Fan Wencheng's words greatly increased Shi Kefa's favor.
There was even a moment when he wondered if there might be some misunderstanding when the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty went to war in Liaodong. After all, he knew the virtues of the Ming Dynasty officials, and it was not impossible for the Jurchens to be forced by these officials.
However, as soon as this idea emerged, he pressed it down again.
He was loyal to the Ming Dynasty. Regardless of whether the Jurchens were forced to rebel, as long as they were enemies of the Ming Dynasty, they were the enemies of the Ming Dynasty.
The current conflict with the Qing Dynasty is only because the threat of the Tiger Character Banner to the Ming Dynasty has exceeded that of the slaves and thieves in Liaodong.
"The Qing Dynasty should indeed apologize to the Ming Dynasty for sending troops to Korea, but it can be considered that it happened for a reason. I don't think the court will blame the Qing Dynasty for this." Shi Kefa said.
Fan Wencheng choked up when he heard this.
He just wanted to be polite, but he didn't expect Shi Kefa to take it seriously.
In order to exchange for the other party's support in the Ming Dynasty, he could not refute anything, so he had to suppress the unhappiness in his heart and said: "Don't worry, Mr. Shi, the apology that needs to be expressed will definitely be expressed next time. Why don't we talk about the cooperation between the two dynasties first? Tiger Thief Failure to do so will be a threat to both dynasties."
"I support the cooperation between the two dynasties to deal with tiger thieves. I will also go out to explain the situation to the DPRK. I believe it won't be long before someone from Honglu Temple comes to see you, Mr. Fan." Shi Kefa said.
Fan Wencheng complimented: "I would like to thank Mr. Shi here first."
"You're welcome, I'm not doing this entirely for your Qing Dynasty, but also for the Ming Dynasty." Shi Kefa said politely.
But I do think so in my heart.
If the Tiger Character Banner had not threatened the permanent stability of the Ming Dynasty, he would never have supported the alliance between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty.
Although the Tiger Character Banner is the enemy of the Ming Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty is also the enemy of the Ming Dynasty. Now the Ming Dynasty is just choosing the lesser of two evils, which does not mean that it can really maintain peace with the Qing Dynasty.
Fan Wencheng could feel the sense of alienation revealed in Shi Kefa's words.
But Shi Kefa was a force that could not be ignored in the Ming Dynasty. As long as he could get Shi Kefa's support, the Qing Dynasty's requests would be less hindered by the Ming Dynasty, and it would be easier to achieve their goals.
"In addition to the union of the two dynasties, the Qing Dynasty also has a condition. I hope Master Shi can support it in the court." Fan Wencheng did not forget his purpose and decided to talk to Shi Kefa about the Shanhaiguan matter.
For people like Shi Kefa, he was worried that not telling him in advance would cause him to be extremely disgusted with the Ming Dynasty, thus ruining the Qing Dynasty's plan.
"Are there any conditions?" Shi Kefa frowned.
The Qing Dynasty wanted to impose conditions on the Ming Dynasty, which in his opinion was pushing the envelope.
Fan Wencheng laughed and said: "The Qing Dynasty only needs to defend Liaodong, but the Ming Dynasty is different. It needs to regain the lost provinces, including the northern capital. Such a large territory is all in the hands of the tiger thieves. We must deal with the tiger thieves." It is most beneficial to the Ming Dynasty, but on the contrary, the Qing Dynasty will get nothing. Such cooperation will not benefit the Ming Dynasty, so why should the Qing Dynasty help the Ming Dynasty deal with the tiger bandits!"
"You are also enemies of the tiger thieves. Do you think that if you don't take action, the tiger thieves will not take the initiative to attack you? I remember that the tiger thieves captured Gaizhou City in the Liaodong Peninsula not long ago." Shi Kefa's eyes turned cold.
Fan Wencheng wanted to raise conditions, which in his opinion was pushing the envelope.
Hearing this, Fan Wencheng shook his head slightly and said: "It is true that the tiger thieves are the enemies of the Qing Dynasty, but Master Shi must not forget that the territory occupied by the tiger thieves was once the territory of the Ming Dynasty. If the Qing Dynasty and the Ming Dynasty work together to eradicate After the tiger thieves were eliminated, would the Ming Dynasty be willing to share these territories occupied by the tiger thieves with the Qing Dynasty?"
"Impossible. Since it is the territory of the Ming Dynasty, how can it be shared with foreigners." Shi Kefa's face darkened and he looked at Fan Wencheng coldly.
Ming Dynasty needed to join forces with Qing Dynasty to deal with the Tiger Flag, but he would never agree to cede Ming Dynasty's territory in exchange for joining forces with Qing Dynasty.
Fan Wencheng got angry when he saw Shi Kefa, but he was very calm.
He had known Ming officials like Shi Kefa before he came.
Such Ming officials were too arrogant and were still obsessed with the era when the Ming Dynasty expelled the Tartars. Therefore, they looked down on the newly rising small tribes like the Qing Dynasty from the bottom of their hearts. They felt that the Ming Dynasty could join forces with the Qing Dynasty to deal with the Tiger Flag. The Qing Dynasty, the Qing Dynasty should obey the arrangements of the Ming Dynasty honestly and not have any opinions.
Fan Wencheng despises this behavior of not recognizing himself but treating others as fools.
But thinking that Shi Kefa still had some uses, Fan Wencheng suppressed his dissatisfaction and said: "Master Shi is reluctant to give everything to others, but he still wants me, the Qing Dynasty, to help the Ming Dynasty regain those provinces. Master Shi feels that this Is it fair to me, the Qing Dynasty?"
"How unfair! Liaodong has always been the territory of the Ming Dynasty. In terms of fairness, the Qing Dynasty should first return Liaodong to the Ming Dynasty." Shi Kefa stared at Fan Wencheng and said.
Fan Wencheng shook his head and said: "If Mr. Shi thinks so, then there is nothing to say. The territories of several provinces occupied by tiger thieves can only be taken back from the tiger thieves by Ming Dynasty himself."
Snapped!
"Are you threatening me?" Shi Kefa raised his hand and slammed it on the table.
The lid of the tureen on the table was shaken, making a crisp sound of clinking porcelain.
Fan Wencheng reached out to pick up the tureen in his hand and said: "This is not a threat, it is just stating a fact. Mr. Shi should also know this."
The anger on Shi Kefa's face slowly faded away.
Originally, his anger was half-angry and half-pretended, but this only made Fan Wencheng understand that Daming would not let him take whatever he wanted.
"Tell me about your conditions!" Shi Kefa asked calmly.
And his calmness made Fan Wencheng stunned for a moment.
However, this also made him understand that Shi Kefa was not really angry.
Come to think of it, how could an important minister in the Ming Dynasty express emotions of joy and anger in just a few words?
Fan Wencheng thought about it in his mind and said: "The Qing Dynasty can send troops into the pass to deal with the tiger thieves together with the Ming Dynasty, but I, the Qing Dynasty, have only one request. I hope that the Ming Dynasty can hand over the Shanhaiguan Pass to me, the Qing Dynasty, so that I, the Qing Dynasty, can enter the pass." As the gateway to Liaodong, we don’t have to worry about anyone entering or leaving Liaodong at will.”
"Impossible, Shanhaiguan will never give it to you." Shi Kefa refused directly.
It is true that Shanhaiguan is the gateway into Liaodong, but it is also the gateway out of Liaodong.
Losing the Shanhaiguan Pass meant that the Ming Dynasty lost the gateway that blocked the Qing army from entering the pass. Once the threat of the Tiger Flag was gone, the Qing army would be able to enter the Ming Dynasty's territory through Shanhaiguan at any time.
(End of chapter)
