In the camp, Qi Jiguang's soldiers respectfully handed the completed confession to Qi Jiguang's hands.
"General, those Japanese pirates have all confessed, and here are the specific confessions!"
"Oh, let me see."
After Qi Jiguang finished speaking, he took the confession from the soldier on the side and began to read it carefully.
The confession recorded above about Makoto Tsunoda attracted his attention.
"This Makoto Tsunoda was born in the Miyazaki area of Kyushu, Japan?"
"The last time Wang Zhi was annihilated on Jintang Island, the fleet that the army encountered on their way back seemed to be the Dayou family's fleet!"
"And Makoto Tsunoda was born in the Kyushu region, so he must have some understanding of the local situation."
After a long time, Qi Jiguang rubbed his temples, suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his heart, and asked the soldiers on the side for the specific situation.
"How many died?"
Upon seeing this, the soldier hesitated for a moment before responding.
"General, about half of them are dead!"
When Qi Jiguang learned the news, his expression did not change much. He immediately put aside the confession in his hand and gave instructions.
"Well, that's right, I thought none of them would survive!"
"Go and bring Makoto Tsunoda to this general. I have something to ask him personally!"
When Qi Jiguang's soldiers saw this, they immediately looked stern and responded in a deep voice.
"Yes, General!"
Shortly after the soldiers left, Makoto Tsunoda, who was covered in scars and dying, was taken to the camp where Qi Jiguang was.
"General, we've arrived!"
"Well, the general knows, you can go down."
Qi Jiguang waved his hand and gave instructions to the soldiers.
After Qi Jiguang and Kakuda Makoto were the only two people left in the camp, Qi Jiguang turned his eyes to the visitor and asked.
"Since you mentioned in your confession that you were born in the Miyazaki area of Kyushu, do you know the Otomo family?"
Facing Qi Jiguang's inquiry, Tsunoda Cheng opened his eyes with great difficulty and answered feebly.
"General, the Otomo family is a daimyo in the Kyushu region of Japan. The current head of the Otomo family is called Otomo Sorin. He is the 21st lord of the Otomo clan. His real name is Otomo Yoshizhen."
After listening to Tsunoda Makoto's story, Qi Jiguang nodded and continued to ask.
"In that case, do you know that the Dayou family's fleet once traveled to and from the Zhoushan Islands?"
"Zhoushan Islands?"
After hearing this, Makoto Tsunoda's face was filled with confusion, and he immediately confirmed it to Qi Jiguang.
"Well, that's right, it's the Zhoushan Islands."
Upon seeing this, Qi Jiguang immediately asked his soldiers to bring a map, and marked the location of the Zhoushan Islands on the map.
When Tsunoda Makoto saw the direction marked on the map, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and the long-dormant memory in his heart gradually revived. After sorting out his words, he continued.
"General... General, I know this place. For a long time, the Dayou family has sent a special fleet to conduct smuggling transactions with a person who calls himself the captain of Wufeng."
When Qi Jiguang heard this, he immediately looked stern, suppressed the excitement in his heart, and asked.
"Then do you know who is responsible for commanding the fleet in the Dayou family?"
Makoto Tsunoda thought about it for a long time before a name came out of his mouth.
"Maeda Shin."
Makoto Tsunoda seemed to be afraid that Qi Jiguang would not be able to understand what he meant, so he added immediately.
"Maeda Nobu is a retainer of the Otomo family. He has served the Otomo family for generations since his grandfather's generation. The current head of the Otomo family, Otomo Sorin, values him very much. Therefore, he is given full responsibility for the relationship with the Otomo family. The smuggling business of the Wufeng shipowner.”
After Qi Jiguang learned the news from Kakuda Makoto, he sneered and said in a deep voice.
"Humph, I finally let this general catch you!"
Tsunoda Makoto was quite puzzled by this. Judging from the performance of the general in front of him, he clearly had a grudge against Maeda Nobu, but how did the two sides intersect?
Thinking of this, Makoto Kakuda plucked up the courage and spoke to Qi Jiguang.
"General, as far as I know, not long ago, for some reason, Nobu Maeda was severely punished by the Otomo family and almost lost his life!"
"Originally, the Otomo family planned to have him commit seppuku, but thanks to the help of Otomo Sorin's son, Otomo Yoshitomi, they were able to spare his life!"
When Qi Jiguang heard the news, he looked at Makoto Tsunoda up and down before continuing.
"You are very smart, so I plan to give you a chance to live, but I don't know if you are willing to cherish it."
As soon as Qi Jiguang finished speaking, Tsunoda Makoto couldn't wait to respond.
"Just as you are told, General, I am willing to swear allegiance to you in the name of a warrior!"
When Qi Jiguang heard this, he shook his head and said slowly.
"What you need to do is not to be loyal to me, but to be loyal to His Majesty, the Supreme Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!"
When Qi Jiguang said this, his eyes were full of enthusiasm. After pondering for a moment, he continued.
"In other words, are you willing to be my Ming Dynasty's dog?"
…
Zhejiang Governor's Mansion, in the study.
Hu Zongxian was reviewing relevant official documents. At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
Hu Zongxian frowned slightly, put the brush in his hand aside, and immediately gave instructions.
There was just a "squeak" sound, and the door of the room was pushed open. A confidant walked in, knelt on the ground, and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty the Governor, a letter from Qi Jiguang!"
After hearing this, Hu Zongxian's face showed a hint of curiosity, and he immediately asked.
"Why did Qi Jiguang write to me? Did he get some important information from the mouths of those Japanese pirates?"
With such doubts in mind, Hu Zongxian took the letter and immediately gave instructions.
"Well, I know, please go down!"
"Yes, Lord Governor!"
After his cronies left, Hu Zongxian opened the letter Qi Jiguang sent to him and began to carefully browse the contents recorded on it.
The content recorded above not only includes the confessions of the Japanese pirates, but also the fact that Qi Jiguang successfully surrendered them and made them willing to be Ming Dynasty's dogs!
After a long time, Hu Zongxian put the letter raft aside and said silently to himself.
"Not bad, it seems Qi Jiguang understands what I mean!"
"However, the matter is serious and I have to write a letter to His Majesty to inform you of the specific situation."
Thinking of this, Hu Zongxian immediately laid out his pen and paper and started writing a letter.
"Your Majesty, I have already screened the Japanese pirates and selected those who are willing to be loyal to our Ming Dynasty..."
"In addition, as the imperial court opens more and more ports, the number of Japanese pirates along the southeast coast has become less and less!"
"Currently, Zhejiang has reopened the Ningbo Port. The number of ships going to sea is increasing day by day, and the taxes paid are also gradually increasing. Therefore, I kindly request your Majesty to send officials from the Maritime Trade Department to Ningbo Port to take charge of specific matters."
"In addition, the conversion of rice into mulberry is also being implemented steadily. If everything goes well, the Weaving Bureau's order of 500,000 pieces of silk will be successfully delivered before the end of the year at the latest."
"Your Majesty Hu Zongxian, pay your respects again!"
After the ink on the paper was dry, Hu Zongxian immediately called his subordinates and gave instructions in a deep voice.
"Submit this letter directly to His Majesty, do you understand?"
"Yes, Lord Governor!"
(End of chapter)
