Daming Greedy Wolf Star

Chapter 126 Zheng He's Words
Moving the capital to Shuntian, compiling the Yongle Canon, and supporting Zheng He's voyages to the West, these are the three most costly things that Zhu Di has done during the Yongle period.

The first two things are easy to understand. The move of the dynasty is a big deal, and it must cost a lot of money.

From the very beginning, Zhu Di’s purpose for the officials who compiled the Yongle Canon was to “collect all the books of classics and history from all schools of thought, as well as the words of astronomy, topography, yin and yang, medicine and divination, monks and Taoism, and skills, all in one book. ".

I also know that such a book requires consulting a large number of classics, and visiting almost all places in Ming Dynasty. There are not many people who need to use it, and it is impossible not to burn money.

There is no dispute about these two matters, but there are many people who hold different opinions about Zheng He's voyages.

Many people think that Zheng He's voyages were not purely to promote national prestige, but also had a commercial nature. Silk and tea in the Central Plains are best-sellers, and it is impossible not to make money.

But in fact, Zheng He's voyages really burned money, at least in the early stage.

First of all, building a treasure ship is a very expensive thing. As the ship with the largest displacement, the highest load capacity, and the largest number of people in the same period, it is really expensive to manufacture.

Secondly, Ming has a large number of dependent countries, but except for North Korea, which is very close or even directly borders, most of the others are dependent countries in name.

In fact, I also want to know that there are many dependent countries that no one other than the treasure fleet has visited in the Ming Dynasty. There is no benefit. Why should they be your dependent countries.

Since you can't reach them, and they have to pay tribute every year, who would do such a loss-making business?
Yes, the treasure fleet can arrive, and the combat effectiveness of the treasure fleet is not low. It has won several battles on the way to the west, but how long is the round-trip cycle of the treasure fleet?

Two years is the bottom line, three years is normal, and there are longer ones. If you want to hide on purpose, can't you hide?

Therefore, these dependent countries will pay tribute with the treasure fleet every time, and the emperor of Ming Dynasty will also reward them.

This reward is at least equal to the value of the tribute, or even more. Otherwise, not many people are willing to be inferior and spend money every year as a vassal state.

This is also the reason why Zhu Gaochi stopped voyages to the West as soon as he succeeded to the throne, because Zhu Gaochi has always wanted to rest with the people, and voyages to the West does not conform to his point of view.

And that's not all.

The treasure fleet will bring back some envoys from various countries every time. It costs money to arrange the board and lodging of these envoys, and they have to be served with delicious food and drink, not to mention that Zhu Di will hold banquets in the palace to entertain these envoys. Minister.

Therefore, when Xia Yuanji heard about this, his eyes turned black.

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Yingtian Mansion, Imperial Palace, Fengtian Hall.

Generally speaking, Fengtian Temple will not be activated, and it will only be activated when encountering extremely important and formal matters.

For example, canonizing the prince, receiving envoys and so on.

On weekdays, the early and early dynasties are located in the Fengtian Gate in front of Fengtian Temple, which shows how high the regulations of Fengtian Temple are.

This time Zheng He returned from the ocean and brought back a large number of envoys from other countries. On this occasion, Zhu Di naturally wanted to meet those envoys in Fengtian Hall.

In Fengtian Hall, Zhu Di sat high on the dragon chair, and Prince Zhu Gaochi stood at the bottom, waiting quietly.

Perhaps, Zheng He, who returned from the ocean, may be the only one who can make Zhu Di arrive and wait in advance.

"Zheng He, the eunuch of the inner palace, the director of the Municipal Shipping Department, and the commander of the Ocean Treasure Fleet, Zheng He, I have an audience with you!"

Suddenly, the eunuch outside Fengtian Hall shouted loudly, and all the people in Fengtian Hall stood up straight, even Zhu Di sat up straight, and looked towards the direction of the door in unison.

After a long time, Zheng He strutted into the Fengtian Hall.

"My subject, Zheng He, kowtow to the emperor, and the emperor bows to me!"

Zheng He wore white clothes and a black cloak. When he walked, the cloak behind him moved with the air current, which made many officials in the hall sigh.

Among the eunuchs, there was no one who could reach Zheng He's position before, and I'm afraid there will be no one in the future.

"Zhen An!" Zhu Di waved his hand, even stood up, and went down the steps to Zheng He himself, followed by Prince Zhu Gaochi.

"After one or two years, Ma Bao, you have experienced a lot of vicissitudes."

Looking at Zheng He in front of him, Zhu Di suddenly sighed.

"Your Majesty is serious, this is what I should do." Zheng He bowed his head and said.

Among the group of eunuchs, other dynasties are unknown, but in the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He was the only one who could call himself a minister.

"Get up." Zhu Di personally supported Zheng He, patted his shoulder, and said loudly.

"Ma Bao, I led a horse for me when I was the King of Yan, and I was the forward of my right army when Jing Nan was in trouble. If you want to talk about battles, you are definitely not inferior to a generation of famous generals!"

"In these years, I have led the treasure fleet to go to the oceans, cut through the waves, and made my country of Ming Dynasty famous overseas. It is the hero of my Ming Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty's praise." Zheng He arched his hands and bent down.

"Relying on the majesty of the emperor, and also relying on the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He dared to cherish his own body in this prosperous age?"

"Well, well said!" Zhu Di patted Zheng He's shoulder heavily.

"Okay, let's talk privately after we go to the harem. Now let's meet the envoys from various countries, don't neglect them."

"Boss!"

"My son is here."

Zhu Di patted Zhu Gaochi on the shoulder, turned around and returned to the high dragon chair.

"Thank you." Zhu Gaochi returned to his seat, and Zheng He followed behind him.

"Where is His Highness the Crown Prince? This is what Ma Bao should do." Without Zhu Di, Zheng He's tone was much more relaxed.

But as soon as he turned around, Zheng He lowered his tone.

"His Royal Highness, do you know about His Royal Highnesses King Han and King Zhao? I heard that His Majesty ordered the Northern Expedition not long ago, could it be..."

"Yeah." Zhu Gaochi nodded.

"The third brother led an army of 20 in the Northern Expedition this time, as for the second brother..."

After a long pause, Zhu Gaochi opened his mouth and said, "If you go to Yunnan, you will go to Fan."

"Jiu Fan?" Zheng He was taken aback when he heard this, but then he thought of something.

"Your Highness, when I came back, I passed by Annan, and saw the thick smoke rising into the sky. Could it be related to the King of Han?"

"Well, it does have something to do with it." Zhu Gaochi nodded, but immediately changed the subject.

Although Zheng He has always been close to him and alienated King Han and King Zhao, Zhu Gaochi still doesn't want to talk to him about some things.

However, Zheng He didn't want to, because he still had something to tell Zhu Gaochi.

"Your Highness." Zheng He looked around, and said in a low voice after making sure that everyone was paying attention to the envoys who had already started to worship in the hall.

"Before I set off this time, many unfamiliar faces were placed in the Shibo Department. There were more than 200 people. I had someone check it out. It was the King of Han who sent someone to insert them."

"Oh?" Zhu Gaochi's ears perked up immediately.

(End of this chapter)