In the middle of the first month.
The ships sent by Zhang Zhou to Nanyang returned successfully.
Tang Yin and Xu Er jointly reported to the court in detail the "results" of this trip to Nanyang. In addition to bringing back 160 taels of gold and 6,000 taels of silver, they also brought back More than 10,000 kilograms of spices, plus various strange products, and more than 300 Nanyang captives brought back. The guaranteed income for this trip to sea is 25,000 taels.
Excluding the rewards for the officers and soldiers on the ship, as well as the losses caused by the use of cannons, the net income exceeded 20,000 taels.
This news was announced to the ministers in the court by Li Rong, but as expected, Zhang Zhou still did not come.
Zhang Zhou went to court. He said he spent three days fishing and two days drying nets, but in fact it was closer to fishing a day and sifting nets ten days. Anyway, no one forced him to go to court on which day. After Zhang Zhou's anniversary Only once appeared in court.
Zhu Youtang said with a look of relief, "When Bingkuan said that he would send troops to sea, I was still worried and thought that it would not bring any results, but now it seems that I have underestimated going to sea. The income."
Every emperor likes to send ships to the sea. Whether it was Zheng He's voyage to the West or Zhang Zhou's ship to the sea this time, the emperor was keen on it.
When he was in Chenghua, Xianzong also wanted to send ships out to sea, which led to rumors that Liu Daxia burned Zheng He's navigational charts. This matter is not accurate. As to whether it is true or not, it is difficult to determine. , but it also indirectly shows that the emperor is still very enthusiastic about conquering overseas, including getting back overseas goods.
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We still have to oppose it.
The income from going to sea is so high, can you guarantee that it will be this high every time?
The first time I went there, I was unprepared, and you plundered 20,000 taels of silver in one boat and came back, feeling complacent. I'm afraid you won't catch anything next time you go to sea, and you may be thought by those small foreign countries in Southeast Asia that the great Ming Dynasty actually likes to do things that pirates can do. At that time, tens of thousands of taels of silver can't damage the reputation of the Ming Dynasty. Straightened.
Zhu Youtang asked, "In recent years, have there been any precedents for the vassal states in Nanyang to pay tribute?"
Ma Wensheng said, "Your Majesty, for the trade in Nanyang, the shipping companies of various cities are still paying tribute." If we rashly change the rules of trade, I am afraid that it will cause conflict among the Nanyang people and make it impossible for Wang Hua of the Ming Dynasty to advance." "No need," Zhu Youtang said, "I think it will be done. Wang Hua preaches all over the world, and he should not use benevolence and righteousness. For those foreign people in Java, they do not know what the way of Wang Hua is. The best way is to conquer them with artillery and make them surrender to me. I believe that relying solely on ethics can bring long-term peace and stability. I think Bingkuan has done a good job."
Ma Wensheng had nothing to say when he saw the emperor's attitude.
Zhu Youtang said, "Wei Guogong and Tang Yin are hereThe memorial also mentioned that the first batch of three ships is almost completed. I have ordered the transportation of artillery and other artillery from Yongping Mansion and other places to the south. In addition to the garrison of Nanjing, there are also ships to equip. Used for sending troops overseas. I hope to harvest something in half a year, but I don’t know exactly what it is yet. You gentlemen should not have any objections."
Once is not enough.
This time I am going to the South Sea, next time I will go directly to the Western Sea, go further and further, and come directly Crossing the Pacific.
Although it was too late to discover the American continent, it was not difficult to conquer America and bring its mines and goods back to the Ming Dynasty.
More importantly, The Americas are vast and rich in resources. They will be Ming Dynasty's important overseas territories. The grains and minerals produced will greatly supplement the Ming Dynasty's lack of resources. Especially if Zhang Zhou wants to develop the Ming Dynasty's industrialization, the American continent is almost necessary. Indispensable.
Liu Jiandao, "Your Majesty, you should be careful when going to sea. It is not advisable to make a hasty decision. "
There is no objection, but the traditional civil servants feel that it is better not to change easily.
Zhu Youtang seemed very confident and said, "You all know nothing about overseas affairs, even where. There are islands and no one knows the population. What’s the point of talking about these? I leave it to Bingkuan. I believe that in a few years, the goods that can be recovered from overseas will be able to fully supplement the Ming Dynasty’s military needs. In this way, both If you can calm the people and pacify the northern border, why not?”
Don’t you civil servants always beep, saying that Bing Kuan’s military strategy in the north is a militancy?
Now I am Let Bingkuan help create wealth. If the war in the north does not require additional expenses from the court, then you will not be embarrassed.
After the court meeting
Zhu. Youtang was also in a bad mood.
"Going to sea to get so much wealth can be said to be unkind. If there were benevolence, would someone pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty? When would overseas taxes be paid to the Ming Dynasty? "What?" Zhu Youtang was filled with indignation.
He felt that there was no point in staying in the palace. He found out that Zhang Zhou was in the city that day and had not gone to Xishan, so he changed his clothes and took Li Rong and others out. The palace went to see Zhang Zhou.
Zhang Zhou was in the city's workshop.
When Zhang Zhou learned that Zhu Youtang was coming, he personally brought Zhu Feng out to greet him. p>Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "No need to be polite, Bingkuan, I have nothing to do, so I came to your place to have a look. You have been able to create a lot of good things in the past, but there are new things recently."
"Your Majesty, please. "Zhang Zhou made way.
After Zhu Youtang left the palace, there seemed to be more smiles on his face. When he walked out of the palace, he was rarely in a relaxed mood.
Jun Chen Several people entered the workshop together, and saw what looked like a boiler inside. It was boiling water on one side, and there was a "click, click, click, click" sound next to it. A machine was being driven by the boiler. It was Zhang Zhou who had recently The steam loom is being built.
There are two craftsmen adjusting it.
Hello, you two.As if no one else was around, no matter whether it was Zhang Zhou, Zhu Fenglai, or Zhu Youtang bringing people, they would not come over to salute, and would only concentrate on what they were doing.
Zhu Youtang asked curiously, "What is this?"
Because the noise was relatively loud and the machine could be moved without manpower, Zhu Youtang did not step forward hastily. observe.
Zhang Zhou said, "Your Majesty, this is a loom."
"Is there no one weaving at the loom?" Zhu Youtang was curious.
Zhu Youtang naturally didn’t understand when he saw only two people walking in front of a bunch of machines, but no one was weaving by foot or hand.
Zhang Zhou laughed and said, "This is to use water vapor to drive the rotating shaft, and the movement of the rotating shaft makes the loom run. A pile of looms only needs a few people to take care of it. If something like a disconnection occurs at any time, Just make repairs. In this way, a skilled weaver can take care of five or six looms, and can weave dozens of feet of cloth in a day."
Li Rong. He smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Zhang, please laugh."
"Yeah"
Zhu Youtang turned back and glanced at Li Rong.
You old eunuch, you actually questioned my Bingkuan for speaking nonsense
Zhang Zhou pointed with a smile and said, "Eunuch Li, it's really not a joke. There are also some traditional looms." I have also improved the disadvantages. It is a flying shuttle. With the flying shuttle, there is no need to add horizontal threads by hand when weaving. What we should worry about in the future is not the lack of female workers or slow weaving, but the lack of straw cotton. "
Cotton is also cotton.
In Chinese history, when "cotton" is mentioned, it is actually more kapok.
It was not until the Song and Yuan Dynasties that straw cotton gradually became common people’s daily use to keep out the cold. However, due to the low efficiency of weaving, cotton was mostly used as filler. Taizu of the Ming Dynasty stipulated that every farmer must have cotton. Plant a certain amount of straw cotton to ensure military supplies and daily use of the people. Grass cotton is also a very important economic crop in the Ming Dynasty.
"That's quite interesting."
After knowing that the machine was just a loom and not dangerous to him, Zhu Youtang finally dared to walk over and take a closer look. .
But Zhu Youtang would also find it very magical when he saw that the cloth was produced little by little without anyone weaving it, and began to gradually become rolls.
Because the weaving room was very noisy, Zhu Youtang only made a brief observation and then went to the laboratory next to the workshop with Zhang Zhou.
"Bingkuan, when are you going to promote this loom?"
As the emperor, Zhu Youtang certainly knew the needs of the people of the Ming Dynasty for food, clothing, housing and transportation.
Growing food seems to have no solution for the time being. It is not that easy to reclaim wasteland. The only thing left is to find new crops from overseas, which also takes time.
But if weaving efficiency is improved, it will greatly improve the clothing restrictions of the people of the Ming Dynasty. After all, for ordinary people, it is normal to wear ordinary coarse linen clothes for ten or eight years. Another year of sewing and mending, even moreSome people wear the same piece of clothing for a lifetime, and it can be found in many places.
Zhang Zhou said, "Your Majesty, in order to promote it, we need to be able to manufacture so many looms first. My idea is to first use government-run weaving workshops to recruit female workers to come back for study and training, and then wait for them After learning and increasing the number of looms, we will gradually spread it to the people. In a few years, we will strive to have weaving workshops in every larger state capital in the Ming Dynasty, and the cloth produced can also be used for military supplies. Scheduling."
"Yes, yes, first ensure the expenses of the Northwest soldiers." Zhu Youtang was very pleased after hearing this. "The Northwest has already proposed to the court in the past few years that they want to change their military uniforms. , but how can there be so much manpower and material resources? If it is possible to weave large quantities of cloth, then the Ming Dynasty will not be able to use as much cloth as it wants."
Li Rong reminded with a smile, "Your Majesty, you forgot Zhang The teacher said that we should be worried that there will not be enough straw cotton."
Zhu Youtang said, "It is time to make certain improvements and issue orders to various places to increase the acres of straw cotton. The imperial court will purchase it to ensure that cotton farmers will not suffer losses."
Zhang Zhou said, "Your Majesty, it is not enough to rely on the government to purchase. Otherwise, I am afraid that it will be a blow if you rely on local officials. The enthusiasm of cotton farmers."
"Yes."
Zhu Youtang probably understands Zhang Zhou's concerns.
This is a communication gap between the upper and lower levels. If it depends entirely on local governments, this separation will be exacerbated.
Only the emperor directly sends people to improve this situation to the greatest extent, but this is not a once and for all solution. After all, people are still doing things, and the so-called systems are also implemented by people.
After talking about weaving, Zhu Youtang sat down and said with emotion, "Bingkuan, the ship to Nanyang has come back and brought back a lot of things. If you need anything, it should be there." After a month, I will send it to the capital."
Zhang Zhou cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your concern."
Zhu Youtang said, "If you want to send a ship to the West now, do you think it is appropriate?" "
Zhu Youtang made a decision first, and then asked Zhang Zhou for his opinion.
Zhang Zhou had already planned with him before and let him know that there was a large territory overseas, even larger than the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and it was vast and sparsely populated. More importantly, The people there are almost practicing slash-and-burn farming. They have no livestock such as horses, cattle or sheep, or even wheels. Even some large tribes with millions of people don't even have their own writing, let alone iron tools, and even bronze tools are just as artifacts. Used for noble decoration.
Such a tribe can conquer an entire country with just one hit and an army of several thousand people.
Historically, the Aztec and Inca empires were conquered by European colonists with a few hundred people.
That’s why Zhu Youtang had such a deep obsession to incorporate overseas lands into the territory of the Ming Dynasty
Zhang Zhoudao “based on the instructions for shipbuilding in Jiangnan, according to the minister’s drawings. The big ship built is stillIt has not been completed yet, only a few medium-sized ships have been built. If they want to sail across the ocean, I'm afraid they will have to wait until after February. But I am afraid that in the next few months, hurricanes will be rampant at sea."
Before going to sea, Zhang Zhou must explain all the difficulties of going to sea.
It doesn't mean that if you send a fleet, you will definitely reap rewards. If the ship never comes back, there will be no news from now on. Don't let the courtiers blame me and say that I caused them harm.
Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "There are strong winds and waves on the sea. If we encounter extreme weather again, any accident is possible, but we can't stop eating because of choking. Didn't you say, Bingkuan, that the territory of the Western Ocean? Some foreigners have discovered it, and they will conquer it in the future, so hurry up. ”
Zhang Zhou said, “Your Majesty, my idea is that when I go to sea for the first time, I will mainly explore the location of overseas places and successfully retrieve the rhizomes, seeds, etc. of several food crops proposed by me to facilitate the Ming Dynasty. Widely grown. Prepare to go to sea in the future. "
"When will we go to sea?" Zhu Youtang seemed impatient.
Zhang Zhou saw that the emperor was so straightforward, so he had nothing to avoid and said, "Your Majesty, there is a fleet going to Nanyang. With the experience, combined with a few new ships, even smaller ones, we can immediately order to go to sea. "
"Okay. "
Zhu Youtang said, "I have been waiting for a long time. If I can fundamentally change the national destiny of the Ming Dynasty through one voyage, and use this to conquer the four seas, it will be even more powerful than the Tatar aliens who conquered northern Xinjiang. Makes sense. Bingkuan, do you have a nautical chart?"
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "In fact, before I went north and returned to Beijing, I had left a nautical chart, and even left a lot of plans for going to sea, including how to deal with various situations. Strategies for emergencies. As long as there are enough artillery and muskets, and hundreds of soldiers, it depends on God's good will to successfully bring back what you want from overseas. "Please remember to bookmark, the latest and fastest website without anti-theft and free reading