Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 267: This canal can be opened by the Ming Dynasty! Strange fog reappears [Please subscribe]

Hearing the praise from Liu Kuan and Zhu Biao, Old Zhu laughed heartily and sat back on the dragon throne. He said, "Biao'er, tell Liu Kuan about the plan we discussed earlier to set up the North American and Central American military bases."

"Yes."

Zhu Biao agreed and began to explain to Liu Kuan using two large maps of North America and South America.

Only then did Liu Kuan realize that Zhu Yuanzhang had originally wanted to set up three major military divisions in North America, Central America, and South America, and even had an idea of ​​where each military division would be located, with several garrisons under its jurisdiction.

Now, after listening to his advice, the idea of ​​establishing the South American Commandery was put on hold, leaving it to Zhu Biao or Zhu Xiongying to do in the future.

According to Zhu's initial idea, the two major headquarters, North America and China, will temporarily have three guards under their jurisdiction.

The three guards of the North American Dusi were: Xianzhou Guard (probably in the area of ​​Simpson Port and Port Edward on the west coast of Canada and the United States in later generations), Dongsheng Guard (Seattle), and Jinshan Guard (San Francisco).

The three guards of the Central American Dusi are: Xuanbei Guard (Puerto Vallarta on the west coast of Mexico), Mingchang Guard (Puerto Acapulco), and Xuannan Guard (Tehuantepec on the west coast of Central America).

After listening to this, Liu Kuan walked over to the map of South America, pointed to the location of Panama in the future, and said, "Your Majesty, although the development of South America can be postponed for now, this place must be taken as soon as possible."

The huge map was hung on the screen on its side, so Zhu Yuanzhang could see it even when he was sitting on the throne.

Zhu Yuanzhang saw the place Liu Kuan pointed to and said, "This is the narrowest point where the landmass between North and South America is connected. It is indeed very important."

"But if we don't develop South America for the time being, there's no need to rush to set up a garrison here, right?"

"According to the exploratory fleet's report, that area is all humid rainforest, similar to the Nanyang environment. It's also quite far from the Xuannan Guard of the Zhongmei Dusi, so it wouldn't be easy to establish a military garrison there."

Liu Kuan said, "Your Majesty, this is not only the narrowest point where the landmass between North and South America meets, but there is also a large lake and many rivers in the middle."

"Therefore, later generations of Westerners dug a canal here to connect the Atlantic Ocean and the Eastern Ocean."

"Once this canal is opened, Western ships will no longer have to go around South America to reach the Atlantic Ocean. Similarly, Eastern ships will no longer have to go around the Atlantic Ocean to reach the Western Ocean."

"After this place became an independent country, it made a fortune just from the tolls collected from this canal."

After hearing what Liu Kuan said, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes suddenly lit up.

He stepped down from the imperial throne again and ordered, "Li Gui, hang up the maps of Europe and the Atlantic and bring them over!"

"Yes."

Li Gui responded and soon brought over a map of Europe with part of the Atlantic Ocean with a small eunuch.

Zhu Yuanzhang first looked at the map of South America, then at the map of Europe. He couldn't help but applaud and said, "It would be wonderful to dig a canal here! Besides, if, as you said, there's a large lake in the middle, the actual length of the canal should only be a few dozen miles, right?"

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, if I remember correctly, this place is about a hundred miles wide. Excluding lakes and rivers, if we were to dig a canal, it would only be a few dozen miles wide."

Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his fist and said, "If we only dig a canal of a few dozen miles, we can connect the East and West Oceans. This is something that our Ming Dynasty can do!"

The Chinese have been world-class in infrastructure construction for thousands of years. The Grand Canal dug during the Sui Dynasty was over 5,000 miles long, and the Yellow River was often repaired for at least hundreds of miles throughout the dynasties.

As for the canal that is dozens of miles long, although it is also a major project in Chinese history, it is definitely not ranked among the many ancient super projects.

Therefore, with the capabilities of the Ming Dynasty, it would not be difficult to dig this canal even now.

Not to mention that the Ming Dynasty now has cement to help and can also rely on the manpower of the indigenous people in Central America.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a man who planned before acting. Although he thought the idea of ​​digging a canal here was brilliant, he took a deep breath and said, "Nowadays, only our Ming Dynasty has embarked on the great voyages of discovery. Moreover, to reach Europe from here, one needs to cross two oceans. It's not closer than going through Africa, and it may even be farther."

"So, even though this canal needs to be built, there's no need to rush. We can first send people to occupy this place. Once we have a solid hold on it, it won't be too late to recruit the locals to dig this canal after Xiongying ascends the throne."

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang look at the matter so calmly, Liu Kuan felt admiration again.

He praised sincerely, "Your Majesty is wise. In a few decades, our Ming Dynasty's technology and industry will surely be more developed, and it will be much easier to dig a canal here."

"Hahaha," Zhu Yuanzhang laughed happily, pointing to the western end of the future Panama Canal and saying, "Then we will set up a guard here first, and temporarily put it under the jurisdiction of the Sino-American Commandery."

"Well, this place is an important gateway connecting North and South America and the East and West Oceans, so let's call it the Gate Guard."

···
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A few days later.

Zhu Yuanzhang officially issued an edict to establish the North American Commandery, which was under the jurisdiction of three guards; and the Central American Commandery, which was under the jurisdiction of four guards.

The Beiyang First Long-distance Exploration Fleet was also ordered to set sail again for America in August.

This time, the number of ships heading to America will increase to twenty-four!
Among the people who went to America, in addition to the more than 2,000 people from the original exploration fleet, there were also more than 5,000 garrison troops.

These 5,000-plus garrison officers were selected from coastal garrisons in Shandong, Zhili, Zhejiang, and Fujian, primarily from unmarried, non-only-born military households. In addition, officers from garrisons with over 100 households were also allowed to bring their families with them. Therefore, there were actually nearly 1,000 family members of garrison officers on board.

Speaking of which, according to the customs of the Han people, they do not want to cross the ocean and migrate to the unfamiliar America to settle down.

But firstly, this was a military order issued by the imperial court. Secondly, as long as the garrison officers were willing to relocate, Zhu Yuanzhang would at least promote them one level.

In other words, the chief commander of this group of garrison troops may have been just a commander, and the small flag at the bottom was just a regular soldier of the garrison.

In addition, the example of everyone in the exploration fleet getting promoted and getting rich was right in front of them, which made the six thousand soldiers and civilians of the garrison half willingly and half reluctantly go to America...
Time flies and it is August.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Liu Kuan, who had gone to bed early last night, got up at six o'clock.

With the help of his maid, he washed, changed his clothes, and tied his hair. After having breakfast with his wife, concubine, son and daughter, he prepared to go out with his schoolbag and a fully charged cell phone in his hand.

Although this was not the first time Liu Kuan went to the "Fairy Bridge" to look for strange fog, Zhu Huilan still held his hand reluctantly.

"I, Caiwei, Ping'an, and Xiaoxue will be waiting for my husband to return home."

Although Su Caiwei didn't say anything, her eyes were filled with worry and reluctance when she looked at Liu Kuan.

Liu Kuan patted their hands, hugged his son and daughter, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I will definitely come back."

Then he turned and walked out.

He first went to meet Zhu Biao outside Xihua Gate, and then went to the cross-river bridge together with the guards of Yiluansi and the Eastern Palace.

With the experience of the previous few years, Liu Kuan directly asked his followers to set up two sets of tables and chairs at the place where he traveled through time, and even provided snacks and tea.

After sitting down on the chair, he took out his laptop from his backpack and placed it on the chair.

Then he looked at Zhu Biao, who was sitting on another chair, and asked, "Your Highness, do you really want to wait for the strange fog with me?"

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "I didn't go with you last year. Although you didn't encounter the strange fog, I always feel regretful when I think about it afterwards. I can't miss it again this year."

Every time he came to this bridge, Liu Kuan's mentality always changed inexplicably, and he spoke to Zhu Biao more casually.

He couldn't help but joke at this moment, "Your Highness, aren't you afraid that the strange fog will take you back to the afterlife with me?"

"Don't be afraid." Zhu Biao said calmly, "I have discussed this matter with my father. If something unexpected happens to me, my father will make Xiongying the crown prince. The Ming Dynasty will not be shaken by my departure."

"Besides, you always speak so highly of the afterlife. It would be wonderful if I could experience it."

Liu Kuan imagined the scene of Zhu Biao going to the afterlife with him, and couldn't help but say: "If Your Highness really went to the afterlife with me, perhaps I would still have to rely on Your Highness for wealth and honor."

Zhu Biao was slightly surprised when he heard this. "How can I bring you wealth and honor in the future? The imperial court won't still recognize me as the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, will it?"

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "If Your Highness can prove his identity in the future, he will become a great celebrity, and wealth will be within his reach. When the time comes, I will be your assistant and agent, and I will naturally become rich too."

"Does my brother-in-law want me to be a star?"

Over the years, although Zhu Biao and Liu Kuan did not have the opportunity to chat every day, they talked about many things in later generations and learned about the concept of "star" in later generations.

Liu Kuan said: "With your talent, even if you can't prove your identity in the future and become a star, you can still become a cultural celebrity or a big V."

"Let alone your highness's calligraphy and knowledge of various Confucian classics and ancient books, you will be admired by many people in future generations."

Zhu Biao also laughed. "Hearing what my brother-in-law said, I really want to go to the future and make a name for myself. Let's see if I can make a career now that I'm no longer the crown prince."

"Your Highness will certainly be able to do it."

While chatting, the two drank tea and ate snacks, and before they knew it, time had come to the time when Liu Kuan traveled through time.

Wang Guangyue, who had been vigilantly observing his surroundings, was the first to notice something unusual and exclaimed, "It seems to be foggy!"

Hearing this, Liu Kuan and Zhu Biao looked into the distance and found that a thin mist had appeared on the bridge surface, which was quite abrupt.

Liu Kuan checked his phone and saw that there was indeed a network signal.

Without any delay, he went straight to the website he had loved visiting before crossing over to look for useful videos to download.

Zhu Biao did not leave, but came over to watch curiously.

　Second update.

　　Good night~
　　
　　
　
(End of this chapter)