Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 309 Expanding Territory, Aiming at the Americas!

After staying at Quan Dajie's house for three days, Zhao Yun bid farewell to his uncle's family and began his journey towards Zhongdu.

This route largely avoids the hardships of land travel, focusing mainly on waterways.

We boarded a ship in Shaoxing, traveled along the Zhejiang East Canal to Xixingdu, disembarked at Xixingdu, traveled briefly overland before boarding again to enter the Qiantang River and reach Hangzhou.

Once you arrive in Hangzhou, you can enter the Grand Canal.

Starting from Hangzhou, the route goes through the Jiangnan Canal to Yangzhou, then through the Yangzhou Canal to Huai'an, through the Huaihe and Sishui Rivers to Jining, through the Jizhou River to Dongping, through the Huitong River to Linqing, through the Imperial River to Zhigu (Tianjin), through the North Canal to Tongzhou, and finally through the Tonghui River to the outskirts of Zhongdu City.

Gazing at the magnificent sight of thousands of sails gathering near the dock, their vessels covering the water, Zhao Yun couldn't help but sigh, "Everyone says the Sui Dynasty perished because of this river, yet to this day, its waters flow for thousands of miles. Although this canal was one of the reasons for the Sui Dynasty's downfall, it truly benefits future generations!"

Caohe is the ancient name for the Grand Canal.

Yelü Xuan shook his head slightly and said, "The canal you see is quite different from the canal built by Emperor Yang of Sui."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"Firstly, the Grand Canal that Emperor Yang of Sui dug was about 4,500 li long. This Grand Canal, however, is only 3,500 li long. From Hangzhou to Zhongdu, there is a 1,000-li shorter waterway. The travel time for boats from Hangzhou to Zhongdu can be reduced by about 20%."

Zhao Yun said, "So, it is because His Majesty has undertaken large-scale water conservancy projects, straightening the bends and greatly reducing the distance of the Caohe River?"

Yelü Xuan said, "That's natural. For example, the Huitong River and the Jizhou River are newly excavated waterways used to straighten the canals."

"What about the second?"

"Secondly, when the king conquered all of China, many sections of the Caohe River were silted up and impassable. The king sent people to build water conservancy projects to dredge those silted-up sections, which was a considerable undertaking. Some sections could not be dredged, so new canals were simply built. For example, the Tongji River, which is nearly two hundred miles long between Tongzhou and Zhongdu, was newly built."

Zhao Yun said, "Your Majesty's reconstruction of the Caohe River is a great achievement worthy of being recorded in history. However, compared to Your Majesty's glorious achievements, it is nothing."

On one hand, he was intentionally flattering Zhao Shuo in front of Yelü Xuan; on the other hand, it was also a heartfelt statement.

He was an emperor, so he knew that such a massive project would be a huge burden for a dynasty.

As long as it doesn't incite a large-scale popular uprising, that's something to celebrate.

However, Zhao Shuo's construction of such a project not only did not incite large-scale popular uprisings, but also made China more prosperous.

His ability to govern was truly admirable.

Yelü Xuan said, "Actually, you also deserve credit for this."

"My contribution? What contribution have I made?" Zhao Yun asked in astonishment.

Yelü Xuan said, "In total, didn't you contribute a total of 100,000 Annam slaves? It was thanks to these slaves and the corvée labor of the people in the north that the project to rebuild the canal was completed in seven years."

"Not at all, my little contribution is really not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning at all."

Even so, Zhao Yun's eyes and brows were full of smiles.

He rose from humble beginnings as a commoner in the Song Dynasty to become the emperor. Later, when Zhao Shuo's army pressed in, Zhao Yun voluntarily relinquished his imperial title and led a large army to conquer Annam. However, ignoring Cao Youwen's advice, he suffered a defeat at the Phu Luong River. It was only thanks to Zhao Shuo's support that he was able to regain his former glory.

His life had such dramatic ups and downs that he matured rapidly.

Zhao Yun carefully reflected on the first half of his life and realized that he had done nothing to benefit China, yet he had enjoyed a decade of supreme wealth and honor for nothing.

Now, he suddenly realized that he did have some merit after all!
The Grand Canal, which he had just personally overseen the reconstruction of, owed much to his efforts. This canal tightly connected the southern and northern regions of China. Perhaps future historical records will even mention it.

As for the 100,000 Annamese slaves, I'm afraid there aren't many left now.

What's so special about that?
After Pu Shougeng's rebellion, Zhao Yun's heart had hardened, and he had a deeper understanding of the saying, "Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts."

Isn't it a good thing to use the countless corpses of foreign tribes to forge the glory of China?
Afterwards, Zhao Yun and Yelü Xuan entered Zhongdu City together.

Zhao Shuo was busy with official duties and did not immediately summon Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun stayed at the Huitongguan and, having nothing to do, toured the city of Zhongdu.

It turns out that the most prosperous place in the world is Lin'an.

But now, it is clearly Zhongdu.

This place not only attracts merchants from all over the world, but also high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants from the Zhao Shuo Khanate, with people of all races.

Even more crucially, the towering clock tower, the kerosene lamps chiming through the night, the hot air balloons in the sky, the Zhongdu Library, the Zhongdu Zoo, the Zhongdu Museum... all exude the vibrant and upward spirit of a great nation.

It wasn't until half a month later that Zhao Shuo took the initiative to summon Zhao Yun to the Fish and Algae Hall.

"Zhao Yun pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"No courtesy, please sit down."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the seat."

Zhao Yun sat down in the seat that had been prepared for him, not daring to speak first, and waited for Zhao Shuo's instructions.

Zhao Shuo said, "The reason I summoned you to Zhongdu this time is mainly to discuss the issue of your fiefdom."

Zhao Yun quickly expressed his opinion, saying, "Your Majesty has shown me the greatest kindness, so why should we discuss this? As long as Your Majesty issues a decree, I will attack wherever you command me."

"There's no need to rush to express your opinion. Actually, I'm a little undecided myself right now."

As he spoke, Zhao Shuo stood up and pointed to a map behind him, which marked all the lands that Zhao Shuo Khanate had explored so far.

Zhao Shuo said, "The first option is to continue south and attack Champa, where you can establish your own kingdom. Alternatively, you can attack Dali. However, I want the court to continue to directly govern Dali. After conquering Dali, you will still need to continue south and conquer the Burmese territory. Once you reach that place, you can establish your own kingdom."

Dali is what later became known as Yunnan, so Zhao Shuo certainly wouldn't have enfeoffed Zhao Yun there.

Zhao Yun asked, "What's the second option?"

"The second option is here or here."

Zhao Shuo pointed to the map and said, "These two large islands are called Java and Ryushin. Both are over a thousand miles in size, enough for you to establish a country."

The so-called "Liuxin" refers to Luzon Island.

There are reasons why Zhao Shuo chose these two large islands.

According to historical records, after the Battle of Yamen in 1279, Lu Zili, the son of Lu Xiufu, the Left Chancellor of the Southern Song Dynasty, led his followers to flee to the northern coast of Java.

Taking advantage of internal strife among the local inhabitants, Lu Zili seized the Sunta region of Java and declared himself king, intending to rise again. After its establishment, the Kingdom of Sunta maintained relations with the Ming Dynasty, sending envoys to pay tribute in the ninth year of the Yongle reign. The History of Ming records that its other names were Pujialong and Xiagang.

The territory of Shunta was home to a large number of Chinese and Southeast Asian merchants. During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, it was a trade hub in Southeast Asia, and most of its residents came from Guangdong and Zhangzhou and Quanzhou.

It wasn't until the end of the Ming Dynasty that the Kingdom of Shunta was annexed by Spain.

One explanation for the origin of the name Luzon is related to the local language, meaning "wooden rice pounder," referring to the cape-like landform at the entrance to Manila Bay on the island.

Another theory is that after the Battle of Yamen, some Chinese immigrants crossed the sea to this place and re-established the Song Dynasty, which was called Luzon.

In any case, both Java and Luzon have some connection with the Song Dynasty.

In Zhao Shuo's view, Zhao Yun was of average appearance and one shouldn't expect too much from him. Since he had contributed 100,000 Annamese slaves and assisted the Han army in conquering Annam, that was already quite good.

He could have easily led the Song people who followed him to choose one of these two islands to establish a kingdom.

Zhao Yun said, "If I had to choose between these two, I would like to establish a kingdom in Champa. Because I currently have too few Song people under my command. After conquering Dali, I'm afraid I won't be able to advance further south. As for these two large islands, they are probably mostly inhabited by savages. They came too easily. I... I still want to continue expanding the territory of China. May I ask Your Majesty, is there a third option?"

Zhao Shuo said, "The third option is more difficult. However, I will provide you with some support."

Zhao Yun said, "Your Majesty, please speak. I am all ears."

Zhao Shuo pointed to the map again and said, "This is the easternmost archipelago that our country has discovered, named the Wang Dahai Archipelago. This is because this archipelago was discovered by an explorer named Wang Dahai."

"I can provide you with three naval warships. Starting from the Wang Dahai Islands, continue sailing northeast to see if there is a continent like Australia. If you find one, I will grant you a land area with a circumference of three thousand li."

"In addition, I can provide support in terms of food and medicine, and even after the country is established, I will allow you to recruit 100,000 Chinese immigrants there."

The so-called vast islands are the Mariana Islands of later times.

Starting from Ryusei, and with the help of the Kuroshio Current and prevailing winds, the ship will travel north and pass the Mariana Islands.

Then, continuing to sail north with the help of the Kuroshio Current and monsoon winds, the ships would then sail eastward with the help of the westerly winds, crossing the Pacific Ocean to reach Mexico.

This route is not a straight line, but sailing in this era relied heavily on specific wind directions and ocean currents. Although this "tailwind route" was longer, it made better use of the wind system of the Pacific Ocean and was a relatively efficient and safe route for crossing the Pacific Ocean in the age of sail.

In fact, this was the "Manila Galleon" trade route, which had enjoyed a glorious history for 250 years.

This route was also the first global trade route connecting Asia and the Americas.

At that time, large ships from the West were carrying Chinese silk and porcelain, Indian cotton cloth, and newly imported spices to the Americas.

A one-way voyage takes three to six months.

This was an extremely arduous and dangerous journey, with the crew facing a variety of threats, including scurvy, storms, and pirates.

In fact, not to mention the threats at sea, the risks of migrating to the Americas on land were also very high.

Disease, food shortages, and threats from local natives all threatened the lives of the immigrants. For example, in the famous Jamestown famine of 1609-1610, only about 60 of the 600 colonists survived, a mortality rate as high as 90%.

Although the colonists in Europe at that time were mostly thieves, swindlers, criminals, adventurers, and soldiers, lacking farmers and even more so various craftsmen, the unfriendly attitude of the Americas towards immigrants is evident.

Therefore, Zhao Shuo needs Zhao Yun to provide some support.

Now, it's up to Zhao Yun to decide: will he become the Zhan Song? Or the Mo Song? Or will he change his mind and become the Luzon or Java Song?

Zhao Yun thought for a moment and said, "I would like to ask Your Majesty to grant me permission to stay in Annam for five years. If I have not discovered any new land by then, I will attack Champa and establish a kingdom there. If I discover new land within five years, I will expand the territory of my China and establish a kingdom on the new continent."

That's exactly what Zhao Yun thought.

Firstly, the discovery of the vast island would have already earned him the title of duke. Clearly, the discovery of a new continent was far more meritorious than conquering Champa, which the Zhao Shuo Khanate could have easily captured.

Secondly, it is obvious that Zhao Shuo will not support Zhao Yun in attacking Champa, and Zhao Yun will have to fight on his own.

Zhao Shuo would support the establishment of a nation on the new continent.

Strengthening ties with the Zhao Shuo Khanate was the most important thing for the Song Dynasty.

Zhao Yun knew very well who was in charge.

Thirdly, it is related to Zhao Yun's vision.

During his campaign in Annam, Zhao Yun witnessed a culture and customs distinct from those of China. The kangaroos and Tasmanian wolves (now extinct) he saw at the Zhongdu Zoo were particularly awe-inspiring.

He longed to discover a new continent, to see what kind of customs and traditions it had, what kind of rare and exotic flora and fauna it possessed.

Transforming completely foreign land into fertile ground for Chinese civilization is a meritorious deed.

"very good."

Zhao Shuo was very pleased that Zhao Yun chose to discover a new continent.

After all, the imperial court didn't even have enough nobles to fill the immigration quota to Australia. As for immigration to the Americas, Zhao Shuo simply didn't have the manpower to spare.

Zhao Shuo had two goals: one was to enable both the Chinese and the Mongols to live a good life, and the other was to enable both the Chinese and the Mongols to conquer all the land in the world.

But now, Zhao Shuo has realized that these two goals are in conflict in the short term.

It's a very simple principle: the main force of immigrants is, of course, the Chinese. However, the better the lives of ordinary Chinese people are, the lower their willingness to emigrate becomes.

Now, fewer and fewer people are signing up to immigrate. The lords are hiring people to develop their land, and the wages they pay are getting higher and higher.

Therefore, Zhao Shuo felt increasingly that time was of the essence and hoped that in his lifetime, the Han and Mongol people would have almost completely conquered the world.

Otherwise, things will probably get even more difficult in the future.

Zhao Yun's willingness to lead those remnants of the Song Dynasty to Champa to become kings, or to Java or Luzon, would align with Zhao Shuo's goals.

Now that Zhao Yun is willing to venture into the Americas, he is even more pleased to see it happen.

Zhao Shuo said, "Among your Song army, there are quite a few men who are excellent swimmers, aren't there? After returning to Annam, you should form a small navy. I will issue an edict to have the navy under the Black Banner assist you. Then, you can sail westward, and all the ports along the way will be taken care of. As for whether you can discover a new continent, that depends on your fate."

Zhao Yun bowed deeply once more and said, "Your subject will do his utmost to live up to Your Majesty's expectations!"

(End of this chapter)