Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 287: Digging graves and pretending to be the Queen of Han!
Before the power changes.

More than a hundred years ago, the treasure ship fleet of the eunuch Zheng He that sailed to the West was invincible on the sea.

There were five types of ships in the fleet that sailed to the West.

The first type is called "treasure ship". The largest treasure ship is 444 feet long, 180 feet wide, and has a carrying capacity of 1.6 million kilograms. This ship can accommodate thousands of people and is still the largest ship in the world to date.

The body is majestic and huge.

Even the iron rudder of a treasure ship required two or three hundred men to move.

The second type is called "horse boat", which is thirty-seven feet long and fifteen feet wide.

The third type is called "grain ship", which is 28 zhang long and 12 zhang wide.

The fourth type is called "sitting boat", which is twenty-four feet long and ninety-four feet wide.

The fifth type is called "warship", which is eighteen zhang long and sixty eight chi wide.

Some of the ships in the fleet led by eunuch Sanbao were used for carrying cargo, some for transporting grain, some for combat, and some for living. There were detailed divisions of labor and many types of ships.

There is no doubt that it is an invincible fleet with treasure ships as the main body and both offensive and defensive capabilities.

In one voyage, it could carry tens of thousands of naval soldiers, mobilize thousands of cannons, and even put light boats and light sails into the cabin and then send them out to fight.

This is far beyond the reach of the light sailing ships that make up the world's mainstream ocean fleet today.

If we must make an analogy, among all the people in Yuxi Palace, only Zhu Houcong, who had lived two lives as a human, could make a rough judgment that Zheng He's treasure ship was an aircraft carrier with primitive power.

Once joining the competition for ocean hegemony, it will be tantamount to a dimensionality reduction attack for the West.

However, during the Yongle period, Emperor Chengzu Wen and eunuch Sanbao sent a fleet of treasure ships to the Western Ocean, more to show off military power and demonstrate national prestige, but they did not think about the slave world.

This also made the Ming Dynasty miss the opportunity to reap the world and benefit itself.

After the Yongle period, a series of changes in the Ming Dynasty left it with no energy to take care of overseas affairs, which gave the two tiny countries the opportunity to plunder the world.

More than a hundred years later, it became very difficult for the Ming Dynasty to even build treasure ships. It was not a problem of materials or raw materials, but the treasure ship maps and navigation charts were gone.

During the Chenghua period, out of consideration for opening up resources and saving money, and with the advice of the eunuchs, Emperor Xianzong wanted to sail to the West again to change the national situation. However, when he sent people to the Ministry of War to ask for the treasure ship maps and nautical charts that Eunuch Sanbao used on his voyage to the West, he found nothing.

When the Minister of War Xiang Zhong wanted to arrest someone and question him, Liu Daxia, a doctor of the Vehicle Department, who was standing nearby, tried to stop him by saying, "Sanbao's voyage to the West cost tens of millions in money and grain, and tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians died. Even if he brought back treasures, what good would it do to the country? This is just a bad policy, and the ministers should advise against it. Even if the old case still exists, it should be investigated to eradicate the root of the problem. Why bother to investigate whether it exists or not?"

The treasure ship map and navigation chart of eunuch Sanbao’s voyage to the West have been hidden!
Afterwards, it was deduced that the person most likely to have hidden the treasure ship map and navigation map was Liu Daxia, the doctor of the Imperial Chariot Office.

However, there was a lot of controversy in the court at that time about reopening the maritime ban. To put it bluntly, many princes and ministers during the Chenghua period were the beneficiaries of the maritime ban.

Although the royal caravans also sailed to the West, there were no emperor caravans, let alone court caravans. All the profits were earned through smuggling by princes, ministers, and Chaozhou merchants.

Emperor Xianzong wanted to reopen the maritime ban and sail to the West again, which would undoubtedly harm the interests of princes, ministers and Chaozhou merchants, and naturally aroused strong opposition.

Liu Daxia, who deliberately robbed and hid treasure ship maps and navigation charts, was one of them, and Xiang Zhong, the then Minister of War, was also one of them.

Xiang Zhong and Liu Daxia joined forces to play a double act, and with the protection of the princes and ministers in the court, the situation immediately came to a deadlock.

But Emperor Xianzong was helpless because the problem was caused by his concubine and wet nurse, Wan Zhen'er.

Emperor Xianzong had always wanted to make this wet nurse, who was seventeen years older than him, the empress, but was frequently opposed by court officials.

Faced with the possible impact on the interests of going to sea, the princes and ministers gradually began to soften their stance on making Wan Zhen'er the queen.

The art of compromise reappears.

Just when Emperor Xianzong was about to give up on reopening the maritime ban and the princes and ministers agreed to make Wan Zhen'er the empress, Wan Zhen'er suddenly died.

After sending away his beloved concubine and wet nurse, Emperor Xianzong's health deteriorated. Not to mention reopening the maritime ban, he couldn't even concentrate on state affairs. Less than half a year later, he passed away.

During the Hongzhi period, Liu Daxia, who had hidden the treasure ship maps and navigation charts, took over Xiang Zhong's power and became the Minister of War. The issue of reopening the maritime ban was never mentioned again by Emperor Xiaozong.

Now, if the Ming Dynasty wants to sail to the West again, it must prepare an invincible fleet, and accurate nautical charts are also indispensable.

Liu Daxia, who might have been in hiding, had died as early as the 11th year of Zhengde. After that, no one of his descendants served as an official. The entire family seemed to have disappeared without a trace.

At least, in the memories of Gao Gong, Hu Zongxian, Li Chunfang and Wang Chonggu, four knowledgeable ministers of the time, there was no impression of the Liu family anymore.

The past events, today, and the disappearance of the Liu family, the Fourth Elder knew that there must be something fishy going on, but he couldn't care less at the moment and could only investigate it later.

The current situation is that the emperor wants to sail to the West again. If there is anyone or any family in the Ming Dynasty who can produce the treasure ship map and the navigation map, then Chen Yiqun and the Chen family are the most likely ones.

Hu Zongxian's reminder made the eyes of the people in the hall light up. They almost forgot about this family that was like a treasure.

Zhu Houcong looked at the person serving beside him and said, "Huang Jin."

"The servant is here."

"Where is Elder Chen?"

"To answer your Majesty's question, it is within Shaanxi Province," Huang Jin replied.

With the cooperation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot, Chen Yiqin's national policy of surveying land and distributing land equally to the people was rapidly advanced. In northern Zhili and Shanxi, the basic national policy was fully completed. Subsequently, Chen Yiqin entered nearby Shaanxi.

Zhu Houcong nodded and said, "Send someone to ask. If the Chen family has any information about Eunuch Sanbao's voyage to the West, have them send it to the capital."

"Yes."

Huang Jin accepted the order.

Finding treasure ship maps, navigation charts, transporting treasure ship maps, navigation charts, these have nothing to do with the cabinet. We just need to wait for the results. The elders will take their leave.

When returning to the cabinet, Prime Minister Gao Gong sighed three times as the court had to spend money again.

The holy order is hard to disobey!
After the ministers left, Zhu Houcong said indifferently: "Let the Jinyiwei investigate and find the descendants of the Liu family. If they can't find them, dig up Liu Daxia and the Liu family's ancestral tombs first."

Liu Daxia's concealment of the treasure ship maps and navigation charts may have been due to his political views or he may have been influenced by others, but his actions caused the Ming Dynasty to miss an opportunity to become the overlord of the sea and conquer the world.

Even if he had made contributions during the Hongzhi and Zhengde dynasties, he delayed the progress of the Ming Dynasty for decades or even hundreds of years. Even if he died, he would not be forgiven.

"Yes."

……

Bashang. It is located on the plateau west of Bashui River, hence its name. It was once the place where Liu Bang stationed his troops, and it is also the location of the tomb of Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng.

"A picture of a treasure ship?"

"Navigation chart?"

When the news came, Chen Yiqin muttered a few words subconsciously, and then he understood Yuxi Palace's thoughts.

Reopen the maritime ban and conquer the world.

Chen Yiqin also knew the reason why they sent people to ask him and the Chen family. It was nothing more than that the court "lost" the files of eunuch Sanbao's voyage to the West.

As the current head of the Chen family, Chen Yiqun really didn't know about this part, so he went to see Chen Ping, the oldest elder in the clan.

"A picture of a treasure ship?"

"Navigation chart?"

Similar to Chen Yiqin's reaction, clan elder Chen Ping was also stunned. He muttered a few words, his brows sometimes frowned and sometimes relaxed.

I seem to have this content in my memory, but it was too long ago and I’m not sure when it’s suddenly mentioned.

Fortunately, there were more than one Chen family elders on the plain. Upon hearing the call from the chief elder, several other elders gathered around.

When everyone got together, they came up with a rough idea. It turned out that there really was one in the Chen family.

The Chen family put in a lot of effort in compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia. To express their gratitude, Emperor Chengzu Wen specially allowed the Chen family to reproduce some ancient books, rare books and secret collections.

During the Yongle reign, the eunuch Sanbao's voyage to the West was an event that attracted much attention from the court and the public. Although countless Ming people did not believe that the West could have anything that surpassed their own, at a time when entertainment was scarce, they were curious and playful, wanting to see if the West could come up with some new tricks.

Every time eunuch Sanbao sailed to the West, it was a major event that spread throughout the world. Since it was a major event, there was no reason for the Chen family not to pay attention to it.

When Emperor Chengzu Wen showed favor, the Chen family naturally proposed to reproduce the treasure ship map and navigation map.

Emperor Chengzu Wen did not refuse, and the Chen family got the treasure ship map and navigation map.

Afterwards, the Chen family built several treasure ships according to the treasure ship map. Of course, the scale and other aspects were reduced many times and could not be compared with Zheng He's treasure ship at all.

The Chen family sent a clansman out to sea with the reprinted nautical chart, but they were greatly disappointed.

In the eyes of the Chen family, the vast West is like an uncivilized wilderness, where people eat raw meat and drink blood everywhere.

The Chen family discovered that the princes and ministers of the imperial court were engaging in smuggling and making huge profits by reselling on both ends.

But the Chen family was not interested in money, and they even sneered at the actions of princes and ministers who stole the country's wealth for their own benefit. After going to the West twice, they never played again.

This is also related to the strong winds and waves at sea and the danger of ocean voyages.

The Chen family has never been adventurous. Even if there are people in the family who like adventure, the decisions of the Chen family must be followed. Otherwise, the Chen family rules are not a joke.

Therefore, the treasure ship map and navigation map reproduced during the Yongle period, as well as some discoveries made by the Chen family during their two voyages to the West, were all hidden in the deepest part of the Chen family's records.

That is to say, none of the Chen family members had been high-ranking officials for generations, and everyone lived a long life. When the elders of the family got old, they would go into the library to read some "humanities" books and records. Otherwise, you would have to go back and check carefully to find out.

Chen Yiqin's two sons, Chen Yubi and Chen Yujie, were pouring tea and water beside the elders, listening to them talk about "humanities" books and records, with strange light flashing in their eyes.

Chen Family Library.

It has always been the Chen family's forbidden area, where all the Chen family's heritage and wealth are hidden.

Ordinary members of the tribe can only take books and check them from the outer part of the library. Members of the tribe who are good at reading or have talents in certain areas can enter the inner layer to take books and check them.

As for the innermost part, no one can enter except the head of the family and the elders, not even the son of the head of the family.

The books on the outer layer and the inner layer have all been screened and deleted by the successive heads and elders of the Chen family, so it is impossible for there to be anything good in them.

The more mysterious it is, the more inspiring it is. Every member of the Chen family has dreamed of looking into the innermost part of the library since childhood, and they firmly believe that there are interesting things there.

At this moment, peeking into the innermost corner of the library, years of obsession were immediately awakened. The two young men, who were rising in the Ming Dynasty and had a bright future, looked at each other tacitly and saw the "fire" rising in each other's eyes.

You must become the clan elder!
We must go deep into the library!

Chen Yiqin and the elders of the Chen family were completely unaware of the changes in the mentality of their children and grandchildren, and confirmed the existence of the treasure ship map and nautical chart, as well as their location in the library.

Chen Yiqin wrote a letter on the spot and asked the Jinyiwei to deliver it to his hometown in Nanchong, Sichuan. He also asked the Jinyiwei to show the letter to the elders of the clan who stayed behind. After the Chen family took it out, the Jinyiwei would deliver it to the capital.

The stakes are high.

The Imperial Guard sent three captains to handle the matter, and just after the captains left, the elder of the Chen family looked unhappy.

It’s not that I’m reluctant to part with the family collection, I just feel a little cold.

"Clan elder?"

Chen Yiqin noticed the abnormality of the elders and called out to them. Elder Chen Ping waved his hand to indicate that everything was fine. When Chen Yiqin approached, he whispered, "Xiao Yifu, do you think there is really karma in this world?"

Chen Yiqin was startled and asked, "Great Patriarch, what do you mean?"

"Where is this?"

"Bashang."

"This is the birthplace of the Liu family and the tomb of Emperor Hanwen. I went to the capital fifty years ago. At that time, the treacherous eunuch Liu Jin was in power, and Liu Daxia was fighting with him. The situation was very intense in the capital. At that time, all the scholars in the capital praised Liu Daxia as worthy of being the descendant of the Han Dynasty. I checked and found that it was fake. However, Liu Daxia hid the treasure ship map and the navigation map. My Chen family can confirm that it is real. Now, we have just arrived here, and the tomb of the tyrant is right in front of us. The court is about to reopen the sea ban. Liu Daxia's private affairs have been exposed after nearly a hundred years. The emperor asked my Chen family about the 'two maps'. Why do I feel like Emperor Hanwen is pretending to be the descendant of the Han Dynasty?"

Elder Chen Ping looked in the direction of Ba Ling and said in a calm tone, "Do you still remember Liu Daxia's last words when he died?"

Chen Yiqin was also a little cold for some reason, and replied: "Don't ask people to flatter you, or they will feel ashamed in the underworld."

As the Minister of War of the Ming Dynasty, Liu Daxia did not want anyone to write his epitaph before his death, and did not allow anyone to use flattering words, which made him feel ashamed in the underworld.

Liu Daxia, what did you feel guilty about when you died?
After Liu Daxia's death, the Huarong Liu family gradually disappeared, but the Chen family had their own source of information, that the Huarong Liu family did change their surnames. In the late Western Han Dynasty, after Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, the Liu clan members changed their surnames to escape Wang Mang's pursuit and persecution. Some of them fled to the Jiangnan area and changed their surnames to Jin.

During these decades, among countless smugglers, a family with the surname Jin stood out. Their business extended from Japan in the east to the Western Ocean in the west. At a time when the Shanxi merchants, the Huizhou merchants were destroyed and the Chaozhou merchants were declining, they were undoubtedly "big merchants".

Could that be the Huarong Liu family?

(End of this chapter)