My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 86 Zheng He is Back

Zhu Zhanhe was so excited that he almost stayed up all night. At dawn the next day, he woke up Sun Ruowei and others, and asked them to help him wash and dress, and prepare breakfast.

"Why is the son so excited today, is there any happy event?"

Sun Ruowei asked curiously while helping Zhu Zhanhe comb his hair.

"Why, are you inquiring about military affairs for my mother again?"

Zhu Zhanhe cast a glance at the girl and asked deliberately.

"I'm just asking out of curiosity. If the princess wants to know about the prince, there's no need to ask me. Who is the person around you, the prince, who was not arranged by the princess?"

Sun Ruowei said very aggrieved.

Although Princess Han did let her keep an eye on Zhu Zhanhe, except for the printing workshop last time, she really never told Princess Han the secret.

"Okay, I wronged you. In fact, it's okay to tell you. Zheng He's fleet has returned, and Grandpa Huang asked me to meet it. I have been waiting for this day for a long time!"

Zhu Zhanhe also wanted to find someone to share his joy, so he said excitedly.

"But the fleet sailing to the West?"

Sun Ruowei also showed curiosity when he heard the words.

This is Zheng He's fourth voyage to the Western Seas. Every time Zheng He returned, he brought a large number of foreign envoys, as well as various rare treasures from overseas, and rumors of Western treasure ships are widely circulated among the people. Legend has it that even women like Sun Ruowei who grew up in the palace have heard of it.

"That's right. I heard that Zheng He went to Africa this time. The people there are as black as ink, and the scenery is very different from the Central Plains. He must have brought back many interesting things!"

Zhu Zhanhe introduced excitedly again.

During the previous three voyages, Zheng He only reached the Arabian Peninsula as far as he could. It was not until this voyage that Zheng He actually reached Africa.

"Skin black as ink, isn't that the Kunlun slave recorded in ancient books?"

Sun Ruowei usually likes to read, even Kunlun slaves know it.

"Almost, the Kunlun slaves in the Tang Dynasty may have been sold from Africa, or they may have been captured from Southeast Asia. People on both sides are quite dark."

Zhu Zhanhe thought of the scene of Wanbang coming to congratulate him in the Tang Dynasty, and he couldn't help yearning for it.

It's a pity that although Daming organized a fleet to sail to the west, it was still too closed to the outside world, wasting the efforts of Zheng He and the entire fleet.

"Your Majesty seems to know a lot about overseas?"

Sun Ruowei asked curiously at this time.

"Of course, among other things, there is no one in Ming Dynasty who knows more about overseas than me!"

Zhu Zhanhe boasted, of course this is also true, even Zheng He probably doesn't know the world better than him.

"Yes, yes, the son is the most powerful!"

Although Sun Ruowei said so, the expression on his face was obviously disbelief.

"If you don't believe it, just take Africa where Zheng He and the others went. The climate is hot there, and all kinds of rare and exotic animals can be seen everywhere, such as the lion king of the grassland, a black and white zebra, and those who dare to compete with lions for food. Hyenas, giraffes with necks taller than trees..."

Zhu Zhanhe had seen the animal world more than a dozen times when he was a child, so he was familiar with all kinds of animals in Africa.

The more Sun Ruowei listened, the more surprised she was. Zhu Zhanhe spoke in such detail, it was not like bragging. Through Zhu Zhanhe's description, she became more curious about various animals overseas, and she couldn't help showing yearning on her face.

"Looking at you, do you also want to go and see the excitement?"

Seeing the expression on Sun Ruowei's face, Zhu Zhanhe couldn't help asking with a smile.

"think……"

Sun Ruowei wanted to nod at first, but when he thought about his identity, he finally shook his head and said, "I don't want to!"

"Let's go, today I will take you out to open your eyes!"

Zhu Zhanhe had a whim, and immediately ordered.

Since Sun Ruowei was brought to the palace by him, he has never left the gate of the palace. If things go on like this, I'm afraid people will be bored and stupid.

"Really? Your Majesty, you want to take me out?"

Sun Ruowei opened his eyes wide in surprise, and asked in disbelief.

"Change quickly if you want to go, I won't wait for anyone!"

Zhu Zhanhe pushed Sun Ruo and smiled.

Sun Ruowei immediately ran to the outside room happily, and after a while, she changed into men's clothing and ran back again. Maybe it was because she ran too fast, or she was too excited, which made her face slightly red.

After breakfast, Zhu Zhanhe took Sun Ruowei into the carriage.

The two recent assassinations were all related to Zhu Zhanhe, so now he doesn't dare to ride a horse to ostentatiously pass through the city. It's safer to take a carriage. The carriages are reinforced with iron plates, and there are twice as many guards outside.

This was the first time Zhu Zhanhe took Sun Ruowei out, and she also seemed very excited, especially interested in the rare and exotic animals overseas, and kept asking Zhu Zhanhe all the way.

Zhu Zhanhe was also very patient, answering Sun Ruowei's every question, but he felt like he was taking the child to the zoo?

In the end, the carriage left Dinghuai Gate, and a short walk to the north is the intersection of the Qinhuai River and the Yangtze River, where Zheng He’s treasure ship will also berth, because the treasure ship is too large and has a deep draft, so it cannot enter the Qinhuai River at all. .

When Zhu Zhanhe came here, Zhu Gaochi had already arrived, accompanied by all the civil and military officials of the court.

Even Yao Guangxiao came, because Zheng He had long worshiped Yao Guangxiao as his teacher and received the bodhisattva precepts.

After Zhu Zhanhe came here, he first greeted Yao Guangxiao, and then came to Zhu Gaochi's side and said with a smile, "Did you come early?"

"Of course, every time Zheng He comes back, he brings back a lot of novelties from overseas. I've been looking forward to it for a few days."

Zhu Gaochi stroked his beard and said with a smile. When he was talking, he also saw Sun Ruowei behind Zhu Zhanhe, and he also smiled slightly at this, and didn't say anything.

Not only Zhu Gaochi, but other civil and military officials were also in groups at this time, chatting about Zheng He's voyages to the West, and their expressions were quite relaxed.

"Uncle, don't just think about new gadgets overseas. I heard that Zheng He and the others encountered many dangers along the way when they went to the West. It is not easy for them to come back safely!"

Zhu Zhanhe opened his mouth to remind.

It's not that he was disappointed, but he hoped that Zhu Gaochi would remember the hard work and contributions of Zheng He and others. Zhu Gaochi in history seemed to disagree with the voyage to the West.

"What your son said is very true. The reason why I named Zheng He as Fujixiang at the beginning was to hope that he would be blessed and that everything would be auspicious. After all, there are constant natural and man-made disasters at sea, which is by no means comparable to that on land!"

Yao Guangxiao also heard Zhu Zhanhe's words at this time, and walked over with a rather serious expression to speak.

"I also remember the achievements of Zheng He and the others. For example, the last time they returned to the voyage, the Lion King wanted to misbehave the fleet. He first lured Zheng He ashore, and then sent 2000 troops to attack the fleet. Fortunately, Zheng He led [-] people to capture the capital of the Lion Kingdom. Capturing the opponent's king will save the day."

Zhu Gaochi replied with a smile.

The country of the lion is also Sri Lanka in later generations. When Zheng He sailed to the West, he would stop there every time.

"So Zheng He actually has the power to destroy the country?"

Zhu Zhanhe also asked in surprise when he heard the words. Although he knew about Zheng He's seven voyages to the West, he didn't know much about the details.

"It can be regarded as the achievement of destroying the country, but the lion country is too far away, even if it is defeated, it will not be able to rule. Therefore, after Zheng He escorted the opponent's king to the capital, your grandpa sent him back. Of course, to protect the fleet For future safety, Zheng He stationed an army in the Lion Kingdom."

Zhu Gaochi replied with a smile again.

"Tsk tsk, what a pity!"

Zhu Zhanhe felt that the duck in his hand was flying again. Sri Lanka is rich in gemstones and the scenery is not bad.

The most important thing is that Sri Lanka's strategic location is extremely important. It can overlook the Indian subcontinent from a distance, and it can plot West Asia and North Africa from a distance.

Later generations of China actively invested in Sri Lanka to achieve the above strategic goals.

"By the way, what is the second child doing recently?"

Zhu Gaochi suddenly changed the subject and asked about Zhu Gaoxu's situation.

"Eat, practice martial arts, sleep. Recently, my father asked someone to make a stylus in the shape of a spear. He said that he learned a set of stylus marksmanship in Wenhua Palace. From now on, he will use this stylus to kill enemies on the battlefield."

Zhu Zhanhe also looked helpless at the end, sometimes even he couldn't understand his father's brain circuit.

"Second, this is really..."

Zhu Gaochi was at a loss for words when he said this. He read a lot of books, but he couldn't find a suitable word to describe his younger brother.

"How are you, uncle?"

Zhu Zhanhe looked at Zhu Gaochi's plump figure and asked.

Zhu Gaoxu has formally resigned and is no longer willing to go to the Wenhua Palace, so Zhu Di decreed that Zhu Gaochi's restraint should be lifted, allowing him to participate in politics again.

"Don't mention it. I swam every day for the first month, and I ate less food. I managed to lose some weight, but it all grew back in the past few days."

Zhu Gaochi patted his protruding belly, and said helplessly that he could barely reach his belly button.

"Come here~"

At this moment, there was a commotion on the pier by the river, and Zhu Zhanhe and Zhu Gaochi also looked towards the distant river after hearing the words.

In the distance, in the rippling blue waters of the river, treasure ships like hills split the waves and slowly sailed towards this side. Zheng He's fleet finally arrived.

(End of this chapter)