The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 615 The Far East is About to Become Stormy
In March, spring is warm and flowers are blooming.

The naval ships have finally returned.

The provincial and palace examinations are now over.

Although no famous ministers were made of this batch of newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) this time, the Ming Dynasty's officialdom was truly renewed, and the court was no longer a chaotic mess.

With the Ming Dynasty's internal situation stable, it's time to consider external expansion.

This era was an era of outward expansion; the Age of Exploration, to put it bluntly, was about using powerful ships and cannons to expand everywhere.

European colonial powers were not as strong as the Ming Dynasty, but they were all expanding, colonizing, and plundering resources like crazy.

If the Ming Dynasty were to be polite, it would ultimately be trampled underfoot and bullied by the European colonial powers who had developed by plundering endless resources.

The truth is that simple.

Now that European colonial bandits have come to our doorstep, if the Ming Dynasty continues to be polite, they will break down our doors and rob us.

Emperor Wanli naturally stopped being polite and waited for the naval fleet to return.

This time, not only did Yu Zigao and Li Guozhu lead their fleets back, but Li Yuansheng, who had not returned to the capital for a long time, also led his fleet back.

The inner sea of ​​the Ming Dynasty was teeming with ships, and the area within a radius of hundreds of miles around the mouth of the Haihe River was filled with densely packed ships.

Around noon that day, dozens of flying shuttle boats sped in from the moat and arrived at the Taiye Pond in the Imperial City.

Deng Zilong, Yu Zigao, Li Yuansheng, Li Guozhu and other naval commanders, along with Li Zhizao, quickly went ashore and hurried towards the palace.

At this time, Wanli did not go to Cining Palace to study any machines. He was already waiting in the Military Affairs Hall of Qianqing Palace with Zhu Changxun, Song Yingxing and Qi Jiguang.

After the emperor and his minister exchanged greetings, he couldn't help but ask, "Where is Liangfu? Why didn't he come this time?"

Deng Zilong quickly explained, "Your Majesty, Liangfu and Danyang are rushing to build a steam-powered giant ship. He wants to finish the prototype in June, so he didn't come with us."

Does this mean we'll have real warships and gunboats by June?

well.

Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "Zhenzhi, how is it? Have you taken over the primitive tribes on Penglai Island and Fangzhang Island?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhizao nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, we have taken all that we could find."

They revered us like gods when they saw our Fujian warships, and they were even more in awe of our border cavalry.

After we delivered the gifts we had brought, they happily agreed to submit.

Well, it's best not to take action against the local natives if possible.

The Ming Dynasty wanted to expand outwards, but its opponents were the colonial powers. As for the local natives, it was best not to cause unnecessary conflicts, otherwise it would be planting hidden dangers for itself.

Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "What about Fangzhang Island? Can people be relocated there?"

How do you say this?

Li Zhizao said cautiously, "Your Majesty, we only built a few docks over there, and we returned shortly after the city was started."

Your humble servant believes that it is definitely not feasible to relocate people there now. There is nothing there at all; not only is there no place to live, but there is also no food. Even oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar must be transported there by boat.

Also, there are many poisonous insects over there; several of the border soldiers' horses have been killed by them, and they are trying to find a way to get rid of them.

Throwing someone over there at this time could be fatal.

There are still many resources over there; he can't turn that place into a hellish place.

Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "Yuansheng, what's the situation in Southeast Asia now? Have the Spanish shown any signs of making a move?"

It seems the Spanish are no longer the ones to worry about.

Li Yuansheng thought for a moment, then carefully explained, "Your Majesty, the Spanish haven't shown any signs of making a move yet."

However, the Dutch rebels they mentioned seem to be showing signs of taking action.

The Dutch rebels they mentioned have come to Southeast Asia more than a dozen times in the past few years. Each time, those guys bring at least a dozen or so ocean-going warships, and on the most frequent occasion, they even have dozens of ships.

Our merchants in Southeast Asia are saying that the Dutch rebels seem to be planning to seize colonies around Java, because those guys have been wandering around there at least ten times already.

Dutch rebels?
That's the Netherlands!
The old and new maritime powers have all come to Southeast Asia, and they will probably soon be fighting each other for control of the Far East.

The Netherlands probably wanted to find a foothold in Southeast Asia first, and then bring troops, supplies and equipment to fight against Spain.

These guys are all ready to fight for supremacy right on the Ming Dynasty's doorstep; it looks like we can't delay any longer.

After careful consideration, Wanli decisively said, "Let's take action this year."

When the north winds rise in September, we'll take Luzon; simultaneously, we'll launch our attack on the Americas.

Upon hearing this, all the naval commanders present were filled with excitement.

They've waited so long, and the day has finally come for them to take action.

The Ming Dynasty navy was exceptionally strong at this time; it wasn't even this strong during the Hongwu and Yongle reigns.

With such a strong navy and so many men, who wouldn't want to dominate the seas and make a name for themselves?
The problem is that, for various reasons, the navy has never been able to fully demonstrate its capabilities.

Their usual tasks included moving people and horses, transporting supplies and provisions, and even helping Wanshengtang haul goods.

It's not that they don't want to do these jobs.

The problem is, none of them have military merits, so they can't achieve anything significant.

The number of soldiers in the Beijing garrison, the border army, and even the Sichuan army who have been granted titles and ranks is countless, and they are getting anxious watching them.

Now it's finally their turn.

Wanli stared at the map for a while, then asked, "Yuansheng, are the elite naval forces and secret guards that Pan and Wu brought ready?"

Li Yuansheng nodded repeatedly, saying, "They've been prepared for a long time and can act at any time." Wanli then asked, "What about your men? Can you send a ship to pick them up before September?"

Li Yuansheng nodded repeatedly and said, "No problem, Your Majesty. Dongfan is not far from Luzon."

The southernmost port of Dongfan is only about a thousand miles from the north of Luzon, and there is a series of islands in between.

"We just need to choose a calm day to sail there by shuttle boat. We can reach the north of Luzon in a day and a night, and bring the people back in three or four days."

Dongfan is indeed close to Luzon.

An army marches on its stomach; he needed to gather supplies quickly.

Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "Yunqing, how many flying ships does the navy have now?"

The navy doesn't have many flying shuttles yet.

Deng Zilong explained in detail: "Your Majesty, the navy currently has only about 2,800 well-equipped flying shuttle ships."

However, when we arrived, the new batch of 600 shuttle boats at Longjiangzhou Shipyard and Xinzhou Shipyard were almost finished.

There are only a little over three thousand flying shuttles in total, which is far from enough.

Wanli stared at the map for a while, then asked, "Zhenzhi, how far is Liaodong Town from Dongfan South Port?"

I haven't measured this.

Li Zhizao reached out and roughly measured the distance on the map, then carefully said, "Your Majesty, it should be around five or six thousand li."

That's tens of thousands of miles round trip!

If centipede ships were used to transport grain and fodder, it would take more than a month for a round trip.

Even if we use flying shuttles to transport grain and fodder, it would take at least ten days for a round trip.

Even if the centipede ship and the flying shuttle ship wanted to maintain their speed, each trip could only carry 500 shi of grain. Even if there were tens of thousands of ships, each trip could only carry 5 million shi of grain.

This time, they need more than just a few million bushels of grain.

It seems that this time we won't be able to transport grain from Liaodong and Nurgan Regional Military Commission to Dongfan.

If centipede ships are used, even 10,000 would not be enough, and the number of shuttle ships is already insufficient. If grain and fodder are transported from Liaodong and Nurgan Regional Military Commission, even all the shuttle ships would not be enough.

Emperor Wanli frowned and pondered for a while, then asked, "What is the current grain price in Dongfan? If we buy a large amount of grain there, how much grain can we acquire?"

I'm not very familiar with this.

Upon hearing this, Deng Zilong simply looked at Yu Zigao.

Yu Zigao quickly explained, "Your Majesty, the current price of grain in Dongfan is roughly one tael of silver and two and a half shi (a unit of dry measure)."

There are many grain merchants in our area who buy grain there, and when they transport it to Zhangzhou Prefecture and Quanzhou Prefecture, it costs one tael of silver for two shi (a unit of dry measure).

Originally, Dongfan could sell around 20 million shi of grain annually, but last year's grain is estimated to be about half sold, and now, at most, they can only obtain 10 million shi through procurement.

Ten million koku is far from enough.

After thinking for a moment, Wanli simply said, "Kemai, I will allocate five thousand centipede ships for you, and I will give you eight hundred flying shuttle ships first."

Also, the shuttle boats built by Longjiangzhou Shipyard and Xinzhou Shipyard this year will be allocated to you.

After you return, harvest grain from Zhejiang and transport it to Nangang in Dongfan. Also, try your best to purchase grain from Dongfan.

Before September of this year, at least 30 million shi of grain must be stockpiled in Dongfan Nangang.

"Tell me how much money you need, and I'll have the Imperial Treasury allocate it to you."

Thirty million shi of grain!

How many troops are they planning to send to Southeast Asia?

Upon hearing this, Yu Zigao thought for a moment and then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, it rains a lot in Dongfan and Nangang, and the temperature is not low. Grain is very easy to get moldy if it gets damp."

We need to build enough granaries to store grain there, otherwise the grain will mold in no time.

The problem is, all the naval officers and soldiers are busy operating ships, and we simply can't spare any manpower to build granaries.

Does this mean we need to allocate more manpower to build granaries?
A batch of the one million new recruits in the garrison battalion recruited last year could be transferred there.

The problem is, all one million troops are stationed at the Nurgan Regional Military Commission.

The Nurgan Commandery was still covered in ice and snow, making it impossible for boats to pass.

If we wait until the lockdown is lifted before recruiting people, there simply won't be enough time.

As for the soldiers of the Beijing Garrison, the border troops, and the Sichuan Army, it seems inappropriate to bring them over to build granaries.

They were the main force of the Ming Dynasty in its conquests, and they needed to maintain their physical strength at all times, and their training could not be neglected.

After thinking for a moment, Wanli simply asked, "Can we conscript able-bodied men from nearby areas to build granaries?"

what?
Are they going to recruit young men from there?

Yu Zigao thought for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "Your Majesty, it is possible to build the granary by conscripting able-bodied men from there, but the time is too tight. I estimate that at least 100,000 able-bodied men will need to be conscripted to work for three months."

This amount of money is nothing. Even if labor is more expensive in the southeast, 100,000 able-bodied men working for three months would only earn a maximum of a million taels of silver.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli nodded without hesitation and said, "Alright, you can include the cost of building the granary in your calculations."

You should also expand Dongfan South Port. It should be able to accommodate at least a thousand flying shuttles and giant ships of more than two thousand tons.

Make a list of all these funds, and I will have the Imperial Treasury allocate them to you.

Yu Zigao quickly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "This subordinate understands."

(End of this chapter)