The 19th Emperor Kangxi

  The Western Warm Pavilion of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

  Yongzheng had finished his morning greetings, but Kangxi still didn't summon him.

  Yin Zhen, who was kneeling on the ground, felt a little uneasy in his heart. He had thought that leaving himself behind was for the trip to Jiangning, but it didn't seem like that now. Could it be because of what he had done in Beijing recently? Had the matter with Hai Shan been exposed to him?

  "I hear you've established a free school near Xuanwu Gate and hired some Western missionaries to teach. What's your thinking behind this?"

  Upon hearing this, Yinzhen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "Your Majesty, I think that since we're establishing a charitable school, it should have its own unique characteristics, lest the imperial family's reputation be tarnished."

  "Is there anything special?" Kangxi's mouth twitched, wanting to smile but holding back, "Don't pick out pleasant words for me, speak your true thoughts."

  "Yes." Seeing that he couldn't easily deceive him, Yinzhen had to muster up his spirit, "Actually, I have been feeling that the Western missionaries are superior to us in astronomy, geography, mathematics, physics, mechanics, instrument manufacturing, and surveying. That's why I want to learn from them."

  The Emperor's order to have the missionaries measure and draw a map of the whole country has deeply moved me. After we have a map of the whole country, it is natural that we should also have detailed maps of each province and prefecture, especially accurate maps of the northwest. Our great Qing dynasty cannot always ask the missionaries for help in measuring and drawing maps, can it?

  Upon hearing this, Kangxi faintly revealed a smile, secretly praising the Fourteenth for his foresight.

  Yin Zhen stopped here, looked at Kangxi and said in a low voice: "I have some presumptuous speculations, I dare not say it, fearing that the Emperor will worry."

  "Well, if it's worrying me, then don't mention it." Kangxi was delighted in his heart and his tone also relaxed a lot.

  "Yes." Yinzhen replied honestly and then fell silent.

  Kangxi looked at him with a puzzled expression, this guy, not having seen him for half a year, had actually become more composed? Kangxi didn't call out to him either, and instead picked up a memorial to read.

  Yuan Zhen knelt on the ground, feeling depressed in his heart. This is not a pure punishment! Poor me, I was going to give you silver. However, he soon calmed down, having presided over many interrogations himself and also being interrogated by others many times, his psychological quality is absolutely unquestionable.

  The father and son, one sitting leisurely reading a newspaper, the other kneeling quietly standing up, both silent.

  This situation made Li Dequan, who was standing by with his hands hanging down, secretly think it was strange. What kind of play were these father and son performing? Weren't they fine just now? What medicine was Kangxi selling in his gourd? This 14th master was also strange, his calm and composed demeanor was comparable to that of the several ministers in the upper study room.

  After a while, Kangxi glanced at Yin Zhen. This kid still had an air of calmness and composure, which made Kangxi somewhat curious. How could this kid have changed so much in just half a year? It was as if he had become a different person, not only stable but also broad-minded and far-sighted.

  He folded his hands and smiled, saying: "Li Dequan, take a seat, have some tea."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Yongzheng stood up as if nothing had happened and sat down calmly.

  Kangxi said with a faint smile: "What's going on? Want to continue fighting with me? I don't have time, hurry up and tell me."

  Yin Zhen's mouth twitched, and he smiled: "Then I'll be bold and speak my mind. Westerners in our great Qing dynasty, whether they are missionaries or merchants, can still respect the law and be friendly, but in other places, they are nothing but bandits, burning, killing, looting, and doing all sorts of evil. Let's not mention distant lands, just look at the nearby Mughal Empire, Malacca, and our vassal states Siam, Burma, Nanjing, and Sulu, which have all suffered from Western invasions to varying degrees. Wasn't Taiwan Prefecture also occupied by them in the past?

  "It can be seen that Westerners are born to invade, our great Qing is rich and prosperous, how could they not have a covetous heart? The reason why they do not dare to use military force against our great Qing now is because our great Qing is rich and strong, with powerful national strength, and its vast territory, including the coastal areas which Westerners call coastline, is long. Not only is it a land power that can be proud of, but also a maritime power that can be proud of. However, on land, my eight banner sons are invincible, while at sea... I really cannot bear to speak."

  A great maritime nation, and the ocean is also considered territory? Kangxi hesitated for a moment, thinking of the situation with the navy, and couldn't help but sigh.

  "Looking back at the invasions of Westerners, they all came from the sea, relying on their strong ships and powerful cannons. I am truly worried that the tragic events of the pirate raids along the coast during the Ming dynasty will be repeated in our great Qing dynasty. The two rivers region is the foundation of our country."

  Kangxi had been well-read in history books since childhood, and he was very familiar with the brutal deeds of the Japanese pirates in Jiangnan. Thinking that Western warships could come and go freely on the sea without any means to control them, his brow furrowed deeply.

  Kangxi's face was as calm as water, his eyebrows furrowed, and Yin Zhen secretly delighted in his heart. You have a sense of crisis, that's right. "What I am more worried about is that the Western countries are located in the land of barbarians, their civilization cannot be compared with our China at all. However, in the past hundred years, they have risen rapidly and begun to surpass us in many aspects. What is even more frightening is that they have surpassed us in firearms, shipbuilding, navigation, and other areas. The Netherlands, which previously occupied my Taiwan Prefecture, was known as the 'carriage driver of the sea' in the West, with a large number of warships, invincible on the ocean. However, they were defeated by Britain decades ago. It is said that British battleships have three layers of decks, 90 cannons, and over 700 soldiers. The range of their firearms can reach over 100 steps (1 step is over 1.5 meters)."

  A warship with ninety cannons? Muskets that can shoot a hundred paces? Kangxi had personally led the army into battle three times in his life and was extremely familiar with military affairs, but these two numbers truly shocked him.

  "The Emperor has fought countless battles throughout his life, and the role of maps in military affairs is something I won't repeat. The reason I established the Yi Hua Academy and invited Western missionaries to teach was that I hoped to cultivate our own Qing dynasty's Western learning talents. There are some things that cannot be forever entrusted to others."

  Yin Zhen finished his bold and unrestrained speech, Kangxi couldn't help but burst out laughing, pointing at Yin Zhen: "Good you, number fourteen, this is a veiled remonstrance! However, I'm not yet senile. The missionaries who measured and mapped the land all had soldiers protecting them. I've already issued an edict, not allowing a single word to leak out."

  "The Emperor's vision is far-reaching and all-seeing, illuminating everything within his gaze; I, your son and subject, am filled with shame."

  "You don't have to flatter me anymore. In recent years, the southeastern coastal areas have been peaceful and prosperous, and I have also become complacent, unaware of the hidden dangers that have accumulated. It's a good thing you reminded me. Speaking of which, Xiāng Bèi Zǐ Yìn Zhēn, for his dedication to state affairs, is granted double emolument."

  "Thanks to the Emperor's great kindness." Yin Zhen secretly smiled, knowing that Kangxi wanted to save face. He wanted Western scholars, but was afraid of being criticized, so he rewarded them with a double salary, which would also serve as an annual allocation for the Hope Charity School.

  After seeing the imperial edict and thanking for the grace, Kangxi was about to ask him to kneel down and take his leave, but he saw that he took out another folded paper from his sleeve, and in his heart, he felt a little strange. What new trick does this kid have?

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