Throughout modern history, there has been much debate about the reasons for the sudden and abrupt cessation of tributary voyages which had once been led by Zheng He under the rule of the Ming Dynasty. These voyages were an integral part of the dynasty and indeed symbolised the sheer scale of the success and prosperity of that empire. But all was not well, and it was the cessation of these voyages likewise that represented the troubles facing the dynasty as a whole.
According to many, the most mitigating factor in stopping the voyages was the sheer scale of costs involved in the expeditions…
