Chapter 458: Ming Dynasty Characteristic Japanese Slave Ship
When Zhu Yunxi was still sighing that the old man still had a free heart after being in Sheji, he met the old man's bright eyes that seemed to see through everything.
At this moment, the warship was sailing at full speed, and the river wind blew in our face, bringing with it a bit of laziness in autumn.
Groups of finless porpoises gracefully jump up from the water again and again, like crescent moons sinking to the bottom of the river, with sparkling waves and vast water drops.
In the distance, fishermen on both sides of the Yangtze River, wearing bamboo hats, rocking their boats and oars, threw fishing nets into the river.
Farther away, faintly visible in the fields and villages behind the bushes, a few green smokes have risen, gently telling the leisurely scenery of Jiangnan in this autumn day.
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes became more profound and he chuckled: "I heard that you have informed the cabinet that when Yingzhou's gold and silver enter the capital in the second quarter, some of the profits will be distributed to the officials in the court?"
"The reward is given in your name, grandpa." Zhu Yunxi hurriedly explained. In front of the old man who always treated officials harshly, he did not dare to lie in the slightest: "The imperial court has made many big moves this year, people are panicked, and the new policy is like a tiger. Whether it is
In order to win people's hearts and show the court's fairness and consideration, this money should be distributed."
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted twice, shook his head and said: "You kid didn't tell the truth. Now, you have learned to be careless in front of grandpa."
"My grandson doesn't dare." Zhu Yunxi denied flatly, then waved his hand and pointed to the fisherman who saw the warship in the distance and started to close the net in advance: "Grandpa, why are they fishing here?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment and said with some uncertainty: "Because these people make a living by fishing. They fish today and sell them in the city tomorrow to supplement their family income."
Zhu Yunxi shook his head.
This is a result, not a cause.
Under the questioning gaze of the old man, Zhu Yunxi smiled and said, "Because they know there are fish under the river."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he wanted to start scolding him, but after a moment's thought, he understood a different meaning.
Hum!
The old man snorted coldly, signaling the treacherous eldest grandson to continue.
Zhu Yunxi said: "Because the people know that there are fish in the river, they can build fishing boats, weave fishing nets, and inquire about the places where they are sold in the city and what the price of fish is. If the people don't know that there are fish in the river, they can satisfy their hunger and fill their stomachs.
They can earn some scraps from selling to supplement their family income. Then will they still build boats, build nets and fish in the water?
The imperial court now resumes the meritorious service of the Qin Fa army and discusses the founding of the country and the promotion of Cao Guogong. In fact, it is to induce them. Today, we have millions of Ming troops. Who is not thirsty for war and eager for merit? Who doesn't want to serve in Ma
Fighting a prince or general on his back?"
Zhu Yuanzhang had a sharp look on his eyebrows and said, "So, you are now trying to lure the civil servants with benefits?"
Zhu Yunxi nodded and said: "The family in Qufu is no longer here, and the two ranking Jinshi will no longer be directly awarded officials. His learning is as fierce as fire, spreading like sparks across the world. When the east wind blows, the world will be full of truth-seeking people.
But under the new policies of the imperial court, can my deep-rooted thoughts that have been rooted in the Central Plains for thousands of years be changed? Sun'er believes that this matter cannot be achieved overnight. But if there are deviations in the new policies of the imperial court in the future, will those people and those things come back again?
?My grandson thinks that this is inevitable.
Therefore, my grandson thought that perhaps this thought should be changed, so that the world would know that the concepts of the past thousand years are no longer suitable for the current Ming Dynasty."
It is impossible to become a great country without a country that spans thousands of miles. However, the vastness of the country will make people content with the status quo, thinking that everything in the world exists, and thus fall into involution.
What is the problem with Ming Dynasty?
There are many kinds, many different ways of saying it.
But in the final analysis, it is still the development and distribution system of resources.
Several generations of the Central Plains dynasties were built on sufficient land resources, and relied on cheap population resources to create prosperous dreams again and again after troubled times.
And people never pay attention to the settings of the distribution system.
If the Ming Dynasty really wanted to last forever, it had to continuously develop more resources, and it also had to do its best to suppress uneven distribution internally.
Transfer conflicts and interests to the outside world, alleviate internal conflicts of interests, and let everyone suddenly realize collectively one day.
The land of the Central Plains was never so big, but it was actually so small.
And outside the Central Plains, there is even more land and more resources, just like the prostitutes in Goulan Lane and alleys who make a living with the cheapest flesh and blood, they are allowed to be picked and taken away by anyone.
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a long time, thinking carefully about the cause and effect. After a while, he finally said: "A scholar can't change his steps easily."
snort!
Zhu Yunxi snorted coldly: "If they don't change it, the imperial court will help them change it!"
The military merit and honor method inspired by the king's title was also a credit to the millions of Ming troops in suppressing the domestic unrest.
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a long time, patting the railing in front of him twice without saying a word.
This is the tacit attitude.
With a smile on his face, Zhu Yunxi raised his eyes and looked in front of the warship. The protruding part of Baguazhou on the river surface had already come into view. The cement fortification built by Longjiang Shipyard was impressively displayed on the shore.
"Measure the ship's speed!"
In the middle of the deck, someone shouted loudly.
The messenger was probably the busiest person on the entire steam warship today, constantly shouting to check the speed.
After a while, someone stood up on the top of the deck cabin at the rear end of the warship.
"Report!"
"It takes a quarter of an hour from Jiangxinzhou to Baguazhou."
Deng Deng Deng.
Zhang Ergong, the dignified third-rank official and left minister of the Ministry of Industry, immediately picked up the hem of his official robe and ran to the bow of the ship in person.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness, the steam warship is sailing down the river at full speed. It can travel 120 miles of waterway in one hour."
Zhu Yunxi looked sideways at Zhang Ergong, who was bowing and holding his hands in reply, and thought carefully in his mind.
Sailing one hundred and twenty miles in one hour, it is estimated that the speed is about fifteen or six knots. Although it is going down the river, it can be said to be very fast nowadays.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Continue."
Zhu Yunxi replied slowly, and Zhang Ergong cupped his hands and carefully stepped back from the bow.
After a while, the warship began to pass sideways upstream of Baguazhou.
One side of the artillery began to attack the cement fort on the shore of Baguazhou while the warship was moving.
The accuracy of the first two rounds was not high, and sparse and sporadic shells hit the fort, but they also caused bursts of roars, made a lot of noise, and sputtered debris from the outer layer of the fort in the telescope.
After the previous test firing was over, the new artillery installed on the steam warship really came into play, constantly spitting out anger, and more and more artillery shells were projected onto the fort.
When the warship completely adjusted its hull position, with one side facing the concrete fortress on the shore of Baguazhou, the real catharsis of artillery fire finally arrived.
The river was once again covered with smoke and fog.
When the smoke dissipated, an entire layer of the cement fortress at Baguazhou was cut off, huge holes were torn out of the thick wall, and a terrifying gap was revealed at the top of the wall.
Compared with the cement forts built by the Ming Dynasty in Jiubian, under the baptism of warship gunfire, the defensive functions of the forts have been completely lost.
"Now the warship has to go back to the Longjiang Shipyard to test the speed of going upstream." Zhu Yunxi stood beside the old man and explained in a low voice: "Originally, it was supposed to be a test of warships on the river, but the artillery was ruthless, and the cannons were merciless at every turn.
The ship was destroyed and people were killed, so the experiment was cancelled."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand: "Since we can destroy the fortress at the head of Baguazhou, the boats on the water will no longer have any rivals, and there is no need to test them."
Zhu Yunxi smiled: "That's the truth."
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a light sigh.
The warship was now turning, heading back to the upstream shipyard. Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes couldn't help but be attracted to the lower reaches. His eyes kept turning, and finally he moved his steps slightly so that he could see more clearly.
"Is this also a navy warship?"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at a fleet of ships coming upstream and asked softly.
Zhu Yunxi turned around and looked over, hesitating slightly.
"What? What's the secret of this fleet?" Zhu Yuanzhang was a little curious and had already taken steps towards the stern of the ship.
Zhu Yunxi followed behind and whispered: "It's a navy warship, yes, but...it's also a little different."
The grandfather and grandson walked to the stern of the ship on the deck that was extremely busy due to the turn of the warship.
Zhu Yunxi looked sideways at the naval fleet sailing over the side of the ship from the downstream river.
The treasure ship sat firmly in the center position, with the warships on both sides acting as the left and right wings. There were warships in front to clear the way, and in the rear were troop transports, horse ships, and grain ships. They looked at the draft but did not seem to be carrying too much weight.
Look again at the flags displayed on the treasure ship.
That was clearly the flag of the fleet that originally belonged to the Japanese army in Daming Town to deposit gold and silver and return to Beijing.
But if they just deposited the gold and silver and returned to Beijing, the fleet would only consist of ten or twenty ships, but unlike now, the number of the fleet has exceeded fifty.
"That's the gold and silver brought back from Yingzhou, and... and the fleet that escorted the Japanese slaves."
Zhu Yunxi whispered softly and revealed the identity of the returning fleet.
"Oh?" Zhu Yuanzhang exclaimed and walked to the top deck at the stern of the ship.
At this time, the warship had also completed its turn and returned to the upstream at full speed.
Zhu Yunxi took a step forward, nodded and said in a low voice: "According to the military reports reported by the Eastern Expedition Army, the gold and silver released were parked in Ryukyu for a while, and they also had the intention of promoting the prestige of our country.
As for those Japanese slave ships, they must have been used by the Eastern Expedition Army to stabilize the newly conquered land of Yingzhou, and captured those Japanese pirates who dared to cause trouble, escorted them back to the Ming Dynasty in accordance with the law, and sent them to work in various places."
Zhu Gaochi, who originally went below the deck to inspect the new artillery with his own eyes, had already walked up and was behind the two of them.
Zhu Gaochi said softly: "This batch of Japanese workers is to be sent to Nanchang Prefecture in Jiangxi Province. Cabinet Xie Jin intends to complete the cement road from Yingtian to Hangzhou Prefecture when the court is about to complete it, and start construction of the cement road from Yingtian to Huai'an Prefecture, and Yingtian to Fengyang.
After the cement road, take the cement road from Yingtian to Nanchangfu, Jiangxi Road.
Then we will build a cement road from Nanchang Prefecture to Huguang Road and Wuchang Prefecture. In this way, the communication between Yingtian and Huguang and Jiangxi will be initially completed. By then, the imperial court will be able to travel between the two roads more calmly."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and said, "Are we going to connect the cement roads of Nanchang Prefecture and Taiping Prefecture? Via Chizhou Prefecture?"
Zhu Gaochi immediately spoke: "Grandpa Huihuang, it's true. After passing through Chizhou Prefecture, Raozhou Prefecture, and the cement road, you can enter Nanchang Prefecture."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled on his face, looked at the stern of the fleet returning from Yingzhou, and whispered: "This road is not easy."
"That's why we have to use Japanese workers to do things." Zhu Yunxi took over and continued: "My grandson also knows about this road. The cabinet wants to connect the cement road between Nanchang Prefecture and Taiping Prefecture. Chizhou Prefecture in the middle is mostly mountainous.
, according to estimates reported by the Ministry of Industry, it is far more complicated and difficult than the three cement roads currently under construction."
"Then let the Japanese workers go."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his robe and muttered calmly.
The steam warship sailing at full speed soon left behind the fleet behind it and gradually disappeared above the river.
The fleet that had just sailed to the river outside Baguazhou and returned from Yingzhou was sailing at a constant speed.
Around the fleet, there were constant river speedboats patrolling the river to keep watch.
After all, in addition to the most worthless Japanese slaves, there were also gold and silver worth more than one million taels in the fleet. These were the things that the imperial court valued most.
And the Japanese slave ships that no one cares about are filled with darkness and cold blood.
The troop transport ships originally used by the Ming army to transport troops and horses could transport doubled numbers of Japanese slaves to the Central Plains with only minor modifications.
On the deck were the officers and soldiers responsible for guarding the ship.
On the deck, apart from delivering meals, there was almost no one in the cabin where the Japanese slaves were kept.
Darkness is the norm in the cabin below deck.
Without air circulation, it became rancid and pungent during the long voyage.
It was originally a two-story bed, but now it can accommodate five Japanese slaves after only minor modifications.
In the corner of the cabin, there are several large wooden barrels used by Japanese workers to go out. The bottom is connected to the outside of the cabin through a pipe and goes deep into the water.
The benevolent Ming Dynasty did not put shackles on these Japanese workers, and did not even use handcuffs and leg irons.
After all, no one can escape on the vast sea.
In the corner of the cabin, under the small window, light is projected diagonally.
Under the light visible to the naked eye, a Japanese with disheveled hair was curled up and leaning against the wall. He had maintained this posture for a long time.
When I got closer, I could see clearly that it was Yoshinoderama who belonged to the Yoshino family in the Southern Dynasty of Japan.
Yoshinoderama could clearly hear the sound of gunfire outside the cabin.
He had heard the sound of cannons like that in Japan not long ago, and it sounded so familiar today.
Was there civil strife in Ming Dynasty?
The idea of Yoshinoji Mahjong was shattered, and there would be no civil strife in the Ming Dynasty today.
"We're going to Yingtian City..."
Yoshinoderama muttered in a low voice that he had been to the Ming Dynasty, to Yingtian City, and also took a boat on the river that was longer than the Japanese country to enjoy the scenery on both sides of the river.
Yoshinoderama put her hands on the ground and crawled up tremblingly.
Then turn around.
Putting his hands on the small window, Yoshinoderama raised his neck with some difficulty and looked out the window with a pair of cloudy eyes.
That should be Baguazhou outside Yingtian City.
Yoshinoderama looked at the ruins of the cement fort at Sutou with some doubts in his eyes.
"Did that sound of gunfire happen here?"
He whispered to himself in a low voice. There were no officers or soldiers on the island, or they were rebels.
Soon, Yoshinoderama thought that this should be the place where Ming Dynasty inspected its artillery.
What kind of power is there to destroy that strong fortress like this?
Yoshinoderama sighed in his heart, but there was no wave in his eyes.
He has experienced the most desperate thing, and the Japanese country has disappeared from this world.
Japanese...
Nowadays, only the Japanese workers who were escorted to the Ming Dynasty will be turned into white bones in endless years and buried in the soil of unknown places in the Ming Dynasty.