Compared to the Great Qing, or even the entire Great Ming, the Lanfang Republic could only be considered insignificant, barely a transparent entity with no presence.
However, the location of the Lanfang Republic was extremely sensitive.
Borneo, the world's third-largest island, was situated west of Malacca and the Old Port Pacification Commission of the Yongle era, a crucial maritime chokepoint and an excellent hub for maritime trade.
If such a place were not controlled by oneself, Zhu Jinsong, the transmigator, would likely not have the face to meet his fellow travelers.
Of course, some might think Zhu Jinsong was making a fuss over nothing, as the Lanfang Republic was established by Guangdong people, naturally close to the Central Plains administration, and being enfeoffed as an outer vassal was no different from direct rule by prefectures and counties.
However, anyone holding such an idea could only be described as naive and foolish.
Was Singapore not close to the Central Plains administration?
If one were to argue that Singapore was overseas and the situation then was different from the current Great Ming, rendering it irrelevant, then this matter could also be referenced by historical events that occurred within the Central Plains administration.
Before giving direct examples, please first consider a question: why did Liu Bang and Zhu Chongba reverse the course of history and abandon the prefecture-county system for the enfeoffment system?
As Mr. Lu Xun said, one must look beyond the surface to understand the essence of any matter –
Had the remnants of the Six States' nobility been eradicated when Liu Bang obtained the empire? Did the people of the Six States still wish to restore their former states?
The empire obtained by Zhu Chongba was one that had experienced rule by the two Song dynasties and the Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties, with severe regional divides within the empire, and even scholars like Yuan Haowen who harbored sentiments towards the Great Yuan.
It was Yuan Haowen who penned "What is Love in the World."
Have you understood?
Considering the environment at the time, if the prefecture-county system were adopted, in the event of any incident, local officials would first have to report to the imperial court, which would then discuss and inform local government offices on how to respond. By the time this process was completed, the situation would have long since escalated beyond repair.
Therefore, even though they knew that the enfeoffment system was indeed inferior to the prefecture-county system, Liu Bang and Zhu Yuanzhang had no choice but to adopt the enfeoffment system. Since the feudal kings had blood ties with the imperial family, even if trouble arose, it would be an internal matter.
For instance, the feudal kings of the Han dynasty included those of Chu, Wu, Yan, Qi, Han, Lu, and so on. The feudal kings of the Great Ming included those of Qin, Jin, Zhou, Chu, Qi, Lu, Zhao, Dai, Liao, Ning, Gu, Yan, Han, Shen, An, and others.
The fiefdoms of the feudal kings of the Han dynasty were mostly lands of the Six States, and the fiefdoms of the feudal kings of the Great Ming were mostly territories lost during the Song dynasties. Some territories had been lost for over four hundred years, spanning ten generations – in roughly seventy years, about four generations, many had forgotten their pain. What would it be like after ten generations?
Did Liu Bang and Zhu Yuanzhang's ministers and generals, who were recorded in history books, truly think that the disadvantages of the enfeoffment system were invisible?
Stop joking. Do you really think those recorded in history books were less intelligent than those who commented online?
In fact, these ministers and generals not only saw the disadvantages of the enfeoffment system but also its advantages –
The financial income of the feudal kings came from their own fiefdoms. For the sake of their rule and living standards, they had to invest capital in governing the land. This not only helped them quickly win the hearts of the local populace but also reduced the pressure on the imperial court to a certain extent.
The key was the ability to respond quickly to local issues and rebellions.
As for why Liu Ye Zhu and Zhu Lao Si enfeoffed vassals... it was because the rule had been largely stabilized, and the enfeoffment system of feudal kings had become less useful.
It was like used toilet paper; when it's time to throw it away, you throw it away.
To criticize Liu Bang and Zhu Yuanzhang for reversing the course of history without considering the historical context of the time and the nature of the fiefdoms of the Han and Ming feudal kings is the act of either someone with no brain or someone with malicious intent.
For example, the territory of Lanfang was particularly suitable for the enfeoffment system. The reason Zhu Jinsong did not use the enfeoffment system was rather amusing – Zhu Jinsong did not yet have a son, and his two brothers were both useful, making it impossible to enfeoff them for the time being.
The system of outer vassalage was also not viable.
For instance, was it not the Great Ming's outer vassal, Burma, that handed over Emperor Yongli to Wu Sangui?
Even Joseon, which was considered a model outer vassal and once proudly called itself a filial son of the Great Ming, had to pay tribute to the Great Qing, did it not?
Furthermore, people from the Central Plains administration established Nanyue, but after mingling with the local populace for over a century, were their descendants not the ones who refused to acknowledge the Central Plains administration?
Therefore, just because the Lanfang Republic was currently close to the Central Plains administration and willing to pay tribute did not mean they would remain close to the Central Plains administration after decades of intermingling and intermarriage with the local indigenous people.
More importantly, the Lanfang Republic was not a nation in the true sense of the word, but a commercial company disguised as a nation, similar in nature to a joint-stock company disguised as the British or a chaebol disguised as Korea.
In Zhu Jinsong's view, whether the Lanfang Republic wished to pay tribute to the Great Qing or the Great Ming, its purpose was to use the deterrence of the Central Plains administration on Earth to protect itself.
Do not forget that before 1840, the Great Qing had a certain standing in the world. It was precisely because of the Great Qing's existence that the Dutch did not dare to invade the Lanfang Republic directly.
It was for these reasons that Zhu Jinsong refused the Lanfang Republic's request to become a vassal and instead demanded their complete integration and direct rule through the establishment of prefectures and counties.
After some thought, Zhu Jinsong further instructed Ke Zhiming, "Have the Tiandihui and the Embroidered Uniform Guard dispatch more personnel to the Old Port Pacification Commission to see if the Shi family has any descendants."
...
When the news that the Great Ming refused the Lanfang Republic's request to become a vassal and instead demanded their complete integration and the establishment of prefectures and counties reached the Lanfang Republic, Luo Fangbo, the first Grand President of the Lanfang Republic, was almost laughing himself to death.
Complete integration?
Establish prefecture and county governments and station troops directly?
Could there be such good fortune in this world!
Initially, Luo Fangbo had considered complete integration. However, in the forty-second year of Qianlong's reign, Emperor Qianlong of the Great Qing had explicitly rejected the Lanfang Republic's request for integration or vassalage, merely opening trade with the Lanfang Republic.
After the previous failure, Luo Fangbo planned to not demand integration for the time being, but to become a vassal. If that failed, he would try to get the Great Ming to open trade. In any case, he had to find a way to connect with the Great Ming, first to use the Great Ming's prestige to scare off the Dutch, and then to gradually study the matter of vassalage or integration later.
But he never expected that when the envoy went, they were thinking of paying tribute or requesting trade, and when they returned, it turned into integration!
Was this not like receiving a great pie from the sky just as he felt hungry!
What? Complete integration is not as enjoyable as ruling overseas alone?
Don't be foolish. If Borneo were not plagued by those barbarian natives and the Dutch were not coveting the Lanfang Republic, then ruling overseas alone would indeed be more enjoyable. However, there were many small, ununified Dunsuk kingdoms on Borneo. On the surface, these Dunsuk kingdoms accepted the rule of the Lanfang Republic, but in reality, they acted independently. Coupled with the Dutch's long-standing intention to annex Lanfang, which disrupted everyone's business, how could this solitary rule be as comfortable as integration?
To prevent any unforeseen complications, Luo Fangbo immediately convened all the major and minor leaders of the Lanfang Republic: "The Great Ming demands our complete integration. I personally agree. What do you all say? Who agrees? Who opposes?"
As Luo Fangbo finished speaking, the leaders of the Lanfang Republic could not help but look at each other, disbelieving their own ears.
"The Great Ming demands our complete integration? The Great Ming court will establish prefectures and counties here and station troops?"
"Doesn't that mean we are no different here in Borneo than in the Central Plains?"
"Anyone who disagrees is a fool!"
"This is great, let's see if those Dutch barbarians dare to covet our Lanfang Republic!"
"..."
Seeing everyone's excited reaction, Jiang Wubo, who was considered both civil and military, was highly valued by Luo Fangbo, and was even planned to be recommended as the next Grand President, frowned and said, "Everyone, don't get happy too soon."
"If we are to integrate with the Great Ming, we agree, but will the rulers and citizens of those Dunsuk kingdoms agree? And what about the Dutch? Will they interfere in this matter? Everyone, don't forget what the Dutch East India Company did in Batavia."
The previously excited crowd fell silent again.
As Jiang Wubo said, the Great Ming's demand for the Lanfang Republic's complete integration was one thing, but whether the native Dunsuk kingdoms' rulers and citizens agreed, and whether the Dutch would interfere, was another matter entirely.
What if the Dutch, desperate, launched a full-scale invasion of the Lanfang Republic? Would the Great Ming be willing to clash with the Dutch for the sake of the Lanfang Republic?
"Subjects abandoned by the Heavenly Dynasty, not hesitating to betray their ancestral graves and go overseas for profit, the imperial court will not intervene."
This was the Great Qing's attitude.
Now that it was the Great Ming, what would their attitude be?
Just as everyone was feeling pessimistic and despairing, the envoy sent by Luo Fangbo to the Great Ming smiled and said, "Those Dutch barbarians will not interfere in this matter. At the very least, before everything is settled, those Dutch barbarians will not dare to act rashly."
Seeing everyone turn their gaze to him, the envoy continued, "Due to the Macao incident, the Great Ming clashed with the Portuguese barbarians. The result was that Macao was recovered in one day, and the Portuguese barbarians who occupied Macao were beheaded and their heads displayed as pyramids, and the Portuguese barbarians were forced to cede territory and pay reparations."
"With the precedent of Portugal, countries in Europe such as France and England are friendly with the Great Ming. Those Dutch barbarians will surely not dare to make rash moves."
Luo Fangbo's eyes widened, and he asked, "One day?"
The envoy nodded and said, "That's right, just one day. If calculated by hours, it actually took less than four hours."
"When I went on the mission to the Great Ming, I saw many European barbarians in Jinan Prefecture. Those barbarians were extremely obedient in Jinan Prefecture, learning to speak our Han language and our etiquette, unlike the barbarians we saw in Guangzhou before."
Hearing this, Luo Fangbo could not help but become excited and said, "That would be best. If everyone has no objections, then shall we prepare things like the household registration books?"
Jiang Wubo said, "Those small Dunsuk kingdoms..."
Luo Fangbo shook his head and smiled, saying, "Those small Dunsuk kingdoms are ultimately ruled by our Lanfang Republic. Whether they integrate or not is up to us to decide, not them."
"The Great Ming is so powerful, it brings glory to our faces. When we go out, those barbarians must show us respect!"
"As long as we prepare the household registration books, the imperial army will arrive, and even if those Dunsuk kingdoms wish to object, it will be too late."
"Moreover, if the integration is successful, we who are here will have contributed land, and the imperial court will certainly not be stingy with us!"
Speaking of this, Luo Fangbo became excited again, looking at Jiang Wubo and saying, "Quickly go and prepare the household registration books. You will accompany me to the Great Ming later."