Zhong Jinwei has already analyzed that the policies towards different vassal states should be different, and Japan is considered a strong vassal, and what it wants to implement is a suppressive strategy.
Therefore, he replied to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, if you send envoys to Japan again, ask the Tokugawa Shogunate to take good control of your men and withdraw them to Japan. This method seems too weak, and it has been used once, and it will be used again.
If so, the Tokugawa shogunate may resist due to domestic pressure..."
Emperor Chongzhen, Wen Tiren and others listened to Zhong Jinwei's answer and nodded in agreement from time to time. This is why they wanted to find Zhong Jinwei.
Zhong Jinwei raised his voice at this time and said his real solution: "Therefore, I believe that the best way to deal with the current Ryukyu problem is to destroy the Japanese pirates in Ryukyu with the force of thunder, and then the army will approach Edo to show our
The military might of the Ming Dynasty requires the Tokugawa shogunate to take good care of their subordinates and prevent similar situations from happening again."
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he asked a little worriedly: "Master Zhong, will this cause a backlash from Japan and start a war with the Ming Dynasty instead?"
Zhong Jinwei smiled after hearing this and replied to Emperor Chongzhen: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Japan has always worshiped the strong since ancient times and is a country that bullies the weak and fears the strong. Once the Ming Dynasty shows military strength that scares them, they will only grovel."
Wen Tiren was still a little worried after hearing this. He said to Zhong Jinwei: "Dong Xingguo, what if they are stubborn this time?"
After hearing this, Zhong Jinwei turned to look at Wen Tiren and said with an indifferent expression: "That doesn't matter, our Ming Dynasty is not what it used to be. If Japan dares to be stubborn, it can directly bombard Edo, or even send troops ashore to attack the Tokugawa Shogunate.
.Tokugawa’s men actually dared to use the excuse that Ryukyu would not bear the military expenses of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s invasion of Korea, and used this as an excuse to directly teach them a lesson.”
As soon as Zhong Jinwei finished speaking, it was the turn of Yang He, the Minister of War, to worry: "Mr.
"No, as long as my Ming Dynasty's Northern Fleet patrols and protects the Sea of Japan and has a strong enough force at sea. As for Japan, it will eventually become a mess, and I don't need to worry about it." Zhong Jinwei looked at Yang.
Crane shook his head and replied.
Everyone in the Wenhua Hall took turns asking Zhong Jinwei, as if Zhong Jinwei was an omniscient saint, and everyone was asking for advice.
Emperor Chongzhen still had questions, and he asked Zhong Jinwei curiously: "Master Zhong, will there be chaos in Japan?"
Zhong Jinwei turned to Emperor Chongzhen and replied confidently: "Your Majesty, in ten cases Japan will be in chaos. The current Japan is equivalent to China, which has just experienced the Warring States Period and was unified by Emperor Qin. Although on the surface,
There is only one shogunate to command the world, but the princes everywhere are dissatisfied. If I severely weaken the power of the Tokugawa shogunate in one fell swoop, Japan will be in chaos."
Zhong Jinwei combined later generations' understanding of Japan and what he heard about Japan in this life, and he was very confident. After finishing speaking, he added: "What's more, the Tokugawa shogunate played a trick and sent troops to Korea before Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
At this time, he found a reason to stay in the country, so he did not lose his strength and gained an advantage among the princes in Japan, so that he seized the world of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's son. This is the same as the Qin Emperor used the power of Qin to destroy the six countries, thus
The end of the Warring States Period was even more unstable."
Listening to Zhong Jinwei's detailed analysis of Japan's situation, Emperor Chongzhen, Wen Tiren and others couldn't help but nod. It seems that we really need to know ourselves and our enemies in order to find the best countermeasures and win every battle.
So Emperor Chongzhen asked several other ministers in the palace: "What do you think of Master Zhong's suggestion?"
"I have no objection!"
“I think it’s appropriate!”
"..."
Seeing that the ministers in the palace were unanimous, Emperor Chongzhen made a decision and said: "Okay, in that case, let's do this. After the Northern Fleet returns, we will launch a heavy attack on Ryukyu."
Zhong Jinwei listened on the side and added with a smile: "We will have to land in Ryukyu to fight, so it is best to send some soldiers from the Beijing camp to attack with the Northern Fleet. In addition, there is a Ryukyu envoy who can inform the specific situation of the Japanese pirates, so this move should be
A sure-fire move.”
Emperor Chongzhen also had a smile on his face and said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong solved the problem for me with just a few words."
"Where, where, this is the result of everyone's discussion together, how can it be the credit of one person?" When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he quickly said modestly.
The other ministers couldn't help but laugh when they heard what Duke Xingguo said. Everyone knew whose idea it was.
"By the way, Duke Xingguo, after Ming Dynasty solved the Japanese pirate problem for Ryukyu, how should Ryukyu deal with the aftermath?" Wen Tiren remembered the improvement of the tribute policy mentioned by Zhong Jinwei and asked again.
Zhong Jinwei turned to look at Wen Tiren, and without thinking much, he replied directly: "Ryukyu is a weak country, with limited strength and not much output. Therefore, we can let them allocate a port for me to station the Ming fleet to protect them.
Protect yourself from the invasion of enemy countries. As for the other things, as I just said, just get some commercial benefits for Ming Dynasty."
This method makes sense, and Ryukyu would probably agree with it. However, Emperor Chongzhen felt a little sad. He said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, if my Ming fleet is stationed in Ryukyu, won't there be an additional expense?
Based on the interests of our Ming Dynasty, is it necessary to station this fleet?"
When Zhong Jinwei heard this, he shook his head and replied with a smile: "Your Majesty, why are there extra expenses? Naturally, the military expenses for the garrison must be provided by Ryukyu. We are here to protect them!"
After he finished speaking, he remembered that Emperor Chongzhen had another question, so he continued to answer: "As for the fleet stationed in Ryukyu, on the surface it is to protect Ryukyu. Well, in fact it is also to protect Ryukyu. But for me, Ming Dynasty, there is nothing left in Ryukyu.
The fleet can actually interfere in Ryukyu's internal affairs. If Ryukyu wants to go back on its word and no longer adopt the most favorable policy for Ming Dynasty in business, then act decisively, otherwise there is no need to interfere in their internal affairs."
Everyone present could accept the way Zhong Jinwei said it. Therefore, after Zhong Jinwei finished speaking, they all nodded in agreement.
Zhong Jinwei did not say that Ryukyu would be directly under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty and become a province of the Ming Dynasty. The reason why he did not say so was because he did not realize the benefits of bringing Ryukyu under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty. Once it was under the direct jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty would have to bear the responsibility for the people's livelihood of Ryukyu.
, the burdens outweigh the benefits.
The Ryukyu policy had been agreed upon in the Wenhua Hall, and Li Tengfang, the Minister of Rites, was responsible for handling the matter, appeasing the Ryukyu envoys and hinting at Ming Dynasty's conditions.
The Ryukyu envoy had no choice but to drive away the Japanese pirates. After all, the Ming Dynasty had no intention of annexing them, but the Japanese were doing it.