As far as Shimazu Mitsuhisa's original intention was concerned, he would never tolerate Ryukyu being taken away by the Ming army. If nothing else, it would deprive him of a huge financial source.
As the saying goes, cutting off a person's wealth is like killing his parents, and it applies just as well to him!
The Ming army had only arrived with more than a hundred warships. He was actually confident of this strength. However, as the daimyo of Satsuma Domain, he had many aspects to consider.
In the final analysis, Shimazu Mitsuhisa was not afraid of the Ming army in Ryukyu, but Tokugawa Iemitsu who was far away in Edo.
After three generations of hard work, the Tokugawa family's rule has actually become very solid.
If nothing else, the current shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu implemented a series of measures after taking office.
He first appointed six of his close associates, Matsudaira Nobutsuna, Hota Masamori, Miura Masaji, Abe Tadaki, Ota Shige and Abe Shigeji, as the "six people". Afterwards, the shogunate's Laozhong, Wakatoshi, Hosei, Daimatofu, and other positions were successively established, and their responsibilities and authorities were also standardized. The political system of the shogunate was completely established.
Subsequently, Tokugawa Iemitsu revised the "Samurai Laws" and required all daimyo to build residences in Edo and the domain. They paid homage to the shogun in Edo and lived for one year before returning to the domain. Living in the domain for one year required another Return to Edo. When the daimyo returned to the domain, his relatives had to stay in Edo. This measure not only weakened the local daimyo's control over their own territories, but also greatly increased the financial and material burden on the daimyo.
In addition, Tokugawa Iemitsu issued the national lockdown order twice, and it was finally implemented. In short, the Japanese country was not allowed to trade with foreign countries. It only opened an opening for the Dutch to trade in Nagasaki, but this was under the control of the shogunate. This further weakened the financial resources of local daimyo.
After Tokugawa Iemitsu came to power three years after the Apocalypse, after so many years, through this series of policies, those foreign daimyo who were once hostile to the shogunate were either wiped out or expressed complete surrender. The once rebellious ministers of the Kyoto court also Already submissive, the Tokugawa shogunate seemed to have obtained the power to rule the entire Japanese country, and even became the de facto monarch, completely having nothing to do with the emperor.
In this case, Shimazu Mitsuhisa was naturally afraid of the Tokugawa Shogunate. This can be seen by asking him to go to Edo and stop mining gold.
If he privately sent troops to attack the Ming army in Ryukyu, it would be the same as when he attacked Korea during the Toyotomi Hideyoshi era.
Ryukyu itself is nothing, the key is the Ming army!
If there is another war with the Ming army, it will be a war between two great powers.
Shimazu Mitsuhisa actually knew very well that the Tokugawa shogunate just wanted long-term peace and stability in Japan, and did not have the ambition of Toyotomi Hideyoshi at all! If a war with the Ming Dynasty started, it would definitely not be what the Tokugawa shogunate wanted. What if the war gets serious and another big name rises like the Tokugawa family in troubled times?
"Alas!" Thinking of this, Shimazu Mitsuhisa couldn't help but sigh.
Hearing this movement, Shimazu Hisumi knew that his master was a little helpless.
Sure enough, Shimazu Mitsuru said in a bitter voice: "Wait for the news from Edo!"
After hearing this, Shimazu Hisumi hesitated for a while. Relying on the fact that he was Shimazu Mitsuhisa's confidant, he asked with a little curiosity and more worry: "Then... what will Edo say? ?”
Hearing this, Shimazu Mitsuhisa couldn't help but become a little irritable and wanted to throw things, but in the end he held back because the objects in front of him were all artifacts from the Ming Dynasty, and they were expensive!
Shimazu Jiudong saw this and did not dare to ask any more questions, so he had to lower his head and remain silent.
After a while, Shimazu Mitsuhisa seemed to have regained some of his emotions, and he raised his head and said to Shimazu Hisumi: "What else can I say? I might not respond!"
After finishing speaking, seeing the surprised look of his men, he explained: "Ryukyu is a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, just like Korea before. The Ming Dynasty sent troops to Ryukyu, what else can Edo say? Protest. ,condemn?"
When asked in return, seeing Shimazu Hisumichi speechless, Shimazu Mitsuhisa added in full: "Even this is untenable!"
He knew that the Tokugawa shogunate even ordered the Ryukyus to cover up their efforts when paying tribute to Edo. In fact, the reason why the Ryukyu Kingdom still exists is because of the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, they would have sent troops to capture the king and his ministers and destroy them.
After hearing this, Shimazu Kudouchi came to his senses after a while, and then asked worriedly: "My lord, what will we do if we have no income from Ryukyu?"
Last year, we did have a windfall that could last for a while. However, it was a one-time deal, just once. If Ryukyu is gone, the Satsuma clan will lose a place where they can collect money for a long time.
As the actual head of the Satsuma Domain when his master was away, Shimazu Hisamichi naturally knew how difficult it was to be the leader!
Hearing his words, Shimazu Mitsuhisa was annoyed!
Of course he also knew that if he lost such a financial source, the Satsuma clan would be even more miserable in the future!
To be honest, Shimazu Mitsuhisa is really a bit unwilling.
I think back then, during the battle of Sizhou in Korea, Shimazu Yoshihiro used a weak force to turn defeat into victory, killing the Ming army and suffering more than 20,000 casualties. That's still the Ming army from before! I heard that since the civil war has been going on, the military is probably even weaker.
As for the Ming army in Ryukyu, the Satsuma clan, as a powerful feudal lord of Japan, still had the strength to take back Ryukyu even if it was continuously suppressed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Tokugawa shogunate.
But, that Tokugawa Iemitsu...
Thinking of this, Shimazu Mitsuhisa felt extremely upset. There was really nothing he could do.
Facing Shimazu Hisumi's questioning, he could only sigh again.
As time passed slowly, the news that the Ming army arrived in Ryukyu and killed the Japanese there gradually spread, and it was no longer limited to a few people led by the Satsuma clan. Suddenly, the warriors below became commotion.
Without the income from Ryukyu, the Satsuma Domain has lost a large part of its financial resources, which will of course affect the income of ordinary samurai. It would be strange if there are no complaints.
Fortunately, Shimazu Mitsuhisa's prestige was high enough, and he happened to be within the territory, so he could suppress the commotion of his subordinates.
On this day, Shimazu Mitsuhisa was in his residence, drinking from a transparent wine glass stolen from Mingguo to relieve his boredom, when he suddenly had to report to Shimazu Mitsuhisa for an interview.
Of course he would not miss the most trusted family elder, but it would be a headache to talk about wealth.
But who would have expected that when Shimazu Hisamichi hurried in, his face was still filled with excitement. Suddenly, he was a little surprised. Is there anything to be happy about?
"My lord, I would like to see you, Puna Kuntong of Amami Island!" As soon as Shimazu Hisamichi saw Shimazu Mitsuhisa, he hurriedly reported with courtesy.
After hearing this, Shimazu Mitsuji was stunned for a moment and said, "What is he here for?"
This Puna Kuntong is the leader of Amami Island and a loyal lackey of his Shimazu family.
"The Ryukyus led the Ming army to attack Amami Island!" Shimazu Hisamichi heard this and quickly replied excitedly, "He escaped!"
Hearing this, Shimazu Mitsuhisa was puzzled and immediately asked him: "This is not a good thing. Why are you so happy?"
"Why isn't that a good thing?" Shimazu Hisumi heard this and replied subconsciously. Then he realized that his tone was a bit wrong. He forgot that when Shimazu Mitsuhisa was around, he was just a minister and not a daimyo giving orders, so he quickly explained, "Yes. He is not a good thing, but it is a good thing for me, Satsuma Domain!"
Shimazu Mitsuhisa was still puzzled after hearing this, so he frowned and asked: "Tell me, the Ryukyu people led the Ming army to attack Amami Island, leaving us without some obedient Ryukyu people. This is very important to us in Satsuma Domain." Come on, why is this a good thing?"
Shimazu Hisamichi didn't care about his attitude at all, but still replied with excitement: "My lord, aren't we worried about losing the financial source of Ryukyu, and maybe we won't be able to have this financial source again in the future? Now is an opportunity, we can Bring Ryukyu back!"
Hearing this, Shimazu Mitsuhisa suddenly felt something in his heart. If he could not lose the financial source of Ryukyu, it would of course be the best thing for him.
So, he immediately asked: "You mean, send troops to help him avenge him?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shimazu Mitsuhisa shook his head and said: "No, this still won't work."
In the final analysis, the Tokugawa shogunate did not want to go to war with the behemoth Ming Dynasty! Then he can't fight the Ming army, even if he can defeat it!
After hearing what he said, Shimazu Hisumi was not discouraged at all and continued to say excitedly: "My lord, this can happen like this!"
Seeing his expression, Shimazu Mitsuhisa couldn't help but wonder, is there still a way to solve the problem he was worried about? Otherwise, why is he still so excited?
When he thought about it, he immediately became excited and listened with his ears pricked up.
"Your Majesty, I have controlled Puna Kuntong without letting others know." Shimazu Hisamichi explained to him, "I will ask him to appear in public later and report that the Ryukyu people retaliated against their tribe and killed their people. , so he wants to borrow troops from Satsuma Domain to take revenge, without mentioning the matter of the Ming Army!"
Hearing this, Shimazu Mitsuhisa's eyes suddenly lit up, it seemed like a good idea. But then he shook his head and said, "No!"
Shimazu Hisumi listened and continued: "However, the Lord does not lend troops. However, based on his relationship with our Satsuma Domain, the sympathetic samurai in our Satsuma Domain volunteered to help him avenge him. In other words, , he hired the samurai of Satsuma Domain to avenge him. The Lord thought of his old friendship and agreed. He also made it clear that the banner of Satsuma Domain should not be used. In this way, he would avoid the people on the Edo side. Worry!"
Hearing this, Shimazu Mitsuhisa finally understood the whole statement and was immediately overjoyed. In fact, he was the one who sent troops to defeat the Ming army and recapture the Ryukyu Kingdom. It's just a change of name, it's not a war between the two countries.
This is not the first time this has happened. At that time, they even went directly to the southeastern coast of the Ming Dynasty to rob. Anyway, it was not in an official name, so what else could be done?
