Chapter 336

"Yes!"

The steward agreed and immediately went out to find people.

Whether it was carpenters or hard paper, both were relatively easy to obtain.

After all, papermaking had developed quite rapidly by this time and could be used to package tea snacks, Chinese medicine, and the like.

It was not like the Song Dynasty period, where some foods could not even afford hard paper and had to be served in large leaves such as banana leaves or paulownia leaves.

So Su Qiao did not wait long before the steward found both the carpenters and the hard paper.

Liu Rushi and the maid Qing'er had changed back into women's clothing.

As soon as they arrived at Su Qiao's courtyard, they saw Su Qiao directing the carpenters to make wooden boards and a spherical object.

"Brother Su, what are you doing?"

Liu Rushi curiously examined the large round ball the carpenters were working on.

"You will know in a moment."

At this time, Su Qiao was also busy; he had just asked the carpenters to specially make several set squares.

To make it convenient for him to draw maps!

Whether it was Zhu Youjian's territorial map or the German navigational charts, none were very accurate.

Or rather, they were very crude!

Understandable!

After all, this was only the beginning of the Age of Discovery; Su Qiao intended to use these crude navigational charts along with the world map in his mind.

Combine them to draw a rough world map.

He believed that once there was a world map, whether it was Zhu Youjian or the court officials still harboring doubts, they would all stare with shining eyes at the other side of the sea.

Actually, what Su Qiao wanted even more was to lift the sea ban and encourage merchants to bravely venture out to sea for exploration.

It must be known that the earliest formation of colonialism was driven by merchants wanting to make money.

Their greed overcame danger, crossed the unpredictable seas, and then arrived at lands that were largely uncivilized.

They exchanged cheap goods for gems and gold.

Subsequently, they brought more people and began to enslave new regions.

Therefore, in Su Qiao's view, encouraging merchants more and more, and encouraging the Great Ming people's courage, exploration, and other abilities.

Would make the Great Ming's power expand outward much faster.

And a world map was the big pie Su Qiao drew to persuade them to be willing to go out to sea.

Su Qiao had not studied art, yet he still carefully drew the world map he needed.

Although compared to maps from later eras, it was much rougher and cruder.

But in this period, it was already a map that surpassed its time.

"Is this what the world looks like? Is the Great Ming just this small?"

Watching Su Qiao slowly draw the world map, Liu Rushi looked at the Great Ming and then compared it with the landmass of the world.

Her eyes widened with a face full of disbelief.

"Of course, many people believe the Great Ming is the Celestial Empire, the center of the world, but since Emperor Chengzu Wen sent Zheng He on voyages to the Western Oceans, we gradually came to understand the entire world; the world is much larger than we imagined."

Su Qiao nodded and said.

At this moment, the carpenter found by the steward also finished the large wooden sphere-like object Su Qiao wanted.

"Young Master, it is done; please see if this is what you wanted?"

Su Qiao examined it, and a hint of joy appeared on his face.

I must say, this craftsmanship is truly impressive!

It was finished in such a short time, especially this sphere, which was purely handmade and did not consume many other tools.

"Good, good, this is exactly what I wanted; come, I need to find someone to redraw a map and paste it on."

Su Qiao took the large sphere off and suddenly slapped his forehead, saying.

He had forgotten that the map on the globe must be fitted together, quite different from a flat map of the four directions.

Hearing that Su Qiao wanted to draw something, Liu Rushi immediately volunteered.

"Brother Su, please see what you want to draw; do you think this little sister can do it?"

Su Qiao was stunned.

Yes!

Liu Rushi was a famous talented woman proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Copying a world map like that would be very simple, wouldn't it?

Su Qiao slapped his thigh and said, "Yes, yes, absolutely yes! Come, I will tell you how to do it..."

Liu Rushi was indeed intelligent and quick-witted; she understood Su Qiao's meaning in just a few sentences.

She smiled and nodded, saying, "Brother Su can rest nearby; leave the rest to this little sister."

Saying this, she began to draw according to Su Qiao's instructions.

Her brushwork also amazed Su Qiao; similarly, she did not use set squares, rulers, or the like as Su Qiao had.

Her slender wrist hovered over the paper, moving as she copied it exactly.

"Impressive; Rushi is indeed a talented woman!"

After Liu Rushi finished drawing, Su Qiao gave a thumbs-up and praised her.

Liu Rushi gently wiped the fragrant sweat from her cloud-like hair and smiled very brightly, "I am glad to be able to help Brother Su."

After the ink dried, Su Qiao, Liu Rushi, and the carpenter together carefully pasted it onto the sphere.

Perfectly fitted!

Perfect!

Install the globe; the "Earth" tilts slightly.

Give it a gentle push, and the globe begins to turn, with the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas of each region rotating one by one.

"This is a globe. The alternation of day and night we experience every day is due to the Earth's rotation."

Su Qiao explained this to Liu Rushi with a smile.

He turned and ordered the steward to reward the craftsman with a generous sum of money as a token of appreciation.

The carpenter accepted it, and gratefully bowed his head repeatedly to Su Qiao.

"Enough, no need for this. This is all that you deserve."

Su Qiao said as he pulled him up.

"You will need to make a few more of these things; they are to be given as gifts."

This globe and world map must certainly be sent to the palace as a set, and the several Grand Councilors will likely want one as well.

Keep a set for ourselves, hmm, that makes three or four sets in total.

192, there is reason in 'heading south while aiming north'!

Old Zhu, having finished reviewing the memorials, rubbed his somewhat sore neck vertebrae.

A palace maid nearby hurried over to help massage him.

With some free time, Old Zhu wanted to know the situation on Zhu Youjian's end.

He opened the chat group and sent a group video call invitation directly to Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian was much like Old Zhu, also reviewing memorials, though a bit slower than Old Zhu.

Seeing Old Zhu's video invitation, he dared not be negligent; he closed the memorial in his hand and quickly accepted, opening the call.

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the large pile of memorials on the table beside him and felt quite satisfied in his heart.

His own descendants were still quite diligent.

"Busy?"

"What is it, Ancestor? Please speak."

In the group, Zhu Di and the others said nothing, simply watching silently.

They had also noticed that recently, Old Zhu seemed to have this little moment every day, either seeking out Zhu Youjian or Su Qiao.

And the timing was extremely punctual!

More punctual than daily meals, even.

Zhu Di and the others had also figured out the schedule; whenever this time period arrived, they would clear their time and wait for Old Zhu to send an invitation.