If I fail to overcome the tribulation, I can only return to the Ming Dynasty and become a prince.

Chapter 135 Three-pronged attack on Japan

Sugar making technology has a long history in our country. During the Three Kingdoms period, Jiaozhou could produce a syrup called "cane sugar", and after drying it could be made into russet sugar cubes, which are shaped like stone and taste as sweet as honey. , named "Shimi".

However, although sugar-making technology has a long history, before the Song Dynasty, China's sugar-making technology was still lagging behind that of the Western Regions and Tianzhu. Emperor Wen of Wei Cao Pi once ostentatiously presented 5 cakes of "Western Stone Honey" to Emperor Wu Sun Quan. , saying that the fruits of Soochow are incomparable.

During the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin sent people to the Tianzhu area to learn sugar-making technology. Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi also asked Wang Xuance to bring back ten sugar-making craftsmen from Tianzhu to improve the sugar-making level of the Tang Dynasty.

At this point, my country's sugar production technology has been fully developed. It was not until the Song Dynasty that due to the development of maritime trade, sugar became one of the large-scale export commodities of the Song Dynasty.

Su Shi once said in a poem: "Amber on an ice plate is as beautiful as frosting." Huang Tingjian also praised frosting as "better than Cui Hao crystal salt" and expressed the deliciousness of frosting in a playful poem: "My tongue can still reach the tip of my nose."

Since then, "Chinese sugar" has gradually been marketed in the world and gained a reputation.

By the Ming Dynasty, sugar craftsmen invented the "yellow mud water decolorization method" to produce refined sucrose as white as snow with crystal-clear particles. The most snow-white and delicate among them is called "Western sugar", which means it has reached the point where it can be exported to the world. Top Western quality.

Therefore, for the Ming Dynasty, the sugar making technology was extremely skilled. When Zhu Zhanquan mentioned this matter, Zheng He nodded slightly and said: "If Xiaoliuqiu can produce cane sugar, it will be a good thing for the country.

Our Ming Dynasty can exchange grain, cloth, silk and other items with them to obtain large quantities of sugar and sell them to Southeast Asia and other places. The profit will be enough to meet the expenses of our Ming Dynasty's garrison here. "

Zhu Di had never been interested in financial matters, but after hearing what Zheng He said, he knew that there was probably no problem.

So he nodded in agreement and said: "If Ryukyu and other countries can grow sugar cane and produce sucrose, and my Ming Dynasty sends people to teach them the technology, it will appear to be my country's benevolence. When the time comes, the country will bear the burden of my Ming Dynasty's garrison to protect them." The expenses can be regarded as their filial piety to my Ming Dynasty."

Obviously, with one sentence, Zhu Di dumped the expenses of the garrison troops sent by the Ming Dynasty to Ryukyu and other places to the small Ryukyu Kingdom, which was regarded as the tuition fee for the Ming Dynasty to teach them to grow sugar cane.

Zhu Zhanjun didn't think anything of this. For a small country like Ryukyu, if you spend a little money to get protection from the Ming Dynasty's troops stationed in the country, this is a very cost-effective thing.

If it were any other small country in the surrounding area, I would probably not be able to get such a good thing even if I ask for it.

In this era, the Ming Dynasty is the undisputed strongest country in the world. That is to say, the Mongols who once conquered Europe and Asia are able to compete with the Ming Dynasty because their ancestors are rich and their families still have some wealth. In the eyes of the Ming Dynasty, other surrounding countries are just at any time. Dangerous eggs that can be crushed.

Therefore, being able to get the protection of the Ming Dynasty, or directly stationing troops, is really something that some small countries cannot ask for.

At least for the Ryukyu Kingdom, the Ming Dynasty's garrison was enough to ensure that it would no longer be bullied by the Japanese.You must know that Japan's bullying of Ryukyu started very early. Until the end of the Tokugawa era of Japan, the Satsuma Domain, which was entrenched in Kyushu Island, relied on squeezing the islanders of Ryukyu Kingdom's Amami Oshima to produce cane sugar to pay off the Satsuma Domain. The huge debt of 100 million taels owed by several generations of feudal lords subsequently supported the modernization reforms of the Satsuma Domain, which served as the basis for overthrowing the shogunate.

At that time, the Satsuma Domain exploited the Ryukyu Islanders to the extreme. All the land suitable for growing sugar cane on Amami Island was planted with sugar cane, and the islanders could only eat poisonous cycad fruits to satisfy their hunger. It was cruel. Extremely.

Therefore, Zhu Zhancheng was not worried about whether the Ryukyu State could grow sugar cane and produce cane sugar, nor was he worried that the Ryukyu State Congress would not accept this matter.

After all, the Ming Dynasty pays attention to etiquette and morality. As a celestial country, it will never oppress small vassal countries.

On the contrary, Ming Dynasty was willing to teach the Ryukyu Kingdom the technology of making sucrose, which was like a favor to the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The three people discussed the matter, and Zhu Di said to Zheng He: "In that case, Sanbao, please go back and work hard. As an envoy to Ryukyu, you will bring the technology of growing sugar cane and producing sucrose, and then see where Ryukyu is suitable for garrisoning. Set up a guard station there as a garrison."

In a few words, the matter was completely confirmed, and Zhu Di didn't even think of convening the courtiers for discussion.

It's not that Zhu Di is arbitrary, but there is no need to bring this kind of trivial matter to the table for discussion, especially since Zhu Di still sent Zheng He to handle the matter.

The only one who may have some complaints is the Ministry of Rites. After all, for the Ryukyu Kingdom to be so generously rewarded, other vassal states may have objections, and it will be difficult for the Ministry of Rites to handle it.

But even if that were the case, Zhu Di wouldn't care either. After all, isn't that what the officials of the Ministry of Rites are used to do?
After saying this, Zhu Di continued to ask Zhu Zhankun: "Is your strategy for conquering Japan to take the road north from the Ryukyu Kingdom, first capture this Kyushu Island, and then use it as a springboard to attack that country?"

"No, my plan is to divide the troops into three groups. I will indeed take the road north from Xiaoliuqiu, but not to attack Kyushu Island, but here!" Zhu Zhanchen said, tapping his finger on the map. One location: "Shijian Yinshan, the largest silver mine in Japan, our first step is to capture this! We are coming across the sea, and the expedition will not last long, so we must pursue a quick victory.

Shijian Yinshan is an important source of wealth for the Japanese country. If a direct attack is made here, the Japanese country will raise troops to rescue them. If they can annihilate their army in one go, they can quickly decide the battle and save a lot of time for the entire war. "

"The method is good, but I look at the Japanese country. Although you say it is poor and the people are disadvantaged, it should be no problem to gather a hundred thousand soldiers and horses. Although your Qingyu Guards are brave, they only have one guard. Even if you add more Three guards in Tianjin fight a country with four guards, boy, are you trusting me?" Zhu Di looked at Zhu Zhanjun with admiration in his eyes. He was obviously satisfied with Zhu Zhanjuan's strategic arrangements, but he was getting old. Zhu Di, who was fighting, could also see at a glance the shortcomings of Zhu Zhanquan's arrangement.

Zhu Zhanquan just smiled and said: "King Ning, the three kings and four uncles of Liaodong, and my third uncle must have gone to their respective fiefdoms for a while. Their royal guards must have been reassembled. By then, I crossed the sea from Ryukyu and headed north. The soldiers and horses of my four great-uncles crossed the sea from Jeju, Tsushima, Iki and other islands between Korea and Japan. After joining me, they used the troops of the five vassals to fight against Japan. If they were defeated, Then you have no shame in saying that you are a descendant of Emperor Taizu."

(End of this chapter)