially accompanied a group of Guanxue disciples to the south. And in Hangzhou, the first bright light of Wansong Temple was lit. At this time. Su Shi's second son, Su Ding, has already bowed down under the gate of Guan Xue. Learn from Zhang Yi.

A slave. Become a contemporary scholar. This would have been unthinkable in other dynasties. It can only be achieved in the Great Song Dynasty. Because of the order of the Heavenly Sage. The Great Song Dynasty except for Gyeongju slaves. The rest of the slaves were hired slaves. That is, migrant workers in the modern sense. When Zhang Yi was a slave. did not enter the Ming and Qing dynasties in the sense of slavery. Therefore, after the expiration of the employment period. He left free. Other words. Even when you are a slave. He is still a free man. So. The readers present did not underestimate the servant.

Zhang Yi lit the lamp. turned around and smiled and bowed his hand to Zhao Xing: "Zhao Zongqian." Let me light this light. I'm ashamed. When it comes to learning. I'm not as far away as Zhao Zong. Zhao Zong governed each of them. and made the people rich. So that the farmer walked on silk shoes, and the mulberry girl wore silk clothes. Zhao Zong's hand of gold. Famous in the Great Song Dynasty. The doctrine of the unity of knowledge and action is admired below. The hard part. Zhao Zong still maintains a humble heart to this day. Far inferior to you under it. What a pity! ”

What Zhang Yi said was. There was a chance. Zhao Xing can stand at the top of the court. But he would rather retire from the party; Zhao Xing's poems are well-known in the Great Song Dynasty. But he only wants to be quiet in trivial government affairs every day. Compared to Zhao Xing. Zhang Yi was only born as a slave. He has never participated in the imperial examination. Not even a tribute. But Zhao Xing asked him to light the lamp of the courtyard. Just this honor and this humility. It made Zhang Yi admire.

Zhang Yi didn't know. He himself is the star that Zhao Xing looks up to in later generations. It is also based on this psychology. Zhao Xing was particularly humble to the celebrities of the Song Dynasty. I don't care that the fame I left in the Song Dynasty is all plagiarized fame. Compared with the brilliance created by the Song people themselves. What is the value of pride.

The humble Zhao Xing was sincerely humble. Then he walked out of Dacheng Hall with Zhang Yi.