It is a rare thing to be able to feed 60 to 70% of the people. This is because the people were sparse after the great chaos. If all the land in the Ming Dynasty was cultivated, it should be able to feed 80 to 90% of the people. But that is an ideal state.
In reality, losses in all aspects must be considered, and there will be uncertain natural disasters in the future. Farming is a simple job there, but it is not too late to develop ships suitable for ocean trade as soon as possible. This is why Zhu Biao gathered so many shipwrights.
At this time, the imperial court had not completely banned the sea, and in order to resist the Japanese pirates, Zhu Biao had to strike while the iron was hot and make as many preparations as possible.
Time passed unknowingly, and finally arrived at Fuzhou Prefecture. After Zhu Biao got off the boat, he finally saw Tang Ding. He followed a group of officials to welcome Zhu Biao's arrival.
There were three marquises from the Fuzhou prefecture, and there were many officials behind them. They all knelt down and saluted: "I and other generals respectfully welcome His Royal Highness, Your Highness Qianqiu."
Zhu Biao still felt the ground shaking when he was standing on the ground. It was like this just after getting off the boat. He was used to it. He slowly walked up to them and waved: "Everyone, get up."
Marquis Jinghai, who was following Zhu Biao, began to introduce the group of people. The Marquis headed by him was his brother Wu Liang, Marquis of Jiangyin. Zhu Biao smiled and praised a few words. The two brothers did a good job indeed.
As usual, there was another banquet. Zhu Biao went to bed early in the evening. After all, sailing is also very tiring. He summoned Tang Ding early the next morning. After all, he was the one who arranged it.
Tang Ding was in trouble. He was about to salute the prince recently. Zhu Biao waved his hand to excuse him and asked directly: "Is it effective for me to ask you to take charge of the most elite troops along the coast?"
Although Zhu Biao asked, he already had an answer. After all, the former coastal military officer was his father, and Tang Ding was under the order of the prince, so he could naturally take over the coastal elite.
After that, Tang Ding also participated in several battles against Japanese pirates, and he became much more capable. When he heard Zhu Biao's question, he confidently answered: "The five thousand Fuzhou elites under the general's command are all drawn from the coastal personal guard stations."
The veterans who have come out are elite soldiers and strong generals, ready to die for His Highness at any time!"
Zhu Biao nodded with satisfaction. What's the point of defending? The Japanese can be pirates, so can the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, they are organized and disciplined, but only 5,000 people are a bit less.
But this is Tang He's best effort. After all, Tang Ding is only holding a fifth-grade general position. Taking 5,000 people is considered favoritism. If it weren't for Zhu Biao's order, Tang He would not dare to give his son so many elites.
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Zhu Biao knocked on the table and said, "Do you know why I let you lead so many elites?"
Tang Ding shook his head directly and said: "I don't understand, and I don't need to understand. I can only follow His Highness's orders."
Zhu Biao smiled. The caution of the Lao Tang family can be said to be the same, but this is also an advantage. Zhu Biao said bluntly: "I want you to become a pirate, so use Ryukyu Island as your base to plunder Korea and Japan. If
When I met the Ming Dynasty merchants, I also robbed them."
Tang Ding was stunned, wondering why his well-behaved top noble suddenly wanted to become a pirate. However, his father's instructions before leaving instantly came to his mind, and he bowed to His Highness the Crown Prince and said, "Promise!"
Zhu Biao nodded with satisfaction: "The court will not recognize your existence, and naturally the names here cannot be used. You can decide what you want to call yourself. It doesn't matter. From now on, you will call yourself a pirate from Annan Awa."
Zhu Biao asked Liu Jin to bring out the charts and said: "The charts left by the Yuan Dynasty are not detailed, and there are many small islands where Japanese pirates hide in the ocean that have not been recorded. All you have to do is draw charts while plundering them."
Tang Ding listened carefully to the instructions. Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Go around and plunder him. If possible, put some people in there. Let's see if you have the ability to get the title of king for your Tang family in the future."
That’s it.”
Tang Ding's eyes lit up, and then he quickly put his thoughts back and looked at Japan carefully. Zhu Biao began to talk to him about the matter in detail. In the future, they will never return to the mainland without orders. At most, they will stay here.
Ryukyu, later the island of Taiwan, received supplies from the Ming Dynasty.
The official army and the bandit army are two different things. Because of the idea of the Celestial Empire, many people in the court would not let the army plunder Japan. What's more, Goryeo was still a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, and there was no reason to do so in both circumstances and reason.
Although it is suspected of being covert, it is still useful. The Ming Dynasty cannot support a war, but it can still support a team of ten thousand pirates, not to mention that they can plunder and rob themselves.
Zhu Biao finally gave instructions: "Five thousand people are too few. Take my order and go to Yiwu, Zhejiang to recruit some miners. I heard that the people in that place are tough and are suitable for being pirates."
Tang Ding took the order and left. Zhu Biao called Jinghaihou again. The coastal area was already chaotic enough. Zhu Biao did not recommend adding more fuel to the fire. After all, the Ming Dynasty was vast and rich in resources, and the coastal line could not affect the overall situation. But since my border line is not
Peace, then why are you so comfortable in Japan?
These arrangements must be made clear to the Anti-Japanese Commander-in-Chief, otherwise it will be embarrassing for one's own people to beat one's own people. Wu Zhen had a headache after hearing this, but he did not dare to refute.
Zhu Biao ordered him not to go out to make any noise, and to prepare some shabby boats. He could not let Tang Ding drive the Ming Dynasty fleet out to rob. He would just wait for them to gain some reputation first, and then let Wu Zhen cooperate and get some good boats robbed.
In fact, everyone can think of this kind of trick, but China has been too proud since ancient times, and they are unwilling to use these methods, thinking that it is disrespectful to the dignity of the country. However, Zhu Biao is much more pragmatic. He is aware of modern history. Now
If you don’t seize the time, it will be too late to regret when you are surpassed in the future.
What's more, Zhu Biao made this move not just to deal with Japan. The world is so big that it can be used against any country. Moreover, from a certain point of view, only by looting while walking can the entire ocean be explored.
Otherwise, even if it organized Zheng He's fleet to sail to the West, the Ming Dynasty would not be able to provide them with supplies to explore further places. The farther away from the Ming Dynasty, the more difficult it would be to provide supplies. It would be equivalent to tying a rope to go to sea. How could it be possible to ride the wind and waves?
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And no matter what you do, you need to do dirty work. On the mainland, there are pro-military captains and imperial guards, so such organizations will also be needed on the sea. The British idea is also very useful.
Zhu Biao sorted out the matter and sent it to his father. I believe he would not refuse. After all, the ocean has never been the focus for Zhu Yuanzhang. It doesn't matter if he lets his son play with it. As for whether it is disrespectful, Lao Zhu
But he is a practical person.
Zhu Biao stayed at the Fuzhou Shipyard for the next few days. During this period, he sent many people to Ryukyu to inquire about the situation. Many Han people had settled there and multiplied. After all, they had been discovered by Sun Quan during the Three Kingdoms period.
It can also be seen from here that China has really had no interest in islands since ancient times. If it were placed next to Japan, it would have eaten them like a vicious dog pouncing on its food. However, China dislikes small islands and has never developed them.