The Eagle of Eastern Europe

Ningbo was originally one of the residences of the Municipal Shipping Department, but the maritime ban was revoked after it was promulgated. Although it was re-established in the first year of Yongle, private trade still did not recover. When he learned that the other party was here for an audience, the Shibosi also came and asked the special envoy to stay in Ningbo City.

Mason has never seen such a city before. Cities with more than 100,000 people are rare, but the receptionist said that this is common, and the capital has a population of more than one million. Mason was surprised how big a city with a population of one million is. ?

The market and population in the city were something he had never seen in Florence and Constantinople. All this made him believe that his efforts were worth it.

Mason has always believed that Constantinople is one of the richest and largest cities, but since the Ming Dynasty, Ningbo has been no less inferior to the great Imperial Castle. I am even more curious about the capital of Ming Dynasty.

The city ship envoy told Mason that if they could continue a little further north, they could reach Zhoushan Port, and from there they could go directly to meet the emperor. Now that they have arrived in Ningbo, time may be a little slow.

In Nanjing City, Emperor Yongle Zhu Di, who had been on the throne for more than two years, felt his head grow bigger when he looked at the officials kneeling below. Today is another day of battle of wits and courage with them.

"Your Majesty, Taizu has taught you that you are not allowed to go into the sea. Anyone who goes out to sea will be beheaded. Three people will destroy their family. Three or more people will destroy the three clans. This is the teaching of our ancestors. Your Majesty cannot violate it!"

An official advised Zhu Di that in his opinion, going to sea was a waste of people and money, and would also endanger national security. Going to sea to Japan last year was already the limit. Now we have to go to sea and build a large number of ships. This is a waste.

Not to mention going to sea, we have to expand the army, move the capital, and compile the Yongle Grand Ceremony. There are also droughts and floods in some places. We got news a few days ago that Timur in the West is preparing to lead the army to attack. One after another, Zhu Di was almost exhausted. Most of the ministers below were against him. It was really...

Xia Yuanji, who became the Minister of Household Affairs, also told Zhu Di about the country's difficulties. Money is needed everywhere now, and the amount of silver in the national treasury is less than 1 million taels, so expenditures need to be saved.

"You all look too small"

Seeing these people's performances, Zhu Di began to have his own opinions. "During this period, I have heard about wasting money and wasting money for the sake of reputation. If we want to revive the Ming Dynasty, we must open the door to the country, promote our country's prestige, and revive the glory of the Celestial Dynasty."

"This is what I want to do to gain fame and reputation. I want to gain the reputation of the Celestial Dynasty and gain the reputation of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Di's determination made the ministers feel uncomfortable. This emperor still valued military power over civility. How could he manage the country well without them?

At this moment, an urgent message came.

"Your Majesty, the Chief Secretary of Zhejiang Province has come to report that a large number of ships have appeared in the waters near Ningbo, and it is suspected that the Japanese are causing trouble.

Hearing that they were Japanese, Zhu Di quickly asked: "How many ships are there?"

"There are probably no less than 100 ships covering the sky and the sun."

At this time, those conservative ministers seized the opportunity and said that this was the reason why Taizu was not allowed to go to the sea.

"Your Majesty, the reason why the late Emperor did not allow you to go to sea was to prevent Japanese invaders. Even though you have been enthroned as the King of Japan, the Japanese invaders are still in danger. Your Majesty, God is trying to stop you!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the laws of our ancestors are immutable!"

"Your Majesty, please don't ruin the Ming Dynasty."

Yes, now it has reached the point of ruining the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Di's already dark face turned even darker.

"let…"

Just as he was about to order people to exterminate the Japanese, another piece of news came, and it was urgent.

"Your Majesty, the Shipping Department of Hangzhou City is here to report."

"explain"

"It has been found that the ships traveling were not Japanese pirates, but were sent by a country who heard that the Celestial Empire was wealthy and powerful, and specially sent envoys there. Special envoys from two other countries also came together to beg for an audience with the Emperor of the Celestial Dynasty."

This sudden reversal made Zhu Di confused, but he soon smiled. Isn't this just right?

"You see, overseas envoys come to China in admiration. This is why Ming Dynasty must open its doors. Otherwise, where is the national prestige?"

"Your Majesty, the Shipping Department said that the special envoy also brought a big gift to the Emperor."

"Oh, what is it?"

"Pirate Chen Zuyi and other leaders who have been operating overseas for many years have been captured. They will be presented on a selected day."

Not only Zhu Di, but also the ministers were still confused by this sudden information. Before he could react, he only heard the emperor's order for the special envoy to pay an audience on another day and then left the court.

Chen Zuyi, a pirate with many evil deeds, was kidnapped and sent to the Ming Dynasty, which made Zhu Di feel relieved. But the pirate was caught by an envoy from another country, which made him feel uncomfortable.

The majestic emperor of China actually allowed the envoys from a foreign country to catch the pirates who had been troubled for many years. How could they lose face when this news spread?

This made Zhu Di firm up his determination to go to the West, even if all the ministers opposed it.

Some people believe that the main goals of the voyages to the West were twofold: to promote the country's prestige and to find nephews. This is what novices or donuts understand. Why Zhu Di went to the Western Ocean was to imitate Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty and establish a maritime Protectorate of the Western Regions.

During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the importance of the Maritime Silk Road exceeded that of the land Silk Road. The tea, silk, and porcelain produced can be continuously exported in exchange for tax money. Moreover, China is still a silver-poor country. All the money obtained from foreign trade is invested in the domestic market. Once it is cut off, it will cause deflation.

In order to reduce the use of silver, Emperor Taizu directly issued Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes, making them worth the same as silver. But the people have little confidence in banknotes, because most people are aware of the consequences of the excessive issuance of banknotes in the previous dynasty. They don't want to experience what it would be like to have prices rise 6,000 times. They have to either use money or barter.

As for promoting the country's prestige and finding a nephew, I would like to ask if the whole country's effort to build a fleet is for these two purposes. Will the price be too high? The ministers knew that they had to die to remonstrate, so they said it was impossible!

The special envoy who came to Ming Dynasty to meet this time was an opportunity. He carefully read the memorial sent by the Ministry of Shipping and said that the other party came from a very far away place. It was a country called the Roman Empire. He also said that the two countries had been together more than a thousand years ago. There is a connection. He will check the information later. It was still the Han Dynasty more than a thousand years ago. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Zhang Qian as an envoy to the Western Regions. Maybe there are records of this country.

In order to let the special envoys from afar feel the power of the Ming Dynasty, he asked that the palace be decorated and the other party's residence arranged. He heard that the other party brought a lot of people and they must be well entertained.

And in order to temporarily divert the attention of the ministers, Zhu Di announced in the main hall the next day that he would make his eldest son Zhu Gaochi the crown prince, which made the civil servants shout that the emperor is wise. It's just that his second son is very expressive. It's no wonder. After all, he is also Zhu Di's favorite prince. He originally thought he was the perfect candidate for the prince, but he missed the position. If he hadn't been in public, he would definitely have made a scene. One game.