The Ming Dynasty started with caution

There was a chorus of seconding voices in the hall, all disagreeing with borrowing troops from Ryukyu.

Yan Chengjin bowed his head and pondered.

In fact, many disputes over islands in later generations should be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. The island country once controlled many islands of Ryukyu through the Satsuma Domain and ruled for a period of time.

If the Ming Dynasty can control the surrounding islands and achieve unification, that problem will no longer exist.

Moreover, the islands can be used as a transit point for the Ming Dynasty to go to the Americas, and their geographical location is very important.

To mine the three major silver mines of the island country, it is also necessary to use troops against the island country.

If the Ryukyu Kingdom can clamp down on the island country, it will greatly reduce the obstacles for the Ming Dynasty to send troops.

"But your majesty and the ministers will not consider such a long-term view. How can I convince them?" Yan Chengjin fell into deep thought.

Ryukyu and Satsuma are the fifteen countries listed by Zhu Yuanzhang that will not be conquered. This is the difficulty.

At this time, despite the opposition of all officials, Shang Zhen remained calm and respectfully argued: "Your Majesty, if the court helps Ryukyu unify the northern Satsuma Kingdom, I am willing to offer twice the tribute!"

Emperor Hongzhi sneered and was unmoved.

He looked down on Ryukyu's tribute and preferred to restrain his troops, conserve his strength, and attack the Tatars.

Sending troops to Ryukyu and being deeply involved in overseas battles would be a loss.

"I understand your feelings, but the affairs of Korea cannot be compared with Ryukyu."

Shang Zhen showed disappointment.

At this time, a discordant voice broke the calm: "The Censorate believes that troops can be sent to Satsuma."

It's good to be a deputy censor, and one person can represent the Censorate.

Now, he has a little more weight when speaking in the court.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at him in surprise, and was a little angry. I and all the officials are against it. Can't you see the direction of the wind? !

Li Dongyang folded his hands and waited for Yan Chengjin to speak.

Shang Zhen found with a stiff face that the person who helped him to ask for troops was the official who interrogated him yesterday.

Originally, he wanted to complain to Emperor Hongzhi and scold the official before leaving the Ming Dynasty.

But at this moment, all the grudges disappeared for this sentence.

Emperor Hongzhi managed his facial expressions very well: "Mr. Yan, please tell me why?"

"Helping Ryukyu attack Satsuma can quell the rebellion of Japanese pirates."

Li Dongyang's careless face suddenly became serious.

All officials pricked up their ears and stared at Yan Chengjin angrily.

Ryukyu's attack on Satsuma has nothing to do with Japanese pirates. What are you bragging about here?

"The reason why the Japanese pirates are constantly suppressed is precisely because of the wars between the Ryukyu countries and the civil wars on the island countries.

The Japanese pirates took advantage of the war between Ryukyu and Satsuma and hid on the islands. The two countries were at war and had no spare energy to clear them out, so they let them do whatever they wanted.

If the Ming Dynasty unified the islands and Ryukyu was controlled by the Ming Dynasty, the Japanese pirates would naturally have no chance to take advantage of it."

Ma Wensheng and Qin Hong were familiar with the art of war, and they understood what Yan Chengjin meant as soon as they heard it.

The Japanese pirates must dock for supplies when sailing.

The supply place is the island of Ryukyu.

Ryukyu was busy fighting with Satsuma, and its military preparations were insufficient. Even if it knew that the Japanese pirates were on the island, it was powerless to control them.

If the Ryukyu was unified, all the troops could be used to deal with the Japanese pirates.

Shang Zhen looked at Yan Chengjin incredulously: "This lord is really a god! This is the situation of the Ryukyu Islands."

Yan Chengjin was not moved at all.

The anger on Emperor Hongzhi's face dissipated, and his face returned to calm: "The Ming Dynasty and Ryukyu are in a pincer attack. If we fight against the Japanese together, the Japanese pirates will naturally stop fighting."

He was shaken in his heart. In a prosperous era, Japanese pirates are not allowed to exist.

Shang Zhen saw the opportunity and bowed hurriedly and said: "If we can unify the Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyu can wipe out the Japanese pirates who landed on the islands, and the Ming Dynasty can also send troops to Ryukyu to set up garrisons."

Liu Jian hesitated and said: "Although the plan is good, my Ming Dynasty is short of troops and has no other choice."

Yan Chengjin bowed slightly: "Just send one person."

Li Dongyang's face suddenly changed, Xie Qian frowned slightly, and Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin with insightful eyes.

This boy is going to recommend that person again.

Although he hasn't said it yet, they have guessed the answer.

All the officials looked over, their faces nervous, as if they were afraid that Yan Chengjin would say that name.

Yan Chengjin bowed slightly: "I recommend Wang Shouren!"

Emperor Hongzhi, Li Dongyang and others relaxed, as if the strength that had been suppressed for a long time was released.

Although they knew who Yan Chengjin was going to recommend,

but when he said it, they would still sigh.

Shang Zhen shouted: "Your Majesty, you can't do that. Satsuma is a powerful country. It can hire pirates and get help from island countries. It is good at naval battles. There are less than 10,000 people in Ryukyu who can fight.

Only one person will go. Even if this person is very capable, he can't defeat him!"

Military force is a taboo for a country.

At this moment, he told Emperor Hongzhi without reservation that he wanted to win troops from the Ming Dynasty.

Yan Chengjin said: "King Shang Zhen should have heard of the Li Rebellion in Hainan, and it was this person who calmed it down."

It was because the situation in Ryukyu was changeable and complicated, with land battles and naval battles, that Wang Shouren was sent.

When Wang Shouren was in Songjiang Prefecture, Shanghai, he fought against Japanese pirates and quelled the Li Rebellion in Hainan.

If he also fails to unify Satsuma for Ryukyu, the Ming Dynasty will be left with no one.

Yan Chengjin can understand Shang Zhen's worries.

Satsuma is very powerful. In just a few decades, it has accumulated wealth. During the Wanli period, it broke through Ryukyu's Shuri Castle.

And in this battle, we have to face an extremely brave enemy, Xu Dong!

Xu Dong was a pirate king in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, dominating the waters of Zhejiang Prefecture and even Southeast Asia.

Later generations knew about the pirate king Wang Zhi, but not Xu Dong.

When Wang Zhi first joined the pirates, he joined Xu Dong's army. Later, when Xu Dong was old, he rose strongly.

Shang Zhen's eyes lit up, but soon dimmed: "I don't doubt Wang Shouren, but there are only 10,000 soldiers in Ryukyu. I hope Your Majesty can borrow troops."

Ryukyu can only gather 10,000 people at best.

Qin Hong said: "But the Tatars in the north are getting stronger and stronger. If we borrow troops from Ryukyu, it will make the military preparations of the Ming Dynasty empty, so we must not lend them."

"I have made up my mind. Wang Shouren will go with you. King Shang Zhen, please withdraw." Emperor Hongzhi ordered.

It would be more harm than good to destroy the tributary relationship. Shang Zhen bowed slightly and left the hall.

When Wang Shouren received the order, he was slightly stunned.

"Brother Gao recommended me again?"

Miao Kui nodded and smiled: "Lord Wang guessed right, pack up and set off."

Wang Shouren returned to the mansion and said goodbye to Wang Hua. Wang Hua was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

Half a day later, at the port of Liangxiang.

A six-masted ship slowly left the port. The port was full of scholars in Confucian robes and turbans, bidding farewell to Wang Shouren.

Wang Shouren stood on the deck and bowed to the students.

I thought Wang Shouren was a military general, but the one standing in front of him was a weak scholar.

Shang Zhen held a glimmer of hope and asked: "Did Lord Wang quell the rebellion of 100,000 people in Hainan?"

"Shang Zhen, you are too kind. That battle was mainly the credit of Xu Qianhu of the Tuntianying." Wang Shouren bowed slightly.

Shang Zhen's eyes froze, and the last glimmer of hope was shattered.

This time I came to Daming, I went through thousands of hardships and was imprisoned. If I could borrow 10,000 troops, I would have endured it.

But I could only lend it to one person, and it felt like I was being given alms.