Dial the timeline forward a bit.

When Zheng He entered the palace to report on what he had seen in the Imperial Prison literacy class, Zhu Di was dealing with another major matter with Daoyan.

"What's going on with Annan? Is it the same as the shogun in Japan, using the banner of the king to deceive the canonization of the Ming Dynasty? ”

Facing Zhu Di's question, Dao Yan turned his rosary and said: "Your Majesty, the old man feels that the envoy of the Chen Dynasty in Annan is indeed very suspicious, and many things are fragmented and unwilling to say more. ”

Dao Yan's words are straightforward, and the way the two get along does not need to be hidden, they are both comrades-in-arms who rebelled together.

Dao Yan pointed to the core of the problem: "Of course, in fact, the key to this matter is definitely not what happened within Annan, Annan is not Japan, Annan and Daming are directly bordered, what news needs to be investigated, it is very convenient." ”

"The key to this matter is, is the change in Annan beneficial or disadvantageous to Daming?"

Zhu Di sighed for a few breaths and spoke.

"According to common sense, if there is indeed a change of power within the vassal states of the Ming Dynasty, as long as they still submit to the Ming Dynasty and continue to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, then the Ming Dynasty will recognize this change of power."

"What's more, is it a country like Annan that took the initiative to submit to the tributary system of the Ming Dynasty as early as the founding of the Ming Dynasty?"

This means that the relationship between Annan and the Ming Dynasty is actually serious, the Northern Expeditionary Army led by General Xu Da conquered the Yuan capital in the year, Chen Yuzong, the seventh king of the Chen Dynasty of Annan, sent a team of envoys of high specifications to the Ming Dynasty to call the vassal state, Zhu Yuanzhang also took advantage of the situation to canonize, promising to include Annan in the ranks of the non-conscripted country, and the Ming Dynasty will provide military protection to it if necessary.

Of course, Japan is also a country that does not conquer

Ahem, what is the Taizu ancestor who is not levyed, here in Zhu Di, as long as he has interests for Daming that far exceed the cost of soldiers, then he can be his father Zhu Yuanzhang fart.

Anyway, Zhu Di's violation of Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestral teachings is not a matter of one or two.

"This Hu Cha is called the heir of the Chen family, and he has the right to manage the state affairs of Annan and begs for a knighthood." Zhu Di stretched out his hand and knocked on the chapter, "Don't think about it, there must be a problem, now the master might as well say, if Annan gives Daming an excuse, what does Daming need to do, or do nothing?" ”

"The old man thinks that Da Ming must have to do something, but in fact, Annan is an excellent place to test Jiang Sheng's theory." Dao Yan swore a word.

Hearing this, Zhu Di was stunned.

Jiang Xinghuo has lectured so many lectures and talked about so many theories, which theory are you talking about?

Dao Yan also realized this, adding: "The nation-state and the world island war, as well as the export of Ming values. ”

Zhu Di bowed slightly, there was nothing wrong with this.

Dao Yan said: "Although Annan and the Ming Dynasty are not exactly the same species, there are many descendants of Han and local people in the north of Annan, and most of the local natives in the south, but only in the north, it can still be barely counted as the same species." ”

"In addition, the important thing is that Annan and Daming are actually in the same language, Annan also uses the Daming script, and the education received by the local nobility is also a traditional Confucian education."

Therefore, unlike Japan, which has its own special culture, Annan is more suitable for the assimilation of the Ming Dynasty than Japan. In other words, this is the first step for the Ming Dynasty to step out of the island of China and come to the nearby island, and it is also the first step to practice whether the nation-state can be formed. ”

Dao Yan narrowed his eyes and imagined.

"If it is said that assimilation was carried out in Annam and it can be successful, it shows that the external assimilation of Chinese civilization is feasible. Moreover, it can attract people from other regions to yearn for Daming and become a part of Daming, that is, to export Daming's values. ”

"In this way, with this foundation, the Ming Dynasty can expand southward."

"At the same time, a series of ports along the coast of Annam will also contribute to the exploration of the Western Ocean by the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Di nodded approvingly.

If you want to expand your territory, then Annan is indeed a good choice.

After all, there are many Han Chinese or Han people of mixed descent in the northern part of Annam, and culturally they are completely influenced by Chinese culture, so it is relatively easy to assimilate.

"This thing needs to be done, so what does the master think, what step does Da Ming need to do?" Zhu Di continued to ask.

In fact, Zhu Di already had a plan in his heart, but at this time he still habitually wanted to listen to Daoyan's opinion.

Dao Yan said simply: "It's nothing more than three methods." ”

"First, directly send troops to occupy the entire territory of Annam. The advantage is that it can expand the territory at one time, but the disadvantage is that it needs to be garrisoned for a long time, and it is difficult for the local area to be self-sufficient, and the military expenditure is huge. ”

"Second, send troops to occupy the entire territory of Annam, support the new regime and withdraw later, you can claim part of the land and ports as a return for the Ming army. The advantage is that the Ming Dynasty does not need to continue to pay the price of occupation, and can obtain a small number of Annam essence areas, such as the land adjacent to the Ming Dynasty, and the ports for the Ming sailors to go to the South Seas for supply and maintenance. ”

"Third, send troops to occupy a larger part of Annan, this larger part of the area is the limit of the Ming Dynasty's forces that can be strongly controlled and will not cause too much supply burden, and the rest of the area is still left to Annan, but the new regime is not supported, and the occupied land is directly controlled by the Ming Dynasty. The advantage is that Daming can get the land he wants, and the disadvantage is that Annan will regard Daming as an enemy from now on, and if Daming's national strength declines, Annan will be bitten by Annan and try to recapture the land he goes. ”

Zhu Di nodded, Dao Yan's analysis was very comprehensive.

"Which method does the master think Da Ming should take?"

Looking at Zhu Di, Dao Yan smiled: "I'm afraid Your Majesty has already made up his mind about it." ”

Zhu Di also laughed.

"Master Zhiyi!"

After laughing, Zhu Di said in a deep voice: "I just say, either don't do it, or do it absolutely!" ”

"If I really want to hit Annan, then I will never let Annan have another chance to bite back, and I will definitely take advantage of his illness to kill him and shoot him to death with a rod."

"As for what kind of puppet regime, I am not the kind of person who likes to make wedding dresses for others, and I occupy the entire territory of Annan, so I want Annan to become the fourteenth political envoy of the Ming Dynasty from now on, and completely belong to the Ming Dynasty."

"Even the name, I just thought of it."

"—Jiaozhi Bu Political Envoy!"

"That's a good name." Dao Yan bowed slightly, "The previous name of Jiaozhi is not inferior to Annan. ”

The so-called Jiaozhi originated from the establishment of Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen and Rinan after the destruction of Nanyue during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, and later when the Han Empire set up the Thirteen Thorn History Department in the country, the seven counties including Jiaozhi were divided into the Jiaozhi Thorn History Department, which was known as "Jiaozhou" during the Three Kingdoms.

Just when the two were talking about the disposal of Annan, Zhu Gaosui, who was wearing a bullfighting suit with a golden gourd hammer hanging from his waist, came in with a salute.

Zhu Gaosui said softly to Zhu Di.

"Father, Zheng He has returned from the Imperial Prison and is asking to see him outside the Fengtian Palace."

Zhu Di was surrounding the stove with Dao Yan at this time, Zhu Di climbed the ice and snow in the early years to conquer Mongolia, he left the problem of old cold legs, and now an autumn rain and a cold, he can't do without the stove to warm up.

Zhu Di waved his hand: "Let Zheng He come in." ”

"Yes."

When Zhu Gaosui was not long, he led Zheng He into the palace.

"Minister, Zheng He, see Your Majesty!"

Zheng He bowed and said.

"Get up, don't be polite."

Zhu Di was in a good mood, so he directly asked Zhu Gaosui to move a chair over and give Zheng He a seat.

The flames in the stove "crackled", and it was a night talk around the fireplace, Zhu Di took a few sips of hot tea, turned his head and asked.

"I'm not in a hurry to talk about the edict."

Zheng He was stunned.

Zhu Di pointed at him and smiled: "I know Jiang Xinghuo's ability, the two Shangshu still don't believe in betting with me, looking at your expression, I know that the two Shangshu are doomed." Jiang Xinghuo must have a way to make that group of illiterate people read, right? ”

"That's true, Jiang Xinghuo's doing."

Zheng He's words were stopped by Zhu Di raising his hand, and Zhu Di said with a smile: "Don't talk about Jiang Xinghuo's method, first tell me what you saw and heard when you went to the stone pond in the south of the sea?" I've never been to the sea, I don't know what it's like to sail on the sea. ”

Dao Yan wanted to know Jiang Xinghuo's method, but fortunately, Dao Yan had been practicing for many years, even if he was curious, he was able to calm down, and he also looked at his disciple.

Well, Zheng He is Dao Yan's Bodhisattva Ring disciple, both a closed disciple and a direct subordinate of Dao Yan in the intelligence system.

Therefore, Zheng He's observations, in fact, most of Dao Yan knows a thing or two, and his curiosity about maritime affairs is not as important as Zhu Di's.

As for why Zheng He passed on to Dao Yan about what he saw at sea, Dao Yan did not report it to Zhu Di, this, cough cough Dao Yan naturally has his own purpose.

Zheng He also smiled and said: "Your Majesty, this sea is indeed not comparable to the land, from Quanzhou to Wanli Shitang, in fact, the smooth wind and water are not very far, and a month back and forth is enough, the key is that sometimes the sea conditions are different." ”

"What's the difference?" Zhu Di was curious.

Zheng He said slowly: "The minister has now made a round trip to the Wanli Stone Pond, but no matter where the Wanli Stone Pond is, although the wind and waves are much smaller now, but every few days, there will be a strong wind, although the power of this kind of wind is not as good as the dragon absorbing water, but it is more frequent, and it will come once every three or five days, if you are unlucky, it is easy to get lost." The warship of the Daming Naval Division on which the minister was riding was encountered, and the wind and waves were high, which also caused some small boats in the fleet to almost capsize. The key problem is that the Ming Dynasty lacks many regional charts, and it is now difficult to locate them at sea. ”

"Positioning at sea?"

"Not bad!" Zheng He nodded, "I use the method of star-pulling, but sometimes, especially at night, the fog on the sea is very heavy, the line of sight is limited, and the stars in the sky cannot be seen at all, so it is very dangerous to sail on the sea, especially at night at sea, you need to be more cautious, if you don't pay attention to it, you may deviate from the route, after all, on the chart, a little deviation will cause a mistake of thousands of miles." ”

"I've never heard of any of these things." Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered.

Zhu Di turned around and asked Yan, "Does Master Dao Yan know about the Star Pulling Technique?" ”

Dao Yan shook his head, he really hadn't gone out of his way to find out.

Zhu Di and Zheng He finished chatting about what they had seen and heard in the stone pond in the south, and then continued to talk about all kinds of news that Zheng He had heard. Knowing that the sea was so boundless, and that overseas countries were completely different from the Central Plains, Zhu Di greatly broadened his horizons and knowledge.

After all, it is impossible to read the content of the Yuan Dynasty classics about overseas as it is to listen to Zheng He's personal experience.

"It seems that the ship and related navigation technology of the Ming Sailor still have to adapt to the voyage and improve, and it is best to create a better positioning method than the star pulling technique."

Hearing Zheng He say that now if the Daming sailor wants to sail or go to the Western Ocean, he must also rely on the astrological technique handed down from the Song Dynasty and the navigator of the color eye, Zhu Di couldn't help but sigh a little.

After all, it's not the same thing to always rely on outsiders, and if you want to go underground to the West on a large scale, you have to have your own way.

Zheng He hesitated for a moment, but finally told the truth.

"Your Majesty, if Da Ming wants to do this, I'm afraid it will be difficult."

"Why?" Zhu Di frowned and asked.

Zheng He smiled bitterly: "The Song Dynasty traded overseas, and only dared to sail close to the coastline, otherwise the sea is boundless, and it is easy to lose its way, how can it be easily positioned at sea?" Astrology is already the best way to do it. ”

"Oh."

Zhu Di nodded and said suddenly.

"Why don't you ask Jiang Xinghuo?"

Zheng He's expression froze.

You must know that Jiang Xinghuo has a lot of trouble for him.

Regarding the matter of contacting Jiang Xinghuo, Zheng He was reluctant to go, let alone close contact.

It's not that Zheng He doesn't believe in Jiang Xinghuo's ability.

Zheng He believes too much in Jiang Xinghuo's ability to reach the sky!

The problem is that Jiang Xing's fire moves his mouth!

As a result, Jiang Xinghuo said a word, go to Wanli Shitang to find bird droppings, Zheng He had to break his leg and come back in two months.

was also ridiculed by some villains as "moving back to the court", and Zheng He was about to be blown up.

Therefore, Zheng He was really reluctant to ask Jiang Xinghuo.

Otherwise, I don't know how much Jiang Xinghuo will find for himself when he moves his mouth.

Zhu Di laughed and said, "Okay, let's talk about what I saw and heard in the literacy class in the Imperial Prison." ”

After Zheng He finished descripting, Zhu Di nodded, obviously he was not too surprised that Jiang Xinghuo could solve the problem of literacy and literacy.

"That's it."

Zhu Di groaned: "Jiang Xinghuo still has the last four classes, and he is about to be released from prison." ”

"Originally, Cao Guogong went to Japan, and there was a lack of someone to be a mouthpiece for me, and the second child didn't know it now, so it would be hard for you, go to prison."

Zheng He's lips moved with difficulty.

In the end, it's like facing the leader's sentence of "hard work", you can only reply with "good leader".

Zheng He opened his mouth and said, "Minister, obey the order." ”

Move back to the court, reward jail.

Jiang Xinghuo, I really thank you!

(End of chapter)