Spain is the biggest rival of the Ming Dynasty in the global competition for interests, and it can even be said to be its only opponent at present.

Although Spain's power in North America has been gradually eroded by the forces injected by the Ming Dynasty.

But in Western Europe, Spain still has a strong military force and can pose a great threat to the Ming Dynasty's colonies in the Mediterranean!

"The Ming Dynasty cannot give up the colony of Ceuta because of its distance. It is a bridgehead for us to mine the entire North African gold and silver mine. Now, Spain wants to take it away, we must not agree!

We cannot even let Spain harass here all the time. Ceuta cannot always be under Spain's military deterrence. In this way, it will cause a long-term interruption of trade in the Ceuta area, which will also be a huge loss for our Ming Dynasty! Therefore, we must launch an expeditionary army to beat Spain to hurt! He dare not provoke our Ming Dynasty!"

Jiangdong, deputy chief of the Guards' Privy Council, said so at the meeting of the Guards on responding to the Spanish military threat.

With the development of the empire, it has become a consensus among the Ming people that cannot be lost and divided into colonies. After all, everyone in the world has gained benefits from colonial plunder, or rather, it is colonial plunder that supports the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty to this day.

Because the administration is clear and clear, the government is perfect, the people are well-off, and the people are given high welfare and tax cuts, and the maintenance of a strong army is related to this. Otherwise, the Ming Empire would have made huge financial expenditures to realize these unique labels of prosperity.

Therefore, Jiangdong's proposal to send troops to expedition to Spain by the Central Empire of the Ming Dynasty was unanimously recognized by the senior leaders of the Guards. Zhu Houzhao naturally had no objection. He also hoped to have a luxurious global voyage in his lifetime. After all, he wanted to be a global emperor, so he naturally wanted to see the country he had captured.

However, God gives people a limited lifespan, but the time required for an empire to develop is greater than that of a person. Therefore, Zhu Houzhao can only imagine how the empire's pioneers fought in global trade.

Of course, Zhu Houzhao also thought that after he was in his seventies, he would completely hand over the burden on himself to Zhu Zailei, be a retired old man and travel around the world. Just imagine, if he could ride a warship from the Ming Empire into the Strait of Gibraltar, it would be a good feeling to see the appearance of the Mediterranean.

"The expedition is of course necessary. If you submit the memorial, I can immediately approve it. However, how to plan the specific matters of the expedition? Can the General Staff have a detailed plan?"

Zhu Houzhao withdrew his thoughts and then looked at Jia Yingchun, the chief of staff of the Empire, who was dressed in military uniform.

This Imperial General Chief of Staff, who once governed Shaanxi and Gansu (original governor of Shaanxi and the protagonist was established in Gansu Province, so it was changed to governor of Shaanxi and Gansu), and also governed the military affairs of Guangdong and Guangxi. What he likes most is to study geography and simulate the global war of the empire. Now seeing Zhu Hou taking care of him, he immediately bowed and said, "Report to Your Majesty, the General Staff has formulated a plan."

As Jia Yingchun said that, he walked to the bottom of the map and began to explain in detail to Zhu Houzhao. According to Jia Yingchun's plan, the most difficult thing about the Ming Empire was to go on an expedition was the issue of logistics supply, especially the Ming army was now a gun-based force and was more dependent on logistics supply.

Therefore, Jia Yingchun believed that the empire's expedition would require the establishment of several logistics supply stations first, with the Ming colonies such as Qiongzhou, Guiren, Manragha, Goa, and Cape Verde as logistics supply stations, and logistics supply was carried out in stages, which was equivalent to a Zhengde version of "Zheng He's voyage to the West", giving the distant troops a complete logistics supply line.

Of course, this is a systematic project.

First, the Ming Dynasty needed to establish a complete military-industry system in Naturalization and Qiongzhou, and at the same time, using Jiaozhi's food as a supply of food for expeditions to the West, and also using Jiaozhi's land as a basis to form a defense system to control and protect the routes to Malacca, and establish a shipping team that can specifically transport military ordnance from Qiongzhou and naturalized areas to Malacca.

The same is true from Manlacca to Goa, from Goa to Cape Verde, and from Cape Verde to Ceuta.

Fortunately, the Ming Dynasty now has the prototype of building this systematic project. Qiongzhou already has the most complete dock for the Ming Dynasty. After Jiaozhi was recaptured by the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty also had absolute ruling authority due to the forced land reform of the Ming Dynasty, which led to the Ming Dynasty's establishment of heavy industrial bases and military bases here.

The Malacca was the longest-managed colony in the Ming Dynasty and was controlled by the Ming army. The Ming Dynasty’s Indian Governor Cai Kelian was in India and Ceylon, following the information of Zheng He’s voyage to the West, and successively re-occupied and built ports such as Guli, Kezhi, Xiao Gelan, Guanyu, Gaolangwu, and Belloli, using this as a supply base for the Ming Dynasty to go to the West.

In addition, Feng Yue, the governor of the Ming Dynasty in Manlacca, also successively established Kunlun Island, Xincun, Laogang, Yalu, Nanwuli, Cuilanyu and other ports, recreating the places where Zheng He discovered overseas after voyage to the West.

Whether it is the Ming army or caravan, from the estuary of the Pearl River to Goa City, there is basically no need to worry about any logistical support issues. Even a special rescue fleet has been established in this area to escort and rescue ships in distress throughout the course, and the pirates in this area have basically disappeared.

What is really challenging is the area from Goa City to Cape Verde, and from Cape Verde to Ceuta. Fortunately, Zheng He voyages to the West and reaches the southern part of Africa today, and Xia Yan once made a tour of the West according to Zheng He's experience.

What's more, the Ming Dynasty's title of kings overseas and encouraged the people of the Ming Dynasty to develop overseas also added many places for the Ming Han people from India to Africa. There was no need to worry too much about losing direction and not finding suitable parking and supply locations.

Zhu Houzhao finally decided to adopt Jia Yingchun's plan, first let the Ming Dynasty expeditionary army gather in Naturalization, then take a boat from Naturalization to Malacca, then go to Goa, go through Cape Verde, arrive in Ceuta, and then pass through the Strait of Gibraltar to attack Spain.

The expeditionary army was initially determined to have more than 10,000 main troops. Yu Dayou, who was familiar with water wars in the war to recover Jiaozhi and studied at the Army Command Academy, was appointed as the general officer. Instead, there were more than 10,000 people in charge of logistics and propaganda, communication, translation, technology, etc., totaling nearly 30,000.

This is the number of people who have been striving for excellence in the Ming Dynasty, which is similar to the number of people who went to the West for the seventh time in history.

But just as Zhu Houzhao was discussing the dispatch of the expeditionary force with the senior officials of the Guards, the report from Ceuta was handed over to Zhu Houzhao.

"My Governor Ceuta Censor Weng Wanda, please report to Your Majesty that in the 51st year of Zhengde, Spain has repeatedly harassed the waters near Ceuta, and even more so, slaughtered our fishermen. Since last year, a total of 267 fishermen have been killed, including less than 50 women, children and children. The crimes of the Western Barbarians are endless!... I ask Your Majesty to send the royal army to punish the evils of the Western Barbarians to eliminate future troubles!"

Weng Wanda's memorial explained in detail the crimes committed by Spain and its supported pirates in the Ceuta area of ​​the Ming Dynasty. After Zhu Hou finished reading, his dark sword eyebrows stood up, and then he said: "Spain is already offending our court and is already killing our people. It is not too late to send an expedition! Summon Yu Dayou and ask him to go south immediately after receiving the order!"

At this time, Yu Dayou was still studying in the General Class of the Supreme Military Academy of the Ming Dynasty in Nanjing. After all, the Ming Dynasty is now a country with rifled rifles and rifled cannons as its main combat weapons. Natural military command needs to be resumed and learned. Moreover, with the development of the imperial global trade, ideological education also needs to be continuously updated and followed up.

For Yu Dayou, his participation in further studies is naturally mainly to carry out ideological education and understand whose command he should obey. In addition, he also further understands the history of war and summarizes various war experiences.

After receiving the transfer order, Yu Dayou rushed to Qiongzhou and was preparing to accept the expeditionary force prepared for him by the General Staff of the Guards. Here, he met his old friends Lu Tong and Tang Kekuan. Both of them were his deputy, both of whom were newly emerging generals of the Ming Dynasty. In addition, after Yu Dayou arrived in Qiongzhou, he also saw the Ming Dynasty's new warship - the "Nanjing" steam armored warship!

This warship will also be launched with the Expeditionary Force and serve as the flagship of the Expeditionary Force.

The "Nanjing" steam armored warship built in the dock in Qiongzhou is more than 40 meters long, the waterline is more than 30 meters long, about six meters wide, the length and width ratio is about 7.2 meters, and the depth is two and a half meters deep, the displacement is 9,200 tons, the sail surface is more than seven acres, the iron armor is three or four inches thick, and the total of more than 40 cannons of various types. Although the gun deck is only one layer, one of the most advanced iron armored warships in the Ming Dynasty can directly carry more than 700 people.

In addition, three wooden-shelled iron steam warships with low tonnage will also be involved in the formation of the expeditionary force, namely the "Daming", the "Fengyang" and the "Jiaxing".

The others are sail warships and various functional warships.

As a general of the Ming Dynasty, Yu Dayou was naturally familiar with this steam iron armored warship, but when he saw the steel giant "Nanjing", he still couldn't hide his excitement. He couldn't help but reach out to touch the cold and textured iron armor. Even the two huge chimneys that soared into the sky made him dry.

However, Yu Dayou cannot immediately order the giant to travel across the ocean. He has to train the army he has accepted for a period of time to enhance the relationship between the officers and soldiers and make himself more familiar with the army that he has fought with. At the same time, he has to prepare corresponding information and procurement preparations. Of course, saying goodbye to his family is also indispensable.

"Your Majesty, the Expeditionary Force went to sea on the fourth day of last month. It is estimated that it is now naturalizing and replenishing food and grass to go to Manlaga." At this time, the capital has ushered in autumn, and the rustling autumn wind blows again. The older I am, the more I am afraid of the autumn cold. At this time, Zhu Houzhao has already wrapped in thick sweater clothes, but Jia Yingchun, who is reporting to Zhu Houzhao, is still wearing a single dress. After Zhu Houzhao saw it, he does not sigh very much, and secretly sighs that he is old.

Zhu Houzhao nodded, then took a magnifying glass from Jia Yingchun. While looking at the entire Western area on the map, he asked: "How is Hu Zongxian and Wang Zhi in contact? This pirate in Japan is willing to replace the imperial court as a bigger pirate, go to the West, and rob Western countries."

After Zhu Houzhao knew that Spain was secretly supporting pirates to harass the Ming ships, he also decided to send officials to recruit some pirates and specifically rob Spanish ships. After all, it is not cost-effective to let the Imperial Navy specializes in robbery and will delay training. If he supports some pirates, these pirates will not consider any logistics and do not have to care about domestic public opinion. Naturally, if they win, they will run away if they don’t win.

Hu Zongxian volunteered to secretly contact these pirates for the court. Now the Expeditionary Force has gone out to sea, and Zhu Houzhao feels that it is not enough. After all, the Expeditionary Force is carrying out a positive military operation and requires a lot of consideration. The speed of the attack on Spain is undoubtedly affected. Therefore, Zhu Houzhao began to care about Hu Zongxian's progress in contacting pirates at this time. If it goes well, the Ming Dynasty could naturally use these pirates to go to the West to muddle the water first.

"Hu Zongxian sent back the news that Wang Zhi was willing to submit to the court and was willing to work for the court. However, these people were pirates, and I was worried that once the Conservative officials knew that the court wanted to recruit and use these pirates, it might cause criticism."

Jia Yingchun said with concern.

"If you criticize me, you will criticize me. If you want to accomplish a big thing, how can you be constrained by the small matters? Hu Zongxian told Wang Zhi that the court only recognizes the number of white-skinned eunuchs. If he can offer one to the court, he will be rewarded with ten silver dollars! In this way, the total number of ten people will be 100 silver dollars. I am waiting for him to empty my treasury!"

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but stand up: "The Ming Dynasty needs labor, but it doesn't require too many non-Yellow aliens to reproduce. Some things are not easy for the court to do, but these pirates can do it. After all, they are pirates. Since the Western Paradise dares to slaughter my people by pirate behavior, our pirates can naturally kill their descendants."

Jia Yingchun nodded and said yes. He began to worry that Wang Zhi would be afraid that many Western Hu people would be extinct to make money from the court, and even the Ming army would do such things to make money through Wang Zhi. However, he did not dissuade Emperor Zhu Houzhao. After all, he also knew that kindness to the enemy was the cruelty to himself.

Zhu Houzhao quickly issued an order to establish a slave department to manage slaves in the world, and to establish a state-owned slave management company under the slave department to accept a large number of castrated white slaves in the future, because there is no need to predict this at all. Once the court really wants to acquire white-skinned eunuchs at a high price of ten silver dollars, the pirates in the world will definitely be crazy, because this is obviously more profitable than robbing merchant ships. Just catch people directly, and the cost is simply too low.

Of course, the great Ming emperor did not issue such an explicit order. Therefore, even after many years, when people examined why white skins decreased significantly, they only thought that the development of capitalism at that time was still in the primitive period, leading to the prevalence of slave trade, which was just the dark side of slave trade.

At that time, the Ming Dynasty was already respected by people all over the world as a free, rich, and high-quality country. Naturally, not many people would blame the great Emperor Zhengde who created the great empire for not stopping this sinful act in that era.

After all, people will easily tolerate the strong and even take the initiative to whitewash the strong.
Chapter completed!