Chapter 443 Northern Tour - Gold Naming and Rewards for the Return Journey
Yun He remembered that the Bering Strait should be near the Arctic Circle, which is around 66.5 degrees north latitude. This time they arrived at 66 degrees north latitude, which was almost the Bering Strait.
‘So the land they saw when they looked to the east must be the American continent.’ Yunxi thought.
Yunxi is very satisfied with this exploration so far. He has basically discovered the Bering Strait, probably discovered the American continent, learned the inside story of Fuso, and mediated the war between the Ainu and Fuso people. This has already been achieved
It exceeded Yunxi's initial expectations.
But Fang Mingqian will give him an even bigger surprise later.
Fang Mingqian continued: "Your Majesty, I will go south along the island mentioned by the Ainu people. Since I am familiar with the return journey, I will return to the southernmost point of the island after twenty days."
"After I carved a stone record there, I headed north along the west side of the island. Although it was difficult for me to accurately measure the longitude, it can be seen from the direction of the sun that this island should have been explored northward by my uncle the previous time (Chapter 324)
) reached the east side of the place, so I concluded that it should be a continent spanning thousands of miles."
"But just before I was about to set off, I discovered a gold mine there! It was a gold mine that was exposed on the ground!"
"I took tens of thousands of kilograms of gold and filled all the ships in the fleet. Then some of the ships continued northward, and the other ships returned southward."
It was not easy to continue going north at that time. Although all the crew members knew that all the gold could not fall into their hands, they could always keep some, so they were all anxious to go home. Fang Mingqian worked hard and took advantage of himself
Only after receiving the authority did they finally select a few ships to continue heading north, while the remaining ships returned full of gold.
The crew members of the ships that were selected to continue heading north were full of resentment. If Fang Mingqian had not guaranteed with his life and property that their gold would not be missing, and these crew members also secretly hid some gold on the ship, they would never be willing to continue heading north.
of.
"After returning to the port in Shanghu County this time, I counted a total of 30,000 kilograms of gold. I have ordered people to send it to the capital as a New Year's gift to Your Majesty."
Thirty thousand kilograms of gold is equivalent to 480,000 taels of gold. At this time, it is equivalent to more than 3 million taels of silver. The tax for the Ming Dynasty in a year is only about 10 million taels of silver at this time. This amount is equivalent to one year of the Ming Dynasty.
Annual fiscal revenue exceeds 30%.
'No wonder the Spaniards and Portuguese went to the New World like crazy. It's so easy to get money. It's just a trip to get so much money, it's all for nothing!' Yun He thought.
Of course Yunxi was very happy, this was a big surprise. Yunxi couldn't help but smile and said: "This gift from Fang Aiqing is too great, I am very relieved!"
"But tell me the truth, do you keep some gold for yourself?"
Fang Mingqian said: "To be honest with your majesty, I also left a hundred taels of gold in private, and the two thousand households also left almost a hundred taels each. The hundred households and deputy thousand households each left fifty taels, and the rest also
Each of us has left something behind. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Yunxi smiled and said: "Where is the sin that is easy to forgive!"
Yunxi calmed down his mood, and then let Fang Mingqian continue talking about his journey to the north.
Fang Mingqian said: "Your Majesty, I then led the rest of the fleet to continue north and found the place where my uncle had been. Then I headed west along the coast."
"Then the coast gradually moved south. After another twenty days, I came to the mouth of the very wide river that I had visited before."
"I continued my journey south and discovered a large island to the east that was thousands of miles long from north to south. I talked with the natives on the island and learned that this was what the Ainu people call Northern Ainu Island."
"The people there live very comfortably because there are no Fusang people to intrude upon them. Although the various tribes sometimes attack each other, it is still peaceful."
"I continued southward along the coast of the western continent. At about 42 degrees north latitude, the coast turned west."
"Then I continued to march and found a natural harbor with a very advantageous location. After I carved a stone record here, I continued southward."
"Soon after that, I saw a big river, and there were people who seemed to be Jurchens moving along the river. I tried to talk to them, and found that some of them understood Mongolian, and then I learned that we had reached the Tumen River."
"Shortly after heading south, I saw a Korean village. I revealed my identity and wanted to see the local Korean officials. The local officials were very surprised, but they were very enthusiastic and gave me a lot of food, fruits and vegetables."
"I then continued southward and arrived in Busan in November."
"Coincidentally, I met a fleet in Busan that was transporting gold back south. After asking, I found out that after going south from there, they crossed the strait between Minami Ainu Land and Honshu Island and headed south along the east coast of Fuso.
, but they were discovered by local pirates while replenishing supplies, and the pirates attacked them."
"Because they were caught off guard, several small boats were sunk or captured. Then they recovered and fought off the pirates. However, the boats were also damaged."
"They repaired and hid all the way, and then they arrived at Busan Port. They stayed at Busan Port for a long time to repair the ship. This time they hid it tightly and did not let the local North Korean officials know."
Both Yunxi and Fang Mingqian understood that the people who were officials on the seaside at this time were more or less connected with pirates. Officials dare not do anything on the surface, but leaking it to pirates with connections would be enough for them.
A pot of it.
"After that, for the sake of safety, I and the entire fleet went north to Seoul to propagate North Korea."
"I remember your Majesty's instructions and ask the king of Korea to allow the navy of the Ming Dynasty to stay in Busan for a long time to help Korea fight against piracy."
"Because I have already told the local officials in Busan privately before this. The officials in Busan did not object but were in favor of it. I thought the king of North Korea would also agree, but he declined politely."
Yun Xi thought for a while and understood. The family power in North Korea is still very powerful, similar to the Wei and Jin Dynasties in China. But now Zhu Fangyuan in North Korea has been trying to expand the power of the North Korean monarch, which has great conflicts with the local aristocratic families.
As an important trading base for Fuso, Busan has a very important position in North Korea. Zhu Fangyuan has been trying to control this place, but the local big families are certainly unwilling.
At this time, the Ming Dynasty suddenly proposed to park the navy here. The local family must have wanted to use the Ming Dynasty navy as a backing to compete with Zhu Fangyuan, so of course they were willing to have the Ming Dynasty send the navy to station; but in turn, Zhu Fangyuan was of course unwilling, and it was expected that he would decline.
Although Yunxi did not support the Busan family's intention to fight against Zhu Bangyuan's North Korean Central Committee.
Yunxi didn't care much about Busan. At least for four hundred years, the Ming Dynasty did not have to worry about the forces occupying Busan threatening the Ming Dynasty. The focus now is to appease Zhu Fangyuan and slowly assimilate.
Fang Mingqian continued: "Then I rested in Jianghua Bay for a few days and set off back to the Ming Dynasty. The North Korean envoys were sent over, so I took the North Korean envoys back."
Yunxi asked a few more details, and Fang Mingqian answered them one by one. Then when Yunxi didn't speak, Fang Mingqian knelt down and said: "I have carved stone records in many places along the way, besides Binghuo Island. Now,
Your Majesty, please name these places."
Although Yunxi's naming skills are not very good, he loves naming. Hearing this, he said: "In that case, I will choose a name."
"The northernmost point you have reached is so deserted that I named it 'Beijing'."
"That big island, since there is gold on the island, I named it Jinning." Yunxi had already roughly guessed that this so-called island was the Kamchatka Peninsula, but since Fang Mingqian said it was an island, he also said it was an island.
.Anyway, the name Jinning is pretty much the same when used as an island or a peninsula.
"This sea to the west of Jinning, I remember it was called the North Sea in the Tang Dynasty documents, so let's call it the North Sea." (Sea of Okhotsk)
"That big river is called Heilongjiang."
"The northern and southern Ainu lands will be named after them for the time being."
"The natural harbor that Aiqing mentioned is probably the area around Yongming City in the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty. I named it Vladivostok."
"I will name this sea in the east Yongming Sea."
…
Yunxi named all the places that Fang Mingqian explored this time. Although some of the names were vulgar, they were at least easy to pronounce.
After that, Yunxi said to Fang Mingqian: "Fang Mingqian."
"I'm here."
"This time you went north to explore and made great achievements. You also discovered a big gold mine. I want to reward you."
Yunxi said: "Fang Mingqian, the commander of Zhejiang Dusi, led his troops to propagate Ryukyu, Fuso, Ainu people, Korea and other places, mediate the disputes between Ainu people and Fuso people, expand territory for the Ming Dynasty, and declare power
You have made great contributions to the barbarians. I will confer upon you the title of Marquis of Beiwang, with a salary of two thousand and five hundred dan, a hereditary inheritance, and an iron certificate of alchemy."
"I will also make your eldest daughter the head of Beijing County, and posthumously make Aiqing's mother a first-class lady."
Fang Mingqian immediately prostrated himself and said: "I thank your Majesty for your kindness. Long live your Majesty! Long live your Majesty!"
Yunxi's reward is indeed of a very high standard. There are only a few hereditary marquises in the Ming Dynasty now. Fang Mingqian was conferred the title of marquis all of a sudden, which is indeed a very great grace.
But no one can say anything. If you have any opinion, you also found a large gold mine and dedicated 480,000 taels of gold to His Majesty!
Yunxi continued: "The two thousand households are each given a hereditary command and knowledge. The remaining deputy qianhu, baihu and others also have their own rewards."
Fang Mingqian said: "I would like to thank Your Majesty for your kindness on their behalf."
After that, Yunxi asked Fang Mingqian to step aside and returned to the harem himself. However, Yunxi was extremely happy even in the harem, which made the concubine who was sleeping tonight very surprised and very comfortable.
