Chapter 496 Zu Dashou Arrives in Southern Liaoning and Trades with Japan
The ship slowly docked at the dock, and Zu Dashou, accompanied by the generals, stood on the deck, watching and discussing.
Lushun Port was the first to be recovered by the Dongjiang Army, and it was also the only ice-free port in Liaodong that could be used for unimpeded navigation throughout the year. It was precisely for this reason that after stabilizing southern Liaoning, it began to expand vigorously.
The Port of Port Arthur can now directly dock the largest sea-going ships. The facilities on the shore are also numerous and cover an extremely large area.
"What a huge port!" Zu Dashou couldn't help but sigh, "Dongjiang Navy is not well-known, but I didn't expect it to be of such a scale."
There are large and small ships of the Dongjiang Navy docked in the port. The obstruction of sea ice is still there, and there are few tasks. Most of them are resting and waiting in the port.
Zu Zerun pointed with his finger and said, "Are those newly arrived immigrants? Dongjiang Town has plenty of money and food to accommodate so many people. But it is harsh on us in Liao Town."
Zu Dashou glared at Zu Zerun and scolded: "We have merged with Dongjiang Town. Don't talk nonsense like this again in the future."
Zu Zerun lowered his head helplessly, still feeling angry.
"Dongjiang Town has acquired so much land, so it makes sense to recruit people to farm it." Zukefa interrupted and said: "Now the victims have nothing. After autumn, they can support themselves and provide more."
forage."
Zu Dashou said "Yes" and said in a deep voice: "This will take more than half a year. It can provide food and drink for tens of thousands of people. This shows the foundation of Dongjiang Town."
"Relying on the food and salary transferred by the imperial court is definitely not enough." Zu Zepu said thoughtfully: "I have long heard that Dongjiang Town is engaged in maritime trade and has huge profits. Now it seems that this statement is true."
Zu Dashou sighed in his heart and said slowly: "This is also his ability, I can't envy him!"
Under the pressure of Governor Yuan in every possible way, Dongjiang Town not only survived, but also continued to maintain its momentum of development. It finally turned around completely after the First World War in Zunhua. You can't accept it even if you don't accept it.
Liao Town was prosperous for a while, but after the fall of Governor Yuan and the loss of support from the court, it immediately fell into trouble. If it could not be self-sufficient in food and supplies, it would have to be slaughtered by others.
It is a pity that the generals of Liao Town, including Zu Dashou, are used to enjoying themselves. As the first line of fighting against the Jianlu, the imperial court has been doing its best to provide food and wages so that they have no sense of worry.
Besides, even if they want to be self-reliant, they don't have the strength. They have tried farming, but they can't keep the harvest. It depends on whether Jianlu is interested in grabbing it.
As for the Juehua Navy, it is just a transport fleet, so it has no combat effectiveness. Sea trade is very profitable, but do you have the brains and the methods?
Now it's all in vain. We've already boarded the boat, so let's go down honestly. I didn't see that the gangplank has been set up and a welcoming crowd has appeared on the pier.
Zu Dashou took a deep breath and walked towards the side of the ship. For some reason, he felt a bit tragic.
When Chen Jisheng received the news that the clipper had arrived, he took several officials to the dock to wait. Behind them, there were cavalry sent by the garrison and vehicles to help with transportation.
"The two towns are united into one, and Dongjiang Town is finally the only one in Liaodong." Chen Jisheng said nothing, but he was very excited in his heart.
Once upon a time, Dongjiang Town was an extra-staff force of the imperial court. Food and salary were not in time and deductions were common.
Not only did he have to harass Jianlu, but he also had to work hard to provide food for tens of thousands of people in Dongjiang Town. Thinking about the hard days at that time, and then looking at the situation now that Ping Liao was about to happen, Chen Jisheng sometimes felt like he was dreaming.
A few years ago, who would have thought that Dongjiang Town would achieve unparalleled achievements and overwhelm Liao Town? Who would have thought that the great cause of Ping Liao Town would be completed in the hands of Dongjiang Town?
Suddenly, an official reminded that the Liao Town general had disembarked from the ship. Only then did Chen Jisheng recover his thoughts, a smile appeared on his face, and he hurried forward to greet him.
"Your Majesty, Chen Jisheng, has met Master Zu." Chen Jisheng was the first to bow and salute, but his title was changed. He was not the last general.
Mao Wenlong and Guo Dajing were planning to turn Chen Jisheng into a civil servant and legitimately control the government affairs of Liaodong.
Although Zu Dashou was higher than Chen Jisheng in official positions, he was now in someone else's territory, and he could make the decision, so he didn't dare to be arrogant.
"I have met Mr. Chen, Zu is polite." Zu Dashou hurriedly returned the courtesy with a smile on his face.
Chen Jisheng had a humble nature. After chatting with Zu Dashou and others, he invited them to take a rest at Lushun Fort.
The strategic center of Dongjiang Town gradually moved north, and the status of Fort Lushun was greatly reduced. It was no longer a storage center for grain and ammunition.
Even after the beginning of spring, Chen Jisheng will lead a group of officials to Jinzhou, and the government affairs center will also be moved north to more conveniently manage the large territory of the Dongjiang Army.
"At present, most of the military officers' families live in Dalian. It has beautiful scenery, a good harbor, and is very convenient for sailing. The residences of Marshal Mao and Marshal Guo are all there."
Chen Jisheng and Zu Dashou walked side by side and introduced as they walked: "There are also two newly built residential complexes in Fuzhou and Zhuanghe. Commander Zu and the generals can choose from them."
Zu Dashou nodded repeatedly and said, "Thank you Mao Shuai, Guo Shuai, and Mr. Chen for your thoughtful arrangements. In fact, as long as you have a place to live, how can I be picky?"
Chen Jisheng said with a smile: "It's all temporary after all. In just one or two years, where you live will change."
Zu Dashou laughed and said: "Within one or two years, with the strength of Dongjiang Town, Liaodong will definitely be pacified, and it does need to be rearranged."
After a pause, he asked again: "I don't know where Marshal Mao and Marshal Guo are now. Zu is in a hurry to go see them."
Chen Jisheng said: "Shuai Mao is in charge of Fuzhou, and Shuai Guo is commanding on the front line in Gaizhou. Our army is preparing to march into Haizhou."
"When the troops march into Haizhou, are they preparing to attack Liaoyang?" Zu Dashou sighed: "We have just won a great victory in Liaodong, and now we are going to launch a war again. This makes people admirably prepared."
Chen Jisheng smiled and said: "If your department can come to help in the battle, the process of ping Liao will definitely be accelerated. Chen also did not hide it. Mao Shuai and Guo Shuai already have plans for ping Liao this year. They will wait until the time is fully mature."
Sure enough, the Ping Liao event was going to be held this year, and He Kegang didn't lie.
Zu Dashou felt lucky. If he had not made a decisive decision, one year later today, the Zu family in Ningyuan would have faced a tragic ending.
Moreover, he could also hear some meaning from Chen Jisheng's words. This year's plan for Pingliao has been in place for a long time. The merger of Liao Town's people may speed up the process, but it is by no means the decisive factor.
If you think about it carefully, you can understand that according to the speed at which Dongjiang Town accepts immigrants, it will only take a year and a half to recruit 20,000 soldiers.
Perhaps, after the Dongjiang Army continuously reorganized the captives, it no longer needed so many troops to launch a decisive battle and defeat Liao in one fell swoop.
In Zu Dashou's view, the capture of Shenyang meant that Pingliao was completed. Of course he didn't know that Guo Dajing's standards were much higher than this.
"It would be better for Zu to take the generals to meet with Marshal Mao as soon as possible." Zu Dashou no longer considered the issue of where to settle. It was only temporary anyway, so let's try to make a good impression first.
Chen Jisheng should have expected this, so he nodded and said: "That's fine. Then I'll take a break for two days in Lushun, and go to Fuzhou just in time to see the built residential areas."
While I was talking, I had already seen the city wall of Lushun Fort. Outside the city gate, there was already a city gate, and there were dozens of shops lined up on both sides for a long distance.
"So that Commander Zu and the generals will know that the land in Dongjiang Town uses Liao ticket." Chen Jisheng said with a smile: "Each person will be given fifty taels of pocket money first. If you need anything, you can buy it here. Lushun and Dalian are the goods.
The two most comprehensive business districts.”
Although Zu Dashou had heard that Dongjiang Town had its own currency, this was the first time he saw the Liao banknote. What he saw was that it was just printed on paper. Although it was an upgraded version and more beautiful, he couldn't help but feel confused.
Chen Jisheng did not go into details. Many of these merchants were recruited by the Lin family and merchants from Shandong. They collected military bills, but they could pay silver coins to the government.
But internally, soldiers and civilians still use military coupons, which are convenient for circulation and generate credibility.
After entering Lushun Fort, Chen Jisheng had already arranged a place to stay, and arranged a banquet in the evening. The reception was very attentive, and Zu Dashou and others could not find fault.
You have great ancestors
Even with the pressure of their lives, these people don't dare to prick. No matter how much they complain behind the scenes, they know that the matter has reached this point and they can't change anything anymore. They still have to do what they can on the surface.
In fact, in the most prosperous Liaonan, or Jinzhou, Dongjiang Town, they will broaden their horizons and gain knowledge. Compared with the isolated Ningyuan, the materials here are richer. As long as they have money, they can buy many novel things.
Continuous great victories have continuously increased outsiders' confidence in the Dongjiang Army, and the government has also formulated some preferential policies to attract investment and promote the development of commerce and trade.
As the territory expanded, there were more specialties from Liaodong, attracting more merchants to trade. The trade between the Lin family and Japanese and Korean merchants also developed more and more steadily.
At this time, Guo Dajing was holding a letter and thinking about weighing the matter of building Dalian or Lushun into an international trade port.
The letter was written by Koichi Kobayashi who had arrived at the port of Dalian. The trade route from Japan through Korea to Liaodong had been opened up, and the supply of silk, raw silk, porcelain and other goods provided by the Lin family and Fujino Hide was becoming increasingly stable.
Kobayashi Koichi hoped to have a fixed treaty port in Liaodong, similar to the official ones like Haojing, Xiamen and Yuegang.
"Is it important to have the official permission from the court?" Guo Dajing was a little confused and turned to look at Shopkeeper Luo, the Lin family's permanent resident in Dalian, "If the business can be done, what does this Japanese mean?"
Shopkeeper Luo smiled, bowed and said, "Back to Guo Shuai, from my perspective, what does this Japanese businessman want to prove to the big shots of the Japanese country? After all, although the trade routes are open now, it seems like smuggling."
After the Tokugawa shogunate came to power, it changed Toyotomi Hideyoshi's foreign aggression policy and adopted active friendly diplomacy towards neighboring countries.
Especially for the Ming Dynasty, the Tokugawa shogunate tried every means to establish a canonization relationship with the Ming Dynasty, restore the joint trade, and return to the tribute system dominated by the Ming Dynasty, and made many efforts to this end.
In the twenty-seventh year of Wanli, in order to express its sincerity to the Ming Dynasty, the Japanese government returned the hostages He Yingchao, Wang Yang and their servants to Mao Guoqi, the general stationed in the DPRK.
The next year, the Japanese envoy returned the Ming Dynasty generals Chen Wendong, Wang Jiangong and others who had been to Japan as hostages for three years, and submitted letters of peace proposal.
In the thirty-fourth year of Wanli, Tokugawa Ieyasu instructed Shimazu Yoshihisa to write a letter to Ryukyu King Shangning, asking him to help mediate between the Ming Dynasty and Japan.
The book mentions that "China and Japan have not been able to trade with each other for more than thirty years. My general is worried and wants to keep the family in talks with your country for a long time. Every year, trade ships come to your country, and the Ming Dynasty and the
The currency wealth of Japanese merchants."
In the thirty-eighth year of Wanli, Honda Masazumi, under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, wrote a letter to the Governor of Fujian, Chen Zizhen. Although this letter was nominally written to the Governor of Fujian, its real purpose was to show it to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
In the letters, any mention of "Ming" or "Zhonghua" is left blank. Even when writing "the great emperor of tomorrow", it is on a new line. Japan is called "bang" and "a small country" to show enough humility.
.
In addition, the Tokugawa shogunate also used Ryukyu and Korea in the hope that the two countries could reconcile and resume joint trade with the Ming Dynasty.
"The shogun is now Tokugawa Hidetada, only the second generation." Guo Dajing thoughtfully touched his chin and said slowly: "Does Shopkeeper Luo know anything else about the situation in Japan?"
Shopkeeper Luo thought for a while and said, "During the chat with Japanese merchants, I heard some things, but I don't know if they are useful or not."
Guo Dajing smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Luo, let's just treat it as a casual chat."
Shopkeeper Luo relaxed a little and said: "I heard that the Tokugawa shogunate strengthened the security of Edo Castle, built more fortresses, built the outer walls of Edo Castle, stone walls, moats, etc..."
"For the construction of Edo Castle, the Tokugawa shogunate asked the daimyo from all over the world to contribute money. However, no matter how dilapidated the castles where the daimyo lived, or even if they were just reinforced, the Tokugawa shogunate would not allow it. Some of the castles where the daimyo lived were
It’s getting worse and worse, it’s funny...”
Guo Dajing gently chinned his head and had some guesses in his mind.
The Tokugawa shogunate had not unified Japan for a long time, and its rule may not be stable yet, so the defense facilities of Edo Castle were strengthened.
In other words, the Tokugawa shogunate was still very vigilant and concerned about the prevention of daimyo in various places.
As a new government, the Tokugawa shogunate not only needed the support of all strata within the country, but also needed the stability of the international environment to truly determine its dominance.
Perhaps like King Injo of Korea, the Tokugawa shogunate also needed to establish legitimacy as a ruler. Seeking to establish direct trade relations with the Ming Dynasty may also be based on such considerations.
There are also other reasons. Firstly, the Japanese country really needs Ming Dynasty products, the most important of which are raw silk and silk. Secondly, it mines more silver. If you have money and confidence, you want to buy it.
Although it is somewhat difficult to get the court to agree to formal trade with Japan, it is not hopeless. However, this may cause conflicts with the Zheng Group, which wants to monopolize trade with Japan.
Guo Dajing narrowed his eyes and fell into deep thought for a long time.