Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 82 The Prelude to the Western Ocean

"Your Majesty, I have something to say to refute Censor Gui. Please forgive me for the crime of disrespect."

The supervisory censor Xie Lun came out and said.

"I forgive you for not being guilty, just say it!" Zhu Di agreed.

"Your Majesty, although the sea ban has its advantages, it is not without its disadvantages."

Xie Lun spoke eloquently.

"Historically, coastal fishermen have mostly made a living by fishing and rarely get involved in traditional farming. Even if they plant crops, they mainly focus on vegetables and fruits, and they lack experience in large-scale farming."

"At the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, although the imperial court encouraged the fishermen who moved in to reclaim wasteland, most of these people lacked skilled reclamation techniques and appropriate farming tools. Some of the villages that moved in even suffered from starvation and starved to death."

Zhu Gaoxu recognized Xie Lun. He was Xie Jin's eldest brother. He was upright, loyal and honest. He was also the supervisory censor selected by Zhu Yuanzhang himself.

"Under such circumstances, some fishermen who could not survive were forced to become refugees, while some daring ones colluded with the remaining bandits at sea and became new pirates."

Xie Lun swallowed and continued.

"In addition, the maritime ban had a huge impact on the maritime trade of this Dynasty. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, maritime trade was called the 'Maritime Silk Trade Road' by many merchants. Although the imperial court was the largest trade leader at that time, the most dynamic was private trade. "

Hearing this, Zhu Di's eyebrows flashed with joy.

He pretended not to understand, and deliberately asked in a asking tone: "What is the 'maritime silk trade route' mentioned by the censor?"

"Your Majesty, maritime trade has existed since ancient times. It gradually flourished during the Tang Dynasty and reached an unprecedented peak during the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty was not able to engage in foreign wars, but it had a well-organized approach to economic development. Maritime trade could bring huge benefits to the court. , and there was no need to worry about exploiting the common people and triggering rebellion, so they actively supported it. Over time, a stable maritime foreign trade silk and porcelain trade route was formed. Because it originated from the domestic silk trade route to the Western Regions in the Han Dynasty, it was favored by private merchants Commonly known as the 'Maritime Silk Trade Route'."

Zhu Gaoxu knew that what Xie Lun said was indeed reasonable, and he couldn't help but take a high look at this man.

"To a certain extent, the prosperity of the two Song Dynasties is closely related to maritime trade, especially after the establishment of the small court in the Southern Song Dynasty. This is one of the reasons why it was able to survive for more than a hundred years in the face of repeated attacks by the Jin and Mongolian people. One, it relies on frequent maritime trade to gain huge profits."

"Although the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty did not regard maritime trade as one of the financial pillars of the imperial court like the small imperial court of the Southern Song Dynasty, it basically continued the Song Dynasty's policy of free maritime trade, so maritime trade was still prevalent."

Xie Lun continued: "I believe that the starting point of Emperor Taizu's implementation of the maritime ban was to fight against Japan, not to cut off the livelihood of coastal people."

"But as time went by, the way for coastal people to make profits from sea trade was destroyed by the ban on sea trade, which also caused the court to lose a huge amount of sea trade tax revenue. Therefore, I agree with your Majesty's policy of opening up the sea and allowing private merchants to Go to sea for trade! I request your Majesty to set up a municipal shipping department and impose additional sea trade tariffs."

Zhu Gaoxu knew that Zhu Yuanzhang was born into poverty and started his career with a group of Huaixi brothers who were farmers. Although he finally established the Ming Dynasty through many hardships, he still could not get rid of the self-sufficient small farmer mentality in his bones that men farmed and women weaved.

Therefore, after the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to focus on agriculture and suppress business. He would rather give up the tax revenue brought by maritime trade and resist Japanese aggression.

Zhu Gaoxu even felt that Zhu Yuanzhang might have laughed in his heart that the Song Dynasty only wanted to develop the economy but did not have a strong military force. In the end, it became a lamb to be slaughtered in the eyes of Mongolia and straight women.

However, after Zhu Gaoxu was granted the title of Crown Prince, he often took the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of Ming Dynasty's national policy with Zhu Yuanzhang.

Therefore, under the subtle influence of Zhu Gaoxu, Zhu Yuanzhang gradually recognized the idea of ​​advancing with the times and innovating national policies: "When the world changes, things will change; when times change, customs will change; make laws based on the world and take action at any time."

"What Jie Yushi played is exactly what I thought." Zhu Di praised.

Gui Zhan, who just mentioned that "opening the sea violates the ancestral system" immediately said: "Your Majesty, opening the sea violates the ancestral system. Please think again."

Zhu Di smiled and said: "Gui Qing, don't be too excited. I have not violated the ancestral system. I have just followed the Taizu's will."

After saying that, he turned his head and looked at the courtesy officer who had been waiting for a long time at the corner door on the right, and said: "Give the six ministers, ministers, and emperors the excerpts of Emperor Taizu's notes on daily life when he and I discussed the matter of opening the sea. Prince Shi and Zong take a look."

After a while, everyone who was named by Zhu Di read the excerpted part of Emperor Taizu's daily life notes, and then started talking among themselves.

Only then did they know that before Zhu Yuanzhang died, he had discussed opening the sea with Zhu Di, and even agreed to Zhu Di's request, promising to lift the maritime ban and establish a municipal shipping department in the future.Not only that, the imperial court will also establish a maritime trade group with cruisers in the future, which can not only attack pirates along the way, but also protect private business groups for maritime trade.

"The matter of lifting the sea ban is supported by Emperor Taizu's daily life notes. I have not violated the ancestral system. Do you still have any objections?"

Zhu Di glanced at the ministers and asked loudly.

"I have no objection!"

Ministers such as Yu Xin, the Minister of Household Affairs, Zheng Yi, the Minister of Rites, Ru Yu, the Minister of the Ministry of War, as well as a number of princes and nobles all bowed and shouted.

Zhu Di continued: "In that case, I asked Fang Xiaoru, the cabinet advisor, to draft an edict for the imperial court to lift the maritime ban and announce it to the world at a selected date."

"I will obey the imperial edict!" Fang Xiaoru said respectfully.

"Do you have anything else to report?" Zhu Di asked again.

When he saw that all the ministers were silent and no one seemed to want to do anything, he was about to give the official a look to announce his withdrawal from the court.

However, at this moment, Zhu Gaoxu came out and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to report."

"Precise play."

Zhu Di wanted to know what Zhu Gaoxu wanted to say, so he immediately became interested and said cheerfully.

"My son has a map of the world, and I would like to take advantage of this occasion when the imperial court lifts the sea ban to present it to His Majesty the Father," Zhu Gaoxu said.

"Bring it to me and have a look." Zhu Di said.

The chamberlain on duty took the scroll from Zhu Gaoxu's hand, then walked quickly to Zhu Di and respectfully presented the picture to him.

Zhu Di opened the scroll and unfolded the picture slowly, and saw a map called "Yugong Dajiuzhou World Map".

The location and name of each continent are marked on the map. The names are the same as the names of the continents in "The Classic of Mountains and Seas". They are Inland Central Continent (East Asia), Overseas Western Continent (West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia), and Overseas Beizhou (North Asia). , Overseas East Continent (Southeast Asia and Oceania), Overseas South Continent (Antarctica), Great Wild North Continent (Europe), Great Wild West Continent (Africa), Great Wild East Continent (North America), Great Wild South Continent (South America).

"Okay, with this map, I can send people to patrol the oceans and get twice the result with half the effort!"

Zhu Di smiled brightly and said, "Come here, take this picture and circulate it to the ministers."

After a while, Gui Zhan discussed with the officials around him who were looking at the maps in their hands: "This "Yu Gong Da Jiuzhou World Map" looks like it was drawn recently and is not an ancient map."

What is strange is that after Zhu Gaoxu heard the doubts from some officials among the ministers, he did not deny it, but said bluntly to Zhu Di: "Father, this picture is the result of my ministers reading through the ancient books on the Classic of Mountains and Seas. The map of the universe was drawn based on the directions of the Great Nine Continents described in the book. As for whether the location of the Great Nine Continents on the map is wrong, I don’t know.”

His meaning was very clear. This picture was not his original creation, nor was it a newly discovered ancient picture, nor was it taught by gods in their dreams. Instead, he referred to ancient books on the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and followed the Dajiu as described in these books. The map of Jiuzhou is drawn based on the orientation of the continents and the location of the mountains and rivers.

"It is really difficult to distinguish the authenticity of this map regarding the location of Dajiuzhou. I ask your Majesty to consider it carefully." Xie Lun said bluntly.

Regarding the map of the Great Nine Continents presented by Crown Prince Zhu Gaoxu on the occasion of the opening of the imperial court, other officials did not want to make too many comments and chose to keep silent.

Because no one can prove the authenticity of the picture at the moment, and the person who made the picture, Zhu Gaoxu, made it clear that he drew it according to the directions described in ancient books, there is no point in arguing about the authenticity at this time.

Zhu Gaoxu believes that with the gradual improvement of navigation technology in the future, the cruise ambassadors sent by the imperial court will inevitably discover islands or continents overseas that can correspond one-to-one with the world map.
At that time, it will be proven that the map he presented today is not a forgery based on imagination.

"Whether the orientation of the Great Nine Continents described in this map is true or not, it can be used as a reference for future patrol envoys of the imperial court. I am very pleased that the prince is interested!"

Zhu Di waved his hand and said: "Come here, go and put the map away and retreat from the court!"

PS: On the first day of the Lunar New Year, I wish you all good luck in the Year of the Tiger, good luck rolling in, auspicious stars shining brightly, and all your wishes coming true!
(End of this chapter)