My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 206 Another Storm
"Tsk tsk, look at my Grandfather Hui's serious expression, but he must be very happy in his heart."

Li Jinglong said in a low voice, not hiding the envy and jealousy on his face at all.

"Look at my brother-in-law's fake style. I just can't stand it. Hey, if my wife hadn't been pregnant again, I would have been the one going to sea this time!"

Zhu Di and Li Jinglong rarely resonated with each other. The two whispered to each other and imagined how majestic they would be as they galloped across the ocean.

"After replenishing supplies in Ryukyu, the fleet continued southward as planned, passing through the Penghu Islands and arriving at Xiaoliuqiu."

Having said this, Xu Huizu paused, then said seriously:
“Your Majesty, uncles, Huizu believes that Xiaoliuqiu has many natural harbors, such as Keelung Port, Dagou Port, Anping Port, etc.

Moreover, its geographical location is extremely important, bordering Fujian to the northwest and Ryukyu to the northeast. If the Ming Dynasty could rule and govern Little Ryukyu, then it would be able to establish an entire trade route from the southeast coast to the Korean Peninsula. At the same time, it could use Little Ryukyu as a base to project power to Luzon, Johor and other places to the southwest.

As early as the Han Dynasty, the Central Plains dynasty began to record Xiaoliuqiu, which was called Yizhou at that time. By the time of the Sui Dynasty, troops were stationed in Xiaoliuqiu for control. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Xiaoliuqiu was registered and placed under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou, Fujian. The Yuan Dynasty even established the Penghu Inspection Office.

However, because the dynasties in the Central Plains did not attach as much importance to maritime trade as the Ming Dynasty, Xiaoliuqiu has always been on the edge of China's jurisdiction and has not attracted much attention. Although the Ming Dynasty has now followed the practices of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, its control over Xiaoliuqiu is indeed too loose.

Therefore, Huizu suggested that Xiaoliuqiu should be directly incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and three divisions should be set up there to build Xiaoliuqiu into an outpost for the Ming Dynasty to project its power to the West and East! "

When Xu Huizu was sailing, he urgently felt the importance of supply points and strongholds on sea trade routes, which was completely different from on land.

The supply on land is linear and can be continuous, but on the sea, the supply is extremely dependent on ports, and a supply network is needed based on strongholds. Therefore, he took the opportunity of the dinner to make suggestions to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not say anything. What he was thinking about at this time was that Lao Li had also told him that the location of Xiaoliuqiu was very important and the Ming Dynasty must exercise jurisdiction and control over it.

Although this suggestion was kept in mind at the time, it was delayed because the desert had not been pacified and maritime trade had not yet begun.

Now that Xu Huizu had personally gone out to sea, he had come to the same conclusion as Lao Li. It seemed that this young man, Xu Huizu, was already a man of both civil and military talents.

The line from the Korean Peninsula to Xiaoliuqiu corresponds exactly to the entire northeastern and southeastern coasts of the Ming Dynasty. If it can be completely controlled, it will have a profound impact on both maritime trade and coastal defense.

Xu Huizu continued, saying that after the fleet set out from Xiaoliuqiu, it arrived in Luzon and was attacked by local natives who tried to rob sugar, but the attack was easily quelled by the Musket Battalion.

According to Xu Huizu's account, he himself didn't know how many tribes he had destroyed, but some tribes would also use valuables such as gold and silver to exchange for sugar.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang and the other nobles felt absurd, not knowing whether to be angry or laugh.

Robbing the Ming fleet? These foreign barbarians really don't know how to write the word death. This is as ridiculous as a bunch of ants trying to defeat a tiger.

"However, during the battle in Luzon, the needle-fired rifles also revealed some problems. The sea was humid, and Luzon was rainy. Many paper-wrapped bullets were difficult to fire after being damp and soaked with water. The gun team tactics that were effective in the desert could not be effectively used in Luzon."

The bullet cannot be fired effectively because it is damp?
Everyone frowned immediately. This was a big problem that could not be ignored. Xu Da asked hurriedly, "If the bullets cannot be fired, how can we resolve the battle with the Luzon barbarian tribe?"

Xu Huizu said: "Fortunately, only some of the bullets were damp. The bullets that were well preserved can still be used normally. Even if there are no bullets, the soldiers of our Ming Dynasty can still use swords, spears, and halberds. They are not afraid of those native barbarians." Zhu Yuanzhang praised: "Well, you are worthy of being the good men of our Ming Dynasty. You can defeat the enemy even without bullets!"

"However, what I am thinking about is that fortunately, we didn't spend a long time at sea this time, so not many bullets got damp. But considering that the Ming Dynasty will sail farther in the future, can we improve the paper-wrapped bullets to prevent moisture from affecting the battle?"

Everyone felt that what Xu Huizu said made a lot of sense.
Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it carefully and decided that perhaps he could ask Lao Li about this problem to see if he had any good solution.

As Xu Huizu told the story, everyone also learned about the specific situation in Western countries. Pirates were rampant in Johor, Temasek and Java. If the Ming Dynasty wanted to control Temasek, pirates had to be dealt with.

Siam is rich in gems, and many of the gems brought back this time were produced in Siam.

However, due to the fleet's lack of experience in ocean sailing, they relied on tools such as compasses and starboards to determine the direction at sea. As a result, there was a period of time when the fleet went in the wrong direction at sea, which made everyone worried and amused.

Zhu Yuanzhang also felt that he had to ask Li Han about this matter.

But then, Xu Huizu's expression became extremely serious.

"Your Majesty, and all the uncles, Annan is not stable, and there may be trouble!"

Seeing that Xu Huizu was not joking, everyone became serious, and Zhu Yuanzhang looked even more solemn.

Annan was the key chess piece in his plan to establish extensive land power among the southern countries by going south by land. It was also the important grain-producing area mentioned by Lao Li. It was also the first vassal state to establish tributary relations with the Ming Dynasty. How could there be chaos there?
As early as the second year of Hongwu, the Chen Dynasty of Annan sent envoys to the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute and express its willingness to submit. At that time, it also canonized Chen Rihong of the Chen Dynasty as the King of Annan. The current King of Annan is Chen Riwei, the grandson of Chen Rihong. Because the reign title is Changfu, he is also known as Changfu Zong of Annan.

Zhu Yuanzhang had a certain degree of understanding of Annan, so he asked Xu Huizu: "My nephew, could it be that the powerful official Li Jizhen (lí) of the imperial family is doing something weird again?"

Xu Huizu said solemnly: "After we docked in Annan, we sent a large number of spies to collect information from the country as usual. Although Chen Riwei is the King of Annan now, the power has fallen into the hands of others. The government is controlled by Li Jiyi, and now Li Jiyi is the Prime Minister of Annan!

This man is extremely ambitious and has now completely sidelined Chen Riwei, seemingly plotting to seize power and usurp the throne.

Not only that, this person is trying to annex Zhenla and Laos, establish an empire, and compete with the Ming Dynasty!"

"It's really outrageous, you despicable villain, how dare you be so arrogant!"

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table in anger. Le Qui Ly not only wanted to destroy his land power plan, but also wanted to annex Laos?

During the previous dynasty, the Yuan court established the Gao Lao General Administration Office in Laos. After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, the Yuan court continued to govern Laos. Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking of setting up a Xuanwei Office in Laos.

And this shameless bandit Li Jilin actually set his sights on the Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes flashed with coldness. In that case, let you rats taste the wrath of the Ming Dynasty!
(End of this chapter)