My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 366: Pirates on the Trail

Xu Da's idea was not approved. Although he was appointed as the commander-in-chief by Zhu Yuanzhang, the idea was too dangerous and he could not implement it by force by using his power, otherwise it would be a disregard for human life and would chill people's hearts.

However, Tang He's suggestion was passed, so everyone began to formulate various tactics around Tang He's ideas.

Although debates are still going on, a consensus is gradually forming in the circle centered on Xu Da, Li Wenzhong and Tang He that new weapons and technologies will inevitably bring about new changes in tactics and strategies.

In fact, as far as Xu Da's personal thoughts were concerned, after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, he wanted to completely destroy the Yuan court and then start to enjoy a comfortable life, compete with others for power and profit in the court, seek a good origin for the descendants of the Xu family, and ensure that the Duke of Wei's Mansion would never fall.

But now, this idea is becoming less and less in his mind. It's not that he is not obsessed with power and wealth, otherwise he would not be trying so hard to buy shares in the Ming Dynasty Maritime Trade Co., Ltd. and try every means to become the first commander of the Ming Dynasty Navy.

However, what he is more concerned about now is how to use new weapons and technologies to research more effective tactics. The previous military books, except for those strategic ideas about strategies, the rest about the deployment of troops, marching and supply, etc., have completely failed to keep up with the development of the times.

With the continuous emergence of new weapons, how to come up with new tactics and strategies also poses a challenge to these veterans of the battlefield.

This made Xu Da realize that what he wanted to do was not fame and fortune or fighting for power, there was much more he could do!

One night, he vaguely mentioned this matter to Li Wenzhong, but unexpectedly, Li Wenzhong had exactly the same idea as him.

Li Wenzhong even boldly mentioned that, in fact, after being named Duke of Cao, his days were actually like walking on thin ice. After the Hu Weiyong case broke out, he became even more cautious.

But now, he no longer has the worries he had before. Why? With the beginning of the Ming Dynasty's reform, he found that he still had a broad scope to use his talents. Outside the Ming Dynasty, there was an endless world waiting for him to conquer.

The two of them got along better and better as they talked, and they chatted all night long. The next day, when Tang He saw them looking listless, he thought they had secretly gone out to drink without inviting him along.

Xu Da and Li Wenzhong were drowsy, only Tang He was chattering non-stop. At this moment, a piece of news brought by the messenger made them suddenly alert.

There were several pirate ships hanging at the tail of the fleet, stealthily following the Ming fleet.

"After waiting for so many days, they finally showed up. Commander, let's shoot them down and try out the battleship's new guns?"

Tang He looked at Xu Da and asked.

Xu Da waved his hand and said, "There's no need to make a fuss about a few shrimp soldiers and crab generals. Order the soldiers on the ship to shoot and drive them away."

Li Wenzhong said: "They should be here to gather intelligence on our army. Are we just going to let them go?"

Xu Da smiled and said, "You two, do you know how the fishermen on the coast catch more fish?"

"We go out to sea during the fishing season, specifically to places with lots of fish, and then..."

As Li Wenzhong was speaking, he and Tang He looked at each other, and they both immediately understood what Xu Da meant.

"Coach, do you mean to catch them all in one fell swoop?"

Xu Da stroked his beard and said, "Yes!"

……

Srivijaya, Palembang, as the largest port city on the island of Sumatra, is a busy city.

Gathered here are sea merchants who travel far and wide. They are called sea merchants, but of course they can also become pirates when necessary. There are even more who are various types of sea smugglers.

Goods from all over the world are traded here every day, including silk, cloth, porcelain, tea, spices, gold, silver, grain, etc., as well as alcohol, which is indispensable for those who make a living on the sea.

Nowadays, in Palembang, even in Srivijaya, Temasek, Johor and the entire Malacca Strait, the most popular liquor is the high-proof liquor produced in the Ming Dynasty.

The liquor here is mostly smuggled from Japan, Ryukyu, Siam, Champa, etc., or looted from passing merchant ships, and its value is comparable to that of gold. In addition to liquor, there is another important cargo, which is frost sugar from the Ming Dynasty. Although frost sugar is not as precious as liquor here, it is much more important than liquor.

Because frosting can sometimes be used as money here.

The reason why so many desperate criminals on the sea choose to gather in Palembang is not only because of its convenient transportation and numerous excellent docks, but also because there is no tax here!
Although Palembang also has its own government officials, everyone who makes a living here knows the actual controller of Palembang, and even the controller of the entire Srivijaya - the prince of a different surname, Chen Zuyi.

They only need to pay a certain percentage of protection fee to Chen Zuyi, and this protection fee is lower than the taxes in most countries.

Of course, more importantly, those who make a living in Srivijaya and Malacca will pluck a handful of feathers from even the passing seagulls. Who dares not to pay tribute to Chen Zuyi?

At this time, at the highest point in Palembang, there was a rather luxurious courtyard that looked like a palace. The style of this courtyard was completely different from other buildings in the city. It was built completely according to the style of the imperial palace of Yuan Dadu in the previous dynasty.

The entire courtyard is magnificent and golden, and the pavilions and terraces are all made of precious nanmu and sandalwood. Even the pillars in the main hall are made of pear wood.

The pillars are inlaid with all kinds of gold, silver and jewels. In addition, there are various ivory products in the house. Everything demonstrates the power and wealth of the owner of this courtyard.

The owner of this courtyard is none other than the pirate king who roamed across Malacca - Chen Zuyi!

In the study, Chen Zuyi stood in front of the desk, carefully looking at a huge nautical chart. On the chart was the entire Malacca and all the surrounding islands, as well as the Ming Dynasty in the north.

The national forces on all the islands were marked. His eyes swept back and forth between the islands and finally fell on the Ming Dynasty.

A cold light flashed in his eyes and he sneered. He wanted to build another empire here, an empire that could compete with the Ming Dynasty.

Chen Zuyi wants to be emperor!
At this time, the servant waiting outside the door said, "Master, Lu Mingda has something urgent to report to you."

"Lü Mingda? Is he back from the sea?"

Chen Zuyi touched his chin. He was quite dissatisfied that his fantasy was interrupted, but when he heard that Lu Mingda was coming, he calmed down a little.

"Let him in!"

Lu Mingda was from Luzon. His original name was too difficult to pronounce, so Chen Zuyi gave him a Chinese name with a similar pronunciation.

Lu Mingda had been responsible for monitoring the movements of the Ming fleet at sea, and it was he who had a brief exchange of fire with the Ming escort force when he was in Temasek.

Therefore, when Chen Zuyi heard that it was him who came, he knew that it was news about the Ming Dynasty, so he asked the servant to call him in.

Lu Mingda walked in, bowed to Chen Zuyi and said:

"I've met the handsome man!"

Chen Zuyi nodded and said, "No need to be polite. You came back from the sea, but did you bring any news from the Ming Dynasty?"

"The Marshal is right!"

Lu Mingda said: "I found a Ming army fleet in the waters near Wanli Shitang, but when I was following them, they drove them away!"

"Expulsion?"

Chen Zuyi glared, and then said with disdain: "It seems that the Ming Dynasty really thinks it is the Celestial Empire. Do you really think that Malacca is so easy?"

(End of this chapter)