As the suzerain state, after receiving tribute from the State of Zhongshan, it was also obligated to reciprocate. Furthermore, as the suzerain state of Zhongshan, it was also required to grant Zhongshan certain rights, provide necessary protection, or facilitate trade.

In fact, the fact that Zhongshan was able to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty had certain benefits, and this was the treatment they deserved.

After all, it wouldn't make sense to become a vassal state without any benefits. Although Zhu Yunying wouldn't go so far as to wholeheartedly support a vassal state for the sake of empty fame, he also wouldn't treat vassal states too harshly.

Some benefits should still be given, and Zhu Yunying didn't see anything wrong with that; he felt it was only right and proper. Considering Ryukyu's environment and special products, it was clear that Zhu Yunying didn't expect it to become a land of plenty or bring more gold and silver to the Ming Dynasty.

Lacquerware and pottery are what Ryukyu is really good at, and their sugar industry is also quite decent. But don't expect much from anything else.

Zhu Yunying understood these things, so he also felt that Ryukyu still had some value. It could become a good trading center, and strengthening trade ties with Southeast Asia and Japan through Ryukyu was a viable option.

The sugar industry in Ryukyu could also bring some benefits to the Ming Dynasty. After all, in those times, sugar was considered a luxury, and it was quite difficult for ordinary people to obtain their favorite sweet soup.

Shang Wuning was quite happy. He didn't need to worry about being under house arrest, and he would soon be able to return to his kingdom. Moreover, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was very lenient, granting the request of students from the Zhongshan Kingdom to study in the Ming Dynasty, and would continue to allow the Zhongshan Kingdom to assimilate into the Ming Dynasty.

This is a good thing. The Zhongshan State needs those technologies and craftsmen, and it needs more scholars.

If Ryukyu were to become a successful trading center, it would align with Zhu Yunying's vision and benefit the Ming Dynasty. For Ryukyu, it would also offer an opportunity for further development.

Under Zhu Yunying's intentional or unintentional hints, Shang Wuning also became somewhat excited, because the Shannan Kingdom, the Shanbei Kingdom, and some chieftains had indeed caused some trouble and hidden dangers to the Zhongshan Kingdom.

If Shang Wuning could unify the Ryukyu Islands, he would definitely be considered a great ruler, and could certainly be regarded as a wise monarch of Ryukyu.

No monarch can resist such a temptation, especially a newly enthroned monarch who is eager to prove his ability and establish his authority through war.

Zhu Yunying knew something of Shang Wuning's thoughts but didn't pay much attention. A stable Ryukyu Islands were more in the interest of the Ming Dynasty, and he didn't want too many kingdoms and powers to emerge in the small Ryukyu archipelago.

That would not be beneficial for future trade, and a unified Ryukyu would actually be more in line with the interests of the Ming Dynasty.

As for Shang Wuning's requests, Zhu Yunying's attitude was ambiguous. The Ming Dynasty would certainly not directly participate in the war, after all, Zhu Yunying felt that the scale of some of the wars in the Ryukyu Islands was merely at the level of some kind of melee.

If Shang Wuning is unable to unify the Ryukyu Islands, Zhu Yunying would not mind supporting the Shannan King Chengchadu.

If you want to be used, you need to have some value to be used; there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Zhu Yunying is just that pragmatic. He doesn't think there's anything wrong with what he's doing, and he feels perfectly at ease with it.

To be honest, the Ming Dynasty would pretend to be oblivious to the war in Ryukyu. After all, Zhongshan Kingdom had been officially recognized, but Shannan Kingdom and Shanbei Kingdom were also nominally vassal states of the Ming Dynasty, only they were not as formally recognized as Zhongshan Kingdom.

So Shangwu Ning could be considered to have benefited from misfortune. Compared to his two neighbors, his Zhongshan Kingdom had a closer relationship with the Ming Dynasty and could receive more support from the Ming Dynasty. For example, he received some cloth and ironware.

Besides the large iron pots, a strategic resource of the Ming Dynasty, there were also some iron weapons, which were rare and valuable items for Shang Wuning. After all, over the years, the Ming Dynasty had strictly restricted the export of ironware, and it was extremely difficult and costly for the remnants of the Mongols to obtain large iron pots that could be used for cooking.

Shang Wuning is about to return to his country, and the Ming Dynasty naturally needs to provide some support to broaden the horizons of the small countries scattered throughout Southeast Asia and let them see the power of role models.

However, this wasn't everything for Zhu Yunying. While external expansion and increasing influence were important, Zhu Yunying was currently more concerned with governing the Ming Dynasty well.

The matter of governing the Yellow and Huai Rivers is still far from being settled, and Zhu Yunying does not want to delay it any longer. The sooner it is determined, the sooner it can start, and the sooner he can feel at ease.

The Gene Era

Even though things seem to be going well right now without any major floods, who can guarantee against natural disasters and man-made calamities? We should still be mindful of potential problems and prepare some things in advance for unforeseen circumstances.

Besides these matters, cabinet affairs also cannot be delayed any longer; this matter also needs to be addressed promptly.

This is not something Zhu Yunying is worried about. The Grand Secretaries of the Hall of Literary Glory certainly do not have much real power now, but they can indeed participate in the deliberation of state affairs. Zhu Yunying needs to prepare in advance, formulate rules, and continuously fill in the gaps through the operation of the cabinet.

Continuously improving the cabinet system was also something Zhu Yunying had to do. He had to take this matter seriously, as it could very well affect the national policy of the Ming Dynasty.

Of course, tax reform, the implementation of banks, the integration of land tax and poll tax, and other matters are all proceeding in an orderly manner. These matters require Zhu Yunying's continued attention, as they are no small things.

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