In addition to potatoes and corn, the fleet led by Ye Zhang also brought back a large number of North American specialties.
Specialties include medicinal materials, spices, handicrafts, etc., but the most eye-catching one is gold.
In modern times, there was a world-famous gold mining belt in the United States, which extended from Alaska in the United States to the Yukon Territory in Canada, and then from Oregon to Sacramento in California.
This mining belt, located on the west coast of North America, stretches intermittently for thousands of kilometers and contains more than 700 large and small gold mines and open-pit mines.
At the end of the 18th century, the gold rush of the United States' westward expansion was the result of the successive discoveries of gold reserves in this mineral belt.
According to Ye Zhang's account, there are rivers and shoals near the west coast, and gold can be found with a little screening of the sediment washed down from the mountains.
If you are lucky enough, you can even pick up a gold nugget the size of your fist in the open air.
The local Indian camp stores a large amount of gold sand and gold nuggets, which are used for sacrifices and decorations.
The Tang Dynasty fleet once tried to trade with the Indians and found that a low-grade celadon teapot, which was common in China, could be exchanged for ten pounds of gold sand.
A well-preserved chainmail armor can even be exchanged for a huge and valuable natural gold nugget from the tribal chief.
Hearing Ye Zhang's narration, the court ministers were amazed.
A celadon pot only costs thirty dollars in the market, but ten pounds of gold sand can be exchanged for a three-in-one courtyard in Chang'an City.
Such huge profits are simply unheard of.
Ye Zhang continued: "In addition to celadon and armor, the tribe is very interested in tea, silk, ironware, crossbows and paper from the Tang Dynasty. However, most of the goods we brought with us were abandoned, and the ship's warehouse is limited.
, I really can’t exchange for many things, so I can only give up on it.”
Facing the ministers who were talking a lot, Zhou Jun raised his hand to signal for silence.
He looked at Ye Zhang and asked: "You sailed east this time and found a new continent. You are indeed a hero of the Tang Dynasty. I ask you, what reward do you want?"
When Ye Zhang heard this, he first looked at each other and his companions, and then bravely said: "Your Majesty, we are all guests of the trading house... The owner who went to sea with the ship, and countless compatriots, all died on the way.
, we want to clear its name.”
Zhou Jun nodded: "You have made great contributions, but you still do not forget those companions who sacrificed their lives. It is really kind and righteous. For all the Tang people who died in this voyage, I will order a monument to be erected at the exit to the sea to commemorate their spirits in heaven.
As for the owners of these trading houses, I will also posthumously confer the title of Lord to rectify their names."
After saying this, Zhou Jun thought for a while and then said: "As for you...Kang Kejing."
Kang Kejing, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, heard Zhou Jun calling him, and quickly stepped out of the queue and said: "I am here."
Zhou Jun: "The Municipal Department is in charge of maritime trade. The discovery of the New World, the interconnection of trade, and the establishment of routes have urgently required professional talents. This year, I plan to separate a separate department from the Municipal Department, called the Maritime Department.
,As for the helpers..."
Zhou Jun turned to look at Ye Zhang and a group of sailors in the hall, and said, "It's right here."
Kang Kejing cupped his hands and said, "I will obey the imperial edict."
Ye Zhang and the other sailors opened their eyes wide when they heard this. They couldn't believe the sudden happiness for a while.
Originally, they thought that the emperor would be so happy that he would most likely bestow rewards, and at most he would give high-achieving officials the title of unofficial official with no real power.
What Ye Zhang and the others did not expect was that the emperor actually wanted them to serve as officials in the court.
Ye Zhang and the others smiled happily, knelt on the ground, and kept thanking him.
After the dynasty ended, Zhou Jun came to the imperial study room, looked at the potatoes and corn on the table, and remained silent for a long time.
Right Prime Minister Kong You came to the door, was first informed by Fan Jinian, and then walked into the room.
Seeing Zhou Jun staring at potatoes and corn, Kong You bowed and said: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, the Tang Dynasty has received these two godsends, and the people no longer have to worry about starvation."
Zhou Jun: "These two crops still need constant breeding and selection to increase their output... After returning from the ocean this time, the people of the Tang Dynasty probably paid more attention to another thing than potatoes and corn."
Kong You: "Your Majesty, are you referring to gold?"
Zhou Jun nodded and said: "The people pay more attention to their immediate interests. As long as they go to America, they can bring back a large amount of gold. This alone is enough to make them excited and desperately try to go to sea."
Kong You: "Your Majesty wants to enable people to explore the sea, and the purpose is probably not just to make the people rich, right?"
Zhou Jun smiled slightly: "Tell me the reason."
Kong You: "Your Majesty once talked with You Ye. Although the later dynasties were powerful, they closed themselves off and were unaware of the development of the outside world. In the end, they were beaten because of their backwardness. Your Majesty used the excuse of going to sea to open up the country's eyes and ears and understand the world's situation. With this,
In this way, you can always be one step ahead.”
Zhou Jun nodded and said: "Yes, this is one of them, are there any more?"
Kong You: "Secondly, the people's enthusiasm for going to sea is high, which can accelerate the development of domestic industries, such as shipbuilding, navigation, carpentry, etc., which can all prosper because of this, and technology will also be updated due to demand. More importantly,
, Domestic industries such as celadon, tea, and silk also have a huge trade target, stimulating the need for industry expansion."
Zhou Jun: "This is the second one, what else is there?"
Kong You was stunned: "What else?"
Zhou Jun: "Similar to the statement that the North American continent is full of gold, I believe it will not be long before it spreads throughout the market. After getting this news, besides those maritime merchants who are interested in hearing the news, who else would want to get a piece of the pie?
"
Kong You suddenly understood: "What your Majesty is saying is that those prominent families in the Tang Dynasty will also want to organize fleets to sail away after learning that there is gold in the New World?"
Zhou Jun: "Back then, I called on the people to let people with lofty ideals go east to search for the mainland. Those businessmen who were born in the grassroots were keen on fame and fortune, so they dared to risk their lives; and those wealthy and prominent families who were rooted in the local area had thousands of connections with the officialdom.
We have no connections with each other, so we are unwilling to take the risk of leaving our hometown. Now, those nobles suddenly discover that there is a golden continent in the east, what will they do?"
Kong You: "The nobles will use their official power and connections to suppress businessmen and monopolize this route."
Zhou Jun: "That's right. I think back then, after the Daqi trade route became profitable, the Yang family where Yang Guozhong was located joined forces with the forces in the DPRK and sent Wang Cao to Dunhuang to force me away and embezzle the profits from the trade route. Now, North America
The same situation will still occur on the trade routes, but it’s not clear who will become the king of the year, and who will become the Yang family of the year?"
When Kong You heard this, he was silent for a moment and asked: "Your Majesty wants to use the North American trade route to lure out the unscrupulous officials from the DPRK and China?"
Zhou Jun: "Bringing in these people is only the first step. How to utilize these people is the next key."
Hearing this, Kong You thought of the recent situation in the DPRK and China, and vaguely understood the emperor's intention.