Chapter 108: Japanese pirate suspicions

I'm afraid this is also the reason why Yang Pu tried his best to comply with Zhu Qizhen. Yang Pu saw that Zhu Qizhen must build water conservancy, that's why.

It has to be done quickly. It cannot be delayed for too long. Even if it is a big fanfare and more money, it is not a problem. I am afraid that it will be repaired intermittently for several years. When the war between Wasi and Ming Dynasty is about to begin, it will not be completed yet.

This is a major mistake. Now that Zhu Qizhen thinks about Yang Shiqi's actions, it is understandable that Yang Shiqi was determined to limit flood control within a certain range.

Beijing is only a few hundred miles away from the Great Wall, and any policy cannot fail to take into account the changing situation in the north.

Zhu Qizhen said: "I know what you mean, sir. If Qian comes to Beijing, I will talk to him about this matter."

Yang Pu saw that Zhu Qizhen's mood was a little depressed, so he changed the topic and said: "I have already investigated the Jiaodong Canal. During the Yuan Dynasty, when the shipping industry was booming, someone mentioned this matter. It started from Denglai.

When we go to Mawan, build a new river in the middle and set up ship locks on both sides, which can save ships from going to the ocean. But this matter was already rejected by the Yuan Dynasty."

After hearing this, Zhu Qizhen thought of the route of this canal. Although the details are not clear, the so-called Mawan is Qingdao Bay, which cuts off the Shandong Peninsula in the middle.

For shipping, Zhu Qizhen also learned about the riskiest section of shipping, which was anywhere else but the section around the Shandong Peninsula, far away from the mainland and with huge waves.

This canal was opened to avoid this most dangerous waterway.

After Zhu Qizhen heard what Yang Pu said, he straightened his mood. He couldn't let his emotions affect the handling of affairs below. He asked: "The reason?"

Yang Pu said: "There are two reasons. One is the lack of water. Although there is a lake in this canal called Zhuze, the water is still not enough to pass large ships. The other is the geological problem below. There are stone hills below.

It was difficult, so I gave up.”

"In my opinion, the first difficulty in shipping is the Japanese pirates, and the second difficulty is the intruders and thieves. As for the disturbance, it cannot be troubled by the court. Therefore, it costs tens of thousands to open a canal with a small transportation volume, and the gain outweighs the loss."

Zhu Qizhen listened, but did not care that Yang Pu denied this matter. In later generations, he had never heard of any canal that cut off the Shandong Peninsula.

Therefore, this canal must not have been completed.

Zhu Qizhen knew that there were disadvantages in it. And from the original intention, this canal was not in line with Zhu Qizhen's thoughts.

Zhu Qizhen wanted to transport by sea, but if this canal could really be opened up, the size of the ships that could pass through it would be greatly restricted, just like today, the ships that transport grain are specially made to pass through the canal.

In the Age of Discovery, all ships were developing in an increasingly larger direction. However, with this canal, it is likely that the tonnage of Ming Dynasty ships was limited.

Don't think it's impossible, sometimes many things are so ridiculous, and the width of the train is still determined by the horse's butt.

Zhu Qizhen also knew that the Ming court was most likely to be unwilling to make progress. Facing the future era of great navigation, no matter how wide the canal was, it would not be deep enough, and depending on the terrain restrictions, it did not seem to be as wide as it could be.

Looks deep.

However, what Zhu Qizhen was more concerned about was that Yang Pu took the initiative to bring up the matter of shipping.

He realized that the biggest difference between Yang Shiqi and Yang Pu was.

Yang Shiqi is old and frail, and has a deep twilight spirit. He always puts safety first. Everything is stable. Zhu Qizhen took the initiative to propose many things to Yang Shiqi.

But Yang Pu is different now.

It seems that Yang Pu has been holding back for who knows how many years. At this moment, he has a strong desire to take the initiative to do things. So there are many things that Zhu Qizhen need not say.

Yang Pu himself also wanted to mention it.

Zhu Qizhen asked: "Sir, do you think shipping is possible?"

Yang Pu said: "Your Majesty, in fact, the imperial court's shipping has never been interrupted, why can't it be done? The grain and grass transferred from Shandong to Liaodong have always been landed in southern Liaoning, and there are as many as three to four hundred thousand stones every year. So your Majesty thinks

Sea transportation is not possible, it is just a matter of transporting grain to Beijing, not by sea transportation."

Many people think that the Ming Dynasty did not use sea transportation, but they do not know that until the end of the Ming Dynasty, Mao Wenlong's headquarters was supplied with grain and grass from Shandong, and Huang Long, the commander-in-chief of the Navy, was responsible for transportation.

Yang Pu said: "If your Majesty really wants to open sea transportation, the first thing to do is not to ask the ministers, but to ask the coastal guards whether they can defeat the Japanese pirates. If the Japanese pirates are not eliminated, I will not allow a large amount of food and grass to be transported by sea."

"It's okay to do it occasionally, but it won't work in the long run."

Zhu Qizhen said: "Sir, are Japanese pirates serious?"

Yang Pu said: "Your Majesty, don't you know? Who do you think you are recruiting at Xin'an Switch? Are they some kind people?"

"They can be used by the imperial court, so of course I don't care about anything. But most of these people are active in Nanyang, but Japanese pirates are mostly active in the East China Sea. Now the imperial court goes to sea too little, so it rarely encounters Japanese pirates. I asked the Ryukyu envoy about this

When Ryukyu envoys travel across the sea, they always ask me to escort them to warships. What do you mean?"

Zhu Qizhen had always thought that the rampant Japanese pirates happened during the Jiajing period, that is, the era of Qi Jiguang. Now he heard Yang Pu talk about it.

I never thought that there is a reason why we don’t need to transport grain by sea.;

It is true that transportation from Shandong to Liaodong only requires a few hundred miles of sailing, and there are small islands in the middle. I can't say that the journey is calm, but there are no big storms.

It doesn't take much effort to protect this section of the waterway.

However, it is a bit difficult to protect the waterway from the Yangtze River north to the capital. It is possible to send large soldiers to escort once or twice, but it cannot be done every time.

Even if it happens again and again, as time goes by, the pattern will be figured out, and it will become difficult to deal with it.

We must know that the grain transported from the south of the Yangtze River to the capital was not only grain, but also gold and silver. Millions of stones of grain and millions of taels of silver.

Although this amount of money is a big figure for a country as big as Ming Dynasty, it is not too big, but for pirates, it is a crazy bait.

See how Pirates of the Caribbean faced the Spanish treasure ship, and you will know how powerful the temptation is.

No matter what, it is much safer to transport via canal.

You can only commit a thief in a thousand days, but there is no way to prevent a thief in a thousand days.

Zhu Qizhen said: "Since I opened the sea ban, I haven't encountered any pirates? Sir, have you filtered it?"

Yang Pu said: "In my opinion, there will definitely be news about Japanese pirates either this year or next year, and it will be big news."

Zhu Qizhen said: "Okay, I have written down what you said, sir. We will see if it comes true or not."

Yang Pu said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will not lie."

Yang Pu was fully confident in his inference.

The Japanese pirates were really active during the Hongwu period. Part of the reason for the sea ban in the Hongwu period was because of the Japanese pirates, but it does not mean that the Japanese pirates disappeared during the Yongle period.

You only need to look at the documents of the Ministry of War to understand that many generals and officers in Liaodong have made meritorious service by fighting against Japanese pirates.

It was during this period that the Japanese pirates disappeared.

Part of this is due to the reduction in maritime activities in the Ming Dynasty, and Japanese pirates did not dare to go ashore. Another reason is thanks to the current King of Joseon, later known as King Sejong, Yi Ji. He conquered Japanese pirates and invaded Tsushima Island. Although

Not many people were killed, but many Japanese pirates were attracted to them.

After all, although Japanese pirates are inextricably linked to Japanese daimyo, they are not the daimyo themselves.

But now that Zhuqi Town has opened up the sea ban in such a big way, so many ports will be opened in one or two years. If you think about it, you will know that it is impossible without trouble.

But Yang Pu didn't think anything big would happen. As long as the Japanese pirates didn't come ashore, as for the safety of those maritime merchants, did they still need the protection of the imperial court?

Yang Pu never regarded them as obedient subjects of the imperial court, just like the southwestern chieftains. It is normal for them to rebel when they surrender. Now they can be used by the imperial court, but not always.
Chapter completed!