My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 349: Arrogant Pirates, Don't Know How to Live or Die

Zhu Yuanzhang had long expected the three people's surprise. Good things would naturally be taken out at the critical moment.

While calculating the number of days the fleet would sail, the supplies and ammunition they would need to carry based on the various routes marked on the nautical chart, they were also considering whether to directly attack Chen Zuyi's lair, or to first wipe out his peripheral forces and then completely annihilate him in one fell swoop.

However, Chen Zuyi's sphere of influence is really surprising. His influence is widely distributed, from Ryukyu to Malacca, to India and the Indian Ocean.

It seems that the Western countries are too weak. Not to mention the navy, they don't even have a decent water force, which is why Chen Zuyi can be so rampant.

It is true that when there is no tiger in the mountain, the monkey becomes king!
The distribution of Chen Zuyi's power is too scattered, but some information can still be gleaned from it.

Several important passways from the Ming Dynasty to the Indian Ocean were controlled by Chen Zuyi, especially the Strait of Malacca. He firmly controlled Temasek and thus held Malacca in his hands.

However, Srivijaya is not far from Malacca. Once something happens in Malacca, we can attack or defend. With Srivijaya as support behind us, there is no need to panic!
Just as they were discussing, suddenly, Wang Jinghong's unique voice came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty, Jinyiwei Commander Shi Maoxiang wants to see you for something important!"

Why is Mao Xiang here?
Several people looked at each other, wondering if there was something urgent?

If there is something that can make Mao Xiang anxious, then it must be a big deal!

Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly said: "Hurry up and announce it!"

Soon, Mao Xiang hurried in. Seeing Xu Da, Li Wenzhong and Tang He were all there, he was stunned at first. Then he wanted to salute Zhu Yuanzhang, but was stopped by Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Commander Mao, there's no need to be so polite. Tell me what's important to you!"

"Your Majesty, the three Dukes are here too, so I'd like to talk to you."

Mao Xiang took a breath and said, "Just now, the Jinyiwei radio team received a report from spies in Siam and Champa that a fleet was leaving Temasek and passing through Luzon, heading north.

After repeated confirmation by the spies, it was confirmed that it was Chen Zuyi's fleet, which consisted of about ten speedboats and a total of about three thousand people.

I think Chen Zuyi's coming north in such a large force definitely has no good intentions."

Since the last time Fujian and Guangdong were harassed by pirates, Zhu Yuanzhang obtained Chen Zuyi's power distribution map from Li Han and found that Chen Zuyi had power distribution in Champa, Siam and other places.

He ordered Mao Xiang to send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to these vassal states, set up intelligence points, and collect all information about Chen Zuyi's pirate group.

I didn’t expect the news to come so soon!

After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, anger flashed in his eyes. It had not been long since Chen Zuyi sent pirates to harass the Ming Dynasty's sea borders, and now he came here again in broad daylight. He was so bold that he did not take the Ming Dynasty seriously at all!

"Is it clear where their target is?" Li Wenzhong asked.

"It's not clear yet!" Mao Xiang shook his head. "Chen Zuyi's group is too well organized. They are not a mob. It's not easy for the spies to find out that their fleet is heading north."

"So what's their route? Which route do they take?" Tang He thought for a moment and asked.

"All we know is that they started from Temasek, passed through Johor, Luzon, and headed north, but we don't know any more details."

Mao Xiang shook his head regretfully. "The Temasek area doesn't border the Ming Dynasty, so it's hard for spies to get information from there."

"This is strange." Tang He said as he looked at the sea chart, "If the target is Ming, then why would they go through Foshan and Luzon? Wouldn't it be closer to go directly from Annan?
unless……"

Xu Da suddenly said: "Unless their target is not the Ming Dynasty!"

"Not Ming?"

Several people were stunned. Zhu Yuanzhang also turned his eyes to the navigation chart, his eyes swept back and forth between Furu and Luzon. Suddenly, his eyes were fixed on Ryukyu further north! "Chen Zuyi's target is Ryukyu!"

Ryukyu? Li Wenzhong, Tang He, and Mao Xiang were all stunned, and then looked at the sea chart.

"Your Majesty is very smart. Chen Zuyi's target is indeed Ryukyu!"

Xu Da pointed to Ryukyu on the sea chart and said, "Look, on Ie Island and Gudaga Island at the east and west ends of Ryukyu, there are forces of Chen Zuyi's pirate gang. If Chen Zuyi wants to plunder Ryukyu, he can join forces with the forces here and get supplies!

What’s more important! ”

Xu Da paused, then looked at the others and said, "So far, compared with other vassal states, Ryukyu has the most trade with Ming. Therefore, if we want to gain the greatest benefits without invading Ming's homeland, Ryukyu must be the first choice!"

"There is no time to lose. We should send troops to Ryukyu immediately!" Mao Xiang said hurriedly.

"No!"

Mao Xiang's proposal was rejected by Zhu Yuanzhang outright, and Xu Da and others looked at him in shock.

"Your Majesty, why is this?" Li Wenzhong couldn't help but ask.

"Chen Zuyi is so bold and has bullied the Ming Dynasty too much. If we cannot completely annihilate him, he will become a stumbling block to the development of Ming Dynasty's maritime trade in the future. Chen Zuyi can go north to invade Ryukyu, and then the Ming Dynasty will go directly south and attack their lair!"

Zhu Yuanzhang knocked heavily on Srivijaya on the nautical chart with his hand.

"Your Majesty, this strategy is feasible." Xu Da thought for a moment and said, "There are Ming troops stationed in Ryukyu. Although there is only one musket battalion, it is fully staffed with semi-automatic rifles and has sufficient bullets. It should be no problem to deal with thousands of pirates.

However, the Ming Dynasty currently only has one ironclad battleship, and it is still in training. Is it too hasty to go out to sea to suppress bandits in such a hurry? "

"Don't you, Xu Da, have confidence in yourself, or in Li Wenzhong and Tang He?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked back.

When Li Wenzhong heard this, he immediately said:

"Your Majesty, I will not disobey your orders and will completely wipe out Chen Zuyi's pirate gang!"

Tang He was not to be outdone, "Your Majesty, why don't you let me lead the expedition to the south to suppress the bandits this time?"

"Bah, you old bastard Tang Dingcheng, don't even think about taking my position as commander!"

Xu Da became anxious upon hearing this. He glared at Tang He and said to Zhu Yuanzhang, "Your Majesty, all the navy officers and soldiers under my command are already proficient in operating warships. We are just waiting to gallop on the sea for a real battle. I have every confidence that I can completely annihilate Chen Zuyi and his gang!"

"Xu Da, listen to my orders. I order you to be the Grand Marshal of the Navy. With the Dingyuan-class ironclad battleship as your flagship, you will bring five steamships and a total of three thousand people to destroy Chen Zuyi's lair in one fell swoop!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

Xu Da accepted the order solemnly.

Zhu Yuanzhang then said to Li Wenzhong and Tang He: "Li Wenzhong, Tang He, I order you two to be deputy commanders of the navy to assist Xu Da in annihilating Chen Zuyi!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

After finishing speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang turned his gaze to Mao Xiang again, "Mao Xiang, I order you to contact all the Jinyiwei in foreign countries and do your best to collect information about Chen Zuyi!"

"The minister obeys the order!"

As the imperial emperor's order was issued, the Ming Dynasty's huge war machine started up again!

(End of this chapter)