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

"Father, what do you want?"

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Zhu Di with a puzzled expression, his brows furrowing slightly.

Zhu Gaochi was quite surprised that Zhu Di would make a request at this point, after already agreeing to it.

When Zhu Gaochi saw Zhu Di's expression suddenly become extremely serious and gradually begin to exude murderous intent, his pupils contracted.

"Second brother, you don't know this yet, do you? Last year, Japan refused my investiture and resigned the title that the Ming Dynasty had bestowed upon Ashikaga Yoshimitsu."

In addition, Japan severed ties with the Ming Dynasty. Some merchant ships sent by the court were driven back by Japan, and tribute was also cut off.

After Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's son, Ashikaga Yoshimochi, ascended to power, he continued to condone the piracy of Japanese pirates who plundered the coast of our Great Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gaoxu was startled, his heart filled with astonishment.

He truly didn't know, nor had he considered, these things. Japan was such a tiny place, and its internal affairs weren't even fragmented yet. The so-called Muromachi Shogunate only controlled the Kanto region and the surrounding areas. Where did they get the audacity?

At this moment, Zhu Gaoxu suddenly realized that Zhu Di's decision to send him to Japan to assume his fiefdom was probably not just a simple suggestion from Yao Guangxiao.

The Ming Dynasty's center of gravity was in the north, and Zhu Di had been launching continuous northern expeditions. Preparations for the next northern expedition were about to begin.

At this time, he was going to go to sea to assume his fiefdom, and he seemed to have become a tool for Zhu Di to deal with Japan.

After all, as an emperor, especially an emperor like Zhu Di, it would be unreasonable if Japan didn't take some action against the Ming Dynasty for such disrespect.

Fortunately, the place he initially wanted to go was Japan.

Otherwise, our plans would definitely be disrupted this time.

As Zhu Di spoke, the murderous intent in his heart continued to build.

Zhu Di had long wanted to attack the small country of Japan.

Unfortunately, the country was not strong enough. It had to launch a northern expedition, quell the rebellion in Jiaozhi, build the Shuntian Imperial City, prepare for the Japanese invasion, and manage the people's livelihood and disaster relief. There were too many things to do, so the expedition to Japan had to be repeatedly postponed.

But this doesn't mean that Zhu Di wasn't angry.

As a great power, the Ming Dynasty was so disrespected by a small country. If it weren't for Zhu Gaochi and his subordinates holding him back, and the fact that the Ming Dynasty's focus was not on this, and Zheng He's fleet was undertaking the important task of voyages to the Western Ocean, he would have sent troops directly long ago.

Originally, Zhu Di would have quickly forgotten about this matter. After all, it was a small country, and the danger it posed to the Ming Dynasty was nothing more than a tickle. He was unlikely to pay attention to it for long.

Zhu Gaoxu's voyage also gave him an opportunity.

Zhu Di's gaze turned fierce as he looked at Zhu Gaoxu.

"Second brother, my request may be a little difficult for you, but I don't care about that. I just want one result."

I want to see the so-called Emperor of Japan that you sent, as well as the head of Ashikaga Yoshimochi!

I don't care what methods you use, just wipe out Japan for me!

Looking at Zhu Di's murderous intent, Zhu Gaoxu felt only approval for Zhu Di.

It seems even Zhu Di (Emperor Yongle) couldn't tolerate Japan anymore.

"Father, don't worry, I will definitely destroy the Japanese when I get there!"

But Father, I must tell you first that I will send you the heads of that damned Emperor and Ashikaga Yoshimochi, but I need time.

Besides, after I conquered Japan, although I don't know how long it will have been, the imperial court cannot send anyone to reap the rewards.

What I conquered myself is my territory.

Within the Great Ming, I no longer contend with the eldest son, but you cannot come and take what is outside.

If you are envious, the imperial court can send troops to fight it itself.

But if the imperial court comes to seize what I have conquered and to take away the fruits of my victory, then I will have no choice but to raise my army and resist!

Zhu Gaoxu met Zhu Di's gaze without fear; this was something he needed to make clear.

Although Japan was difficult to conquer, Zhu Gaochi was confident that he could lead the Ming army to defeat Japan; it just would take time.

Everyone in the Ming Dynasty looks down on Japan, but once he conquers Japan, some people will inevitably start to worry about his growing power abroad and will try to steal his achievements in order to limit his development.

At this moment, Zhu Gaoxu was trying to give Zhu Di a heads-up.

If it really happens, he will have no choice but to rebel, having nowhere else to turn!

As for Zhu Di's request, in Zhu Gaoxu's eyes, it was not a request at all.

His ultimate goal was to bring the entire country of Japan under his control.

Even if Zhu Di hadn't said anything, he would have naturally dealt with those people from Japan.

"Haha, second brother, do you think I'd be interested in that little island?"

Upon hearing Zhu Gaoxu's strongly worded words, Zhu Di burst into laughter.

This was also made her laugh out of anger at Zhu Gaoxu, who would actually think of him that way.

After the laughter subsided, Zhu Di said solemnly, "That small island is beneath my notice compared to the Ming Dynasty. I would even look down on it if I came here."

Just go ahead and fight. No matter how much territory you conquer overseas, it's all yours. The Ming Dynasty won't take a single penny from you.

I only want what I want; the rest is up to your own abilities.

Zhu Di never intended to incorporate Japan into the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Jiaozhi alone has already become a burden on the Ming Dynasty. If another small island like Japan were to appear, the imperial treasury would likely collapse.

For the Ming Dynasty today, destroying a country is not that difficult.

The difficulty lies in the fact that once something is incorporated into the territory, it means that it must be governed.

Governance is the most difficult task, and it also consumes the most money, food, resources, manpower, and national strength.

It was similar to the expansion during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han (Liu Che) and Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin).

Emperor Wu of Han expanded outwards by incorporating all conquered territories into the Han Dynasty's territory. The court sent people to govern these areas, which was extremely costly.

This explains why the Han Dynasty became increasingly impoverished with each war; it wasn't simply due to its militaristic ambitions, nor was it solely caused by warfare.

During Li Shimin's reign, the country was also expanding, but its national strength grew stronger with each battle because the Tang Dynasty did not effectively govern those regions.

The imperial court did not provide financial and material support to the conquered territories; instead, the national strength continued to accumulate.

These two models led to the different performances of the Han and Tang dynasties during their periods of decline.

The mighty Han Dynasty remains strong, and the people still yearn for it. Although the border regions have been lost, they are still Han territory.

The Tang Dynasty was not truly prosperous; although powerful, it was fragmented by regional warlords, the court was weak, and the territories quickly broke away from the Tang.

These were all accumulated experiences, and Zhu Di was equally aware of them.

What would he want with Japan? To drain the Ming Dynasty's national strength?

Even conquering Japan and acquiring that territory wouldn't be enough to compensate for the losses incurred in sending troops.

Even if we manage to govern it, we won't receive any subsequent benefits from that small island in Japan.

It's all about draining national resources; it's a losing proposition no matter how you look at it.

Sometimes, it wasn't that Zhu Di didn't want to expand into the areas surrounding the Ming Dynasty; the main reasons were either that the court couldn't gain any benefits from the north, or that the central government's focus was on the north.

This was also what everyone in the Ming Dynasty saw as barren; in those places, there was no future to be seen.

Zhu Gaoxu did not argue with Zhu Di's disdain.

Given the limitations of the times, saying too much will do him no good.

The more people underestimate those places outside, the better news it is for him.

Zhu Gaoxu breathed a sigh of relief and then spoke again.

"Father, you said it yourself! All the territories I conquered outside are my own!"

Seeing Zhu Di nod, Zhu Gaoxu added, "There's one more thing. Since you want me to destroy the Japanese pirates, then the necessary logistical supplies must at least be supplied regularly."

Those who already received aid should receive even more, as the original amount was insufficient.

There's also the population; the number you promised to relocate isn't enough to cover the entire country of Japan.

Ten years from now, relocating another million people there shouldn't be difficult for the Ming Dynasty, right?