Zhao Yanhao's original plan was to locate the business building near the old site of Nakijin Castle, using the old city wall ruins, which could save the collection of building materials and have good defensive properties.
However, after this actual inspection, he felt that the location of Nakijin Castle is really remote. In addition, the old city was completely destroyed and there were not many parts that could be used. Just repairing the road up the mountain would cost a lot of materials and man-hours. If
Building large-scale construction on the original site would be extremely expensive. This is actually the reason why Xiang Shengzu and the nearby villagers abandoned Nakijin Castle and built a new city near Yuntian Port.
After all, what he wants to build is a commercial building and a concession, not an occupying military headquarters or a fortress. There is no need to overemphasize the defensive and military nature.
What's more, the old site of Nakijin Castle contains the Odake controlled by Zhu Nu, and it is still the main religious place of worship for the people of Beishan. The construction of a commercial building will inevitably require negotiations with it. If it is not handled properly, it will cause unnecessary conflicts.
Naturally, even if there is a conflict, most Ryukyu soldiers and people will be angry but dare not speak out. However, the reputation of the Senate in Ryukyu is probably as good as that of the Satsuma clan. The Senate prides itself on being the most important to the people, so it is better not to do such a thing.
good.
Since he wanted to win people's hearts, it was better to do it more thoroughly. Zhao Yanhao discussed with He Ying, Si Kaide and others through the radio station, and finally decided to build the business center near Yuntian Port, and only build one on the old ruins of Quy Nhon City.
The lookout is used as a warning.
This new business center was named "Yuntian Station". Skade felt that this name was auspicious and more suitable as an official name. In addition, it would be convenient to name other business stores if they were to be set up in Ryukyu in the future. Of course, there were still many private opinions.
The elders who could not remember the name of the station called Unten Station "Ryukyu Station" on various occasions, but this is a story for another day.
The water depth of Yuntian Port is relatively deep, and it can be regarded as a qualified port in this time and space. The draft of the H800 is not deep, so it can be sailed directly into Yuntian Port. The small ships of Satsuma Domain and Ryukyu Kingdom do not need to consider the draft at all.
The problem.
According to the plan of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Uncheon Port is a logistics supply base for trade between the Senate and Japan's Hirado and Satsuma Domains and for the future conquest of Japan, and it also shares some of the functions undertaken by Jeju Island and Kaohsiung.
Of course, the specific site selection, design, planning and construction are done by another team. Zhao Yanhao himself does not know who will do it. He only writes the relevant site selection opinions and description of the surrounding situation into a report and transmits it by telegram.
Go back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and let them implement it.
Not two days after Zhao Yanhao arrived in Beishan, Ryukyu had reached the season of plum blossoms. The intermittent rains, the smell of moldy furniture and clothes caused by moisture in Guoqi's house, and the slow progress of the project due to the precipitation all made the situation worse.
He was very depressed. However, King Shangfeng sent an invitation, inviting Zhao Yanhao and several ministers and relatives to a banquet to enjoy the dragon boat ride. To put it bluntly, they just went to eat and drink, which made Zhao Yanhao feel much better.
Because he would not return to Yuntian Port, Zhao Yanhao arranged for Ji Shu, Lin Xing and other naturalized cadres to continue to be responsible for the preliminary preparations for the commercial centers in Beishan area, and asked them to use telegraph if they encountered any situation.
After making arrangements for the Good Luck Sky Station, Zhao Yanhao returned to Shuri and stayed at the Angel Hall.
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month in Ryukyu is the same as that in Japan, but it is Children's Day. The "Dragon Boat Festival" in Ryukyu is called the "Fourth Day" and is the fourth day of May in the lunar calendar. Different from other regions, it is a day to express gratitude to the Dragon Palace.
A day to pray for safe navigation.
On the day of the banquet, it was still a step-by-step procedure. It was still the three justice ministers leading a group of Ryukyu officials and the servants who led the way. However, because it was an "informal banquet", the ostentation was much smaller. Zhao Yanhao didn't care and sat down.
After getting on the sedan chair, they set off in the direction of Shuri Castle. The group passed by the square marsh pond and the Changhong Embankment, followed the mountain road through the Zhongshan Archway, passed the Shurei Gate, and then did not take the main road in the middle, but headed northwest
walked in the direction.
Zhao Yanhao asked doubtfully: "Aren't you going to Shuri Castle?"
The priest on duty, Mao Taiyun, said: "Reporting to your lord, there is no lake in Shuri City, so it is impossible to watch the boats. Therefore, today's banquet will be held at the Dragon Pond of Yuanjue Temple under Shuri City. I hope you will forgive me."
The group of people walked downhill along the northwest direction of the road. On the south side of the road was the high stone wall built by Shuri Castle along the mountain. Between the stone wall and the road, there was a large area of cycads (cycads) planted, because
No one cut it down, so it grew tall and dense, like a green barrier.
On the way, they passed a large dilapidated temple. Zhao Yanhao inquired and found out that it was Tenkaiji Temple, one of the three major temples of the Ryukyu royal family. However, it was almost burned to the ground due to a fire decades ago, because Tenjieji Temple is a place for worship.
The temples of the previous kings Sangtaegu and Sangdeok as well as the princes and princesses who died in infancy of this dynasty did not receive much attention, so the reconstruction work has not been put on the agenda and has been shelved until now.
Not far from Tianjie Temple, a stone wall more than two meters high appeared on the side of the road. Continuing along the stone wall, the low main gate of Yuanjue Temple appeared in front of a group of people. Yuanjue Temple
The monks of the temple, led by Xi'an, have been waiting here for a long time.
"The poor monk has seen the envoy."
"Zen Master Xi'an is so polite."
Then Xi'an introduced Monk Meizong Yixin, the abbot of Enkakuji Temple, and several other eminent monks in the temple - most of them were Zen monks of the Rinzai sect who had studied at Myoshinji Temple in Kyoto, Japan. Zheng Jue said that if Ryukyu people want to
Most people who learn to write learn from these eminent monks, so they are very respected in Ryukyu.
Zhao Yanhao nodded, exchanged a few words with Yi Xuan, and expressed that he would present some printed scriptures and Buddhist paintings to Yi Xuan on behalf of the Senate of the Song Dynasty. Because of the popularity of New Taoism and Catholicism in the area under the jurisdiction of the Senate,
Although a lot of Buddhist scriptures are printed, not many people buy the books. They usually pile up in warehouses collecting dust together with other books that no one reads. This time I came to Ryukyu as a favor.
When Yi Xuan saw that the envoy of the Song Dynasty was so cheerful, he couldn't help but recite two Buddhist chants. Although Zhao Yanhao had never read any other scriptures except the Classic of Mountains and Seas, he benefited from the fact that when he was studying in Japan, his instructor was a hairier man than him.
A long time ago, the Jodo Shinshu monk who loved to play guitar and sing love songs knew a little bit about Japanese Buddhism, so he casually exchanged a few words with Yoshinori.
Yoshinori sighed in his heart: The envoy from the Kingdom of China actually had such insight into Japanese Buddhism! Although he was obviously led astray by the evil monks of the Yixiang Sect, he was still more worthy of enlightenment than the envoys from the Ming Dynasty in the previous two years.
Thinking of this, Yi Xuan laughed and said: "May I ask, sir, if you know about Zen Master Zhaozhou's 'dog-child Buddha nature'?"
"I really don't know."
Yi Xuan couldn't help but feel a little regretful: he didn't expect that the Zen groves in the Song Dynasty had also declined. However, the old monk persevered: "The Buddha said: 'All living beings have Buddha nature', but Zen Master Zhaozhou said: 'Dogs have no Buddha nature'. Messenger
Sir, do you know the mystery behind this?"
"Well," Zhao Yanhao thought for a while and said perfunctorily: "Maybe it's because... Gouzi has changed?"
Zhao Yanhao and his party, led by the dejected Yoshinobu, walked towards the direction directly in front of Yuanjue Temple. In front of the temple was a small artificial lotus pond called Yuanjian Pond. On the island in the center of Yuanjian Pond, there was a
The red-tiled Benten Paradise is very colorful because it was only built a few years ago. A small Chinese-style stone arch bridge connects Bensai Paradise to the lotus pond. The railings of the marble bridge are engraved with lotus and carp patterns, which looks unique.
.Not far ahead, there is another stone bridge. The flowing water under the stone bridge connects Yuanjian Pond and Longtan Pond.
Longtan is formed by the water from Zuiquan in Shuri Castle. It is less than a mile long and covers an area of only a few dozen acres. However, the water in the pool is dark green in color, like ink, and is bottomless. Both Yoshinobu and Xi'an said this
The pool is connected to the sea. It is said that someone saw a black dragon here, hence the name. Zhao Yanhao smiled noncommittally and continued walking north along the east bank of Longtan with a group of people.
Looking towards the southwest bank of Longtan, there are large banana and autumn maple trees growing on the slopes of the lake. The shadows of the dancing trees are reflected on the lake, making it look even more green and charming. On the northeastern bank of Longtan, there is a large stretch of high and low trees.
Endless limestone walls, Zheng Jue said: "Chief, most of Ryukyu's aristocratic families live there."
On the east side of Longtan, on the pier that protrudes toward the center of the lake, a large area of flowers is already in full bloom. White jasmine and gardenia, bright red hibiscus, and quiet orchids are blooming together, exuding bursts of fragrance.
Among the brocade flowers, a newly built small pavilion with three sides facing water came into view. Zhao Yanhao and his party saw that Zhao Yanhao had arrived. King Shang Feng, who was wearing sun protection clothing and a kurta on his head, and several others
Senior Ryukyu officials walked out of the pavilion to greet him.
Zhao Yanhao and King Shang Feng had already become acquainted with each other. After a few casual greetings, they walked into the pavilion under the leadership of King Shang Feng. The interior of the pavilion was very luxurious, not to mention the lanterns and colors, even the pillars were made of brocade and
The blankets were wrapped up, and the ground was also covered with wool felt. Zhao Yanhao and King Shangfeng naturally sat at the head of the table, while the remaining senior Ryukyu officials and cadres of naturalized citizens sat on both sides.
A lacquerware tray has been placed on the table, and on the tray is a bowl of eight-treasure cold porridge made from fermented barley, mung beans and brown sugar. In Ryukyu, this eight-treasure cold porridge is like Chinese rice dumplings and Japanese kashiwa mochi.
A safe food for the year. Zhao Yanhao discovered that the eight-treasure porridge is made of calamus leaves rolled into small tubes as tableware, which is very unique. Next to the porridge is a pot of green tea picked during the Qingming Festival, and is made of sweet potato starch and miyako.
Sugar cubes made of brown sugar. What struck Zhao Yanhao most strangely was that there were also bamboo tubes and short bamboo stems for holding tobacco leaves, as well as small dishes for holding ash.