Chương 687: Zhou Yu's Report

Shen Wansan's abacus stopped clicking, and he stared wide-eyed, asking, "You really touched it? Is it the continent His Majesty spoke of, the one overflowing with gold and silver, the land so fertile it's practically dripping with oil? Does such a place really exist?"

"I really touched it!" Zhou Yu nodded emphatically, a surreal smile on his face, as if he were dreaming.

"When the fleet first docked, the local people thought it was a monster. They took stones and bone arrows and hid in the woods, not daring to come out. They didn't dare to get close for several days."

Later, we tried to trade them candy and silk for things... and only then did they dare to come out. They even brought us fruit and gestured that they wanted to trade for more good things.

There are also corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes there, and those huge chickens, bigger than our geese, with lots of meat, but the meat is tough, hard to chew, and not tasty.

King Zhao Liu Yan, who had been listening quietly and obediently, suddenly brightened up at the mention of "corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes," his eyes lighting up as if he had light bulbs. He leaned forward rapidly, his voice becoming urgent, and he completely forgot his usual composed demeanor.

"General Zhou! You brought back all the seeds? Could you let me plant them in the test field first? I'll start greenhouse seedling cultivation this winter, and I can start trial planting next spring! Let's see how the yield is."

"We brought them back! The boat was completely full, with all sorts of seeds, and quite a few local flowers, herbs, and fruit trees—something very unusual." Zhou Yu nodded with a smile, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

"Not only seeds, but I also had them bring back a few baby turkeys and some local cattle and sheep, which will be sent to Your Majesty's Imperial Garden to raise and play with. They are very rare and I guarantee you have never seen them before."

Liu Ce laughed heartily and pointed at Zhou Yu, saying, "Well done, Gongjin! I sent you out to scout ahead, and you brought back all your belongings. What about the colonial outposts? I need three stable ones, are they enough? Don't tell me you just made a quick trip and came back."

"More than three places!" Zhou Yu straightened his back, his tone full of pride, his chest practically puffed out to the sky.

"We now have five solid strongholds firmly in our hands! One is on Java Island in Southeast Asia, which is used as a transit point for spices. Caravans are unloading and stockpiling goods there now; it's quite bustling..."

Ceylon, a city in the Indian Ocean, guards the Strait of Malacca, essentially acting as a gatekeeper; anyone wanting to pass through has to give us a heads-up...

One of the tribes on the East African coast controls the ivory and gold trade. Local tribes are all willing to do business with us, saving their best ivory for us to sell...

There are also two along the American coast, one for stockpiling goods and trading, and the other for clearing land and growing food...

"There are more than a dozen supply stations of all sizes along the way, with one every so often, making it convenient to replenish water and food. The crew members say they feel more confident going out to sea now and are not afraid of running out of food halfway through the journey."

"The Colonial Affairs Department has also been streamlined. There are now seventeen private merchant groups that have obtained franchise rights. They are all large and powerful businesses in Jiangnan and Luoyang. As His Majesty said, the profits will be divided according to shares, with the court taking 30% and the merchant groups taking 70%."

In the first year alone, the taxes collected from maritime trade and outposts were equivalent to the annual revenue of two provinces, and they're expected to increase even more! The business owners are now constantly running to the Colonial Office, urging them to open more shipping routes, practically wanting to sail their ships to the ends of the earth.

Upon hearing this, Shen Wansan's eyes turned green with envy. His hands flew across the abacus, fingers practically flying sparks, as he finished calculating. He gasped, stroking his beard, and said:

"My goodness... If this continues for a few more years, maritime trade tax could account for 30% of the imperial court's annual revenue! That's more profitable than farming! People used to say that farming was the foundation, but now it seems that the sea is full of real gold and silver! I've truly seen something new in my life."

Liu Ce chuckled and replied, "Of course. Staying home and farming is too narrow-minded. The ocean is so vast, full of treasures; it just depends on whether you dare to reach out and take them. Our Han Dynasty will turn the sea into our own backyard. In the future, we will not only make money, but also spread the glory of the Han Dynasty throughout the world."

He looked at Zhou Yu, his tone full of praise, and nodded, saying, "Gongjin, in five years, the navy has been built, the shipping routes have been opened, and the strongholds have been established. It's even better than I expected. You haven't wasted those years at sea, nor have you gotten so tanned. It's all worth it."

"It's all thanks to Your Majesty's excellent strategy; I was merely running errands and carrying out military orders," Zhou Yu said sincerely, bowing deeply, his eyes slightly red.

"When I was adrift at sea, every time I encountered storms and pirates, I thought of Your Majesty's words, that the navy of the Han Dynasty should not disgrace Your Majesty, and that this dragon flag should be planted in a more distant place. When I returned, the fleet entered the port, and when I saw the flag of the Han Dynasty on the shore, tears welled up in my eyes."

Cheng Yaojin leaned closer, his face full of curiosity, winking and saying, "Brother Zhou, are there any fierce wild beasts overseas? Bigger than tigers? Take me with you next time you go to sea, I'll hunt one and bring it back as a gift for His Majesty! I, Old Zhang, have never hunted any wild beasts overseas before! My old bones can still move around!"

"General Cheng really does have one." Zhou Yu chuckled, gesturing to Cheng Yaojin about the famous creature, "There's a wild beast in the Americas, covered in spots, a size bigger than our leopards, extremely fierce, capable of biting through bones in one bite, and faster than a horse."

There's another kind of wild buffalo, twice the size of our yellow cattle. It runs like a small tank, and a single ramming attack can send a person flying. Even the local tribesmen dare not provoke it. Next time I go to sea, I will definitely invite General Cheng to see it for himself, and hunt one back to have it made into a specimen to hang in General Cheng's residence."

"Alright! It's a deal!" Cheng Yaojin slapped his thigh, overjoyed.

"I'll go back and sharpen my bow some more, so I can shoot properly! I also need to practice riding, so I can catch up!"

Xun Yu stroked his beard, asking questions with composure, his concerns focused on governance and the people's livelihood:

"Gongjin, the stronghold is far across the ocean. How will the appointment and dismissal of officials, the implementation of laws, and the transportation of provisions be arranged? Will the officials embezzle and cause trouble because the mountains are high and the emperor is far away? We must think this through carefully."

"Rest assured, Lord Xun," Zhou Yu replied, his expression becoming solemn.

"His Majesty has already instructed me to establish strict rules: the commanders of the outposts must be replaced every three years, and they are not allowed to bring their families. Upon completion of their term, they must return to the capital to report on their duties. The Censorate will regularly send censors to inspect the outposts, check the accounts and the administration of officials. If any corruption is discovered, they will be arrested and punished. The punishment ranges from exile to beheading.

There will be no leniency."

In the early days, supplies were transported by the imperial court, but now the outposts are self-sufficient, growing their own grain and engaging in trade. They don't need extra money from the court and even pay taxes to it. If something really happens, the navy can arrive in half a month with the ocean currents, enough to quell the unrest and prevent major chaos.