Why did Zheng He go to the West?

Zheng He's Motive and Purpose of Going to the Western Seas

Publicize the national prestige (political purpose) of the Ming Dynasty;

Expanding tribute trade (economic purpose);

Looking for the missing Emperor Wen Jian.

Strengthen ties with other countries.

Zheng He's motivation and purpose of going to the West are also the motivation and purpose of Ming Chengzu's voyage to the West. The early years of the Ming Dynasty were a period of upward development of the national situation. At this time, in the north, Mongolian forces have been expelled from the Great Wall, and the feudal rule of the Ming Dynasty has been very consolidated. Moreover, with the recovery and development of social economy, the country is becoming stronger and stronger, and it is possible to develop overseas. Ming Chengzu regarded himself as a "benefactor" of "Heaven governs the world" and asked overseas countries to pay tribute. Like the utilitarian feudal emperors of past dynasties, Ming Chengzu also wanted to publicize his national prestige and show his wealth to the outside world.

During Yongle period, due to his strong national power, Ming Chengzu showed China's prosperity to foreign countries, and he was deeply dissatisfied with the passive overseas policy in the early Ming Dynasty. Therefore, the foreign policy of the imperial court changed. After he acceded to the throne, he sent eunuchs abroad and called all countries to the DPRK, which undoubtedly improved the prestige of Ming Chengzu. Zheng He's voyage to the West enabled him to show off his troops overseas, brag about the prosperity of China, and publicize Wade of the Ming Dynasty to overseas countries. At the same time, he also wants to use Yang Wei overseas to alleviate the dissatisfaction of some people who seized the throne by force at home and abroad. In some books, it is said that Cheng Zu of Ming Dynasty sent Zheng He to the Western Ocean to find the whereabouts of his emperor Zhu Yunwen. It is said that after the war in Jingnan, Zhu Yunwen escaped, and I don't know where he went. Ming Chengzu's throne was won from his nephew Wen Jian after the Jingnan Rebellion. In the view of very suspicious Ming, this is naturally the most worrying thing. Ming Chengzu suspected that he had fled overseas to take refuge, fearing that he would pose a threat to himself in the future, so he sent Zheng He to the Western Seas to spy on Wen Jian in order to prevent future troubles.

The huge fleet led by Zheng He is neither an ordinary merchant fleet nor an ordinary diplomatic mission, but a fleet organized by feudal rulers with dual tasks of diplomacy and trade.

One of his missions is to attract tributes from all countries and establish relations with them. In order to accomplish this task, the first thing Zheng He did after his voyage to the West was to publicize the imperial edict of Ming Chengzu. Declare to all countries: the Ming emperor was the king of a great country according to the destiny of heaven, and he ruled the world according to the will of the "king of heaven". Governors from all walks of life and foreigners from all walks of life should do as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty said. Countries should not bully the weak and enjoy peace in the world. If I ask you to join me, you will get a generous return. The second thing is to give gifts. Give imperial edicts and silver seals to kings of various countries, give crowns to kings and officials at all levels, and express their willingness to establish and develop friendly relations with those countries. The third thing is to establish friendly relations with countries in the South China Sea (now the Straits of Malacca).