The Ming Dynasty: The opening scene features Zhu Di angrily accusing him of illegitimate succession.

Chapter 81 The Korean Campaign

"A telescope?" Shen Sen stood there, scratching his head in confusion, while the craftsmen behind him also looked puzzled.

"Sir, what is this telescope? How is it made?"

Lin Yue explained: "A telescope, as the name suggests, is for looking into the distance. You use this glass to polish several curved lenses, one of which is thick in the middle and thin at the edge, which is a convex lens."

A lens that is thin in the middle and thick at the edges is a concave lens.

Place the two lenses, one in front of the other, into the tube, adjust the distance between them, and you can make a telescope.

Lin Yue gave a brief explanation of the telescope's working principle. Shen Sen didn't quite understand, but Huangfu Gui nodded repeatedly.

Huangfu Gui stroked his chin and said, "It's just grinding two curved lenses and making a tube with adjustable spacing. It doesn't sound difficult at all. Our shipyard has plenty of skilled craftsmen; we'll definitely be able to handle it!"

As they were talking, a steady footstep sound came from afar. Zheng He, dressed in a python robe, strode over with several attendants.

"If Lord Lin truly possesses such ingenious ideas, he should visit the shipyard more often to offer his guidance."

If we could really make a telescope, it would be of great use for naval expeditions and battlefield reconnaissance!

Zheng He immediately gave the order: "Such a powerful national weapon should be forged immediately! Mobilize manpower at once and cooperate fully!"

With Zheng He's support, the treasure shipyard was immediately mobilized.

Wu Fu led the craftsmen to polish the lenses and calibrate the curvature, Huangfu Gui crafted the lens barrels and designed adjustable clips, while Lin Yue was responsible for boasting and pointing fingers after the production failed.

Everyone worked together, each fulfilling their role, and in just half a day, they successfully built the first telescope.

When Shen Sen handed the crudely made binoculars to Lin Yue, everyone gathered around.

Lin Yue took the binoculars, aimed them at the merchant ships in the distance on the river, and slowly adjusted the distance between the binoculars. The originally blurry ship image instantly became crystal clear, and even the wood grain on the ship's side and the crew's movements were clearly visible.

"Can you see it clearly?"

"I can see it very clearly."

"We did it! We succeeded!" Huangfu Gui shouted excitedly, and the craftsmen also burst into cheers.

Lin Yue touched the cool brass body of the telescope, listening to the deafening cheers of the craftsmen around him, and suddenly felt that he might have let them down and underestimated the strength of the Ming Dynasty craftsmen.

Perhaps we should increase their intensity; the handicraft industry of the Ming Dynasty might be able to go further and faster.

Lin Yue raised his hand and waved, and the noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

He raised the telescope in his hand and said loudly, "Gentlemen, this telescope can magnify the image more than ten times and can clearly see the merchant ships on the river, but this is just a small test for us!"

I once mentioned the theory of the celestial sphere, which states that the universe is a perfect sphere, and the stars in the sky are not just points of light embedded in the celestial canopy. They are, like the world we live in, spheres suspended in space.

Now that we can build a telescope, why not build an even bigger one?

By grinding thicker glass into the lenses, making a more robust lens barrel, and adjusting the spacing more precisely, we will be able to look up at the sky and see whether the moon is full or crescent, and whether there really is a cassia tree and a jade rabbit on its surface!

After Lin Yue delivered his impassioned speech, the craftsmen looked at each other blankly. Apart from Huangfu Gui, who came from the Imperial Observatory, the others were not very excited.

Seeing this, Lin Yue quickly adjusted his words: "Think about it, everyone. If such an unprecedented astronomical marvel were made and presented to His Majesty, His Majesty would surely be overjoyed. Would the reward be any less?"

Gold, silver, silk, official positions, and salaries are readily available, and might even benefit one's descendants!

A gift from the emperor! An official position that will benefit one's descendants!

The confusion on the craftsmen's faces vanished, replaced by immense motivation.

You should have said so earlier! If you had told us earlier that the emperor liked this, everyone would have been producing it like crazy.

As everyone knows, Lord Lin Yue is a favorite of the emperor. If he says the emperor likes this, then he must really like it.

Cheers erupted throughout the shipyard, even louder than before.

"Let's get started!"

"If we're going to do it, let's do it the biggest, and show His Majesty what we're capable of!"

The craftsmen were eager to get started and immediately began a passionate discussion.

Looking at the bustling crowd, Lin Yue nodded in satisfaction. You know what, the imperial power of the feudal dynasty was really useful. Its efficiency was undeniable. Seeing the craftsmen cheering, Zheng He stepped forward and cupped his hands to Lin Yue.

"Scholar Lin, why don't we move over for a chat?"

Seeing this, Lin Yue suppressed his smile and nodded in response, "Since Eunuch Zheng has invited me, I will gladly oblige."

The two men exchanged a greeting, and Zheng He gestured for them to proceed. Lin Yue, holding a telescope, followed closely behind, slowly avoiding the noisy crowd and heading towards the quiet riverbank.

The river breeze was refreshing.

Looking at the telescope in Lin Yue's hand, Zheng He exclaimed sincerely, "Scholar Lin is truly learned and insightful, with exceptional wisdom!"

The art of making transparent glass is already a divinely inspired technique, yet it has been used to create a telescope, a marvel of long-distance vision. Such insight is truly rare in this world.

Lin Yue shook his head and said a few words of sincere humility.

"You flatter me, Eunuch Zheng. I was merely standing on the shoulders of giants and casually offered some rudimentary ideas."

The real genius lies with these artisans. Without their exquisite skills, even the best ideas would be nothing but empty talk. The credit should go to them.

"Scholar, there's no need for such modesty," Zheng He waved his hand, his admiration undiminished. "Without your guidance, even the most skilled craftsmen would find it difficult to conceive of such a masterpiece."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zheng He's smile gradually faded, and his expression became serious.

Zheng He asked in a deep voice, "Scholar Lin, if I may be so bold as to inquire, how certain are you of the facts regarding the claim that Emperor Jianwen is hiding in Korea?"

Lin Yue looked up to meet Zheng He's gaze, quickly making a mental calculation.

Zheng He was a confidant of Zhu Di, and on this mission to Korea, the fleet's deployment and diplomatic maneuvering all depended on him.

The strategy for dealing with Zhu Di should be a mix of feigned and real actions, allowing the Yongle Emperor to fill in the blanks in his mind.

However, when faced with this pragmatic Mr. Sanbao, we should give him a positive response as much as possible in order to gain his maximum support.

Lin Yue said decisively, "I am absolutely certain about this matter."

Seeing Zheng He's ambiguous expression, Lin Yue added, "Eunuch Zheng, you only need to trust me. The details are far-reaching and cannot be discussed in detail. The truth will come to light once we arrive in Korea."

Zheng He, being so insightful, immediately grasped the deeper meaning of "it's inconvenient to say more," and felt that Lin Yue had some secret information that could only be told to Zhu Di.

So he stopped asking and changed the subject.

"In that case, I am relieved."

The fleet's formation is now showing initial results, with a total of 3,000 soldiers, over 30 ships of various sizes, and more than 6,000 personnel deployed at sea.

Zheng He detailed the organization of his naval fleet.

"Among them, two treasure ships served as flagships, dedicated to carrying envoys and important equipment; three horse ships carried horses and military equipment; four grain ships; three water ships were dedicated to storing water; there were also eight warships equipped with firearms and crossbows; and twelve passenger ships for the crew to live in."

'

Lin Yue's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he pondered to himself.

With three thousand well-trained soldiers, more than six thousand sailors, and such a well-organized fleet, supplemented by firearms and warships, not to mention just going on a mission to Korea, it would be easy to expand territory overseas and conquer small states.

Is this the power of the Ming Dynasty at its peak? It's almost too awesome.

Originally, the intention was just to cut off some of Lee Bang-won's forces, but now it seems that annexing the entire North Korea is the only option.

Lin Yue's face showed a satisfied expression, and he praised, "Eunuch Zheng has made extremely thorough preparations, thank you for your hard work!"

We must make a big show of this trip to North Korea.

The Ming Dynasty dragon flag flew high on the treasure ship, and cannons were fired at the ports along the way to show the might of our Celestial Empire to the people of Korea.

Only with such deterrence will those with treacherous intentions dare not act rashly, and only then can the great task entrusted to His Majesty be successfully completed.

"What you say is absolutely right, sir!" Zheng He agreed wholeheartedly, and then asked, "But I wonder how to proceed with the diplomatic protocol and investigation after arriving in Korea?"

I humbly request your guidance, sir, so that I may make arrangements in advance.

After a moment's thought, Lin Yue spoke eloquently: "The key is to attack one faction and win over another."

The yangban aristocracy of Korea is the foundation of the nation; we can focus on winning over three types of people.

"Firstly, they should be remnants of the heir apparent faction of Zheng Daochuan's disciples."

Back then, when Lee Bang-won launched the Eun-yin Seongsa Coup, he killed Crown Prince Lee Bang-seok and regent Jeong Do-jeon, implicating many others.

Today, many of Zheng Daochuan's disciples and former subordinates of the heir are still scattered throughout the court and countryside. They are grateful for the kindness of their former master and hate Li Fangyuan for murdering his father and seizing power. They have been waiting for an opportunity to take revenge.

These men are mostly learned scholars and enjoy considerable prestige among the yangban (aristocratic class). Winning them over would allow us to plant a check and balance within the Korean civil service.

Zheng He nodded, having also heard of the tragic events of the Korean palace coup, and added, "I have also heard of it. Zheng Daochuan is known for his virtue, and his students and former officials certainly have a deep foundation."

However, these people have been suppressed by Li Fangyuan for many years, so they are likely to act cautiously. How can we ensure a safe and secure connection with them?

"Just secretly give the gifts in the name of the Ming court, and promise to overturn the old case," Lin Yue said with a smile.

"All they ask for is to vindicate their former teacher and master. As the Celestial Empire, why shouldn't our Great Ming Dynasty grant them this request?"

Lin Yue continued, "Secondly, there are the remnants of Huai'an Jun Li Fanggan's faction."

Lee Bang-won and his half-brother Lee Bang-gan fought for the throne. Lee Bang-gan was defeated and exiled. His generals and retainers were either executed or demoted. These people were originally descendants of founding heroes. They suddenly lost power and harbored deep resentment towards Lee Bang-won.

They still have loyal followers in the court and the army. If they can be secretly funded, they can certainly restrain the Korean army, and this could be surprisingly effective at crucial moments.

"The remnants of the royal family's internal strife are indeed a force not to be underestimated." Zheng He thought about it and agreed. "However, many of these people have the blood of warriors and may easily cause trouble. They need to be carefully restrained."

Lin Yue nodded and continued, "Thirdly, there are the former nobles who lost power due to the Fubing system."

After Yi Bang-won ascended the throne, he abolished the private army system that had existed since Goryeo, promoted the Fubing system, and brought all the private armies of nobles under the control of the central government, thus cutting off their foundation.

These powerful and influential families have held military power for generations, but now that their military power has been relinquished and much of their land has been taken back by the court, they are already dissatisfied.

Their clan wields immense power, with disciples and former officials throughout the country. They are deeply entrenched local strongmen in Korea. Winning them over would greatly restrain Lee Bang-won's energy both locally and in the court.

Lin Yue clapped his hands and laughed, "These three forces—civil, military, and local—all have an irreconcilable feud with Li Fangyuan, and each has its own base of operations."

We will use the imperial court's rewards as bait, perhaps to exonerate them, restore their rights, or protect their land, to secretly contact them and help them act as special agents to jointly restrain Li Fangyuan.

Once he is unable to attend to both ends and his power is shaken, what we seek will naturally come to fruition.

Zheng He raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this, his expression quite subtle.

The method sounds feasible, but something feels off. It doesn't sound like they're on an envoy investigation; it sounds more like they're stirring up trouble in North Korea and supporting opposition forces to overthrow Lee Bang-won.

Moreover, wouldn't this operation be quite effective for His Majesty as well?

No, we must report this to His Majesty later to nip it in the bud.

Seeing that his expression was strange, Lin Yue immediately added.

"Eunuch Zheng, Li Fangyuan was very close to the former officials of Jianwen back then, and was even conferred a title by Emperor Jianwen."

He most likely concealed Emperor Jianwen's whereabouts and may even have secretly funded Jianwen's former subordinates.

Only by undermining his power and rendering him powerless to provide protection can we conduct our investigations freely within North Korea.

All of this was a necessary measure to fulfill His Majesty's entrustment!

Upon hearing this, Zheng He nodded to indicate that he understood.

Whether you believe it or not, Zheng He would force himself to believe it.

Anyway, the Yongle Emperor told him to go to Korea to find out where the Jianwen Emperor was. Don't worry about whether he actually was or not, just find out.

Zheng He nodded and said, "I see. Scholar, you have considered everything very thoroughly. I understand now."

Upon arriving in Korea, we proceeded according to the scholar's plan. The entire fleet obeyed the scholar's commands and fully cooperated with the investigation.

"Not at all, Eunuch Zheng is the real envoy. We are all just doing our duty for His Majesty and fulfilling the Emperor's trust," Lin Yue said.

After finalizing the details of his trip to Korea with Zheng He, Lin Yue returned to the site where the astronomical telescope was being made.

Huangfu Gui was leading the craftsmen in arguing over the blueprints for the large mirror tube when Lin Yue arrived and immediately began irresponsibly pointing fingers.

"In my opinion, the lens barrel would be better made of nanmu wood, as it is more resistant to moisture."

"It would look better if it were wrapped with three layers of brass."

Regardless of whether he felt it was useful or not, Huangfu Gui wrote it all down.

After a thoroughly enjoyable exchange of guidance from an amateur to an expert, Lin Yue looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was already setting in the west, so he clapped his hands.

"That's all for today. Everyone, work hard. I'll come to check tomorrow."

After saying that, he turned around and left the shipyard; he was going home after get off work.

During the Ming Dynasty, officials in the capital followed the system of "signing in at the hour of Mao" (卯时点卯), meaning they had to arrive at the government office early to sign in before starting work at 5 a.m., and being late for even one time would incur a fine of twenty.

There is no fixed time to leave work; you can only leave after you have finished your work for the day, but the earliest you can leave is 5 p.m.

The minimum daily working hours are twelve hours, which just goes to show that Old Zhu knows how to manage his officials.

Lin Yue was strolling leisurely through the streets of Nanjing when, near the entrance of an alley near Dinghuai Gate, a tall figure suddenly appeared.

Lin Yue was shocked. There were assassins in Nanjing?

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