Chapter 344 Prestige cannot be lost
The original plan for a year-end meeting in Songjiang was canceled on Chen Cao's whim, because he still had an important task.
After more than half a month of sailing, we finally arrived at Fangjin Village. Thinking back to the last time we came here five years ago, Chen Cao had almost forgotten the days when he was still in the Japanese country, turning his hands to make clouds and rain.
After vigorous construction, Fangjin Village has indeed reached the scale of a port fortress. The continuous coastline is surrounded by towering walls. Business in the port is bustling, and people of all kinds gather together.
Chen Cao stepped off the warship and inspected along the coastline first.
Fu Yingxing, who came over after getting the news, looked panicked, but Chen Cao didn't care.
"Is life in Fangjin Village comfortable?"
The fact that Fu Yingxing could become the military attaché at Fangjin Village was purely because of Wei Zhongxian's favor. Chen Cao never followed a certain pattern in employing people, so he didn't care whether Fu Yingxing would betray him.
"The general will be frightened at the end, but he will not dare to slack off if he can get the arrangements from the prince..."
"You know what's interesting," Chen Cao chuckled, and then asked as he walked: "How is the civil strife in Japan now?"
Chen Cao walked in front, and Fu Yingxing followed a group of generals one position behind: "Back to the prince, the Tokugawa clan and the Toyotomi clan fought in Kyoto in July of the year before last. The Japanese called it the 'Battle of Shangluo', and the Toyotomi clan fought in this battle." After a complete victory, the Tokugawa clan retreated to Shinano;
However, according to the prince's instructions a few years ago, the general dispatched a fleet in accordance with the rules to give support to the Tokugawa clan, at least so that they would not be defeated in Shinano country. "
"Um..."
Fu Yingxing waited for a moment, then continued: "The Toyotomi clan may have known my Ming Dynasty's intention. The Shimazu clan accumulated 10,000 soldiers and horses in the Sakura City territory the year before last, calling it 'generation training'. The final generals just sent We are closely monitoring the others and not paying too much attention to the rest. After all, we still have a cooperative relationship with the Toyotomi clan."
Chen Cao put down the oyster in his hand, then turned his head and looked coldly: "Cooperate? Are they worthy?"
Fu Yingxing nodded in fear: "Yes, I am wrong. It's just that I don't dare to comment on this specific relationship. I have to ask the prince for instructions."
After all, Fu Yingxing was a Jinyiwei who had been in the Tianqi Dynasty for so many years. Fu Yingxing was very smart in his choice of flattering and watching the wind.
Chen Cao suddenly changed the subject: "What happened to the former fallen samurai of the Shimazu family?"
Hirata Shoichi
Fu Yingxing bowed: "Back to your lord, Hirata Zhaoyi has unified the samurai class who have been living in Fangjin Village. Now he has a team of more than a thousand people responsible for maintaining security in the port."
"Is he loyal?"
"He is loyal and has longed for the Ming Dynasty for a long time. The brothers of Jin Yiwei can testify to this."
Chen Cao looked at the sea in the distance thoughtfully, and then said: "What about the matter of Marquis Xianning?"
"At the beginning of the second year of Chongde, people from the Northern Dynasty came. According to the prince's instructions at that time, they did not stop the Marquis of Xianning and his party."
Chen Cao turned around and looked at Fu Yingxing behind him: "Okay, you can do things respectfully, and it will benefit you in the future. This time, I only have one important thing to do when I come to the Japanese country. I need a Japanese army of more than 10,000 people. Forget about the farmers, I want a regular army."
Fu Yingxing had an idea and immediately clasped his fists: "General, I understand. Let's inform the Shimazu family immediately. It's just the prince. Will they not come out?"
Xu Fuyuan spoke on behalf of Chen Cao: "Commander Fu, don't worry. Now is a good opportunity for the Toyotomi clan to unify the Japanese country. If we give up our support, Ming Dynasty can try our best to help the Tokugawa clan. Do you know the mistake?"
If they help the Tokugawa clan, the Toyotomi clan will have no chance of taking control of the Japanese country again. Now the Toyotomi family gets support from the Ming Dynasty from Fangjin Village, but the price in exchange is very high.
Fu Yingxing nodded: "General, I understand..."
"Go and send someone to inform the Toyotomi family that I am here. Let them come to me. I will only give them seven days."
Soon after receiving the news, Toyotomi Hideyori sent people from Kumamoto Castle on horseback. They did not dare to offend Chen Cao who was here in person.
Ukita Hideie is old and out of breath after running around, but Chen Cao doesn't have the slightest fondness for these Japanese people and goes straight to the point when they meet.
"Ten thousand people, you must have received the news. How do you make a decision?"
Ukita Hideie is now the number one think tank around Hideyori, so he bows: "What can ten thousand people do to help the country?"
Chen Cao was silent, and Ukita Hideya realized that he had made a mistake, so he continued: "I understand, I would also like to ask the superior country to give you more support for the sake of respect from the Japanese country."
Are you here to ask for help?
Chen Cao finally understood that Toyotomi Hideyori was willing to let the Ukita Hide family come to negotiate. Now he can afford 10,000 people. It's trivial. The key point is that now a battle with the Tokugawa clan is inevitable. Therefore, getting as much support as possible from the Ming Kingdom is the key to victory.
"The Ming Dynasty did not interfere in Japan's internal affairs."
After receiving Chen Cao's reply, Ukita Hideie was ecstatic in his heart. However, decades of cultivation had made his qi-raising skills extremely domineering, so he silently bowed and saluted again: "I would like to express my gratitude to the superior country for the aid on behalf of my lord. Sakurazuki There are more than 10,000 people in the city, who can be the pioneers of the Kingdom."
It wasn't until Ukita Hideie left happily that Xu Fuyuan shook his head: "Your Majesty, even the Toyotomi clan has become full-fledged."
"In front of firearms, these people are just chickens and wardogs. These ten thousand people will be of great use in the future."
"Students are worried that they will attack the port after unifying Japan."
Chen Cao looked at the defense map of the port, and then shook his head: "Unless Fu Yingxing presents the city, holding on for three months is more than enough."
Chen Cao left. After getting 10,000 Japanese troops, he left with his warship. Before leaving, he promoted Fu Yingxing to brigade commander, and then his goal was to return to Ryukyu.
The sea route from Ryukyu back to Matsue is closer than taking the Yellow Sea. This is the inevitable choice of the fleet, but staying at Shuri Port is Chen Cao's requirement.
Guest Guangxian had been waiting at Shuri Port for a long time, and he was accompanied by Ryukyu King Shang Xian.
Today's Ryukyu became the Ryukyu Autonomous Region of the Ming Dynasty in the Year of Tianqi. King Shangxian and other Ryukyu natives are relatively responsible for the management of Ryukyu.
"How are you in Ryukyu?"
Chen Cao looked at Ke Guangxian beside him, and then said: "Your sister misses you a little, but does she want to go back to Ming Dynasty?"
Ke Guang first clasped his fists and said, "When the fleet returns home every month, the general will send home letters. Since the prince has ordered us to guard Ryukyu, we must do our duty and dare not slack off."
"Well, in the future, whether it is the Japanese or Ryukyu garrison, they will be the same as North Korea. They rotate every three years. Just wait a little longer. When the time is up, you can go back."
"Yes, I will thank you for your concern."
"I pay my respects to His Highness Prince Liang..."
According to etiquette, even the former King of Ryukyu was only at the level of a county king.
"Master Shang is still respectful..."
The tepid question made Shang Xian immediately alert, and he hurriedly clasped his fists: "Your Highness, don't worry, I have done a good job in restraining the Shang clan, and they are all working for the Ming Dynasty."
"You are not ashamed, but you dare to say this, which proves that your Shang family is indeed much more at ease." Chen Cao consoled him with a few words: "North Korea has been merged into our Ming Dynasty, and there is no longer the title of King of North Korea. You Does Shang still understand the benefits of the Ryukyu Autonomous Region?"
Facing the Ming Dynasty with overwhelming force, how can the Ryukyu barbarians who can't even get enough armor be the opponent of the Shangguo? Surrender and sincerity are two different things.
“With the blessing of the Ming Dynasty, Ryukyu’s future is bright.”
"Well," Chen Cao glanced sideways at Shang Xian: "Don't forget, you are also from the Ming Dynasty now, but you are from the Ryukyu tribe."
This is a new title, but Shangxian accepted it immediately: "Yes, I know, I am just a member of the Ming Dynasty Ryukyu tribe."
"Ha ha..."
Chen Cao is in a good mood. It is best for such sensible people to deal with it: "Manage Ryukyu well, and the future development will be bright. Don't have any disloyal intentions. The combat power of my subordinates has not yet reached its peak."
Beating is inevitable, otherwise, the small countries below will think that you are just having sex.
"Yes, His Highness taught you that the people of the Ryukyu tribe must be respectful. They are Ming people in this life and they will not dare to violate it."
The purpose of coming to Ryukyu from Japan was to declare power, and Ryukyu was halfway into the Ming Dynasty. Chen Cao made up his mind that there would no longer be called Ryukyu Special Zone in the future.
In February of the fourth year of Chongzhen (the third year of Chongde, 1642 AD), Chen Cao and his party finally returned to Songjiang, and the fleet entered Shanghai Pudong Military Port.
Chen Cao had no time to go home and went to the governor's office.
Huang Chunyao's face was solemn: "Your Majesty, the student is guilty."
"You are not guilty. The war has become like this and cannot be interfered by human power." Chen Cao sat down at the head of the round table. When he landed, he got the news from Jin Yiwei.
"Bei Chao must be desperate."
Chen Cao read the official document again, and Huang Chunyao took this opportunity to tell the details: "Before the end of the year, there was a sudden heavy snowfall in Gaoyou, and all the surrounding waterways were frozen. Zhang Gaoping's defense line was broken through by the Northern Army. The two sides fought a big battle in Yangzhou, and Zhang Gaoping was defeated. end;
At the same time, Yang He's troops captured Fengyang, and Li Wanchang retreated to the north coast of the Yangtze River. "
"The momentum is huge..."
Chen Cao knocked on the table: "When did our Ming Guard Army become so capable of fighting?"
The guard troops in the late Ming Dynasty were simply ants. Chen Cao was surprised when this group of people became so brave.
"Commander Song is stationed in Zhenjiang, and there are no less than thirty official documents from the court. Even imperial edicts have come five times, all asking students to give orders to Commander Song."
Zhu Yousong is anxious...
He couldn't help but feel calm. The situation in the west and north was no longer what it used to be, and there was even a possibility of corruption.
"Suppress the matter of my return first," Chen Cao decided to disappear and observe first. What he wanted to do was sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.
"The student understands, but how will the court respond?"
Chen Cao frowned: "Isn't there Song Che still in Zhenjiang?"
The footsteps were so fast that the Jin Yiwei who came in almost fell down and was scolded by Xin Zhao.
"Your Majesty, there is an urgent military situation in Zhenjiang. Li Wanchang has been defeated in Jiangbei..."
