In the summer of the tenth year of Hongwu, the imperial court's ocean-going fleet went out to sea again, and two small and medium-sized fleets were ordered to complete the task of circumnavigating the world. With a complete world nautical chart, it was obviously very likely that it could be completed.

In the past two years, envoys from overseas countries have witnessed the vast territory, dense population, and powerful military of the Ming Dynasty in the name of tribute. After returning to their homeland by boat, they soon returned with more treasures.

Even some countries that the fleet had no way to pass through sent envoys after hearing the news. Zhu Biao specially selected some scholars and Taoists with talent in language translation, and asked them to take the Four Books and Five Classics and Taoist classics on the fleet to spread them overseas.

As for business matters, Zhu Biao didn't need to make any special arrangements. The Minister of Revenue, who had already seen what huge profits were, had already made all the preparations, and the kilns in Jingdezhen almost never stopped firing.

Needless to say, most of the private merchants have already set sail on their own, but there are still some with valuable goods who have been waiting for the imperial trade fleet. Although they have to pay an escort fee, they don't have to worry about their safety.

With the development of maritime trade, more and more merchant ships came and went, and pirates naturally emerged. There were remnants of Japanese pirates, Koreans, even people from Southeast Asia, and of course Ming people, and there were even quite a few of them. They would do this business even if it meant losing their lives.

The most rampant person nowadays is named Chen Zuyi, a native of Chaozhou, Guangdong. He gathers people and plunders on the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It is said that he has hundreds of ships and thousands of followers under his command. Even Zhu Biao in the palace has heard of him.

I heard that Marquis Jinghai ordered his men to encircle and suppress the enemy, but he escaped time and time again. To say that there is no problem in this is an insult. I just don't know how much military merit is involved in this.

Inside the Wuying Palace, Zhu Biao's expression was somewhat grim as he watched Wu Zhong rush back. Wu Zhong's body trembled slightly, but he still answered firmly, "My family, Your Highness, has trusted us and enabled us to achieve great things in the court. My uncle was granted the title of Duke of Haiguo, and my father commanded the Ming Dynasty Navy. This is truly a favor as high as the sky and as vast as the earth. Every single day, my entire family is willing to risk their lives for you!"

"When I came here, my father warned me not to hide anything from His Royal Highness. There is indeed a hidden story behind Chen Zuyi's matter. Your Highness is well-informed and must know that this involves a wide range of issues. I, your father, dare not take any responsibility. However, my family has never accepted any silver, money or treasures. Please understand your Highness."

Zhu Biao sneered, "How loyal he is! How he's willing to risk his life for the country! Shouldn't I reward the Marquis of Jinghai?"

After saying this, he slammed the table and shouted, "If you really consider yourself my confidant and loyal minister, then you should have come to report this to me long ago, instead of waiting until the news reached my ears before rushing to defend yourself!"

"You didn't take the money, but you accepted the favor. You're so smart that you actually thought you could get away with it. I entrusted your father with such an important task, but I didn't expect you to let him get away with it!"

"Why, do you think you've done a great job in eliminating the Japanese pirates, and you're starting to dislike the title of Marquis Jinghai being too low, and you want two dukes in one family?"

Wu Zhong no longer dared to make any excuses. He just kowtowed heavily. After a few kowtows, blood began to flow from his forehead. He was extremely frightened.

Even though the Wu family is powerful and Marquis Jinghai has a strong army, but a big tree attracts the wind, and there are many people inside and outside the court who are eyeing them covetously. Otherwise, they would not take the risk of letting Chen Zuyi go in order to gain support from all parties.

I thought that when I could no longer hide the truth, I would crush Chen Zuyi to death, which would protect the interests of all parties and give an explanation to the court. However, I didn't expect the prince to be so angry.

"Well, in that case, why don't I help him achieve his goal and fulfill the ideals of the monarch and his subjects? You don't have to return to the sea, but leave immediately to serve under the Marquis of Xiping. As for your father, the court will soon recall him to the capital, promote him to the title of Duke of Jinghai, and grant him the title of Shangzhuguo, with a salary of 3,000 dan. What do you think, Young Duke?"

"Your Highness, I beg you to calm down... Your Highness..."

Zhu Biao ignored him and waved his hand to have him dragged out. It was hard to tell whether it was a reward or a punishment to demote a powerful marquis to a powerless duke.

There were very few people in the Ming Dynasty who could command the navy, and the Wu brothers were the most useful. Wu Zhen quelled the Japanese invasion in just a few years. Although he had help from other aspects, his own coordination ability was also very commendable.

He had made great contributions to the court, and he should have been promoted to the title of Duke long ago. The main reason why it was delayed until now was that Zhu Biao deliberately suppressed him. Although the title is good, looking at the current Ming Dynasty, Dukes and above were almost all suppressed in the Beijing Camp and the Grand Marshal's Office. Except for Li Wenzhong in the northern border, the highest rank that could command the army in the local area was Marquis.

This is the general trend, and for this reason, the ways for the military heroes to make money have almost been cut off, so they turned their attention to the no-cost business at sea.

Zhu Biao was well aware that pirates could never be completely eliminated, but trade had just begun and many small countries were still in a wait-and-see stage, so the military heroes could not be allowed to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Zhu Biao circled several generals who were promoted in the suppression of the Japanese pirates, and appointed Liao Yongzhong, Marquis of Deqing, as the new commander of the navy. He then sent him to the emperor to finalize the matter.

Liao Yongzhong made great contributions in capturing Caishi and Taiping, capturing Chen Yexian, defeating the barbarians Haiya and Chen Zhaoxian, pacifying Jiqing, conquering Zhenjiang, Changzhou, Chizhou, and suppressing the pirates in Jiangyin.

He and his brother Liao Yongan, Duke of Yun, gathered troops and stationed in Chaohu Water Fort. Later, when his brother was pursuing the victory in the battle to recapture Yixing, he rushed too hard and ended up running into enemy reinforcements. His ship ran aground and he was unfortunately captured.

Faced with Zhang Shicheng's call for surrender, he would rather die than yield and died of illness after being imprisoned for eight years. His loyalty is commendable, and the court posthumously awarded him the titles of founding military official, Guanglu Dafu, Zhuguo, and Duke of Yun.

After Liao Yongan was captured, Liao Yongzhong took over his brother's military power. In the Battle of Longwan, he pursued Chen Youliang to Caishi, where he fought again. Liao Yongzhong led his troops and rushed into the enemy's formation... bleeding profusely, he circled back three times, but he killed too many people and the enemy was defeated.

During the Battle of Poyang Lake, Liao Yongzhong made great achievements and was given the evaluation of "his achievements surpass those of other generals and his wisdom surpasses that of the army" in Zhu Yuanzhang's own handwriting. Zhu Yuanzhang also allowed him to paint a plaque and hang it on the lintel of his door.

In fact, when Zhu Biao chose to reorganize the navy and eliminate the Japanese pirates along the coast, the first person he thought of was Liao Yongzhong. However, after the founding of the country and being granted the title, this wise and brave hero suddenly became arrogant and extravagant. He built a mansion in the capital, which far exceeded the regulations of an ordinary marquis's mansion. Later, he took in many beautiful concubines and even made friends with civil servants. He simply lay down and immersed himself in wealth and glory.

Zhu Biao wanted to use him but couldn't, so he had to promote Wu Zhen. However, after selecting Wu Liang to be in charge of the ocean, he deliberately pressured Liao Yongzhong. In fact, no matter what Wu Zhen did, he would only be relieved of the naval power in the past one or two years.

It was just that originally it could have ended in a dignified manner, but now he was promoted in name only and demoted in reality, and was directly sent back to the capital. Wu Zhen understood the difference in the following years.

In the autumn of the tenth year of Hongwu, Luchuan King Silunfa accepted the title of Burmese Envoy appointed by the Ming Dynasty. However, just a few days after receiving the order, he suddenly sent 100,000 troops to attack Jingdong, Jinchiwei and other places.

Mu Ying, who had anticipated this, immediately ordered the local defenders to feign defeat in order to lure the enemy deeper into their territory. Si Lun had doubts and intended to restrain his subordinates, but he was unwilling to miss the opportunity to expand his victory and establish his prestige.

Coupled with the instigation of his uncle Zhao Xiaofa, he finally stepped into the trap carefully prepared by Mu Ying. In a narrow mountain pass, the new artillery mines that were like thunder and fire from the sky and the earth began to show their prowess in the southwestern land.

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