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

Chapter 103 The Ming Dynasty's Confidence and Foundation in Shocking Overseas Regions: Intercepting Zhu Di

The fleet continued westward and finally arrived at the place Zhu Gaoxu wanted to go: the Ming Dynasty's Old Port Pacification Commissioner's Office.

Zhu Gaoxu stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the port that was so close at hand.

On both sides of the port are military bases.

Behind it are large areas of farmland and residential areas.

Feeling the calm and pleasant climate here, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but sigh.

Although they are both overseas, the differences are truly significant.

In this place, you can see a dense crowd of people doing their work. The key is that the land here is flat and fertile, and rice can be grown three times a year.

In addition, the climate is pleasant, which is far inferior to that of his own fiefdom.

Even places like Ryukyu and Luzon are far inferior to this place.

This place, in particular, has already been developed, and the farmland is almost ready for cultivation, which makes Zhu Gaoxu extremely envious.

Zhu Gaoxu disembarked and came ashore. Shi Jinqing, the Pacification Commissioner of Jiugang Pacification Office, quickly approached Zhu Gaoxu.

"Your subject Shi Jinqing pays his respects to Your Highness the Prince of Han."

"Rise, there's no need for such formalities."

Zhu Gaoxu helped Shi Jinqing up, but his gaze was fixed on the surroundings.

Old Port Pacification Commissioner's Office was one of the overseas bases controlled by the Ming Dynasty.

However, the relationship between the Pacification Commission and the Ming Dynasty was not one of direct subordination as in other places, but rather one of tributary relationship.

This relationship is not much different from the Tusi (chieftains) established by the Ming Dynasty in the southwest.

The Pacification Commissioners of the Pacification Commission were all local leaders who served concurrently and were subject to orders from the Ming Dynasty court.

In military matters, once the Ming Dynasty issues an order, the Pacification Commission must fully cooperate and accept the mobilization.

On ordinary days, they maintained local order and paid local taxes in the form of tribute.

The system of indirect rule was also an important means for the Ming Dynasty to govern local areas.

Although it offers a high degree of freedom, one must obey the Ming Dynasty; it is essentially the Ming Dynasty's version of "one country, two systems."

When the Ming Dynasty needed to send troops, such as to the Majapahit, it could mobilize troops from the Old Port Pacification Commission and integrate them into the Ming army's combat system, while also undertaking a certain amount of financial and material supplies for the army.

As for being attacked, after asking the Ming Dynasty for help, whether or not they were rescued depended on the Ming court's decision.

Old Port was a transit point for Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean and also a place for storing goods.

Around the old port, on these few islands, there is a military base of the Ming Dynasty. It is a legitimate military base, although it only has a few hundred soldiers.

North of Old Port was the Malacca Kingdom, established by the Ming Dynasty, which is now known as Malacca.

Further north, beyond the Strait of Malacca, along the coast of Southeast Asia, lies the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Commission in the east and the Da Gu Ci Pacification Commission established in Pegu in the west.

In the southeastern kingdoms, there were also the Diwuci Pacification Commission and the Dimasa Pacification Commission, which were established successively during the Yongle era.

In addition, with the establishment of the Pacification Commissions of Mubang, Mengyang, Burma, Babai Dadian, Cheli, and Laos during the Hongwu period, the Ming Dynasty's influence in these areas surpassed that of any previous dynasty.

These places are scattered throughout Southeast Asian countries, and it can be said that all of these places belong to the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Combined with the Ming army bases in Palembang and on Indonesian islands, and the support given to Malacca, the Ming Dynasty's influence in Southeast Asia was at its most profound.

With so many places cooperating with Zheng He's fleet on his voyages to the Western Ocean, the influence of the Ming Dynasty had spread to Africa.

The Ming Dynasty included these tributary territories in its territory, making its actual territory far larger than it appeared.

Thinking about all this, Zhu Gaoxu was filled with shock and amazement.

In his previous life, he could say he didn't pay any attention to these places at all, but now that he's here again, things are completely different.

But Zhu Gaoxu felt a deep sense of regret.

Unfortunately, after Zhu Di's death, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji successively stopped paying attention to the Pacification Commissions outside the Ming Dynasty, and stopped valuing these places outside the Ming Dynasty.

As a result, these Pacification Commissions were successively swallowed up by surrounding forces, and the Ming Dynasty's influence outside the country gradually diminished.

The troops stationed at the Indonesian island base were withdrawn, and the Palembang Pacification Commission was destroyed by the Majapahit Kingdom.

As Burma grew in power in Southeast Asia, the surrounding Pacification Commissioners, abandoned by the Ming Dynasty, either sought refuge with Burma or were destroyed by it.

The system of incarceration that Hongwu and Yongle had painstakingly built up was destroyed in an instant.

As for those small countries that were supported by the Ming Dynasty, such as Malacca, they became disobedient in the later years of the Yongle reign after they grew stronger.

The Han culture supported by the Ming Dynasty was abolished, and Islamic culture was fully introduced, resulting in the removal of Sinicization from the entire country.

Zhu Gaoxu genuinely harbored some hatred towards Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Zhanji.

This father and son took the lead, which led to the Ming Dynasty neglecting these areas even more.

If the Ming Dynasty can persist and continue to manage these territories, a hundred or two hundred years will be enough for these places to be fully Sinicized and completely become Han Chinese territory.

But this father and son gave up on their own initiative!

It's one thing if you get knocked down by someone else, but to give up voluntarily is even worse!

Zhu Gaoxu felt a pang of unease as he pondered these thoughts.

The Hongwu and Yongle reigns had already laid a solid foundation, leaving ample confidence and resources for future Ming emperors. Yet, they were unfortunately dealt with by this father and son.

If the Ming Dynasty had continued and expanded its operations as it did during the Hongwu and Yongle periods, by the late Ming Dynasty, Southeast Asia and the area surrounding Malacca would have been the solid territory of the Ming Dynasty.

After a moment of reflection, Zhu Gaoxu stopped thinking about it.

Even during the Yongle era, although the Pacification Commission was established and was being operated, it was not given much importance.

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up as he looked at the plain before him.

These are all great places.

The land is fertile, and the grain grown there could feed countless people.

It also has many other resources, making it a veritable treasure trove.

Unfortunately, now he can only watch.

He couldn't get his hands on this territory until the Ming Dynasty gave up on it.

Actually, this was the place Zhu Gaoxu originally wanted to come to.

As for the capital, there are simply too many places to choose from.

Which of these places wouldn't work: Java (Jakarta), Sumatra, Johor (Malaysia), or Temasek (Singapore)?

Thinking about this, Zhu Gaoxu began to have some reservations about Zhu Di.

It's a waste to occupy a toilet without using it, or to occupy a prime location without knowing the treasures within.

After looking around for a long time, Zhu Gaoxu slowly withdrew his gaze.

"Those large ships in that port, were they left behind by Zheng He's fleet? Are they still usable?"

"Your Highness, these were left behind by the fleet. Five large ships have now been fully maintained and are ready for use."

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and looked at Shi Jinqing.

"Go and load the grain, iron and other supplies here onto the ships, and fill all five ships to the brim."

"Also, move a few more ships and fill them all up; I want to take them back."

"Oh? Your Highness, wouldn't this be..."

"Hmm? Do you think what I say is inferior to what Zheng He said? Or are you not listening to my arrangements?"

.

Zhu Gaoxu scrutinized Shi Jinqing, while Niu Cheng beside him had already placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, and all the Ming soldiers around him were in fighting stance.

Shi Jinqing looked horrified and immediately knelt on the ground.

"Your Highness, that's not the case. I'll go and make arrangements immediately to fill it up as quickly as possible!"

Zhu Gaoxu gestured to Niu Cheng, who then led dozens of personal guards to follow Shi Jinqing.

Zhu Gaoxu strolled around, his gaze burning with an unyielding intensity.

"What a wonderful place, what a wonderful place!"

Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but mutter to himself, no Han Chinese could refuse such a large piece of farmland, and he was no exception.

Ultimately, after everything was ready, Zhu Gaoxu had no choice but to leave.

They came here partly to see these places, but their main purpose was to directly seize Zhu Di's territory and take it back to their own fiefdom.

As for whether Zhu Di would be angry, that was something to be considered after he returned.

Now, apart from here, there is no other relatively nearby place that can solve the problem he is facing.

At worst, I'll just get a scolding from Zhu Di when I get back to vent my anger.

As for making him return it, that's impossible.

These grains, iron, and other supplies were originally brought back by Zheng He for Zhu Di's northern expeditions and to replenish the national treasury. Now, a portion of them have been intercepted by him.

Zhu Gaoxu, feeling both pleased and regretful, began his return journey.

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhanji was also preparing to leave the capital and head to Hanjing.

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