The Ming Dynasty's Spokesperson

After the capture of the royal capital Seoul, the surrounding areas of Gyeonggi Province naturally followed suit.

For a period of time thereafter, the 15,000 men of the 4th Corps of Lee Seo, who had just entered the Joseon Kingdom and had not made many military achievements, continued to move south from Seoul.

They successively "recovered" Chungcheong Province and Jeolla Province, which were located just south of Gyeonggi Province.

At the same time, the Magui 2nd Corps, which remained on the eastern front, also received news that the Japanese pirate Shimazu Corps in Gangwon Province on the east coast had retreated across the board, and the Magui Corps had moved south to recapture Gangwon Province.

So far, including the three northern provinces that were recaptured last year, the Tianbing has recaptured seven of the eight provinces of the Joseon Kingdom.

And the Japanese pirates, as the Tianshuai judged, had indeed abandoned other places and retreated to Gyeongsang Province. 70,000 to 80,000 Japanese pirates gathered in the southern coast area to hide and defend.

The famous Busan is on the southern coast, which is across the sea from the Japanese Tsushima Island. It was originally the landing point and forward base for the Japanese pirates to invade Korea.

Moreover, the Japanese pirates were stationed on the south coast, and because they were very close to the mainland, the supply of food and grass was very convenient, and there was no need to worry about transporting thousands of miles.

Fighting in a poor place like Korea, where cloth strips were used as currency, even the Japanese pirates had a headache about food and grass. Otherwise, the Japanese pirates in Seoul would not have thought of retreating.

Now the remaining Japanese pirates have abandoned their various routes and quickly retreated to the south coast, and the Tianbing has started to worry about food and grass again, which means that one is growing while the other is declining.

On the one hand, it is nearly a thousand miles from Seoul to the south coast, which means that the logistics line of the Ming Dynasty soldiers will be extended by another thousand miles, and a new supply system will have to be built.

The original system of transporting from Sinuiju and Pyongyang can no longer fully adapt to the new war situation, and more reliance needs to be placed on sea transportation.

Fortunately, before the expedition last year, arrangements were made for this, and two routes were arranged in Tianjin Wei and Shandong Dengzhou, and the search and construction of new sea vessels were organized. This year should be able to play a huge role.

On the other hand, the mainland of Korea really cannot be relied on at all.

Now it is the traditional spring famine period when food is scarce, and it is impossible for Korea to scrape out excess food.

And local military and political organizations such as the Maintenance Association and the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army have to temporarily rely on the Ming Dynasty's military logistics system for blood transfusions.

In other words, the Ming Dynasty not only has to bear the supply of official troops, but also has to take into account a large part of the local financial functions of Korea.

Before the expedition last year, Lin Tianshuai and Korea calculated that they needed 800,000 shi of military food a year, which was by no means a false report.

Even if 100,000 Tianbing were dispatched, they would not consume 800,000 shi a year, at most 300,000 shi.

The vast majority of the remaining expenses are actually transportation costs and expenses for maintaining local stability.

As more and more areas are recovered, Lin Tianshuai, who had just been relieved for two or three months, began to worry about food again.

In the reports sent from various places now, the most involved content is food.

The accounts during financial tensions really cannot be calculated in detail, and the more you calculate, the more irritable you become.

Everywhere people were asking for food. At this moment, Lin Tianshuai felt that he was not like a commander of a large army, but rather like a local official in the future who had a bunch of bankrupt enterprises in his jurisdiction.

Once again, he experienced the feeling of Zhuge Wuhou's Northern Expedition. No wonder the biggest problem during Zhuge Wuhou's six expeditions to Qishan was actually to get food.

If it weren't for the belief in mining copper and the ideal of "transshipment" trade with Japan in the future, Lin Tianshuai really wanted to give up.

Anyway, Lin Tianshuai will not look at the military map for the time being, but look at the account book instead.

On this day, Yin Zhuoran, an old acquaintance of Lin Tianshuai, the first vice president of the North Korea Maintenance Association and the president of the Pyeongan Province Maintenance Association, rushed to Seoul from Pyongyang City.

He just walked to the door of the front hall of the West Palace and heard Tianshuai's roar before entering the house.

"It can only be transported seven times a year, it's impossible, absolutely not allowed! Increase it to ten times!

I don't want to hear the reason why it's not possible, I just want more military rations!"

Another person argued with Tian Shuai loudly: "Navigating on the sea depends on the wind direction, the current, the coastline, and the ship needs to be repaired! It depends on technology, not on talking to sail smoothly on the sea!

Organizing a fleet to transport grain from Dengzhou, Shandong to the central and southern parts of North Korea requires sailing along the islands off the coast of Liaodong and the west coast of North Korea for more than ten days!

It's not like you can drive the ship there by drawing a straight line on the sea. The maximum round trip in a year is seven cycles! How can it be possible to go back and forth ten times?"

Yin Zhuoran asked Cui Wukui who was guarding the door in surprise: "What's the situation?"

Cui Wukui smiled bitterly and said: "The Marshal is meeting with people from Shandong to discuss sea transportation matters."

Yin Zhuoran asked again: "I'm not asking this, I want to ask who is so brave that he dares to argue with Tian Shuai?"

As far as Yin Zhuoran knows, those who have argued with Tian Shuai in the past six months have basically had grass three feet high on their graves.

Cui Wukui replied, "This person is Qi Zuoguo, the hereditary commander of Dengzhou Guard in Shandong, and his other identity is the second son of Qi Shaobao."

Yin Zhuoran suddenly realized that it was no wonder that he dared to reason with Lin Tianshuai. In this day and age, even reasoning depends on identity and qualifications.

No wonder Cui Wukui stood at the door. How could he get a word in? Then Yin Zhuoran didn't have to go in, and waited at the door first.

Cui Wukui also chatted with Yin Zhuoran and said, "I guess Shandong must know that Tianshuai is not easy to serve, so they sent someone like Qi Shaobao's second son to let Tianshuai not be too harsh."

After the quarrel inside subsided, Lin Tianshuai politely sent out a middle-aged general, and Wu Weizhong, Qi Jin and others from the Qi Family Army were talking to him affectionately.

Lin Tianshuai sent away Qi Zuoguo, the hereditary commander of Dengzhou Guard, and when he saw Yin Zhuoran, he asked in confusion: "Why are you not in Pyongyang to deal with the aftermath, but in Seoul? Are you here to ask for food?"

Yin Zhuoran quickly replied: "There is an extremely important matter related to long-term peace and stability, and I need to report it to Tianshuai!"

Lin Tianshuai, who was in a bad mood, said viciously: "If you dare to fool me, I will send you back to the small court of the Joseon Dynasty!"

After entering the house and sitting down, Yin Zhuoran reported: "I want to rebuild a big temple in Pyongyang City."

"What!" Lin Tianshuai's voice was eight degrees higher, and he shouted angrily: "When money and food are so tight, how dare you think of building a temple? I don't even care about the ancestral temple of the Joseon Dynasty!"

Yin Zhuoran was really afraid that Tianshuai would chop him off in anger, so he quickly shouted: "Listen to me, the temple to be rebuilt is the Jizi Temple!"

Jizi? Lin Tianshuai calmed down and thought about it in his heart

After King Wu defeated King Zhou and destroyed the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou's uncle Jizi fled to the north of Korea and established Jizi Joseon, which was also the first regime in the history of the peninsula.

Yin Zhuoran continued to explain: "After all, Pyongyang is the old capital of Jizi, so it is reasonable to rebuild the Jizi Temple here.

Through Jizi, we can widely publicize that the Korean nation is a branch of the Central Plains, at least in the north. Whether it is to recognize the ancestors or accept the fiefdom, it is completely in line with the law.

According to Tianshuai's composition of the future, Jizi is a very valuable symbol. After all, Jizi, who came from the Central Plains, is the first monarch of Korea!

So it is right to say that rebuilding the Jizi Temple is related to long-term stability, isn't it?"

Lin Tianshuai nodded frequently and said, "It makes some sense."

Yin Zhuoran tried again: "So of course, the money and grain will be used by Tianshuai to write poems and poems for the reconstruction of the Jizi Temple and engrave a large stele for permanent preservation."

"Alas!" Lin Tianshuai was powerless to refuse, "How much money and grain do you need for the time being? Just tell me the number."

It must be said that Yin Zhuoran, the court traitor, is too qualified. He actually took the initiative to help with cultural brainwashing.

At this time, Lin Tianshuai received another letter from Kaesong.

On the pink paper was a Chinese poem: "Things go far away with the flowing water, and sorrows arise with the morning spring. The wild scenery is green with smoke, and the mountain scenery is bright after the rain.

A pair of swallows chirp in front of the curtain, and a few orioles sing outside the forest. Sitting alone, I have no interest, and I can't put on makeup because I am sad."

It turned out to be a love poem expressing longing, which Lin Tianshuai felt was quite fresh. I have to say that Jin Shunbin is quite good at flirting.

So Lin Tailai left Seoul and returned to Kaesong with the personal guard camp.

Tianshuai has been very angry recently and needs to relieve pressure.

In the post-event sage time, Shunbin was a little worried and asked with a pen: "Shunhejun's enfeoffment has not come down yet, there will be no variables, right?"

Now the general situation has been determined, and the north has completely entered the rhythm of reconstruction. If there is no enfeoffment from the Celestial Empire, Shunhejun's identity will always be a little bit off.

Lin Tailai replied: "As far as I know, the Li Dynasty court in Kuandian Fort is very fiercely opposed, and my Ming Dynasty court is a little concerned about its face, so it may still be entangled.

Especially now that the royal capital of Seoul has been recovered, the Li Dynasty court is even more restless and has made a big fuss. I heard that they wrote a blood letter to the Ming Dynasty again."

Shunpin pleaded in Wu dialect: "I beg the Heavenly Marshal to work harder."

Lin Tailai couldn't resist the pleading and tried again. When he had time again, he got a new idea.

"First, let Shunhejun not be idle, write a petition directly to the emperor and show his performance in front of the emperor."

Shunpin hesitated and said: "Isn't this against the rules?"

Etiquette is something that cannot be seen or touched, but if it is violated, it will give others a bad impression.

If Shunhejun takes the initiative to ask for a fiefdom, he will be criticized immediately.

Lin Tailai pointed out: "Of course, don't mention the issue of enfeoffment! Just report that you have initiated the reconstruction of the Jizi Temple in Pyongyang City and ask His Majesty the Emperor to grant a plaque!

At the same time, add some literary and poetic words that express gratitude to the Ming Dynasty for its assistance to the Kingdom of Korea, so as to directly impress His Majesty."

Shunpin was physically on the stick, and said vaguely: "Tianshuai helped me write for you. Who in the world knows poetry better than you?"

It was another wise man's time. Lin Tianshuai's literary thoughts flowed like a spring, and he picked up the pen to write a seven-character poem.

"The universe was opened by the heaven in the Wanli period, and the establishment of festivals in different places borrowed close ministers.

The grace of Jizi in different generations was old, and the Han Dynasty's edict was renewed.

The moon in Liaohai was bright in autumn, and the stars in Yajiang River moved at night.

Boping was surprised to hear the news everywhere, to report that there was a saint in the middle court."

Communication between cultural people, of course, cannot be so straightforward, so Yin Zhuoran was right, the symbol of "Jizi" is indeed very valuable.

"Jifeng is different from the past, but the grace and glory are old." Shunhejun used Jizi as an excuse to write a memorial to the emperor, which was enough to express the political metaphor and the intention of surrendering to the Central Plains.

After all, Jizi built his capital in Pyongyang in the north, and his main territory was also in the north.

Then Lin Tailai said: "If you want to finally impress the emperor thoroughly, there is a second idea to promote it. But you don't have to do anything, I will arrange it myself."

After that, Lin Tianshuai wrote another secret letter to Yang Dengshan, the garrison commander of Hamgyong Province.

The letter only said one thing-no matter what method you use, get me a few hundred kilograms of copper ore, and pack it and send it to the capital in the name of tribute from the Kingdom of Korea!

Lin Tianshuai didn't believe it. If he got some copper ore and put it directly in front of Emperor Wanli, how could Emperor Wanli not be tempted?

After receiving the secret letter, Yang Dengshan hesitated for a moment, because the newly discovered mine had not started mining yet.

However, Jiashan County has always had a tradition of producing copper, and it can be dealt with by getting some ore from some other old mines.

Just as Lin Tianshuai was venting his anger and working in Kaesong, news suddenly came from the south that Japan requested peace talks with the Ming Dynasty.

The direction of the war is now completely different from the original history, and the background situation is also very different. Lin Tianshuai no longer has any foresight.

So Lin Tianshuai can't be sure now whether this is a delaying tactic of the Japanese pirates, or whether they really want to negotiate peace and withdraw safely.

According to Lin Tianshuai's original intention, he must still want to continue fighting and wipe out the Japanese pirates to get full credit.

And Tianshuai instinctively doesn't believe that the Japanese pirates can have sincerity in this regard.

However, war or peace is a diplomatic issue between Japan and the Ming Dynasty. Most of the decision-making power belongs to the court, and Lin Tianshuai cannot make 100% of the decision.

Lin Tianshuai is still a little worried that some people in the court will advocate peace talks on the grounds of "saving money and food".

So he called Konishi Yukinaga over again and encouraged him, "Konishi Settsu-no-kami! It's time for you to be useful!

This time I decided to give you a chance to write a memorial to the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"

Konishi Yukinaga said expectantly, "Please give me your orders, Marshal!"

Is there another chance for me to play a role? His biggest wish now is to play a huge role in the peace talks between the two countries, and then return to China with the merits of the peace talks.

Lin Tianshuai glanced at the excited Konishi Yukinaga, "You have to make suggestions to our court as a high-ranking official of Japan!

Just say that Japan and Taiko Hideyoshi will never have sincerity in peace talks, and the so-called peace talks request must be a delaying tactic!

Let all the officials in the court understand that only the Japanese understand the Japanese best, and you are right!"

Konishi Yukinaga: "."

I didn't expect that he was not asked to promote the peace talks, but to oppose and destroy the peace talks.

Konishi Yukinaga really loves the peace talks, but he can't resist the orders of the Marshal, otherwise his life will be in danger at any time.

In the end, Konishi Yukinaga could only bow his head with resentment and helplessness and agreed: "Hi!"

Then Mr. Lin drew a rough map for backup, with the southern coast of Korea and the Kyushu and Western regions of Japan marked on the map.

In particular, the Iwami Silver Mine was marked, and it was specially noted that the annual output of silver was one million taels.

And from the map, it can be seen that from the southern coast of Korea, across the strait, you can reach Iwami Silver Mine, which is not far away.

Although Lin Tianshuai is not going to take out this map for the time being, because the consequences are not easy to control.

But if there are traitors in the court who want to negotiate peace, then this map will appear in front of Emperor Wanli.