After the sound of firecrackers on New Year's Eve, it is officially the eleventh year of Hongzhi.
Those who are in it may not realize it, but the days go by very fast. Winter turns to spring. After New Year's Eve is the Lantern Festival. After the Lantern Festival, the dragon raises its head. Jiaorui, after the spring equinox, Qingming is coming again.
While the cold in the north may still not recede, the south is already full of miscellaneous peanut trees, and the grass is growing and warblers are flying.
Everywhere along the way is brilliant, and the spring scenery with blooming flowers makes people feel happy when they see it, and their spirit seems to be flying with it.
Bian Wendong was no exception. Looking at the new greenery on both sides of the strait, he let out a slow sigh, as if he had poured out all the grievances in his heart over the years.
He has been taking the exam for several years in a row, but he was unlucky and failed to pass the exam, so he simply gave up this idea and turned to other plans.
The imperial examination was like a single-plank bridge. On the other side of the bridge was the avenue to the sky. Every scholar in the world wanted to go there, but there were only a few people who could squeeze through.
Bian Wendong is also one of those unlucky people, but he didn't feel like a lot of unlucky people. After trying three times in a row and finding out that he was probably not the material, he made a decisive decision and decided not to spend his whole life on the imperial examinations. above.
Those who don’t study these days have less choice. They either go home to farm, but the Bian family has a good family background, so there is no need for Bian Wendong to become a farmer, or they travel around. Bian Wendong felt that it was too unprofessional, so after thinking about it, he prepared Go to the south and do some small business.
It happened that a cousin who was a close friend was doing business in the south. He heard that Jiangnan was prosperous and prosperous, and wealth was everywhere. Bian Wendong went all the way south, going to Ningbo to meet his friend's cousin, and then made plans.
He was born and raised in the north, and had never been to the south. The line gradually went south. What he saw and heard really surprised him. The more he went to Hangzhou and Ningbo, the more prosperous the town was. Dressing up is more beautiful and fashionable than the north, and the atmosphere is more open.
Scholars do not go out, they can know the world.
Bian Wendong thought to himself that he wasn't the kind of nerd who didn't understand anything. Reading was reading, and at least he would still pay attention to the world's major events.
He knew that in the third year of Hongzhi, the imperial court sent Admiral Wang Zhi to Ningbo to expel the Japanese pirates; he also heard that the Daming Navy formed by Wang Zhi completely expelled the Japanese pirates in the sixth year of Hongzhi.
It is also heard that in the seventh year of Hongzhi, the imperial court agreed to Wang Zhi’s request to expand the scope of trade and cooperation, gradually open the civil sea ban and collect business taxes.
But after this trip, he found that he didn't know much, and there were many things he had never heard of.
For example, when he was staying at an inn not far from Hangzhou, Bian Wendong heard from someone who claimed to have returned from overseas and said that in the west of Daming, not only Daming, but also many countries.
At that time, Bian Wendong said: I know this, isn't it Jiaozhi, Tianzhu, Siam!
Whoever knew it was laughed at by the other party: which year is the old yellow calendar, and now who doesn't know there are these countries, I'm talking about the further west.
Bian Wendong was very unconvinced: further west, isn't that Dashi!
The other party still shook his head, with an unteachable expression: It's more western than Dashi!
This time, Bian Wendong decided that the other party was a bullshit, and he didn't bother to talk to him, so he patted his butt and left.
Bian Wendong came from a wealthy family. Although he had the idea of doing business, he was not short of that money. When he arrived in Hangzhou, a paradise on earth, he was ready to have a good time. Who would have thought that after spending a few days in the teahouse and bookstore, he Only to find out that the ignorant person is actually yourself? !
What is Europa, what is Italy, what is America, what is Taixi, Hongyi, Helan, and Franji, these are like a fantasy, and he is confused, Bian Wendong almost thinks he has come to a foreign country!
Hangzhou City is indeed prosperous. In addition to the compatriots with black hair and yellow skin like himself, there are actually many aliens with high nose, deep eyes, blonde and blue eyes, just like the legendary people with eyes and eyes. Bian Wendong has not read it before. The scene of the gathering of alien races in the Yuan Dynasty, but when he saw it with his own eyes, he still suffered a lot of shocks.
I heard that these people are not called Semu people, but come from a place called Europa. The locals call them Taixi people. They came from Dashi, and some of them took the sea road, but the sea road is too long and the wind and waves are too strong. Large, often capsize midway.
I heard that there are many countries in Taixi, and the territory of the Ming Dynasty is similar to the entire continent of Europa.
I also heard that there are two very powerful countries on the Europa side. Their navy is very powerful, and they often sail to sea. Because they were very poor, they had to loot gold and treasures from all over the world, which made the country gradually rich...
Tsk tsk, this kind of robbery behavior is simply contrary to the teachings of the saints, no wonder the barbarians are like uncivilized barbarians, how can they compare with my heavenly kingdom!
No matter how Bian Wendong complained in his heart, he was greatly shocked by what he saw and heard. Like all the people who had just traveled from the north to the south, he went from laughing and questioning, dismissing it, to gradually shaking, doubting himself, and then to Seeing it with my own eyes, I was shocked, my heart was loosened, and I was half-believing in the end.
What is different from others is that Bian Wendong is more open-minded and has a broader vision, so it is easier to accept these "absurd and uninhibited" new things.
After arriving in Hangzhou, Bian Wendong originally wanted to go to Ningbo by land, but someone told him that now in Hangzhou, he could go by sea and take a boat to Ningbo, which would be faster. Now both the government and the people have opened up such a waterway, and the cost of travel is cheaper than traveling by boat. Wagons are also cheaper.
Many northerners have never tried the sea route. When they see the vast sea, their legs are weak, they are worried about the wind and waves, they are worried about capsizing their ships, and they are worried that they will never return. Bian Wendong, however, was very excited to find a local merchant ship specializing in marine operations, although he vomited. All the way, until I got off the boat, the legs were still soft, but I also saw the vast and vast sea that others said.
Is it right or wrong to expel Japanese pirates and open the sea ban
Since the fourth year of Hongzhi, the government and the opposition have been arguing about this issue endlessly. Some people even called Wang Zhi a traitor, and Tang Fan was the backer of eunuchs. The sea ban is profitable, and even farmers have given up arable land to do business, and the world will be in chaos!
But as time goes by, such voices are getting smaller and smaller, because the benefits of lifting the sea ban on the court are obvious. If nothing else, the silver taels that enter the treasury like water every year are real, not for many people. The credit can be wiped out by slander.
Bian Wendong is just a little scholar. He doesn't know the deep meaning behind these things, let alone how much Tang Fan played in them, but what he can see is that Jiangnan is different from The north is open and inclusive, prosperous and prosperous.
I heard that there are many businessmen in Ningbo City, and the common people also get a lot of benefits. It is difficult for Bian Wendong to describe this more concretely, but in his opinion, the prosperity of Ningbo City is indeed almost on par with the capital city. Years ago, it was only a slightly prosperous city in the south of the Yangtze River, and it couldn't even compare with Hangzhou.
His friend’s cousin, Gao Chang, who came to pick him up, heard Bian Wendong’s thoughts and smiled in surprise: “Brother Liangcai is adapting really well, as far as I know, many northerners come here. , I find it hard to accept for a while, I have also seen an old master who exclaimed loudly that Daming is about to be taken over by the barbarians, and went to the government to ask the government to expel the barbarians!"
Bian Wendong disagreed: "If Yi Di entered China and was willing to be educated by China, why can't they be tolerant? Thinking back then, when the Tang Dynasty was prosperous, there were Hu people everywhere in Chang'an City, but now we can't compare to the ancients, this is too ridiculous. It's gone!"
Gao Chang smiled and said: "Not everyone thinks like you. I heard that Guangzhou has seen Ningbo's situation, and they are very jealous, and they also scorn the court. They want to expand the scale of Shibo Division and specialize in Nanyang. The exploration and trade over there has been completed, so that all the countries in the South Seas will come to Ningbo!"
Bian Wendong saw that his tone was gentle and elegant, his clothes were neat and comfortable, and he was living a good life. No wonder they all took root here, got married and had children, and did not return to the north again.
"I'm new here, and there are many things I don't understand. I have to ask Brother Xinyue for advice!"
Gao Chang smiled and said, "You are Zhengya's best friend, so you are just like my cousin. You don't have to be so polite. If there is anything I can do for you, just ask!"
Bian Wendong: "Dare to ask Xinyue brother, in this Ningbo city, what should I do to make a living?"
The two were walking from the port to the most prosperous part of the city. Gao Chang wanted to take him to dinner. The two of them talked while walking, and the pace was not fast.
Gao Chang said: "You can ask the right person. According to me, Ningbo is everywhere... Huh?"
He stopped before he finished speaking. Bian Wendong waited for a long time without waiting for the second half of his sentence, so he could only follow his line of sight to see what suddenly attracted the other party's attention.
However, they saw a group of people walking by not far in front of them, surrounded by two men, one in green clothes and jade belts, and the other in sapphire blue straight robes. Although they were all wearing normal clothes, from their bearing and outstanding appearance, they could tell at a glance. It can be seen that they are not ordinary people, not to mention that they have followers around them.
"That's...?" Bian Wendong thought that Gao Chang had seen an acquaintance. After all, the other party had been in Ningbo City for many years, and it was said that he also had a lot of contacts on the official side.
"That's the Admiral of Ningbo, Eunuch Wang!" Gao Chang was a little excited, staring intently.
what! Bian Wendong hurriedly opened his eyes wide, for fear that he would take a few less glances, this is a well-known figure!
Wang Zhi's expulsion of Japanese pirates has become a legend. With him in Ningbo City, everyone feels at ease, and they regard him as the protector of Ningbo. It is said that some people want to build a temple for Wang Gonggong, but Wang Gonggong himself is happy. , but was discouraged by a letter from Tang Fan.
Today, Zi has a lot of trust in this eunuch with outstanding military exploits, just like Emperor Yongle trusted the eunuch Three Treasures in those days. It was Wang Gonggong who defeated the Tartars and Japanese pirates.
It's not that there are no officials to impeach him, but because of the trust of the emperor, Wang Zhi himself is very good, but there is no reason to discredit him. The impeachers can come up with it again and again, but Wang Zhi has a domineering temperament and established the West Factory in his early years. Just wait, I can't shake Wang Gong centimeter at all.
"Then who is that person next to Duke Wang?" Bian Wendong asked.
The other party is obviously not an eunuch, but his bearing is not inferior. He is full of elegance and pureness, and he does not look like a pure scholar. A proud person like Wang Zhi has a slightly polite attitude next to that person. This is really amazing.
Gao Chang glanced at it several times, and answered the question: "I heard that the cabinet Tang Shoufu recently returned to his hometown to visit the tomb to pay homage to his ancestors. His hometown is in Zhenjiang, and he is still a long way from Ningbo."
"Brother Xinyue is saying...?!" Bian Wendong pondered for a while, and couldn't help being surprised.
Taking a closer look, that person's demeanor and behavior are so outstanding, but it's not like...
"I'm just guessing. I've seen a lot of officials from Ningbo and even Zhejiang, but there is no such person. Besides, with the status of Duke Wang, which official in Zhejiang does not have to work, he will go out to meet him!" Gao Chang laughed and pulled him, "Let's go, we can't take care of those big people, go to Huixianlou first, I've already booked a table of banquets, I'll clean up for you! This Huixianlou is Ningbo. One of the best in town…”
Bian Wendong couldn't help but look back a few times, and then followed Gao Chang's footsteps and drifted away.