open sea

Chapter 367
The capital, the residence of Zhang Juzheng.

The large table case couldn't fit the entire Chen's sea chart. Four servants pulled the picture scroll, and the outlines from Japan to America were displayed in front of the imperial second assistant.

The Indian Ocean is a dividing line. The coastal islands in the east are of varying degrees of fineness, while the west is relatively crude, but some distant places are also very fine.

Zhao Shizhen presented a pair of exquisitely crafted magnifying glasses just right, and showed Zhang Juzheng how to use it, saying: "Mr. Ge, Chen Shuai said that this time the Southern Expedition's overseas mountains and rivers are in this picture."

"Ah."

Zhang Juzheng took the magnifying glass and nodded in response, looking at the chart.

The servants holding the chart were able to observe words and colors. Following Zhang Juzheng's gaze downward, the four of them simultaneously lifted the scroll slightly up to his chest, so that the master could see clearly without bowing down.

Zhang Ju had read the sea charts, and the imperial court's control over the sea was decreasing year by year, but hundreds of years ago, the fleet of the Ming Empire sailed across the sea as far as Africa.As a Grand Master of the Dian Ge University, the archives in the Wen Hua Dian can be browsed at will. This chart is not surprising to Mr. Zhang Ge.

It only relatively completes his outline of the unknown regions in the west.

"Puyi is here, Lisbon."

Zhang Juzheng has been frowning since he saw this chart. People with absolute power cannot tolerate any unknowns. Unknowns mean risks and threats, and this entire chart is full of unknowns. He also inadvertently showed irritability, pointed to the place where Lisbon was written on the chart and asked, "How far is it from Guangdong to here?"

Zhao Shizhen knew it in his heart. Before he came, Chen Mu said that Zhang Juzheng would definitely ask this question. He cupped his hands and answered respectfully: "From Guangdong to Lisbon, it is [-] to [-] miles eastward by sea, and [-] to [-] miles westward. .”

"Eh?"

Zhang Juzheng was a little confused, he blurted out a sigh, carefully looked at both ends of Haiyutu, and then asked with brows in relief: "You mean to go east from Daming all the way, and you can really go back to Daming by walking around?"

"Old Huige, it's like this. We are against the Xiyi, and their fleet set sail from Luzon and headed eastward, passing through Japan, crossing the Asian Gorge, arriving in North America, going south around South America, and arriving at Europa Francois and España."

Yanian Gorge is the later Bering Strait, America is the transliteration of America, and Spain is also Western Benia. As for Europa, it is because the Westerners call themselves the descendants of Europa.

Zhao Shizhen looked at Zhang Juzheng, he was looking forward to seeing the shock on the face of such a high-ranking person, and said: "This route is translated and sorted out by Chen Shuai when he defeated the Xiyi Juship."

Zhao Shizhen was disappointed by Zhang Juzheng's indifferent expression. He just nodded indifferently, and then asked another question very precisely: "The boats of Portuguese and barbarians can sail [-] miles, and the ships of Xiyi can sail [-] miles. Ships can sail seventy to eighty thousand miles?"

Zhao Shizhen was stopped by the question, thinking about the pros and cons of truth and lies in his mind for a short time, finally sighed and said to Zhang Juzheng: "Don't blame the old man, Chen Shuai's ships can't sail tens of thousands of miles at present. The bottoms of the gunships are all eaten by maggots, and they are being sent to Nanyang Port for repairs in rotation."

"Luzon is hotter, there are more maggots in the sea, and the ships are less durable there. The bottoms of the huge ships captured in Xiyi are covered with copper skin. After rusting, they seem to kill shipworms; they can also be painted with lime and sulfur mixed with ship materials. The bottom of the boat can also prevent damage, it’s not a big deal, it’s just delaying the voyage.”

"The key is the ports along the way. Without port supplies, it would be very difficult for our Ming fleet to bypass Malacca, let alone travel thousands of miles."

Zhang Juzheng didn't care how to repair the corroded bottom of the ship, regardless of whether it was copper, iron or gold and silver, as long as Chen Mu had his own way to solve it.

Although the imperial court lacks copper, iron, gold and silver, this kind of shortage is a "relative" shortage. If others want to transfer gold, silver, copper and iron, it must be a shortage, but if Chen Mu needs gold, silver, copper and iron, then Not only is there no shortage, but it is also very rich.

"What needs to be adjusted in Luzon, Chen Shuai can write a letter to the Ministry of Households to report, except for food can be transported."

Zhang Juzheng made a final decision, and Zhao Shizhen waved his hands quickly. He didn't want Mr. Zhang Ge to misunderstand what he meant, and said: "There is no shortage, no shortage, there is no shortage of gold and copper in Lu Song Dynasty, Chen Shuai has sent southwestern craftsmen to go to explore the mine, and there will be good news soon Come."

"En." Elder Zhang Ge nodded with satisfaction, and said: "The Maritime Court has entrusted Chen Shuai with full authority. He only needs to do his business with all his heart, and ignore the gossip from the government and the public. He is the white jade pillar of the country. At the mercy of others."

"Chen Shuai has worked really hard overseas. I have ordered someone to prepare some gifts for Chen Shuai, and Zhao Sheng will bring them back when he returns. In addition, I have something else to ask Chen Shuai, and I am waiting for a letter from the servant."

Zhao Shizhen even said that he didn't dare, and the obedient Hou waited for Zhang Juzheng to finish writing and sealing the letter.

He didn't have the right to open the letter, but he was very curious with the letter in his mouth. It stands to reason that if Zhang Juzheng had something to do, he should have written the letter earlier. Why did he write it now?
When he walked out of the study room, Long Junxiong and You Qi had a happy chat in the outer hall, the gifts had already been prepared and put aside, neither novelty nor expensive, but they were very precious, like a plaque written by Zhang Juzheng himself, a few carefully packaged medical cards Scattered items such as medicines for intractable diseases.

It is a personal gift.

Long Junxiong used to follow Chen Mu to the door of the important officials in the capital. When Chen Mu entered the inner hall of the study, it was always Hou who was outside to mingle with the confidant butler of the master's house.

With the intention to make friends and Chen Mu's support, there is no household in the two streets outside Donghuamen and Xihuamen that he is not familiar with.

As far as this relationship is concerned, to be honest, fighting with Chen Mu was considered a delay. If he stayed in Beijing, he would easily become a third-rank official.Even if you don't run an official position for yourself, it is not difficult to be a donor and earn him 8 to [-] taels a year at least.

Seeing Zhao Shizhen come out, Long Junxiong smiled and bid farewell to Master You Qiyou.

Zhao Shizhen was a little absent-minded with Zhang Juzheng's letter. He couldn't figure out why Zhang Juzheng wrote the letter in front of him; Long Junxiong also had a little secret in his heart, and You Qi told him that Zhang Juzheng and Chen Mu would exchange letters in the future.

He can't tell anyone this secret signal, he can only tell it after meeting Chen Mu, and he can't figure it out either-why not let Zhang Juzheng tell Zhao Shizhen directly?

In fact, there is nothing to ponder.

After Zhao Shizhen left, Zhang Juzheng breathed a sigh of relief. This little thing made a lot of things from Nanyang that he couldn't understand.

There is no other meaning in writing a letter, just because of this, let Chen Mu or Zhao Shizhen explain it, the middle-aged man feels a little uncomfortable, so he just made an excuse... The world has changed, the prince must know everything overseas, compiled by Chen Shuai "Du Si Handbook", "Firing the Gun Cannon" and "New Book on Naval Warfare" are all very useful, so I might as well ask him to compile a set of foreign textbooks to teach the prince from now on.

Before the prince learns, the teacher Shen Zhongnian must learn it first, the best of both worlds!
　Good morning!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)