Chapter 2 Preparations for a round-the-world voyage

He Xi said: "Uncle Tang, if you want to know, just ask." The little nephew knows everything, and there is no end to what he says. ”

Tang He said: "Let's talk about it with me first, I will go to the southeast to escort you." The Owa is one of the reasons. But that's just one of the reasons. In the past, the Japanese invaded Shandong and killed hundreds of people. It's not a small thing. But it is not enough to make the imperial court make such a major adjustment. ”

"You understand."

He Xi said: "The little nephew understands. ”

Nowadays, the extent of the Ming Dynasty is not large. At least it was not serious enough to need Tang He to be such an important minister, and he gave up the military affairs in the northwest to defend the southeast. Historically, there was a lot of trouble, but it was a few years later.

Whether it is a war in the north or a war in Yunnan, its importance is above the southeast coast.

Even if the imperial court weighed the priorities of major events, it was not the turn of the southeast coast.

Tang He said, "What exactly do you want to do?" You're going to give it to me, so that I'm prepared? ”

This question made He Xi a little embarrassed.

He Xi has to do these things in the southeast coast, first, to promote the establishment of a textile industry revolution. Second, it is necessary to strengthen its shipping capacity, establish a strong shipping system, and prepare for future wars in the Northeast, and third, to send King Jingjiang to Taiwan to take up his vassal duties. Fourth, observe the overseas situation and formulate an offshore strategy that is in line with the Ming Dynasty. Wait a minute.

But without investigation, there is no voice.

He Xi has not been to the southeast yet, and I don't know what it is like there.

He has learned the lesson of Zhu Yuanzhang, and he never dares to take it for granted. I dare not easily equate the southeast in the historical impression with the situation in reality.

Therefore, before that, He Xi didn't know what he definitely needed soup and help.

He Xi thought for a while and said, "Uncle Tang, in fact, there are thousands of words, and there is only one request, can the Southeast Sailor of the Ming Dynasty fight?" ”

Tang He listened, laughed, and said: "Back then, I attacked Fujian from the sea and broke Chen Youding in a battle. Do you think you can fight? ”

He Xi said: "Uncle Tang, you may have misunderstood. I'm not talking about the coastal. ”

Tang He's eyes narrowed, and the fat on his chubby face squeezed, and his eyes were almost buried in the fat, leaving only an afterglow. But it made He Xi stunned. There is a sense of oppression that is substantial.

Tang He said: "You want to fight in the open sea? With whom? Your Majesty agreed? ”

He Xi said: "Uncle Tang, please rest assured, I won't do anything." It's just a matter of King Jingjiang, and Uncle Tang also knows that in the future, if the king of the Ming Dynasty is not sealed in China, then overseas, there is a lot to be done. ”

Tang He said: "You are a little difficult for me. To be honest, I haven't been to the southeast for more than ten years. What the stinky boy under my command is doing now, I really don't dare to pack a ticket. I can only guarantee that if there is really a battle on the coast, there is no existence in the world that can defeat the Daming Sailors. In fact, the coastline is too long, even if it is placed in a million male soldiers, it is impossible for such a long coastline to have no loopholes at all. ”

"It can't be said that the Daming Water Master can't fight."

"It's hard to say if it's in the open sea. It's not just a question of combat effectiveness, but who is the enemy? In what place? It's all a problem. ”

He Xi said: "Uncle Tang, I understand what you mean. However, Your Majesty only has to make up your mind. A lot of things can't change. ”

Tang He nodded and said, "I know, thank you." It's not you who remind. I really don't understand today's events. I originally thought that when I got to the southeast, I would just need to repair the guards in various places, add more cities, and protect the sea frontier. Now it seems that a large fleet will need to be built. ”

He Xi said: "That's right, the little nephew needs a sailor who can sail the ocean and win the battle for many things." ”

Tang He said: "Understood. When I arrived, I got to the bottom of it. See what you can do below. I'll give you a letter. ”

He Xi said; "Thank you, Uncle Tang."

Tang He said: "It's not the right to take care of you. Speaking of this, Tang He's eyes suddenly became a little gloomy.

He Xi didn't know what was going on, he didn't know that Tang He's eldest son died in the Battle of Yunnan. He didn't die in battle, he died of disease. This was also a big blow to Tang He. Perhaps, Tang He is indifferent in his heart and has no ambition. One of the reasons why there are even some desires and desires is because of the death of the eldest son.

Tang He's heirs are not going well, in fact, this is the beginning.

Historically, the dukedom of Tang He's Shinkoku has not been handed down. It was not because Tang He was involved in political disputes during the Hongwu period, nor because the Tang family fought against Chengzu in the Battle of Jingjing. It is the same line of Tang and Yan, and each generation dies early, and there are almost no heirs. Before he could inherit the title, the successor was gone, for several generations. In the end, the title of Duke of Xinguo, after it was gone, was later replaced by the Marquis of Lingbi. It's always the same as Ming.

He Xi suddenly remembered something in his heart. said: "Uncle Tang, there is one thing that I am afraid I need your help with. ”

Tang He said: "Let's hear it." ”

He Xi said: "I need one, no, several fleets. The number of people and the number of ships are not too large. But pack food for years and let them sail the oceans. ”

Tang He said: "Ocean voyage? Where to go? ”

He Xi said: "Uncle Tang, do you know Xuanye. ”

Tang He said: "Xuanye said? ”

He Xi said: "Xuanye said that it refers to the earth and the chicken, suspended in the void. That is, the earth is round. If you sail all the way in one direction. It's possible to go back to where you are. ”

Tang He was stunned for a moment and said, "This ------"

Tang He wanted to say that it was nonsense. But although he had not heard Xuanye say. But it's not that I don't understand astronomy at all. After all, marching and fighting are indispensable for talents who know astronomy. He had also heard that the earth was round.

After all, Zhu Xi also adheres to such a statement.

Perhaps, ordinary people still think that the sky is round. But Tang He, the hero of the times, will not be so shallow. But the problem is, the earth is round. Soup and acceptable. But going all the way from the earth in one direction, and eventually returning to the same place, this conclusion, Tang He is completely unacceptable.

I think, it's too counterintuitive.

He Xi said: "I want to try. Prove it all. Or prove wrong. ”

Tang He shook his head and said, "According to what you said, such a fleet, at least four or five large ships, plus a few small boats, more than a thousand people can't stop." The boat is not enough, but it is a thousand households. And you also need several fleets. Throw a guard into such a pointless action, unless Your Majesty agrees to you. Otherwise, I won't allow it. ”

Daming does things, that is, it is more atmospheric than Westerners.

Many navigators in the West, with just two ships or three ships, ran all over the world. But in Tang He's view, such an action would cost more than a thousand people, to say the least. Tang He also took a boat. Even though it's just offshore sailing, you know what it's like at sea.

Sailing in uncharted waters can be a recipe for too many problems. One or two hundred people is too little. A lot of things can't be handled, but more than a thousand people are different. Daming is a thousand households. Even if there is a problem, it is not something that some small countries can eat in one go.

He Xi said: "Uncle Tang's words are enough. ”

He Xi didn't think that Zhu Yuanzhang would not allow it. Zhu Yuanzhang can salivate over the high-yield crops in the Americas. Zhu Yuanzhang absolutely supports the round-the-world voyage.

He Xi secretly said in his heart: "Why didn't I think of it before. That's actually the first thing, huh? ”

Many people think that high-yield crops can be used directly when they arrive in China. Not really. Various high-yield crops were introduced in the Ming Dynasty and became mainstream in the Qing Dynasty, although it was because the Ming Dynasty did not specialize in cultivation, but there were also high-yield crops that took time to localize.

Agriculture, in particular, is a lot of the time to be friends. Not fast at all.

Now we can get high-yielding crops, carefully cultivate them in China, and in a few decades, they will be able to bloom everywhere in China, and that is already fast.

When He Xi thought of this, his heart became more and more anxious. Get up and salute Yuwa. Hurry to get to work.

Tang He saw He Xi gone. Strangely said, "I haven't said yes yet." This kid. ”