My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 179 The Japanese Calculation
However, if the "Hongwu Encyclopedia" wants to reach the height of the "Yongle Encyclopedia" mentioned by Lao Li, it would have to cover everything from astronomy to geography, from ancient times to the present, from medicine to phonetics, from the Book of Changes to the Book of Songs, as well as painting, sculpture, opera, skills, etc.

This is a huge project unprecedented in history and it cannot be completed overnight.

Moreover, it would be difficult for Fang Xiaoru to accomplish anything in his lifetime relying solely on himself. He would need the cooperation of countless literati and craftsmen to succeed.

When this idea was shared with Fang Xiaoru, he was so shocked that he was speechless and it took him a long time to come back to his senses.

According to Your Majesty, this can be called a unique book that encompasses everything, and it is also a grand summary of the history of Chinese civilization!
Compared with your majesty's ambition, his thoughts are really nothing.

Then, his eyes shone with pride. If he were to preside over the compilation of this unprecedented and probably unparalleled masterpiece, then he, Fang Xiaoru, would truly be remembered in history!
Since His Majesty has proposed this to me, could it be that His Majesty means... this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
This was exactly what Zhu Yuanzhang meant. Although Fang Xiaoru was still young and not as experienced as great scholars like Lan Zhi, his knowledge and talent were amazing. Not to mention anything else, just looking at his position as newspaper editor, he did a great job.

Many of the sharp articles in the newspaper were written by him. Now that newspapers have become a must-read for scholars and even ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty, Fang Xiaoru should be credited with the greatest contribution.

But the most important thing is that Lao Li has a high opinion of him. In another future, when facing Zhu Di's threat of killing all nine clans, he was able to stick to his integrity, which shows that this man's character is as solid as a rock. It is most appropriate to let him preside over the compilation of the "Hongwu Encyclopedia".

However, compiling the "Hongwu Encyclopedia" is not a one-time thing, but a long-term project that requires cooperation and collaboration from all parties.

More importantly, this will consume a lot of manpower and financial resources!

But things can be done more easily if you have money. After some preparation, Monk Daoyan will be able to go on a diplomatic mission to Japan. I believe that it won't be long before all of Japan's mountains of gold and silver will fall into his hands!

The map of Japanese mineral deposits that Lao Li sent me shows that in addition to three super silver mountains, there are also several gold mountains!

These all belong to the Ming Dynasty!

After finalizing the plan, Zhu Yuanzhang specially issued an imperial decree to promote Fang Xiaoru to the position of Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion. In addition to continuing to preside over the publication of newspapers and adding content to increase national identity, another major task was to preside over the compilation of "Hongwu Encyclopedia".

Fang Xiaoru gladly accepted the order and took his leave. At this moment, Mao Xiang came to the palace and asked to meet the emperor.

Mao Xiang's entry into the palace at this time must have been related to the Japanese delegation, so the emperor immediately asked the eunuch to summon him to an audience.

After Mao Xiang entered the bedroom, he bowed respectfully and flattered him, "Your Majesty, you are indeed very smart!"

Then, he got straight to the point and said, "That day, after receiving the order, I sent out two groups of people in disguise to monitor the Southern Dynasty delegation and the Northern Dynasty delegation respectively.

After several days of close surveillance, I discovered that the Southern Dynasty delegation seemed to be particularly interested in the Xinglong Shipyard in Tianfu. Almost every day, they would send people dressed as Ming Dynasty citizens to stroll around the shipyard and often invite the shipyard's craftsmen to drink.

Their excuses were that they wanted to work in the factory to earn money, or they were simply curious about why steamships could sail without sails.

I think their purpose is to get to know the craftsmen and get to know the inside information of the shipyard!"

Xinglong Shipyard?

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. Before the shipyard in Songjiang Prefecture was completed, Xinglong Shipyard was the only factory in the Ming Dynasty that could build steamships. The purpose of the Southern Dynasty delegation's actions was self-evident!

"Did they find out anything?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked quickly.

"In order not to alert the enemy, a few of my clever subordinates have also mixed in with the workers. Through observation over the past few days, the Japanese have not been able to find out any useful information."

Zhu Yuanzhang's frown finally relaxed.
Fortunately, Lao Li reminded us early and asked us to be vigilant against the Japanese. Otherwise, if they really infiltrated the shipyard, the losses would be huge!
But these damn Japanese invaders are still unwilling to give up their evil intentions. As we can see from the video, these guys are full of greedy desire to possess the Chinese land.

Now they want to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty, but the Ming Dynasty has long been eyeing their capital!
"We will continue to closely monitor the Xinglong Shipyard. If necessary, we will lecture the shipyard managers. All news related to the shipyard, including the organization and training of workers, and especially the technical process of shipbuilding, must not be disclosed to the public!

You should discuss this matter with Li Min. Remember, you must keep it secret. At the same time, you must catch the Japanese's flaws in secret. It will be of great use to us!" "I understand!" Mao Xiang respectfully accepted the order. In fact, he could guess what His Majesty meant by "of great use".

From the moment His Majesty said he would send Monk Daoyan as an envoy to Japan, he understood that His Majesty had long-term plans for Japan, and behind all this were ideas from strange people.

If the strange man wants to take action against Japan, won't Japan be under his control?
This is a big chess game. Everyone is in the game. Your Majesty is the one playing chess, and the strange man is the master who guides Your Majesty in playing chess behind the scenes!

Not only Mao Xiang, but also Li Shangshu of the Ministry of Works and Yang Shangshu of the Ministry of Revenue are all chess pieces in this big chess game.

But he, Mao Xiang, is willing to be your majesty's vanguard. No matter for his own achievements or for the eternal cause of the Ming Dynasty, being able to participate in this big chess game is a great blessing in life!
I believe that both Minister Li and Minister Yang think so.

Catching the Southern Dynasty's flaws is just a small step in this big chess game.

"What about the Northern Dynasty? What actions are they taking now?" Zhu Yuanzhang continued to ask.

Mao Xiang immediately said, "This is also the main reason why I came to the palace to meet Your Majesty. The people of the Northern Dynasty have already started contacting the people of the Industrial Department's Armament Bureau!"

"What?" Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately furious. The Ordnance Bureau of the Industry Department was responsible for the production and manufacturing of needle-fired guns, which was the most important link in the entire industrial system of the Ming Dynasty. The manufacturing process of needle-fired guns was the core of the core, the most secret of secrets. How could there be any mistakes?
But I didn’t expect that the people in the Armament Bureau actually colluded with the Northern Dynasty delegation. These damn traitors!
Now, what Zhu Yuanzhang hates most are those who have become traitors!

"Who on earth is so audacious as to collude with the Japanese and act as a traitor to them?

I will never forgive him!"

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's face change drastically, Mao Xiang quickly said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. The people in our Industry Department's Armament Bureau are all good people. None of them colluded with the Japanese!"

"Mao Xiang, are you teasing me?"

"I dare not. I deserve death. I said the wrong thing."

Mao Xiang hurriedly explained: "The Northern Dynasty delegation sent a secret envoy to secretly contact Liu Sanwu, the head of the Military Equipment Bureau, and also presented ten taels of gold."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, but the anger in his eyes grew more and more intense.

"Ten taels of gold, what a generous sum!"

However, Mao Xiang's next words turned his anger into joy.

"Liu Sanwu accepted the gold and provided some information to the Northern Dynasty's secret envoy. Then he turned around and found the Jinyiwei, handed over all the gold, and told them everything.

His relatives died in the Japanese invasion in Shaoxing Prefecture, and he hated the pirates, so the information he provided to the Northern Dynasty were all irrelevant.

As for how to deal with Liu Sanwu, I dare not make a decision casually, so I would like to ask Your Majesty, how to decide? "

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and said:
“This Liu Sanwu seems to have been promoted by Li Min to be the person in charge, and he is also the number one contributor to the smooth production of the assembly line!

Li Min has good vision, and Liu Sanwu has not let me down. Let him continue to play along with the Northern Dynasty's secret envoy. After this matter is over, I will definitely not treat him unfairly!"

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(End of this chapter)