The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Wanli pointed at the map and said, "Min, what you said does make sense. According to your opinion, how should we conquer this continent?"

Min Xi said: "I think we should influence them from all aspects of life. Send people to teach them the farming methods and animal husbandry of the Ming Dynasty, teach them to speak Chinese, learn Chinese characters, wear Chinese clothes, and even learn the Han people's etiquette, morality, and integrity."

Wanli frowned and said, "This may be difficult to handle. My dear, who do you think is the right person to send?"

"Your Majesty, don't worry. This is a long-term plan that cannot be accomplished overnight. There is no need to do anything deliberately. Just encourage Ming merchants to go to the South Seas to dig for gold. When we Ming people go there, we can influence all aspects of the local people. When the time is right, we can set up a province there and send officials to govern, or train officials there."

Yun Ji added: "Lord Min is right. The merchants of the Ming Dynasty have already opened the first gold mine in the Nanyang Continent. They have built houses and roads, and cultivated and raised livestock there. Now they have led the three local native tribes to learn to imitate our Ming Dynasty lifestyle and learn how to farm and raise livestock. We can also use those natives. We can hire them to mine for us, and sell the vegetables and grains they grow to us."

Wanli nodded and said, "That's great. I will issue a decree to encourage merchants to go to Southeast Asia to open mines and pan for gold."

Min Xi added: "However, we need to send navy officers and soldiers to protect Ming merchant ships from being plundered by pirates, and to protect local mineral deposits from being seized by Westerners."

Wanli also knew that if he wanted to gain something, he had to pay a price, so he nodded and agreed: "This is as it should be."

After Wanli looked at the map, he checked the tributes presented by Min Xi and Yun Ji. Whether it was pearls or corals, they were all of the best quality. Wanli was very satisfied. He certainly didn't need these things himself, but they were useful for rewarding concubines and Ming officials. Min Xi and Yun Ji brought these back, which also helped him make money.

Wanli discussed with them the mining and taxation issues of Australian gold mines. Yun Ji had already written his suggestions in the memorial. Of course, they were only preliminary opinions. The specific decision would have to be determined after discussion among the cabinet ministers.

At noon, Wanli gave the two of them an imperial meal. They had lunch in the palace, and then he talked to Yun Ji and Min Xi for a long time about their experiences in Southeast Asia. He did not let the two leave the palace until it was dark.

At this time, the government office was closed, and the two men did not go to the government office again, but went straight home.

On the way back, Min Xi said to Yun Ji, "We don't know what the conflict between His Majesty and Zhang Gelao is about, and we can't ask. So should we go visit Zhang Gelao?"

Compared with Wanli, Min Xi was more concerned about Zhang Juzheng's situation. After all, according to the original historical course, Zhang Juzheng would have been gone at this time, but he was still alive now, which meant that he had gradually moved the gears of history a little bit.

It was reasonable for him to go visit Zhang Juzheng. After all, it was Zhang Juzheng who supported their mission and said he would do his best to support them until they returned.

But now Wanli has a problem with Zhang Juzheng, who is claiming to be ill at home. If he goes to visit Zhang Juzheng at this time, will it make Wanli unhappy? But if he really doesn't go, it would be too cold for Zhang Juzheng's heart, and Min Xi himself can't get over this hurdle.

Yun Ji obviously had a lot of concerns. He thought for a long time before saying, "I should go and take a look. But I don't know what the current situation is in the court. Tomorrow I will go to the Ministry of Revenue to ask the Shangshu for the specific situation, and then make a decision when I come back."

Min Xi thought for a moment and said, "How about I go first tomorrow, and you decide whether to go or not. I'll go and find out what the situation is. If His Majesty and Lord Zhang are at loggerheads, we don't have to be tied to Lord Zhang's boat. We should leave a way out."

Yun Ji smiled bitterly when he heard this: "What are you talking about? We have always been of the same blood and have always stood together. How can we be separated!"

Min Xi shook his head: "That's not what I meant. I meant that if I'm really implicated because of Zhang Gelao, you have to find a way to save me."

"I was promoted by Lord Zhang. If Lord Zhang is in trouble, how can I hide? I will accompany you to Zhang's Mansion tomorrow." Yun Ji made up his mind.

"This is a different time. You have to listen to me. Don't go yet. Let me go first." Min Xi put his hand on the back of Yun Ji's hand.

Yun Ji looked at him for a long time before nodding: "Okay, I'll follow your arrangements." If anything happened to Min Xi, he would never live alone. He didn't care about changing the fate of the Ming Dynasty. Anyway, even if history continued to develop in the original direction, at most in a few hundred years, they would still return to the top of the world. There was nothing wrong with the era in which Min Xi lived.

Min Xi never expected Yun Ji to think this way. He was already considering what gift to bring to Zhang Juzheng.

When they got home, it was already dark. Yun Lin told them that Yun Zhen and Yun An had been there and waited for them at home for most of the day, but when they saw that it was getting late and they hadn't returned yet, they left.

"They came here to explain the Yunxiang matter. I told them that you two had just returned and had many things to report to the court and the government, so they were too busy. I asked them to go back first, and then send someone to invite them after the two brothers had finished their work." Yun Lin said.

Yun Ji patted his brother's shoulder with satisfaction: "Not bad, not only has he grown taller, but he can also arrange things."

Yun Lin smiled shyly: "There are many things to do at home. I have grown up and want to share some of the burden with my brother."

"Very good. Now that you have grown up, there are some things that you can learn earlier. But at this stage, your main focus should be on your studies." Yun Ji said.

Yun Lin nodded: "I know, big brother."

They had been away from home for too long, and there were many things that needed to be dealt with, including court affairs, business matters, the two glass factories that Min Xi was in charge of, and the blacksmith shop that made bicycles.

But the most important thing now is the affairs of the court. After all, they are officials appointed by the court. The purpose of this trip is also to go on official business, to be an envoy of the court to Southeast Asia, so they have to deal with the official business first.

The next day, Min Xi and Yun Ji went back to the government office to work. They had to bring gifts to their colleagues. The gifts were different according to their intimacy and rank: those with high positions and good relationships would naturally receive more precious gifts, such as pearls and corals, while those with average relationships would receive opals, conch shells, etc. They would also give some Fujian tea to everyone.

When Min Xi came back, his colleagues in the government office came to greet him warmly, chatted with him, and asked him about his experience in Southeast Asia. The group of people listened with great interest. Although the people in the Honglu Temple had dealt with foreign envoys, few of them had ever left the territory of the Ming Dynasty. At most, they had gone to the Tatars in the north, so they were very interested in Min Xi's experience and envied him.

Of course, if they were really asked to go on a diplomatic mission by ship, they would definitely not go. This is a typical example of Ye Gong liking dragons more than he loves them.

Officials of all ranks from the Honglu Temple usually come to the yamen and just sign in and leave. Today, because Min Xi came, everyone stayed until noon before leaving. The Honglu Temple has a special opening time and does not provide meals, otherwise this group of people would definitely pull Min Xi to the kitchen to eat and chat.

After everyone left, Min Xi also got up and left. He found a place to eat, and then asked a carriage to take him to Zhang's house.

When he arrived at Zhang's house, Min Xi handed over his visiting card. The doorman read it and asked, "Are you here to visit my master?"

Min Xi nodded and said, "Yes, I am Min Xi, the Left Secretary of the Honglu Temple. I just returned to Beijing from Southeast Asia. Please help me pass on the message, big brother."

The doorman was very quick and quickly handed the visiting card in. Not long after, someone came out to greet Min Xi. Min Xi had some impression of that person, who was the housekeeper of Zhang's house.

The housekeeper led Min Xi into the house and said as he walked, "The master has been unwell recently and has not seen any visitors for a long time. When the lady heard the name of Master Min, she quickly asked me to come and greet him."

Upon hearing this, Min Xi asked, "How is your master's health lately?"

The housekeeper sighed almost inaudibly: "He was ill a few years ago and is still recovering."

This was something Min Xi had expected. Although he managed to help Zhang Juzheng avoid his final fate, the time he could steal was ultimately limited.