Zheng He Defeated Chen Zuyi, The Most Dangerous Pirate Of The Time
The fleet's inaugural trip in 1405 included 317 ships and more over 27,000 men. At Liujiagang, a port on the Yangzi River close to Suzhou, the navy came together. Thousands of bolts of fine silk, embroideries, cotton fabric, gold, iron, salt, hemp, tea, wine, oil, porcelain, and candles were among the numerous large-scale exports carried by the ships. The fleet traveled from Champa, Java, Malacca, Semudera, and Lambri in northern Sumatra along the southeast coast of China. It then crossed the Indian Ocean to reach the important trading ports of Ceylon, Quilon, and Calicut on the southwest coast of India. The flotilla pleased the local authorities while trading with the numerous ports. In order to pay respects, ambassadors from Calicut, Semudera, Quilon, Malacca, and other nations accompanied the departing fleet to Nanjing. The Chinese imperial diplomatic system had long included the trade-in tributes. The emperor received the foreign envoys, who were frequently a mix of diplomats and merchants, at his court with offers of regional specialties in exchange for much more expensive presents and lavish hospitality.
The Chinese pirate Chen Zuyi, who had taken control of the Malacca Strait and posed a threat to the trade routes, was confronted by the armada as it was making its way home. The pirates were vanquished by Zheng He's fleet, their hideout in Palembang was destroyed, and Chen was captured, sent to Nanjing, and put to death. The South China Sea to the Indian Ocean was opened up by this military action.
