Zheng He's expedition as an imperial enterprise

Zheng He's title should not be read as a simple modern naval rank. He was a trusted high-ranking eunuch of the Ming court and one of roughly seven officials of that rank on the voyages. The force also included about ten eunuchs at the next rank, around seventy eunuchs overall, and two officers compared to brigadiers, each responsible for thousands of troops. Sailors, specialists, and diplomats completed the organization. The analogy to a viceroy leading an expedition captures his role as the emperor's senior representative over a moving imperial enterprise.