After the envoys of the Ming Dynasty came back from Ryukyu, they left records saying that in Ryukyu, "men and women work hard, go to the market, weave, collect fuel and carry water, all of which are done by women." This means that women are responsible for social production labor. The main force of the army, they "have no hairpins, no pearls and green jewels", but they can work hard and hard.
Chen Zhongji saw that the construction period of the commercial building project was delayed again and again, and he had no choice but to send the infantry brothers of the fourth regiment, all the commercial building personnel, and merchant sailors to the construction site to participate in the construction together. According to the Ryukyu merchants' handwriting written by Yin Feng, According to the outline of the construction of the store, the entire store is built with stones collected from the Nanshan Mountains of Ryukyu and glutinous rice mixed with egg syrup. The walls are three feet high and one foot thick. There is a wooden corridor about two feet high inside. On the wall opposite to the corridor Gun holes and muzzles were drilled on the wall, and several gun doors and gun holes were pre-drilled on the inner wall at a height of one person. Watchtowers were set up in the middle and four corners of the four sides of the high wall, which were actually used as forts.
In fact, there are many kinds of castles on the Ryukyu Islands. The main island of Ryukyu is the center of the kingdom. Since the Sanshan Separation, successive dynasties have built strong fortresses on strategic locations on the island. Therefore, the main island of Ryukyu has become the focus of the defense of the Ryukyu Army. If the Japanese invade Ryukyu, if It is advancing from north to south, and will land on the main island by then. Nakijin Castle in the north of Yamato will bear the brunt of the enemy's attack. In addition, if the Japanese army divides its forces and marches, they will most likely land in the Naha area south of Zhongshan, and the Japanese in the northern part of the mountain will be attacked. Friendly forces attacked from the north and south and encircled the Shuri Royal Castle. Due to the geographical constraints of Ryukyu, the attack route of the foreign enemy was destined not to be much different from what was expected. This had long been predicted by the previous kings of Ryukyu, and the invasion of foreign enemies from the north and south was inevitable. Impregnable fortresses were built along the main roads, including Yaraza Mori Castle and Mie Castle in Naha Harbor, and Nakijin Castle in the north of the mountain.
Uraza Mori Castle and Mie Castle were built in the 28th year of King Shosei (AD 1554). Uraza Mori Castle is located on the south bank of Naha Port and is equipped with a fort. Mie Castle was built on the north bank of Naha Port and is also equipped with a fort. The cannons, together with Yaraza Mori Castle, are called the North and South Forts, forming a crossfire, facing the Naha sea, and jointly guarding the Naha Port. At that time, most of the Ryukyu guard forces were deployed here, and defense fortifications were built on this front, known as There are 3,000 elite soldiers garrisoned, and Zheng Jiong, the head of the three division officers, is personally in charge.
The Chunghwa Commercial Building in the western district of Naha Port has actually become another fortress guarding the traffic route from Naha to Shuri. Of course, in order not to irritate the Ryukyu King, the gun holes and gun ports on the high wall were not opened, leaving the last inch etc. Waiting for the crisis to open again, although the Chinese company successively shipped 10 cannons, they were quietly transported into the store and could only be stored in the most hidden part of the store's warehouse.
Chen Zhongji once again recruited some Chinese to work in the merchant house through Zheng Jiong's relationship, and finally completed the construction of the new Chinese merchant hall in just four months.
This commercial fortress is basically nondescript. The uneven wall shape makes the local Ryukyu people very curious. However, this multi-faceted prismatic fortress was invented to adapt to the advent of the firearms age. Satsuma Domain has powerful iron cannons. In future wars, the Chinese company will rely on this foot-thick stone wall to deal with firearms. Fortunately, the Japanese's artillery skills are very poor, so such a thin wall is enough.
During this period, Chen Zhongji worked up and down among the ruling class of the Ryukyu Kingdom, traveling to the north and south of the Ryukyu Island, making friends with princes, ministers and other aristocratic classes in various places.
Now, Chen Zhongji has gained a reputation among the upper-class people of the Ryukyu Kingdom for being well behaved, warm and courteous, and generous and hospitable.
He traveled to various places in Ryukyu, and did not forget Yin Feng's reminder. He always paid attention to the geographical situation of each place. He had taken city-building classes from old Portuguese and Dutch mercenaries. Through his own observation and research, he discovered that the city, as an important town in Shanbei, was Nakijin Castle can be said to be the leading fortress in the Ryukyus. Nakijin Castle is the garrison of Kitayama Guards. Kitayama Guards was established in the era of the first Sho clan. After the Nakayama Sho clan was defeated, Queen Yamaboku set up an army to guard the place and continued the attack. By the time of the Second Sho Dynasty, this place had been the center of the Yamaboku King. It was built on a 100-meter limestone mountain, facing the sea to the north and facing Kouri Island in the distance. There were cliffs to the east and west, forming a natural moat. Only the south was narrow. The ridge serves as the gate of the city (Chikeizhenmon Gate). The city has a dangerous terrain and is easy to defend but difficult to attack. As early as the end of the period of King Yamaboku, fierce battles took place here. According to legend, Nakayama’s army besieged Nakijin Castle, and King Yamaboku Relying on the strong defense of the city, the Zhongshan Army was unable to attack for a long time and suffered heavy casualties. In the end, they had to bribe the defenders in the city, cooperate internally and externally, and barely captured Nakijin Castle. Nakijin Castle has always been guarded by the palace guards sent by the royal palace in case of unexpected.
This city is currently garrisoned by 500 troops from Beishan Supervisor Shang Keji to prevent Japanese troops from landing here. A total of 3,000 to 4,000 troops from Uraza Mori Castle, Mie Castle, and Nakijin Castle are divided into defenses to defend the Shuri Royal Castle.
In comparison, the defense of Shuri Castle is very lacking. As the political center of the Ryukyu Kingdom and the seat of the royal family, the defensive effect of Shuri Castle is very low. Shuri Castle is built on a narrow highland with an altitude of 130 meters, with east, west, north and south. It is only 270 to 400 meters long, but has only a stone foundation and few high walls. All of a sudden, the tall main buildings in the city - the main hall, the south hall, and the north hall - are exposed (the Satsuma army has iron cannons). Shuri Castle The two gates (Nakayama Gate and Shureimon Gate) on the Ayamon Avenue in the main entrance passage are both undefendable - they are more like archways than gates. The cornerstone of the main hall of Shuri Castle was imported from China. It is built of large bluestone, has gorgeous stone railings, and has a dragon pillar erected in front of the temple. It can be seen that the layout of Shuri Castle does not have the function of city defense at all. However, Shuri Castle has an inner border and an outer border, which can also be used to defend the city. As the residence of King Nakayama, Shuri Imperial Castle's main function was to hold the canonization ceremony, but little consideration was given to its defensive function, so the design was very unreasonable.
The entire Ryukyu Islands are divided into three island groups. The central part is the Okinawa Islands, including the main island of Okinawa, as well as Kume, Kerama, Ihiraya, Izena and other islands. The southern part is the Miyako Islands and the Yaeyama Islands, and the northern part is the Amami Islands, including the Oshima ( Amami Oshima ("Amami" is the transliteration of the god "Amo Miku" in Ryukyu mythology), Kikai, Yoron, Tokuyuki, Okinagabu, five main islands, as well as several small islands, the residents of these islands belong to the same Ryukyu Islands The race, language, religion, and living habits are exactly the same as those of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It has also developed to a social stage where the local leaders are local leaders. The Chinese Company also has some trade relations with the managers of these islands, but it is unable to gain a stronghold on these islands. In fact, From a geographical point of view, these islands have no decisive strategic significance, and the main island of Ryukyu is the most fundamental place.
During the season when the southeasterly wind blew, the Japanese returned to the Satsuma Domain, and three more merchant ships came from the Chinese merchant house. In addition, two merchant ships each came from the coasts of Guangdong and Zhejiang. In the Chinese-inhabited area of Kume, many Chinese merchants came. After arriving in Ryukyu, I also lived there. Now, the Chinese businessmen have another place to live: the new Chinese Business Hall. Although it has not yet been built, the large residential area can already provide services to the Chinese businessmen.
The Ryukyu Kingdom of Zhongshan once took advantage of the Ming Empire's maritime ban and the Chinese merchants could only smuggle out of the sea. It became the largest international entrepot trade center between East Asia and Southeast Asia. For hundreds of years, the Ryukyu merchant fleet carried tribute Chinese goods acquired through trade were distributed as far south as Luzon, Siam, Malacca, Sumatra, Cambodia and Java, and as far north as North Korea and Japan. The bulk of its overseas trade was actually tribute trade with China.
After the Portuguese occupied Macau, they became the largest middlemen for Chinese goods; coupled with the "Opening of the Moon Harbor" and the partial lifting of the maritime ban in the Ming Dynasty, Chinese merchants were able to participate in overseas trade competition; thus, Ryukyu's overseas trade The economy of the Ryukyu Kingdom has plummeted. Today, the Ryukyu Kingdom relies entirely on the merchant ships of the Chinese Company to bring trade. Therefore, Chen Zhongji has become the most popular guest of the Ryukyu royal family. He brought rare Western gifts and Chinese treasures, and also gave the king a chiming bell made in Taiwan. This chiming bell was engraved with the three stars of fortune, wealth and longevity, and could also pop out a Guanyin statue at regular intervals. Although it was a bit nondescript, King Shang Ning liked it very much. .
In November of the thirty-sixth year of Wanli, the north wind had already brought the slightest chill. The leaves on Ryukyu Island were withered and everything was desolate. The Zhonghua Commercial Building received a large number of Chinese merchant ships returning from Japan, most of which belonged to Zhonghua Company. Merchant ships, or merchant ships flying the flag of the China Company, many ship owners, cargo owners, and merchants all knew each other. For several days in a row, all these people were gathering and drinking at the banquet in the Yuanlai Building.
Chen Zhongji was not involved. He, Luo Aquan and another mysterious figure were talking on the east watchtower.
This person was dressed in Chinese-style Confucian clothing, but his face was typical of a Westerner with a high nose and deep eyes.
This man is Andre Pessoa, the commander of the Portuguese Sino-Japanese Trade Fleet. He has just arrived at Ryukyu Island on a Chinese company’s merchant ship. However, he came to Ryukyu in a very embarrassed state and was rescued by the Chinese. After escaping from Japan, the original Sino-Japanese Trade Fleet in Macau has become a fleet jointly owned by the Macau Portuguese and the Chinese Company. Most of the Chinese goods shipped to Japan are provided by the Chinese Company. This year's commander of the Sino-Japanese Trade Fleet is Andre. Pessoa, he fell into a murderous situation in Japan for no reason, and was hunted down by Tokugawa Ieyasu. As a result, other members of the Portuguese fleet abandoned Andre Pessoa mercilessly in order to leave Japan.
This incident is related to Hizen Hinoe daimyo Arima Harunobu. This daimyo and sea merchant sent a merchant ship to spend the winter in Macau Port in early 1608. During this period, there were thirty or forty Japanese sailors on the ship and sailors on another Japanese ship carrying firearms. Wandering in the streets of Macau, the Chinese living in Macau at that time had always regarded the Japanese as sworn enemies because of the various misdeeds of the Japanese pirates. Therefore, they were very angry about this behavior and protested to the Macau city government. The Portuguese officials immediately complained to the Japanese People suggested not to act in such a ostentatious manner, but the Japanese sailors and soldiers, who had always been uneducated, arrogant and rude, ignored them. On January 30, some trivial matters caused commotion again, and then a riot broke out. Andre Pessaud In order to maintain normal order in Macau, Asia mobilized the garrison in Macau, built a barricade outside a building, and suppressed more than 40 Japanese who were causing trouble and disobeying advice on the spot. After hearing about this, the Jesuits in Macau Soldiers rushed to the scene immediately, and after mediation, Pessoa agreed to release the 50 Japanese who surrendered. However, more than 40 Japanese died in the riot. Afterwards, the Japanese signed relevant documents, stating that the Japanese were responsible for the riot. The Portuguese did not bear any responsibility for the incident. The matter finally calmed down.