Chapter 506: Great Ming Navy Fleet Review

The stories of Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han have gone far, but the Great Ming has ready-made examples to stop the Emperor from traveling.

Emperor Wuzong of Ming toured the south to Yingtian Prefecture after the Ning Prince's rebellion, and then fell into the water at Qingjiangpu in Huai'an Prefecture, fell ill, and died. Emperor Shizong of Ming toured the south to Chengtian Prefecture, and when he walked to Weihui, the palace caught fire. If Lu Bing hadn't rescued him properly, I am afraid he would have lost his life.

Assassination is the first reason why conservatives oppose the Emperor's travel, and it is very sufficient. The high value of the Emperor as a target is vividly reflected.

The practical cost of the Emperor's travel is there.

Starting from the Yongle Emperor's intention to tour the north in the sixth year of Yongle, he prepared for a full year. On the 7th day of the second month of the seventh year of Yongle, he led 50,000 cavalry and infantry to escort him, passing through Chuzhou, Fengyang, and Xuzhou, and entered the Shandong area. On the 26th day of the second month, the Yongle Emperor went to Yanzhou. On the 27th, he sacrificed to his tenth younger brother, Lu Prince Zhu Tan. The posthumous title "Huang" (Desolate) was set by Zhu Yuanzhang himself, because the Lu Prince was indeed desolate.

The enfeoffed Lu Prince Zhu Zhaohui was the Yongle Emperor's nephew. This nephew waited early, and his submissive attitude made the Yongle Emperor very satisfied. The Yongle Emperor rewarded him heavily.

The Yongle Emperor's rewards were exceptionally heavy, in order to express the friendship between uncle and nephew. Because of the Jingnan campaign, the relationship between the Yongle Emperor and his nephews was not harmonious. This walk took 20 days, until the end of the sacrifice, plus the various items used for the sacrifice, and the rewards for his nephew, the total cost was 200,000 silver, 430,000 shi of grain and grass, and all kinds of things, totaling nearly 500,000 silver.

After this, the Yongle Emperor never rewarded the vassal kings in various places again, and even on the way to the northern expedition many times, he did not summon the vassal kings, all to save money.

On the twenty-third day of the third month of the twelfth year of Yongle, Zhu Di came north on a campaign and summoned the Prince of Jin, Zhu Jixi, and his son at Jiming Mountain. It was not to bestow rewards, but to depose the Prince of Jin, because the Prince of Jin, Zhu Jixi, always said to others: "The Prince of Yan could pacify the realm, and I can too."

At that time, the Yongle Emperor was leading troops. If the Jin Prince and his son did not come to Jiming Mountain to pay respects, he would lead troops directly to Taiyuan and abolish the vassal by force.

The Jin Prince Zhu Jihe was abolished, and the throne was given to his younger brother.

The Emperor's tour for the court is a huge expenditure, not just eating, drinking, and shitting. During the Jiajing years, when the Daoist master toured his hometown in the south, he sent a southern tour minister, bringing dozens of people, specifically to survey along the way, requisitioning civilian laborers to build bridges and repair roads. If the road was narrow, it was widened; if the road was dangerous, it was leveled. Even the ferry bridges were too simple and were rebuilt, and palaces were established along the way, making the local area chicken flying and dog jumping, a mess.

Therefore, those who oppose the Emperor's tour are not necessarily sycophants. Using the story of the First Emperor's assassination to remind His Majesty that this trip is accompanied by various dangers, and the expenditure is extremely huge, disturbing the common people, no matter how you look at it, it is thankless. The Son of Heaven's body of ten thousand gold is better to stay honestly in the Imperial Palace.

Persuading the Emperor not to toss about is a conservative strategy. This conservative strategy is very applicable in the decline period of the country. The country is weak, which means that there are holes everywhere that cannot be plugged. If the Emperor has any mistakes on the road, it will be earth-shattering. But as long as the Emperor can go out and stroll, it is the rise period of the country.

Zhang Juzheng judged the situation very carefully and determined that the Son of Heaven could travel, and it was very necessary. Zhang Juzheng naturally had his own reasons.

Against the background of the Great Ming's rising national strength, His Majesty's travel helps the cohesion of people's hearts.

On the 2nd day of the tenth month of the tenth year of Wanli, the ministers in the Wenhua Palace were discussing a matter with each other. They looked very excited and were discussing something fiercely with the Emperor. And the Son of Heaven, who was extremely majestic on the moon platform, flicked his hand and said: "Everything is simplified, no need to discuss it again."

Zhu Yijun walked on the road back and forth, so he didn't need to toss about the common people to build bridges and repair roads. And he didn't intend to build a palace in Tianjin Guard. The Great Ming had an imperial manor in Tianjin, a restaurant called Yanzheng Building. The third person in the palace, Li Yougong, had already gone ahead to prepare, and there would be no accidents.

"Your Majesty, the Son of Heaven's travel should still be majestic. Is this too simple?" Zhang Juzheng looked at Minister of Rites Wan Shihe, and Wan Shihe gave a helpless look. The character of this master on the moon platform was known to the world. Even Philip II, who was far away in the West, knew the Emperor's frugality.

"Is the Great Ming army not majestic enough? Tuman Khan and Andahan have something to say," Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and asked back.

30,000 elite soldiers of the Great Ming Capital Battalion, 30,000 elite navy soldiers, is this lineup not big enough! In this world, is there anyone else who has such a lineup! Who dares to say it's not majestic enough!

With this formation, Zhu Yijun is wearing short clothes and attending, and no one dares to underestimate the Great Ming Emperor.

Zhang Juzheng had to open his mouth and say: "That is indeed very majestic."

The Emperor doesn't want face, does the court want face? Do these ministers under His Majesty want face? Zhang Juzheng racked his brains and finally couldn't think of a reason to persuade His Majesty.

Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "Waste is not as practical as rewarding the soldiers."

"His Majesty is wise." Zhang Juzheng had planted the seeds of frugality back then, and now he was reaping the "slaps to the face." His Majesty saved wherever he could, even on necessary ceremonial guards. Who could see this and not say that Zhang Juzheng, the Imperial Tutor and Grand Secretary, was being harsh on the Emperor?

The conservative Ceng Shengwu said quite helplessly: "Your Majesty, I still believe that this trip to Tianjin Wei is excellent, but there is talk in the streets about a southern tour, which I believe is inappropriate."

"Oh?" Zhu Yijun looked at Ceng Shengwu and asked: "Does the Grand Tan Sima think a southern tour is inappropriate?"

"Indeed, that is so." Ceng Shengwu bowed his head and said: "We should launch a northern campaign."

Once Ceng Shengwu said this, the civil and military officials of the entire court looked at him in astonishment. For a moment, they could not tell what Ceng Shengwu's stance was—was he a conservative or a radical? The Emperor personally leading a northern campaign? Could the Grand Tan Sima's words really be considered conservative rhetoric?

Ceng Shengwu clearly stated his thoughts.

Zhu Yijun looked at the Grand Tan Sima's earnest expression and was convinced that Ceng Shengwu was indeed a conservative. He truly followed the ancestral system to the letter. The Prince of Yan, Zhu Di, had launched five northern campaigns to display his might on the grasslands, and by doing so, he had intimidated the petty figures in the Southern Yamen. Ceng Shengwu felt that a southern tour was useless; it was better to be direct and decisive with a northern campaign.

"The north is still too dangerous." Zhang Juzheng explicitly opposed Ceng Shengwu's proposal.

A northern campaign? Andahan had already been beheaded and his head displayed to the public. The suzerain Great Khan Tumanhan and his sons were all enjoying a life of ease in the Great Ming capital. A northern campaign—campaign against whom? The Oirats had already fled to the Western Regions, a place of nothing but sand. What was the point of going there?

Ceng Shengwu's idea was actually not wrong. As long as the Great Ming Capital Battalion continued to win victories, it could effectively intimidate the petty figures in the Southern Yamen. The reason the Southern Yamen, after the influx of massive amounts of silver, had not turned into something like the Netherlands region was precisely because of the strength of the Capital Battalion. Both northern campaigns and southern tours were costly, but a northern campaign could expand territory, while a southern tour was merely internal depletion.

"The Grand Tan Sima is making things difficult for me. I practice martial arts without ceasing, but alas, my martial prowess is not equal to that of Emperor Chengzu Wen." Zhu Yijun said with a smile. He also wanted to lead troops! But he lacked that talent.

Emperor Taizong Wen had military talent. As the only typical example in history of a vassal prince successfully rebelling, he had held a corner of the realm and fought against a unified imperial court and won. He had the ability to lead troops in hard-fought battles. Zhu Yijun did not meet the criteria for a northern campaign.

"I am guilty." Ceng Shengwu hurriedly bowed his head and said.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said: "Alright, alright, the Grand Tan Sima's proposal is still very good; it is truly my fault."

The Great Ming Emperor was to travel to Tianjin Wei, taking the Prince of Zheng and the Prince of De, father and son, with him. He did not bring his family, nor did he bring an excessive ceremonial guard, taking only court officials as his entourage. On the fourteenth day of the tenth month, the Great Ming Emperor, with everything prepared, set off.

The vanguard clearing the way on the imperial road was Li Rusong. He led the cavalry battalion to clear the path ahead, while the other infantry battalions rode in horse-drawn trains. The number of iron horses was still too small, and horse-drawn carriages remained the mainstream on the imperial road. Because of the tracks, even with pack horses, the speed of the march could be guaranteed.

"Slightly ostentatious." Zhu Yijun looked at his luxurious carriage. The carriage had five-point seat belts, and every part of the interior he could touch was padded. The exterior of the carriage even had a roll cage. If it overturned, Zhu Yijun wouldn't even get a bruise. This was a specially customized Grand Imperial Carriage.

A single sixteen-horse iron train pulled one carriage. Besides the iron train, there were four horses dragging it, which counted as a horse-drawn train.

The speed of the Grand Imperial Carriage was not very fast. Zhu Yijun even wanted to shake his body to accelerate the carriage, but fortunately, the scenery outside the window was beautiful.

The Emperor's carriage arrived at Tianjin Wei in the afternoon. The road conditions throughout the entire journey were excellent, with no traffic jams. The Son of Heaven was on an inspection tour, the imperial road was closed, and the cavalry battalion cleared the way ahead, so no accidents occurred.

The iron train ran well, and there was not even much soot.

Some base scholars were very pessimistic about the iron train. In their own words: "The iron train is good in a thousand ways, so why doesn't the Emperor use it? It still won't work!"

This time, when Zhu Yijun went to Tianjin Wei to inspect the naval forces, he used the Grand Imperial Carriage pulled by an iron train, giving those base scholars a fierce slap in the face.

Zhu Yijun stayed at the place where the Haihe River and the Grand Canal converged. The Yanzheng Tower was located here. There was a bamboo forest here called the North Bamboo Forest, and the Yanzheng Tower was situated among the bamboo. Zhu Yijun did not stay inside the Yanzheng Tower, but in a three-courtyard residence next to it, which was also part of the Imperial Manor.

A wily rabbit has three burrows; the Yanzheng Tower was just a facade.

It took three hours to get from the capital to Tianjin Wei. Zhu Yijun did not feel tired; on the contrary, he was in high spirits. It was completely different from his last visit, when Tianjin Wei was desolate as far as the eye could see. Climbing the high tower in the courtyard to look into the distance, the setting sun dyed the sparkling canal a golden red. The grain barges on the canal flowed in an endless stream. Since the maritime transport of grain began, the transport capacity that had occupied the canal for four months was completely released, and communication between northern and southern goods became frequent.

"Those are coal ships." Zhu Yijun reached his hand toward the canal, slightly excited. He saw the coal ships, inside of which was coke. This was the reality of the Great Ming's coal-silver exchange, no longer just a memorial from the Minister of Revenue, Wang Guoguang, but reality.

The Great Ming was truly getting better and better in his hands. Everything he did was not without meaning.

Tianjin Wei had changed from a desolate sight to such a prosperous territory. This was the reality of the New Policies, not sitting idly in the court. Everything was worth it.

This was also the significance of Zhang Juzheng agreeing to the Great Ming Emperor's southern tour. Responding to memorials in the palace all day, even if one "carries it out as one," and "is sincere about it," it was ultimately illusory. It was better to take a look in person like this. As long as one took a look at those coal ships, one would know that the New Policies were truly operating effectively.

Zhu Yijun kept looking at the river surface with his telescope until the lights of fishing boats appeared. Zhu Yijun still lingered over this magnificent human scene. Even at night, the grain barges on the canal were traveling endlessly without stopping. Only then did Zhu Yijun know that the Great Ming's canal was so busy.

The tenth month was already early winter. In another half a month, the river surface would freeze. This period was also the busiest time for the canal. Winter storage was an extremely strong demand, as the north prepared for winter.

"The most human of worldly smoke and fire, accompanying a floating life for another year." Zhu Yijun reluctantly put down the telescope and stretched. Upon arriving at Tianjin Wei, he had done nothing but stare at the canal, watching the ships come and go, watching the civilian houses by the canal, watching the taverns with lanterns hanging. Even when the bright moon hung high, they were still busy entertaining passing boatmen, until the cold wind suddenly rose and the moon climbed to the willow branches.

He was watching the human smoke and fire.

It seemed to have no meaning, but it seemed to have immense meaning.

Zhu Yijun was satisfied and slept with a clear conscience. This sleep was extremely peaceful, the most stable sleep he had had since suddenly arriving in the Great Ming. He knew that the New Policies were changing the Great Ming bit by bit. The Great Ming was struggling, slowly but firmly, changing bit by bit from extreme weakness. Everything that he, Zhang Juzheng, Qi Jiguang, Tan Lun, Wang Guoguang, Wan Shihe, and even Wang Chonggu and others had done was not "scooping the moon from the water."

His biological clock woke Zhu Yijun up as usual before dawn. There was no need to attend the court session today, but the Great Ming Emperor still got up early. After breakfast and washing, Zhu Yijun went to the Yanzheng Tower and saw the court officials waiting in the main hall.

Zhang Juzheng had been worried sick! Upon seeing His Majesty, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

In the morning, Zhang Juzheng asked Luo Sigong where His Majesty was. Luo Sigong said he did not know where His Majesty was after he retired for the night. This one sentence made Zhang Juzheng tremble. They had only been out for one day, and His Majesty was already missing.

Seeing the Emperor, Zhang Juzheng understood that this was the Emperor's caution. From now on, ambitious people would not need to rack their brains to infiltrate and set fires. The place where His Majesty stayed on his inspection tour was unknown even to the Embroidered Uniform Guards who were not participating in the defense.

Li Yougong had prepared residences for His Majesty in four directions, all within five miles. As for which one he actually stayed in, even Li Yougong did not know. It was decided by drawing lots after His Majesty arrived in Tianjin. Therefore, the theoretical success rate of an assassination or arson attack under the cover of night was infinitely close to zero.

"Why is the Master so anxious?" Zhu Yijun asked with a smile.

"Seeing that His Majesty is safe and sound, I am no longer anxious." Zhang Juzheng spoke the truth. His Majesty truly cherished his life!

Wang Chonggu said with a strange expression: "Your Majesty, this morning, the Prefect of Hejian, Zhang Youxin, and the Department Magistrate of Cangzhou, Jiao Liguo, sent three beauties."

Tianjin Wei originally had three guards. In the third year of Wanli, due to development, the left and right guards of Tianjin were merged into one. In the sixth year of Wanli, Tianjin Wei was established as a county, subordinate to Cangzhou and Hejian Prefecture. Now, with the gradual prosperity of maritime trade, the number of people in Tianjin was increasing. In the summer of the sixth month of the tenth year of Wanli, the Prefect of Hejian and the Department Magistrate of Cangzhou jointly submitted a memorial to upgrade Tianjin to a department, governing the three counties of Wuqing, Qingxian, and Jinghai.

The Ministry of Revenue estimated that in a few years, Tianjin Wei would become a government office at the level of a directly governed department similar to Songjiang Prefecture. This place was the Great Ming capital's maritime gateway.

"Why send beauties here?" Zhu Yijun had just sat down and looked at Wang Chonggu, asking blankly.

Wang Chonggu bowed his head and said: "For Your Majesty to enjoy."

"Ah?" Zhu Yijun was stunned for a moment. He looked at the group of officials, his expression changing again and again, from confusion to anger, and then to relief. The Prefect of Hejian and the Department Magistrate of Cangzhou were not insulting the Emperor; it was just that when Emperor Wu Zong of Ming went on inspection tours, he liked beauties, and the local officials could not be sure whether to send them or not, so they had no choice but to send them.

Jiao Liguo was a Jinshi from the second year of Wanli. The last time he saw the Emperor was during the palace examination, which had been at least eight years ago.

As for Zhang Youxin, he had never even seen the Emperor. He had no way of knowing the Emperor's personality. In the end, the two of them put their heads together and came up with this joke, which was considered a manifestation of their respectful hearts.

Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said: "Issue an imperial decree: there is no need to send beauties in the future."

The sky was high and the air was crisp. Heaven was very kind, with clear skies for ten thousand miles. When Zhu Yijun's carriage arrived at the viewing platform, the mist on the Bohai Sea was slowly dissipating. The viewing platform was full of people: court officials, Jin merchants, wealthy households who had migrated to the capital, as well as Assistant Regional Commanders from Jizhou and Miyun.

The envoys from foreign countries also had a separate viewing platform. This time, the foreign envoys had seats, unlike during grand banquets where they could only stand and eat with their backs to people. Zhu Yijun was already the most respectful emperor toward foreign envoys in the history of the Central Plains.

The Marquis of Ningyuan, Li Chengliang, also arrived at Tianjin Wei yesterday with a large force.

Under the dim twilight, sea breeze, and morning sun, the mist on the sea was dissipating bit by bit. Colossal objects slowly appeared on the horizon. Chen Lin had already arrived at Lushunkou the day before. After a fast ship reported to His Majesty, he received His Majesty's order to use all firearms.

Chen Lin wore iron armor and held his naval helmet, standing under the viewing platform, waiting quietly.

Lushunkou was originally called Shizikou. In the fourth year of Hongwu, the two generals Ma Yun and Ye Wang crossed the ocean by ship from Penglai and arrived at Shizikou. Because the journey was extremely smooth, it was renamed Lushunkou.

Since the fourth year of Hongwu, this place had become a Great Ming naval port, and it was still being maintained up to the Wanli years.

Of course Li Chengliang had to come. With the Great Ming navy so formidable, Li Chengliang had even less reason to become a military governor.

"Are the fast sailing ships this big?" Zhu Yijun took his face away from the telescope and said to Zhang Juzheng in shock.

"Thirty-three zhang long, three zhang eight chi one cun wide, and one zhang nine chi six cun deep." Zhang Juzheng said with a smile: "They are truly very big."

Ships over a hundred meters long were deservedly maritime giants. Even just sitting there quietly, the sense of oppression they brought made Zhu Yijun's breathing quicken a little. The "Youlong" took the lead, cutting through the morning mist.

Behind the "Youlong" were the Great Ming's main warships, the Type D five-masted ocean-crossing ships. These were improved versions specifically used for combat. There were twenty five-masted ocean-crossing ships in total. This was not the entire Great Ming navy, but one-fifth of it, because it was only the main force of Chen Lin, the Naval Regional Commander with thirty thousand naval troops. The remaining naval forces were stationed by Assistant Regional Commanders at the Great Ming's five Maritime Trade Offices.

One hundred and fifty three-masted clinker-built ships followed closely behind, and further back were four hundred combat command ships extending to the horizon. These were the only combat command ships participating in the military inspection. A total of 571 ships were just sitting quietly on the sea surface.

(Fleet Review)

"Great Ming Naval Regional Commander Chen Lin, pays respects to Your Majesty! Your Majesty is mighty! The Great Ming navy has 33,000 troops participating in the inspection, and 571 warships are all ready!" Chen Lin stood in front of the viewing platform and shouted with a full, resonant voice. He did not kneel; the Great Ming military etiquette had rules—one does not perform the full salute while wearing armor.

The viewing platform was only ten steps away from Chen Lin. Zhu Yijun stood up, took a step forward, and said: "The Great Ming army is mighty! Issue my decree: Set sail!"

"Your Majesty is mighty!" Chen Lin shouted loudly. The two Assistant Regional Commanders behind him and several Company Commanders turned around.

"His Majesty has an order: Set sail!" Chen Lin stood in front of a row of cannons. The tooth-flag behind him began to wave. A small vermilion flag in the hand of a flag-bearer waved down, and the fuses of eighteen cannons were lit. These were salute cannons, mainly intended to boost the momentum.

After the eighteen cannons fired simultaneously, the sound of horns and drums went from slow to rapid.

Chen Lin turned around again and shouted loudly: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the naval inspection has begun. I request permission to board the ships!"

"Granted." Zhu Yijun waved his hand again.

As the sails were gradually raised, Chen Lin, the Assistant Regional Commanders, and the Company Commanders began to board the ships. Small boats carried the military officers to the ships. By the time the officers finished boarding, the sails were fully raised.

Zhu Yijun immediately noticed the difference. The command of the Great Ming Capital Battalion was mainly through horns, drums, iron gongs, and flags, while the navy mainly used whistles and flag signals. The whistles were sharp, long and short, and small flags of different colors were constantly waving. The Great Ming navy began to act in an orderly manner.

The ships began to move slowly. The Great Ming fleet began to change formation, from a display to a single line led by the "Youlong," arranged in a row, passing in front of the viewing platform. This distance was still outside the effective range of the cannons.

After moving away from the viewing platform, the fleet opened fire toward the target range. The target range was set up on the sea surface. The roaring sound echoed on the sea, and smoke billowed, blown further and further away by the sea breeze.

Zhu Yijun watched the tongues of fire from the cannon muzzles constantly spitting out, and various types of cannons continuously venting firepower toward the target range. The military inspection of this era was not only a display of naval ordnance but also drills. Clearly, the navy was well-trained and had not failed the expectations and massive investment of His Majesty the Emperor.

The naval ships kept passing by the viewing platform, while Qi Jiguang kept his eyes narrowed, watching the sea. When Qi Jiguang pacified the Japanese pirates in the southeast, he had a fleet. Without ships, it was absolutely impossible to clear out the Japanese pirates. He possessed extremely rich maritime combat experience, so if these ships had any slight abnormalities or deformed movements, Qi Jiguang would react immediately.

Zhu Yijun was not worried about the navy rebelling or anything of the sort, because the imperial fleet could only survive by relying on the empire.

During the Yongle years, the empire's massive fleet—the four-hundred-liao combat command ships—were not included in the calculation of warships. Admittedly, the five-masted ocean-crossing ships were more advanced, but in terms of scale, they were still inferior to the Yongle years. After Zhu Di passed away during his personal campaign, under the influence of "promoting literature and suppressing martial arts" and "stopping the voyages to the Western Ocean," the massive imperial fleet quietly rotted in the ports, finally sinking and disappearing.

With just this one-fifth of the navy, Zhu Yijun dared to say that no country or collective in the world could afford to maintain such a massive navy. Even the Spanish Empire, on which the sun never sets, could not afford it.

"What kind of thing is that?" Zhu Yijun suddenly said in surprise.

Zhang Juzheng looked at the sea surface through his telescope. As the fleet was passing in an orderly fashion, a strange-looking object gradually rose from the sea. A total of more than ten of them rose, and these ten or so unidentified flying objects had small sails on both sides and behind them. Under the influence of the wind, they kept changing direction and slowly flew toward the northwest of the viewing platform.

Soon, the unidentified flying objects arrived above the viewing platform and then slowly landed in front of it. Only then did Zhu Yijun understand: hot air balloons.

The Great Ming navy had pulled off a massive stunt!

It was not an airship, but a hot air balloon—a hot air balloon with sail surfaces that could simply control direction. The hot air balloon was not the traditional round shape, but an oval, like an inflated fish, with a hanging basket underneath and four sail surfaces on the left and right that could control direction.

Zhu Yijun was very curious about this flying hot air balloon. The Minister of Works, Wang Daokun, explained to His Majesty with a complex expression: "The cost of this thing is extremely expensive, but it is actually useless."

"How can something that can fly be useless?" Zhu Yijun asked curiously.

Wang Daokun sighed and said: "It can fly because of hot air; it can only fly because it is lighter than air, so its size is naturally not small. It basically belongs to the category of drifting with the wind. After it is released, it all depends on Heaven's mood. Therefore, in fact, those four sail surfaces cannot control the direction very well. Take-off, landing, and even direction cannot be controlled, so it is really useless."

Drifting with the wind was the biggest flaw of this thing. The ten hot air balloons were actually all aimed at the viewing platform, but only one successfully arrived. An uncontrollable flying object was simply a toy. Wang Daokun knew the flaws of this thing, but! Those foreign barbarians from overseas did not understand at all. When this kind of flying object appeared, everyone widened their eyes and stared blankly at the hot air balloon drifting over their heads.

The effect of bluffing people was still very strong.

The Great Ming navy was moving away, five hundred warships heading toward Lushunkou, while Chen Lin returned on the "Youlong," slowly entering the port under the tow of a barge and stopping at the pier.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, except for the 'Youlong,' the entire naval fleet has returned to Lushunkou." Chen Lin came to the front of the viewing platform again and said loudly.

"Issue my decree: Drop anchor." Zhu Yijun stood up again and said to Chen Lin.

Under the waving of flags, the anchor of the "Youlong" dropped. Thus, the Great Ming naval fleet review concluded completely.

"Feng, my attendant, announce the decree." Zhu Yijun said with a smile.

"Naval Regional Commander Chen Lin, receive the decree." Feng Bao flicked his horsetail whisk and took two steps forward. Two young eunuchs pulled open a one-zhang-long, one-chi-wide imperial decree made of black rhinoceros horn, auspicious clouds, and auspicious crane brocade. This was the decree conferring a marquis title upon Chen Lin.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:"

"The Marshal's tower ship sets out to pacify the pirates, fire flags shine beyond Furong Mountain; a thousand sails help the momentum of sweeping away the pirates, ten thousand miles of wind speed make the mountains and seas peaceful."

"Naval Regional Commander and Marquis of Shouli, Chen Lin, is naturally brave and martial, specializing in military campaigns to punish the Japanese barbarians and pirates, and has built extraordinary merits. Hearing the drums and thinking of the generals and ministers, the people of the country worship the classics. Recording the merits of pacifying the pirates and sweeping away the bandits, you are hereby specially promoted to Right Commander of the Front Army Governor's Office and concurrently Crown Prince's Grand Guardian. Discussing the extraordinary merits of pacifying the waves, you are conferred the title of Marquis of Shouli, with an annual salary of one thousand shi. Your loyalty, bit by bit, can only be witnessed by Heaven!"

"Following the established laws of the successive dynasties, spreading virtue and bestowing grace, the decree is announced to the world, so that all may hear and know."

"Respect this."

(End of chapter)