As soon as Shimazu Tsunahisa resigned, Tokugawa Ietsuna immediately consulted with Masayuki Hoshina, Mitsukuni Tokugawa, Naotaka Ii, Tadakatsu Sakai, Nobutsuna Matsudaira, and Tadaki Abe.
Abe Tadaki spoke first: "Securing the country is a national policy and cannot be changed easily. Once more ports are opened, what should we do if the Christianity of the Western Barbarians comes back? Moreover, with the ports, the influence of those foreign lords will be greatly increased, and it will be difficult to control them.
".
Hoshina Masayuki retorted: "We are only opening additional ports to the Ming Dynasty and Korea. Western ships are still not allowed to enter the port, and Christianity cannot be spread in. In addition, I think we can only open more ports in our own territory, such as Osaka, Shizune, etc."
Oka, Uzen (belonging to the Aizu Domain), and Tsushima (belonging to the Owari Domain), there is no need to worry about the increase in power of those outside daimyo."
Tokugawa Mitsukuni said: "My lord, I think it is very necessary to open more ports. Take raw silk as an example. Japan needs 440,000 kilograms of raw silk every year, and its domestic output is only half. If we don't increase the number of ports, there will be no ships."
There is no silk to weave. In addition to raw silk, satin, porcelain and other goods are also in short supply. The Ming Dynasty also needs our country’s saltpeter and sulfur. These goods are piled up in the country because there are too few ports and cannot be sold. Opening more ports will benefit the country.
People, please forgive me, Lord!"
Mitsukuni Tokugawa was the lord of the Mito Domain. The Mito Tokugawa clan was a clan member of the Tokugawa clan in Edo, and it was close to Edo. The lord of the domain often traveled between Edo and Mito. Many people called them the deputy shoguns of the shogunate. Tokugawa
Mitsukuni's words naturally carry weight in Tokugawa Ietsuna's heart.
Tokugawa Ietsuna nodded, then turned to Ii Naotaka and asked: "Naotaka Naotaka, what do you think?"
Ii Nao Takashi said: "My lord, what the retainers said is reasonable, but they only touch on the surface and fail to see the essence. In fact, I, the Tokugawa clan, are already standing on the crater. The question now is not whether to open more ports, but whether to open more ports.
How can we resolve the crisis by opening more ports?"
"Nao Xiaogong, is the situation so serious?"
"My lord, the envoys of the Ming Dynasty, the emperor's approval, petitions from various vassals suddenly appeared together, don't you think it's strange?"
Tokugawa Ietsuna was still very wise when he was sober. Hearing this, he said: "Are you saying that these three forces have colluded together?"
"Exactly. If this matter is not handled properly, our country, Japan, may return to the Warring States Period. How can the people deserve the bloody storm?"
As soon as they heard that there was a danger of a renewed civil war, all the Tokugawa retainers present looked solemn and silent.
"Pfft", Tokugawa Ietsuna suddenly laughed and said with the unique cunningness of a twelve-year-old child, "I remember that when my father was alive, he often said that if you have trouble, go to Ii Naotaka. There is nothing in Japan that he can't solve.
.Zhi Xiaogong must have a way!"
Ii Naotaka was in a trance when he saw Tokugawa Ietsuna's smart appearance. The little lord looked very much like the three generations of old lords Ieyasu, Hidetada and Iemitsu, but he was smarter than the old lord. Unfortunately, if he hadn't suffered from this disease, he would have been a great hero.
Ah!
After a while, Fang said: "I believe that there are only four words to solve this problem: 'disintegration and disintegration'".
"Oh, how does Mr. Naotaka plan to divide and disintegrate them?"
"My lord, the Ming Dynasty only wants to promote trade with us. As long as we agree to increase the number of ports, they will not interfere in Japan's internal affairs. The emperor has no actual power. It is not enough to just send troops to blockade the imperial palace and prevent him from exchanging information with the outside world.
"For consideration".
"What Lord Naohyo said makes sense. So how should we deal with those foreign famous names?"
Ii Naotaka's eyes were bright, "My lord, since ancient times, 'capture the thief first before capturing the king'. Among these rebel feudal clans, the Satsuma clan is the leader and the strongest. Therefore, we must suppress them severely and never give any benefit to the Satsuma clan!" "Yeah, I understand."
"The Sendai clan in the northeast has always been at odds with the southwestern feudal clans; among the southwestern feudal clans, the Choshu clan often fights with the Satsuma clan. The reason why they joined the alliance to oppose the shogunate is just for profit; Sendai clan's Ishinomaki port can be allowed,
Choshu Domain’s Shimonoseki Port trades with the Ming Dynasty. In this way, these two powerful vassals will inevitably withdraw from the alliance. The rest will be easy to deal with."
"Wonderful! Mr. Naotaka is so resourceful!"
"My lord, I feel that opening more ports can increase the shogunate's fiscal revenue. We might as well open Shizuoka Port, which is directly under the shogunate's jurisdiction, and Tsushima Port of the Owari Domain (a direct domain of the shogunate)."
"Well, I'll listen to Duke Zhixiao."
At the suggestion of Ii Naotaka and other retainers, the shogunate added Shizuoka, Owari Domain's Tsushima, Sendai Domain's Ishinomaki, and Choshu Domain's Shimonoseki to trade with Ming Dynasty and Korea under direct jurisdiction. The interests were also divided.
The shogunate and each domain each share half of the customs duties of Tsushima, Ishinomaki, and Shimonoseki.
When the news came out, some people were happy and some were sad.
The happiest thing was that the Ming Dynasty and Korea had four more ports for trade; Owari Domain, Sendai Domain, and Choshu Domain were also happy, and finally had their own foreign trade ports; the shogunate avoided a crisis and increased fiscal revenue; the Emperor
Adds prestige.
What is unhappy is that Satsuma, Hizen, Tosa and other domains have spent so much effort and got nothing.
Especially the Satsuma clan made the most efforts, but got nothing. Shimazu Mitsuhisa was so angry that he broke several tea cups. In spite of the shogunate's ban, he secretly used Hyuga Port and Suzhou's Oamanda Island trade. Originally, the lock-down order prohibited Japanese from overseas trade.
In order to communicate with overseas countries, stowaways were punished by death, but Shimazu Mitsuhisa organized the feudal clan to go to sea and trade with foreign countries. The Satsuma clan's smuggling ships and the shogunate's navy exchanged fire many times at sea.
??
At Edo Port, Zhu Zhiyu took his luggage and was about to board the ship to return home.
Suddenly he heard someone calling him, "Sir, stay!"
At a glance, a group of Japanese friends came: Tokugawa Mitsukuni, Hosuke Masayuki, Xiaozhai Shengjun, Anji Danbo, Kinoshita Michitoshi, Yamaga Soyuki??
"Oh, why are you guys here?"
Tokugawa Mitsukuni: "When Mr. Ting returned to China, we came here to see him off."
Zhu Zhiyu was very moved: "How can I bother you to send a corrupt scholar far away?"
Baoke Zhengzhi said: "Sir, he has written books and preached in our country, and taught and enlightened people's hearts. He has been extremely kind to us in Japan. It is reasonable for us to send him to you." He took out another letter and handed it to Zhu Zhiyu.
As a souvenir.
A little thought? Zhu Zhiyu secretly thought: Could it be Fanzha (a bank note in ancient Japan)?
At this time, Japan was deeply influenced by Chinese culture and was very friendly to the Ming Dynasty. It considered the Qing Dynasty to be Di Yi. Huang Taiji tried to communicate with Japan through Korea; Emperor Shunzhi took the opportunity of returning Japanese drifters to express goodwill to Japan. Japan both
I ignored him. I heard that Zhu Zhiyu was going back to China to fight against the Qing Dynasty. Japanese friends donated money and materials to help, and received a lot of gold, silver and jewelry.
When I opened it, I saw that it was not a painting of a feudal lord, but a painting. It showed a white-haired Confucian holding a ruler and giving a lecture, with a group of students underneath listening attentively.
"This picture was painted by An Jijue, Imai Hongji and others, and is left as a souvenir to Mr. Yu."
"I wish you all the best, sir!"
Several disciples in Japan, including An Jikaku, Imai Hiroshi, Igarawa Takebo, Hattori Hitoshi, Shimogawa Sansho, etc., all paid homage to Zhu Zhiyu.
Zhu Zhiyu's eyes were red. He had to go back to China before he could teach seriously. He failed to fulfill his responsibility as a good teacher!
"After I return to China, you must study the scriptures and meanings seriously, and must not neglect your studies!"
"Students should remember your teacher's teachings and take care of yourself!"
Zhu Zhiyu's eyes were wet. He boarded the ship and set sail when he heard singing from the shore:
Mr. Weiwei, a righteous citizen of the Ming Dynasty.
Welcome the waves and ride on the chariot to stop Qiujin.
I sleep hard and worry about my country, and my towel is stained with hot tears.
Hengmen often has Du, and Tao Lao Le is poor.
Hiding one's glory and hiding one's traces, virtue must have neighbors.
Majestic and elegant.
Think out of the dust and learn from the past and present.
Send a letter to my father-in-law and pay my respects to my dearest guest.
