Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

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The Ming Dynasty's first ocean-going fleet set sail last winter, and its composition is as follows—

Chief Envoy: Cheng Yu.

Deputy Envoys: Yu Yunwen and Hu Quan.

Chief Medical Officer: Yan Xiuqing.

Naval Commander: Ying Xuan.

Army Commander: Zhu Xiaozhong.

5000料大型战舰1艘，2500、2000料中型战舰10艘，2000料以下小型战舰14艘。2500、3000料运输船25艘。

The force consisted of over 60 officials, over 5000 crew members, over 6000 sailors, and over 3000 infantry and cavalry.

In addition, there were several private merchant ships that sailed with the official fleet, including many Indian and Arab merchant ships.

(Note: In academic research, there are three interpretations of "material": load-bearing capacity, volume, and material usage. This book previously used load-bearing capacity to explain this, but this interpretation seems to be outdated, and the mainstream view now leans more towards volume.)

(Here, 100 liao (料) = 1 cubic zhang (丈) of ship hold volume is used. A 1000-liao (料) seagoing vessel has a displacement of approximately 330 tons.)

As the fleet sailed past the Malay Peninsula, a Guangdong merchant said, "Envoy Cheng, the outer port of Bahrain (Old Port) is just ahead. Merchants from the former Song and Ming dynasties could only reach Bahrain and Jambi at most."

“Bahrain was the old capital of Srivijaya, and Jambyl was the new capital of Srivijaya.”

Palembang, the former capital of Srivijaya, was destroyed by the Chola dynasty of India.

The new capital, Zhanbei, was also known as Moluoyu.

"Malaya" can also be translated as "Malay," which is the origin of the Malay name.

Cheng Yu asked, "If we continue sailing, will Srivijaya commit murder and robbery?"

"Yes!" the Guangdong merchant answered with absolute certainty.

Cheng Yu then asked the Arab merchant behind him, "So how did you get to China?"

The Arab merchant replied, "Whether it is a merchant ship coming from the west or going to the east, it must enter the port of Srivijaya and pay them an expensive port entry tax."

"The goods on the ship must be sold to Srivijaya merchants."

"Only when the local merchants could not finish the goods were allowed to pass through."

"Therefore, most of our Seljuk merchants would trade upon arriving in Srivijaya."

"Sell the imported goods to local merchants, and then buy goods from the local merchants to return home."

"Only a very few lucky people can travel through Srivijaya to reach China each year."

Cheng Yu understood; this was a monopolistic trade, exactly the same as the Western Liao.

On the overland Silk Road, merchants from China could only transport goods to the Western Liao.

Similarly, merchants from Central Asia and West Asia could only transport their goods to the Western Liao.

All trade between East and West took place in the Western Liao.

The Maritime Silk Road was controlled by Srivijaya, and trade could only take place in Srivijaya.

The lookout suddenly shouted down, "I see the shore!"

The British command ordered: "Warships to form battle formations, and merchant ships and transport ships to slow down."

In the telescope's field of view, the coastline was getting closer and closer, and suddenly more than a dozen ships were sailing from the direction of the port.

"There are fourteen unknown ships."

At the lookout's shout, the flag signalman immediately signaled with flags.

The Ming Dynasty's small and medium-sized warships accelerated to meet them, while more than ten ships on the opposite side were also rapidly approaching.

The enemy ships initially sailed at a high speed, but perhaps realizing they couldn't win, they suddenly slowed down and sent a ship over to negotiate.

This was a coastal galley, and after approaching it, it was taken to the Ming Dynasty's flagship.

One person transferred to a small boat and was hoisted onto the deck to see Cheng Yu.

The man, wearing a modified headscarf, asked in fluent Cantonese, "Is our honored guest from the Ming Dynasty?"

The Guangdong merchants quickly translated.

Cheng Yu asked, "Are you here to welcome the Ming Dynasty fleet?"

“Indeed,” the man bowed, “I have a Chinese name, Pu Xin, and I have been to Guangdong many times. I was even granted an official position by the Song emperor.”

Many believers have names that begin with "Abu," such as "Abdullah."

Chinese officials treated their given names as surnames, believing that they all shared the surname Pu.

This is similar to a person from Hebei named Zhang Wei and a person from Fujian named Li Wei, who, when they go to the West, are both considered to have the surname "Wei".

In fact, they are completely unrelated; their surnames and places of origin are different.

Cheng Yu questioned, "I've heard that merchant ships must trade in Srivijaya. Do we also need to trade in your country?"

Chapter 3627 Overseas Ports

“No need, no need,” Pu Xin quickly replied.

Although the Ming Dynasty only had 25 warships, its official transport ships had little combat capability.

However, there were more than 50 merchant ships from various countries accompanying them on their voyage, so the Srivijaya navy really didn't dare to take action rashly.

Cheng Yu said, "Go back and inform your country's officials that the Ming Dynasty is about to send a letter of state."

"Yes!" Pu Xin bowed and left.

Cheng Yu was from Fuliang (Jingdezhen). He was an orphan and was raised by his aunt.

He was awarded the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) for being the top student in the Imperial Academy. He served as an envoy to Goryeo and Jin during the Song Dynasty, and to Western Xia and Japan during the Ming Dynasty.

Historically, Cheng Yu was demoted by Qin Hui for advocating war, and his descendants were imprisoned and forbidden from taking the imperial examinations or leaving their hometown.

After Pu Xin left the deck, the deputy envoy Yu Yunwen said, "Barbarians should not be trusted easily; we must be wary of their treachery."

An Indian merchant on board said, "Savage Qi has one or two hundred warships and can also summon its own merchant ships at any time."

“If ships from other countries do not enter the port, they may not have taken action at that time, but they will soon gather more ships to attack.”

"When Srivijaya fought naval battles with our country, the largest number of ships they ever deployed was over a thousand."

Yingxuan laughed and said, "Sending out over a thousand ships at once, does that include the small boats that are only a few hundred liang in size?"

“Yes,” the Indian merchant replied.

In fact, the Chola dynasty of India also wanted to monopolize trade between the East and the West.

However, the Indian Ocean route could be bypassed, and supplies could be replenished in Sri Lanka, thus the Chola dynasty of India had insufficient control over shipping routes.

They were extremely jealous of Srivijaya, who held firm control over the Strait of Malacca!

"Prepare to dock for resupply, and give merchant ships from various countries three days to do business," Cheng Yu ordered. "The army will go ashore to protect the merchants, and the sailors will remain on board to keep watch!"

"Yes!"

Zhu Xiaozhong ordered the messenger to raise the flag, and the cavalry and infantry on the transport ship began to assemble on the deck.

Chief Medical Officer Yan Xiuqing said, "I need merchants to accompany me and soldiers to protect me so that I can hire local doctors and buy some local medicinal herbs."

“Okay,” Cheng Yu agreed.

Yan Xiuqing was from Zhejiang Province and came from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. She was extremely knowledgeable about epidemic diseases such as dysentery.

Historically, because the Jin army rampaged southward, he named his son Yan Fangyu (meaning "Strict Defense").

Emperor Xiaozong of Song once suffered from dysentery and almost died. The imperial physicians were all helpless, but Yan Fang, who came from the common people, cured him.

Wen Huanzhang founded a medical college in Lingnan and issued an imperial edict to recruit renowned doctors from various regions.

Yan Xiuqing became the vice president of Lingnan Medical College four years ago and has become increasingly knowledgeable about various infectious diseases in the south. Now, she even carries a microscope with her when she goes to sea.

……

Dozens of merchant ships are resupplying at the outer port of Palembang, Bahrain.

There were also Arab merchants who actively sold their goods, selling some of their Chinese goods to Srivijaya merchants in exchange for spices.

Several Srivijaya officers, dressed in long robes, were spying on the dock.

"They're tough to fight; they're all wearing excellent armor."

“These are the Ming army. We cannot attack them without authorization. We must wait for the Dragon King to give the order.”

"What a pity, so much cargo."

"..."

Srivijaya's state religion is Mahayana Buddhism, while it also allows the existence of Brahmanism and Islam.

The place is relatively open and tolerant in terms of religion.

But trade monopolies are disgusting.

At first, they even became pirates, but later they realized that being a pirate was not a long-term solution, and now they make a profit through trade and tax collection.

However, any merchant ship that dares not enter the port will soon be attacked by them.

Seeing that the Ming army was difficult to deal with, the entire army and navy of Srivijaya withdrew and gathered at the outer port of Zhanbei further west.

More ships are also gathering there.

As long as the King of Srivijaya orders war, hundreds of Srivijaya warships will besiege the Ming fleet in the Strait of Malacca.

……

The King of Srivijaya was respectfully called "Dragon Spirit" by his people and "King of Kings" by Arab merchants.

All citizens are only required to pay commercial taxes; no other taxes are levied.

But whether they were merchants or farmers, they all had to accept the king's summons and fight to the death if war broke out.

The current king is named Sanusi, and he is almost sixty years old.

He summoned his court ministers and said, "Ming warships, accompanied by dozens of merchant ships from various countries, are already trading and resupplying in the outer port of Bahrain."

"But they only traded for some spices; they didn't sell the rest of their goods. Do you think we should fight them?"

Prime Minister Barney said, "The ships of the Ming Dynasty cannot protect merchant ships forever."

"We can let them pass this time, but next time we'll force merchants from all countries to trade."

“We cannot let go of the goods from dozens of ships!” said the treasurer, Damo Wangxia.

Barney strongly objected: "We have always been on good terms with China, first with the Song Dynasty and now with the Ming Dynasty. It's not worth offending the Ming Dynasty for a few dozen ships of cargo."

Damo Wangxia said, "So what if we offend the Ming Dynasty? If we cross this strait, we must abide by our rules."

"Letting them go this time will severely damage our reputation, and more and more ships will break the rules in the future!"

Chapter 3628 Sending the Letter of State

“If the Ming emperor is enraged and orders the port to be closed, our losses will be even greater,” Barney said.

Damo Wangxia sneered: "So you close the port just because the emperor is angry?"

"I don't believe they wouldn't make money if they could. We're not afraid of the Ming Dynasty's navy attacking; we can deploy hundreds or even thousands of ships."

"The Ming army has come from a thousand miles away; we'll simply wait to ambush and annihilate them."

“Watch out for the Jha!” Bani warned.

Srivijaya has been on a downward spiral. More than a hundred years ago, the capital was captured by South Indians who killed the king, forcing them to move the capital to its present location, Jambyl.

Then the Java Kingdom on Java Island rose to power, and Srivijaya was forced to recognize its independence. Subsequently, the two countries maintained a superficial friendship through marriage.

If the Ming Dynasty joins forces with the Kingdom of Java, the Kingdom of Java will certainly be happy to betray Srivijaya.

After much deliberation, King Sanusi finally made a decision: "Let the Ming fleet go there, collect taxes as usual, and do not force them to buy or sell goods."

"When they return, prepare another gift for them to take back and present to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty."

Barney complimented, "Your Majesty is truly a wise ruler."