The Age of Discovery: Chinese cuisine swept across Europe

Min Xi was led directly to the backyard. It was freezing cold and Zhang Juzheng was in poor health, so he could not move around conveniently and could not meet the guests in the front yard.

When Min Xi saw Zhang Juzheng, he bowed respectfully and said, "I am honored to meet you, Mr. Lord. Are you doing well these days?"

Zhang Juzheng waved his right hand and said, "It's OK. I finally managed to wait until you came back. Lord Min, there's no need to be polite. Please take a seat. I was relieved when I learned that you returned safely yesterday. Did you gain anything from this trip?"

Min Xi sat down and carefully observed Zhang Juzheng's condition. He was wrapped in a thick fox fur, curled up in a grand chair, the back of which was wrapped in tiger skin, surrounding him in the chair. The light in the room was a little dim, and there was still a candle in the daytime, but he could still see that he was haggard. Although his illness did not kill him, it at least took away half of his life.

Min Xi felt a little depressed. He calmed himself down and reported to Zhang Juzheng what he had gained from this trip.

When Zhang Juzheng heard that they had reached the Australian continent and found several gold mines there, his mood suddenly became high: "It was worth the trip! Those gold mines can solve the financial difficulties of the Ming Dynasty. Have you found the rubber trees that Lord Min needs?"

Min Xi shook his head: "No. I originally planned to go directly to South America from the South Sea continent, but the natives there are very backward and do not know how to farm. They rely entirely on gathering and hunting. We cannot get enough supplies to cope with the long transoceanic voyage. For safety reasons, we did not go to South America. Let's wait until our people have a firm foothold in the South Sea continent and can plant enough food and vegetables before going there."

Zhang Juzheng tapped his finger on the armrest of the chair and said, "It took you a year and a half to go to the Nanyang Continent. How long will it take to go from the Nanyang Continent to South America?"

Min Xi said: "It doesn't take a year and a half to get from Quanzhou to the South Sea continent. It can be reached in more than two months. This trip was mainly sailing around the South Sea continent and looking for mineral deposits. It took more than nine months. If everything goes well, it will take two or three months to get from the South Sea continent to South America."

"In that case, it's not too far if we start from Nanyang."

"It sounds not far, but the biggest problem is that the distance between the Nanyang Continent and South America is not like the distance from Daming to the Nanyang. There are a lot of islands along the way to provide fresh water and fruit and vegetables. It is much more difficult."

"In that case, let's discuss whether to go or not. You went to the palace to meet the emperor yesterday, and I'm sure his Majesty must be very happy," Zhang Juzheng asked.

Min Xi nodded: "Your Majesty is very happy."

"Your Majesty, have you mentioned how to mine the minerals in the South Seas?"

"I've asked about it before." Min Xi then explained the plan they had discussed for mining. "We mainly referred to the experience of European countries in developing South America. There is no need for the court to send people to mine gold. Private merchants will go there on their own initiative. This will drive the process of sinicization of the Nanyang continent."

Zhang Juzheng asked: "What is the process of sinicization?"

Min Xi then told them about his idea of ​​transforming the local indigenous people.

Zhang Juzheng really understood his approach: "From a long-term perspective, it is indeed necessary. You mean, the court does not have to participate in the mining of gold, but only let private merchants mine it, and the court collects half of the taxes?"

Min Xi looked at Zhang Juzheng and asked, "What do you think, Lord?"

"What if the court wants to participate?"

"It's not impossible for the court to participate, but I think the court needs to first solve the problem of currency control to avoid various social problems caused by excessive gold and silver." Min Xi told Zhang Juzheng about the economic problems he knew about. Gold and silver are good things, but too much of them will also cause various problems, the most obvious of which is inflation caused by excessive currency issuance.

After listening to Min Xi's explanation, Zhang Juzheng said: "Mr. Min is very reasonable. These need to be carefully considered, otherwise the more wealth there is, the more serious social problems it will become. I will call the officials of the Ministry of Revenue to discuss solutions later, and you can come along."

"I obey your command!" Min Xi naturally would not refuse.

Zhang Juzheng asked him about his experiences in Southeast Asia. His questions were much more practical than Wanli's. Wanli asked about the trip to Southeast Asia out of curiosity and just wanted to know those interesting things. Zhang Juzheng was more concerned about the current situation in various parts of Southeast Asia, the movements and influence of foreigners in Southeast Asia, etc. In the final analysis, their perspectives were different.

Later in the conversation, Min Xi couldn't help but ask why Zhang Juzheng didn't attend court: "I heard that the elder hasn't attended court for some time. Is it because of poor health?"

Zhang Juzheng said, "It's not entirely because of my health. Now that the reform has been completed, Your Majesty is over 20 years old and has taken charge of the government. He is young and energetic, and does not need a regent who makes all the decisions for him. I know that if this continues, the kindness we have received will be worn out, so I will take the initiative to retire and stay home on the grounds of illness."

Min Xi was shocked when he heard this. He thought that a powerful minister like Zhang Juzheng, who held great power, would definitely not give up power easily. He didn't expect that Zhang Juzheng would actually think it through on his own and be willing to let go.

"The elder is knowledgeable!"

Zhang Juzheng smiled and said, "Thanks to my friend's advice."

In fact, the main reason was that he had a quarrel with Wanli over some political affairs last year. After he returned, he fell seriously ill and almost died. The emperor and the empress dowager did not send people to ask about his well-being every day as they did in the past. The ministers in the court also received this signal. For a while, Zhang's residence became deserted. Except for those ministers promoted by him personally, many of his colleagues did not send anyone to greet him.

Fortunately, he managed to survive in the end. He realized one thing: the tea was getting cold before his people even left. If he really died, the situation that Min Xi mentioned, such as the confiscation of property and extermination of the clan, would most likely happen. His years of hard work would be wasted, and the whole family would suffer.

So he asked for leave from the emperor after he recovered from his illness and recuperated at home. As soon as he took leave to recuperate, the emperor's attitude improved, and he would send people to ask for his opinions on some important matters of the court. He realized that he needed to find a suitable time to retire, so that Wanli and the empress dowager would remember his old friendship and would not turn against him.

And this opportunity is after Min Xi and Yun Ji come back. Because the young emperor trusts Min Xi and Yun Ji very much, with them around, he should be able to land smoothly without being taken advantage of by his political enemies and put to death.