You have truly caused me great suffering!

Inside a mansion on the shore of Xuanwu Lake.

Chen Shao looked at the newly delivered copper materials and was very satisfied.

Beside him was Madam Xiao, who brought only a box of copper but brought back a whole ship full of copper.

"Okay, okay!" Chen Shao smiled broadly.

Xiao Ting found his appearance quite endearing, and seeing him always brought her joy.

Although Chen Shao was always in a dominant position during their relationship, the age gap gradually changed her mindset.

The main reason is that this emperor isn't intimidating; there's no feeling of being in a dangerous situation serving a ruler, and he can take a joke.

Chen Shao was full of confidence, his excitement barely concealed. "We've accomplished most of what we planned. After we destroy the Li Dynasty, we won't have to worry about attacks along the Jiaozhi route. The ships are also finished."

"It's time to send a fleet to the Southern Wilderness."

The term "Southern Wilderness" as used by Chen Shao is not entirely accurate. When scholars from the Central Plains referred to the Southern Wilderness, it was actually a general term for remote and underdeveloped areas in the south.

This includes the two routes of Guangnan (Guangdong and Guangxi), as well as Jiaozhi, Champa, Zhenla, and Dali.

Further south, the scholars of the Central Plains were less clear about the area, which was shrouded in mystery and had not yet been mapped.

Chen Shao and Xiao Ting have already begun planning the development.

Xiao Ting secretly pursed her lips as she saw him stroking the box containing copper. If he could really go to Southeast Asia, she wondered how much wealth he could bring back. Why bother mining copper?

She assumed Chen Shao was ignorant of business principles, but Chen Shao laughed at her for not knowing about cannons.

Chen Shao and Xiao Ting had been longing to go south, and for this reason, they specifically promoted the Great Yue Kingdom.

Given Li Qiande's arrogance and the fact that he considers the area around Jiaozhi his own territory, even tasting the saltiness of manure carts before they pass by, he would absolutely not allow southward fleets to pass through and trade smoothly.

Meanwhile, the Dai Viet Kingdom has been diligently bullying others for years without stopping, successfully establishing itself as a regional hegemon in Southeast Asia, and its influence in the region is indeed considerable.

Therefore, Chen Shao decided to eliminate Jiaozhi once and for all and immediately take it back.

Zhang Boyu has already submitted a memorial expressing his intention to submit to the Great Jing Dynasty. Chen Shao has instructed Liu Jizu to go south to prepare for the acceptance of the administration and to set up government offices.

Of course, the garrison cannot be taken back for the time being, and more troops need to be continuously deployed.

Over the years, the Joseon Dynasty has been quite wealthy through both robbery and embezzlement, and can certainly afford to support its members.

"What date have you set for this trip south?"

Xiao Ting said, "Now everything is ready. The caravans have collected all the goods, including porcelain and silk, and are ready to set sail at any time. We are just waiting for Your Majesty to give the order and send a reliable minister to oversee things."

“Ministers can board the ship at any time.” Chen Shao had already decided on the candidate, Cai Xing, who had grown up by his side and was mature and prudent in his work.

Cai Jing donated 500,000 mu of farmland, so he couldn't leave without making a gesture in return.

Heaven knows to take from the surplus and give to the deficiency; nothing should be done to the extreme.

"Mobilize the gentry of Jiangnan, especially the wealthy and powerful families, and let them know how to make money!"

Xiao Ting said with dissatisfaction, "Why should outsiders get a share of the pie?"

“Let them participate, get their money involved, and this operation will expand further. Moreover, when I acquire the land, there will be less resistance.” Chen Shao sat down at the stone table and smiled, “Let’s not delay, let’s set off at the end of this month, and I’ll give you ten more days to prepare.”

Chen Shao didn't care who benefited or who suffered losses; what he wanted to do was create a powerful momentum. Once this momentum took hold, the entire nation would benefit, and the quality of life for future generations would be greatly improved.

Xiao Ting wrapped her arms around Chen Shao's neck and sat naturally on his lap. Her almond-shaped eyes with upturned corners and her beautiful face with red lips and white teeth were very charming. "Now that you're the emperor, is the merchant caravan considered an official government office, or what?"

"It's my own money bag, a unique system I created, and it will last for thousands of generations to come."

"Then what are they?"

"You are my beloved concubine, the soul of the caravan, a heroine unparalleled throughout history, and a saint of merchants."

Xiao Ting nestled in his arms, pursing her lips. This man just knew how to say nice things. She had wanted some benefits, like a capable navy, but it seemed he wouldn't budge.

Let's just not mention it, lest this heartless person actually become wary of me.

Her reason for wanting to protect the caravan was simple: to be able to resort to force directly in a critical moment.

Real business battles are mentally and physically demanding, but with a navy and escort fleets, things become much simpler.

Eliminating the opponent completely is far more effective than adjusting or suppressing prices.

Monopoly is the most profitable.

After subduing the royal courts of the Western Regions, they monopolized the jade trade, controlled the trade routes, and exempted them from taxes, directly increasing the annual income of the caravans by 30 million strings of cash.
-
The sound of hammers striking echoed continuously throughout the Mingzhou Shipyard, day and night.

Sparks flew as the rivets were firmly embedded in the hull. The craftsmen stroked the still-warm ends of the rivets with their calloused hands, their faces beaming with joy.

Large ships appeared under their command, more than ever before.

But few people complained about the hard work, because unlike before, the more they did this time, the more money they would be paid.

As long as this can be achieved, the Central Plains have never lacked hardworking people. Throughout history, this has been the most hardworking nation, without exception.

A large crowd had gathered on the shore. As the craftsmen in charge shouted, dozens of water buffaloes on each side of the giant ship mooed and, driven by whips, moved forward with slow but powerful steps.

Water buffalo are the strongest and most common animals in the south. The thick ropes around them creaked and groaned as the huge winch on the deck began to turn. On the tall wooden frame, the oiled zipline moved inch by inch, lifting a huge rock.

The boulder weighed ten tons. With the concerted efforts of countless sailors on the ship, the boulder was placed smoothly on the flat bottom of the hold. Two other identical boulders were already lying quietly on the bottom of the hold. The hatch slammed shut with a bang.

This is just one sealed compartment. The entire giant ship has eighteen sealed compartments, each containing two ballast stones weighing ten tons each. The ballast stones alone weigh nearly four hundred tons.

During the Song Dynasty, shipbuilding was already quite advanced. It wasn't until the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty, when the gentry of Jiangnan were able to build giant ships to sail the seas, that China gradually caught up and made another significant step forward.

At that time, no one in the world could compare with the Great Jing in shipbuilding. The Bohai Kingdom was perhaps the second most powerful. Their largest ships had a carrying capacity of only fifty tons, which was only one-tenth or one-twelfth of the Great Jing's ships.

On the shore, countless people watched the giant ship enter the sea, bursting into cheers.

They all knew that these ships would soon head south to the endless ocean, bringing back loads of wealth for their homeland.

Everyone in Minnesota knows that going to sea can make money, but in the past, all that money was earned by wealthy merchants.

In previous years, the wealthy merchants could only give the wealth to Liang Shicheng, Wang Fu and others behind them. Later, during the Jingkang era, Emperor Zhao Huan of the previous dynasty executed these treacherous officials. The wealthy merchants lost their backers and then tried to embezzle the huge amount of wealth.

So they were all killed by Qu Duan and his troops.
Merchants should never compete with the imperial court for profits, or they will die without even knowing how they died, and their smugness will not last long.

They control the machinery of violence. The more money you have, the more they can eat after you're slaughtered, and you have no means of resistance.

Therefore, never be misled by your temporary wealth or the praise of others, and become confused and disoriented.

Otherwise, you'll be dealt with in no time.

Qu Duan was just a commander of a field army, not a real leader, yet he had the audacity to act first and ask for permission later to uproot you all.

Not to mention Tong Guan's methods of dealing with wealthy merchants. He would directly demand all your wealth, and if you didn't give it to him, he would kill your whole family. During his ten years as the governor of the border, he slaughtered countless wealthy families.

They're nothing but bandits, even worse than bandits.
After all, Qu Duan took the initiative to disrupt Chen Shao's plans in Goryeo because of these maritime merchants. As for Tong Guan, he had no reason at all; he simply took advantage of the situation.

In early May, it was already very hot in Minnesota. A group of children were lying outside the harbor, pointing and counting the countless ships of all sizes docked there.

Their fathers, at this moment, were shuttling between ships and shore in small boats, a dark mass of them.

Small boats were delivering various essential supplies to the supply ships one after another. The sheer size and scale of the fleet made these men, who had grown up by the sea, yearn to be part of it.

I've had this question since I was a child: what lies at the end of the sea? I'm about to go and explore it for myself.

Humanity's courage to explore the unknown is always worthy of praise and celebration.

The preparations this time were thorough; Chen Shao and Xiao Ting were indeed qualified organizers.

Working under them is a privilege. In this world, high-ranking leaders expect their subordinates to be quick to understand their needs and concerns. Those who proactively consider the needs of their subordinates are few and far between, and those who think so thoroughly are even rarer. They considered the vast majority of situations; despite their high status, they put themselves in the shoes of a boatman, striving to ensure absolute safety.

A large quantity of vegetables were processed into pickles, preserved vegetables, and other vegetables suitable for long-term storage, while potted plants filled with soil contained fresh and vibrant vegetables...

Of course, there's also Jiang, whom Jingren can't forget no matter where he goes.

Various ginger products, as well as fresh and dried ginger, were loaded onto the ship.

Officials from the yamen and gentry from Jiangnan near Mingzhou also gathered on the shore, watching the people below busy at work.

They did not expect that after His Majesty moved the capital, one grand gesture after another would follow.

Moreover, the current emperor's actions are not for his own enjoyment, but for the well-being of the people.

This is far better than the previous Song emperors' "Flower and Stone Tribute," which caused widespread resentment among the people of Jiangnan.

The fishing season is open!
We've wanted to open up the seas for a long time, but Liang Shicheng and others control the Maritime Trade Office, so they don't give ordinary people any opportunity to make money.

This time, there are dozens of supply ships alone, and the grain bins on the supply ships are already full of soybeans, flour, sugar, salt, various seasonings, millet and rice.

For long voyages, soybeans are one of the most important foods. They can be eaten directly or sprouted to ensure that the crew does not suffer from sepsis during the voyage.

Bean sprouts were recorded as being eaten as early as the Warring States period, but large-scale consumption and medicinal use began in the Song Dynasty.

Of course, it wasn't just bean sprouts that were used to prevent scurvy. A large quantity of specially treated fruits such as limes, lemons, tangerines, and pomelos, which could be preserved for a long time, were also transported on board. Some fruits that were not suitable for freshness were dried or made into candied fruit.

Of course, there were also the treasures of the Northwest Army during their battles, such as dried meat and cheese from the Western Regions, which were suitable for long-term preservation and consumption.

The food also included unhulled rice, because the nutrients in unhulled rice could prevent beriberi. The Great Jing Dynasty did not yet have advanced medical technology to understand the principles behind these foods' ability to prevent various diseases, but the people of the Central Plains had discovered the special uses of these foods over generations.

The huge freshwater storage tank was already filled with clean water and sealed. With so many people on the voyage, it was definitely not enough to separate the seawater. To meet the drinking needs of so many people, storing clean water was the primary method.

There are also rainwater harvesting devices, which are present on every ship.

Meat dogs, chickens, fat pigs, cats used to catch mice, and carrier pigeons used to deliver messages... were all transported onto the ship in large numbers, causing chaos and a great deal of noise.

Baskets of fish were also loaded onto the ship, mainly salted and dried fish. Of course, the crew also brought hooks and nets so they could catch fresh fish during the voyage.

People in the Song Dynasty loved to eat fish, and various ways of cooking them emerged. The development of iron smelting technology also contributed to the advancement of folk food culture.

During the Great Jing Dynasty, thanks to Chen Shao's vigorous promotion of iron smelting and coking, the development of technology made ironware more widespread, and the ways of making food became more diverse.

Although Chen Shao's original intention was to create farming tools and weapons, this is how it is when the emperor does good deeds; it brings about a chain reaction and generates many positive effects.

Similarly, when an emperor does something bad, the impact will spread in all directions.

Every move made by those in power concerns the national economy and people's livelihood, and therefore cannot be taken lightly.

In particular, one must prevent one's own desires from expanding, because if an emperor's desires exceed reason, it will bring terrible consequences.

Fortunately, Chen Shao had the knowledge of later generations, which allowed him to avoid many major pitfalls, such as absurd things like seeking elixirs, medicines, and immortality.

Both Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han fell victim to this, wasting considerable national strength in their later years. Emperors Taizong of Tang and Taizu of Song died young, otherwise they too would have been subject to the same fate. Even a man of great talent and ambition like Li Shimin showed signs of this in his later years.

If you want to live a long life, you need to focus on health and wellness. Chen Shao started focusing on health and wellness at the age of twenty, which saved him decades of detours.

In addition, large boxes of tea and jars of rice wine were loaded onto the ship. These were not for trading, but for the crew and sailors to drink.

Chen Shao and Xiao Ting have taken the concept of "poor family, rich road" to the extreme. Their plan is for you to sail as far as you can, and see where you end up!

In fact, in many places and islands in the Southern Wilderness, they can also send some ships closer to the land to replenish supplies.

That's their own business.

On the pier, in a house, many civil and military officials gathered together.

In the middle was a map, which was drawn very hastily, but Cai Xing regarded it as a treasure.

Even if this thing is useless, it was drawn by the current emperor himself.

The group looked at the map, which was quite detailed, and they had never heard of many of the islands.

"Your Majesty comes from the Northwest, how do you know these things?"

"Are you stupid? His Majesty is the Son of Heaven, what's so strange about him knowing these things!"

Cai Xing didn't quite believe this. He was more inclined to believe that the merchant ships His Majesty had sent earlier had already sailed here.

Having never been to sea, his understanding of the ocean was very vague.

Before this, Chen Shao specially sent him from Laizhou to Liaodong on official business by boat.

Within two months, I went to Kaesong, Goryeo.

Only after confirming that he was not seasick was the task assigned to him.

It can be said that Chen Shao meticulously planned every step of his journey to Southeast Asia.

The loading of cargo onto the ship has been going on for five days and is nearing completion; everything is basically ready.

These ships were even loaded with many warhorses.

The ship carrying the horses was stockpiled with a large amount of hay and soybean cakes, which would be used to house thousands of warhorses for cavalry to land and engage in land warfare.

The Dingnan Army's tradition was to have more horses than men, with all its soldiers being cavalry, moving swiftly like the wind.

This fleet, let alone reaching Southeast Asia, would still be a formidable fighting force even if swept away by a sea storm to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

This time, when I go to Southeast Asia, I will wipe out all the pirates along the way.

This will allow private merchant ships to travel freely in the future.

Moreover, it's not just me who can go to Southeast Asia; I can also come to the Central Plains from the small countries there.

After all, the Great Jing Emperor had long felt that he had too few vassal states.

Once the small boats had gradually docked and the transport had stopped, Cai Xing led his men to board the ships.

The number of people they brought this time was truly enormous, including civil and military officials, flag bearers, fire chiefs, anchormen, helmsmen, interpreters, clerks, secretaries, military officers, doctors, craftsmen for anchors, embankments, and timber assemblies, sailors, and civilian laborers...

After these people boarded the ship, they were followed by some cooks and a large number of jubilant merchants. They had abandoned their families and businesses, invested all their savings, and were going to follow the new emperor's fleet to explore and adventure.

These coastal gentry were not lacking in the courage to explore.

Then there are professionals who are proficient in astrology, agriculture, botany, zoology, engineering, architecture, and other fields. They will be responsible for professional tasks such as research, experimentation, measurement, mapping, recording, and collection.

This was something Chen Shao specifically requested to be done; the situation in each place must be recorded in the most detailed possible way.

To this end, he specially published books such as "Yingzao Fashi", "Mengxi Bitan", "Bencao Tujing", and "Xin Yixiang Fayao" so that they could learn and practice at the same time.

There are already enough ships in Mingzhou Port, but this is only a part of the journey to Southeast Asia.

In Guangzhou Port, Quanzhou Port, and Qiongzhou Port, there are still some ships waiting to be commissioned.

There were also countless merchant ships in the private sector, ready to sail with them on long voyages. These people might not intend to go too far, but rather to dock and trade in places like Zhenla.

But by following the fleet, one could obtain protection.

A loud bang was heard at the port.

Countless people stood on the shore, waving goodbye to the fleet.

The fleet, carrying countless hopes, officially set sail. (End of Chapter)