Waging war abroad is usually the main means of shifting domestic conflicts.
The emperor certainly knew this and was good at taking advantage of it, even though domestic conflicts were not serious and were not intensified by major disasters.
The Western Barbarians had already begun colonizing and plundering, primarily in Africa and the Americas. Before they could make a major inroad into Asia, the Ming Empire seized key locations, both for practical benefit and for long-term planning.
Moreover, with a population of only 35% of the world, the territory of the Ming Empire seemed too small.
Just as the emperor planned, removing 10 to 20 million people from the country would be enough to realize his layout in the South China Sea.
The land that you develop, cultivate and manage with your own hands is yours. It is not something you will be "sold as a pig" to make you work hard for others.
Li Dan's appointment as Governor-General of Luzon was just the beginning, an example set by the emperor.
In the future, no matter who can open up overseas, they will be recognized and protected by the Ming court. The position of governor will also be everywhere in Southeast Asia.
The emperor was the only one left in the hall. He walked to the side hall and examined the large sand table once again.
The victory in the war against Burma was known as a war of revenge, which washed away the shame of losing several Xuanwei envoys during the Wanli period.
At the same time, it was also a deterrent to the chieftains in the southwest. With tens of thousands of troops sweeping across the Burmese army, their firearms were sharp and unstoppable. With such a strong army, it is believed that no chieftain would dare to act rashly or harbor the intention of rebellion.
After the main force retreated to Yunnan Province, it would be time to deal with the Mu family. The military prestige established during the war against Burma was enough to replace the prestige of the Mu family in Yunnan.
As the saying goes, "A wealthy family lasts no more than three generations." This means that it is difficult for a wealthy family to maintain its business. Most of them will betray their original intentions after a few generations and eventually decline.
The first ruler of the Mu Palace worked hard to govern Yunnan in an orderly manner. He was kind to the people and enjoyed great prestige among the people.
However, the descendants of the Mu family in the middle and late periods were often arrogant and extravagant, and there were many scandals of harassing the local people and making money as a mob.
According to the secret investigation of the East Factory, after years of plundering, the farmland of Lord Mu's mansion had occupied one-third of the cultivated land in Yunnan at that time.
The treasures in the Mu Mansion were even more dazzling: "Azurite, cinnabar, pearls, famous treasures, fallen petals, amber, horseshoes, purple gold, packed in thin rafts and boxes."
"Each box contains fifty jin (approximately 50 jin) of material, stored in a high-plank warehouse. Each warehouse contains fifty boxes, totaling two hundred and fifty warehouses, including other items. One hundred and forty Eight Treasures Yellow Dragon Umbrellas..."
You should know that Yunnan has always been China's main silver producing area during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. More than half of the silver production in the Ming Dynasty was in Yunnan.
In addition, Yunnan produces a large amount of copper, salt, tea, timber, stone and other high value-added commodities and monetary metals.
Therefore, although Yunnan is located in a remote area and is known for its malaria, it has great special features and uniqueness in terms of economy.
The presence of the Mu family in Yunnan also affected the law enforcement and administration of local governments.
Mu Tianbo's father, Mu Qiyuan, allowed his servants to harm the people. After the inspector Yu Yu arrested the offending servants according to the law, he actually mobilized troops and fired artillery at the inspector's office.
The Mu family can actually be classified as a vassal state, with the earliest member, Mu Ying, being Taizu's adopted son. The harms and drawbacks of the vassal state are clearly reflected in him.
The emperor wanted to use the power of the Burmese invasion to take away the Mu Mansion, thereby unifying the power of Yunnan, taking back all the farms and fields, and punishing the evil slaves of the Mu family.
Of course, they didn't want to confiscate the family's property, but rather move the Mu Mansion to the capital. There weren't many people in the Mu Mansion anyway, and Mu Tianbo was only twelve years old.
As for the Mu Mansion's vast treasures, any sensible person wouldn't have transported them all to the capital. The emperor wouldn't have killed them all, but would have left Mu Tianbo with enough wealth to last him a lifetime.
As for Mu Tianbo's future achievements, or the future of the Mu Mansion, it all depends on his own abilities and skills.
This was another windfall after the war against Burma. The emperor had money and could do many things, which accelerated the rise and revival of the Ming Dynasty.
……………….
The cold air caused a thick white mist to form on the hair at the temples. Sun Chuanting looked through the telescope, but he didn't move.
In the distance, war horses galloped, and rows of Ming cavalry swept across the land, charging in all directions, yet still maintaining relatively neat formations.
Cao Bianjiao, who was standing next to Sun Chuanting, had a young face that showed the signs of vicissitudes of life. This was the change brought about by more than a year of stationing in the northwest.
In the great wars against the Liao and the Slaves, the Flying Cavalry made great contributions repeatedly. After experiencing the test of actual combat, their tactics were gradually improved.
After the war, the structure of the Flying Cavalry was fixed, with each battalion consisting of 3,000 mixed cavalry, 2,000 Flying Cavalry, and 1,000 Lancers.
Several small battalions of 2,000 cavalry were dispatched to the northern border towns to recruit local dragoons and begin formal border garrison operations.
These cavalry battalions that have experienced the test of war have become the backbone of the border towns, and have also become seeds that help the border towns train more cavalry officers and soldiers.
The emperor invested huge sums of money in the war to pacify the Liao and eliminate the slaves, which not only achieved short-term goals, but also gave the confidence to change the long-term strategy of the Ming Dynasty.
The substantial increase in the strength of the military forces in the border towns meant that the emperor was no longer satisfied with just defense and the Great Wall.
The recapture of the Qiantao region was the first proactive offensive action by the northwestern Ming army and was of great significance. It not only improved the northern border defense system but also served as a prelude to future strategic offensives.
The governor of the three border areas, Sun Chuanting, was watching this very seriously. These cavalrymen who were in training were the main force to recapture the Qiantao area, and they would engage in a bloody battle on horseback with the Mongolian tribes.
A messenger came galloping on horseback, dismounted at the foot of the wooden tower, quickly climbed up, knelt on one knee, and presented the latest report from the court.
Sun Chuanting then put down the telescope, without wiping the white frost on his hair, eyebrows and temples, and reached out to take it, opened it and read.
Sun Chuanting chuckled and turned to the generals, saying, "The campaign against Burma was a great success, and their capital, Ava, was captured. Next year's military operations should proceed as planned and will not be changed."
The generals all put away their solemn expressions and started talking with smiles on their faces.
Military plans are made, but they are coherent and subject to change.
For example, if the war against Burma had been a failure, or even a tragic victory, the military operation to recapture Qiantao next year might have been postponed.
The reason is very simple. Money must be spent carefully. It is not only for expansion and plundering, but also for dealing with major disasters.
Expansion, aggression and plunder must also be carried out in an orderly manner. If the benefits are greater than the investment, a virtuous circle can be formed. Sun Chuanting and the generals all understood the emperor's thoughts.
"The Mongolian tribes are no match for our army," Cao Bianjiao said with some pride. "They are far inferior to the Jianlu, let alone our army with its strong armor and powerful weapons."
The generals nodded repeatedly, showing considerable confidence.
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