Cai Chang knelt down respectfully and said: "Caomin Cai Chang pays homage to the emperor. Caomin is from Ryukyu."
"Well. Pingshen. Li Aiqing, Cai Chang. Sit down and talk. Lu Aiqing, you sit down too."
"Yes. Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting me a seat."
"Cai Chang. You are a Han Chinese living on the Ryukyu Islands."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Cao Min's grandfather is from Penglai. Because he was dissatisfied with the rule of the Jin people, he led more than 200 members of the Cai family to go to sea as pirates. Later, they were expelled from Penglai waters by the Jin Navy. After many twists and turns, my grandfather and father came to Ryukyu. The island and settled down on the island. For fifty years, my grandfather and father led our people to carve out a world on the island and became one of the five major forces on the island. It was also the only Han Chinese force on Ryukyu Island. My grandfather has passed away now. .My father is old. Cao Min is currently the head of the Cai family on the island. Although Cao Min's generation are all native Ryukyus, we always remember the lessons of our ancestors. We are Han Chinese in the Song Dynasty. We are descendants of Yanhuang with black hair and yellow skin. .”
"What a descendant of Yan and Huang. Mr. Cai Chang, you said it very well. Although you are far away from home and homeland, the hometown complex in your heart is always the same. No matter where you go, you are all members of my Chinese clan. Today I will substitute tea for wine. As a descendant of Yan and Huang, I would like to propose a toast to you."
Cai Chang was moved and said: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your gift."
"Mr. Cai, he must have suffered a lot after working hard in a foreign land for many years."
"Your Majesty, the common people, the common people..." At this point, Cai Chang couldn't help but shed a line of tears and suddenly became choked with sobs.
I fully understand the feelings of people like Cai Chang who have left their hometowns. Compared with people of later generations, the ancients paid more attention to local emotions. They stayed away from home and worked hard in a foreign land for fifty years. The bitterness in this is countless. Cai Chang The family's ability to establish a foothold in Ryukyu is naturally the result of countless efforts. If placed in future generations, it would be another epic TV masterpiece.
"Cai Chang. I said after I ascended the throne that those who offend our Song Dynasty will be punished no matter how far away they are. Whether they are Song people in our country or far away from home, they are all my people. Of course, I have the responsibility to protect them. I know that it has been difficult for you in the past fifty years. However, everything will be fine in the future. The Ryukyu Islands have been designated as the first overseas province of our country. You Cai If you are willing to return to the mainland to live, I welcome you. If you are willing to stay in Ryukyu, I also support it. After all, Ryukyu will be my territory in the Song Dynasty in the future."
I took a sip of tea and continued: "Cai Chang, since Li Beiyang recommended you to be the first envoy of Ryukyu Province, I certainly hope you can take this responsibility. If you can make all the islands in the Ryukyu Islands within a certain period of time, The people wear Chinese clothes and speak Chinese. This is undoubtedly the achievement of opening up the territory. It will definitely leave an important mark in the history of China. Are you willing?"
"Your Majesty, the common people are willing."
For any ancient person, it is a lifelong wish to be able to expand the territory of the country and leave a name in history, regardless of literary and military skills. As an overseas Chinese living overseas, Cai Chang is certainly no exception.
According to my original plan, Li Beiyang was to support a local force in Ryukyu as the administrator of Ryukyu. I didn't expect that there were Han forces on the island, which naturally made me feel more at ease.
"Okay, Cai Chang. You have come to Lin'an all the way. You are tired from the journey. Go down and have a rest. Tomorrow Li Beiyang will take you to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for assessment. If you pass, you will stay in Lin'an to receive training from various departments. Take a look at me by the way. The scenery of the Song Dynasty. In about half a month, he will be able to return to Ryukyu and serve as the first envoy of Ryukyu Province."
"Yes, Your Majesty. The common people are resigning."
After Cai Chang left, I asked: "Li Aiqing, I'm going to send out a large army to conquer the pirate Zhang Xuan. It's no big deal."
"Back to Your Majesty. Our navy is fully prepared. We have a great advantage in terms of numbers and equipment. All the soldiers are bound to win. Their morale is high. Naturally, they defeated Zhang Xuan and his group easily."
"Well, regarding your pursuit of Zhang Xuan at sea, I will just take a look at your battle report when I arrive. Please tell me first what happened after you landed on Ryukyu Island."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Li Beiyang said. "On that day, I led the navy from Kume Island to launch an attack on the main island of the Ryukyu Islands. The navy in Ryukyu waters was vulnerable. Even Zhang Xuan's pirates were not as good as ours. Under the impact, they defeated it. After landing, I found that the island was sparsely populated and very backward. After asking several locals who knew the language of the Song Dynasty, I got a rough idea of the situation on the entire Ryukyu Island. Your Majesty, Ryukyu Island It is divided into three small countries. From north to south, they are Shanbei, Zhongshan and Shannan. These three small countries, plus the independent Cai family and the Shuntian family of Ryukyu Island, are the five major forces of Ryukyu Island. Among these five forces. The Zhongshan Kingdom is the strongest, far more powerful than the other four countries. It is followed by Shannan, and then Shanbei. It is the Shannan Kingdom that took in the pirate Zhang Xuan. The Cai family's sphere of influence is roughly between Shannan and Zhongshan, and ranks fourth in terms of strength. And they have close relations with both places. The Shuntian family is located in the Urasoe area of Zhongshan. This family was the most powerful family on the Ryukyu Island in the past. It was only in recent years that it gradually declined with the rise of Zhongshan. Currently ranked at the bottom of the five major forces."
I interrupted: "It's surprising that so many forces have come out of such a small place. Ryukyu is a piece of loose sand."
"Yes. Your Majesty."
"Li Aiqing, continue."
"I and others landed from the Shannan Kingdom in the south of Ryukyu. Although this Shannan Kingdom has nearly 2,000 soldiers, their equipment is poor and they have no combat power. Even if Zhang Xuan's more than 1,000 pirates are included, there are only three More than a thousand people and ministers worked together and occupied Dali Ansi, the seat of Shannan Kingdom, within three days. They killed Zhang Xuan in Dali City, who resisted. The Lord of Shannan surrendered. While Dali Ansi was resting, it happened to be Lin'an Military Region. Five thousand soldiers arrived in Dali under the command of General Zhao Bao. So, I and others gathered together and set out for Zhongshan Kingdom. One day later, our army arrived at Zhenbi, the northernmost town of Shannan State. This Zhenbi is also Cai Cai's. The scope of the family's strength. The Cai family saw that we were an army from the Song Dynasty. The head of the Cai family, Cai Chang, took his son Cai Gong to the Chen's military camp to negotiate with the Chen. The Chen and General Zhao Bao talked with Cai Chang and his son. After a full half day, Cai Chang promised to surrender to our court. With Cai Chang's help, I completely understood the entire situation of the Ryukyu Islands. During the conversation, I saw that Cai Chang was a well-educated and knowledgeable man. He was also a Han Chinese. According to His Majesty's decree, I wanted him to serve as the administrator of Ryukyu Province. So when I returned, I took Cai Chang to Lin'an with me."
"Well, with the help of the Cai family, you will have a lot of success."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Then Cai Chang asked Cai Gong to lead a hundred direct disciples of the Cai family as guides. They followed the army northward. With the help of the Cai family, the ministers and others immediately led the army northward. They quickly wiped out the outer garrison of Zhongshan Kingdom."
"Li Aiqing. How many soldiers are there in the Cai family?"
"Your Majesty, the strength of the Cai family is based on the disciples of the Cai family as the core. Plus those who come to rely on them, there are about seven to eight hundred soldiers."
"Really? It's quite a lot."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Li Beiyang continued. "In the entire battle of the Ryukyu Islands, the only fierce battle was the battle to attack Shuri Noji, the seat of Zhongshan Kingdom. Zhongshan Kingdom had about 1,000 soldiers. Four thousand people. Nearly 3,000 people were concentrated in Shuri. Although our army had the numerical advantage, the soldiers of Zhongshan Kingdom, led by their lord Yeongjo, put up a tenacious resistance. During the siege, our army The casualties of the soldiers reached as many as 500. Fortunately, with the timely treatment of the military doctors accompanying the army, the number of casualties was reduced to less than 100. In order to avoid unnecessary casualties, I decided to adopt this method after discussing with General Zhao Bao, Cai Gong and others. Cai Gong's proposal: Feint to attack the south gate. The main force will detour to the east gate. Your Majesty, the east gate of Shuri is adjacent to Urasoe of the Shuntian clan. The young master of the Shuntian clan, Shuntian Qingwu, happens to be Cai Gong's friend. Caigong used the conflict between the Sunten clan and the Zhongshan Kingdom to convince the Sunten clan. Therefore, our army was able to use the Urasoe route to reach the east gate of Shuri."
"Li Aiqing, are the Shuntian clan also willing to submit to our dynasty?"
"Your Majesty, this point has been settled. I agree to allow the Shuntian clan to let its head serve as the deputy envoy of Ryukyu Province. The young masters of the Shuntian clan, Shuntian Qingwu and Cai Gong, have both been to our court. Both of them have been to our court. They all admire our Song Dynasty culture and are willing to submit to our dynasty."
I praised: "Yeah, well done."
Li Beiyang said: "With the help of the Cai family and the Shuntian clan, I and General Zhao Bao selected 300 elite soldiers and disguised themselves as Shuntian soldiers. Shuntian Wuqing personally led the team and deceived Shuri, the weakest defense. The east gate of the city. Then, the army ambushing outside the city gate successfully entered Shuri. In the face of the absolute power, the soldiers of the Zhongshan Kingdom who had lost the city to rely on surrendered one after another. Seeing that the situation was over, the leader Yingzu surrendered without mercy. Under Cai Changhe Under Shuntian's ruthless persuasion, Yingzu agreed to surrender to our court. After that, our army marched northward without any obstacles. Shanbei Kingdom surrendered after a brief resistance. At this point, the entire Ryukyu Island has been occupied by our army."
Lu Xiufu smiled and said: "General Li won the first battle. Congratulations."
Li Beiyang said modestly: "Master Lu, Ryukyu is just a small place. In addition, all the forces on the island are fighting with each other. This allows the general to win easily. It is not a great achievement."
"What happened later."
"Your Majesty, after purging all the forces on Ryukyu Island, I asked Cai Gong and Shuntian to ruthlessly reorganize the army on the original Ryukyu Island. They selected 2,500 people from them and mixed them with our army to form a large army. Song Dynasty Ryukyu Independent Military Region. After discussing with General Zhao Bao, Chen and Cai Chang set off to return. General Zhao Bao guarded Shuri and was responsible for the defense of the Ryukyu Island. General Zhao's general Gao Fei led 2,000 land troops and 2,000 naval divisions. and a thousand Ryukyu troops continue to move north to attack other islands."
"Li Aiqing, you won the first battle and demonstrated the majesty of our Song Dynasty army. I will record your achievements for you. After the Ryukyu Islands are all occupied, we will discuss the garrison personnel left on the islands. Junshi, bring the sea area map. .”