Great Ming: We Ban the Seas, but Qiongzhou Goes Independent and Dominates the South Seas?

During the Hongwu era, Zhu Yuanzhang announces a ban on maritime trade. His ninth son, Zhu Qi, angrily submits a petition:

"The sea can feed countless common people. Only by controlling the sea can the glorious Ming endure for thousands of generations."

Zhu Qi gets his wish and is sent to Qiongzhou, where he opens up an entirely new path for the Ming Dynasty's development.

Qiongzhou spreads like a spark catching fire to the prairie, setting the entire Ming ablaze in an instant.

"Simplified characters? The common people can read books too? This is outrageous! What was the point of my ten years of hard study?"

"Mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology? The library has no Confucian classics? Burn it down at once!"

"Your Majesty, let Qiongzhou govern itself for a hundred years. If all else fails, just let it become independent. We don't want that land anymore."

Zhu Biao: "Father, how come the map of Qiongzhou Prefecture is bigger than the Central Plains? Has the South Seas become an inland sea of Qiongzhou Prefecture?"

Old Zhu: "..."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Please do not imitate.