Chapter 205: The Southern Ocean Large-Scale Development Strategy Is Officially Launched

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In early February, Zhao Yu issued a strange decree—placing Penghu under the jurisdiction of Jinjiang County in Quanzhou, Fujian, stationing troops there, and ordering Department Magistrate Cai Dian to organize teams to explore Liuchiu.

When this imperial edict was issued, many ministers unfamiliar with the southeastern region were baffled; they had no idea what Liuchiu was or what Penghu even was.

But those well-versed in Chinese history immediately understood:

During the Xia and Shang dynasties, Liuchiu belonged to Yangzhou among the Nine Provinces; during the Three Kingdoms period, it was called Yizhou, and Sun Quan once sent generals Wei Wen and Zhuge Zhi with ten thousand armored soldiers to reach Yizhou; during the Sui and Tang dynasties, Emperor Yang of Sui sent expeditions to Liuchiu three times; in the Tang dynasty, as Han Chinese populations migrated heavily southward, Fujian's development neared completion, and Han people began migrating to Liuchiu. During the Five Dynasties period, due to turmoil and constant warfare in the Central Plains, Han people from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou flooded into Penghu to settle.

Now, under Zhao Yu's leadership, Fujian's maritime trade has flourished, the port of Quanzhou has risen, and navigation along the southeastern coast has thrived.

This has undoubtedly made it easier for mainland immigrants to cross to Liuchiu and has promoted the initial development of Penghu and Liuchiu.

Cai Dian was from Xianyou, Fujian; his ancestral home was Chihu Jiaoxi Village in Lianjiang Li, Xianyou County; he was the grandson of the former dynasty's famed minister Cai Xiang, and with his two brothers Cai Zou and Cai Shen, he was known as the "Three Cais," nephews of Cai Jing and Cai Bian. Even in the Imperial Academy, he was renowned for his ability and possessed the talent of a top imperial examination scholar.

As a native of Fujian, Cai Dian already had some understanding of Liuchiu across the strait; he could also use various connections to locate people who had settled in Penghu, and even those active in Liuchiu.

Thus, upon receiving Zhao Yu's edict, Cai Dian quickly ascertained the current state of Penghu and Liuchiu, and within a short time dispatched three hundred Xiang troops to garrison Penghu while organizing teams to explore Liuchiu.

More than a month later, Cai Dian submitted a memorial to Zhao Yu stating that Han people already resided in Penghu, and many Han people were active in Liuchiu; even large quantities of Song coins—bearing reign titles such as Taiping, Zhidao, Yuanyou, and Tianxi—had appeared on Liuchiu. However, the Han population living on Liuchiu remained relatively small; the island was still predominantly inhabited by indigenous peoples, who had their own tribes and ways of life. Agriculturally, Liuchiu's land was fertile but underdeveloped; only some indigenous people engaged in simple farming, cultivating crops suited to the local climate. The indigenous peoples and the Han living there primarily relied on fishing…

Cai Dian also reported to Zhao Yu one extremely important matter: Liuchiu's forests were vast, with an extraordinary variety of trees and abundant timber resources, including many types suitable for shipbuilding.

For example, red cypress: its wood is pale red, fine-grained and dense, rich in oils, slightly fragrant without pungency, highly resistant to decay, and moisture-resistant—ideal for constructing ship decks, hull sides, and other parts, meeting the strength and durability demands of large vessels.

For example, camphor wood: it has excellent moisture resistance and emits a distinctive fragrance that prevents insect infestation, commonly used for internal ship structures such as bulkheads; for large ships, camphor wood ensures cabins remain dry and stable during prolonged sea voyages, while its insect-repelling properties extend the vessel's lifespan.

Likewise, fir wood: also one of the woods commonly used for shipbuilding in this era, it is lightweight, highly buoyant, with straight grain and uniform structure, easy to work with, suitable for making planks, oars, and other components; for large ships, fir wood reduces hull weight and improves sailing performance.

Also nanmu, Fujian cypress, and others.

Moreover, many trees on Liuchiu are ancient—thousands of years old, even ten thousand years old—perfect for serving as the keels of five-thousand-dou or even larger treasure ships.

In Cai Dian's words, Liuchiu's timber resources alone could build the treasure ships Zhao Yu desired; therefore, he requested permission to construct a city on Liuchiu to house garrison troops, craftsmen, and laborers, further exploit the island's resources, and protect local Han immigrants and fishermen from indigenous attacks.

A few days later, Cai Dian submitted another memorial to Zhao Yu, requesting the organized migration of Han people to Liuchiu to deepen control and development of the island.

In this memorial, Cai Dian further embellished Liuchiu's abundant resources and painted a grand vision of Liuchiu as a vital node on the future Maritime Silk Road…

Zhang Chun read Cai Dian's memorial and said to Zhao Yu: "This Department Magistrate only reports good news and omits the dangers."

Zhao Yu knew Zhang Chun meant that if Liuchiu were truly so advantageous and so easy to develop, it would never have waited until their generation to be developed.

After all, the Chinese may have known of Liuchiu's existence since ancient times.

By now, thousands of years had passed.

Yet, up to this point, very few Han people lived on Liuchiu.

This alone proved the island was not easily conquered.

Zhao Yu ordered the Imperial Secretariat and the Eastern Depot to send spies southward to investigate, and they quickly uncovered the risks of exploring Liuchiu.

The first danger: the sea crossing.

The strait between Fujian and Liuchiu is called "Black Water Gully"—its currents are violent, depths unpredictable; sailboats are easily swept away, and traditional small boats have extremely high mortality rates during crossing, with the saying: "Ten set out, six die, three stay, one turns back."

Fortunately, Cai Dian was no fool; before setting out, he had inquired thoroughly and deployed a thousand-dou-class flagship that successfully breached the Black Water Gully.

But what followed was Cai Dian's nightmare.

The second danger: disease.

The island's subtropical and tropical climate caused frequent outbreaks of infectious and endemic diseases; within days of landing, one-third of Cai Dian's men fell ill, and more continued to fall sick.

Fortunately, among those Cai Dian brought were a high monk and a Daoist Priest.

The high monk, since childhood, studied medicine under his father; his medical skill was exquisite, and he spent his life healing countless patients. He had long practiced the Medicine Buddha Dharma and possessed several extraordinary abilities.

The Daoist Priest, born in Putian, Fujian, was a Daoist of profound cultivation, skilled in medicine, feng shui, divination, and other arts, hailed as a "Living Immortal," equally remarkable.

Through investigation, the two discovered that Liuchiu was plagued by powerful miasma.

They ordered a massive fire to be set, burning for over ten days, clearing a vast expanse of white ground in western Liuchiu, after which the miasma receded considerably.

They then brewed a special medicinal tea from several local herbs, curing all those who had fallen ill.

Yet the island's dangers were not limited to this.

The third danger: indigenous threat.

The local indigenous people practiced the custom of "chukao."

"Chukao" meant headhunting: killing a person and bringing back their head to display in the home or tribal head-pavilion as proof of martial prowess.

These indigenous people did not engage in headhunting out of hatred or for wealth, but for sacred reasons in their own view—such as ancestral worship, rites of passage, demonstrating bravery, or expelling disease.

Their targets were often unrelated outsiders, making Han settlers frequent victims.

Many of Cai Dian's men were killed by them, triggering a sizable war; fortunately, the three hundred Xiang troops, armed with superior weapons and armor, decisively defeated the indigenous fighters.

Also, the island's dense primeval forests required large-scale burning and clearing, and initial infrastructure construction was extremely arduous.

After learning this, Zhao Yu issued Cai Dian an imperial decree:

The Emperor of Great Song decrees:

To the Ministry: I, receiving Heaven's mandate and inheriting the great legacy of my predecessors, labor day and night to govern, striving to expand the realm to secure the state's foundation and to pacify the people and fulfill a grand vision.

Department Magistrate Cai Dian of Quanzhou, harboring grand strategies to save the world and bold ambition to open new lands, first proposed the development plan for Liuchiu—his sincerity is evident, his resolve commendable.

Liuchiu is a strategic maritime chokepoint, blessed with magnificent mountains and rivers, lush forests; if properly developed, it will surely become a major port on the Maritime Silk Road.

Yet crossing the sea means confronting the Black Water Gully's treacherous currents and unpredictable storms; landing brings rampant miasma and disease; moreover, the indigenous practice of "chukao" frequently harasses the populace; further, dense forests obscure the land, making cultivation arduous.

You led your men across perilous waters, battled miasma, repelled indigenous threats, burned forests to clear land, and achieved extraordinary feats; your three hundred Xiang troops bravely defended the frontier, while the monk and Daoist Priest worked miracles to restore health—these are the pillars of the state, the backbone of the court.

I now bestow upon Cai Dian a thousand bolts of silk and promote him to Secretary of the Imperial Court; all accompanying personnel shall receive generous promotions and rewards.

Liuchiu is vast, and its development is urgent; Quanzhou must urgently coordinate with Fuzhou and Guangnan East Road to mobilize all resources for Liuchiu's development.

Regarding financial allocations, legal promulgations, troop deployments, and all matters, you may submit urgent memorials directly; I shall respond with the utmost priority.

I urge you to strive with diligence and achieve complete success, fulfilling my profound intent to expand territory and secure the nation.

This decree is hereby issued; let it be known.

Great Song, Hongwu Third Year, third month, Wu Shen day

After receiving Zhao Yu's imperial edict, Cai Dian broke out in a cold sweat. He had not expected that Zhao Yu, far away in Dongjing Bianliang, would have such a thorough grasp of everything happening here. He muttered to himself, "Fortunately, Your Majesty does not intend to punish me; otherwise, given the crimes I have committed, I would at least have lost my office."

While secretly rejoicing in his heart, Cai Dian's awe of Zhao Yu grew even stronger than before. From then on, in handling affairs, he did not dare to slacken in the slightest, and moreover, he no longer dared to conceal anything and fail to report it.

At the same time, the chief officials of Fuzhou and Guangnan East Circuit also received Zhao Yu's imperial edict ordering them to organize displaced persons to go develop Liuqiu.

The officials of the two circuits learned that, without having to fight a war, they could also obtain great merit for expanding the realm, and they too actively organized displaced persons to go develop Liuqiu.

And the displaced persons heard that Liuqiu's land was fertile, its resources abundant, and its fisheries thriving; that those who went to open up the wilderness would be provided with food and lodging, tools, and seeds; that all the wasteland they reclaimed would belong to them; that the first three years would be tax-exempt; and that the court intended to vigorously develop Liuqiu, which would in the future become an important hub of maritime trade, with commerce flourishing greatly. Therefore, those displaced persons who could barely survive in their own hometowns regarded this as a heaven-sent opportunity to escape the barrenness of their native soil and seek a new lease on life, and they signed up one after another to go to Liuqiu to open up the wilderness.

Because the number of displaced persons signing up was truly too great, the court was unable to provide so many ships, along with the corresponding food and lodging, tools, and seeds. Many displaced persons even built their own sampans and braved the perilous crossing of the treacherous Black Water Trench, setting out toward that legendary treasure island.

Upon learning of this, Zhao Yu could not help but sigh with emotion!

In the early Song, the class contradictions within the Zhao Song dynasty were already quite acute.

As early as the period of Songtai Sect, Li Jue of the National Academy doctoral staff pointed out to Zhao Guangyi the land-ownership situation of the time, saying: "Every piece of land has its owner, yet some households have no land. The rich have fields stretching as far as the eye can see, while the poor have not even a spot of ground to drive an awl into. Those with strength have no land to till, and those with land have no strength to till it. Rain and dew fall, yet the year's harvest fails; the seasons turn, yet no grain is reaped. The rich grow ever richer by hoarding, while the poor cannot even sustain themselves."

Because the Zhao Song dynasty did not curb the consolidation of land, allowing high officials and noble scions, gentry of prominent clans, great households, and wealthy merchants to seize the farmers' land, land ownership thereafter became even more concentrated.

By the time of Emperor Renzong, it had already developed to the point where powerful officials and wealthy clans occupied land without limit, consolidating and falsifying titles, until it had become the established custom; even the court's use of strict prohibitions could not put a stop to it.

By the eve of Wang Anshi's reforms, among all the cultivated land in the country, seventy percent no longer paid land tax. This meant that seventy percent of the land was occupied by official households, gentry, and great clans who enjoyed feudal privileges and did not pay taxes, while owner-peasant farmers and small-to-medium local households combined held only thirty percent of the land.

At this time, it was universally the case that the rich had property spread across entire prefectures, while the poor were so destitute they could not escape falling into ditches and gullies — a state of stark disparity between rich and poor.

This not only caused the Zhao Song dynasty a grave political and economic crisis, but also made the plight of the masses of landless peasants increasingly wretched.

Many people had their spring debts unpaid when autumn debts came due; public and private debts contended and seized from one another; before the grain had even left the threshing floor, before the silk had come off the loom, it was no longer theirs. The poor toiled for a whole year, only to end with wives and children freezing and starving; in worse cases, powerful households and great families would simply take their fields, wives, and daughters at will, families ruined and lives lost, with the victims themselves conscripted into labor to pay off debts.

There were also some households who, because they truly could not go on living, drowned their own newborn sons and daughters alive.

After Zhao Yu ascended the throne, he repeatedly reduced and exempted the land tax, and reduced and exempted the per-capita poll tax in cash and grain (i. e., the head tax), which indeed loosened the bonds for many poor common folk of the Zhao Song dynasty.

But a three-foot-thick ice does not form from a single day's cold; Zhao Yu had only reigned for a little over three years — how could he completely change such a state of affairs?

Therefore, so many displaced persons were willing to go to Liuqiu to open up the wilderness, and willing to be relocated by the Zhao Song dynasty to Longyou, Western Xia, and the Yun lands — these newly conquered regions of the Zhao Song dynasty — to seek a way to survive.

That said, this also, to a certain extent, eased the court's pressure from the displaced persons problem, and to a certain extent eased the social contradictions within the Zhao Song dynasty that were intensifying day by day due to land consolidation, allowing social order to be maintained, preventing greater social upheaval from being triggered by the massive numbers of unemployed and bankrupt peasants, and buying Zhao Yu time to reform the current state of affairs.

This was also one of the reasons Zhao Yu pursued frontier expansion.

But to be fair, the main reason Zhao Yu chose to develop Liuqiu at this time was still to develop maritime trade, and to prepare for future enfeoffments.

Meizhou was simply too far away for Zhao Yu and his people at present — visible but out of reach. The Indochinese Peninsula and South Asia, however, were different: with Liuqiu as a stepping stone, one could fight all the way to Australia without any great difficulty.

In short, because Emperor Zhao Yu personally pushed this matter forward, and mobilized the manpower, material resources, and finances of three circuits all at once, the wave of Liuqiu development swiftly swept through Quanzhou, Fuzhou, and Guangnan East Circuit, and the Zhao Song dynasty's grand South Sea development strategy officially kicked off…

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(End of this chapter)