From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

Chapter 921

The Chaozhou merchant fleet returned, and the gold and silver that Dajin had longed for finally arrived.

In addition to the 5 million taels of silver that Huang Zuoyu needed, there were still 18 million taels left. Zeng Cheng estimated that 8 million taels of silver would be used for soldiers' pensions and warship repairs, as well as the manufacture of bullets and shells.

There were still about 10 million taels left, and Zhou Yuan didn't dare to touch this money.

A great war in the north was still waiting for him, and he had to save enough funds and make comprehensive preparations.

"We spent all the remaining hundreds of thousands of taels to repair the two cruisers in advance. We concentrated all our manpower and finally completed the general repair."

Nie Zairong whispered: "In two days at most, the Confidence Ship and the Self-reliance Ship can set sail. Ouyang Gong and Xie Shidun will personally follow Ms. Avina to the West."

Zhou Yuan nodded and said: "Arrange another 20 young people to follow the Confidence Ship and the Self-reliance Ship to learn the naval warfare technology there."

"You are here to select talents. You must have talent, perseverance, and the ability to endure hardships."

Nie Zairong looked serious and said solemnly: "I understand."

Zhou Yuan sighed and said: "This time, we are going to send many people out for a five-year study. I hope they can bring back a lot of knowledge."

Nie Zairong couldn't help but say: "Your Majesty, I don't understand one thing. Our navy of Dajin is indeed far behind, but the situation seems to be It's not that bad, right? "

"We have the technology for shipbuilding and guns. As long as we have more time to adapt, we will not be worse than the other side."

Zhou Yuan glanced at him and said, "But don't forget where our technology came from. We relied on the craftsmen of Kolodiya."

"Can we continue to make progress on this basis? Do we have the ability to innovate independently? The world is developing. In time, sailing warships will also be eliminated. What can we use to catch up with the West?"

"General Nie, to support the development of a nation's military, what is needed is a strong economy, as well as sufficient theoretical knowledge and talents."

"We still have a long way to go."

Nie Zairong nodded as if he understood, and said, "I believe in the judgment of the prince."

...

Back to the manor in Fuzhou Prefecture, as expected, Kolodiya asked Zhou Yuan to meet in the pavilion.

"Everything that should be prepared is ready, and I should go too."

Her tone was not excited, but rather a kind of indescribable loneliness.

Zhou Yuan laughed and said softly: "'I'? It seems that Dai Si has decided not to go back with you."

Kolodiya said: "I have to admit that she has grown up and has her own ideas. I can no longer restrain her."

"But I am still worried about her."

Zhou Yuan said: "You are worried about her? In my opinion, she is much smarter than you."

Kolodiya shook her head and said: "There are many smart people in the world, and Dai Si is just one of them."

"She is too arrogant and lacks experience. Sooner or later, she will fall down."

"And facing someone like you, her wisdom often brings her disaster."

"She always thinks she can calculate everything, but she never thought that you are not someone who will suffer losses."

Zhou Yuan spread his hands and said, "Madam, don't say that. There is nothing wrong with being smart. I will not be prejudiced against Dai Si because she is too smart."

"On the contrary, I am looking forward to her performance in the future. I hope that her intelligence is not just talk, but real wisdom."

Kolodiya stood up, bowed deeply to Zhou Yuan, and said softly, "In any case, we must be grateful. Thank you."

"Zhou Yuan, if it weren't for you, Dai Si and I would have been in an extremely difficult situation, not to mention the opportunity to rise to prominence like we do now."

"Although you are very scheming, you have kept your promise after all."

"I hope you can help me take good care of Dai Si. If...if she makes a mistake one day, please forgive her. After all, she is not mature enough."

Zhou Yuan also stood up, stretched out his hand, and said: "Madam, thank you for your help to Dajin. Without you, we would not be able to complete the water in just over two years. The reorganization of the division, and the defeat of the Portuguese and Dutch fleets. "

"I think, no matter from which aspect, our cooperation this time is pleasant and fruitful."

Speaking of this, Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and said: "The two cruisers will arrive at the Fuzhou dock the day after tomorrow morning, and they will be full of cargo."

"I will take out one million taels of silver to help you solve the troubles you are carrying, and at the same time help you establish a relatively good relationship with the major nobles in the West."

"At the same time, I also have a request."

Kolodia's eyes were shining.

She trembled and said: "One million taels of silver?"

This money is simply a lot for her.It's an astronomical figure.

With this money and a ship full of goods, the royal family will have nothing to say.

And with the packaging of this money, she can indeed establish a good friendship with the major European nobles, at least it will open a cut, so that she has a certain weight, so that there will be business to do in the future.

Then, the development of trade areas and the precise positioning of business districts will be very smooth.

"No problem!"

Kolodiya immediately said: "Prince, I understand your request, I promise you."

She quickly sat down, unfastened the buckle of the garter stockings, took off the stockings, and handed them to Zhou Yuan.

Feeling the temperature and fragrance of the stockings, Zhou Yuan was stunned.

He swallowed and said: "Madam... I don't mean that, I want you to help me take care of the students of the Dajin Imperial Academy..."

Damn, the character is too hard, so she thought I still want this, it's a sin.

Zhou Yuan said: "There are some students from the Imperial Academy of Dajin who want to go to sea with you to study in Western Europe."

"You need to arrange for local nobles to accept them, find them a place to stay and guards, and they will spend the next five years there."

Kolodia said: "How many people are there?"

"I don't know."

Zhou Yuan said: "Everything will be clear the day after tomorrow morning."

...

October 1st.

This is a day worth remembering.

Just as the sky was getting light, the Confidence Ship and the Self-reliance Ship of Dajin were docked at the dock.

Officials of all sizes in Fujian, as well as representatives of major Chaozhou merchants, have all arrived at the dock.

Zhou Yuan, Qu Ling and others also came here.

Today, we have to send Ms. Kolodia Avina away, and we have to send many people away.

"Sixty-eight people."

Bai Yu, who has not seen for a long time, seems to have changed.

Although he is still young, there are many more things in his eyes, that is determination, that is responsibility, that is what he shoulders.

"I didn't expect there would be so many, but... after all, they followed me south, said goodbye to their families, and didn't look back."

"During this period, we found the missionary in Shenjing, and we asked him many questions."

"Indeed, we are far behind in scientific theoretical knowledge."

"The gap between physics, mathematics, and astronomy is huge. We have almost no corresponding books and systems, but the other side has done quite well."

"Especially a man named Descartes, who invented coordinate systems and analytic geometry. I listened to them completely. "I don't understand." "There is also a Cairpler, he is even studying the stars in the sky, and we still worship the sky and treat the moon and the sun as a god." Classmate, he also followed me to go south. "Here, he kneeling, saying:" Wang, the student is leaving! "Zhou Yuan pulled him. His face was only serious, he said," Don't kneel. Four words, you have to realize it, this is what you can do. In addition, there are 20 young men carefully selected by the Fujian and Guangdong Navy.

They each have their own mission. They are all geniuses who want to learn from others and study.

At the moment when the sun illuminated the world, on the deck of the Self-Reliance Ship, Bai Yu and others looked at the countless people on the dock and looked at this beloved land.

They were in tears, but they shouted-

"Going to the West, I know China's self-strengthening plan, and I have nothing else to ask for!"

"Carrying the future of the country, taking all the science of foreigners, going 70,000 miles, saying goodbye to the motherland, and having no regrets!"

The ship gradually went away.

The people on the deck and on the shore looked at each other, reluctant to leave.

The sun illuminated the world, and the young voices resounded through the sea.

The waves were surging, as if telling the story of the future.