In this way, the western part of the Southeast Asian littoral came within China's sphere of influence. Furthermore, there were great profits to be had. Each expedition set out laden with silk and porcelain, to be exchanged for rare and precious commodities from overseas, and this too helps to explain why Zheng set sail on seven separate voyages.
再加上鄭和每次下西洋，以中國盛產的絲綢和瓷器，換回來各地稀奇古怪的珍寶，除了表面上的光彩，還有實質利益可圖，因此，才有七次南下西洋之舉。