Bringing the Railway to Daming

Among the various foreign tribes overseas, Zhu Zhen, the Prince of Chu, who was closest to the Ming Dynasty's mainland, was the first to return to the Ming capital.

Even so, it was more than a month later when Zhu Zhen arrived in the capital, and the year was January of the sixth year of Yongle (1411).

After Zhu Zhen paid his respects to Zhu Xiong Ying, he observed a seven-day and seven-night mourning period in front of the Xiaoling Mausoleum. Although he did not stay awake, but slept in a room specifically designated for mourning in front of the Xiaoling Mausoleum, he still looked much more haggard after seven days.

Zhu Xiong Ying came to persuade him personally, and only then did Zhu Zhen end his mourning period—he understood that as the first overseas prince to arrive in the capital, he had to set an example for the other overseas princes.

The length of his mourning period will determine the length of mourning periods other vassal kings will also be observed.

As overseas vassal kings and rulers of their own countries, they could not possibly leave their vassal states for too long. Therefore, observing a three-year mourning period like ordinary people would be impossible; even three months would be considered too long.

After all, Zhu Xiong Ying, as the eldest grandson of Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, only observed a 49-day mourning period, and he did so while handling state affairs.

Therefore, it was appropriate for Zhu Zhen, the vassal king who set an example, to observe a seven-day mourning period.

As for other vassal kings who wanted to observe mourning for longer, that was their business; in any case, it couldn't be shorter than seven days.

After resting for three days, Zhu Zhen went to the palace again to pay his respects to Zhu Xiong Ying. Soon after, a eunuch summoned Liu Kuan to the palace.

Liu Kuan arrived at Fengxian Hall, paid his respects to Zhu Xiong Ying and Zhu Wen Yao, and then looked at Zhu Zhen.

Although the King of Chu was 47 years old, he had not gained much weight compared to when he set sail to establish his fiefdom twenty years ago (in the 23rd year of the Hongwu reign). His hair and beard were still jet black. It was unclear whether he had taken good care of himself or dyed his white hair black.

However, compared to his younger days, Zhu Zhen was noticeably darker-skinned. This suggests that although the King of Chu was the ruler of a vassal state, he did not live a life of luxury and ease, but rather frequently went to the countryside.

"Meet His Royal Highness the King of Chu."

Zhu Zhen smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "Greetings, Duke of Ningguo."

Liu Kuan then looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and asked, "I wonder what Your Majesty has summoned me for?"

Zhu Xiong Ying said, "It was Uncle Chu who asked me to bring the teacher over, saying that he had some things to ask him."

Zhu Zhen then added, "Over the years of governing the Chu region, I have indeed accumulated some doubts, and I hope that the Duke of Ningguo can offer some guidance based on his experience from later generations..."

Then, Zhu Zhen began to talk about the current situation of the State of Chu.

Because Zhu Zhen initially chose to take up his fiefdom in the South China Sea, which is full of islands, he granted the State of Chu the special privilege of not including its maritime territory in its territorial calculations. This is why the State of Chu was later able to join the Ming Dynasty in attacking the Majapahit Kingdom and dividing its territory.

Therefore, the territory of the Chu Kingdom did not stop at southeastern Borneo and East Java, but expanded considerably over a period of twenty years.

However, because the Ming Dynasty established the Hainan Province, the Hailong Commandery, and the Luzon Commandery, and also set up garrisons on Borneo, the Chu Kingdom did not expand its territory to the west, and its territory in the southeastern corner of Borneo only expanded slightly.

Its main purpose was to bring the islands around East Timor, which would later become part of the Savo Sea, under its control. It also established prefectures and counties on the southern peninsula of Sulawesi and set up pioneering camps in the archipelago in southeastern Sulawesi. Its influence extended all the way to the southwestern coast of Papua Island.

It can be said that the eastern Java Sea, the Flores Sea, and the Banda Sea in later generations almost all became inland seas of the Chu Kingdom!

However, these islands and territories are mostly located in tropical regions, and reclaiming land on these islands dominated by tropical jungles is indeed quite difficult.

Therefore, although the territory of the Chu Kingdom is not small, the development of the Chu Kingdom's prefectures, counties, and pioneering camps on islands such as Sulawesi is relatively average, at least not as good as Zhu Zhen expected.

Of course, a country's development is not only determined by its territory, but also by its population, economy, military, technology, commerce, and other aspects.

"Currently, my Chu vassal state has more than 300,000 Han Chinese, more than 100,000 people from Japan and Korea who have been registered as citizens, and nearly 100,000 people from India who have been bought from the Qi and Yan vassal states over the years."

"After that, there were white people purchased from the Jin vassal state and four other vassal states in Europe, including Daining, which numbered around 100,000."

"Finally, there are the natives of the islands of Southeast Asia who have been granted citizenship, totaling more than three million people. Therefore, the total population of Chu Province today is probably close to four million."

Upon hearing Zhu Zhen's words, a strange light flashed in Zhu Xiong Ying's eyes. According to the intelligence gathered by the Guangming Guard he had sent to Chu, Chu's population was indeed around four million.

Although Zhu Zhen did not conceal the population of the Chu vassal state, Zhu Xiong Ying still felt that the population of the Chu vassal state was growing too fast. It should be noted that the Chu vassal state was the closest to the mainland of the Ming Dynasty, and even shared Java Island with the Hainan Province of the Ming Dynasty.

If the Chu vassal state becomes too powerful in the future and becomes increasingly alienated from the Ming Dynasty, it could become a major threat.

However, Zhu Xiong Ying still had a smile on her face and did not reveal her thoughts at all.

After Zhu Zhen finished explaining the current situation of the Chu Kingdom, Zhu Xiong Ying said, "Uncle Chu, although Borneo and Yanzhou (the Ming Dynasty's general term for Sulawesi and the Papua Islands at this time) are densely forested and not so easy to cultivate into arable land to support the people, the islands are very rich in timber, fur, and mineral resources."

"Otherwise, where would the King of Chu have gotten the money to buy so many people from India and Europe all these years, and even relocate a lot of people from Korea and Japan? Isn't that right?"

Zhu Zhen said, "Your Majesty may not know this, but our Chu vassal state has indeed profited a lot from the reclamation of the islands in recent years, and it has even become a pillar of the vassal state's economy."

"But according to later generations, this is a way to make a profit by exporting various raw materials and resources, which is by no means a long-term solution."

Zhu Xiong Ying said, "It's perfectly normal for a vassal state to start accumulating wealth by exporting raw materials and resources. With wealth and population, the vassal state can develop in all other aspects. What is there for Uncle Chu to worry about?"

Zhu Zhen sighed and said, "Your Majesty, apart from a few islands such as eastern Java and East Timor that are suitable for farming and raising people, the Chu Kingdom is really not suitable in other places."

"Now that the twenty-year restriction period for the Chu vassal state has expired, I hope to send people to the northern part of the Australian continent to cultivate land and graze livestock."

Australia continent...
Whether it was Zhu Xiong Ying, Liu Kuan, or even Zhu Wen Yao, they all understood the purpose of Zhu Zhen's previous complaints—to get the court to allow the Chu vassal state to enter the Australian continent!

Currently, only a few supply depots and observation posts have been established on the Australian continent during the few times the Pacific exploration fleet passed through; there are no pioneering camps. It can be said that the Australian continent is still virgin territory for the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Xiong Ying was already wary of the Chu Kingdom, so how could he allow the Chu Kingdom to advance into the Australian continent?

Therefore, Zhu Xiong Ying quickly shook his head and said, "Uncle Chu, Australia is a fiefdom prepared by the court—Uncle Chu also knows that there are fewer and fewer suitable places for fiefdoms on Earth these days."

"Besides, the territory of Chu is already quite large, so why insist on entering the Australian continent?"

Zhu Zhen looked disappointed and said, "If Your Majesty does not allow the Chu vassal state to enter Australia, please allow the Chu vassal state to continue its eastward expansion, and even to take over all of Yanzhou."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kuan felt a pang of worry for Zhu Zhen, thinking to himself: This King of Chu really dares to speak so boldly.

Zhu Xiong Ying was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said, "If Uncle Chu wants to expand eastward, then just go ahead and do it. As for whether he can occupy all of Yanzhou, that depends on the development of the Chu vassal state."

Zhu Zhen said, "It's good that Your Majesty has said this."

Subsequently, Zhu Zhen consulted Liu Kuan on some governance issues concerning the Chu vassal state.

For example, should the mining industry in vassal states be allowed to be contracted to private entities? Zhu Zhen did not want the private sector to access some important mineral resources, but he also felt that relying solely on official mining was too slow.

For example, how can we encourage the native Javanese to reclaim land in the islands of Yanzhou? Compared to Han Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Indians, and Europeans, the native Javanese are clearly more adapted to the geography and climate of Yanzhou and have an advantage in land reclamation.

Unfortunately, compared to the population of Chu, the territory of Chu is now quite large, and the natives do not lack land, so they have little incentive to reclaim wasteland.

Regarding the former, Liu Kuan suggested opening up mining rights for minerals other than national strategic minerals such as gold, silver, copper, iron, and sulfur to the private sector, and encouraging private mining with relatively low taxes.

The development of the mining industry can drive industrial development and also promote the development of the islands.

Regarding the second question, Liu Kuan suggested that China should follow the example of Britain in the past and issue a "reclamation order".

People who cultivate land on designated islands can have absolute usage rights to that land for twenty to thirty years, provided the cultivated land does not exceed a certain area. This means that during this period, all resources on that land are at their disposal. In other words, they can freely convert these resources into their wealth. (End of Chapter)