Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 736 Happy News

  Emperor Hongzhi didn't care much about the artillery, just don't make trouble.

   After all, no matter how sharp this cannon is, it is limited.

  Since Ma Wensheng insisted on checking whether Xishan forged the cannon according to the blueprint, he only needed to have someone convinced by both sides go and find out.

   This person must be able to convince the masses, have a certain influence in the army, and at the same time, gain the trust of the palace.

   Isn't the most trusted person in this palace the British Duke Zhang Mao?

  Otherwise, how could such a major event as sacrifice be entrusted to Zhang Qing's family.

Speaking of Zhang Mao, Zhang Sheng, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, said with a smile: "A few days ago, there happened to be an official document from the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing, saying that the British Duke sacrificed to Xiaoling and cried loudly at the throne of Emperor Taizu Gao. It is very sad, and others feel sad However, the Duke of England has to rush back to worship Changling and Dingling... I think he will be back in a few days. After all, it will be a lucky day after seven days. The old son-in-law is not in good health recently. "

  Emperor Hongzhi was also moved after hearing this: "Zhang Qing's family has always been respectful to the ancestors, so let's wait for him to come back."

  The matter of Wang Gong's factory has come to an end for the time being.

   Ma Wensheng remembered something: "Yes, Your Majesty, the Ministry of War is building ships here, and the money and rations have been drawn up. I don't know when Your Majesty will look at it, but there is money there..."

   This is urging the emperor to give money quickly.

  Wang Ao and others cheered up.

  Money is the most important thing.

  Emperor Hongzhi felt that a pack of wolves was waiting for him, and his old face turned red: "Tomorrow... please bring the book, I will take a look."

   You have to be careful not to let the people below empty out the internal funds in the name of shipbuilding. Emperor Hongzhi said again: "Approximately, how many taels of silver are needed."

Hearing that His Majesty was willing to give the money, the atmosphere in the warm pavilion suddenly became lively, and everyone was full of energy. Ma Wensheng said quickly: "Here at the Ministry of War, the proposed silver is 1.36 million taels, and there are six ships that need to be supervised right now. There are thirteen ships, the materials for the boats need silver, the craftsmen also need money, there are also sails, anchors, etc., there are silver everywhere, not only that, but also need to provide food and drink for a large number of boatmen, and need to train the sailors...need..."

   "Why is it 1.36 million taels?" Emperor Hongzhi was anxious: "Last year it was only 750,000 taels."

   This difference is not so big, Emperor Hongzhi glared at Ma Wensheng.

  Ma Wensheng said calmly and calmly: "Last year, we built thirty-five ships, and this year we built some more. I'm already very economical."

   "..." Emperor Hongzhi didn't want to go to the West for a moment, and he said with a gloomy face, "Why did you build so many all of a sudden?"

Ma Wensheng said: "The fleet sailing to the west has been going for more than two years, and there is no news so far, so the cabinet is worried that something happened to the fleet. After all, no one knows what will happen in the blue ocean. There was an accident..."

  Emperor Hongzhi realized deeply that this voyage to the West is a bottomless pit.

  It takes money to build a ship, and to support so many people after building a ship. After supporting so many people, they go out to sea. Maybe a fleet of ships encounters a storm, and they all lose their money.

  He glanced at Fang Jifan resentfully, Fang Jifan lowered his head, pretending not to see it.

   "Hey!" Emperor Hongzhi sat down and said with a straight face: "I want to take a good look at the account books and think about it."

  Continuing on like this, more than one million taels a year, is that okay? I might as well die.

  Emperor Hongzhi felt that he was cheated by Fang Jifan.

  Especially when Wang Ao and others looked at Fang Jifan with tenderness and caring.

   "I don't know when Xu Jing will come back?" Emperor Hongzhi said melancholy.

  Fang Jifan said with a smile: "I think it should be soon."

  Emperor Hongzhi pulled his face and remained silent.

  Fang Jifan saw that the atmosphere was not right, so he simply left. Emperor Hongzhi was obviously not in the mood to continue the discussion, and waved his hands: "Everyone, step down."

  So Fang Jifan followed the flow of people and left the warm pavilion.

  Not long after leaving the Nuan Pavilion, Wang Ao quickly stepped forward: "Captain."

   "Huh?" Fang Jifan looked at Wang Ao, do I... know him very well?

  Wang Ao said enthusiastically: "Come to the house for a few drinks when you have time."

   This courtesy is still necessary, so Fang Jifan said, "Okay."

  Wang Ao stroked his beard, and nodded with a red face: "A young man produces a hero, and a son is like a captain, which is enough to comfort his life."

   "..." Fang Jifan didn't want to talk to him for a moment, and gave birth to you, uncle.

  Emperor Hongzhi was so depressed that he also moved to Kunning Palace.

  In the Kunning Palace, Fang Xiaofan has already started to learn to walk, staggering, grinning, showing his canine teeth, staggering on the ground, followed by the two eunuchs panting, afraid of falling.

  Fang Xiaofan walked fast, as if deliberately trying to get rid of the little eunuch, stumbling, the little eunuch's heart jumped out of fright.

Zhu Zaimo has already learned how to sit, his head is shaking, and he is holding a rattle in his hand. He is sitting on the rocking bed, his black eyes are dazzled by Fang Xiaofan who is running around shaking the bell, grinning from time to time, revealing a row of Toothless gums, giggling.

  Queen Zhang said from the side: "Don't fall."

   "Yes, yes, ma'am." The **** was panting, like an eagle chasing a chicken.

   Seeing Emperor Hongzhi coming, Empress Zhang picked him up, Emperor Hongzhi's face softened a lot when he saw the child, pointing to Fang Xiaofan and said: "This child is so mischievous, just like her father, he has the air of a general."

   Then his eyes fell on Zhu Zaimo, and he remembered the matter of inner money, and suddenly became unhappy again.

When Zhu Zaimo saw Emperor Hongzhi, he tried his best to get up, feeling aggrieved, Emperor Hongzhi knew what his grandson was going to do, so he hurriedly leaned over, and Zhu Zaimo grabbed Emperor Hongzhi's beard At this moment, he turned anger into joy, and laughed while scratching his beard.

  Empress Zhang knew Emperor Hongzhi well: "Is there something on your mind?"

   "Hmm..." Emperor Hongzhi's beard hurt from being pulled, and he said with difficulty: "It's not about internal money... eh..."

   When it comes to boats, Empress Zhang is even more melancholy. Her two brothers haven't heard from her yet. It's really a bad thing to go to the West.

  If it weren't for the fact that there were two more children in Kunning Palace, Empress Zhang would have been sick because of her two brothers.

"Your Majesty...Chenqie...Chenqie..." Thinking of this, Empress Zhang began to wipe away tears: "The concubine didn't mean to trouble Your Majesty, but... before my father died, he held the concubine's hand and said that he would Taking care of the two brothers, but now... the concubine, I really feel sorry for my late father."

  Emperor Hongzhi stood up, patted Empress Zhang on the shoulders, and wanted to comfort Empress Zhang.

   But when he stood up, the beard was taken off from Zhu Zaimo's hands. Zhu Zaimo was immediately annoyed, and with a whimper, he said vaguely: "I want to..."

Emperor Hongzhi had no choice but to bend down again, pinch Zhu Zaimo's little hand, and let him grab his beard, tilting his head like a goose stretching its neck, and said: "Don't worry, they have their own destiny Mutually."

   "But..." Empress Zhang sobbed, wiping her tears: "It's been almost three years, and life and death are unknown..."

  Emperor Hongzhi blushed, twisted his neck with difficulty, suddenly tilted his body, and said, "Neck hurts, neck hurts, come, help me up."

  The eunuchs were so frightened that they were in a hurry to help Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi managed to stand up straight, but his neck still hurt a little, as if he couldn't turn the corner, and he bared his teeth when he twisted. Seeing that Zhu Zaimo was about to cry, he had no choice but to hold Zhu Zaimo in his arms. There was a fuss, and she leaned against Emperor Hongzhi's chest obediently, breathing heavily, as if wanting to blow the bubbles in her nose.

   "My grandson is suffering from the cold and has runny nose. Come here and wipe it off." Emperor Hongzhi said.

  But the **** didn't come forward, and said falteringly: "Your Majesty, the emperor's grandson likes to blow bubbles, and if he wipes his nose, he will cry."

   "..." Emperor Hongzhi was speechless, and seeing Empress Zhang with red eye circles, he thought to himself, what kind of evil is this?

  But at this moment, a **** rushed in hurriedly, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Quanzhou is here to report."

  Quanzhou…

The **** came running quickly, panting. None of the people in the palace knew what His Majesty and Your Majesty were thinking about the most recently, so when they got the news, they rushed to report, for fear that they would not be able to show their faces in front of Your Majesty and Your Majesty. .

  The **** said excitedly: "Quanzhou Shipping Department reported that our fleet... has returned."

   All of a sudden, Emperor Hongzhi was stunned.

  Queen Zhang jumped up suddenly: "Where is the person, what is the person, has he returned yet?"

  The **** said: "I'm back, I'm back, Ambassador Xu, Marquis Shouning, and Master Zhou Lazhou are all back."

  But when Queen Zhang heard it, she almost fainted.

  I also have a little brother Zhang Yanling, why didn't he have his name, why didn't he come back? He died outside?

  This is my most simple and honest brother. They say that stupid people have stupid blessings, but why...

  Empress Zhang looked miserable: "Where is Yanling?"

"I heard that Uncle Jianchang himself was willing to stay in the Golden Isle. He said that it was a blessed place for the next fleet to go to the West, so he stayed there and brought hundreds of people to cultivate there... "

not dead…

   All of a sudden, Queen Zhang's heart finally relaxed.

  Although I can't see this brother, I have thought of the worst outcome, and now... I am satisfied if I can live.

  She was suddenly overjoyed: "Then what about the person, where is the person?"

   "I'm rushing from Quanzhou to Tianjin, and I think I can arrive in these days."

Emperor Hongzhi was also very excited when he heard that the fleet had returned. The brothers of the Zhang family and Zhou La could come back, so the emperor's grandmother and the Zhang family could rest assured, but when he heard that he had found the Golden Continent, his eyes lit up: " Golden Continent, have you found it?"

"I found it. It is exactly as marked on the map. Quanzhou is here to announce the good news. Your Majesty. In a few days, Ambassador Xu will land in Tianjin Wei. He will come to see His Majesty. He will report to Huangjinzhou." experience."

  Emperor Hongzhi took a deep breath and raised his eyebrows: "Okay, it's really hard work for them, hard work for them."

  (end of this chapter)