In the middle of September, the decree to establish a sea ban was agreed upon and announced to the world.
The regulation of sea ban was originally ordered by Emperor Taizu Gao, but it was not an ancestral instruction, but a policy formulated according to the times. At the time, Japanese pirates were rampant, and the sea people and Japanese pirates were mixed. The Japanese pirates colluded with overseas enemies to disturb things along the coast.
Happens from time to time.
The Ming Dynasty had no spare capacity to clear out the Japanese pirates, so it simply banned them from entering the sea. Anyone who disobeyed this order would be punished as a Japanese pirate and a sea bandit. In this way, although the sea troubles have subsided a lot, it is still a serious problem for the people who live by the sea.
It is an extremely harsh policy.
In fact, this maritime ban policy was broken in the hands of Yongle Emperor Zhu Di. Zheng He, the eunuch of the Three Treasures, made seven voyages to the Western Ocean. The Ming Dynasty's ships arrived overseas, leaving many legends and spreading the reputation of the Ming Dynasty.
It is a pity that the Sanbao eunuchs went to the West to show off the national prestige of the Ming Dynasty, but they did not expand the territory, which was a waste of financial and material resources and did not gain any benefits.
Of course, there are rumors that Emperor Yongle did not go to expand the territory, but to find traces of his nephew Emperor Jianwen. Rumor has it that Emperor Yongle usurped the throne of his nephew Emperor Jianwen, and was always thinking about it.
He was worried that others would say that he had gained the throne improperly. In addition, Emperor Jianwen's whereabouts were unknown, so he was worried that he would raise the flag again and compete for the throne again. This would make it easier to find Emperor Jianwen and eliminate hidden dangers.
So I heard the intelligence that Emperor Jianwen took refuge at sea and was hiding in Nanyang or Fan Kingdom, so I sent Sanbao eunuchs to the Western Seas several times in order to find Emperor Jianwen.
Of course, these are all rumors and cannot be verified. All those involved have passed away and the matter has become a mystery. However, in Zhang Yanling's view, Zheng He's voyages to the West are of great significance, but he did not get any benefits from such a powerful maritime power.
It is really a regrettable thing. The Ming Dynasty's navigation technology and maritime power are much stronger than those of the small countries in Europe, but this strength was wasted. Now someone else has actually taken advantage of it.
What is even more unacceptable is that from then on, the territorial expansion brought about by the Age of Discovery and the hundreds of years of colonial era had no connection with the Ming Dynasty. In the end, a small island country dominated the world. Even in later generations, China suffered disasters
For hundreds of years, he has been humiliated and bullied.
In fact, all of this is traceable. The overall decline is from the root up. Missing the colonial actions of the Age of Discovery, seclusion, and insisting on sea bans will definitely have a great impact on future generations.
In fact, some people have long thought that the maritime ban was inappropriate. During the Hongzhi period, some people proposed to lift the ban. However, Zhu Youtang was a stickler for rules and rejected the proposal on the pretext of Taizu's order.
Nowadays, Zhu Houzhao is the emperor. As there are emperors, there are ministers. In fact, although the Zhengde Dynasty was chaotic, the minds and eyes of the emperor and ministers were very lively, and they were not sticklers.
Therefore, when the proposal to lift the sea ban was raised, after several days of discussion, Yang Tinghe and other officials in the outer court expressed their approval. Lifting the sea ban will undoubtedly bring trouble, but it will obviously bring more benefits.
Zhang Yanling's idea of opening two trade routes at sea and land, carrying out a one-sea and one-land plan, and vigorously developing ship trade, thus driving various industries within the Ming Dynasty, was undoubtedly a genius idea.
This point was also expressed with great emotion when Yang Tinghe convened the officials to discuss it privately.
"Maybe only Zhang Yanling can think of this. No matter what the final result of this matter is, no matter what selfishness and purpose this person has. But as far as this matter is concerned, I admire his style of daring to think and do. This person, indeed
He is a capable person."
Yang Yiqing also agreed with Yang Tinghe's evaluation. When these words reached Zhang Yanling's ears, Zhang Yanling laughed it off.
These things he did were not to attract people's attention, nor to get any praise. This was not only a matter of personal making money, but a major event of the overall historical situation. The more Zhang Yanling thought about this matter, the more filled it became with him.
I have a sense of mission and pride in pushing the wheel of history forward and turning things around, and I have devoted even greater enthusiasm to it.
On September 19th, the City Shipping Department was established in Liu Jin's confiscated old house outside Xihua Gate in the inner city. According to the imperial decree, Zhang Yanling, the protector of the country, promoted the position of the City Shipping Department on his behalf. It seemed that some small talents were used well, because the City Shipping Department
The Si Ti Ju Guan is only a fifth-grade official position, but compared with the functions of the previous Municipal Ship Bureau, the newly established Municipal Ship Bureau has greater powers.
First of all, according to Zhang Yanling's request, the Municipal Shipping Department existed independently from the outer court and was not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs. This point alone led to a long debate. Yang Tinghe originally wanted the Municipal Shipping Department to be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs, so that he could
Supervision intervened, but how could Zhang Yanling allow anyone the opportunity to restrict things?
However, the City Shipping Department was ultimately subordinated to the inner court. To put it bluntly, it was directly under the emperor. Eunuchs were sent to ensure supervision. This also blocked the question of unsupervised supervision raised by Yang Tinghe and others.
But it is obvious that the inner court belongs to Zhang Yanling. From Zhang Yong down, there is no one who has not been supported by Zhang Yanling. This kind of supervision is in name only.
Secondly, the Municipal Shipping Bureau has the independent power to formulate tax policies. Of course, it is limited to the taxation of the shipping trade. In other words, Zhang Yanling can set the proportion of tax collection for overseas trade, and can formulate and manage maritime trade, shipping companies, and even financial institutions.
The regulations for merchants coming to the DPRK only need to be submitted to the emperor for approval, and do not need the approval of other people.
The last great power is that the City Ship Division will have a navy. A group of sailors will be selected from the regiment camp to form a navy of 6,500 people. They will be used to maintain the city ship.
To ensure the normal conduct of trade, open up waterways and protect trade routes.
How had the Shibo Division ever had such great power? It was originally a sideline yamen that was not valued, but after being manipulated by Zhang Yanling, it suddenly became more powerful.
Naturally, there was a lot of discussion, but if you don't ask for a tael of silver from the court, you raise all of it yourself. You don't let the court contribute at all to things like building ships and raising troops, so what else can you say?
Not only that, Zhang Yanling handed over nearly 300,000 acres of land deeds to the court, and launched the action of ancestral relatives returning their fields to the people, which also caused shock in the government and the public. Originally, it was impossible for the nobles to take the initiative to retreat from their fields.
, who knows the virtues of these people? But Zhang Yanling did it.
Compared with Liu Jin's previous high-profile tax collection in Qingtun, which was noisy and noisy at the last minute, Zhang Yanling completed the task quietly and while talking and laughing.
The withdrawal of nobles from their fields was like a wake-up call, and everyone in the Ming Dynasty, where the trend of mergers and acquisitions was prevalent, felt great pressure. Once a hole was opened in the shady curtain, the light came in. And
What is torn apart is the thickest part.
Although it may not be possible to form a domino effect, causing everyone to start handing over their land. But at least from now on, no official or royal family member will dare to ask the court for land.
All kinds of things happened one after another, like rolling thunder roaring in the sky of the Ming Dynasty. Everyone was shocked, and at the same time they realized that things seemed to be changing in a direction they had never expected.
People were talking a lot, and the name of the Protector of the Ming Dynasty once again became the most frequently mentioned name on the streets.
Amidst the commotion, Zhang Yanling was busy preparing for the next step.
On September 20th, the Municipal Shipping Department Yamen held the first symposium. Zhang Yanling invited Zeng Jian, the former minister of the Ministry of Industry, and a large number of relevant personnel in the capital to conduct a symposium.
The content of the symposium was about shipbuilding.
Among the various preparations in the early stage, the most important one is shipbuilding. While other measures are being carried out, shipbuilding must be put on the agenda. Moreover, this matter is a top priority. Having large warships means having
Only with a large number of sea trade merchant ships can the entire sea trade plan be implemented. Otherwise, everything is empty talk.
Zeng Jian once served as the Minister of the Ministry of Industry. Although he is now an official, he is an expert on the Ming Dynasty's shipbuilding industry and the pros and cons of various ships. After all, manufacturing and hand-building are matters under the Ministry of Industry. For Zeng Jian, these are
It's all in his head.
Therefore, during the discussion, Zeng Jian talked with great eloquence and learned many things from his family.
"Duke Guoguo, our Ming Dynasty's shipbuilding industry was originally extremely developed. When the Three Treasures eunuchs went to sea, they were accompanied by more than a hundred ships, which was so huge. The ships of the Three Treasures eunuchs were called treasure ships. They were forty-four feet long.
It is four stories tall and towering like a moving castle. It can carry more than 500 people on board. There are more than 200 people rowing and steering the boat alone. The scene can be described as majestic and huge.
Invincible."
Zhang Yanling listened to his words, imagined the appearance of the treasure ship, and was filled with admiration in his heart. If what he said was true, and converted into the length of later generations, it would be about 140 meters long and about 60 meters wide.
Big Mac. Such a ship will be considered a big ship in later generations.
The Ming Dynasty built such a large ship more than a hundred years ago. The shipbuilding technology is amazing and incredible.
"It's really majestic and amazing. But where is the treasure ship?" Zhang Yanling said.
"Yes. It's a pity that after sailing to the Western Ocean, the treasure ship was parked at the Nanjing pier. No one used it anymore. Over time, it rotted and became a pile of worms. My Ming Dynasty shipbuilding skills were abandoned and lost due to the maritime ban.
Nowadays, all shipyards in various places can build are some large wooden ships for water transportation and some ordinary warships. Compared with the treasure ships of the past, these ships are simply incomparable."
"This is a waste of resources. Such a good treasure ship has just decayed like this. Now it can no longer be built?" Zhang Yanling paused and sighed.
"It's hard to say. The treasure ship was built at the Longjiang Shipyard in Nanjing. I haven't been to Nanjing for a long time, and I don't know if ships can still be built there. However, Lord Protector, don't worry. In addition to Nanjing, our Ming Dynasty also has
There are also places in Fujian and Guangdong
In coastal areas with a large number of shipbuilding workshops, shipbuilding craftsmanship is passed down from generation to generation, so it should not be lost. But it is hard to say. After all, the business is sluggish, and all they build are ordinary ships. It is difficult to build sea-going ships. "Zeng
Jian stroked his gray beard and said.
Zhang Yanling calmed down and asked patiently: "Regardless of whether it can be built or not, sir, can you tell me how the ships are different in different places? I think the ships built in different places should have their own characteristics."
Zeng Jian nodded and said with a smile: "That's natural. The protector of the country is an insider's term. The style of shipbuilding in the Ming Dynasty can be divided into three places. One place is the Longjiang Workshop where treasure ships are built in Nanjing. The ships built there are majestic.
Tall, majestic. Suitable
The treasure ship of the Three Treasures Eunuch I mentioned is such a ship. However, the disadvantage is that the ship is huge, requires a lot of manpower, and is difficult to control. It is also too gorgeous and tall, moves slowly, and is easy to run aground in shallow water. It is not flexible."
Zhang Yanling nodded slowly.
But I heard Zeng Jian continue: "Then there is the Fujian ship. The bottom of the Fujian ship is wide at the top, the bow and stern are wide at both ends, and the design is exquisite. There are also drainage holes. The ship is stable and reliable, can withstand wind and waves, and can sail naturally in deep seas.
No worries. But the boats are too small and not majestic enough. The boats in Guangdong are pointed at both ends, like a crescent moon.
Er. Strong and durable, the ship is built using the keel method, so the ship can withstand strong winds and waves without worrying about damage. However, because the ends are pointed and the hull is long and narrow, it is not stable. The stability is poor in wind and waves. In short, ships from all over the world
Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it all depends on what kind of ships are needed to protect the country."
Zhang Yanling was stunned for a moment after hearing this. It turned out that there was so much knowledge here. Zeng Jian only said a few words casually and knew that there were many ways to do it.
What kind of ship does Zhang Yanling want? Naturally, it is a big, stable and sturdy ship. It must carry many people, be flexible, and be able to withstand wind and waves. More importantly, it must be maneuverable. Because these ships will face
In a situation where it is possible to fight against the Centipede Ship of Folangji, we must crush them in terms of performance.
There are also many artillery installed on the ship, which is absolutely impossible for ordinary small boats. When encountering enemy bombardment, it must withstand bombardment. Once it is hit, it must be able to withstand the opponent's shells so that it will not sink casually.
"Can we combine all their strengths to design a big ship? Since they all have advantages and disadvantages, why not use their strengths and avoid their weaknesses to build a big ship that is fast, big, stable and strong?" Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice.