The most criticized aspect of the Ming Dynasty in history was Zhu Yuanzhang's isolation policy.
This policy did exist and basically ran through the entire Hongwu Dynasty, but it did have historical significance at the time, as it was to prevent the remnants of Zhang Shicheng's troops who fled into the sea.
In fact, this policy had been basically abolished by the time of Zhu Di. After all, the famous Zheng He's voyages to the West took place during this period.
Zheng He's voyages to the West were not just to promote the majesty of the Kingdom of China, but they could also be understood as a royal-led foreign trade.
It's a pity that such national trade never appeared again with the death of Zheng He in the eighth year of Xuande.
But will foreign trade really stop tomorrow?
Of course not, it’s just that this huge benefit was pocketed by the gentry and bureaucrats on the southeast coast.
Through smuggling, they can obtain huge amounts of silver from foreign trade every year.
Then they used money as a stepping stone to bribe officials and form gangs. After hundreds of years of development, the tentacles of this interest group have spread to almost the entire South China.
When they were most powerful, they even had the ability to intervene in the replacement of the chief minister of the cabinet.
During the Jiajing period, Japanese pirates appeared all over the southeastern coast, and the imperial court continued to suppress them. In the end, it had no choice but to completely close the customs. This was partly due to the secret influence of this huge interest group.
When Zhu Yuanzhang read through the history of the Ming Dynasty, he was keenly aware of the existence of this huge interest group in which officials, businessmen, and gentry participated.
He understood that this group was like a leech lying on the Ming Dynasty constantly sucking blood. If the Ming Dynasty was to be destroyed and reestablished, this leech must be crushed to death.
In the previous year, 70% of the hundreds of wealthy families that Xu Da and Li Wenzhong destroyed were inextricably linked to this group.
For example, the Hua family and Xu family in Songjiang Prefecture both own more than 100,000 acres of mulberry fields and are the main suppliers of smuggled silk overseas.
Of course, the families that Zhu Yuanzhang had wiped out were not the main body of this smuggling-based interest group, but just his branches.
His main body is distributed along the coast, and they are not even a few big families with surnames like the Shanxi merchants. They are large in number and willing to fight fiercely. They are Japanese pirates when they go to sea, and they are good people when they enter the country.
They are hiding among the hundreds of millions of people along the coast of the Ming Dynasty.
This is the fundamental reason why this interest group cannot be eliminated.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew very well that even if he could kill several of the apparent leaders of the group, as long as the main body of the group was not eliminated, the smuggling group would always exist.
"Zheng Sen, has your father thought about it?"
"Our Majesty only gave him three days to think about it and missed this opportunity. If you wait until the civil unrest is wiped out by the imperial court first and your fleet does not help, then all the promises you made before will not count.
Come on!" Mu Ying asked lazily while lying on the side of the ship, wearing a bunt, revealing her tanned muscles.
"Haha, how can it be so easy to decide on such a big thing!"
"But don't worry, I know my father. The imperial court promised him the title of Duke Jinghai, and he can't refuse it. All he can think about now is to become a prince, worship the prime minister, and honor his ancestors." One of them looks younger than Mu Ying.
A little boy lay side by side on the side of the boat and looked at the sea together.
"You brat, you're the only smart one!"
While the two of them were talking, a big man walked out of the cabin in a hurry.
Seeing the person coming, Mu Ying couldn't help but feel shocked.
He knew that the critical moment had arrived.
"Are you really Mu Ying?" Zheng Zhilong asked, staring straight at Mu Ying.
"If it's fake, I guarantee it!" Mu Ying was not afraid and looked at the sea hero with piercing eyes.
"Is the imperial court really going to open the sea? No more restrictions?" Zheng Zhilong ignored the topic and asked again.
"That's right, there are at least twelve treaty ports along the southeast coast, all of which are open to foreign trade. They are protected by the imperial court and only need to pay a small amount of commercial tax." Mu Ying said.
"Haha, he is indeed the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He is so damn courageous and courageous!"
"But if you do this, you will simply kill those turtle sons who make a living on smuggling along the coast. It's strange that they don't jump on it."
"I can responsibly tell you that as long as this news spreads, civil unrest will occur throughout the entire southeastern coast, including Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong. At the same time, there will definitely be a large number of "Japanese pirates" landing, burning, killing, and looting.
Is His Majesty the Emperor prepared for this?" Zheng Zhilong asked solemnly.
"Now Zheng doesn't have to worry about it."
Mu Ying smiled calmly and said: "But as far as I know, my adoptive father never does anything he is not sure of."
Zheng Zhilong's expression changed again, and finally he gritted his teeth: "His grandma's fault, I did it this time."
"No matter whether the Hongwu Emperor in Nanjing is real or fake, I will follow him."
Zheng Zhilong's face flashed red, and he took out a piece of paper from his arms and slapped it in front of Mu Ying.
"The Jinsha Gang in Fujian, the Sihai Gang in Guangzhou, the Lin family in Guangning, the Qian family in Chaozhou, and the names recorded on my list, you should send people to kill them as soon as possible. As long as these people are eliminated, this civil unrest will be over.
The degree will be reduced by at least 60%.”
"I will temporarily resist the Japanese pirates coming from the sea for you. As for the civil unrest inland, you can only rely on you to encircle and suppress it yourself!"
"Okay, without further ado, I'll go back and make arrangements right away!"
Mu Ying's eyes also flashed with excitement. He took two steps quickly, stopped suddenly, turned to look at Zheng Zhilong and said, "You will not regret this choice, Mr. Jinghai."
"Jing Haigong...!"
"Hehe...hahaha!" Zheng Zhilong said the name several times and finally couldn't help laughing.
soon.
Zhu Yuanzhang got the news from Mu Ying.
There was also a glint in his eyes.
Successfully recruiting and surrendering Zheng Zhilong means that when faced with the "Japanese pirates" rebellion, you will no longer have to stop inland, and you will have the opportunity to completely eliminate the Japanese rebellion along the entire southeast coast.
Once the civil unrest along the coast is suppressed and the Japanese pirates are eliminated, the entire south of the Yangtze River will basically be completely under their control.
The few remaining salt merchants in Zhejiang and some gentry who slipped through the net will not be able to make a difference.
By then, with the support of huge maritime trade, within three years, the entire Ming Empire will surely breathe a sigh of relief.
In other words, it would be time for him to raise his troops for the Northern Expedition within three years at the latest.
"Huh, it's a pity that Huang Taiji died too early and he couldn't see with his own eyes the true military power of the Ming Dynasty. It's really a pity to say that!"
Zhu Yuanzhang murmured to himself, and his mood became much lighter in an instant.