As soon as Zhu Cihong started to enlighten himself in electricity, he got the news that King Jing had brought back the rubber tree. If it was something else, Zhu Cihong might not be interested, but rubber will be an extremely important strategic material in the next hundred years. No matter whether Daming's cars burn gasoline or use electricity in the future, rubber tires are irreplaceable.

Moreover, Zhu Cihong was employed by a state-owned rubber tire factory for a short period of time in his previous life, staring at the price trend of natural rubber in Thailand, Malaysia, Hainan, Yunnan and other countries all day long.

Therefore, in the practical promotion of rubber, Daming has saved a lot of time, and can directly start rubber vulcanization and research excellent formulas.

Although the rubber without vulcanization is tough, it is not wear-resistant, and can be used as a rubber ball and eraser, but it is impossible to make a tire. Until 1839 the American Charlie? Goodyear found that heating sulfur and rubber together can enhance the elasticity and strength of rubber, and rubber has industrial practical value.

The Goodyear family also found a golden job bowl, and it is still famous for its rubber tires to this day.

From the discovery of rubber by the Spaniards to the discovery of rubber vulcanization by the Americans, the span of more than 200 years was once again gently uncovered by Zhu Cihong.

"Rubber trees and species are shipped directly to Sriwijaya for planting." Zhu Cihong knew that Malaysia was the first stop of rubber migration, and from the experience of later generations, Malaysia's rubber production exceeded the place of origin, which shows that this place should be a matter for rubber trees to grow.

Lu Suyao didn't know the reason, and was a little puzzled by this order. Just out of professional ethics, she didn't have any doubts about it, and quickly recorded the emperor's will.

"Order the South China Sea Fleet and the First and Second Armies of the Southwest Group to take over Sriwijaya by sea and land, and find suitable land in Sriwijaya. Establishment of rubber plantations. Zhu Cihong said: "If the people of his country resist, they will be punished by the "Ming Criminal Law". ”

The criminal law of the Ming Dynasty stipulates that in the legal actions of the Ming army with complete documents, those who dare to disobey will be punished as collaborators with the enemy. The heaviest punishment is clan extermination, and the lightest punishment is exile for thousands of miles.

- Another ancient kingdom has fallen.

When Lu Suyao was concerned about the Jiaozhi War, he had worked hard to read many books of the Nanyang Domain, and knew that the Three Buddhas had also experienced the ancient kingdom of the Tang and Song dynasties. It has always been a tribute. Now just because of a few trees, the son of tomorrow said a word, it is difficult for this ancient country to have its own sacrifices, think about it, it is really a bit ...... Little excitement!

"Its land is led by the political secretary of Jiaozhi, and the soil flow is used at the same time." Zhu Cihong said: "But the rubber tree must be planted!" Since the eighth year of Longjing, the stock of rubber trees and the amount of rubber tapping have been included in the scope of the examination of the Cochin Political Division. ”

Lu Suyao couldn't help but sympathize with the ministers of Jiaozhi who were far away in the southwest, and they had not seen the rubber tree yet, and they were already tightly tied to it. However, the officials will probably be more depressed. Because all the factories and gardens that continue to be mined, they have to send people to inspect them every year, and that's the Three Buddhas!

Zhu Cihong smiled and said, "King Jing has made a great contribution this time. ”

At this time, it was September of the sixth year of Longjing, and Zhu Hezhi, the king of Jing, had returned to Asia, and was resting in Yongming City, waiting for the sea breeze, especially to summarize the nautical charts drawn by this voyage, and apply to the imperial court to reclaim and resettle in several suitable settlements. Build a shipyard to serve as an important supply base for the east.

When the decree of Beijing reached Japan. Zhu Hezhi is even more like an arrow. He had realized that the tear tree, which he despised was very important in the eyes of the emperor, and even gave it a name: the rubber tree.

On September 21, the north wind finally came. King Jing's ten large ships and thirty small ships sailed to the southwest under the escort of the North Sea Fleet. The big ship carrying rubber trees passed through Japan and headed straight south for the South Seas under the protection of the Taiwan Strait Fleet. Other ships of King Jing's fleet. Then turn north and go to Tianjin Port.

In the three-year journey, Zhu Hezhi has grown from a young man to a resolute and resolute old captain. At this moment, he stood on the ship's floor, looking out at the faint black spots on the horizon. It is the mark of the continent, the figure of the hometown. He took a deep breath of the sea breeze from his homeland and felt a different smell from the North Pacific.

"Lord Wang, there is a fleet ahead!" Message came from the lookout.

Zhu Hezhi took a clairvoyant mirror and took a closer look, only to realize that the land he thought was indeed a row of warships.

"Lean over the upwind." Zhu and Zhidao.

His instructions were quickly followed, and the flotilla slowly turned and sailed towards the flotilla of unknown origin in a posture of gaining the upper hand.

The fleet on the other side of the sea also discovered the movement of King Jing's fleet, and the captain felt a chill in his heart, and hurriedly ordered: "Quickly send a liaison ship!" Let King Jing Hall descend the sail and wait for the holy ride. Our fleet turns and gains the upper hand! ”

The captain was incoherent, and the Ming Emperor Zhu Cihong was riding on this battleship, with Lieutenant Colonel Yang Wei, a professor at Wubei University, on the left, and Zhu Heqi, the second son of the six-year-old emperor on the right.

"Your Majesty, there is a fleet ahead, and judging from the scale, it should be the Jing King fleet. Wechen has ordered someone to contact and verify. Shi Lang, chief officer of the East China Sea Fleet, stepped forward to report.

"Yes." Zhu Cihong nodded.

This time, he didn't want to go to sea on a whim, but to send an obvious signal: in the future, the Ming Dynasty will move from land to sea. Those who conquer the seas will also become heroes in the annals of history.

In the cabin of the flagship of the East China Sea Fleet, there is also a commendation prepared by Zhu Cihong for the king of Jing, Zhu Hezhi: San Francisco, on the west coast of the Americas—of course, the name will be changed to Dongjingfu. The vast area from Alaska in the original time and space to the Baja California Peninsula Sur will be under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Command of the Americas.

Zhu Hezhi will be the first commander of the American Capital Division and the chief officer of the North American Fleet.

Zhu Hezhi, who was now giving the order to seize the upper hand, was completely ignorant of the emperor's decision, he only knew that he could not fall into the disadvantage at sea, otherwise there would be no bones. Compared to the storms in the Pacific, it was the Spanish pirates who really struck him, and from the first time he lost three ships, he developed the habit of gaining the upper hand.

"Your Highness!" The guards rushed to Zhu Hezhi: "On the opposite side is the East China Sea Fleet, they asked us to lower our sails and wait for ......"

"Can the East China Sea Fleet order the prince?" Zhu Hezhi was a little displeased.

"Legally," the guard recalled his training, "yes. The fleets represent His Majesty the Emperor on the surface of the sea under their control. ”

Zhu Hezhi was a little depressed, and was about to sacrifice the golden dragon flag given by the emperor, only to hear the guard say again: "And the herald ship said that His Majesty the Emperor is on the flagship of the East China Sea Fleet." ”

"You idiot! Don't go sail yet! Zhu Hezhi said loudly.

There can be no such thing as gentleness on a ship. While the sea and ocean open people's minds, they will also blow away gentleness and elegance. This is not the back garden of the literati, but the fighting ground of the fighters.

After the two fleets met, Zhu Hezhi boarded the flagship of the East China Sea Fleet, the Ryukyu, from a small boat.

"Minister Zhu Hezhi, meet Your Majesty." Zhu He got on board and saw Zhu Cihong on the deck in blue civilian clothes.

"King Jing has made meritorious contributions to the Peerless Domain, and I am very relieved. Sit. Zhu Cihong smiled and said: "How is the scenery in America? ”

"Back to His Majesty, its far north is covered with ice and snow all year round. There are forests, lakes and seas, and the scenery is pleasant, but half a year of darkness and half a year of day, which is different from the world. Zhu Hezhi said: "The minister led the fleet to continue south, but found that the climate on the west coast of the Americas was becoming more and more treacherous, with no rain in spring and summer, and a lot of rain in winter, so I am afraid it would not be easy to harvest. ”

This is the influence of the Mediterranean climate.

"The land of the Americas is 8,000 or even 10,000 miles long, and what Jing Fan sees is only a corner of the Americas, but there is fertile soil in its interior that is very suitable for growing crops, no less than 10,000 miles." Zhu Cihong said.

Zhu Hezhi had no doubts about the emperor's assertions. Isn't the so-called saint supposed to know the world without prying eyes! What's more, along the way, I found that His Majesty the Emperor had marked the special terrain along the way, whether it was well-read or born, it was enough to convince people.

"I want you to run the Americas, what do you think?" Zhu Cihong asked.

Zhu Hezhi hesitated for a moment and said, "The minister dares not to be unsatisfied!" ”

Zhu Cihong sensitively noticed Zhu Hezhi's hesitation, and said with a smile: "The Americas are vast, and you can even stand on your own, you are sharing the world with me." ”

"How dare you!" Zhu Hezhi was so frightened that he knelt on the ground: "Hezhi is the nephew of His Majesty and a subject of His Majesty, how dare he dare to open up the territory for His Majesty!" Majesty xià Mingjian! ”

Zhu Cihong raised his hand, very satisfied with Zhu Hezhi's reaction, and said with a smile: "Actually, I am not alone in this world. From the three generations of antiquity to the present, China has both the great etiquette and the beauty of the uniform, is it the power of one person? You are far away in a foreign land, as long as you are loyal to Huaxia and the Ming Dynasty, and do not let the four Yi chaos Huaxia seek Xia, I will be relieved. ”

Zhu Hezhi burst into tears: "The minister is foolish, and he only knows how to be loyal to His Majesty." ”

Zhu Cihong knew that this kind of words could not be forced into the people of this era, they still had faith, and the emperor was the carrier of this faith.

Yang Wei stood beside the emperor, watching King Jing's reaction, and vaguely felt in his heart that this person was not a qualified pioneer. In the Americas, far away in the eastern part of Thailand, it is not easy to communicate with the Ming Dynasty once or twice a year, and it is necessary for a person who is bold and not bound by traditional morality to go to the main business.

Filial sons and grandsons can certainly be kept, but it is not easy to open up.

- But in the past, maybe this is a deliberate gesture made by King Jing who is young and old, and the city is very deep?

Yang Wei comforted himself.

"This is a professor at Wubei University, Lieutenant Colonel Yang Wei." Zhu Cihong said: "The land that accepted the Americas thought that the barrier was his advice, so I asked him to come with me." ”

Yang Wei stepped forward, saluted King Jing, and said, "Can Wechen ask the king for a question or two?" ”

King Jing naturally has nothing to hide. (To be continued......)