Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 194 Zhu Di's wild ideas, Lao Zhu ordered the deeds of the Baozong [Please subscribe]

Although Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun had heard of trains before, this was the first time they saw one - when they went south, they took the Tonghe section of the canal from Yi County, Yanzhou to Huai'an, and did not pass through Xuzhou.

Therefore, when they first saw the train, they were shocked.

"Car! I want a car!"

It was Zhu Gaoxu's struggle and shouting in Xu Miaoyun's arms that brought everyone back to their senses.

Zhu Di's eyes sparkled as he watched the train depart. He said, "I heard in Haijin that a train could carry thousands of dan of grain or thousands of soldiers. I didn't quite believe it, but now that I've seen it, I know the rumors are true!"

Xu Miaoyun nodded and continued, "Looking at the speed of this train, if it can run day and night as rumored, I'm afraid it will be able to reach the capital from Peking in just a few days."

Zhu Di smiled and said, "That will have to wait until the imperial court completes the construction of the northern railway. However, since you will be living in the capital from now on, there won't be many opportunities to travel from Beiping to the capital."

Hearing this, Xu Miaoyun couldn't help but ask, "Does Your Majesty really have to establish a vassal state overseas?"

Zhu Di was a little unhappy. "Why bring this up again? Didn't we agree on this? To establish a vassal state overseas is the only way for our lineage to have a better future."

Xu Miaoyun said nothing more.

Zhu Di ordered his troops to set off and take the cross-river bridge to the capital.

Before leaving, he did not forget to take a few more glances at the railway, thinking: When I conquer a big vassal state, I will also build a railway!
Travel across Dayan, transporting troops and food!
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The next day.

Liu Kuan was handling official business in the office of the Science and Technology Department.

Although Nahachu surrendered in May, the imperial court still had a lot of things to do in Liao. The most important of these was to store enough food and fodder for the soldiers to survive the winter.

Therefore, up to now, the Xu-Dan section of the railway that has been opened is still only used to transport food and supplies.

Liu Kuan took advantage of this time to plan the establishment of a railway transportation company - this was unprecedented in the Ming Dynasty. From the organizational structure to the personnel arrangements in various departments, as well as the training of staff in all aspects, he had to take care of everything and do it step by step.

"Doctor, His Royal Highness Prince Yan is here!" Zhao Wenyuan reported outside the door.

Zhu Di returned to the capital?

As soon as this thought came to Liu Kuan's mind, he saw Zhu Di striding in with a smile on his face.

"Third brother-in-law, I haven't seen you for a year or two. I miss you so much."

Liu Kuan smiled politely, "Thank you, Your Highness, Prince Yan, for your concern."

After the greetings, Liu Kuan looked at Zhu Di.

Compared to the first time I met him, Zhu Di had obviously become darker - although he was not white before, he was not as dark as he is now. It was probably because of the sunburn he got while training to guard the navy.

Another obvious change is that he has become more imposing as a general with swords and spears.

According to what Liu Kuan learned from Zhu Biao, Zhu Di also led his troops to participate in the Northern Expedition against Nahachu this year. Although he did not perform particularly well, he did make some contributions.

The most important thing is that after this great war, Zhu Di was tempered, his military talent was further revealed, and he became much more mature.

Liu Kuan invited Zhu Di to sit down and served him tea. He then asked, "When did His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan return to the capital?"

"Yesterday," Zhu Di said with a smile, "but I'm back in Beijing with my family, and I have a lot of things to arrange. Today I have a little free time, so I hurried to see my third brother-in-law."

Liu Kuan couldn't help but shudder when he saw Zhu Di's burning eyes.

I thought, you just want to dig out some more information about the future from me, why is it so corny? If you don't know, you'd think we have some special relationship.

Thinking of this, Liu Kuan didn't know how to respond.

The atmosphere was awkward for a while.

Fortunately, Zhu Di had come with a purpose in mind. After a brief pause, he said, "I heard that the imperial court has assembled a fleet for long-distance exploration and has set out to explore the route to America. Could it be that father intends to immigrate and develop the American continent first?"

This matter was not a secret, and Zhu Di could find out by asking others, so Liu Kuan did not hide it.

"That's not the case. Your Majesty hopes to obtain American crops and other things that are useful to the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible."

Zhu Di had heard Liu Kuan talk about American crops such as corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes before. After hearing this, he suddenly understood and felt relieved.

He also wanted to become a vassal in India as soon as possible.

If the imperial court first immigrated and developed the American continent, then the plan to develop Southeast Asia would inevitably be slowed down, and his vassalage in India would also have to be postponed.

"There is one more thing." Zhu Di said, and took paper and pen from Liu Kuan's desk and drew a map.

When Liu Kuan took a look, he found that it was a map of Southeast Asia and South Asia. Although it didn't look quite like the original, it must have been the one Zhu Di had written down from him two years ago.

"I heard that after the imperial court took over Yunnan, even many barbarian tribes in Burma, which was in the midst of civil strife to the south, surrendered to the Ming Dynasty. The imperial court intends to imitate the establishment of the Burma Central Province by establishing garrisons and military governors in Burma to govern it."

"I have discussed this with my staff. If the imperial court really establishes a garrison and a military commissioner in Burma, can I sail from Burma to India to establish my vassal state?"

"Looking at the map, it's much closer to India by sea from Myanmar. You don't even need a large ship; you can just walk along the coast."

After listening to Zhu Di's story, Liu Kuan shook his head.

He said, "Your Highness, Prince of Yan only sees on the map that Burma is closer to India by sea. Have you ever thought about the terrain along the way? Yunnan has high mountains and dense forests, with many dangerous hills and deep valleys, while Burma is all tropical jungle, full of snakes, insects and miasma."

“If we take this route to India, we will have to overcome thousands of miles of difficult and dangerous obstacles in Yunnan and Myanmar.”

"Even in later times, this land route was never fully opened. In modern times, taking this route to settle down or immigrate is tantamount to committing suicide."

After hearing Liu Kuan's words, Zhu Di looked embarrassed and a little regretful. This idea was his own, and Monk Daoyan had opposed it at first, telling him that Yunnan and Burma were difficult to travel by land and were not suitable routes for vassalage or immigration.

He was unwilling to accept this, so he asked Liu Kuan about it today.

Unexpectedly, Liu Kuan rejected this plan more resolutely than Monk Daoyan, and completely dispelled his idea.

Zhu Di took a sip of tea to hide his embarrassment, then said, "In that case, I will ask my father to send me to the southern coast to train troops and participate in the Ming Dynasty's expansion into Southeast Asia."

Liu Kuan was slightly surprised when he heard this and said, "The imperial court is planning to expand into Southeast Asia?"

"That's just my guess." Zhu Di smiled slightly. "This Mid-Autumn Festival, not only did I return, but my fifth, sixth, and seventh brothers also returned. My second and third brothers are already in the capital, so isn't that like all the exiled princes have returned?"

"Father's big move is definitely more than just letting us celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival together."

"Once Nahachu surrenders in the north, the Northern Yuan will be like a grasshopper in autumn, unable to jump for many more years."

"Plus, the Ming Dynasty now has artillery, muskets, and railways to help it. Even if it wants to destroy the Northern Yuan Dynasty, it doesn't need to put all its efforts into it. It can just start developing Southeast Asia!"

After listening to Zhu Di's analysis, Liu Kuan found it really possible and couldn't help but look forward to the scene of Ming Dynasty opening up Southeast Asia.

Zhu Di coughed lightly and said, "I have something else I want to ask my third brother-in-law."

"Your Highness Prince Yan, please speak."

Zhu Di said, "My eldest son Gao Chi is already five years old and will be enrolled in the main hall. I would like to ask my third brother-in-law to take good care of him."

"No problem." Liu Kuan nodded.

Zhu Di continued, "That child is just as my third brother-in-law said. He prefers quietness and hates movement. He is a glutton by nature, especially fond of sweets."

"Although the princess and I taught him to diet and practice martial arts more than a year ago, he still grew into a little fat boy."

"The princess is extremely worried about this, fearing that Gao Chi will become so fat that he can't even walk. Does my third brother-in-law have any way to help Gao Chi correct this?"

Liu Kuan was speechless after hearing this.

"Your Highness, as the saying goes, 'It's easy to change a country, but difficult to change one's nature.' The Crown Prince is inherently like this, so how can I change him? All I can do is strictly restrain him and guide him with kindness."

"Even if he joins the main hall, only the parents can do this. The teacher can't help."

"However, as long as the child is not too fat, it's okay. When he grows up rapidly in adolescence, he may be able to lose weight."

Zhu Di didn't expect that Liu Kuan had no way to deal with this matter, and was a little disappointed.

He could tell that Liu Kuan's last words were meant to comfort him, so he smiled bitterly and nodded, "I hope so."

Zhu Di originally wanted to mention the fact that Zhu Gaoxu dared to beat his elder brother at the age of three, and ask Liu Kuan how to restrain him, but now he doesn't want to say it anymore - Liu Kuan probably won't be able to do anything if he tells him, and it will only lose his face.

After chatting with Liu Kuan for a while, Zhu Di said goodbye.

After leaving the Science and Technology Department, Zhu Di thought about the three legitimate sons in history and felt a headache.

"Of the three, none of them are worry-free. If all else fails, Miaoyun and I will have another child. Perhaps we can have one with fewer flaws."

"We're both fourth children. If there were a fourth legitimate son, he might look more like me."

"If that doesn't work, I'll spend more time teaching Zhu Zhanji in the future. Although my eldest grandson has many shortcomings, he's still better than Gao Chi and the other three."

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However, after Liu Kuan resigned from his post and returned home, he learned another piece of good news.

"My dear, I'm pregnant." Zhu Huilan came to Liu Kuan, touching her flat belly with one hand, her rosy face full of joy.

"Really?" Liu Kuan was also happy.

Zhu Huilan was a little speechless and said, "How could I joke about this?"

"Great!"

Liu Kuan subconsciously wanted to pick up Zhu Huilan, but was worried about hurting her, so he gently held her in his arms.

Afterwards, Liu Kuan ordered that the servants in the mansion be given generous gifts to celebrate the event together.

The next morning, Liu Kuan was a little absent-minded in his office. As noon was approaching, he prepared to leave work early and go home.

Unexpectedly, a eunuch came to the palace - Old Zhu asked him to come into the palace to discuss matters.

"This old Zhu just likes to make people work overtime, but he doesn't even pay them overtime!"

After secretly complaining about Zhu Yuanzhang, Liu Kuan obediently entered the palace.

When he arrived at Fengxian Hall, Liu Kuan found that not only Zhu Biao was there, but Zhu Di was also there.

After Liu Kuan saluted, Zhu Yuanzhang got straight to the point and said, "It's rare for Fourth Brother to come back to Beijing. I haven't been so busy recently, so I want to hear you talk about the history of the Ming Dynasty in the future."

Liu Kuan was not surprised by Zhu's request, so he asked, "There are many historical events in the later Ming Dynasty. I wonder which one Your Majesty would like to hear today?"

There is an implicit meaning to this statement - I don't want to talk for too long today, so please take your time to listen.

Old Zhu heard what he meant and smiled, not minding it at all. He said, "Before, you repeatedly stopped talking about Zhu Zhanji's son, Bao Zong. Today, let's talk about Bao Zong's story so that Old Fourth can also understand the deeds of his great great-grandson."

　First update.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)