Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

"Master Zhang, this...is not good, right?

I am only twelve years old, and my calligraphy is poor... let Master Zhang do it." Zhu Cilang was a little embarrassed.

No matter how clumsy you are, you are still better than me. Zhang Shikang frowned and said:

"Just you write it. This will be your family's property in the future. Don't hesitate."

Song Yude and Chen Yanzuo were just trying to flatter Zhang Shikang, so they didn't mind if Zhang Shikang didn't want to write.

The current prince will be the emperor in the future. It is a blessing for their first formal property to be awarded a plaque by the future emperor.

Seeing that Zhang Shikang was so fierce, Zhu Cilang had no choice but to agree.

In a house, an empty plaque had already been prepared. Chen Yanzuo had visited several shops that made plaques in the capital before he finally decided on one.

The plaque is very exquisitely made and is carved from the finest mahogany.

Princess Kunyi was very sensible and ground ink for her brother. The ink was golden yellow. Zhu Cilang took the brush and dipped it in the ink. He turned his head and said awkwardly:

"Master Zhang, what should I write?"

Zhang Shikang said without even thinking:

"Heliansheng No. 1 Porcelain Workshop."

If there is a first, there will definitely be a second. This is a good start.

Zhu Cilang was very obedient and finished writing the plaque after a short while.

It must be said that although Zhu Cilang is only twelve years old, his calligraphy is quite good, and his handwriting is graceful yet elegant.

It is at least ten times better than Zhang Shikang's calligraphy.

As soon as the plaque was inscribed, Song Yude and Chen Yanzuo ordered the craftsmen to move it away, and had people prepare firecrackers, and went to hang the plaque excitedly.

Zhu Cilang actually had a lot of questions in his mind since he came to the porcelain workshop. After Chen Yanzuo and his two big lights left, he asked:

“Why did Master Zhang build a porcelain workshop?

I heard that there are many porcelain workshops in Jiangnan. Master Zhang opened a workshop to compete with them for business?"

Zhu Cilang originally wanted to say that he was competing with the people for profit, but after thinking about it, he decided to change his way of saying it.

In his little head, he actually didn't quite understand, and he felt that this was not a good idea.

Zhu Cilang knew that Zhang Shikang was very powerful, and his father the Emperor had given Master Zhang great power. If his master wanted to compete with those Jiangnan porcelain workshops for business, those people would definitely not be able to defeat Master Zhang.

“Who said I want to sell these porcelains in the country?

When sold domestically, these porcelains are not only uncompetitive, but also low-priced and with slim profits.

Remember the sea trade I told you about?"

Zhu Cilang's eyes lit up.

"Master Zhang, are you planning to sell these porcelains to foreigners?"

"Of course, if a shipload of porcelain is sold to Japan, the profit is double, and if it is sold to India, the profit is triple.

If sold to Arabia, the profit will be five times.

If we cross the ocean to Europe, the profit will be ten times.

"Ten thousand taels of silver become one hundred thousand taels, understand?" Zhang Shikang taught earnestly.

Zhu Cilang frowned and thought for a moment before saying:

“But Master Zhang, I heard that the sea is not only stormy but can also capsize the boat.

I also heard that there would be many pirates who specialized in robbing and looting.

Very dangerous! "

"you're right.

But Xiao Zhu, when doing things, you can't back down when you encounter difficulties, right?" Zhang Shikang asked in return.

The three of them had traveled together many times and had already become familiar with each other. When they were alone without outsiders, Zhang Shikang preferred to call Zhu Cilang "Xiao Zhu".

"Yeah." Zhu Cilang said with certainty.

"There's an old saying among fishermen: The bigger the wind and waves, the more expensive the fish.

The same is true for maritime trade. You should know that for all business activities, profits are always proportional to risks.

If an industry has high profits but little risk, everyone will chase after it and profits will quickly drop.

The same is true for maritime trade, but maritime trade has an advantage: not everyone who wants to do it can do it.

Whether it is a shipwreck or pirates, most people stay away from it.

But that is why, as long as we can overcome these risks, we can make huge profits in the future that you can’t imagine.”

Zhang Shikang took the trouble to explain to Zhu Cilang.

Zhu Cilang had been learning the Four Books and Five Classics taught to him by the scholar-official. When Zhang Shikang met him for the first time, he felt that he was almost turned into a nerd.

He didn't want to see that he and his brother Chongzhen had worked so hard to revive the Ming Dynasty, but as soon as this guy came to power, he started to play tricks on the princes with beacons.

Therefore, he had to take action himself and make this kid understand that Confucianism is useless in making the country strong.

We need to let this kid open his eyes and see the world.

Zhang Shikang's persuasion was earnest and new questions immediately popped up in Zhu Cilang's mind.

"But Master Zhang, how do we avoid those risks?"

At this moment, Zhu Cilang's mind was full of curiosity. He was young, and the ocean was full of mysteries to him.

Whether it is the waves or the pirates, they only exist in the gentleman's mouth and books.

“That’s a good question.

I think you two don't need to go back tonight, I'll take you two somewhere."

As Zhang Shikang said this, he asked one of his personal guards to go to the imperial city and tell him to pass on a message to his brother Chongzhen, saying that he wanted to take the prince and his sister to Tianjin.

After hearing this, Zhu Cilang didn't feel anything, and was even a little bit expectant.

He has never spent a night outside the palace!

Princess Kunyi heard this and said anxiously:

"Where is Master Zhang taking me and my brother?

Why do we have to spend the night outside? This... this..."

She was a girl after all, and although she was only eleven years old, she already knew a lot of things.

Her inherent conservatism made her feel very uneasy at a young age.

"Oh, I forgot about the little princess.

I want to take your brother to Tianjin, where there is a naval base that our Ming Dynasty is building.

You are just a little girl, if you don't want to go, then follow my guards back to the palace." Zhang Shikang said casually.

But Princess Kunyi seemed to have made up her mind after hearing this. She gritted her teeth and said:

"If my royal brother doesn't go back, I...I won't go back either. Kunyi also wants to visit the naval base."

She didn't even know what a naval base was.

Seeing the little girl so persistent, Zhang Shikang didn't say anything.

Soon, Hong Xiucheng prepared the carriage and set off with a thousand guards.

The capital city seems not far from Tianjin, but since it is traveled by horse-drawn carriage, the speed is naturally not fast.

They set out at 3:00 p.m. and when it was getting dark, they had only gone halfway, and finally spent the night in Wuqing County.

They continued their journey early the next morning, and finally arrived at the mouth of the Wei River at noon.

The Wei River is the Haihe River in later generations, and it is also the location of the naval port of the First Fleet of the Ming Dynasty Navy.

The naval port was still under construction at that time, and countless craftsmen and laborers were busy working.

The naval port has begun to take shape. On the sea not far from the port, hundreds of warships of various sizes are docked in an orderly manner.

Looking at the blue sea and the hundreds of warships of various types, Zhang Shikang said to Zhu Cilang meaningfully:

"There is the answer you want!"

……