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

Another ten days passed, and the construction of the city was taking shape, greatly easing the burden on the guarding forces.

On this day, Zhu Gaoxu summoned Sheng Jian, Wei Da, Jin Rong, and several others.

"Have any Japanese pirates from the surrounding area come to harass us during this time?"

"Your Highness, there were several raids during this period, but all the Japanese pirates who attacked were killed and none were let go."

The scale of the harassment was not large; the largest number involved was only about two hundred people.

No Japanese pirates have come to harass us in the past few days.

Zhu Gaoxu nodded, and then spoke.

"Go now and prepare ten warships, bring your army, and assemble at the port."

"yes!"

The group excitedly agreed. Although they didn't know what Zhu Gaoxu was planning, as long as he assembled a large army, even a small one, they felt that another battle was about to begin.

Since the start of the comprehensive construction and development, all of them have been assigned tasks.

They did those things, and although they did their best, no one thought about it.

Even the lower-ranking soldiers, with the various incentives subsequently introduced by Zhu Gaochi, all wanted to go out and fight, and wanted to make meritorious contributions.

As for dying in battle?

With the policies set by Zhu Gaochi, even if he died, his family wouldn't have to worry, and his descendants would benefit from it; no one would be afraid.

Once these systems were established, every soldier enjoyed immense respect and esteem.

Their respective families are all proud of this.

Given the treatment Zhu Gaochi provided, who wouldn't envy him?

During this period, all the soldiers also took turns on leave to go home, get married, and have children.

This was also a rule enforced by Zhu Gaochi: when there was no war, people should go home and have children.

What if you're not married?

Military officers and local officials worked together to comprehensively resolve these issues and quickly match couples for marriage.

Especially with the conditions set by Zhu Gaochi, all the single men in the army became hot commodities, and unmarried women outside were scrambling to marry them.

After marriage, they will have children.

In Zhu Gaoxu's words, joining the army meant that one might die on the battlefield one day, wrapped in a horse's hide, so it was essential to have offspring to carry on the family line.

For this reason, the wives of soldiers could obtain special medical resources from the local government to increase the probability of a smooth delivery.

Those who are generals know perfectly well the morale of the troops below who are eager for battle.

But none of them dared to say it; those below were unaware of the current situation, while they were fully aware.

Go out and fight?

That's unrealistic now.

As a result, they were under a lot of pressure on a daily basis. They were approached every few days, asked to go to Zhu Gaoxu and express their eagerness to fight.

Now, the opportunity has finally arrived.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the excited group of people but didn't explain anything.

He knew that the army was now full of brutes who couldn't wait to fight every day.

All of this was deliberately created by him.

Those systems, why do they treat the soldiers so well? It's to make everyone dare to fight and want to fight.

Once the foundation here is laid and things stabilize, expansion is inevitable.

Even if we could acquire the entire island, relying solely on this place wouldn't change the reality of its barrenness.

There is a severe lack of various resources here. Without expanding outwards and engaging with other regions, we are destined to have shortcomings and deficiencies.

To expand, military force is needed.

In the future, if his vassal states want to expand their armies, they will not need any garrison system or forced conscription. As long as the news is released, the people will rush to join the army.

After the others left, Zhu Gaoxu immediately summoned Luo Li.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Yes, I called you here to make some rearrangements for you."

From now on, Wu Liang will be in charge of intelligence matters, and you will be appointed as the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department.

The Foreign Affairs Department was separated from the Department of Rites. From now on, the Foreign Affairs Department will be responsible for matters such as foreign liaison, coordination, and diplomatic missions.

Raleigh was taken aback. From working in intelligence to becoming the so-called Director of the Foreign Affairs Department, he had taken a significant step forward, with a much broader future ahead.

Even if Zhu Gaoxu didn't say it, everyone understood from the naming of the functional departments.

The so-called "various departments" were simply corresponding to the various ministries of the Ming Dynasty.

The newly added department was equivalent to the newly added ministry in the Ming Dynasty, and was on the same level as the Six Ministries.

The only drawback is that being in charge of intelligence gathering would bring him closer to Zhu Gaochi.

"Your Highness, I thank you! I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations!"

He knew this day would come from the very beginning when he started mentoring Wu Liang.

Luo Li is happy to accept Zhu Gaoxu's arrangement.

After all, being in charge of the Foreign Affairs Department, these functions are similar to what he did before.

Seeing Luo Li readily accept, Zhu Gaoxu smiled.

He rarely mistreats these trusted confidants, or those who voluntarily come with him.

Unless there is a genuine lack of ability, he will give them important positions.

Zhu Gaoxu firmly believed that abilities could be cultivated. In the early stages, what he wanted was absolute loyalty, meaning that whatever was said to him would be carried out without question.

"Get up. Now that the Foreign Affairs Department has been established for the first time, I am giving you my first task."

Send people to contact the Japanese governors in the surrounding areas, as well as Ashikaga Yoshimochi, and ask them to prepare these food supplies and send them over every year according to the list on it.

Tell them that anyone who dares not to deliver the goods will be killed by this king!

Tell them that in three months, my vassal state will fully open for trade.

They can all come to my vassal state to do business.

In addition, I will take the fleet out later to get to know our neighbors and the countries of Southeast Asia.

When I return, inform those smaller countries that trade will begin here.

Zhu Gaoxu handed the list to Luo Li with a smile.

It's impossible for him to expand now; until things stabilize, he can only continue to digest what's already there.

Even with that silver mountain, he doesn't have the energy to mine it now.

In other words, he has almost no foundation and is entirely building it up; otherwise, why would he continue to wait?

While a large-scale expedition is impossible now, he has no intention of letting those people around him go.

The army's power had already been demonstrated, and the people of the surrounding Japanese were trembling with fear.

To conquer those areas, we also need to develop and govern them, which will deplete our existing reserves.

Now, he is demanding money, food, and supplies from those people, using other people's resources to accelerate his own development.

As for how those people live after contributing the money, food, and supplies, Zhu Gaoxu has no say in that.

The territory of those people is getting worse and worse, while his is getting better and better. Isn't this just laying the groundwork for future military action?

At the same time, it also sends a false signal that he is now here and will not expand again, which puts those people at ease for the time being.

As for trade, Zhu Gaoxu estimated it would take three months.

At that time, the goods here were almost ready to be produced. Opening up trade and transforming from a centralized system to one driven by economic development was the optimal solution.

Upon hearing this, Raleigh was deeply shaken.

Zhu Gaochi's development system left him utterly bewildered.

Whether it was the centralized system or the obvious changes that followed, it was completely different from anything he had ever seen, heard, or learned.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will go and make preparations immediately."

Raleigh didn't object at all. Anyway, things were developing rapidly in all aspects, which at least gave people hope.

All they can do now is trust Zhu Gaoxu.

After arranging things for Luo Li, Zhu Gaoxu arrived at the port. Seeing the army that was already ready, all of them looked at him with burning eyes. Zhu Gaoxu then boarded the ship.

"Set off!"

With Zhu Gaoxu's order, the fleet began to leave port.

Zhu Gaoxu was filled with excitement. Next, he would have to see the sincerity of those small countries.

We also need to get to know our neighbors better.