Zhenla.

Long Dongqiang sighed a little, thinking that he had been constantly moving in the past few years.

He first went from the Ming Dynasty to Champa, and finally conquered the Cao Gang.

I thought I could stay for at least a few more years, but who would have thought that the Ming Dynasty would act so quickly and directly rule Champa.

Fortunately, he had a godfather, so he came to the Zhenla port and resumed his old business.

As a result, this year has not come yet, and I have to go to India again.

"Brother, what are you looking at? Everything over there is almost ready, and it's time for us to set off."

Long Chunsheng walked over and said with a smile.

He was in a good mood and was more interested in India than in Zhenla.

"It seems that my second brother is quite confident about the trip to India." Long Dongqiang turned around and said.

Long Chunsheng smiled happily: "Brother, I have heard a lot about Tianzhu. There is a large population there. There are millions of people in the land occupied by the Duke of Liang, and the territory is vast and there are many cities."

"The court is now busy going to Dongsheng Shenzhou. The news has been spread all over the court bulletin. There is no way to arrange manpower for Tianzhu. The right to recruit soldiers for Siam and Zhenla has been handed over to the Duke of Liang and several other dukes."

"If we go, there will be hundreds of people from the Cao Gang following us. It would be great if we could find a city and become the lord of it."

"India is rich, and we will live a good life once we go there. At least it will be much more comfortable than in Zhenla."

After listening to his second brother's words, Long Dongqiang couldn't help but ask, "Where did you hear this information from?"

Hearing this, Long Chunsheng was quite embarrassed and annoyed: "Of course I heard it from that eunuch."

"It's not me who pesters him to tell me. He wants to tell me himself."

Long Dongqiang frowned, looked around to see if there was anyone around, and then said, "How many times have I warned you not to call me a eunuch? Even if you don't want to follow me in calling me foster father, at least you have to call me Eunuch Li."

"If it weren't for my adoptive father's help, we wouldn't be where we are today. We should be grateful in our hearts."

Long Chunsheng waved his hands indifferently: "Okay, okay, I get it. Don't keep nagging me. I'm not a child."

Seeing his second brother like this, Long Dongqiang felt helpless.

But I think it would be better if I went to India.

It was almost time to sail, but Long Dongqiang did not get on board. Instead, he came to a house.

"Godfather."

Long Dongqiang said respectfully.

Li Youwei nodded: "The boat is almost there, why don't you set off and come see me, an old man?"

Long Dongqiang said, "I will not be able to serve my adoptive father when I leave. I feel so sad. I just hope my adoptive father can come to Tianzhu as soon as possible so that I can fulfill my filial duty."

Li Youwei laughed when he heard this and said, "Fool, Zhenla cannot do without me now. And I am different. If I want to go to India, I must get the court's permission and cannot leave without permission."

"I guess it won't be long. Right now, Duke Liang is opening up the territory over there and is in great need of manpower. It will only take a few months, so it shouldn't be much of a difference."

"Just go ahead. If you encounter any problems, don't panic. Write a letter to your father. I think I can help you."

Hearing this, Long Dongqiang immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Father, please take care of yourself. I will go first and wait for you in Tianzhu."

Although he was suspected of being taken advantage of in the beginning, Long Dongqiang was a grateful person and had always been filial to Li Youwei.

The Tianzhu region was not valued much in the eyes of the court, but for ordinary people, especially the lower-class people of the Ming Dynasty, it was completely different.

For example, gang members like Long Dongqiang can basically clear their identities by going to Tianzhu.

Including businessmen and people from other families, they are more yearning for India.

According to the normal development, when the India region came under the direct rule of the Ming Dynasty, it would be divided into Ming provinces just like the current Zhenla, Siam and other places. Then the identities they obtained in these regions would be directly rationalized.

If they were officials before, they will basically remain officials after the reform.

Not everyone can get through.

Long Dongqiang relies on Li Youwei's connections. Ordinary people don't even have connections, but most of the children from aristocratic families have some connections.

…

In the Kunning Palace of the Ming Dynasty Imperial Palace.

"My dear grandson, Third Uncle has never asked you for anything. It is really boring for Third Uncle to stay in the capital during this period of time. The fleet to Dongsheng Shenzhou is about to set off. You have to let Third Uncle go."

"Now in Jiuzhou Province, Uncle San's vassal state is basically doomed, and Uncle San has no intention of going there. I am waiting for the Crown Prince to issue an order to let his sons come back."

"Uncle San didn't go to Dongsheng Shenzhou to grab territory. Now other people think that if they go there first, the territory will be given to them, but Uncle San doesn't mean that."

"When the map of Dongsheng Shenzhou is drawn, I will go wherever you tell me to go."

No one expected that at this critical moment when the fleet was about to set off, Zhu Gang came directly to Kunning Palace, found Zhu Ying and told him his thoughts in a casual manner.

In fact, it is now understood that the Crown Prince did not want the vassal kings to set off first because of the territory granted to the vassal states.

But Zhu Gang came anyway.

Zhu Ying was also somewhat helpless.

"Uncle, you also know the troubles that your nephew is facing now. It's not only because of your vassal state, but also because of so many uncles. Many uncles originally planned to be idle and wealthy princes, or to govern the local areas through literature."

"Now that I've heard the news about Dongsheng Shenzhou, my thoughts are all heading there."

"There are so many people watching this matter of dividing the vassal states. If I let my third uncle go first, it will be difficult for me to explain to the other uncles when they ask about it."

Zhu Gang said, "In fact, I think there is no need for you to block it, it is better to let it pass. After all, passing it does not mean that the territory has been divided. When the time comes, it is up to you, the Crown Prince, to decide who stays in which area."

"Now, all of us princes are crowded in the capital, and we are bored all day long. You also know the temper of Third Uncle. It would be better to give me the status of a general and let me expand the territory for the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Ying smiled and said, "If Third Uncle feels bored, he can go to Tianzhu. Tianzhu is in need of people right now."

"We'll fight him for a year or so, and by then we'll have enough ships to go to Dongsheng Shenzhou."

Zhu Gang blushed and said, "Grandson, please don't bully your uncle. How can it be the same in Tianzhu?"

"After India is conquered, my vassal state will have to move again. Moving back and forth is really too troublesome. It is better to go to Dongsheng Shenzhou and solve the problem at once."

Zhu Ying explained: "It's not that my nephew is stingy and won't let you uncles go first, but the sea route is still unclear. No one knows whether it is possible to get through or how to get through."

"I have discussed this matter with Grandpa. If something happens at sea, it will be different from the situation on land. There will be no help from heaven or earth. The risk is too great."

"Once this route is opened, Uncle San can go there."

Seeing Zhu Ying's insistence, Zhu Gang had no other choice but to agree.

Not long after Zhu Gang left, Zhu Yuanzhang came over.

"The third one is leaving now."

"Leave."

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "Now you know how much of a headache it is, right? The others are fine, but the second and third brothers just came to ask for an explanation, and it gives me a headache just to see them."

"Now everyone is eyeing Dongsheng Shenzhou, it's nothing more than the relationship with this immortal family. Don't look at the third brother as reckless. We heard from the Jinyiwei that there are many monks and Taoists living in his mansion now."

"That's all nonsense about the vassal state. We are all being fooled by these monks and Taoists. What immortal relics are we looking for?"

Dongsheng Shenzhou, from a strategic perspective, shouldn't be so lively.

The official report also made it clear that there was no country there. Most of the people there were tribal aborigines, and they were very primitive. There were not even any larger animals such as cattle, sheep, horses, and elephants.

The reason why everyone is so enthusiastic is ultimately because of religion.

Taoists and monks felt that since the Dongsheng Shenzhou was so desolate and there were not even any larger animals, they wondered if immortals had lived there in the past, which was why they killed so many people. The monks believed that there were also traces of Buddhism there.

Don't underestimate the influence of Taoists and monks in the Ming Dynasty. Many noble families have some connection with these Taoists and monks.

Even Zhu Yuanzhang was once a monk and entered the Red Lotus.

Zhu Ying smiled bitterly and said, "People outside are guessing that I don't want them to grab the territory first, but that's not my intention."

"If we really want to demarcate a boundary, who would disagree?"

"It's too hasty. The sea route hasn't even been determined yet. Who knows what we'll encounter and whether we can arrive safely."

"No matter which uncle it is, if he dies on the road, it will be a huge loss."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "In fact, grandson, you don't have to think so much. These guys are short-sighted and fooled every day. How can they consider these things? Even if you say it, it will just be regarded as an excuse."

"In my opinion, if we all agree to their request, then we should let them go with the fleet."

"These rebellious sons all have a group of people under them, especially the second, third, and fourth sons, who have some money in their hands."

"Grandson, you've gone to great lengths to find people from military academies all over the place. You might as well just let them go. Even if they die, you can't blame anyone."

After hearing this, Zhu Ying thought for a while and nodded.

"Okay, let's do as Grandpa says."

…

Originally it was planned that the fleet would set out in a few days, but now the plan has been changed to allow more noble families, Taoists, and monks to join in.

Zhu Ying simply extended it for another half month.

Just like what the old man said, if anyone wants to explore the way for the Ming Dynasty, let them do it.

The news was announced at the court meeting, and many people rushed to tell each other the good news, and immediately became enthusiastic.

The number of places in the first fleet was also very limited. Although there were a large number of people, there were also many craftsmen, cattle, sheep, horses, and even some tools and firearms, which occupied a lot of space and could not be moved.

Therefore, the number of people who can actually be separated is roughly around 5,000.

Five thousand people may sound like a lot, but when you divide it up and calculate the numbers, it's not that many.

This is not a small place, but a very large new place.

Not to mention thousands of people, even tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people are just a drop of water in the ocean.

Prince Yan's Palace.

After hearing the news, Yao Guangxiao sighed and said, "I originally thought that the Crown Prince would definitely not agree to it, but I never thought it would be like this."

"But this is not bad for the prince. You can send some people to find out the situation first."

"In fact, what the prince said is not without reason. The sea route is currently unclear, and there will inevitably be losses along the way. This is also for safety reasons."

Zhu Di, who was sitting opposite, took a sip of tea and agreed after hearing this: "That's what the Crown Prince thinks, but others don't think so, including you, the monk. Don't you want to go over and take a look first?"

"It's rumored now that there is a fairy mountain cave over there. Whoever gets there first will get it first."

Yao Guangxiao laughed and said, "There are no gods in this world. They are just made up stories."

"I followed the prince to write the ancient myths, which were integrated from various stories from all over the country. For example, before the Han Dynasty, there was no Buddhist saying, and there was no Buddhist disciple in the Spring and Autumn Period."

"In order to better integrate Buddhism, the Crown Prince came up with the idea of ​​Lingshan, but it was actually just a fabrication."

“Those who heard this also believed it without a doubt.”

"Even if there are gods and immortals, there is no so-called immortality. They just live a few more years than others."

Zhu Di heard this and laughed, "You monk, you don't even believe in your own Buddha, but you keep calling me 'poor monk'. It's really interesting."

"It's just that now we are all looking forward to the time when we can get there. We are not worried that we won't have it, but that we will have it, or that others will have it but we won't."

"If it weren't for this, those great sects that usually stay in seclusion would be so enthusiastic now."

"To be honest, I actually want to go to Tianzhu. That's your monk's hometown."

"It's definitely not our turn to go to Dongsheng Shenzhou this year. The steam ironclad ships are very fast now, much faster than the sailing ships we had before. We can reach Tianzhu in less than a month."

"What do you think, monk? Let's go to your hometown and take a look."

Zhu Di's words aroused some interest in Yao Guangxiao.

Actually, Yao Guangxiao originally wanted to go to Dongsheng Shenzhou by himself, but judging from the situation, the prince probably would not agree.

It should be said that most monks have some ideas about India. Although Yao Guangxiao is not a serious monk, he also wants to go to India to take a look.

Tianzhu is the place where Buddhism flourished the most. The sacred mountain in the ancient mythology system was basically based on Tianzhu.

Secondly, Yao Guangxiao also wanted to see whether spreading the Ming Dynasty's mythology system to India would cause some conflicts with Buddhism there.

"Since the prince wants to go to India, I will naturally go with him."

After thinking it through, Yao Guangxiao said immediately.