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Chapter 1044 Planning Asia 3
Hong Tao used these countries as a geographical barrier to the south of the empire, but he didn't want to spend too much money, material resources and energy to occupy them. If you occupy them, you have to manage them, so it's better to make them vassal states under your full control.

Aceh on Sumatra Island is gone, and the Johor and Javanese have taken advantage of the situation and are desperately expanding their occupied areas. The Empire does not want to intervene in this matter for the time being, so let them fight among themselves, as long as it does not hinder the operation of the Imperial Navy's base in Banda Aceh.

The two largest countries on Kalimantan are Brunei and Sulu. The former surrendered to the empire a long time ago, while the latter is a thorn in the side. However, it won't be a thorn in the side for long. The Nanyang Fleet is planning a strike against the Sulu Sea.

At that time, except for the imperial, Portuguese and Dutch merchant ships, there will be no trace of any other ships in this sea area, and no ports will be allowed to exist, which will deal a heavy blow to the economy of the Sulu Kingdom.

At the same time, the Marine Corps is also training a regular force of about 3000 people for Brunei, using a full set of Ming Dynasty armor and weapons. When the army is formed, it will be the day when the Sulu Kingdom is destroyed. From then on, on the island of Kalimantan, the Kingdom of Brunei will enjoy absolute dominance as the spokesperson of the Ming Empire.

The Empire has no interest in visiting Java Island and the remaining islands one by one, and it is even more difficult to manage them, so let the Dutch slowly build them up. If the Dutch and the Ming Dynasty no longer have the same interests, they will be driven out of Asia in a minute. The better the construction, the more cost-effective it will be.

As for the Indian Peninsula, Hong Tao and the General Staff had the same opinion: no. The population there is too large, and there are too many nationalities and beliefs. Not only do they have different religions, they don't even speak the same language. The terrain is also very complex, and it is impossible to effectively manage it without killing people and causing rivers of blood.

The only island of interest is Ceylon, which is not only rich in cinnamon, but also a naval base with a very advantageous geographical location. If you control this place, you basically control the North Indian Ocean.

However, the situation on Ceylon is more complicated. There are two forces, the Kandy Dynasty established by the Sinhalese and Colombo occupied by the Portuguese. These two forces have been fighting on the island for decades, and neither has defeated the other.

The naval base established by the Imperial Navy in Colombo has been adhering to the principle of non-interference over the years. As long as it does not affect itself, it does not care if the other two parties fight to death.

However, if they want to occupy the Colombo base for a long time, it is obviously not enough to just watch the fun from the sidelines. They must choose one of the two to become a partner, then help it unify Ceylon, and then take over the Colombo base and its surrounding areas in a reasonable and legal manner.

Who should we choose to help? In terms of difficulty, we should help the Portuguese. The two sides have had a tacit understanding for many years and it is easier to communicate. The reason why they can't beat the Sinhalese who use cold weapons with muskets and artillery is mainly because they are short of manpower. As long as the Marine Guards get involved, they will win quickly.

But considering the overall situation and the trend of history, helping the Portuguese is like trying to get the skin of a tiger. They are not like the Dutch who are purely for business and making money. They have more serious missionary and colonial tendencies, which are in fundamental conflict with the interests of the empire.

In addition, in history, the Portuguese once rented some ports in Asia to European countries for use, which is how the British entered the Asian waters. If the Portuguese want to do the same thing again, how should the Ming Empire respond?

Firmly disagree? The King of Portugal might not obey. Go to war directly? Leaving Ceylon without a unified regime, would the Empire still have to manage it? This would be too costly.

Therefore, from a long-term perspective, it is more cost-effective to help the Sinhalese drive the Portuguese forces out of Ceylon. The Empire can use this condition to exchange the ownership or use rights of the land near the Port of Colombo with the Sinhalese rulers, and the probability of success will be higher. As for whether it will attract the attention of European countries if we turn against the Portuguese now, it will indeed, but there is no need to worry too much. Even the Spanish and British joint fleets were defeated by the Imperial Navy at the Cape of Good Hope, so the little Portugal is not a big deal.

Anyway, the Portuguese forces will be driven out of Asia sooner or later. It is better to suffer a short pain than a long one. We can take advantage of the opportunity to defeat the Anglo-Spanish fleet and drive the Portuguese away at the same time.

However, before taking action, the Navy General Staff must first send someone to talk to the leader of the Sinhalese Kandy Dynasty. If the conditions offered by the Empire are accepted, the Navy will not need to dispatch personnel from other places, and the fleet and marines stationed at the Colombo base will be able to take down the entire city of Colombo.

If he was reluctant to give Colombo to others, he would have to think about it carefully. Should he first help the Portuguese beat up the Kandy Dynasty to make them more sober, or find a potential replacement to make it easier for the Sinhalese to change their leader?

It is not enough to fully control the Indian Ocean with the three naval bases of Banda Aceh, Colombo and Enjo. Obviously, there is still a large blank in the western part of the Indian Ocean. It is necessary to find a port near the Arabian Sea that can protect the shipping routes and block the exits of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf at any time to build a naval base.

The Navy General Staff prefers Socotra Island, which has the advantage of being located at the exit of the Red Sea, with a very advantageous geographical location. It is close to the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, and was once occupied by the Portuguese for a short period of time, leaving behind a small amount of infrastructure.

Building a naval base here is equivalent to blocking the exit of the Red Sea. It only takes one day for warships to reach the Persian Gulf, which is strategically very advantageous.

However, the natural conditions of this island are very bad, with a dry and hot climate, almost no arable land, and no greenery. Looking from a distance, it seems like you have arrived on the surface of Mars. The only specialties are dragon blood trees and desert roses, and there is a lack of deep-water ports along the coast.

In addition, it is too close to the Arabian Peninsula and the African continent, making it more vulnerable to surprise attacks. If there are too few troops stationed here, they will not be able to play a protective role, and if there are too many troops stationed here, it will pose a great problem for logistical supply.

Hong Tao prefers the Seychelles Islands in the south. Although the location is relatively far away, more than 1800 kilometers is not an obstacle for the navy, but the benefits it brings are greater.

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The first is the port. There is a well-shaped bay on the east side of the largest island in the archipelago. With a little construction, it can become a deep-water port. The second is the climate. Compared with Socotra Island, Seychelles can be regarded as a paradise, with mountains, water, forests, grasslands, sunshine, blue sky and beaches. Most of the food and drink can be self-sufficient.

Finally, there is safety. This place is 1200 kilometers away from the east coast of Africa and 1000 kilometers away from Madagascar. Without a sufficient number of large ships, it is impossible to carry a large force to arrive. In the Asian waters, the Imperial Navy does not allow any country to have such a maritime force.

(End of this chapter)