What kind of long-term plan, Yan Yangtian has never heard of it, but he really can't figure it out after destroying the Satsuma Domain but not occupying the territory, and after a little hesitation, he tentatively said: "The Japanese Shogunate is so weak, even if they forcibly occupy the territory of the Satsuma Domain, they may not dare to speak up." Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"The shogunate is helpless, but the feudal lords of the Wa Kingdom, that is, the daimyo, will take the opportunity to attack and denounce the shogunate, and the Emperor of the Wa Kingdom may also take the opportunity to contact the local daimyo and launch a huge wave of rebellion to regain power, which is not the result I want to see." Yi Zhishu said slowly: "For us, it is in our best interests to maintain the rule of the shogunate in the Japanese country. ”

Yan Yangtian became more and more confused the more he listened, and couldn't help but say, "That being the case, why is the principal in a hurry to go east?" ”

Yi Zhishu patiently explained: "The purpose of the rush to the east is to turn the Wa Kingdom into a vassal state of the Qing Dynasty before the Western countries, so as to cut off the idea of the Western countries to fight the Wa Kingdom, not to destroy the rule of the shogunate. ”

"What if the shogunate goes to war with us?"

"At war?" Yi Zhizhi smiled, "This is the same as the British fighting us, if there is no Yuanqi group training, if the British fleet does not enter the Yangtze River inland waterway to fight Jiangning, what will be the result?"

The Japanese country is an island country, most of the prosperous cities are close to the sea, and there is no strong naval fleet to compete with the Nanyang Fleet, we control the sea power, and come and go freely in the coastal sea, which is equivalent to completely grasping the initiative in the war, coupled with the combat power of our marines, it is easy to force the shogunate to surrender.

The result was the same, Tokugawa Iekei chose to surrender directly, which was a very wise move, which not only preserved the strength of the shogunate, but also avoided the huge losses caused by the war. ”

Yan Yangtian hesitated: "In this way, this Eastern Crusade is to protect the Japanese Kingdom from Western invasion?" ”

Protection? Yi Zhishu nodded and said: "Yes, it is indeed protection, our purpose is to protect the Japanese country well and let him close the country for a long time." As he spoke, he smiled, "Go to the camp to inspect and ponder the candidates for the officers to stay there." ”

Waiting for Yan Yangtian to leave, Yi Zhizhi also walked out of the big tent, walking along the beach by the sea, the garrison of the Japanese State, but it kills two birds with one stone, it can not only deter the Japanese State, but also secretly expand the army, expand the army in the Japanese State, the imperial court can not detect it at all, not only the Japanese State, but also the Ryukyus.

As for the Japanese state, under the condition of ensuring that it can be controlled, it is completely possible to let it go for a few years to accumulate strength, and the shogunate rule, with his full support, it is not a big problem to continue, the problem is the pressure from Western countries, Britain, the United States, Russia, and France may not be willing to let the Japanese state be controlled by the Qing Dynasty, but it should not be a big problem if it is delayed for five or six or seven or eight years.

Early the next morning, Mizuno Tadashi again sent a large amount of grain, fruits, vegetables, poultry and fish, which, of course, were used as a cover, covering the transportation of a large amount of gold—fifty heavy crates.

When the wooden box was opened, looking at the neat gold coins stacked inside, Yi Zhizhi had a feeling of unreality for a moment, and picked up a piece of gold coin, Mizuno Tadashi hurriedly explained: "This is the newly minted Tianbao five taels of gold, eighty-four in color." ”

Eighty-four fineness, is 84% of the gold content, the fineness is a little lower, however, since it is a gold coin of the Japanese Kingdom, it is easy to be content and not easy to say anything, but these five taels of money? He checked it, it was about the same as a silver dollar, and this gold coin weighed five taels? He glanced at Mizuno Tadakuni suspiciously.

"Honcha-sama doesn't know anything." Mizuno Tadashi hurriedly explained: "The weights and measures of the country and the kingdom are different, and these five taels of money are only equivalent to one tael of the kingdom. ”

Yi Zhizu snorted coldly and said, "Tianbao is a hundred coins, Ben Qincha has heard of it, but the gold coin is actually the same..... Your Excellency General wouldn't be so perfunctory, would you? ”

"Don't dare, don't dare." Mizuno Tadashi hurriedly accompanied him and said with a smile: "This is just the sincerity of the general, and the rest will be sent in a few days." ”

Counting one by one is a tedious matter, Yan Yangtian personally led a group of officers to count the seals one by one, and worked for most of the day, after reporting to Yi Zhi, he said with emotion: "The country is really rich." ”

"The Tokugawa shogunate lasted for more than 200 years, and there were almost no wars during this period. Yi Zhizhi said: "However, this time is enough to hollow out their family." ”

It took ten days to stay in Edo Bay before the Nanyang Fleet set sail loaded with a large amount of gold.

On the high platform outside the city, looking at the shadow of the sail that was gradually moving away, Tokugawa Iekei couldn't help but sigh, although it was to eliminate a war, but the price paid was to make his heart drip blood, Mizuno Tadakuni hurriedly relieved on the side: "The lord doesn't need to worry too much, the Yuanqi Bank will come to Edo to open a branch later, and it is easy to be content but guarantee that Yuanqi will lend a huge amount of silver to the shogunate at low interest to help the shogun tide over the difficulties." ”

It's okay not to mention this, but when he mentioned this, Tokugawa Iekei was even more depressed, what kind of was this, he was blackmailed with a huge amount of gold, and then, Yuan Qi came to lend him a huge amount of silver, and then it was a low interest, and it was interest, right?

Seeing that he was silent, Mizuno Tadashi said cautiously: "Yi Zhishu also said before leaving that he would give the general a generous gift..... ”

"Generous gifts?" Tokugawa Ieqing was stunned, and asked in a loud voice: "What kind of gift?" ”

"Satsuma Domain." Mizuno Tadakuni said softly: "The Satsuma Domain sent troops to the Ryukyus and invaded the five islands in the northern Ryukyus....... ”

Tokugawa Iekei lost his voice and said: "Qing Guo has received money and wants to fight the Satsuma Domain?" ”

Mizuno Tadashi didn't dare to look at him, and bowed his head and said: "Yi Zhizhi said that the Satsuma Domain is a strong domain in the southwest, and it is just a good opportunity to establish its authority and make an example of chickens and monkeys, so as not to take the opportunity for other daimyo to make trouble." They didn't want the Satsuma domain, but the five northern islands of the Ryukyus were to be recovered. ”

This is to stand out for the Ryukyus! It's time to come after all! Tokugawa Iekei sighed secretly, and staggered down the high platform, in just half a month, he seemed to have aged a lot.

Nanyang Fleet, the flagship - 'Zhenjiang', the official hall, Yi Zhishu glanced at a few of the descendants of the officers present, got up and pointed to the simple map hanging on the bulkhead, and said: "The Satsuma Domain is only a county at best, and if you want to establish power, you must use a thunderous blow!" Nowadays, Qiongzhou is vigorously opening up rubber plantations, which requires a large number of manpower, and the Satsuma Domain, regardless of the military and civilians, men, women, and children, are all taken captive and sent to Qiongzhou to open up rubber plantations. ”

Hearing that he was going to strike at the Satsuma Domain by thunder, Cai Qiyun, the Ryukyu Wupin Fengxuan Doctor as a staff officer, couldn't help but be greatly excited, over the years, Ryukyu can be said to have suffered greatly from the Satsuma Domain, and he hurriedly said: "Lord Kincha, the Satsuma Domain is the Great Domain of the Wa Kingdom, with 770,000 stone highs, and the current lord of the domain is Shimazu Qixing.

In the past ten years, Shimazu Qixing has carried out reforms in Hirogo, a veteran research office, and through long-term arrears, he has actually forgiven a large amount of debts borrowed from wealthy merchants in Edo, Osaka and other places, and with the help of our Ryukyus, he secretly conducted maritime trade with Shangguo, secretly extracted monopoly taxes on sugar and other items, and quickly accumulated a large amount of wealth. ”

Have two or three million taels of gold reserves? This sentence made the eyes of all the officers in the official hall, including Yi Zhicontent, brighten up, and they were a little quiet, and Yi Zhixiang said suspiciously: "A mere Satsuma Domain, can there be two or three million taels of gold reserves?" ”

"No one else knows about this, but we in the Ryukyus are very clear." Cai Qiyun hurriedly said: "Over the years, the Satsuma Domain has not only secretly traded by sea, but also intensified its exploitation of our Ryukyus, two or three million taels of gold, it is definitely not a lie!" ”

Two or three million taels of gold! Even if it is two taels of the Wa Kingdom, there are more than one million taels of gold when converted! This Satsuma domain is so wide? Yi Zhishu secretly thought in his heart, then plan well and strive to rob all this gold!

Cai Qiyun continued: "Purely in terms of financial resources, the four feudal domains of Satsuma, Choshu, Hizen, and Tosa, which are the heads of the southwestern feudal domains, have all developed through secret maritime trade. ”

Yi Zhishu ordered: "Come up and mark the specific locations of the other three feudatories." ”

Cai Qiyun, who was waiting, marked the locations of the four feudal domains in the southwest one by one on the map, and Yan Yangtian chuckled: "The two feudal domains of Satsuma and Hizen are not far apart, so just serve them in one pot." ”

Yi Zhifu didn't say anything, he glanced at Feng Renxuan, Feng Renxuan groaned slightly before he spoke: "Destroy Satsuma, fat before the inevitable panic, there is a possibility of transferring wealth, so fat and oily, it is a pity to let go, the navy is now in urgent need of development, what I want is silver..." As he spoke, he looked up at Yi Zhishu and said, "There is still a reason to fight Satsuma, will it affect the plan of the military gate even if it is a pot of fattening?" ”

After a little groaning, Yi Zhizhi said: "Since the Hizen Domain also relies on the wealth accumulated by sea trade, it can naturally be fought, and it must be fought, our purpose is to blockade the Wa Kingdom, and all the vassal states that secretly carry out sea trade in private are within the scope of our attack!" ”

Hearing this, Yan Yangtian was overjoyed, and hurriedly said, "Then let's make a good deployment." ”

Cai Qiyun hesitated for a moment before he said: "Lord Qincha, the Hizen Domain is not a sneaky sea trade, and Nagasaki belongs to Hizen. ”

Nagasaki belongs to Hizen? Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, "Since it is a legal maritime trade, then forget it." As he spoke, he turned his head around, "The Satsuma Domain is 770,000 high, how many troops does it have?" ”

"The stone height is the amount of rice, and the stone height of the Satsuma domain is 770,000, which means that the autumn harvest can harvest 770,000 stone rice ......"

770,000 stone of rice? Feng Renxuan was taken aback, how big is the territory of the Satsuma Domain, and it can harvest 770,000 stone rice in a year? He hurriedly asked, "How much is one stone in the Wa Kingdom?" ”

"One stone is thirty-five to forty pounds." Cai Qiyun explained: "Generally according to the tradition of the Wa Kingdom, when there is a war, more than 230 people are conscripted for 10,000 stones, and 770,000 people are recruited from the Satsuma Domain, and 15,600 people can be recruited, and on weekdays, it is estimated that there are only 2,000 or 3,000 troops. ”

Feng Renxuan was quite serious and said, "Even if one stone is thirty-five catties, how much is seven hundred and seventy thousand stones?" More than 24 million catties, how much territory is the Satsuma Domain? ”

"Shi Gao's approval is quite complicated." Cai Qiyun said curtly: "Specifically, the lower officials are not very clear, I heard that even miscellaneous grains, aquatic products, and minerals are counted, and the stone height of the Satsuma Domain also includes our Ryukyu." ”

Yi Zhishu continued: "What is the total stone height of the Wa Kingdom? ”

Cai Qiyun hurriedly shook his head and said: "Xia Guan doesn't know, there are more than 200 feudal states of all sizes and sizes in the Wa Kingdom, and no matter how you say it, it should be 20 or 30 million stone high. ”

Twenty or thirty million stone high, which means that once a big war breaks out, the Japanese country will be able to gather an army of five or six hundred thousand, this number is not small, in this regard, Yi Zhizhi is very skeptical, the total strength of the Eight Banners Green Battalion of the Qing Dynasty is only this scale, however, he was quickly relieved, this only represents the strength that can be recruited, not a standing army.

"Two or three thousand troops, our strength is almost ten times that of the enemy." Yi Zhizu said slowly: "The lion fights the rabbit, and also uses all his strength, you can't take it lightly because of the disparity in strength, after all, we are fighting in a different place, Lord Cai is familiar with the situation of the Satsuma Domain, and he introduced it in detail and discussed a feasible plan, and the matter must not leak out, and there is no need for the navy to participate." ”

"Subordinates understand." Yan Yangtian and other officers hurriedly responded, and everyone knew in their hearts that if they didn't want the navy to participate, they would swallow the gold of the Satsuma Domain.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Tsurumaru Castle, where the Shimazu family of the Satsuma clan lives, is not easy to fight." Cai Qiyun, who had not yet seen the combat power of the Nanyang Navy, said slowly: "Tsurumaru Castle is surrounded by cliffs, and it is a fortified city built by using natural terrain, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack....... ”

Kagoshima Bay, the sea is wide, the waves are not alarmed, the three merchant ships that are preparing to go out of the bay suddenly saw more than a dozen sail warships lined up like a long dragon galloping head-on, frightened and hurriedly turned around and turned around and returned along the way they came, they have not seen Western warships, but the fleet composed of more than ten Western warships, they really have not seen it, and what is especially terrifying is that it still appeared at their own doorstep.

"Back!" The lookout on the mast raised his voice: "There are many warships behind!" ”

"Quick! Dock! Dock and moor! The shrewd shipowner commanded repeatedly, knowing very well that even if he could escape back to Kagoshima Port, he would be doomed, and that it would be better to dock here and perhaps get away with it.

Seeing that the three merchant ships all lowered their sails and slowed down to the side, Yan Yangtian commanded in a deep voice: "Don't pay attention to it, leave it to the back to deal with, and move forward at full speed!" He was well aware that time must now be gained, and black smoke from the alarm had been lit on both sides of the bay.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! With the panicked shouts of the samurai and patrol soldiers, the entire port of Kagoshima was in chaos, and the large and small ships moored at the dock rowed off the shore to the inner bay, and the merchants and dockmen on the shore also scattered in all directions.

Tsurumaru Castle, the lord of the Satsuma Domain, the twenty-seventh generation governor of the Shimazu lord family-Shimazu Qixing, who was in his early forties, hurriedly waited on the high platform of the city wall, and a samurai quickly stepped forward and said, "My lord, it's the Qing Fleet!" (To be continued.) )