There is no grand ceremony when the emperor accepts his concubine.
Princess Ayesha of Brunei just lit two red candles, put on a wedding dress, and slept with Emperor Zhao.
Not even a concubine, just a concubine.
Lu Tianxiang is a little better, after all, he chose a good and auspicious day.
She was not opposed to the idea of becoming a concubine, but was rather proud and excited. After all, the emperor was a great hero. If he could not become a female general, it would be good to marry a hero.
Just when Lu Tianxiang officially entered the palace, the Cossacks from Tsarist Russia crossed the entire Siberia and actually saw the Pacific Ocean.
They named the river that flows into the Pacific Ocean the Okhot River. And at the mouth of the river, they planned to build a fortress, the Okhotsk Fortress. In another time and space, that area of the Pacific Ocean was also called "Okhotsk".
Hotsk Sea".
At the southern end of the sea area, there is a large island, which is Sakhalin.
Regarding Sakhalin Island, the Nuergandosi that used to belong to the Ming Dynasty later surrendered to the rule of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Now that the Manchu Qing Dynasty has declined, the natives on the island no longer pay tribute, but they have not raised troops to resist the Manchu Qing rule.
Just three years ago, Japan drew a national map and included Sakhalin and Hokkaido into Japanese territory for the first time.
Now, Sakhalin will be targeted by Tsarist Russia again.
In the entire Datong Chinese court, except for Zhao Han, no one knew about the existence of Sakhalin Island. Even Pang Chunlai and Li Banghua did not know. They only knew that the northeasternmost place was once the slave of the Ming Dynasty. The specific situation needs to be clarified.
Official archives of the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, the same was true for the emperors and ministers of Tsarist Russia. They didn't care about Siberia, as long as the Cossacks could get furs.
The problem is that the Cossacks were not superhuman, so how could they reach the Pacific coast in a world of ice and snow?
Just tell me one thing and you will understand.
Four years ago, 132 Cossacks fought their way to the north bank of Heilongjiang. Not only did they burn, kill, and loot along the way, they even ate 50 Daur residents due to lack of food.
This news was spread by the escaped prisoners and quickly spread throughout Heilongjiang. Everyone knew that the Cossacks were cannibals. The residents in the middle and lower reaches of Heilongjiang gave up their internal fighting and united to fight against the Cossacks. 132 Cossacks,
Only 53 people made it back successfully.
After that, the people of Northeast China fought with the Cossacks, and there were many records of Cossack cannibalism.
This was the secret of the Cossacks' conquest of Siberia. When there was not enough food, they would eat human flesh. As long as they could win the battle, there was no supply problem at all. Any enemies they killed or captured could be used as food.
early morning.
Lu Tianxiang, a first-time wife, lay in bed in the emperor's arms and actually asked: "Your Majesty, now that I have become a concubine, can I go to the racecourse at any time?"
Zhao Han said with a smile: "Let's go in a few days. It's just autumn, and the prey is getting fat. Let's go to the horse farm to ride horses first, and then go to the hunting ground to hunt. Call everyone together."
"Hunting is good. I haven't hunted since I came to Nanjing!" Lu Tianxiang suddenly became happy.
Zhao Han got tired of the new concubine for a while, then he dressed and ate under the service of the palace maid, and then took a walk to the Qinzheng Hall for work.
After reviewing more than ten memorials at random, Zhao Han discovered something strange.
King Shangxian of Ryukyu died of illness. Since Sangxian had no children, his younger brother Shangzhi proclaimed himself the crown prince. He sent his uncle Mo Taijiu to
Jin Siyi, the chief minister, came to Nanjing to request the official canonization of the king.
The cabinet's reply was: The leader of the Ryukyu Kingdom is a rat and a rat. Please make your decision.
Zhao Han summoned the cabinet ministers and asked: "How come the Lord of the Ryukyu Kingdom is so confused?"
Li Banghua replied: "According to reports from officials in Fujian and Zhejiang, merchants from Fujian and Zhejiang often go to Ryukyu to do business. But many times, their goods cannot be bought and sold freely, and they are dictated by the Japanese Satsuma clan. This Ryukyu country is in control of China.
While professing vassalage, he is also professing vassalage to Japan. How can a country have two masters if a woman does not marry two husbands?"
"What benefits does it bring to Ryukyu to declare itself a vassal state to Japan?" Zhao Han asked.
Li Banghua said: "It is not good for the Ryukyu Kingdom, but it is good for some Ryukyu ministers."
"Let's talk about it in detail." Zhao Han said.
Li Banghua said: “During the Wanli period, most of the Ryukyu monarchs and ministers were close to China, and they were invaded by the Satsuma clan of Japan.
After the defeat, the Ryukyu ministers who were close to China were either killed or dismissed from office. The Ryukyu officials who were close to Japan not only took the opportunity to take power, but also controlled the king. The leader was Mao, the recently deceased Ryukyu king.
And the current Crown Prince of Ryukyu was born to a daughter of the Mao family who married the previous king."
Zhao Han asked: "The Ryukyu envoy who went to Nanjing this time to request a title is also named Mao?"
Li Banghua said: "He is the uncle of the Ryukyu Crown Prince."
Well, the government of the Ryukyu Kingdom is controlled by a group of leading parties. They sell out Ryukyu's interests in exchange for Japan's support, thereby consolidating their political and economic status.
Zhao Han praised: "Li Qing has taken the trouble and is actually familiar with Ryukyu affairs."
Li Banghua said: "Fujian and Guangdong merchants were dissatisfied with Japan's control of Ryukyu, and asked officials from the two provinces to report to the court for punishment. Our dynasty was just established, and all parties were undecided, so the small country of Ryukyu could only put it aside for the time being. But I asked Fujian and Guangdong merchants to do so.
Report the actual situation in Ryukyu so that it can be dealt with accurately in the future."
Zhao Han asked: "Are there any forces close to China in Ryukyu?"
Li Banghua said: "There are not many people who are close to China, but there are many who hate Japan. Just because of the trade between Ryukyu and China,
Japan has to impose taxes on it, and the sale of some goods is also controlled by Japan. In fact, Japan has been short of food in recent years and has forced the Ryukyu Kingdom to donate food. In addition, there are many people of Han descent in Ryukyu."
"There are many descendants of the Han people?" Zhao Han finally smiled.
Li Banghua said: "During the Wanli period, before Japan invaded Korea, the Wanli monarchs and ministers received a report that Japan was about to send troops. The person who reported the report was Zheng Tui, the third officer of the Ryukyu Kingdom. This man was loyal and loyal because he was unwilling to surrender to Japan.
Frying to death."
Zhao Han sighed: "He is indeed loyal."
Zheng's ancestral home is Fujian, and his father worked as a general (diplomatic translator) in Ryukyu. He was born in Ryukyu. At the age of 16, he went to the Imperial Academy of Ming Dynasty to study, and became the third secretary general (second grade) of Ryukyu Kingdom along the way. He opposed Ryukyu's surrender to Japan and beat him.
The envoys from Japan who came to ask for food and grass also secretly conveyed the news that Japan was about to send troops to China.
Japan sent troops to invade Ryukyu. Zheng led his troops to resist and was captured. He was thrown into a frying pan because he refused to surrender.
Li Banghua said: "Both Zheng's father and son were killed by the Japanese, but his brother Zheng Yu took his son and fled back to Fujian. Zheng Yu's great-grandson Zheng Shen seemed to be an official in Fujian and went to the imperial court many times to request justice for his ancestors.
revenge."
Zhao Han asked: "I want to send troops to Ryukyu, what do you think?"
Song Yingxing said: "Your Majesty, now that all parties have decided, it is best to use troops cautiously. We can first reprimand the Ryukyu monarchs and ministers to obey China wholeheartedly and not serve two masters at the same time."
Pang Chunlai said: "It's either fight or ignore it. It's useless to rebuke. As Mr. Li Ge said just now, the Ryukyu Xunqi Mao family relied on Japan's support to submit national affairs. Once they deviate from Japan, their power will be unstable, and their power will be unstable.
How could you give up so easily? "
Zhao Han said: "We have to find something for the navy to do, and Ryukyu is just a good place to practice. Which division was ordered to be transferred south and hasn't boarded the ship yet? Don't go to Qiongzhou to station, first go to Fujian to rest. In the meantime
, collect more information about Ryukyu and let businessmen from Fujian and Zhejiang help connect the anti-Japanese forces in Ryukyu."
Li Banghua said: "For the small country of Ryukyu, if we go to war in such a big way, we may lose more than we gain."
Zhao Han smiled and said: "Don't just focus on the land, you must also focus on the ocean in the future. Ryukyu Kingdom is located at a strategic location on the sea.
The location is very critical. Since the rulers and ministers of Ryukyu have turned their backs on China, and there are many Han people in Ryukyu, we should simply destroy the country and establish counties!"
"Destroy the country and establish counties?"
The three cabinet ministers were all shocked, thinking that the emperor's desire for territorial expansion was at work.
Why would we send troops to occupy some broken islands?
Li Banghua and others supported the occupation of Luzon Island because they could grow a wide range of food and also had gold, silver, copper and other minerals.
Ryukyu, on the other hand, has nothing. The food grown cannot be self-sufficient, and they have to rely on fishing to fill their stomachs.
If we just send troops to severely punish, it would be enough to change the king. To destroy the country and establish counties is purely a loss-making business. In order to prevent rebellion, troops must be stationed on the island, and the profits earned are not enough for military expenses.
Zhao Han didn't dare to go that far. He just wanted to fight and expand. Key islands like Ryukyu must be occupied!
Returning to the cabinet, the three cabinet ministers looked at each other in silence.
It was Pang Chunlai who spoke first: "Your Majesty, you are truly a hero... Alas!"
It is natural for a male ruler to expand, and expansion will inevitably affect finances and people's livelihood.
Li Banghua said: "This has always been the case with founding kings. The great ancestor of the Ming Dynasty, Taizong, also always used troops abroad. It was not until the reign of Renzong that he began to recuperate."
As soon as these words came out, the three of them smiled bitterly.
Not to mention Pang Chunlai, Li Banghua is already old, and even Song Yingxing is already sixty years old this year.
However, Zhao Han is still young and strong. Not to mention killing the three of them, he is expected to be able to kill other ministers who will succeed him in the future. They cannot wait for the Lord of Shou Cheng. In the following days, they will have to accompany the founding emperor to expand.
Song Yingxing said: "Immigration in several northern provinces requires a lot of money and food. To conquer Ryukyu and establish counties, we will have to increase expenditures, set up officials, run schools, and establish systems. Everything will cost money. It will take at least ten years to balance the budget. Your Majesty seems to be still
If we want to fight Annan...our big housekeeper will have a lot of headaches from now on."
The chief butler is Fei Chun, who is often so tired that he wants to hit the wall.
Li Banghua said: "According to your Majesty's wishes, it seems that you still want to make North Korea a province. That is what really costs money and food. Fortunately, your Majesty also knows the priorities and helps North Korea establish its currency system. It should not be possible within ten years."
Send troops to North Korea."
Pang Chunlai returned to his office, leaned on his chair and closed his eyes to rest.
He suffered too much when he was young and his health was very poor. As he got older, all kinds of problems appeared. Last year he was better, but this year he is even more out of shape. At the moment, he just wants to resign and return to Liaodong to retire. Unfortunately, the emperor has been reluctant to let him go.
.
Since the emperor wants to make troubles, then let him make troubles with the emperor.
