mousepad-d2 Chapter 56 Establishment of Counties
Chapter 56 Establishment of Counties
News of Cebu's occupation by the Ming army spread like wildfire throughout the Visayas and continued to spread to other parts of Southeast Asia.
The foundation of Spanish rule in the Philippine archipelago finally collapsed completely with the fall of Cebu after the successive losses of Manila and Cavite.
Although there may still be scattered outposts or mission stations in places like Mindanao, they no longer pose an organized threat.
The news quickly reached the capital, and the entire Chinese community in Luzon was overjoyed. This was undoubtedly a major victory in the first foreign war since the formal establishment of the Regent regime, and its symbolic significance was no less than that of the capture of Manila.
This means that the new regime can not only gain a foothold on the main island of Luzon, but also has the ability to take the initiative to eliminate external threats and expand its sphere of influence.
In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, the great victory across the sea was being hotly discussed, and the support for the regent Zhu Jiheng and the confidence in the revival of the Ming Dynasty were at an all-time high.
Inside the palace, Zhu Jiheng was in high spirits. He carefully read the detailed battle report and list of spoils sent back by Chen Ang and was very satisfied with the outcome of the battle.
In this battle, in addition to capturing a large amount of conventional supplies such as grain, cloth, and spices, the Ming army also seized a considerable number of firearms, gunpowder, lead bullets, and several small Spanish ships that had run aground or been captured in the port.
Moreover, not only did they remove Cebu, a thorn in their side, at a relatively low cost and with a considerable haul, but they also greatly deterred surrounding forces, especially the Dutch, who had been eyeing them covetously, by demonstrating the Ming army's fighting power and efficiency.
In addition, more than 600 Chinese who had been imprisoned by the Spanish were rescued. These people were either Cebu expatriates, Chinese laborers, or Chinese merchants staying in Hong Kong. They had all been suspected and imprisoned by the Spanish, and now they have finally regained their freedom.
"Chen Ang's military tactics are prudent and his ability to seize opportunities is admirable; he deserves the greatest credit for this victory," Zhu Jiheng said to Lin Qingyuan and others present. "A decree shall be drafted to promote Chen Ang to the rank of Deputy Commander-in-Chief and bestow upon him one hundred bolts of brocade to recognize his merit in recapturing Suwu and enhancing our national prestige. All other meritorious officers and allied leaders shall be rewarded according to their actual contributions!"
"Your Highness is wise!" everyone exclaimed in unison.
"Your Highness, Cebu has been conquered, and everything is in need of rebuilding. We should quickly select capable officials to go there, establish prefectures and counties, pacify the Chinese and foreign peoples, restore production and trade, and attract Chinese merchants to come, so as to consolidate our rule," Lin Qingyuan said at this moment.
"Jingzhi is quite right." Zhu Jiheng nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "However, the order of Suwu was made by the Western barbarians, and now it belongs to our army. Since we are going to establish prefectures and counties, we should change the name to reflect the spirit of the Han dynasty and express our hope for peace and prosperity."
"Jingzhi, do you have any thoughts?" He looked at Lin Qingyuan and asked with a smile.
Upon hearing the question, Lin Qingyuan pondered for a moment before replying, "In the past, when Koxinga opened up Taiwan, it was known as 'Chengtian' and 'Wannian'. Now, Cebu has been newly recovered and is the first place where our dynasty achieved victory in its southward expansion. It is also the gateway to the archipelago and the South Seas. The place is surrounded by the sea on all sides and embraced by waves, just like a central hub at sea."
"I believe that it should be named 'Jinghai' and temporarily placed under the jurisdiction of Luzon Prefecture. 'Jinghai' means 'pacifying the sea frontier and appeasing distant barbarians,' which not only highlights the military achievements of this campaign but also embodies the wish for long-term peace and tranquility."
"Jinghai County... to pacify the sea frontier and appease distant barbarians." Zhu Jiheng pondered carefully, his eyes revealing approval: "This name is very appropriate. The two characters 'Jinghai' are magnificent and have profound meaning. Moreover, they subtly match the importance of this port, and can truly demonstrate our dynasty's ambition to manage the South Seas and pacify the Chinese and barbarians."
With the name decided, Zhu Jiheng changed the subject and ordered, "Now that Jinghai County has been established, the county magistrate, county assistant magistrate, clerk and other officials should be selected as soon as possible. The selection of candidates must be careful, and they must be capable and pragmatic, knowledgeable in maritime affairs and commerce, and able to properly handle relations between Chinese and foreigners. The necessary officials can be drawn from Luzon Prefecture, or selected and tested from local Chinese merchants who have submitted to Chinese society, mixed-race people who are fluent in Chinese, and native inhabitants who admire Chinese culture."
"Your subject obeys the imperial decree! I will certainly expedite the process, select capable individuals, and rush to Jinghai to handle affairs," Lin Qingyuan replied, bowing. Then, remembering something else, he said:
"Your Highness, Jinghai County is newly established, and many things need to be done, especially pacifying the people and restoring trade. Perhaps we could follow the example of Luzon and grant merchants trading in Jinghai a tax reduction for a certain period, and dispatch naval vessels to regularly patrol the surrounding waters to ensure smooth navigation and a peaceful sea, thereby attracting Chinese merchants to open ports and start businesses there?"
"Granted!" Zhu Jiheng agreed without hesitation, and continued, "In newly recovered territories, we should implement benevolent policies to win over the hearts of the people. A decree may be issued:"
Chinese merchants and residents who go to Jinghai County for trade or to settle down will have their land tax and market tax halved for the first three years; those who assist the government in pacifying the local area and attracting refugees will be rewarded in addition.
Regarding the navy, the Nanyang Fleet was ordered to deploy ships to ensure the safety of the waterway between Jinghai and the islands of Luzon; in addition, the captured small Western boats could be repaired for coastal patrols and anti-smuggling operations, or leased to reliable merchants to help them restore maritime transport.
"Your Highness's considerations are thorough; we will keep them in mind," Lin Qingyuan and the others solemnly replied.
After the civil officials left, Zhu Jiheng checked the system again and found that the system had not given him any reward for conquering Cebu this time.
Zhu Jiheng guessed that it might be because he had now left the novice stage, so there would be no extra reward for conquering a stronghold like Cebu, which is not a big city.
Once he conquers Batavia or launches a counterattack back to Taiwan, he will likely distribute the rewards on a temporary basis.
When it came to conquering Batavia, Zhu Jiheng fell into deep thought again.
The Dutch were already feeling uneasy after conquering Manila, and now that they have swept through Cebu with lightning speed, they will surely be even more provoked and their attitude will inevitably become more hardline or even hostile.
The Dutch East India Company would never stand idly by while a Chinese regime, which could challenge its monopoly on the spice trade and its hegemony in Southeast Asia, rose so rapidly.
"It seems that a conflict with the Red-haired Barbarians is unavoidable," Zhu Jiheng thought to himself.
He knew that his new regime, though seemingly victorious in battle, was actually still weak in foundation. Although his army was brave, it was limited in size. The reason he was able to conquer Manila was because Manila was poorly defended.
Batavia, as the headquarters of the Dutch East Indies, had its military forces in the Far East mainly concentrated in the city after losing Taiwan, an important stronghold. If it were to launch an attack, the Dutch might not be a match for it in open battle, but a siege would certainly take longer and at a greater cost.
As for the navy, although the Dutch East India Company had been operating in Southeast Asia for decades, had a large fleet of ships and experienced sailors, it was really just an armed merchant fleet, which was more than enough to bully the East Asian navy that was still in the Middle Ages.
But against Zhu Jiheng's navy... that's not something the Dutch can mess with. Tier 5 and Tier 6 ships would be no match for the East India Company's armed merchant ships.
The only difference was in quantity. The number of warships in the Nanyang Fleet was too small. Even if you include the captured two-masted fast ships, the number was only in the tens. In contrast, the Dutch East India Company had a total of over a hundred ships.
As the saying goes, "two fists can't beat four hands." In the early stages of a real war, the Ming navy might be able to destroy many Dutch Indian ships, but in the end, they would be completely annihilated by the enemy's sheer numbers.