Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 457 Three Boxes of Rare Treasures Change the World!
Zhu Yunwen raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a gentle and approving smile, his voice clear and warm: "Minister Zheng traveled across the ocean, endured many hardships, and his return was not easy. His achievements are outstanding, and I am very pleased."

"I have remembered your merits and will reward you handsomely."

His tone shifted slightly, carrying a hint of expectation: "Your experiences on this trip must have been extraordinary. Once you have rested, you must recount them in detail and have the historian record them so that they can be passed down as a good story and enlighten future generations."

Their experiences along the way are not just "interesting stories," but also valuable "information" for venturing overseas.

From these observations and experiences, one can gain a general understanding of various overseas countries, which can pave the way for future navigators.

Zheng He felt a warmth in his heart and kowtowed to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty's great kindness overwhelms me with trepidation and tears of gratitude. I will obey Your Majesty's decree!"

After he finished bowing, he immediately ordered someone to present him with a row of eight heavy lacquered wooden boxes.

"Your Majesty, this is a nautical record compiled by your subjects along the way. It covers hydrology, geography, customs and conditions of various countries, and general information about their national conditions. It is the result of your and your soldiers' hard work and painstaking efforts. We hope it will be the cornerstone for the future voyages of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Yunwen nodded in acknowledgment, and the eunuch quickly stepped forward and carried the boxes to the emperor's presence. He personally opened one of the boxes, casually flipped through a book, his eyes lingering on the densely written characters and exquisite maps, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"Excellent! With these detailed records, the Ming Navy can now roam the world freely! Minister Zheng, you have made an unparalleled contribution!"

Zheng He quickly bowed and said humbly, "Your Majesty is too kind. I was merely doing my duty and dare not take credit for it."

After a brief pause, he continued, "In addition to the classics, we also brought back many rare and exotic products and foreign books from various countries, which filled the return ship. They have now been properly handed over and stored in the national treasury."

"In addition, by Your Majesty's special decree, I have brought back sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn from the New World, with two ships full of each. I have now specially selected one box of the finest of each and respectfully present it before Your Majesty for your perusal."

After speaking, he ordered three carved wooden boxes to be brought over, and the lids of the boxes were opened one by one.

An irrepressible joy flashed in Zhu Yunwen's eyes.

Unable to contain his excitement, he strode forward, and the contents of the box came into view.

Sure enough, it was sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn, bright in color and plump in shape, as if carrying endless hope.

He turned around, a bright smile spreading across his face, and said to Old Zhu beside him with undisguised excitement, "Grandpa Emperor, these are the rare treasures of heaven and earth that I once mentioned to you! They may seem ordinary, but they are the foundation of the Ming Dynasty's long-lasting prosperity."

Zhu Yunwen pointed to the crops in the box and said excitedly, "Sweet potatoes and potatoes can yield thousands of kilograms per mu!"

"What's even more amazing is that they are not picky about soil; they can thrive even in barren wastelands."

"With these two treasures, our Great Ming Dynasty can forever escape the shadow of famine, the people can live in peace and prosperity, and the nation's destiny will be forever secure!"

He paused for a moment, looked at the corn in another box, and continued, "As for corn, although the yield is slightly lower, it has a wide range of uses. It can be used as food or as livestock feed, making it an indispensable good variety."

Old Zhu raised his thick eyebrows slightly, a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

He came from humble origins and was well aware of the hardships of farming, unlike emperors who were pampered from childhood and indifferent to the suffering of the common people.

Even though Zhu Yunwen had mentioned the miraculous properties of these crops many times before, he still had doubts and asked, "Can an acre of land really produce several thousand catties?"

"This sounds far too far-fetched."

"The success of crops has always been predetermined; how can anyone believe such a high yield?"

Zhu Yunwen had anticipated this question from his father, and with a slight smile, he replied, "Grandfather, these crops are not the traditional grains of the Central Plains, so their growth habits and yields are naturally different."

"These treasures have not yet reached their true potential in the hands of the barbarians of the New World."

"They were limited by the extensive farming methods of slash-and-burn agriculture and failed to study the art of planting in detail."

"And we, the people of China, are diligent and wise, and adept at improving crops."

"The Agricultural Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences is particularly skilled in this field."

"As long as they select the right seeds and cultivate them carefully, it is no exaggeration to say that sweet potatoes and potatoes can yield thousands of kilograms per mu!"

The natives of the New World lived in resource-rich lands, where hunting and extensive farming were sufficient to sustain them, and they did not need to painstakingly study agriculture like the people of the Central Plains.

However, this "abundance" became their constraint, trapped by the resource curse, and their civilization stagnated.

Sweet potatoes and potatoes were not carefully cultivated there, resulting in inferior varieties and limited yields.

Now, these crops have traveled across the oceans and taken root in the fertile soil of China, where they are about to be reborn.

Zhu Yunwen firmly believed that with the current level of agricultural technology in the Ming Dynasty, these crops could be improved to their fullest potential.

A yield of several thousand kilograms per mu is definitely not a problem.

However, Zhu Yunwen was also well aware that they were both a gift from heaven and a curse from the devil.

The high yields of sweet potatoes and potatoes enabled the fertile land of China to support a population several times greater than in the past.

The fields are lush with crops, presenting a magnificent scene at first glance.

However, a serious crisis lurks behind this prosperity.

The rapidly increasing population is swallowing up mountains, forests, mineral deposits, and water resources like a tidal wave.

The pace of plunder far exceeded the land's capacity to withstand it.

In real history, the introduction of sweet potatoes and potatoes into China was accompanied by a surge in population, but it was a very low-quality population growth.

The lives of ordinary people have not improved; on the contrary, they have become increasingly impoverished.

Life is getting worse every day, and things are going downhill.

Apart from a very few powerful nobles, most people struggled in the mire of poverty, barely making ends meet.

If it weren't for the spark of the Industrial Revolution and the dawn of modern civilization, this massive population surge triggered by sweet potatoes and potatoes might have led to annihilation.

The continued deterioration of the ecological environment, including forest degradation and the drying up of rivers and lakes, may lead to a repeat of the Easter Island tragedy.

Resources are depleted, and civilization withers.

Although scientific and technological advancements and the Industrial Revolution ultimately prevented this from happening.

However, population and resources continued to plague the Chinese land for a long time afterward.

It took many years to gradually resolve this issue.

However, the situation is different now.

The population of the Ming Dynasty is actually not that large.

The conflict between population and resources is not yet that acute.

Of course, all of this will change over time.

However, Zhu Yunwen had already made arrangements and started environmental protection and ecological restoration.

Planting trees and creating forests helps conserve water resources, allowing mountains and rivers to regain their greenery and vitality.

Not to mention, he also holds the trump card of "science".

The steam engine had already been invented, and steamships and steamboats had been built. The Industrial Revolution had already begun in effect and was progressing at an increasingly rapid pace under his arrangement. Old Zhu gazed at him, listening to his resounding and well-organized explanation, and the doubts in his heart dissipated, his brows relaxing.

This grandson is always unpredictable; he seems to possess endless strategies and ingenious ideas that are truly admirable.

He was able to pioneer the "science" lineage, invent the steam engine, invent cement, and create all sorts of strange and extremely useful treasures. I believe he could really enable sweet potatoes and potatoes to reach that level of production.

"Tong'er, since you're so sure, then let's wait and see." Old Zhu laughed heartily.

Zhu Yunwen turned to Zheng He beside him and said with a smile, "Zheng He, you opened up the circumnavigation route, your achievements are outstanding, and you brought back a large amount of sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn, laying the foundation for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty. Your contribution is immeasurable!"

"Today I hereby appoint you as the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Palace, grant you the official rank of fourth grade, bestow upon you ten million coins, and a magnificent mansion."

"All accompanying soldiers and officials will be richly rewarded according to their merits!"

The government office had already drafted a plan on how to reward Zheng He and the officials and soldiers who accompanied him on the voyage, and it had been personally reviewed and approved by Zhu Yunwen.

At this moment, he was merely making a personal declaration in front of all the officials to demonstrate the court's respect for meritorious officials.

In the past, rewarding meritorious officials often involved granting them land.

However, after the new policy was implemented, all land became state-owned, and the rewards also changed accordingly. Instead of land, money was given as a reward.

However, the government office originally planned to award five million coins, but Zhu Yunwen directly increased it to ten million.

This was an extra reward for the sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn that Zheng He brought back.

Originally, Zhu Yunwen only hoped that Zheng He could bring back some seeds, but he did not specify the quantity.

In Zhu Yunwen's view, as long as these crops can take root in the Ming Dynasty, they will eventually be able to multiply into more.

However, he never expected that Zheng He would bring back hundreds of thousands of catties of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn!

This substantial gain truly shocked Zhu Yunwen.

Given the level of civilization of the indigenous tribes in the New World, Zheng He must have gone through countless hardships and expended immense effort to collect such a massive amount of crops.

This job was not just done beautifully, it was downright miraculous!
If only a few seeds are brought back, it will likely take a considerable amount of time to promote their cultivation in the Ming Dynasty and develop them into a widely available crop.

Now, with hundreds of thousands of kilograms of crops delivered directly, the agricultural development of the Ming Dynasty has been saved from ten years of trial and error and waiting.

Despite the significant progress made in farmland irrigation in recent years, with grains piling up in granaries, Zhu Yunwen remained uneasy.

Food is a matter of national importance; there can be a surplus, but there must never be a shortage.

In the past, a good harvest meant peace and stability, but once a natural disaster struck, the suffering of famine would follow like a shadow.

Although we haven't lacked food in the past two years and have even accumulated a lot of reserves, when it comes to disasters, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Now, with the sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn brought back by Zheng He, these high-yield and durable crops are like a gift from heaven. From then on, the Ming Dynasty will never have to worry about food shortages again!
Moreover, these crops not only fill the stomachs of the people and make the granaries of the Ming Dynasty more abundant, but also provide surplus grain to feed chickens, ducks, geese, cattle, sheep and pigs, adding meat to the people's meals.

The people of the Ming Dynasty at present generally consume very little meat, far from meeting their body's needs.

To some extent, it could even be said that on this vast land, apart from a very few wealthy families, the vast majority of people, including many small and medium-sized landowners, are deeply mired in the predicament of "hidden hunger".

They appeared to have eaten their fill, but their faces betrayed the haggard look of malnutrition.

Ultimately, simply relying on rice and steamed buns to fill one's stomach is worlds apart from truly obtaining sufficient nutrition.

A lack of meat and sufficient protein makes it difficult for children to develop healthily, and they also appear to lack energy and vitality.

Zhu Yunwen was fully aware of this, but he also felt deeply helpless.

In the past, the shadow of food scarcity always loomed over the Ming Dynasty.

The limited harvest could only be used first to feed the people, to fill their stomachs and maintain their most basic survival.

Feeding large numbers of livestock and improving their diet is simply an unattainable luxury.

After all, we must first ensure that the people don't starve to death before we can talk about whether their nutrition is adequate.

Now, the arrival of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn is like a ray of dawn, completely dispelling Zhu Yunwen's worries.

These high-yield crops not only met the needs of food supply, but also opened up broad prospects for livestock breeding in the Ming Dynasty.

The goal is to ensure that all people in the Ming Dynasty can eat meat freely, and that every child will no longer suffer from malnutrition during their growth and development.

This is in commensurate with his efforts in vigorously promoting the new policies and driving the industrial revolution.

When the people of the Ming Dynasty are well-fed and clothed and live without worry, their loyalty and support for the court will be as unbreakable as a rock.

This prosperous scene, when it reaches overseas, will also attract the attention of foreign nations.

If foreigners were to witness firsthand the happy lives of the people of the Ming Dynasty, they would surely yearn for it, regard the culture of the Ming Dynasty as the standard, and respect the civilization of the Ming Dynasty as supreme.

Conversely, if the Ming Dynasty only presents itself with the wealth of the court and the strength of its army, while the people remain impoverished, foreigners will feel disgusted with the rule of the Ming Dynasty and may even sneer at it.

This would tarnish the prestige of the Ming Dynasty and significantly increase the cost of its overseas expansion.

Only when the living standards of the common people far exceed those of people in other countries will all nations be willing to submit to the Ming Dynasty, even taking pride in their allegiance and emulation, and wholeheartedly embracing the culture of the Ming Dynasty, even hoping that their own countries will be "colonized" by the Ming Dynasty!
Internally, the people of the Ming Dynasty were grateful to the court because of their comfortable lives, and regarded being "born a citizen of the Ming Dynasty" as the highest honor. The governance of the country was twice as effective with half the effort because of the people's support.

Externally, foreign countries, admiring the grandeur of the Ming Dynasty, competed to emulate it and actively accepted its culture and goods.

Using culture to open up a country's doors is far more effective than using guns and cannons, and the cost of governing and maintaining that rule is also much lower.

Merchants from the Ming Dynasty found it easier to do business overseas.

Goods produced in the Ming Dynasty will be sought after by those who admire the Ming Dynasty and will sell well all over the world.

A steady stream of wealth flowed into the Ming Dynasty, making this land even more prosperous.

This prosperity will in turn benefit the people, making them even more proud and strengthening the national cohesion.

Only in this way can the Ming Dynasty truly stand as stable as Mount Tai, towering at the top of the world, and maintaining its glory for thousands of generations.

Conversely, relying solely on military dominance and conquest without cultural "brainwashing" is unsustainable.

It could even be argued that such an approach would eventually collapse due to excessively high costs and economic losses outweighing the benefits.

To build a great Ming Dynasty, industry is of utmost importance, but agriculture is the eternal foundation.

The sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn that Zheng He brought back laid the foundation for agriculture in the Ming Dynasty for some time to come.

Therefore, Zhu Yunwen generously rewarded him handsomely.

"Your subject Zheng He kneels in gratitude to the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

……

(End of this chapter)