Zhu Yunying did not want the power of martial merit to become too great, but he also did not want it to be suppressed.

For Yu Tongyuan, receiving this opportunity for reinstatement was truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Although he did have some shortcomings in terms of aptitude, he was, after all, a seasoned veteran with experience in battle.

Although he wasn't as capable as his father and brothers, the Yu family had risen to prominence through its navy, and Yu Tongyuan possessed some knowledge and experience. Moreover, this time he was stationed to oversee the navy, not to wield absolute power or lead an army, so there was no need to worry too much about losses.

As for becoming a wealthy man, that was definitely not something he considered. Even if going to sea involved some risks, they weren't really a big deal.

Ultimately, the Yu family were originally river bandits, so they naturally didn't care about any risks. Furthermore, compared to being a wealthy landowner, being granted a marquisate instead of a general's title was far more meaningful. Fighting on the battlefield was all for the family's glory, to leave more dignity for future generations.

For these generals, the opportunity to be reinstated was enough. Choosing the military naturally meant risking their lives, and that was their choice; even those with military merit could not escape this fate.

Having an opportunity is more important than anything else, and this is indeed what many people long for. An opportunity is more valuable than anything else.

The navy on the other side is fine, and it has some elite soldiers and generals. The most important thing is that the ships are large and the firearms are powerful, so there is no need to worry about pirates or anything like that. It's an overwhelming advantage.

Besides the naval commanders, generals like Ping An also needed to go to sea. The Ming Dynasty's fleet wasn't just the navy; it also included several thousand elite soldiers capable of amphibious operations. Although the Ming Dynasty had a large fleet, there was no guarantee that some local warlords wouldn't make a mistake.

If such things were to actually happen, the fierce soldiers of the Ming Dynasty certainly wouldn't mind launching a landing operation. Destroying a small foreign kingdom wouldn't be a big deal. It would also be a way to promote civilization and demonstrate the majesty of the Celestial Empire; doing such a thing would be perfectly justifiable.

Besides the naval and infantry commanders, the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial also had sufficient officials, which was ultimately a way to demonstrate national power. Beyond mere military action, the Ming Dynasty also needed to consider increasing exchanges with neighboring vassal states.

Zhu Yunying naturally didn't mind these things; such activities and arrangements were necessary, and this was just a side matter. However, these things had to be done, as Zhu Yunying was trying to save face and maintain appearances.

To be honest, Zhu Yunying was rather greedy. If he could take care of everything, that would be ideal.

The imperial navy was fully prepared and ready to set sail, a massive fleet was gathering and waiting for the right winds to take off.

Many people felt this was a waste of resources and manpower, and that it wouldn't benefit the court much. But for some, it was an opportunity to make a name for themselves and perhaps even earn a noble title to pass down through generations.

For Zhu Yunying, the voyages led by Ma Sanbao to the Western Ocean marked the first large-scale, official geographical discovery by the Ming Dynasty. It was time to begin actively pursuing maritime civilization, seeking more opportunities and advantages for the Ming Dynasty, and striving for greater development space.

These are all things that Joo Yoon-young should do, and he does indeed have higher expectations for them.

The massive fleet embarked on its first voyage to establish greater contact with some Southeast Asian countries; these were official activities aimed at securing more benefits for the Ming Dynasty and fostering more trade.

Zhu Yunying was well aware that all of this was preparation. Accumulating more experience was essential to assembling a larger fleet in the future, which would give them the opportunity to travel further and experience more places and cultures.

These are things that Zhu Yunying should do, and these are things that he needs to do under some pressure.

In fact, Zhu Yunying understood that it was impossible for such a large fleet to recoup its costs in the first one or two voyages. He might face even greater pressure, and many might accuse him of wasting resources and manpower, and of waging war recklessly.

But there was no other way. If he didn't engage in these unprofitable ventures, the Ming Dynasty might very well lose its strategic advantage. Zhu Yunying could withstand this pressure and this foresight; these were things he should do.

Zhu Yunying felt relieved. He had been planning this for a long time and had been looking forward to it for a long time. Now that it had finally come to this point, Zhu Yunying naturally felt at ease. Now, he was more looking forward to certain things.

This is just the beginning. The Ming Dynasty will need to face similar challenges in the future to gain more room for maneuver.

While the Ming Dynasty's massive fleet was making final preparations for setting sail, many people were also paying attention to the health of the Hongwu Emperor, and quite a few were even waiting to welcome back the Duke of Ying, Fu Youde, returning to the capital in triumph.

At this time, the imperial court was rife with affairs. Xu Huizu suddenly reported that Marquis Zhang Rong of the Naval Maritime Bureau was colluding with border generals and local officials to smuggle obsolete iron cannons to the Oirat Mongols. The marquises of the Ming Dynasty were no longer content with smuggling ironware and tea; they were now directly smuggling firearms—this was incredibly audacious!

Zhu Yunying was naturally furious and ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to arrest all the officials involved. At the same time, the three judicial authorities held a joint trial, and members of the imperial clan and the Five Military Commissions were ordered to attend as observers.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!