Father can be an enemy country

Chapter 1364 Shattered peace
Zhu Zhen did not stay at the Prajna Temple arranged by the Governor's Office, but instead lived in his second uncle's house.

Ah Fang cooked a sumptuous banquet to welcome the guests. Han Yike, Yu Tongjiang, Yang Shiqi, Shen Rong and others accompanied them, but there was no Japanese.

"Just let them go back like this?" The Eleventh Old Man thought to himself, isn't this a bit disrespectful to the king and the governor?
"Haha, Your Highness the King of Shu has never come into contact with them before." Han Yike explained with a smile: "The people here are very particular about hierarchy. As long as you are the superior, whatever you do is right. You don't have to care about their opinions."

"That's right." Hu Bo nodded in agreement, "These people are very obedient, and you can't help but want to bully them."

Zhu Zhen thought, what the hell is this "workplace stench"? But thinking that the little devils fear power but not morality, maybe this is the correct way to control them, but he still has to remind a few people:
"But don't overdo anything. When things get to the extreme, they will turn into the opposite. It is true that Japan has a strict class system and strong obedience, but if you push them too far, they will rebel."

"Yes, we will keep it in mind." Everyone responded quickly.

"Come on, let's eat and talk at the same time." Zhu Zhen picked up the chopsticks and invited everyone to eat.

During the banquet, everyone was eager to join in the fun and asked the prince to tell them about the Northern Expedition. Of course, they were indeed very interested.

Zhu Zhen started by talking about the time when he received the imperial edict and went north to visit his father-in-law. He told the story of the Northern Expedition in a gripping and brilliant way, and everyone listened with great interest and praised him repeatedly.

Before they knew it, it was dark, so Afang cleared the banquet and set up a new dinner, allowing them to continue drinking and chatting.

"Alas, I didn't realize it just by reading the court report. Now that I've heard what the prince said, I know what I've missed." Yu Tongjiang sighed regretfully, "It's such a pity that I didn't participate in such a great final battle."

"As a naval commander, you will have no place to use your skills. Do the Mongols have navy?" Everyone laughed at him.

"Indeed, the area outside the Great Wall is the stage for cavalry. Navy and infantry like us can only watch." Hu Bo patted Yu Tongjiang on the shoulder.

"You don't have to envy others. It is estimated that there will be no war in the northern border for 20 years. From now on, it will be the time for others to envy you." Zhu Zhen smiled and comforted the two.

"We're in trouble here too." Yu Tongjiang said with a wry smile, "The pirates are basically extinct. We haven't fought a single battle in the whole year."

"And what about the Northern Dynasty?" Zhu Zhen asked with a smile, "Didn't Ashikaga Yoshimitsu always refuse to accept it?"

"It's useless for him to refuse to obey." Han Yike said in a deep voice: "After the Battle of Kanmon Straits, the Northern Dynasty not only suffered heavy losses, but also the reputation of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and the shogunate suffered a severe blow. Those powerful daimyo who were forcibly suppressed by him before, such as the Toki clan of Sanin and the Yamana clan of the 'Six-point One Clan', all rose up against him and demanded that he resign."

"Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was so young that he certainly wouldn't agree, so he went to war with the two families. They've been fighting back and forth for several years, and neither side can do anything to the other, and the small princes were dragged into it." Yu Tongjiang continued, "Now the Honshu Island is in chaos, we should be thankful that we don't fight them. You still want to fight us? Dream on!"

"In Kyushu, Shoni and Otomo are getting restless again after seeing the situation in the Northern Dynasty." Hu Bo reminded Zhu Zhen, "They have told me several times that they want to take advantage of the opportunity to send troops to seize the Western Kingdom. I have rejected them all on the grounds that I cannot make decisions on my own. I guess they will bring up this matter again when they meet the prince." "Well, that's how the Japanese are." Zhu Zhen sneered and said, "Don't worry, I won't give in. Our basic principle of splitting Japan will never change!"

"Understood." Everyone responded in unison.

"So we can neither give the Northern Dynasty a chance to annex Kyushu, nor can we give Kyushu a chance to annex the Northern Dynasty. Now it seems that Honshu Island is still too big, so we must take advantage of the situation and let the Northern Dynasty split into the Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Zhu Zhen said in a deep voice: "Of course, it would be even better if we can reproduce the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period."

"Yes." Everyone responded with a smile.

"But I'm afraid it's difficult. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu still has the ability, and he also occupies the most prosperous Kyoto area in the Northern Dynasty. His potential is far greater than the other two. It's just that the main forces were buried in the Kanmon Strait, and the military strength was greatly reduced, which gave the other two families an opportunity." Yang Shiqi had a different opinion:
"But the two families joined forces and failed to break through the shogunate's defenses. Instead, they were attacked by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu from time to time. In two years, when Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's military strength has recovered and he has dealt with those princes who wanted to seize power, the two families will be waiting to be listed."

"Then help the two families and impose an embargo on the shogunate. If simply cutting off supplies is not enough, we can send troops... Isn't our Iwami Silver Mine in San'in? If necessary, we can use the excuse of protecting the silver mine to send troops to the Northern Court and establish a ceasefire line between the Toki clan and the shogunate. If the shogunate's army dares to cross the line, we will resolutely strike back!"

"Okay!" Hu Bo and Yu Tongjiang were waiting for the prince to say this.

"But remember, use the soldiers from Kyushu to fill the line. We will only send out the navy." Zhu Zhen set another restriction for the two and said, "Never forget, what we want is a divided Northern Dynasty, not to help them unify!"

"Understood!" the two responded again.

~~
The next day, Zhu Zhen summoned Yang Shiqi alone.

He was sent to Kyushu Island to take over Han Yike's job. In the next step, the focus of the Prime Minister's Navy Office will be completely moved south, and Han Yike will also follow Zhu Zhen to the south, so he handed over the job of Kyushu Island to Yang Shiqi in advance.

Han Yike's tasks in Japan were mainly two: one was to be in charge of the Kyushu Anchasi, monitoring the Japanese princes in Kyushu; the other was to preside over the daily affairs of the Shibosi. This burden was indeed too heavy for a young man in his early twenties, but Zhu Zhen still overcame all objections and let Yang Shiqi take over Han Yike's job.

"How is it? Are you used to wearing this scarlet robe?" Zhu Zhen asked with a smile, looking at the fourth-rank official uniform on Yang Shiqi.

"I am trembling with fear and treading on thin ice." Yang Shiqi said with a wry smile, "I still don't know why the prince gave me this important task? Aren't you afraid that I will mess it up?"

"First of all, you were a soldier who followed the army when we attacked Kyushu, and you are very familiar with the situation in Japan. Secondly... you are Yang Shiqi, I believe you can do it!" Zhu Zhen said with full expectations.

Yang Shiqi felt his blood boiling, and he quickly stood up and said, "Please rest assured, teacher. I will do my best and never let you down!"

(End of this chapter)