Jingnan Strategy

Chapter 404: Ocean Cape Kunlun

"Oh, I left this time. I really don't know when I will come back next time..."

In July, by the rolling Yangtze River, Zhu Gaochi sighed a few times with his hands behind his back.

The belly that I had when I came from Kunming has disappeared, and my whole body has become somewhat slim and well-proportioned.

But his sad temperament didn't last long, and a voice came from behind him: "Just don't go back to the fief and continue to eat fat."

"Ah?" When Zhu Gaochi heard this, he quickly turned around and looked at Zhu Gaoxu behind him, with a look of resentment on his face:
"Second brother, you know that this is my hobby..."

"You have more than just this hobby." Zhu Gaoxu rolled his eyes at him: "Dad and I know how many women there are in Prince Han's Mansion better than you."

"Ah?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaochi's face turned red:

"Ahem, men are nothing more than wine, sex and wealth, you know..."

Zhu Gaochi wanted to say that Zhu Gaoxu also understood, but after thinking about it, he did not seem to see Zhu Gaoxu drinking and making money. He had many concubines, but I heard that he did not play very often.

While Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaosui were sailing away, a huge fleet also approached a long corner protruding from the mainland.

Zheng He and the others did not continue to act, but put away the sails. While waiting for the news from Chen Zuo and the others, they could not help but comment on the more than two months of sailing.

After communication, they discovered that a lot of gold sand could be found in many rivers in Kunlun Continent, and the presence of gold sand meant there were gold mines.

As long as the miners are sent out, they may find the mine, and it is a mine of gold. Why should I say anything about its value?
Zheng He pretended to be embarrassed, and finally, after collecting a lot of bribes from businessmen and business gangs from various countries, he finally nodded and asked the miners to go search for gold mines.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Gaochi with disgust. Zhu Gaochi waved his hand immediately after hearing this: "Go, go, where did you say that my eldest brother has a sly eyebrow?"

"Chen Zuo and Wang Ren, you each separate your warships to see if, as His Highness said, there is a natural harbor suitable for anchoring near the Cape of Good Hope."

"Brother, have you been to Mobei?" Zhu Gaoxu's words made Zhu Gaochi choked and speechless.

At least compared to him who often sleeps with three or five people, Zhu Gaoxu is considered conservative.

Originally, Zhu Gaochi thought that the old man should not know that he would return to his fiefdom early and secretly eat, drink and entertain himself at his house.

"There is only one person left in this capital. If dad still wants to go to the north, you can persuade him. It's bitterly cold in Mobei..."

"I won't talk to you anymore. I'm afraid you'll piss me off, so I'm leaving..."

"When I go back this time, there should be a lot of changes along the way. If brother is interested, he can record it in a letter and have someone pass it on to me."

"Boss, let's go!"

"Forget it." Zhu Gaochi couldn't think of it for the time being, so he didn't continue thinking about it. He just said to Zhu Gaoxu:

"Based on the distance, it should be right here!"

After nearly three years of sailing, they finally reached the end of this ocean voyage.

"This time you go back to Kunming. I don't know when the next time you and I will meet. You should take good care of yourself. I don't want to see you walking in front of dad..."

Chen Xuan's words were somewhat complaining, but Zheng He shook his head helplessly after hearing this:
"I don't know either, but what His Highness said makes sense. If we don't give some sweeteners to the vassal state and private business gangs, how can they continue to support the imperial court's voyages to the West?"

How happy they were when they came, but how sad they are now.

On the boat, Zhu Gaojiao stuck out his head and shouted. Zhu Gaochi immediately became anxious when he heard this. He looked at Zhu Gaosui and scolded: "Look at you, why are you talking? Brother is not even willing to shout?"

"Are you cursing me or what?" Zhu Gaochi felt a little unlucky. After all, the old man was almost fifty, and he was only thirty-one and in his prime.

Zhu Gaoxu patted Zhu Gaochi and looked at his slightly well-proportioned figure. He didn't know how long this figure could last.

Two months ago, Zheng He and the others, who set out from Mugu Dushu, arrived at Ma Lindi and began to lead businessmen from various countries and the Ming Dynasty merchant gang to explore the area.

They made the request to leave Beijing themselves, because the old man was too capable of tormenting them.

Zhu Gaochi can only eat vegetarian food, Zhu Gaosui cannot entertain, and the two of them cannot have sex with women...

"Your Highness actually asked you to take them to find gold and silver. I still can't figure out why he didn't let us find it ourselves."

Standing on the deck of the boat in the long wind and waves, looking at the blue sea, Zheng He and Chen Xuan started a conversation with unspeakable emotions.

"Is this the Kunlun Cape?"

"What are you thinking with such a sly look?"

But Zhu Gaoxu's words directly shattered his illusions, and he could only find another place to eat and drink secretly.

"We're leaving soon, big brother!" Zhu Gaosui had no choice but to add, big brother.

It can be said that these requirements of Zhu Di almost cost the lives of the two brothers.

"Yes!"

Zhu Gaochi walked onto the boat as if he was having a bad temper, and Zhu Gaoxu also looked at his back with a smile on his lips.

After this news spread, businessmen from various countries turned their attention to Zheng He, because the voyage fleet had miners accompanying him.

"As long as Dad goes there in the summer and the water and grass in Mobei are fertile, there won't be a big problem."

Zhu Gaochi touched his double chin that no longer existed: "It's pretty good. As you said, it's like spring all year round."

Zhu Gaoxu helped Zhu Gaochi popularize the situation in Mobei in the impression of traditional Confucian scholars, and added: "Before, you vassalized Yunnan, and others said it was a barbaric land, but you said it yourself, how is Yunnan?"

"Isn't that enough?" Zhu Gaoxu shook his head and said, "Grandpa has long said, don't study hard. The Mobei you have in mind is only in books, not reality."

Chen Xuan gave the order, and Chen Zuo and Wang Ren also responded, and then went to other warships to disperse the fleet and spread it in all directions.

After a while, the big ship sailed out of Jiangdongmen Pier and drifted away, and Zhu Gaoxu also sighed and turned around to get on his carriage.

However, since the mission of the fleet was to sail to the Western Ocean, Zheng He left a thousand soldiers and horses to protect the merchants and miners from various countries, and then headed south with Chen Xuan towards the Cape of Good Hope.

Chen Xuan's complaint was not that Zheng He sent the miners, but that the miners had already received Zheng He's guidance and already knew where there were gold mines and where there were not.

Looking at Shandian Mine, the only person in the entire Ming Dynasty who had this ability was Zhu Gaoxu, who was sitting in the Chunhe Hall and managing politics.

As for how Zhu Gaoxu knew about the gold mine in Kunlun Continent, Chen Xuan didn't want to nor dared to know.

He only knew that if this map of the gold mine was given to him, then after his return this time, he would definitely request the establishment of a Xuanwei Division in Kunlun Cape instead of a simple officialdom.

As long as the Xuanwei Division is established and coupled with the temptation of local gold mines, Chen Xuan does not believe that anyone will refuse this temptation.

However, judging from Zhu Gaoxu's current intentions, he is not prepared to interfere in the affairs of Kunlun Continent, but wants to leave the affairs of Kunlun Continent to the private business gangs and various vassal states.

In Chen Xuan's opinion, this is like a meat bun beating a dog, and there is no return.

"It's easy to set up the Xuanwei Division, but after all, we have too few people. How can we mine gold here?"

Zheng He sighed and said to Chen Xuan, "Don't we want to follow Lu Song's example?"

"Then..." Chen Xuan said hesitantly: "That's for the sake of the court, there is no other way..."

Chen Xuan and Zheng He knew how the gold mines in Luzon were mined, but they couldn't say it openly. Once Jiangnan officials knew about it, they would probably start to show their "gentlemanly behavior" again. The wind's gone.

This is true for Luzon, not to mention Kunlun.

"There is no way, but everyone in the world wants to benefit. If all the benefits are taken by the imperial court, then this benefit will not last long."

"The reason why His Highness established Xiaoxiyang as a private trading zone is probably because of the mines in Kunlun Continent."

"Think about it, Ceylon and Malacca are both in our hands, and with these two customs, unless someone makes great efforts to go overland, there is absolutely no way to avoid the court's investigation."

"It doesn't matter if you mine gold or silver, but you must pay the mining lessons you need."

"Using the power of the vassals and the people and merchants to increase the tax revenue of the imperial court, why not?"

"I think what His Highness said is very good, eat what is in front of you first, and then plan for the future."

Zheng He quoted what Zhu Gaoxu once said to him, and Chen Xuan understood what he said: "You mean, Nanyang is the present, and Kunlun is the future?"

"That's pretty much what it means. And don't forget that we still have Nanzhou." Zheng He mentioned Nanzhou, which made Chen Xuan's eyes light up.

Indeed, compared to Kunlunzhou, Nanzhou is closer to the Ming Dynasty, but due to ocean currents and monsoon problems, it is not easy to get to Nanzhou from the north.

However, it is not easy to return. Compared to going to Kunlun Continent, Nanzhou is much easier.

"Forget it, I'd better take care of the fleet."

Chen Xuan also knew that he couldn't do this, so he might as well obey the orders honestly.

When Zheng He saw this, a smile appeared on his face, and he discussed some interesting things along the way with Chen Xuan.

While the two were chatting and laughing, the dispatched warships began to return one after another, bringing good news.

There is indeed a natural bay next to Kunlun Cape, and it can berth warships with a weight of less than 3,000 tons.

As long as the coast is slightly repaired, the five thousand material ship can be docked.

Not only that, the climate here is relatively humid, allowing crops and vegetables to be grown.

"Your Highness is really good at predicting things."

After learning about the situation on the shore from Chen Zuo, Chen Xuan sighed, exchanged a large ship with 3,000 materials with Zheng He, and sailed straight to the natural bay.

From a distance, they saw a lot of vegetation.

At first, Chen Xuan was a little wary, worried that like Jiaozhi and Nanyang, there would be a lot of malaria, snakes, insects, rats, and ants among them.

However, as they landed on the white beach, they discovered that there were not many trees here, but the vegetation was quite rich, and it was a climate they had never seen before.

"Not a rainforest climate."

Since Zhu Gaoxu wrote the book "Climatology", this book has become one of the several books that naval generals must study.

Before this, Chen Xuan had not been exposed to the Mediterranean climate, and he did not bring "Climatology" with him, so he could not tell what kind of climate it was.

"See if there is any water source." Zheng He walked beside Chen Xuan. While looking around, he also started to use a hollow pestle to drive into the soil in some places with a lot of soil. After going three feet deep, he took it out and touched the tip of the pestle. soil.

"It's still moist. We should be able to draw well water."

After squeezing the soil out of the iron pestle, Zheng He nodded with satisfaction, and then had people dig wells and build camps.

As time passed, the Ming army at sea gradually began to land on the shore.

Since the troops were divided to escort the merchant gangs to prospecting, and many soldiers and horses were left in Mugudushu, the number of Ming troops who arrived here was less than 7,000.

Although there are not many people, it is not difficult to build a camp.

Limestone, iron ore powder, and clay are readily available on the ship, and there are also fine stones and sea sand on the sea.

Although sea sand is not the best material, there is nothing we can do about it given the crude location.

Soon after the windbreak wall was built, the Ming army also began to set up tents and drilled a well.

Although the local vegetation is not rich, there is a lot of groundwater resources. When a well is dug down only one foot or six feet, groundwater begins to gush out.

The thirteen wells can not only meet the current water needs of the army, but also provide water sources for the officials and soldiers who stay here to grow crops and water vegetables.

"Tomorrow, the seven thousand people will be divided into five thousand, and then subdivided into fifty teams. Search northward from all directions to see if there are any native tribes."

"If there is, then don't have a conflict. Let the guide try to communicate with them and exchange them for enough fruits and vegetables."

In the big tent, Zheng He ordered more than 70 Qianhu officers in the army, and told Chen Xuan at the same time: "Separate a thousand people from the sea and search north along the coastline to see if there are any tribes that can exchange fruits and vegetables. "

"Also check to see if there are any problems with the Ocean Current Map and Monsoon Map and whether any modifications are needed."

"Yes!" Everyone bowed in agreement, and after a short rest for the night, they began to execute Zheng He's military orders.

As for Zheng He, he stayed where he was and continued to use the few materials on the ship to build the officialdom.

The fleet traveled all the way south to exchange supplies with the tribe. The supplies on board were enough to support the seven thousand people here for three months.

However, it was impossible for Zheng He to eat all the supplies for three months, because he still had to keep a thousand people here to maintain his officialdom.

Therefore, he planned to spend a month building the officialdom, cultivating a certain amount of mature fields, and then leading the main force on the return journey, leaving the remaining supplies to the officials and soldiers in the officialdom.

Time passed little by little, and within three days, many butangs began to return.

Facts have proved that there are indeed other ethnic groups living in this area. Although they are black, they are not the same as the blacks in other places. Their skin color is yellower, and their facial features are similar to some people of Indo-China Peninsula.

Their number is about 145, and their heights range from four feet five inches to four feet seven inches (150cm~cm).

They lived by gathering and hunting, but they also raised livestock.

Facing the sudden Ming army, most of them were very vigilant.

Despite the language barrier, the two parties understood each other's general thoughts through the dancing gestures.

They were very interested in the armor, weapons, and cloth of the Ming army, and wanted to exchange their livestock with the Ming army.

After Zheng He learned the news, he asked the few cloths on the ship to be made into simple clothing. He also asked the craftsmen on the ship to make a batch of swords, spears and iron pots, and asked the people below to bring these things to the local people in the area. Communicate and refer to them as Kesan people based on the words they often speak.

The livestock that the Ming army exchanged with them included cattle and sheep, and they also sent many livestock that they had hunted and caught.

Jilin (giraffe), who is about 10 feet tall and has two horns on his head, was thought by the Ming army to be the legendary unicorn.

They didn't know the name of the black and white creature that looked like a donkey and a horse, but after it was brought back to the camp, Zheng He named it Huafulu (zebra).

In addition, there are also animals with two-foot-long horns, similar to goats, but with horse tails. It was called Maha beast (right-horned antelope) by Zheng He.

Finally, there is a tall bird, but it can't fly, it can only run, and its eggs are as big as a human head.

Because it could be trained to ride lighter people, Zheng He called it an ostrich.

Knowing that these livestock could be exchanged for goods, the local Kesang people went hunting one after another and brought many rare and exotic animals to Zheng He.

Because there were too many and he was curious, Zheng He had them processed and served on the table. However, the taste of these livestock was not very good, so Zheng He just kept them and planned to take them back to show to the emperors and ministers of the Ming Dynasty. look.

After a delay of nearly twenty days, a thousand people led by Chen Xuan returned by boat to the dock named Kunlun Officialdom by Zheng He.

Compared to when they left, the Kunlun Wharf has now been preliminarily completed. Built with stones and poured with concrete, the wharf is large enough to accommodate a ship of 5,000 tons, but can only accommodate three ships.

"How about it, are there any tribes along the west coast?"

Upon learning that Chen Xuan was back, Zheng He immediately went to the beach to greet Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan's dark face showed a smile: "There are some tribes, but we don't understand the language, but through gestures with hands and feet, we can still trade."

"They are more interested in our weapons, clothes and armor."

"I can't give them armor, but I can give them weapons and clothes."

As Chen Xuan said, Zheng He also breathed a sigh of relief: "What we have encountered is similar to what you have encountered, and basic exchanges and trade have been established."

"Come on, I'll show you the exotic beasts they sent!"

Zheng He said, pulling Chen Xuan towards the officialdom.

At this time, the officialdom was surrounded by a rammed earth wall that was about 10 feet high. Due to the lack of materials, except for the wells, drainage channels, and docks that were made of concrete, the rest were made of simple rammed earth, not even Sanhe earth.

Even so, it was more than enough to deal with attacks from the locals.

"what is that?!"

Chen Xuan was startled and was startled when he pointed at a strange creature with its head sticking out of the city wall.

"That's Qilin. Come on, I'll take you in to have a look."

Zheng He grabbed Chen Xuan's hand and led him into the small officialdom.

It was more like a zoo than an officialdom, because there were many strange creatures imprisoned in it, among which the unicorns ranging from one to two feet tall made Chen Xuan feel insignificant.

"I plan to take these things back to the Ming Dynasty and show them to the monarchs and ministers in the temple and the people of Nanjing City."

"I heard they have a bigger elephant here, and there are not too many rhinos."

"Look, these are their ivory and rhino horns." Zheng He took Chen Xuan, who had not yet recovered, to the official earthen house, where there were many ivory, rhino horns and many furs.

The tusks were bigger than the elephant tusks Chen Xuan had seen in Annan. Just such a pair was worth thousands of gold.

"So many things..."

Chen Xuan came to his senses. After sighing, he stretched out his head and saw the various beasts locked in cages.

"Can these things return to Ming Dynasty alive?"

It was very difficult to transport livestock by sea, and even the horses of the Ming army died a lot. In the end, they had to be captured and replenished in Horumos to survive until now.

Although wild beasts are more adaptable than horses, Chen Xuan is still worried that these wild beasts will not be able to make it to the Ming Dynasty alive.

Zheng He nodded and said, "I am a little worried too, so I plan to take two males and four females of each species to Ming Dynasty to see how many I can bring back."

"Right!" Zheng He thought of business, so he put down the heavy ivory in his hand and asked, "How about ocean current and monsoon exploration?"

"There are some changes, but not too big. The drawings have been corrected, but we did not go to Dongzhou in person. We are worried..." Chen Xuan hesitated, and Zheng He was also a little silent when he heard his words.

After a moment, he said: "The map His Highness gave us has never been wrong. Even if it is, it is just a flaw."

"I believe Your Highness, so Dongzhou must exist."

"I will give instructions to Wang Ren. In the past few days, we have exchanged a lot of supplies, fruits and vegetables with those tribes, which is enough for Wang Ren and his crew to sail for two months. At the same time, the Kunlun officialdom has also stocked up enough to feed a thousand people for eight months. supplies.”

"Even if Wang Ren did not discover Dongzhou and return, the supplies in the Kunlun officialdom would be enough for him to return to Ma Lindi to replenish his supplies, and then head to Ceylon via Mugudushu."

Zheng He anticipated everything that might happen and was fully prepared.

He did not believe that His Highness would make a mistake in such a matter, and Chen Xuan nodded when he saw this: "Then I will ask someone to call Wang Ren over. Is he in the camp?"

"He's here!" Zheng He nodded and sat on the chair in the earthen house. Seeing this, Chen Xuan also sat down safely.

After a while, Wang Ren was taken into the earthen house in the officialdom. After entering the house, he took the initiative to bow: "Wang Ren, the official of thousands of households, please see the envoy and the Marquis of Pingjiang."

"Wang Ren..." As Zheng He's official envoy, it was natural for him to speak about matters concerning his mission to Dongzhou.

Taking the lead from him, Chen Xuan also gave an overview of what happened on the west coast of Kunlun Continent, and took out the chart he had corrected for Wang Ren to look at.

"This mission is very difficult. I allow you to refuse, and I also allow you to return midway through the voyage."

"If you can discover Dongzhou and establish a foothold in Dongzhou, then I guarantee you that the imperial court will at least give you a full-time position as a guard commander and a hereditary rank of third-grade."

Zheng He explained the difficulty and rewards. After hearing this, Wang Ren tightened his grip on the chart in his hand and bowed his hands without any hesitation:
"The general is willing to lead his army to Dongzhou!"

"Okay!" After hearing Wang Ren's words, Zheng He and Chen Xuan stood up happily and said while helping him up:

"Every brother in your army who goes to Dongzhou, regardless of success or failure, will be promoted to the third level and given a fifth-grade casual rank."

"If someone doesn't want to go, don't force it. I don't believe that among the more than 7,000 people, we can't find a thousand people who dare to go to Dongzhou."

"Yes!" Wang Ren felt the importance of this task and stopped lingering:

"In that case, we will select the advance Qianhu team members now."

"Go!" Zheng He patted Wang Ren on the shoulder, and then watched Wang Ren turn around and walk out of the earthen house, his figure gradually moving away.

Looking at his back, Zheng He also breathed a sigh of relief, while Chen Xuan on the side also touched his short beard and sighed worriedly:

"We...can finally go home..."

(End of this chapter)