Hongwu Survival Guide

Chapter 44 Expressing an Attitude
Zhu Yuan brought something into the palace today, mainly a super-large globe with a diameter of two feet and a height of one meter at the base.

This was finally completed yesterday by Zhu Yuan with the help of a group of craftsmen and four women in his family.

The body of the globe is carved from a thick section of paulownia wood, painted pure white, and first used charcoal to draw the outlines of the seven continents and four oceans. In order to recall these, I don’t know how many brain cells were wasted by Zhu Yuan, and various modifications were made, and finally After finalizing, paint other colors little by little according to the map drawing method of later generations. Oceans and lakes are blue, and land is green, yellow or gray according to different situations.

Refer to some maps of this era, which also marked the location of some important cities at present.Finished with a coat of clear varnish, it looked exactly like the globe I remembered.

Except it's big.

Of course, there must be many mistakes and omissions, but it must be enough in this era.

In addition to the globe, there are two maps of the world and a map of Ming Dynasty given to Lao Zhu, which are also very large, made of several large sheets of paper pasted together, with a length and width of more than two meters.

This is also drawn using the cartography method of later generations in the process of making the globe.Due to the current map reference, the map of Daming is relatively fine, while the map of the world tends to be rough.

Seeing the things Zhu Yuan sent, Lao Zhu temporarily left the East Pavilion, and brought his 23rd grandchildren with him to the Dabentang, which is not far behind the Dong Pavilion outside the Zuo Shun Gate. A dedicated set of study rooms.

Ask the attendants to frame the two maps on the spot and hang them on the wall, while Lao Zhu and Zhu Yuan went to another quiet room, looked at the oversized globe that was brought in by someone, fiddled with it carefully, and asked Said: "You did it yourself?"

Zhu Yuan shook his head: "My ancestors, Yuan'er's painting skills are average. If I do it myself, I can't paint so well. But the maids around me can both calligraphy and painting, and their skills are superb. I will provide ideas and guidance, and let them complete it."

Lao Zhu didn't praise, but frowned instead: "How can a woman know such a secret?"

Zhu Yuan smiled and said: "Comparatively speaking, they are the ones I can trust the most. Yuan'er is weak and lacks energy, and many things just happen to be done by them. My ancestors should have read yesterday's "Sketch Techniques", in which the draft It was all drawn by them, I don’t have so much time, and I can’t draw as well as them.”

Lao Zhu thought for a while, and his expression softened.

That's true.

Zhu Yuan saw that Lao Zhu was touching the globe and couldn't put it down, so he had to speak first: "My ancestor, the two maps are for you. This globe... just brought it here for you to see. Yuan'er went to Mingzhou, and I still need to use it." arrive……"

Old Zhu looked over with a strange expression on his face.

What a rarity!
To have all the things delivered to him, to show him just to take a look, and to take them away?

Zhu Yuan was a little hairy under the old Zhu's stare, so he could only change the subject and talk about business: "My ancestor, Yuan'er came here today to tell you that I hope to leave for Mingzhou tomorrow."

Then Lao Zhu withdrew his gaze, landed on the globe in front of him again, and asked, "Why are you so anxious all of a sudden, you were not like this before?"

Zhu Yuan's tone was somewhat solemn: "Ancestor, the relatives of my maid came to Jinling from Shandong yesterday, saying that the situation in Shandong is very bad, and many people starved to death. Yuan'er has some introspection, so she wants to go to Ming If we transport grain to Shandong one day earlier, we may save a lot of people from dying."

Lao Zhu finally stopped turning the globe.

I have experienced many things in these years. When I led the troops to rescue Anfeng and entered the city, because the food in the city was running out, Lao Zhu saw with his own eyes what is called "cannibalism", even the corpses that had been buried in the ground for many days were dug out. ... Therefore, even if the people below will not report truthfully, he can still imagine the situation in Shandong.

Cold winter and military turmoil, what else can there be?
It's just that, for the sake of the great cause, we can't look forward and backward.

Sighing slightly, Lao Zhu quickly regained his firm gaze, nodded and said, "Go ahead, it just so happens that the huge boat you asked for should arrive today, and it just leaves tomorrow."

Zhu Yuan bowed his hands and saluted.

After thinking about it, Lao Zhu exhorted: "Be anxious, and don't act in a hurry. The more I know about the sea affairs, the more I only think of four words, 'the wind and waves are dangerous'. You must be cautious."

Zhu Yuan promised: "Don't worry, my ancestor, Yuan'er will not mess around."

Lao Zhu started to turn the globe in front of him slowly again, and asked, "Aside from the things I made earlier, are there other things that I will order after noon?"

Zhu Yuan cupped his hands and said, "My lord, Yuan'er has to confess something first."

"Ok?"

"Before today's visit, someone came to give Yuan'er a gift, but there were fifty ingots of gold, and I didn't accept it."

At first, Lao Zhu narrowed his eyes slightly, then at the end, he smiled and said, "Is that Fang's family, who have been terrified like monkeys recently, running around?"

Zhu Yuan did not affirm, nor did he speak well for the Fang family, but said: "My ancestor, what Yuan'er wants to say is that in my previous life, I was a fairly good businessman. There is still ten thousand taels of silver. Therefore, Yuan'er has seen everything that should be seen, experienced everything that should be experienced, and will not be greedy for money. Even if he wants to, Yuan'er has a hundred ways to get it properly. '. Yuan'er and her ancestors said this just to express an attitude. Yuan'er will not do things that should not be done, and Yuan'er does not want to be entangled in inexplicable battles. Now that she is here, Yuan'er just wants to do something with peace of mind , so that our Ming Dynasty will never repeat the mistakes of the past."

Lao Zhu paused again, looking over, he was full of relief in his heart, nodded and said: "You work hard, and I will help you block the rest."

After being assured by Lao Zhu, Zhu Yuan turned to mention another matter: "Also, the maid beside Yuan'er has an older brother who came from Shandong yesterday. Do you want to join the army with me to earn some fame?"

Lao Zhu waved his hand: "This is a trivial matter. Since I gave you that simple knife, you can cut it first and then play it. When you see someone who is available, you can promote it first. Well... I will ask you to prepare some blanks for you later. State, play cheap."

Zhu Yuan handed over again.

However, when Lao Zhu said so, he didn't intend to really do this.

You must know that one of the main crimes of Lan Yu was 'unauthorized promotion and promotion'.The key point is not 'elevating generals', which is the authority of a general, but the word 'unauthorized'.

Therefore, even if Zhu Yuan is regarded as his own family, no matter whether he employs someone or punishes him in the future, he will still notify Lao Zhu as soon as possible.

You can never go wrong with being cautious.

Just like why did Xu Da die well?

In addition to the earlier death time, there is another one, that is, Xu Da was cautious enough with Lao Zhu.Therefore, even if Xu Da passed away, all kinds of cases that should have happened happened, and the sons brought up by Xu Da were still highly regarded by Lao Zhu. Further, achieved two dukes and retired with the country.This may be inseparable from Empress Xu, but it must also be closely related to the Xu family's cautious family style.

After continuing to talk about some trivial matters, and helping Lao Zhu explain the globe, Zhu Yuan finally left.

Since we are leaving tomorrow, there are still many things to prepare.

As for the globes...

After all, he couldn't take it away, Lao Zhu said that he would have someone make a copy and return it to Zhu Yuan tomorrow.

Zhu Yuan has been working here for quite a while, and Lao Zhu plans to copy it in one day... Well, that's okay, after all, His Majesty has much more resources than him.

When Zhu Yuan left, Lao Zhu dispatched his attendants to summon people to copy the globe, and at the same time sent people to call Hua Gao into the palace, and at the same time called for Chen Credit, the captain of the Gongwei Division, who is the leader of the Gongwei Division secret agent.

Chen Credit is about 40 years old, with a medium build and ordinary appearance. He belongs to the kind of person who is difficult to be noticed when he puts on casual clothes and joins the crowd.

When he came to Lao Zhu's study in Dabentang, Chen Xu noticed many details just by taking a casual glance.

For example, there were two color maps that had not been seen before, and the content of them shocked him, the well-informed and well-informed spy leader of the Guard Division.However, there is also an ordinary small map, which is also the one that Lao Zhu is comparing with the colored Ming map next to it. For some reason, a very eye-catching big red circle is drawn in the northeast direction of the map.

Obviously, the person in the circle couldn't be anything else.

Thinking of some recent events, Chen Credit couldn't help thinking about it. Could it be that his ancestors planned to send troops to the Northeast by sea first?

The location doesn't really matter in such extremely cold places, so what's the point of beating it?
Lao Zhu still compared the two pictures, and when Chen Credit got up after saluting, he didn't turn his head, but asked, "What's going on with the recent events surrounding Mingzhou?"

Chen Credit collected his thoughts, cupped his hands and said, "My lord, Chang Duan, the Commander of Mingzhou Guards, has a son, Chang Xuan, who only turned [-] last year. He is a successful scholar. Chang Duan gave him a gift a few years ago. When I went to Zuo Xiang's mansion, I wanted to find a civil servant for Chang Yu, but Zuo Xiang kept procrastinating, and recently let go, but Chang Duan wrote back saying that his son was in poor health and needed training, so he declined politely, but still gave Zuo Xiang another A gift was given."

The commander of the Mingzhou Guard was vacant before, and from the point of view of the commander of the third rank, he was often the highest-ranking officer there, temporarily handling the affairs of the Mingzhou Guard.

Old Zhu smiled when he heard this, and commented: "He is a smart man."

Chen Credit then took out a letter from his pocket: "The Prime Minister Zuo wrote a letter to Tao Qian, the prefect of Mingzhou five days ago, and the younger one sent someone to intercept and transcribe a copy. There was no mention of recent events, just some greetings. .But whether the person who sent the letter also brought a message, I have no way of knowing."

Handing the letter to Lao Zhu, Chen Credit continued: "Lord Hua Gaohua was invited by Prime Minister Zuo last night, and he got drunk after a few drinks. Prime Minister Zuo had to send someone to send him back in advance. Besides, Master Hua A doorman, a salt merchant surnamed Fu, helped Zhu Hanlin bring back servants and relatives from Shandong, and left for Mingzhou this morning."

Seeing that Lao Zhu didn't respond, Chen Credit continued: "Tang and General Tang also sent their relatives back to Jinling recently, paid homage to Prime Minister Zuo, and gave gifts. The state transports grain."

Hearing this, Lao Zhu, who threw the copy of the letter aside and turned to the map on the wall, finally sneered.

Another ramming.

Tang He wanted this job right now, but he wouldn't give it to him.

Chen Credit reported some more things, finally paused, and said: "This morning, Fang Li went to Houhu to give Zhu Hanlin a gift, but Zhu Hanlin confiscated it. When Fang Li left, the younger subordinates found that there were still people staring at him. Fang Li, split up the manpower and went there, but didn't catch up, I don't know which one it is."

"Trash," Old Zhu scolded, and after thinking about it, he said, "In the future, if someone peeps at Houhu, it's still the way I used to do, just chop it up and throw it away..." Think about not throwing your precious 23rd grandson in the lake at home, and Changed his words: "...throw it into the river."

It's so cute.

Chen Credit read a sentence from the bottom of his heart, and hurriedly bowed his hands to accept the order.

Lao Zhu thought about it again, and said to Chen Credit: "You still have a shortage of manpower here, and I will give you another [-] places, and pick more suitable people."

When Chen Credit was ordered to leave again, Lao Zhu looked at the map for a while, and then returned to the East Pavilion to start working.

Hua Gao then arrived.

Lao Zhu was reviewing a memorial, and after Hua Gao saluted, he temporarily put down his work and looked at the veteran who had been with him for a long time: "Yuaner just came here and said that he wanted to leave tomorrow, and you are also ready to go together tomorrow." Bar."

Hua Gao came to see Lao Zhu yesterday, and he had already heard a certain title, so he was no longer so surprised at the moment, but just clasped his fists and said: "Follow the Lord's order."

Old Zhu still looked at Hua Gao: "I called you here because I have something to tell you. Yuan'er is going to Mingzhou this time. I don't want to, but he wants to experience it, so let's try. It's just... I made it clear to you that you should treat Yuan'er as my own son. Whether the grain transportation will be successful or the navy will be successful are all secondary. Yuan'er's talent is not here. When you arrive in Mingzhou, you put him there and don't allow him Going to sea, he is not allowed to lead the army, so he will live in peace and order, and let the people below do everything, do you understand?"

As for shipping, the more I know about it recently, the less Lao Zhu dares to have too much hope, so this is also the truth.

dear son? !

dear son... dear son... dear son...

Hua Gao's heart was quite different. He felt that he was shocked enough yesterday, but today's shock...is even bigger than boundless.

Speaking of...

I, Lao Hua, wouldn't know something that I shouldn't know, would I?
After Lao Zhu finished speaking, seeing Hua Gao was in a daze, he snorted.

Hua Gao woke up startled, knelt down, and said loudly: "My lord, I remember, I will keep my beauty even if I die...Zhu...My lord is thoughtful."

Only then did Lao Zhu hum, and said again: "If the transportation of grain by sea fails, after a few months, it will be transferred to Zhenjiang and continue to be transported by the canal. Only the navy, I take it seriously, and you will do it in the next three years." Make a show. Tell me, do you have any ideas?"

Hua Gao didn't hesitate, obviously thought about it, and said in a stern and cold voice that he had never shown in front of Zhu Yuan: "When I come to Mingzhou, I will first wipe out the remnants of Zhang Shicheng in the sea, and treat it as military training."

Hua Gao didn't say much, but just this one sentence made Lao Zhu very satisfied.

It's good to have an idea.

After explaining a few more words carefully, Lao Zhu sent Hua Gao away.

(End of this chapter)