Chapter 23 Fangjia Chart

Without him, the Ming court was not friendly to the people's maritime trade. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the powerful people who represented the maritime trade regime, Fang Guozhen, the Pu family and other parties did not end well. Speaking of which, it was only more than ten years ago, and many people still remember it vividly.

What was once an upright maritime trade became a gray area in the Ming Dynasty.

Not to mention, when the Ming Dynasty cleaned up the pirates, there were actually a lot of accidental injuries.

Maybe not a mistake. It's just one size fits all. It's like a maritime merchant who doesn't hesitate to be a pirate once in a while when there is no one to supervise him at sea. In the eyes of the Ming court, sometimes it is not clear who is a maritime merchant or a pirate. In terms of law enforcement, it is a bit broad.

As a result, the circles that insist on maritime trade are very secretive.

Of course, this is also the reason why He Xi cleaned up the officials of Ningbo Prefecture.

Without him, the real low-level officials are all black and white. If you want to do things in Ningbo Mansion, it's easy to let the adults above not know, but it's not easy to let the little ghosts below not know. He Xi cleaned up. Broke the circle.

Who dares to say this to He Xi.

Don't die.

This made He Xi extremely depressed. He Xi secretly said in his heart: "Should I go to Fujian and Quanzhou?" After all, Thornton Harbor is famous all over the world. Perhaps, over there, there will be some discovery? ”

The best seaport in Daming is Ningbo. And the most prosperous seaport in the Yuan Dynasty was Quanzhou Port.

It's just that the ruthlessness of the Ming Dynasty to the Pu family also interrupted the chain of Quanzhou's foreign trade. Today's Quanzhou is not as good as it was then. But if you want to come to the rotten ship, there are still three points of nails, if you can't find a breakthrough in Ningbo. I can only go to Quanzhou to try.

However, the Fang family gave He Xi a big surprise.

------

When Fang Guan saw He Xi, he didn't say a few words, and opened a sub-scroll.

He Xi was taken aback when he saw it.

Although in He Xi's opinion, in this scroll, many terrain paintings are distorted and deformed. The scale is completely wrong. There is a lot missing. But this is a nautical chart. It marks some He Xi, the islands that I don't care about too much, and it also says needle road.

The so-called needle path refers to the direction of the compass on the sea.

It is based on the astrological signs, the island positioning. In a certain place, a few degrees of rotation of a certain star is the next course. He Xi saw very clearly that the Fang family's sea charts, starting from Ningbo, Taizhou and other places, east to Japan, west to India, such a large sea area, are clearly marked.

This was enough to shock He Xi.

However, in addition to being shocked, I also felt that I should take it for granted.

After all, Zheng He's trip to the West was only a decade or two later. The experience of the ocean is accumulated over hundreds of years. Since decades later, Zheng He was able to sail to Africa. That at least shows that in this era, there are already nautical charts from the Ming Dynasty to Africa.

He Xi himself estimated that since the Fang family had nautical charts from the Ming Dynasty to India, the nautical charts further west from Indo-Dudu were most likely those of Arab merchants.

Even He Xi has to admit that the current overlord of the sea is an Arab merchant. The influence of the Ming Dynasty in Nanyang was far inferior to that of the Arab merchants.

He Xi watched for a long time and said, "This is your family's chart?" ”

Fang Guan said respectfully: "This is drawn by my father when he was here, tangled up with the charts of all parties in the world. ”

He Xi sighed and said; "It's a pity for Fang Gong."

It's a real shame. Fang Guozhen was only in his fifties when he died. If he had lived, he would have been only sixty-seven or eighteen years old. It's still possible to do things. And now and the night is also determined about the things at sea. Fang Guozhen is a veteran, more proficient than anyone under Zhu Yuanzhang's command.

It's just a pity that the man is dead.

However, with this chart, He Xi's confidence in the other party has greatly increased.

He Xi said: "Fang Zhenfu." ”

Fang Guan said: "The subordinates are here. ”

He Xi said: "You know, what do I want you to do? ”

Fang Guan said: "The last general knows. Adults discover new waterways. ”

He Xi said; "Yes. Do you believe that the earth is round? ”

Fang Guan said; "The last will believe. It is not obvious from the land, but those who run the sea know that there is an arc at the intersection of heaven and water on the sea. It confirms what the adults say. ”

In fact, Fang Guan's statement that the earth is round is doubtful. Say believe it, Fang Guan feels that there are some points that make sense. Let's say not believe it, after all, it's just a statement. There is no ironclad evidence. For the sake of a mere statement, launch an ocean voyage. For Fang Guan, it is incomprehensible.

Fortunately, Fang Guan has been ravaged for many years, and he has long understood one thing. In this world, there are not too many things that you can't understand.

The most important thing is not understanding, but opportunity.

Understand and execute, and if you don't understand, you have to execute. What does this round place have to do with him? He just wanted to seize this opportunity to make meritorious contributions. Of course, he prayed at this moment that the earth should be round, not because he believed in the theory that the earth was round, but because he measured it and found that if the earth was round, it would do him the most good.

He Xi said: "Okay. This voyage was difficult, and it was necessary to be a strong soldier. Do you have any recommendations? ”

Fang Guan said: "The lower official recommended himself. Xiaguan was born in the sea, ran the sea all the year round, and there were also veterans under the door. The situation at sea is very familiar. The plan will not delay the major affairs of the imperial court. ”

He Xi said: "You ------," He Xi sighed and said; "Okay. This time, though, there were three departures. Do you have a candidate? ”

He Xi recommended himself to the other party, which was a little unexpected. In his impression, Fang Guan is Fang Guozhen's heir. He Xi has always regarded Fang Guan as a prince. As everyone knows, Fang Guozhen's glory back then had long since been blown away by the rain and wind.

If the Fang family still has a huge force on the sea. It is impossible for Zhu Yuanzhang to allow the Fang family to live until now.

Only after receiving the order, with the help of the power of the Ming court, can Fang Guan gather some old departments.

Although He Xi didn't believe it in the other party, but it was already like this, except for the Fang family, He Xi had no other choice. Always believe that Fang Guozhen was famous back then.

Fang Guan said: "If the adults don't dislike it. Recommended by the lower officials, cousin, Fang Mingqian, Fang Mingshan was appointed. ”

He Xi thought for a while and said, "That's it." This matter is not up to me alone, you must prepare your candidates first, and you will have to pass the level of the Duke of Xinguo. ”

Fang Guan was overjoyed. Secret passage in the heart; "Nine times out of ten, it will happen."

Fang Guan still understood Tang He. After all, the battlefield was fought back then. Tang He is a very cautious matter, almost Zhu Yuanzhang handed over the matter to his son-in-law, Tang He will not contradict it. It was also Fang Guan who didn't know that it was Tang He's recommended Fang family.

If you knew, you wouldn't have to worry about it.

This is the end of the matter. He Xi remembered the predicament in front of him and asked, "Fang Zhenfu, how much do you Fang family know about the affairs of the sea?" ”

Fang cared about Zhong Yirin and said, "Xia Guan doesn't know what the lord is talking about------? ”

Among Hu Weiyong's charges is a compatib. Fang Guan is still very cautious about things at sea. Don't dare to speak easily.

He Xi said: "Sea trade. I came to the southeast this time, in fact, this is the main thing to do. Everything else is incidental. Now the court lacks it. His Majesty is benevolent and can't bear to raise taxes on the people, because the treasure money harms the people, and it is estimated that even the treasure money will be printed less in the future. But the country is in ruins. It always costs money. And the city is full of birds. It was only tens of thousands of taels that were handed over to the imperial court. It's chilling. That's why I made a trip to the southeast. ”

"That's when I asked the experts."

Fang Guan naturally understood how much of a stake there was in maritime trade. It can be said that most of Fang Guozhen's military spending comes from maritime trade.

Fang Guan said: "My lord, to tell the truth, Xia Guan has not returned to Zhedong for more than ten years. Connections at sea are estranged. However, if the adults believe the lower officials, give the lower officials a few days. The lower officials immediately found out the current situation at sea. Returning to your lordship. ”

Although the Fang family's brand is old, it is also dusty. Not as much as it was back then. If you want to rebuild yourself with this brand, it is absolutely impossible. But it's just to find out. But it's sufficient.

He Xi said: "Okay, please ask Lord Fang." ”

Fang Guan said; "I don't dare to say that it is hard to do things for the court." He paused slightly, and said, "Xiaguan recommends someone to your lordship." Maybe it can help adults. ”