At first, Fang Jun prevented the fleet from going overseas to explore the depths of the ocean. Fang Xuanling scorned this and was quite dissatisfied.
Isn’t this just nonsense?
Especially the "cosmology" that Fang Jun pops up from time to time, and the idea that the earth is like a ball and the celestial bodies rotate, is simply heresy. If it weren't for his son, he would have to be beaten hard with a stick.
Since ancient times, people have believed that the sky is round and the earth is round. "The sky is round like a cover, and the ground is like a chess game." The dome-shaped sky covers the square, straight earth. It is also said that the sky is not connected to the earth, but is like a handful.
It hangs high above the earth like a big umbrella, supported by eight pillars around the earth. The shape of the sky and the earth is like a pavilion with a dome-shaped top.
Thus, the myth of Gonggong's anger touching Mount Buzhou and Nuwa's making stones to mend the sky were created...
Later, the "Huntian Theory" appeared, "The Huntian is like a chicken's egg. The celestial body is round like a bullet, and the earth is like a chicken's egg. It lives alone in the sky. The sky is big and the earth is small. There is water in the sky, and the sky encloses the earth.
"It's like a shell wrapped in yellow", and even created an armillary sphere based on the "Huntian theory" to demonstrate the changes in the movement of celestial bodies.
But any theory is not as outrageous as Fang Jun's "The universe is vast, and the ball we live in is as small as a drop in the ocean"!
Especially the statement that the earth under his feet is a round ball made Fang Xuanling so angry that he wanted to pry open his son's head to see if there was water in it. No matter how ridiculous a person is, it is impossible for him to have such an idea!
If the earth were a ball, wouldn't everyone on the back of the ball fall to the sky?
It’s simply unreasonable…
However, his son, who had a very good idea, refused to accept this idea and clamored that one day he would send a fleet to sail in one direction toward the depths of the sea, and then one day, he would sail back in the opposite direction.
Fang Xuanling fell silent.
He is not an unenlightened person. On the contrary, he is more able to accept new things and new theories than most people nowadays. Even if he cannot accept the statement that "the earth is like a ball", seeing his son become glass, gunpowder, etc.
Regarding the development and invention of novel things, he felt that perhaps his son's realm was no longer something he, a father, could comprehend and measure.
So even though I don’t understand it, I definitely support it.
As a result, fleets sailed across the ocean to the New World and brought back several novel crops.
Fang Xuanling looked at the corn branches and leaves in front of him, stroking his beard and sighed: "The bad boy once said that people cannot rest on their laurels, let alone stick to the rules. We must have the courage to explore the living world. There will always be novel discoveries that will benefit people a lot.
Qian. This time the fleet crossed the ocean and brought back new crops from the New World after going through many twists and turns. The navy was very excited and had begun to prepare for the next ocean voyage. It is said that the scale of the fleet is larger and the performance of the ships is more advanced. It is enough
Carrying thousands of people on a voyage that lasts several years, they will move in one direction to explore the end of the vast ocean to see whether there is the crumbling Buzhou Mountain or the eggshell wrapped in egg yolk!
"
His Majesty Li Er was not only fascinated: "Exploring the end of the ocean..."
Although he is the nominal commander-in-chief of the Royal Navy, in fact he is basically laissez-faire towards the navy. As Fang Jun does it, the results are getting better and better anyway, and more and more wealth has been plundered overseas, and internal money has been plundered.
His warehouse is now filled with gold and silver treasures, giving him enough financial resources to do whatever he wants.
But he didn't know that the navy was already planning to prepare for a new ocean voyage, but he was optimistic about it.
The expansion of sea routes made everyone in the Tang Dynasty feel the huge amount of overseas wealth. Porcelain and silk shipped casually were exchanged for dazzling gold and various treasures ship after ship.
The empire's finances expanded rapidly!
It expanded to the point where the imperial center had to curb the proliferation of sea trade while at the same time doing its best to support and encourage the smooth flow of the Silk Road to balance the wealth of the world. This would prevent the wealth of Jiangnan from far exceeding that of Guanzhong. Otherwise, if it was allowed to develop
, in a few years, the core position of the Guanzhong region will be severely tested, and the Tang Dynasty will have to consider moving the capital...
The wealth contained in the ocean truly shocked all the subjects of the Tang Dynasty.
Since ancient times, human beings have been in awe of the vast ocean. Now, under the leadership of His Majesty Li Er, the ocean has not only brought rich wealth to the empire, but also made the people well-clothed and well-fed, and the country's soldiers well-fed, making it even more possible to lasso.
The end of the ocean, what an achievement is this?
From ancient times to the present, no emperor has been able to achieve this step. Even Emperor Sui Yang, who was very ambitious and ambitious, probably never even thought about it.
Holding the jade belt around his waist, His Majesty Li Er was somewhat high-spirited: "Goguryeo, which lives in a corner and has never been conquered by the Central Plains dynasty, will disappear after my personal expedition. The Mobei Hu tribe has always been the great enemy of the Central Plains, but now they are being conquered.
My Tang Dynasty was swept away and destroyed, and it is still hanging on. If one day our navy soldiers can bring back the news of the end of the sky, my life will be considered complete and I will have no regrets!"
If these goals can be achieved in the end, Li Er will be able to surpass Emperor Qin and Han Wu and achieve the grand hegemony of one emperor through the ages!
Of course, it would be even more perfect if he could prolong his life, or even become an immortal and live forever... It seems that after he returns, he will have to order his monk to refine the elixir, otherwise his life span will be exhausted and he will not be able to persist until the day when his hegemony is completed.
How much of a regret is that?
…
While he was talking, a group of soldiers, wearing helmets and armor, passed by the field path, their steps were neat and their armor was clanging, and a strong military aura of fierceness came to their faces.
His Majesty Li Er frowned slightly and asked, "What's going on?"
Soldiers of the Tang Dynasty, whether they were government soldiers or recruited soldiers, could only wear armor and weapons when they were on duty. If they were fully armed and went out of the camp privately while on duty, they would be severely punished.
This is Lishan Farm, why are soldiers walking through the fields?
It is a serious crime to take armor out of the camp without permission!
Fang Xuanling hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty clearly knows that it is not the soldiers who brought their armor out of the camp privately, but the bad guys ordered the soldiers of the Youtun Guards under his command to be divided into several teams, and they must patrol near the farm every day, day and night.
Inspect and make sure that the new crops grown here will not be stolen or trampled on, not only to guard against wild beasts in the mountains, but also to guard against refugees coming here and destroying the crops."
His Majesty Li Er exclaimed, outside Chang'an City, at the feet of the emperor, how dare you privately dispatch soldiers and conduct armed patrols?
He was about to get angry, but then he remembered that Fang Jun had reported this to him, but he only said that he would send a few soldiers to look after the new crops. Did he ever say that half of the mountain would be inspected day and night?
Where are the soldiers here?
There is a huge Lishan Mountain in Nuo. In addition to the imperial guards on the other side of the mountain, if you want to control it to prevent thieves from sneaking in, you also have to guard against wild beasts in the mountain. Without two or three thousand people, it is impossible to even think about it!
Anyone who arbitrarily deploys more than ten troops under the emperor's feet constitutes a serious crime of treason. Did Fang Jun take the courage of a leopard?
Of course, His Majesty Li Er absolutely believes in the loyalty of the Fang family and his son.
Needless to say, Fang Xuanling served with him for half his life. He was as gentle as jade and worked hard without complaining. He was a rare moral gentleman and could never have the slightest intention of rebelliousness. The same was true for Fang Jun. This man usually acted erratically.
He is domineering, but his nature is pure and loyal. Moreover, the prince relies heavily on him. Even if he does nothing, he only needs to endure it steadily. When the prince ascends the throne, he will still be in the position of prime minister and assistant. Why bother to join another family and seek revenge?
Usurping the throne?
Therefore, there is absolutely no doubt about the loyalty of the Fang family and his son. This is one of the reasons why His Majesty Li Er indulged Fang Jun again and again.
But sending so many soldiers to patrol the mountain...
His Majesty Li Er immediately thought of another possibility. Since Fang Jun dared to pull out almost half of the right guards behind his back to guard the crops on Lishan Mountain, wouldn't it mean that the value of these crops in Fang Jun's eyes was worth making this mistake and risking it?
This risk?
His Majesty Li Er once again fixed his burning eyes on the corn, and even the sweet potatoes, peanuts, and peppers beside the river beach not far away were all caught by him.
Fang Jun once said that these plants from the New World will have very high yields. As long as they are promoted properly, they may be able to alleviate the food consumption of most people in the Tang Dynasty. However, he left it alone and felt that the yields may be good, but they will definitely not be enough to afford housing.
What Jun said is so exaggerated.
After the rice seeds introduced from Annan were cultivated by Fang Jun and officials from Sinong Temple, they have been planted in large areas throughout Guanzhong and are growing well. Officials from Sinong Temple estimate that the yield will be three or even five times that of corn!
The introduction of Annan rice was the result of Fang Jun's efforts. For this alone, His Majesty Li Er did not know how to reward his achievements.
If these corns, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peanuts, peppers...are all as good as Annam rice, wouldn't I have to make Fang Jun a "king with a different surname", and then build a temple and shrine for him, with his name written on the yellow frame?