Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 683 Tang He Returns
In the spring of the 23rd year of Hongwu, Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne in the Forbidden City in Nanjing, frowning. Although the Japanese invasion along the coast was quelled, the movements of overseas countries were unclear, and the Nanyang trade route was also invaded by pirates. The Minister of Revenue came forward and said, "Your Majesty, the southeastern sea is unstable. If a new route can be opened, it can deter the villains and enrich the country through trade."

The ministers all echoed the sentiment, and the assistant minister of the Ministry of War said bluntly: "Xin Guogong Tang He followed your majesty in his early years and was stationed in Fujian and Zhejiang. He is familiar with the sea conditions and has old subordinates who are good at naval warfare. If he leads the fleet to sea, he will surely achieve success!"

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at His Majesty's Tang He with a deep gaze. Although this veteran was over 60 years old, he was vigorous and his eyes were sharp. Tang He stepped out of the line, clasped his fists and said, "I am willing to share your worries, but the sea is dangerous, and we need to send more warships to guard against any accidents."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "Approved! From now on, we will mobilize the elite naval forces from Fujian and Guangdong to be under your command. You must enhance our national prestige!"

Once the imperial edict was issued, all the prefectures along the coast responded. In Quanzhou Harbor, craftsmen worked day and night to build treasure ships, with masts like a forest and sails eclipsing the sun. Tang He personally supervised the construction and carefully checked the gun positions and steering gear of each warship.

A few months later, an unprecedentedly large fleet was assembled:

There were thirty-six main war treasure ships, each of which could carry a thousand men and was equipped with twenty Hongwu cannons.

There are more than 200 escort warships in total, which are light and swift, and are dedicated to suppressing bandits;
There were a total of fifty supply ships, loaded with food, fresh water, silk and porcelain for trade.

On the day of the expedition, the Nanjing Riverbank was crowded with people. The common people held incense burners in their hands, praying for the protection of the Goddess of Heaven; the soldiers lined up and beat drums, the sound shaking the sky. Tang He, wearing armor, stood on the deck of the flagship "Zhenhai" and bowed to the shore. With the long blast of the horn, the fleet sailed down the river and headed for the vast East China Sea...

As soon as the fleet entered the South China Sea, it was hit by a storm. Huge waves were as big as mountains, and several small boats were swept into the abyss. Tang He ordered: "Lower half the sails, connect the ships with iron chains, and keep the rudder steady!" In the wind and rain, he personally steered the rudder, his hair and beard were soaked by seawater, but he still stood firm.

Just as the storm subsided, pirates arrived again. A group of Japanese pirates entrenched in Luzon attacked at night, firing rockets at the fleet like locusts. Tang He sneered: "How dare a mere bandit attack the Ming Dynasty?" He immediately ordered the cannons to fire, and the enemy ships were instantly reduced to ashes.

After three months of hardships, the fleet bypassed the "Wanli Stone Pond" (now NSQD) and suddenly saw a strange land on the horizon - there were green mountains and dark-skinned natives. When they saw the fleet approaching, they knelt down and exclaimed. The interpreter went forward to inquire and learned that this place was called "Bo Ni" (now Brunei), rich in gold and spices.

Tang He swore an oath of blood with the King of Brunei and presented him with porcelain and tea in exchange for a ship full of treasures. On the way back home, the fleet visited Sumatra, Siam and other countries to make friends.

In the spring of the following year, Tang He returned triumphantly.

In the Golden Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, his eyes were like torches. The civil and military officials in the palace were on both sides, their eyes all focused on the dusty Tang He. Although the old general had a weathered face, he was in high spirits, and his eyes flashed with the resolute light of returning from a long voyage.

Tang He took a step forward, bowed deeply, and said in a loud voice: "Your Majesty ordered me to sail to the South Seas. Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission and returned with tributes and alliance letters from various countries. I am reporting to your Majesty!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and raised his hand to signal the eunuch to read out the tribute list. As ivory, spices, pearls and other rare items were presented one by one, all the ministers in the palace were amazed. The Minister of Revenue sighed in a low voice: "If these products are traded, the annual income of the national treasury can increase by 30%!"

Zhu Yuanzhang showed approval and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, your voyage this time has enhanced our country's prestige and expanded our sea borders. Your contribution will be passed down for generations. I will reward you handsomely!" Tang He bowed again and said earnestly: "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I am just relying on your majesty's majesty to do my duty. This voyage is all thanks to the soldiers' dedication and God's blessing on the Ming Dynasty. I only hope that the court can take this as an opportunity to open up sea routes, exchange what we have with other countries, and make the prestige and virtue of the Ming Dynasty spread far and wide!"

As soon as Tang He finished speaking, there was a burst of discussion in the court.

The assistant minister of the Ministry of War was the first to step forward and said, "Your Majesty, what Duke Xin said is absolutely right! Although the Japanese pirates have been pacified, the maritime trade routes are still occupied by foreign barbarians. If we can set up garrisons and station naval forces on the islands of the South Seas, we can not only protect the merchant ships, but also deter rebellious people!"

The Minister of Works frowned and retorted: "It is very costly to station troops overseas, and there are malaria rampant in the wild lands. I am afraid it is not a long-term solution."

Upon hearing this, Tang He responded calmly: "During this voyage, I have found that the ports in Brunei and Sumatra are deep enough to accommodate large ships. If we choose to build cities in strategic locations, cultivate land for self-sufficiency, and use the navy for patrols, the cost can be controlled. We can also follow the system of the Western Regions Protectorate of the Han and Tang Dynasties, using merchants to support the army and using the army to protect merchants."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked deep in his eyes and said slowly, "Your plan is indeed worth considering. However, this matter concerns the foundation of the country, so we need to think about it carefully."

After the court session ended, Zhu Yuanzhang kept Tang He alone in the Jinshen Hall to talk.

The attendant served him fragrant tea, and Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip and said calmly, "Did you encounter any danger on your long voyage?"

Tang He smiled bitterly: "Storms and pirates are common, but the most dangerous thing is that the crew members are infected with the plague, which kills three out of ten. Fortunately, the Imperial Hospital prepared the plague-proof pills, which kept the main force safe."

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed, "The sea is dangerous, how could I not know? However, there is a lot of resistance in the court to opening up the sea. The powerful people in Zhejiang and Fujian secretly communicate with foreign merchants. If the court openly expands the sea, it may affect their interests."

Tang He said sternly: "Your Majesty, blocking is worse than opening. If you ban private trade and promote official trade, the benefits will go to the national treasury; if you close the sea and defend yourself, pirates will run rampant. The prosperity of the Han and Tang dynasties was due to the access to all directions. Now that the Ming Dynasty has a well-trained army and sufficient food, it is time to open the sea and show its power!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a long time, and finally nodded: "You should go and take a rest first. Three days later, I want to read your "Navigation Notes" in person."

Three days later, Tang He presented the nautical chart and navigation notes he had drawn himself. The chart marked reefs, ocean currents, ports, and even recorded the customs and military preparations of various countries. Zhu Yuanzhang read it carefully and suddenly clapped his hands: "Great! With this detailed map, our Ming navy will be even more powerful!"

The next day, the imperial edict was issued:
The "Nanyang Xuanwei Office" was established to manage the newly opened shipping routes;
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He ordered the Fujian Navy to expand and be responsible for escort missions;
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Private merchant ships are allowed to go out to sea with a permit and are subject to a 30% tax.

(End of this chapter)