A huge fleet carrying more than 23,000 officers and men of the land division, as well as countless loads of ordnance and ammunition, departed from various ports on time at the end of February. The fleet has hundreds of large and small sea vessels, including dozens of treasure ships carrying thousands of people and equipped with thousands of pounds of "Tian" brand Hanwang cannons.

All the ships will be assembled on the sea along the east coast, and then divided into five corps to form a formation, and the whole army will be controlled by Chen Xuan, the general of the naval division. After that, the army would slowly march along the coast, and when the monsoon wind was clear, they would leave the coast and go to the town of Pusan, Korea, and Hakata Bay, Japan.

At that time, the officials and people on the eastern coast of the Ming Dynasty can also witness the big ships floating on the sea and feel the grand occasion of the military strength of the officials and the army at sea.

At this time of the fifteenth century, no other country or military alliance in the world had such a large navy and the ability to deliver more than 20,000 troops and supplies at one time. In the East and the West, the total military strength of the vast majority of countries should not exceed 20,000, not to mention the projection capacity.

Of course, all these achievements are not mainly due to Zhu Gaoxu. During the Yongle period, the Ming court had gradually formed such a maritime military force.

Zhu Gaoxu thinks that the reason why Japan is unscrupulous and has the illusion of luck is based on an empirical judgment of a country's ability to launch projects remotely. After all, although the Ming Dynasty had more than 2 million troops, it was only possible to send more than 20,000 people on an expedition from the sea.

The Ming army did not think much about the issue of water warfare, and only considered the ship's ability to resist storms at sea. After all, with the displacement of the treasure ship, there is no need for artillery at all, and a direct impact can crush the sampan of most sailing ships.

After Zhu Gaoxu saw the warships leave the port one after another, he couldn't control the rest. The follow-up news of the Japanese army will have to wait for two months at the earliest.

He began to consult with the ministers on matters relating to the South Seas and the Western Ocean (west of Brunei to the Indian Ocean).

When the monarch and ministers were discussing in the Rouyi Hall again, Xia Yuanji, the head of the household department, began to exhort: The navy and army of the conquest of Japan cost a lot, and the imperial court must not start a war in the north and south at the same time.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Don't worry about Xia Butang, even if the court has money, there is no ship now." We are not running the South, and we are not about to go to war. If the problem can be solved through negotiation and games, it is better to never go to war. ”

He went on to say: "But after we have conquered Japan to obtain silver, if we no longer engage in foreign trade, the effect of increasing national strength will be greatly reduced, because the circulation of money and goods can only be confined to the country.

The control of the shipping routes east of Malacca, currency issuance, taxes, prices, and trade rules were all decided by the Ming court. The imperial caravan can profit from it, and the private merchants have profits, and the market has taxes, which is open source. If there is no source in the treasury, what is the use of you only crying about poverty? ”

Xia Yuanji didn't say anything more after hearing this.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "I want to prepare for the establishment of the South China Sea Governor's Mansion and the Western Governor's Palace, and use two yamen to manage the affairs east of the Strait of Malacca, which are subordinate to the cabinet. The South China Sea Governor's Mansion can be set up in Saigon Port (near Vung Tau, the name comes from Zheng He's fleet during the Yongle period, which means tribute from the west). The Western Governor's Mansion can be set up in the Old Port Propaganda Division. ”

Qi Taizuo said: "The old port propaganda envoy is the Han Shi Jinqing, who accepted the canonization of the imperial court and has made meritorious contributions, and most of his subordinates are Han people from all over the southeast, and this matter can still be handled." However, Saigon Port is the place of the land of Chenla, and the country of Chenla is afraid that it is unwilling to cede the land. ”

Zhu Gaoxu said: "We can change the name, not to cut the land, but to set up a 'city'." Countries that accept the tributary system can also set up 'embassies' in our Ming capital. Let's go and help those vassal states, reduce disputes, live in harmony, and what if we don't have a stronghold? ”

Qi Tai said: "I'm afraid that this matter is still not easy. ”

Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said: "Therefore, our dynasty must make full use of the contradictions between various countries, so as not to spend the treasury to send troops to fight." Because it's not easy, we have to start as soon as possible, at first it's just a matter of words, but it's just too time-consuming. ”

The officials in the court were talking, and there was a lot of noise in the hall.

Zhu Gaoxu beckoned: "You guys sit down and look at the picture." He pointed to a large picture on the large table and said, "I have thought of a plan, if it is not appropriate, you can also think of another way." ”

He tapped on a position on the table, "The kingdom of Annam is a vassal state of our dynasty, and we can stand up for the kingdom of Annam and ask for the land of Hue from the Champa country; It was also proposed to use Da Nang as an 'envoy city' in order to become a supply port and trade hub on the shipping lane. The people of Champa have sacked and slaughtered Shenglong and other places many times, and the nobles and common people of the Annan clan have a grudge; With such an opportunity, the Annan people must be very hard-working. When the Champa state is under pressure, it may compromise. ”

Hu Hui reminded: "The relationship between the Champa state and our dynasty is good, and the king (Jaya Sanghabrama V) is a tribute, and he is very respectful. ”

"They just want to take revenge because I want to take revenge when I conquer Annan, so let's not care about those illusory things." Zhu Gaoxu said, "The Zhancheng State is no longer the Lin Yi of the Qin Dynasty, and I see that the kings and ministers recorded in the old files and various dynasties are all curly-haired and dark-skinned people, and they have long broken off the relationship with the Ming Dynasty. Praise us a few words, and you can't spend it as money. ”

Hu Hu was speechless for a moment.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "The Champa State is currently attacking the Zhenla State, and if the Annan State to the north of it raises troops to the south, the Champa State will be attacked on its back. If they are still unwilling to compromise in this way, then we will go to the country of Zhenla and promise military assistance. The situation of the Champa nation would immediately become very dangerous.

Angkor Thom (near Tonle Sap Lake and Siem Reap) is currently facing attacks from both the east and west, and is resisting the attacks of Siam and Champa at the same time, and their situation is critical and they are in urgent need of foreign aid. The DPRK can promise to set up an 'embassy' at Saigon Port on the condition that it will provide assistance such as arms.

If Chenla doesn't want to bother with our 'reasonable deals', then we support Siam. After the Siamese Dynasty got rid of the control and oppression of Chenla, it is now very tempting to retaliate. If the royal family of Zhenla wants to bring about its own destruction, then it can continue to ignore the Ming Dynasty. ”

Everyone fell silent, silent with different expressions and a very complicated expression.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but say kindly: "People's morality is different from the country's morality. Our dynasty has exercised restraint and has not carried out slaughter and conquest like the Yuan Dynasty, which is morality.

But why do those small countries dare to ignore the demands of our dynasty, and even dare to kill our envoys? It is nothing more than that our Korean government has strong national strength, but its forces have not been able to really enter these regions, and they cannot have an impact on the vital interests of other countries. You can examine, after our garrison of 20,000 troops, the current Annan Kingdom still dares to kill the court officials of the Ming Dynasty?

What's more, these small countries attacked each other, and there were countless casualties, and there were countless barbaric crimes in the war. In the future, once they enter the system of the governor's palace of our dynasty, and there are people who judge right and wrong, everything can be mediated, and the killing will be reduced, and will not it benefit the people of all nations? ”

At this time, the scholar Hu Guang said: "In terms of morality, the saint is really a merit......

The officials looked sideways and looked at Hu Guang, who immediately stopped talking. He looked nonchalant, but his cheeks were slightly red.

Qi Tai said at this time: "In the past, Emperor Taizong worked hard to build a sea ship to go to the West and move the capital to Beiping, and he ordered everyone in the court to do it. Now the saint first consults with the ministers, and the ministers should do their best to assist. ”

As soon as Qi Tai said this, everyone echoed one after another.

However, the reason why Zhu Gaoxu tried his best to win over the courtiers was not to seek stability; It's because what he does is not just to accomplish those few things, but he is trying to establish a systematic national policy.

Zhu Gaoxu said: "After the negotiation strategy is determined, the cabinet will recommend a few people to go to the Governor's Mansion of Annan first; Then he asked Zhang Fu to call the ships for the purpose of going south to envoy the countries...... At first, the envoys were at risk, and they could promote some Annam people to help, perhaps using domestic volunteers who volunteered. ”

"Minister's order."

Zhu Gaoxu turned his head to find Ru Yu, "The construction of the hull and sail of the Persian and those ships further west seems to be different. You send people to find opportunities to understand each other, so that we can learn from each other's strengths, and we should always maintain an advantage in technology. In this matter, the Imperial Department of the South Department can also think of a way. ”

Ru Yu and Qian Xun stood up and said, "The ministers obey the order." ”

A long time ago, he had a model of a Western sailing ship and assembled it himself for dozens of dollars. He only remembered now that the sail of that model was completely different from the sail of the Daming Sea ship he had seen so far, it seemed that one was a hard sail and the other was a soft sail; Western soft sails are more complex, but the sails of the Ming Dynasty are simple, and it is also convenient and fast to use a sliding rope (pulley block) to lift and lower.

Zhu Gao also did not know what the advantages and disadvantages were, or what kind of structure large and small ships were suitable for; But the sailors and the officials and craftsmen in the dockyard should be able to figure it out. Learning from each other is the way to go, and arrogance often leads only to mistakes.

It was almost noon, and everyone gave a big salute and thanked them for their retirement.

Zhu Gaoxu still remained in the Rouyi Palace. This complex is the place where Taizu studies and lives in Yan, there is nothing missing, and after waiting for Zhu Gaoxu to have lunch, he can also find a bed to take a nap.

He walked up and down beside the large table, glancing at the map he had just used for the discussion.

The overall structure of the general plan is rapidly unfolding, but the scope of real success is still very small, and the most important thing at the moment is to wait for news from Japan.

Zhu Gaoxu walked out of the main hall and stood on the steps outside the door for a while. In the wind, he seemed to faintly hear the sound of the waves. But when he came back to his senses, he realized that it was probably just an illusion. Not to mention that Jingshi is still far from the coast, even if it is the waves by the big river, I am afraid that it will not be heard here.

Zhu Gaoxu glanced up at the eastern sky, and said in his heart: As long as the monsoon reaches the east coast, the Ming fleet will sail for no more than a month.