Chapter 265: The whole world belongs to Ming Dynasty
Seeing that Zhang Yanling believed so firmly in the theory that the earth is a sphere, Zhu Houzhao also smiled with satisfaction.
In Zhu Houzhao's view, it is very meaningful for the people of the Ming Dynasty to believe in recognizing the concept of "earth". In this way, they can start to learn to question some of the concepts of the ancients, and even basically let them know the different hypotheses of the ancients. It needs to be verified through practice, which is very helpful for the development of Han people's thinking.
In addition, making the people of the Ming Dynasty believe in the concept of "Earth" can also really broaden the horizons of the people of the Ming Dynasty and convince them that their empire is not the center of the world. The outside world is still very big, and there is even a lot of wealth that can be mined. and resources.
The property brought back from the ocean voyage proved this, and the concept of "earth" was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, which made the people of the Ming Dynasty know in theory and consciousness that the Ming Empire was not a central country, and there were many resources outside that the Ming Dynasty needed to seize.
At this time, Xia Yan and Zhang Yanling were undoubtedly the first to recognize the concept of "earth", especially Xia Yan. As a politician, he thought further than Zhang Yanling about how Ming Dynasty should deal with this geographical problem. Big discovery.
Therefore, Xia Yan immediately raised his hand and said, "Your Majesty, can I borrow the globe on your Majesty's desk?"
Xia Yan smoothly called the wooden globe on Zhu Houzhao's desk a globe, and Zhu Houzhao didn't feel embarrassed and just nodded.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Xia Yan came to the globe as he spoke, pointed at the globe and said: "Your Majesty, please see, there is no doubt that the earth is a sphere. In this case, the land above may really exist, south of the Spice Islands (Indonesia) If this continent really exists, and if the Antarctic land, the Arctic land, and the continent (South America) that Marquis Jianchang passed through also exist, then we cannot take it lightly!
And according to the voyages of Chen and Marquis Jianchang over the years, there are not many people and towns in many lands, such as Africa. Even the voyage records of Sanbao's father-in-law at that time mentioned that their fleet had been to the Spice Islands and beyond. The southern continent (Australia) is also almost uninhabited. From this point of view, there are still many places in the world that no one has set foot on.
But now, the Western Yi country is like Fo Langji, and they have set up monuments everywhere to say that it is their territory. Our Ming Dynasty cannot follow them. Don't you know that the whole world is not the king's land, and the shores of the land are not the king's ministers. Our Ming Dynasty We must occupy these uninhabited or barbaric lands as soon as possible, otherwise we are afraid that in the future, the country of the Western Barbarians will gain an advantage. If Mongolia in the two Song Dynasties ended up becoming a big trouble for us in the Central Plains!
Therefore, I ask your Majesty to immediately strengthen the army and develop maritime affairs. Before the Western Yi Kingdom carves up the entire earth, expand the territory of our Ming Dynasty and use the benefits of the four seas to consolidate our Ming Dynasty! ”
After Xia Yan finished speaking, he cupped his hands and looked at Zhu Houzhao emotionally.
Zhang Yanling also cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, Shilang Xia is right. Those Western barbarian countries only have three or four ships (three ships when Vasco da Gama opened a new route) to open up new territories and return laden with gold. Even if we, the Ming Dynasty, dare to At that time, Grandpa Sanbao had more than 200 ships and more than 20,000 officers and soldiers. How could he lose to them! I also ask your Majesty to transfer all the New World to the Ming Dynasty!"
"Accurate!"
Zhu Houzhao had long wanted to turn the Ming Dynasty into an empire on which the sun never sets, but he suffered from the fact that not many people took the initiative to propose it, so he could only rely on the power of his own emperor to use administrative orders to colonize the sea. Nowadays, it is rare for a civil servant or a distinguished member of the court to take the initiative. If you ask yourself, the emperor, to seize the world, you will naturally not refuse to agree.
After Zhu Houzhao agreed, Xia Yan and Zhang Yanling hurriedly said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise!"
However, Xia Yan and Zhang Yanling also secretly laughed in their hearts at what His Majesty would do next.
Zhu Houzhao only looked at Liu Jin: "Prepare ink and draft the decree!"
With that, Zhu Houzhao said: "Let the world know that all the land and seas on the earth are owned by the Ming royal family. Only the people of the Ming Dynasty have the right to reclaim and settle these lands and seas after obtaining the emperor's permission. There are also these lands and seas." The high altitude above the ocean is also our airspace!”
Xia Yan couldn't help being shocked. He glanced at the globe and found that His Majesty's words were equivalent to turning the entire earth into the territory of the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Houzhao thought that Portugal and Spain had signed a treaty to carve up the world at this time, saying that the west of the Atlantic Ocean belonged to Spain and the east of the Atlantic Ocean belonged to Portugal. Spain even directly claimed that the territories adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean belonged to the Spanish royal family. As the Ming Emperor, how could he Let their ambitions succeed, and the world can only belong to the Ming Dynasty!
As for that treaty, can it be considered a treaty if it is not recognized by the Ming Empire? So what if it was presided over by the Pope? The Ming Dynasty did not need to give him the face of the Roman Pope.
Therefore, Zhu Houzhao directly issued such an edict and directly told Xia Yan: "Now, I appoint you Xia Yan as the Minister of Nanyang and the Admiral of the Navy Department of the Guards, the governor of maritime military and political affairs, and the title of Minister of the Ministry of War, responsible for overall management All routes and new territory construction (colonial construction) of Ming Dynasty! ”
Xia Yan did not expect that Emperor Zhu Houzhao would let him directly take charge of this maritime affairs, and he was naturally very excited: "I accept the decree! Thank you for your kindness!"
"Jianchang Marquis Zhang Yanling heard the decree. I will confer you the title of Duke of Chang Kingdom in recognition of your achievements in global navigation. I also decided to name the South American strait Jianchang Strait, establish Jianchang Province, establish three divisions, and appoint you Zhang Yanling as governor. Jianchang's military affairs will open up territory for our Ming Dynasty! How big the jurisdiction of Jianchang Province depends on how much territory you can open up," Zhu Houzhao told Zhang Yanling.
Although he once again had to risk his life to stay away from his hometown and even go to a barbaric land, when he saw that Zhu Houzhao wanted to give his country the title of Duke and also let one of his relatives work as an official abroad, Zhang Yanling had no intention of refusing and was busy. Thanks.
Xia Yan originally wanted to persuade Emperor Zhu Houzhao not to let a foreign relative become an official, but he thought that the Americas were far away across the ocean. If a foreign relative went to such a place to serve as an official, he would not have to worry about the relative interfering in politics, and now he had real experience in sailing in South America. It was Zhang Yanling, so he didn't say anything.
"Now, Xia Qing, you need to build more shipyards as soon as possible, build more warships, and also have reserves of ordnance and food. You also need to train more sailors and naval officers for me. My uncle will follow Xia Qing's instructions. Recharge your batteries and be ready to open up territory for me at any time!”
As Zhu Houzhao spoke, he called the two of them to a map: "Look, here in Guangdong and Guangxi, there is a place called Haojing (Macau). This is the port that I ordered Lin Tingxuan, Wang Hong and others to develop in Guangdong and Guangxi. And this place hopes to control four routes in the future;
The first one is the route to Siam-Mulaka-Goa (Goa, India)-Cape Verde;
The second is the route to Japan;
The third is the route to Luzon-South America;
The fourth is the route to the Spice Islands.
In this way, Haojing can undoubtedly become a shipping center to countries around the world.
Now, what we have to do is to take Haojing as the starting point and control these four routes. As long as we control these four routes, most of the commercial profits on the entire earth will be in our hands. At the same time, we can also use this Build a stronghold and control the Atlantic Ocean in the future!
Therefore, Xia Qing, you need to go to Haojing now and make sure to build it into the shipping center of the Ming Dynasty!
And uncle, you are in South America. Now we have strongholds in Ceuta and Cape Verde. When the time comes, I will send ministers to the mainland south of the Spice Islands. With Hao Jing as the center, South America, Ceuta, Cape Verde and so on. With the southern continent as our base, our Ming Dynasty can turn the entire Pacific and Indian Oceans into our Ming Dynasty's inland seas! ”
When Zhu Houzhao said this, Xia Yan couldn't help but get excited: "Your Majesty, in that case, now we need to gradually open up and control these four routes. The first one should be from Haojing to Goa and then to Cape Verde and Ceuta. This route, India The high-quality pepper, hematoxylin, ivory, sandalwood and other products can be transported directly to Haojing by our Ming officials and merchants to be exchanged for Ming soap, glass, porcelain, silk, and then transported to the Ottomans and Western Yi to be exchanged for silver! ”
"The route from Haojing to South America is also very important, and now only my Ming ship has been there. I can directly transport the silver from South America back, and their cloves and ebony can also be directly transported back. I'm here While sailing, I saw endless giant trees and countless silver mines! ”
Zhang Yanling said.
"What you all said makes sense. Xia Qing, go to Haojing and start thinking of ways to gradually take the route from Haojing to Ceuta for me from the hands of the Francois. I want to go to the Mediterranean in ten years;
And uncle, you are going to establish this route from the Ming Dynasty to South America for me now. It is best to kill the Franji people you see in the future, and then turn the land there into my Ming Dynasty territory. There is a narrow land there (the Isthmus of Panama). Let me occupy that place and I can open a navigable waterway from there in the future! ”
When Zhu Houzhao said this, Xia Yan and Zhang Yanling hurriedly cupped their hands and said, "I'll wait for you to receive the order!"
Zhu Houzhao didn't say anything more. Although he had given a series of instructions now, this kind of global management undertaking was not easy to accomplish. First, it would take at least half a year to train manpower, build warships and firearms, and raise food.
Therefore, Zhu Houzhao put the matter aside for the time being and continued to ask Zhang Yanling: "Have you brought the sweet potatoes back?"
"I brought back a boatload. I have bought a piece of land in Taiwan and asked people to cultivate it first. I also brought a batch to Beijing so that Your Majesty can have a taste. It is indeed very sweet," Zhang Yanling said.
"No need, all of it will be researched and cultivated by the agricultural science department of the Ming Dynasty Academy of Sciences, and then promoted as soon as possible. What Ming Dynasty needs most in the future is food."
Zhu Houzhao said.
(End of chapter)