Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

East China Sea, clear sky.

A dhow merchant ship with white sails sailed slowly out from the east of the Korean Peninsula, and then went south along the coastline, rippling on this pristine sea.

There is a special flag hanging on the boat. I wonder if it is a reference to the Japanese family crest. The pattern is in the shape of a fish, but on the side of the fish-shaped pattern is a door.

Anyone skilled in maritime trade already knows that this is the flag of the most active Jiangnan merchant house in the East China Sea, and they have become the real overlord of the East China Sea.

Since the East China Sea Governor's Office prevented Ming merchants from pretending to go to Korea and headed to Japan, they stepped up patrols on the western coastline of the Korean Peninsula, so they quickly adjusted a completely new route.

Although they changed to the east of the Korean Peninsula to sail to the sea, which would greatly increase their transportation costs, it was actually nothing compared to the benefits they gained.

With the dual support of the technology and personnel of their Jiangnan company, the Ouchi family has started mining operations on Kyushu Island, and the Ouchi family's Iwami silver mine has also begun to produce silver.

After their more in-depth estimates, the Otomo family's silver mine contained approximately 30 million taels, while the Ouchi family's Iwami silver mine contained as much as 200 million taels.

Such a huge amount of silver is like a dream.

Not to mention the imperial court that was overjoyed to collect a million taels of silver salt tax, even the combined wealth of all people in China was not as good as the silver mines of the Dayou family and the Ouchi family.

It was precisely because they realized that the Dayou family and the Ouchi family had wealth that surpassed that of China that they decided to cling firmly to the thick thighs of the Dayou family and the Ouchi family regardless of the cost.

As for the court controlled by the tyrant, one day he will be made to pay for his hostility, and sooner or later the tyrant will die quietly.

Since I have sailed countless times, I know exactly where the reefs are, so I don’t need to worry too much about the safety of the voyage.

"You all be careful at night. This time we not only have the best flour, but also the best lamp oil in our country. All personnel are not allowed to open flames!" Hou Jing was in charge of escorting this time, and the crew members under him repeatedly warned him. .

In response to the lighting needs of the Ouchi family, they also purchased a large amount of lamp oil in Jiangnan, and then via North Korea, they prepared to send this batch of lamp oil to the northern part of Kyushu Island.

Nowadays, the Ouchi family is becoming more and more knowledgeable about enjoyment. In the Ming Dynasty, ordinary people are reluctant to use lamp oil. As a result, the wealthy Ouchi family actually wants to build a Changming City.

"Eight! No one is allowed to light any lamps!" The leader, a Japanese samurai, held his sword and shouted threateningly at the surrounding crew members.

The crew members on the ship enjoyed the current high treatment of Jiangnan Company, especially since they knew that Jiangnan Company had tremendous power in Jiangnan, so they naturally nodded their heads.

In fact, they didn't know that they were rebelling against the Ming Dynasty, but they no longer had the Ming Emperor in their hearts. As long as they were given enough money, they could do anything.

It was getting late, the waves on the sea were rough, and the wind and clouds were changing colors.

Merchant ships faced changes in the weather, and it soon became dark, so they were forced to dock in the bay to rest.

In order to allow the Ouchi family to use the best oil lamps from the Ming Dynasty, they did not have an open flame that night, and everyone on the ship stayed quietly in the cabin.

At first light of dawn, the ship sailed out of the bay.

The crew left the Korean Peninsula and headed straight towards Kyushu Island, with smiles of success on their faces.

Suddenly, a rapidly approaching three-masted sailboat appeared on the horizon. The three sails on the mast were fully swollen, so it seemed to be traveling extremely fast.

"What's happening here?"

The crew members on the merchant ship stared alertly at the three-masted sailing ship that suddenly came directly towards them, and at this time, an ominous premonition filled their hearts.

"No, it's really the Ming Army!"

As the three-masted sailboat got closer and closer, they also saw the flag of the Ming Dynasty Navy, and they couldn't help but suddenly panic.

If they were in the Jiangnan area, they didn't need to be afraid at all, but the East China Sea Governor's Mansion was controlled by Xu Shiying, and Xu Shiying was the emperor's most loyal lackey.

Now that the warships under Xu Shiying's command appear, they may be in danger.

"Sure enough, it's Jiangnan Company's bunch of beasts again!"

"There are quite a few Japanese warriors on their ship!"

"We have endured it for so long, it's time to let them know the consequences of rebelling against the Ming Dynasty!"

…

A group of soldiers of the Ming Dynasty stood under the roaring dragon flag. Now they were all equipped with the latest single-hole telescopes, and they started talking about the merchant ships in front of them.

In fact, they already knew that the Jiangnan company went south to Kyushu Island from here.

But for some unknown reason, their governor did not allow them to obstruct it. Instead, he turned a blind eye to Jiangnan Company's continued delivery of supplies to the Ouchi family.

But now things are back on track, the imperial court has sent instructions for action, and their Donghai Governor's Mansion can now show its fangs towards the small Jiangnan business.

Chen Shan is a Shandong man in his thirties, with a burly figure, regular facial features, and thick eyebrows, and he is looking forward with vigour.

He was the captain of this warship and one of the first generals sent to garrison in Daming City. He even came to the East China Sea one step earlier than Xu Shiying.

Chen Shan has experienced the pain of homesickness for so many years, but he has become a proper patriotic general: "Fire and let these traitors go to hell!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Following the order, the eight heavy cannons at the bow of the ship were fired one after another. After the fuses sizzled, lead bullets weighing ten kilograms rose into the air from the muzzles, and then smashed towards the merchant ship in front. .

In the East, which is dominated by cold weapons, heavy artillery is an absolute killer weapon at sea, and it is also the Ming army's reliance on reducing the dimensionality of all maritime forces.

In fact, the merchant ships of Jiangnan Company are also equipped with artillery, but this kind of artillery is okay against ordinary pirates, but it can only be used as a decoration when faced with heavy artillery with a terrifying range.

boom!

boom!

Lead bullets jumped into the air one after another, but fell from the sky one after another.

Some lead bullets landed on the sea and splashed more than ten meters, some hit the deck of a merchant ship and made a big hole, and some lead bullets hit a Japanese samurai and immediately splashed blood.

The crew members on the merchant ships screamed in terror and ran away in all directions, finally realizing the horror of the Ming Navy.

boom!

boom!

boom!

But a new round of shelling followed, and shells continued to hit the merchant ship one after another, making the entire hull tremble violently, and sawdust and debris flying everywhere.

puff!

puff!

Whether they were Japanese warriors or arrogant Jiangnan evil slaves, when they were hit by lead bullets, their bodies felt as if they had been directly exploded, with blood splattering everywhere.

No……

The arrogant Japanese samurai had already drawn his katana, but he saw a cannonball hitting his head, and he showed a horrified expression at the end.

It's just that his body is also made of flesh and blood, and blood and flesh suddenly spattered everywhere again.

"No, it's gone!"

I don't know whether it was caused by the fierce collision of the cannonballs, or someone accidentally ignited the lamp oil stored in the cabin. A huge flame suddenly burst out in the middle of the hull, and a low explosion was also heard during the period.

"stop!"

When Chen Shan saw that the merchant ship was on fire, he immediately called off the bombardment temporarily.

"Please save us!"

"We are Chinese compatriots, how can you ignore death?"

"We can no longer communicate with the Japanese. Please give us a way to survive!"

…

The firelight reflected the faces of Hou Jing and others. Their frightened and desperate expressions were distorted and magnified in the firelight, but they all begged the Ming Navy in panic for help.

Under the influence of the lamp oil, the fire had spread rapidly throughout the cabin, devouring one life after another, and screams continued to be heard from the fire.

"If I had known today, why would I have done it now? It's too late!" Chen Shan saw from a distance that more than a hundred people on the ship were buried in the sea of ​​​​fire, and he looked very indifferent and authentic.

Not to mention that such a huge amount of Daming Lamp Oil cannot be extinguished at all, and he has no reason to save these traitors. What China needs for its rise are patriotic people, not these scum who are willing to be dogs just because Ouchi's family has a silver mine.

The most important thing is that anyone who resists the emperor's decree will die without mercy.

Hou Jing and others' clothes were burned and their skin was scorched, and they struggled and shouted in pain.

The decks were strewn with charred corpses and wreckage, and the air was filled with the stench of burning and the smell of death.

The mast of the merchant ship collapsed in the sea of ​​​​fire, and the bottom of the ship was burned through in the devouring fire. In the end, it could not bear the weight of the hull and slowly sank to the bottom of the sea.

The bodies and wreckage of the crew were floating on the sea. Their deaths were extremely tragic, with fear of death on their faces. Some of them had been burned to black coals.

"Another one is coming!"

Just when Chen Shan was about to evacuate, he saw a ship from a Jiangnan merchant company coming towards him through the single-hole telescope, and a murderous intent flashed through his eyes.

But no matter what kind of cargo this merchant ship carries, another dimensionality reduction attack is about to take place, and their mission this time is to not allow any merchant ship of Jiangnan Company to transport goods from North Korea to the Ouchi family and the Ouchi family.

At the same time, a sailing ship flying the dragon flag came slowly from the west and was heading to the west of Honshu Island, Japan.

Yamaguchi Castle, the Ouchi family residence.

Although Ouchi Yoshihiro is still a minor, he has obviously matured a lot after nearly half a year of experience.

Since he successfully withstood the threat of the Ming Dynasty, he is now leading the Ouchi family in a prosperous manner, so he inevitably has a hint of youthful arrogance in his body.

In the face of the Ming envoy, he only sent his retainers Tao Qiandao and Kurada Masayori to greet him, while he sat in the meeting hall and quietly waited for the Ming envoy to arrive.

Today is another nice day, and the summer sunshine shines on the very simple pier.

Xie Qian, a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy, came here again. He stepped off the sailboat on a strong wooden board. The unicorn uniform on his body looked very luxurious, and his eyes showed determination and confidence.

"Mr. Messenger, we have been at odds for almost half a year, and you, the Ming Dynasty, are nothing more than this!" Kuroda Masayaro said jokingly when he saw Xie Qian coming again.

Xie Qian ignored his retainer Kurada Masaori, with a solemn face and a burning gaze. When he saw that Ouchi Yoshihiro did not come to greet him in person, he strode towards the mountain city.

There were many Japanese warriors gathered in front of the mountain city. They seemed to want to show off their power to the Ming envoy. There was even a thornhead who stood up to block Xie Qian's way.

Xie Qian did not speak, but stared at this unkempt Japanese samurai.

Seeing that they could not scare the Ming envoy, the Japanese samurai retreated in frustration.

Xie Qian came here on his own initiative this time. He knew how strong the backing behind him was, and he was not afraid of life and death, so he walked into the meeting hall of Ouchi's house.

"Why don't you kneel down when you see me?" Ouchi Yoshihiro said preemptively when he saw Xie Qian appearing.

Although Xie Qian has been an official in the Hanlin Academy, he has never been a coward: "If I kneel down, can your family really afford it?"

"It's ridiculous, why can't our Ouchi family afford it?" Kuroda Masarai, who was following behind, snorted coldly, looking very disdainful.

Xie Qian still ignored the fly, but said seriously: "We, the Ming Dynasty, are courteous! The reason why we allowed Jiangnan Company to do some small things before was just to make it easier to remove all cancers. Do you really think that there is nothing we, the Ming Dynasty, can do? A little mouse?"

"Japan is surrounded by the sea on all sides. You can seal off all the way, but you can't seal off the four sides!" Kurada Masayori said confidently, thinking of his geographical advantages.

This is not because he is blindly arrogant, but because he already knows the strength of Jiangnan Company.

It is said that the Ming Dynasty banned the export of ironware. As a result, Jiangnan merchants could have as much as they wanted, and even women could be given away.

As for the Ming Dynasty, which seemed to be very prosperous, as far as he knew, it really wanted to ban the circulation of gold and silver, but in the end, the people below did not pay the bill at all.

Xie Qian smiled slightly, took out an official document from his arms and said: "Master Dauchi, this is the ban just issued by our court. I think you should know it!"

Tao Qiandao glanced at Ouchi Yoshihiro, then stepped forward to take the official document.

"From today on, all merchants who dare to trade with the imperial family will be killed!" Xie Qian said in a sonorous voice when he handed the official document to Tao Qiandao.

In fact, there was a time lag in this official document. The imperial court first sent the official document to various shipping companies, then notified the Donghai Governor's Office, and finally passed it to the Ouchi family.

As long as Ming Dynasty executes it properly, then Ming Dynasty has completed the economic blockade on the Ouchi family.

If the Ouchi family wants to get a grain of rice from the Ming Dynasty through trade in the future, that is also a fool's errand. Even if the Ouchi family owns hundreds of millions of taels of Iwami silver mines, as long as they do not trade, the Ouchi family's silver mines will be no different from scrap iron.

Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty is becoming more and more powerful, but it does not need the copper coins, gold, silver and seafood of the Ouchi family. However, the trade between the Ouchi family and the Ming Dynasty has been too deep.

Thanks to the favor of Jiangnan Company, the Ouchi family has been able to get whatever they want in the past six months.

Even the Xue Feng Dao and Tu Qing Gong, which had been strictly prohibited by the Ming Dynasty, ended up being brought by the Jiangnan people. This made the Ouchi family completely confused.

It's just that they never seemed to consider what would happen to their Ouchi family once they lost Ming's supplies.

However, Ouchi Xingyi seemed to have some support, and said very confidently: "My Ouchi family has a silver mine, and there are also many silver mines in other places. Can you stop it?"

After seeing the power of silver, he believed that as long as the Iwami Silver Mine could continue to be mined, the Ouchi family could get whatever they wanted.

Even the Ming Emperor's crown was actually just a matter of the amount of silver.

Just as he finished speaking, a figure hurried in to report: "Young Master, what's wrong, those miners suddenly rebelled, and all our mine supervisors in Shijian Country were killed!" (End of Chapter)