Then, He Jinghong took out a few more boxes of goods.
They weren't expensive goods, just tea leaves and beans.
He Jinghong distributed these items that could also cure scurvy and slowly walked onto the deck.
Zheng He stared deeply at her." How do you know all this?”
He Jinghong smiled lightly.
"I told you, I know a lot of things.”
This time, Zheng He didn't take it lightly.
He pulled out his sword and patted He Jinghong's shoulder.
"Eunuch Zheng He was sent out to the distant sea by the order of the heavens. At the moment of danger, he was rescued by the merchant of Heaven Ying Prefecture, He Jinghong…He is specially appointed as the temporary deputy envoy!”
He Jinghong smiled cheekily and bowed." Thank you, Your Excellency."”
The soldiers on the side hurriedly said," Lord Zheng, you can't. Even if this person has made contributions, he is still a merchant. How can he take on this position?"”
The economy of Ming Dynasty was prosperous and the merchants were rich, but they still governed the country with the ideology of etiquette. The merchants were the lowest and most lowly group of people.
Zheng He glanced at the soldier." He can save people and ensure that Great Ming can sail smoothly. Can you?”
Looking at the soldiers on the deck who were already in low spirits, the soldiers were a little silent.
" I, Zheng He, am a eunuch, but I can lead a ship as an envoy. In your eyes, is that not enough?" Zheng He asked loudly.”
"I dare not!"
Beads of sweat appeared on the soldiers 'heads and they immediately knelt down.
Although Zheng He was a eunuch, he had followed the King of Yan, Zhu Di, since he was young. He was intelligent and knew how to fight. Later, he was promoted to the position of internal official supervisor after making meritorious contributions in the Battle of Jingnan.
This kind of person was not someone a mere soldier like him could question.
After saying that, Zheng He's expression relaxed slightly and he turned to leave.
He Jinghong looked at the other party's departing back and smiled.""This Lord Zheng is a wonderful person.”
The soldier glared at He Jinghong." Watch your words."”
He Jinghong pursed his lips and did not take it seriously. He clasped his hands behind his back and whistled as he looked at the sea level.
……
In the next few years, He Jinghong went out to sea many times.
During this period, he displayed many abilities.
For example, the Ocean Needle Scripture combined with the Ocean Star Manipulation Technique.
This was the most advanced navigation technique at that time, but He Jinghong was extremely good at it. It was as if he had been preparing to go out to sea since he was young. He led the Ming Dynasty's ships and could maintain their course even in foggy weather.
He was also proficient in shipbuilding, so he had solved the problems of storing fresh water on the ship, the stability of the ship, and the resistance to sinking.
Gradually, many people forgot He Jinghong's identity as a businessman. When they met on the ship, they would look at him with respect.
Even Zheng He often used the words 'God Descended from Heaven' to evaluate He Jinghong.
On their third voyage to the West, they arrived in South Vietnam, Malay, India, and other places…
Here, there were temples everywhere, divine ponds in every village, and shrines in every household.
They came into contact with many religions and found that different religions had different worldviews.
"Preposterous. How can the world be like this?”
"There is Mount Meru in the middle. Four continents surround this mountain, and the world is just one of them?”
"Even if the four continents are added together, it is only a small world. There are still 3,000 worlds outside?”
"And this religion, the world is just a dream of this immortal?”
"Nonsense, nonsense!"
"The world should be a round place!”
Many civil officials cursed.
Zheng He looked at He Jinghong, who had a strange expression on his face." What do you think? Is the world really like this?"”
He Jinghong shook his head, his eyes flickering.
"You can only know what the world is like after seeing it.”
Zheng He laughed and patted He Jinghong's shoulder." When the Emperor allows us to go out to sea a few more times, perhaps we will be able to see the whole world.”
He Jinghong nodded with anticipation in his eyes.
He knew that it wasn't just a 'maybe' but that he would definitely go out to sea again in the future.
This was because the ancestor had once said that he had destiny!
……
The year 1420.
This was the fifth time Zheng He had been ordered to lead the fleet to return the envoys from the various countries. The furthest country among the countries was in East Africa.
Somalia, along the coast of shu-.
This was the furthest the Ming Dynasty fleet had planned to go. Emperor Yongle had only allowed them to go this far. Now, more than 200 ships and more than 20,000 people were quietly waiting for the order to return.
This year, Zheng He was forty-nine years old.
That year, He Jinghong was 38 years old.
The two of them stood silently at the bow of the Qing He.
In front of him, the Indian Ocean was shrouded in a tropical storm.
It was raining and foggy all around, and only when lightning pierced through the haze did the fleet appear in the blue lightning.
Qing Yuan, Hui Kang, Chang Ning, An Ji…they were like huge rocks surrounding the flagship.
Many African chiefs had already disembarked after three days of feasting on the ship. The fierce African drums could be heard faintly from the rain. The dancing figures of the black people in the palm forest on the shore were like ghosts in the rainstorm.
Zheng He turned his head and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear,""Return?"
"You should have an answer in your heart long ago."
He Jinghong smiled. Time had left its mark on his face, but his eyes were still as clear as when he was young.
It was a yearning for the whole world.
Zheng He hesitated.
He Jinghong looked at Zheng He and smiled." If Your Excellency is afraid of disobeying the imperial edict, then let me do it."”
Zheng He looked deeply at He Jinghong.
He knew that over the years, it was her existence that had gradually aroused his curiosity about the world.
This curiosity was like a poison without an antidote, torturing him day and night.
Zheng He shook his head.
"No, keep moving forward."
His voice was fair and clear.
As the voice traveled over, the other people in the command center felt that the air and raindrops had solidified.
"Forward? Where to?"
"Move forward and see what's ahead.”Zheng He said firmly.
"Milord, what's the use of that? The mission that the emperor gave us has been completed, we should return to the sea.”
"The mission that the emperor gave us has been completed, but what about us?”Zheng He asked.
He Jinghong walked to the bow and sat down quietly.
In front of him and behind him, there was rain and fog, and he couldn't see the route.
He Jinghong didn't know why his voice was a little hoarse." If the sky is round and the earth is square, the sea should have its edge. Ming's fleet should sail there.”
"This is disobeying the divine order, Lord Envoy, Lord Deputy Envoy!”
"We've made up our minds. Those who refuse can go back on their own, but they can only bring ten ships at most.”
Zheng He walked behind He Jinghong and sat down beside him without caring about his image.
They heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed behind them. It was the guard's sword, and then more unsheathing sounds. It was the sword of their trusted aide. Then everything fell silent.
He Jinghong did not turn around.
Just as suddenly as it had come, the storm stopped.
The sun's light beam pierced through the clouds, and the place where the sky and water connected shone with a golden light, showing an irresistible mysterious temptation.
"Set sail!" Zheng He laughed and hooked his arm around He Jinghong's shoulder.
He Jinghong wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes. He did not know if it was the rain or the tears from his excitement.
"Set sail!" a group of people shouted.
On the 10th of June, 1420, the Ming Dynasty fleet crashed through the waves of the Indian Ocean and headed for the Cape of Good Hope.
As the fleet continued to sail toward the so-called edge of the world, He Ping stood silently in the darkness of the sky without any wind. He stared at the bright light in the distance and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
This 600-year-long plan had just begun…
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