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

Chapter 116 Zhu Zhanji's Agreement and Promise

Half a month passed quietly, and on this day, Zheng He's fleet began to leave port.

Today is also the day Zhu Zhanji prepares to return to the Ming Dynasty.

During this period, the Nongwei Plain and its surrounding areas were under control, and Zhu Gaoxu established the Pingwei Prefecture.

The three regions of Ōsumi, Hyuga, and Satsuma were incorporated into Ryukyu Prefecture, while the Ōshima Island, where Awa, Tosa, and other places are located, which is to the left of the exit of Hankyō Bay, was incorporated into Handō Prefecture.

This time, Zhu Gaochi quietly added nearly two million laborers. Apart from leaving hundreds of thousands of laborers in the Nongwei Plain, all the remaining slaves were transported to Luzon Prefecture and Pingnan Prefecture, which Zhu Gaochi established in Australia.

In addition, the Shijian Silver Mountain, which Zhu Gaochi valued most, had also been taken over. Zhu Gaochi sent a large number of people there to begin mining the silver.

Ashikaga Yoshimochi, on the advice of Hosokawa Ono, led many clans and a large number of people to the Kanto Plain, conquered the local governors, and began to develop and build the Kanto Plain.

Zhu Gaochi's fiefdom also expanded further, but the shortage of food and supplies he needed widened even further.

At the port, Zhu Gaoxu personally escorted Zhu Zhanji to his destination.

Just as he was about to board the ship, Zhu Zhanji stopped in his tracks.

"Second Uncle, I'd like to speak with you privately for a few minutes."

"Hmm? Hehe, okay."

Zhu Gaoxu's unexpected appearance to see Zhu Zhanji off was merely a formality.

With a wave of his hand, everyone around him dispersed, and Zheng He, at Zhu Zhanji's signal, boarded the ship first.

"Nephew, what are you going to say?"

Seeing Zhu Zhanji take a deep breath, his expression turn serious, and move a little closer to him, Zhu Gaoxu became even more curious.

Both he and Zhu Zhanji were well aware of the situation, so what else was there to say?

Besides, Zhu Zhanji's current situation also surprised him.

In the past, Zhu Zhanji's dissatisfaction with him was almost written on his face, except that he dared not cricket in front of him.

Now, however, they hide those things very well, and can even take the initiative to talk to him.

Zhu Gaoxu exclaimed that Zhu Zhanji's growth was truly astounding.

Zhu Zhanji has many flaws, but Zhu Gaoxu also acknowledged his abilities.

"Second Uncle, it's just the two of us here, so I'll just say it directly."

Second Uncle, you're doing well out there. I know you have feelings for me, but I also have feelings for you.

From now on, you will be in your fiefdom, and I will be in the Ming Dynasty. May we both live well.

As long as my second uncle stays put in his fiefdom, I can guarantee that the status quo will remain the same in the future.

I've heard Zheng He say that the Ming Dynasty's overseas territories are quite extensive. If Second Uncle has the energy, he might as well explore overseas territories instead of returning to the Ming Dynasty.

This is a promise I made to you, Uncle. If you can keep it, I will certainly keep it too. What do you think, Uncle?

Zhu Zhanji made no attempt to conceal his ambition. In his eyes, as long as Zhu Gaochi did not return to the Ming Dynasty to cause trouble, he was destined to become the emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the future.

In addition, Zhu Zhanji believed that Zhu Gaoxu posed no threat to him at all while he was overseas.

But once they returned to the Ming Dynasty, everything was completely different.

Even if Zhu Gaoxu fails in his struggle, as long as he remains within the Ming Dynasty, he will still be a formidable enemy, difficult to deal with, and may even overthrow Zhu Gaoxu at any time, just as Zhu Di overthrew Jianwen.

As long as Zhu Gaochi is overseas, no matter what trouble he causes abroad, it will not cause any loss to the Ming Dynasty, nor will it threaten the Ming Dynasty in the slightest.

These places outside are destined to be of no use to Zhu Gaochi even if he obtains them all.

In particular, the Ming Dynasty's navy was far ahead of the rest of the world. If Zhu Gaochi made any unusual moves overseas, it would be very easy for him to deal with it.

He learned a lot during his time here.

Zhu Zhanji knew all too well how difficult life was here. Zhu Gaoxu's fiefdom was completely insolvent and on the verge of collapse.

Zhu Zhanji was genuinely afraid that Zhu Gaoxu wouldn't be able to hold on outside. He would return to the Ming Dynasty as soon as he went back, and then Zhu Gaoxu would never go out again.

Now that Zhu Gaochi has these overseas locations as support, he will be even more difficult to deal with once he returns to the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up when he heard Zhu Zhanji's words.

His original focus was on overseas regions, but now that Zhu Zhanji said this, he was actually helping him.

Since we're going to have him outside, shouldn't we have to pay a price? Can't he get some benefits for free?

Zhu Gaoxu was so surprised by such a good opportunity that he didn't know where to find it, but Zhu Zhanji delivered it to him on his own initiative.

Zhu Zhanji thought that the overseas regions were barren and let him roam freely, but that's just how things are.

This is the limitation of people in this era.

Throughout history, and even now, the threat to the Central Plains has always come from the north.

As for overseas?

It has always been the kind of country that could be easily crushed by the Central Plains dynasty with a single slap if it ever had the time.

And these external resources, nobody knows about them.

If you really think about it, even if Da Ming knew some things, it doesn't seem like much.

Because the resources of the Ming Dynasty are more than all these places combined, and in some cases, even more.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Zhanji with a playful smile on his face.

"Nephew, why should your uncle listen?"

One sentence made Zhu Zhanji pause for a moment, then he smiled.

"Second Uncle, I know you are short of food and supplies here, especially food, which is in serious shortage."

When I get back, I can persuade my grandfather to send more grain to my second uncle, on top of what's already been sent.

If I persuade him, my grandfather will agree.

This is for the best for you, for me, and for the Ming Dynasty.

Listening to Zhu Zhanji's advice and suggestions, Zhu Gaoxu shook his head.

"That's not enough. Even if you can get the old man to give more food, how much more?"

One more thing to add: based on what you've said, if my territory expands in the future, you should persuade your imperial grandfather a little.

You've already said that these overseas places belong to me, and I won't get involved in the affairs of the Ming Dynasty.

You'd better keep your word, or I won't keep these things from you anymore.

Zhu Gaoxu was also taking precautions for future expansion.

There are many things that Zhu Zhanji cannot see through at this time, but Zhu Di certainly does.

He could cause trouble overseas, but his fiefdoms really began to expand continuously, overseas resources gradually emerged, and his strength continued to increase. Zhu Zhanji could say such things, but Zhu Di certainly wouldn't.

Now that Zhu Zhanji has brought these things up, he is happy to accept them.

Because he knew that Zhu Zhanji wanted to outlive him, and that if he could outlive him, everything he had overseas would be meaningless.

But Zhu Zhanji probably never imagined his own fate.

Now that Zhu Zhanji has taken the initiative to bring these things up, it gives him more time to develop.

By the time Zhu Zhanji realized something was wrong and that he couldn't outlast him...

At that time, the situation would be completely different if Zhu Zhanji wanted to do something to him.

The demands made now are all to make Zhu Zhanji completely believe that he has accepted Zhu Zhanji's promise.

For him, more than twenty years was enough.

Seeing Zhu Zhanji nod in agreement, Zhu Gaoxu smiled.

"Nephew, it's a pleasure doing business with you."

"Second Uncle, it's a pleasure doing business with you."

For a moment, the two of them were laughing exceptionally happily.

At least for now, both of them feel that they have achieved their goals.

After seeing Zhu Zhanji off, Zhu Gaoxu returned to the palace.

Next, he will begin full preparations for the commencement of the upcoming commercial trade.

The outcome of commercial trade will directly affect the development of the domain.