Chapter 1015: Temporarily seal the Iwami Silver Mountain

（1015）

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When Zhou Yanyu's troops engaged Yuki Abe, the Marines attacked very quickly, and in just three days, they had already controlled Iwami. The officials of Iwami (the local government of the shogunate), who were stationed in Iwami Ginzan, all fled when they heard the news.

The Belt and Road Party, which was responsible for leading the Marines of the Toramoto Army to attack Iwami Province, temporarily took over Iwami Province's power. All the Tiger Army wants is Iwami Yinshan, and he doesn't care about everything else. Japan's Belt and Road Party is still very satisfied with this.

In addition to Iwami Province, the local authorities of Zhou Fang Province and Nagato Province, the Tiger Army, were also handed over to the Belt and Road Party of Japan. These members of the imperial family, who were once suppressed by the shogunate, can finally take a breath like a human being.

The Belt and Road Party has taken control of the local political power in these three countries, and to a certain extent, has also reduced the logistical burden of the landing force of the Tiger Army. At the very least, some of the materials in the warehouse, such as food and clothing, cotton cloth, medicinal herbs, etc., can be used by the Tiger Ben Army on the spot.

"Iwami Ginzan ......"

Zhang Zhun put down the clairvoyant mirror and said to himself.

This famous silver mountain, at this moment, is stretching in front of Zhang Zhun at a glance. He stood at the foot of the mountain, quietly surveying every mountain peak around him. To be precise, Iwami Ginzan is not a single mountain, nor is it a group of mountains, but a collective name for all the peaks in the central mountains of Iwami Province. Because these peaks all contain silver ore, they are all called silver mountains. Add the name of Iwami Province in front of it, and it is Iwami Ginzan.

After the capture of Iwami Province, the Marines of the Tiger Army temporarily took over Iwami Ginzan. The reason why it is said to be temporary is because these continuous silver mines cover a large area and are full of caves. Unless the war in Japan ends, it is impossible for the Tiger Army to really control this place.

How long it will take for the war in Japan to end, Zhang Zhun could not accurately predict. This is indeed something that cannot be predicted. The Japanese once clamored for the destruction of China within three months, but in the end they fought for eight years, and they themselves lost. In order to avoid making jokes, Zhang Zhun was determined to do nothing and do his best to end the war in Japan as soon as possible.

On the surface, Iwami Ginzan doesn't look like a mine at all. Ordinary mines are bare, as if they were the heads of lepers. A large amount of vegetation should be destroyed, and the phenomenon of soil erosion should be quite serious. However, Iwami Silver Mountain is quite green. There are woods everywhere, lush, and there is no bare surface to be seen.

The forests here are quite well preserved, and at a glance the presence of the mine is barely visible. In fact, those mines are hidden in the mountain paths. You can only see it if you get closer. The excavated silver ore is also transported on such mountain trails, carried on shoulders. In general, the way of silver mining here is still relatively backward.

"My lord, this is some of the data we have summarized based on the information we have seized. The Japanese left, but their data were not all taken with them. ”

Chaffield came over and handed Zhang Zhun a briefing.

"Good work!"

Brigadier Zhang took over the information and carefully reviewed it.

According to the information in this briefing, over the past ten years, Iwami Ginzan has produced nearly four million taels of silver per year. Ten years is 40 million taels. No wonder the Japanese have such silver reserves. The annual output of silver alone is equivalent to the income of Chongzhen Chaotai Warehouse for a year. Chongzhen's internal income is only six or seven million taels per year.

Regarding the war of more than 20 years in Wanli, Zhang Zhun felt that the most regrettable thing was that the Ming army did not force the Japanese to pay reparations. In fact, if the Ming army had this mind, it was still very possible to do it. As long as part of the Japanese army is intercepted, it will be intercepted on the Korean Peninsula. Or send more powerful cavalry to storm into the port of Pusan and cut off the retreat of the Japanese army. Then, Ming Guo can discuss the matter of reparations with Japan.

It is estimated that it is still the face of the Wanli Emperor Heavenly Empire, or those pedantic scholars and doctors, who are embarrassed to make such a request. If Zhang Zhun had traveled forty years earlier and caught up with that war, he would definitely extort all the Japanese silver into his own pocket. So much silver, don't be in vain!

According to the map marked above, Zhang Zhun searched carefully and found that the extent to which Iwami Silver Mountain was developed was not very high. In terms of percentages, the amount of silver mined in the past should be less than 5% of the total reserves. In other words, 95 percent is still to be developed.

Sado Island and Iwami Ginzan, two places that are so rich that they fall into the hands of the Tiger Army, as long as they are actively exploited, it is entirely possible to guarantee an income of one million taels of silver every month. Hehe, a million taels a month! In a year, it is more than 10 million taels, and you can do a lot of things.

In fact, Japan's silver mines are not limited to Iwami Ginzan. Japan is rich in silver. In addition to Iwami Ginzan, there are also a considerable number of silver and gold mines. These can only be collected by means of trade. As long as we actively maintain a trade surplus and dump a large number of goods into the Japanese market, we are not afraid that we will not be able to earn this silver from Japan.

"What are you going to do with this?"

Zhang Zhun turned his head and asked Xia Feisi.

Chafès's intelligence agency has a lot of tasks. In addition to spying on intelligence information, the care and management of Iwami Ginzan is also one of them. Before the establishment of a special mining agency, Iwami Yinshan could only be handed over to Chafis for temporary management. The duration of the temporary administration depends entirely on when the war in Japan ends.

"All the pits are temporarily closed."

Chapheis said briefly.

Under the current circumstances, it is absolutely impossible for the Tiger Army to mine Iwami Ginzan. In such a situation, the only way to do this is to temporarily close production and seal up all the gold and silver inside. After the war situation in Japan stabilized, special personnel were dispatched to set up a special mining organization. If necessary, the Toranotomi army also had to station a certain number of troops in Iwami Ginzan. These can only be implemented until the end of the war.

"Abe Yuki is attacking Zhou Yanyu's troops."

After a moment of silence, Chafis said cautiously.

"What about Masatsushi Chief's troops?"

Zhang Zhun asked with concern.

From the Japanese Belt and Road Party, Zhang Zhun learned that Abe Yuki and Chiefizaki Masatsu were the backbone of the Tokugawa shogunate. Every time there was a war in the shogunate, it was fought by two people. Tokugawa Ieyasu and Tokugawa Hidetada have both been on the battlefield for a long time and have never been afraid of war, but in the Tokugawa Iemitsu generation, it is a little far from the battlefield.

Abe's troops have been stationed near Heiankyo to monitor the movements of the Japanese Imperial Family. After the Purple Coat Incident, the troops under the command of Abe Yuki once reached 15 banners, with a total strength of more than 30,000 troops, and then gradually weakened.

The troops of Masatsushi Chieftachi, stationed in Shinano Province near Edo, were the main mobile combat force of the Tokugawa shogunate. The total strength of this unit has been maintained at more than 30,000 all year round, and has never been reduced to less than 30,000. Shinano Province is located in the heart of Japan, and can be reached quickly from both east and west.

According to the introduction of the Japanese Imperial Family Leading the Way Party, in fact, Abe Yuki's troops are not the most elite. It was the most elite shogunate army that the chief commander was in command. Abe's troops were mainly composed of iron gunneru (musketeers). Although these ashigaru officers have a strong will to fight, the intensity of their training is quite high, and the quality of their junior officers is quite good, in general, their firepower is relatively weak.

The chieftain's troops were equipped with a considerable number of cavalry and cannons, and they were more ferocious in terms of firepower. According to the intelligence of the Japanese Imperial Family, in the troops of Masatsushi Chief, there were at least two artillery teams of Kimoto. The number of artillery pieces, possibly more than a hundred. If Masaki Chiefs and Yuki Abe compete, Yuki Abe is no match for Masatoshi Chiefizaki in the use of long-range cannons.

In addition to the two of them, there is also Ryuta Sato, who is said to have good combat effectiveness. This person is currently only a flag book, but he is in charge of more than a dozen other flag books. There are rumors that this Ryuta Sato is actually the brother of Tokugawa Iemitsu and the illegitimate son of Tokugawa Hidetada. It's just that no one can confirm this.

Another mysterious figure is Daisuke Matsui. This person is very low-key. Even the Japanese imperial family doesn't know much about this person. It is estimated that this person will be a killer feature of the Tokugawa shogunate. Once Yuki Abe and Masatsuka Chiefaki are defeated, Daisuke Matsui, as the captain of the firefight, will definitely appear on the battlefield.

As long as the Tiger Army defeated these four people, the Tokugawa Shogunate, even if it did not collapse, would not have the power to fight back. The main force of the Tokugawa shogunate's army, that is, about 150,000 people. Ryota Maeda has lost more than 10,000 people. As long as more than half of the rest were annihilated, the shogunate army would be wiped out. At that time, Tokugawa Iemitsu will only have the share of obediently "retiring".

"What about the Dutch visiting fleet in Hiroshima? Is there any movement? ”

Zhang Zhun nodded thoughtfully and asked with concern.

One variable in the Japanese war was the Dutch. From the bottom of his heart, Zhang Zhun didn't want the Dutch to fall too deep into the Japanese war situation. This is not good for the Tiger Army. What the Tiger Army needs most now is time. If three years later, the Tiger Ben Army fought to the death with the Dutch again, Zhang Zhun's confidence would be much greater.

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