I

Those employed by the Datong Army as civilian husbands were all unemployed in Edo.They fled back after being beaten by shells, and they were unwilling to demolish the house again.

Huang Fei called a few wanderers and said to them: "Each of you leads ten people and decides which house you want to demolish. After the responsible target is demolished, that team can rest. The sooner the project is completed, the higher the reward." The first team that has been demolished will be rewarded with one stone of rice per person. The second team that has been demolished will be rewarded with half a stone of rice per person. The third team that has been demolished will be rewarded with 20 catties of rice per person. After that, each team will be rewarded according to their ranking Decrement a catty."

When the white rice was brought out, the Japanese ronin and civilians immediately got motivated to demolish those houses under the gunfire.

Huang Fei is not afraid of wasting food. Anyway, after winning the battle, the shogunate will compensate for the lost military expenses.

With heavy rewards, the house was demolished quickly.

There are also many Japanese carpenters who were also forcibly recruited to turn the newly removed wooden boards into various siege equipment.

After two or three days of lingering, a large block was finally demolished, and the moat had to be filled in next.

Masanori Inaba, the general of the Japanese city defenders, approached the power minister Sakai Zhongqing and said: "Your Excellency, the enemy has demolished the houses and is building siege vehicles and ladders. Those siege equipment are not far from the demolished streets. You can send some brave warriors to attack and burn it at night."

"Night attack is a good strategy." Tadaki Sakai praised.

The plan was approved, and Inaba Masaru acted immediately.He summoned 500 dead soldiers, gave them grease, and asked the death squads to set off after drinking.

Five hundred warriors tied white cloth forehead belts, received some settlement allowances, and waited for the night to fall.

They drank half a bowl of sake, set off with high morale, and crossed the bridge in the dark with jars in their hands.Everything seemed to be going well, and the Datong Army looked defenseless.

"Jingle bell~~~"

In the quiet night, a bell rang suddenly, and more than 100 soldiers who were dozing with their eyes closed suddenly opened their eyes and picked up the muskets that had already been loaded.

Only a faint figure could be seen outside, and all the soldiers shot at the figure.

Immediately after firing a bullet, put on the bayonet and rush out.

The moment the five hundred warriors hit the bell, they knew they were furious.Some people subconsciously wanted to withdraw, while more people stopped hiding and rushed forward screaming.There were crackling gunshots, and not only a few fell to the ground, but the gunshots calmed down the fanatical warriors, and more and more warriors stopped charging.

It was pitch black, and they were retreating again. The hundreds of warriors were completely disorganized, and they only knew to flee in the direction of the castle.

Of the five hundred warriors, less than half fled back to the city.

"Why not, let's talk about peace." Tsuchiya, who had just been promoted to senior middle school, said directly.

Kuze Hiroyuki echoed, "You can send someone to try it."

Sakai Zhongqing looked at Lin Efeng: "You father and son have served as envoys to the Tang Dynasty several times. Your father has passed away from illness, and this time the important task of peace talks will be entrusted to you."

"Obey!" Lin Efeng bit the bullet and agreed.

He is the son of Luo Shan, a great scholar in Japan. His name is Lin Shu, and Goose Peak is his nickname.

Lin Efeng came to the outside of the city in a basket, and after explaining his purpose, he was taken to see Dai Sheng, the military officer.

"My servant Lin Shu, pay my respects to the angel of the upper kingdom." Lin Efeng bowed.

Dai Sheng cupped his hands and raised slightly: "Honglu Temple Dai Sheng, please sit down, Your Excellency."

After Lin Efeng sat down, he was very hard-spoken, and questioned: "Dare to ask the angel, what is the purpose of the heavenly soldiers coming here? The teacher came out of no name, and it is not a righteous battle!"

Dai Sheng sneered: "The vassal state expelled the merchants of the Celestial Dynasty without authorization, and confiscated the property of the merchants of the Celestial Dynasty without authorization. This is Japan's way of doing big things? Japan doesn't care about big things, and China doesn't need to make things small. If you are unrighteous, then China can be inhumane." !"

The Confucian diplomatic philosophy can be summed up in four words: big things and small things.

A big country should treat a small country with benevolence and righteousness, and should not bully it casually; a small country should treat a big country with wisdom, and should not be easily provoked.

Dai Sheng casually mentioned the content of "Mencius", and directly labeled the shogunate as "not a big deal", which made Lin Efeng not know how to defend.Even if it can be justified, it is just sophistry, because Japan has violated the basic diplomatic philosophy of Confucianism.

In the verbal confrontation between the two, Dai Sheng had already gained the upper hand.

Lin Efeng, who questioned the country as soon as he arrived, could only explain as much as possible at this time: "It is Japan's internal affairs to close the country. There may be some profiteers in China who violated the shogunate's order to smuggle and trade with local daimyo. The people expelled by the shogunate are not good Chinese citizens." , but Chinese traitors. Just like the Japanese pirates who robbed the Ming Dynasty, they were also traitors expelled by our country. The Japanese will only applaud when the Ming Dynasty beheaded the Japanese pirates. Those criminals who participated in smuggling do not need to let the two We will meet each other in arms."

"Ah!"

Dai Sheng slapped the table angrily: "The Japanese pirates burned, killed and looted in China, but did the Chinese maritime merchants plunder in Japan? How dare you confuse the good Chinese merchants with the heinous Japanese pirates! You and I don't need to say anymore, Come, see off the guests!"

"The angel calms down, the angel calms down," Lin Efeng finally panicked, "If His Majesty the Emperor has anything to say, please feel free to tell the angel, and I will definitely pass it on to the general."

Dai Sheng said: "First, Japan must bear the full amount of military expenses for this dispatch of troops. Second, return the property of Chinese merchants. Third, Japan must establish a country. Fourth, China's gold, silver and copper coins can be used in Japan. , Japanese merchants must not refuse to accept. Fifth, Ezo Island (Hokkaido) originally belonged to the Nuer Gandusi of Ming Dynasty, and now it is the territory of our Datong China. I heard that Japan made maps, and actually painted Ezo Island as Japan’s territory. Immediately Change the map of Japan to recognize Ezo Island as Chinese territory!"

Let's go and give it a try. 】

Lin Efeng took a pen to write down everything, and took it back to Sakai Zhongqing.

Shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna, after reading the terms and conditions, finally said a few words: "Where is Ezo Island?"

Sakai Zhongqing replied: "That is the territory of the Matsumae domain."

Tokugawa Ietsuna asked doubtfully, "Why didn't I know that there was a Matsumae domain?"

Sakai Zhongqing said: "The Matsumae clan is a big name without Shi Gao, and only has the banner treatment."

The reason why Sakai Tadaki is so clear is because Matsumae Fan's banner treatment was bought by bribing him.

Before that, the Matsumae clan didn't even count as the banner.Its ancestor, Matsumae Yoshihiro, defeated the local Ainu people, led the Japanese immigrants to build a village, was recognized for joining Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and successfully became independent from the Andong family.

With a standard treatment, and without Shi Gao's name, who would care about his life?

The old Naka Itakura Shigeko said: "It is rumored that Ezo Island is very cold and covered by ice and snow all year round. It is impossible to grow rice and can only hunt and fish. This kind of wild land is also the homeland of China. We don't need to hold it in our hands. I suggest that the title of the Matsumae clan should be deprived, and the Matsumae family’s banner title should be revoked. From now on, the Matsumae family is the people of China, not my Japanese subjects.”

"It should be so." Many old middlemen and councilors nodded.

No one takes Hokkaido seriously. What are the places where rice cannot be grown?

Among the five items in the contract, Hokkaido was the most important thing for Zhao Han, but the Japanese shogunate paid the least attention.

Chapter 1037 [The female emperor and the monk Taishanghuang]

At this shogunate meeting, not only the old middlemen and the councilors were present, but also the names of the main vassal states.

Sakai Tadaki expressed his opinion point by point: "First, the military expenses of the Tang soldiers can be compensated, but not too much, absolutely not more than 60 guan (15 taels of silver)."

"60 kan is too much." Tokugawa Ietsuna didn't want to pay.

The fiscal revenue of the shogunate all comes from the directly governed territory, which can be divided into annual tribute, mouth rice, Sanyong, Yunshang and Xiaopu request gold and so on.The annual income is floating, and there are about 50-80 stones of rice, 30-60 taels of gold, and 2 guan (5 taels) of silver.

The number seems to be quite a lot, and gold is the most, but it takes money to support retainers and samurai!

The wealth accumulated by the previous generations of shoguns was exhausted when the Edo fire was rebuilt.In another time and space, in the shogunate 30 or [-] years later, it was difficult to pay the retainers and warriors salaries, so they had to make money by minting low-quality gold, silver and copper coins.

Tadaki Sakai said: "Then it's 50 kan."

Tokugawa Ietsuna was rarely tough, and said: "The maximum compensation is 40 guan. If the Tang envoy disagrees, then stick to Edo to the end!"

Sakai Zhongqing also said: "The second article is to return the confiscated goods of the Tang people. This can be agreed. The third article is that Japan must be founded. This is absolutely impossible. The cotton cloth and iron pots of the Tang Dynasty are far cheaper than ours. One Ships arrived one after another, and many weaving craftsmen and potters lost their jobs. In the castle towns of Edo, the people bought Tang cloth and pots. If this continues for another five years, Japan will no longer have craftsmen weaving cloth, and Japan will lose its jobs. There will be no craftsmen for forging pots anymore. And those craftsmen who lost their jobs will conspire with the ronin to riot again."

Abe Zhongqiu finally couldn't help but say: "Why are Tang cloth and Tang pot so much cheaper than Japanese goods? I asked Tang merchants, and they used steam engines to weave cloth and smelt iron. I think that no matter what the emperor of Tang wants, it can be done." You can temporarily agree. Then send more envoys to Tang Dynasty to learn steam engine technology, so that Japanese craftsmen can also use steam engines to produce."

"absurd!"

Sakai Zhongqing said angrily: "In the past 20 years, the shogunate has sent many envoys to the Tang Dynasty. What have they learned in the end? I have learned the "Da Tong Ji" about infidelity and injustice, and I have learned the fake learning of the Nanban (Netherlands). I have The eldest son of a retainer, was sent to Nanjing to study, and returned home after six years, saying that the earth is round all day long..."

"The earth is indeed round," Abe Tadaaki interrupted, "Your Excellency forgot that the shogunate also imitated the Nanban ship (Galen ship), and visited America and Europe by boat, sailed westward, and finally came back. Doesn't this prove that the earth is round?"

Sakai Tadaki was even more angry: "That bastard, not only is the earth round, but also dared to observe the sky without permission. He also said that the earth is a planet, and like Venus, it revolves around the sun!"

Xiong Ze Fanshan would be wanted by the shogunate for spreading Yangming's philosophy of mind, which shows how serious the ideological confinement in Japan is at this time.

In order to prevent the Japanese from admiring China, even "Xihu Zhi" was listed as a banned book.

What is "West Lake Chronicle"?

It's just a book about Hangzhou's culture and attractions!

Also banned is "Emperor Beijing Scenery Brief", which is a book introducing Beijing's culture and attractions.In recent years, "Jinling Scenery" has been listed as a banned book, fearing that Japanese readers will know the prosperity of Nanjing.

The Chinese translation of Aristotle's "Cosmology", "Huan You Quan", was also banned by the shogunate last year, preventing Japanese readers from studying astronomy.

Abe Zhongqiu asked: "So many books, can it really be banned? It is better to send Tang envoys to study and make Japan stronger. During the Tang Dynasty in China, a large number of Tang envoys were sent back to bring back knowledge, and Japan has the glory it is today. Datong Dynasty As powerful as Datang, now is the time for us to fully learn!"

Sakai Zhongqing didn't bother to argue any further, and angrily scolded: "You are no longer a middle-aged man, you are not even a councilor now, you have no place to speak here!"

Tadaki Abe saluted the shogun, then got up with a flick of his sleeves and walked outside the hall, saying as he walked, "Since I have no part to speak, there is no need for me to stay here!"

Everyone continued the meeting, and then sent Lin Efeng out of the city to negotiate.

Lin Efeng said to Dai Sheng: "First, Japan can compensate 60 guan for military expenses."

Dai Sheng knew the reason and asked: "How much silver is 60 guan?"

林鹅峰解释道：“1两等于4分，等于16朱，等于4000文。1000文为1贯，4贯就是1两。60万贯，即15万两白银。”

Dai Sheng sneered, and the lion opened his mouth: "Is the shogunate sending beggars away? 600 million guan, there must be no less. Let's continue to the second point."

Lin Efeng said: "Second, our country is willing to return the property of the merchants of the Tang Dynasty, and give some compensation. Third, it is impossible for Japan to establish a country, but it can add two trading ports."

"Only two more ports?" Dai Sheng shook his head, "Japan must have at least ten ports open to sea!"

Lin Efeng continued: "Article [-], the gold, silver and copper coins of the Tang Dynasty can be used in Japan, but Japanese merchants can refuse to accept them. The specific transaction is entirely voluntary by the merchants of both parties. territory."

The last two were a big surprise to Hoopoe.

They actually allowed merchants to use Chinese currency, and agreed to cede Ezo Island.Dai Sheng thought that these contents were the most difficult to negotiate, but unexpectedly, it became the easiest.

Lin Efeng could only run back to the city to report.

"What? Six million yuan in compensation?"

The shogun who was sick and weak suddenly became iron-blooded and strong. He drew his sword and shouted: "Defend Edo to the death, defend Edo to the death, this general swears to live and die with Edo!"

There's nothing to talk about, we have to fight again.

As the siege continued for more than ten days, more and more Japanese people could not buy food due to the suspension of commercial activities in the castle town.

They covered their faces with sackcloth, accepted the employment of the Datong Army, and filled the moat with shells, just to earn daily rations for their families.The Datong Army has always been innocent, as long as they work honestly, they will be paid on time.Even if they were killed by shells, the family members of those Japanese people could still receive a small bag of rice as a pension.

With the hard work of the Japanese people, the moat of Edo was filled little by little.

Sakai Tadaki went to the city in person, and when he looked out with a binoculars, his lungs exploded.Judging by his clothes, the people who filled the moat were all Japanese, and even covered their faces with sackcloth, for fear of being recognized by acquaintances.He roared angrily: "Strictly investigate all collaborators after the war, and no one will be let go!"

After filling the moat, those Japanese people were not unemployed and were sent to dig siege tunnels. ....

From the castle town to the outside of the city wall, there are "Z" shaped tunnels everywhere.At every corner of the tunnel, fortifications were built with mounds of earth, and Datong soldiers hid behind the fortifications to prevent the enemies in the city from coming out to destroy the tunnels.

"You can't sit still and wait for death, you have to fight!" Sakai Zhongqing said.

Masanori Inaba, who was the general general, could only obey orders, let the muskets and artillery on the city fire at full speed, and covered two thousand soldiers rushing out of the city gate.The target of their attack is the Japanese people who are digging holes.

When the Japanese people heard the shouts of killing, they immediately ran away in fright, and fled to the castle town along the tunnel.

Seeing this, the morale of the two thousand shogunate troops was high, some were chasing in the tunnels, and some were running on the ground.

"Bang bang bang bang!"

A series of gunshots sounded, and the shogunate army kept falling, and the Datong army hiding behind the tunnel fortifications fought back.

The shogunate army was originally fighting a defensive battle, but this time it turned into a tough battle.

After some fighting, the shogunate army left hundreds of corpses and fled back to the city gate in embarrassment.The Datong army did not chase, because even if they break through the city gate, they will become targets after entering. The enemy's castle has four walls.

The Japanese people were called back to continue the tunnel work.

Datong Military Camp.

"News came from the friendly army that Xiaguan and Osaka have been captured. May I ask whether you are here to help, or to attack Kyoto?"

"Don't use it to help, just control Osaka. If he has nothing to do, he can also capture Kyoto if he wants to."

Huang Fei was still a little worried about the lack of soldiers, but judging from the previous battles, the Japanese soldiers were already unusable, and they were all useless wretches who hadn't fought.

Edo is the political center, Kyoto is the cultural center, and Osaka is the commercial center. These three cities gather one-tenth of Japan's population.

Osaka, where a thousand shogunate troops were stationed, was easily captured by Han Shouxin.

This guy is eager to do meritorious service, and he has nothing to do, anyway, the capital is very close, so he led the army to kill towards the capital.

The defenders there are weaker, a cannon blast, a hot air balloon blast

, the defenders escaped faster than rabbits.

Han Shouxin led his troops into the city, came to the Japanese imperial palace, and asked a palace official, "Where is the king of Japan?"

The translator automatically translated the king into the emperor.

The palace man replied: "The emperor is inside, please wait a moment, General, I will go in and report."

Not long after, a short middle-aged woman came out surrounded by palace people and warriors.

Han Shouxin asked in surprise, "Is the Japanese king a woman?"

At this time, Emperor Meizheng was the granddaughter of Tokugawa Hidetada, the second shogun.Under the political game, the previous emperor suddenly abdicated, and the five-year-old Empress Meizheng ascended the throne. This happened in the second year of Chongzhen's succession to the throne.