The Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's daughter ran away from her arranged marriage, terrifying Zhu Di.

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

Zheng He, his voice choked with emotion, solemnly bowed down.

Wang Jinghong and others following behind Zheng He also bowed down.

Having already sailed the seas twice, they were acutely aware of the earth-shattering changes that Zhu Di's imperial edict would bring to the entire Ming Dynasty.

A brand new era will be ushered in by them.

This responsibility is unprecedented in history.

Everyone present wore a solemn expression.

Only Pingjiang Bo, who was mingling in the crowd, trembled slightly with excitement.

As a seasoned veteran of the officialdom.

He knew all too well why Zheng He had been so hesitant and reluctant before.

It's simply because they're worried about alerting the enemy.

This delayed Zheng He's journey to find Emperor Jianwen.

And now.

Zhu Di wanted to elevate the matter of going to sea to a higher level!

That means...

The imperial court no longer cares about alerting the enemy.

Similarly, this also means...

He can go to sea with Zheng He and make money!

"master!"

"Our doorstep is practically worn down by people walking all over it."

"Those maritime merchants are all asking you about things here!"

Sure enough, the ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring.

Before Chen Xuan could take any action...

After hearing that Zhu Di had come to Zheng He's house with a grand procession.

The maritime merchants along the coast of the Ming Dynasty could no longer sit still.

They immediately went to the Pingjiang Earl's residence.

Tell Chen Xuan to hurry up and find out the news.

"Always rushing me, always rushing me."

"Can't you see I'm here racking my brains?!"

Although the Chen family held the lucrative positions of managing the river and sea transport.

But they can only rely on the Chen family.

They definitely couldn't eat such a big piece of fatty meat.

Chen Xuan inevitably became entangled with those maritime merchants.

Join forces with them to do some business.

But as time went on, things continued to develop.

Now Chen Xuan feels more and more like he's working for these maritime merchants.

I was at least a Earl appointed by the imperial court.

When did it become your turn to urge us?!

Chen Xuan frowned and turned to look at Zhu Di on the imperial carriage.

But then I realized I didn't know when...

Yao Guangxiao had already sided with Zhu Di.

"Old bald monk."

"I spoke so passionately."

"You will serve as my imperial advisor."

"Shouldn't they at least say a few words, just to be polite?"

Just now when the imperial decree was announced.

Zhu Di then discovered that Yao Guangxiao had disappeared somewhere to live a carefree life.

Based on Zhu Di's understanding of this old monk.

Instantly, it was clear that the old monk must have discovered something he didn't want to get involved in and had run away beforehand.

Normally.

Zhu Di turned a blind eye and let it pass.

After all, their relationship was quite extraordinary.

But what is happening now, and what is the occasion?

Zhu Di didn't even think about it.

He then ordered his men to arrest Yao Guangxiao, who was preparing to return to Jiming Temple.

At this moment, Yao Guangxiao was being repeatedly questioned by Zhu Di.

He knew he couldn't escape it.

Then, looking troubled, he said, "Since Your Majesty insists on asking, this old monk can only speak frankly."

"explain!"

"I forgive you for your crime!"

Zhu Di had expected Yao Guangxiao to launch into another lengthy argument arguing that his imperial edict had been issued hastily.

It will create all sorts of hidden dangers.

But to his surprise, Yao Guangxiao simply and directly uttered two words.

"I have no money."

Zhu Di's lips twitched slightly.

"and then?"

"That's all."

"What else is needed?"

Yao Guangxiao helplessly spread his hands, his eyes filled with affection for Zhu Di.

"You old bald thief!"

"I finally managed to get the eldest son under control."

"You're having another episode, aren't you?"

"If I had money, why would I need to support you all?"

"If you don't have money, you have to find a way to get it!"

Zhu Di glared at Yao Guangxiao, seething with anger.

Yao Guangxiao also looked helpless.

"His Majesty."

"I told you so long ago."

"Expensive things, apart from being expensive, have no other drawbacks."

"Now, under the pretext of mapmaking, His Majesty has mobilized the entire nation's resources to launch a full-scale attack."

"Naturally, you can achieve twice the result with half the effort."

"But...it is indeed a bit too expensive."

"Even if we sold all the funds in the national treasury, we still wouldn't be able to come up with this amount of money."

Zhu Di was taken aback.

He stared at Yao Guangxiao in disbelief.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Since the decision to go to sea has been made, I will naturally not revise the Yongle Encyclopedia."

"Furthermore, he would not personally lead an expedition."

"We've saved a huge amount of money."

"How could it not be enough?"

In Zhu Di's eyes.

How much does it cost to go out to sea?

It's not like it's never happened before.

Following his line of thinking, the Yongle Encyclopedia and the Northern Expedition were halted.

By any measure, it's enough to cover this expense.

But Yao Guangxiao shook his head helplessly.

"No, no."

"His Majesty."

"The ships used for the previous voyages to the Eastern Ocean and the last voyage to the Western Ocean."

"Most of the work was done over the course of thirty years of the Hongwu reign."

"The Ministry of War simply posted a note in the past."

"Just use it directly."

"But now, not only Zheng He is going to go to sea, but the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Personnel, the Five Armies, and even the Directorate of Palace Attendants may also go to sea."

"We definitely need to build a new ship."

"Not only will we build it, but we're likely to build it on a large scale."

Upon hearing this,

Zhu Di's brows furrowed into the shape of a "川" (river).

"Just build it over there."

"How much does it cost to build a ship?"

Yao Guangxiao was delighted to hear this.

"His Majesty!"

"At present, Zheng He's fleet consists of more than two hundred warships of various sizes."

"At that point, we could only transport some pepper and rare delicacies."

"If we want to transport grain back to the Ming Dynasty over the years, then..."

"At least five thousand treasure ships will be needed!"

"Each treasure ship costs eight thousand taels, at least forty million taels of silver!"

"Forty million taels."

"Can you produce it?"

The words fell.

Zhu Di immediately fell silent.

He got a der!

In the present Ming Dynasty, the annual tax revenue is only 35 million shi of grain.

But now, in this peaceful and prosperous era, grain prices are low.

It was converted into silver.

An annual income of seven or eight million taels of silver would be the maximum.

Where are we supposed to find forty million taels of silver?!

After a moment's consideration.

Zhu Di finally sensed Zhu Gaochi's helplessness on his face.

No money is no money.

Even if you argue to the bitter end.

Without rice in his hand, he couldn't even call a chicken.

He even considered directly seizing the timber.

There could be one or two treasure ships.

The imperial court could simply rob them.

But there are five thousand of them.

He probably thought that the moment he opened his mouth, those merchants would be so frightened that they would flee overnight.

"Is it really true that even a hero can be brought down by a single penny?"

"But I've already said those words!"

A ruler's word is his bond!

Zhu Di frowned and stared intently at Yao Guangxiao.

Spilled water cannot be gathered up again.

Since you've already said it.

Words cannot be taken back.

If all else fails, we'll just have to make things difficult for that old bald monk.

Just as Zhu Di was preparing to demolish Jiming Temple to force Yao Guangxiao to come up with a solution, a powerful and vigorous voice suddenly rang out.

"His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, please don't panic!"

"I have a way to deal with the silver!"

These words were spoken.

Zhu Di was taken aback at first, then immediately looked into the crowd as if he had grasped a lifeline.

Chen Xuan no longer tried to hide herself and quietly appeared in the crowd.

He solemnly knelt before Zhu Di.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to act as guarantor and persuade the coastal merchants to contribute funds to the military campaign, so as to ensure Your Majesty's everlasting achievements!"