Liujiagang.
It was a sunny day and the weather was beautiful.
Hundreds of boats competed on the river, flags covered the sky, and drums and horns sounded. The Ming Dynasty Navy was mighty and majestic, and its military appearance was unprecedented since the founding of the People's Republic of China!
A grand practice banquet is being held at this moment.
Zhu Gaoxu, the Wude Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, personally led hundreds of civil and military officials to arrive here to practice for the naval officers who were about to go to sea!
There is no doubt that the leader of the Navy who went to sea this time was still Navy Admiral Zheng He.
Looking at Zheng He with gray hair on his temples, Zhu Gaoxu couldn't help but sigh.
"Old Zheng, you are too old, why do you have to go in person this time?"
Zheng He was dressed in iron armor and looked extremely excited and high-spirited.
"Your Majesty, you don't know. Ever since I went to sea for the first time, I have felt that the ocean is my destination!"
"In the past few years, the Navy has not gone to sea, and I have been teaching and educating people at the Naval Academy with peace of mind. I thought I could spend the rest of my life just talking about it."
"But it turns out that I am a person who can't sit still. My days in the academy are indeed peaceful and peaceful, but I can't bring myself to feel energetic. I always feel that something is missing, and my life is boring! "
Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu felt dumbfounded.
"You, you, just can't take any time off!"
In fact, this was not just the feeling of Zheng He alone, but the unified thoughts of all the generals of the Ming Dynasty. In terms of future generations, this is the so-called postwar traumatic stress syndrome.
It’s not that they really can’t relax, but that they have long been accustomed to the battlefield life of swords and swords and life-and-death fights. Once they are really disarmed and return to their fields, they will have difficulty integrating into the lives of ordinary people. They will always be depressed. In serious cases, they will even drink alcohol. day.
The best destination for them is to die on the battlefield.
But this is too cruel for every general.
"I understand what you are thinking. You will lead the team in person this time!"
"Don't worry about the Naval War College. I will order people to keep an eye on it. There will definitely be no problems!"
Hearing this, Zheng He's heart suddenly dropped into his stomach.
What he was most worried about was the Naval Academy, which was already on the right track. After all, it was the inheritance of the Ming Dynasty, and there must be no mistakes.
In the past, with Zheng He personally in charge, the Naval Academy developed extremely well, and all standards were very strict. No matter how distinguished the children were, they could not enter the academy as long as they did not pass the academy assessment.
But now that he is gone, only Wang Jinghong is left in the college. Zheng He is really worried that Wang Jinghong will not be able to withstand the pressure.
Fortunately, His Majesty the Emperor has spoken and he will keep an eye on it personally, so there will be no problem in this matter.
"Your Majesty is wise. If this is the case, then I can rest assured!"
Zheng He's heart dropped into his stomach.
After chatting for a while, Zhu Gaoxu gave Nie Xing a look. The latter immediately understood and dispersed all the people, including the important officials in the court, to give His Majesty and Zheng He some time alone.
The two of them strolled to the pier and looked at the brand-new ferocious battleship. Zhu Gaoxu looked a little dazed.
"Zheng He, have you determined the direction this time?"
"I understand that our Ming Navy will head westward and will not return until our strength is exhausted!"
Zheng He immediately said: "At the same time, our navy will occupy key ports and islands along the way, leaving manpower to guard and station, waiting for the Nanyang Navy to come and take over!"
"Well, that's right. Taking it step by step and making steady progress is indeed a good approach!"
Zhu Gaoxu nodded, but did not continue to speak.
Seeing this situation, Zheng He couldn't help but feel suspicious in his heart.
Why did His Majesty the Emperor call it quits?
Could it be that he was not satisfied with his strategy?
This trip of the Ming Dynasty Navy was mainly to start long-distance trade. In addition to the navy officers and soldiers, there was also a delegation of nobles, such as Cheng Guogong Zhu Yong and Wei Guogong Xu Qin. Go do business with those Western countries.
Therefore, this voyage trade was extremely important to the Ming Dynasty.
First, this voyage trade will be related to the income of the royal family. The royal family now supports millions of soldiers of the Ming Dynasty. The pressure is not small. If a new way of making money is not opened up, there will be big trouble sooner or later!
Secondly, in addition to the royal family, there is the Xungui Group. The reason why they were willing to respond to the court's call and give up most of their interests to go to Liaodong to open up wasteland and colonize was just to catch this long-distance trade, so they will not allow this trade. Anything goes wrong.
Thirdly, for navy officers and men, this is their main occupation.
If this new long-distance trade route cannot be opened up, the Ming Navy will be abandoned sooner or later!
The reason is very simple. There are no enemies on the Ming Dynasty sea frontier!
The East China Sea has become the maritime territory of the Ming Dynasty, and even the North American king Zhu Zhanji is now attacking and conquering South America.
Nanyang is guarded by Zhu Gaosui, the Nanyang King, who constantly sends Nanyang naval forces southward in an attempt to expand the territory of his Nanyang King!
So far, it can be said that the entire east coast of Asia is the maritime territory of the Ming Dynasty!
Although this is a good thing, it is also a bad thing!
When a Ming emperor with no enterprising spirit comes to power, what else can the Navy do?
There is no strong enemy or foreign invasion, so why invest so much money into the navy every year to develop it?
Therefore, by that time, the Ming Dynasty Navy will definitely be abandoned!
Because of this, the Navy must now expand new business as soon as possible, and this ocean trade is the key!
Once this is done, the Ming navy will be bound to the Ming royal family forever!
Even if one day the country is in decline and the court reduces financial expenditures, they will reduce the army's salary and will not take action against the navy!
Because the navy can bring them a steady stream of wealth!
All in all, this ocean trade can only succeed, not fail!
Only by success can the royal family get rid of the constraints of civil servants and gentry and completely control the military power!
Only if it succeeds, Xungui Group will fully support the construction of the navy and the development of the Ming Dynasty Navy!
Only by succeeding, the Ming Dynasty Navy will have a way to make a living and will not become an abandoned son!
But why did His Majesty stop at that?
Zheng He was puzzled, and finally he could only take the initiative to speak.
"Your Majesty, do you have any other explanations?"
"Well, although this trip is mainly to open up new routes, focusing on ocean trade, but since we have gone there, let's find a way to find out the reality of those barbarian countries!"
When Zheng He heard this, his scalp was numb with shock!
hiss……
To explore the reality of the barbarian country?
Your Majesty, is he going to start another war?
Zhu Gaoxu looked at him and whispered with a smile: "Your navy has found a way to make a living this time, but the army has not, so bastards like Tan Mao and Zhang Fu have been clamoring for a long time!"
"I have thought about it over and over again. After so many years of cultivation in the Ming Dynasty, it is indeed time to continue to advance westward. At least we must first open up the Western Region and use it as a springboard to enter Central Asia!"
"The core of Timur's empire, the area east of the river, is a sacred land!"
Zheng He was frightened when he heard this, and immediately bowed to accept the order.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, Zheng He understands!"
"This trip will be a complete success and I will live up to His Majesty's grace!"
Zhu Gaoxu laughed and nodded, smiling happily.
The monarch and his ministers parted reluctantly, and finally had a separation.
Under the watchful eyes of the Ming emperors and ministers, Zheng He quickly boarded the ship, then set sail and gradually moved away.
