The 24th trick of Kangxi

  Li Dequan took a glance, the five big words "one million two silver" made his hand, which had already stretched out, shrink back as if scalded. "Fourteenth Master, serving His Majesty is a servant's duty, I dare not accept your reward."

  Li Dequan was the chief eunuch in the palace, with the highest status among all eunuchs. However, due to Kangxi's strict management of eunuchs, he only received around 20,000 taels of silver as gifts each year. But when the 14th prince gave him 10,000 taels at once, it really scared him. He knew that receiving money meant doing something in return, and the huge sum of 10,000 taels made him afraid that the task assigned by the 14th prince would be difficult to accomplish.

  Seeing Li Dequan's appearance of both love and fear, Yin Zhen secretly delighted in his heart. Has he been scared? This is exactly the effect I want. When showing favor, it should be as heavy as a mountain, otherwise it would be better not to do it at all. "What? You don't know that fourteen has recently made some small fortune? Quickly put it away, or else if someone sees it, it won't be good."

  Li Dequan still said cautiously: "If there's anything you want me to do, Master Fourteenth, just give the order."

  Yuan Zhen stuffed the silver ticket into his hand and smiled lightly, saying: "If you must have something to do? Take it to make up for it, and don't accept some hard-earned silver."

  Li Dequan was at a loss for words, this Fourteenth Master is too generous, giving away 10,000 taels of silver for free, the annual salary of a prince is only 10,000 taels. He hastily knelt down and paid his respects, "Fourteenth Master, I'm not good with words, but I'll remember your great kindness in my heart."

  "What's wrong with you, you're scaring me to death. Get up quickly." Yong Zheng hastily helped him up and then said: "I remember that the missionary once gave Emperor Ama a world map, do you know? Have someone help me send it over, I'll need it later."

  Yanxindian, after Yin Zhen had paid his respects, Kangxi ordered: "Grant him a seat and reward him with tea."

  Waited for Dengzi Xie En to sit down, Kangxi smiled and said: "You are now rich enough to rival a country."

  Yin Zhen smiled wryly and said: "Imperial Father, I also came to disturb you for this matter."

  "Oh, it seems you have already made arrangements, let's hear about it." As for the huge sum of money in Yongzheng's hand, Kangxi couldn't help but be concerned, but he hesitated to intervene personally because of his reputation. Now that Yongzheng had brought up the matter himself, Kangxi was extremely interested.

  "Your Majesty, our Great Qing is not only a great land power, but also a great maritime power. I, your son, want to use this money to establish an ocean-going fleet." The dream of the ocean was not only Zhen's dream, but also the dream of every Chinese citizen in later generations. Now that there is an opportunity and ability, Zhen naturally does not want to let it go.

  Ocean-going fleet? The Westerners' term? Kangxi was taken aback, he never thought that Yin Zhen would invest this money in this, it's entirely a national affair, even if the ocean-going fleet is built, it can't become Yin Zhen's private armed force, let alone him not being allowed, the court above and below wouldn't allow it either.

  What was Yin Zhen thinking? He couldn't have overlooked this point, Kangxi looked at Yin Zhen with suspicion, now that these grown-up princes were all staring at the throne, and at this time, Yin Zhen played such a trick, was he wholeheartedly for the country or did he have other plans? Yin Zhen was after all a member of the Eighth Prince's party, no matter how wise and powerful Kangxi was, he couldn't see through or grasp Yin Zhen's thoughts.

  Kangxi was also clear in his mind that establishing a deep-sea fleet would bring immense benefits to the country and its people. At the very least, it could guarantee that the coastal areas of Jiangnan would be free from overseas harassment. However, before he could grasp Yinzhen's specific thoughts, Kangxi did not dare to speak lightly.

  Yin Zhen waited for a long time, but still didn't see Kangxi speak up, nor did he know what Kangxi was thinking. He had no choice but to burn another fire. "Imperial Father, in the former Ming dynasty, there was once a naval force with 3,500 warships that conducted large-scale cruises every spring and summer. Zheng He's seven voyages to the Western Ocean showcased the country's military might abroad, causing 36 countries to submit and pay tribute, all based on this naval force."

  "I, your son, am also willing to follow and emulate you, building a powerful ocean-going fleet to spread the prestige of our great Qing nation abroad, so that all nations will come to pay homage."

  "Do you want to go down the Western Ocean?" Kangxi was shocked and immediately said: "Not allowed, a thousand gold sons, still sitting in the hall, you are a prince, what kind of identity is this, how can you sail thousands of miles, taking unknown risks."

  "Your Majesty personally led the expedition, braved the danger of arrows and stones, I, your son...". Yongzheng saw that Kangxi's expression was not good, so he quickly changed his words, "Even if Your Majesty does not allow me to go, others can be sent instead."

  This rascal, he actually wants to go to the Western Ocean. Doesn't he want to contend for the throne anymore? Ah, thinking of how Yinzhen voluntarily asked to be sent to Jiangnan to supervise the construction of an agricultural academy half a year ago, Kangxi vaguely guessed at Yinzhen's thoughts. This kid going to the Western Ocean is just a ruse; his true intention is to avoid this struggle for the throne by leaving the capital. Since that's the case, let him go and cause trouble; after all, this money will be spent on a sharp blade, better than having me constantly worried about it. Just as he was about to speak, Yinzhen unexpectedly spoke up first.

  Yin Zhen didn't know what Kangxi was thinking, this opportunity was hard to come by, if he couldn't persuade Kangxi, the construction of the ocean-going fleet would be delayed for who knows how many more years, now he really can't afford to delay even one year, Europe is already ahead. With a sense of urgency in his heart, Yin Zhen also didn't notice Kangxi's expression.

  He only heard him say loudly: "Huang Ama, on land, the territory of our great Qing has already expanded to the extreme. In the northwest, even if we conquer further places, it's not just cold and bitter, but also impossible for us to consolidate. But at sea, there are still vast fertile territories. As long as we have a deep-sea fleet, the territory of our great Qing will have a lot of room for expansion."

  As he spoke, Yinzhen gestured to Li Dequan to unfold the world map, "Has Your Majesty ever noticed that this blank space in the middle has not been explored yet? It's possible that a large landmass exists there. If we can find and conquer it, our Qing dynasty's territory will be doubled. The likes of Qin Shi Huang, Han Wu, Tang Taizong, and Song Taizu would be no match for Your Majesty."

  Upon hearing this, Kangxi's eyes lit up. He was originally a man of great talent and ambition, and he had always thought highly of himself. As a Manchu, he especially wanted to surpass the wise and virtuous rulers of the Han Chinese. Yin Zhen's words struck a chord in his heart, and he unconsciously walked over to the Wan Guo Kun Yu Tu map, quickly finding the blank space in the middle.

  "Could there be a mainland here too?" Kangxi muttered to himself, as if asking Yin Zhen.

  Yin Zhen hated that he couldn't tell him exactly where the continent of Australia was. "Your Majesty, South America, North America, and Africa were all discovered unintentionally during navigation. I have been pondering for a long time, such a large blank space, it is impossible that they are all oceans, there should be a continental land existing."

  If it can be said that the Kangxi Emperor was only moved by intention before, then now he is truly moved. Throughout his life, in terms of military strategy, he captured Galdan, pacified the Three Feudatories, conquered Taiwan, fought against Russia, and launched three expeditions against the Dzungars. In terms of literature, he compiled "Kangxi Dictionary", "The Collected Statutes of the Great Qing", "Imperial Collection of Poetry", "Poems on Paintings by Emperors of Past Dynasties", "Complete Tang Poems", and "Comprehensive Collection of Books and Illustrations". In governance, he promoted agriculture, suppressed commerce, reduced taxes, educated the people, suppressed monopolies, and punished corrupt officials. He achieved all these so-called saintly virtues, but what depressed him was that in terms of territory, he could not surpass the Tang or Yuan dynasties. In governance, at most, he could only be ranked alongside other wise rulers in history. It is said that the Kangxi Emperor became disenchanted with politics in his later years, but actually, he was perplexed and could not see a goal to surpass all other wise rulers.

  The maritime empire, overseas territories, equivalent to the overseas territories of the Qing Dynasty at present, if it can be truly realized, Kangxi is absolutely a pioneer in opening up a generation and leading all emperors throughout history.

  Yongzheng's words were not without basis, he had grasped Kangxi's thoughts and came prepared. Seeing Kangxi get up and pace quickly in the room, he knew that this treasure was a sure thing, Kangxi's heart was moved.

  Kangxi was indeed moved, no, his already subsided ambition had been stirred up again. The ambition to surpass all emperors of the past and become a legendary emperor made his blood boil. I am not old, I am only 56 years old this year, living for another ten or eight years is absolutely no problem, I must complete this great undertaking in my lifetime. I want to surpass all emperors and let them see who is the real legendary emperor.

  Soon, Kangxi suppressed his excitement and sat down quietly, staring at Yin Zhen: "You should have a specific plan, tell me about it."

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  Everyone is very supportive, no more words, I'll repay with coding!