After Zhang Zhijie saw off Alfonso, he first went to Tianjin, then rushed to Tianjin with silver and two boatloads of spices, and then returned to the capital.

Emperor Zhengde looked at Zhang Zhijie, who had entered Beijing, and couldn't help but circle around Zhang Zhijie twice, and looked at it curiously.

Zhang Zhijie was a little surprised and said, "Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Is there anything wrong with the minister? ”

Emperor Zhengde was surprised: "I just want to see how you are different from others, why are you so capable?" It was enough to go to Guangdong with the fleet to fight, but not only did he capture eight or nine search ships, but he also let people accompany 400,000 taels of silver/two large ships of spices! How do you do that? ”

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile: "Your Majesty, how can the ministers have any ability, they are all wise emperors, my Ming Dynasty is strong, and the sailors are mighty, so I can deter foreign countries!" ”

Emperor Zhengde smiled when he heard this: "Didn't you say that the fleet of the Western Ocean is very powerful? Behold, I still can't compare to you! ”

Zhang Zhijie shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, the fleet of Westerners is indeed very strong, and the fifty warships of the sailors against the thirty warships of the Westerners, not only did not take any advantage, but suffered a small loss!" ”

Emperor Zhengde became more and more puzzled when he heard this, and asked with a smile: "Since it is a small loss, then how can the Portuguese governor still lose money and spices!" Why is that? ”

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile: "Your Majesty, there is still an inside story here, please Rong Chen take your time!" So Zhang Zhijie began to talk in detail about what he knew and the Age of Discovery that the West was experiencing.

The more he listened, the brighter Emperor Zhengde's eyes became, and this was the first time that Zhang Zhijie had truly and comprehensively expounded the whole world and the ongoing actions of Western countries to carve up the world.

Zhang Zhijie's dry mouth finally stopped, and Emperor Zhengde sighed: "It turns out that the overseas world is so interesting!" It turns out that those Western countries are fighting for territory! Although we have a lot of resources, I really want to grab a piece to have fun! ”

Speaking of this, Emperor Zhengde sighed: "It's a pity, there are still civil and military officials in the court, and it is estimated that they have to drop their bookbags again. ”

Zhang Zhijie smiled when he heard this: "Your Majesty, the ministers also think that overseas is very interesting!" Therefore, the minister boldly thought of a way, and was about to ask the emperor for instructions! ”

Emperor Zhengde was extremely interested when he heard this: "Oh, what do you have in mind again?" No wonder Emperor Zhengde was so excited, every time Zhang Zhijie talked about his idea so solemnly, it would not be a trivial matter, and it would bring amazing benefits.

Glass workshop, forming a fleet, and opening the sea! Therefore, Emperor Zhengde was very much looking forward to Zhang Zhijie's idea.

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile: "If you want to occupy territory overseas, it is naturally not easy to use water engineers, but we still have a fleet!" Our fleet has warships, artillery and arquebuses, so why not set up a trading house directly! ”

"A trading house with maritime armed forces, the emperor, you are the big owner of this trading house, and then use this trading house to play at sea!"

"This trading house itself can be rich in money, and it is more than enough to support the development of the fleet, so it will be separated from the imperial court, even if it is a hundred officials in the court, there is nothing to say!"

Next, Zhang Zhijie carefully told Emperor Zhengde about his idea of developing an armed trading house, and also analyzed the benefits and huge profits.

This remark made Emperor Zhengde's blood boil when he heard it, and before Zhang Zhijie finished speaking, he clapped his hands and said: "Engage, you must do it!" ”

After listening, Emperor Zhengde said excitedly: "Zhijie, have you figured out how to do it?" Where are you going to occupy? ”

Zhang Zhijie scratched his head and said: "This, the specific minister really didn't expect it, so the minister plans to go to sea in person and go overseas to have a look!" ”

Emperor Zhengde was surprised when he heard this: "Go overseas? Zhijie are you going overseas? ”

Sure enough, Emperor Zhengde looked completely shocked, Zhang Zhijie cheered up and smiled: "Yes, Your Majesty, the minister plans to go overseas to have a look!" ”

Emperor Zhengde frowned and said, "Zhijie, what are you doing overseas?" You also know that going to sea is extremely risky, so why should you take this risk? Just tell someone else to do something! ”

Zhang Zhijie scratched his head and smiled: "Your Majesty, the minister himself really wants to go to the sea to have a look!" Now the warships of the imperial court are not afraid of the wind and waves at sea, and Feng Haisheng and they are all veterans who often go to sea, and they have never made a mistake! ”

"Besides, now that the maritime merchants of the Ming Dynasty are everywhere, the ministers are not afraid of getting lost at sea, and they only go to the places where the fleet is used to going, and the routes are all familiar, so there is no danger at all!"

"The minister also came up with this idea after careful consideration, and the minister will never risk his life! Please also ask for your grace and permission. ”

Although what Zhang Zhijie said made sense, Emperor Zhengde still felt uneasy and persuaded: "Zhijie, in my heart, your safety is the most important, far more important than any overseas interests!" If you're looking for a business to grow overseas, you don't have to! What commercial houses are not commercial houses, and the territory is not local, let's not do it! ”

"Although you say it lightly, but who knows what is overseas? After all, it's not in the realm of the Ming Dynasty, what if there is a time when it can't be taken care of? Besides, you said that the fleet of Westerners was so powerful, and you had a conflict with them. ”

Zhang Zhijie said with a smile: "Your Majesty, not to mention whether there will be a conflict with the Westerners' fleet, even if there is a conflict, our fleet is not vegetarian!" Besides, if you take 10,000 steps back, if you are really arrested overseas! ”

"The minister will definitely shout, you can take me to Daming to exchange for silver, and I can definitely exchange it for one million taels of silver. As long as you are not a fool, you will definitely exchange your ministers for silver! Your Majesty, don't be reluctant to give up the silver when the time comes! ”

Emperor Zhengde laughed and scolded: "Is I such a slammer in your heart? Still reluctant to give up the silver?! Don't say a million taels, you can say more about what to do if they don't get tempted! ”

Zhang Zhijie smiled: "That's not possible, isn't it a loss if you say more?" If they don't want to pay a million taels, it's not too late for the minister to add more silver! ”

Zhang Zhijie couldn't help but hold his forehead when he said this: "It's like the minister will really be arrested!" ”

Emperor Zhengde hurriedly said: "Bah, bah! so that you won't be caught! I think you'd better not go to sea, just tell the fleet if there's anything! ”

Zhang Zhijie smiled and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, the minister really wants to go overseas to have a look!" ”

(End of chapter)