Ming Zuo

"Look, everybody, this is the map of the world, drawn by the Europa people walking around the world. Although there are quite a few mistakes, omissions and missing places, the whole picture of the whole world is contained in it."

In the living room of Prince Xia's Mansion, Zuo Menggeng talked eloquently.

On the wall in the middle of the living room hung a huge world map.

The guests present were amazed and shocked while listening to his words.

After the Zheng brothers, Chen Ding and other Fujian businessmen also came to visit.

Taking this opportunity, Zuo Menggeng began to sell his ideas.

The world map in front of me is based on the whole map of Kunyu Wanguo, combined with Xia Kingdom's development and survey over the years.

Some places are already very detailed and real, very close to the maps of later generations.

And more places are very abstract.

That was an area that Xia Guo hadn't set foot in yet.

Even so, such a map was seen by Fujian businessmen such as the Zheng Brothers and Chen Ding, and they were still astonished.

"I've always heard a saying from Westerners that the ground under our feet is a sphere. I was skeptical at first, but now it seems that it is really so."

Although Daming is very closed today, he is not ignorant of outside information.

Especially pirates like Zheng Zhilong, who are also Catholics, have close contacts with the Europa people, so they have acquired a lot of advanced knowledge and insights of this era.

It's just that due to limitations, he is skeptical about many of them.

Now that I have seen the whole picture of the world with my own eyes, I suddenly realize that I have missed many things.

"From this point of view, Fujian and Dayuan are truly blessed and must be contested by military strategists."

Although Chen Ding is a businessman, he has a good strategic vision.Through the map, I finally realized why Xia Guo had a conflict with the Zheng family.

Zuo Menggeng admired his vision very much.

"The Taiwan Strait connects China, North Korea, Dongying and Ryukyu in the north, Luzon, Batavia and Annan in the south, and leads to the Western Ocean. It can be said that where there is water flowing in this waterway, it is clearly gold."

The Zheng brothers relied on this place to make a fortune in the past, and they are even more deeply touched by this.

"From now on, the Xia Kingdom will follow this important path, and its national strength will surely flourish."

Zheng Zhilong made a compliment.

Zuo Menggeng didn't accept it.

"The map I'm showing you today is not just in the Taiwan Strait."

Although the Taiwan Strait is very important, it is a strategic location.But it's nothing compared to the big picture.

Zuo Menggeng pointed to the American continent.

"Please see, this piece of Pangbo land, which the Europeans called America, was discovered more than a hundred years ago. At that time, the Europeans mistakenly thought that this was Tianzhu, so they called it the wrong name."

Everyone listened with great interest when they heard him talk about the pioneering history of Europe.

It never occurred to him that such a huge piece of land was actually isolated from the world a hundred years ago.

"On that piece of American continent, there were only some primitive natives living. They lived a life of slash-and-burn farming, just like our Chinese ancestors. After the Europas arrived, they were defeated by the guns and artillery in their hands. , slowly occupying large tracts of land.”

Seeing Zuo Menggeng draw piece after piece of territory on the American continent with a pen, Zheng Zhilong and others were all jealous.

Zuo Menggeng's language was even more deceptive.

"The land here is very rich. Gold, iron ore, timber, furs, etc. are almost inexhaustible. You do business with Westerners, and the silver they buy is mined from here."

"What price did the Europas pay for occupying such a large piece of land?"

"Nothing at all."

"It only takes a hundred or eighty people to build a boat and cross the sea to become the king of the American continent."

"The Franji people, look, the mainland is here, but it's only a small area, less than half of Fujian. And the land they occupy in the Americas is even wider than Daming."

"This is the situation in the world today!"

"The Europas are attacking in all directions, taking many unowned lands in this world as their own. Then they seize the wealth above and become stronger quickly."

"Yiguan, do you understand my urgency?"

Zheng Zhilong sat there in a daze, feeling really overwhelmed in his heart.

It's not that Zuo Menggeng didn't tell him his thoughts at the beginning.

But at that time, he was so beautiful and lacking knowledge, how could he believe it?

He only thought that Zuo Menggeng wanted to compete with him for supremacy in the East Ocean.

But now I realize that Zuo Menggeng actually has such a big blueprint in his heart.

"Your Highness, do you also want to join in and bring these unowned lands into the territory?"

Zuo Menggeng let out a long sigh, and it was rare for him to open his heart.

"My Chinese nation has gone through thousands of years and has cultivated the land under its feet in every possible way. Although it is enough to feed thousands of people, except for a few people who are rich, the rest are poor. The worst thing is gold The production of silver, copper and iron is too barren and of poor quality, which restricts my wish for the prosperity of China. Stones from other mountains can be used to attack jade. Since there are so many unowned lands in the world, there are countless Unclear wealth can help me flourish in China, why not take it?"

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but be moved, and they were even more impressed by his insight.

There are many heroes in the world, but they all only care about the ground under their feet.Only he jumped out of the five elements and looked far ahead.

"The Europeans can seize huge amounts of wealth with just a small boat and dozens of guns. Why can't the Chinese?"

"Although our brothers have gone astray, if Your Highness wants to fight for the world, I will do my best."

Zheng Zhilong was finally convinced and expressed his willingness to be loyal.

Zuo Menggeng shook his head.

"It's not service, it's cooperation."

Seeing that Zheng Zhilong didn't understand, Zuo Menggeng sat down and began to explain the difference.

"For thousands of years, there is no emperor who does not like to expand the territory. But you naturally know that no matter how big the country is, it will die if it is warlike."

Chen Ding and the others couldn't help smiling.

They are both businessmen and Confucian students, so they naturally believe in Confucianism.

Seeing that Zuo Menggeng was able to realize this made them feel more appropriate.

But what Zuo Menggeng said next exceeded their understanding.

"No matter how big a country is, warlike ones are bound to perish. It is true and well-known. Therefore, if the power of the country is used to expand the territory, no matter how powerful it is, sooner or later the vitality of the country will be exhausted. So what if the power of the country is not used?" ?”

Everyone was a little confused and couldn't turn this corner.

Zuo Menggeng began to use the situation in Europe as an example.

"Those countries in Europe, although they have been developing continuously, they act as the vanguard, but it is the folk power. The king and the government over there highly appreciate and encourage the pioneering behavior of the people, so the wind of folk adventure is very strong. Prosperity. Those European adventurers travel all over the world, and if they find something, they will share the benefits with the country. In this way, the country earns land and resources, and the adventurers earn wealth. It can be said to kill two birds with one stone. It has nothing to do with state affairs Wouldn't it be wonderful to have an impact?"

Zheng Zhilong and others understood.

But just because they understood, their minds jumped even more.

Originally, he wanted to completely surrender to Xia Guo and obey orders.

If, according to Zuo Menggeng's vision, the investment is changed to cooperation, then they can still have a certain degree of autonomy on the ocean.

On the contrary, the situation is very similar to before.

Although it is far away from the sea, the situation it faces is even more dangerous.

But the sea is so big, the world is so big, as a good man, how can you not take a look?