Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 451 Big Deal
After two consecutive cold winters, the winter of the seventeenth year of Taichang was not that cold.

However, the freezing weather in the north still exists in winter. Even at the edge of the Bohai Sea, where many ports are located, there is thin ice on the seashore.

The transportation of food and supplies is always the biggest difficulty at times like this. After last spring and summer, a large army gathered on Tsushima Island, and it relied almost entirely on external supplies.

The sea route from North Korea to Tsushima Island has become the most important lifeline.

It was still cold in spring, and Tian Le spent a new year here. This year he is 78 years old.

Not only on Tsushima Island, in fact the entire Korea now respects him - that is the will from the emperor. Li Sancai who still stays in Korea and the various troops led by Xiliang Hou who have already marched to Korea are ensuring the supply channel for the vanguard on Tsushima Island.

"…Is the old marquis really seriously ill?"

Tian Le asked Ma Chengxun, who had tears in his eyes: "Since the report has been sent to the capital, and the ice has been broken to send a small boat to report to the governor, how can it be false? I am very worried. I am sure that the governor has sent a boat to take me there to visit the patient and serve him. If we go to search the border again, we have to wait until the spring when the grain ship comes to the island. Then I will definitely return to the island to report!"

He is the son of Ma Gui, and this year Ma Gui is 81 years old.

He had been stationed in the northern border for a long time, not because he was afraid of the severe cold, but because he was really old.

Tian Le thought about it and finally agreed to his request, even though the cold winter had not completely passed and it would be difficult for the ship to dock.

When the news of Marquis Xiliang's serious illness reaches the emperor, I wonder if there will be some changes in the East Asia plan.

Ma Gui was already very old, and the reason he was used was of course because his prestige could control the troops, and Ma Gui did not have to go to the battlefield himself.

The king and his ministers had all considered what might happen to him during this process, including Tian Le himself.

Now that Magui is seriously ill, Tianle feels sympathetic. After almost a year of enjoying the sea breeze in Tsushima, he also feels that his health is not as good as before.

If you need to enable the alternative, the effect... will still be worse than it is now.

It is not easy to sail on the sea, but on land you can just gallop on a fast horse.

Although it was difficult to walk on the snow, the transmission of border news was not much slower. The news reached the emperor on the 21st day of the first lunar month.

After a day of discussion in the capital, some fast horses headed towards Xuanfu, and some went to Liaoning.

At this time, Shen Yourong was already sitting in the largest house in the camp on the shore of "Bengang" on Taiyuan Island east of Fujian.

Beside him stood a reserved and humble man, watching Marquis Fu Bo's personal soldiers escorting in a burly man who was tied up.

As soon as the sturdy man saw him, he immediately cursed: "Yang Tiansheng, you are a dog. It's a waste of my friendship with you for so many years!"

Yang Tiansheng turned a deaf ear to him and just bent down and said, "My Lord, this is Yan Siqi."

Shen Yourong nodded and watched his guards force him to kneel down.

Yang Tiansheng said arrogantly, "Marquis Fubo has fought in many battles in the north and south, and has made great contributions! How dare you act arrogantly in front of the Marquis? I, Fu Shunxing, was granted special permission by the Holy Grace to train in Tuohai. Now the Marquis wants to promote you, so don't be ungrateful! The Marquis has something to ask you, so please give your answer carefully, and this matter will be a great opportunity!"

"...You..." Yan Siqi looked at Shen Yourong, then at the surrounding troops, "Aren't you from the Coast Guard?"

Shen Yourong showed an amused smile: "Why? Do you think Yang Tiansheng wants to rob his fellow thieves?"

Yang Tiansheng looked embarrassed and whispered, "My Lord, that's not the case. How dare we at Fu Shun Xing ..."

"That's enough." Shen Yourong interrupted him. "This kid saw from afar that something was wrong and turned around to run. If we hadn't been determined to see him, we would have set up an ambush in advance, but he would have escaped from the sea. You have been dealing with each other for so many years, but he is still so vigilant. This shows that your Fu Shun Xing's reputation is not very good after going out to sea."

What could Yang Tiansheng say? It was a group training at Takumi. After going out to sea and reaching the border of the outer vassal state, could they still be polite?
Nowadays, all sea merchants must obtain special permission from the emperor and hold a license before they can go to sea. However, there are always some people who have no connections or want to evade the license requirements, so smuggling cannot be stopped.

The various foreign companies also had a tacit understanding that peace was the most important thing for them to do. But if they encountered smuggling ships at sea, they would have to consider whether to swallow them up, even if they might be from the same hometown as them - anyway, the sea was rough.

They were not keen on promptly revealing information about people who were smuggling to the Coast Guard. After all, it was good to make some extra money from time to time after going out to sea.

Shen Yourong said that he knew that they were engaging in some kind of gang-on-gang espionage, but he was too lazy to take care of these trivial matters.

The Dongyang Fleet is still under construction, and this time he borrowed a ship from the Fujian Coast Guard. Shen Yourong came here specifically to capture Yan Siqi, and his purpose was not to crack down on smuggling.

Because Yan Siqi is not a smuggler from the southeast coast.

So he first said to Yan Siqi: "The people under your command are very good at maneuvering the boat, but you almost let them escape."

Yan Siqi snorted and looked at Shen Yourong with great vigilance: "I never thought that the Marquis would set an ambush to capture me."

"You are really brave." Shen Yourong looked at him with interest. "You were in Kyushu Island. Didn't you hear that the heavenly soldiers were coming? Why did you still dare to go out to sea here? Last year, Ryukyu rejected Shimazu Yoshihiro's request. Didn't you find out a thing or two when you passed through the sea off Ryukyu?"

Yan Siqi gritted his teeth and said, "That's why the vassal states are in even greater need of good goods. I'm already doing a risky business, and besides..."

He did not continue.

"Did Ou Huayu give the order and force you to take the risk?"

Yan Siqi looked at him in surprise, then looked at Yang Tiansheng, and then he was no longer surprised.

"Your Excellency knows the situation in Nagasaki very well. I admire you."

"Ou Huayu has dealings with the daimyo of several fiefdoms in Kyushu Island. Doesn't he know that it is dangerous to go out to sea now?" Shen Yourong looked at him meaningfully. "Didn't I tell you anything when I sent you out to sea?"

"…It's just the old rules. But now they can't go to Nagasaki anymore, so we have to come here."

Shen Yourong thought for a while after listening to it, and then sneered: "He wants to wait for a good price, but he doesn't care about the lives of your brothers on the ship."

Yan Siqi was completely confused.

Yang Tiansheng looked at his expression, then bowed and said, "My Lord, there are three thousand Han Chinese in Nagasaki, and they all follow Ou Huayu. In the past, the shogunate banned religion and closed the country, but the Kyushu vassal states had geographical advantages and did not obey the shogunate's orders; secondly, they were reluctant to give up the benefits of the red seal ships and still communicated with us privately, so the Han Chinese in Nagasaki were quite important. But now that the government army has seized Tsushima, and Ryukyu has rejected the blackmail of Shimazu Yoshihiro, Ou Huayu and others can hardly protect themselves. Their life and death depends on the attitude of the Kyushu vassal daimyo and the attitude of the Ming Dynasty."

Shen Yourong nodded slowly and asked Yan Siqi, "Before you set out to sea, did you hear anything in Nagasaki? Although you are just a small leader, Ou Huayu and others should not be as free and easy as in previous years, right?"

"Villain..." Yan Siqi didn't know what to say for a moment.

He could no longer be said to be just a small leader, as the lord of Hirado Domain even gave him the official title of Jialuo.

But he has indeed not yet entered the inner circle of the Han people in Nagasaki or the "pirate group". The key point is that the Marquis has hidden meaning in his words.

"My Lord, how about letting me ask?" Yang Tiansheng asked carefully.

"...Well, you have dealt with each other a lot." Shen Yourong knew that Yan Siqi didn't trust him.

Hearing this, Yang Tiansheng stood up straight and walked in front of Yan Siqi. At this time, his expression was no longer arrogant, but as kind as before, with a smile on his face: "Because of Brother Yan's commotion, the financial officer on your ship died inexplicably in the chaos. In my opinion, he is probably the person sent by Ou Huayu this time to inquire about the situation and find an opportunity to contact me."

Then his smile faded and his expression became serious: "Your situation is not good! Last year, the northern army only searched the west coast of Honshu Island and has not yet reached your Kyushu Island. But the Japanese chieftains and Japanese people on Kyushu Island have seen that you Han people are not in a good mood, right?"

Yan Siqi gritted his teeth and said, "What exactly do you want to do by capturing me? Just tell me!"

"Do what you should do! The Marquis wants you to go back and tell Ou Huayu to consider it." Yang Tiansheng looked at Shen Yourong, and after seeing him nod, he continued, "The Ming Dynasty is going to conquer Japan, and this time we are going to wipe out the country!" "What are you going to do?"

Yang Tiansheng's expression froze, and he said helplessly: "The Ming Dynasty will be in charge of Japan in the future! Although you Han people are doing a life-threatening business there, if you can serve as the Marquis's accomplice and make great contributions, you may have a place in Japan in the future. Why do you have to rely on the Japanese chieftain?"

Yan Siqi understood now. He looked at Shen Yourong in shock and said, "My Lord...want to take over that shogunate?"

Shen Yourong was helpless: "It's not me! It's the Ming Dynasty!"

He also stood up and walked over, looking him down, then reached out and pulled him up: "I see you are also a brave man, how old are you this year? How did you end up in Japan?"

"…In the third year of Taichang, I was bullied by the servant of that dog official. In a rage, I killed the evil servant and had to find a way to escape. I went to Japan."

"My Lord, he was only fifteen years old at that time." Yang Tiansheng reminded him.

Shen Yourong nodded: "You didn't lie, you are just straightforward."

Since he had made special arrangements to meet this person, he had of course heard Yang Tiansheng's introduction.

Yan Siqi also understood. It didn't seem like the marquis wanted to capture him and kill him, but he wanted to keep him useful.

"My Lord, do you want me to go back to Nagasaki and bring a letter to the boss?"

"It's your second in command." Shen Yourong corrected, "Is his name Li Dan?"

"…The Marquis knows everything."

Shen Yourong smiled faintly, and then said: "You have courage, but lack strategy. As for Ou Huayu, he is also old. I heard from Yang Tiansheng that the Hanmin of Changqi will probably let Li Dan lead the army in the future. It will take another two years for the northern and southern armies to advance together. I want you to take a message to them and let them make a decision as soon as possible."

After patting him on the shoulder, he said, "As usual in the past two years, the Fushunxing port is still open to you privately. Your ships passing through Ryukyu will not be checked by this marquis."

Then he waved.

Yan Siqi didn't know why, but suddenly there was a loud gunshot behind him.

He was startled and looked back, only to see one of Shen Yourong's personal soldiers holding a gun and firing rapidly at the door.

In the yard in front of the big house in the camp, several clods of earth lined up in the distance exploded one by one with the sound of gunfire.

Yan Siqi opened his mouth wide, watching the personal soldier fire nine shots in a row and then put away his guns and stood still, as if nothing had happened.

"To be honest, my title of Duke was awarded to me in Japan."

Shen Yourong's voice rang out. Yan Siqi was still tied up tightly. After turning around to look at him, he saw Shen Yourong continue to speak calmly: "You have seen the power of this Nine Thunder Gun. After you go back, you can tell Ou Huayu and Li Dan. Since I can lead the fleet to Malacca and drive away the Portuguese, Japan is naturally no problem. How can you help me quickly seize Kyushu Island? Let Li Dan come to discuss with me in person next time!"

The northern army on the expedition to Japan has already begun their actions. Although Ma Gui's serious illness has brought new variables, for the Ming Dynasty, it is nothing more than arranging someone to take over and command several armies.

The southern army was mainly composed of the future Oriental Fleet, and Shen Yourong also began his advance layout.

Since many years ago, there has never been a shortage of maritime merchants along the coast, and naturally there are many who are both businessmen and politicians. Wang Zhi was a prominent figure at that time.

Today, in the Nagasaki area of ​​Kyushu Island in Japan, there is another group of Han people numbering as many as two to three thousand.

After the establishment of Takumi Danlian Foreign Trade Co., Fukushunxing, which specialized in the East, had a lot of exchanges with them. After Tokugawa Ieyasu banned religion and closed the country, the daimyo of Kyushu had to comply on the surface, but in fact they continued to trade privately with the Ming Dynasty through the group of Han people controlled by Ou Huayu.

At this moment, the Ming army is approaching, and since they are Han people, they are of course sensitive.

However, on the one hand, the daimyos in various parts of Japan were still unsure of the Ming Dynasty's expeditionary goals, and on the other hand, they needed to stockpile supplies in advance, especially during wartime, so they could not do without Ou Huayu for the time being.

Shen Yourong firmly believed that those who could gain a foothold in a foreign country were not stupid people, and they also had to think about a way out for the future. However, this time, the means were clumsy. Although they wanted to contact them, they wanted to let someone like Yan Siqi be the leader to let the Ming Dynasty know that they were quite powerful.

If they didn't intend to contact, they would never dare to let Yan Siqi come to this Taiyuanben Port. There are too many islands along the way from Nagasaki to here. Even if Fu Shunxing can't go to the vicinity of Nagasaki now, what's wrong with trading on the offshore islands?
Letting Yan Siqi come here is to let him fight with Daming first.

But Shen Yourong didn't buy it. Ou Huayu was old, so he was still in charge. But Li Dan was still young, so he could judge the situation.

Whether they were there or not, the Ming Dynasty would fight. If they were not determined to be the Ming Dynasty's internal supporters and help Shen Yourong take Kyushu Island at the lowest cost, then they would really be "pirates" and "traitors to the Ming Dynasty" in the future.

Three days later, Yan Siqi and Yang Tiansheng "successfully" completed the transaction, and his damaged ship was temporarily repaired with the help of the craftsmen brought by Shen Yourong, and he set sail for home.

Yan Siqi looked back at the warships of the Ming Dynasty Coastal Defense Road in doubt and surprise at the bow.

In recent years, it was Fu Shunxing who brought the goods over, but Yan Siqi hasn't been back here for a long time.

The Ming warships were already that powerful? With his experience, he was unable to lead the ship out of their blockade.

And that gun...

Yan Siqi swallowed and recalled the scene at that time: he didn't even see the soldier light the fuse.

Nine shots were fired in a row, as fast as shooting arrows with a bow.

Those Japanese samurai with iron cannons will probably be slaughtered like mowing grass.

"Boss, I'm scared to death."

The sailors and "samurai" under his command were still in shock.

"What is there to be afraid of? Even the high official praised our abilities!"

Yan Siqi remained brave in front of his men, but in his heart he was thinking about what Fu Bo Hou said when he was later untied and drinking.

He said that if Li Dan and his gang were willing to accept the amnesty, they might be able to become officers and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty's East China Fleet in the future.

As for the maritime trade business, we can still do it with Fu Shun Xing, but we will have to use a different method in the future.

Everything depends on whether the boss and the second in command can contribute to the Ming Dynasty.

Yan Siqi asked the shogun and the sky in Kyoto...

At that time, Marquis Fubo said with disdain: In the whole world, except for His Majesty the Emperor, who else can usurp the throne and claim to be the emperor?

Yan Siqi's eyes were filled with a little more eagerness. Whether it was the Ashikaga family, the Toyotomi family, or the Tokugawa family, they still had to respect Kyoto as their master.

The Ming Dynasty is really going to turn the tables on Japan!

If that were the case, wouldn't the Han people in Japan be able to turn things around and become the superior people?

He thinks this is a good deal!

(End of this chapter)