I'm really not doing business

Chapter 764: Opening up a New Silk Road

The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty carries the sun and the moon on his shoulders, and the country and the people depend on him. He is the weightlifting champion of the Ming Dynasty, but he alone cannot lift the sky of the Ming Dynasty. More people are needed to join the weightlifting team to lift weights together.

In Zhang Juzheng's view, the bottom line of appointing people based on their merits is that at least the person must be capable, even if he is a treacherous minister.

Zhang Juzheng allowed Wang Chonggu to exist and did not pursue him relentlessly or kill him because Wang Chonggu was really capable of working and was a member of the weightlifting team.

Give him one million silvers, and he can do a job worth eight hundred thousand silvers. Even if he is capable, after all, he has to ensure that the superiors do not cause trouble for you, and that everyone below has food to eat, and that some money goes into his own pocket;
If you are given one million silvers and can produce results equivalent to one million and two hundred thousand silvers, then you are a capable official.

Zhang Juzheng believed that the cabinet's assistant ministers should go to the five major customs offices to be burned in a big fire to see if it was real gold, and the cabinet's chief minister should be roasted on the hottest fire.

Shen Shixing's memorial was not about how hard he worked, but about reminding His Majesty that when the Ming Dynasty's new policies destroyed the old production relations and established a new order, he should pay attention to the rapid increase in governance difficulty and management costs.

For the fragile finances of the Ming Dynasty, if things went wrong, the Ming court would go bankrupt and not even be able to come up with 500,000 silver coins to build the imperial mausoleum. That would really be a huge joke.

The Ming Dynasty's finances were still fragile. It seemed that the court's annual revenue of 30 million silver coins had already caught up with the taxes during the Yongle period, and was rapidly increasing towards the taxes during the Hongwu period at the beginning of the country. According to the Ministry of Revenue's estimate, in the 15th year of Wanli, the taxes would exceed those during the Hongwu period.

But the administrative costs of the Ming Dynasty were far greater than before. In the past, the imperial power did not extend below the county level, and the destruction of the old production relations meant that more people poured into the cities and their surroundings and were brought under the direct jurisdiction of the imperial power, rather than being left to fend for themselves.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty's military expenditure has been increasing year by year. If the imperial court can't even support the army and is forced to allow the army to fend for itself and raise its own food and wages, then that day, the strong army of the Wanli Reform will become the Ming Dynasty's nightmare.

The myth of 'progress, development, change', there are too many necessary conditions to maintain this myth.

There must be a stable domestic situation. There must not be large-scale civil unrest, or even major political events such as tyranny, young ruler causing state distrust, succession from elder brother to younger brother, or direct access to the main clan. Also, there must not be overly intense party struggles. Limited competition is conducive to the self-metabolism of various factions in the court, while overly intense factionalism will lead to the disaster of national destruction.
A healthy economy is needed. Both manual and mechanical workshops require a large and stable labor force to enter the workshops and a large agricultural production to support them. This requires ensuring that: agricultural production not only has enough surplus to exceed the consumption of workshop craftsmen, but also provides enough labor;
It is necessary for all classes to reach a broad consensus on the distribution of benefits. The meat-eaters who occupy the distribution position must give producers enough treatment to support their families, whether based on high-pressure government orders, market competition, or supply and demand. This requires a consensus on the distribution of benefits.
It requires countless scholars to devote themselves to science and engineering, rather than science, to train enough students in science and engineering colleges and doctors of science, and to continuously promote the productivity of the Ming Dynasty, that is, the improvement of human ability to change nature, in order to maintain sufficient growth and allow various classes to distribute the growth.

Shen Shixing was very pessimistic and believed that each of these four conditions was extremely fragile, and if any one of them collapsed and there was not enough development, the myth of the Wanli Reform based on the distribution of increments, the myth of progress, development and change, would be shattered.

When the tide of the Wanli Reform receded, it was the most dangerous moment for the dynasty.

There was a hint of despair in Shen Shixing's memorial, which was obviously the despair he read from the struggle volume. He was trying his best to prevent all this from happening.

The Songjiang Prefecture Shipyard was manufacturing all kinds of sea vessels like dumplings. These sea vessels set out from the five major maritime customs offices, bringing the world's wealth and raw materials back to the Ming Dynasty to keep the Ming Dynasty myth from being shattered. The output of fast sailing ships had increased from six to fourteen a year, but Shen Shixing was still not satisfied.

Shen Shixing was a little anxious and had some fear of not having enough silver.

"The road to the Wanli Reform is still long and arduous." Zhu Yijun reviewed Shen Shixing's memorial. After he reported on the high administrative costs and the necessary conditions for the Wanli Reform myth, he also reported on the progress of returning farmland to Zhejiang.

Shen Shixing also felt a sense of urgency when he was carrying out the land return mission. The Zhejiang Jiuying completed the flood control patrol as scheduled this year, and during the patrol, they wiped out many bandits. There is no doubt that some of these bandits were real bandits, some were thugs of landlords who were unwilling to lose their land, and some were simply the landlords themselves.

Shen Shixing's process of returning the land to the people was already too extreme. Struggles have always been like this, a life-and-death struggle, not to mention the struggle for the distribution of means of production.

"Your Majesty, the people who went to Liaodong all wanted to build five large tiled houses and five kangs. Living under the same roof for four generations is their dream. They are willing to fill up the big water bubble just for their five large tiled houses." Feng Bao said with a puzzled look: "But Your Majesty, what is the goal of our Ming Dynasty's revival?"

Feng Bao still doesn't understand it, or maybe His Majesty has never given a specific standard.

What exactly were the five large tiled houses of the Ming Dynasty?

If the Yongle period is used as the standard, the Ming Dynasty has now achieved all of its goals of rejuvenation, including in Liaodong, the Beijing Xingdusi, the Daning Guard, the Huining Guard, Guihua, Suiyuan, the Seven Guards of Guanxi, the Three Xuan and Six Wei, Luzon, Jiugang, Ryukyu, and Korea.

In all aspects including politics, economy, culture, and military, the Ming Dynasty completed its revival, and the quality was far better than before. After all, the Ming Dynasty's global trade fleet had been operating for five years, which was definitely impossible during the Yongle period.

But His Majesty still seemed unsatisfied, and the habit of not submitting memorials overnight was still retained. This habit put the entire Ming Dynasty bureaucracy under a state of absolute high pressure.

"It reaches the east and west where the sun rises and sets, and wherever boats and carriages can reach, it can reach everywhere, far surpassing the Han and Tang dynasties." Zhu Yijun sat up straight and said with a smile: "Even if I did it, I am not as good as Emperor Chengzu Wen. What were the conditions of Emperor Chengzu Wen at that time? My conditions are much better than those of Emperor Taizu and Emperor Chengzu."

"Let them scold me, I just like to show off."

"That means the sun never sets." Feng Bao thought about it. The east and west are where the sun rises and sets, which can be roughly summarized as the sun never sets.

It is not the empire on which the sun never sets that Felipe boasted about. That was just a bloated empire. What the Ming Dynasty wants to achieve is real counties and prefectures, which is obviously a bit difficult. It may not be something that can be achieved in ten, twenty, or even fifty years.

This big tiled house can never be completely built.

"I should provide Shen Shixing with some help within my power." Zhu Yijun handed the memorial to Feng Bao and said, "He took action and killed people in the return of land to Zhejiang. I should give him some promises to prevent the resistance from being too great, so that the decree cannot be implemented and Shen Shixing himself cannot return to the capital."

"Submit a memorial to the Ministry of Rites and inform Zhejiang to make the request according to the time of Shen. If Zhejiang completes the return of land, the ten-year ban on examinations in Zhejiang will be lifted."

Zhejiang's punishments included a permanent reduction in the number of Jinshi candidates, a ten-year ban on taking the exam, and the return of land. The ten-year ban was the most powerful. All students from Zhejiang had to wait for ten years. You should know that the Ming Dynasty had a complete household registration policy, which even clearly stated the place of origin. If you were originally from Zhejiang, you were banned from taking the exam, but you could not avoid the punishment by registering as a resident elsewhere.

How many decades can one have in life? Zhu Yijun's punishment was to abruptly end the official careers of a generation of people in Zhejiang.

"Your Majesty, this..." Feng Bao said hesitantly, "I think this punishment should not be cancelled. Three-legged frogs are hard to find, but two-legged scholars are everywhere. The Ming Dynasty does not lack scholars from Zhejiang. It is not the beginning of the country anymore."

The biggest problem during the Hongwu and Yongle years was that there were too few scholars. The Ming Dynasty implemented the system of recommendation for a long time at that time. It was not until the 13th year of the Zhengtong period that the system was completely abolished. During the Wanli period, there was no such problem or obstacle. There were even so many scholars that they had to be diverted to the Polytechnic Institutes.

This is the fundamental reason why the Institute of Technology can survive. The road to a career in politics is too blocked. If you are willing to take off your gown, you can get a good living.

"Shen Shixing is in a difficult situation. I want to help him. I am the one who punishes him and scolds him. He is the one who does the work. He did a good job in returning the land to Zhejiang, which means he really knows he is wrong. I will give them a chance, because I am the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and they are all my people." Zhu Yijun said with a smile.

Your Majesty endured the scolding and punishment, but now he is willing to break his promise in order to help Shen Shixing get the job of returning the land in Zhejiang.

Zhu Yijun continued, "Just as Shen Shixing said, to ensure the production of handicraft workshops and mechanical workshops, there must be enough agricultural surplus, and returning the land is imperative. I think this deal is worth it."

"Let's go to the Ministry of Rites next chapter."

"I obey your order." Feng Bao naturally could not stop the emperor's will. At this moment, he was a little dazed. When His Majesty was on a southern tour, the tough punishment of banning examinations for ten years was probably either to vent his anger or to return the land. In other words, all His Majesty's actions in Zhejiang were for the smooth implementation of the order to return the land.

If the order to return land is thoroughly implemented, it won't take too much to implement it in all of the Ming Dynasty's hinterland. The Ming Dynasty can at least survive for another 200 years, that's how long it can last.

"Ah, Your Majesty is wise!" Feng Bao took two steps, suddenly turned around and bowed his head and said.

"Uh, why are you behaving so strangely?" Zhu Yijun looked up, thinking Feng Bao was being puzzling, and blurted out a wise remark.

Feng Bao bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, Governor Shen said that the tide of the Wanli Reform is receding rapidly, and the Ming Dynasty is in danger and may be overthrown. I think Governor Shen is not exaggerating. The only thing that can stop the rapid decline is probably the order to return the land. No matter what, agriculture is our core business and the pillar that stabilizes the sea."

"That's right." Zhu Yijun looked at Feng Bao in surprise. This time he understood it very accurately.

The thorough implementation of the Land Return Order in exchange for the lifting of the ten-year ban on examinations was not only the emperor's support for Shen Shixing, but also an answer to Shen Shixing's concerns.

Your Majesty is still young and would rather give up your sharp youthful spirit than to endure a small anger in order to achieve a greater goal.

Once Zhejiang's land return is successful, Zhejiang will be several steps ahead of other places. Its vigorous development will surely lead other places to follow suit, and thus promote the return of land throughout the Ming Dynasty. This is Your Majesty's grand plan.

There was also extensive competition among various regions in the Ming Dynasty, and every effort was made to keep industries in their own jurisdictions. When Zhejiang had sufficient agricultural surplus to support more handicraft populations, Zhejiang would have a leading advantage, and there would be more workshops, more goods, and it would become more prosperous.

The Ming Dynasty was unable to break the old production relations and transform them into large-scale free employment. The Ming Dynasty was unable to break through the difficulties of the small peasant economy and enter the commodity economy. In addition to the shortage of money, there was another reason, which was that the population of the Ming Dynasty was too large and the agricultural production surplus was insufficient to support enough handicraft population, making it impossible to scale up and industrialize the handicraft industry.

When Zhang Juzheng received the memorial and the imperial edict, he read them for a long time before saying, "Wang Ci Fu, this third volume should be read by the Hanlin Academy. It is excellent. I overreacted to this third volume before. As Your Majesty said, it is no big deal."

"Oh my!" Wang Chonggu looked at Zhang Juzheng in horror. He took the memorial and imperial edict handed over by Yuan Fu, which had His Majesty's red-ink comments and divine instructions on them. He said in surprise: "Oh my, Mr. Zhang also has times when he admits his mistakes!"

"If you are wrong, you are wrong. Why can't you admit it?" Zhang Juzheng said calmly, "Your Majesty is right, which is more important than me admitting my mistake."

Sometimes, Wang Chonggu was indeed a bit annoying, but Zhang Juzheng was never a person who would not admit his mistakes. This time, regarding the struggle volume, Zhang Juzheng admitted that he was a bit narrow-minded.

Zhang Juzheng finally understood what the emperor was up to. His Majesty had even planned a retreat for the Ming Dynasty. This route was obviously much better than Zhang Juzheng's plan of covering his eyes, covering his ears, shaking his body, and pretending that the Ming Dynasty was still advancing.

Zhang Juzheng's obstruction of the third volume from being promoted was a self-deception. He knew that the Ming Dynasty was doomed to perish, but he refused to admit it.

But now it seems that it would be better to admit it. As long as it is admitted, in order to avoid slipping from the ruling class, the ruling class will try every means to prevent the collapse of the world. This is the significance of the third volume he saw and its guiding significance for the Ming Dynasty.

"Let me see." Shen Li took the memorial and the imperial edict and looked at them for a long time before saying, "No, I have to go back and look it up in the book. No matter what, this is the law passed down by our ancestors. If there is no law, we can make one up."

Shen Li seemed to be more flexible than Wan Shihe. He would make up something even if he didn't have it, and he didn't even have to hide it from others. This was a trick Shen Li learned from the West. Westerners like to attribute current achievements to the ancients. Shen Li was more flexible than Wan Shihe because he learned more tricks.

Wang Guoguang said with emotion: "Your Majesty is wise. No matter how fierce the conflict is, as long as people can be fed, the different classes will not destroy each other in the fierce conflict."

Your Majesty always gives your ministers enough certainty in every aspect, making them feel at ease. Shen Shixing also read despair from the third volume, and became somewhat worried about gains and losses.

Of course, there would be problems with the Wanli Reform, and the economy also has cycles. So how to maintain the stability of the dynasty when the tide is ebbing? Your Majesty gave his own answer.

"The Womagangtang News." A secretary hurriedly came to the cabinet with a memorial and placed it in front of the Prime Minister of the Ming Dynasty.

Ye Bangrong, the general manager of the Womagang official factory, reported several things.

Womagang has already received 20,300 Japanese and Hwarang soldiers, and the Ming infantry battalion left in Womagang is responsible for guarding and organizing production. Now these Japanese and Hwarang have begun to participate in production in an orderly manner, digging coal and planting potatoes, mainly potatoes. Even if the harvest is not high, as long as it can support the factory's food and drink without having to rely on transporting grain from the hinterland, it is a victory.

What surprised Ye Bangrong was that the Japanese slaves were very satisfied with life in the mining area. They had hot water, cotton-padded clothes, and most importantly, potatoes to eat, while these Japanese slaves could not even get food in Japan.

In addition to receiving captives, the Ming Dynasty's Duntai Yuanhou was also leading an adventure team to explore northward. During these five years, he finally submitted a geomancy map, which was not very detailed but had a road, to the cabinet.

The expedition team consisted of three Duntai Yuanhou, seven Han people, and three herdsmen from the seven tribes of Outer Khalkha. A total of 300 exploration teams set out from the Womagang mining area in various directions to explore the far north.

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During the exploration process, basic geomancy and mapping were carried out using the mapping telescope, sextant and clock that they carried with them.

After five years of repeated exploration, these 300 expedition teams finally arrived at the North of the Pamir Mountains, which the locals call the Ural Mountains.

Two expeditions crossed the Ural Mountains and arrived in Russia, and clashed with Russia.

"The Ob River has two sources, one is the Ural Mountains, and the other is Lake Kitai. It reaches the ice sea in the north and is more than 4,000 miles long. In the far north, there is snow in winter and summer, and people cannot walk. It is 4,000 miles from north to south and 3,000 miles from east to west. It is flat. From north to south, tundra, mountains, forests, and grasslands alternate. The southern grasslands are full of bubbles and swamps." Zhang Juzheng finished reading the exploration report on the great plains east of the Ural Mountains.

A huge plain, a vast plain stretching as far as the eye can see.

Wang Guoguang said tentatively: "There are plains, large rivers, dense river networks, hot summers, and a frost-free period of 90 days. It seems that farming can be done here. The locals grow a kind of rye, and the yield seems to be good. Even if large-scale farming is not possible, grazing is possible. Daming's woolen cloth production is limited by wool production, and the scale cannot continue to expand."

After exploring a piece of land, Daming always thinks about whether he can farm on it. This is probably an instinct.

The precipitation in this place is more than twelve inches per year. Although the frost-free period is only ninety days, it is possible to grow only one crop of wheat, or to grow forage grass for large-scale grazing and fixed grazing.

Liaodong is a land where crops can be harvested once a year, but Liaodong mainly grows rice, not wheat. The frost-free period in Liaodong is more than 140 days, so rice can be grown, but this endless grassland obviously cannot be grown.

Zhang Juzheng looked at the geomancy map and pondered for a long time. He sighed and shook his head and said, "This is impossible. Even if we reach Womagang, we still have to cross the desert. When we go to this vast grassland, we will also have to face the harassment of the Outer Khalkha tribes. The cost of development is too high."

"No, no, no, Yuanfu, you want to establish a county too much." Wang Chonggu said confidently, "We just need to build a traversable road to get there and do business with the barbarians there."

"The newspaper said that they have encountered some troubles recently. Yermak, one of the leaders of the Cossack Corps and a general from Russia, is attacking the barbarians there. Kuchum Khan of the Siberian Khanate doesn't seem to be having a good time."

Wang Chonggu's labor party thinking was completely different from Zhang Juzheng's agriculture-based thinking. Wang Chonggu always believed that no matter how vast the territory in the north was, if there was no highway to reach it, no matter how much effort was made to open it up, it would be in vain and it would not be able to be defended, and all the investment would be a huge waste.

Wang Chonggu only had business in his mind. As long as a road was built to open up trade, it would be enough for the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Chonggu continued, "I still stick to my unorthodox theory. Any expansion behavior is closely related to interests. Why did the Russian Tsar send the Cossacks to attack this vast grassland? The purpose was for gold and furs, especially furs."

"Our goal is also gold and furs. If the Russian barbarians can do it, why can't we?"

Zhang Juzheng looked at the geomancy map in front of him and said, "Your theory is not heretical, it just doesn't conform to the Five Constant Virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness. What you said makes sense. Anyway, there are so many pirates, and they are idle anyway. Let's build an official road to their place called Chengjitula."

After a long discussion, the four cabinet ministers wrote the floating bill and sent it to the Imperial Household Department.

The weather in October is already a little cold. It is deep autumn and the air is solemn. The sky is deep and blue. The autumn wind blows, blowing the yellow leaves off the branches and forming golden paths. The morning sun shines obliquely and falls on the golden tiles of the Wenhua Hall, making them sparkle brightly.

The courtiers, wearing scarlet fine woolen cloaks, walked into the red walls and golden tiles of the imperial palace, stepping on the morning sun and fallen leaves.

As the whip cracked three times, the court officials in the side hall of Wenhua Palace began to enter the main hall. The ceremonial officers checked the items and instruments carried by the court officials and then let them pass.

"Your Majesty, long live your Majesty, long live your Majesty."

It was another morning, and just like the past fourteen years, the diligent Emperor of the Ming Dynasty appeared in the Wenhua Hall as usual to preside over the daily court meetings.

"No need to formalize, my dear ministers." Zhu Yijun stretched out his hand, motioning the ministers to take a seat, and then asked the eunuch to push the huge feng shui map aside.

"Grand Master, I don't understand." Zhu Yijun looked at the geomancy map and said, "This vast plain newly discovered by our Duntai Yuanhou is the plain east of the Ural Mountains and the Ural River. Why was it named the Xianbei Plain by the Ministry of Rites?"

The Siberian Plain, named the Xianbei Plain by the Ministry of Rites.

Zhu Yijun had no doubt that the Ministry of Rites was making up the claim. After all, the Xianbei people were also considered to be one of the Central Plains people. If this was the Xianbei Plain, then this was the inherent territory of the Ming Dynasty since ancient times. It was too difficult for the Ming Dynasty to expand from south to north. The road was too long, and even military control would be difficult to achieve.

"I have checked the Veritable Records. In the 19th year of Yongle, the White Horde Khanate paid tribute. The White Horde arrived in the Ming Dynasty with the leaders of the Siberian tribes." The Minister of Rites Shen Li hurried out of the class and bowed his head.

"Your Majesty, Xianbei, Xibe, Shibar, Sibir, Shibir, Xibe, and Ibergle are all transliterations of Xianbei Sibir." The reason why Shen Li named it the Xianbei Plain was not nonsense or a fabricated claim, but it was a true fact.

In the 19th year of Yongle, Ibergle sent people to pay tribute. He was fed and well-fed in the Ming Dynasty and kept paying tribute to the White Horde. Later, after the demise of the White Horde, Ibergle fled to the Xianbei Plain in the north.

"I understand." Zhu Yijun finally understood. It turned out that the "Xibo" in Siberia was the transliteration of "Xianbei". The vast grassland was called the Xianbei Plain. There was no problem at all.

"The cabinet's intention is to build an official post road to reach the Xianbei city in the Xianbei Plain, trade with them, let them provide wool and furs, and we provide them with various goods." Zhu Yijun looked at the memorial and said, "The journey is too far."

Wang Chonggu immediately replied: "Your Majesty, we can use the Japanese captives to build it."

"We set up business stations along the way as footholds for doing business. They don't need to be too luxurious. A place to shelter from the wind and rain is enough. If our goods can reach Moscow, it will be even better."

"Your Majesty, Felipe's galleon only brought two million taels of silver this year. Although we have reached a consensus with Spain on exchanging talents for markets, I always feel that being controlled by others is like being strangled by someone. If there is a land route to transport the goods from the Ming Dynasty to the west, we will not be controlled by others."

The Ming Dynasty's global trade caravan had Felipe's permission, but if Felipe II did not give the Ming Dynasty permission, the Ming Dynasty's merchant ships could not dock at the ports of Spanish colonies, and could not even pass through the Strait of Magellan. The hydrology of the Strait of Magellan was extremely complex, and Tierra del Fuego was also a pass that could really strangle the Ming Dynasty.

Alternative trade routes from land need to be prepared, and now Duntai Yuanhou has explored the road to the Ural Mountains, and there are not so many obstacles along the way.

"Does Wang Ci Fu mean to open up a new Silk Road?" Zhu Yijun asked Wang Chonggu for his opinion while looking at the geomancy map.

Wang Chonggu bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty, I have been a merchant for generations. The situation on the Silk Road is too complicated. It is better to open it up again."

The Silk Road could not be restarted, not only because of the big tiger Ottoman Empire, but also because of various small tigers along the way. Every time a checkpoint was passed, the roadblocks would collect taxes, causing the profits of the Silk Road to plummet and eventually leading to the decline of the Silk Road.

Even if the Ming Dynasty reopened the Western Regions, it would be difficult to deliver goods to the West, the world's second largest market.

The new route to the north has water sources and less desert. After the official road and post road are built, goods can be transported directly to the west for distribution. As for the Kingdom of Russia, because it lacks ice-free ports and sea outlets, it is very happy to cooperate with the Ming Dynasty.

"Will Kuchum Khan agree to the Ming Dynasty building a road there?" Zhu Yijun really wanted to build it, but the problem was, even if the Ming Dynasty was willing, would Kuchum Khan, the Khan of the Siberian Khanate, agree?

"Your Majesty, the Russian Empire is at war with the Siberian Khanate. The Siberian Khanate, lacking gunpowder and firearms, is losing ground. Its 40,000 soldiers have been beaten to a pulp by Yermak's 800 men. He will agree." Wang Chonggu also thought about this matter.

According to the report from Duntai Yuanhou, the Xibo Khanate has a population of more than 200,000, including 40,000 adults. However, these 40,000 adults, who are both herdsmen and soldiers, have been defeated repeatedly when facing the invasion of 800 people. This is an opportunity. The Ming Dynasty only needs to provide some firearms and gunpowder to change Kuchum Khan's predicament and gain his friendship.

When Ming Dynasty goods poured in through official roads, he had no say.

Wang Chonggu looked around and whispered, "After the official road is built, and then the highway is built, we can establish the king's rule."

"Then let's build it. We're using prisoners of war anyway." Zhu Yijun finally agreed with the cabinet's idea and used the Japanese slaves to build an official road and post road directly to Xianbei City (Siberian City).

This was also the Ming Dynasty's usual method of dealing with prisoners of war - building roads. The post road of Nurgandusi was built with the captives captured during Emperor Chengzu Wen's Northern Expedition.

(End of this chapter)