While Zhao Xuening was busy writing, the Japanese businessman Ihara Ichiro, who had received his help and favor, returned to Japan by ship from Manila.
He landed from Nagasaki, quickly arrived at Edo Castle, and delivered the letter given to him by Zhao Xuening to Tanuma Yiji, a favorite of the contemporary general Tokugawa Ieharu who held the position of Lao Naka at the time.
Tanuma Yiji was born as a low-level samurai. In Japan, where the hierarchy is very strict, with his background, there is a high probability that he will only be a nobody in his life.
However, he had special talents and circumstances, and was appreciated by Tokugawa Ieharu's father, Tokugawa Ieshige. Before his death, Tokugawa Ieharu told Tokugawa Ieharu to re-employ Tanuma Eiji. After Tokugawa Ieharu came to the throne, he also admired him very much. Tanuma Yiji, so he favored him very much.
Tokugawa Ieharu was not very interested in managing government affairs, and often focused on matters he liked, such as shogi, so he handed over the responsibility and power of managing government affairs to Tanuma Yiji.
Tanuma Yiji thus became Japan's actual ruler for nearly two decades and was able to reform Japanese politics according to his own ideals.
At that time, the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate had gone through nine generations of shoguns, and there had been many accumulated shortcomings that were difficult to change. The most important problem was financial. Tokugawa Ieharu had a headache because of this, and handed over this task to Tanuma Yiji. .
Tanuma Yiji was active in thinking, not rigid, and willing to make changes, so the approach he adopted was mercantilism. He adopted policies to promote the development of commercial capital in an attempt to achieve the effect of taxing merchants and thereby improve the shogunate's situation. financial.
In a sense, he did a good job.
His policies promoted the development of Japanese business, increased commercial taxes, and improved the Tokugawa shogunate's financial problems. However, many problems also occurred on other levels, making Tanuma Yiji's reforms not considered successful.
But this does not prevent Tokugawa Ieharu from recognizing and favoring Tanuma Yiji.
Tokugawa Ieharu certainly cherished such a good thing that he had such a capable person who was opposed by many people and was of low origin to help him handle government affairs and reduce his burden without threatening his status.
Those guys with high backgrounds all speak better than they sing. Letting them hold power will not only threaten their status and embezzle their power, but things may not be done well.
Tanuma Yiji is different. Even if he does something bad and makes people angry, it is very easy to take him down without threatening his own power.
Tokugawa Ieharu saw this very clearly.
Therefore, as long as nothing happens to Tokugawa Ieji, Tanuma Yiji's position will be very stable.
Anyway, at present, Tanuma Yiji is the actual leader of the Tokugawa shogunate. He is responsible for formulating all government orders and managing all affairs. Especially in commercial and trade matters, Tanuma Yiji pays more attention to it and often personally handles it. Ask about this aspect.
Ihara Ichiro is one of Tanuma Yiji's cronies. When he returned from Manila this time, the first thing he did was to find Tanuma Yiji and hand over the matter of Zhao Xuening and the letter he sent to the shogun to Tanuma Yiji.
After Tanuma Yiji heard about what happened in Manila, he was quite surprised.
The name Zhao Xuening was not unfamiliar to him at all. He had often heard of the famous name of Lanfang Company. In a sense, Tanuma Yiji also admired Zhao Xuening.
He turned against customers, defeated the powerful Dutch East India Company, imprisoned the Dutch in Batavia, and took over the control of the Dutch's trade share. This can be regarded as a model of defeating superiors.
As for Tanuma Yiji, who was a lower-level samurai and eventually held the important position of senior middle school, his own struggle process also had a certain style of overcoming superiors, so he admired Zhao Xuening.
Of course, the more important thing is to do business and make money. Japan's foreign trade is now mainly concentrated in three directions: North Korea, the Qing Empire and the Netherlands. The largest share is the trade with the Netherlands. The benefits brought by trade to Japan are huge.
Although Batavia was controlled by Zhao Xuening before, Zhao Xuening did not change any practices and still used the name of the East India Company to trade with Japan, keeping everything under its original state.
After Tanuma Yiji was alert for a while, he turned a blind eye.
It's ok in name only.
As for other aspects, making money is more important than anything else. Whether it is Zhao Xuening or Petrus, as long as the winner can afford it, Japan can ship goods, and the other party can pay, it doesn't matter.
Tanuma Yiji originally thought that Zhao Xuening would continue and maintain the status quo of both parties turning a blind eye, but he did not expect that Zhao Xuening would take the initiative to break this status quo.
"He hopes to continue the previous trade with our country not in the name of the Netherlands but in the name of the Lanfang Republic. Of course, if there are some procedural problems, he can also continue to use the name of the East India Company and hang the name of the Netherlands. banner.
But he said that he wanted to be frank with our country on this issue. He attached great importance to trade with our country, so he attacked Manila, defeated the Spaniards who had harmed Japan, and also sacrificed the head of the Governor of Manila. Gave it to the general. "
After listening to Ihara Ichiro's words and reading Zhao Xuening's autographed letter, Tanuma Yiji frowned.
"He defeated those red-haired barbarians?"
"Yes, they were all defeated. Zhao Xuening had a strong armed force. The resistance in Manila lasted for less than three days before he was conquered."
Ihara Ichiro said: "On the day of the siege, the artillery of Lanfang's army roared all day and night. The momentum was really amazing. Later I went to see the battlefield outside the city and it was really shocking."
"Is it that powerful?"
Tanuma Yiji frowned and said: "So, Lanfang is already the strongest country in that sea area?"
"Yes, or it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the only powerful country."
Ihara Ichiro whispered: "I think this matter should be reported to the general in time so that the general can make a decision as soon as possible."
"Do you think Zhao Xuening's words can be believed?"
"Anyway, what he said about not being able to preach is absolutely true. He destroyed almost all the churches in Manila and arrested and sentenced all the missionaries. In this way, he has offended those people to death. Red-haired thief.”
"That's a good thing."
Tanuma Yiji's eyes lit up, and then he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go talk to the general about this matter. If there are no problems, trade must continue."
"That's very good."
Ihara Ichiro was very happy.
Later, Tanuma Yiji went to visit Tokugawa Ieharu with Zhao Xuening's personal letter.
When he arrived at Tokugawa Ieharu's residence, Tokugawa Ieharu was playing shogi with a chess player. When the chess game progressed to a critical moment, Tanuma Yiji did not disturb Tokugawa Ieharu and waited quietly in the outer room.
About an hour later, as Tokugawa Ieharu let out a long sigh, the chess game ended, and Tokugawa Ieharu lost.
However, he did not regret this, and still asked the players to review the game, find out their own problems, and continue to discuss chess skills.
After another hour of this, Tokugawa Ieharu felt satisfied. It was only at this time that Tanuma Yiji asked his servants to inform Tokugawa Ieharu of his request for an audience.
"Itsuji is here? Why don't you come in?"
Tokugawa Ieharu shouted loudly.
"You are playing chess. I don't dare to come in!"
"Come in! Come in!"
Amid Tokugawa Ieharu's shouts, Tanuma Yiji entered Tokugawa Ieharu's room and met Tokugawa Ieharu who had just finished the shogi game.
"Ichi, I lost again! Even though I have been practicing chess for so many years, I still lost."
It seemed that Tokugawa Ieharu was very concerned about this defeat, but Tanuma Yiji smiled happily.
"A chess player only has chess in his heart. In addition to chess, your heart is filled with people from all over the world. How can you not lose when comparing your chess skills?"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Tokugawa Ieharu pointed at Tanuma Yiji and laughed loudly.
After laughing for a while, Tokugawa Ieharu scratched his head and asked with a smile: "Do you have anything to do with me? You don't have to ask me for general matters. You can just make your own decision."
"The general's trust is deeply felt in my heart!"
Tanuma Yiji knelt on the ground and said: "But this matter is indeed more important. Without the approval of the general, I dare not make a decision on my own."
"Oh? What's the matter?"
Tokugawa Ieharu suppressed his frivolous smile and became a little serious.
Tanuma Yiji presented Zhao Xuening's letter with both hands.
"Zhao Xuening, the President of the Lanfang Republic, has a personal letter to present to you!"
