The arrogant Meng Yuan was defeated twice in Japan.
Deep down in Shimazu Takahisa's heart, he did not believe that the Ming Dynasty could really conquer Japan, but Satsuma might have to go through a tough battle.
In such a situation, how to turn crisis into opportunity?
One day later, many people left Satsuma.
Someone went to Ryukyu to confirm some news from there.
Someone went to the territories of the Ouchi clan, Nizi clan and Mouri clan in the north to confirm the situation there.
Others went to where the emperor and shogunate were.
If he really wants to do something, perhaps through the appointment of the declining emperor and shogun, he will obtain an apparently important position, and at least he can take the opportunity to nominally command Kyushu to resist the foreign armies.
Over in Ryukyu, King Shokiyo was sitting in the main hall of the palace in Shuri Castle.
At this moment, there was silence in the palace.
Although the royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom is smaller in scale and has slightly different architectural styles, it is modeled after the Forbidden City. The difference is that their main hall faces the west.
The reason for this is not only that there are mountains to the north and south of Shuri Castle and ventilation from east to west, but also that it is a "big deal".
This kind of thing is big, as reflected in this morning: Shang Qing and his ministers knelt at Huanhui Gate, the main gate of Shuri City, to bid farewell to the Ming Dynasty envoys who set off back to the Ming Dynasty. Also walking with them was his legitimate son Shang Yuan,
Important minister Mao Longyin.
Now back in the palace, the forty-five-year-old Shang Qing felt heavy in his heart.
"I'm afraid that the diplomatic envoys from China who have seen the Taiyuan man alone will also know about it. In the past two months, there have been many people fleeing across the ocean from there. Ryukyu is the support of all countries, and it depends on it.
Maritime trade. Now the country has set up a border zone to suppress Taiyuan, and there is news that it will conquer Japan. The war is going on at both ends of the Ryukyu Islands, and the trade routes are cut off. I don’t know the future..."
The Ming Dynasty wants to accept Taiwan Yuan as a real land, and Ryukyu certainly has nothing to say.
The Ming Dynasty wanted to conquer Japan, and Ryukyu was not qualified to comment.
But the origin of the term Manguo Jinryang comes from the location of Ryukyu.
In the past, due to the many restrictions on shipping in the Ming Dynasty, Ryukyu was actually a transit point for maritime trade in the East. The smugglers of the Ming Dynasty came from countless small countries such as Japan, Korea, Luzon, Siam, Aceh, Java, and Manchuria.
Many maritime merchants would gather in Ryukyu.
Now, as the Ming Dynasty expands maritime trade and border trade, Ryukyu's status has declined a bit, but as long as Japan, the only country currently excluded from the Ming Dynasty's border trade system, still has demand, Ryukyu's existence value is still not small.
The Wan Guo Jin Liang Bell, cast eighty-three years ago, is still hanging at the entrance to the main hall of the palace.
But what happens next? What is the purpose of Ming Dynasty?
As the leader of a small country, Shang Qing is self-aware.
Over the years, his respect for the Ming Dynasty has been the most sincere among the vassals of the Ming Dynasty.
When the Ming Dynasty was founded, Ryukyu accepted the thirty-six surnames from the Fujian people given by Taizu, and the people of the Ming Dynasty who migrated to Ryukyu with the thirty-six surnames. Over the years, some people from the Ming Dynasty even became the Prime Minister of Ryukyu.
Every year, the Ming Dynasty would issue the calendar for the following year from Fujian to Ryukyu.
Last year, it was decided that this year would be the year to change the AD calendar. The measurement standard vessels given by the Emperor of Ming Dynasty were also enshrined in the palace by Shang Qing. Ryukyu uses Chinese characters and the Ming Dynasty calendar and chronology. Today, the Ming Dynasty’s Tongbao and silver coins are in circulation.
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Now, the Ming Emperor asked various countries to send envoys to conclude a convention. This matter has worried Shang Qing and his ministers for several months.
They have been worried since the mission returned at the end of last year.
The diplomatic envoy visited the vassal country to inspect the political conduct and people's livelihood, but Shangqing did not dare to stop him.
This year, important officials were to be dispatched, so he sent his legitimate son and heir and the head of the officials.
Now Shang Qing asked, and another among the ministers whose real name was He Weimei said: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, Master Mao will definitely be able to handle it properly."
"I wonder if Yun met the Taiyuan man. Did the angels of the Kingdom of Heaven know that I had been deceived? He pretended to be a retainer of the Chiwei Village Society, and I only met him. Little did I know that Chiwei Island had been captured by the Taiyuan thieves. They
When I came to Gu and cried for help, I realized..."
"I found out last night that Master Mao would also explain it to the angel on the way."
The so-called village community is a unique product of an archipelago country like Ryukyu. There is no way, the islands are naturally separated by the ocean. The islands have their own local tyrants. The smaller islands are actually local autonomous, and the larger islands also have local autonomy.
The clan was divided into vassals.
The guarantee for Ryukyu's unification was that civilians were prohibited from hiding weapons, and the military was controlled by the central government, forming a Kuli military system. Near Shuri Castle, many pro-military guards were set up, each belonging to three Kuli.
These three Kuri guards only took turns guarding the area near Shuri Castle.
On other islands, there is generally no regular army, only some brave villagers. Even such brave villagers only allow some local chiefs to form strongholds to protect themselves. This is the origin of the term village society.
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So Shang Qing seems to have the martial arts of "Northern Expedition", but in fact it is nothing.
At this time, the entire Ryukyu army only had more than 500 bows, more than 300 iron spears, more than 300 armors and some knives and spears.
What can this kind of force do except lie down in front of Ming Dynasty?
Outside Naha Port, the fourteen-year-old Prince Nao happily boarded the Ming Dynasty Feng Zhou escorted by the Ming Dynasty Dongyang Marine Division. His official name was Fa Si. Mao Longyin, the important minister in charge of one of the Kuli, looked back at the port city solemnly.
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Based on the Zhanlang-class Ming warships he saw now, if there were three or five such ships, this archipelago country would be defenseless.
At the pier, the Kumi clan was saying goodbye to the Ming Dynasty to declare diplomatic relations.
The so-called Kume clan refers to the thirty-six surnames of the Fujian people who migrated to Ryukyu more than a hundred years ago. Most of these people are scholars, craftsmen or other people with special skills. In Ryukyu, they live together in a place called Kume, and are protected by
Respect from the royal family to the common people.
What they believe in is Buddhism and Taoism, while most of the Ryukyu natives believe in Shinto, including the Dragon Palace, the Sister Goddess, the Imperial Mountain, and the ancestral spirits.
Today at the pier, eminent monks, Taoists, and Ryukyu women all came to pray for the voyage.
Nasu-nu is the person with the highest status in the Ryukyu Shinto belief system and is the leader of the goddesses. In the past, Shu-nu was very powerful. However, since the reform of the priestly administration was carried out 70 or 80 years ago, the king's daughter was
After being appointed as Zhunu, the religious status of Zhunu began to be lower than that of the king, and the role was often held by the princess's daughter.
Today's Zhu's daughter is Shang Qing's eldest daughter. Behind her, there is also a younger sister who is traveling with her. Shang Qing's second daughter, who is only eleven years old, is also preparing to become Zhu's daughter.
After the sailing ceremony, an invitation came from the palace, and all the thirty-six surnames of Kume were invited to the palace for a banquet.
Shang Qing sat on the throne, facing west.
Before he showed favor to the thirty-sixth name of Nakumi at the dinner and inquired about their position, he was still discussing possible developments and countermeasures with the ministers.
Until dusk, the setting sun shone into the hall, and Shang Qing was in a trance for a while.
Too passive and clueless.
The future of Ryukyu was extremely uncertain. He looked at the palace that was dyed orange by the sunset, not knowing where to go.
A few days later, when Shang Yuan and Mao Longyin watched in amazement as the Ming escort warships wiped out several small boats escaping eastward from the island of Taiwan, the retainers sent by Shimazu Takahisa had just arrived in Ryukyu.
When we get closer to Taiwan Island, many of the news are not difficult to verify.
As the country with the closest ties to Ryukyu among the Japanese countries, Satsuma's status as guardian retainer is also very useful here.
This time, he stayed in Ryukyu for nearly ten days, and then set off back to Satsuma.
By the time I returned to Shimazu Takahisa, it was already early August.
More information was gathered to Shimazu Takahisa, and he and his retainers looked grim again.
"Zong Qingkang has indeed become the dog of the Ming Dynasty! He sent his son to ask for an audience with the emperor and generals, and conveyed the cross-examination of the Ming Emperor. The reason for his choice was that the envoys of the Ouchi clan and the Hosokawa clan fought in the Ming Dynasty more than ten years ago.
, the matter of killing Akito!”
"Lord Takajiu, it seems that the Ming Dynasty is really going to attack our Japanese countries! That Ryukyu Shang Qing has been scared out of his wits. He is neither willing to help our ship resupply in Ryukyu, nor is he willing to help Taiwan Yuan with us.
people!"
Shimazu Takahisa nodded: "In the more than a month since you went to Ryukyu, the news has spread. General Ashikaga Yoshiharu just lost the war with the leader of Hosokawa Harumoto and fled to the Omi Sakamoto area.
After learning about the Ming Emperor's questioning, he instead made a big announcement, saying that he would welcome the Ming Emperor to capture the Hosokawa family and the Ouchi family, who were in trouble. This attitude has caused various countries to move. Now, the Hosokawa family
He accused the shogunate of being traitorous and is planning an siege of the shogunate! And the shogunate is appointing officials on a large scale..."
"...There have been so many changes in just over a month! Lord Takahisa, what about our Satsuma?"
Shimazu Takahisa gritted his teeth: "Everyone knows that if the Ming Dynasty comes, it will definitely not just bring back the so-called guilty chiefs! Ashikaga Yoshiharu is bewitched by his retainers, and I am afraid that he has secretly discussed it with Mune Harukansu! Kyushu and the four countries are all
He can give up the place. But the Ouchi clan and the Hosokawa clan have always been at odds, and they are afraid that they will set up their own banners and be unable to join forces. Only by weakening the heroes first can he have a chance to restore the prestige of the shogunate! Even greater chaos is coming.
Got it!"
Powerful foreign enemies are watching, and ambitious heroes are preparing to take advantage of this drastic change. Some people are willing to cooperate with foreign enemies, while others want to gain greater reputation and strength in the process of resisting foreign enemies.
"Then what should we do?"
Facing the worried retainers, Shimazu Takahisa's eyes flashed coldly: "If the Ming Dynasty wants to attack, it will only come from Tsushima Island or Ryukyu! Now the Hosokawa clan is wooing me, and the shogunate has also sent people over. But in
In the eyes of the shogunate, I am afraid that Soharuyasu is much more important than our Satsuma family. He mainly wants to attack Hosokawa, so how can he not go through Kyushu and encircle him on several sides? On the contrary, the Hosokawa clan has always been at odds with the Ouchi clan."
"My lord, what you mean is..."
"What the Taiwanese guy said is at least a little bit right! If the Ming army comes, Satsuma will be at the forefront. Whether it's for the imminent danger or for the future, Satsuma cannot avoid it! But first, we
We must buy time for ourselves and not be the first target of attack by the Ming army!"
"Please give me your orders, sir!"
Shimazu Takahisa's eyes became firm: "Since you said Ryukyu is so weak now, then... destroy Ryukyu first! No matter what, we cannot let the Ming army easily reach Kyushu without any worries! Just come from Tsushima Island, and on the way
The Nizi clan and the Ouchi clan will not sit idly by! Let them take the lead! Now that the Ming Dynasty has the intention to attack Japan, many people are no longer afraid of provoking the Ming Dynasty. I heard that there are already rogues who have gone to sea, hoping to prevent the Ming Dynasty from attacking Japan.
Tranquility, it’s difficult to care about the beginning and the end!”
The Satsuma warriors, who had just largely suppressed the civil strife, began to prepare for a sneak attack on Ryukyu.
In the current big storm, some people who are accustomed to hoarding wealth from pirates are also preparing to do things more openly.
If something big happens, he will still be known as a hero among the heroes, and perhaps he will emerge in troubled times?
Ryukyu, which has average agriculture and fisheries, has actually accumulated a lot of wealth relying on entrepot trade over the years.
Although its status has declined with the Ming Dynasty's expansion of maritime trade, and historically it has truly fallen into decline after the Longqing Switch and its finances are unsustainable, Ryukyu is now beginning to face a crisis in advance and is invaded by Satsuma in advance.
This time it was for other reasons.
After this time, Ryukyu will not become the Okinawa of Japan in the future.
Shang Yuan and Mao Longyin, who had already arrived in Ningbo, didn't know all this.
They are lamenting the prosperity of Ningbo Shuangyu Port.
On the island of Shuangyu Port, three young people have just arrived.
Seeing Feng Zhou entering the harbor, Zhu Zaiyi asked in surprise: "Is that the envoy from Ryukyu?"
Zhang Juzheng looked at the clothes of those people and nodded: "At the Wanshou Ceremony last year, the Ryukyu envoys dressed exactly like that."
Qi Jiguang reminded: "Big brother and second brother, I heard that Shuangyu Island is full of fish and dragons, so it's better to be careful. The three of us have been targeted four times along the way!"
Zhang Juzheng smiled: "Yuan Jing's martial arts are so strong, isn't there a near miss?"
Qi Jiguang was helpless: "These twin islands are no better than those on the mainland. I heard that there are criminals here who bought fire guns from Nanyang and hid them privately!"
"... That's right. The three of us look young and have our own magnanimity. We really look like ignorant and ignorant rich kids who are traveling abroad. Let's find a hotel to settle down first and see how prosperous maritime trade is now starting from mainland Fujian.
Let's go to Guangdong. If it weren't for the naval division that is suppressing bandits in Taiyuan and many bandits are scurrying nearby, it would be best to go to Guangdong by sea."
Qi Jiguang was convinced: "We shouldn't come to these twin islands! No matter how skilled I am, what can I do if the ship encounters a storm?"
Zhang Juzheng disagreed: "My mentor, he must be hoping that Brother Ming will have some courage. Besides, I was originally planning to take the big ship of the Maritime Transport Bureau, and I asked Brother Yuan Jing to make arrangements in advance. How can there be any big problem?"
Zhu Zaiyi nodded: "No problem, Zhang Feng is right, how can I not see the sea frontier? You know, my father often mentioned the importance of sea defense and sea trade!"
They began to "experience" the Ming Dynasty maritime trade on Shuangyu Island. In the southeast of the ocean, there were merchant ships heading to the Ryukyu trade, as well as the escort ships of the Maritime Great Wall Company they hired.
On the vast sea, there are also pirates sent by the Hosokawa clan, the Ouchi clan and some other thoughtful people who have been named as the "criminal chiefs". They want to make sneak attacks on North Korea, Tsushima, Ryukyu and even the Ming Dynasty, and plunder on the sea.
wealth.
In the current war, more wealth means more strength and more reputation.
North Korea has also sent ministers with sufficiently high qualifications: In the dispute between Xiao Yin and Xiao Yin, Elder Yin is currently in a relatively weak position even between the two brothers.
Brother Xiao Yin had originally advocated sending the Crown Prince, but due to Yin Ren's full opposition, they were unable to facilitate this matter.
If something goes wrong with the Crown Prince on the way, the North Korean Crown Prince won't have to fight.
In the end, Haian Junli was sent out.
As soon as the two arrived at Jiulian City, news came from behind them: Japanese chaos reappeared in Nipu Port, and Yin Yuanheng asked to send troops to quell the chaos.
Elder Yin not only hoped that his younger brother could take the opportunity to win over some generals, but also worried that his younger brother would become stronger.
During this trip to the country, I have been away from North Korea for several months. I wonder if the situation will be more passive after returning.
He looked at Li Li, who had nothing to do with the throne and had only assisted in managing the royal affairs bureau set up by Li Yi in these years, with a smile on his face: "The emperor of the Shang Kingdom has admired His Highness a lot in the early years. This time he came to the capital of the Shang Kingdom.
, I also ask for your kind words, your highness. Previously, the king was deceived by treacherous ministers, and he actually made an impolite move to ask for troops to clear the king's side. Now I personally serve as the envoy. While I am defending myself, if your highness's kind words can prove it, I will wait for you to return to the country.
, Your Highness will naturally be as stable as Mount Tai in the Wangye Bureau."
Li was actually deeply touched.
My father was forced to ask Ming Dynasty for help, which shows how dangerous the situation is.
Although he is in the Wangye Bureau, the border trade with the Ming Dynasty was first controlled by Jin An. After the death of Jin An and his family, he is now controlled by Xiao Yin brothers.
Li was nominally supervising the Wangye Bureau, but in reality he was not just a hands-off treasurer. He just signed and sealed the accounts submitted every year, so how could he really be in charge?
Is Mr. Yin currently promising him benefits after returning?
In fact, he has no effect at all...
As for speaking kindly of Brother Yin's "loyalty" in front of the Emperor of Ming Dynasty... Li remembered the Emperor of Ming Dynasty whom he had not seen for a long time, and just nodded to Elder Yin first.
The last Jin Qi who accompanied him as an envoy to the Ming Dynasty has probably been reincarnated now.
There will be no Longevity Ceremony in Beijing this year. The envoys from various countries will be summoned to sign a convention in October.
Now, the final plan for the deployment of generals has been discussed at the military affairs meeting.
Outside Ryukyu Naha Port, many small boats were approaching in the night, and the boats were full of people holding samurai swords and looking greedy.
To the east of Shuangyu Port, there are also Japanese pirates taking advantage of the gaps in the night patrol by the Ming Dynasty coastal defense warships, waiting for a good opportunity.
In the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Houcong couldn't help but smile when he saw the report sent back by Yan Shifan: "General who respects the emperor and repels barbarians? General who guards the country?"
"Your Majesty, Marquis Yangwu is here to plead guilty again. He failed to encircle Taiwan, which caused the remaining bandits to flee and leaked the news. This matter..."
Zhu Houcong looked at Lu Bing: "He asked for forgiveness and you still want to ask? Did he ask you to intercede?"
Lu Bing was a little embarrassed.
"It's not that you don't know. I don't care and I won't punish you. You'll do what's best for you." Zhu Houxuan looked at Yan Shifan's report again and said, "Taiwan Island is very big after all, and there are only marines on it. To suppress bandits and train troops, should we really send warships to blockade Baixun Island? It’s normal to leak some people. It’s just that he is greedy for success and rushes forward. The generals under his command should learn a lesson this time.”
After reading it, Zhu Houcong put down the secret memorial.
"My army hasn't gone yet, but some people in Japan have already begun to take advantage of me. Ashikaga Yoshiharu wants to take advantage of me, and Ouchi Yoshitaka and Hosokawa Harumoto also want to take advantage of me. Now it's good, there are new changes in Japan, and the three A great general?"
Zhu Houcong expressed his interesting feelings about the changes he had brought to Japan.
In Japan, can the title shogun be used casually? It is exclusive to the shogunate.
Now...
Zhu Houcong became happy: "It seems that Japan has found a way to die."