The Treasure Ships of the Great Ming

At the time of the Longqing Opening, the Great Ming's maritime borders were in turmoil, with Japanese pirates, foreign merchants, and corrupt nobles colluding to cause chaos. Lu Ming, who carries memories of later generations' humiliation at sea, is unwilling to let the sea routes be forever controlled by foreigners. Using maritime trade as his foundation, he resolves to accumulate power to protect China's maritime borders. He travels far to the South Seas, risking his life in dealings with water bandits and Portuguese merchants in Malacca, narrowly escaping death several times. After returning to Ningbo, he withstands the schemes of local merchant tyrants, uses the Japanese merchant Fujiwara to uncover the intelligence network of Eastern Ocean forces, and strengthens his determination to resist the Japanese and protect the seas. He opens up trade routes along the southeast coast and raises funds to build a sea-protection fleet. His former partner Zheng Kui briefly betrays him but eventually repents and atones with his life; his rival Lin Xiu, seeing through the darkness, joins Lu Ming as an advisor. When the Japanese pirates invade in force, Lu Ming raises his own supplies and ships to meet the enemy, launching a cross-sea expedition to deter the Eastern Ocean and uncovering the pro-Japanese nobles in Jiangnan. At the height of his success, unwilling to incur court suspicion and the disaster of holding private troops, he hands over his fleet and trading company to the court, declines rewards, and retires with his confidante. The maritime defense foundation he leaves behind long protects the Great Ming's myriad sea routes. — Description from novelcodex.orgFull novel: The Treasure Ships of the Great Ming — read the rest free on N​o⁠v​e⁠l​C⁠o​d⁠e​x⁠.​o⁠r​g⁠