Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 503 King Shang Mu's Calculation
After Lin Hongye left, Wang Yuanfang said to Deng Fei, "Do you really want to buy sulfur?"

Deng Fei said: "Yes. Before leaving, Lao Chen asked me to come here."

Wang Yuanfang said: "I thought you were just looking for an excuse. When are the Shimadzu family planning to clean up?"

"Don't worry, you have to eat one bite at a time." Deng Fei said: "We are going to clean up the Xishan Dynasty this time, and the Ryukyu is just a passing hand. Besides, let's have a dark eye about the situation here, so let's understand it clearly before we talk about it."

In fact, in the telegram sent to Deng Fei the day before yesterday, Zhao Xin specifically mentioned his thoughts on Ryukyu.Zhao Xin wanted neither Okinawa nor the Amami Islands, he wanted to control the Sakishima Islands.

The reason why Zhao Xin wanted to do this was after a lot of deliberation.Its purpose is to connect Taiwan Island and Sakishima Islands together in the future to form a stable island system.Nothing else, the Sakishima Islands are too close to Taiwan Island.

19 years ago—that is, in 1771, a major earthquake occurred 40 nautical miles southeast of Ishigaki Island in the Yaeyama Islands. Later researchers determined that the scale of the earthquake reached 7.4 on the Richter scale.This earthquake led to the largest tsunami in the history of Ryukyu. According to records, the wave height at that time exceeded 80 meters, resulting in the death of [-] residents on Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island, accounting for one-third of all residents.After the tsunami, the soil of the Yaeyama Islands was severely alkalized due to being soaked in seawater, and a large area was abandoned.

Since the land by the sea is abandoned, it shouldn't be a big problem to rent it out and renovate it.

At the end of the telegram, Zhao Xin told Deng Fei that when he met people from the Ryukyu side, he would only talk about buying sulfur, and leave everything else alone, and never mention the matter of renting islands.Maybe the King of Ryukyu will send someone to find you, we'll talk about it then.
After Lin Hongye came ashore, he first went to the Naha Enforcement Office to report the Northern Navy's intention to the Supreme Emperor Shimazu's family.

Naha Magistrate's Office, its official name is "Ryukyu Zaiban Magistrate". In 1628, the Satsuma Domain sent Zaban Fengxing to Ryukyu to monitor and interfere in Ryukyu's internal affairs.Responsible for handling official affairs between Salyuu and managing trade practices on a daily basis.The office where he lived was called "Zaiban Holiday House" by the Ryukyu people.

After listening to Lin Hongye's narration, Gong Ping's pro-yun, who was in charge, was silent for a moment and asked, "Do the North Sea pirates want to buy sulfur?"

Lin Hongye, who was sitting at the bottom, replied respectfully: "Exactly."

"They didn't mention the disembarkation?"

"No."

Gong Ping Qinyun nodded and said: "Very good. I am discussing that the doctor should return to the king, and I will watch over here."

After Lin Hongye bid farewell and left, Gong Ping Qinyun immediately wrote the incident into a letter, and said to one of his subordinates: "Go to Gaogong City immediately, and give the letter to the Patriarch."

Shuri Castle Royal Palace, inside the second-tier hall.

When he learned that the fleet outside Naha Port was Beihai Town, which had killed the Satsuma Domain, King Shangmu was overjoyed, but he tried his best not to reveal the slightest bit.

Right now, the Shimadzu family has planted a lot of eyeliners in the palace, and King Shangmu's every word, deed, and every move are being watched.If he said something now, the Shimadzu family would know within an hour.

King Shangmu is 51 this year, and his body and energy are not good.In the first two years, his eldest son Shang Zhe died again, which was a huge blow to him, so he had to make his four-year-old grandson Shang Wen his successor.

Now those goddamn Shimadzu family control the government of Ryukyu, it's fine for him to be alive, but if something goes wrong, the six-year-old Shang Wen is unpredictable!

Thinking of this, he turned his attention to Ma Guoqi, the third official (National Prime Minister) standing below. This is Shimadzu Qixuan's answerer, and there are many people in the same court. Don't dare to discuss anything with him.

After Lin Hongye and Ma Guoqi stepped back, Shang Mu first went to see the six-year-old Shang Wen, and confirmed his thoughts.Then he pretended to be tired and left. After returning to the bedroom, he said that he would rest for a while. Taking advantage of the time when the other servants retreated, he quietly said to the only trusted personal servant: "Go and see if Takashima is there. If you are here, please invite him over here, and don’t disturb others.”

The attendant said in his heart, oh my god, the Shuri palace is a place bigger than a palm, and whoever the king wants to see will definitely alarm others.So with a worried look on his face, he said in a low voice: "The third officer will definitely find out, what should the servants say then?"

"Let's just say that the widow just went to see the grandson, and I feel something in my heart, and I want to ask him about the grandson's study." After finishing speaking, there was a trace of sullen expression on Shang Mu's face, and he quickly dispersed.

The Takashima pro-fang mentioned by Shangmu, whose Chinese name is Cai Shichang, is the No. 13th generation of the Cai family from Fujianese in Kume Village. He is currently the Zijin doctor of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and he is from the second rank.

It is said that since becoming a vassal of Satsuma, the officials of the Ryukyu Kingdom have to have a nickname; for example, the current third officer Ma Guoqi, his nickname is "Yonara Kinfang", but when they met the Manchu officials, they would not say it when they killed them. .

The so-called "Qinfang" is the highest title of the Ryukyu gentry, and it cannot be conferred by anyone who is not an important political officer in the management country.In principle, a relative should have the fief of a mansion, but Ryukyu is such a large territory that it is impossible to reward all the relatives with fiefs. Therefore, many relatives have only one village in their fiefs, which are called "the head of the family". ".Cai Shichang is a relative who is a threat to the land.

In 1758, the 21-year-old Cai Shichang was selected as an official student by the Ryukyu Palace and sent to Beijing Cheng Guozijian to study in the Ryukyu official school; the school system lasted four years, specializing in Confucian classics and the way of governing the country. In 1782, Cai Shichang served as a tribute envoy to the Qing Dynasty several times, and participated in the compilation of "Ryukyu Kelu".

In the history of Ryukyu, among those who devoted themselves to disseminating Confucius and Mencius, promoting Sinology, and changing the social atmosphere, only two were recognized by future generations.One is Cheng Shunze, the other is Cai Wen, they are all descendants of Fujian people with 36 surnames; and Cai Shichang is Cai Wen's nephew.

Now if the court wants to say who else Shangmu can trust, it is probably this one.

Half an hour after the servant left, Cai Shichang came to the bedroom. After meeting with Queen Shangmu, the monarch and his ministers first talked about the study of the descendants for a while, until the two servants who were the eyeliners of the Shimadzu family went down to serve tea. Then Mu begged in a low voice: "Ru Xian help me!"

Cai Shichang was taken aback for a moment, but also hastily bowed his head and said: "The king has something to do, and I will die."

"I order you to contact the Beihai people in Naha as soon as possible, and let them help you conquer the remnants of Shimadzu."

"My lord, please accept my order!"

"Please remember, apart from the fact that the land cannot be shared with others, all other conditions can be agreed!"

After leaving the royal palace in Shuri Castle, Cai Shichang secretly groaned in his heart.The king asked Beihai Town to send troops to help. The problem is that there is no money to give. Right now, the poor state treasury in Ryukyu is full of mice!
I think Zhao Xin extorted Qianlong's 15 taels of gold with Manchu prisoners of war, including Fukang'an and Duerjia, after the "Battle of Fuerdan City". The fire can't be contained anymore, and now it's spreading in the wild.

All the big and small feudal states that have cleared the surrounding area now know that there is a rebel "Prince Zhao" who "sees money as his life" in the extreme north outside the pass, and he only thinks about gold.

The Tokugawa shogunate: "Oh, I can't bring up the past, a burst of bitter tears. I will bear it!"

Satsuma Fan: "I'm gone, do you see me yelling everywhere?!"

It is said that in the late period of King Shangmu of the Ryukyu Kingdom, resources were scarce, food harvests were poor, and the financial situation has not been good.Among the vassal states of Daiqing, Ryukyu and Li Chao are the ones who travel to the capital most frequently, all pointing to the tribute trade to make a living.

In terms of maritime trade, the Satsuma clan was over, and Shimadzu Qixuan beat him to death and did not do business with the Sendai clan that occupied Southern Kyushu, and he lost all income in one fell swoop.As for the Nanyang trade, although it can make some money, it is now controlled by the Shimadzu family. King Shangmu had to report in advance if he wanted to use a big son.

After leaving the bedroom, Cai Shichang first chatted with Lin Hongye casually, and found out that one of the chieftains from Beihai Town was surnamed Deng, and the other was surnamed Wang.So when he returned home, he wrote a letter in hand, and asked his servants to take it to his nephew Cai Jian in Jiumi Village.He is now a high-ranking official in the Ryukyu Kingdom, and his every move is watched, so even if he is ordered by the king to contact the ship in Beihai Town, he cannot directly come forward.

So on the second night, a small fishing boat set off from the seashore northwest of Tianfei Palace in Kume Village, made a circle on the sea, avoided the surveillance of Naha Beacon Tower, and approached Thunder God.

When Cai Jian, with a look of astonishment, was taken to the brightly lit poop to meet Deng Fei, he immediately took out his uncle's letter.

After reading the letter, Deng Fei was stunned, wondering why Zhao Xin had guessed it right again?I was thinking about it myself, and the opportunity came.In fact, this matter is not complicated at all. It is not a business that has never been on the pole, and half-baked business is hard to achieve.Zhao Xin said "maybe" in the telegram, which itself is half uncertain.

Is Ryukyu important to Beihai Town?The future matters, not the present at all.It's great if you can get it, but don't worry if you can't get it.Cleaning up the few pieces of material from Shimadzu's house was as easy as pie in a matter of minutes.And even if they got the Sakishima Islands, they would still have to transport people and supplies to build a transportation route.Moreover, it is now winter, and the wind and waves are too strong when sailing southward through the Tsushima Strait.

The main purpose of going south this time is to clean up the Xishan pirates and teach the Xishan Ruan family a lesson. Don’t think that if the Manchu Qing can’t take care of you, no one can take care of you.By the way, hit the Dutch in Batavia to deter the Nanyang area. Of course, it would be better to bring some people back.

Deng Fei first took the letter to Wang Yuanfang to discuss it, and Wang Yuanfang thought about it and put forward his own opinion.

"You know I was there when I went to South Kyushu to fight the Satsuma clan. When Shimadzu Qixuan fled, he took all the Satsuma clan's fleet away. We don't even know where those ships are now. If we act hastily, Shimadzu Qixuan ran away in a boat with people, shall we chase after him? Where should we go after him?"

Deng Fei agreed: "Just let us send troops in such a reckless manner. We don't even know the opponent's power distribution, strongholds, and where the ships are berthed. When we leave, the Shimadzu family will come back. Forget it, let’s not talk about Shangmu and those people, Ryukyu will be completely chaotic.”

"So, the scholar rebelled, and it won't work in three years. Cai Shichang wants to use such a letter with no gold content to encourage us, go ahead and dream!"

After the two discussed it, Deng Fei wrote a reply letter to Cai Shichang.He didn't ask Jiang Fan or Zhong Huai for help. According to the characters and positions of these two people, he would definitely urge Deng Fei to send troops to help, or he would write his reply letter in a polite way.

It's meaningless, this is not a call for rebellion against heaven, the war must be straightforward and clear.

Deng Fei writes very slowly, almost stopping to think for a while after writing a few sentences.After writing the letter and packing it, he asked someone to go to the storeroom to fetch a silver bar, two brand new lanterns filled with kerosene, and a few packs of matches, and handed them to Cai Jian.

"The money is for your hard work, and this lamp is also a gift for you. The reply to Mr. Cai is in the letter, please keep it."

As soon as he got the silver bars, Cai Jian's hand sank, thinking that this one would cost more than a dozen taels, which is really generous.Looking at the silvery appearance of the lantern, it is also a rarity.As for the match, let alone, he ran past Minzhe with the boat, and now this thing has been sold to a box of two taels of silver in Minzhe, and some officials, gentry and rich families have to show off when entertaining guests. last one.There were also attempts to imitate it with sulfur and saltpeter, but none succeeded.

Afterwards, he returned to Kume by boat, rushed to Shuri Castle early the next morning, and handed the letter to Cai Shichang.When Cai Shichang opened the letter, it took him a long time to get used to the writing format from left to right and top to bottom. He also despised the countless "typos" and vernacular style in the letter, but he could understand the content above.

Deng Fei said in the letter that Nian was once a vassal of China in Ryukyu, so Beihai Town helped with this.But you can't help in vain, the cost issue is very important.If you don’t have enough money, you can raise it slowly. If you really can’t raise it, you can discuss it with your family, King Shangmu, to see what you can get out.

He still has urgent matters right now, and he will take the fleet to Nanyang within a few days, which may take a month or two.Taking advantage of this time, he asked Cai Shichang to find out the details of Shimadzu's family in Ryukyu, and when the time comes, he will be targeted so as not to hurt innocent people.

After the situation is clarified, you'd better send someone with information to wait at Akune Castle in Izumi County, Southern Kyushu.It is now under the jurisdiction of Beihai Town, and I will send someone to say hello to them.After we meet and discuss there.Kill the carbine again, and with lightning speed, clear up the remnants of the Shimadzu family, and return Ryukyu to peace.

Cai Shichang didn't know whether to laugh or cry after reading the letter, and said that the rumors were true, and these people in Beihai Town really took advantage of money.Such a money-greedy person can actually win against the Qing Dynasty and the island country. There are no wonders in the world!
Afterwards, he passed the situation to the palace through King Shangmu's personal servant. When King Shangmu heard that the people in Beihai Town asked for money, he thought it was okay.

Isn't it just some money, as long as the Shimadzu family can be killed, the trade route on the island country can be reopened, and Ryukyu's tax and sea trade income are not all their own.Furthermore, if they can reach Beihai Town, there will be another trade route.

After thinking about the details, King Shangmu sent a message to Cai Shichang, the people in Beihai Town wanted money, so give them 5 taels!You are responsible for this matter.The problem is that Cai Shichang can't do it alone, so he had to find an opportunity to go back to Jiumi Village to discuss with his family before talking about the next step.

At the same time, Shimadzu Qixuan was finally relieved to learn that the Beihai Navy had not landed. He notified Gong Ping Qinyun to sell all the sulfur in the warehouse to Beihai Town as soon as possible.As for the cooperation between the two parties in mining mentioned by the other party, Lin Hongye refused.In a word, let them get out of here quickly!

Two days later, the Thunder God left with three thousand catties of sulfur bought from Naha, which cost a total of 400 taels of silver.Before leaving, the disputing doctor Lin Hongye insisted on apologizing to Deng Fei, saying that he searched all the warehouses and found so much in total.

So the North Navy fleet left Naha Port and traveled all the way west until the beacon tower on Kume Island sent a message confirming that the fleet had really left, Shimazu Qixuan returned to Shuri from Takamiya Castle , continue to be his shadow king.

By the way, after the Kingdom of Ryukyu became a vassal state of the Satsuma clan in the [-]th century, the Satsuma clan set up [-] beacon towers called "Vision Fan" on the Okinawa Islands to monitor all incoming and outgoing ships.

　In addition, regarding the matter that Ryukyu requested to be included, it was all after the subjugation of Ryukyu in the [-]th century.Before Ryukyu's subjugation, they just asked to lead the troops.Historically, since the Ming Dynasty, Ryukyu has benefited a lot from tribute, so Ryukyu pays tribute to China every year.In the Qing Dynasty, Ryukyu made even more profits.Japan officially annexed Ryukyu, first of all to cut off the tribute trade. In this way, Ryukyu will be completely dependent on Japan economically and will no longer have an independent sovereign status. This is absolutely unacceptable to the Shang family.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)