Chapter 337

As expected!

Seeing that all his descendants in the group were present, Old Zhu comrade felt very satisfied.

"Where has Dorgon reached? Hasn't he arrived at the capital yet?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said with some impatience.

"He will arrive in another two or three days. Dorgon and his people are numerous; they have already moved quite fast from Datong and Xuanfu."

Zhu Youjian hurriedly explained.

"Alright then, what is Su Qiao doing?"

"Laozu Sect, I don't know either. Mr. Su doesn't need to attend the morning court."

Zhu Youjian was somewhat stunned.

After all, am I a member of the Zhu family, or is Su Qiao a member of the Zhu family?

Why does asking him feel more urgent than asking me?

But he thought it in his heart and dared not say it.

Hearing Zhu Youjian say he didn't know, Zhu Yuanzhang's face immediately darkened.

"Go send someone to check immediately! If you don't even know what your ministers are doing, what use are you?"

"Yes, Sun Chen will go check right now!"

Zhu Youjian secretly muttered: I've never seen an emperor who needs to watch every single move of his ministers day after day; it's exhausting to death.

He dared not speak.

So he hurriedly called Wang Chengen to send people to check.

Fortunately, Su Qiao was also a key focus of attention.

It didn't take long before the news returned.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Su took Liu Rushi to meet those Frankish people, Tang Ruowang and the others, today. They seemed to talk for a long time, then he went home and found a carpenter; it seems he is doing some carpentry work in the courtyard..."

Wang Chengen returned and reported to Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian: "Laozu Sect, look, Mr. Su is at home."

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Di, and all of them showed strange expressions on their faces.

"This young man is doing carpentry work at home?"

Zhu Di couldn't help but speak up.

"Father, let someone go take a look. Your son does not believe he is just blindly making trouble."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded in agreement; he thought the same.

So he waved his hand decisively at Zhu Youjian and said: "Go take a look, see what he is doing."

The upper echelon opens their mouth, and the lower echelon runs their legs off.

Since Zhu Yuanzhang had spoken, Zhu Youjian dared not be negligent; he immediately had Wang Chengen prepare, changed into different clothes, and led the Embroidered Uniform Guard out of the palace.

With Liu Rushi's help drawing the maps, Su Qiao found it extremely easy.

Plus, there were previous drawings to serve as templates.

The speed was several times faster than before.

Zhu Youjian's visit to Su Qiao's place was conducted silently, as per Zhu Yuanzhang's request.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard entering someone's residence was second nature to them.

Plus, it was the Emperor himself arriving.

So in no time, the entire residence was under control.

Only the study where Su Qiao was located remained.

Su Qiao, who was busy working with Liu Rushi, did not notice at all that Zhu Youjian and Wang Chengen had entered the courtyard.

It was only when Qing'er, who was helping out, saw a group of strangers suddenly appear in the courtyard at some unknown time.

She immediately became alert.

"Who are you?"

Su Qiao looked up.

Whoa!

When did Zhu Youjian and Wang Chengen and the others arrive?

Why do all the Zhu family members have the same flaw?

They walk without making a sound; it's terrifying!

"Your Majesty, why have you come?"

As soon as Su Qiao spoke, everyone in the courtyard was startled.

"Ah!"

Whether it was Liu Rushi and her servant, or the craftsmen, they all hurriedly knelt on the ground.

"This humble woman (humble man) pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Su Qiao also bowed and performed the salute.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand casually and said: "That's enough, get up. I heard people say you are doing carpentry work at home; I was somewhat curious, so I came to take a look."

While speaking, Zhu Youjian approached the finished globe.

World maps were pasted on it; Zhu Youjian knew at a glance how to rotate it.

He reached out and gave it a push, and the globe began to spin.

Hearing Zhu Youjian's words, Su Qiao immediately stood upright.

Liu Rushi and the craftsmen also carefully stood up, not daring to breathe a sound, completely silent as if frozen by fear.

"Just a sea chart?"

Zhu Di watched the content on the globe through a video in the chat group, feeling somewhat curious.

After all, Zheng He had brought back a sea chart when he sailed out.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said:

"This sea chart Su Qiao made is quite detailed. This is Great Ming, this is Wa, this is... why is Great Ming so small?"

Seeing Great Ming's territory, which was not particularly large compared to the rest of the world, Zhu Yuanzhang's face instantly turned black.

Coincidentally, Su Qiao had just explained to Zhu Youjian what these things were.

"Your Majesty, the globe in your hand—your minister remembers telling you once that the world we inhabit is a sphere; 'heading north to go south' actually refers to this matter."

"Hmm?"

Zhu Youjian was baffled.

"Your Majesty, think about it: on the vast ocean, ships arriving from afar seem to come from the horizon; seeing the small before the large, but what can be seen first?"

"Mr. Su, is it the ship's sail?"

Wang Chengen interjected at this moment.

He could not let His Majesty appear foolish; he had to step forward to cover for him.

His Majesty must always remain wise and brilliant.

Otherwise, how could he be the personal attendant beside Zhu Youjian!

Su Qiao nodded and replied: "Exactly! We always see the sails first, then after a while the hull of the ship, and finally the entire vessel. The same applies on land, though it is less obvious; if cavalry surrounds us from afar on a grassland, what appears in our line of sight first is also the flags and battle standards."

"What does this indicate?"

"This indicates that the ground is not completely flat as everyone imagines, but has a curvature—an imperceptible curved surface."

"If this curved surface is large enough, then we, the insignificant humans standing upon it, naturally cannot feel it; therefore, there is basis for the Earth being a sphere."

"Then what Su Qing mentioned about 'heading north to go south'—does it not mean mockery, but that walking north can achieve the goal of going south?"

No wonder the people of the Zhu family are so obedient to fate.

Zhu Youjian was capable as well; he immediately understood the situation of standing on a spherical body.

193, drawing a big pie!

"Nonsense! He is fooling you, you great fool!"

Zhu Yuanzhang directly started cursing in the group chat.

Zhu Youjian's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. "Laozu Sect, are you saying he is deceiving me?"

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes at him in exasperation, as if disappointed in iron that would not become steel, and spoke to Zhu Di.

"Fourth Brother, I truly feel it would have been better to give the throne to Zhu Yunwen. You teach them yourself; none of the things you bore are ever worry-free!"