After hearing Chen Mingyu's words, Zhao Ming realized that after years of development, most of the northern and central Taiwan Island had been developed by Zhao Ming's colonial army.

Over the years, Zhao Ming has been constantly moving military and civilians to the island, and the registered population of Taiwan has reached 3 million.

After the colonization army of Donghai Town gained a foothold in Taipei, it continued to advance southward. Two years ago, the Big Belly Kingdom in central Taiwan had been annihilated near Zhuoxi Nanshe under the attack of Donghai Town and Tainan Dutch people.

Faced with the military and civilians of Donghai Town who were constantly landing on Tai Island, the Dutch originally adopted a strategy to instigate the Big Belly King to fight against Donghai Town in order to prevent Donghai Town from going south. However, the Big Belly Kingdom had a low level of civilization and could not even smel iron tools themselves. A well-equipped Ming army soldier was enough to kill five or six Big Belly Kingdom tribal warriors, and his strength was not proportional at all.

Just like a Han army could kill five Huns back then, the Dutch saw that the Big Belly King was no match for Donghai Town at all. In order to prevent Donghai Town from annexing the Big Belly Kingdom and further strengthening the strength of Donghai Town, the Dutch stabbed the Big Belly King from the back and divided the Big Belly Kingdom with Donghai Town.

Now, there are only two forces on Taiwan Island, one is Donghai Town and the other is the Netherlands. Both sides use turbid water as the boundary and enter a state of north-south confrontation.

Zhao Ming heard that the northern and central Taiwan had been developed by the colonized garrison and there was not much land for distribution. His eyes immediately narrowed and he hit the Dutch in Tainan.

"Master, if he can occupy Tainan, he will certainly obtain a large area of ​​land, but once he starts war with the Dutch, trade will be affected and taxes will definitely be greatly reduced!" Chen Mingyu learned about Zhao Ming's intention and immediately reminded him.

These words made Zhao Ming frown and fell into deep thought.

With Donghai Town's strength on Taiwan Island, Zhao Ming thought it would be a big problem, but once the war started with the Dutch, the maritime trade of Donghai Town would definitely be affected.

Today, Jiangdong's economy relies heavily on maritime trade. The Dutch claimed to be a maritime coachman and did something to resell goods. Most of the cotton cloth and silk produced in Jiangdong were eaten by the Dutch and then transported to the West.

Once Donghai Town starts war with the Netherlands, Donghai Town will first lose the Netherlands, the largest buyer, the Dutch sales channels, and suffer huge losses. If the Dutch were still at sea and intercepting the merchant ships of Donghai Town, it would probably bankrupt the merchants of Jiangdong and thus affect the economy of Jiangdong.

Previously, the Dutch colluded with the Qing Dynasty and sold a large number of firearms and even warships to the Qing Dynasty. Zhao Ming did not go south to attack Tainan, but went north to attack the Qing Dynasty, because Zhao Ming could not completely defeat the Dutch.

The Dutch had many strongholds on the sea. It was easy for Donghai Town to occupy Tainan, but it was impossible to drive the Dutch out of the South Ocean. At that time, the Dutch used Batavia as a base to harass the trade of Donghai Town in the South Ocean, which would definitely cause heavy losses to Donghai Town.

Zhao Ming was silent for a while and realized that Donghai Town was not ready enough. He suddenly asked, "Is there any news about Cheng Bi?"

Chen Mingyu was slightly stunned by Wenyu. Several staff members looked at each other, then shook their heads and said, "Report to the general, there is no news about Cheng Bi."

Zhao Ming frowned into the character "Chuan", and Cheng Bi led the fleet of the Merchants and Shipping Company, with a total of forty armed merchant ships. Two years ago, when Zhao Ming went north to attack the Qing Dynasty, he set out from Shanghai and then went to the West, preparing to take the route of Zheng He to the West and open up a trade route for Donghai Town.

If Cheng Bi succeeded in voyage to the West, it proved that the fleet of China Merchants Shipping Company could conduct ocean trade, sail to the South Ocean, India, and even further east Africa, and ride the wind and waves on the sea like the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and Britain. Then Zhao Ming would not be afraid of going to war with the Dutch and no longer needed to use the Dutch channels and routes to sell goods to the distance.

This trip took only two years, and it was enough to circle the earth. I should have come back long ago, but there has been no news yet.

Zhao Ming chose to let Cheng Bi go to the West instead of crossing the Pacific Ocean to the Americas because the economy of Donghai Town is mainly used to produce goods in exchange for overseas silver and cheap production raw materials. He was to find a market and sell the produced goods, so that he wanted to trade with other countries and regions.

Since it is to trade, it is naturally a very wealthy and civilized area with a larger market, so Zhao Ming chose to let Cheng Bi sail westward and open up trade routes instead of landing in the Americas.

At this time, Southeast Asia, and East Africa are richer than America and have much higher civilization level. Donghai Town is not necessary. It is unrealistic and has no foundation to abandon the rich areas in front of you and go to develop America.

Therefore, Zhao Ming’s strategy was to go to Southeast Asia.

"Is there no news after so long?" Zhao Ming's face became a little worried.

Chen Mingyu thought for a while, "Reporting to the Grand Marshal, there is no news at all. About half a year ago, Bei Zhi learned from the Portuguese merchants that they met Cheng Bi's fleet in East Africa."

China Merchants Shipping Company has a map of the world, which Zhao Ming painted based on the image. The map was not accurate, but it was just a rough idea. However, it drew outlines of all the five continents and named them with a more modern name.

Therefore, Chen Mingyu and others also knew roughly where East Africa and South Asia were, and which countries were recorded in Chinese history books.

"I actually arrived in East Africa!" Zhao Ming was excited when he heard the words, "That's the eunuch of the Three Treasures, who has arrived at the farthest place!"

If Cheng Bi arrived in East Africa, as long as he could return smoothly, it would be like reproducing his feat of voyage to the West. It can also prove that Donghai Town can transport goods without relying on the Dutch, and no longer need the Dutch, a middleman, to earn the difference.

As he said that, Zhao Ming couldn't help but stand up, walked back and forth a few steps, and then ordered in a deep voice: "Mr. Chen, please continue to inquire about Cheng Bi. In addition, I want to organize another fleet. Without waiting for Cheng Bi to come back, I sail westward. First, we will open up the trade route and second, we will pick up Cheng Bi!"

Chen Mingyu heard the words and hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "I will start preparing for it! It's just now the finance~"

Zhao Ming understood what he meant, and now he was overspending. If he formed a fleet to travel to the West, it would be another big expense.

"This matter must be done, opening up trade routes will not only increase income, but also the confidence of our coach to go to war with the Dutch and recover Tainan." Zhao Ming said in a deep voice.

Now Zhao Mingruo directly launched the battle to recapture Tainan. Although he could obtain Tainan's land, once he broke up with the Netherlands, Donghai Town would lose the Dutch, the largest intermediary, and the routes and channels they controlled.

In this way, when you get land, trade is affected, and the financial dilemma of Donghai Town is not solved.
Chapter completed!