In the Rouyi Hall of the Imperial City of Beijing, the cabinet ministers and nobles of the Ming Dynasty have reached the decision-making stage to open up a new battlefield.

The military headquarters drew up a perfect offensive strategy.

On the large table in the middle, there is a large map of the northeast region of "Shenzhou". Originally, the Asian region was named Shengzhou, but later someone made a typo, and as a result, everyone was used to using Shenzhou for two years, and Zhu Gaoxu also used a new name.

The yellow dragon and moon drawn on the map resemble a burning flame, and there are several small wooden boats on it.

Saitai said to the ministers sitting around, "It has been reported that Tsushima Island is mountainous and has few fields, and there are about five or six hundred samurai people who can control the Daimyo clan, and they are estranged from other daimyo in Japan. There were three settlements, the main of which was in the port of Tsushima on the southeast side of the island.

The military department planned to transfer the land and water armies to attack, and there were two six-masted treasure ships with 2,000 materials (according to the measurement scale of the Ming Dynasty, about 1,000 tons) to transport 500 units of the land division, as well as firearms and ordnance. There are three Monchong warships equipped with water wheels, and ten clippers and sentinel boats to prevent the attack and harassment tactics of the Japanese at sea. The Ming army sailed in a formation of fifteen warships, large and small, and at the same time ordered the assistance of the Korean state by land and water. The North Korean army mainly reinforced possible attacks from the sea, as well as transported grain and grass reinforcements from the port of Geoje.

After the land division occupied Tsushima Port, the soldiers of the Ming army, the Korean soldiers and civilians, and the captured local Japanese themselves built a fortress together as a long-term plan. Accompanying the army is an official of the Ministry of Industry and Construction Agency, who is in charge of this matter. In addition, the Japanese commander of the Northern Department of the Imperial Department accompanied him in order to probe the situation of the Japanese islands and make a presentation to the imperial court. ”

Things have come to this point, but Xia Yuanji, the head of the household, still did not give up, he stood up and clenched his fists to face the silent Zhu Gaoxu, and tried to admonish again: "The Mongolian tribes are the biggest disaster in my border areas, and our country's national strength is limited, so we should avoid the light. Japan is just an innocuous place, and the Holy Appeal to the Soldiers must be cautious. As soon as the battle starts, you may not be able to accept it if you want to.

During the Hongwu period, the Japanese traitor spy was suspected of colluding with Hu Weiyong and wanted to assassinate Taizu. Taizu was furious and issued an edict angrily reprimanding the Japanese monarchs and ministers and wanting to conquer Japan. Taizu never did this, and because of this. Japan is isolated overseas, has a long way to go, and is unprofitable. ”

Qi Tai said: "It is said that Japan's state-owned gold mine Silver Mountain. ”

"Supposedly?" Xia Yuanji faced Qi Tai with a sarcastic look.

At this moment, Zhu Gaoxu finally spoke: "Even if there are not many gold and silver mines, Japan still has high-quality sulfur and a market with a large population. This is a long-term plan for hundreds of years, and it must be worth the effort now. ”

He continued: "The Sui and Tang dynasties both made expeditions to Goryeo and reopened the Silk Road. From a strategic point of view, I think that the superiors of the Sui and Tang dynasties are right.

At that time, Goryeo's territory had expanded to the Liaodong region. Such a large country with stable agricultural industries and towns is more dangerous than that of nomads. Because the nomads swirled and disappeared, it was difficult to sustain them for hundreds of years; And the agrarian country has its own civilization and steadily expands, and once it loses control, it will take years to regain it.

Later, it was also confirmed that Goryeo had always wanted to expand into the Liaodong region, and it was not until the Ming Dynasty that the Joseon Dynasty Li Dynasty recognized the reality that it could not compete with the Central Plains Dynasty.

The Central Plains Dynasty has not been able to restrain Japan, so that it is completely out of the rules set by the great powers, and it is the next Goryeo. There are many disasters in Japan, and there are too many mountains, so they have not given up on expansion. During the Tang Dynasty, Japan was still a barbaric tribal alliance and wanted to invade Silla. Our Ming Dynasty has no deadly strong enemy now, the opportunity is just right, and we should no longer sit idly by.

The Silk Road in the Sui and Tang dynasties was no longer passable. The sea route is the way of the future. ”

"Ladies and gentlemen." Zhu Gaoxu looked back on the left and right: "There is no long-term concern, there must be near-term worries." ”

The generals chimed in.

Qi Tai also said: "If I choose to attack the Tsushima Clan, I can attack and retreat, and I will not fall into the general situation of conquering the southern country during the Yongle period. The clan of the Zong clan shielded the Japanese Kou, and my dynasty has warned many times that it is justified to use soldiers now. Moreover, the feudal states of the Japanese island are estranged from the clan and the clan are distant, and the feudal states are too busy to take care of themselves, so I am afraid that it will not be so easy to help them. ”

Zhu Gaoxu didn't wait for others to object, and immediately said: "I have made up my mind, and I don't need to persuade anymore." ”

Everyone got up, stood on the south side of the table, and then knelt on the ground: "Ministers and other orders, long live the saint." ”

Zhu Gaoxu got up from the chair, paced a few steps, hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke: "I'm afraid everyone has forgotten how our ancestors lived in the first place." Before Shennong called on the people to cultivate grains, the people of the world made a living by hunting and gathering. Then there were grains, there was agriculture, and then there were towns and countries. Since then, the Chinese civilization has expanded from a corner of the Yellow River Valley to a territory of thousands of miles, and embarked on the road of continuous prosperity. ”

Zhu Gaoxu had been patient for a long time, and then simply said: "We have been indulging in the abundant products brought by agriculture for more than 2,000 years, during which a splendid dynastic civilization was born, and we are content with self-sufficient prosperity. The DPRK and China did not fail to pay attention to technology, and the officials in charge of farming, astronomical seasons, and persuading farmers were all conscientious and conscientious in improving China's farming technology to the extreme. But ......"

"As long as you think about it, you will find that agricultural civilization has come to an end, and there is no room for improvement. Who would dare to say that the products of the Ming Dynasty must be richer than those of the Song Dynasty hundreds of years ago? Even if it is slightly better than Sui and Tang, I am afraid it is only too good.

You should be able to wake up to the fact that since the Sui and Tang dynasties, there has been little progress in the millennium. This is hardly worth mentioning compared with the expansion of the Chinese ancestors in those years. Moreover, due to technological limitations, it is difficult for the land to continue to expand, but the population is growing, which cannot escape the fate of the reincarnation of each dynasty for 300 years. I'm afraid that Daming can't be an exception. ”

Hu Hu, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, hurriedly said: "The Ming Dynasty will be able to survive for thousands of generations." ”

Zhu Gaoxu was noncommittal, and then said, "It's time to move to a higher level in technology." ”

Xia Yuanji asked, "I don't know the meaning of the saint, what does the higher ladder refer to?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but say nothing, saving himself from suspicion; And he can't say clearly, he didn't wait for the cruel reality in front of him, ordinary people wouldn't believe it, just a fantasy. Zhu Gaoxu "recalled" those cruel realities, and the only thing to be thankful for was that the Han people were fortunately not Indians.

"How do I know?" Zhu Gaoxu said, "Isn't this something that you rulers should worry about?" That's just how I feel. ”

There was silence in the hall, and no one spoke rashly about it. Probably because Zhu Gaoxu's remarks are really rare, and they have been detached from the various sage truths that people usually think, no one is prepared for this for the time being.

Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand. The ministers thanked them and retired.

In the afternoon of the same day, Zhu Gaoxu left the Rouyi Palace, returned to the Dongnuan Pavilion of the Qianqing Palace, and summoned the virtuous concubine Yao Ji to come to meet.

The eunuchs must have been surprised, because the concubines that the emperor saw in the office were usually Miaojin, but today was different. Maybe the palace will still speculate about what happened in the meantime.

Of course, Zhu Gaoxu knew very well that nothing had happened, just because Yao Ji had a useful brother.

The East Warm Pavilion has a window for lighting, but the location is a bit high, and compared with the bright main hall of the Rouyi Hall, it seems a little dark here. At this time, all the eunuchs and palace maids had already gone out, and Zhu Gaoxu sat alone in an old and luxurious chair.

Yao Ji walked past the screen inside the door and stepped forward to bow to Zhu Gaoxu.

"Aifei, get up quickly." Zhu Gaoxu came back to his senses from his contemplation and made a gesture to help. Then he took a thick book, walked through the imperial case, and handed it directly to Yao Ji, "I have something for you to do." ”

Yao Ji took the book, and her beautiful and aura face showed a look that made Zhu Gaoxu feel puzzled in an instant. She seemed to have a sudden sense of enlightenment, as if she had received some kind of confirmation.

Zhu Gaoxu had already thought about what to do, so he continued: "Concubine Ai handed it over to Yao Fang, you have to pay attention to: first, you must keep it secret for me, and you can't tell anyone the source of this book, including Yao Fang; Second, after asking Yao Fang to transcribe a copy, the book will be returned. told Yao Fang that he should pay attention to the fact that he should also keep it secret, and he can't say that this book was given by you, or that he is from someone he made friends with HNA. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said, and then asked: "Can Concubine Ai do it?" ”

Yao Ji didn't answer, but just smiled: "Thank you for your trust." ”

She immediately said: "What does the Holy Providence mean, don't let people know that this book is written by the Holy Lord and the noble concubine?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "That's exactly what it means. ”

Yao Ji glanced at him and tried to open it, "What kind of book is this?" ”

"It can be said that it is something that is written and spoken, and it is very important." Zhu Gaoxu said.

Yao Ji asked again: "What should Yao Fang do after transcribing a copy?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Give it to the right envoy of the Imperial Palace, Qian Xun, and say that it is from all over the country." ”

The book has the title on the cover, and it reads: Scientific Translation of the Kingdoms.

Yao Ji looked at it for a while, raised his head and said, "People in the world write books and say things, and they all want to establish a name for all generations. It's good that the saint is so cautious that he easily gave his name to Yao Fang. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "I don't care about reputation for a long time. ”

Yao Ji looked at Zhu Gaoxu with a smile: "What does the saint care about?" ”

Zhu Gaoxu pondered for a while and said: "The vast tide has pushed me to this time and this position, and I have this insight, so I must do my best to fulfill my responsibilities, not for myself. If, because of one's own stupidity and fear, a great civilization loses its chances, it will die and be uneasy. ”

He muttered: "Natural selection, there is no morality in the way of heaven. ”

Yao Ji's ethereal smile disappeared, and she thought very seriously about Zhu Gaoxu's obscure words just now.