Daming Yinghua

Chapter 76 A Gift for General Ma

"You, know this?"

Gullit asked in surprise.

Zheng Haizhu imitated the iconic gesture of the Dutch uncle's favorite envoy, shrugged and said: "We can know the insects that make dyes, why can't we know the telescope?"

The translator at the side continued to be stunned, not knowing how to translate "telescope" into Dutch.

Of course, Zheng Haizhu didn't know how to say telescope in Dutch, but she didn't want to reveal more English words, so she asked the interpreter to express it as "you can see things very far away clearly".

Hearing her explanation, Eunuch Liu also stood up from the chair, walked over with his sleeves behind his back, and his eyes fell on the long copper tube hanging around Gullit's waist.

"Azhu, can this thing see far?" Eunuch Liu asked.

Zheng Haizhu remembered that Liu Shimin once said that he had seen Matteo Ricci present Western specialties to Emperor Wanli in the palace, and in the second year after the Dutch invented the telescope, the Italian Galileo caught up and invented the astronomical telescope.

If Liu Shimin doesn't know this thing, it's probably because Matteo Ricci, an Italian, didn't show it.

This is similar to the records of later generations.

The Ming army did not use binoculars in major military operations such as the Three Great Expeditions of Wanli.Then, the telescope should be widely recognized and used by the Ming people from the time of Tianqi to Chongzhen.

Zheng Haizhu made up a story in a serious manner: "Returning to my father-in-law, when Ah Zhu's elder brother was still alive a few years ago, he had seen missionaries from Western and Western countries and knew about this kind of equipment. My father-in-law is no stranger to reading glasses, right? In fact, if two lenses Overlapping at a distance, you can see far away."

Liu Shimin couldn't hear it clearly, but he was so sophisticated, he didn't show a very strange impression, he just nodded indifferently.

The interpreter did not dare to translate this passage in real time, but Gullit, who is very good at observing words and expressions, judged from Zheng Haizhu's gestures that this bright woman is knowledgeable. Most likely, they also knew it from Italian or German missionaries.

The cunning Gullit immediately changed his color to participate in the research and asked: "It sounds like you are no strangers to telescopes, why would you exchange such a precious fan with me?"

Zheng Haizhu wrote lightly: "We have crystal-ground spectacle lenses and glass-fired spectacle lenses, but they are more expensive, so I want to see the material of your telescope. Just hang it on the belt buckle casually, sir. Want to buy a telescope It’s very cheap in your mainland, and it’s not a secret. As for our fan, it’s not difficult for a craftsman from the Ming Dynasty to embroider it. We just change our expertise. If your compatriots are rare about this fan, don’t forget to share with that fan. Dresses, come and place an order with us."

Gullit blinked, pondered for a moment, and thought it was true. Governor Cohen said that the Ming Empire even translated "Elements of Geometry". How could they not understand such a simple principle as a telescope.

Anyway, this thing is worth five "horse sword" silver coins (referring to the currency issued by the Dutch East India Company, 1 horse sword coin = 6 silver coins). On my own galleon, there are more than [-] telescopes for navigation .And the exquisite fan in the woman's hand is worth at least [-] horse sword silver coins, if given to the governor, it will definitely win joy.

The Dutch generously untied the telescope and gave it to Liu Shimin.

Eunuch Liu reacted quickly, handed it to Zheng Haizhu, and smiled kindly: "What you exchanged for embroidery is yours."

Zheng Haizhu understood and knew that Liu Shimin couldn't use it.

She was about to walk to the gate and look out at the ships on the sea when Ma Xianglin stepped into the courtyard.

Ma Xianglin told Liu Shimin that he had agreed with Cai Feng, deputy envoy of Xunhai Road, that Dutch sailboats could enter the port, but all firearms on board had to be unloaded on a nearby small island, and the Ming army guarded the island.When loading and unloading goods, Xun Haidao and Ma Xianglin had to send someone to watch on the shore.

No matter how important the emperor's trusted servant Liu Shimin was, he also knew that Yuegang's coastal defense was a serious matter, so he agreed without hesitation.

After the Dutch understood it, they were also very satisfied. After all, they saved a lot of money.

Both parties were very happy, and under the witness of the officials, they signed the sales contract, paid the deposit, and agreed to ship tomorrow.

Zheng Haizhu was watching from the sidelines, and suddenly remembered the smell of lavender on Cai Feng, the Deputy Envoy of the Sea Patrol, and wanted to ask Gullit a question to confirm his guess. up.

After Gullit and his party left, Liu Shimin, under the guidance of Zheng Haizhu, studied the telescope for a while, and suddenly said seriously: "Azhu, did you aim at this thing from the Hongyi people early in the morning and want to give it to someone?"

Zheng Haizhu looked at Ma Xianglin generously and said, "Yes, I want to give it to General Ma. Eunuch Liu must understand that this thing is not only useful for sailing, but also useful for fighting."

Ma Xianglin's heart moved, he took the binoculars handed over by Liu Shimin, climbed up the banyan tree in the courtyard with a few steps, and raised the lens tube towards the vast sea waves outside the wall.

The distant ship suddenly became closer and larger, and even the cables on the deck could be clearly seen.

Liu Shimin under the tree smiled and said: "The hero who gets this thing will surely be like a tiger with wings on the battlefield. Not to mention this red-haired fan, it's really a good gift."

He turned his head, but was facing Zheng Haizhu's eyes as deep as the bottom of an ancient well.

"Elder-in-law, Ah Zhu faintly feels that these red-haired fans will be more ruthless than the Frankies and the Japanese Japanese back then."

……

Three days later, Zheng Haizhu, carrying a small burden on his back, got into a carriage from the official station of Haicheng County and headed south to Longxi County.

She didn't bring her close female companion Fan Polu, the reason was that she was asked to look at the clothes of those fan merchants in Yuegang, and remember the style of clothing from the perspective of a small tailor.

Ma Xianglin wanted to send two Sichuan troops to follow her, but she also declined.

"General Ma, in the eyes of my clan, I am a bad girl who will litigate with my relatives and fight over real estate. I just want to go to the graves of my parents, brother and sister-in-law to pay homage this time, and I don't want to alarm others."

Ma Xianglin knew that she was self-respecting and assertive, so he stopped insisting.

Also under the rule of Zhangzhou Prefecture, Longxi County is only [-] miles away from Haicheng County, but the mountain road along the way is rugged, and the horse-drawn carriage departed at the right time, and it took more than an hour to arrive at the post house in Longxi.

The postmaster is an old official who has always lived in the county. He doesn't know the Zheng family in the seaside villages and towns. Seeing Zheng Haizhu take out the imperial post coupon and seeing her combing the hairstyle of a woman who came out of the court, he just thinks it is some high-ranking official's errand woman He busily and attentively arranged to go to a secluded courtyard, separate from the male guests.

Zheng Haizhu ate some snacks given by the post station. Seeing that the sun was still high in the sky, he put on a gauze curtain hat that is common in Fujian, went out of the post station, and followed the route in his memory to find the mountain facing the sea and give it to Zheng Haizhu. In front of the graves of several ancestors of the family, incense sticks were offered, cakes and fruits were placed, and the surrounding wormwood was cleaned up.

For Miss Zheng's original body and God's nephew Zheng Shoukuan, after completing these tasks, Zheng Haizhu went to Taohuadu.

Although Taohuadu is also close to the sea, it is far from a decent wharf. The dilapidated sand boats moored here and there are mainly used to transport local people to the surrounding islands to dig shells and fish for seaweed.

Zheng Haizhu walked along the seashore to the ferry, and not long after standing quietly, he saw a boy about the same age as Shoukuan emerge from a tea pavilion not far away.

The young man carried a bag of mussels dripping with seawater, and said to Zheng Haizhu, "The farthest one is moored under the reef. Brother Yan is waiting for you."

Zheng Haizhu stared at his pair of clear but curious eyes, and asked coldly, "What brother Yan?"

The young man was taken aback, then grinned and said: "The girl is really careful. It is our head of the family, Brother Yan Siqi. The beach is open. He saw you with a telescope on the boat just now, so he asked me to come here to guide you. Brother Yan asked me to tell you , He prepared a Muramasa knife for you, so that you will not be afraid of sharks, and you can use it to pry oysters to eat."

This code is very special.

Zheng Haizhu pursed her lips, wiped off her guard, and nodded knowingly: "When I'm out alone, I have to be careful about everything, don't blame me, little brother."

The young man's eyes were clear: "It's okay, it should be so. Let's go. By the way, my younger brother is also surnamed Zheng."

(End of this chapter)