Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

In the East China Sea in May, gusts of sea breeze are blowing from east to west, and the sound of seagulls can always be heard offshore.

Shenzhi Island, Daming City.

In the early morning, a fleet of ships sailed from the east and slowly moored at the pier.

Since the Ming Dynasty built a city and opened a market here, this dock has become more and more lively, with more and more merchant ships coming and going. It has become the commercial center of the Ming Dynasty, North Korea and Japan.

kill! kill! kill!

The three thousand garrison troops are well aware of their sacred mission and take turns to conduct drills at the main campus in the city every day, demonstrating a surging vitality.

A middle-aged man in warrior attire walked into Daming City with wooden clogs. Although it was not his first time here, he still couldn't help but marvel at the miraculous craftsmanship of China when he saw the street leading directly to the Governor's Palace in front of him.

The Ouchi clan was different from other daimyo in that he had set his sights on the sea very early. At first, he was mainly a collaborator of the Ming Dynasty maritime merchants. But in recent years, his mind has become active, and he has also set sail to come to the Ming Dynasty.

Ouchi Cixiong is the younger brother of the head of the family, Ouchi Masahiro. This time he came on behalf of the Ouchi clan and followed a Ming Dynasty soldier to the Governor's Palace of the Ming Dynasty.

When the guards of the East China Sea Governor's Mansion saw Ouchi Jiro and his entourage trying to enter directly, they immediately stopped them and said, "Wait a minute!"

"What's the matter?" Ouchi Cixiong frowned slightly and immediately looked at the sturdy Ming soldier in front of him.

The last time Huo Hai asked a woman to give him money, he was not held accountable by Xu Shiying. He even took out the gold to completely settle the dispute for himself, so he found a strong sense of belonging here, and he was promoted for his military merits.

Now he is responsible for the security of the East China Sea Governor's Mansion, and he immediately fulfilled his duty and said: "Since you are going to see the Governor, please give us the samurai swords you are carrying for safekeeping!"

"You dare!" A black-bearded warrior behind Ouchi Jixiong immediately drew his sword and said as if he was ready to take action.

Huo Hai seemed to be used to this kind of reaction. Facing the sword he showed, he said calmly: "The Governor has also explained that this is not a mandatory requirement of the East China Sea Governor's Mansion. You can also insist on bringing a sword into the palace!"

"Our samurai swords never leave our bodies, lead the way!" Ouchi Cixiong naturally chose to bring the sword into the house and said calmly.

When Xu Shiying, the governor of the East China Sea, learned that the Japanese Ouchi clan was coming, he personally came out to entertain him and said: "Ouchi Jiexiong, long time no see, please take a seat!"

After this period of experience, Xu Shiying's eyes were bright and clear, and she became more and more ancestral. After decades of inaction, he finally discovered the value of his life here.

Although his current situation is far more dangerous than in the capital, he likes his current life very much and has a greater sense of accomplishment.

Nowadays, maritime trade, mainly cotton, not only stimulates the domestic textile industry, but also allows a large amount of overseas goods to continue to flow into the Ming Dynasty.

As long as we persist in this way, not only will the Ming Dynasty become more prosperous and powerful, but the lives of the people will become better and better. This is the most correct path for China's revitalization.

It is worth mentioning that it is said that guarding city borders is the hardest job, but this is not the case here at all.

These three thousand soldiers were poor military families that everyone despised at home, but now they have become the husbands that everyone in North Korea hates to marry, making this army unprecedentedly united.

It's just that many soldiers have fallen into bad habits. Once the pay day comes, the Jiangnan-style houses not far from here will definitely be full of fish and dragons dancing all night.

"Thank you, Governor!" Ouchi Cixiong knew that Xu Shiying's identity was extraordinary, so he responded very politely.

Xu Shiying was in charge of the military and diplomacy in the East China Sea, and the Ouchi family was one of the important steps for the Ming Dynasty to intervene in Japan. He went straight to the point: "Ouchi Jixiong, how many pieces of cotton do you want when you come here this time?"

"Mr. Governor, your Ming Dynasty's cotton is really good, so we want a thousand more than last time! In addition, our family master hopes to purchase more bows, so we ask for your tolerance. !" Ouchi Cixiong praised the Ming Dynasty cotton cloth that brought him profits, and then pleaded in a different direction.

Huh?

Qianhu Chenshan next to him couldn't help but frown slightly when he heard this request.

Japan is similar to Korea. Although they know how to make their own crossbows, the quality is completely different from the compound bows produced by the Wang Gong Factory of the Ministry of War, so the Ouchi family also hopes to buy bows from the Ming Dynasty.

Xu Shiying was not surprised by this request, but she shook her head gently: "Didn't we agree earlier that your Ouchi clan can only trade twenty pieces at a time, and it is limited to one hundred pieces a year!"

"We have more and more members now, but the loss of good bows is getting bigger and bigger, so please forgive me, we will definitely be richly rewarded!" Ouchi Cixiong knew that things could not be so easy, and seemed very hinted sincerely.

Chen Shan knew that the emperor's single quota for the East China Sea Governor's Mansion was not twenty, but a full fifty. Now seeing Ouchi Jiro's nervous expression, he couldn't help but silently turned his head to look at Xu Shiying.

After this period of contact, he knew that although the prince in front of him was not a strong general, he was probably also rare in the entire Ming Dynasty in terms of resourcefulness.

Xu Shiying saw that the other party was planning to give her a gift, but realized that the other party was very urgent, so she picked up the tea cup that had just been delivered and said: "Of course, I want to try my best to help, but the amount you want is getting bigger and bigger, and it is very important to us. There will be a certain threat from the Ming Dynasty. Even if the governor is willing to help you ask the emperor for instructions, you still need to show your friendship. Are you an enemy or a friend to our Ming Dynasty? "

"It's a friend, no, the Ming Dynasty is our Ouchi clan's eternal... eternal suzerainty, I can swear it now!" Ouchi Jixiong felt anxious and immediately expressed his position.

Xu Shiying took a sip of tea, but glanced at the katana on Jiro Ouchi's body: "There is no need for the oath! But judging from your current actions, the governor cannot see your friendship, so you should stay here first Stay here, I will have to think about it for two days!"

"Okay!" Ouchi Cixiong noticed Xu Shiying's eyes falling on the katana he was carrying. He immediately realized that he had done something wrong and reluctantly agreed.

Chen Shan watched the people of the Ouchi clan leave and asked curiously: "Mr. Governor, do you want to give the Ouchi clan an increase of fifty bows in one transaction?"

"With such a huge profit, we naturally have to give it to them, but we have to see if they can become docile first!" Xu Shiying said with the corners of his mouth slightly raised, completely opposite to his previous attitude.

Chen Shan was immediately shocked and reminded seriously: "I heard that after the Ouchi clan obtained our Ming Dynasty Bow, their territory is now getting bigger and bigger, and they already have an army of 10,000 people!"

this……

Qianhu Huo Guangming, who was standing on the right, turned to look at Xu Shiying worriedly when he heard that the Ouchi family was so powerful.

"This is better, then we must continue to support the Dafeng family to continue to grow!" Xu Shiying gently put down the tea cup, seeming to have the pearls of wisdom in hand.

Chen Shan and Huo Guangming looked at each other and looked at Xu Shiying in confusion: "Why is this?"

"Haven't we already analyzed it? The Ouchi clan cannot become the master of Honshu Island! Now if we let the Ouchi clan continue to grow, it will not only intensify the division within Japan, but also make the Ouchi clan the target of public criticism!" Xu Shiying looked up and looked up Looking towards the courtyard outside, a hint of evil flashed through his eyes.

Chen Shan's eyes brightened, and he immediately said optimistically: "In this way, the Ouchi clan will be even more inseparable from the weapon support of our Ming Dynasty. As long as the time is right, we will be able to garrison the troops logically and complete the mission entrusted to us by His Majesty!"

"That's right, so let's let it dry first, weaken the spirit of this Ouchi sub-hero, and make him and the entire Ouchi clan more docile, and then we agree to increase the supply of bows to the Ouchi clan!" Xu Shiying nodded gently and expressed what he was thinking.

Although his main task is to open Japan's cotton market, he needs to adapt to Japan's special political environment and can even become a weapons supplier for various Japanese big names, thereby making money through weapons.

Compared to cotton, bows are actually more profitable. Although a good bow costs 1 tael of silver, if it is sold to the Japanese for 20 taels, the Japanese must be grateful.

The Chinese were the first nation to make and use bows and arrows. Since the Han Dynasty, they have evolved from single bows to recurve bows, and now they can even make compound bows with long bow tips using the lever principle.

Because it is easy to pull apart and can weigh more than 100 pounds, it has become a powerful weapon on the battlefield. It is invincible on the Japanese battlefield where there is little armor.

Chen Shan knew that the Ouchi family was already in the bag, but he sighed: "It's a pity that Ouchi Masahiro's only son is mentally retarded. I heard that Ouchi Masahiro has a daughter who is said to be extremely intelligent and the most beautiful woman in Japan." My daughter, everyone said it’s a pity she’s not a man!”

"Is this true?" Xu Shiying's heart moved slightly and she immediately asked seriously.

Chen Shan couldn't help but was stunned, but hurriedly explained: "I haven't seen it in my humble position, but Zhao Fuqianhu, who went to Japan this time, saw Miss Ouchi playing the piano and said that he had never seen such a beautiful Japanese woman. !”

At this moment, a soldier hurried in with a special sandalwood box in his hand.

When Chen Shan and Huo Guangming saw the sandalwood box, they immediately followed Xu Shiying to greet it, because the only one who could deliver the locked sandalwood box was the one from the Forbidden City.

After Xu Shiying kowtowed, he took out the key he carried with him. As the key was inserted, the leaf lock opened immediately.

Chen Shan saw a letter lying quietly inside, and couldn't help but curiously asked: "I wonder what your Majesty's orders are?"

Xu Shiying took out the secret letter, but after reading the content, he calmly said: "Call the entire army!"

The capital of North Korea, Seoul.

After Li Chenggui established the Joseon Kingdom, he felt that the royal power of Goryeo's capital was already very weak, so he built a new royal capital in Hanyangying, north of the Han River.

Just two years later, in the 27th year of Hongwu, Li Chenggui moved the capital from Kaijing to Hanyang and officially named it Seoul, also known as "Capital" and "Beijing".

If there is a royal capital, there will naturally be a palace. The new palace is named after the saying in the Book of Songs that "a gentleman will live forever, and you will be blessed". It was built according to the system of royal palaces in the Ming Dynasty, and the color scheme is mainly painted.

The main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace was making a lot of noise at the moment, and it looked like a civil servant of the Ming Dynasty.

"If you want to conquer the deer because of insufficient tendons, it is not the behavior of a virtuous master!"

"I heard that Emperor Ming was a tyrant. We can't afford to offend him, but we can afford to hide!"

"Don't forget, the Jurchens have repeatedly harassed us, and we have to think about the people in the border areas!"

"If we are thinking about the people, now is the time for the country to recuperate, and we should not raise troops!"

…

Sitting on top was the silent King Li Ju of North Korea. The courtiers below were already quarreling like a pot of porridge, but there was a contending faction headed by Yin Bishang, the leading councilor, and a peace faction headed by Li Kepei, the left councilor.

The official positions in the Joseon Dynasty were divided into nine ranks according to the official system of the Ming Dynasty, from the first rank to the ninth rank, a total of eighteen levels.

Under the king, there is an auxiliary agency - the government, whose leader is called "Ling Yizheng". Under the leader are the left and right councils, but the three positions are the same as the first rank, and below that are the left and right approval from the first rank. , the second rank left and right counselors, equivalent to the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty.

Under the government, there are six officials, households, rites, soldiers, workers, and punishments. The chief of the six officials is called the judge, and his rank is the second rank. The deputy is called the counselor, and his rank is the second rank. Therefore, the six chiefs are equal to Six Parts of the Ming Dynasty.

Now there is a major disagreement over whether to send troops to help the Ming Dynasty conquer the Jianzhou Jurchens. Since the relationship is very important, this time there is endless debate.

"The Jianzhou Jurchens not only often harassed the border residents of Liaodong in the Ming Dynasty, but also did the same to us Korean border residents. Therefore, the extermination of the Jianzhou Jurchens is in the common interest of us and the Ming Dynasty! You must not forget that the Ming Dynasty is the suzerainty. How can we not send troops? Reason?" Bing Cao Li Shi expressed it very seriously.

It was not only the border residents of the Ming Dynasty who were harassed by the Jianzhou Jurchens. Because northern Korea was connected to the Jianzhou Jurchen territory, they were also often plundered by the Jianzhou Jurchens.

Originally, local officials were still responsible for defense, but North Korea implemented a new policy that attributed tax revenue from border areas to the state, and then distributed officials' salaries through the state.

Although this new policy reduced the exploitation of the people by local officials, it also weakened the enthusiasm of the local armed forces to protect the local area. Therefore, hundreds of people died every year at the hands of Jianzhou Jurchens.

Just like this, Bing Cao Li Shi was a persistent militant, hoping to push North Korea to send troops to assist the Ming and Qing Dynasties in suppressing the Jurchens in Jianzhou.

Zuo Yizheng Li Kepei coughed lightly and expressed his opinion: "The attack on the border people and whether to send troops should not be confused! The Jurchens in Jianzhou also made it very clear that this matter was the behavior of some people below. They have already After cleaning up, why are you still obsessed with this matter? Look at the past half month, after the Jianzhou Jurchens cleaned up their houses, have they still invaded the border areas? God has the virtue of good life, and the sage has said: The benevolent person Love people, a wise man loves things, and a brave man loves rituals. It is unethical to conquer deer because of insufficient sinews, so I sincerely ask your Majesty to stop using swords and weapons!"

this……

The officials present looked at each other in confusion. No one was a fool. In the past half month, the Jurchens in Jianzhou had suddenly become peaceful. They were cleaning up their houses.

The Ming Dynasty had already stationed troops in Liaodong. If the Jianzhou Jurchens still dared to continue looting the border areas of Korea, they would have been kicked in the head by a donkey for doing so.

But who would have thought that Li Kepei would brazenly claim that it was the Jianzhou Nuzhen who cleaned up the family, which was really insulting the intelligence of the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.

Li Jue is a thirty-year-old young man with a certain elegance of a scholar. When faced with his teacher's argument, he seems to agree with him sincerely: "Great kindness."

ah?

Bingcao Banshu and other main battle officers were immediately dumbfounded and looked at the king sitting on it in disbelief. Does anyone really believe Li Kepei's lies?