The afternoon sun shone through the gap between the branches and leaves of the osmanthus tree, and countless spots of light were scattered on the ground. Xu Jin stretched comfortably, sat up slowly from the recliner, and finally woke up.

In order to prepare for the prisoner ceremony of the Grand Court, Xu Jin got up at 3 a.m. today. At the Grand Court, he blew fiercely with conservative officials who opposed the opening of the sea ban. He didn't disperse until noon. He then had lunch with Zhang Cong Gui'e and other upstartists, and couldn't help drinking some wine during the meal. So after returning to his residence, he was really sleepy and fell asleep as soon as he leaned on the recliner.

"Master, the emperor is here, and he is going to the study." When the two pretty maids saw Xu Jin wake up, they hurriedly told him nervously. Xu Jin rubbed his face with both hands and asked calmly: "How long has the emperor been here?"

"It's been half an hour!" Chu Xia secretly stuck out her tongue. When the emperor came, the master still couldn't sleep well. Among the civil and military officials in the court, it was probably just the master who had such treatment.

"Miss Zhier is also in the study." Chuchun reminded in a low voice.

Xu Jin nodded and said, after finishing his clothes under the service of two pretty maids, he changed into a set of regular household clothes, and then headed towards the study.

"I've seen Marquis Jinghai." The guards and the eunuchs guarding outside saw Xu Jin walking slowly, and hurriedly saluted respectfully, including Lu Bing.

Xu Jin smiled and nodded in response, and asked politely: "Lu Qianhu, Emperor..."

Before Xu Jin finished speaking, Lu Bing raised his index finger and shrewd lightly, pointed at the study door with a strange expression and shouted: "Go back to the Marquis, my son is talking to Miss Zhier inside."

Xu Jin was slightly stunned, but the study door was opened at this time. Emperor Jiajing, dressed as a scholar, stood there, with a slight smile on his face and said, "Brother-in-law finally woke up. Sipao has been waiting for you for a while!"

"Four Cannons?" Xu Jin was just two-meter-old King Kong was confused.

Zhu Houcan blinked hard, and pointed his fingers at his chest, while curling his lips behind him vividly. Xu Jin's eyes crossed Zhu Houcan's shoulders, and just saw He Zhier sitting behind the desk, tilting his head and looking at him with a suspicious look on his face.

Xu Jin felt aroused, and he immediately felt relieved, and coughed dryly, "So... it's the fourth cannon, why don't you wake me up when you come?"

Zhu Houcong secretly raised his thumbs up and laughed: "I saw you sleep soundly just now, so I didn't dare to call me. A Bing, please come and make a pot of tea. I want to ask my brother-in-law for advice."

"Okay, young master!" Lu Bing replied cleverly.

"Brother-in-law, come in quickly. Sipao still has many things you don't understand to ask you for advice." Zhu Houcan said seriously.

Xu Jin couldn't help laughing and walked into the study. He Zhier stood up and shouted crisply: "Brother!"

Xu Jin nodded gently and asked, "Zhier, have you finished the exercises that I left for you?"

"It's been done long ago!" He Zhier said obediently: "Brother, can I go to the yard to have fun?"

Xu Jin said drowningly: "Go, I made your favorite osmanthus cake in the kitchen, and let's play after eating."

"Great thing, let's eat osmanthus cake!" He Zhier cheered, then jumped out of the room.

The boy Zhu Houcon looked at He Zhier who ran out of Sa Huan'er and said a little depressedly: "Sister Zhier thinks she is only ten years old?"

Xu Jinruo glanced at Zhu Houguang meaningfully and said, "If Zhier hadn't been only ten years old, she would have beaten the emperor out just now as a disciple."

Zhu Houcong smiled awkwardly and said, "I didn't know that Sister Zhier is here before I came in, brother-in-law... Hmm, Xu Qing, I think Sister Zhier looks very powerful. I can't understand most of the pictures she draws."

Xu Jin smiled and said, "Zhier is indeed very talented in mechanics. In Guangzhou Prefecture, when there was a problem with the Folang cannon in Folang, it was Zhier who solved it. Moreover, this girl also discovered the reason why our Ming Folang cannon range is not as good as the Western Folang cannon. In time, Zhier might become the best firearm craftsman in the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Houcong had a nearly admirable trust in Xu Jin, so he had always believed in Xu Jin's judgment. He had just chatted with He Zhier for half an hour and found that the various models of Folang cannons designed by others were not just doodles, but were really feasible.

"By the way, Xu Qing, Sister Zhier just said what this kind of steam engine is? It can really make the carriage not pulling and the warship not sails?" Zhu Houcan picked up the notebook on the desk, turned to the page of the steam engine drawing, and asked enthusiastically.

Strictly speaking, this is not a steam engine drawing. Xu Jin also knows nothing about the steam engine. He just described the principle of steam power and the general appearance of the steam engine. Then He Zhier drew a simple picture of this steam engine based on his imagination.

Xu Jin nodded and said in a affirmative tone: "Of course, but the premise is that it can be created."

Zhu Houcong's eyes lit up. With his intelligence, he certainly understood how powerful this thing is. Not to mention anything else, just installing this thing on the warship, the Ming Dynasty's navy can definitely travel around the world and be invincible.

"Then do Xu Qing think this steam engine can be made?" Zhu Houguang rubbed his hands and asked with anticipation.

Xu Jin shrugged and said bluntly: "It's very difficult. Even if it can be made, it will take a long time and cost a lot of money."

Zhu Houcong said boldly: "Silver is not a problem at all. Didn't Xu Qing just shipped tens of millions of taels of silver back from Manlaga? The key is how long it will take?"

"If you are lucky, you may be able to make it in more than ten years. If you are unlucky, you may not be able to make it in decades or hundreds of years. In terms of silver budget, you have to prepare at least 20 to 30 million taels of silver, probably more."

"What!" Zhu Houguan couldn't help but gasp and said, "Xu Qing, are you sure you're not kidding?"

Xu Jin nodded seriously. He was really not joking. Scientific research is a matter of burning money and time. For example, if China wants to create its own chips, it will take tens of billions of dollars, and it may not be able to do it after spending more than ten or twenty years. As for the current craft level of the Ming Dynasty, it is probably not much easier to create a steam engine and then apply it to transportation tools than to build a chip.

Zhu Houxiang's heart couldn't help but feel a lot of cold, and he said in shock: "This thing takes so long and costs so much money. Oh my God, my annual tax on Ming Dynasty is not enough for four million taels of silver. It's really not worth it!"

Xu Jin said calmly: "It's not that I have to take out so much money at once. And once the maritime ban is opened, I am sure that it will definitely be a problem to turn the income of the Ming Dynasty's treasury. It will not be difficult to even out part of the budget every year."

Zhu Houcong said skeptically: "Xu Qing, is the profits of maritime trade really so generous?"

Xu Jin nodded affirmatively and said, "It is absolutely rich enough that you can't imagine. Otherwise, those Westerners would risk their lives to travel thousands of miles to the Ming Dynasty to do business? Our Ming Dynasty's tea, raw silk, silk, porcelain, spices from South China, etc., will be transported back to the Western country, and the value will be increased by dozens of times, or even dozens of times. These silvers can be made by Westerners, so why can't our Ming Dynasty make money?"

Zhu Hou nodded deeply and agreed, and Xu Jin continued: "I have a deep understanding of this when I sent troops to Manlaga this time. Manlaga is just an island country, but it is rich in maritime trade. It has accumulated nearly ten million taels of wealth in just over a decade. This is not the case that Portugal has plundered.

In addition, I also learned that the Westerners had occupied Tianzhu and other places and began to colonize and rule, and the local wealth was being continuously plundered by the Westerners. If our Ming Dynasty continued to close the country, we would only give this wealth to the Westerners.

Moreover, once the Westerners become rich and strong, their tentacles will inevitably reach out to our Ming Dynasty. The tragedy that happened to the Qing Dynasty may repeat itself in our Ming Dynasty. The reason why I stationed in Manlaga is to prevent the Westerners from continuing to move eastward to colonize."

Zhu Houjun's face couldn't help but turn red, and he clenched his fists and said proudly: "It is impossible, my Ming Dynasty will never fall to the beginning."

Xu Jin sighed and said, "Your Majesty, I'll say it bluntly. Now Westerners are far ahead of our Ming Dynasty in navigation, and the power of artillery is even better than our Ming Dynasty. If our navy had not copied the Folang machine cannon, and the Westerners came across the ocean and were at an absolute disadvantage in terms of military strength, our Ming navy would not be able to beat others.

If the Westerners occupy the countries of the South China Sea and gain a steady foothold and receive continuous support, then my Ming Dynasty will be in danger!"

Zhu Houcong's expression changed slightly when he heard this. He shook the folding fan irritatedly and asked in a deep voice: "Xu Qing, what should we do?"

Xu Jin said solemnly: "Of course, we will open up the sea ban, vigorously develop naval forces, and seize the dominance of the ocean. As long as we have a big fist, no one dares to provoke us. Only we can provoke others and deal with anyone who doesn't like you."

Zhu Houcong laughed and said, "Haha, what's right, but Xu Qing also saw that there are still many officials who firmly oppose the opening of the maritime ban, what should I do about it?"

Xu Jin said coldly: "The trend of the times is vast and unstoppable. If you follow it, you will prosper. If you go against it, you will die. Three or five stubborn stumbling blocks are just kicked away."

Emperor Jiajing's eyes flashed with a splash, and closed the folding fan with a snap, then knocked heavily on the palm of his left hand and shouted loudly: "If you are good at speaking, those who follow it will prosper, those who go against it will perish. Three or five stumbling blocks that are not effective in the dark, kick it away. Xu Qing, please write a letter tomorrow and please open the sea ban. If you fail, you will be virtuous."

Xu Jin does not sweat secretly, he must succeed, he does not want to be successful!
Chapter completed!