Chapter 193.

The temple was quiet for a good half a minute, Zhu Di suddenly said, “How many pounds of steel can be produced daily?”

“It depends on the number of pig iron.” Zhang Anshi said, “As long as the supply of pig iron is sufficient, my side …… big deal is to build more furnaces.”

Zhu Di said, “If so, how much charcoal is needed? This charcoal …… consumption is also amazing ah.”

The price of charcoal is not low, although Nanjing City near the mountains and forests are numerous, but many are royal gardens, if a large mining, can produce too much steel, I am afraid that it is difficult to supply.

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, my furnace, not charcoal steelmaking, using is …… coal.”

“Coal?” Zhu Di knew a little about this, so he said, “This thing …… can replace charcoal?”

“Not only can it be replaced, but around Nanking City, there’s tons of coal right there. By coincidence, the nearest coal mine is in Qixia, against Zhongshan there.”

The coal mines in this area aren’t exactly small.

Of course, if you change to the latter days of such a huge production, since it is nothing.

In fact, Zhang Anshi’s steel furnace may be considered transcendent in its contemporaries.

But if you compare it with the latter, it’s just child’s play, any steel mill can kill this thing in Sukhumvit a hundred times.

Now look, even if it is a large-scale steelmaking, for Qixia, this Qixia’s coal mine, it is enough to refine for fifty years.

At this time, transportation was very backward, and it was important for the steelmaking workshops to be close to the sources of coal and pig iron.

Zhang Anshi continued, “As for the iron ore, there is a large area of iron ore at Meishan in Nanjing, which is also sufficient.”

Zhu Di said, “In that case, can there be five thousand pounds of steel billets that can be produced like this every day?”

“If Your Majesty needs, I can produce 200,000 pounds.” Zhang Anshi confidently said, “but …… but need your majesty to let the merchant bank …… to be responsible for mining, as well as steel refining, in addition to …… In order to produce on a large scale, it is necessary to borrow a large sum of silver from the money bank.”

Two hundred thousand pounds …… in the latter part of the world is only a hundred or so tons in the district, so it can be said that it is not worth mentioning.

But here, it was enough to make Zhu take a breath of cold air.

Doesn’t this mean that a day’s production could, by and large, directly assemble thousands and thousands of military horses?

You know, when Zhu was in Beiping, he was a small iron smith.

For the sake of pacification, he forged weapons in the royal residence, and in order to cover up the sound of forging weapons, he also raised many geese in the royal residence.

He’s very good at these, but he’s very good at them.

“Qixia set up a manufacturing bureau, in addition, Meishan iron ore, also handed over to Qixia to manage, whether it is extracting minerals, as well as steelmaking, forging weapons, all by your town Qixia Annan Hou to be responsible for the manufacturing bureau does not return to the palace control, also does not belong to the Ministry of Public Works, to the merchant bank to manage.” Zhu Di instant decision: “If there are any difficulties, you can always report to me, right, there are artisans, how much do you want?”

“I wish to recruit on my own.” Zhang Anshi was not too sure about the smiths.

Because this stuff is hereditary, the craft is very unstable.

“Can.” Zhu Di said, “In short, I want to see you work out 200,000 pounds of steel per day, no, I will not make it difficult for you, even if it’s only 100,000 pounds, I will also count your credit.”

Zhang Anshi said, “I obey the decree.”

Zhu Di was in a good mood, and looked at Ning Wang with a big smile, “You see, I told you that Zhang Anshi is my right arm and left arm! In the beginning, when we were in Beiping and Daning, if we could refine so much good steel, then the Tartars in the desert, what is there to fear? I’m only afraid that it would have been easier to fight.”

When King Ning heard this number, he had also been startled, so he hastened to say, “Your Majesty, if I move the clan, the supply of this steel ……”

Zhu said: “It depends on yourself, you have much ability, how much steel and gunpowder, the merchant bank is based on the benefits, such as that Annan, the merchant bank from Annan collected how much commercial tax and agricultural tax, and then according to these, will leave half to the local garrison, with these silver, the Governor General’s Office and then purchase, in short, will not allow you to take advantage of the benefits, but also will not teach you to suffer losses. ”

When King Ning heard these words from Zhu, he let go of his heart.

In fact, he is not worried about Zhu Di’s pro brother Ming counting accounts, the only worry is that the other side is reneging on his word. If he can make the account clear first, he has nothing to worry about instead, after all, …… Ning Wang Zhu Quan is still quite a bit of confidence in his own ability.

“Ning Wangwei …… was initially abolished by his majesty quite a lot, I can in Daning, call back some of my old troops? In addition …… to the Duo Yan three guards, there are a lot of people and I have old, if there are still people who want to follow my brother, your majesty can be allowed to travel?”

Zhu Di boldly said: “How much you can take home, is your thing, and your Ning Wangfu, that Ning Wangfu how much you can move away, including the storage of food, gold and silver, you take away by yourself that is, these home, when it was originally your, I will not still be ignorant of the conscience of greed is not? I only hope that you, can effect the imperial examination, to lay a foundation.”

Zhu Quan jumped at the chance to try, to be honest, it is not easy to make such a determination, but Zhu Di put his words to this point, he has a bottom in his heart.

When in Desert South, the city of Daning was closest to the remnants of the Northern Yuan, and did not it press that Tartar and Walar on the ground to whack?

Now it is but to go to Luzon, and the natives of that Luzon are still as good as the Tartars and the Valar?

So Zhu Quan said, “Many thanks, Your Majesty.”

All of a sudden, it seemed as if Zhu Di and Zhu Quan’s relationship had become a lot more intimate in this moment.

At this point, Zhu Di actually can’t wait for this guy to bring more troops and horses, hoping that he can make a difference overseas!

And Zhu Quan also knows that once he goes out to sea, he only needs to rely on this imperial brother.

Zhu Quan exchanged pleasantries with Zhu Di for a while, then said, “Your Majesty, I’m afraid that my younger brother only has to go back early, discuss with the vassal ministers, and make early preparations for departure, so I’ll take my leave here first.”

Zhu nodded: “Early some or not, but this …… time you want to leave, but also still need Zheng He’s fleet of ships to come back, to be their next time to the West Ocean, by the way to bring you guys on the piggyback. So you have a very ample time to prepare.”

As soon as Zhu Quan leaves.

Zhu Di glanced at Zhang Anshi, then said, “How did you fool him?”

Zhang Anshi laughed, “I didn’t fool around, I just told His Highness, the King of Ning, that there was a place where he could display his talents, and he was moved.”

“Hey, he is still not willing to ah.” Zhu Di said with emotion: “But if it is me, I’m afraid I’m also not willing to, heavenly splendor, learned so many skills, who would like to spend his life in the king’s mansion in the waste of time it? Visible let him move the clan is right, those brothers of mine, are moved out only good.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, not every vassal king is as bold as His Highness, the King of Ning.”

Zhu Di said, “So …… only to let him make an example Well, he is outside the more fast living, everyone is the more greedy, you have to think of a way to let him live faster.”

Zhang Anshi nodded his head, “I think so too, and the matter of steel making ……”

Zhu Di gazed at Zhang Anshi and said, “What is the matter with steelmaking?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, the more feudal lords that are moved to the clan, the greater the demand for steel in the future, this new steel is tough, I intend to try to make this steel used in firearms, only now the eight is not yet a skimming …… ”

Zhu Di said, “This you can act on your own, do not have to report to me, in short, in Qixia, what you want to do can be, I am in Qixia to grant you the right to arbitrary.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty is so trustworthy that it makes me ……”

Zhu impatiently waved his hand and said, “Say less of those words, it gives me goosebumps to hear them.”

Zhang Anshi said in a very resigned manner, “I just have a feeling.”

Zhu Di said, “You go home sense, don’t let me know.”

“Oh.” Zhang Anshi was unhappy, there was always a feeling of having all the skills and nowhere to utilize them.

Wait for Zhang Anshi to retire.

Zhu Di let also lost ha pen, ink, paper and ink stone set up, and then pen, write down a line of words: “within the Qixia, Annan Marquis act, critical arbitrariness, the Secretary shall not ask.”

After writing it down, Zhu sat down and said, “Also lost ha.”

Also Lostha said, “The slave girl is here.”

Zhu Di said, “Tomorrow after framing my ink treasure, send it to Qixia and let that guy Zhang Anshi hang it up.”

“This ……” Yiluoha cautiously said, “Your Majesty, is this Enlong too much, this may not be good for the Marquis of Annan.”

Zhu Di shook his head and said: ”Teach people to do things for you, always have to be trusted. This kid a day a thought, if the officer up fear, not a pity? This is not the Enlong that I gave him, it is my whip, urging him to hurry up and earn more silver for me, and work properly for me.”

Yiluoha understood and immediately smiled, “The slave girl knows, tomorrow the slave girl will personally deliver it.”

Zhu Di looked down at the words he wrote, could not help but say: “my line book has grown, when the royal exam said that all the prince, belongs to my word is not written well, you see, I did the son of heaven, daily review of zazhou, this word is not the more smooth eye?”

Yiluoha then smiled and said, “Your Majesty’s running script is distinctive and has the air of a dragon and tiger.”

Zhu Di heard, can’t help but sigh: “There is dragon and tiger gas, this motherfucker is not to say that my line of writing is not good? But where you can pick out a little bit of good, not to say what bullshit distinctive and dragon and tiger qi words.”

Also Lost Ha: “……”

Does that count as kissing ass on the horse’s ass?

He expressed his helplessness!

Zhu Di, on the contrary, violently remembered something at this moment and said, “How is Ji Gang now?”

Yilungha became cautious, he quietly glanced at Zhu Di before saying, “Ji Commander, chopped off his own hand …… is now recuperating from his injuries.”

A hint of murderous anger swept across Zhu Ben’s face.

However, when he heard the words of Yishakha, he was quite surprised.

“How are the injuries?”

“Not so good.”

Zhu Di faintly said, “Give medicine.”

Also lost Ha sighed in his heart, he had to admit that Ji Gang really has his superiority, this person …… is too hard on himself.

Originally, the matter of the King of Ning, this black pot, Ji Gang is certain to take the blame, can be said to be certain to die.

Who would have guessed that he would try to win back His Majesty’s heart by mutilating himself?

Originally, the matter of the King of Ning looked reckless, but after all, Ji Gang had also shown his loyalty, and now, through self-mutilation, he was able to make His Majesty, who was originally disgusted with him, feel a few moments of sympathy.

Yiluoha pressed down her mind and respectfully said, “The slave girl obeys the decree.”

…………

A boat, slowly passing through the pier, arrived at the Fuzimiao Pier.

From this ship came the sound of tearing coughs.

A servant tiptoed into the oubliette in the oubliette boat and whispered, “Already arrived in Nanjing, the master is going to pay …… a visit.”

“There is no need to pay a visit to ……” This scholar coughed and shook his head with a bitter smile, he covered his heart and coughed a few more times before saying, “It is enough for them to know that I am in Nanjing City, I heard that Qixia is a good place, although it is not in Nanjing City I heard that Qixia is a good place, although it is not in Nanjing city, nowadays it is also a collection of merchants, so lively. How …… about finding a place there to settle down and stay.”

This servant frowned and said, “Master …… there is Zhang Anshi ……”

The scholar smiled, “I am just a scholar with a disease, not worth mentioning, that Zhang Anshi is a nobleman, how would he be concerned about me? Don’t worry too much, do as I command.”

Although the scholar’s tone was casual, the servant no longer dared to refute, so he said, “Yes.”

“Is there any news from the Desert South?”

“The Tartar side …… was going to strike while the iron is hot and attack Daning, but when he heard that Zhu Di did not put Zhu Quan to death, he was greatly disappointed, and finally gave up the plan.”

“Hey …… Khan is too hasty.” The scholar sighed and said, “Anyone who achieves great things has to plan slowly and win with a single move. But it’s good that he can give up the plan.”

Said, this boat, then fell into a dead silence, only very occasionally out of the coughing, but that cough, tearing the lungs.

………………

To the end of the year.

The fleet of treasure ships has finally returned.

When a ship of treasure, appeared in the Songjiang port, by the order of the Yongle Emperor, to meet Zheng He’s Wen Yuange university scholar Xie Jin, rate of the Ministry of Ceremony of all the officials, stood on the pier, watched the countless ships return to the harbor.

Full of Western spices and exotic goods, they began to move off the treasure ship.

Countless feet like ants unloaded many goods and transported them to the docks.

There are many people, have come to the harbor to look forward to, for a moment, merchants gathered, the people crowded.

Xie Jin’s heart, quite a bit of bad taste.

Behind a few ministers of the Ministry of Rites whispered, “laboring the people hurt the money ah, this one ship, all is the people’s fat and wealth, the view is chilling.”

“Yes, it really teaches one to be like a man’s back, the fat of these countless people has become the merit of one man’s family ……”

Xie Jin turned around and glared at them.

The two officials were hastily silenced.

Only then did Xie Jin gently say, “Be careful with your words, and also have the body of a minister.”

“Yes, Lord Xie, my humble servant knows that I am wrong.”

Xie Jin then did not say anything else, see the flagship, someone clustered a person off the ship, then welcome up, and meet with the salute.

Zheng He has lost a lot of weight, a face of fatigue, at this time, although he is dressed, but then new clothes, wearing his body, he looks down.

Licking his fishy salty lips, Zheng He returned the salute after Xie Jin saluted, and then exchanged pleasantries with Xie Jin.

The next day, Zheng He was ordered to enter the capital.

At the palace, Zhu Di and Zheng He talked all night.

That night, with the lamps waning, Zheng He spoke of the dangers of the sea, the customs of the various countries, the skill of navigation, the interesting things that had happened to the soldiers and civilians who had accompanied him, as well as the losses of the ships, and the treasures and goods that he had scavenged from all parts of the world.

“Your Majesty, Eunuch Deng traveled west this time, but I don’t know how.” Zheng He said with emotion, “Even the slave girl, also admire his courage, when people are overseas, days are like years, every one can’t wait to …… even one hour earlier to return to the ship, this Deng Jian but still stubbornly set sail Yang sail, even if not buried in the ocean, the hardship and pain, but also not human imagine.”

Zhu Di also could not help but sigh, “Yes, Zhang Anshi that boy …… can pit people bitterly. If Deng Jian will not be able to come back to the voyage, I want to give him a shrine.”

Zheng He nodded and said, “There is one more thing, that is, on my side, I have brought back a large number of precious goods …… that still need to be counted.”

Zhu Di thought for a moment and said, “This is not for you, you return to the journey of hard work, teach Wen Yuange, let them with the Ministry of Ceremony and the Ministry of …… Household to sell these treasured goods.”

Zheng He said, “Yes.”

These treasures are mostly Western spices, and ivory, and other specialties.

The palace can not be all collected, stay also useless, can only be processed after the exchange of gold and silver.

So in the early morning of the next day, Xie Jin and others just entered the palace and sat down.

Then a decree came, asking Wen Yuan Ge to come up with a charter for dealing with treasure goods.

Xie Jin several dare not be slow, first check the accounts of the treasure ship fleet.

And then, Xie Jin will look to Hu Guang and Yang Rong said: “the Western Ocean wasted a lot of manpower and material resources, got, but some of the so-called treasures, I am rich in the Ming four seas, how would it be rare in the Westerners of these broken copper and iron? Just …… mosquito size is a piece of meat, can make up for some of the shortfall in the national treasury, make up for some of it. In my opinion, let the household department warehouse department master Liu Wenjun to deal with these treasures, he is good at the economic way, these small things, can be competent.”

Hu Guang said, “Duke Xie will make up his mind.”

On the contrary, Yang Rong frowned and said, “So many treasures, but only let the master of the Ministry of households warehouse department to dispose of, is not …… too frivolous?”

Xie Jin revealed a displeased look, said: “The court is not Qixia, every cent, all day to talk about profit? Do you still let the Ministry of the Ministry of households and the minister to deal with these things? Liu Wenjun this person, both sleeves clean, upright, article writing is also very good, is a rare dry official, let him to do, inside and outside the court, also rest assured.”

He talked about inside and outside the dynasty, but left Yang Rong speechless.

In fact, Yang Rong knew very well that if he continued to argue, the other party might just snap a big hat.

A Wen Yuan Pavilion university scholar like Yang Rong still valued reputation.

Then they had to be silent.

……

Thus, more than a hundred shiploads of treasured goods began to be sold.

On the other side, Zhang Anshi was also sharpening his sword.

This time, although Teng Jian did not come back, but the fleet formed by Qixia, but also brought back more than thirty boats full of treasures.

Although it is far inferior to the imperial court’s fleet, the number of this treasure cargo is only two or three percent of the imperial court.

However, Zhang Anshi was fluttering his eyebrows and was overjoyed.

“Getting rich.” Zhang Anshi was in a good mood and looked for Zhu Jin and opened his mouth.

Zhu Jin also happy, laughed: “Yes, small yesterday personally went to a trip to Songjiang, these goods, soon loaded the ship, along the send Jiangkou, through Taicang, Zhenjiang into Nanjing, then they will be directly transported by boat to the Qixia Ferry, the warehouse …… small also moved good … …”

Zhang Anshi said, “It is a pity …… that there are still too few, if I had known that, I should have sent more ships to ……”

Zhang Anshi was not without regret, then said, “No matter what, we can’t lose money on this trip, I’ve already explained the di newspaper, let the di newspaper put out a message on the last page, selling the treasure goods, and three days later, about the merchants inside and outside of this Nanking city to come to our Qixia. By the way, you these few days, can be energized, give me to set up a meeting place.”

“The venue?” Zhu Jin looked at Zhang Anshi in disbelief.

Zhang Anshi said directly, “I want to auction. ”

“What’s the auction?”

Zhang Anshi happy: “This auction well …… I moment and you can not say, later I will write a charter to, at that time, you take the charter to do can.”

Zhu Jin hastily nodded his head, in his heart he knew better than anyone else that the Marquis, this person, always had many strange and weird ways, and these ways, were often very effective.

Anyway, he only recognized one thing, and that was, if he did what the Marquis told him to do, he would be right!

So Zhu Jin didn’t say much more, only said cheerfully, “I understand.”

…………

Zhu Di these days are in a good mood, the fleet is back, the next rest after a break, it is time to start the second plan to the West China Sea.

This time the flotilla is very fruitful, through the twenty-seven countries, and will be the situation of the Western Ocean to feel a clear, but also brought back a lot of treasures, can be said to be an extraordinary completion of the task.

Next …… can go further afield.

After a few more days, Zhu Di called the Wen Yuan Pavilion of the university professors to see.

Zhu Di said: “Immediately will be the end of the year, and so after the year, after the spring, I want to order Zheng He two to the West. Secretaries, all over the manufacturing of ships, but also to speed up, let the Ministry of Industry side, to each place to patrol, do not delay the big event.”

“Yes.” The three replied.

“Your Majesty ……” Xie Jin thought for a moment, then said, “Is it more prudent for the fleet to continue to maintain its current size?”

Zhu Di faintly said, “The second trip to the West, to go farther, if the ship and manpower is insufficient, the midway encountered danger, but it is difficult to predict.”

Xie Jinyin then said, “Your Majesty said yes, oh yes, the minister side …… has one more thing to play.”

Zhu said, “But there’s no harm in saying so.”

“The Ministry of households warehouse department master Liu Wenjun, ordered to peddle treasure goods, these treasure goods, but also best-selling, your majesty …… now discounted down, sold a full fourteen million two grain silver.”

One hundred and forty thousand taels ……

Zhu fell to think that at least it is also earned back a little profit, if it is a few years earlier, certainly to be surprised.

Now, though, it doesn’t feel like much.

“This Liu Wenjun, sells fast, I thought there would be a delay of several months.”

Xie Jin said: “Liu Wenjun this person, is the minister recommended him to be in charge of the sale, this person two sleeves of the wind, people upright, acting meticulously, the warehouse department of the matter, fell into his hands, are arranged by him in order …… I have also heard of a thing.”

Zhu Di said, “What is it?”

Xie Jin said: “said this Liu Wenjun, although it is in charge of the warehouse department of the very oil and water, but he is poor even sedan chair are not, sedan chairmen also can not afford to hire, daily walk to the Department of the Hall of duty, three days to get up to go more than an hour …… before arriving at the Department of the Hall of the … … …”

Zhu Di heard it, but could not help but be moved, so he said, “It is really rare ah, tomorrow call him to have an audience with him …… Such a minister, not many.”

Xie Jin smiled and said, “Yes, the minister in front of him, are ashamed of themselves, this dynasty inside and outside, all praise him.”

“Is that so?” Zhu Di’s gaze turned to Hu Guang and said, “Secretary Hu thinks so too?”

Hu Guang said, “I have indeed heard of his clean reputation.”

Zhu nodded, “Such a person should be honored.”

To be that Xie Jin three people retired out.

Zhu Di thought for a moment, looked to the side of the also lost Ha said, “also lost Ha, let the Ministry of the Ministry of Justice, will Liu Wenjun’s merit examination book to send me to see.”

Yiluoha knows in his heart that once His Majesty cares about someone’s merit test, then that person, is not far away from leveling the playing field.

So she nodded and said, “The slave girl will go and give an explanation.”

“Right.” Zhu Di said, “How is Zhang Anshi’s steel practicing? And …… what about that rebellious party, how come there are still no eyebrows?”

“This ……” also lost ha, “these few days …… An Nan Hou are in Qixia… …”

Zhu Di felt that there was something in the words of Yilungha.

Then he asked, “If you have something to say, say it.”

Yilungha said, “Your Majesty, the Marquis of Annan is making arrangements everywhere for the auction of his treasured goods.”

“Auction?” Zhu was confused, “What’s an auction?”

Yilungha froze for a long time, “Maybe it’s a shot and then sell it, or maybe it’s ……”

Zhu Di immediately blew out his beard and glared, “Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t understand.”

“Yes, yes, slave girl indeed do not understand.” Also lost ha said, “But …… now it is messing with the Qixia there, merchants gathered, I heard that many merchants, today all come together to go there.”

Zhu Di keenly said, “This guy …… certainly will not do useless, in all likelihood, and what ghost ideas.”

As soon as he heard this, Zhu Di’s heart was on fire, silver ah, he loves silver, Zhang Anshi has not opened up a new source of wealth for a long time.

Zhu Di carried his hands behind his back and paced back and forth, “There’s nothing to do around here, so instead of speculating here, why don’t you go and take a look?”

Also lost ha bitter smile, his majesty’s nature, where like the emperor, in this palace, is not able to sit for a moment.

Even if you don’t go out of the palace to go to Qixia, most likely you will be running to the camp of the Feilin and other guards.

And also daily mind to go to Beiping, to the desert, to personally lead the troops, sweeping the desert in the Tartar and Warat.

Yiluoha’s practice makes perfect: “The slave girl will go and prepare.”

…………

Xie Jin three people returned to Wen Yuan Pavilion.

Xie Jin was in a good mood at this time, when he arrived at the public room, but a clerk came and said, “Duke Xie, Liu Wenjun, the head of the Ministry of Warehousing, has arrived.”

Xie Jin smiled and nodded, “Call it in.”

Soon, Liu Wenjun entered Xie Jin’s duty room, first saluted: “See you, Mr. Xie.”

Xie Jin said gently, “I even mentioned you to His Majesty just now.”

After a pause, Xie Jin added with a smile, “His Majesty has also praised you, and this time, you have made a merit by selling the precious goods, and it seems that soon, the court will have a beneficent decree.”

Liu Wenjun said, “Duke Xie thinks so highly of …… my official ……”

Said the man, showing gratitude.

Xie Jin smiled: “This is just a show of hands, you are a gentleman, we Ming, more than the villain, this class, the lack of a gentleman like you, only a gentleman like you can be ranked in the class, the country can prosper, the people can live in peace and work in contentment.”