As soon as the servant finished speaking, Prince Han walked over from a short distance with a hearty laugh.
Zheng He hurriedly saluted: "Prince Han."
"Lord Zheng." The King of Han returned the gift very respectfully. Zheng He's status in the Ming Dynasty was transcendent. There was only one Zheng He in the Ming Dynasty, and there was only one Zheng He in the entire history.
"The King of Han is visiting today, and Zheng He is far away to welcome him..."
A series of greetings between the two people were all false politeness. Zhu Zhanzhen lamented that it was really troublesome for people in ancient times to have so many etiquettes.
"Zhan Zhen, is this thing the steam engine you're talking about?" Prince Han said as he walked up to the steam engine and knocked on the lump of iron. He had never seen the actual effect of a steam engine before.
I still have a trace of disbelief in my heart. Can this lump of iron in front of me really make a car run without a horse?
Zhu Zhanzhen and Zheng He looked at each other: "Master Zheng, let me try out the latest ship for my second uncle to see."
Zheng He understood and ordered Zhang San to start the steam engine, and the boat slowly started to move on the calm lake with the rising steam.
Only when Zhu Gaoxu saw it with his own eyes did he understand the magic of this thing.
Looking at the boat, I was so surprised that I couldn't speak. I couldn't calm down for a long time.
"Second uncle, second uncle."
At Zhu Zhanzhen's call, Zhu Gaoxu's mind returned. After being shocked and stunned, Zhu Gaoxu was ecstatic: "Good boy, you really made this thing."
"Second uncle, I didn't lie to you."
"How about Uncle Er giving you some money?"
"Second uncle, this is not my decision. Grandpa Huang has the final say."
Zhu Gaoxu chatted with Zheng He for a long time, constantly praising Zheng He's feat of sailing to the West. Zheng He was so embarrassed by his praises that the King of Han usually did not support his voyages to the West.
After seeing the steam engine, the King of Han was such a smart man. He instantly figured out the huge interests involved and must establish a good relationship with Zheng He.
"Second uncle, let's go see the Security Department." Zhu Zhanzhen and Zhu Gaoxu made an appointment for today, and it was time to set off at noon.
"Okay, Mr. Zheng, let's talk next time. Next time you want to sail to the West, tell me in advance that I will personally sponsor a treasure ship for you."
"Thank you, Lord Han." Zheng He saluted respectfully.
After a few people left, Zhang San said to Zheng He in a low voice: "Sir, didn't you say before that both the Han prince and the Zhao prince in court did not agree with the voyage to the West?"
The corners of Zheng He's mouth turned up slightly: "Now and then, the imperial court has two big expenses, the voyage to the West and the Northern Expedition. The one that spends more has to be reduced, and the other has to be reduced. The two princes naturally refused at the beginning, but now...
"
Before Zheng He finished speaking, Zhang San had no political acumen, so naturally he couldn't understand.
…
Before going to the Security Department, Zhu Gaoxu saw that it was almost time and took Zhu Zhanzhen to have a meal first.
At the dinner table, Zhu Gaoxu glanced at Li Xiaozhu and whispered a few words to Zhu Zhanzhen in a low voice: "This is the princess who paid tribute from North Korea."
"Second uncle, it's not a tribute, it's just..."
"Just what? Just a tribute."
"Hey..." Zhu Zhanchen didn't know what words to use to describe it. The true meaning was tribute or marriage, but it sounded too ugly to say.
Zhu Gaoxu stood up and took out a jade pendant.
"Princess Li, my second uncle didn't prepare anything. We men are more careless and don't know what girls like. This jade pendant will be your meeting gift from your second uncle."
Li Xiaozhu was surprised, but bowed respectfully and accepted the gift.
Obviously this gift was an impromptu gift from Zhu Gaoxu. Regardless of size or pattern, this thing is only worn by men. It is probably the only thing Zhu Gaoxu has that is more likely to be given to a woman. He cannot give a jade ring to a girl.
"Xiaozhu thanked Lord Han." Li Xiaozhu's etiquette was still thorough.
"Calling Prince Han is unfamiliar. From now on, just follow Zhan Yu and call me Second Uncle, haha." Zhu Gaoxu was like an elder watching his juniors pick up girls.
Zhu Zhanzhen ate something and got down to business: "Second uncle, how did the appointment with Pingjiang Bo Chen Xuan go?"
"General Chen is out today and will probably return in ten days. We have no choice but to see you then."
Zhu Gaoxu then said: "Zhan Zhan, if your steam engine is installed on a ship, can you still sell the ship?"
Zhu Gaoxu's business sense was extremely keen. The moment he saw the steam engine ship, he seemed to see the flourishing and orderly sailing commercial ships on the rivers and seas.
If the business opportunities in this are large enough, it is not a problem to double the current total trade volume of the Ming Dynasty.
With such a big business opportunity, there must be many places to make money, and Zhu Gaoxu must get involved.
"Second Uncle, once the ship construction technology matures, it can naturally be sold for civilian use."
"Zhan Zhan, my second uncle knows some business people here. If necessary, my second uncle can introduce them to you."
"Second Uncle, our Ming Dynasty's water transportation is mainly based on the Liangjiang Canal. Maritime trade is not prosperous. If maritime trade prospers in the future, it will need a strong navy to defend. Otherwise, small countries like the Japanese pirates can still bully our coastal fishermen. This is very important to the Ming Dynasty.
It is highly inappropriate to develop maritime trade."
Zhu Gaoxu understood the meaning of Zhu Zhanzhen's words. The navy is very important, but the Ming Dynasty's naval system is not perfect now. It can even be said that the navy is not taken seriously in this era.
I actually understand the meaning of Zhu Zhanzhen's words. I understand it very well. Now it's blank. Go ahead and occupy it. Isn't this your territory?
After thinking about it carefully, Zhu Gaoxu laughed heartily: "It's still useful to chat with you."
Zhu Zhanzhen wanted Zhu Gaoxu to go into the navy after careful consideration. It was impossible for his father and eldest brother to manage it themselves, and it was even less possible for him. Although his second uncle was not on good terms with the prince, as long as Zhu Di was still there, he could only
Prince of Han.
It's still early, so it's okay to let him develop the navy, and it's impossible for an emperor like Zhu Di to let the navy be controlled by one person, even if that person is his biological son.
I would do it for him, but I wouldn't give it all, which is why Zhu Zhanzhen dared to talk to him about this matter.
Because even if Zhu Zhanzhen didn't say anything, it would probably fall heavily on Zhu Gaoxu when it came to the navy in the future, otherwise I would be a favor and remind him now.
Zhu Gaoxu was interested in the throne, but he only dared to think about it after Zhu Di's death. If the maritime industry flourishes in the future and the Ming Dynasty's Great Navigation Age comes, in the future, you, the King of Han, will be crowned King of England and King of Australia. You will be far away.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Zhu Zhanchen suddenly thought of something and said: "Second uncle, is there anyone in the Shenji Camp in our army who is good at firearms?"
"That's too much. Let me tell you that your second uncle and I are armed with a thunder cannon and can shoot through poplars at a hundred steps. Outside the Great Wall, I hit the enemy general's war horse with one shot and made him fall off his horse."
"Second Uncle, what I said was inaccurate. He is not a person who is good at firearms, but a person who is good at making firearms."
"Artisans who make firearms? There are so many." Apparently Zhu Gaoxu didn't know the names of the craftsmen, and he didn't care about these low-status craftsmen.
But if weapons want to be continuously improved, these people are needed. Zhu Zhanzhen doesn't have much knowledge about weapons, after all, he doesn't have access to them.
So he has to recruit talents.
"Second uncle, why don't our Security Department recruit some retired firearms craftsmen?"
"What's the use of recruiting?"
"Firearms are more powerful than swords on the battlefield. If they can be further transformed and strengthened, our soldiers of the Ming Dynasty will be far superior to other countries."
Zhu Zhanchen burst into laughter, and when Zhu Gaoxu saw his smile, he knew that this boy had something up his sleeve.
"Moreover, when we have good weapons, we can sell the obsolete ones to other countries, which will make a lot of money."