"Boom, boom—"

On March 26, the fifth year of Yongle, accompanied by the sound of a cannon salute at the wharf outside the east gate of the Nanjing Chengjiang River, the Western Fleet, which had returned after two years, finally returned to Nanjing.

Due to the long time at sea, all the warships and horse ships had to go to various shipyards in the south of the Yangtze River for overhaul, so only 50 treasure ships arrived in Nanjing.

When they go south, the fleet is laden with cargo, and when they return, they return with cargo.

When the treasure ship came to a halt, the ladder was quickly lowered, and the cheers of the crowd on the dock made the soldiers on the deck very excited.

In the past two years, they have gone south to experience the war in Annam and the war in the old port, and have gone deep into the jungle, and many of their comrades-in-arms have left them because of illness.

Now that they have finally returned to Nanjing, they can finally relax for a while.

They don't know when the next time they will go to the West, but as long as the imperial court needs it, they will be obligated to get on the ship and go south.

"Minister, Zheng He, who is going to the West, see Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live Long live Long live......"

On the dock, Zheng He, who was wearing a bullfighting suit, knelt down and saluted, and Zhu Di under the canopy umbrella stepped forward to support him: "I have been waiting for your good news for the past two years, and I haven't seen some of the goods you sent to Wuying Palace, just waiting for you and me to report in person." ”

"The minister sent an envoy to Nanyang this time, and the envoy to Champang, Bintong Long, Chenla, Siam, Manraka, Pahang, Da Ni, Majapahit, Longya Jiamiao, Danyang, Sumatra, Huamian, Ambergris, Cuilanyu and other 22 subject countries, appeased 32 Tusi."

"Now that the kings, envoys, and officials of these countries are on board, may Your Majesty summon them?"

Zheng He couldn't hide his excitement, and Zhu Di's eyes were also bright.

There is no doubt that they pushed the Chinese tributary system to a new level, and if you add Korea and Japan and Ryukyu to the east, and the Eastern Chagatai Khanate to the west, then the Ming Dynasty now has twenty-six vassal states.

If you insist on counting those who are three proclamations and six comforts, then the subject countries of the Ming Dynasty are probably not less than a hundred.

"And that's just the beginning."

The two were still excited, but Zhu Gaoxu next to him smiled confidently: "The tributary system of the Celestial Empire is naturally to let the four Yibin serve as tribute!" ”

"Yes!" Zhu Di also puffed up his chest proudly, and at the same time instructed Zhu Gaoxu: "Second brother, you can prepare the banquet for the envoys and local officials of various countries, just tell me the time." ”

"Your Majesty, please rest assured!" Zhu Gaoxu will not let go of this opportunity to show his fists.

"Your Majesty, this is what the minister obtained from this mission to Nanyang, and I will read it for you now."

Zheng He did not let go of this opportunity to earn face for Zhu Di, and in front of Zhu Gaoxu and hundreds of officials such as the Six Ministries, the Six Governments, and the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he began to recite what he had gained from this trip to the south.

In terms of spices alone, Zheng He was loaded with twelve boats of spices such as pepper, agarwood, borneol, sandalwood, rose water, ambergris, etc., while the tree species and wood were Laotian red sour branch wood, Indian red sandalwood transplanted from the South Seas, etc.

In addition to these, seeds of fruits and vegetables such as bitter gourd and durian were also brought back by Zheng He.

Needless to say, rubies, sapphires, corals, pearls, gold, and other precious things.

"Yichen estimates that the tens of millions obtained this time, and the pepper brought back alone is a million catties!"

Zheng He said excitedly, and Zhu Di also stroked his beard excitedly, but Zhu Gaoxu looked embarrassed.

In the current Jiangnan, the price of pepper is more than ten per catty, but the reason why there is such a high price is mainly because of its scarcity.

Now that Zheng He has brought back a million catties of pepper, it can be said that everyone in the entire city of Nanjing can get two catties in their hands, so it is strange that this thing can still be valuable.

This batch of pepper has to be sold separately, otherwise a harvest will be enough for the price of Jiangnan pepper to hit the ground and not get up.

Zhu Gaoxu was still thinking about how to solve this batch of pepper, but many officials behind him looked at each other, obviously not expecting Zheng He to bring back so many things.

Among them, the happiest is probably the head of the household department Shangshu Guo Zi.

With this batch of goods, just selling pepper, the household can save tens of millions of dollars.

"Your Majesty, let's go back to the palace first." Zhu Gaoxu said to Zhu Di, and Zhu Di also stroked his beard happily: "Okay, go back to the palace first." ”

Looking at his appearance, Zhu Gaoxu could guess what Zhu Di was calculating now.

Not surprisingly, Zhu Di estimated that he was already calculating the money and food needed for the Northern Expedition.

"Drive back to the palace!"

Wang Yan saluted, and soon the team dispersed, and the cavalry in Beijing escorted Zhu Di and them on the big chariot and the golden chariot, and the whole team began to return to the palace.

Zhu Di and Zheng He discussed the interesting things on the road to Nanyang, and the difference between Nanyang and the north, and the scene was lively.

Compared with them, Zhu Gaoxu has more things.

The graduation of 100,000 students in Liaodong last year, as well as the preparation of the new deal in Sichuan, as well as the important affairs of the southwest, Nanyang, Northwest and other things are waiting for him to deal with.

"The Tuguan of the Great Gura sent a message saying that they had seven neighboring states, namely, the Lesser Gura, the Demoasa, the Chashan, the Bottom Plate, the Menglun, and the Eight Pagodas."

"This group of princely states has never interacted with the Central Plains before, but now I heard that the court said that they should be kind to the people, and they also want to clean up the eight hundred Dadian, so they are all willing to belong and ask the court to send officials to take charge."

On the golden chariot, listening to Yi Lost's explanation, Zhu Gaoxu felt strange in his heart.

It's not that I think this group of countries is weird, but I think it's weird.

If he remembers correctly, this matter was obviously handled by Zhu Di with a handle, but now it has become his own business.

"Wait, I'll give myself a few days off in a few days."

Zhu Gaoxu muttered in his heart, and then said: "In this way, there will be two Xuanfu envoys and five chief lawsuits in the local area." ”

"The two places of Dagula and Demasa are vast, and each has a Xuanfu Division."

"Xiaogura, Chashan, Diban, Menglun, and the Eight Towers each have a long lawsuit."

"The local officials of Da Gu Ra served as the envoy of Da Gu Ra with Po Na Lang, the local official of Demasa Lagangpa served as the Xuan Fu envoy of Di Ma Sa, and Zhang Zao and others served as the local officials of Xiao Gu Ra and other places."

"Tell them that they need to pay jade, silver, gold and other things to the court every year as soil endowments, and the court will send liuguan to bring officials and craftsmen to improve the local environment for them and let their children gain knowledge."

"If they suffer any natural or man-made disasters, the imperial court will also send troops and food to help them, but the first thing is to build a post road to their city-state."

When Zhu Gaoxu said this, he didn't forget to ask: "What happened to Wang Xuan leading his troops to Ping Eight Hundred Dadian?" ”

"He has just returned to Longchuan from Manmo, and now he is still gathering soldiers and horses from all over the country, and it is estimated that he will be able to go south to quell the rebellion in early April."

Yi Weiha explained, and Zhu Gaoxu also touched his mustache.

His mustache was slightly upturned, growing to the sides, adding a bit of might.

"I can't rush things in the southwest, I have to come little by little and eat it slowly."

"Cao Guogong and Qianguo Gong, how is their progress in pacifying Tusi?"

Zhu Gaoxu inquired about the Yaomiao rebellion in the southwest a few days ago, and Li Jinglong and Mu Chun put down the rebellion.

In this regard, he also laughed and said: "Half a month ago, it was over, 26 Miao Yao Zhai Forts were broken, and more than 47,000 Miao Yao people were relocated into Sichuan, Huguang and other places. ”

"There should be five or six hundred thousand people who have moved out of the country over the years, right?" Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but sigh a little when he heard that so many natives had been migrated out in the First World War in just a few months.

"It's close to 700,000." Yizha talked about the situation in the southwest, which made Zhu Gaoxu a little embarrassed.

In his previous life, he traveled to the southwest and had more contact with ethnic minorities in Yunnan, Guizhou and other places.

Speaking of which, as long as the officials rule Qingming, they live better under the management of the imperial court than under the tusi.

If you want to sinicize the southwest, you must uproot the large and small toasts that have been entrenched in the southwest for hundreds or even thousands of years.

"How is the enrollment of Taixue students?"

Zhu Gaoxu asked about Taixue, and he hadn't been to Taixue for three months.

He had already written the textbook for Taixue last year, and he probably talked about the content with the students.

The first batch of Taixue students has completed self-study and began to explain the second batch of students hand in hand.

They learned very roughly, but Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help it, he didn't have much time to study too much.

What he wants now is to give them the general knowledge first, and then govern the government with peace of mind.

One day I really want to retreat, and then I can go to Taixue to teach.

"There are 876 students enrolled this year, which is the largest number in the past, and all of them are enrolled with first-class grades."

Yisha sighed that it was not easy for this group of students, after all, it was more than 800 people from 100,000 students, and their learning ability was beyond doubt.

"I saw the pressure cooker sent by Taixue, and the eucommia glue is not heat-resistant, but the tires used to make artillery are good."

Zhu Gaoxu mentioned a noun Eucommia gum, and this Eucommia gum is a specialty of the Ming Dynasty and can be obtained through the Eucommia tree.

In addition to wood, the leaves, roots, bark, and seeds of the Eucommia ulmoides tree contain Eucommia gum.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu mentioned it to the students of Taixue at the beginning, hoping that they would try to see if they could use natural eucommia gum to strengthen the tightness of the pressure cooker.

However, after testing, although Eucommia ulmoides rubber has the duality of rubber and plastic, and has the advantages of insulation, water resistance, corrosion resistance, etc., its shortcomings are also obvious.

Poor elasticity, poor heat resistance, not to mention withstand the temperature of the pressure cooker, even boiling water can scald it until it curls and deforms.

Because of its characteristics, Zhu Gaoxu could only hope that Zheng He would bring back rubber trees from the Americas, and although Eucommia ulmoides gum has many shortcomings, it can also be used to make hard rubber products, or to make solid tires for wheels.

Although it is not as good as the rubber of the rubber tree, it is much better than the iron wheel and the wooden wheel.

"Yes, the slave will tell the students of Taixue."

At the same time, Zhu Gaoxu also said to him: "The goods brought back from the West this time can't all be sold in Jiangnan, and Jiangnan alone will definitely not be able to eat this million catties of pepper, let alone other spices." ”

"Stockpile them up first and release them little by little."

"When did the second trip to the West start?" Yizha asked Zhu Gaoxu, and Zhu Gaoxu touched his mustache: "Rest for a year first, and then prepare after overhauling the warship." ”

"By the way, how many maritime merchants in the Western Trade Zone have signed up now?"

"One hundred and twenty-six." At the same time, he added: "I heard that the imperial court can ensure the safety of the waterway, and many people sold their land and threw themselves into the sea. ”

"It's smart." Zhu Gaoxu chuckled.

Although the Ming Dynasty mastered the largest spice market, India and Arabia still had many imported goods needed by the Ming Dynasty, one hundred and twenty-six maritime merchants, and the specific number of them that could survive depended on their respective abilities.

"Inform them that preparations will begin next year, and the third voyage to the Western Ocean will be carried by the imperial court's fleet to the Western Ocean for trade."

Zhu Gaoxu was not prepared to make seven trips to the West as in the original history, because his goal was always very clear, that is, to introduce fruits, vegetables and plants such as corn, sweet potato, jicama, potato, cassava, pumpkin, peanuts, sunflowers, peppers, tomatoes, and rubber into the Ming Dynasty.

With them, the grain production in the mountainous areas can come up, and Daming's oil production will not only rely on soybeans.

The second time you go to the West, you must arrive at the Cape of Good Hope and prepare to build official factories along the way.

When Zheng He returned and prepared to go to the West for the third time, it was when the Ming fleet arrived in the Americas.

After doing all this, Zhu Gaoxu can rule the world in peace and stability.

When he thought so, Jin Lu also drove into the Xihua Gate and headed towards the Wuying Palace.

Before coming to the Three Dragons Bridge, the big wheel in front of him stopped, and Zhu Di took Zheng He's hand and walked up to the Three Dragons Bridge and walked towards the Wuying Palace.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu instructed Yishiha: "You go to the Chunhe Hall to help me deal with the next music, and I will go back after I am busy with this matter." ”

"Yes" Yi Yi Ha responded, and at the same time got up to see Zhu Gaoxu off the car, and then he walked to the Chunhe Palace.

Not long after, Zhu Gaoxu followed Zhu Di and them into the Wuying Palace, and Zhu Di also asked people to unfold the "General Map of the Four Yi Binfu in the World", pointing to the colored old port and Luzon Road in the south:

"This is your merit, I can't forget it, and so are you."

"Thanks to Your Majesty and Your Highness." Zheng He was not arrogant, but humble as always.

Zhu Di stroked his beard proudly when he heard this, and said at the same time: "Once the goods you brought back are sold, the imperial court will not be short of money and food for at least two or three years. ”

After that, Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaoxu, who didn't speak: "Second brother, I'm going to go north!" ”

"How many soldiers and horses does Dad want to bring to the north, and who does he want to deal with?" Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Di with a smile, but Zhu Di replied without thinking after hearing it: "Naturally, it is Arutai and Ghost Lichi." ”

"I know the situation of Modong Sanwei, 90,000 acres of cultivated land have been opened up last year, and more people have migrated this year, as long as there are more domesticated farming cattle on the Bohai Sea, it will be easy to get together 300,000."

"The output of 300,000 mu is at least 200,000 stones, and from there it is transported to the eastern part of Mobei, at most 50,000 stones, and there are still 150,000 stones that can be used."

"I won't be going for too long, it's enough to take 50,000 people for four months."

Zhu Di had calculated everything, but Zhu Gaoxu shook his head with a smile when he heard this.

His move made Zhu Di's face darken instantly, but before he could say dirty, Zhu Gaoxu said directly:

"The ministers over there in Bohai have checked, and there are 500,000 stones of grain in stock, and there should be 800,000 stones by the end of the year, and this batch of grain can be transferred to Hechengwei."

"Hechengwei has built most of the post road to the west of Harawen Mountain, and at most by the end of the year, a two-zhang wide post road can be opened, the only problem is that the road is not compacted, so the grain transportation will be relatively slow."

"What Erchen means is that you order 30,000 cavalry and 20,000 horse infantry, recruit 150,000 people from Liaodong, Bohai and other places, and launch a westward expedition from Hechengwei."

"Daning's grain is transferred from Liaodong, and the grain of Modong Sanwei is also the first to be supplied to you, totaling one million stones."

"Your army has a total of 200,000 people, and it is almost a thousand miles from Hechengwei to Qi Wangcheng in the east of Mobei, and this million stones can reach Qi Wangcheng almost 400,000 stones."

"After the grain arrives, it depends on you how you fight, Yongle will move in May of the sixth year, and it is up to you when you will fight."

Zhu Gaoxu said his thoughts truthfully, but his words made everyone in the Wuying Hall furious, and Zhu Di was even more frightened by him.

It's just that after reacting, Zhu Di immediately said angrily: "Don't give me a yin and yang weirdness!" ”

"I cleaned up the Hu people, and when the time comes, you will be stable!"

"Dad, my son is not weird, what my son says is the truth."

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't cry or laugh, he didn't support it and wanted to be scolded, and if he supported it, he had to be scolded, and the old man picked him up alone to scold.

"The facts?" Zhu Di was stunned, and said suspiciously: "What are you selling kids?" ”

"No, my son just wants to clean up the Hu people early, and I don't have any other ideas."

Zhu Gaoxu was helpless, he couldn't say that if he didn't clean up Arutai and Ghost Lichi, he would return to Mobei with the identity of Yuan in two years, and use this identity to constantly shake people from the Eurasian steppe.

As long as the ghost Li Chi and Arutai are severely damaged, and they can't fully support Benjamin, then Benjamin will probably have to fight with Warat for several years.

"I don't care if what you said is angry or not, anyway, since you just said it, you can't change it."

Zhu Di saw that Zhu Gaochu said this, so he hurriedly put on a smile, walked to Zhu Gaoxu's side and grabbed his hand, clapped his hands and said with a smile:

"According to what you said, we will move troops in May next year and march from Hecheng to Mobei."

"You want to fight, what do you mean by that?" Zhu Gaoxu felt that something was wrong, and his eyes couldn't help but fall on the living officer sitting in the corner.

I saw him bow his head, and the pen in his hand was writing quickly.

"I was just talking, but I didn't expect you to be so supportive, so I'm relieved."

"In this way, I will leave for Modong in February next year, and then you will be in charge of the country a month in advance, and you will be familiar with it."

"Sichuan New Deal, you take care of it, I will check it when I come back."

Zhu Di's appearance of being cheap and obedient is indeed very dark, but he is his father after all, Zhu Gaoxu can only grit his teeth and nod without smiling.

Originally, Zhu Gaoxu thought that this would be over, but he didn't want Zhu Di to speak again: "Zheng He brought back so many things from his trip to the Western Ocean this time, I asked him just now, those warships can be overhauled in ten months at most, so this trip to the Western Ocean has to continue." ”

Zhu Di patted Zhu Gaoxu's hand, and his voice was slightly crying: "It's not easy for me, my three brothers all left in their forties, and I don't know how long I can live." ”

"While I'm still alive, I'll help you save more money and food in the treasury, and when the time comes, I'm not in good health, and you're ready to take the throne."

"You are different from me, you are smart and in good health, when you take the throne, maybe you can govern the world well like your grandfather."

"When the time comes, we will be able to prosper for another fifty years......"

The old craft continues to be staged, and Zhu Di's cake Zhu Gaoxu has eaten enough, so when he looks at Zhu Di's appearance now, he doesn't feel pitiful for him, but feels that this old man is mocking himself.

Those who don't know how long they can live get on their horses to kill the enemy, get off the horses and rule the country for sixty-five.

But if he died a few years earlier, Zhu Gaoxu would have believed it, and now he only thinks that Zhu Di is cheap and obedient.

"If you say so, then it's better to go straight to the Zen position after the end of this northern expedition."

Zhu Gaochu looked at Zhu Di speechlessly, as soon as the words came out, everyone's hearts were stunned, and Zhu Di's hand was even more suspended in the air, looking at Zhu Gaochu in embarrassment.

Fortunately, he was familiar with his son, and he coughed a few times and said: "I want to too, but you are still young, and it is easy to get tired if you are too early, so I will help you sit for a few years first, and then give it to you in a few years." ”

"Ahem, Zheng He, tell me what other interesting things in Nanyang are for our father and son."

Zhu Di changed the topic, but Zhu Gaoxu said: "Listen to yourself, my son still has to allocate grain and grass for your northern expedition." ”

"Go on, go on, thank you for your hard work, second child." Zhu Di patted Zhu Gaochu on the shoulder, and Zhu Gaochu also smiled and turned to leave.

Seeing him walk away, Zheng He cautiously replied: "Your Majesty, Your Highness was just joking." ”

"I know that." Zhu Di stroked his beard, Zheng He was stunned when he heard this, he clearly remembered that Zhu Di was very worried about Zhu Gaoxu before, why is he not worried now?

I've only been in the sea for two years, and everything has changed when I come back?

"The second child is out of tune, don't listen to what he says, just see what he does."

Zhu Di seemed to have grown up suddenly, and his suspicions about Zhu Gaoxu were gone, so Zheng He didn't know what to say for a while: "You...... If only you could think so. ”

"Well, relatives are the most important, after all, the second child is my son, and he is the only one in the capital, even if he really wants this son, I can give it to him."

Zhu Di responded to Zheng He with a smile, but Zheng He saw a trace of fatigue from the corner of Zhu Di's eyes.

He thought about things that could make Zhu Di so tired, but his mood sank to the bottom.

It wasn't until the end that Zheng He nervously said, "Your Royal Highness the Queen, are you okay......"

(End of chapter)