Chapter 226: Meeting Up with Xu Da

The eleventh year of Hongwu, the third day of the twelfth month.

Outside the royal city of Pagan, the Longxiang Army's Military Camp.

Zhu Yong sat inside the Central Command Tent, with a huge map of the South Sea spread before him.

The map was densely marked with Manzeboyi, Java, Champa, Siam, Zhenla, Pagan and other countries, most of which were now circled in red.

The tent curtain was lifted, Chang Yuchun strode in, plopped down opposite Zhu Yong, lifted the teapot on the table and poured half a pot.

"Prince, this wretched place Pagan is poorer than Siam; the gold and silver recovered from the royal palace total less than two hundred thousand taels, not enough for our campaign expenses."

Zhu Yong lifted his head; his simple, honest face showed little expression, but a hint of thought flashed in his eyes.

"Grain and Fodder?"

"We do have grain and fodder, enough for two months, but Prince, how do you intend to deal with Pagan—like Siam and Zhenla, levy a fine, leave some troops to garrison, then continue south?" Chang Yuchun set down the teapot and asked.

Zhu Yong shook his head: "No hurry; we'll discuss it when Uncle Xu arrives."

Chang Yuchun scratched his head: "That old fellow Xu Da is moving far too slowly; we've already subjugated four countries, and he's still dawdling on the road."

"A fifty‑thousand‑strong army with heavy artillery can't move that fast, Chang Shu, tell me, how much territory have we taken along this route?"

Zhu Yong spoke, his gaze returning to the map; Chang Yuchun was startled for a moment, then leaned in to look at the map.

Manzeboyi, Java, Champa, Siam, Zhenla, Pagan… from the spice islands in the far east to Pagan in the far west, spanning a sea of ten thousand li.

"That… must be about half the size of Great Ming, right?" Chang Yuchun inhaled a breath of cool air.

"Almost. Manzeboyi and Java together are larger than Yunnan; Champa, Siam, Zhenla, Pagan—each is no smaller than Guangxi."

"These six countries combined are larger than the whole of Southern Zhili plus Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong combined." Zhu Yong nodded.

Chang Yuchun opened his mouth, but for a long while could not speak.

He, too, was a veteran of many wars, having followed Zhu Yuanzhang from Haozhou to Yingtian, from Yingtian to Beiping, from Beiping to Mobei; he had essentially traversed the whole territory of Great Ming.

But how many years was that? Over twenty years.

And now? More than two months.

"Prince… have we already captured such a vast region?" Chang Yuchun still could not quite believe it.

Zhu Yong nodded, saying nothing.

He knew better than anyone that it wasn't his own prowess, but the system‑provided Flintlock Gun, breech‑loading cannon, and steamship—against the South Sea nations still stuck in the cold‑weapon era, a sheer dimensionality strike.

Those kings and soldiers would never understand, even in death, why iron tubes a few hundred steps away could take lives.

"Chang Shu, have someone tally the seized gold and silver precisely, categorize and register them, and when Uncle Xu arrives, let him arrange shipment back to Yingtian." Zhu Yong instructed.

"Understood. What about these places? Deploy people to garrison?" Chang Yuchun replied, then asked again.

Zhu Yong shook his head: "We only have five thousand Longxiang troops; spreading them across six countries, a few hundred per location, we simply can't hold them."

Wait for Uncle Xu, then first concentrate forces to garrison Java and Manzeboyi, those are spice‑producing regions, the most valuable; in the other places, let the original kings continue to rule and pay tribute on schedule.

Xu Da was currently dealing with the previously conquered Manzeboyi and Champa regions!

Chang Yuchun nodded, then remembered something: "By the way, Prince, what shall we do with the women the kings sent?"

Zhu Yong was startled: "What women?"

"They are the ones sent by the Zhenla king and the Pagan king, claimed as tributes to the Prince; each is quite graceful, and they're waiting outside the tent right now," Chang Yuchun grinned.

Zhu Yong frowned, waved his hand and said: "No, send them back and tell those kings that Great Ming does not accept this."

Chang Yuchun chuckled, stood up and left.

Outside the tent, indeed, stood a group of women in saris, a dozen or so, all young, heads lowered, trembling.

Chang Yuchun relayed Zhu Yong's words to the interpreter, who said a few sentences in the local tongue.

The women, as if granted a pardon, quickly performed a brief bow and left.

Inside the tent, Zhu Yong continued to study the map.

He was actually waiting.

Waiting for Xu Da to arrive, waiting for Zhu Biao's secret edict.

Before the expedition, Zhu Biao had privately told him that this battle was not only revenge but also a push to expand the realm.

Although the South Sea nations were poor, their geographic position was crucial; controlling this area meant controlling the throat through which Great Ming accessed the Western Ocean.

More importantly, those spices, gems, and ivory, shipped back to Great Ming, could be exchanged for real gold and silver, and most of all, the grain.

Here the rice yields three harvests a year, something Great Ming greatly needs.

Over four thousand merchant caravans were slain; certainly a deep sea of blood, but also the best pretext.

Zhu Yong recalled Zhu Biao's words before departure: "Second brother, whatever you capture, the elder brother can hold; go ahead and fight without worry, the later matters are with the elder brother."

Those words steadied his heart.

On the fifth day of the twelfth month, the Pagan king's surrender documents and tribute were fully inventoried and placed under special custody, to be shipped back to Great Ming once Xu Da arrived.

Zhu Yong ordered the Longxiang Army to rest in Pagan for three days, replenish fresh water and grain and fodder, and await the follow‑up main force.

On the eighth day of the twelfth month, a steamship raced in from the east, bringing news of Xu Da.

"Your Highness Prince Wu, General Xu has arrived in Siam on the sixth day of the twelfth month, leaving five thousand men to garrison the Siam royal city; the main force of forty‑five thousand is en route to Pagan, expected to arrive in three days."

Zhu Yong nodded and ordered the messenger to go rest.

Chang Yuchun leaned in and said: "Prince, Xu Da has arrived; should we continue heading south?"

Zhu Yong shook his head: "No hurry; when Uncle Xu comes, we'll sort out the handover here first."

On the tenth day of the twelfth month, Xu Da's thirty‑five‑thousand‑strong army arrived at Pagan.

The sea was a black expanse, a dozen‑plus vessels rolled in like a tide, the scene truly spectacular.

Zhu Yong, with Chang Yuchun and Wang Baobao, met them at the port.

Xu Da stepped down from the flagship, saw Zhu Yong, strode over, clasped his fists and saluted: "Your servant wishes to appear before Prince Wu!"

Zhu Yong hurriedly steadied him: "Uncle Tiande, what are you doing? Get up quickly."

Xu Da stood up, scanned Zhu Yong from head to toe, and laughed, "Prince, two months apart and you've grown darker again."

"Sun‑baked…" Zhu Yong chuckled sheepishly.

Xu Da looked toward the faint outline of Bagan Royal City in the distance and said with admiration, "Prince, in these two months you have conquered six nations; I have fought for thirty years and never captured so many lands."

"Xu Shu, you flatter me; it's all thanks to the Huogi," Zhu Yong said.

Xu Da shook his head and said, "No matter how powerful the Huogi, someone must know how to use them. Prince, the five thousand troops of the Longxiang Army you lead are all exemplary."

The two continued talking as they walked toward the Military Camp.

Upon entering the Central Command Tent, Zhu Yong had a map laid out and gave a brief rundown of the two months' battles.

Manzhe Boyi, Java, Champa, Siam, Zhenla, Bagan… each battle's tactics, spoils taken, and losses incurred were explained clearly.

Xu Da listened, nodding repeatedly, and finally asked, "Prince, what do you intend to do with these territories?"

Zhu Yong said, "I, your nephew, would like to ask Uncle Xu; my thought is that Java and Manzhe Boyi are spice‑producing regions, the most valuable, and should be garrisoned with heavy troops."

"For the other lands, let the former kings continue to govern them and pay tribute on schedule, but I don't understand how to establish prefectures and counties or arrange garrisons; that will have to rely on Uncle Tiande and elder brother for decisions."

Xu Da pondered for a moment, nodded, and said, "Prince, you make a sound argument, but this must await His Majesty's decree; I am only here to receive the lands, and how to govern them must follow the court's orders."

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said to Xu Da, "Xu Shu, since you have arrived, I will continue heading south."

Xu Da nodded and said, "Your humble general understands; Prince, when do you plan to set out?"

"In three days, this area will be handed over to Xu Shu," Zhu Yong said.

Xu Da clasped his fists and said, "Prince, rest assured; your humble general will not disappoint the trust placed in me."