You have truly caused me great suffering!

At this time, among all the nobles of the Great Jing Dynasty, Qu Duan was undoubtedly the most prominent.

He was His Majesty's confidant and trusted greatly. Moreover, he was the only one who was unaffected after the disarmament began, and he even continued to recruit soldiers.

The Great Jing Navy was also established by him. During its establishment, he bypassed His Majesty and went directly to Mingzhou, destroying several major maritime merchants who were competing with the caravans for profits.

In this world, you need money to do anything. Those maritime merchants couldn't see the situation clearly. Not only did they reject the caravan's offer, they also engaged in price wars and even contacted pirates to attack the caravan's ships.
At that time, Chen Shao was short of money everywhere, as he was busy with river management, defeating the Jin dynasty, and moving the capital.
Their behavior is no different from a mouse serving as a bridesmaid for a cat—they value money over their lives!
Chen Shao naturally wouldn't punish him.

As a result, Qu Duan's reputation grew even more, and everyone knew that he was not someone to be trifled with.

Back in Wuzhi, he also killed the magistrate of the Song Dynasty without asking permission.

Later, he directly executed Du Chong, the garrison commander of Daming Prefecture and a first-rank official in the court.

He was in his thirties, nearly forty, in the prime of his life.

He was tall but thin, with symmetrical and handsome features; his skin was somewhat dark, and compared to most of the burly men in the army, he looked cleaner and neater.

Because of his handsome appearance, Qu Duan was very careful about his words and actions, but you could not see a trace of refined elegance in him.

Moreover, it always gives people a sense of understated arrogance.

He treated ordinary soldiers, and even his trusted confidants who had followed him for many years, in the same way. So much so that even generals like Li Yanqi and Guo Hao, who had always followed him, dared not joke with him.

In contrast, Han Shizhong's confidants, upon learning that Han had been granted the title of king while they were unable to participate in the final destruction of the Jin dynasty, even dared to protest at his doorstep and almost cursed him.

Old Zhu was famous for loving his soldiers like his own children, and he could call out the names of the soldiers around him.

He was now standing on a ship, gazing at the undulating sea, his crimson cloak fluttering in the wind.

Traveling with the wind in winter is considered fast, but it still takes eight to ten days to reach Naha Port in Okinawa from Dengzhou.

As the Dengzhou Navy said, the waves on this stretch of the sea were not large, and everyone had a relatively smooth journey.

Qu Duan wasn't going out to sea for the first time, so he didn't find it particularly novel, but he still often looked out from the ship's side.

As a soldier who grew up in the Northwest, he only truly felt the vastness of the sea after his first voyage.

What about beyond the ocean?

How many barbarians are there? How many islands are there? What's on them?
A person's mind expands as their horizons broaden.

The more this was the case, the more he admired His Majesty. He himself only understood the importance of establishing ports in Korea and Ryukyu after landing and witnessing it firsthand.

But Your Majesty, without ever leaving the Northwest or Taiyuan, was able to make preparations from thousands of miles away.

Upon discovering the gold mines in Japan, His Majesty immediately considered stationing troops in Ryukyu and then dividing Japan into four or five smaller countries.

It's as if he had already planned how to deal with this overseas island nation, which is both admirable and a little awe-inspiring.

too terrifying
If His Majesty wants to deal with someone, he probably has a foolproof plan in the blink of an eye, ensuring that person can never rise again.

As the chief commander of the Chenghai Navy and the foremost figure in the Dajing Navy, Qu Duan knew all too well that the sea was not as beautiful as it appeared.

Even the slightest breeze can send a ship rocking violently. The power of the sea and the feeling of being completely helpless on all sides can quickly inspire awe.

Just like His Majesty, it inspires awe because it is incomprehensible and vast.

At this point, there is already a great deal of protection for near-shore navigation, especially for a vessel like the "Shenzhou". Even if it encounters wind and waves, it can successfully reach the shore in about twenty days.

Such a long distance is actually faster than marching on land, and the soldiers do not have to run day and night.

Qu Duan had developed a set of methods for deploying troops overseas and transporting them at sea. He wanted to record them all and write a book about them, but he never had the time.

Just then, a naval officer came up, clasped his hands and said, "General, judging from the movement in the sky, there may be a storm or rain in a while. Please leave the ship's side and go inside the cabin to sit down, or find a place to lean against."

Qu Di nodded slightly, glanced back twice, then turned and walked straight into the cabin. At that moment, some sailors were pulling the pulley system to lower the stiff sail on the mast.

Inside the cabin, Qu Duan sat down in a chair that was nailed to the side of the ship and was very secure.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before the boat began to rock and sway more violently. Qu Duan gripped the armrest of his chair; the boat's violent rocking made one worry that it might fall apart.

However, the soldiers of the Chenghai Navy stood very firmly. They had grown up by the sea since childhood and were indeed extraordinary.

"Sooner or later, the lands and barbarians beyond this sea will also be under Your Majesty's rule."

It was quite rare for Commander Qu to say something outside of military orders, which startled all the soldiers in the cabin, who then echoed his sentiments.

If that day ever comes, it will be a time of territorial expansion. These naval officers would have already been promoted for their merits, and might even have had the chance to be ennobled.

A tremendous roar erupted outside as the wind and waves violently swept across the entire sea.

This reveals the ruthlessness of the sea and the ferocity of nature. Almost no one can walk or even stand on the ship; only the experienced sailors can continue to move around on board.

These naval officers and soldiers, born by the sea, were as agile as monkeys, using their arms to find places to gain leverage and moving around along the sides of the ship.

Living off the sea, they never truly gave up exploring its depths. However, in the Central Plains, the presence or absence of imperial support made all the difference.

Fortunately, the storm only lasted a short while, and the rocking soon subsided. It rained for quite a while, but all the boats had rainwater collection devices in case of emergencies and a shortage of fresh water.

"Land can be seen to the east!" came a voice from outside the cabin, though it was unclear who shouted it.

Qu Duan asked, "Land?"

The military officer beside him said, "General, it should be Gao Huayu."

"Let's go out and take a look!" Qu Duan walked out, looking at the nearby islands, lush and green. "Is anyone living there?"

"Yes, there are about a hundred households on the island. They are all fishermen who fled here during the Song Dynasty to escape oppressive government. There are many fish around here. There are eight islands in total, and the largest one is right here."

Qu Duan looked around and nodded, saying, "Setting up beacon towers and watchtowers here, and stationing twenty or thirty people, can suppress the surrounding pirates and leave them nowhere to hide. In case of unforeseen circumstances, they can also provide shelter for our navy, merchant fleets, and fishing boats nearby."

After saying this, Qu Duan ordered his men to approach the landing site so he could go ashore and take a look.

A group of people walked along, while a group of fishermen on the shore stood watching them, not daring to say a word.

They carried tattered fishing nets and wore ragged clothes, but Qu Duan noticed their shoes.

Everything else can be made by myself, but these boots were made in a workshop near Dengzhou. They don't get very heavy after wading through water, and the navy also uses this style.

This indicates that the people on the island had trade dealings with the Chenghai Navy.

Looking further up the hillside, there are devices on naval vessels used to collect fresh water.

He didn't say much. The Chenghai Navy was recruited from Shandong. These fishermen were supposedly there to escape the heavy taxes and wars of the previous dynasty. It was not surprising that they knew the naval officers and soldiers.

There might be one of them.

"This is the Duke of England! Come and pay him a visit!"

Several fishermen rushed forward, knelt down, and kowtowed.

Qu Duan looked at them and said, "Get up. How long have you been waiting to come to this island?"

"It's been ten years since I returned to the country, Duke."

"If we build a supply depot on this island, how many soldiers do you think we can garrison?" The dark-skinned fisherman mustered his courage and said, "There's food on the island, but no water. I'm afraid we can't garrison many people."

How many of you live here?

"The Duke of Huiguo has twenty households, totaling one hundred and three people."

Qu Dian nodded and said, "I will find a way to deal with the matter of Danshui. However, although you are isolated overseas, you are still citizens of the Great Jing. Now that His Majesty is wise and has opened up the seas and set sail, all the world submits to him. You must not be rebellious and claim to be kings."

"No, no! This humble subject wouldn't dare!"

Shandong was frequently harassed by the Liao and Jin dynasties, especially when Youyan was occupied by foreign tribes.

Qu Duan sighed inwardly, realizing that the people had managed to escape here to avoid oppressive rule and war.

No wonder the ancients said: "Oppressive government is more ferocious than a tiger."

The oppressive rule in Japan today is even more brutal than that of the Song Dynasty, yet the islanders do not flee.

This clearly shows that the Japanese people are as lowly as pigs and dogs, and as despicable as can be. I wonder if the monks at the Buddhist academy can incite them to rebel.

Qu Duan circled around Gaohua Island, marked out the area for building watchtowers and barracks, and then continued his journey to Ryukyu.
-
Nanjing is bursting with the vitality of spring.

Chen Shao held a memorial in his hand, looking at the Srivijaya envoy below, and found his accent somewhat amusing.

He was probably speaking Lingnan dialect, which he likely learned from Lingnan merchants.

Although he appeared to be listening attentively, he didn't understand a single word, only occasionally catching the name 'Annan'.

Annam, it's been a long time since anyone has used that term. I wonder if his Chinese teacher taught him to say it that way.

These people came to file a complaint, accusing the Da Viet Truong Dynasty of sending troops to occupy their land and slaughter their people.

After he finished rambling on, Chen Shao asked, "Are you aware that the Southern Wilderness mines have been repeatedly harassed by bandits?"

“I don’t know! We have always respected the emperor of the Central Plains and regarded you as our monarch and the master of our Srivijaya. How could we possibly attack your copper mine?”

The envoy seemed to have received a death order, denying it outright without the slightest hesitation.

Even his tone of voice has become much more normal.

If Chen Shao hadn't already known the truth, he might have suspected that his intelligence was wrong.

“You have secretly gathered a group of bandits, pretending to be going to wipe them out, but in reality you are all in cahoots. You want my protection, you want to trade with the Great Jing, but you also covet my mineral resources. Perhaps you are resentful and think that the mineral veins are in your territory, so you have reached out to me.”

The envoy was about to argue when Chen Shao glared at him, and he immediately dared not interrupt.

"You even dared to interrupt me while I was speaking, which is a capital offense. This shows that you barbarians claim to respect me, but in reality you think you are too far away to be touched by me. What can I do to you?"

"These people are outwardly obedient but inwardly rebellious! They are outwardly respectful but inwardly arrogant. If they are not punished soon, how can we quell the maritime unrest and subdue the various barbarian tribes?"

"Today I declare here that because you, Sanfoqi, have been supporting your own power by killing my people and plundering copper, I have ordered King Zhang Boyu of the Da Yue Zhang Dynasty to send troops to conquer you. The purpose is to destroy your royal family as a warning to others."

The envoy from Srivijaya trembled with fear. In the past, when he came to pay tribute to the emperor of the Central Plains, he was always treated with great courtesy and received generous rewards.

Why is it different this time?
The thought that the Jiaozhi people were already riding roughshod over them made Da Jing's mediation their only hope.

Now that Emperor Jing is furious, who will stop those brutal Jiaozhi soldiers?

The Jiaozhi soldiers, having been caught in the rain themselves, were so eager to drown all their neighbors that they not only bombarded everywhere with cannons but also killed people indiscriminately, with the level of carnage comparable to the Red River Massacre.

The fortresses of those small countries in Southeast Asia lost their defensive capabilities after being bombarded by cannons, and they were no match for the Jiaozhi soldiers in a direct confrontation.

Every time they breached a city, they looted it clean. They also followed suit, killing any able-bodied men they saw, castrating boys and selling them to the Da Jing caravan, while only letting the elderly, weak, women, and children go back to their homes and compete with the young people who had hidden away for food.

Chen Shao waved his hand, and the guards stepped forward to drive the Srivijaya envoys away.

Those small countries in Southeast Asia are truly hateful; they completely think they're fools.

In fact, when Chen Shaogang first sent out merchant caravans south, he intended to take them along to catch up with this wave of maritime trade.

Da Jing eats the meat, and they drink the soup; they can still make a fortune.

If they were willing to get on board and make money with him, their lives, if not comparable to those in the Central Plains, would at least be much better than they are now.

Unfortunately, these people are short-sighted and always trying to deceive Heaven.

He had previously competed with the Jin Dynasty for supremacy and had also set up a gold mine in Japan. If he relaxed his vigilance even slightly, they would launch an attack on his copper mine.

Do you really think that the Great Jing is so easy to mess with? Right now, they've only sent out one person from Jiaozhi, and that's enough to give them a headache.

Once I reclaim Dali and have the generals of Yunnan and Vietnam under my control, then they will have a good outcome.

Yunnan and Vietnam are the two most severe fathers in the southern wilderness of Southeast Asia.

Dali is situated on high ground, overlooking the terrain, and its soldiers are mostly Bai and Wu Man people from the mountains, skilled in climbing and ambushes; they are equipped with rattan armor, javelins, and poisoned crossbows, and are adapted to jungle warfare.

With the help of the Jiaozhi people moving south, the pacification of the southern wilderness is just around the corner.

Thinking of this, Chen Shao then asked Chen Chong to call over the two unfortunate brothers from the Gao and Duan families in Dali, so that he could reconnect with them.

After Chen Shao played the card of "Han and Bai are of the same lineage," the Gao family had no countermeasures, because although this move was ruthless, at least on the surface it was peaceful and even somewhat flattering.

He wanted to resist, but he didn't know how.

Now, Zhang Run, the Vice Minister of Rites, has begun to trace the ancestry of several prominent families in Dali.

We are determined to solidify their claim that they originated from the Central Plains, and we are very enthusiastic about helping them trace their roots.

For example, the Gao family is said to be "descendants of the Bohai Gao family," and their ancestors followed Zhuge Liang on his southern expedition and stayed to garrison Yongchang.

Furthermore, they instructed the descendants of the Gao family of Bohai to send someone to Dali to recognize their relatives.

The Yang family, known as the powerful clan of Jianchuan in Dali and the leader of the Wuman people, were actually descendants of the "Hongnong Yang family," descended from Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian. They fled to Yunnan at the end of the Tang Dynasty to escape the chaos.

The Bai people, who inherited the Qingping official position of the Dong family, were known as the "Longxi Dong family." They were descendants of Dong Zhuo from the Eastern Han Dynasty and migrated south to avoid disaster.

The descendants of the Cuan clan are "disciples of Ban Gu and Fu Yi". Your ancestors followed the Han envoys to the southwest barbarians and stayed there.

The Mu clan of Lijiang (Naxi ethnic group) is even more remarkable, as they are descendants of Qu Yuan of the Chu Kingdom.

Even the Duan family, the royal family of Dali, has found their ancestor: Duan Jiong, the famous general who defeated the Qiang in the Eastern Han Dynasty!

We're all family, we're all on our own, there are no outsiders.

To be honest, if this were hundreds of years ago, when the powerful and aristocratic families were at their most glorious, they would definitely have scoffed at it.

Even if the emperor gave the order, they might not necessarily agree.

Fortunately, these aristocratic families in the Central Plains no longer possessed the prestige they had during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Upon receiving the imperial edict and rewards, they immediately sent people to welcome their clansmen in the southwest.

Many prominent families have already sent their members south one after another.

After the deed was accomplished, the imperial court bestowed extremely generous rewards, making them eager to immediately bring back their clansmen who had been left behind to reunite with them. (End of Chapter)