Bohai Bay, Tianjin Port.

Since the opening of the sea in the Ming Dynasty, the Beijing-Tianjin Canal was specially built and the North Korean rice was introduced, and now this wharf is very lively and has become an important window of the Ming Dynasty to the outside world.

The sea breeze in Tianjin Port was a little salty, blowing on the faces of everyone present, but it could not blow away the solemnity and expectation that permeated the air.

Zhao Chengqing, the Duke of Yasukuni, is over forty years old, with a standard Chinese character face, and an unusually tall figure, standing at the front of the pier and waiting quietly.

At this moment, his face looked very solemn, and he was looking very seriously at the mouth of the sea, his eyes slowly getting used to the dryness brought by the sea breeze.

Although he won the emperor's grace and was canonized as a prince of the country just because of a few military exploits, he has always had doubts about the matter of the treasure seed, and even felt that two million taels were wasted in his heart.

It's just that Liu Zhang, who has disappeared for two years, has returned, and he also claims to have brought back the treasure seed from the American continent, which makes him feel a little ashamed in his heart, and he also has more expectations.

Although he was not a farmer, he saw the earth-shaking changes in the Northeast Province, and also knew the meaning of a high-yield crop and the benefits it brought to the nation.

It is precisely in this way that he came to greet him not only on behalf of the emperor, but also on behalf of tens of millions of Chinese people to greet this triumphant hero.

Behind Zhao Chengqing, the Duke of Yasukuni, the Ministry of Rites and local officials in Tianjin were already standing in a row, their expressions different, but their eyes showed the importance of this greeting.

As long as they are officials or generals who really understand agriculture, they all know what the treasure seed means, and Liu Zhang, who brought the treasure seed back, is undoubtedly a national hero.

There was no sun, but there was no rain, and it was a gray and overcast day.

Over time, the silhouette of a sailing ship finally appeared on the horizon.

This ship slowly took on the proud posture of the three masts, and was slowly sailing over, as if feeling this solemnity and expectation, and did not dare to slack off in the slightest.

Liu Zhang, who was wearing an official uniform, stood on the bow of the boat, also looking at his homeland from a distance, and couldn't help but have tears in his eyes when he saw the officials who welcomed them back at the dock.

This trip to the Americas was full of dangers, and many times he thought that he would not be able to return to his homeland.

Now that I see this pier again, and see the familiar and unfamiliar team of official uniforms on the pier, a sense of sorrow and happiness wells up in my heart.

It's just that the past is unbearable, and now he has finally returned smoothly, back to the homeland he misses, and it is likely to usher in his glorious moment.

The boat stopped on the dock, and Liu Zhang walked down the ladder step by step, his steps steady and powerful.

With every step, it seems to be in an affectionate dialogue with the land. When he finally set foot on his native land, an indescribable excitement welled up in his heart, making his eyes moisten again.

Not to mention that the American continent is actually a wild land that has only been coarsely developed, and he has a strong hometown complex, how can that foreign land be compared with China?

Zhao Chengqing, the Duke of Yasukuni, took the initiative to step forward and said very enthusiastically: "Governor Liu, the old man came to greet him on the orders of His Majesty, you have worked hard!" ”

"Your Majesty's grace is magnificent, and the ministers are grateful!" Liu Zhang learned that the emperor had sent the dignified Jing Yuan Ye to greet him, and immediately went to Beijing to express his loyalty.

When the officials and generals behind him saw Liu Zhang's return, they also stepped forward to salute him.

Liu Zhang stayed in the Tianjin shipyard for a long time, greeted familiar officials or generals, and was polite to Zhao Chengqing: "Marquis Lao Jing has come to ......"

"Lord Liu, it's wrong, Master Hou has been promoted to the Duke of Yasukuni!" Before he finished speaking, an official hurriedly corrected him.

After all, Liu Zhang has been gone for two years, but the Hongzhi court has been very turbulent in the past two years. Not to mention the powerful people who have been beheaded one after another, as well as the officials and gentry in Jiangnan, even the former first assistant Liu Ji has been raided.

"Congratulations on the promotion of the Yasukuni Gong!" Liu Zhang was stunned for a moment, and then said more respectfully.

Although he knew that the Hongzhi Dynasty had changed a lot, and he also learned from Zhang Sui that the emperor had a southern tour and that the emperor had an heir, more personnel information was unknown.

Zhao Chengqing, the Duke of Yasukuni, did not hold it up, and said very humbly: "The Duke of China is only making a meager contribution, this is the emperor's grace!" Governor Liu, Your Majesty has been thinking about the treasure seed for two years, I don't know if you can let the country have a look at it first? ”

"Naturally!" Liu Zhang knew that the newly promoted prince in front of him must be a celebrity around the emperor, and he was also very cheerful and authentic.

Since it is something to be presented to the emperor, it must be verified in advance. What's more, whether the treasure seed is really brought back or not, you can't just listen to Liu Zhang's words, but also need to verify it.

Because of the "Taizu's dream" as the basis, the image of the treasure species has been drawn, and it is very difficult for Liu Zhang to fake it.

Liu Zhang's mission was not to bring back the treasure seeds to satisfy the emperor's curiosity, but to bring the treasure seeds back to China, and then promote them on the land of China.

Although the treasure seeds are hard to find in China, they are only food in the American continent, so the treasure seeds carried by Liu Zhang's Mingyuan treasure ship are in baskets and are stacked in the cabin.

After receiving the order, the crew also carried the treasure that had been brought back from all dangers to the deck.

"It's a sweet potato!"

"Are there really sweet potatoes?"

"Doesn't it look delicious?"

……

A group of officials followed Zhao Chengqing to the deck, and when they saw the basket full of sweet potatoes that were carried, someone immediately took out the portrait of the sweet potato, and then said very excitedly.

"It's corn!"

"It's like gold!"

"The old man only hopes to be able to taste it in his lifetime!"

……

When they saw another basket of corn being carried out, it looked exactly like the portrait, and some of the elderly officials wept with excitement.

The crew on the deck looked at the officer's excitement and felt a sense of pride.

After many hardships and dangers, they brought back the treasure seed from that land, which is probably a feat that will go down in history.

Just as everyone was cheering, another basket of treasure seeds was carried out.

"What is this?"

"Seems to be a potato?"

"Isn't it too small?"

……

The officials present took the drawings for comparison, just looked at the small thing in front of them, although they had already guessed that it was a potato, but they were also a little puzzled.

Liu Zhang seemed to have guessed everyone's reaction, so he looked at Zhao Chengqing, the Duke of Jingguo: "Guogong, there are many varieties of potatoes in this America, this ...... This is already the best breed that Chen has found! ”

"Your Majesty has already made it clear that the treasure seed may be biased, but there is this treasure seed Huaxia Bixing!" Zhao Chengqing is not a nitpicky character, but also a serious attitude.

Although the potatoes did not meet his expectations, they had already been brought back after all, and the sweet potatoes and corn gave him a very beneficial feeling, which Liu Zhang had already done a great job.

As for how the emperor will be rewarded, I am afraid that only the emperor will know.

Looking at what the emperor has done over the years, although he did kill a lot of powerful people, he is also famous for never rewarding meritorious officials.

Liu Zhang has made such a great contribution this time, not to mention how many levels the official is promoted, I am afraid that he will be knighted.

"With this treasure seed, Huaxia Bixing!" The officials present erased the deficiencies of the potatoes one after another, and they also surged with pride.

Zhao Chengqing immediately asked people to file and seal the treasure seeds, and these treasure seeds had to be presented to the emperor together, so naturally there was no room for loss.

Liu Zhang hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't help but ask: "Lord Guogong, where are my family and Su Can's family?" ”

After disappearing for two years, he also had to worry about the changes in his family.

When he said this, he also deliberately observed the reaction of the officials present, but suddenly found that the atmosphere was silent.

Things in this world are always unpredictable.

Jizhen is located in the north of Beizhili, with Xuanfu on the west and Liaodong on the east.

It is said that the Mongol cavalry has always harassed Datong or Xuanfu, while the Jurchen cavalry patronized Liaodong, and Jizhen was a place of peace.

Just when Jizhen was bent on seeking development, it planted crops with peace of mind, but disaster still befell this harmonious land without warning.

A Mongol cavalry of nearly 10,000 men took advantage of the slack of defenders, and under the cover of night, they entered through a broken wall in the west, and swept the land of Jizhen like a violent storm.

"Kill!"

"Whoever grabs it belongs to whom!"

"It's all fat sheep here, and you can't let go of any of them!"

……

The iron hooves of the Mongol cavalry trampled on the stone slabs, stirring up a cloud of dust, like a ghost pouring out of hell, baring its fangs and shouting.

An earthen fort called Dilian Fort did not have time to defend itself, or could not withstand this large cavalry force at all, but it was sacked.

The Mongol cavalry stormed the gates of the fort, their eyes glistening with greed and cruelty, and their eyes scanned the streets, looking for loot.

Whenever they find something valuable, they do not hesitate to pounce on it and take it for themselves in a brutal way.

Due to the scarcity of supplies, they would take even ordinary tarnisheds with them. At this moment, it is impossible to hide the darkness in their hearts.

The nomads followed the rules of banditry, and they regarded the Ming people as no different from the mountain deer on the hunting grounds, and they had to distinguish that the Ming people were richer.

If it weren't for the fact that the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was indeed a powerful monarch, they would have come down to loot every year, instead of only now finding an opportunity.

The sound of the hooves of the Mongolian cavalry echoed through the narrow streets, accompanied by screams and cries.

The people in the earthen fort were frightened and fled in all directions, but they often could not escape the fate of being pursued by the cavalry. These Mongol cavalrymen took pleasure in torturing people and even deliberately played a game of cat and mouse.

Burst!

Instead of rushing into the houses and looting the property, one cavalryman did the others, but set them on fire, and then drew his sword and reaped the lives of the people who had escaped from the houses.

Whether it is a young man, a woman holding a baby, or some old man, they can't escape the butcher's knife in his hand.

In this sack, the Mongol cavalry showed their cruel and ruthless side.

Not only did they plunder their possessions, but they also treated human life like a mustard, and the people of the bunkers groaned and fell under their knives, and blood stained the streets and houses.

As they left, the earthen fort, which was home to hundreds of people, was on fire, and smoke billowed from it, as if it were shrouded in an apocalyptic scene.

"Tartar, Lao Tzu and you don't share the sky!" Chen Ji, the governor of Jizhen who heard the news, saw the scene in front of him and shouted loudly with tears in his eyes.

Due to the sudden intrusion of this Mongolian elite of nearly 10,000 people, the entire Jizhen immediately entered a state of high alert, and even organized an army to besiege and kill this Mongolian cavalry.

It's just that if you want to do this, it is not easy to intercept and kill nearly 10,000 Mongolian cavalry.

Since the Ming Dynasty developed the northeast, the number of troops in Jizhen and Liaodong has been partially transferred, resulting in the decline of the garrison of Jizhen.

This time, the Mongolian cavalry suddenly killed from the broken wall, which just caught Jizhen by surprise.

The roads in the pass are extensive in all directions, and if there are no more than ten times the number of troops, it is actually difficult to encircle the cavalry. What's more, the mobility of the Mongolian cavalry is indeed stronger than that of the Ming Dynasty.

After Chen Ji, the governor of Jizhen, ended his filial piety, he was appointed as the governor of Jizhen by Emperor Hongzhi, and he also attached great importance to the construction of border defense during his tenure.

He personally mobilized 30,000 troops to encircle the invading Mongol cavalry, but the effect was very similar to the situation in Dilian Fort, and the result was always half a step slower.

However, Jizhen is the northern gateway to the city of Beijing, and he has to guard against the Mongol cavalry moving south, thus directly threatening the Hongzhi Emperor in the city.

With such a major military situation, Chen Ji naturally did not dare to hide it, but sent it to the Forbidden City as soon as possible.

The night sky of February, deep and mysterious, is like a huge piece of black satin, covering the endless universe.

Qianqing Palace, the lights of the East Warm Pavilion are bright.

After Zhu Youzhu took a bath, he came here as usual to look through the intelligence from all over the country and learn about the latest developments in the empire.

In fact, when the palace gate was just closed, it was already known that an urgent message had been sent from the military aircraft department.

The authority of this military aircraft department is not the same as that of the later dynasty, ordinary government affairs still fall to the cabinet, but important military affairs are transferred to the military aircraft department.

Wang Yue's military talent has been confirmed, and he is the most prestigious official in the entire Ming Dynasty, and now he is in charge of the Military Aircraft Department, and no one can find fault with him.

It is worth mentioning that the members of the Military Aircraft Department are no longer limited to civilian officials, but Wu Xun will also join them, and even in the future, Wu Xun will be in charge of the Military Aircraft Department to compete with the civilian cabinet.

After looking at the military situation of Xuanfu, Zhu Youzhu originally swore that there was nothing worthy of anger in the world, but now his anger was ignited in an instant.

Although he could not witness the tragic situation of Dilian Fort with his own eyes, he saw the description of the information above, and knew that these Mongolian cavalry were simply a bunch of beasts.

Zhu Youji's forehead floated with green tendons, and he also said with a bit of self-reproach: "I knew that these people were ambitious, I really shouldn't have made peace hastily back then, and it would be difficult to eliminate the hatred in my heart if I didn't kill them!" (End of chapter)