The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 626 Who Dares to Beat Whom

After waiting for more than two months, the Wanli Emperor finally saw the situation in Southeast Asia begin to cool down.

It's still a bit hot right now, but it's only hot at midday; it gets cool in the mornings and evenings.

Such weather is rare in Southeast Asia, making this the best time to head south.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the sky over Manila Bay was clear and the breeze was gentle, making it an auspicious day for departure.

Early that morning, around 7 a.m., Wanli summoned a group of generals and officials to the second deck of the Weiyuan warship.

He's preparing to head to Malacca; he needs to make proper arrangements for Luzon Island.

After everyone was seated, he asked, "How is it going, Zixian? How are the preparations for clearing land and planting crops here?"

Xu Guangqi quickly explained in detail: "Your Majesty, I have already ordered 100,000 garrison soldiers to clear two million mu of land, and rice seeds have begun to be cultivated. Planting can begin next month."

It's hard to say how much grain these two million acres of land can produce.

However, this is just a trial planting, and no matter how much land he has, he still can't attract ordinary people or military households to cultivate it.

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "Zijin, how is the trial planting of melons, fruits, and vegetables going?"

Wang Xiangjin said with some excitement, "Your Majesty, there are so many fruits and vegetables suitable for planting here."

I have tried planting cucumbers, bitter melons, winter melons, pumpkins, watermelons, carrots, radishes, bok choy, Chinese cabbage, green beans, cowpeas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, etc., and they are all growing very well.

"And the bananas, pineapples, coconuts, mangoes, and other fruits that already grow here—I've tried growing them all. This place is perfect for fruits and vegetables."

You seem to be having a lot of fun trying it out, right?
Perfect timing, that's exactly what we need you guys for development.

After careful consideration, Wanli Emperor decisively said, "How about this, I will leave you with 300,000 garrison troops."

The development here is now in your hands. Don't just focus on planting grains, fruits, and vegetables; you also need to build ditches and houses.

There are also port terminals; large port terminals will be built in Manila and Dagupan to the north as transit hubs.

"I have already ordered the Ministry of Works to send officials over. You will assign them personnel. Remember, build as many as possible; the ports and docks on both sides should be able to accommodate at least a thousand ships."

Upon hearing this, Xu Guangqi and Wang Xiangjin nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, we understand."

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly and then instructed, "General Pan, I am leaving you with over four hundred thousand-ton Fujian warships and fifty thousand naval soldiers. The defense of Luzon is now in your hands."

Originally, Pan Hewu could only be a naval captain.

However, he performed exceptionally well this time, allowing them to take Luzon without firing a single shot. Crucially, he also speaks Spanish and various Southeast Asian dialects.

Therefore, Emperor Wanli promoted him to the rank of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, breaking with precedent.

Luzon was the place he knew best, and Wanli decided to let him stay and garrison it.

Pan Hewu quickly stood up, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "This humble general obeys the order."

That's about it.

Wanli nodded slightly, then decisively said, "Kemai, you will lead the Weiyuan warship and more than a thousand flying shuttles, along with 100,000 Shenji Battalion soldiers, to accompany me on the first journey."

Yuansheng, you shall lead five hundred two-thousand-ton Fujian-style warships and five thousand centipede ships, along with provisions and two hundred thousand garrison troops, to follow.

Along this route to Malacca, a port or wharf will be built approximately every 500 li. In the future, we will use centipede boats to transport people, horses, and food along this route, with each fleet consisting of at least a thousand centipede boats.

"Yuansheng, you're in charge of this. From now on, the transportation of personnel and grain, as well as the inspection of goods, will all be handled by you. You're in charge."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zigao and Li Yuansheng nodded repeatedly and said, "Your subordinates understand."

Wanli nodded slightly, thought about it carefully, and then decisively said, "Alright, everyone take your positions and prepare to depart."

Everyone quickly stood up, clasped their hands in greeting, and bowed to take their leave.

Li Zhizao stood there somewhat bewildered and asked, "Your Majesty, shall I stay here or accompany you to Malacca?"

Without hesitation, Wanli replied, "Of course you'll come with me. I also want to visit Penglai Island and Fangzhang Island. How can I do that without you leading the way?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhizao nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I understand."

Soon, the Weiyuan warship set off with more than a thousand shuttle ships.

They traveled day and night, rushing along the coast of Zheng He Island and Brunei for nearly five days before finally reaching the entrance to the Strait of Malacca.

On the afternoon of the fifth day, around 5 PM, as the sun set, a black line and a patch of black dots finally appeared in front of the fleet.

The black line represents the peninsula on the north side of the strait, while the black dots represent the densely packed islands on the south side of the strait.

This is definitely the Strait of Malacca. Even Emperor Wanli didn't need a map to know this.

This place became quite famous in later generations.

He simply scanned the area with his binoculars and decisively ordered, "Kemay, order the fleet to head north and find a suitable anchorage near the peninsula."

"Let's wait for Yuansheng and the others here. You first send the shuttle to find a water source; there should be a river flowing from the peninsula."

what?
It's less than a day's flight from here to Malacca; we should be able to reach Malacca tomorrow.

Why did you stop here and not move?

Although Yu Zigao was a little confused, he quickly arranged for his personal guards to deliver the order.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun couldn't help but point to the map and ask, "Father, Malacca is not far ahead, why don't we hurry over there?"

How do you explain this?

Wanli thought for a moment, then pointed to the map and said, "Look at the terrain here. The area north of the strait is probably several hundred miles wide, and it's impossible to defend it."

The entrance here is only a few dozen miles wide, and there are many islands, making it easy to guard.

If we want to control the entrance to Southeast Asia, we must build a defensive line here. Do you understand?

Oh, I see.

The northern side is hundreds of miles wide, and it would take tens of thousands of ships to block it. This side is only a few dozen miles wide, and a few hundred ships can block it.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhu Changxun nodded repeatedly and said, "Your subject understands."

They actually stopped there and wouldn't leave.

On the morning of the sixth day, Wanli ordered Li Zhizao to take the flying shuttle boat to inspect and survey the entrance of the strait.

The north wind was blowing at the moment, and Li Yuansheng and his men arrived quite quickly.

Around 3 PM that afternoon, more than 500 Fujian warships, each with a capacity of 2,000 liang, sailed in, breaking through the waves.

When Li Yuansheng saw that the flying shuttles were scattered everywhere and the Weiyuan warship was docked motionless on the north side of the entrance, he was completely baffled.

However, he still ordered all warships to lower their sails and slowly approach the Weiyuan warship to the north of the entrance.

Soon, he was picked up by a shuttle and taken to the Weiyuan warship.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Wanli pointed to the island facing the warship and said, "Yuansheng, this island is a hundred miles long and more than fifty miles wide. Moreover, it is only two or three miles north of the peninsula, and the south side is very suitable for building a port and dock."

You should build a port, wharf, and fortress on this island. Build as many ports and wharves as you can, and this will become the main port of the Nanyang Fleet.

From now on, this place will be called Xinchengwei. You will first construct five garrison cities on the island—front, back, left, right, and center—based on the terrain, each with a capacity of 100,000 people.

what?
A fortified city capable of housing 500,000 people was built here!
Keep in mind that this place is more than 5,000 li away from Luzon.

With 500,000 troops, just the monthly food supply would require a thousand centipede ships to transport, not to mention the fruits, vegetables, meat, and other necessities, which would require an unknown number of centipede ships for transshipment.

Well, these things don't seem to be his concern, and they don't lack centipede ships.

Li Yuansheng was taken aback for a moment before nodding repeatedly and saying, "This subordinate understands."

Wanli then pointed to the map and explained in detail: "You should also send people to build fortresses along this line to Malacca, one every ten li."

The fortresses will be built to the scale of a thousand-household garrison. Each fortress will be equipped with one hundred cannons weighing five hundred catties each, as well as muskets, thunderbolts, and incendiary bombs.

"You shall also erect a stone tablet, about ten feet tall, in front of each fortress near the coast, inscribed with warnings in various languages: 'Without the permission of the Ming Dynasty, no merchant ships or warships of any country are permitted to enter the South Seas.'"

Uh, the traffic jam is starting now?
Upon hearing this, Li Yuansheng cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, if those colonial pirate merchant ships come, should we really fight them?"

You think I'm joking?

Wanli nodded without hesitation and said, "Of course it's a real fight. Whoever dares to come will be beaten."

This place is crucial for controlling maritime trade; you must defend it. I will leave the Left Guard of the Divine Machine Army here to assist you in defense. Once you have established your defensive line, I will arrange for ships to send the Left Guard Army back.”

The Ming Dynasty is so powerful now.

The South Seas region was the domain of the Ming Dynasty, and even if all the European colonial powers joined forces, it would be of no use.

Maritime trade must be decided by the Ming Dynasty; no one can privately purchase goods from the Ming Dynasty.

Anyone who dares to sail their merchant ships or warships here, attempting to enter Southeast Asia, will be severely punished.

(End of this chapter)