Harem: Biography of Concubine Qin

Chapter 113
When leaving Suqian, the emperor decided to go south by boat.

Chen Wenxin's limbs were sore from sitting in the carriage, and he was very happy to hear that he could take the boat.

He thought, if the boat is running smoothly, it will be the same as on the ground.

The emperor said that it was a big ship, and the space was large enough to move around without being trapped in the carriage.

Although she was mentally prepared, she didn't know what big was until she saw the boat by the river.

The hull is 40 meters long, with an open deck in the front and a luxurious two-story cabin in the back.

The whole hull is decorated in bright yellow, with flying dragons, auspicious clouds and galloping horses on both sides.

It seems that this Weibo private visit is now going to be changed to a public visit.

The emperor is making such a big noise in Suqian, who else doesn't know?
The whereabouts have been known, and it would be unsafe to drive lightly, so they simply made a big fanfare.

She understood this point, but the luxury of the dragon boat still made her eyes shine.

In addition to the main dragon boat, there are two smaller boats behind it, mainly for the accompanying protection of the soldiers.

There was a wind on the river, making the sails of the boat rattle.

Standing on the deck and watching, Chen Wenxin saw that there were more people seeing them off than when they first came to Suqian.

Most of these people are villagers affected by the disaster, and now their clothes are neat and their faces are full of vitality.

When the dragon boat started, they all knelt down and saw them off.

The sailors on either side hoisted their sails and anchored.The emperor sat on the golden dragon chair in the middle of the deck, looking at the people on both sides with smiles on their faces.

Look at his smile, almost waved.

Chen Wenxin looked up and saw that there were four huge bright yellow sails.The front one is just behind the emperor.

Li Dequan was also looking at the sail, and seeing Chen Wenxin's eyes, he nodded knowingly, and stood closer behind the emperor.

If the sail suddenly falls, he can still block the emperor.

The emperor noticed his movements and was in a good mood, so he didn't think he was meddlesome. Instead, he explained: "This sail does not directly face the wind, and the resistance of the wind is relatively small, so it will not fall."

He raised his eyebrows and said proudly: "Our sailboats in the Qing Dynasty are different from those in the West. The four sails are horizontal and slightly inclined to face the windward side."

"This allows the ship to travel at high speed even in headwinds, without having to lower the sails like Western sailboats."

Chen Wenxin didn't know much about the development of ships, but according to the emperor's tone, the shipbuilding technology of the Qing Dynasty was superior to that of the West.

From Kangxi to Guangxu, it was only a hundred years.

Why was China's naval fleet already vulnerable when the great powers invaded during the Tongzhi and Guangxu years?
The emperor inherited the behest of the Qing Taizu, and did not like the excessive entry of Western trade into the Qing Dynasty.

Compared with Shunzhi or Huang Taiji, he is already considered enlightened, and he can still appoint foreign officials like Nan Huairen.

But a certain idea deeply rooted in his bones will not change.

The Qing Dynasty is proud, and the West is the barbarians, which are despised.

This is the so-called closed-door policy of later generations.

In fact, this crime should not be blamed on the emperor or Qing Taizu. This idea was first proposed by Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the fourth year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang issued an imperial edict to the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, one of which was very clear.

"I believe that sea routes can lead to foreign countries, so I try to prohibit their exchanges... If you don't prohibit it, people will be deceived and fall into the criminal constitution. If you send people to tell them, if there are offenders, it will be treated like a law."

This is of course related to the long-standing thought of emphasizing agriculture over commerce, and because at that time the West was indeed lagging far behind China in terms of technological development.

If the emperor can change this thinking, the emperors of the Qing Dynasty will not continue to strengthen the seclusion of the country, resulting in missing the great development of science and technology in the world...

Seeing that Chen Wenxin didn't speak, the emperor looked thoughtful.

"Why are you so preoccupied?" The emperor raised his eyebrows and looked at her dissatisfied.

Hmph, you actually lost your mind when I was talking.

She came back to her senses, thinking about what the emperor said just now that the sail is extremely fine and very stable.

"Has the emperor ever heard that the son of a daughter will not sit down?"

The original meaning of these words is that rich people who have accumulated a lot of money at home should not rest under the eaves.

According to common sense, what is so dangerous under the eaves?But rich people cherish their lives, so it is better to be more careful.

The emperor laughed and said, "Nian Nian has read "Historical Records"? I can't tell."

The emperor looked down on her, so she was going to show off.

Chen Wenxin also imitated the emperor's appearance, raising her eyebrows, "Does the emperor think this is reasonable?"

He accepted the meaning of the challenge, and couldn't help but think seriously before answering: "It's reasonable. It's just that I think the wealth of gold and silver is not the most important, but the most powerful position."

"What's more important, a wealthy businessman or a local parent with two sleeves?"

"I thought that he should be the son of a high position, and he should not sit down."

This proverb says that the rich should cherish their lives, but the emperor thought that those in power should cherish their lives.

Chen Wenxin refuted him, "But if the parents in a place cherish their lives to such an extent, will he still sympathize with the people and serve the emperor?"

The emperor was taken aback by what he said, and couldn't help thinking deeply.

She proudly said: "If this is the case, Xuanye will not come to Suqian."

In this round, Chen Wenxin won and the emperor lost completely.

The emperor didn't lose his temper at all, she was praising him for being considerate of the people, diligent in governing and caring for the people.

He patted the dragon chair, "Come sit beside me, do you have more confidence standing up and debating?"

She chuckled, and leaned over obediently to sit beside him.

"Do you know who said this sentence in "Historical Records"?"

Chen Wenxin's show off never stopped, she shook her head, motioning for the emperor to continue.

The emperor said: "It is said that Emperor Wenwen of Han went up the mountain from Ba Ling and planned to gallop down the steep slope."

"At that time, there was a famous minister named Yuan An. He was riding a horse, leaning against the emperor's chariot, and holding the horse's rein."

Chen Wenxin interrupted, "Isn't this the same as what Eunuch Li did?"

It was because he was afraid that something would happen to the monarch, so he approached for protection.

The emperor said: "But Emperor Wen of Han didn't think so clearly like I did. Instead, he laughed at Yuan Ang for being timid."

"Yuan An just said what Nian Nian said just now. And he told Emperor Hanwen that a wise monarch would never take risks, or take chances."

Chen Wenxin said: "Then Emperor Hanwen still punished him? I remember that this person was relegated just because of his outspoken remarks."

He shook his head, "Not this time. This time Emperor Han Wen followed his advice and did not drive down the steep slope again."

"But Emperor Wen could tolerate him for a while, but he couldn't bear it in the long run, and finally demoted him."

Chen Wenxin asked curiously: "Then if this person is in Xuan Ye's court, can you bear him?"

The emperor seemed to have considered this issue a long time ago, he said: "To be honest, I can't do better than Emperor Hanwen."

Emperor Han Wen listened to Yuan An's opinions many times, and even gave him rewards several times.

He endured Yuan Ang for a long time, and finally couldn't take it anymore, so he transferred him to a place where he could not be seen.

If a person becomes the lord of the world, but is still subject to the constraints of his courtiers, what is the face of the Son of Heaven?
Chen Wenxin swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

She originally wanted to talk to the emperor about opening the sea ban and increasing trade with the West.

But the emperor has made it clear that he doesn't like to speak out, so why should she bother herself?
The emperor tolerated her in many things because those things were harmless and did not pose a threat to the emperor's rule.

She sleeps in, all right.She loves fine dining, too.

She called the emperor by his first name, and even straddled the emperor on the bed.

From the emperor's point of view, it was just a child's interest and harmless.

Only in politics, the emperor is very sensitive.

He hates women in the harem the most to interfere in politics, and it can be seen just by looking at the degree to which Concubine Tong Gui was neglected.

She put this idea aside for the time being, the emperor is an enlightened monarch, and there will always be a chance to change his traditional thinking in the future.

Seeing the scenery on both sides of the strait receding quickly, the people and officials who were seeing off at the Suqian River Estuary had long since disappeared, so she got up and said, "It's windy outside, why don't you go inside and have a cup of hot tea?"

When the emperor touched her hand, the wind on the river made his fingertips icy cold.

"Just talking, forgetting that you can't blow the wind. When the wind blows, your hands and feet are very cold. No wonder the gangsters in the palace say you are a snow sculpture."

The emperor rubbed her hands for her, stood up and put his arms around her shoulders, and led her into the cabin.

She stomped her foot, "Xuan Ye also knows that it's an idiot's nonsense, so he still told me to listen!"

He glanced back, and Li Dequan followed from a distance, with his head down.

He hurriedly begged for mercy, "Yes, yes, I didn't notice for a while. I miss you so much, please forgive me for this!"

Seeing her laughing again, the emperor hurriedly said: "I have a good idea. Your hands and feet are cold, it's because you don't have enough energy and blood."

She thought that the emperor was going to tell her to take some medicine, so she hurriedly said: "My daughter's family is like this, some are lighter and some are heavier, it's okay."

The emperor couldn't help laughing and said: "I haven't finished talking yet, what are you in a hurry for?"

"At the beginning of spring this year, the general of Heilongjiang sent the bird's nest mountain blood swallow, which is a good thing to replenish energy and blood."

"Because I was busy with the southern tour, I never rewarded anyone. I simply asked them to bring it, and I will give you two taels a day. In the long run, this problem will definitely be cured."

Blood swallows are said to be formed by swiftlets feeding and vomiting blood.This thing is precious, and it can be encountered but not sought.

Not every swiftlet is a swiftlet, and not every swiftlet vomits blood while breastfeeding.

It is said that people who pick bird's nests have to look for hidden caves on cliffs and go deep into the caves to find blood swallows.

There are often poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts in the nameless cave, and it is often difficult for those who are looking for the blood swallow to escape unscathed.

She has only eaten Huangyan at most, and she doesn't know what the taste of Xueyan is.

All the uneaten and edible things are Chen Wenxin's chasing goals!
She smiled and said: "I don't know if it will be cured or not until my hands and feet are cold, as long as it tastes good."

To her, the miracle medicine for healing and health that others covet is only a difference between whether it is delicious or not?
The emperor smiled and shook his head, not knowing what to say about her.

(End of this chapter)