Chapter 264: Malacca? My Ming Dynasty wants it!
Ying Zheng slowly commented:
"This later generation's Yuwen Hu is indeed a powerful official."

"But he cannot be called a traitor; he is even a loyal minister.

"He took over the country from his uncle, Yuwen Tai."

"This country has powerful enemies outside and aristocratic tyrants like the Eight Pillars inside. It is actually a very difficult country to manage well."

"But it is clear that under Yuwen Hu's rule, the state power was not only stable, but the national strength was also further enhanced."

"Although he deposed and killed three emperors, including two emperors from the Yuwen family."

"But he always let Yuwen Tai's son continue to be the new emperor."

"He was not loyal to the emperor of his time."

"But I am loyal to Yuwen Tai and loyal to this country."

"Of course, he deserved his fate in the end."

"After all, a subject is a subject, and committing an act of regicide is unforgivable."

"But I can only say that when analyzing a powerful official, you really can't just evaluate one aspect of him."

“It needs to be evaluated from two or even more aspects.”

When Ying Zheng said this, he was actually quite touched inside.

And gradually, the figure of another important minister emerged, who was very crucial to Ying Zheng and even the entire Qin Empire.

But Ying Zheng is unwilling to mention this person now.

So Ying Zheng continued, watching intently as the new sky appeared.

A global map appeared on the new sky.

【A list of the world's key straits. 】

[A strait is a narrow passage between two pieces of land, connecting two different sea areas.]

【The Strait is not only a major transportation route, but also a shipping hub.】

[It is often a battleground for military strategists. ]

[Controlling the Straits not only brings huge military advantages, but also often brings extremely rich trade advantages. ]

[Countries that own key straits can often gain great benefits in overseas trade.]

【Since ancient times, the expansion and dominance of the overseas forces of powerful countries, especially maritime powers, have often been centered around the Straits.】

【So what are the important straits on Earth? 】

Why are they important?

Seeing is an important key channel in telling the story of the world.

Many ambitious ancient emperors watched attentively.

Although overall, ancient China was a land-based empire.

But even a land power must control some key straits.

This is what those who want to expand China's influence overseas want.

The emperors who ensured the smooth flow of China's maritime trade routes all had their own ideas.

【We all know the importance of the Strait now. 】

[So among the countless straits in the world, which ones are the most important? ]

[First, let’s take a look at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has been the focus of international attention in recent times.]

[The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is located at the junction of northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in Asia, connecting the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. ]

[The average width of the strait is 28 kilometers, and the average water depth is 150 meters.]

[There is also a small island in the strait, which separates the strait. ]

[The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is connected to the Red Sea, is part of the Mediterranean shipping route.]

【And it is the most important part of the Mediterranean route. 】

[Recently, the Slipper Army has gained a lot of international attention by virtue of its locational advantage in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.]

[It has caused great headaches for the world's most powerful country, the United States, and has directly confronted the Tianlong Kingdom. 】

【With the strength of a mere non-governmental army and local armed forces. 】

[Every day I have nothing to do but to criticize the world's most powerful country and its father. 】

【The importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait can be seen from this. 】

[The Strait of Gibraltar corresponds to the Strait of Mandeb. ]

【The Bab el-Mandeb Strait controls shipping from the Mediterranean to the east.】

[The Strait of Gibraltar is the outlet to the western Mediterranean Sea. ]

[Before the opening of the Suez Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar was also the only channel connecting the Mediterranean to the outside world. ]

[You know, in modern times, European countries have long been in the leading position in the world. ]

[Whoever controls the Strait of Gibraltar controls the entire Mediterranean coast and the important sea transport routes of almost all countries.]

[It can form a huge strategic advantage for these countries. ]

[For example, Italy, Turkey, and even the Russian Black Sea Fleet at the time, all needed to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar to reach the wider ocean.]

[Gibraltar in the west, plus the Suez Canal and Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the east.]

【Who can control these two areas? 】

[Who can control half of Europe! ]

【Under the circumstances at that time, who could control half of Europe during the imperialist era?】

【Then who is the most powerful country in the world?】

【For example, Britain at that time. 】

[And now, Britain still exercises illegal occupation of Gibraltar. ]

[And here, there is also a US military base. ]

【Let us turn our attention to Asia. 】

[The closest and most important strait to our country is the Strait of Malacca, which is very familiar to everyone. ]

[This important strait connecting the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean is also known as the crossroads of the sea. ]

[The Strait of Malacca is located between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra.] [It is over a thousand kilometers long.]

[The narrowest part is less than 3 kilometers, which is very easy to be controlled and cut off.]

[The Strait of Malacca is a very busy strait, with hundreds of thousands of ships passing through it every year! ]

[It is one of the busiest and most valuable straits in the world. ]

[Goods from East Asia are often shipped to Europe and Africa for sale through the Strait of Malacca.]

[And most importantly, East Asian economies such as China, Japan, and South Korea, which have huge economies, need to import large amounts of oil every year.]

[Most of the oil imported from the oil-rich Arabian Peninsula, Africa and other places needs to pass through the Strait of Malacca.]

[It can be said that the Strait of Malacca is one of our country’s energy lifelines. ]

【The United States has also been trying to increase its influence in the Malacca region. 】

[In order to reduce risks, my country has also spent a huge amount of money to open up energy transportation channels outside the Strait of Malacca. ]

[It can even be said that the importance of the Strait of Malacca is so important that our country dare not make it too important! ]

The ancient people outside the sky.

When I looked at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Gibraltar just now, I didn't have too many emotions.

After all, those two straits are located in the Mediterranean region.

It really has nothing to do with most ancient people.

But now we see the Strait of Malacca shown by the sky.

The Strait of Malacca is the most important maritime trade route in the world.

See the United States in later generations trying to control the Strait of Malacca.

In order to reduce risks, China in later generations has been opening up other channels besides the Strait of Malacca.

The ancients realized it.

The importance of the Strait of Malacca is extraordinary.

In the ancient times, people only realized the importance of Malacca.

And have some ideas to some extent.

And in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Di looked at the regional map of the Strait of Malacca on the sky screen.

He also recalled the report Zheng He had given him before.

At that time, Zheng He pointed out the importance of the Strait of Malacca.

Obviously, in later generations, the importance of the Strait of Malacca has been further enhanced!
Zhu Di looked at the map and said slowly:

"With the strength of our Ming Dynasty."

"As long as we convey an order to Zheng He, he will definitely be able to build a solid military fortress in the Strait of Malacca."

"And starting from the fortress, it would not be difficult to expand to the surrounding areas and occupy the entire Strait of Malacca."

"A short-term occupation is not a problem."

"The real difficulty is whether we can maintain the occupation for a long time and be self-sufficient."

"If we occupy several important areas in the Strait of Malacca, it will require our Ming Dynasty to sail across the ocean for a long time to provide money, food, and troops to the occupied strongholds there."

"That would be a burden to our Ming Dynasty."

"After all, although the Strait of Malacca is important, it will take many years before we can reap huge economic benefits from it."

"If my current Ming Dynasty spends a huge price to occupy and maintain the Strait of Malacca."

"We do need to settle the accounts."

Zhu Di was preparing to summon Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi and other relevant officials.

Let’s discuss it.

How to occupy the Malacca Strait area at the lowest cost?

If necessary, wait until Zheng He returns from his next voyage and ask him to come up with a plan.

If after a thorough accounting, it can be determined that the profits are substantial and the costs are not excessive.

Then there is no need to hesitate, just occupy the Strait of Malacca first.

In fact, Zhu Di had another idea.

It is to carry out large-scale colonization.

After seeing the sky curtain, Zhu Di always had this idea.

Compared with the colonization of America and Africa, the natural environment of Southeast Asia is superior and its level of development is also relatively high.

There are sufficient agricultural resources in the area to feed a large army.

The key is that compared to the Americas which is thousands of miles away, the distance between Nanyang and Ming Dynasty naturally has an advantage.

If the Ming Dynasty could really establish a stable rule in the Nanyang region.

We can transport the resources of Nanyang to Ming Dynasty, so that Nanyang can provide blood transfusion to Ming Dynasty.

And who knows, perhaps this South Sea colony could be passed down from generation to generation, and reach China hundreds of years later.

By that time, even the Ming Dynasty would no longer exist.

But the Chinese people at that time will definitely be grateful to the Ming Dynasty!

Thanks to Zhu Di for his great contribution to China's possession of Southeast Asia!
Just like China today, it is still benefiting from the contributions of Emperor Wu of Han’s government to the creation of China’s basic foundation through the Nanyue, Minyue, Yelang and other countries.

Let’s take a step back.

Even if the Ming Dynasty fell after several years.

But when they are at the end of their rope, they can retreat to Southeast Asia and establish a Southern Ming.

It was a shame for the emperor of the Ming Dynasty to dominate Southeast Asia.

But the time has come to destroy the country.

I don't care about whether it's shameful or not.

It is a great thing to be able to leave a spark for the Ming Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)