Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 102 Zheng He’s First Voyage to the West ([-])

Yongle first year, the seventh day of the sixth lunar month.

early morning.

Jingcheng, West Street, at a stall specializing in breakfast.

Yu Yanzhao and Hu Xi were having breakfast.

"Professor Zheng's entry into the academy has obviously had a huge impact on scholars all over the world."

Yu Yanzhao put down his bowl and chopsticks and sighed.

Hu Hui asked in confusion: "How did senior brother know?"

Yu Yanzhao said: "You have been busy studying the study of objects with Professor Zheng these past few months. I don't know that many scholars from other places have come to the capital during this period, including students who came to visit Jinling Academy with letters of recommendation."

"Back then, Emperor Taizu recruited a village girl named Ma to serve as a female official in the palace. Now His Highness the Crown Prince has made an exception and selected a woman to be a professor of research. This move must have set a precedent for women to hold the position of scholar professor."

Hu Xi thought deeply: "Perhaps those students from other places want to come and see Professor Zheng's true face?"

Thinking of Zheng Xiaojun's physical appearance, Yu Yanzhao had a strange look on his face and said: "Perhaps the real purpose of some of these students is to explore the operating principles of the big spinning wheel so that they can copy it back home."

Hu Xi's eyes flashed and he said: "That should be the truth!" He looked at Yu Yanzhao and said in surprise: "Senior brother really has an exquisite heart!"

Yu Yanzhao asked in confusion: "What do you mean by this?"

"Senior brother, I don't know. All the junior brothers and I think that you can always hit the point when you speak, which is admirable." Hu Hui said bluntly.

What he meant was that Yu Yanzhao was good at understanding people's hearts.

Yu Yanzhao did not feel happy because of Hu Xi's compliment. Instead, he raised his head and shouted to the stall owner: "Another steamed bun." Then he whispered: "You only focus on studying the study of objects, and you don't know about the big spinning wheel." sharp."

"I'd like to hear the details!" Hu Hui said.

Yu Yanzhao whispered: "Two months ago, after His Royal Highness the Crown Prince saw the function of the large spinning wheel, he ordered the Ministry of Industry to imitate it and decided to promote its use in Jiangning Weaving Bureau. His Highness personally promised that if this large spinning wheel is actually used, If the failure rate is low and the output of the weaving bureau can be more than doubled, we will ask the government to establish a patent bureau today."

Without waiting for Hu Hui to ask, Yu Yanzhao picked up a steamed bun with his chopsticks and continued: "The so-called patent office is an yamen that specializes in managing the rights and interests of all those who invent and create new objects in the world. The purpose is to protect people like Professor Zheng." The lasting benefit of the inventor of the great spinning wheel.”

In the past, it was not that no one was good at making clever things, but because the things they made did not bring enough benefits, they lost motivation over time and had to change their profession to make a living.

When Hu Xi heard that there would be a patent office to protect the interests of people like Zheng Xiaojun who were good at making ingenious things, her heart was immediately touched.

When those who are good at making ingenious things have money to ensure their livelihood, they can naturally continue to invent and create new things.

"Is this true?"

Hu Xi, who usually kept his emotions and anger intangible, after hearing what Yu Yanzhao said, couldn't help but change his face and asked excitedly in a low voice.

Yu Yanzhao noticed the faux pas and immediately stopped. He picked up another bun with his chopsticks and chewed a few mouthfuls, but did not answer Hu Hui's question.

Then, he changed the subject and said: "In a few days, my Qian'er (Yu Qian) will be one year old. I will host a big banquet at Sihai Tower. You and other juniors must attend it."

Hu Hui seemed to have seen that he would become the world's number one master of objects due to his inventions and creations in the future. How could he listen to what Yu Yanzhao said at this time.

"Junior brother?" Yu Yanzhao shouted.

Hu Hui reacted instantly and said quickly: "I lost my temper, senior brother, don't blame me."

"Have you eaten?" Yu Yanzhao said: "If it's not enough, can I ask the boss to bring another steamed bun?"

Hu Hui said hurriedly: "Eat, eat!"

Yu Yanzhao put the last bun left in the steamer into his mouth and said while chewing: "In that case, we will leave for the river mouth immediately. We must not miss today's sea cruise ceremony."

The "sea cruise ceremony" he referred to was a grand ceremony presided over by Emperor Zhu Di himself.

This was also the first time in Chinese history that the emperor personally presided over a ceremony for a fleet to go on a cruise.

Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, with the development of navigation commerce and the increase in overseas trade, China's shipbuilding technology has become increasingly developed.

At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhu Yuanzhang paid more attention to shipbuilding and the development of maritime transportation.

At that time, in order to prepare tung oil, palm cable and other raw materials for shipbuilding, the imperial court specially opened lacquer garden, tung garden, palm garden and other gardens in Zhongshan, and planted tens of thousands of trees.

Longjiang Bao Shipyard was also established on the riverside in the west of the city, and more than [-] craftsmen from all over the country were recruited to the capital to build sea ships.

After Zhu Di succeeded to the throne last year, in order to implement the kings' policy of changing their titles, and to further strengthen ties with overseas countries and expand exchanges with other countries, he ordered Yousi to organize a large fleet.

The Bao Shipyard was responsible for building sea-going ships.

There is a stream mouth leading to Longjiang River in the factory, and there is a stone gate that can be opened and closed to control the water volume.When building a ship, the water is drained, the gate is closed, and construction is carried out in the dock.After the ship is built, the locks are opened to let in water, the hull is floated, and the ship is released into the river.

In the shipyard, Zhu Di has a lifting department, a help command hall and a canopy factory specializing in making sea-going ship awnings. It also has a joinery workshop, a paint workshop, a twisting workshop, an iron workshop, a canopy workshop, a cable workshop, and a cable workshop. There are seven workshops including a workshop and a material shop.

Among them, the tent factory located in the northeast of the factory area alone has ten rows of sixty houses.

The shipyard's supervising officials include, in addition to the fifth-ranked Ministry of Works doctor, there are also Yuanwailang, chief supervisor, promotion, assistant work director and other personnel.There are nearly a hundred low-level team leaders such as compartment leaders and foremen.

Prince Zhu Gaoxu and eunuch Zheng He were often ordered to inspect the shipyard.

The craftsmen who made ships and ships came from Zhejiang, Huguang, Fujian and other provinces. They had a detailed division of labor. They were divided into four compartments, each compartment was divided into ten armors, and each armor had a commander to oversee ten households.

The first compartment is divided into ship wood, shuttle, oar, and cable craftsmen, the second compartment is divided into ship wood, iron, and cable craftsmen, the third compartment is divided into boat craftsmen, and the fourth compartment is divided into palm and tent craftsmen.

In addition, there are also officials such as supervisors, horse supervisors, watchmen, watchmen, and bridgemen.

After more than a year of preparations, the imperial court has basically built a seagoing fleet that has begun to take shape.

It is said that this cruise included more than 200 treasure ships, battleships, warships, warships, horse ships, grain ships, water ships, etc., with a crew of more than 7000 people.

Yu Yanzhao and Hu Xi are both great people, so they naturally understand that the feat of going on a cruise will go down in history. How lucky are they to be able to witness the grand ceremony of going on a cruise?

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that no one wants to miss!
Yu Yanzhao took out two new-style copper coins from his sleeve pocket, threw them on the table, said "check out" to the stall owner, then got up and walked towards the Sihai Cars on the street with Hu Xi.

There are horse-drawn carriages, ox-carts, and donkey carts in the carriage house.

The two ordered a carriage with faster foot power. After announcing their destination, they got into the four-wheeled carriage one after another.

"Is this green van's shock absorber made by Professor Zheng?"

After the carriage drove for a while, Yu Yanzhao was surprised by the stability of the carriage and asked Hu Hui.

In order to attract attention and attract business, the car painted a layer of green paint on the outside of the car, hence the name Green Car.

"A month ago, Professor Zheng led us to make this new four-wheeled carriage that was smoother in driving. After Ouyang Prince Consort (Ouyang Lun) learned about this, he ordered one from the academy at a price of two hundred silver dollars per carriage. Thirty cars.”

Hu Xi said: "As far as I know, Sihai Tower, Sihai Martial Arts School, and Sihai Car Shop are all the properties of Ouyang Prince Consort. This green carriage should be the new four-wheeled carriage from our academy."

Yu Yanzhao sighed: "I estimate that in the next few years, the study of studying objects will become popular among scholars."

Hu Hui nodded and said: "Senior brother, what you said makes sense, and I also think it should be the case."

The carriage left the street and walked northwest along the Qinhuai River for half an hour before successfully arriving at the confluence of the Qinhuai River and the Yangtze River.

After getting off the carriage, the two took a boat to the other side of the river, and then went north along the river.

After walking for about four miles, the two of them heard a lot of noise. From a distance, they saw that the open space in front of Longjiang Pass was already densely packed with people watching the ceremony.

Longjiang Pass was the place where the imperial court held the sea cruise ceremony.

"The size of the cruise fleet is truly unprecedented!"

Looking at the endless fleet of boats on the river, Yu Yanzhao sighed.

On the river in front of them, there were more than 60 large ships docked, including more than a hundred small and medium-sized ships.

In addition, there are many sea-going ships parked near the estuary, not in the river.

In addition to being built in Fujian and other places, many of these seagoing ships for long voyages and cruises were built at Longjiang Bao Shipyard.

The two of them were shocked by the huge fleet. They immediately quickened their pace and soon arrived at the outside of the crowd watching the ceremony.

The two of them were not hesitant. They immediately squeezed into the crowd, then squeezed left and right, and squeezed all the way to the place near the ceremony stage.

To say that they are close is only relatively speaking, because the two of them are still at least two miles away from the ceremony platform.

Because at this time, the ceremony platform with its back to the river had been surrounded layer by layer by the officers and soldiers of the imperial court, and a huge open space was separated for civil and military officials, clan kings, and envoys from overseas countries to stand. There were tens of thousands of people outside. Soldiers waiting to go to sea.The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty came in person, and all the imperial guards and flag-bearer guards among the twelve guards of the personal army accompanied him.

There are thousands of people in the two guards, and they have already lined up to surround the entire ceremony stage. Ordinary students like Yu Yanzhao and Hu Xi who have no official status want to get close to Yongle Emperor Zhu Di at this time and have a glimpse of the sky. Just wishful thinking.

If they dare to approach quietly, the patrolling guards will definitely arrest them as assassins.

In the 15th year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang dismissed the pro-military Duwei Mansion and Yiluan Division, and set up the Jinyi Guards, under the [-]th Division of the North and South Town Fusi, responsible for escorting guards, inspections and arrests.

Subsequently, he formally set up twelve guards to protect the pro-army, namely, the Jinyi Guard, the Banner Guard, the Kingo Vanguard, the Kingo Guard, the Habayashi Left Guard, the Habayashi Right Guard, the Fujun Guard, the Fujun Left Guard, the Fujun Right Guard, the Fujun Vanguard, The rear guard of the government army and the left guard of Huben.

The Twelve Guards were the emperor's imperial guards who were responsible for guarding the emperor's left and right sides and guarding the palace. These sergeants were selected through rigorous training and were strong and skilled soldiers.

The Twelve Guards of the Pro-Army have a strict organizational structure, and their treatment is also higher than that of other soldiers.

In terms of responsibilities, they can be divided into escort guards and guards. In terms of region, they can be divided into palace guards and imperial city guards.

The Imperial Guards are the highest-ranking Imperial Guards that serve the emperor and take orders directly from the Emperor. They are the Royal Guards and the Standard Guards.

The bodyguards usually select strong, heroic, and courageous guards to serve as escorts. They have two main responsibilities. One is to protect the emperor and ensure the absolute safety of the emperor and his party; the other is to carry out secret missions.

The main responsibility of the guards and guards is to guard the palace and the imperial city, preventing theft, fire, and bandits from invading.

The Imperial Guards are the Imperial Guards who guard the Forbidden City, including patrolling, guarding palace gates, city gates, and miscellaneous tasks. They are responsible for the absolute tranquility of the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial City Guards are responsible for guarding the Imperial City, inspecting all hidden dangers in the Imperial City, and ensuring the safety and security of the Imperial City.

"The two of us are standing here. We can't see anything except the officers and soldiers lined up. We have to find a high slope."

Yu Yanzhao raised his eyes and looked into the distance, but he couldn't see clearly what was happening on the stage, and couldn't help but said anxiously.

"Brother, did you notice just now that there were several temporary observation towers built with wood among the crowd?" Hu Hui said.

After being reminded by Hu Xi, Yu Yanzhao remembered that he had actually seen someone standing on the observation deck just now, and said: "The number of people that the observation deck can accommodate seems to be limited."

After saying that, he looked back and crossed his toes, taking a special look at the observation deck that was more conspicuous among the crowd.

"Is that monk in black robe wearing a mask on his face?"

Yu Yanzhao found a monk standing on the observation platform closest to the two of them, and asked Hu Xi beside him.

Hu Xi looked up hard, took a closer look, and nodded: "It looks like a mask. I remember that among the prince's staff and advisers, there was a monk wearing a mask."

"How about we ask the owner of the observation deck if he can let us go up there to have a look?" Yu Yanzhao continued.

Hu Xi said: "That's all we have to do."

The two squeezed into the crowd again, and after some hard work, they arrived under the wooden observation deck where the black-robed monk was.

There are several strong warrior monks under the stage, guarding the steps.

"Can you inform your master that Yu Yanzhao and Hu Xi, students from Jinling Regular College, would like to use the high platform to watch the sea cruise ceremony?"

Yu Yanzhao saw that the monks should be the followers of the black-robed monk on the stage, so he stepped forward and bowed.

Hu Hui had quick eyes and quick hands. When he saw Yu Yanzhao bending down to salute, he also bowed and said: "Excuse me, I would like to express my thanks to you, student."

The leading monk hesitated for a moment, then climbed up the steps to the observation deck and told the black-robed monk Yu Yanzhao's request.

The black-robed monk heard that he was a student of Jinling Academy. After a slight silence, he nodded.

After a while, Yu Yanzhao and Hu Xi came to the wooden elevated platform and bowed to express their gratitude to the black-robed monk.

"You two don't have to be so polite. You are His Royal Highness's disciples. Naturally, this poor monk will give you two thin noodles."

The black-robed monk twisted his beard and said.

"Dare you ask the master's name?" Yu Yanzhao asked respectfully.

The black-robed monk said: "The poor monk's name is Qingyao, and he is one of the many staff advisors under the current prince's sect."

He is none other than Monk Qingyao, whose broken legs have long since returned to normal.

"Student Yu Yanzhao (Hu Ming) has met Master Qingyao." Yu Yanzhao and Hu Ming bowed again.

Qingyao twisted his beard and said, "What do you think of the Ming fleet?"

"Unprecedented in ancient times, I am invincible in this world!" Yu Yanzhao was the first to answer.

Hu Xi said: "Students think so too."

"As far as the poor monk knows, the largest ship in the fleet is 44 feet long and 18 feet wide. Its size is far greater than that of any previous dynasty. The middle ship is 37 feet long and 15 feet wide. Its size cannot be underestimated."

Qingyao exclaimed: "The ability to build such a huge sea-going ship shows the superb creative wisdom of the shipbuilding craftsmen, and it also shows the huge shipbuilding scale and power of Longjiang Bao Shipyard."

"What the Master said is absolutely true. The sails and nailing techniques of the Ming Dynasty ships have been greatly improved compared with those of the Tang and Song Dynasties." Hu Hui continued.

Qingyao became interested and asked, "Do you specialize in the study of objects?"

Hu Xi said respectfully: "Exactly."

"You just said that the sails and nailing skills of the Ming Dynasty ships surpassed those of the Tang and Song Dynasties. Let me give you a few words." Qingyao continued.

Hu Xi bowed and said: "The Master has a question, but the student dare not refuse to answer it. The student wants to speak, but the Master will listen to it."

Qingyao nodded.

Hu Xi said: "With the advancement of shipbuilding technology, the art of sailing has also been improved. First, the number of sails has increased. During the Three Kingdoms period, there were already seven sailing ships, and now there are more. Secondly, the material of the sails has changed."

"At first, the sails were woven from leaves of plants. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, cloth sails appeared, and bamboo strips were placed horizontally on the sails. This kind of hard sail can increase or decrease the size of the sail surface at will according to the strength of the wind. This is a sea-going ship. One of the important reasons for being able to sail across the oceans.”

"Eventually, the sails separated into large sails and small sails, and began to turn away from the side of the ship to capture the maximum wind power."

Qingyao nodded slightly in agreement.

Hu Hui continued: "According to student research, watertight bulkheads appeared in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. "Book of Song Dynasty: Emperor Wu Ji" recorded the rebellion of the fleet led by Sun En and Lu Xun in the Jin Dynasty: "There are nine ships with eight slots. , with four stories and twelve feet high. 'This eight-tank ship, students think, is divided into eight cabins by watertight bulkheads."

Historically, China's invention of watertight bulkheads preceded Europe's by more than 1000 years and played an important role in the history of world shipbuilding.

"In addition, in order to ensure the watertightness of ships, caulking technology has also been improved. Since the Tang Dynasty, shipbuilding craftsmen have begun to use tung oil, lime, and hemp fiber to make twisting materials to fill the gaps in the joints to ensure Improve the watertightness of ships.”

"As for the strength, watertightness and structure of ships, floor ships in the Han Dynasty began to use the iron nail connection method to ensure the strength of the hull. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the connection method of both mortise and iron nails was adopted."

What Hu Xi said was so clear and logical that Qingyao couldn't help but nod his head several times.

"According to the students' understanding, the nailing technology of the Ming Dynasty's treasure ships was more complex and perfect. The nails included spade nails, iron shovel nails, shovel nails, locust nails, etc., so that more complex wooden structures could be assembled with various ship nails. The hooks and clamps allow the wooden sailboat to reach unprecedented levels of size, capacity, and functionality, and ensure the ship's sturdiness."

Hu Hu swallowed and continued: "In addition, with the increasing maturity of shipbuilding technology, the shipbuilding craftsmen of Ming Dynasty are becoming more and more familiar with the structure and proportion of ships. For example, the ratio of the length to the width of a giant ship can make the hull more durable. Stability is something that shipbuilding craftsmen of the Tang and Song dynasties never achieved."

"Well, he is worthy of being a student of His Royal Highness. He is knowledgeable and knowledgeable. He is truly a formidable student!" Qingyao said with emotion.

Hu Bing nodded and lowered his eyebrows, bowing and said: "Master, you are ridiculous. The student likes the study of objects, and the skill of shipbuilding is highly praised by the court today, so the student has studied carefully for some time. There must be some mistakes in what he said, Master Just listen to it."

Qingyao then asked: "Do you know who the patrol envoy was ordered to go to sea this time?"

"Students don't know." Yu Yanzhao and Hu Xi said in unison.

Qingyao smiled and said nothing when he heard this.

He knew very well that at today's ceremony, Zhu Di would formally appoint Zheng He as the chief military officer and patrol envoy of the Ming Dynasty's cruise fleet in the form of an imperial edict.

Yu and Hu were limited by their status and positions, so they naturally didn't know that Zheng He had long been designated by Zhu Di as the patrol envoy.

After a pause, Qingyao said: "Let's follow the poor monk to watch the ceremony from a distance."

"Thank you, Master." Yu Yanzhao and Hu Xi said in unison.

At this time, the three of them looked from a distance and vaguely saw the Emperor of Heaven, Zhu Di, standing on the podium and speaking.

Because they were far away, the three of them could not hear what Zhu Di said.

They vaguely identified the prince Zhu Gaoxu standing on the right side of Zhu Di, and an old monk wearing black monk's robes standing on the left side of Zhu Di. Standing under the ceremonial stage.

Today, Yongle Emperor Zhu Di will officially send the Ming Dynasty's fleet on an overseas mission, and Zheng He's great voyage to the West has begun.

PS: The voyage to the West has begun, please recommend votes, monthly tickets, and all kinds of support!
(End of this chapter)