Steam Daming: Stop calling me to supervise the country

Chapter 259 The Great Ming Sage
Two months later, at the port of the Han River, with the early morning mist dissipating, and the slightly cold weather, Zhu Zhanchang tightened his clothes and waited for the warship from Guangzhou to come to the shore.

Zhu Zhanchang stayed in North Korea for two whole months, and it took a long time. The main reason was to train the selected children of North Korea and prepare them to go to Daming, and today is that day.

Under the leadership of King Li Xi, North Korea selected the first batch of thirty North Korean children, all of whom were the brightest, and received Chinese language training in a short period of time. Training, these children who are already reading, there is no problem with literacy.

Both Li Xi and the ministers attached great importance to this study abroad. This is an opportunity to deepen the relationship with Daming, and it is also an opportunity to learn the culture of Daming.

When the warship completely stopped, the teacher from Nanhai University walked down: "Wei Chen Yang An has seen His Royal Highness the Prince of Zhujiang County."

"Excuse me."

Zhu Zhanchang turned around and introduced to Li Yan and others: "This is Yang An, the dean of the Huaxia language branch of Nanhai University in Guangzhou. These North Korean students will need to study the language for a period of time before they can enter the school after arriving in Daming. ."

"There will be Dean Lao Yangan in the future."

"Your Excellency the King of Joseon is polite, this is the responsibility of the foreign ministers."

Because this is the first time, the election of this group of students is very fierce. In order to take care of the descendants of the ministers in North Korea, Zhu Zhanqian relaxed the age requirements for the students at the request of Li Yan. , half of whom were the heirs of courtiers.

The reason why Zhu Zhanchang didn't want those students with older grades was that to a large extent these students have already formed the three views of thinking. Although they will definitely have a sense of identity with Daming in the future, they are not as good as those who went out at the age of [-] or [-]. After all During their entire adolescence, the psychology from naive to mature is in Daming, and it is easier to develop a greater sense of identity and dependence on Daming.

I made an exception because it was the first time, but students who go to Daming from North Korea must be under the age of 14.

Yang An took out an item wrapped in oiled paper from the package and handed it to Zhu Zhanchang: "Your Highness, this is what you sent back to Nanhai University for students to study together. Now there is a preliminary result, they Let me bring it to you to see."

Open the parchment paper, there is a square cake, which is different from the wavy shape of modern instant noodles. It is a white dry long noodles, which is easy to crush and break.

"This is a cake made according to the powder drying process. After drying, it can be made like this, but it is not enough to meet His Highness's requirements. There are still big problems in long-distance transportation and preservation. We tried using oiled paper and wood. Boxes, even tin boxes, some cost too much and some don’t work well.”

Zhu Zhanchang looked at the dough in his hand, and it was true that it still did not meet the requirements, but after drying it in the factory, it should be able to be sold within a short distance, and such drying equipment has been improved to a certain extent. The overall cost will not be high.

Li Yan looked at the dough cake in Zhu Zhanchang's hand with surprise and asked, "What is this, Your Highness?"

"I named it instant noodles, which are simply noodles that are easy to eat and carry."

Li Yan was a little puzzled. Why did Zhu Zhanchang want to study this thing? Does the prince of the royal family still like to eat this kind of dry noodles? Let alone Zhu Zhanchang, all the ministers present or the wealthy businessmen of North Korea eat it. Not bad.

"I've been in North Korea these days and found that North Korea's food prices are much more expensive than Daming due to regional reasons. Now that business is open, I wonder if I can make a simple flour cake that can be used as the main food of North Korean people. I went to develop this kind of dried noodle, simmered for a few minutes, and added some seasonings to make a bowl of ramen with good taste.”

Li Xi was greatly astonished, Zhu Zhanchang actually thought about the ordinary people of North Korea so much, who is this person, what kind of ideological consciousness is this?This is a saint, or a foreign saint.

"His Royal Highness is so considerate of our Korean people, it really makes Xiao Wang ashamed."

"Uncle Third Brother, Xiaozhu often told me that I must observe the suffering of the people and know the livelihood of the people. Thanks to her frequent reminders, I can keep this heart forever. As the son-in-law of North Korea, this is my share. "

He arranged the way for North Korean students to study, and tried every means to create food for the North Korean people. Those corrupt officials had to shout a saint when they saw it.

"Uncle San, I plan to have people in Guangzhou build an instant noodle factory to North Korea. Although instant noodles can't be transported and stored over long distances, the storage in a short period of time after production is even easier than ordinary rice noodles. It is convenient, so mainly producing and selling in North Korea should improve the food situation of some people in North Korea.”

As a region with relatively scarce food resources, North Korea actually needs to import food, but the total amount of food in the trade between Daming and North Korea is not high, and the main problem is profit.

It’s too early to be profitable, and grain is the most important part of people’s livelihood. Li Xi has limited the sales price of imported grain. Now, businessmen from North Korea go to Daming to sell the goods and then buy and sell the grain by themselves, but because of the price , many merchants still reduce the amount of food they carry and turn to other commodities.

Therefore, although the people in North Korea have improved their food in recent years, they still use pickled fish and dried fish, as well as seafood soup with a small amount of staple food.

Zhu Zhanchang's introduction of instant noodles also introduced the grain trade of the Ming Dynasty into North Korea.

Due to Li Xi's grain trade policy, ordinary rice and wheat are difficult to sell at high prices, but the instant noodles produced after secondary processing are products made in North Korea, which can increase the price and ensure profits, and because of its low cost and simplification Even if the price of instant noodles is very cheap, it can still guarantee a relatively high profit.

Of course, a large part of this profit naturally belongs to the factories built by the Guangzhou government.

"In addition to this instant noodle factory, I plan to open some civilian appliance factories in Guangzhou to North Korea." Zhu Zhanchang intends to make the pots, pans, pans, tables, chairs, and stools used by North Koreans all products of Daming, so as to make further profits. Take foreign currency.

Products are exported, and gold and silver flow into China.

But Li Xi is a smart person, he understands that when everything uses Daming's products, North Korea will lose its own production capacity, and suddenly fall into a dilemma.

"Uncle Third, originally I wanted the steam engine factory to come too."

As soon as these words came out, the eyes of Li Xi and his ministers lit up. What is a steam engine?The economic take-off of Daming in recent years is due to the steam engine. Daming's warships dominate the sea, so that Japanese pirates dare not approach Daming's territory, relying on steam engines to propel the warships.

There are many people who want to imitate the Ming Dynasty to build a steam engine, but all of them end in failure.

The level of craftsmen and basic forging and smelting in these places in Dongying, North Korea is far from the same level as the Ming Dynasty before the advent of steam engines.

Back then, the firearms made by Daming were far more sophisticated than the ones they came from. If it wasn't for such basic manufacturing capabilities, it would be impossible for Zhu Zhanchang and Zhang San and others to make a prototype in a short period of time.

Now Zhu Zhanchang proposes to build a steam engine factory in North Korea, how can this make Li Xi not excited.

"Your Highness, is it really possible to build a steam engine factory in North Korea?"

"I have this idea. After all, steam engines are used in many places to build factories. In the future, the cost of transporting large demand from Daming is too high. It is better to manufacture steam engines locally in North Korea. There is no way to disclose it to the public, and there will definitely be opportunities in the future.”

Pie art works everywhere.

And Zhu Zhanchang also clearly stated the demand. You don't have enough factories in North Korea to match the production of steam engines. Why should I build it?That must get me opening the factory.

Li Xi didn't hesitate, but said, "When His Royal Highness opens a factory in North Korea, you can arrange for someone to come over at any time, contact us through the embassy in Daming, and I will arrange for someone to do my best to cooperate."

"Uncle San is worthy of being called Haidong Yao and Shun. He is really a good king who thinks about the people."

"By the way, after the arrangements for the students, I will set off for Dongying in a few days."

Li Xi said reluctantly, "Your Highness, please stay longer. The courtiers of North Korea admire His Highness very much and hope that His Highness will stay longer so that we can entertain His Highness."

"No, no, my trip was originally going to Dongying, but because I am the son-in-law of North Korea, I felt that I had to come to North Korea. This trip has been staying for a long time, and I have to leave early."

A group of people wanted to persuade Zhu Zhanchang to stay for a while longer, but Zhu Zhanchang had already decided to leave, and they had no choice.

After seeing the students off at the port, Li Yu said goodbye to Zhu Zhanchang and returned to the palace, to his study, with only three or five members of the North Korean cabinet beside him.

North Korea's political system is almost the same as the entire class copied from Daming.

When Zheng Lingzhi saw Li Yan's somewhat worried expression, he immediately said eagerly: "Your Highness, Your Highness, you must not allow the Prince of Zhujiang County to be so comprehensive. If North Korea relies on Daming for everything, what will happen in the future? Our North Korea The people will be fully a part of Ming."

But there are other ministers who have different opinions: "Zheng Xueshi, North Korea and Daming have a close relationship, Daming accepts our tribute, and the scholar, as the top Confucian scholar in Daming, also studied the Confucianism of Cheng and Zhu of Daming. What do you mean by saying that you want to break away from Daming?"

"Have I ever said that I want to break away from Daming, but Daming is Daming, North Korea is North Korea, and we North Korea have to strengthen ourselves." Zheng Linzhi refused to give an inch.

"Hmph, I am afraid that Zheng Xueshi just saw His Highness the Prince of Zhujiang County help North Korea like this, and Zheng Xueshi said that because he opposed large-scale trade with Daming before. You are completely for your own selfishness and disregard the interests of the North Korean people."

The open and secret struggles of the North Korean court are no less than that of the Ming Dynasty, and even more intense, and the mutual defeat is more straightforward.

"I, Zheng Linzhi, consider everything for North Korea, and have no selfishness." Zheng Linzhi directly stated his attitude and position in front of Li Yan.

But fighting in the court can never be explained by a promise, and it is useless to swear.

Li Yan was a little distressed. Zhu Zhanchang considered everything for North Korea from the perspective of being the son-in-law of North Korea, and the plans he proposed seemed to help North Korea's development, but as Zheng Lingzhi said, North Korea's dependence on Daming is only will get stronger.

But what if North Korea doesn't rely on Daming?

In recent years, the situation in North Korea has become better, but before they were bullied and driven away by the people on the grasslands, looted by the Dongying people, and sought refuge from the Daming tribute. The Daming's blessing to North Korea has historical precedents. They only Can rely on Daming.

"Ladies and gentlemen, you should have heard of the Daming steamship that was sent back by merchant ships some time ago to carry out the mission of exterminating pirates in the waters in the middle of Dongying, North Korea."

Everyone nodded. The frequent maritime activities of Daming in the past two months have made the steam mothership that many surrounding merchant ships have seen. Maybe they have never seen the appearance of a fleet battle, but just looking at such a fleet from a distance makes it difficult for them. People are afraid.

"Da Ming's warships are so powerful, and Da Ming's fighting spirit is so strong. Last year, they swept the grasslands, and the Otartars were all vassals. Taisun led the troops to drink the horses. , and this has not yet used their strongest sea power, so we North Korea can only rely on one way." Li Yan obviously thought much more than Zheng Lingzhi and others thought.

He did not unilaterally accept Zhu Zhanchang's offering so happily, not because Zhu Zhanchang said that he wanted to give North Korea some benefits and smiled, but after weighing it, he decided that following Daming was far more cost-effective than rejecting Daming.

Attachment, the only way to go is attachment, and Zhu Zhanchang is really good to North Korea, and all kinds of help, what reason is there to refuse.

"Da Ming has always treated defectors extremely favorably. Our North Korea has been a country under the Ming Dynasty from the early days. With such a strong national power, we have no choice."

When Li Xi said this, there was still a hint of helplessness.

Zheng Lingzhi still didn't give up: "King, let's create our own writing, create our own Korean cultural heritage, we are Koreans, not Daming people."

"I am afraid that Zheng Xueshi is suffering from paranoia." The rest of the cabinet obviously disapproved of Zheng Lingzhi: "How can writing be so easy to create, and the origin of Chinese writing is so popular, how can it be compared to ordinary randomly created writing."

Zheng Lingzhi was about to come up with his own text template, but Li Xi slammed the table to stop the ministers' quarrel, and also prevented Zheng Lingzhi from taking out his own text template.

"Daming is thousands of miles away, and the steam warships stand on the sea. They attacked the grasslands and attacked Chagatai at the same time and won it within a year or more. We North Korea have no power to fight against Daming, and the treatment that Daming gave North Korea can not be described as If you are not good, you can't be deficient in people's hearts, you can't get the grace of others, and you are thinking of plotting against others behind your back.

Li Xi's words are very obvious. He is an ambitious person and a person who knows current affairs. In the face of Daming's power, it is obviously a wiser choice to conform.

"The prince of Zhujiang County is the concubine of the North Korean princess, and the concubine of the prince of Lanzhou is also the princess of North Korea. You can't be disrespectful to Daming again."

In the face of military power and cultural power, he sighed, but there was nothing he could do.

(End of this chapter)