Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 678

North Korea, Yeongjong Island.

As an island outside Incheon, near the estuary of the Han River, the small Yeongjong Island bursts out with a different kind of prosperity at this time.

After the promulgation of the new tribute regulations, the most important one is friendly trade, and North Korea arranged the trade location at Yeongjong Island.

All foreign businessmen traveling to and from North Korea must and can only live in Yeongjong Island, and are not allowed to cross to North Korean land at will.

Moreover, Song Shang and Lai Shang, as kings, monopolized North Korea's foreign trade, just like the Guangzhou Thirteen Banks of the Qing Dynasty.

As a result, Yeongjong Island quickly became a free city without city walls.

When Huang Zongxi stepped into this city, he seemed to have stepped across the Three Kingdoms.

What caught his eyes was naturally a building full of Jiangnan flavor, graceful and elegant, with a little grandeur in its simplicity.

Ming-style buildings occupy more than half of the city, sailors in short and brown clothes, and rich merchants in silk and satin abound.

The other half is occupied by exotic Korean and Japanese buildings, which are low-profile, exquisite, and refreshing.

These Japanese are merchants who have to stay overseas because of the closed-door policy. Now they have become the agents of domestic daimyo, selling and importing the goods they need.

A large number of Ming Dynasty goods, Korean goods, and Japanese goods gathered here, forming an extremely prosperous commercial center in this era.

With this city alone, North Korea earns [-] silver dollars a month, which can be said to be guarding a mine without end.

"I'll wait for the little foreign minister to meet the angel."

Several officials in North Korean official robes looked rich and sleek, and saluted him politely.

The pure Beijing dialect in his mouth made Huang Zongxi, who is from Yuzhao, Zhejiang, quite ashamed, which was much higher than his standards.

"I came this time, just to go to Seoul to call..."

After explaining casually, Huang Zongxi accepted a banquet surrounded by everyone.

Shortly after Zheng Sen returned to Beijing and was promoted to special envoy to the Ryukyu, Huang Zongxi and a group of Hanlin scholars had almost finished training in the local area, and returned to Beijing to arrange post assignments.

Unlike their predecessors, they could not go to the Zhan Shifu, the Hanlin Academy, or the Imperial Academy, but served as the principals in the six ministries.

Huang Zongxi was working in the Lifan Academy, so he got such a job to announce the imperial edict.

Credit is nothing, and there is only one advantage, that is, being able to carry goods to North Korea in a legitimate way, and being able to accept bribes.

This trip would bring him at least two or three thousand silver dollars.

"Angel, I heard that Shangguo and Japan are going to fight?" At this moment, County Magistrate Yongzong asked hastily, his face full of excitement.

After drinking for three rounds, Huang Zongxi also knew that this group of officials were all businessmen, and the rules were lax, so he didn't care.

Of course, the high price he charged for the goods he carried was just the most common reason.

"Never fought."

Huang Zongxi shook his head, and said disdainfully: "Japan is trying to occupy Ryukyu, and Ryukyu is suffering unspeakably. When my celestial master arrived, he cried bitterly and described his suffering, and finally even attached himself to avoid revenge."

"For the Japanese, the imperial court has no time to settle accounts with it now, it is just a warning."

Hearing this, several officials showed regret.

In the Ryukyu incident, the Ming Dynasty and Japan collided more than once, which made the Koreans extremely excited.

For North Korea, Japan is a world feud, a mortal hatred. Although Toyotomi Hideyoshi is dead, the hatred will last forever.

It has to be said that it is a very regrettable thing that the invincible Ming Dynasty let Japan go.

"Angel, the Japanese must not be lenient, their wolf ambitions!"

"In the past, it dared to covet Daming, how could it know that its ambition is gone?"

The Koreans kept saying bad things about Japan, Huang Zongxi smiled and said nothing.

The next day, he left Yongzong Island by boat, went upstream and arrived in Seoul.

Seoul, which has gone through vicissitudes, is presented in front of him.

The shy Korean court did not have the energy to repair the city wall, so that the gray and black marks on the city wall were obvious, the city gate was incomplete, and the copper gates on it were also taken away, making it look particularly desolate.

Beggars wandered the streets and alleys, eager for every copper coin.

It seems that because of changing customs, the mental outlook of the common people is very good.

Although the capital of this kingdom is gradually recovering, it is far behind Beijing or Nanjing.

"To the palace—"

As an ordinary principal, Huang Zongxi naturally couldn't get the personal welcome of the King of Joseon, but Zuo Yizheng (the elder of the cabinet) of the Yi government was also welcome.

Entering the palace, I met the young and steady Joseon King Lee Ho.

It was announced that North Korea must cooperate with the army to move northward and prepare food and grass.

In this regard, North Korea naturally obeyed its orders.

Li Hao, king of Joseon, couldn't bear his loneliness and asked, "Has the war between Shangguo and Japan begun?"

"It has ended."

It was this question again, Huang Zongxi took the trouble to explain: "The key to Ming Dynasty now is Liaodong, Japan is just waiting, the court forgives him, and it will not be too late to settle accounts in the future."

Hearing this, Li Hao sighed regretfully.

North Korea didn't want to follow Daming to fight Japan, but the budget was insufficient, and the finances were almost bankrupt, so they really didn't want to make trouble.

After getting the answer, Li Hao fell into gloom.

Huang Zongxi, on the other hand, came to the inner city and met Wu Sangui, Duke Jing, who was equivalent to the Supreme Emperor of Korea.

Li Chengdong, who was promoted to Earl, and Li Yingren, who had worked so hard.

"Come on and see Your Majesty!"

"Saint Boon—"

Facing these three people, Huang Zongxi directly announced the decree: "Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the order says:..."

The title has long been promulgated, but now it is the arrangement of the army.

In North Korea, there are more than [-] people in the Beijing camp, commanded by three people, and tens of thousands of North Korean soldiers and horses are indirectly controlled by them.

This time, the imperial court set up the Liaodong Army, with Wu Sangui as the commander-in-chief, Li Chengdong and Li Yingren as the deputy commanders, commanding the North Korean and Beijing camp troops, waiting for the imperial court's order to go north.

The total number of soldiers and horses is about [-] in total, all of which are rare elite soldiers. Even the Korean soldiers and horses have gone through the flames of war once.

"I don't know how much money the imperial court allocates for food?"

Wu Sangui was well aware of the importance of money, and after the imperial decree was announced, he couldn't wait to ask:
"The sons and daughters are in a foreign land, and now the only thing that can appease the homesickness is money."

Li Yingren and Li Chengdong are also concerned.

"Don't worry, as partial teachers, the court will not delay you, so at the beginning of next month, 50 silver dollars will be transferred, and another 50 will be transferred later."

Huang Zongxi said with a smile.

In a country like North Korea, which is extremely short of metal currency, 50 silver dollars are enough to buy out the entire city of Seoul.

"As for the food, don't worry. North Korea has already prepared food and grass, and it will be enough to pay silver dollars directly."

"In Phi Island, the imperial court is also transporting grain, grass and supplies day and night, so there is no need to worry."

(End of this chapter)