In the following days, Zhang Yanling was immersed in celebratory banquets. He arranged several banquets at home, and there were also many banquets for officials in the DPRK. They were all unavoidable favors. Every day, cups and plates were mingled, and he was drunk and busy.
Zhang Yanling never thought that eating, drinking and having fun would be so tiring.
At the banquet, not only eating and drinking, but also talking and socializing require thinking. You don't know which words were heard by others, and ended up being criticized out of context by others.
Although Zhang Yanling is not afraid, due to his honorable status and greater responsibilities, he cannot just say whatever he wants as before.
It's already June, and the weather is getting hotter day by day. The lotus flowers in Xishan Reservoir have begun to bloom. Zhang Yanling really wants to take time to visit the manor. One way to relieve the recent busy and anxious mood, and the other is to go and see it.
Look at the current situation of the arsenal.
However, Zhang Yanling had to stay in the capital and wait for someone to return. That person was Chen Shiyi.
It had been several months since Chen Shiyi left the capital to go to Shaanxi for business. Not long ago, news came that he had set off and returned. This meant that a big thing had to be done. Zhang Yanling had to wait for him to come back so that he could take care of that big thing.
After noon on the seventh day of June, Zhang Yanling went to Zhu Qingyi's residence in Zhengnanfang to talk to her.
The weather was hot, Zhu Qingyi was wearing thin clothes, and her lower abdomen was already bulging, making it difficult to hide her figure. She had been pregnant for more than five months.
Ever since she learned that Zhu Qingyi had not left and was hiding in the capital just to give birth to a child, Zhang Yanling also figured it out and came to visit often.
Since Zhu Qingyi is determined to give birth, then let her go. Anyway, the news is strictly sealed and no one should know about it. Besides, one day, she will marry Zhu Qingyi. But she doesn’t know which year or month it will be.
Zhang Yanling also took the initiative to confess this matter to Xu Wanyi, Axiu and Xu Youtang not long ago. After learning about this matter, Xu Wanyi ignored Zhang Yanling for three days. Axiu and Xu Youtang were fine, but Xu Youtang smiled and said that there were many people at home
After meeting someone, it became lively again.
Axiu didn't say anything, but she felt sorry for herself in her heart. Her husband and the women outside had given birth to children, but her stomach was flat and there was no movement. She didn't know how many incense she burned in front of Guanyin and how many wishes she made.
I didn’t know how much seed soup and body-conditioning medicine I took. My husband-in-law also loved me very much, sowing seeds when he had time, but no crops grew in his own land. It was really God’s fault.
However, Axiu was still happy that her husband-in-law had a child. She thought of her husband-in-law wholeheartedly. The matter of the child could only be left to God's will, and there was no rush.
Xu Wanyi was angry and ignored Zhang Yanling for several days, and even Tan Ruqing became angry. It was not entirely because Zhang Yanling was flirting with women, but because these two people actually hid this matter from her, and she was kept in the dark.
inside.
Tan Ruqing had to explain several times, talking about the princess being unmarried and pregnant, the royal family's reputation and Zhang Yanling's violation of the rules in this matter. This matter should not be made public, otherwise it would bring great consequences to both Zhang Yanling and Zhu Qingyi.
trouble.
Xu Wanyi actually understood that there was a big connection here, and it was not that she didn't understand the truth. She just couldn't accept it for a while. Zhang Yanling and Tan Ruqing apologized in turn, and they gradually felt relieved.
Now that things have come to this, what else can be done?
After that, Tan Ruqing personally asked her to take her to Zhengnanfang to meet Zhu Qingyi. Needless to say, it was awkward for the two princesses to meet.
But not long after, the two began to chat. They were both well-educated people with honorable backgrounds, and their personalities and temperaments were somewhat similar. Zhu Qingyi lowered her profile again and apologized to Xu Wanyi. It was embarrassing.
It soon melted away.
However, Zhang Yanling became the target of their joint attack. Zhang Yanling, who was still attending the banquet that day, sneezed several times for no reason.
Zhang Yanling was chatting with Zhu Qingyi about his ideas about the development of sea trade routes. He found that Zhu Qingyi seemed to be very knowledgeable and interested in this matter, so he was willing to talk to her more.
"Our Ming Dynasty has a serious fiscal and tax deficit. In addition to the huge cost, it is that land annexation has led to the bankruptcy of farmers and a sharp drop in tax revenue. Fundamentally speaking, the source of tax revenue is a single source. All taxes are paid on land.
, not only is it subject to policy changes and serious land annexation, but it is also subject to weather conditions. Floods, droughts, locusts, etc. are all factors that affect tax revenue."
Zhang Yanling sat next to Zhu Qingyi, stretched out his hand to caress her bulging belly, and said.
Zhu Qingyi smiled and said: "So, you said that opening trade routes is a way to increase the source of tax revenue, right? Once the maritime ban is lifted and the Ming Dynasty does business with the foreign countries, the court can collect taxes. The internal production of the Ming Dynasty develops, and the products produced will not have to be sold.
Spices, ivory, etc. from outside can also be bought at low prices. This spreads around, and people don’t have to be completely stuck on the land."
"Children can be taught. That's the truth. But that's not all. Sea trade is a line, and the road is a line. These are called two Silk Roads, one sea and one land. The land and the Western Regions, the sea and the foreign countries. What drives it is
The comprehensive development of silk, sericulture, ceramics, shipbuilding, smelting, transportation and other aspects. Our Ming Dynasty will soon change. And most importantly, we
The land of Ming Dynasty is limited, but there are many places with fertile land in the world. Our manpower of Ming Dynasty is limited, but there are people in Fan country. Our farming technology is much better than that of Fan country. We buy their land and hire their manpower.
, planting mulberry, cotton, sugar cane, tobacco, and even raising cattle and sheep, etc. How much wealth will this be?"
Zhang Yanling's eyes gleamed as she said these words. I don't know how many times these thoughts have flashed in my mind, and I have never had the opportunity to tell others. Now, I finally have someone who understands and is interested in talking to me. Say it out, but I don't know in my heart.
What a joy.
Zhu Qingyi looked at him in surprise. She didn't expect that this man had such a huge plan brewing in his mind.
"Wait a minute, let me think about it." Zhu Qingyi gasped slightly and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Zhang Yanling asked with a smile.
"The first question. Didn't you say that if the Francois are rampant on the sea, how can trade routes be opened? How can these plans of yours be realized?" Zhu Qingyi said in a deep voice.
"So to defeat them, this is the first step. If you want to achieve what I want, you must defeat the Francois. Not only them, but all those who block the trade route, stand in the way, and rob us of land and human resources.
All Chinese people must be beaten until they are convinced." Zhang Yanling said.
Zhu Qingyi looked at him blankly and said for a long time: "Okay. Second question. You said other countries have large areas of land, but how can they allow us to cultivate it? To plant the crops you mentioned? That is other people's land.
If it were the Ming Dynasty, would this be possible?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "I said, buy their land."
"What if they refuse? Don't come here to sell land in Ming Dynasty. Will the court sell it?" Zhu Qingyi looked at Zhang Yanling blankly and said.
Zhang Yanling laughed.
"Qingyi, it is honorable to buy them. It is also good for them. Our people have been of great benefit to their local area. If they refuse, it means they are not giving face. We give them dignity, and they
If you don't want to show dignity, then you have to help them show respect."
Zhu Qingyi frowned and said: "You mean... to force yourself? This is not good. Isn't this considered an invasion and robbery?"
Zhang Yanling laughed, reached out and pinched Zhu Qingyi's cheek and said: "Princess, you are such a smart person, can't you see the nature of the world clearly? It's like one pot of rice, everyone eats it. If you eat less, others will eat it.
Just eat more. If others have big fists and don't let you eat, you have nothing to eat and can only starve. This world has always been like this. Everything written in the book is a lie. Look around you and think about it.
Everything I have experienced is like this.”
Zhu Qingyi smiled bitterly and said: "Doesn't that make sense? They are also human beings and have dignity."
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "Qingyi, what I say may sound harsh to you. Why did the Folangji invade Tuen Mun Island? Why did they invade many countries in Southeast Asia? You reason with them. Do they reason with you?
?Is your dignity more important, or their dignity? A woman’s kindness.”
Zhu Qingyi said angrily: "I am a woman, and I am still a woman who wants to be a mother. According to you, this world is so scary. Wouldn't my child be in such danger in the future?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Strength is the guarantee of safety and dignity. If your fist is hard and your strength is strong, others will not dare to bully you. What is truth? What is dignity? All of these need one thing to maintain, and that is strength.
.The truth is only within the range of the cannon, and dignity is only above the edge of the sword. This is the reality that we don’t want to admit, but we have to admit it.”
Zhu Qingyi stared at Zhang Yanling for a long time, then suddenly frowned and groaned.
"My child, he moved. He kicked me. This little thing." Zhu Qingyi pointed to her belly and said.
Zhang Yanling hurriedly opened Zhu Qingyi's thin robe and looked at the bulging belly rising and falling, as if a monster was punching and kicking her in the belly, and she laughed unconsciously.
"I think it must be a boy. Did this kid react after hearing what his father said to me? Is he anxious to come out and show off his skills?"
Zhu Qingyi sighed and said: "Master, I don't want my child to be beaten and killed in the future. This is my child, and I want him to study. Be a decent person and not get involved in these messy things."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "It's up to you. I'm just a whim. Of course, I won't bully the weak. The plan to go to sea is just a talk. How much money will it cost to build ships and cannons? More importantly,
Yes, whether the emperor allows it or not, these are all questions. But I believe that Ming Dynasty must make up for this lesson. We cannot close the country in isolation, otherwise we will suffer more and suffer more humiliation in the future."
Zhu Qingyi smiled and said: "My father-in-law is a person who does great things, and Qingyi is not denying you. In short, I will think that what you want to do is right. But when you act, remember to be virtuous and do good, and don't cause too much killing."
.Don’t accumulate some blessings for yourself and for future generations. Don’t you think so?”
Zhang Yanling looked at Zhu Qingyi's pleading eyes and smiled: "That's right. You are so beautiful today. If I weren't worried about the child, I would..."
Zhu Qingyi blushed and spat: "I don't dare. We'll talk about it later."