The sketch of the world map drawn by Zhu Gaoxu was completed in a few days after it was handed over to Qi Tai, the secretary of the Ministry of War. Qi Tai was proficient in painting and calligraphy, and although he carved with a fine brush, the map itself was not about artistic attainments, so he drew very quickly.

For the names of various unknown places, Zhu Gaoxu mostly referred to the names of later generations. Anyway, most of the place names in later generations are transliteration, and the name taken by the Ming Dynasty at this time has not had a great impact. There is only "Asia", and he changed his name to "Holy Continent".

On the wall in front of the East Warm Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, it was finally no longer incongruous. There is a large map in the middle, and two slightly smaller maps on the left and right, which look just right.

When the ministers who came in to discuss the matter saw the "world map", most of them looked a little worried.

After the imperial deliberations, the ministers retired. Qi Tai, the secretary of the military department, and Gao Xianning, the secretary of the Dali Temple, took the initiative to stay behind.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu asked, "Two Aiqing, what else is going on?" ”

Qi Tai and the others finally turned around and took a few steps back, he arched his hand and said, "Holy Lord, the minister has some things to say, I don't want to say it in front of my colleagues. ”

Zhu Gaoxu sat on the chair, knocked his hand on the armrest twice, and said, "Let's talk about it now." ”

Qi Tai thought for a moment, bowed down and said, "The Holy Admiral hangs such a large territory here, and the year name is 'Wude'......

"Hmmm......" Zhu Gaoxu habitually made a sound.

Qi Tai continued: "Although the Ming Dynasty has a vast territory and a large population, if it fights for many years, it will inevitably run out of national strength. In addition, the Ming official army captured too many places, but it could not move the population and transform the people, and it was difficult to hold on for a long time.

Since the Hongwu period, he has served in the military department. Emperor Taizu had a slight foresight for the national policy of guarding, surrendering, and dividing the north. In the desert land of the Guyin Grassland, it is difficult for the officers and troops to defend for a long time, and it is useless to attack; Soon Hulu will make a comeback.

In other places, there are either miasma, lofty mountains, or barren and difficult to defend. Now that the imperial court has opened up territory, it should be dominated by Liaodong; Although this place is bitterly cold, the land is fertile, and the migratory soldiers and displaced people open up the fields, and after a hundred years, they may be as rich as the mainland. ”

"Hmm......" Zhu Gaoxu replied again.

Gao Xianning seconded his teacher and said: "The minister has the courage to speak, the former emperor fought in the north and south, covering a wide area, but the Qin State finally fell apart; Therefore, China's external expansion should be slow rather than urgent. ”

Zhu Gaoxu waited for them to finish before he spoke: "I have never thought about expanding my territory. ”

The teacher and student were stunned and glanced at each other.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Jiaozhi Province, I am also going to be abolished." Previously, the imperial court incorporated the country of Annan directly into the territory of the Ming Dynasty, established a province and set up an official government, and directly governed this place; As a result, everyone also saw that in just a few years, there were three largest rebel forces!

Of course, the imperial court can also continue to send troops to quell the rebellion, and most of them will also win. However, in the short term, the military expenditure will inevitably be huge, and it will not be able to recover the cost from the land of Jiaozhi at all. Now the Mongol tribes are threatening to harass our northern frontier; I still have to pay the military salary to Jingying, and I have to do other things. Cochin Province will only increase the burden on the national treasury, and no real benefits will be seen for the time being.

Therefore, I decided to temporarily dismantle Cochin Province, set up the Protectorate of Annam, station a small number of troops, and send a governor to maintain the presence of the Ming Dynasty in the Annam region. At the same time, he supported the political power of the Chen clan and made him the king of Annam and the deputy governor of the Protectorate of Annam, so as to maintain the situation of Annam.

The Annam River (Red River) Plain is rich in rice, and in the future, can our Ming Dynasty directly recover this place, and then think about it in the long run! ”

Qi Taibai said: "The saint is wise, but I am afraid that the noble general will not support this strategy." ”

Zhu Gaoxu sneered: "When you capture Annan, I am the boss; The Chinese dukes and marquis of the dynasty are mostly 'Fengtian and sincere', and they are my descendants. Other people can't complain twice, what else? ”

There was silence in the warm pavilion for a moment, and Zhu Gaoxu spoke again: "Originally, in order to motivate the soldiers, the Han Wangfu paid full salaries to the 'Crime Killing Army'; I don't want to increase the taxes of the people, where will the money come from? In addition to reducing unnecessary military spending, maybe try sea trade? ”

When Gao Xianning heard this, his face showed a sudden expression.

Qi Tai was a little embarrassed. When the army was first raised, the Han Dynasty's army was weak and under great pressure, and in order to gain the hearts of the army, Qi Tai supported the decision to pay the army; And Qi Tai's "long-term solution" to Zhu Gaoxu was that after getting the world, he would not admit the promise of the Han Mansion and stop paying salaries!

But now Zhu Gaoxu is not good at denying it. Worrying about money, Qi Tai also seems to feel a little responsible.

Suddenly, a voice said excitedly: "The emperor is wise, eloquent, and knowledgeable of the kings!" ”

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head and saw that it was the eunuch Hou Xian. He almost forgot about the eunuch standing beside him.

The eunuchs seem to be very interested in going to sea, but Zhu Gaoxu still can't fully understand why.

Gao Xianning arched his hand and said: "The ministers are too worried, and they are also worried about the loss of the saint. ”

Qi Tai said: "The minister has already been ruined, but fortunately he has been reused by the saint to have today." The ministers should do their best to repay the emperor's kindness! ”

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and said, "I understand your loyalty. ”

So Qi Tai and Gao Xianning retired from the ceremony, and then withdrew from the East Warm Pavilion. Hou Xian, who was standing on the side, sent them out. Zhu Gaoxu had no intention of leaving, nor did he deal with the recital, he looked thoughtful, and sat alone in his chair for a long time......

What Zhu Gaoxu said to Qi Tai Gao Xianning just now was certainly not what he thought in his heart.

But Zhu Gaoxu didn't want to say his thoughts immediately. Because he didn't think that Qi Tai and the others could understand, and what he said had no effect; I'm afraid it's going to be harmful.

When people are completely unable to understand a person, maybe there is a vague sense of unreliability?

Zhu Gaoxu is considering, of course, not just about money! What he wants is to colonize, plunder, and divide the world.

In the near future, this world will only be contested by the great powers, and the weak will not even be as good as livestock. This path itself is very evil and evil, and it is not necessarily the truth. But if the Ming Dynasty doesn't go first, others will go first, and they will treat the land of China as fish and meat! So in this world, is black and white, good and evil the truth?

It's just that such a future is far beyond people's imagination at this time; Even those countries of tigers and wolves were ignorant at first. Zhu Gaoxu didn't think anyone would agree with such a crazy prediction.

Suddenly, Zhu Gaoxu felt completely lonely.

And at this moment, in the Dongnuan Pavilion, the eunuch on duty was retired, Hou Xian went out to give people away, and Zhu Gaoxu was indeed the only one left.

…… Qi Tai and Gao Xianning, who were wearing red robes, walked out of the Qianqing Gate one after the other. The eunuch Hou Xian stepped out of the door, stood in place, hugged the dust and said, "The two ministers go slowly. ”

"There is Lao Hou's father-in-law." Qi Tai and Gao Xianning returned the salute together.

The two of them walked on the wide brick floor, the ground was very clean, and the surroundings were very quiet, and occasionally the palace maids and eunuchs walked by, but they were careful not to make noise. Qi Tai suddenly spoke: "During the Yongle period, the eunuch Zheng He led a fleet to the Western Ocean, and there were not many places he visited. The map that the Holy God asked me to draw is far more than the West; Who did the Holy One hear about, there are so many places? ”

Gao Xianning thought for a while and responded: "Didn't the teacher say that there is a Shen Xu family in Yunnan, who is both the descendant of Xu Fujiu and the granddaughter-in-law of Shen Wanshan. Some businessmen are greedy and go far and see many foreign vassals, maybe the saint heard Shen Xu talk about it? ”

"Makes sense!" Qi Tai immediately nodded and said, "That Shen Xu clan has a lot to do with the Holy Lord, and he paid money and paid the Han Wangfu during the 'Battle of Crime'. Recently, I heard someone mention that Shen Xu has left Yunnan and is about to enter Beijing. ”

Gao Xianning muttered again: "Yongle is now in the West, and the deficit of the household seems to be very large, can the sea trade make money?" ”

Qi Tai said: "Yongle spent a lot of money to build a fleet, and the deficit was expected, but in the long run, it should increase the tax on the city. The income of the Song Dynasty was very high, and the income from maritime trade also accounted for a lot. ”

Gao Xianning arched his hand and said, "Thank you for your teaching." ”

Qi Tai turned his head and said in a low voice: "But Master Wei always feels that what the Holy Master wants to do is far more than that......

Gao Xianning turned his head to look at him.

Qi Tai took a breath, stretched out his hand and gently stroked the beard on his chin, his face was thoughtful, and he muttered, "During the years in the Han Palace, I have seen the saint do things, and I also understand the saint's personality to some extent. If it is only one thing, even if it is very important, the Holy One will not do it himself, but at most one minister will do it.

And the things that the Holy One himself handles are usually very long-term and must have follow-up considerations. It's like the saint saving Sheng Yong, Qu Neng, Weishi and others, is it just to save people? There is also the pursuit of the former queen and prince of the Kingdom of Annam, and these two people can also be used for the deployment of Cochin Province as mentioned by the Holy Lord. Whatever the Holy One wants to do, he often begins to prepare very early.

Occasionally, as a teacher, I have a feeling that the saint seems to be able to predict the future! It's amazing, but I can't say why. ”

Gao Xianning nodded and said, "That's true." ”

The two glanced at each other, and Gao Xianning seemed to say: The sacred heart is unpredictable.

But none of them said what it meant.

After a few words, they had reached the east side of the temple; The front left gate tower has already appeared in front of you. There were some eunuchs on duty guarding the door, and Qi Tai and Gao Xianning stopped talking.

When he walked to the back right door, Qi Tai couldn't help but turn his head and take another look at the majestic gatehouse of Qianqing Gate.

In an instant, Qi Tai seemed to see the emperor sitting in a dimly lit chair. Zhu Gaoxu's appearance, Qi Tai has seen it; In the past, in the carrier hall in Yunnan, Qi Tai often saw Zhu Gaoxu sitting alone on the throne and contemplating.

In a moment, a complex feeling of awe, worship, and even a little sympathy surged into Qi Tai's heart.

Qi Tai was stunned for a moment, and finally turned around and walked into the gatehouse of the back left door.