"Father, what's the matter with the sudden letter from the shogunate? Are we going to be assigned any additional labor tasks?" After finding someone to settle Fujiwara Kanbei, Shimazu Takasuke quickly returned to Shimazu Tsutoyo. The person next to me asked.
Since the Battle of Sekigahara, the Tokugawa family has taken power in the shogunate. As the party being liquidated, the Shimadzu family has an estranged relationship with the shogunate. Therefore, when the shogunate wants to carry out large-scale construction projects, they are often assigned labor tasks.
"The shogunate received a message from the Manchu and Qing court, and the content should probably be related to the military information you just saw. Tokugawa Ieshige① means that we must deal with the Ryukyu issue as soon as possible, and don't let the Yi Dynasty Bring the war to the Japanese mainland so as not to weaken Japan's strength." Shimazu Tsuyoshi replied.
"Listen to what you said, is the shogunate planning to invade Ezo Island?" Shimazu Takasuke couldn't help but think about it.
"The shogunate has always been known as the general who conquered barbarians, so it has to do something to silence the people of the world. However, this matter is not a good thing for us outsiders. When the time comes, we will get a large sum of money. Money and material resources are gone." Shimazu Tsutoyo said worriedly.
"Yes, the annual duty payment makes us unable to make ends meet. If we had not always controlled Ryukyu, we would not dare to look at the fiscal deficit. If the attack on Ezo Island requires us to spend a lot of money, we will probably have to work in vain for several years. ." Shimazu Takasaki responded.
"This matter can be slowed down for a while. If it doesn't work, just leave the trouble to the Ryukyu royal family. Anyway, they can use their money to support it for a while." Compared to Shimazu Takato, Shimazu Tsutoyo replied disapprovingly. road.
"It was Tokugawa Ieshige who asked us to test the strength of the Yi Dynasty when we had the opportunity. It seems that he wanted to test the strength of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Could it be that he also wanted to imitate Toyotomi Hideyoshi? If so, is it true? big trouble."
"Toyotomi Hideyoshi's defeat in Korea greatly damaged the vitality of the entire Japan, and it has not yet fully recovered. Otherwise, the shogunate would not have just announced a seclusion. I think the shogunate would not dare to think about invading China again!" Shimazu Takasaki felt that Shimazu Tsutoyo seemed to be a little over-cautious.
"I hope so! Although the Central Plains China is sinking now, it has thousands of years of heritage after all. The Tatars were able to enter the customs only because Wu Sangui stopped the Ming Dynasty and they took advantage.
We are in a corner of Japan and facing each other across the sea. It is really a bit of a fantasy to want to take control of the Central Plains. Even if China is currently in a melee, the personnel and materials needed for the invasion are still beyond what we can bear.
Japan's foundation is always too weak. Now it would be good to annex Ezo Island for development. I hope the Tokugawa family will not drag Japan into trouble again. "Shimazu Tsutoyo is still worried.
"Takasaki, you will write back to Tokugawa Ieshige directly in a moment, saying that the power of the Eto Dynasty is very strong, and it is not something that we, a foreign domain, can resist."
"Yes, father." Shimazu replied without hesitation.
"As for the strength of the Yi army, we don't need to test it. As long as they don't attack us, we shouldn't mess with them." Shimazu Tsutoyo continued to order.
"Father, regarding this..." Hearing this, Shimazu Takasaki started to speak again but stopped.
Why do they need to test Yi Chao's strength? The intelligence in his hand just now already explained the strength of Yijun.
A total of hundreds of large and small warships were dispatched by the Yi Dynasty, and the Satsuma Domain garrison in Ryukyu was completely defeated from the discovery of the Yi army to their landing, and then the Satsuma Domain garrison was completely defeated and exited Ryukyu Island. Everything happened in just a few hours.
This is not to say that the defenders of the Satsuma domain are not brave, but their bravery is not worth mentioning in the face of the hail of bullets of the Yijun. Even the most ferocious and aggressive samurai among them cannot withstand the power of a bullet from the Yijun.
If the Yijun simply held sharp weapons, then the Satsuma clan's garrison might still be thinking about resisting, so as not to lose too ugly.
But the key point is that Ryukyu has no danger to defend. The Satsuma Domain has exploited Ryukyu for a long time, leaving Ryukyu with no defense structures to resist the attack of the Yi army. Therefore, the garrison of Satsuma Domain could not resist even if they wanted to, and could only "turn in" and escape from the main island of Ryukyu like a bereaved dog.
"It seems that it is impossible not to say anything." Shimazu Takasaki thought to himself.
No matter how worried he was about his father's physical condition, Shimazu knew that he couldn't hide this matter. Now that the Yi army has occupied the main island of Ryukyu, the defenders on the remaining four islands to the north will definitely be unable to hold on, and more requests for help will soon come.
Rather than hiding it, it is better to plan it as soon as possible.
"Father, we really don't need to test the strength of the Yi army. We have lost Ryukyu now. They may even attack our domain next. We should consider how to ask for help from the shogunate to stop them from attacking Japan. Okay." Shimazu Takasaki confided without hesitation after secretly making up his mind.
"What did you say? What do you mean we have lost Ryukyu? When did it happen?" Shimazu Takashi's words made Shimazu Tsuyoshi feel as if he had been stabbed by someone. He was so excited that he immediately jumped out of the bed where he was lying. Zhong sat up straight and asked angrily.
"The military information we just received is that the Yijun has sent tens of thousands of troops to occupy the main island of Ryukyu. As for the remaining four islands, it is estimated that they will soon fall. The local defenders asked us to support or make response decisions as soon as possible." Shimazu Takasaki lowered his head and answered.
"It would be fine if the tens of thousands of Yijun just took back the Ryukyu islands in response to Shang Mu's request. Now I'm afraid that the Yijun will have to look at Shu and completely set their sights on our vassal. The military information just now said that the Yijun We have countless 'iron cannons'②, as well as a large number of artillery for siege. If the intelligence is true, our domain's strength will be completely unable to resist the invasion of the Yi army."
"Father, what we are thinking about now should not be how to test the strength of the Yijun. Instead, we must immediately notify the shogunate and let the shogunate fully mobilize the strength of the entire Japan to resist the invasion of tens of thousands of Yijun. Otherwise, it will not only be our domain, but Oops, the whole of Japan will be destroyed." As he spoke, Shimazu Takasaki couldn't help but kneel down and call out.
"Why are you talking about such a big thing now...cough...cough..." At this moment, Shimazu Tsuyoshi coughed rapidly.
"Show me the military information just now."
"Yes, father." Shimazu Takasaki quickly took out the military information letter from his clothes and handed it over.
"How could this happen...how could this happen..." Shimazu Tsuyoshi couldn't stop thinking after taking the letter and reading it. His body, which was already running out of oil, was once again stimulated by such a stimulus. Finally, his eyes darkened and he fell into a deep sleep.
Note ①: Tokugawa Ieshige, the ninth shogun of the Edo shogunate, resigned in 1960 (the 25th year of Qianlong's reign) and handed over to his son Tokugawa Ieji. Died in 1961.
②: Iron cannon, that is, musket
