The Ming Dynasty: The opening scene features Zhu Di angrily accusing him of illegitimate succession.

Zhu Di's question landed like a heavy hammer, resounding with conviction.

Lin Yue, however, did not care at all. He stepped forward and pointed to the map on the table, saying with certainty, "Your Majesty is far-sighted. There is really no need to worry."

"The ancients thought the Western Regions and the South Seas were far away because the land routes were rugged and the boats were rudimentary, but things are different now!"

As we all know, places that were very far away for ancient dynasties become less so after the development of technology, especially overseas territories.

The cost of sea transport will become increasingly lower than that of land transport, and the cost of maintaining overseas territories may actually be lower than the cost of maintaining territories deep inland.

Lin Yue peered at the map, casually pointing to the coastline: "With the current shipping capabilities of our Great Ming Dynasty, the cost of a 3,700-li waterway journey from Suzhou and Songjiang to Zhangjiawan is comparable to the cost of a 60-li land journey from Tongzhou to Beijing, and sea freight is even 30% cheaper than river transport!"

Lin Yue turned to Zheng He and said, "Isn't Your Majesty planning to establish a treasure shipyard in Nanjing? Maritime transport is far superior to land transport by carriage and horse. We only need to order craftsmen to build larger and more stable ships, which will greatly enhance overseas trade and bring huge profits."

As long as the ships are large and the transport capacity is extensive, the cost of maintaining overseas fiefdoms is even lower than that of controlling the land-based vassal kings in the northern and southwestern regions!

Zhu Di nodded slightly, but quickly countered with a question: "So what if the cost is low?"

If they insist on rebelling, are we to have the navy stationed overseas year after year, or even directly attack overseas vassal states?

No matter how large the Ming fleet was, transporting provisions and weapons was ultimately inconvenient. They could afford the costs, but the Ming court could not.

"Waste it out? Fight it? Why waste it out? Why fight it?" Lin Yue chuckled.

"Your Majesty only needs to maintain a navy that far surpasses that of all other countries, and appoint a general to control the key sea routes. Then all the overseas vassal states will have no choice but to obediently submit to the rule of the Ming Dynasty."

If they obey, let them make a fortune on the shipping routes; if they dare to rebel, all it takes is for the navy to blockade the ports and cut off their trade. Within six months, they will be starving and their equipment will be rusted.

Zhu Di's eyes flickered slightly, clearly somewhat persuaded, yet doubts remained: "How do you know they necessarily depend on trade with the Ming Dynasty? What if they are self-sufficient?"

"Self-sufficient?" Lin Yue seemed to have heard a huge joke and turned to look at Zheng He in the corner.

"Eunuch Zheng, have you ever heard of Luzon (the Philippines) overseas? The natives there do not farm, are good at climbing, and live by hunting and gathering wild fruits. Their lives are so primitive that they don't even know how to make fire and cook."

Actually, there are many people who can't cook, but very few who can. The situation in neighboring Korea at that time was not much different. There are records from the Ming Dynasty that they roasted pigs, which was really ridiculous.

The pigs are not bled, their internal organs are not removed, and they are not even killed. They are directly roasted live pigs over charcoal. If a pig escapes halfway through the roasting process, a group of people have to catch it and roast it again. This is enough to make pig lovers weep.

Seeing Zhu Di's signal, Zheng He stepped forward, bowed, and said, "That is indeed the case."

I have heard from overseas merchants that the native inhabitants of Luzon are short in stature, the tallest being no more than four feet tall, with skin as black as charcoal. They are skilled at climbing cliffs and trees, and live by wild fruits, fishing, and hunting. They do not know the five grains, nor do they know how to weave; they are truly ignorant and uncivilized.

Lin Yue clapped his hands: "If Luzon is like this, then the islands in the South Pacific further west and the remote deserts further north are either inhabited by uneducated natives or barren lands with extremely limited resources!"

The royal family members of the vassal state have been living in luxury since childhood. How could they be like the natives who eat raw meat and drink blood?

To maintain a decent life and to support their army and expand their territory, they needed the Ming Dynasty's salt, iron, grain, and weapons; they needed to acquire wealth through maritime trade. This was their fatal weakness—they could never escape the control of the imperial court!

Lin Yue looked at Zhu Di, his tone somewhat persuasive: "Your Majesty, imagine that the overseas vassal states are like vines clinging to the great tree of the Ming Dynasty. Trade routes are the nutrients, and the navy is the protective barrier."

They can draw nutrients and grow strong by following the vines, but once they try to break away from the tree, they will immediately wither and die.

The imperial court doesn't need to expend too much effort; simply stationing elite troops in key areas, having the Ming navy patrol regularly, and having the Imperial Clan Court send envoys to supervise tribute collection are enough to maintain firm control over the entire situation.

"On the other hand, the inland princes occupy rich and prosperous lands, with cities to defend, provisions to rely on, and a large number of Ming people who are skilled in commerce and industry. It is their rebellion that can truly shake the foundation of the country."

Lin Yue then changed the subject, saying, "The overseas vassal states are far from the Central Plains. Even if they have rebellious intentions, by the time they gather their troops and prepare provisions, the imperial navy will have already blockaded their ports and cut off their external support."

Even if they couldn't completely annihilate the overseas princes, at most they would establish their own independent territories; they couldn't cross the vast ocean to attack the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Di slowly traced the islands of Southeast Asia on the map, his doubts gradually dissipating and replaced by an irrepressible excitement.

Having spent half his life in battle, Emperor Yongle understood the principle of defeating the enemy at their vital points. Lin Yue's proposed method for controlling maritime trade was indeed very valuable.

His gaze was fixed intently on the map, as if he could already see the Ming imperial family setting sail and establishing vassal states overseas, with the Ming flag flying over the vast seas.

And he, Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, will prove himself completely and become the Ming Taizong Emperor who will be praised for all ages!

Theoretically speaking, this approach is feasible.

The premise is that Zhu Di will not be changed to Emperor Chengzu of Ming by Emperor Jiajing.

"Using the navy to control the vassal states is a good idea." Zhu Di chuckled a few times, his face beaming with delight.

"Lin Yue, although you are arrogant, you always say surprising things. If this matter succeeds, it will expand our territory by thousands of miles and solve the problem of Zong Lu. This will be a great achievement for you."

Lin Yue remained unmoved. It was merely a compliment from the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He might as well just kill him; it would be more appealing for him to return to his homeland.

His eyes darted around, and he suddenly offered his advice.

"Your Majesty flatters me. What I seek is not rank or emolument, but only the long-term stability and peace of the Ming Dynasty."

Now that the strategy of controlling the vassal states with the navy has been decided, there is still one matter that I must speak of.

For the sake of the Ming Dynasty's stability and prosperity, Your Majesty should establish an heir as soon as possible!

Zhu Di's smile froze instantly.

Lin Yue of the ditch, give me back the appreciation I just gained!

Lin Yue completely disregarded the emperor's changing expression and spoke with increasing force.

"In the past, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, shed blood at Xuanwu Gate, brothers killing each other, a regrettable event for all time!"

His Majesty has been on the throne for a long time, but the position of Crown Prince remains undecided. His sons are vying for power, and factions are gradually emerging in the court.

"Your Majesty was already accused of usurping the throne by vassal kings during the Jingnan Rebellion. If you allow the princes to fight for the throne now, internal strife will surely arise one day, and the tragedy of Xuanwu Gate Incident may be repeated in the Ming Dynasty!"

"Shut up!" Zhu Di's face darkened abruptly.

The matter of choosing an heir was something he repeatedly avoided mentioning. Zhu Gaochi was kind but obese and sickly, while Zhu Gaoxu was brave but domineering. Zhu Di himself was not particularly satisfied with either of them.

Most importantly, in the first year of the Yongle reign, Zhu Di really couldn't do without his second son, Zhu Gaoxu. He was in Nanjing, and if there was another rebellion outside, Zhu Gaoxu was the only choice to lead the troops.

As for Qiu Fu, Zhu Neng, and others, let's not even mention them.

The Ming Dynasty's Collected Statutes, Volume 27, on the Grand Canal, records: "The cost of transporting one shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain from Jiangnan to Zhangjiawan is approximately three qian (a unit of currency); the cost of transporting it by land from Tongzhou to the capital granary is also three qian."