Chapter 11 Ryukyu Province (I)

After rushing on the sea for more than ten days, he stepped onto the solid land of Naba Port. In an instant, Hong Chengchou and Song Xiance were still a little uncomfortable.

"Old Song, this time, guess whether the emperor will hit us?" Hong Chengchou asked Song Xiance with a smile.

Song Xiance was stunned, then smiled and said, "The emperor asked us to be polite first and then soldiers, but we have a polite first and then soldiers. I'm afraid this board is indispensable!"

"You think so too?" Hong Chengchou smiled strangely.

Song Xiance said in surprise: "Isn't this the case?"

"Do you know that the emperor plans to set up a province in Taiwan?" Hong Chengchou asked, looking up at the blue sky.

"I have heard of this matter, but there is no order yet. I heard that the cabinet still has different opinions." Song Xiance said in surprise. They are standing on the land of Ryukyu now, but they talk about the matter in Taiwan, which seems to be a bit unfair.

"It's just that Taiwan is too small. Even if Penghu is not big and the population is insufficient, it would be amazing to set up two prefectures. Therefore, the cabinet believes that it is unnecessary to place Taiwan and Penghu under Fujian jurisdiction and establish another province." Hong Chengchou said.

"It sounds like some truth. Taiwan and Penghu are not big. The island immigrants and local natives have only one million people. There is indeed no need to set up a province." Song Xiance nodded and said.

"What if the Ryukyu Kingdom is added?" Hong Chengchou asked suddenly.

Song Xiance looked at Hong Chengchou in horror and said, "Old Hong, don't be too out of line. Although the censors of the Censorate cannot lock up our military machine pavilion now, if those who claim to be clear-headed will know, we will not be able to take advantage of it!"

Hong Chengchou has always been politically cautious, but he is very bold in military affairs. Song Xiance, on the other hand, has not deep foundation in the army, so he has always been cautious in military affairs, but he seems to be relatively simple in politics. Therefore, he is more courageous. He dares to say what Hong Chengchou dares not say, but Song Xiance never says it outside. If he doesn't have this little political wisdom, he will not be able to reach the current high position.

"Ryukyu is the legacy of the Baiyue clan. It is natural for me descendants of China to recognize my ancestors and return to my hometown." Hong Chengchou said with a smile.

"The King of Ryukyu Shang family has been in operation for many years. Although it was forced to become a puppet due to the Satsuma vassal of Japan, it is probably impossible for him to give up Ryukyu. The Japanese shogunate only dared to put the Shang family under house arrest, but did not dare to directly seize the foundation of the Shang family. It can be seen that the Shang family is still very popular in Ryukyu. If we force ourselves, it may cause civil rebellion?" Song Xiance said with concern.

"Although the Shang family had some expectations, they did not resist at all in the face of the invasion and plunder of Samoba in Japan. Even their prime minister was the Japanese, and they became a puppet to lift the line. Is there any need for such a kingdom to exist?" Hong Chengchou sneered, "Actually, what is the difference between us and the Shimazu family in Samoba, we all want Ryukyu to surrender. The only difference is that we regard Ryukyu as human beings, while the Japanese only know how to plunder!"

"Once Ryukyu is incorporated into the Ming Dynasty, this may trigger a war between the Ming Dynasty and the Japanese state, and the court and the emperor may not want to see it." Song Xiance said.

Hong Chengchou smiled and said, "This battle may not be possible. Not to mention that the Japanese shogunate does not have this courage or this strength. In the past, our Ming Dynasty had not abolished the sea ban. The court and Japan basically cut off trade. Japan had to obtain the Ming Dynasty's products through the trade relations between Ryukyu and the Ming Dynasty. But now it is different. We have resumed trade with Japan, and the trade volume continues to rise. Although the court and the Japanese government are still relatively stiff, the civil relations are getting closer, and a large amount of silver flows into the Ming Dynasty every year.

It is a feud, but it was when I was in the Ming Dynasty and needed money. The court acquiesced to a large amount of trade between the two countries. Japan tasted the sweetness in the trade. Once the war with the Ming Dynasty, it would inevitably affect the interests of Japan. There were many princes in Japan. If this battle started, that is, the Satsuma vassal and our affairs, would other princes join in? Will the Edo Shogunate agree? You should know that Japan had a lot of money to trade with the Ming Dynasty. In this good situation, will the Tokugawa Shogunate be unable to compete with the Ming Dynasty because of an external daimyo?"

"Your analysis makes sense. Even if the Japanese shogunate will not intervene, the Satsuma family will watch Ryukyu fall into the hands of our Ming Dynasty. You should know that if Ryukyu is still independent of one country, he still has a chance. After all, they have convenient conditions that we do not have. If Ryukyu is included in the Ming Dynasty, I am afraid that Satsuma will cut off this idea in the short term. Will they take risks? The Japanese shogunate also has ambitions. Don't forget the seven-year war in the 19th year of Wanli, and that war almost dragged down our Ming Dynasty." Song Xiance said.

"In that war, the Shimazu family suffered heavy losses. Shimazu Yoshihiro was unwilling to return empty-handed and tried his best to end the war. He resisted stubbornly and bet on his own. Finally, he was defeated. After the war, Satsumashimazu experienced a serious financial crisis, so he sent troops to Ryukyu and plundered the vault of the Ryukyu royal family. The savings of the Ryukyu king fell into Satsumashimazu, and after Satsumashimazu survived the financial crisis. In recent years, Satsumashimazu gained huge wealth through Ryukyu trade with the countries of Southeast Asia. His strength has been greatly enhanced, and it has exceeded the Toyotomi Hideyoshi era. Therefore, if we don't send us, we will directly compete with Satsumashimazu!" Hong Chengchou analyzed.

"Then let's fight. Let's first touch Satsumashimazu and see how powerful the Japanese army is!" Song Xiance said.

"Okay, since we have let go of our hands anyway, what if we do something big?" Hong Chengchou laughed excitedly.

"Report—"

"The commander-in-chief and chief of staff have captured two prisoners, as if they were Japanese officers!"

"Oh, bring it here and have a look!" Hong Chengchou and Song Xiance looked at each other and smiled and ordered.

These two prisoners were lucky. They were not killed by Marine snipers, but were captured alive. One surrendered without much strength. The other fought to the death and injured a Marine soldier. However, they were tied into rice dumplings in the end. They didn't know that the foot binding cloth of the Marine soldier took off. They had not washed their feet for more than ten days, and the smoked Japanese officer burst into tears.

The two captives were Masao Asakura and Jiro Sasaki. Masao Asakura ran away desperately and was separated from his dozens of his subordinates. Jiro Sasaki was taken away by several loyal subordinates and fled from Naha Port. The two met unexpectedly. They were feeling the joy of survival after the disaster, but they did not expect that a Marine Corps reconnaissance team was discovered by Jiro Sasaki, and knocked down several subordinates around Jiro Sasaki. It was the survivor that the siege of Jiro Sasaki and Masao Asakura discovered that Jiro Sasaki and Masao Asakura were different from ordinary Japanese soldiers, and they deliberately left a living mouth.

Unexpectedly, when they were taken to Hong Chengchou and Song Xiance, Sasaki Jiro had already fainted by the fumigation.

"Commander-in-Chief, this Japanese man fainted!" The Marine soldier escorting Jiro Sasaki reported awkwardly, as if the foot binding cloth stuffed into the captain's mouth was his. At that time, he could not find a suitable thing to plug the stinky mouth of Sasaki Jiro's chattering and roaring. So in anger, he took off his military boots, put the foot binding cloth into a ball, and stuffed it in. Now he is still bare with one foot, and the military boots are wet and a little uncomfortable.

From a distance, I could smell the sour smell. Hong Chengchou was a clean person and could not stand it immediately. He quickly ordered him to take out the footband from Jiro Sasaki's mouth. Song Xianke was better. After all, the people who deal with him were the lowest-level people. He had never smelled the smell on the people, so he just frowned slightly and said nothing.

Although the awake Masao Asakura was extremely scared, he had not yet collapsed. It was obvious that the two middle-aged men in straight sky blue short-sleeved military uniforms were all high-ranking officials, especially the dazzling silver and white plum blossoms on the shoulders of the two people. All of this was completely different from the costumes of the Ming generals he remembered. If he had not heard the Ming official words that escorted the soldiers just now, he would almost think that the divine soldiers were the generals sent by heaven!

Jiro Sasaki was awakened by cold water. He was lying on the side and vomiting without listening. His face was pale and his bile was spitting out. He was so weak that he didn't even have the strength to speak. Although he was a little older, he could only ask the Masao Asakura who could still reply.

"What's your name?" Hong Chengchou asked

The official language of Ryukyu is Chinese. Asakura Masao has been in Ryukyu for two years and naturally understands it. Even if you say it, there is no big problem. Chinese is also popular in Japan now. This is the language of the Celestial Empire, which is one level higher than the Japanese language in its own country.

"You little Japanese, what's your name?" The Marine soldiers standing behind Masao Asakura were stunned when they saw that the prisoners were in a daze without saying a word. They couldn't help but step forward and kicked Masao Asakura to a dog that was kicking.

"Damn, it's interesting!" A glimmer flashed in Song Xiance's eyes, as if he had found something interesting.

The Marine Warrior didn't know that he saw Masao Asakura, and said casually, "Damage" became a special title for the Japanese. This title continued, and it was only gradually faded from people's mouths after the destruction of the Japanese.

"Small, the little one is called Asakura Masao." Asakura Masao lay on the ground and said tremblingly.

“What position?”

"Little, team leader."

"Do you know this person?" Hong Chengchou asked, pointing at Jiro Sasaki who was vomiting so much.

"I recognize it, I know it. His name is Jiro Sasaki, who is the captain of the guard port of Naha." Masao Asakura looked up timidly at Jiro Sasaki, who was in tragic situation, and quickly lowered his head.

"What are you doing? It's also the troops guarding Naha Port?"

"No, the little guarding the fort, he is a friend who grew up from childhood, so he knows him." Asakura Masao told him about his relationship with Jiro Sasaki before Hong Seungchou could continue to ask questions.

What can a smart but afraid of death do? Hong Chengchou already had the most objective evaluation of Asakura Masao. It is too easy to kill such a person, but it is difficult to maximize the benefits. Japan will be incorporated into the Ming Dynasty in the future, but it cannot kill all the Japanese people, right?

"Old Hong, are you going to take him?" Song Xiance saw a hint of "interest" in Hong Chengchou's eyes, and he suddenly felt a sudden heart and asked.

"Isn't that possible? Lord Zhou Wenyuan should like this person very much." Hong Chengchou said with a smile.

Song Xiance neither opposed nor agreed, but a hint of surprise flashed across his face. It was obvious that Hong Chengchou was farther away than he thought. Perhaps this was just an unintentional pawn that might play an extremely huge role in the future.
Chapter completed!