Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

"Such a large area, just for defense?"

"Is it to build a defensive perimeter?"

The courtiers found the three-sided, three-chain defensive line drawn by the emperor quite strange.

They never expected the defensive line to extend so far.

But regardless, the emperor gave his reasons:
Reclaiming the former territories of the Han and Tang dynasties and preventing threats from threatening our borders can be considered a justified act, not an unjustified expansion of territory.

The civil officials in the court, in particular, understood the emperor's thoughts and felt more confident.

They weren't afraid of the emperor fighting wars; what they feared was the emperor acting arbitrarily, even without a clear objective or limit.

Now, the emperor has given the reason of building a defensive perimeter around the land. Whether they believe it or not, they will treat this expansion as an extension of the defensive line.

Grand Secretary Han Kuang said:

"A three-sided, three-chain defense line cannot be built overnight."

"I request that we work with the Privy Council and the Court of Colonial Affairs to formulate a plan to include these areas in the defense perimeter."

Zhu Youjian nodded in approval and praised:

"The Grand Secretary is indeed dedicated to his duties."

“Building a three-sided, three-chain defense line is not just a military matter.”

"The Grand Secretary also needs to lead the Planning and Development Commission to cooperate with the Privy Council to comprehensively consider various matters."

"What I want to build is a stable and sustainable defense perimeter, not one like the Tang Dynasty, which had to withdraw its troops as soon as its national strength weakened."

This was a high demand, and Han Kuang didn't know what to do for a moment.

But he had no way out and could only agree to the emperor's request.

Privy Councilor Yuan Keli then said:

"The nine border defense lines should be built without any problems, and they can be completed one after another within ten years."

"However, the long-distance border defense line cannot be built in a short time. It may take a hundred years to solidify this defense line."

Zhu Youjian didn't pay much attention to the west; the purpose of establishing the three-border defense line was mainly to eliminate the threat from the north.

So he very generously said:

"Just do your best!"

"As long as we continue to expand westward, I believe that one day this defensive line will be built."

Then, pointing to the sea, he said:
"What I am more worried about now is coastal defense."

"The Netherlands and Spain are both Western countries, thousands of miles away, yet they have reached the very doorstep of the Ming Dynasty."

"If we do not take the threats at sea seriously, hundreds of years from now, the prosperous coastal areas of the Ming Dynasty may be in danger everywhere."

"The three-chain defense line must be built to secure the Ming Dynasty's maritime borders."

This brings us back to the original topic: conquering Japan and bringing it under the ruling order.

Yuan Keli, worried that the emperor was being too hasty, advised him:

"Now that the Jurchens have just been driven out, the troops in the Northeast must not only continue to pursue them, but also pacify the local areas and stabilize the region."

"The available troops were also transferred to Annam."

"I believe that if we want to conquer Japan, we need to first settle things in the South Seas."

Zhu Youjian nodded with a smile. He preferred his ministers to focus on the facts rather than argue endlessly with him over trivial matters.

He addressed Yuan Keli and other officials, saying:
"In the past, before Zheng He went to the Western Ocean, he first went to the Eastern Ocean to intimidate the Japanese, and appointed Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, as the King of Japan and signed the Khwarazm Trade Treaty."

"At that time, his fleet consisted of about two hundred ships, including about forty or fifty large ships."

"This expedition against Japan also needs to be of this scale. Once the total number of large ships such as cruisers in the navy reaches fifty, then civilian ships will be requisitioned to jointly attack Japan."

The reason for such caution was that Zhu Youjian not only needed to conquer Japan, but also wanted to take this opportunity to vigorously develop the navy.

In an era when even the Spanish Armada only had 74 ships of 500 tons or more, 50 large ships were enough to put the Ming Dynasty navy into the first-class category.

With this strength, expelling the Dutch and Spanish was a matter of course. Their fleet in the South Seas certainly didn't reach that number.

The courtiers also understood the emperor's subtext, knowing that after his voyages to the East, he wanted to embark on another voyage to the West.

Cheng Jiming couldn't help but advise:

"Your Majesty, ocean voyages are exhausting and costly, and cannot continue indefinitely."

"To build a three-chain defense line, it is necessary to set up garrisons on the islands, with the vassal states serving as a barrier."

Zhu Youjian frowned slightly, but still expressed his approval, saying:
"Supplies are scarce on the island, so they need to be transported there by ship."

"Naval ships need to travel to and from the garrisons on the island chain to deliver supplies and conduct trade." "Fifty large ships may seem like a lot to you, but I'm afraid they won't be enough. We'll build more as needed in the future."

"It should be noted that Western maritime powers such as the Netherlands and Spain each have more than a hundred warships and more than three thousand cannons."

"If the Ming Dynasty wants to reach the standard of being one of the two great powers, it needs to build at least three hundred warships."

Adhering to the principle of being lenient in assessing the enemy, Zhu Youjian stated this number.

Those ministers who were knowledgeable about the navy were all taken aback.

Because according to the current cost of building a third-class cruiser, the cost of one ship is 24200 taels.

If all three hundred warships were built as cruisers, it would cost 726 million taels.

This costs more than the entire annual cost of building nine ships, and that's just for shipbuilding.

If you include the soldiers on board, the dock where they are moored, the shipyard for repairs, etc., the total cost will be at least several times higher.

Especially in the emperor's plan, third-class cruisers were only the lowest-level warships, and the cost would double if larger warships were built in the future.

Even Navy Minister Yu Anxing couldn't help but say:
"Your Majesty, warships carry little cargo, so building more warships is not cost-effective."

"I believe we should still build treasure ships. A 500-ton treasure ship would only cost 2500 taels."

"Ten treasure ships equipped with cannons would be more powerful than a single warship."

“Three hundred treasure ships are enough to control the sea frontier, and the cost is only 75 taels.”

Zhu Youjian scratched his head at the thought of such a cheap price.

Because he truly hadn't expected that gaining control of China's sea lanes would be so easy and so inexpensive—

The cost difference between cruisers and treasure ships was simply too great, a tenfold difference.

Moreover, if there is no war, treasure ships with more cargo would be more practical.

However, considering future development, it is still necessary to build cruisers and develop battleships. Zhu Youjian said:
"Cruisers must be built, and their number must be no less than the number of warships that Western countries have brought to China, nor less than the number of warships of any other country."

"The total tonnage of the Ming Dynasty's navy should still maintain the standard of two strong nations, exceeding the total tonnage of the two navies ranked behind it."

"The strongest naval powers at present are the Netherlands and England. Our mission has been to both countries. After Sun Yuanhua returns to the capital, he is to report the number of warships of both countries."

"Then, with this number as the target, we will catch up with the two countries within ten years, and conquer Japan, drive out Spain and the Netherlands, and build the first island chain defense line."

"Achieve the two-strong standard within twenty years, build the second island chain defense line, and explore the third island chain."

Apart from Java, the second island chain consists mostly of uninhabited islands, making development relatively easy.

However, the third island chain is more difficult because Zhu Youjian included the Indian subcontinent, Ceylon, Oceania, and even North America, South America, and Africa in this island chain as an outer defense line.

The development of Oceania was not particularly difficult, but regarding India, Zhu Youjian specifically warned:
"As far as I know, the Mughal Empire currently exists in India, possessing the strength of a four-star hegemon."

"There were also outposts set up by Western countries along the coast, where they colonized and developed the land."

"If the Ming Dynasty wants to control this region, there will inevitably be fierce battles."

"If North America and South America are included in the third island chain, then we also need to deal with the whole of Spain."

"The navy must be strengthened to meet the standards of a two-power navy."

The courtiers were completely bewildered. Some, upon hearing that India was such a troublesome country, even considered moving India out of the third island chain.

However, Cheng Jiming saw the emperor's firm stance on this point, and if he further angered the emperor, trouble might arise.

He hurriedly spoke up:

"Your Majesty, I believe that a plan should be formulated for the construction of the sea defense line and how to build ships."

"To ensure the implementation of the plan, the parliament can vote on and enact relevant legislation to allocate a corresponding budget for the construction of the defense line and the cost of shipbuilding."

"Only in this way can the plan be implemented in the long term and will not be changed frequently."

This suggestion was exactly what Zhu Youjian wanted to hear.

He thought of the German Navy II, which gained the strength to challenge the British Navy through four naval acts.

The Ming Dynasty's navy also needed the "Naval Act" to promote rapid progress and gain control of China's seas.

So he immediately agreed:
"The Cabinet and the Privy Council together drafted the Naval Act."

"I need to build a fleet capable of conquering Japan within ten years and construct the first island chain defense line."

"The Grand Secretary shall be fully responsible for this matter, and no one shall be allowed to obstruct it."

"Anyone who violates the law will be severely punished without exception."

Cheng Jiming's suggestion was agreed upon, and the first "Naval Law" of the Ming Dynasty was drafted. (End of Chapter)