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

Chapter 115 Further Expansion of the Domain

Zhu Gaoxu waited quietly in the main hall, and soon Zheng He arrived slowly.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Prince of Han."

"Get up, sit down."

Zhu Gaoxu had a smile on his face, as if the unpleasantness between him and Zheng He had never happened.

Zheng He remained standing respectfully, in complete silence.

Seeing that Zheng He was ignoring him, Zhu Gaoxu was not annoyed.

Ultimately, he had no way to do anything to Zheng He, nor could he directly deal with him.

In the Ming Dynasty, only Zhu Di was capable of dealing with Zheng He; no one else could.

Zheng He was responsible for Zhu Di's private affairs and replenishing his personal coffers, making him Zhu Di's absolute confidant.

"Zheng He, I won't beat around the bush with you. Now that you are leading the elite fleet of the Ming Dynasty here, it's perfect timing. The Shimazu clan is impersonating a descendant of the First Emperor, which is extremely disrespectful."

You must gather a large force from the fleet and join my men to conquer and destroy the Shimazu clan.

Furthermore, the current general of the Japanese shogunate is located north of Owari, and my army is currently insufficient. You will lead five thousand troops to accompany my army there.

Do you have any further questions?

Zhu Gaochi would not let Zheng He's forces slip by this time.

It would be foolish not to use a large army.

Although he could fight in these places himself, his army was mainly there to concentrate labor and for other important purposes.

However, upon hearing this, Zheng He's expression gradually became serious, and he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Your Highness, I am on His Majesty's orders to sail to the Western Ocean. I dare not interfere in other matters without permission."

"My visit to His Highness Prince Han's fiefdom is also on behalf of His Majesty's edict. Without His Majesty's edict, I am afraid I cannot assist His Highness Prince Han."

"Hehe, the Japanese pirates have been harassing the coast of the Ming Dynasty one after another, and you have been leading the most elite navy of the Ming Dynasty abroad, but you have remained indifferent."

Now, I am here on the orders of my father, the Emperor, to destroy the Japanese and take charge of all overseas affairs of the Ming Dynasty.

Now that you refuse to cooperate, is the navy you lead truly of the Ming Dynasty, or your own?

As far as I know, you conquered many small countries during your voyages to the Western Ocean. Was this also an order given to you by my father, the Emperor?

Zhu Gaoxu looked coldly at Zheng He. In fact, Zheng He could have made the decision himself.

But by bringing up Zhu Di, it was clear that this person didn't want to help him out.

What do you mean you can't do anything without Zhu Di's edict? Although it's the proper procedure, how could he not know the intricacies of it?

Seeing Zheng He's furrowed brows and hesitation, Zhu Gaoxu stood up and approached Zheng He.

"Zheng He, what you were able to do on your voyages to the Western Ocean, I can do just as well now that I am out here."

You can think about it: does my father, the Emperor, believe me, or does he believe you more?

You'd better think this through. Within the Ming Dynasty, everyone is against the voyages to the West, including the Crown Prince.

If I were to propose this matter in court, do you think the officials and scholars would do it?

Guess again, if I decide to do this, will you still be able to continue your voyages to the West?

As for the things you did secretly for my father, he has already told me. Do you think I did any worse than you did?

Zhu Gaoxu spoke softly, believing that Zheng He would not turn a blind eye.

Zheng He desperately wanted to sail to the Western Ocean. Historically, when Zhu Gaochi abolished the voyage program after ascending the throne, Zheng He directly confronted Zhu Gaochi.

of.

Once Zheng He could no longer make voyages to the Western Ocean, he would lose all his value.

In particular, Zheng He knew quite a few secrets.

What kind of situation would Zheng He face at that time?

Sometimes, it wasn't that Zheng He loved going out so much, but rather a kind of helplessness, a necessity he had to go out.

Going out still has value; one can enjoy the thrill of extreme power outside.

If he doesn't leave, not only will he lose all power, but more importantly, a worthless eunuch who knows many secrets will be unable to continue doing the things that eunuchs do. Guess what will happen to him?

Others might not have much of an impact competing with Zheng He for voyages to the Western Ocean, but it was different for him.

Zhu Gaoxu smiled and said softly, "Don't forget, you are a retainer, and I am also your half-master."

It is only right that you carry out Father's secret orders, and I will not say anything about it.

But now that I am overseas, you'd better think carefully about what my departure to sea means.

Without compromising your ability to carry out your father's secret orders, if you don't maintain the right attitude, what will happen when you return?

"And what about the consequences? Can you bear them?"

Zhu Gaoxu further warned Zheng He, his voice gentle but his words harsh.

Actually, he didn't want to make things difficult for Zheng He, but this man seemed to have a lot of opinions about him and didn't give him any face at all.

If Zheng He isn't brought under control this time, he will face immense difficulties in whatever he does in Southeast Asia in the future.

To put it bluntly, Zheng He was doing his own thing during his voyages to the Western Ocean. Other matters overseas should not only not be interfered with, but should ideally be cooperated with by Zhu Di unless he gives a special decree.

Zhu Gaoxu was confident in this.

As long as his strength had not reached that level, Zhu Di would not care about anything else.

At the same time, Zhu Gaoxu also made Zheng He clarify his identity.

If he doesn't respond to gentle persuasion, he has no choice but to resort to force.

What if Zheng He insists on continuing the confrontation?

He didn't believe Zheng He was such a fool. If he were to continue to confront him head-on, he could just take over all of the Ming Dynasty's overseas powers.

Although he claimed to be the person in charge of the Ming Dynasty's overseas affairs, Zhu Di never actually gave him that much power.

But Zheng He was oblivious to the situation; he actually seized this opportunity to compete for it.

Even if he didn't compete for the position of crown prince, Zhu Gaochi was very confident in winning this position, especially considering Zheng He's foolish actions.

Zheng He's expression changed drastically upon hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words.

"Your Highness the King of Han is right. I have never forgotten my identity."

"Since His Majesty has given this order, and His Highness the Prince of Han's forces are insufficient, this servant shall obey."

Seeing that Zheng He was pragmatic, Zhu Gaoxu didn't say anything more.

With the matter settled, two days later, Zhu Gaoxu, with Chen Da as the main force, led two thousand troops and three thousand troops mobilized from Zheng He's fleet to launch an attack on the Shimazu clan.

At the same time, Jin Rong, leading 3,000 troops and 5,000 troops mobilized by Zheng He, launched an attack on Nobi Plain, where Ashikaga Yoshimochi was located, and the surrounding area.

At the same time, Zhu Gaoxu instructed Hosokawa Ono to persuade Ashikaga Yoshimochi to venture eastward again to develop the Kanto Plain, which was currently underdeveloped.

Of the 8,000 troops assembled, the remaining 3,000, led by Qian Xun, marched south towards Australia.

Having made these arrangements, Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Huan beside him.

"The population that migrates here afterward will be given priority, not only in Luzon, but also in Australia, where Qian Xun has now gone."

排。

"Then another batch of slaves will be transported to Australia, and a few more will be sent to assist Qian Xun in management."

Australia is still unclaimed land today.

Faced with a severe shortage of resources, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't care less about anything else.

Since we're going to take this step anyway, we might as well take a big one.