The time has come to March in the first year of Hongwu, which is the second day of March.

Jinling.

Before the night ban last night, General Xu Da personally wrote a military report and sent it to the capital.

On February 27th, Xu Da led his army to conquer Le'an, wiped out all the rebels, and ordered Hua Yunlong to defend it. It happened that Prime Minister Yuan also led his army to rush to Le'an, Xu Da personally met the enemy, and the defeat was rapid.

, pursued for more than eighty miles to the north, killing, wounding, and capturing without any hope of success.

Before the military report was sent out, Prime Minister Yesu had already led his remaining troops to flee to Cangzhou, unable to peep into Shandong again.

Shandong was now pacified.

Lao Zhu was overjoyed when he received the good news from the army. He wrote an edict and sent it to the north overnight, commending and encouraging the generals. After the morning meeting this morning, he summoned all the central ministers to discuss various matters regarding the invasion of Henan.

Even though there was a record in the "Book of Heaven", Lao Zhu knew that the battle in Henan would go very smoothly, but he still did not dare to neglect it.

They continued to discuss with the ministers until the afternoon, and even talked while eating lunch. Finally, they determined a series of strategies and quickly drafted and sent out the edict.

The most important one was to appoint Deng Yu, the right censor who was guarding Xiangyang, as the garrison general, and ordered him to lead the troops to march north to Nanyang on that day, contain the Yuan Dynasty armies in western Henan, and reduce the pressure of the Northern Expedition army on the eastern front.

At the same time, Lao Zhu talked about military affairs on paper as usual. After discussing with the ministers, he drafted a detailed strategy for marching into Henan and sent it to Xu Da. However, he did not forget to emphasize that the military situation was changeable. The army ahead only used this as a reference, and the generals did not need to fall behind.

When you are stuck in a rut, you can make decisions on the fly.

As for other things, such as urging Tang He's troops who have arrived in Huai'an to speed up their march, such as trying again to recruit Zuo Junbi, the former Red Scarf general who was guarding Chenzhou in the south of Bianliang, such as asking Zhongshu to plan the western route grain route in advance, etc.

No need to mention more.

It's not the end of the day after all this work.

The courtiers informed that hundreds of households in the Imperial Guard Division had been waiting for a long time after hearing the news.

Pass it in quickly.

Soon, there were various large and small packages that made people happy, including a six-foot-long scroll that Wen Zao carefully brought in personally.

This time, Lao Zhu did not rush to open the various letters and documents from his treasured twenty-third generation grandson, but instead asked someone to unroll the scroll.

This is a map of Mingzhou's outer sea that was colored using sketching techniques.

Lao Zhu already knew the concepts of scale, triangular drawing and other concepts from the documents he had sent before. He had also seen some regional island drawings and could probably imagine what a more accurate map would look like.

However, when he saw this detailed map, even the peaks on some islands seemed to pop out of the paper, Lao Zhu was still shocked. This shock was no less than the first time he saw a globe and a world map.

Because Lao Zhu knew that the globe and the world map were just rough drawings drawn by Zhu Yuan based on his memory, with many errors and omissions.

But in front of me, based on what I knew before and the real-time explanation I heard beside me, on this map, the size of each island and the distance between each other are quite accurate. Even if Lao Zhu got closer, he could still see some

The approximate height is marked on the island's peak.

After Wen Zao finished explaining all the details, Lao Zhu had already made a decision and immediately ordered the team that drew this map back and sent it to the north.

In addition to his status as an emperor, as an equally outstanding military strategist, Lao Zhu Tai understood how important an accurate map was to the army's operations. Not to mention other things, in all dynasties, there are almost records of generals who lost their way and led to the defeat of the army. It can be seen that

The importance of accurate maps.

After asking a few questions in detail, Lao Zhu walked around the East Pavilion a few times and quickly called people over to draft the edict.

Referring to the Surveying and Mapping Department of the Yinghai Department set up by Zhu Yuan, Lao Zhu planned to set up a Surveying and Mapping Department of the fifth rank under the General Department, and asked people to prepare an order to directly promote Tu Xiao, the eighth-ranked chief of the Surveying and Mapping Department of the Yinghai Department, to the position of Doctor of the Surveying and Mapping Department.

He was ordered to be promoted to the fifth rank and ordered to immediately lead his troops back to Jinling and be appointed after listening.

After giving such instructions, Lao Zhu realized that it seemed... that it was not very kind to poach his precious twenty-third generation grandson. What's more, the matters in Mingzhou were equally important. So he changed it again, and only Tu Xiao was the one.

That’s it.

There is no shortage of people who are good at painting here in Jinling.

The key is to have someone who can take charge.

At the same time, Lao Zhu also made up his mind that the imperial court would pay more attention to the cultivation of drawing among students from all over the world. What he had learned from Zhu Yuan in the past few months made him feel more and more that this was of great use.

Also, drawing tools.

The charcoal-making workshop under the General Department should also be expanded.

After drafting the edict to dispatch Tu Xiao, Lao Zhu confirmed it and asked someone to use the seal. He did not send it out immediately. Wen Zao was here and asked him to take it with him when he returns to Mingzhou tomorrow. It will be faster than the official edict.

After handling this matter, Lao Zhu asked someone to put away the map of Mingzhou's outer sea again. He planned to appreciate it carefully when he had time in the future, and then opened various letters and documents from his treasured twenty-third generation grandson.

The course records sent last time, including tides and ocean currents, Lao Zhu felt were very informative, and he almost wanted to keep them to himself, not wanting too many people to know about them.

I endured it.

This time, Lao Zhu read Zhu Yuan’s letter first, which was thicker than the previous letters.

Soon I was filled with emotion again.

In the previous correspondence, Lao Zhu didn't quite understand Zhu Yuan's various arrangements, and had been worried about whether he could complete this important task of transporting grain.

This letter can be regarded as a report from Zhu Yuan.

From ships to personnel, from building lighthouse systems to building rescue systems, from the technical support of maritime schools to the money, talents and ships contributed by maritime merchants, and so on. Even, think about the various previously known, various projects in the southeast

Setting up a timber reserve base at the seaport, ordering all states and counties to plant tung trees, and so on, the 23rd generation Sun Lian, his treasure, has already laid out his long-term considerations for the future.

Lao Zhu sorted it out for a while, and seemed to have seen the scene of Qianfan going out to sea and arriving in Jiaozhou with a ship full of grain.

this……

The whole thing happened only twenty days after Zhuyuan left Jinling!

Because of emotion, after arriving at the sea trading company and other matters, after Lao Zhu saw it, although he inevitably had some ideas of his own, after a little consideration, he decided to let Zhu Yuan do it.

The Northern Expeditionary Army will soon advance westward, the battle line will be lengthened, and the consumption of baggage will also increase rapidly.

At this time, as long as we can transport grain by sea, everything else is irrelevant.

However, Lao Zhu still read Zhu Yuan's idea of ​​opening a sea trading company and issuing a total of 12 licenses very carefully.

The benefits of sea trade are very great. According to the information Zhu Yuan recently collected and sent, Lao Zhu also has a general understanding.

The Yuan Dynasty did not mention it, but various records are still in Dadu.

Going further back, the income from commercial shipping in the Song Dynasty could reach up to two million yuan.

Min is equivalent to 'Guan'.

Two million yuan is not a small number.

Ming Dynasty’s annual salt class revenue last year was only 1.37 million yuan.

Moreover, based on this estimate, the scale of maritime trade in the Song Dynasty was between 10 million and 20 million guan.

According to Zhu Yuan's conception in the letter, in the next ten years, as long as we maintain a liberal and encouraging attitude, Daming Sea Trade will definitely be able to achieve higher levels.

As for ten years later, according to the twenty-third generation grandson of his treasure, it will gradually transform into internal trade among the provinces of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, Zhu Yuan set up several ten-year periods, 12 licenses, and no business for ten years. Change. Daming City Shipping Law, once confirmed after trial implementation, will remain unchanged for ten years.

Ten years later, the situation will be different, and of course we need to reconsider.

When Lao Zhu saw this, he smiled knowingly.

It's a small thing.

Because of some of the big plans that Zhu Yuan had mentioned, Lao Zhu had considered the globe more than once in private.

After pacifying the Central Plains, Lao Zhu felt that he should first recuperate for a few years, develop production based on the various insights brought by his treasured twenty-third generation grandson from later generations, and quickly increase the national power of the Ming Dynasty.

Then go north, completely solve the Mongolian troubles, and then consider other things.

In the longer term, Lao Zhu privately feels that we should head west.

The north is big, but too cold.

The west side is not only big enough, but also a source of trouble.

Clean up early!

As for the island countries in the southeast, the country is small and the people are weak, and there are few products. If they are conquered too early, Lao Zhu feels that it will only waste money and food. If they are further away, then the American continent and the Australian continent in the south, Lao Zhu is very greedy, but It won't arrive anytime soon, so there's no rush.

There's no rush!

Even if I can't finish it in my life, Biao'er and a group of other children can continue to do it.

However, since his precious twenty-third generation grandson is interested and wants to take action, he has no objection. He has already begun to invest in building the navy. He cannot keep it in vain. In addition to transporting food, it is also appropriate to occasionally expand the territory.

Then came the matter of extracting 20% ​​of the shares from each sea trading company.

Zhu Yuan believed that since the benefits of sea trade were so huge, it was natural for the imperial court to strictly supervise and collect taxes while also directly dividing the benefits. Zhu Yuan also admitted frankly that if it was not made explicit, these benefits would also be lost in the future. It was quietly seized by powerful ministers and nobles. In this case, it would be better to distribute it openly by the government.

After reading this, Lao Zhu thought of the section in "Book of Heaven" where Li Zicheng destroyed the capital, the imperial treasury was empty, and the noble families of hundreds of officials squeezed out 70 million taels of silver.

Of course this can't happen again.

Therefore, Lao Zhu actually felt that 20% was too little, but after thinking about it for a moment, he decided to trust Zhu Yuan. After all, his beloved 23rd generation grandson also left two additional licenses, and the letter stated that he was establishing a state-owned company. , Lao Zhu can think of a lot after changing his mind for a moment.

For example, having two licenses does not mean that you can only capture 20% of all maritime trade.

Furthermore, Zhu Yuan also mentioned another important purpose of doing this. In the future, the equity of various "companies" can be used to reward officials and nobles, instead of land.

This can also inhibit land annexation and kill two birds with one stone.

This sea trading company shareholding can be regarded as an attempt. In the future, various 'companies' will be opened.

Lao Zhu very much agrees.

For this part, Lao Zhu's only intervention was the maritime trade company license related to Huagao.

Zhu Yuan said a lot of good things to Hua Gao, which is also true.

Mr. Hua is just as focused on official duties as he is these days. Faced with countless wealthy businessmen's requests, he has been closing the door and thanking guests. As a powerful naval commander, it is very rare to be able to do this. Therefore, let him share from a license plate The 30% share can also be considered as a pension fund after becoming an official in the future. Zhu Yuan thinks it is very reasonable.

Whenever I think of what Zhu Yuan said about Hua Gao who died early in Qiongzhou in another life without leaving any heirs, Lao Zhu inevitably feels a little guilty in his heart.

Moreover, due to Zhu Yuan's continuous indoctrination, Lao Zhu's views on businessmen also changed unknowingly.

I am no longer so averse to officials engaging in business.

As Zhu Yuan said in his letter, it is much better to let officials engage in business than to annex land.

Therefore, letting Huagao hold shares, according to another statement in Zhu Yuan's letter, is called "high salary to support integrity". Lao Zhu had no objection. However, he changed it himself. Zhu Yuan holds 30% of the license and Huagao holds 20%.

, the imperial court took another 20% as usual, and the remaining 30% was distributed among the merchants themselves.

His beloved twenty-third generation Sun Liangtian didn't even need the salary, and he dragged his frail little body around so much that if he didn't occupy any of it, Lao Zhu himself would not be able to justify it.

Therefore, not only must it occupy, but of course it must occupy the most.

Lao Zhu even thought about giving the extra two licenses to Zhu Yuan directly, but Zhu Yuan also said in the letter that these two state-owned maritime trading companies are used to regulate the market, balance trade and engage in other special trading activities. Lao Zhu

Zhu didn't quite understand it for the moment, but he also felt it was very important. Therefore, the shares of these two companies were obviously not suitable for granting to private individuals.

As for the license fee of 200,000 taels of silver, the maritime merchant should pay the proportional amount, Zhu Yuan and Hua Gao just paid it.

Definitely can't take it out.

Ten license plates are expected to collect 2 million taels, which is not bad.

However, it’s only 2 million taels at a time!

Not even the capital.

My precious twenty-third generation grandson was indeed a successful businessman in his previous life. This kind of business... he couldn't even do it when he first joined the Red Scarf.

After reading Zhu Yuan's letter several times, Lao Zhu was about to look through other materials, such as the draft of the municipal shipping law and the maritime trade company plan materials mentioned in the letter, when Li Shanchang asked to see him.

In accordance with Lao Zhu's instructions at noon, the Zhongshu Province initially formulated a strategy for transporting grain on the western route from the two lakes to the north and expected to reach Bianliang.

This is a big deal.

Lao Zhu put away the things at hand for the time being and dealt with this first.

Then things happened one after another, and it was not until evening, after dinner, that Lao Zhu returned to the study room of Qianqing Palace and picked up the various documents that Zhu Yuan had sent in the afternoon.

Before I knew it, I was busy late into the night again.

At the end of the day, the imperial emissary He Shou rushed over. It turned out that he was sent by the empress to urge Lao Zhu to rest early.

Lao Zhu was not too sleepy, but he still got up from the study.

Zhu Yuan also mentioned in his "Notes" that the work and rest time should be reasonable, although... Lao Zhu thinks that he lived to 71 years old in his previous life, which is not bad, but if he pays attention to it every day, he can live a few more years and help his descendants.

They arranged more things, and he couldn't ask for them.

Instead of disturbing the Ma family in Kunning Palace, Lao Zhu went directly to the bedroom in the Qianqing Palace, and did not call the concubines over to sleep with him.

After washing up, he walked to the bedside. Lao Zhu allowed He Shou to help him take off his coat. However, he remembered another thing and asked casually: "Isn't Yuan'er's 'Zhi Yong Zhai' open yet?"

Feeling Lao Zhu's tone, He Shou smiled in agreement and said, "Master, it's a coincidence that I've been remembering the purchase. I just got the letter yesterday, and Zhi Yong Zhai will open tomorrow."

Lao Zhu also laughed, thought about it and said: "In that case... just you, go there in person tomorrow, oh, there is no need to do anything else, just stand there, that's enough."

His precious twenty-third generation grandson has done so much, Lao Zhu felt that in addition to purchasing the thousand pens in the palace, it can be regarded as a support for Zhiyongzhai, so as to avoid business failure and embarrassment. Asking He Shou to come forward at the moment is also another manifestation. Check your own attitude.

Zhu Yuan doesn't mind if outsiders imitate fountain pens, and Lao Zhu also thinks it's good for him to have such a big heart, but he actually does mind it himself.

Homemade stuff!

With such a statement, at least in Jinling City, there will be no one who is not smart enough to compete with his precious 23rd generation grandson for business, right?

He Shou could also understand the thoughts of His Majesty the Emperor. Thinking about the letter sent by his godson He Xuan from Mingzhou... Even if there was no order from Lao Zhu, he would still be prepared to express his views tomorrow even if he could not show up in person.
Chapter completed!