The Luzon Islands are subtropical and rich in mineral and forest resources, as well as a variety of tropical crops such as rice and corn.

The Spanish colonizers operated in Manila for more than 80 years, bringing advanced technology to the Luzon region and carrying out certain developments, such as the cultivation of corn, sugar cane and other crops.

Sugar cane cultivation was an important raw material for sugar extraction, which was very precious in this era and was regarded by Europe as something that only the wealthy could enjoy. (It is used as a special medicine for colds, amnesia, and other diseases.)

The Europeans did not grow these, they only planted them on the plantations of the Asian colonies, and they were only responsible for selling them to make money.

Whether in the long term or in the short term, the Luzon region will bring great wealth to the Ming Dynasty.

Three days later, life in Luzon was basically restored, more than eighty percent of the Chinese had settled down, and some shops were gradually opened.

At present, Luzon's main income is tariffs on merchant ships and the wealth from the flow of goods, so it is urgent to restore the local economy and trade after the war.

Zhu Cihong sent several diplomatic fleets to the countries of the South Seas to announce: Luzon is now a province of the Ming Dynasty, you can come and do business!

First circle fans to attract popularity, let them earn money and taste the sweetness, and then charge for the project, this is the old routine of making money!

Of course, in the future, Luzon's trade will be dominated by the Chinese, and relying on the Chinese is the basic plate of the Ming Dynasty in Nanyang.

On September 25, the palace sent a decree that the Ming Emperor would return to the court in early October.

Before returning to Beijing, Zhu Cihong held an enlarged meeting of the imperial front, which was attended by officers above the general level of the Ming Army.

At the meeting, Zhu Cihong officially announced the establishment of the Protectorate of the Southern Metropolitan Protectorate, appointed Li Yu as the acting Protector of the Metropolitan Protectorate, and discussed the next military strategy of Nanyang.

Zhu Cihong, the candidate for the protector of the capital, has already made arrangements, the situation in Nanyang is complicated, and the various ethnic groups and beliefs are complicated, and if he wants to completely control it and not cause chaos, it is not something that Li Yu, a young man who was born as a military general, can handle.

It's like the new Spanish governor in Manila, Sarcator, who made a mess of Luzon in just a few months and risked his own life. (He was not executed, but was escorted to Nanjing after preparing for the class.) ）

The leader of the southern capital protectorate must find a capable person in the town, preferably both civil and military, who can not only govern the civil affairs well, but also be able to send troops strongly.

Echoing these conditions, Zhu Cihong immediately thought of Lu Xiangsheng.

Lu Xiangsheng was born as a civil official, governed the people's livelihood, led soldiers, fought wars, and served as a maritime governor for more than ten years. (Formerly called the Governor of Caoyun, Zhu Cihong abolished Caoyun and changed to shipping)

At the Imperial Council, the large square table where the sand table was originally placed in the middle has been replaced by a huge map of the South Seas.

Zhu Cihong, who was guarding the stars, stared at the map, touched his chin and said, "Let's talk about what the next strategic goal of the Southern Capital Protectorate is." ”

Dingwang Zhu Cijiong hesitated for a moment, and couldn't help asking: "Your Majesty, do you mean in which direction do you mean the strategic goal?" ”

Zhu Cihong nodded and said, "Well, this is an elegant statement, in layman's terms, which piece of land we are going to grab next, understand?" ”

"Got it!"

Not only Zhu Cijiong was nodding, but the rest of the Ming army generals all nodded secretly, and their originally tense moods were instantly released.

Praise Yao Qisheng quickly swept the map, and after a little pondering, he took the lead in answering: "Your Majesty, Weichen thinks that the strategic location of Medan, Pontianak, and Surabaya is the most important, and it is the place where my Ming Dynasty will fight for in the future!" ”

As he spoke, he pointed to three different locations on the map and made a simple geographical analysis one by one.

Zhu Cihong nodded slightly, the three places mentioned by Yao Qisheng were indeed well chosen, they were all strategic locations in the Nanyang region in later generations, and they were also political, economic, and cultural centers.

He asked: "These three places are too scattered, and they are thousands of miles away from Luzon, if you choose one of the three, which do you think should be taken first?" ”

Yao Qisheng's mind turned quickly, wanting to continue to steal the limelight and leave an impression of superpower on the Son of Heaven.

However, a young voice answered before he did.

"Back to Your Majesty, the last general thinks that Pontianak is the most suitable!"

It was Xia Wanchun, a young general who had just been promoted to the head of the regiment, who spoke.

Zhu Cihong looked at him and asked with a smile, "Are your ears okay?" ”

Before attacking Manila City, Xia Wanchun led a battalion of men and horses to blow up the city wall, because the yellow explosives were too strong, their distance was close, and the violent explosion almost deafened Xia Wanchun's ears.

Xia Wanchun was stunned for a moment, and his heart was greatly moved, he didn't expect His Majesty to care about him, he replied excitedly: "Thank you Your Majesty for your care, the last general's ears are still good, and they are as good as ever!" ”

"Okay."

Zhu Cihong pointed to the map and said, "Then tell me why you chose Pontianak." ”

Xia Wanchun recovered his mood a little, and replied: "The last general uses the method of elimination, first of all, Surabaya is on the island of Batavia occupied by the Dutch, if my Ming Dynasty garrisons there, they will not tolerate it, and they will even jump over the wall in a hurry." ”

He continued: "In the same way, Medan is located at the northwestern tip of the island of Sumatra, guarding the Strait of Malacca, where the Dutch people have just reached their mouths, and they will never give it to me easily!" ”

Finally, Xia Wanchun pointed to a large island in the South China Sea and said: "Pontianak is different, it is located in Borneo, it is neither in Batavia, nor in the Strait of Malacca like Sumatra, and it is the closest to Luzon in my Ming Dynasty, about 5,000 miles......."

"Pontianak's location is in the center of the Nanyang resource area, with sea routes extending in all directions, with the Wanli Stone Pond (South China Sea) of our Ming Dynasty in the north, the Gulf of Siam in the northwest, Malacca in the east, and Batavia in the south, and it is only a few hundred nautical miles from Pontianak to these places, but it is only a few days of sailing."

"The most important thing is that Pontianak is the closest to the Indochina Peninsula, and once there is turmoil in the vassal states there, I can send troops from here, and it is very convenient to support it!"

Listening to Xia Wanchun's analysis, Zhu Cihong was very satisfied.

Xia Wanchun is worthy of being an outstanding officer who graduated from the Huangming Military Academy, and his strategic vision is still in place.

And he has the lowest position in the Imperial Council, and in the face of many bigwigs, he analyzes calmly and calmly, not nervous at all, and is a general!

Shen Shouchong and other senior generals all secretly praised Xia Wanchun, this young man, is amazing, he has entered the eyes of the Son of Heaven many times at a young age, and his future is limitless!

In fact, what Zhu Cihong wants most is Medan, because it can control the Strait of Malacca, one of the four major fortresses in the world.

Moreover, the Ming Dynasty set up the Old Port Propaganda Division there two hundred years ago, and this must be taken back.

However, due to the current situation, taking Pontianak first is undoubtedly the best strategy, which can become a bridgehead for the Ming to enter India.

"Good!"

Zhu Cihong slapped the table, stood up and said, "Then it's decided, let's take Pontianak first!" ”