Father can be an enemy to the country

Huludao is not an island, but a peninsula located in the Liaoxi Corridor. It is named because the bay is shaped like a gourd. It is under the jurisdiction of the Liaodong Capital Division. At this time, the famous Ningyuan Guards in later generations had not yet been established, so this section of the chokepoint between Jinzhou and Shanhaiguan was previously under no one's jurisdiction.

Later, the Prime Minister's Maritime Affairs Office was responsible for transporting grain to the north, and Zhu Zhen was the first to arrive. This was chosen as the port to supply food to Liaodong Dusi.

Although this place is far away from Liaoyang, it has the advantages of a wide harbor and deep water, shelter from wind and waves in summer, and only a thin layer of ice in severe winter. It is a rare ice-free harbor, and the hydrological conditions are much better than those at the mouth of Liaohe River.

After the establishment of Daning Dusi, it was the most convenient place to supply food to the grassland, and Huludao's advantages became even greater. As a result, a large-scale seaport city quickly formed here, and its liveliness was almost as lively as that of Liaoyang.

Well, mainly because the population in Liaodong is too small...

~~

When Zhu Zhen and his entourage arrived at the city gate, they saw colorful flags fluttering and firecrackers blasting. Han Yike and Shen Rong led more than 10,000 soldiers and civilians to greet them.

"Congratulations on your triumphant return!" The two of them had received the news a long time ago and had been waiting in Huludao for a long time.

"Hahaha, brothers and elders, please get up quickly." Zhu Zhen clasped his fists and thanked the soldiers and civilians of Huludao loudly: "The army has been able to fight in the depths of the grassland for nearly a year. Thanks to your hard work in transferring food and grass, I have already I’m going to ask my father for my favor. Please forgive me for exempting you from taxes for three years!”

"Oh, thank you so much, Your Majesty!" All the soldiers and civilians were overjoyed and kowtowed to express their gratitude.

"In addition..." Before Zhu Zhen finished speaking, he continued: "I have discussed with Mr. Han and will give you a holiday starting from the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month and will last until the second day of February next year, so that you can have a good rest. One break. And the salary will be paid during the holiday, plus two taels of silver per person for the New Year!”

"Ouch! Long live the emperor, nine thousand years old!" Everyone really didn't know how to express their gratitude. He even invented the word "nine thousand years" for him.

Zhu Zhen almost couldn't hold himself back, good guy, I have become Wei Zhongxian...

~~

When they entered the city, because they had already greeted them in advance, the soldiers and civilians in Huludao all knew why King Yan and Du Si were imprisoned in the prison car. Therefore, not only did no one laugh at the old four and three people, but there were also many ordinary people who were looking at them. Each prison van was stuffed with delicious food.

In the simple understanding of the common people, taking the initiative to eliminate the Tatars was a sign of bravery and fearlessness. However, it was inhumane for the court to imprison the three of them.

As expected, Ping An regarded himself as a hero and waved to his former subordinates frequently in the prison car. Many officers came over to toast him and bid him farewell with tears. Then they knelt down and begged Zhu Zhen to save their commander's life. The scene seemed like he was about to be imprisoned. It's like going to the execution ground.

Zhu Zhen had no choice but to assure them that it would be safe, and then he was able to escape. He and Han Yike and Shen Rong came to the dock to check the sea conditions.

In the calm natural haven, a thin layer of ice floating on the sea surface reflected the bright sunshine.

"Is it possible to sail a boat in this sea condition?" Zhu Zhen asked calmly: "If it doesn't work, use the alternative plan and go to sea from Qingnipu."

Qingnipu would later become Dalian Bay. Because of its lower latitude and the influence of warm currents, it would definitely not freeze there, but it would take an extra seven hundred miles to travel.

"No problem." Han Yike said with certainty: "This level of thin ice will not damage the ship."

As he spoke, he pointed at the two-thousand-material large ships parked quietly on the pier and said: "And these ships have been specially modified, with copper plates added to the outside of the hulls, and can break through ice a finger thick, leaving them unscathed. Injury. These days, I will send them out to sea every day to clean up the channel to ensure that everything is safe."

"Okay, let's get on the boat!" Zhu Zhen absolutely trusted his top general.

Following the officer's order, the soldiers lined up with their horses and began to board the ship. The prison car belonging to Lao Si and others was also slowly lifted onto the deck using a Jujue crane.

"Be careful, don't let me fall into the sea!" The roaring sea wind shook the prison car this way and that. Zhu Di grabbed the railing with both hands and was very nervous.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, our crane can lift two thousand catties." Shen Rong quickly comforted him and said, "It's less than one thousand catties even with a person and a truck."

"Don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of what happens..." Zhu Di said in fear as he looked at the sea covered with broken ice beneath his feet.

Fortunately, the crane operator who controlled Jumei was very skilled and placed him and the truck smoothly on the deck.

"Oh Mom, I'm scared to death." Zhu Di breathed a sigh of relief. This feeling of life and death being in the hands of others is really more terrifying than fighting on the battlefield.

~~

With the help of a large force boarding the ship, Zhu Zhen inspected Huludao Pier. I saw that the wealthy Hai Zheng Yamen not only built four permanent stone trestles, which can accommodate 20 large-scale ships to dock and unload cargo at the same time. A breakwater was even built at the mouth of the bay. There are lighthouses and forts on the embankment, which obviously also play a role in navigation and warning.

"Well, it can be seen that a lot of effort has been put into it." Zhu Zhen nodded with satisfaction.

"The main reason is that the prince is very discerning and the conditions of the seaport he chose are great." Han Yike praised from the side:

"Not only is the water temperature high, it is navigable most of the time in winter, but the coast is made of rocks, so there is no siltation. The seabed is steeply sloping, so the water is deep. The gourd-shaped bay can block wind and waves, and it is also a natural haven. There are few ports in the country that can compare with it.”

"And its location is too good. It is not only on the Liaoxi Corridor, but also the sea gateway to Daning." Shen Rong said with a smile: "In my humble opinion, this port will have to be expanded again in a few years."

"That doesn't matter. Space for four trestles was reserved during the design," Han Yi said with a smile: "I expected this to happen."

"It seems that we have the same idea." Zhu Zhen smiled at the two of them and said: "In the future, the court will focus on managing Daning and the Northeast. My father is going to appoint my three younger brothers to the Northeast, and Daning will also have one. Let alone other things, just the construction of these four palaces, as well as the future maintenance and expenses, all have to go through Huludao. What a huge demand this is. Right?"

"The population of Northeast China will probably reach millions in the future!" Han Yike and the others were surprised and said, "I didn't expect the emperor to attach so much importance to Northeast China."

"The Northeast China is too important and is related to the peace of the country. If Daning and Northeast China are well governed, there will be basically no border troubles in the northern border. "Zhu Zhen said in a deep voice: "For this reason, Liaodong alone is far from enough. At least we must actually control the Songnen Plain, which is a good place to develop military settlements!"

He lowered his voice and said, "I strongly advocate the establishment of a provincial government in Daning and Northeast China. It is not possible without a civil service system to build water conservancy and organize production."

"If Daning and Northeast China can both set up provinces, that would be great!" Han Yike and the others' eyes lit up. In that case, they would have two more big customers.

"But I can only suggest this matter. In the end, the old man and the emperor will have to make the decision." Zhu Zhen asked the two not to get excited and said, "If you want to see it succeed, you should help Liaodong and Daning develop well, and then it will come naturally. "