To build the Great Wall on the sea, it is necessary to have a strong navy.

And the Admiral Jing Haibo Zhao Jun, plus the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, presented Zhu Houxi with more specific difficulties.

Louis hadn't left the capital yet, and he didn't know how grim the face of the Great Tomorrow in the imperial study in the palace was now.

"The lack of good wood, to this extent?"

Zhu Houxi felt incredulous.

Liu Tianhe is a practical school who can innovate on his own. In order to control the river, he developed special equipment to measure the sediment content of the Yellow River. Now that he is about to start the management of the Huanghuai flood, he came to the center to co-ordinate, and the specific affairs were handed over to Tang Shu.

But when he came to the center, he couldn't just face one thing.

"The Imperial City is resting, Huguang Straight Road, Hetao, Xuanning Chi Road, Huanghuai Flood, Grand Theater, Heavy Industry Park, ......" Liu Tianhe listed these first, and then looked at Zhao Jun, "Yunmin's ship went to sea, plus the sea master, there are too many places to use wood now." The people, the people also have to burn fire and charcoal. Not only giant wood, but also ordinary wood is in short supply. ”

The two came over together, and the reason for saying it was that the naval division expanded the ship and lacked giant trees, but Liu Tianhe wanted to say more than that.

He earnestly presented a note: "After the minister arrived in the capital, he has been paying attention to this matter. Your Majesty, after hundreds of years, the Central Plains has long since withered and the dust has risen to the sky. Since the Song and Yuan dynasties, the Yellow River has been diverted, and the Huanghuai floods have become more and more intense, all due to this reason. After the reset, His Majesty ordered Sun to participate in politics and go to Shaanxi to plant trees, and his farsightedness made the ministers impressed. However, the court and the people are indispensable for a day without wood, and now, it is cut faster than it grows. ”

Zhu Houxi looked at his report seriously. This is Liu Tianhe's research that began to deal with the Huanghuai floods, but gradually it is not limited to this.

Looking at the content inside, Zhu Houxi came into contact with shocking facts.

To be precise, it should be that since nearly a thousand years, the vegetation of the northern Central Plains has been seriously damaged.

Throughout its long history, wood has been both a source of energy and a building material.

Liu Tianhe gave an example, during the Taizong period, there were officials who reported "Shandong Shaolin Wood". Shandong here is not Shandong Province, but the entire Central Plains region east of the Kushan Mountains.

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, Zhu Wen, who usurped the Tang Dynasty, did one thing: destroy the Chang'an Palace, Baisi and folk houses, take their materials, and float down the river, and Chang'an has been ruined since then.

Because he wanted to build his new palace in Luoyang, he couldn't find enough tall trees in the Central Plains, and he couldn't find it in Guanzhong, so he demolished the existing Chang'an palace and folk houses.

Similarly, the wood needed for the construction of the Great Palace in Bianliang in the Northern Song Dynasty came from "Qinzhou". Qinzhou of the Song Dynasty was already in Gansu: "The city of Qinlong, the giant raft from the Weida River, the pillar of the calendar to gather in the Beijing Division." ”

When the Jin Dynasty destroyed the Northern Song Dynasty and wanted to rebuild Bianjing, the giant trees in Gansu were used up, and more remote places were obtained: building cliffs and ravines, starting long bridges for more than ten miles, transporting wood by car, opening the road of Liupan Shanshui Luo, and then passing through Bianliang.

It was the Ming Dynasty, Taizu Zhu Di had intended to move the capital to Chang'an, but he couldn't find wood. Yongle moved the capital to Beijing, and took the timber to go to the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, which is thousands of miles away: now it is difficult to build a single timber, and the giant wood is produced in Huguang, Sichuan, and the inaccessible places. The axe is cut down, where a few turn the calendar, and then up to the water. Tracing back to the river for thousands of miles, and then reaching the Beijing Division, water and land transshipment, the years are difficult to count.

"Su Zizhan is in Guanzhong, there are "Eight Views of Fengxiang", poems: When the Qishan is down, the scenery is still ashamed. There are mountains as bald as ochre, and water as muddy as swill. Shen Cunzhong's "Dream Creek Writings" also said: The mountains and forests between Qilu are exhausted, and gradually Taihang, Jingxi, Jiangnan, and Songshan are all children. Zhangshui, turbid water, mulberry dry and the like, all of which are turbid. ”

Liu Tianhe continued: "The minister and Jing Haibo asked to see each other today, so in order to explain their affairs directly, they asked His Majesty to take charge of the overall situation. Nowadays, shipping is booming, and the matter of taking wood is better than from Huguang and Sichuan from Fujian, from Jiaozhi, from Nanyang, from North Korea, and from Liaodong! ”

Zhu Houxi listened to it in his ears, and finally understood more deeply the financial pressure brought about by the original Jiajing overhaul of the palace.

Although he is not overhauling the palace now, the Ming Dynasty's engineering wood will only be more and not less.

"Huguang and Sichuan can't do it?" Zhu Houxi asked.

"Never!" Liu Tianhe replied categorically, "Huanghuai has learned from the past, if the Yangtze River also follows in the footsteps, Huguang and Jiangnan will never have peace!" In fact, if it is just timber, it will not be a problem. However, if it is stable today, the border cities of Yunnan and Shaanxi are prosperous, and the people of Huguang and Sichuan are prosperous. The timber and wood, coupled with the folk cutting and charcoal burning, even if the rain in the south is abundant, it is difficult to ensure that it is not a thousand miles of mountains and thousands of miles of turbidity! ”

Zhu Houxi understood what he meant.

The destructiveness of engineering wood is good, mainly due to the energy needs of a large number of people and the needs of private construction. The common people cut trees, and that was on the trees and shrubs together.

After years of construction, the mountains have become bald, the soil and water have naturally eroded, and the pressure of floods has naturally increased.

Zhu Houxi couldn't help but take a deep look at Liu Tianhe: From Jiajing's three-year southern tour to the present, he has been in charge of relevant matters for almost ten years, and Liu Tianhe is indeed an expert in this field, and his understanding is quite in place.

He knew that the problems in Shaanxi and Shanxi were serious, but there were many things to do on weekdays, so he did not consider the relevant issues comprehensively and deeply.

Asking Sun Yuan to plant trees can only show that he is conscious and attached, but he ignores the impact of the court's decision-making on the people in the current era: for so many projects, there must be a stable supply of timber.

Once a place becomes a timber supplier, it will naturally form the basis for the prosperity of related industries. The private sector also has a demand for wood, whether it is from the cost considerations, or the convenience of a line, the private sector to find these large timber, will also choose those supply areas, thereby increasing the source of wood consumption, and ultimately causing a faster rate of vegetation destruction and soil erosion.

This pattern has been verified by the continuous transfer of timber supply areas in history. First Guanzhong, then Longxi, and then Huguang Sichuan.

"Sea ......"

Among the places suggested by Liu Tianhe, there is only one Fujian in the Ming Dynasty, probably because of ...... If it doesn't spread to Jiangxi, Fujian will be bald, and it won't affect the Yangtze River system?

No...... He only mentioned one place, so it was actually recommended to only ship back timber from overseas.

Huguang and Sichuan are not good, Yunnan and Guizhou must first go by land, and the cost is not low, and it is not as large and low as the scale and low cost of shipping.

And if it's by sea...... He wanted to get a little more out of the ten million taels of silver that Portugal was about to lose.

The silver was transported from the west, so it was better to exchange some goods needed by the Ming Dynasty from Nanyang first. The timber of the South Seas is used to build ships in the south, and the timber of Korea and Liaodong is used for the projects of Hetao, Xuanning and Beijing in the north?

Zhu Houxi looked at Liu Tianhe: "The Ministry of Households, Daming Bank, and Baoyuan Bureau all need a lot of silver. It is needed for both silver and new money. ”

"The minister only speaks bluntly, Your Majesty is a holy judge!"

Liu Tianhe doesn't talk nonsense.

Each has its own needs.

Zhu Houxi sighed, even if he had a large extra sum of silver, it was still stretched.

No way, it's true that he wants to do too much, and he needs money everywhere.

Silver, silver......

Zhu Houxi glanced at Zhao Jun.

After pondering for a long time, he said to Huang Jin: "Announce Liu Long and Yu Chengye." ”

One was just outside the Chengtian Gate, and the other was even more in the palace, and the two arrived soon.

Zhu Houxi asked Liu Long first: "On the Japanese side, there is still no news this time, and there are chess players sent to participate in the competition?" ”

Liu Long replied cautiously: "Back to Your Majesty, I haven't gotten any news yet." After the tribute, exchanges were cut off. Gong Yongqing's side of North Korea, and the maritime merchants who have dealings with Japan in Zhejiang all say that Japan's side is even more chaotic this year, and I am afraid that they can't take care of this. ”

"Oh? What's new over there this year? Zhu Houxi became interested.

"It's also recently that there are some rumors, and it's already at the end of last year and the first month of this year."

Only then did Liu Long report to the emperor.

The country of Japan is now divided into 66 countries, including 15 countries in Tokaido, 6 countries in Nankaido, 10 countries in Saikaido, 7 countries in Hokuriku, and 8 countries each in Higashiyamado, Yamavagina, and Sanyo Province.

In the future, history will call the so-called Warring States Period, because they are called the country from the division of administrative regions, which is their feudal system.

Closer to the Ming Dynasty are the Saikaido, Sanyo Road, and Yamavagina to the west of. Dealing more with the Ming Dynasty, the Ouchi clan, which was also powerful in this area, came to pay tribute under the guise of the Ashikaga clan of the Muromachi shogunate, which was already weak in Japan.

“…… As the minister played, the Nannizi clan already has the eleven kingdoms of Shanyin and Shanyang. However, for some reason, the third son of the Nan Nizi clan rebelled and suffered a great loss of vitality. The Ouchi clan, which already owned the Seven Kingdoms, was cut off by the Ming Dynasty, and the leader had died five years earlier, and his son was now ambitious, not only expanding into the Saikaido, but also taking advantage of the internal and external troubles of the Nani clan to rebel against the Mori clan, a member of the Niko clan. In the first month of this year, the Maori clan has joined forces with several other members of the Niko clan to set up their own doors, so there is a lot of trouble over there now. ”

Zhu Houxi nodded.

Maori's? Is it a Maori dollar?

He didn't know much, but after so many years of careful work, he still knew a little bit of information that he had collected through the acquiescence of the private maritime merchants who took the initiative to contact him.

In the southwestern part of Japan, which is closer to the Ming Dynasty, the two major powers have been facing off for a long time, and now they are finally about to start to rise a third force. Since he had heard and had a vague impression of the name, Mori Moto must have been one of the more prominent figures in Japan at this time. But the king was defeated and defeated, and Zhu Houxi had a direct impression of the two characters of Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu. I haven't heard of these two people yet, are they not born yet, or are they too young?

Zhu Houxi didn't care about this, anyway, he only knew that Iwami Yinshan was there.

If you are short of silver, you will find silver.

"It's better to make a fuss." Zhu Houxi looked at Zhao Jun, "The Great Wall Company has been set up, and you can also transfer some generals with experience in naval warfare." For this first mission, let's go to Japan with Xu Dong's fleet in Jiangxi. Where Japan is close to Korea, that Tsushima Island, first find a port, and then do business with them, as long as silver. ”

Zhao Jun is still not a marquis. Although the record of defeating Portugal is very good, Portugal is not even as valuable as the head of the southwest barbarians in the impression of the Ming Dynasty, and the benefits of expansion are big enough, so he is still an earl.

But Zhao Jun doesn't care so much, as long as he has always had merit to make money.

Liu Long was shocked: "Your Majesty, Japan is lonely overseas, and Tsushima Island is very close to Japan, and now it is more about the maritime trade ...... between Japan and Korea."

Zhu Houxi waved his hand: "It's not the Ming Dynasty who is here, it's a private maritime merchant who goes to do business and brings some guards." I've said a long time ago that I won't make a big deal out of it all these years, but I think they can tell the pros and cons now. Isn't it good to give the Ming folk maritime merchants a place to stand, and there can be a steady stream of swords, guns, swords, and halberds behind them to compete for power? ”

Now it seems that the one who is digging for silver in Iwamiyama is the Ouchi clan?

If you dig out the silver, you will use it, and the Ming Dynasty only recognizes the silver.

Liu Long had to explain: "Your Majesty, that Tsushima Island has always been unified from the left and right, and now the island is also in civil strife......

"Oh?" Zhu Houxi was very interested, "Tsushima Island is also in civil strife, what's going on?" ”

“…… I heard that the last Yi chief was forced to cut himself by his retainers, and then there was an endless struggle for power between brothers and nephews. ”

"It's good to have civil strife!" Zhu Houxi laughed, "This island is very good, and since this is the case, it is easier to gain a foothold." Didn't Li Yi just say in the thank you table, that Japanese goods, most of which were from the clan of the Falklands by the sea, were transshipped from Japan, and they were not directly associated with the Japanese lord or the Ashikaga clan, which violated my taboo. It can be seen that this clan is a person who is willing to do business. Who wants to seize this opportunity to dominate Tsushima, I ...... No, the Xu family will help whoever they want. ”

As a move to test the waters, this is the first step, and it is not the only thing that Zhu Houxi called Liu Long and Yu Chengye to come.

After that, it was discussed that the Frontier Trade Division would expand the procurement of timber commodities and thus strengthen economic ties with the obedient clans, as well as coal mining.

The people's demand for firewood and the demand for coal in the heavy industry to be cultivated all require Daming to intensify coal mining.

At present, Zhu Houxi's most reasonable choice can only be Datong, and there are ......

"You can go to the north of Yinshan Mountain to investigate." Zhu Houxi looked at Yu Chengye and asked him to arrange it, "Let the Mengyuan people in the border area pick up the coal in the north of Yinshan, and let the small tribes in the north of the border area pick it up, and Daming will collect the coal there." Let's see if I will rob those small tribes just to survive, or let them fall more and more to the Ming Dynasty little by little! ”

The Ming Dynasty provides goods and wealth.

In the case of a change in the offensive and defensive situation, the alien forces in the periphery are the easiest to break through.

Tsushima was an important strategic point, and the area north of Yinshan, the southernmost part of Altan's power, and even the Khalkhas, which were entrenched in Outer Mongolia, which later became rich in coal mines, might choose another way of living.

Things were arranged, and after some time, Zhao Jun played something that was a little strange to Zhu Houxi.

"Yan Shifan?"

“…… Be. The head of the Xu family implored His Majesty to do this great thing, and his most powerful person was none other than Wang Zhi. However, Wang Zhi is now presiding over the South Australian Maritime Trade Company in Malacca, and he has no time. But in the past, Wang Zhi was on Ji Po Island, but he highly respected Yan Gongzi, so he remembered what Wang Zhi had said to the head of the Xu family, so he asked the minister to invite Yan Gongzi to the Great Wall Company on the Sea to help the Xu family go to Tsushima Island to develop a port city. ”

Zhu Houxi looked at him speechlessly: "That means that your subordinates only know how to fight and kill, and Xu Dong's subordinates don't have enough talents to do this alone?" ”

“…… The head of the Xu family is often in Ningbo, and he is also lacking in skills. This matter is related to His Majesty's plan, and the head of the Xu family does not dare to slack off, for fear that it will be difficult to succeed after he agrees and anger His Majesty. ”

"Yan Shifan, that guy ......"

After returning from Jiaozhi, after all, he, the military attache of the Jiaozhi Propaganda Embassy, had some merits, and was promoted to a five-grade thousand-household, and now he was re-placed under Lu Bing by Zhu Houxi for training.

Regarding this guy's character, Zhu Houxi never dared to rest assured that he was entrusted with a big responsibility.

He seems to have extraordinary talent in the matter of calamity, and his temperament is indulgent, and he does not hide it much.

Wang Zhi and him hit it off at first sight? It seems that there are many aspects between the big pirate and the little pavilion elder who really smell the same.

Now that he encountered this matter, Xu Dong actually wanted Yan Shifan to help him...... No, help the Emperor.

Why is Yan Shifan still loved?

Zhu Houxi was very strange in his heart, let Yan Shifan go to trouble Japan?

It doesn't seem bad......

But in this case, Yan Song must have a bitter face.

He is such a son, even if he is blind in one eye, the emperor doesn't have to send him so far away to Cochin first, and then send him to Japan as far away, right?

And this time it is different from going to Jiaozhi, it is Mo Dengyong who asks Daming to canonize him, and he dare not be disrespectful to Daming. However, Japan was bold and reckless and dared to cause chaos in Ningbo.

Now it is clear that it is going to intervene in Japan, which is constantly fighting, and fighting and killing there is the norm. If you are not careful, the old Yan family will be killed.

"This is the ...... I have to discuss with Yan Song first. ”

That night, the father and son of the Yan family gathered in the Heart Cultivation Palace.

Yan Shifan was just excited, but Yan Song was uneasy.

There were only two of them at this private banquet, father and son, which was very unusual!

The grace of heaven is very heavy, but I am afraid that it will be difficult to bear.

Sure enough, to the end, the meal was almost finished, and the emperor was poor and dagger.

"Yan Shifan, I know that you also have the ambition to make a contribution. Now that I have a great achievement, I don't know if you have the courage to do it? ”

Yan Shifan's eyes lit up, and he said obligedly: "Your Majesty, the minister has never been timid!" ”

Zhu Houxi thought to himself, you kid is indeed never timid.

"Your Majesty......" Yan Song said euphemistically, "The minister, father and son, are the only ones who obey Your Majesty's orders." I don't know what Your Majesty said ......"

Zhu Houxi said with a smile: "In Japan." However, you were appointed governor as the chief of the imperial study and then changed to the governor because of Ningbo's tribute. If Yan Shifan makes another contribution to Japan, there will be a good story in the history books in the future. ”

Yan Song was gagged in advance first, and he couldn't say anything about his suffering.

Your Majesty, Japan, a country that does not conquer! It's not because I like it, but Meng Yuan and even Daming Taizu have eaten deflated from Japan, and the gains outweigh the losses!

But Zhu Houxi's next sentence made Yan Shifan tremble: "This merit can be crowned king." ”

(End of chapter)