Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 185 Where is the new railway being built? It's you, Lao Zhu.

Although Liu Kuan knew that the Ming Dynasty had a great chance of winning this battle, he was still happy to hear the victory news. He immediately bowed and said, "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and asked with a smile, "Was the hot air balloon launch experiment successful?"

"Your Majesty, this launch experiment was quite successful..." Liu Kuan briefly recounted the experimental process and results.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face lit up with joy as he nodded, "Great! This elementary hot air balloon can rise over thirty feet and stay aloft for forty to fifty breaths (one breath is about six seconds). If we can also find a way to carry a person, we can use it for military observation!"

Zhu Yuanzhang had not forgotten the various uses of hot air balloons that Liu Kuan had described to him. Now that he heard that the hot air balloon launch experiment was successful, his first thought was to use it in the military.

Liu Kuan said, "Taking a manned hot air balloon into space involves life and death, so I'm afraid it will take several months to complete."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "If we can transfer a few death row prisoners to you, can we speed up the manned space flight experiment?"

In Lao Zhu's mind, death row prisoners obviously have no human rights, and Liu Kuan is not surprised by this.

He thought for a moment and said, "Even if we use death row prisoners for the experiment, I don't think the progress will be much faster."

Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Regardless of whether we can speed up the experiment, since manned space flight is dangerous, let the death row prisoners do it first."

Seeing that Lao Zhu had decided on the matter, Liu Kuan stopped arguing and turned around to ask the experimental team to make sufficient preparations before conducting the manned space experiment.

After discussing the hot air balloon, Zhu Yuanzhang said, "We have agreed to establish a government-run railway transportation company, open up some of its capacity to the private sector, and demutualize the company to raise funds by selling shares to wealthy private individuals."

"However, this matter must wait until the Northern Expedition is over. During this time, you should write a relevant memorial and submit it to the cabinet to go through the formalities."

Zhu Biao relayed the news of the establishment of a railway transportation company and its shareholding to Zhu Yuanzhang, who later summoned Liu Kuan to the palace to learn more about it.

Now that Old Zhu has considered the pros and cons and agreed to this matter, it is within Liu Kuan's expectations.

As for writing a memorial and following the procedure, it was also necessary, and he agreed immediately.

Zhu Yuanzhang then asked: "When the Ming Dynasty builds a new railway in the future, where do you think it would be best to build it first?"

Liu Kuan had actually considered this matter.

"Your Majesty, I believe we can first build a railway in the north from Zhending to Baoding and then to Peking."

"This area is all vast plains. Although there are many rivers, most of them are in the upper reaches. There are no large rivers that are too wide, making it a perfect training ground for railway workers."

"Later, we can build a railway along the Yangtze River from Beijing to Dangtu and then to Wuhu. Although there are hills in this section, the terrain is generally flat, which will allow railway workers to experiment with the technology of building railways in hilly areas."

"In addition, once the railway is completed, it will also make transportation between the capital and the prefectures in Zhili and the upper reaches of the Yangtze River more convenient."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even need to look at the map, the two railway lines Liu Kuan mentioned immediately appeared in his mind.

It is indeed easier to build a railway in the North China Plain, and Zhending is an important location where the North China Plain and the Loess Plateau connect. If there is a railway from Peking to Zhending, it will be beneficial to the military and economy of the Ming Dynasty.

As for building a railway from the capital to Wuhu, the benefits are just as Liu Kuan said - all the prefectures in western Zhili can go down the rivers to the capital, which is very convenient by boat, but going back requires going upstream, which is not so convenient.

If there were a railway from the capital to Wuhu, or even further upstream, it would indeed make transportation more convenient.

In addition, if the imperial court wants to raise funds from the public to build railways in the future, it will be very necessary to build a railway in Jiangnan as soon as possible, because in today's Ming Dynasty, most of the gentry and wealthy businessmen are in Jiangnan.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang had nothing else to say, Liu Kuan prepared to leave.

But then an eunuch outside the palace gate shouted, "Your Majesty, there's an urgent message from the Beiyang Navy, six hundred miles away!"

Six hundred miles of express was second only to eight hundred miles of express, and the Beiyang Navy was a military department. Old Zhu immediately said, "Present it!"

The young eunuch entered the hall and handed a sealed report to Li Gui, who then placed it on the imperial desk.

Zhu Yuanzhang examined the seal, opened it, and took out the report inside. He sneered, "Not only has the Goryeo Kingdom occupied Heishan Island, but its navy even dared to attack our Ming navy. How audacious!"

Zhu Yuanzhang then drummed his fingers on the imperial desk, as if deep in thought for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Liu Kuan, what do you think about taking back Jeju Island after this northern expedition?"

Jeonra Island?
Liu Kuan was a little confused for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, where is Jeonra Island?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little speechless and said, "Temra Island is what later became Jeju Island."

It turned out to be Jeju Island.

Liu Kuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "Jeju Island is right on the route from the Ming Dynasty to North America. Your Majesty is sending a fleet to explore America. It would be best if we could capture this island as soon as possible."

Zhu Biao said, "Father, Goryeo has already paid tribute and become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. If we seize Jeju Island by force, I am afraid it will damage the reputation of our suzerain state."

Zhu Yuanzhang was slightly displeased. He said, "We are not seizing Jeju Island by force. According to the historical records I have had people gather, and the intelligence obtained by Goryeo's Gwangmyeong Guard, Jeju Island was once the kingdom of Tamra a hundred or two hundred years ago." "Its ruler personally came to China to pay tribute during the Zhao Song Dynasty and even accompanied Emperor Zhenzong of Song on Mount Tai to participate in the Fengshan ceremony."

"About 180 years ago, Goryeo annexed Tamra and abolished its national name, first changing its name to Tamra County and later to Jeju."

"During the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, Goryeo was a vassal state of the Mongols. The Mongols then directly occupied Jeju Island and established the Tamra Military and Civil Administration Office on the island."

"For the next hundred years, the Mongols and Goryeo repeatedly exchanged views on the territorial sovereignty of Jeju Island."

"In the first year of the Wu Dynasty, Goryeo again asked Emperor Shundi of the Yuan Dynasty for Jeju Island. At that time, the Mongols were too far away to reach them, so they agreed to this."

"However, the Mongolian horse herders and Tamra people on the island resisted this, killed the officials sent by Goryeo, and occupied the island."

"It wasn't until the seventh year of the Hongwu reign that Goryeo sent troops to seize Jeju Island. Since the Ming Dynasty recognized the Mongol Yuan Dynasty as the legitimate ruler of China, Jeju Island naturally fell under the control of the Ming Dynasty."

"Although Goryeo paid tribute, it only referred the matter of Jeju Island to the Northern Yuan Dynasty and not to the Ming Dynasty. Later, it even sent troops to forcibly occupy Jeju Island. How could it be said that it regarded the Ming Dynasty as its suzerain?"

"Biao'er, think carefully. Shouldn't we take back Jeju Island, both morally and logically?"

After listening to Lao Zhu's "long speech", Liu Kuan almost couldn't help laughing.

It is obvious that Zhu Yuanzhang did a lot of homework in order to take over Jeju Island. After all, Zhu Yuanzhang only noticed Jeju Island when he copied the map of later generations from him. It is estimated that he may not have known about Tamra, a small island country that was destroyed during the Southern Song Dynasty.

But what Lao Zhu said does make some sense.

If you, Goryeo, can annex your vassal states, why can't my Ming Dynasty?

Not to mention, the Yuan Dynasty had already set an example before. The Ming Dynasty inherited the legacy of the Yuan Dynasty and did have the right to dispose of Jeju Island.

In fact, Zhu Biao had long known that Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to seize Jeju Island and even annex Goryeo.

He also knew that owning Jeju Island was important in ensuring the safety and stability of Ming Dynasty's shipping routes to North America.

He said that just now mainly because he was worried that Zhu Yuanzhang would be unreasonable and directly send troops to occupy Jeju Island.

Now that he knew Zhu Yuanzhang had done his homework, he naturally had no objections. After a moment's thought, he said, "Father, since Jeju Island should be under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty, you should send an envoy to Goryeo to question the matter. Perhaps we can reclaim the island without bloodshed."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "We must send an envoy to inform Goryeo, but I'm afraid that the Goryeo king and his ministers will not know what's good for them. If that's the case, we can only let the Goryeo navy practice with the Beiyang navy."

Hearing this, Liu Kuan couldn't help but suspect that Zhu Yuanzhang would use the Guangming Guards to manipulate Goryeo, deliberately making Goryeo dissatisfied so that he could fight the Goryeo navy.

Thinking of this, Liu Kuan immediately said: "Your Majesty, in fact, in history, Goryeo was destroyed nine years later."

Goryeo perished nine years later?

Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were both stunned when they heard this.

The father and son were still thinking about how to deal with (annex) Goryeo, and were suddenly surprised to hear that Goryeo would be destroyed nine years later.

Zhu Yuanzhang then asked, "How did Goryeo fall? It couldn't have been conquered by the Ming Dynasty, could it?"

Liu Kuan asked, "Your Majesty, do you know Lee Seong-gye?"

"Lee Seong-gye is a famous general and powerful official in Goryeo. How could we not know this? Could it be that in nine years, this man will destroy Goryeo and bring about the end of the dynasty?"

Liu Kuan nodded and said, "That's right—after Lee Seong-gye reached the pinnacle of power, he colluded with the powerful, deposed the King of Goryeo, and established the Joseon Dynasty."

"In later history, the Joseon Dynasty almost survived the Ming and Qing dynasties of China, lasting over 500 years and having a profound impact on the peninsula."

"If Ming wants to take over the peninsula, the best opportunity will be when Lee Seong-gye deposes the Goryeo king nine years from now."

Zhu Yuanzhang was delighted upon hearing this, and he did not hide it. He looked at Zhu Biao and said, "Biao'er, see? This is God letting our Ming Dynasty conquer Goryeo!"

Zhu Biao was very happy to have such a good opportunity to take over Goryeo - he was not opposed to the annexation of Goryeo, but just did not want too many people to die.

After the father and son were happy for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said, "Nine years is a bit too long. It seems we must find a way to help Li Chenggui and let him usurp the throne as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Liu Kuan almost couldn't help but give a thumbs up.

I thought to myself, you are worthy of being me, Old Zhu.

···
　Second update.

　　Good night~
　　
　　
　
(End of this chapter)