I, the Ming Dynasty, can still save me

Chapter 351 Surprised Zhu Youxiao
Zhu Youxiao already had the idea of ​​sending envoys to Europe.

Although the European countries today pale in comparison to the Ming Dynasty, as the Ming Dynasty expanded its oceans, it was inevitable to negotiate with them.

Therefore, he still wanted to send someone to have a look in advance. It would be better if he could go to America while taking advantage of the east wind.Even if there is no political role in going there, as long as the experiences, customs and customs there are recorded and published in the Ming Dynasty, it will be enough to make the people of the Ming Dynasty broaden their horizons.

"Xu Aiqing, your suggestion is a good one. I have also been thinking before, why are the Western countries able to cross the ocean to come to our country, then why can't our country go to them?
I remember that during the reigns of Chengzu, Renzong, and Xuanzong, there were three eunuchs from the Three Treasures who made seven voyages to the Western Seas. They made such a huge noise that all the countries in Southeast Asia bowed their heads after hearing about it. At that time, the Western countries were not there yet.

Now they are developing well, but Ming Dynasty is lagging behind.I think that my country, the Great Celestial Empire, can be visited by all the Western countries, and that I can also go there by the Ming Dynasty.I have agreed to this matter. When the time comes, not only can I send officials from the imperial court to visit various countries and hand over letters of credence to them.You can also select people who dare to take risks from among the people to go together. "

When Xu Guangqi heard that the emperor agreed with him, he was overjoyed and bowed his head and said:

"Your Majesty, your Majesty, your Majesty is right. If the Western countries can come, we, the Ming Dynasty, can also go there. Now we are just sending people there. When the route is figured out later, our ships, the Ming Dynasty, can also go to the West for business."

Zhu Youxiao nodded when he heard this. He naturally knew the current situation in Europe. The Thirty Years War had just started and the whole of Europe was in chaos. About 30% of the population of the German states was wiped out. It was not without tragedy. In the end, it ended with the failure of the Habsburg family, which occupied Spain, Portugal and Austria.

And if you go to Nanyang after the Ming Dynasty, you will definitely have to deal with them.If you go now, you might be able to participate in this war remotely in the future and take a hard look at the Habsburg family.

"Yes, but this matter needs to be determined by the cabinet. When the time comes, let the Ministry of Rites select and send people, or you can recruit from the private sector. These people must be carefully selected. Going to the West is a long journey, and it will not be possible unless you have great perseverance."

"Wei Chen understands."

Xu Guangqi immediately bowed his head and expressed his approval.He also communicated frequently with Tang Ruowang and others, so he naturally knew the dangers involved.It would take more than half a year to go there just once. The life at sea is very harsh and it is difficult to eat and drink. It is really not something that ordinary people can go.

"That's good. The burden on you is particularly heavy. There are many things I asked you to do. You are responsible for the Tongzhou firearms workshop, casting silver coins, and trying to grow sweet potatoes. Now you have to participate in compiling calendars and sending people to the West.

It is inevitable that those who can do it will have to work harder, and I am probably talking about you.Zhang Chang, take a portion of the wild ginseng and other tributes from Liaodong and Jiangnan and give them to Xu Aiqing. "

After the matter was settled, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but sigh when he saw Xu Guangqi, feeling that there were too many tasks given to him.

"Your Majesty has given you too much praise, and I feel guilty. It is my duty to be loyal to the court, but I am worried that the responsibility I shoulder is too light, that I have not done my best, and I am not afraid of the heavy responsibility."

Zhu Youxiao listened to Xu Guangqi's words, nodded slightly, and asked the emperor if he could appreciate a minister who was loyal to his duties and had no regrets.

He wanted to continue praising Xu Guangqi, but at this moment, He Ning's voice came from the door.

"Your Majesty, five ministers from the cabinet want to see you."

Zhu Youxiao was slightly startled when he heard this. All five cabinet ministers came. It seemed that there was something important to discuss.Hearing this, he immediately waved his hand to let them in.

Xu Guangqi and Wei Zhongxian on the side also felt a little bit in their hearts when they heard this, secretly thinking that something serious might happen. Could it be that Shen Guan persuaded other people in the cabinet to oppose this matter?
But Xu Guangqi thought it impossible. He knew that Shen Guan was very resistant to Western methods.But the other four members of the cabinet are all from Donglin. Could it be that Shen Guan also convinced the four of them?

Thinking of this, Xu Guangqi could only suppress his curiosity and anxiety, and bowed down to wait for Shen Guan and the others to arrive.

"My ministers, see your Majesty."

"Exemption."

Zhu Youxiao looked at the five people in the cabinet and had the same idea as Xu Guangqi, but he had already made up his mind. No matter what these five people said, he would insist on letting Tang Ruowang and others participate in the process of compiling the calendar. Come in.

"It's rare for all five of your cabinet to come together, but has something big happened?"

Liu Yishuo and others looked at each other after hearing this, and then Liu Yishuo cupped his hands and said:

"Your Majesty, the situation in Liaodong is now stable, and the Bailian rebel party has been pacified in Shandong. Xu Hongru and others are already on their way to escort to the capital and will arrive in the capital soon. Now the court is peaceful and the people are safe, and there is nothing major. The ministers and others are here just because I would like to request your Majesty for a major matter that benefits the country and the people."

As soon as these words came out, Zhu Youxiao, Xu Guangqi and others immediately murmured in their hearts, thinking that they were indeed here. It seemed that they were here to persuade Zhu Youxiao to take back his life.

Zhu Youxiao had no expression on his face when he heard this, looked at Liu Yishen and said:
"Let me hear about any major events that benefit the country and the people."

Liu Yishen organized his thoughts under this situation, paused for a moment and then began to say:
"Your Majesty, the situation is like this. Since the library near the Confucian Temple was opened recently, it has been bustling with people writing and reading books every day. This has provided great convenience to the scholars in the capital. Nowadays, taxis The disciples all praised His Majesty for his emphasis on culture and education and his kindness to educate all peoples. Therefore, after careful consideration, I feel that we should further promote this kind of education, and it is best to implement it nationwide."

Hearing these words, Zhu Youxiao was slightly surprised.

Unexpectedly, they did not mention the issue of compiling a calendar, but instead proposed the establishment of more libraries in various places, which surprised him.

"In fact, I also have this intention. Let the general public have more opportunities to receive education, and it should be implemented nationwide. However, I always believe that things must move forward steadily, but since you all agree so, I think it can be considered.

Well, let this matter be handled by the cabinet and the Ministry of Household Affairs, and then the chief secretaries will be ordered to build libraries in provincial capitals first. "

Zhu Youxiao is not very opposed to this matter. Since the cabinet wants to do it, let them do it.

"Your Majesty Shengming."

After hearing this, Liu Yishen immediately lowered his head and praised him.However, as soon as he finished speaking, Shen Guan immediately stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I learned yesterday that Your Majesty ordered that the current calendar is inaccurate, so he ordered Xu Shangshu and others to re-compile it to make up for the shortcomings of the existing calendar. After this matter was reported yesterday, there was an uproar in the capital and the response was strong. Some are for it and some are against it.”

After hearing Shen Guan's words, Xu Guangqi and Wei Zhongxian secretly thought that this Shen Guan was really thoughtful and would not just sit back and wait for death.

Zhu Youxiao also sneered in his heart when he heard this, and he came as expected.He immediately looked at Shen Guan and said silently:

"Oh, I don't know about this yet. There is a lot of criticism about this kind of thing, and I am prepared for it. However, it doesn't matter what the opinions of ordinary people are, but I am afraid that some people will use these people's words to fan the flames and spread rumors, which will be troublesome. Yes. I just don’t know what your beloveds think?"

Everyone present knew what the emperor meant as soon as they heard this, but Shen Guan acted as if he had not heard it and continued to bow and lower his hands:
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I talked about this matter with Mr. Liu Ge and others this morning. They all felt that I quoted the "Hijri" from the Western Regions when the Ming Dynasty was founded. It is natural for people from the West to participate in the compilation of the calendar now.

Wei Chen also felt that it was true that our Celestial Empire is inclusive of all things. Since the Western calendar is helpful to our dynasty, our Ming Dynasty naturally needs to be inclusive in order to show our status as the Celestial Kingdom. "

These words made Zhu Youxiao and others suddenly confused, wondering what kind of medicine was being sold in this sinking gourd.I originally thought that he would persuade me not to use Tang Ruowang and others, but I didn't expect that he would agree with it. Zhu Youxiao's secretly brewing temper disappeared and he was a little confused as to why this person became so reasonable.

And Shen Guan didn't care about everyone's surprise. If he just wanted to cater to the emperor and agreed to this matter, he wouldn't have gone to such great lengths.So he paused for a moment and then continued.

"It's just that your Majesty, since last year, the imperial court has first established the Capital Tongwen Hall, then the Ming Dynasty Military Academy, and then the library. All of these demonstrate your Majesty's civil and military skills and the virtue of education.

But I and others thought about it and felt that now the military generals have schools, and the West also has the Tongwen Library of the Capital. And our Ming culture and education are related to the hundreds of millions of people in the Ming Dynasty, but we have only one library at present.

Although this has made the scholars appreciate His Majesty's teachings, I am afraid that some people will inevitably think that Your Majesty favors one over the other. "

Shen Guan's words surprised Zhu Youxiao and left him speechless for a long time. He understood what Shen Guan meant as soon as he heard it, but he never expected that Shen Guan would take such a curve to save the country.

Xu Guangqi next to him also thought the same way, secretly sighing at how clever Shen Guan was.It seems that he knew that the emperor had made up his mind and could not persuade him, so instead of doing this, he might as well cry to the emperor for his poverty.

The emperor can't just admire martial arts and Western techniques and be indifferent to Chinese culture.

Xu Guangqi believed that Shen Guan had raised this flag and it would be difficult for the emperor to refuse. In order to balance the objections of Shen Guan and others, he would vigorously develop culture and education.

At that time, Shen Guan, as the initiator, will definitely be praised by scholars again. This is a good opportunity to expand his reputation and power.

If Xu Guangqi understands this, Zhu Youxiao will naturally understand that it is indeed difficult for him to refuse Shen Guan's request, which is no longer reasonable and legal.

After all, Shen Guanyi had no objection to borrowing Western methods. Secondly, he just wanted to pay attention to culture and education, which is understandable.

And he also knew that Shen Guan and others had already had ideas on how to attach importance to culture and education, so he followed the trend and asked:

"Aiqing is right, I can't favor one thing over another, but do you have any opinions on how to do it specifically?"

(End of this chapter)