Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 368 Overseas Trade and Initial Naval Adjustments

Moreover, in Zhu Zhanhe's view, the ocean-going trading fleet could not only bring huge profits, but also explore the situation in various places, making it easier for the Prince's Mansion to choose the next direction for expansion!
Besides, Zhu Zhanhe couldn't let his own battle fleet do the trading himself, so he had no choice but to let the merchants participate in the trade.

Zhu Zhanhe also involved the ocean-going fleet in escorting trade ships. Besides the normal escort duties, this also served to monitor the merchants' trade outcomes, regulate the scale and types of goods traded, and strengthen overall trade management. Furthermore, when necessary, Zhu Zhanhe could even use the merchants as pawns in his trade wars!
In Zhu Zhanhe's view, this matter was a win-win situation, and he was happy with it.

Most importantly, Zhu Zhanhe wanted to use the guise of ocean trade to send his navy to occupy islands! At the same time, he wanted to use the ocean-going fleet to resupply and build up his navy. This was Zhu Zhanhe's main idea!
On the other side, in Yu Qian's room where he was resting.

Yang Shiqi and his two companions had racked their brains for half a day, finally reaching a preliminary consensus that the imperial court would support the Han Prince's expansionist ambitions. However, at this moment, the three of them did not intend to immediately go to discuss it with the Han Prince; instead, they planned to return to the imperial court immediately. After all, this matter was not something they could decide on their own!

Meanwhile, the three of them have been out for quite some time now. It's unknown what the Xuande Emperor's condition is now after leaving the ancestral temple. If, after leaving the ancestral temple, the Han King, whom he ordered to be burned to death, was posthumously granted the title of Han Zhuang King, and the Han Crown Prince succeeded to the throne of Han King, no one knows whether the enraged Xuande Emperor might go mad.

In fact, if the enraged Xuande Emperor were to issue another decree to revoke the title of Prince Zhuang of Han, things would get really messy! Therefore, Yang Shiqi and his two companions decided to return to the court as soon as possible.

Moreover, after witnessing the Han Prince's Mansion, and even the greatest secret of the Ming Dynasty, and seeing the imposing might of the Han Prince's army, Yang Shiqi, Yu Qian, and Fan Zhong had no reason to stay any longer.

Therefore, Yang Shiqi and his two companions did not care about anything else and took advantage of the still good weather to bid farewell to Zhu Zhanhe, the ruler of Annam.

Zhu Zhanhe immediately did not try to persuade Yang Shiqi and the other two to stay.

After all, Zhu Zhanhe's purpose in inviting Yang Shiqi and the other two to Annam was simply to let the court witness the overwhelming military might of his Han Prince's Mansion! And to demonstrate Zhu Zhanhe's confidence in not fearing anyone!

Now, Yang Shiqi and his two companions have not only witnessed the military might of the Prince of Han's mansion, but also the development and prosperity of Annam after it was occupied by the Prince of Han's mansion. Furthermore, they have allowed Yu Qian, the future Grand Secretary, to witness the secret of the Ming Dynasty's dramatic turnaround, which was hidden by Emperors Taizong and Renzong.

Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe did not try to stop them, but instead readily let the three of them leave.

Furthermore, in order to ensure that Yang Shiqi and the other two could return to the imperial court as quickly as possible, Zhu Zhanhe thoughtfully arranged for the Prince's naval fleet to personally escort them back.

The next morning, as Yang Shiqi and his two companions set off to return to the imperial court, Zhu Zhanhe did not personally see them off. Instead, he arranged for Yao Guan, the prefect of Anzhou, to do so on his behalf.

At this moment, Zhu Zhanhe had more important matters to attend to: deploying and arranging the army and navy. This was at Zhu Zhanhe's camp in Anzhou City.

At this moment, Zhu Zhanhe was seated in the main seat, and below him were the military commanders of his army and navy. Not a single civil official was present.

After all, in Zhu Zhanhe's view, today's adjustment was an internal reshuffle of military officers, and there was no need for those civil officials who were already too busy to find their way.

"I have summoned you all here today to arrange some matters." Since the alligator dragon re-entered his body, Zhu Zhanhe had no choice but to wear his glasses again. At this moment, Zhu Zhanhe, wearing sunglasses, sat upright in the main seat of the main hall, addressing the many military officers seated below him in a deep voice. His voice was full of majestic dominance and authority.

As for why he wore glasses? After all, those dragon eyes were simply too majestic! They even frightened the two maids from the Mu family who served him last night. Seeing their tearful, panicked faces, Zhu Zhanhe felt terribly sorry for them! In the end, Zhu Zhanhe had no choice but to personally hold them in his arms and comfort them all night long!
At this moment, in the camp, the many military officers who had been sitting upright like schoolchildren immediately stood up and respectfully bowed to Zhu Zhanhe after hearing their lord's words.
"Your Highness, please give your orders!" As if they had rehearsed countless times, the group of military officers bowed and clasped their hands in response to Zhu Zhanhe.

"Sit down, sit down~"
"It's just a simple chat, everyone don't need to be so formal." Zhu Zhanhe looked at the many nervous military officers below, noticing their restraint and how they barely dared to look him in the eye. He could only wave his hand helplessly, warmly gesturing for everyone to sit and talk, not to be so reserved. After all, in Zhu Zhanhe's opinion, standing while talking seemed too formal!
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Upon hearing this, the tense military officers had no choice but to silently sit back down.

However, at this moment, in the eyes of the many military generals, the Prince of Han, seated in the main seat, exuded an aura of majesty, dominance, and grandeur in every gesture, movement, and even a smile! He was so unassailable! In fact, because their prince's aura was so overwhelming, the generals even breathed cautiously, fearing they might provoke the true dragon's wrath!
So when their prince told everyone to sit down to talk, the generals really wanted to say, "Your Highness, we prefer to stand and listen to you speak!"
However, after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, none of the military officers dared to utter a single word of rebuttal, and they all obediently sat back down on their stools. But if a careful observer looked behind them, they would notice that everyone was only sitting on the very edge of the stools!

"Effective immediately, the navy will be divided into two, each commanded by Generals Xia Xuan and Wang Jinghong!" Seeing everyone seated, Zhu Zhanhe nodded in satisfaction. He then began arranging the navy's division. After all, with the court's newly replenished five hundred warships, the Han Prince's ocean-going fleet now numbered over eight hundred ships!

The sheer number is staggering! It's time to break it down!

In fact, if it weren't for the lack of naval commanders, Zhu Zhanhe would have even considered dividing the navy into three: one for overseas expansion; one for suppressing Japanese pirates and transporting gold and silver; and one for escorting ships on distant voyages! But in reality, Zhu Zhanhe could only helplessly say: This prince is still short of manpower!!
"Yes~~" Wang Jinghong and Xia Xuan immediately stood up after hearing Zhu Zhanhe's words, ready to accept the order. However, before they could finish speaking, Zhu Zhanhe raised his hand to stop them, because he hadn't finished speaking yet!

Upon seeing their lord raise his hand, Wang Jinghong and Xia Xuan immediately realized that he had more to say! So, they stood ramrod straight, respectfully listening to their lord's next command.

Looking through his eyes at his brother-in-law, who stood ramrod straight, and the two naval commanders, Wang Jinghong, Zhu Zhanhe could only shake his head helplessly, indicating that he would not care at all.

In truth, Zhu Zhanhe knew why everyone was so concerned about saving face and why he seemed so nervous. After all, his incredibly powerful aura, now that he had merged with the alligator dragon, was simply too conspicuous!
Left with no other choice, Zhu Zhanhe had to let his brother-in-law and Wang Jinghong stand there and listen to his next orders.

(End of this chapter)