I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 417 This is Daming Lake
Zhu Yijun returned to the room and saw Lu Tong, Li Chao and others still discussing enthusiastically the "Map of Zheng He's Voyages to the West".

"The Ming navy has set sail for thousands of miles. We can no longer be like before, valuing justice over profit and only caring about reputation." Lu Tong said loudly, "The navy's expenditure is far more than that of the cavalry and infantry. It is unprofitable and difficult to sustain. The Ming navy cannot be a flash in the pan, and then have no defense in a few decades!"

Li Chao and six others praised and agreed in unison.

Zhu Yijun listened for a while and then said: "When Zheng He sailed to the West more than a hundred years ago, our navy sailed as far as Ceylon, India, Persia, and Arabia, and the farthest reached Mombasa (Kenya).

It has only been a short time since we had a sea without defense and were ravaged by Japanese pirates."

Li Chao and the other six turned around when they heard the voice, with solemn expressions, and listened quietly.

"The Supervisory Office agreed that the Qinglong Navy would sail eastward, following the Spanish route back to the New World, and attack their lair. A military commander said frankly that this move would cost the people money and energy, and waste the country's strength."

Zhu Yijun's words made Li Chao and the other six people very angry, but since he was in front of the Crown Prince, they did not dare to lose their composure and held back in silence.

"I told him bluntly that the Western barbarians sailed across the sea for thousands of miles, discovered the New World, dug up mountains of gold and silver, occupied land, traveled all over the world, and even came to our Ming Dynasty to trade and make a fortune. Isn't this also a waste of money and manpower and a waste of national strength?
On the ocean voyage, we got up early but arrived late, and had to watch helplessly as the Western barbarians came from behind and occupied all the land illuminated by the sun and the moon.

We went out to sea before, thinking only of spreading benevolence and gaining a lot of false reputation, which was of course a waste of money and manpower and a waste of national strength. They stick to the old ways and only care about the little place under their noses, but I want to fight for a bright and far-reaching future for the Ming Dynasty.

Now our purpose of sailing has changed. We no longer seek fame, but only seek land and profit. Gather wealth from all over the world to enrich the Ming Dynasty; seek land in the world to bring peace to the people. And the beginning of all these changes begins with you, the Qinglong Navy. "

Zhu Yijun glanced at the six people and said, "Follow me."

He walked to another room first, and Lu Tong, Li Chao and six others quickly followed.

There was a huge screen in the room with a large map hanging on it.

This map is very strange. It is in the shape of a long barrel, like a huge circle cut into two parts at the top and bottom. There is an exquisite map drawn on it. The four huge continents are respectively represented by yellow, white, pink and gray colors. The land is surrounded by the blue sea and dotted with islands.

"This is the Global Atlas that I drew based on the various information I collected. Magellan of Spain has verified that our world is a big sphere with four huge continents on it and surrounded by oceans.

This largest landmass belongs to Zhen in the east, so I call it Zhenzhou. Of course, the Western barbarians call their part Europe and our part Asia. Haha, now that we have said it, we will follow my definition.

The Western Barbarians insisted on establishing their own continent, so I called it Duizhou, and the West belongs to Dui. This continent."

Zhu Yijun pointed to Africa and said, "It is located in our southwest. The southwest belongs to Kun, so I call it Kunzhou."

He pointed to North America and South America and said, "These two continents are one in our northeast and one in our southeast. The northeast is Gen, and this continent is Genzhou. The southeast is Xun, and this continent is Xunzhou.

Based on the information I have collected, I have determined that the New World that Spain is talking about is in the southern part of Genzhou and the northern and western part of Xunzhou. Their so-called Acapulco should be here, in the south of Genzhou, where it connects to Xunzhou. "

Zhu Yijun pointed to a place on the map and said.

Zhu Yijun was good at geography in middle school. He was obsessed with the game "Uncharted Waters" in college and remembered the world map very well. The "Global Atlas" he drew from memory can be said to be the most accurate world map today.

However, in order to avoid shocking the world, Zhu Yijun blurred the maps of the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as Australia, and parts of Genzhou (North America) and Xunzhou (South America).

"The Imperial Astronomical Bureau delineated longitude and latitude, and after years of exploration, the skilled craftsmen of the Imperial Household Bureau invented the escapement regulator and precision hairspring, and manufactured a very accurate clock with an error of 65 seconds in 100 days, which barely met the requirements of a marine clock."

Li Chao could not help but say: "Your Highness, the way the Imperial Astronomical Observatory divides and measures longitude and latitude is so ingenious that it is incredible.

Latitude can be calculated by observing the position of the North Star in the night sky and the position of the sun during the day. But longitude is calculated using a method that no one would have thought of.”

Another captain echoed excitedly, "Yes. The Westerners verified that the earth is round. A circle is 360 degrees, and a day is 24 hours. So if the longitude crosses 15 degrees, it will be one hour faster when going east and one hour slower when going west. Use a marine clock to record the departure time, and then measure the noon time at the location at sea to calculate the local longitude.

Although we don't understand the secrets, after continuous testing at sea, we can verify that everything is correct. It's amazing. Those masters of the Imperial Observatory who study the creation and comprehend the secrets of heaven are really amazing."

Zhu Yijun put his hands in his sleeves and laughed.

You are talking about the Imperial Observatory, what does it have to do with me, Zhu Yijun!

"You will follow the route that Spain took to the east and head straight to Genzhou. While exploring the way, you will survey and draw a sea chart with longitude and latitude. In the future, in addition to the South China Sea, there will also be Genzhou and Xunzhou. There will be endless fertile land, enough for the people of the Ming Dynasty to have no worries about having no land to farm for a thousand years.

The natural world is rich and the people of virtue live there. We have strong ships and powerful guns, and we are good at winning people over with virtue, so we are certainly the people of virtue. "

Li Chao and the other six laughed. Zhu Yijun pointed to the ocean between Zhenzhou, Genzhou and Xunzhou and said, "This ocean is called the Pacific Ocean by Spanish old Mac. I think this name is good and auspicious, so I will continue to call it this name.

Previously, everyone called the South China Sea Daming Lake. I think your hearts are not broad enough and your ambitions are not high enough! In my heart, this is it! "

Zhu Yijun slapped the Pacific Ocean with his right palm, "This is Daming Lake. In my eyes, it is so small that it can only accommodate my Daming family!"

Li Chao and the other six responded excitedly, "Your Highness is wise. We are willing to follow your lead and go through fire and water to create a bright future for the Ming Dynasty and turn the Pacific Ocean into Daming Lake."

Zhu Yijun happily responded: "Okay! Li Chao!"

"Chen is here!"

Li Chao knelt down, and the other five people followed suit behind him.

"You led your troops to annihilate the Spanish fleet in the South China Sea. I will confer upon you the title of Viscount Dingyuan. The other five will be given titles of Senior Pillar State, Pillar State, Senior Guardian, and Guardian."

"Your Highness, we thank you for your grace!" Li Chao and the other six people kowtowed excitedly to express their gratitude.

"Li Chao, I appoint you as the admiral of the Qinglong Navy and lead the Qinglong Navy to attack Genzhou and Xunzhou. 'If the enemy can attack, I will attack as well; if the enemy can go, I will go as well.'

It is impolite not to reciprocate! The Spaniards dared to come to our South China Sea to kill ships and rob goods, and even wanted to conquer our Ming Dynasty. Haha, their ambitions are quite lofty.

Now, you think that the vanguard of the Ming Navy is using artillery fire to tell the Spaniards that this time, they are in big trouble and even their God cannot save them!

I, the Crown Prince of Ming said so! "

Li Chao and the other six responded in unison: "We obey your orders!"

Next, Zhu Yijun held a banquet in the left side hall of Taiji Hall, entertaining Li Chao and six others, as well as Lu Tong, as well as Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong, Duke Yingguo Zhang Rong, Marquis Zhenyuan Gu Huan, Marquis Lingbi Tang Shilong, Minister of War Cao Bangfu and Liu Tao, and Assistant Minister of War Xu Wei who arrived later.

"Li Chao! Everyone!" Zhu Yijun raised his wine glass and said loudly.

"I'm here!" Li Chao and others stood up with their wine glasses raised and responded loudly.

"Now is a time of great contention. The Western barbarians sail thousands of miles across the world, occupying land for profit, with unparalleled arrogance. The Ming Dynasty is the Celestial Empire, standing proudly between heaven and earth. How can we be willing to fall behind the Western barbarians?

You have fought for the country for tens of thousands of miles, conquered the barbarians in the east and west, and sought benefits for the Ming Dynasty for thousands of years. Your names will definitely be recorded in the history books. But the sea route is dangerous and your life and death are uncertain.

I offer this little wine to encourage all the soldiers on their journey.

A man is a man of integrity and a man of courage. He swears to serve his country with extraordinary achievements. After a 30,000-mile journey across the vast ocean, I look back at the moon. When you all return triumphantly, I will hold a banquet here to celebrate your success!"

Li Chao and the other six raised their glasses and responded excitedly: "We are willing to go through fire and water to expand the territory of the Ming Dynasty in order to repay the kindness of the country and the emperor!"

"Okay! I will drink this cup with you all!"

Everyone raised their glasses and drank the farewell wine.

An hour later, after seeing everyone off, Zhu Yijun left Xu Wei behind, and the two of them slowly strolled along the path by the lake.

"What's happening in Datong?"

Xu Wei could tell that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was most worried about the situation in Datong.

"Your Highness, Altan Khan's 100,000 cavalrymen are slowly approaching Datong City in three groups."

Zhu Yijun stood still, looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, and recited quietly.

"The clouds in the sky are like white clothes, but they can change into dark grey clouds in a moment. From ancient times to the present, everything in life happens at the same time."

(End of this chapter)