The Tian family couple has tasted all the sweetness of love in this life, and maybe they have also tasted the saltiness of the sea, but do they really understand the sea?
In this secluded era, people didn't even know whether the sky and the earth were square or round. They always felt that the end of the land was the sea, and the end of the sea was the edge of the world. That's why there was the stone tablet "Tianya Haijiao" on the South China Sea.
It cannot be said that people are ignorant, because they have no way of knowing.
However, since Li Qinzai came to this era, everyone must open their eyes and see what the world is really like, lest the emperors of all dynasties always start with the Western Regions once they have ambitions.
There was silence in the main hall, Li Zhi and Empress Wu frowned, and fell into deep thought.
Cui Sheng wrote diligently and recorded every word Li Qinzai said.
"What is the end of the sea?" Li Zhi asked.
Li Qinzai smiled: "At the end of the sea are sweet potatoes, but they are not all sweet potatoes. There are many wonderful species like sweet potatoes, and... a vast land countless times larger than the Tang Dynasty. The people living on that land now are just
Some uncivilized natives who wear animal skins and hunt for a living."
Li Zhi's eyes lit up and his breathing became heavy.
The word "land" attracted him deeply. He had no choice but to suffer from the occupational disease of the emperor. As soon as he heard that there was land, he felt that business was coming to his door.
Qin Shihuang said, "Edi, Edi, ha, it's Edi."
Li Zhi said, "I want it! I want it! I want it too!"
After Li Qinzai finished speaking, Li Zhi straightened his waist even more and unconsciously leaned toward Li Qinzai.
"Jingchu, please tell me carefully," Li Zhi said with eyes shining.
Li Qinzai sighed and said: "Your Majesty, I am still saying what I said. In fact, land is not important. What is important is that we have to introduce new species, various high-yielding grains, spices, minerals, plants, etc. As for the land at the end of the sea,
Land is just taken easily."
"A century-old strategy is to first eliminate nearby enemies and then attack distant worries. The current enemies of the Tang Dynasty are Goguryeo and Tubo. After conquering Goguryeo and Tubo, I believe that we should use a gentle approach to the Western Regions and not rush to conquer them."
"We should build ships, build large ships, recruit shipwrights and navigation talents, set up shipping departments, and draw nautical charts..."
"Your Majesty, I feel that your Majesty should move his eyes away from the Western Regions and focus on the east. At the end of the east sea, there is a magical continent with rich products. It is not an exaggeration to say that there is gold everywhere."
"If we can introduce grains from the New World and diversify the food of the Tang Dynasty, we can feed tens of millions of people today, even if it is several times more, there will be no pressure."
"No matter how much land you conquer, it is better to fill the bellies of the people under your rule. As long as you fill your people, no one can shake the Tang Dynasty for thousands of generations. And the New World at the end of the sea, that vast land
, is a clear proof that His Majesty surpasses the late Emperor Taizong."
Li Zhi became even more excited when he heard this. He looked at Empress Wu again, and a trace of excitement flashed in Empress Wu's eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Li Zhi smiled bitterly and said: "It makes me wish I could bring a million royal troops to the sea and conquer in person..."
"But what exactly is the end of the sea like? How do ships sail after leaving the harbor? Where can we resupply? Where can we land? Where are the reefs and dangerous shoals? There are so many unknown dangers. How can I make this determination?"
Li Qinzai sighed and said: "How can we open up new territories and conquer new lands without sacrifices and sacrifices? There is no way around it. Only by paying casualties can we gain something."
"Attacking an enemy city is a war. Building ships and going to sea to find the mainland is another war. Since it is a war, there must be casualties. This is inevitable."
"As for the shipping lanes and the mainland after going out to sea..." Li Qinzai pondered for a moment, then looked at Cui Sheng who was writing so fast, and said with a smile: "Brother, please lend me a pen and paper."
Cui Sheng silently handed him the pen and paper.
Li Qinzai spread the paper and pen on the table. Li Zhi and Empress Wu came over. Cui Sheng, who had always maintained aloofness not far away, couldn't help but move forward a few steps and glanced at the paper and pen in front of Li Qinzai.
Li Qinzai paints as soon as he picks up his pen. His painting skills are a bit rough, but that's okay, as long as he can understand it.
First draw an outline of Asia, then the Pacific Ocean. The east coast of the Pacific Ocean is the American continent. By the way, also draw Australia in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, which looks like the egg of the earth...
Finally, there is the Indian Ocean to the west, as well as the western regions of Central Asia and the European continent, as well as the Cape of Good Hope and the African continent, etc.
After a long time, Li Qinzai finished the painting. Looking at his work, Li Qinzai couldn't help but frown slightly.
This painting skill is really...worse than my own handwriting.
Li Zhi also frowned. Although he didn't understand what Li Qinzai was painting, he could still tell the quality of his painting skills.
"Jing Chu is really... you have so much idle time, wouldn't you like to practice calligraphy and painting more when you have nothing to do? Although your father-in-law, Prince Teng, is a libertine, his paintings are also outstanding today. You can ask your father-in-law for advice.
That's fine." Li Zhi shook his head, his eyes full of disgust.
Empress Wu covered her mouth and smiled softly.
Li Qinzai twitched his lips: "Your Majesty, practicing calligraphy and painting cannot be called idleness, but torture. I want to live a leisurely life, so why bother with myself? If I can't write well, it does not violate the king's law..."
"Don't go off topic. Your Majesty, please take a look. This picture I drew is the real world." Li Qinzai pointed at the map and said.
Li Zhi and Empress Wu leaned over and looked at it for a long time. After a while, Li Zhi pointed to the edge of the American continent and said, "This world ends here?"
Li Qinzai shook his head: "No, keep walking here, and it will arrive here..."
As he spoke, he pointed to the European continent at the other end of the map.
Li Zhi touched his chin in confusion. After all, he was a smart man. After a moment, Li Zhi finally figured it out and said in horror: "What Jingchu means is that the whole world is round? No matter which direction you go, you can come back."
origin?"
Li Qinzai nodded: "The ancients said that 'the sky is round and the earth is round', which is actually a fallacy. In fact, it should be said that the sky is round and the earth is round."
As he spoke, he rolled up the map and connected its two ends to form a roll. Li Qinzai said: "Your Majesty, this is what the world really looks like. It is actually a ball."
Li Zhi and Empress Wu opened their eyes wide in surprise and looked at each other with horrified expressions.
Li Qinzai ignored the horrified looks of the two men and said to himself: "The Tang Dynasty is only a few dozen of them, and the new species and new foods we urgently need are available on the other side of the continent."
As he spoke, he pointed to the American continent and the African continent.
Staring at the shocked faces of Li Zhi and Empress Wu, Li Qinzai slowly said word by word: "Build sea ships, recruit ship workers, and gather the king's divisions. The Tang Dynasty has sharp firearms, and the ministers have knowledge of science and engineering, plus this map
, and the perseverance and courage of my great country to move forward..."
"While the world is still sleeping, we who have been awake for thousands of years should be the real masters of this world."