For Borneo, not only Yan Siqi is not clear about its importance, but also many people except Li Dan do not understand.

After all, the emperor didn't say it explicitly, and it is estimated that no one really cares if he does. Of course, the emperor also tried to keep it secret, but only established his roots in Borneo in the name of the Maritime Merchants Association.

But Li Dan knew the emperor's thoughts, and the emperor also gave him a promise, so he worked so hard to invest and operate. And the emperor's support for the Maritime Merchants Association did not reveal its true purpose to the outside world.

Therefore, in the view of Yan Siqi and others, the emperor supported the Maritime Merchants Association to expand maritime trade and mine gold mines in Borneo to obtain benefits.

Obviously, the benefits must be obtained, but no one expected that the emperor's goal would be so lofty and grandiose.

Li Dan looked at Yan Siqi, and finally shook his head lightly and said, "So-and-so is just a guess, and it is not appropriate to say it." You always remember that the investment in Borneo will be rewarded for long live. ”

Yan Siqi blinked his eyes, thinking that Li Dan might have gotten some information from Banzai, but he didn't say it, it should be Banzai's explanation, which was also understandable.

"In a few days, the Decree of Long Live will come." Li Dan suddenly smiled and said, "A certain civil lord should be able to be promoted to another level." ”

Is this a good reward? Yan Siqi looked at Li Dan, a little uncertain.

Li Dan seemed to see Yan Siqi's thoughts, waved his hand, and said, "This is just a little reward for long live, but it is not a good reward." After all, in the past two years, the benefits from Borneo have been very rich, and the commercial taxes paid to the imperial court are also a lot. ”

The payment of commercial taxes was part of the funds for the development of Borneo, but the emperor had a stake. Dividends are naturally indispensable.

And the situation that can be quickly opened in Borneo, in addition to the weakness of the local chieftains, is the support of the emperor, who sold weapons to the Maritime Merchants Association to help it form an army in the local area.

First the people, then the official, this is the emperor's plan. Unlike all emperors in history, he was as broad-minded as the sea and did not worry about any overseas secession.

Since it's overseas, there's no talk of separation. As long as they are Ming people, they can even be collectively referred to as Chinese and occupy territory overseas, which is allowed by the emperor.

It doesn't matter if you are a king or a hegemon overseas, or if you are a king, as long as you are Chinese, as long as you are not hostile to the Ming Dynasty, the emperor is happy to see it.

Of course, if you want to be the king overseas, or to stand on your own, without the support of a strong country, it is very difficult to gain a foothold and develop.

The historical Lanfang Republic did everything possible to seek the recognition of the Qing Dynasty, just to use its power to make the enemies, including the Xiyi countries, dare not act rashly.

After all, how much territory do you occupy overseas, compared to the local natives, you are also a foreign race, how many people can be trusted, and how many people will work hard for you?

If you want people of the same clan to help, it will be difficult to recruit if you have less, and it will be difficult to recruit more. Only by relying on a strong mother country can we obtain a steady stream of manpower and material resources and deter enemies who are eyeing them.

Li Dan saw this clearly, thought clearly, actively recruited immigrants, and asked the emperor from time to time for the transfer and assignment of talents.

The talents include retired officers and soldiers, including martial arts instructors, and a variety of specialized personnel. In fact, except for martial arts instructors, Li Dan could be recruited, and the emperor did not impose any restrictions on him.

But Li Dan just wants to make this gesture and establish a foundation in Borneo for development, not for his personal ambition, but for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the emperor.

Yan Siqi scratched his head and said with some doubts: "The imperial court also encourages immigrants to the east, and there is no mistake. Dongfan has developed, and the tax should be a lot. ”

The same immigration development, but with priorities.

Mekong Province is a food base, which is crucial for the Ming Dynasty to fight disasters; Borneo is the first to take the first place, in addition to the financial and material profits, or to deal with the Dutch in the future and seize a solid base in Malacca.

And Dongfan, of course, also wants to develop, but it is at the doorstep, and it has been firmly controlled, and it doesn't matter if the investment is less and the development is slower.

Of course, the emperor did not have hard and fast rules, but there was still a tilted policy support for the focus of the place.

Regarding Yan Siqi's doubts, Li Dan did not answer directly, but said lightly: "The imperial court dispatched sailors to start a war with the Dutch Hongmaoyi and annihilated its fleet. ”

Yan Siqi nodded and said, "I know this." It is not surprising that the Dutch ghosts deceived people too much, and repeatedly forced them to the door of their homes and beat them severely. The Ming Navy has been established since the establishment of Banzai, how much has it spent in the past few years, there are ships and guns, and there are no two battles to make Banzai happy? ”

Li Dan pursed the corners of his mouth and said, "Long live the Dutch tolls, otherwise they will cut off their trade routes with the Japanese and seize passing ships." ”

Yan Siqi's eyes widened, he blinked, smiled hesitantly, and said: "With the strength of the sailor, plus the Maritime Association, Hongmaoyi is not an opponent. Well, the money comes quickly, and the red hairy pinch his nose and have to admit it. ”

"Dutch, Dutch ghosts, you can call them whatever you want, don't call them red-haired anymore." Li Dan rolled his eyes, raised a finger and shook it, "Don't look like you're uneducated." ”

"I-" Yan Siqi narrowed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

For Xiyi, the Ming Kingdom did not have a correct understanding before, what Hongmaofan, Hongmao, Hongmaoyi, Xiyi, Furangji and so on. The British, like the Dutch, are red-haired.

The emperor was deeply unscientific and easily confused, so he called the country by its real name. The Franco, a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish, is now corrected separately; Dutchman and Britch are no longer collectively referred to as Redfur.

In addition, the globe and the world map also appeared more in the Ming Dynasty, so that the Ming people knew the general situation of the whole world, broadened their horizons, and enriched their knowledge.

Li Dan saw that Yan Siqi was deflated, he was happy and proud, took a sip of the teacup, and said with a smile: "Borneo is an overseas land, but Dongfan is the territory of the Ming Dynasty, you think about it, where to vigorously develop, you can make Long Live Longyan Dayue." ”

Expand your territory?! This term is indeed more powerful, and the emperor wants to take this as the most important achievement and go down in history?

Yan Siqi nodded vigorously, although Li Dan didn't tell him some things, he knew that it would definitely be beneficial to run errands for Long Live Viva, and Li Dan's addition was proof of this.

"Okay, just invest more resources in Borneo in the future." Yan Siqi pondered for a moment and asked, "How many of us are there in Borneo now?" ”

"Eighty-six thousand." Li Dan didn't think about it before he said: "I plan to increase it to 90,000 this year, and 100,000 next year." ”

The people in Borneo are not only domestic migrants, but also Chinese from the Nanyang countries. In order to accelerate the increase in the population, the emperor planned to move some prisoners of war after the invasion of Burma.

On the one hand, the potential resistance force in occupied Burma was reduced, and on the other hand, these prisoners of war were not familiar with Borneo and had to rely on the local Chinese to live, so they would be assimilated more quickly.