Toyotomi Hideucha came to Misaki Castle with a heavy responsibility. His first question is to figure out the true purpose of the Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance. After all, if you don't even know the purpose of the other party, any subsequent talks will be a fool's errand. It is very likely that you will be sold and help count the money.
Luo Yuan still stated in a routine manner that the Sea Trade Alliance settled in Misaki City only for "free trade" and had no intention of actively interfering in any other matters.
Toyotomi Hidenaga was doubtful and asked: "I am not overly concerned, but His Highness should be aware of the battle that took place in the southwest of Ninja City a few days ago - His Highness Hidekatsu is convinced that the opponent he encountered was not anyone from the Hojo family. The army, with its flag fluttering, is the sword and flag of your army."
"Oh, Danayan is talking about my Marine Corps? This is indeed true." Luo Yuan did not hide it and said calmly: "The Marine Corps came here to pick up my father's family. Your army's General Xiu Sheng said at that time Narita Kai, who was being pursued, had been promised to my master as his concubine by his father, the Narita clan leader. Since she is the wife of our Kanto Squadron, how can we be trapped outside? Therefore, our Marines have to fight. "
This answer was somewhat beyond Toyotomi Hidenaga's expectations. He was startled for a moment and then immediately said: "Since His Highness said so, can I understand that the previous battle was just a misunderstanding?"
Luo Yuan Yuan's answer from Toyotomi Hidenchang was very sensible, and naturally he immediately went down the steps and said with a smile: "This is natural, it is a complete misunderstanding. Our squadron and the Marine Corps all admire Lord Guanbai very much. The mistake is not because It is a matter of honor and honor, how can we resort to force without asking? Please be considerate of this, Your Excellency the Great Nayan."
The two of them called each other His Highness and the other His Excellency, but they didn't feel awkward at all. They were really talking to themselves.
After hearing this, Toyotomi Hidenchang breathed a sigh of relief. Although it was a bit surprising that the Narita family was willing to send their daughter to be raised as a child, after all, although his family was not very powerful, their family status was still quite high. But there is this layer of reasons in it. At least there was an explanation for the last battle, so I can explain it to my brother when I go back. Presumably, with my brother's wisdom, he must be able to distinguish the priorities.
"Your lord is an important minister of the Confucian sect, Bunzong. The Narita family is able to marry your lord because they have been blessed for three generations." Toyotomi Hideucha casually complimented him, then changed the subject and said, "But speaking of your lord, I suddenly remembered something, and I hope I can give you a few words while I can see His Highness today."
"Oh? Your Excellency Dayan Yan has something to say, but it doesn't hurt to say it." Luo Yuan replied.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Toyotomi Hidenaga twisted his beard and said: "Previously, the Beiyang Sea Trade Alliance built the Crystal Tower in Qingshui City, Kyushu. My brother can still understand that the Shimazu family's territory is closest to the upper country. However, this time the Sea Trade Alliance built the Crystal Tower in Kanto. After settling in Misaki Castle, another Crystal Tower must be built.
Both the west and the east are able to trade independently. Why is Osaka City, a port outside Kyoto, unable to win the favor of the Maritime Trade Alliance? I have never heard that your alliance is building a crystal tower in Osaka City? "
"Speaking of this matter, I don't know anything about it, but..." Luo Yuan sighed, shook his head helplessly, and said: "I have something to say, but I don't know whether Da Nayan wants to hear the truth or a lie. ?”
"Of course it's the truth." Toyotomi Hidenaga said flatly: "To be honest with you, Your Highness, this matter is of great importance to us in Japan. How can I make false accusations?"
"Okay, then I'll tell you frankly."
Toyotomi Hideuchang looked solemn, nodded and stretched out his hand to say: "Your Highness, please inform me."
Luo Yuandao: "Does Da Nayan know what the Shimazu family paid in order for the Sea Trade Alliance to build the first crystal building in Qingshui City?"
Toyotomi Hidenchang was startled and said hesitantly: "This... I have been recuperating a lot recently, and I really have never heard the inside story. Please give me some advice, Your Highness."
Luo Yuan smiled and said: "To be honest, the Shimazu family handed over the defense of Qingshui City to our Beiyang Maritime Trade Alliance, and Qingshui City was exempted from taxation for three years."
Toyotomi Hidenchang felt very troubled when he heard this. It goes without saying that Osaka Castle is important to the Toyotomi family. It is impossible to leave the city defense to the Maritime Trade Alliance and exempt it for three years... Although this will greatly affect the income, it may even increase the price of goods. Huge fluctuations, but at least there is still talk. After all, it's only three years, so if you grit your teeth and endure it, it'll be over. In the long run, it's still a good deal.
The problem lies in the Sea Trade Alliance's own garrison and city defense. Toyotomi Hideucha didn't even need to go back and ask his brother about this, because the answer was obvious, it was absolutely impossible.
Since there was really no way to accommodate this, Toyotomi Hidenaga had no choice but to speak directly and wait for Luo Yuan's reaction.
Sure enough, Luo Yuan had obviously predicted this. He smiled at that time and said: "My master also guessed the same, so I didn't have such a plan before. According to my master's estimation, from a trade point of view, one west and one east Two crystal buildings are basically enough to cover Japanese trade."
Gao Jingshi didn't know whether Toyotomi Hidenaga was really satisfied, but he knew that his brother would definitely be dissatisfied, so he had to ask with a wry smile: "Can't we find some other way to accommodate this matter?"
Luo Yuan showed a slightly displeased expression on his face and frowned: "Your attitude is firm. I think there is nothing that can be accommodated. So do you want our sea trade alliance to be unilaterally accommodating? With all due respect, that's not called Accommodating is called giving in."
Hidetomi Toyotomi said with a hint of apologetic smile: "This...can't say that. Although the defense of Osaka Castle is indeed unaccommodating, I can still discuss other conditions with His Highness on behalf of Lord Guanbai." Well."
"Your Excellency Da Nayan, I am not a lobbyist, and I am not used to beating around the bush when I say something, so let's just say it directly." Luo Yuan's face became slightly colder and said: "My master has no other instructions, but according to what I have said to you I am willing to take some risks to make a suggestion for Dana Yan: If Osaka City is in a special situation and cannot allow us to garrison troops and control the city defense where the Crystal Tower is located, then we can also set aside a certain city near Osaka City as the Crystal Tower. The requirements for the place of establishment, garrisoning troops and taking over city defense cannot be changed.”
"This..." Toyotomi Hidenaga hesitated, rolled his eyes, and asked, "I wonder what your side...or your Highness, do you personally think is suitable?"
Toyotomi Hideucha's words actually had some probing meaning. Luo Yuan didn't know if he heard it, but he answered quickly and neatly: "What I said below was just a temporary thought because of Danagon's mention. I haven't considered this before, so I can't say what I think. If Your Majesty the Great Nayan has any ideas, you can tell me."
"Please allow me to think about it." After Toyotomi Hidenaga finished speaking, he fell into thinking. Luo Yuan did not rush him and let him think for a long time before hearing Toyotomi Hidenaga say: "Your Highness, what do you think of Sakai Town?"
"Oh, Sakai Town?" Now, it was Luo Yuan's turn to think about it.
The meaning of "machi" has been explained before, and it is roughly equivalent to a market. The place name "Sakai" first appeared in the Heian period because it is located at the border of three countries (Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi), which means The border, so the original meaning of Sakai Town is the border market.
This place was very special just a few years ago. What makes it special? Specially, it was a very rare "autonomous city" in East Asia at the time.
As we all know, ancient East Asia was different from Europe. East Asia had a higher degree of centralization and very strong feudal power. Therefore, cities were generally controlled by the central government, and so-called "urban autonomous bodies" rarely appeared.
However, there are still special areas in some very special periods, such as areas where it is difficult for imperial forces to enter, or areas where many forces meet in troubled times. A typical example is the seat of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty court during the Warring States Period. Luoyang, and Sakai Town in Japan.
When a city becomes an independent entity, it is natural that there must be a force to take the lead. Sakai Town meets this condition. You know, the business here was very developed at that time, and it should even be said to be extremely developed. Businessmen from the three countries of Settsu, Hanoi and Izumi would gather here to do business, so it was a highly commercialized city, a bit like the city in certain periods. Venice.
More importantly, because it is also a port near the sea, it will also be the center of tomorrow's Kanhe trade and maintain high prosperity for a long time. With a large amount of wealth, the power of local merchants rose, and the control of the Ashikaga Shogunate was weak at this time, Sakai Town slowly developed into a new type of autonomous city.
The local industrial and commercial leaders played a major role in the Warring States Period. In order to avoid being affected by the war, local businessmen organized a collective to manage the place in an autonomous manner and built a moat around the city to maintain Sakai Town's independence and independence. Any lord. At that time, this situation surprised the Portuguese, Spanish and other "southern barbarians", and was called an autonomous city like Venice by the Western missionaries who came to Japan at that time.
Sakai Town's style of doing things is very simple: we only do business and make money, and I don't care how you fight among the big names.
At that time, the rules and regulations of Sakai Town were completely managed by the residents themselves, and there was an organization called the "Ten People" among the residents that specialized in hearing lawsuits. Later it developed into a thirty-six-member association, representing the interests of residents.
In terms of urban construction, there are trenches filled with water around Sakai, and the two ends of each town are also separated from each other by wooden boards, which are locked at night to protect the safety of the town. In the commercial field, ordinary businessmen in the same industry also have their own "seats" to regulate each other's business behaviors.
During the Kanhe trade period, this place became extremely wealthy due to its trade with the Ming Dynasty, which had a great impact on the surrounding areas. It even spread overseas, and in later generations, roads bearing the name of Sakai Town still remained in various parts of Japan and even overseas countries. Basically starting in the mid-15th century, Sakai reached its peak of prosperity as an international trade metropolis thanks to the huge wealth accumulated from trade with the Ming Dynasty. At that time, there were even many Europeans, mainly Portuguese, who came here to open shops.
However, in ancient East Asia, autonomous cities like Sakai could not last long. The essence of Sakai's autonomy was only a loophole created by the feudal feudal lords of the Warring States Period and their weak governance capabilities. When the situation stabilizes, it is impossible for the daimyo to allow such a wealthy place to escape their control, and it is impossible for these industrial and commercial forces to resist the army of feudal lords.
After the rise of Oda Nobunaga, Sakai Town surrendered to Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the past few years, because Toyotomi Hideyoshi decided to locate the political center in Osaka, the merchants of Sakai Town were coerced by his strict orders and almost all moved there Osaka. After that, Sakai Town only had the function of a port, and was naturally not as good as before.
Toyotomi Hidenaga's proposal at this time was to hand over Sakai Town, which only had the function of a port, to the Maritime Trade Alliance. There is no doubt that he did this in the hope of using the strong trade power of the Sea Trade Alliance to make Sakai Town prosperous again, and handing over to the Sea Trade Alliance also meant that Sakai Town could not return to its previous state of autonomy.
The Maritime Trade Alliance is actually autonomous, but Toyotomi Hidenaga's mentality is similar to "I would rather give to friends than domestic slaves." Especially at this time, Toyotomi Hidenaga believed that the Maritime Trade Alliance had no territorial ambitions for Japan - normal people In fact, they all think so.
Luo Yuan thought for a while, frowned and said: "Although Sakai Town is close to Osaka Castle, because the merchants have moved away long ago, there are probably not many people left now, right? Your Excellency Danagon, such a city..."
Toyotomi Hidenaga said quickly: "Hey, your highness doesn't know something. Although the merchants of Sakai Town have moved, the population loss is not very big. With the strength of the Maritime Trade Alliance, once they settle in Sakai Town, the local prosperity is just around the corner." Moreover, as far as I know, you have always attached great importance to the seaport, and the advantage of Sakai Town lies in the seaport. It has always been the largest port in Japan, with various facilities and a large number of ships that can berth. It’s just right for the Maritime Trade Alliance’s exhibition.”
That's true. After all, building a seaport not only requires a good port, but also requires a lot of money to build. This is not counting the time lost during the construction period itself, which is also valuable.
Luo Yuan pondered for a moment, nodded, and said: "I agree in principle, but I have already said before that regarding the issue of garrison and city defense..."
Toyotomi Hidenaga had just thought about it for so long and had already figured out this issue. He immediately said: "I have several suggestions. Please consider it or convey it to your lord."
Luo Yuan nodded and said: "Please come and speak, I am all ears."
"I dare not." Toyotomi Hidenchou said: "After all, Sakai Town is very close to Osaka Castle. Even if Guan Bai respects your previous habits and allows you to garrison troops and take charge of the city defense in Sakai Town, there are two conditions. You can agree to it. Firstly, your garrison cannot have too many personnel; secondly, you only manage the city defense, and Guan Bai has the right to dispatch various types of envoys to Sakai Town to manage the daily affairs of Sakai Town."
Sakai Town is indeed very close to Osaka Castle. In later generations, Sakai Town has been renamed Sakai City, which is a satellite city of Osaka. Being so close, if the Maritime Trade Alliance puts a large army here, it will obviously be too irritating to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, so Luo Yuan nodded and said: "I can agree to the first one now: We guarantee that we will be in Sakai Town The garrison will not exceed ten thousand at most."
Who would have thought that Hidetaka Toyotomi shook his head and said quickly: "Ten thousand is too much, too much." Seeing Luo Yuan frown, he quickly explained: "Sakai Town is close to Osaka Castle, and in terms of safety, it is actually There is really no need for so many soldiers if everything is foolproof. In my opinion, your dispatch of 3,000 men is enough to ensure public security in the city."
Luo Yuan shook his head and said: "With the establishment of our sea trade alliance's land division, it is difficult to arrange three thousand people. To be honest, Your Excellency, our sea trade alliance's land division generally uses towns as its basic unit, and the number of people in a town is 12512 People. It is actually very difficult for me to agree to control the number of people to less than 10,000, because only two infantry corps can be stationed, and the town's horse emblems and artillery emblems cannot be brought."
Toyotomi Hidenaga then asked about the configuration of the Sea Trade Alliance's land division—actually the configuration of the Kyoka Land Division, and then said: "I'm sorry, Your Highness, given your configuration, I suggest that the Sea Trade Alliance be stationed in Sakai Town. The garrison should not exceed five thousand, and it is best to have only one infantry corps, that is, four thousand and thirty-eight officers and men."
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