I'm sure of the prosperous age of Kangxi and Qianlong!

Chapter 272 Annexation of Ryukyu
"Your Majesty, now that the war has finally come to an end, it is really not appropriate to start a big war. Regarding the Ryukyu incident, we can send an envoy to rebuke the Ryukyu and Japanese Satsuma feudal lords. It is indeed too much to send troops." Wang Li, as the chief assistant of the cabinet, quickly spoke out and tactfully objected.

Although Ryukyu was illegally occupied by the Satsuma Domain of Japan, it was really illegal because the Japanese shogunate had publicly declared Ryukyu to be an independent country long before the Ming Dynasty.

The shogun is not a fool. Such small actions by the Satsuma Domain will inevitably affect the rule of the shogunate.

If the distance was not too far and there was a possibility that they would not be able to win, the shogunate would even directly send troops.

But even so, the shogunate still imposed restrictions on the Satsuma Domain, such as requiring the Satsuma Domain to build 300 warships for the shogunate to squeeze the Satsuma Domain's wealth.

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked Korea, he also ordered Satsuma and Ryukyu to provide a large amount of food, grass and soldiers.

The reason why Ryukyu secretly sent envoys this time was to borrow a knife to kill people.

The reason is that last year, the Japanese shogunate inspected many famous places across the country, which are known in history as the places that enjoy the protection of inspections.

This inspection led to the strengthening of the Satsuma Domain's dominance over Ryukyu and caused great unrest in Ryukyu.

Zhu Yijiong smiled slightly and said: "If the reprimand is effective, then the Japanese Satsuma clan will not continue to occupy Ryukyu. This battle must be fought. Since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty Navy, it is time to move to the outer sea."

Wang Li wanted to persuade him again: "Ryukyu is just a small country. To wage war on it would be too much."

Zhu Yijiong said: "What Wang Qing said is wrong. Since the Ming Dynasty is a kingdom in heaven, how can it only have land and no ocean? Furthermore, Ryukyu is located in a strategic location, and its country turned its back on the Ming Dynasty to seek glory."

"Not only does one country serve two masters, but it also equates the Ming Dynasty with the name of a Japanese vassal state. It is so disrespectful, why should we keep it? Let's just let it go once and for all!"

"Once and for all?"

The four cabinet ministers were all shocked. They wanted to annex Ryukyu.

They are just some islands on the sea, with not much population, so what are they used for?
Even Taiwan was actually not a good place in the eyes of the Ming and Manchu courtiers.

After the Manchu and Qing dynasties initially destroyed the Ming and Zheng dynasties, many courtiers even believed that Taiwan should be abandoned.Because Taiwan is alone overseas, taking it is just a discount.

Kangxi was the one who rejected all opinions and felt that since rebellion could easily breed here, he might as well hold it in his own hands. Even if there was a rebellion, he could suppress it at any time.

But what's the use of Ryukyu?

If we win, it will be a waste of money. At least Taiwan can still be self-sufficient, and there are still some emerging economic industries.

Ryukyu is not only a small place, but the Ming Dynasty occupied it, and I am afraid that it will have to station troops.Not only to suppress the local resistance forces, but also to guard against the Satsuma Domain of Japan.

"Your Majesty, think twice!" the four of them shouted in unison.

Zhu Yijiong directly made the decision: "I have made up my mind, there is no need to persuade."

There is no way, Ryukyu Zhu Yijiong must be there. In the words of later generations, this is a key link in the first island chain and must be occupied.

Moreover, just to capture Ryukyu, not many soldiers would be needed at all.

Although everyone knows that Satsuma is in Ryukyu, it certainly cannot station too many troops in Ryukyu.After all, the entire Satsuma Domain only has 150 million people in total, and can only support a few thousand troops.

As for the navy, in order to maintain its rule, the Japanese shogunate closed the country a hundred years ago and has a far-fetched navy.

There are rumors that Japan has built an invincible fleet.But it's been almost 100 years now, and even if the fleet can still sail, there are not enough sailors left.

"..."

The four cabinet ministers saw that Emperor Qiangang was arbitrary and found it difficult to persuade him.

Since the emperor is going crazy, let’s go crazy with him!

"Your Majesty, how should the North Korean envoy treat this?" Liang Wenxuan suddenly asked.

This was because they were afraid that the emperor would go crazy and want to kill North Korea as well.

After all, Korea and Ryukyu are essentially the same species, and the king of Korea still regards the Manchu Qing Dynasty as the suzerainty.

Zhu Yijiong thought for a moment and said, "Please let me know what to do!"

Returning to the Zhengshitang (cabinet office), the four cabinet ministers looked at each other speechlessly.

It was Wang Li who spoke first: "Gentlemen, since Your Majesty is determined to fight, then we, the ministers, should have made preparations in advance."

Lu Youlong was worried: "But today the world is still uncertain and the war is easing, but His Majesty has begun to think about overseas vassals again. Moreover, the meaning behind His Majesty's last words may be that he also has thoughts about North Korea. This... alas!"

Liang Wenxuan was quite open-minded: "The same was true for the former Ming Emperors Taizu and Taizong. They frequently used troops against the Northern Yuan Dynasty. This is where my Ming Dynasty slave Gandusi came from. Fortunately, Your Majesty has his own sense of proportion. After all, Ryukyu is just a small country." , our Ming Dynasty can still support it financially now." Zhu Chengxun was the youngest at the scene. He was a little unable to say anything for a moment, and simply said: "Gentlemen, since His Majesty's holy will has been decided, he should issue an imperial edict in the near future, so I will go back first. The Privy Council is prepared.”

Of the four cabinet ministers, two stayed and two left.

I thought they were gathered together for some reason this time, but I didn't want to be good at swordsmanship again, or to destroy a vassal state.

Ryukyu was very lucky. As the first vassal state to pay a pilgrimage after the Ming Dynasty came back to life, Ryukyu was directly awarded the Ming Dynasty citizenship.

congratulations!

……

Just a few days.

The Six Cabinet Ministries, the Privy Council, and the Propaganda Department all made pre-war preparations for the annexation of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Even Xiao Renfang of the National Academy of History was given the task of collecting evidence from history books that Ryukyu has been a Chinese territory since ancient times.

Although Emperor Zhu has made his decision, the court officials below must not make the emperor and Ming Dynasty look too ugly, even if they make it up, they have to make it famous.

Well, since ancient times!
Xiao Renfang was also quite troubled when he got the task.

He did know about the Ryukyu Kingdom, but he only knew that it was an island country in the sea. He didn't know anything else about it.

But since the emperor has given the decree, he can only bite the bullet and do it.

After organizing people to read the imperial books overnight, he really found something.

According to "Book of the Sui Dynasty": "In the first year of the Sui Dynasty, Haishi Heman and others, at two o'clock in the spring and autumn, the sky was clear and the wind was calm, and looking eastward, there seemed to be smoke, and it was unknown how many thousands of miles away. In the third year, Emperor Yang ordered Yuqi Lieutenant Zhu Kuan went to the sea to visit foreign customs. Why did he talk to the barbarians, so he went with the barbarians. They went together to seek the country, but they couldn't understand what they said, so they plundered one person and turned against him."

The Liuqiu here is Ryukyu, even the name is similar.

It is also said that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty conquered Liuqiu three times until the country of Liuqiu returned to the Han Dynasty.

This shows that Liuqiu was already the homeland of China at least 1000 years ago.

All right!Just pure nonsense.

The Liuqiu in the Sui book is more likely to be Taiwan, and only Taiwan meets the conditions for being conquered by the Sui army, and even for mountain warfare according to the Sui book.

But it doesn't matter, all the emperor wants is a name.

Moreover, in addition to this forced information, Xiao Renfang reported another piece of news while flipping through the files.

That means the King of Ryukyu is not orthodox and direct!

"Is this true?" Zhu Yijiong was a little confused when he saw this, which touched upon his knowledge blind spot.

Xiao Renfang quickly explained: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this news is absolutely true, and it has even been included as a file record by the pseudo-clean government."

This is true. As early as the fifth year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty, Kanemaru, an important minister of the Ryukyu Kingdom, launched a coup, killed the last Ryukyu king Shangde and his family, changed his name to Shangyuan, and applied for canonization by the Ming court under his false name.

The Ming court did not know the situation and actually canonized him.

When I found out later, it was already too late, and the deal was already done.

Moreover, the nature of Ryukyu was of no importance to the Ming Dynasty, and the usurping king Shang Yuan continued to regard the Ming Dynasty as the suzerain state.

This will be over.

Of course, it is impossible for the Qing court not to know about this, but what does it matter?

Who will avenge a dead man?
Zhu Yijiong clapped his hands and praised: "The National History Institute has done a good job on this matter. Let the Propaganda Department polish it and publish it again! Let's just say that the Ryukyu Kingdom not only has the leader and the mouse at both ends, but also has two masters in one country. Its king also killed the king to seize the throne. Descendants of traitors to the throne."

"Since he is a traitor, it is natural for me, the Ming Dynasty, to uphold justice. He should have destroyed his country and chosen another member of the royal family to inherit the throne. But the Shang clan does not exist, so let's eliminate the country and establish counties according to the regulations of the Ming Dynasty!"

Xiao Renfang quickly complimented: "Your Majesty is wise!"

　Historical records divide the two periods of Ryukyu into the First Shoji Dynasty and the Second Shoji Dynasty.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)