In June of the 10th year of Dechang, in the three provinces of Nanyu, Nanzhong, and Guangnan, which had just suffered a major hurricane, people wearing coarse cloth, full beards, long swords at their waists, and wooden shoes appeared all over the place. Called - Japanese pirates.
This time, the number of Japanese pirate intrusions is the largest in hundreds of years, and it is also the year when people are most frightened.
Most of these Japanese pirates came from the Japanese country, or came by boat due to lack of supplies. They established strongholds on the coast of Mo Dynasty and often gradually spread out to plunder the three provinces.
This Japanese pirate is very powerful, and many people are most afraid of Japanese pirates compared with the government.
Due to language barriers, many people had no sympathy when they were robbed. People who were powerless had to watch their things being taken away. If they resisted, they would be killed.
This time, the number of Japanese pirates suddenly increased, and many officials from various places quickly dispatched patrol teams to patrol the areas under their own jurisdiction at the prefecture, prefecture, and county level. There were constant patrols during the day and night.
Because of this, many people feel a little more relieved.
However, some Japanese pirates were very cunning and fought with officers and soldiers, causing the number of officials to decrease day by day.
Officials from all over the country hurriedly reported this to the imperial court, hoping that the imperial court could send troops to fight against the Japanese pirates.
In just a few days, hundreds of letters sent to the court suddenly accumulated on the wooden table of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
"Prime Minister Left! Prime Minister Right! I just received a few more letters from local officials."
"I know, let it go."
Afterwards, the two prime ministers on the left and right started discussing with each other.
"Right Prime Minister, in just a few days, hundreds of letters of various sizes from this local official have been found. What should we do?" asked Right Prime Minister Yang Youcheng.
"Don't be anxious. Let me take a look." After saying that, Su Yunqi, the Prime Minister of the Left, picked up another letter and read it.
What was written in the letter was very critical. If this Japanese pirate is not cured, it is possible for the people to rebel in the future.
"You stay here, I'm going to see the emperor." Su Yunqi brought a few letters.
"Okay." Right Prime Minister Yang Youcheng responded.
Su Yunqi hurriedly walked out of the Prime Minister's Mansion with a few letters and headed towards Fengyu Pavilion.
So far, although the emperor has not gone to court, he still cares about the people's livelihood in the Wind and Rain Pavilion.
…
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister Su Yunqi is asking for an audience." Eunuch Li reported.
I saw that the emperor was sitting on the dragon throne and looking at the night pearl, while Eunuch Li went to deliver a message.
"I bow to the emperor!" Su Yunqi did not forget to salute.
"I love you." The emperor then looked at Su Yunqi, the prime minister of the left.
"Your Majesty, this is the letter sent by local officials from various places in the past few days." Su Yunqi handed it to the eunuch Eunuch Li.
After the eunuch Li Eunuch took it, he walked to the emperor's side and handed the letter to the emperor.
The emperor received it and hurriedly opened the letter.
In the preview, the emperor's eyes moved along with the font, and the more he looked at it, the more anxious he seemed.
"Japanese pirates?" The emperor looked at Su Yunqi, the prime minister of the left, with a confused expression.
Su Yunqian, the prime minister of the left, raised his head and began to talk: "It is the Japanese pirates. The Japanese pirates came from the Japanese country. Due to the lack of supplies in the Japanese country, many pirates took ships to the coast of Damo and set up strongholds. They robbed everywhere along the coast and killed them without mercy. It’s very cruel.”
"Many local officials have now sent people to patrol the city more, but the Japanese pirates are cunning, and the number of patrols is getting fewer and fewer every day. I also have no children, so I asked the emperor to decide this matter."
After hearing this, the emperor asked: "Qing Yi, if we send troops to wipe out the Japanese pirates, how long will it take?"
"In my opinion, the number of Japanese pirates this time is unknown. However, judging from reports from officials in various places, there are many Japanese pirates. And killing the Japanese pirates will not harm the people. I speculate that it should take two or three years." Su Yunqi replied. .
The emperor sighed and began to read: "When the late emperor was here, he once asked me to take good care of this country. Now that Japanese pirates are rampant, I have to make decisions for the people."
After muttering to himself, the emperor looked at his personal eunuch Li Zi and said, "Call Du Antong, the Governor-General, to come see me."
"Yes." After responding, Li Zi quickly went to shout.
"My dear, if we send troops to eliminate this matter, is it possible that it will happen again in the future?" the emperor asked.
"It should be possible to return to the emperor. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, there have been Japanese pirates along the coast. However, there have been few Japanese pirates for many years. They were eliminated when found and the court did not worry about it. Just this month, the number of Japanese pirates has gradually increased."
"In your opinion, is there any way to prevent the number of Japanese pirates from increasing?" the emperor looked questioning.
"Back to the emperor, the only way to ensure that there are no more Japanese pirates in Damo for many years is to implement a sea ban. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"If a sea ban is implemented, all foreign merchant ships will not be able to enter the DPRK, and our merchants will not be able to trade with foreign merchants. I am afraid that the lives of coastal people will be affected."
After listening to Su Yunqi's words, the emperor asked no more questions: "Then send troops to wipe out the Japanese pirates first. We will only implement it when necessary."
"yes."
At this moment, Du Antong, the Grand Governor of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, walked towards Fengyu Pavilion.
"Your Majesty, Du Antong from the Governor's Office has arrived." Eunuch Li Zi reported.
After hearing the sound, the emperor raised his head and looked at Du Antong who was approaching: "Just in time, Prime Minister Zuo is also here, and we have decided on this matter."
"I pay homage to Your Majesty."
"I love you so much."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." After standing up, Governor Du Antong glanced at Zuo Prime Minister Su Yunqi, then looked at the emperor, and asked, "I don't know, what does the emperor have to discuss with me?"
"Do you know that a large number of Japanese pirates have appeared along the coast recently?" the emperor asked.
"Reporting to your Majesty, I have heard about this matter." Du An, the Governor's Mansion.
"I just discussed with Prime Minister Zuo and decided to send troops to fight against the Japanese pirates, but I don't know who to send. I don't know, who does Aiqing think is appropriate to send?"
Listening to the emperor's words, Governor Du Antong seemed to have already thought of the candidate: "Your Majesty, I think it is appropriate to send Song Yuankai."
"Why do you see it?" the emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, this man is the most capable general in the Governor's Mansion. He has been at the forefront of many battles. In the eyes of many soldiers, he is a hero." Governor Du Antong said confidently.
"No. You want another person." The emperor immediately refused.
"I don't know, why don't you use such a person?" Du Antong, the governor, was a little confused.
"The Mo Dynasty and the Qi State have not stopped fighting, and it is not known when the Qi State will attack again. This time, the responsibility of wiping out the Japanese pirates is heavy. Just now, Prime Minister Zuo also speculated that it will take several years. You think of another person, this person will be responsible for You are of little use and yet you have accomplished something."
At this time, the Grand Governor Du Antong suddenly thought about it. After thinking about it carefully, he soon had another candidate: "In that case, I recommend Xia Shaoyuan to go."
"Okay. So, let's send him there. You can discuss how many people to send. If nothing happens, you two can go back."
"I excuse myself," the two said.
After learning that there were Japanese pirates roaming in Xitong County, the local official Yu Wenbin also hurriedly sent people to patrol the county.
"Uncle Xu, mother, when can I go to study?" Zi Yuan asked.
"Don't worry, you don't have to go there from now on." Chunxu said with a smile.
"Don't go? Don't read anymore?" Zi Yuan looked questioning.
"From now on, Uncle Xu will invite you to have a husband. Just like those children from rich families, the husband will come to your home and teach you personally."
"Really?" Ziyuan was excited and happy at the same time.
"Of course, how can your Uncle Xu's words be false?" Chunxu said with a smile.
The fat man Zheng Chui on the side was a little interested after hearing this: "Brother Chunxu, when the time comes, can I listen on the side?"
"Yes, yes. But, you are such an adult, why are you still learning these things?" Chunxu asked.
The fat man Zheng Zhui scratched the back of his head and said, "I want to know a few more words so that I won't be bullied by others in the future. I don't have to ask others when I want to buy things."
"But you can only be Ziyuan's book boy." Chunxu said.
"Book boy?" Zheng Chui didn't quite understand.
Then, Chunxu explained: "Is it possible for you to be like Ziyuan? Then don't I have to pay twice? You will be his book boy. You can sleep when you are tired and eat when you are hungry. If you don't want to hear it, You don’t have to listen.”
As he spoke, Chunxu looked at Ziyuan with a wicked smile: "Ziyuan can't do any of these things. You can do whatever you want, sir."
"Uncle Xu, I heard that there are many Japanese pirates outside now. What do the Japanese pirates look like?" Zi Yuan asked curiously.
Chunxu shook his head: "I don't know. I haven't seen it either. I heard that the Japanese pirates wore a pair of wooden shoes and a long arrow on their waist. However, you'd better stay at home and don't go out."
"Wooden shoes?" Ziyuan asked again.
"Wooden shoes are made entirely of wood, with nothing on them. Unlike us, they are padded with cloth."
Ziyuan understood this explanation a little better.
At this moment, someone outside shouted: "Is Zhang Chunxu at home?"
After hearing this, Chunxu turned around and saw the county magistrate Yu Wenbin arriving. He stood up calmly and walked up with a look of confusion on his face: "Here. I wonder what the county magistrate has to do with the common people?"
Yu Wenbin, the county magistrate, is older than everyone else in the family. His face is old but he doesn't have a white beard in sight.
County Magistrate Yu Wenbin smiled slightly, looked at the family, and said, "You were successful in suppressing the bandits last time. This time, I want you, the great hero, to join us and help us."
Seeing that Chunxu had not yet agreed, Liu Junliang, the master of the county magistrate, started to persuade him: "This time the Japanese pirates are rampant, the people also need you. We also hope that the heroes can join us. Your wages will be indispensable in the magistrate, and you will even be given Multiple shots.”
Chunxu looked at the family behind him and just wanted to be together safely, but seeing the county master coming in person, he couldn't refuse.
"Since the county master can come to the humble residence, the common people agree." Chunxu said helplessly.
"Okay." Magistrate Yu Wenbin smiled and said, "In that case, I'll be on duty tomorrow." After saying that, he patted Chunxu on the shoulder and walked toward the sedan.
"Master, go slowly," Chunxu said.
After watching the official leave, Chunxu sat down and looked at the family.
"Brother Chunxu, you promised to take care of yourself in the future. I heard that those Japanese pirates have become cunning." Xi Ran was worried.
"Don't worry, I can take care of the bandit's lair. There's nothing that can't trouble me." Chunxu smiled slightly.
