The specific details of the treaty need to be advanced slowly, and the establishment of trade ports and trade cities still need to be implemented in detail. But Zhang Yanling does not want to participate in these matters. The general direction has been set, and other things are left to the people below.
That’s it.
Zhang Yanling had a long talk with Wang Hong, and once again comprehensively explained to him the relationship between promoting overseas trade and developing the Ming Dynasty, and solving the land annexation, people's hardship, and financial and tax tensions that the Ming Dynasty is currently facing, and the difficulty in increasing national strength.
Zhang Yanling wanted Wang Hong to thoroughly understand the significance of overseas expansion to Ming Dynasty now and in the future. He needed to abandon some moral discomfort and self-restraint on means, and resolve some inner doubts.
In short, Zhang Yanling wanted Wang Hong to fully understand the significance of the whole matter from a structural and strategic perspective.
Zhang Yanling did this because he needed someone to guard the South Asian continent, and the South Asian continent needed a governor. Wang Hong was undoubtedly the more suitable candidate at hand.
As a candidate for governor, he not only has to deal with military challenges, but also needs to understand the significance of his persistence here and has vision and structure. Wang Hong naturally has the military ability, so Zhang Yanling will explain it to him again
All the connections among them answer some of Wang Hong's doubts.
This long conversation was a real one. Starting in the afternoon, Zhang Yanling made an appointment with Wang Hong to take a sailboat out of Goa Port and go fishing on the nearby sea. Wang Hong was not a person who could calm down and fish.
But Zhang Yanling insisted that he fish with him.
The two of them talked while fishing, from the afternoon when the blue sea and sky were bright and the sun was shining, to midnight when the sky was filled with stars and the stars hung upside down.
During this period, Wang Hong, who had never caught a fish before, lost more than a dozen fish. Zhang Yanling even caught a basketful of fish.
Zhang Yanling started grilling fish in the second half of the night, and started drinking with Wang Hong. While drinking and grilling fish, they talked. When the dawn appeared in the east, both of them were drunk on the boat. Huo Shijian, who was going to sea with him, then ordered someone to sail the boat.
Drive back to the port.
For Wang Hong, this was a completely reborn conversation. Although before this, he had heard the Duke of Guo talk about the purpose of opening waterways, occupying overseas ports, and expanding overseas many times. However, he had never systematically
He listened to the Duke of Guo's detailed explanation of all this, so in fact, like many other generals, he still had many doubts in his mind.
However, obeying orders is a bounden duty, so these doubts will naturally not trouble him or interfere with his behavior. But confusion is still confusion after all, and he always hopes to understand it all.
This time, the Duke thoroughly explained everything to him. From the current practical difficulties of the Ming Dynasty to the external worries caused by the rise of overseas Buddhists. From the power restrictions in the court to the annexation of private land to the common people.
The inescapable difficulties caused by the situation, as well as the dangerous situation he would face in the future if he did not break the situation, were fully explained to himself.
The Duke patiently explained the whole process of developing trade to promote Ming's internal industries and solve the poverty caused by insufficient land. Overseas expansion and overseas trade will solve the market problems of handicrafts and the import of low-priced raw materials.
It will greatly alleviate the land conflicts within the Ming Dynasty and promote the overall society of the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, regarding moral confusion, Zhang Yanling also said something that impressed Wang Hong deeply.
"I know that plundering other people's resources and enslaving others will make us feel morally uncomfortable and make us feel guilty. People in overseas countries are also human beings, with flesh and blood and emotions. From a certain perspective,
We are invaders and plunderers,
This is very immoral. I also know that this will leave a stigma and be nailed to the pillar of shame by some people. However, all this is happening, even if I don’t do it, the Francons, the Dutch, and the British
, and all capable countries are doing this."
"This is an era of oceans. With the support of strong ships and cannons, every country with such capabilities is doing this. We, the Ming Dynasty, don't have to be so bold. We can rely on internal friction and tenacity to support ourselves and stick to the bottom line of morality.
Come and seek comfort in your heart. But one day, all the strong ships and cannons will arrive at the coast of Ming Dynasty, and they will surround us like maggots seeing flesh and blood. By then, how will we get along?"
"I know that China is proud of being a country of etiquette and benevolence. Since ancient times, this has been a place that we are proud of and call itself civilized. This is certainly our advantage, because civilization is always better than barbarism. But this is also what we are.
The greatest weakness, moral mysophobia has caused great distress and destruction to civilization.
It is a fact that one cannot resist barbarism. How prosperous the Zhao and Song Dynasties were, what happened in the end? The shame of Jingkang, the emperor was imprisoned and humiliated, the emperors, princesses and concubines were reduced to playthings, hundreds of millions of wealth were looted, countless people were massacred and plundered, countless people
His wife and daughter were raped and humiliated. Civilization is vulnerable to barbarism. Morality is impossible.
To protect yourself, the barbarians will not reason with you. What do you rely on to be reasonable? Rely on powerful force, rely on elite cavalry soldiers with sharp swords, rely on blunderbuss and cannons, rely on armored warships, rely on our soldiers to defend to the death and abandon the so-called morality.
A strong heart that restrains. Dignity is only at the edge of the sword, and truth is only at the range of the cannon.
Within. Without these, the so-called civilization and the so-called morality are ridiculous. When the savage beasts attack, all the exquisite pavilions and moral towers will collapse. Then, the wives, children and parents will be ravaged, plundered and slaughtered, and in the water and fire
Struggling and crying in the overwhelming sky. Is that what we want to see?"
"If you fall behind, you will be beaten. There is no need to blame others. Relying on the mercy of others will not last long. This world is inherently a cruel world, and no one has the obligation or responsibility to consider their life and death. We can give some charity when we have the ability, but
That's just charity and mercy. If they want to change their destiny, they have to become stronger and drive us away. That will make me respect them. If they rely on the mercy and charity of others, then they should be eliminated and enslaved. Just like
Rabbit and deer deer in the forest
Deer, without the ability to protect themselves, are food for ferocious beasts. This is a natural choice. Look at the heaven and earth, the sea, the stars, the vastness and majesty of everything, and the rolling river of time. All the individuals you see at this moment
The pain and fate are like sand and dust
As insignificant. People will remember and praise the great achievements, brilliant and grand achievements in history, but they will not remember the tragic fate of small individuals. This is a cruel fact. Think about it from this perspective,
Maybe you can feel more at ease."
After this long conversation, Wang Hong's whole person changed tremendously. He was not an ignorant person, and he understood many truths. But after this long conversation, Wang Hong still had an enlightenment.
It feels like my horizons and wisdom have been broadened again, once again
He has reached a higher level. The truth is cruel. In fact, he has always understood some things. But he never dared to truly face it and tell the truth calmly. The Duke of Guo dared to speak out and faced it all. Bloody
Although the fact is uncomfortable, it is the fact after all.
Wang Hong accepted Zhang Yanling's request that he serve as the governor of South Asia and assume the responsibility of managing and protecting the port trade here. He knew that this position had great responsibilities, and he also understood that this was the greatest trust placed in him by the Duke of the country.
For Zhang Yanling, Wang Hong was appointed to this position not only because of his ability to lead the army in combat, but also because Wang Hong was loyal and respectful to him, and he felt at ease with him. In such an important position, Zhang Yanling
I would never give it to someone I don't understand.
Wang Hong's problem is that he needs to get rid of some doubts and moral pressure, and then he is fully qualified for this position.
Facts have proved that Zhang Yanling's decision was correct.
Five years later, when King Nehru of Kala launched a military operation to attack Goa Port and kill merchants and expatriates of the Ming Dynasty, Wang Hong led his army into Victory City and bloodbathed the capital of Kala. Nehru and Nehru were killed
When his children, grandchildren and dozens of courtiers who participated in planning this incident were hanged in public, he did not even frown.
After that incident, there was no hostile activity against the Ming Dynasty in the Jialuo Kingdom for decades. This effectively guaranteed the security of transit ports in South Asia.
Eleven years later, facing the attack of the combined fleets gathered by the Western countries, Wang Hong fought bloody battles, finally defeated his opponents, and led the fleet to the port of Lisbon, forcing the Western countries to sign the Treaty of Lisbon, and the Ming Dynasty's trade port was
It was first established in Europe and gained trade rights with European countries.
Wang Hong passed away in the eighth year of Jinxiu, and Zhang Yanling personally went to Goa Port to attend to his funeral. After his death, he was granted the title Ping Haigong, and his kindness will be remembered for generations.