Xinshun 1730

Chapter 464
"Now it's time to be careful and obedient, so that the people of Tang will think that the East has no worries, and that they will expand their territories and provoke the southern barbarians."

"Father also said, obey the destiny and do your best."

"Zhuge Wuhou's confrontation with Longzhong also has a premise. When the world changes, it will come out of Xichuan and Wanluo. However, Wuhou never waited for the change of Gaopingling in his life. Time and fate, Japan's hope can only be pinned The world has changed as I said. Even if it is slim, you must be prepared."

"Take the gold and silver from the comprador tariff, feed the horses and fight hard, wait for the world to change, take advantage of the benefits of firearms, the Tang people have no time to look east, three years to cut down the vassal, ten years of cultivation, link up with the southern barbarians, and fight back against the Tang people."

Tokugawa Yoshimune asked: "If the Southern Barbarians can even defeat the Tang people, how can they let their own country go?"

"Father, the Tang people are rich, but Japan is poor. Why don't the Nanman people leave the rich Tang country and refuse to take it, but come to the barren Japan? Besides, what do they want? The Nanman conquered the Tang country? They only want the Nanman to defeat the Tang people's navy. If there is no navy, the chains imposed by the Tang people on Japan will be untied."

"So, you should try your best, bear the burden of humiliation, let the compradors go, and increase the franchise. If the fate is not here, and the Tang people win the Nanman, then you don't have to think about anything. Just be a loyal minister. Those who can protect the shogunate are the Tang Dynasty. If The fate is here, if the Tang people are defeated at sea, they can directly cut down the vassal and unify them, contact the southern barbarians, and then carry out Hideyoshi's ambition to conquer the dynasty."

After all, he still pins his hopes on the illusory future, and Tokugawa Yoshimune actually has no better way in his mind.

But compared to those who advocate shipbuilding and revenge, Tokugawa Sotake's idea is the only feasible one.

However, thanks to Liu Yu's cooperation, at least in Japan, there is already a basis for realizing Tokugawa Sotake's vision.

As long as this incident is used to portray the shogunate as a loyal minister who "want to fight to the end"; and the feudal vassals as treacherous ministers who "advocate peace talks for personal gain", the trend of domestic public opinion can still be controlled.

The defeat is not the responsibility of the shogunate, but the gap in weapons.

It is the responsibility of the vassals not to fight to the end.

Tokugawa Yoshimune can foresee that in the near future, with the influx of Dashun goods into the feudal vassals, the samurai are impoverished, the merchants are getting richer, and a large number of dissatisfied low-level samurai will start to think about the root of all this.

As for the root cause, it is easy to think that there are many feudal clans, and they cannot be single-minded.Even if the shogunate is heartbroken, the feudal vassals are holding back.

With this kind of popular opinion, and the firearms made of gold and silver exclusively by compradors, decades later, there should be a basis for cutting the feudal clan.

Tokugawa Zongwu was the first person who clearly put forward the idea of ​​reducing the domain in front of Yoshimune, and the previous test was basically qualified in Yoshimune's view.

There is neither a manic desire for revenge, nor a complete depression that is hopeless. Instead, he casts his sights on the world outside the "world", looking forward to changes in the world.

After he had made up his mind that Tokugawa Zongwu would take over, Yoshimune said: "What a man decides to do must be done. Zhuge Wuhou didn't wait for the world to change, but he never gave up."

"Follow the destiny and do your best. Since you proposed the idea of ​​instigating the Tang people and the Netherlands, then you can go to pay tribute to the Tang capital this time."

"Listen more, watch more, and ask more. But be careful of Liu Yu, you should listen to his words more, but you have opinions, but you can't trust him."

Tokugawa Zongwu was secretly happy, because this time the tribute was very special.

For normal tribute, you only need to send your ministers to go.

But Dashun captured Emperor Zhaoren this time. Although he will be released, Zhaoren must go to the capital to pay homage to the emperor in person.

People from the public family went to the emperor, and people from the samurai family should also go to at least one prince.

This is a matter of etiquette, and it may not explain anything, but the key is that Tokugawa Yoshimune approved the strategy of "provoking Tang He".

Policies do not stand alone.

It's meaningless to have nothing to do just to instigate Tang He.A set of corresponding policies and plans for governing the country are needed, in short, for the future of "the world is changing" that seems a bit distant at this time.

And this whole set of policies wanted to be implemented, Tokugawa Sotake decided that his brother who peed his pants couldn't do it.

This is already tacitly acquiescing Tokugawa Munetake's succession. Although it hasn't been explained yet, if you don't understand this, you will have a reputation for being smart in vain.

"Father, don't worry, I will work hard to make Tang people believe that we have surrendered."

Tokugawa Yoshimune looked at his son and asked, "How can we make them believe that we have surrendered?"

"Back to father. Despair."

This answer made Tokugawa Yoshimune very satisfied. It is impossible for Tang people to believe that they will be convinced, but after the big victory, they can believe that they are already desperate.

"Very good. I'm going to Osaka too. One is to welcome the return of the emperor, and the other is to meet Liu Yu and ask him some things, expressing a desperate attitude. It's exactly what I want."

"Go prepare it yourself, ask someone to send the Dutch storybook overnight, and pick words from it that can instigate Tang He's relationship."

"Today's matter, you can't talk to a third person. This matter is related to the future of Japan, and your brother is not allowed to talk about it."

"Yes!"

The last reassuring words made Sotake Tokugawa dizzy, but he still maintained a standard respectful expression, without any disrespect in the details.After saluting and retreating, Tokugawa Yoshimune sighed, thinking about how to face Liu Yu in Osaka and what to say.

"The Emperor Tang should have signed the treaty, right?"

…………

After printing the treaty of the emperor's jade seal, following the huge envoys and guards of honor, they have arrived in Xiaguan.

The Jieying Temple, where the North Korean communication envoys once rested, is already guarded with three floors inside and three floors outside.

Japan is also facing a big enemy, not worried about the strong soldiers brought by Liu Yu as guards of honor, nor worried about the elite battalion who is inspecting the fort for dismantling and choosing to build a lighthouse, but worried about some fanatical samurai Engage in assassination.

If something happened to Liu Yu, Japan might die.

The southwestern vassals worked harder this time than when defending Xiaguan last time. They took the initiative to send their cronies to cross the strait and go to Xiaguan for security checks.

The feudal lords of all the southwestern vassals also went to Xiaguan to see Zhaoren who had returned from "Beishu".

Liu Yu simply said "see no evil", just pretend it doesn't exist.

The two large ships sold by the merchant to Zhao Ren have already planted the royal flag and are docked near the port.

Surrounded by several warships flying the Dashun flag, all ships in the strait were prohibited from passing, and all Japanese naval forces withdrew.

On the south bank of the strait, near Xiaocang, a ceremony is being held.

Sea merchant Xu Tao is summoning the soul of his son who died in smuggling. Fortunately, there are quite a lot of Japanese monks. As long as he is willing to pay, it is easy to hold a ritual.

On Xiaocang's fort, Liu Yu was inspecting the structure of the fort with several officers, and he couldn't help laughing when he saw the monk doing something in the distance.

Maritime merchant Xu Tao is also a wonderful person. He summoned his son's soul and paid a large sum of money. He hoped that after the fort in Xiaocang was demolished, a monument tower could be built here so that he could come and visit him during the New Year's Eve.

Although this matter is small, it sounds reasonable, but it has a smack of imperialism... A group of smugglers forced their way into the strait and were shelled to death. Many years later, the fort was demolished and a monument was erected to mourn, which really made Liu Yu a little bit Not very comfortable.

Xu Tao was standing behind Liu Yu at this moment. His son had been dead for many years, and he was also very old. To do the practice was just to fulfill a wish.

If it is sad, Nianzi crying bitterly, etc., there is nothing, but a little emptiness.

Since he is a maritime merchant, he should have thought about it the day he went to sea, that he might die at sea one day, and his heart has long been indifferent.

The voices of doing things in the distance were muffled and noisy. Xu Tao grabbed a handful of paper boats, stood on the fort and cast it down, muttering: "My son, the cannon here is also dismantled, and the fort is also gone. You If you still do such a thing over there, you can do it boldly. I will not burn money for you, but burn a fleet of boats for you. If you have boats, how can you be short of money?"

After muttering a few times, he sighed and turned around to thank Liu Yu again.Liu Yu waved his hand to indicate that he didn't need to be grateful, and he didn't shy away from anything, so he started talking about business next to the practice.

"Xu Chuantou, I have a business matter. I was busy a while ago, but I forgot to tell you."

"Sir, please speak."

"That's the thing. Now that the trade between North Korea and Japan has been cut off, North Korean ginseng may not be sold to Japan. When I was in Beijing, I talked with Westerners, and the French wanted to ship a batch of American ginseng. The Japanese probably won’t recognize this thing. But the profits from the ginseng trade are quite large, and North Korea also earns money from Japan by selling ginseng. After you go back, discuss with them, first buy a batch of American ginseng, and give it to Japan Generals, ministers, and all the big names. Ordinary people can’t afford this thing, so they pay for it.”

Xu Tao hurriedly said: "My lord, don't worry, we all know how to do business. If you want to give a gift, you should taste it. The monopoly fee will be nearly one million a year in the future. How can you just think about selling raw silk or something? They will send people to open the market and sell everything.”

This is exactly what Liu Yu wanted to say. American ginseng was just an introduction, and he said with a smile, "That's what I want to say. After I considered Arai Shiraishi's new policy, many goods cannot be brought to Nagasaki for trade these years. I'm afraid that now The trade has been liberalized, but it is habitual to only bring goods that were allowed to trade before. In the past, a trade letter was needed, but now it is no longer required. Mosquitoes are small but also meat, and they can sell a little. Try any trick. "

"Well, don't worry, my lord. We've discussed this a long time ago. Although I'm old, I dared to collude with the Dutch to transport porcelain to Japan. I still haven't forgotten what I did when I was 40 years old. In fact, as long as you let go In trade, there are many places to make money. You can earn a lot of money by exchanging silver for gold."

Xu Tao thought to himself that there is really no need to teach such things as making money.The reason why the Dutch are so popular in Nanyang is not because of their ability to do business, but because of their warships.In terms of business, they may not be better than us, not to mention American ginseng, gold and silver, who in the sea merchants did not know that Li Dan sold needles, threads, brains and groceries in Nanyang, and he sold such a huge fortune?

With so many monopoly fees paid for a year, Japan has nothing to bring back except for gold, copper, and sulfur.

This time he came here with Liu Yu not just to do legal affairs, but to inspect the leased land in Kobe on behalf of the trading company and contact the Japanese businessmen in Osaka.

The defeat of Japan means the carnival of the wealthy merchants in Osaka. Those who are really capable of being compradors must be ecstatic at this time.

He also mentioned a few business matters with Liu Yu, and finally Liu Yu said: "After you go back, you must explain clearly to them. The imperial court gave you the monopoly power not only because of money, but also because of the importance of your cultivation of reserve sailors. For military use."

"Japan collects tariffs, and the Chinese side only needs your fixed monopoly fee. Maybe some of us are thinking about smuggling, or some Westerners are also thinking about smuggling. Don't be reluctant to spend money to build big ships and bring cannons. Otherwise. You are the ones who suffer."

Xu Tao hurriedly said: "My lord, don't worry, don't worry. As businessmen, we know what money should be spent and what money should not be spent. The shipbuilding is in Weihai, and the records are in Songjiang. The accounts are absolutely clear. The sailors are also registered. , we have been doing it all the time. Besides, now that the customs tax has been paid to the imperial court, we don’t have to think about smuggling anymore, the goods will be registered.”

"That's good. Let's sell it hard. Use your own skills. The more you earn, the more you will contribute to the country. You are responsible for making money, and I am responsible for rectifying your names." Liu Yu made a half-joking promise. Looking at the fort that was about to be demolished and built a monument tower under his feet, he thought that indeed, pirates and compradors are both sides of the same trade.

(End of this chapter)