After leaving Ryukyu, we continued to go south along the long coast of the Ming Dynasty. After several days of sailing, we finally arrived in Qiongzhou.
"Finally arrived in Qiongzhou!"
Upon arriving in Qiongzhou, Liu Jin couldn't help but get excited. His mind was filled with the beaches, coconuts and beauties in bikinis in later generations. Qiongzhou in later generations was a holy place for vacation.
But obviously, Liu Jin was disappointed. Qiongzhou in this era was still very remote and backward. It had always been a place where prisoners were exiled. The famous Hai Rui was exiled to Qiongzhou.
The Haikou City that Liu Jin arrived at this time was very small, even worse than the Ryukyu City here in Ryukyu. If it hadn't been for the arrival of the Ming Navy, a large-scale building had been built here in advance to facilitate the entry and exit of ships.
The port made Liu Jin doubt whether this was Qiongzhou after all.
"There's nothing special about Qiongzhou, right?"
Next to Liu Jin, Wang Shouren looked around Haikou City with a telescope with some doubts. He didn't think there was anything special about Qiongzhou. It was just an ordinary place in the Ming Dynasty, similar to many places on the long coastline, very ordinary.
But along the way, Liu Jin never forgot about Qiongzhou and seemed to yearn to go to Qiongzhou.
Wang Shouren thought there was something special about Qiongzhou, but now that he saw it, it seemed that there was nothing special at all.
"Old Wang, let me tell you, Qiongzhou is a good place. Qiongzhou is similar to Nanyang. Its climate is very similar to Nanyang. You can grow vegetables here even in winter. In the future, it may become my
Where’s the Ming Dynasty’s vegetable store?”
"Also, look at this beach, how beautiful it is, with blue sky and white clouds, blue sea water, and this thin, narrow white beach. Do you feel like you want to take a good rest here?"
"When our Ming ships run faster and faster in the future, Qiongzhou will definitely become more and more popular. Apart from anything else, just coming to Qiongzhou for vacation in winter will be great."
Liu Jin looked at Wang Shouren, then pointed to the beautiful beach outside Haikou City and said.
Although Haikou City in this era is still very small and backward, it also has its advantages, that is, there is no pollution, and everything looks very primitive, natural, and beautiful.
"I want to take a break, but I don't want to go out in the sun."
Wang Shouren shook his head slightly, having a hard time understanding Liu Jin.
"Forget it, you don't understand what I'm telling you."
Liu Jin shook his head and said to an ancient person about beach beauties, it was not like playing the piano to an ox, not to mention that there are no beauties here now.
At the newly built pier in Haikou City, large ships are moored quietly in the harbor. On the playground of the port, the Royal Navy of the Ming Dynasty wearing white navy uniforms is practicing.
They arrived in Qiongzhou ahead of Liu Jin. They first got familiar with the climate, water and soil here in Qiongzhou. At the same time, they also began to patrol the Beibu Gulf to eliminate pirates in Qiongzhou.
"Master Liu, Master Wang, welcome to Qiongzhou~ I am Zhong Fan, the Chief Minister of Guangdong."
Liu Jin and Wang Shouren had just disembarked, and before they had time to experience the beautiful scenery of Qiongzhou, a group of people in official attire immediately came to greet them.
Good guy, it's so dark, with dozens of people in it.
"Master Zhong, gentlemen, there is no need to be polite."
Liu Jin looked at Zhong Fan, then at the dozens of dark figures, and said with a smile.
"Master Liu, Master Wang, you have come all the way, and I have prepared some wine to help you catch the wind and wash away the dust."
Zhong Fan also looked carefully at Liu Jin and Wang Shouren in front of him.
Both Liu Jin and Wang Shouren are very young. Wang Shouren is only in his early thirties and Liu Jin is only in his twenties. However, both Liu Jin and Wang Shouren have a bright future.
Even though he is now a second-grade official and has a higher grade than Liu Jin, when he learned that Liu Jin and Wang Shouren were coming to Qiongzhou, he immediately came from Guangzhou to Qiongzhou Haikou City to welcome them.
Liu Jin and Wang Shouren in front of him are both popular people in front of the emperor. Especially this Liu Jin, even though his official position is a little lower than his, he is still worth making friends with.
Guangdong, a place in the Ming Dynasty, was far inferior to its status in later generations. During the Ming Dynasty, Guangdong and Guangxi were basically one, and both belonged to the miasma-ridden barbaric land south of Lingnan.
For example, Qiongzhou was a place where prisoners were exiled in the Ming Dynasty. Many officials who were suppressed in the court were also sent to Guangdong, Guangxi, Qiongzhou, Yunnan and Guizhou to serve as officials.
Historically, Wang Shouren was demoted to Longchang, Guizhou to become a minor official, and Hai Rui was demoted to Qiongzhou. From this, we can know that Guangdong at this time had a very low status.
Therefore, being an official in such a place basically has no future. The sky is high and the emperor is far away. The emperor may not be able to think of someone like you for ten or eight years. It will be too difficult to rise to the top.
Liu Jin and Wang Shouren were both popular men before the death of Emperor Hongzhi. This time they came to Qiongzhou to prepare for the southern expedition to Annan and Nanyang. Zhong Fan felt that his opportunity had come.
As long as they can establish a good relationship with these two people and do a good job in providing logistical support for this time, after Liu Jin and Wang Shouren mention their names in the memorials after the great victory over Annan, they may have hope of winning from Guangdong.
He was promoted to the capital here.
Even if you can't go to the capital, it would be nice to be able to return to other provinces, which is better than staying here in Guangdong.
Guangdong was a place where there was no future, no money and no money. He had long wanted to leave, but he had been suffering from the fact that it had nothing to do with him and he had not caught the emperor's eye. He would have stayed here in Guangdong for almost half his life.
"Master Zhong has a guest~"
Liu Jin looked at Zhong Fan. His official position was higher than his own. Logically speaking, there was no need to be so polite. He was so proactive and enthusiastic, which made him feel a little strange.
Everyone entered Haikou City, and in the official residence of the Qiongzhou Prefecture magistrate in Haikou City, everyone drank and drank among each other, and began to chat slowly.
"Master Liu, Master Wang, what do you think of this place in Guangdong?"
Zhong Fan seemed to have something in his words.
"Guangdong is a good place. You see, it borders Huguang and Jiangxi to the north, Fujian and Ryukyu to the northeast, Guangxi and Annan to the west, and you can go to Nanyang to the south."
"There are many coastal areas and many excellent ports. Compared with Fujian, its geographical location is also better, especially in the Pearl River Delta, where the terrain is flat, open and connected by seas and rivers."
"I dare to predict that in the future, Guangdong will definitely be one of the best or second best places in China."
Liu Jin thought for a while and said with certainty.
"One of the best places?"
When everyone heard this, they were immediately surprised. Everyone knew the situation in Guangdong very well. Liu Jin actually said that Guangdong would become one of the best places in China in the future.
Who would believe this?
"how?"
"Don't you believe it?"
Liu Jin looked at Zhong Fan, Wang Shouren and others who were surprised, smiled and said.
"Liu Jin, it's not that we don't believe it, it's that Guangdong now, let alone one of the best, can't even compare with Fujian, let alone Jiangxi and Huguang in the north, let alone Southern Zhili and Northern Zhili.
Compared to other places.”
Wang Shouren thought for a while and said.
"That was the past, I'm talking about the future."
"The geographical conditions here in Guangdong are very good, and the location is extremely advantageous. When the Ming Dynasty annexes Annan and Champa, this place will be regarded as one of the best places to go south to Nanyang."
"In the past, our Ming Dynasty prohibited the sea, and ocean trade and navigation were underdeveloped, so Guangdong could not develop. However, with the development of ocean trade and navigation, Guangdong's geographical location can gradually become highlighted."
"If you look at Guangdong, Guangzhou can go directly to the sea along the Pearl River. There are many excellent port areas at the mouth of the Pearl River. These places have great development prospects in the future."
"As long as Guangdong firmly seizes the opportunity, it will surely develop rapidly in the future."
Liu Jin asked someone to take out a map, pointed to the Pearl River Delta area in the center of Guangdong and said.
"What you said, Mr. Liu, is very reasonable. In recent years, the number of merchant ships and fishing boats in the coastal areas of Guangdong has gradually increased, and the number of merchant ships heading to Southeast Asia has also increased."
Zhong Fan immediately became thoughtful, thought for a while and said.
"Lord Zhong, with the development of ocean trade and overseas colonies, Guangdong's future is bright. You can make a lot of achievements here in Guangdong."
"As long as Mr. Zhong follows the trend and stands on the cusp of the times, it will be difficult for Guangdong to develop. When the tide comes, Mr. Zhong will naturally be able to lift all boats, and His Majesty will definitely remember Mr. Zhong's contribution."
Liu Jin looked at Zhong Fan and actually guessed Zhong Fan's intention. After thinking about it, he said to him.
With the advent of the colonial era and the age of navigation, there is no doubt that Guangdong will rise. The advantages of coastal and riverside areas will gradually become more prominent, and will slowly surpass the traditional inland areas.
"Master Liu, can Guangdong really do a lot?"
Hearing Liu Jin's words, Zhong Fan immediately became excited, as did the other Guangdong officials present. In fact, they had had enough of Guangdong and wanted to be transferred to other places.
Now after listening to Liu Jin's words, it seems that the future development of Guangdong will definitely be very good and it is still a good place.
"That's of course. If Mr. Zhong doesn't believe it, you might as well go to Ryukyu and have a look. Ryukyu was originally a truly barbaric and uninhabited land."
"But now, in just a few years, Ryukyu has developed rapidly. It now has seventeen cities and a population of more than two million people."
"Guangdong's foundation is much better than Ryukyu. If you seize the opportunity, you can definitely make a difference."
