Li Zhi, don't be a coward

The Tian family couple have tasted the sweetness of love in this life, and perhaps the saltiness of the sea, but do they really understand the sea?
In this closed age, people didn't even know whether the sky and the earth were square or round. They always felt that the end of the land was the sea, and the end of the sea was the edge of the sky and the earth. That's why there was a stone tablet of "Tianya Haijiao" on the South China Sea.

It cannot be said that people are ignorant, because they have no way of knowing.

However, since Li Qinzai came to this era, everyone must open their eyes to see what the world is like, lest the emperors of all dynasties always take the Western Regions first when they have ambitions.

There was silence in the hall, Li Zhi and Empress Wu frowned deeply, lost in thought.

Cui Sheng wrote down every word Li Qinzai said.

"What is the end of the sea...?" Li Zhi asked.

Li Qinzai smiled: "At the end of the sea are sweet potatoes, but not all of them are sweet potatoes. There are many species as wonderful as sweet potatoes, and... a vast land that is countless times larger than the Tang Dynasty. The people who live on that land today are just Some uncivilized aborigines who wear animal skins and hunt for a living."

Li Zhi's eyes lit up, and his breathing became heavy.

The word "land" attracted him deeply.There is no way, the emperor has an occupational disease. As long as he hears that there is land, he feels that the business is coming.

Qin Shihuang said, "Forehead, foredrop, it's foredrop."

Li Zhi said, "I want it! I want it! I want it!"

After Li Qinzai finished speaking, Li Zhi straightened his waist even more, and unconsciously leaned towards Li Qinzai.

"Jing Chu, tell me carefully." Li Zhi said with bright eyes.

Li Qinzai sighed and said: "Your Majesty, I still say the same thing. In fact, the land is not important. The important thing is that we have to introduce new species, various high-yielding grains, spices, minerals, plants, etc. As for the land at the end of the sea The land is just taken by hand.”

"The century-old strategy is to eliminate the immediate enemies first, and then worry about the distant ones. The current enemies of the Tang Dynasty are Goguryeo and Tubo. After conquering Goguryeo and Tubo, I think that we should use gentle tactics to win over the Western Regions and not rush to conquer them."

"We should build ships, build big ships, recruit boatmen and nautical talents, set up shipping divisions, and draw nautical charts..."

"Your Majesty, I feel that Your Majesty should look away from the Western Regions and look to the east. At the end of the east sea, there is a magical continent with rich products. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is full of gold."

"If we can introduce grains from the New World and diversify the grains of Datang, not to mention feeding tens of millions of people today, even if it is several times more, there will be no pressure."

"No matter how much land you conquer, it is better to fill the stomachs of the people you rule. As long as you fill your people, no one can shake the land of the Tang Dynasty for thousands of years, and the new land at the end of the sea, the vast land , is the proof that His Majesty has surpassed Emperor Taizong."

Li Zhi became more and more excited when he heard it, and then looked at Empress Wu, a trace of excitement flashed in Empress Wu's eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Li Zhi smiled wryly and said, "I can't wait to mention a million masters right now, and go to sea to conquer..."

"However, what is the end of the sea like? How will the ship navigate after leaving the port? Where can I get supplies? Where can I land? Where are hidden reefs and dangerous shoals, etc. There are too many unknown dangers. How can I make up my mind?"

Li Qinzai sighed, and said: "To open up territories and conquer new lands, how can one not pay or sacrifice? There is no way to do it. Only by paying casualties can we gain."

"Attacking the enemy's city is a war. Building a ship and going to sea to find the mainland is another war. Since it is a war, there must be casualties. This is unavoidable."

"As for the waterway and the mainland after going out to sea..." Li Qinzai pondered for a moment, then looked at Cui Sheng, who was writing flying, and said with a smile, "Uncle, please borrow a pen and paper."

Cui Sheng silently handed him the pen and paper.

Li Qinzai spread the paper and pen on the table, Li Zhi and Empress Wu approached, and Cui Sheng, who had been keeping aloof not far away, couldn't help but move forward a few steps, his eyes glanced at the paper and pen in front of Li Qinzai.

Li Qinzai draws as soon as he picks up a brush, and his painting skills are a bit rough, but it doesn't matter, as long as he can understand.

First draw a general outline of Asia, then the Pacific Ocean, the east coast of the Pacific Ocean is the American continent, by the way, by the way, draw Australia, which looks like a ball of the earth in the middle of the Pacific Ocean...

Finally, there is the Indian Ocean to the west, Central Asia and the European continent, the Cape of Good Hope, the African continent, and so on.

After a long time, Li Qinzai finished his painting and looked at his work, Li Qinzai couldn't help frowning slightly.

This painting skill is really... worse than my handwriting.

Li Zhi also frowned. Although he didn't understand what Li Qinzai was painting, he could still tell the quality of the painting.

"Jing Chu is really... you have so much idle time, why don't you practice calligraphy and painting more? Although your old father-in-law, King Teng, is a libertine, his paintings are also outstanding nowadays. You should ask your father-in-law for advice. That's fine." Li Zhi shook his head, his eyes full of disgust.

Empress Wu covered her mouth and smiled lightly.

Li Qinzai twitched his lips: "Your Majesty, practicing calligraphy and painting can't be called idleness, but torture. If you want to live a leisurely life, why bother with yourself? If you don't write well, it doesn't violate the king's law..."

"Don't digress, Your Majesty, please take a look, this picture drawn by the minister is the real world." Li Qinzai pointed to the map and said.

Li Zhi and Empress Wu leaned over and looked at it for a long time. After a long while, Li Zhi pointed to the edge of the American continent and said, "Is this the end of the world?"

Li Qinzai shook his head: "No, continue walking here, it will arrive here..."

As he spoke, he pointed to the European continent at the other end of the map.

Li Zhi rubbed his chin in puzzlement. After all, he is a smart person. After a while, Li Zhi finally figured it out, and said in horror: "Jing Chu means that the whole world is round? No matter which direction you go, you can return to the origin?"

Li Qinzai nodded: "The ancients said 'the sky is round and the earth' is actually a fallacy. In fact, it should be said that the sky is round and the earth is round."

Speaking of rolling up the map so that its two ends are connected to form a roll, Li Qinzai said: "Your Majesty, this is what the world really looks like. It is actually a ball."

Li Zhi and Empress Wu opened their eyes wide in surprise, and looked at each other in amazement.

Regardless of the horrified looks of the two, Li Qinzai said to himself, "The Great Tang is only a few tenths of them, and the new species and new food we urgently need are available on the other side of the continent."

As he spoke, he pointed to the American continent and the African continent.

Staring at the shocked faces of Li Zhi and Empress Wu, Li Qinzai slowly said word by word: "Building sea ships, recruiting ship workers, and gathering master masters, the Tang Dynasty has sharp firearms, and the minister has knowledge of science and engineering, plus this map , as well as the perseverance and courage of our vast country..."

"While this world is still sleeping, we who have been awake for thousands of years should become the true masters of this world."