Strategy for the Revitalization of the Late Ming Dynasty

"Only when the Dutch are used to relying on us will they be passive at the negotiation table. When the critical moment comes, we only need to apply a little pressure to put them in a dilemma."

Zhu Cilang extended a third finger, his tone becoming increasingly serious as he continued, "Third, we must secretly organize the Ming people in Southeast Asia and Taiwan so that they have the ability to protect themselves and even fight back."

"Although the Chinese population in Southeast Asia and Taiwan has grown in size, it remains unorganized and unarmed, vulnerable to being slaughtered by the Dutch, Portuguese, or even Spanish at any moment. If war breaks out, they wouldn't even be able to protect themselves, let alone lend a hand."

"Therefore, we must secretly support them, allowing them to secretly prepare weapons and firearms and train militia. When our navy arrives, they can act as internal support and launch a pincer attack with the foreigners, rendering the Dutch and Spanish completely powerless."

Zhu Cilang finally extended his fourth finger and spoke in a low, thunderous voice, "Fourth, the global gold trade must be controlled by our Shanhai Bank to strangle the lifeline of the Dutch trade."

"The Dutch, in order to trade in the Indian Ocean, must use gold to purchase goods like spices and textiles. If we can control the flow of gold and restrict their access to it, we can cut off their trade funding at any time, bringing their economic system to collapse."

"As long as these four points are fully implemented, then even if we declare war on the Dutch, they will be unable to fight back. Otherwise, if we act rashly, we will be courting death."

After saying this, Zhu Cilang said no more, simply looking at Li Xiaolin quietly. Li Xiaolin listened to Zhu Cilang's words, his mouth slightly parted, a flicker of shock in his eyes. "To achieve the situation Your Majesty describes, even if everything goes smoothly, it will probably take three to five years."

After all, simply building a fleet capable of rivaling Western naval powers would take a long time, and this involved improving shipbuilding techniques, refining artillery, training crews, and perfecting supply systems. Any flaw in any of these links would put the entire plan in jeopardy.

Furthermore, all of this is built upon stable and continuously growing maritime trade. Only by relying on a solid economic foundation and continuously accumulating wealth can the expansion and development of the navy be sustained. The essence of sea power, ultimately, lies in economics. Without sufficient trade support, even the most powerful fleet is nothing more than a pile of expensive wood floating on the sea.

However, if all three of Zhu Cilang's conditions could be successfully met, or even just the first two, the Dutch and Spanish would lose their strategic advantage in East Asia, forced to retreat to their established trading bases and no longer be able to covet Xinming's maritime hegemony. And if all the conditions could be fulfilled, these Western powers would be completely powerless and driven out of the East and South Pacific.

"But if we want to speed up this process," Zhu Cilang said, standing with his hands behind his back, his eyes gleaming with a deep light. "We must not only control the flow of goods, but also make good use of trade to win over the Ming people of Southeast Asia and Taiwan. War at sea isn't just about swords and gunfire; the real factors that determine victory or defeat are often the invisible trade wars."

He turned slightly, his voice pausing slightly before continuing, "A trade war could also severely damage the Dutch and Spanish, even forcing them to beg for mercy. For them, maritime trade is their lifeblood. Their existence in this sea isn't based on swords, but on silver. As long as we strangle their trade, they won't dare act rashly."

Zhu Cilang's lips curled up slightly, and he spoke with a firm and confident tone, "When it comes to doing business at sea, have our Ming Dynasty merchants ever lost to anyone? Could it be that those red-haired devils are more proficient in this method than your Li family?"

Li Xiaolin was an old fox who had weathered many storms. After hearing these words, his eyes suddenly lit up, and then he revealed a sinister smile. He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Your Majesty is indeed far-sighted."

He looked up at Zhu Cilang, the smile on his face grew thicker, and he said with a hint of cunning in his tone:
"Once we completely control the trade resources that are crucial to the lives of the red-haired people, we'll have ample leverage. Then, all we need to do is impose a trade ban to severely damage the Dutch and Spanish maritime trade networks, forcing them to purchase necessities from us at exorbitant prices while their own goods remain locked out of the market. This combined flow of goods will be enough to drain their coffers and cause them to suffer devastating losses."

He gently stroked his fingers, a playful smile curling his lips as he spoke, "Furthermore, even if they're wary and worried about a scam, they have no choice. If they refuse to withdraw from the East and South China Sea shipping lanes, they'll have no choice but to accept the rules of the game we've set. As soon as they start swallowing this bitter fruit, they'll gradually fall into our trap."

Li Xiaolin narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze deep and dangerous as he spoke, "Wait until they are exhausted and their vitality is severely damaged. Then when we really fight them at sea, they will no longer have the strength to resist."

Zhu Cilang nodded slowly, his expression calm and majestic, his eyes gleaming with a glint of contempt. If his plan could be steadily implemented, the Dutch and Spanish would eventually be completely expelled from the waters of East Asia. From then on, the flag of the new Ming Dynasty would fly across the vast ocean.

"A trade war is either a no-go, or if we do, we must severely damage their vitality, making it impossible for them to recover." Zhu Cilang retracted his gaze and spoke slowly, his voice steady and full of pressure. "Before we actually start a war, we must first spend several years expanding the scale of our business with them, making them dependent on the interests of this sea area. At the same time, we can use this process to gradually seize the initiative in maritime trade."

He tapped his desk gently and continued, "First, we must ensure that our merchant ships control the entire trade and transportation chain, making their goods reliant on our shipping system. At the same time, over the years, we must continuously expand our navy and strengthen our control of the seas, ensuring that if a conflict breaks out, we can crush them with absolute superiority."

"When the time is right, we will declare a trade ban, catching all Dutch merchants off guard. Their goods will inevitably be piled up in large quantities, and colonial outposts like Taiwan and Batavia rely on trade for their daily necessities. If this supply is cut off, prices will soar and people's livelihoods will suffer.

The people in these areas are already accustomed to stable trade exchanges. If they were to suffer famine and lack of supplies due to the Dutch's stubbornness, they would never be willing to share the hardship with the Dutch."

Zhu Cilang's tone was unhurried, yet each word resonated with a force, like an invisible blade piercing the enemy's vitals. Li Xiaolin couldn't help but swallow upon hearing this. As the helmsman of Xinming's maritime trade, he was accustomed to solving problems with naval guns and swords, but he had never imagined that such a watertight strategy could be used to dismantle the enemy. A trade blockade would not only put the Dutch in a desperate situation, but also prevent Xinming from being drawn into a costly naval battle, killing two birds with one stone.

Although Zhu Cilang had only briefly outlined the strategic framework, Li Xiaolin had already grasped the intricacies within. While the plan appeared simple, its execution was extremely complex, requiring significant financial and military support. Only the New Ming regime could mobilize such vast resources in this area.

He pondered for a moment, then added, "Your Majesty, if we only suppress the Dutch and use this to win over Spain, would that create a more favorable situation? Alternatively, we could adopt a prioritized approach, focusing on attacking one while simultaneously showing goodwill to the other. Once we've weakened the Dutch, we could then strike back against Spain. This way, we could reduce the pressure on ourselves and minimize losses to maritime trade."

Zhu Cilang smiled slightly, with a hint of approval in his eyes.

"Your thoughts coincide with mine." He tapped the table lightly and said meaningfully, "The situation at sea is ever-changing. The Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish each have their own plans, and the British are also eyeing the South Seas. If we can divide them, that would be the best option. Defeat one first, then deal with the other. I certainly won't let them unite against us."

At this point, his tone suddenly changed, becoming serious. "However, these are all tactical considerations. Before we actually take action, I have one more thing I want you to do."

Li Xiaolin quickly collected his thoughts and said, "Your Majesty, please give your orders!"

Zhu Cilang said slowly, "I need you to draft a complete set of Navigation Regulations for the Ming Dynasty. This will serve as a notice to the people of the world and also as the fundamental legal basis for the New Ming Navy to control maritime trade and transportation."

Li Xiaolin was shocked upon hearing this. He understood that once this regulation was promulgated, it would mean that Xinming would completely control the Southeast Sea at the institutional level. All merchants and fleets trading there would have to accept Xinming's rules, otherwise they would have no place to stand.

"Your Majesty, how should this regulation be formulated?" Zhu Cilang's gaze was deep and his tone was firm. "This regulation has two key points. They must be strictly enforced without compromise."

He slowly extended a finger and said, "First, anyone trading with the Ming Dynasty's maritime merchants must have a Ming citizen as a guarantor and must use merchant ships bearing the Ming Dynasty's Maritime Commander's License. Furthermore, at least 70% of the sailors and crew on these merchant ships must be Ming Dynasty citizens. Any violation will result in the confiscation of their vessel and cargo, and the execution of all personnel on board without mercy."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaolin couldn't help but marvel. This regulation was a complete disaster. It not only ensured the dominant position of the Ming people in the maritime trade system, but also directly cut off the possibility for foreign merchants to organize their own trade. Once this order was issued, all foreign merchants who wanted to gain a foothold in the southeastern waters would have to rely on Ming merchants and fleets, otherwise they would face certain death.

Zhu Cilang continued, "Secondly, all overseas trade involving the citizens of the Ming Dynasty must be conducted using merchant ships registered with the Ming Maritime Customs. All commodities, under equal conditions, must be sold or purchased preferentially from trading companies operated by Ming Dynasty maritime merchants, especially for key commodities such as spices, deerskins, dyes, sugar, and sulfur. Any violation will immediately result in the immediate revocation of their Maritime Customs Commander badge and the payment of triple tax at the four designated trading ports."

Li Xiaolin's eyes flashed with shock. This clause not only guaranteed Xinming absolute control over key trade commodities, but also firmly grasped the lifeblood of all maritime merchants. If any merchant dared to violate it, the Ming Dynasty could not only revoke their shipping license but also impose heavy taxes. This effectively told all merchants—if they wanted to profit in these waters, they had to obey Xinming's orders, or face imminent closure.

Li Xiaolin took a deep breath and bowed solemnly, saying, "I understand. I will live up to your majesty's trust and draft a complete regulation as soon as possible and ensure its swift implementation."

Zhu Cilang nodded, a sharp glint in his eyes as he said, "Very good. Remember, this is not just a regulation; it's a sword hanging over the heads of all foreign merchants, and an iron rule that will lock down the maritime trade interests of the Ming Dynasty. From now on, all maritime merchants in the world must abide by the laws of the Ming Dynasty!"

Throughout history, many nations and empires have fought tirelessly for maritime supremacy. In 1651, halfway around the world, England, under the leadership of Cromwell, decided to pass a historic law—the Navigation Act—to gain control of maritime trade.

The passage of this act marked the beginning of Britain's active protection of its monopoly on maritime trade, practically announcing the rise of British maritime hegemony. However, this act did not simply bring Britain stable maritime hegemony. Instead, its overly radical protectionist policies led to multiple wars between Britain and the Netherlands.

The Netherlands, once known as the "Coachman of the Sea," ultimately lost its position as a maritime hegemon in this trade struggle due to defeats in war and trade restrictions. This Dutch defeat reveals the complex game of interests involved in global maritime trade and serves as a microcosm of the subsequent shift in maritime power.

Similarly, during the four years between the seventh and tenth years of the Yongli reign, the maritime hegemon Zheng Chenggong, through a series of precise political maneuvers and military strategies, imposed trade embargoes on Spain and the Netherlands, blocking key shipping lanes in the Western Pacific. This move forced Spain and the Netherlands to submit, thereby establishing the Zheng family's maritime supremacy in Southeast Asia and the East.

However, this achievement was not achieved overnight; it required gradual strategic advancement amidst multi-party competition and conflict, ultimately enabling Zheng Chenggong to successfully establish strong control over maritime shipping and trade. Unlike these historical maritime hegemons, Zhu Cilang lived in an era with a more complex strategic landscape and a grand historical mission. (End of this chapter)