The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 652 The God of War's Departure
At the end of October, Wanli returned to Beijing.

At this time, the capital city was only a little cold, not yet frozen.

He had only been back in the capital for a few days when Li Yuansheng arrived from Southeast Asia.

That morning, around 9 a.m., he was sitting in the Imperial Study pondering the issue of overseas development.

Xu Xigao, the heir of the Duke of Dingguo, suddenly strode in, cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, General Li Yuansheng requests an audience."

This guy came at just the right time.

He nodded without hesitation and said, "Send it."

Soon, Li Yuansheng strode in.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Wanli couldn't help but ask, "How is the situation in Luzon, Yuansheng? How is the yield of the farmland cultivated by the soldiers in Yansui?"

That output is simply too high.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuansheng thought carefully for a moment, and then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, it is possible to plant three crops over there."

The soldiers of Yansui Town also worked very hard. They planted three crops a year. Although the land there was not very fertile, after applying fertilizer, the yield per mu could still reach about two and a half shi.

So, the yield per mu for three seasons is seven or eight shi, and if a household in a garrison cultivates fifty mu of land, the annual yield would be three or four hundred shi.

They didn't just cultivate fifty mu of land, because each of them had twenty mu per person. Generally, border soldiers' families had over a hundred mu of land, and some families with many children had over two hundred mu. That amounted to seven or eight hundred shi of grain a year, or even one or two thousand shi.

Are these guys really working this hard?
Upon hearing this, Wanli secretly estimated for a moment and exclaimed in surprise, "You mean that more than 100,000 border troops can produce over 100 million shi of grain a year?"

Li Yuansheng nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, there is no less."

These guys!

There's no problem feeding millions of people with hundreds of millions of bushels of grain.

Emperor Wanli couldn't help but feel relieved and said, "Now there won't be a shortage of food in Southeast Asia, right?"

Li Yuansheng nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, there is no shortage of food in Southeast Asia. They have even started raising pigs and chickens."

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then asked, "Have the countries of Southeast Asia started using our gold, silver, and copper coins?"

Li Yuansheng nodded repeatedly and said, "They've all started using them. Anyone who does business with us has started using our gold, silver, and copper coins."

well.

Wanli thought for a moment and then asked, "How is the investigation into the Kanhe trade over there going? Are there any merchants overcharging?"

That's fine too.

Li Yuansheng explained in detail: "Your Majesty, I have been very strict in my investigations. Whenever a merchant comes to Southeast Asia to do business, the Ministry of Revenue will send me a copy of the divination. I then check each merchant's copy. None of our merchants have dared to overcharge."

Yes, well done.

Wait, that's not right.

There seems to be no problem in Southeast Asia, so why is this guy coming back?

Wanli thought about it carefully again, and then asked, "What is the situation at the New City Guard? Have any colonial pirate fleets tried to force their way in?"

You finally asked about this.

Li Yuansheng shook his head slightly, then explained in detail: "Your Majesty, we have thousands of ships patrolling the area from Xinchengwei to Malacca all year round, and no colonial bandits have dared to force their way in."

However, at the end of last month, our fast ships, which were to be sent to Java to inspect the trade in Kanho, encountered a Dutch fleet. Our naval officers and soldiers signaled them to leave, but the Dutch actually fired at our fast ships.

By the time I received the news and led several hundred fast ships there, it was already six or seven days later, and the Dutch fleet had vanished.

what?
Java!
It turns out something happened over there.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli immediately got up, took out a world map, placed it on the table, and examined it closely.

He soon realized that the Dutch fleet had entered Southeast Asia through the strait between Srivijaya and Java.

This was his oversight.

The reason he didn't think of it was because he was influenced by the experiences of later generations.

Because most of the large ocean-going cargo ships in later generations were over 10,000 tons, and their drafts were several meters deep.

Srivijaya, located in the southwestern waters of Sumatra, is a densely packed row of small islands. In many places, the water is not deep enough, and cargo ships of more than 10,000 tons may run aground. Therefore, cargo ships generally do not go there.

The situation is different now. Even if the Dutch cargo ships or gunboats were 2,000 tons, that would only be equivalent to a little over 100 tons. When fully loaded, their draft would be at most a little over 10 feet. Moreover, they could not possibly be fully loaded.

In other words, they are not afraid of running aground. If the Strait of Malacca is blocked, they will naturally go the other way.

Moreover, the Dutch historically colonized places like Java and Srivijaya, which proves that they were quite familiar with the shipping routes in those areas.

This is troublesome. Blocking one breach doesn't seem to be enough; there are breaches everywhere east of Java! It seems he underestimated these colonial bandits.

He thought about it carefully, then pointed to the western end of Java Island and asked, "Is this a suitable place to build a port and dock?"

Li Yuansheng recalled, "Your Majesty, no problem. Java has small fishing ports in this area."

Then let's build a port and docks.

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, then carefully instructed, "Go and negotiate with Java. Tell them that we want to build a port and dock there to help them resist the invasion of colonial bandits."

You should send people to build more ports and wharves in this area. Then, you should not only send people to guard this strait, but also send ships to patrol southwestern Srivijaya and Java. If you see any Dutch fleets, attack them immediately.

Uh, this.

Li Yuansheng thought for a moment, then carefully said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, but it's not appropriate for Fujian warships to patrol back and forth."

The centipede ships weren't equipped with cannons, and without hundreds swarming forward, they would likely suffer heavy losses if they encountered the Dutch fleet.

Looks like I'll have to equip you with some Weiyuan warships and airships.

At this time, the shipyards in Southern Zhili were building 600 flying shuttles every three months and 200 Weiyuan warships every four months. Calculating the time, there should be five or six thousand flying shuttles and over a thousand Weiyuan warships by now.

After careful consideration, Wanli Emperor decisively said, "I will give you one hundred Weiyuan warships, the kind equipped with cannons and armor, and one thousand flying shuttles. Is that alright?"

Oh dear, give me so many Weiyuan warships and airships!

Li Yuansheng was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "No problem, Your Majesty, I guarantee the Dutch won't be able to enter Southeast Asia."

Emperor Wanli nodded slightly, thought about it carefully, and then instructed, "It will be more convenient for you to go to Fangzhang Island now that you have the flying shuttle."

After you return, send five hundred flying shuttles to deliver food to the soldiers on Fangzhang Island, and also send a message to Cai You.

This year and next year we will be fighting against the Oirat Mongols and completely pacifying the northern barbarians, so we cannot send ships to bring people over to develop Fangzhang Island.

Furthermore, I will order Wanshengtang to send two hundred boatloads of New Year's goods to Luzon. You should then command the flying shuttles to deliver them there.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuansheng nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli thought about it carefully again, then waved his hand.

Li Yuansheng quickly bowed and took his leave.

It seems like nothing major happened after that.

The temperature in Beijing is getting lower and lower, and the New Year is just around the corner.

Once the New Year holidays were over, Wanli Emperor began to consider the issue of conquering the Oirat Mongols again.

He has already transferred over a million garrison troops back to the Laoha River Valley of Beiping Commandery to spend the winter. These garrison troops will be able to build the railway from the capital to Alunhewei when Beiping Commandery begins to reopen in March.

With the completion of the railway from the capital to Alunhewei, it became much easier for them to transport supplies.

The train could be assembled directly in the workshops of the Summer Palace and then run there, and it could also carry rails and sleepers.

This saves an unknown amount of shipping capacity.

He was waiting for spring to arrive so he could start building the railway, but before he could even finish waiting a month and the snow and ice in the capital had completely melted, he received some terrible news.

Around noon that day, he was preparing to take Xiao Zhu Changxun and Song Yingxing out for a meal.

Suddenly, Zhang Weixian, the heir apparent of the Duke of Ying, strode in, holding up an envelope and loudly proclaiming, "Reporting, Your Majesty, a urgent report from His Highness the Prince of the North!"

what?
Wasn't this kid spending the winter with Qi Jiguang in the former territory of the Xiongnu royal court?
What major incident has occurred over there?

This kid actually ordered someone to send an urgent message back despite the freezing cold.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wanli took the envelope, tore it open, and found two more letters inside.

The one above was written by Zhu Changxu, the Prince of the North.

Your son reports with tears in his eyes: Grand Marshal Qi Jiguang has contracted a cold and died!

The one below was written by Qi Jiguang.

I have no regrets about dying for my country. I only hope that my descendants will carry on my legacy and serve the country with utmost loyalty!
Qi Jiguang's handwriting was very messy, and even the strokes were a bit crooked.

This must have been Qi Jiguang's last words, written hastily as he felt he was about to collapse.

His hand holding the letter trembled involuntarily.

The Great Ming War God has actually left him!

(End of this chapter)