More than a hundred years ago, King Charles I of Spain clearly proposed the idea of digging a Central American canal.
In 1534 AD, King Carlos I of Spain ordered a survey of the Isthmus of Panama.
The Spanish paved the Isthmus of Panama with cobblestones along the ridge.
A post road across the isthmus was prepared for excavation.
But this is obviously not an easy task.
Neither technology nor manpower can complete this arduous task at the moment.
Wang Zheng looked at this post road and sighed for a long time.
The Spaniards did a good thing, allowing the Ming Dynasty's army to go directly to the opposite Atlantic coast from this post road.
However, this narrow post road was too narrow in the dense forest.
It's so small that you can't see the way forward even a mile away.
If we really plan to dig a canal here, the money and manpower required will be extremely huge.
However, he has always been interested in machinery and was once hired by the Ministry of Railways as a special expert to participate in many railway exploration and construction projects.
From his point of view, if a railway is built in this place, it will not cost much effort, and the effect should be very good, because the materials transported by ships on both sides of the ocean do not need to be transferred to the southernmost point.
And if one day we plan to dig a canal, it can also be used to transport people and supplies.
He just had such an idea, and then wrote it down in his notes, preparing to report it to His Majesty the Emperor when he returned.
As for whether His Majesty the Emperor will adopt this suggestion, that is beyond his control.
After the mission left Yongle City, they headed west in a straight line to return home.
Finally, we didn’t encounter too big a storm.
We didn’t pay much attention to the ordinary wind and waves, and finally returned to Quanzhou after more than a year.
After taking a short rest in Quanzhou, the fleet headed north for a few days before reaching Tianjin.
Then everyone changed to a strange ship without sails and headed for the capital.
Wang Zheng looked at Zhu Shunshui who came to pick them up, cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations, little brother Zhu, we finally succeeded."
Zhu Shunshui smiled and said: "It was only possible with everyone's help.
Now taking a boat to Beijing will not be faster than on land.
But His Majesty said, I am worried that you just took a sea boat and are not used to the bumps on land.
It may be better to take a river boat." a little."
After the boat set off, Wang Zheng looked at it for a while and said: "Twenty-five miles" Zhu Shunshui said: "Twenty-eight miles flat water, now the reverse current will only be slower."
Wang Zheng smiled and said: "I really didn't expect that you have made such great progress in the more than a year since I left.
This ship should have two thousand materials."
Zhu Shunshui smiled and said: "This ship is made of 1,500 pieces of material.
Now the largest steamship in the Ming Dynasty is made of 4,000 pieces of material.
It is undergoing trial trials at the seaside.
The speed of an empty ship can reach 20 miles, but with cannons installed, the speed is only 12 miles. ” Wang Zhengdao: "Four thousand materials can travel twelve miles, and it is not affected by wind and sea currents.
If a sail is added, it should be able to reach twenty miles."
Zhu Shunshui said: "Envoy Wang Qin is indeed a great talent.
I originally thought that this speed was too slow and of no use.
But your Majesty said that when the wind is favorable, you raise the sails and use steam power at other times.
This can enhance the strength of the warship.
Maneuverability gives you the upper hand in water battles.
Even if steam power can only go one mile, it is much better than using sails."
Wang Zheng said: "That's natural.
Use wind when there is wind, use coal when there is no wind.
Use wind to save coal when sailing on weekdays, and use coal in wartime so you don't have to rely on the weather.
Moreover, lowering the sail can facilitate better steering and reduce the attacks of enemy ships.
The scope.
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This means that everything is in my hands.
How can I be invincible?"
The steamship arrived in the capital.
When the mission got off the ship, they had people report to the emperor.
The emperor asked them to report the mission to the cabinet and ministers during the court meeting the next day.
The next day was the court meeting.
After all the ministers paid homage to the emperor, they all sat down on chairs or futons.
At this time, an internal official came in and said to the emperor: "Wang Zheng, Zuo Shaoqing of Honglu Temple who was on an envoy to Europe, has returned and is waiting for your Majesty's summons."
Zhu Youxiao smiled and said: "Xuan."
After Wang Zheng came in, he first cried and complained about missing his king far away from his home country.
After Zhu Youxiao comforted him with some kind words, Wang Zheng began to talk about the main itinerary of his trip.
When the ministers heard that Wang Zheng was made a cardinal, they were all delighted.
People in the Ming Dynasty were not opposed to Catholicism, but those who understood the transcendent status of Catholicism in Europe were very dissatisfied.
First, they were afraid that the Holy See would use priests to dictate the affairs of the Ming Dynasty, thus affecting the majesty of the emperor and the court; second, they were afraid that Those who believed in Catholicism no longer worshiped their ancestors and Confucius, which impacted the Confucian cultural system.
Now that the Holy See's restrictions on Ming's missionary work have been reduced, believers are still allowed to worship their ancestors and Confucius, so there is no need to worry about this second point.
Wang Zheng was made a cardinal and became the highest religious position in the Ming Dynasty.
This actually showed that the Holy See did not want or could not pose a threat to the Ming Dynasty.
In addition to conceptual conflicts, the reason why the Nanjing Mission Incident occurred in the past was actually the concern that Catholicism might affect the policies of the Ming Dynasty.
Regarding the current practices of the Holy See, the ministers of the Ming Dynasty breathed a sigh of relief.
Even a believer like Xu Guangqi actually does not want to see religious power overriding imperial power.
In fact, in his opinion, giving God's things to God and giving things to the king to the king is the best.
Wang Zheng went on to explain the process of establishing diplomatic relations with various countries.
Many ministers still felt that establishing diplomatic relations with European countries was a sign of self-degradation.
However, the emperor insisted on this and there was nothing anyone could do.
When Zhu Youxiao heard that both Poland and Sweden were willing to form an alliance with the Ming Dynasty and jointly deal with the Rakshasa people, he smiled and said: "Look, we don't have to spend a single dollar to get two allies to help us deal with the Rakshasa people.
The Rakshasa people and How can they care about competing with us for land in the east when they are at odds with each other?"
Zhu Yanxi said dissatisfied: "We lent them five million yuan.
If the money cannot be recovered by then, then it is not a total loss."
Zhu Youxiao laughed and said: "Don't worry, Minister.
If Poland repays the money, we are equivalent to lending it to them, and we have made a profit.
If the money cannot be repaid, since we have already attacked the Rakshasa people, we will attack Poland again."
How much effort can we spend to buy an excuse for five million yuan?
I think we have made a profit no matter what."
Wang Zhengdao: "Poland is a little different from the north of the North Sea.
Firstly, it is not that cold.
Secondly, there are rich products there.
There is a place in Poland called Ukraine, which has a suitable climate and fertile soil.
It is a big granary.
If Poland does not have Pay for it, It’s not impossible to use this place as a comparison.
It’s definitely better for us to immigrate to Ukraine than to the north of the North Sea.
At least it’s not that cold.
And after the railway is built, the transportation is convenient and it is connected to the country.
It is our opportunity to peek into Europe.
The best place
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