Zhu Zhen knew a saying - only by mastering the control of the sea can we control maritime trade; and the key to controlling the sea lies in a strong navy.
Okay, here are two sentences.
He also knows a saying - ten years of army, one hundred years of navy.
Although the Ming Dynasty is currently far ahead of the world in shipbuilding and navigation, it will definitely not take that long to build a powerful navy.
But even the Ming Dynasty needed a long time to train naval officers and soldiers who were experienced enough to win battles. Therefore, it was neither economical nor too time-consuming to build a navy from scratch.
Well, the main reason is that he has no money... He only has a total of 20,000 taels given by his elder brother, and the stingy old thief really didn't give him a penny. Want to build a fleet with this little money? It's just enough to sprinkle water.
Therefore, Zhu Zhen made his plan early on to attack the precarious Chaohu Navy.
You know, Zheng He's invincible fleet that later sailed to the Western Ocean was born out of the Chaohu Navy! Moreover, it was the Chaohu Navy that had been devastated for thirty years and had changed beyond recognition...
Speaking of Zheng He, Zhu Zhen suddenly thought that China's greatest navigator should still be in Yunnan, just a baby, or a few years old.
He secretly reminded himself that when the imperial court regained Yunnan, it would have to find a way for this poor child to wear iron trousers and go to the battlefield - to protect the chicken.
~~
"Your Highness, Your Highness." Several calls brought Zhu Zhen back to his senses.
"Oh, I was distracted just now." Zhu Zhen smiled apologetically at Yu Tongyuan and said, "Your thoughts really surprise me."
"Yes, we also know that it is difficult to force others." Yu Tongyuan smiled bitterly and said: "But we are really desperate, so we can only come to ask for His Highness."
"Yes, Your Highness." Liao Dingguo also said loudly: "Accept us. Your Highness wants to restore the shipping income, but it can't be done without a strong navy!"
"We can only survive if we become His Highness's people!" Yu Tongjiang said with great sadness: "Save people to the end, Your Highness! Only Your Highness can save our Chaohu Navy!"
The three of them responded with emotion and reason, and begged and begged, but Zhu Zhen refused to nod for a long time.
Luo Guanzhong also knew that getting on the pole would not make a deal, and the food that came would be the most delicious. But he was afraid that Lao Liu had gone too far, and he felt that it was almost done, so he sighed and advised:
"Your Highness, these are all good men who have made great contributions to the country and shed their blood for the Ming Dynasty. No matter how difficult it is, we cannot ignore death."
"Oh, okay." Zhu Zhen sighed, as if he had eaten raw rice in a pot: "Sending Buddha to the West, I will reluctantly accept you."
"That's great, thank you Your Highness!" Yu Tongyuan and the other two were immediately overjoyed. They had never been so happy on the day when the Ming Dynasty was founded.
This shows how sophisticated Lao Liu’s ‘expectation management’ has become?
"However, we have to make a three-part agreement. If you can agree, I will solve all the difficulties. If anything happens to you in the future, I will bear it." Zhu Zhen changed the topic and said in a serious tone:
"If you don't agree, it goes without saying. If you agree now and regret it later, then it's no wonder that I am cleaning up the family!"
"This is as it should be." The three of them nodded without hesitation: "Your Highness, please speak."
"First, there will be no more Chaohu Navy in the future, only the Ming Dynasty's fleet." Zhu Zhen said solemnly: You also know that the name 'Chaohu Navy' is already harmful to you. If you don't cut it, How do I start from scratch?”
"This..." The three of them did not expect that the first request would be so difficult to handle. The banner of 'Chaohu Navy' was erected by their father and brother, soaked in the blood of countless fellow countrymen. It was to unite their strength. , is where their faith lies.
"I know this is difficult, but if you don't take this step, you will always be stuck in the past and unable to get a new life." Zhu Zhen sighed: "You should think carefully about it."
"Yes." The three of them nodded and asked in a low voice: "There are two more things, please tell me, Your Highness?"
"The second is to be like my king's army of the King of Chu. Completely obey my orders without any compromise." Zhu Zhen said.
"This is absolutely no problem. Our Chaohu water...oh no, we have always been known for obeying orders." Yu Tongyuan agreed hastily.
"Third, obey the laws and military disciplines of the country and never do anything illegal. This is also very important... Of course, you will enjoy the same treatment as the King of Chu's army. I can even give you a share, so that you can You share the shipping dividend!" Zhu Zhen said solemnly:
"But you can't take a penny that you shouldn't take! Otherwise, Shibosi will definitely repeat the mistakes of the Yuan Dynasty!"
"We can do it." Yu Tongyuan also agreed.
In the end, I was still stuck on the first point, and I was completely cut off from the 'Chaohu Navy'...
Zhu Zhen did not push them, and said generously: "There is no rush, the journey will take a long time. Just give me an answer before I return to Beijing."
After a pause, he emphasized: "But I still said that once you agree, you will not go back on it. Otherwise, I will clean up the family no matter what."
"Yes, we'll keep it in mind." The three of them responded hurriedly and respectfully.
~~
After talking about business, Yu Tongyuan led Zhu Zhen to the top-floor luxury cabin specially prepared for him.
"Hmm, not bad." Zhu Zhen glanced around, and there was nothing special about it. He just imitated the decoration of the painted boats on the Qinhuai River, but the imitation was not quite right...
Now Lao Liu's vision has become higher and his vision has become sharper. It is no longer the time when he couldn't tell the good from the bad.
"As long as your Highness doesn't mind it." Yu Tongyuan asked respectfully: "Your Highness, would you like to rest for a while first, or should you have lunch first and then rest?"
"Let's rest for a while first." Zhu Zhen sat down on the Grand Master's chair and said.
Yu Tongyuan excused himself, and Eunuch Wang began to wipe His Highness's face and hands with warm water. His movements were so gentle that there was no sound at all.
"Your Highness, what kind of medicine are you selling in this gourd?" Luo Guanzhong couldn't help but ask.
Zhu Zhen put his finger up to his lips, making a silent gesture, and then said to Wang De: "Give Mr. Robben the small gift I prepared."
"Call me Guanzhong." Luo Guanzhong said unhappily. Although Luo Ben was indeed his name, the name King Chu made people uncomfortable.
"Okay, Robben." Zhu Zhen smiled, took the glasses case from Wang Defa, handed it to Luo Guanzhong and said: "Try it, Robben."
"..." Luo Guanzhong rolled his eyes, took the exquisite wooden box, opened it and said, "What a beautiful mirror. Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I accept it with my heart."
"What? You don't want to accept it?" Zhu Zhen asked.
"How could it be? It's just that His Highness doesn't know. Mirrors can only cure blurred vision, but they won't help my subordinate's severe myopia." Luo Guanzhong said with a bitter smile.
"You try it first and then talk about it. I know the difference between myopia and long-sighted glasses without you reminding me." Zhu Zhen said angrily: "If you don't want to try it, just throw it into the sea."
