Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 559 Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi's Scheme, the Ming Dynasty Craze in Europe!

October, the sixth day.

The climate along the Mediterranean coast is completely different from that of the distant Ming Dynasty.

In the Ming Dynasty, this time of year was when the autumn sky was clear and the air was crisp.

However, in southern Europe, along the Mediterranean coast, it is currently the rainy season.

But today's weather is exceptionally good, with not a cloud in the sky and only a gentle breeze, as if even the heavens are preparing for this grand event.

Venice.

This city, which has always been bustling and popular, is even more crowded today, with crowds several times larger than usual.

In the waterways of all sizes, small boats of all kinds are lined up one after another, almost filling the water surface.

The covered bridge, intended for pedestrians, was packed with people who didn't cross it but stood at the bridgehead, gazing at the distant sea.

Prior to this, news that a fleet from the Ming Dynasty would arrive in Venice today had already spread far and wide.

The whole of Venice was in an uproar.

Countless crowds flocked to the city, coming specifically to witness the splendor of the Ming Dynasty's fleet.

Among them were nobles eager to witness the grandeur of a powerful Eastern nation, shrewd merchants planning to purchase rare treasures from the Ming Dynasty for resale, and ordinary people simply there to join the excitement...

In short, Venice today is teeming with a huge crowd than on ordinary days.

Needless to say, the citizens of Venice turned out in droves, with almost every household coming out to catch a glimpse of the legendary fleet from the Ming Dynasty in the East. They stood on the covered bridges, boarded small boats, and even climbed onto the rooftops.

Look at the mysterious Ming Dynasty people, whose appearance is completely different from that of Europe!
On a high platform in the port of Venice, which was originally a port fort and a strategic location for guards to look out into the distance and keep watch for enemy activity.

However, today, standing here are a group of high-ranking officials and dignitaries from Venice.

At the very front stood Michele, the Doge of Venice, followed by senior members of the council, judges of the Council of Ten, and other important figures.

Not all members of parliament are qualified to stand here; for example, most of the civilian members of parliament in the House of Commons are not here at this moment.

After all, the commoner members of the House of Commons, despite holding the position of members of parliament, had a social status that was worlds apart from that of the aristocratic gentry in the Senate.

In addition, some noble ladies and young women from prominent families also stood on this high platform at this moment.

Although they did not hold public office, they still maintained a very high status due to their family influence.

Despite the high elevation and expansive view that allows one to see the distant sea, many people still feel it's not enough.

They kept standing on tiptoe and craning their necks, trying to see further, hoping to catch a glimpse of the magnificent Ming fleet as soon as possible.

Of course, many others remained as steady as a mountain, maintaining the composure and gentlemanly demeanor characteristic of the nobility; only their tense bodies and rapid breathing betrayed their inner excitement.

"They're here...they're here!" A sharp-eyed noblewoman in high heels was the first to exclaim joyfully from the crowd.

Everyone's gaze turned to the distance.

On the distant horizon, a towering mast appeared and disappeared, its outline gradually becoming clearer.

At the top of the mast, a highly recognizable Ming Dynasty dragon flag was prominently displayed.

In Western legends, dragons are usually symbols of evil and power, and only true warriors can slay them.

However, in that mysterious and powerful Eastern country, the dragon is their totem, worshipped by hundreds of millions of people.

They even referred to their emperor as the "Son of Heaven, the True Dragon".

Of course, there are also rumors that the dragons of the East are not the same as those of the West.

The dragon of the East can summon wind and rain, protect humankind, bring good fortune, and ensure a bountiful harvest.

"That's the dragon flag of the Ming Dynasty! It's them, they've really come!" another nobleman couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

The nobles on the high platform could no longer care about their usual gentlemanly demeanor.

They all eagerly stood on tiptoe to get a better look, and some even disregarded etiquette and squeezed to the front row, just to get a clearer view of the Eastern Fleet.

On the distant horizon, three enormous ships gradually emerged from the sea and grew larger at a visible speed.

Their massive hulls, towering masts, and enormous sails billowing in the wind propelled the ships like arrows, hurtling towards the port of Venice.

In everyone's eyes, this fleet from the East was rapidly growing larger, its outline becoming clearer and clearer, every detail filled with exotic solemnity and mystery.

"Welcome, fleet of the Great Ming! Distinguished guests from the East!"

At that moment, the crowd below the harbor erupted in a frenzy, bursting into thunderous cheers that surged like a tidal wave and resounded through the sky.

The whole of Venice was immersed in a frenzied atmosphere of welcome, thrilled by this historic moment.

……

At the front of the ship, Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun stood side by side, while Zhu Gaochi stood to the side, the three of them gazing at Venice in the distance as it gradually became clearer.

Although they were still far away and could not hear the specific words spoken by the Venetian people, the surging crowd and the faint cheers were enough for them to feel the overwhelming atmosphere.

"It seems they are very welcoming of our arrival!" Zhu Di said with a faint smile, his eyes gleaming with confidence.

Although the Venetians' faces could not be clearly seen, their heartfelt joy and anticipation were clearly conveyed to the ship.

Today, Zhu Di specially changed into a brand new robe, which was carefully prepared for his trip to Venice.

After years of drifting at sea, not to mention ordinary sailors and soldiers, even the clothes that Zhu Di and his son Zhu Gaochi wore on a daily basis had become tattered.

If we rashly go ashore like this, we might be mistaken for beggars, which would undoubtedly greatly damage the prestige of the Celestial Empire.

Throughout the voyage, Zhu Di continuously dispatched small boats to the villages along the European coast to gather information, and the information he gathered gradually increased. He knew that the idea of ​​"judging a person by their appearance, and showing respect for their clothes before respecting them" was a deeply ingrained concept for many people, especially among the European aristocracy.

To this end, Zhu Di specially took out a small amount of exquisite porcelain and luxurious silk from the ship and exchanged them with the nobles in the rural villages along the European coast, thus obtaining brand-new fabrics.

Subsequently, they cleverly used some silk and other fabrics, and had the village tailors cut out novel and oriental-style clothing according to their own requirements.

Thus, Zhu Di, Xu Miaoyun, Zhu Gaochi, and some of the accompanying soldiers were able to change into brand new clothes.

Although these garments were actually made by local European tailors, their designs were all created by Xu Miaoyun, embodying a unique oriental charm.

Wearing them today, they naturally become precious "Oriental treasures" that have never appeared in Venice or even the whole of Europe, not only highlighting their noble status, but also conveying the mystery and power from the East.

This was not merely an outward appearance, but also a key strategy for showcasing the power and cultural charm of the Ming Dynasty during this trip to Venice.

“Venice is a nation built on commerce.” Xu Miaoyun gazed at the bustling crowd in the distance and said with a hint of worry, “Those merchants are undoubtedly eager to trade with us and profit from it.”

"They saw our huge fleet and mistakenly thought we had brought a lot of rare treasures."

Her brow furrowed slightly, and her voice betrayed a hint of unease: "If we can't offer them enough treasures to trade with, their attitude towards us might change instantly."

In fact, Xu Miaoyun's concerns were not unfounded.

Since Zhu Di was "exiled" to Europe rather than coming for trade purposes, the fleet carried a small number of products unique to the Ming Dynasty.

A significant portion of these goods were traded with tribes and nations along the coast during the long journey, leaving very little behind.

The remaining goods were probably less than what a Persian merchant traveling between East and West would carry, far from enough to support the trade needs of a large city-state like Venice.

This can be set aside for now.

More importantly, they had almost no cannonballs or bullets left on the ship.

Without sufficient goods for trade and without enough weapons to protect themselves, how could they establish themselves in Venice?
Will these seemingly civilized and friendly Venetians, once they learn of their true plight, immediately turn hostile, reveal their terrifying fangs, and devour them completely?

"Don't worry." Zhu Gaochi appeared confident and calmly said, "My father is a prince of the Ming Dynasty, and we are envoys of the Ming Dynasty. Behind us stands an incomparably powerful empire. This is our greatest source of confidence!"

His gaze was firm, and his tone resolute: "Just considering this point alone, these Venetians would never dare to offend us!"

"Besides, we are not without treasures."

"Don't forget, we still have a large amount of Ming Dynasty banknotes!"

That's right.

Before they set off from the Ming Dynasty, Xu Miaojin, in the name of the Imperial Concubine, bestowed a large amount of precious paper money upon her elder sister, Xu Miaoyun, filling more than a dozen boxes.

Given the sheer quantity, Xu Miaoyun understood that it was likely a secret decree issued by Zhu Yunwen.

After all, even though her younger sister Xu Miaojin was a concubine, she certainly couldn't afford that much money.

However, they never used these banknotes along the way.

After all, this kind of paper money was originally only used within the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Although the Ming Dynasty's paper money has gradually spread overseas over the years, the locals in Europe, a land with no prior connection to the Ming Dynasty, do not recognize it and are even less aware of its value.

Xu Miaoyun was still confused. She didn't understand why Zhu Yunwen would deliberately give her so much money when he knew that her family was going to go overseas.

In her view, this might have been somewhat intentional, as if they were deliberately given enormous wealth but had nowhere to use it, in order to vent Zhu Yunwen's resentment caused by Zhu Gaoxu's betrayal.

She believed that her younger sister, Xu Miaojin, was not that kind of person, but as Zhu Yunwen's concubine, she was often unable to control her own destiny.

However, as time went on, Xu Miaoyun gradually realized that her idea was wrong, and that Zhu Yunwen was probably not a narrow-minded person.

Nevertheless, she still failed to fully grasp the true purpose behind Zhu Yunwen's actions.

"Will European merchants accept those Ming Dynasty banknotes?" Xu Miaoyun asked with a hint of worry.

"Then we'll have to see how we handle it." Zhu Gaochi still looked confident, having already made his plans. He then reassured his mother, "Mother, don't worry too much. There's always a way out."

"We have successfully completed such a long voyage from the Ming Dynasty to Europe."

"There's no reason why things would be worse once we get to Europe."

Xu Miaoyun nodded gently, then said nothing more. She took Zhu Di's arm, a relieved smile on her face, and together they faced the gradually clearing Venice.

The huge ship sped towards the port of Venice and soon sailed smoothly into the harbor.

"My God! Is this a ship built by the Ming Dynasty? It's huge!" On the high platform, a noblewoman watched as the giant Ming ship slowly entered the harbor and couldn't help but let out a scream of amazement.

Since Zhu Yunwen took power, the technology of the Ming Dynasty has been advancing by leaps and bounds, showing a different face every day.

Shipbuilding technology developed at an astonishingly rapid pace.

Zheng He's voyages predated Zhu Di's, so although Zheng He's fleet was much larger, with more ships and personnel, the size of each ship was smaller than the giant ship Zhu Di was currently on, and its sails and other structures were not as complex and sophisticated as the three ships Zhu Di was leading.

"Such a large number of masts, such intricate ropes and pulleys, constitute an exquisitely crafted sailing warship structure. Perhaps only the Ming Dynasty could manufacture such a thing in the world!"

A nobleman exclaimed sincerely, his eyes filled with awe: "The Ming Dynasty is so advanced and powerful, far surpassing us in Europe!"

"See those dark cannon muzzles on the lower deck? Those are the Ming Dynasty's famous 'divine cannons'! So many cannons mounted on one ship, what terrifying power they would have if they fired at the same time! It's terrifying!" Another sharp-eyed nobleman noticed the ship's armament, his voice filled with fear.

"Thank God, the Ming Dynasty is not our enemy!" A nobleman couldn't help but make the sign of the cross, as if he were relieved that Venice had escaped a calamity.

"Look, that's the clothing of the Ming Dynasty! Wow, so handsome, so dashing, how can they be so good-looking?" A noble lady's eyes shone as she stared intently at Zhu Di and his wife, Zhu Gaochi, and the soldiers and sailors in their newly sewn uniforms on the bow deck, admiring them from every angle.

"The men of the Ming Dynasty are so handsome! Jet-black hair, deep-set eyes... Oh my god, they have completely captured my heart. I... I'm falling for them!"

……

(End of this chapter)