Nan Ming Sun Never Sets

Chapter 396 It's not easy to eat Japan

After Zheng Chenggong landed in Nagasaki, he did not live in the premises of the shogunate, but lived in the mansion of his own brother Shichizaemon.

Although the two had corresponded for many years, it was really the first time they met. Zheng Chenggong was seven years old when he was seven years old, and the two had the same father and mother.

After Shichizaemon saw his elder brother, he burst into tears and bowed to Zheng Chenggong: "See you, elder brother."

Zheng Chenggong was also quite touched and helped Shichizaemon to his feet, and said: "Jiro, I have been in Japan for many years, I have depended on you for hard work, and I miss my brother very much. Today, I entered Dongying in the Ming Dynasty, and it is time for you to recognize your ancestors and return to your ancestors."

Qizaemon said: "My son has changed his surname to Zheng, and his name is Dao Zhou. Today, according to my brother's will, I recognize my ancestor and return to the clan. From now on, I will not be Shichizaemon of the Tagawa family, but me, Jiro of the Zheng family."

Zheng Chenggong patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him: "In the past, when we fought against the Qing Dynasty, you have contributed a lot to maintaining the trade between Zheng, China and Japan, and raising military funds. Today, when you return to Ming Dynasty, His Majesty has granted you the title of Earl. From now on, your descendants , are also my Earl Daming."

Speaking of which, with Bai Mingxiu's reform of Daming's knighthood, the knighthood seems not as glorious as before, but it is still a great reputation.The lords of the Ming Dynasty do not enjoy the imperial salary, but when they confer titles, there will be a reward, and the amount is not too large.Zheng Cilang's "Earl of Nagasaki" was actually asked by Zheng Chenggong himself from Bai Mingxiu.

What Zheng Chenggong asked for was a duke, but Bai Mingxiu flatly refused.Zheng Chenggong's brothers are basically dead, only Zheng Cilang is still relatively close.Zheng Chenggong thought about the future of the Zheng family's business in Japan, and he had to give his younger brother a more prestigious status.In the end, Zheng Chenggong bargained and listed Zheng Jilang's achievements and conduct. Bai Mingxiu relented and agreed to give Zheng Jilang the Nagasaki uncle. Even the bonus was advanced by Zheng Chenggong himself. It sounded like the title was bought.

Zheng Jilang was overjoyed when he heard that he still had the title. He thanked his elder brother again and again, and even bowed in the direction of Suncheon to worship His Majesty the Emperor.

Zheng Chenggong convened a meeting with Dongying Xuanfu envoy Qian Wangsun, Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Chai Ping and Zheng Cilang to discuss their next move.

Zheng Cilang first said: "My Ming Dynasty has a strong army, but there are not many. Moreover, the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty are precious, so they should not be lightly damaged. My brother has long explained that he wants to use Japanese people to build and subdue the Japanese army. Now I have recruited ronin and bandits. There are more than [-] combatants, such as pirates and pirates, and my brother also brought [-] Catholics who were excluded during the Shimabara Rebellion. If local villagers can be recruited, at least one regiment can be formed. , Our military resources are abundant, and we have imported weapons from the Ming Dynasty. As long as the strength can reach half of the Ming army, it will be easy to pacify Kyushu Island."

Zheng Jiro has been in Japan for many years. Although he is only engaged in business, he also knows the situation of Japan's major Mings like the back of his hand.The armed forces of the daimyo depended on their samurai, and the real soldiers were armed with the ashigaru by the peasants who usually worked in agriculture.It is very difficult for the daimyos to go to war immediately. They must mobilize the ashigaru, then provide them with equipment, and prepare food and other necessary supplies. After the preparations are completed, at least one or two months have passed.

Zheng Jiro's thinking is actually the same as that of the daimyos. He just advocated that Zheng Chenggong, like the daimyos, should mobilize the peasants to join them, and with their original strength, they would certainly be able to form their own army.

After hearing Zheng Jilang's words, Qian Wangsun shook his head.

Zheng Chenggong asked: "What's the opinion of Xuanfu envoy?"

"Relying on the Zheng Family Army, our Ming Marine Corps, and even the Rongrants may be reliable, but it is not easy to arm the local farmers. Japan's feudal nature is still very strong, and the samurai manage the farmers they belong to. The peasants all obeyed the orders of the privileged class of warriors. They were more or less like the local squires of the Ming Dynasty. Without the consent of the warriors, it was difficult for these peasants to join the army.

In particular, we have not yet made it clear to the outside world that once we come to Japan, we will not leave, and we will completely rule this land.Those samurai probably think we are not worthy of service, they may pretend to wait until we leave Japan, so they will not allow farmers to leave their land and become our soldiers. "

Japan's military system has undergone some major changes after the Warring States Period. After the Taiko inspection, the separation of soldiers and farmers was basically realized, and Ashgaru was recognized as a samurai.After the establishment of the Edo Shogunate, some Ashigaru stayed in the city, while the other went back to the countryside. The Shogunate did not support them with their salaries, but retained their privileges such as the right to wear a sword, making these people become countrymen.Although the temporary mobilization of farmers and soldiers also exists, it has become less and less, and it is becoming more and more difficult to use.

Qian Wangsun is quite familiar with the situation in Japan, and he also understands that under Japan's feudal system, it is extremely unrealistic for an outsider to pull obedient farmers into masters of tigers and wolves.

Zheng Chenggong also felt that things were not easy to deal with, so he asked: "Like the Central Plains, what about agricultural cooperatives?"

In the context of the Ming Dynasty, the rural cooperative system was the agrarian revolution, which abolished the feudal privileges of the gentry, united the peasants, and allocated land and other means of production to the peasants, allowing them to carry out more efficient collective production with the support of the government.

Qian Wangsun still shook his head and said: "It can be done in the Central Plains, but not necessarily in Japan. The Ming Dynasty suffered more than 20 years of war, and the poor had no place to stand, and everyone's life was difficult. What's more, the Ming Dynasty government and the army Only with strong support can we realize that agricultural cooperatives can be implemented as a whole and succeed. In Japan, where did we get reliable soldiers from the Ming Dynasty Restoration Army to promote it? In addition, we are outsiders after all, and Japanese farmers are even more Obedience, they are used to a feudal system like warrior lords, and instead lack a sense of trust in us."

Qian Wangsun's subtext is to tell Zheng Chenggong that you may not be able to accomplish what His Majesty the Emperor can do, and that in Ming Dynasty, he has absolute resource advantages, while in Japan, the Zheng family only has Qian and two battalions of marines who can do it. transfer.

Zheng Chenggong also understood that Emperor Guangfu could sweep Daming in a short time, and he also intended to take Japan in a short time, but he didn't actually have such conditions.Even if he could defeat the shogunate and every Ming Dynasty, it would not be easy to completely control this society.

"Xuanfu envoy, what do you think?"

"Your Highness King Ying, we must be prepared. The process of conquering Japan may be a process that lasts for many years, and we have to fight while digesting this land. Japan's feudal system is also declining, so what we need to do , that is, to completely disintegrate it by relying on external force. Military operations are not the most important, politics is the core. Let’s start with Kyushu Island first, and then slowly eat up Japan.”

(End of this chapter)