The Ming Dynasty: A Modern Return, Building an Overseas Empire

Chapter 101 Zhu Gaoxu, the Overlord of Southeast Asia, Seeks to Establish Rules in the South Seas

Zhu Gaoxu marched westward, and his fleet gradually arrived at Brunei.

As for the many small kingdoms in southern Luzon, and the Sulu Kingdom between Luzon and Brunei, Zhu Gaoxu skipped them all.

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't understand what he could gain from going to these small countries.

With limited overall resources, this isn't the way to plunder.

Moreover, he still cares about his reputation when he's out in public.

As for trade and market exchanges, it can be settled with a single document afterward. Why would a great Ming Han King need to go in person?

The value has dropped.

Upon arriving in Brunei, Zhu Gaoxu did not choose to go directly there this time.

"Niucheng, send someone with my seal to King Xiawang of Brunei and tell him that I have arrived."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Niu Cheng was overjoyed; Zhu Gaoxu had finally not gone directly there.

God knows how much pressure they were under in Okinawa and Luzon; their nerves were stretched to the limit.

As Niu Cheng went down to deliver the message, it wasn't long before the fleet of Brunei Kingdom slowly approached, and King Xia Wang of Brunei even came in person.

"This humble prince pays his respects to His Highness the Prince of Han of the Great Ming Dynasty."

"Rise. I saw you when you accompanied the former King of Brunei on a visit to the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Gaoxu gently helped Xiawang up, a faint smile on his face.

Brunei had frequent exchanges with the Ming Dynasty, especially after the previous Brunei king, Ma Na Re Jia Na Nai, died in the Ming Dynasty in the sixth year of the Yongle reign. With Zhu Di's permission, Xia Wang returned to succeed as the Brunei king, and the exchanges became even more frequent.

However, this frequent activity was mostly due to envoys and trade.

In other aspects, they weren't so enthusiastic.

After the introduction of Islam, the Kingdom of Brunei, starting with King Sharif Ali, fully embraced Islam.

The influence that Han people had on this area is gradually being eliminated.

That's why he didn't go in directly.

Brunei and Ryukyu are completely different from Luzon.

Xia Wang stood up, then lowered his head slightly, his expression respectful.

"I am deeply honored that Your Highness, the Prince of Han, remembers me. Your Highness, please, I have prepared a banquet."

.

"I won't be attending the banquet. I'm just passing by and stopped by to take a look."

Now I have left the Ming Dynasty to develop its overseas territories, establishing a Han capital in the Japanese kingdom of Japan.

"This king has just established his fiefdom and has come out to familiarize himself with the place."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu's smiling face, Xia Wang was startled, and quickly said in a low voice respectfully, "Congratulations on the establishment of the Great Ming Han Prince's fiefdom. I will prepare a small gift for the Great Ming Han Prince and send an envoy to Hanjing to congratulate the Han Prince."

"Hehe, how could I possibly accept this?"

Although my vassal state is somewhat distant from Brunei, since you have such intentions, I will not refuse.

Now that my vassal state is preparing to engage in trade, your caravans may all proceed there.

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and agreed; he would never refuse such a request.

After chatting with Xia Wang for a while, Zhu Gaoxu stayed in Brunei for half a day before leaving.

When they left, they took with them a large amount of gold, silver, grain, spices, and other local specialties sent by Xiawang.

The three empty ships are now finally filled with more than one ship.

Back on the ship, Zhu Gaoxu looked at Ba Zhi beside him.

"Have you written down everything about this place?"

"Your Highness, I have recorded everything. All the troops, coastal defenses, cities, and key roads of Brunei that I saw along the way are here."

Zhu Gaoxu took it and looked at it, his smile widening even more.

With these things, things will be much easier for Brunei in the future.

The fleet continued its journey and soon arrived at the country of Majapahit.

Majapahit was probably the most powerful small country on Java Island, and its influence was considerable not only on Java Island but also in Southeast Asia.

After all, it was more than ten years ago that they destroyed the most powerful kingdom in this region, Srivijaya.

If the former Brunei Kingdom, despite its cultural independence and elimination of Han Chinese culture, still considered itself a vassal state, then Brunei Kingdom was simultaneously engaging in unstable tribute payments while secretly resisting the Ming Dynasty.

The fact that the Ming Dynasty is currently supporting Malacca (also known as Malacca) is making the Majapahit people very unhappy.

In particular, with the intervention of the Ming government, which forced Brunei to stop paying tribute to Majapahit and instead pay tribute directly to the Ming government, he did not believe that Majapahit could tolerate this.

It's no wonder that during the Xuande era, when the Ming Dynasty completely abandoned the ocean, the Majapahit were the first forces to take action against the Ming Dynasty's overseas assets.

Zhu Gaochi was very eager to see the Majapahit Kingdom.

After a long while, the people of Manja Boyi came out to greet Zhu Gaoxu.

"Vikaramawahana greets His Highness the Prince of Han of the Great Ming Dynasty."

"Yes, get up."

Seeing the obviously frivolous attitude of King Vikara Mahavahana of Majapahit, Zhu Gaoxu sneered inwardly.

In the past, the Ming Dynasty did not have much energy to control it, so it could only support the small country of Malacca to contain it, and establish the Old Port Pacification Commission.

Even if Zhu Zhanji were to relinquish the Ming Dynasty's maritime rights in the future, with him around, that wouldn't happen.

Seeing Vikramavahana stand up, Zhu Gaoxu continued to speak.

"I intend to travel to the Old Port Pacification Commission, and on my way, I have come to visit your country."

By the way, I have now left the Ming Dynasty to develop its overseas territories and have established Han-kyō in Japan.

From now on, your Manjabhai Kingdom shall pay tribute annually according to this decree.

At this point, Bazhi took out a list and handed it to Vikaramawahana.

Zhu Gaochi did not have such a good attitude towards the Manjapahit Kingdom, and he had no intention of going there to work.

If he really goes inside, he might really run into trouble.

Zhu Gaoxu knew which places he could enter directly and which places required caution.

This trip to Southeast Asia is not only to expand our territory, but also to see who our friends are, who we cannot touch, and who our enemies are, and who we need to fight.

With Japan as his core vassal state, Zhu Gaochi was well aware of how poor the land was there.

Zhu Gaoxu understood all too well how important it was to acquire a resource-rich location outside the region.

With the establishment of Han Dong Prefecture in the East, Luzon as the gateway to the South Seas, and Ryukyu as the springboard between them, all that's missing now is a transit point near the Strait of Malacca and connecting to Australia.

He couldn't move Malacca, which borders the Strait of Malacca, but Majapahit perfectly matched his expectations and was a place he could move.

Although he cannot launch a military campaign now and still has to deal with the entire territory of Japan, he must at least let Majapahit know that he has come out, and that Majapahit cannot touch either the Ming Dynasty or him.

If he doesn't establish his authority today, he doesn't want any unexpected incidents to occur when he starts doing business and trade later.

Vikramavahana didn't look at the list, but looked at Zhu Gaoxu with a troubled expression.

"Your Highness, the Prince of Han of the Great Ming Dynasty, our small country has already paid tribute to the Great Ming Dynasty. Our country is impoverished and we are afraid we are unable to..."

"Vikaramavahana, I am giving you one last chance. I am now in charge of all matters overseas for the Ming Dynasty."

"Think it through and tell me, or you can see for yourself what kind of military might my vassal state will have after I leave the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Gaoxu interrupted Vikramavahana directly.

If Vikramavahana dares to refuse today, he will temporarily abandon building a foothold in Handong Prefecture and first subdue Majapahit.

Establishing authority is essential.

Even if it comes at a price, it must be done.

If he doesn't establish this authority today, his influence in Southeast Asia will be affected in the future.

Zhu Gaoxu truly agreed with one statement.

Hit a punch to avoid a hundred punches.

Only by demonstrating our power and momentum can we truly intimidate those around us.

Zhu Gaoxu actually hoped that Vikramavahana would refuse.

Using Man Zhe Boyi to establish authority is the most effective way!