Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 453 Worries about the New Policies, A New Map of the Ming Dynasty!

Zhu Yuntong slowly shifted his gaze to Yang Shiqi, wanting to hear what else he was worried about.

Yang Shiqi bowed slightly, his tone respectful yet composed, and began to explain: "Since His Majesty implemented the new policies, former landlords and gentry have been exchanging their land for company stocks."

"As the stock market continued to rise, their wealth expanded like a snowball, and their affluence became increasingly apparent."

"Compared to land, stock trading is more convenient and faster, and it is much easier to liquidate than land."

"Although there are few sellers at present, this trend has quietly begun to emerge."

"These wealthy merchants have amassed mountains of silver, giving them ample confidence to squander it recklessly."

"Even those shareholders who haven't sold a single share are feeling quite pleased with themselves because their net worth has skyrocketed."

“When wealth is abundant, the desire for extravagance grows like wild grass.”

"They competed with each other, spending money like water, even taking pride in flaunting their wealth and regarding luxury as elegance."

At this point, Yang Shiqi's voice deepened, tinged with a hint of regret: "Not only wealthy merchants, but even ordinary people are spending far more lavishly than before."

"Under His Majesty's wise rule, the wages of both skilled craftsmen and unskilled laborers have risen steadily, while the price of grain has remained as stable as a rock, with only slight fluctuations that are negligible."

"The people's earnings from their labor, after deducting what they need to eat, still have money left over to squander."

"So they took this spare money and frequented taverns and teahouses, indulging in sensual pleasures."

"This trend is growing stronger every day, which has attracted a lot of criticism."

"Many people in the government and the public are worried, saying that the world is going downhill, that people are becoming extravagant and corrupt, and that the people are gradually losing their simple and honest ways."

Yang Shiqi shook his head slightly, seemingly both helpless and thoughtful about this trend.

He then looked up at Zhu Yunwen and said, “Your Majesty once said that this trend is called ‘consumption,’ which can stimulate the prosperity of the market, boost the sales of Ming Dynasty department stores, and drive the workshops under each company to speed up production and supply goods in an endless stream.”

"Therefore, His Majesty did not strictly suppress it, but only used the method of guidance to earnestly admonish the gentry and common people not to indulge excessively and to live within their means."

"However, the trend of extravagance continued like a river bursting its banks, growing worse day by day."

Yang Shiqi's expression revealed a hint of worry: "Emperor Taizu came from humble origins and devoted his life to frugality, self-discipline, and public service."

"The salaries of all officials were carefully calculated to ensure they were just enough to make ends meet, so as not to encourage extravagance."

"If Emperor Taizu were to step out of the inner palace and witness today's grand spectacle, seeing wealthy merchants vying in extravagance, common people competing in luxury, the bustling marketplace, and the prevailing decadent atmosphere, would he not be furious and condemn such wasteful practices as contrary to his governing principles?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen was slightly startled, and a hint of unexpected surprise flashed in his eyes.

He had indeed not given this much thought.

Yang Shiqi's words were like morning bells and evening drums, each word striking the heart and carrying great weight.

Amidst the economic boom and transformation, a trend of extravagance has also begun to quietly emerge.

As a result, social values ​​have subtly changed, with an atmosphere of extravagance and debauchery gradually becoming more prevalent, which many people find deeply repulsive and distasteful.

Among these people must have been the grandfather of Zhu Yunwen, the resolute and decisive founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty who hated evil.

Although Zhu had glimpsed some signs of extravagance when he was in Shanghai, the situation in Shanghai then was completely different from that in Beijing today.

Shanghai is a new city that rose from the barren land on the banks of the Huangpu River. The construction of the city was a massive project. The workers involved, whether they were laborers sweating profusely or merchants with dreams of getting rich, all carried the dream of changing their destiny through hard work and the endless desire to pursue more wealth.

They traveled to Shanghai, some to make a living, others to pursue their dreams, and all of them worked diligently and conscientiously.

Even when they have a spare moment, they only drink a few cups of rice wine, listen to a melodious Huangmei opera tune, take a short rest, and then plunge back into endless labor and toil.

Even if this kind of lifestyle has a touch of "enjoyment," it is understandable in Lao Zhu's eyes.

These people are exchanging their blood and sweat for meager rewards; their "extravagance" is nothing more than a moment's respite from exhaustion.

Even if a merchant has a fortune, he will invest most of it in expanding his business.

However, the current state of the capital is completely different.

The capital has always been a place where power and wealth converge, and it is full of powerful families and scions of noble families.

These spoiled young men were already accustomed to a life of luxury and idleness.

Since the implementation of the new policy, the stock market has boomed, the economy has surged, and wealth accumulation has become increasingly rapid.

These descendants of the powerful and wealthy are spending money like water with even greater arrogance than ever before.

Even worse, some newly rich people who became wealthy overnight by taking advantage of the new policies quickly joined this tide of extravagance, competing with each other and flaunting their wealth.

Even ordinary people, swept up in this restless atmosphere, have gradually lost their true selves.

The capital city is now brightly lit at night, with music and singing never ceasing, and dazzling lights everywhere, making people dazzled and mesmerized.

In taverns and teahouses, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air; in the streets and alleys, elegantly dressed carriages and beautiful women flowed endlessly.

This ancient capital seems to have transformed into a city of gold dust, which is both amazing and unsettling.

Zhu Yunwen was well aware that this was an inevitable byproduct of economic prosperity.

However, Old Zhu must have abhorred this.

Given his temperament, which is accustomed to a life of hardship, he would likely be furious to see the capital indulging in such extravagance and so many people squandering money and indulging in wasteful extravagance.

If Zhu Rongji becomes suspicious of the new policies and intervenes, or even forcibly stops the implementation of certain reforms, the foundation of the new policies may be shaken, and all previous efforts will be in vain.

This is precisely the unspoken concern behind Yang Shiqi's words.

He couldn't be too blunt.

This was enough for Zhu Yunwen to understand the meaning behind it.

"Grandfather will surely understand." Zhu Yunwen's tone was firm, his brows revealing an undeniable confidence.

From past interactions, he knew that although Lao Zhu was as fiery as fire, he was not an incorrigible person.

Moreover, during his stay in Shanghai, Zhu had already gained some understanding of economics and demonstrated an unusually open-minded attitude.

Persuading him might not be difficult.

Yang Shiqi paused, a hint of worry still lingering in his expression. "Your Majesty is so certain, perhaps I am worrying unnecessarily."

He ultimately said no more.

As an official outside the capital, and dealing with matters of the royal family, one should stop offering advice when it is appropriate to make his point.

After a thorough discussion, Zhu Yunwen made a decisive decision to summon the imperial physicians and researchers from the medical school to inquire in detail about the latest advancements in syringe injection technology, paving the way for Zhu's recovery and return.

At the same time, preparations were in full swing both inside and outside the imperial court to welcome Zheng He's return from his voyage.

……

More than two years ago, Zheng He was ordered to lead a huge fleet on a voyage across the vast Pacific Ocean, embarking on an unprecedented adventure.

Before his departure, Zhu Yunwen personally handed him a detailed nautical chart, which clearly marked the geographical outlines and key routes of various places, leaving people in awe.

Zheng He's fleet set sail from the Ming Dynasty, heading southeast, and soon arrived at the islands of the South Seas.

There, they not only engaged in friendly exchanges with the local residents, but also conducted a meticulous survey and record of the island's cultural landscape, political structure, natural ecology, and the hydrological conditions of the surrounding waters.

Zhu Yunwen repeatedly emphasized that the core mission of this voyage was to explore the route and lay the foundation for future large-scale ocean voyages.

Therefore, all relevant information was organized and recorded meticulously, leaving no detail unattended.

Zheng He knew that this voyage was of great importance, so he deliberately slowed down the speed of the fleet in order to explore every detail thoroughly.

The fleet traveled at a leisurely pace, visiting islands such as Java before crossing oceans to reach the vast continent of Oceania.

Zheng He led his fleet on a cruise around this mysterious continent, meticulously recording its coastline and topographical features before continuing his journey to more distant, unknown lands.

During their journey, they also made a special trip to visit several important islands that Zhu Yunwen had marked on the nautical chart.

These islands were remote and little known, and even the learned men accompanying us had never heard of them.

Only the Classic of Mountains and Seas contains a few vague and ambiguous records.

However, the nautical charts provided by Zhu Yunwen depicted the continents and even important islands in great detail, with almost no deviation from the actual terrain.

Every time Zheng He compared the nautical charts with the scene before him, his admiration for Zhu Yunwen grew ever stronger.

Even if his fleet were to personally visit these unfamiliar places, if they were to draw their own maps, they probably wouldn't be able to achieve the same level of accuracy and clarity as the Grandson's (Zhu Yunwen had not yet ascended the throne when the fleet set off) nautical charts.

The magic of this nautical chart is simply unbelievable.

How exactly did His Highness the Crown Prince know about these distant places?

Could it be that he truly possesses extraordinary abilities?

Zheng He was deeply moved, but dared not delve into the matter, keeping this awe deep in his heart.

However, the fleet's voyage was by no means in vain. Although Zhu Yunwen's nautical charts outlined the general contours and marked a few key sea conditions, they did not cover specific ocean currents, wind directions, or hydrological features, let alone the geographical environment, customs, and political situation on land.

These were precisely the gaps that Zheng He and his fleet needed to fill.

They traveled extensively, carefully observed and meticulously recorded their findings, transforming each new discovery into valuable texts and drawings, accumulating invaluable wealth for the Ming Dynasty's maritime endeavors.

That's why the journey took so long.

Soon after, the fleet arrived at the so-called "New World".

Zheng He commanded his fleet to travel slowly from north to south along the west coast of the New World, meticulously examining every inch of the coastline.

In the southern part of the New World, they also victoriously joined forces with the troops led by Zhu Gang, the Prince of Jin, who was enfeoffed there, and exchanged their experiences and intelligence.

Subsequently, the fleet sailed around the strait at the southernmost tip of the mainland, entered the turbulent Atlantic Ocean, and then headed north along the east coast.

They not only conducted a comprehensive survey of the coastal topography of the New World, but also explored the vast bay between the northern and southern continents.

Following Zhu Yunwen's instructions, Zheng He solemnly named this bay "China Sea," also known as "Daming Bay," to highlight the illustrious reputation of the Ming Dynasty.

After that, Zheng He's fleet sailed across the vast Atlantic Ocean and arrived at the distant European continent.

They visited various countries, engaged in in-depth exchanges with local monarchs and envoys, and also toured the Mediterranean, exploring its coastal ports and local customs.

However, since there is no canal connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, the fleet had to circle the Mediterranean Sea before leaving the area.

They continued south along the African coastline, bypassing the vast territory of the African continent, reaching the new ocean, and then heading north until they reached the coast of the Persian Gulf.

It was in this foreign land that Zheng He visited the coastal countries and encountered the fleet led by Zhu Di and his family, who were preparing to travel to Europe.

From them, Zheng He learned that the Taizu Emperor had "passed away" and that a new emperor had ascended the throne.

Shocked, Zheng He provided Zhu Di with the relevant data and information he had collected about various European countries. He then led his fleet onward, passing through countries such as India, crossing the Strait of Malacca, and navigating the seas of Southeast Asia. After enduring countless storms and hardships, he finally returned to the Ming Dynasty after circumnavigating the entire planet, carrying detailed records of the unknown world.
This is why Zheng He's voyage took more than two years.

Originally, Zhu Yunwen's plan was merely to have Zheng He explore the geography and resources of Oceania and the New World, paving the way for subsequent ocean voyages.

We plan to make a second and third voyage in the future, gradually realizing our grand ambition of circumnavigating the globe.

However, when Zheng He listened to Zhu Yunwen explain the world map and learned that the earth was indeed a perfectly round sphere as described in ancient books, rather than a flat earth, and that it was possible to return to the Ming Dynasty from the other side, he immediately made up his mind to complete the circumnavigation of the globe in one fell swoop.

The imperial court organized a fleet to prepare for a large-scale ocean voyage, which cost countless amounts of money and resources. If a single voyage could take us all over the world, explore more unknown places, and collect more geographical and cultural information, that would be the best outcome.

It was this ambition and courage that allowed Zheng He's voyages to be extended to such a long period.

Now, Zheng He has finally returned in triumph.

He brought back mountains of survey data, recording the topography, customs, and political and economic conditions of various places; he brought back a dazzling array of exotic products, from rare spices to exquisite handicrafts, all of which were breathtaking; and he also brought back seeds of novel crops such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, and peanuts, opening up new possibilities for the future agricultural development of the Ming Dynasty.

Although the fleet was somewhat rushed due to the limited time, it still numbered over 3,500 people and 33 ships, making a grand and imposing sight.

However, the hardships along the way far exceeded expectations. The fleet clashed with local tribes dozens of times, suffered from diseases, mosquito bites, the torment of acclimatization problems, and the threats of raging storms, huge waves, and hidden reefs.

Four ships sank after hitting a reef during a storm, and three others were abandoned due to long-term erosion from seawater and marine life, which made their hulls unable to withstand the weight.

When the fleet returned, only twenty-six ships remained, and hundreds of people had been lost, a truly regrettable loss.

Even so, Zheng He's fleet still created miracles.

……

(End of this chapter)