Daming talker

Chapter 753 Just to inform you

When he heard the words "statement of account", Tokugawa Ieyasu's heart sank.

Listening to Lin Tianshuai reconciling the accounts not only makes me feel tired, but also makes me feel insulted.

"Forget it, there's no need to check the bill." Tokugawa Ieyasu resisted instinctively, not wanting to be tortured again.

Lin Tianshuai said considerately: "It's better to check the bill, otherwise how are you going to explain it to Toyotomi Hideyoshi?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu: “.”

It seemed to make sense. Taiko would definitely ask for details. What if I couldn't explain it clearly?
Then Lin Tianshuai began to explain: "In order to take into account your Japanese customs, the three million koku of compensation previously proposed was in Japanese koku.

The current price of rice in your country of Japan is about one kan per koku, so three million koku is worth three million kan.

One of your Japanese copper coins can be exchanged for about 4 taels and 3 qian of Japanese silver, which is equivalent to 2 taels of the Ming Dynasty!
Then three million strings of silver are worth six million taels of silver according to the Ming system. This is the amount of silver I should ask for!"

Konishi Yukinaga, who was present at the negotiation, suddenly advised Lin Tailai: "Six million taels is too much. It is absolutely impossible to reach a consensus. Please show your true sincerity, Marshal."

Lin Tailai, who “listened to advice”, said to Tokugawa Ieyasu: “For the sake of Konishi Yukinaga, I only want three million taels of silver from you!
This is already a huge concession out of generosity, directly reducing it by half!"

Tokugawa Dainagon was completely bewildered. Three million taels was already an astronomical figure, but he didn't expect that after checking the accounts, another six million taels would pop up!

Even if Taiko was captured and sold, he couldn't get six million taels! And it was the Ming Dynasty tael!
Although Lin Tianshuai's calculations were very accurate and every conversion seemed to be correct, Tokugawa Ieyasu always felt that something was wrong.

After thinking it over carefully in my mind, I realized that something was indeed wrong.

Why do we use the Japanese rice price when converting the rice price? Everyone knows that the Japanese rice price is more expensive than the Ming Dynasty rice price?

Why is the domestic exchange rate in Japan also used when converting copper coins into silver?

Who doesn’t know that the price of silver in Japan is low and the same copper coin can be exchanged for more silver?
Before the negotiations, Tokugawa Ieyasu did his homework and had some understanding of the prices and currency exchange rates in the Ming Dynasty.

So he retorted: "It is obviously unreasonable to calculate your country's consumption and losses using Japanese measurements. You should use Ming-era stones!

The current rice price in your Ming country is about five cents per stone, and three million stones are only worth one and a half million taels of silver!"

Lin Tianshuai's face turned cold, "I advise you Japanese people to know how to be content and not be greedy!
You said you didn't want to pay the compensation with rice, so I changed it to silver. Did I charge you a penny more during the conversion process?

I even took the initiative to reduce it in half from 6 million taels to 3 million taels, and you actually want to reduce it in half again?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu still explained: "Let our country pay 3 million taels of silver, just like the Ming Dynasty pays 30 million taels!

Therefore, the figure of three million taels is really difficult, and our country cannot possibly come up with it!"

Lin Tailai responded, "I am also very aware of the difficult situation you Japanese are in, so I reduced my request.

Of course, the reduction is limited, and I am also in a difficult situation. Three million taels cannot be any less!
Having said that, the Grand Minister only has two answers: "Yes" or "No"! "

Tokugawa Ieyasu said unwillingly, "Could it be that you insist on the three million taels and won't allow anyone to question it?"

Lin Tailai became more and more firm and said: "You can only debate, but you can't reduce it."

Tokugawa Ieyasu was so angry that his heart ached. He stood up, turned around and walked out.

But Lin Tianshuai's voice came from behind: "If you withdraw from the negotiations today, the next time for negotiations will be after the siege for three months."

Tokugawa Ieyasu stood there stunned. Three months later, when the entire army was half starved to death, there was no room for bargaining.

Given Lin Tianshuai's character, a large amount of "relief food" expenses will definitely have to be added.

Thinking of this, Tokugawa Ieyasu had no choice but to bear the humiliation and turned back and said, "Even if you force us to agree to pay three million taels of silver in compensation, we can't afford it!"

Lin Tianshuai quickly replied: "It doesn't matter, just agree! As for the specific compensation plan, I have already thought of it for you.

Your country can pay the three million taels of compensation in nine installments, with the first installment of six hundred thousand taels, plus 30% interest!
So the remaining amount is only 400,000 taels per year. Your country should be able to pay it, right?"

Tokugawa Ieyasu only felt deeply powerless. He had no energy to continue arguing.

This plan is equivalent to giving half of the output of the country's largest silver mine, Silver Mountain, to the Ming Dynasty in the next nine years.

Konishi Yukinaga advised Tokugawa Ieyasu again, "Grand Councilor! The Heavenly Marshal will not give in any more. I have done my best to persuade him to give 3 million.

Besides, you don't have to pay for the compensation out of your own pocket, so why are you still holding on?"

"Tianshuai's methods of plundering are truly brutal." Tokugawa Ieyasu couldn't help but complain.

Lin Tailai replied calmly, "Does the Grand Minister imply that you don't agree?

Please note that I am not discussing this with you, I am only informing you."

Tokugawa Ieyasu sighed, lowered his head and said, "I will tell Taiko."

Asano Nagamasa, who was attending the meeting on the Japanese side, thought silently that Taiko's decision to send Tokugawa Ieyasu to be in charge of the negotiations was a wise move.

If it weren't for someone like Tokugawa Ieyasu, who else could have this spirit of constantly "swallowing a spit in the face"?

Lin Tianshuai on the opposite side nodded slightly and said, "Very good, I appreciate the Grand Minister's awareness of the times.

That’s all we have to say about the compensation for money and grain. Now let’s talk about the issue of Kyushu Island.

During the last informal meeting, I mentioned that Kyushu Island should be ceded to Ming."

Tokugawa Ieyasu reacted fiercely and said: "This is absolutely impossible. Our country would rather fight to the bitter end than agree to cede Kyushu Island!"

It would be fine if he had to pay money, no matter how much it was, it would just be a number on the surface, but if he ceded the entire Kyushu, then Tokugawa Ieyasu would have no chance of survival in front of Taiko.

Lin Tailai asked: "Then how can the demands of our Great Ming be resolved? The Japanese on Kyushu Island have been causing trouble for our Great Ming for many years, and our Great Ming must cut off the root of this problem!
Moreover, your country will have to pay compensation in installments over ten years in the future, and our Ming Dynasty also needs to supervise your country nearby to ensure that the compensation is obtained smoothly and prevent your country from reneging! "

Tokugawa Ieyasu also said: "The Ming army has never been to Kyushu Island, but they want to take Kyushu Island away. Isn't that too much?"

Lin Tailai said disdainfully: "Kyushu Island is so close to Busan, isn't it easy to set foot on Kyushu Island?
Once my heavenly soldiers have trapped and killed the 70,000-plus Japanese troops on the ground in Busan, we will naturally be able to cross the sea to Kyushu."

Then Tokugawa Ieyasu did not make any further arguments and simply said, "If you insist on forcing me to agree to cede Kyushu Island, please kill me here first!"

Lin Tailai: "." So this is the psychological quality of Tokugawa Ieyasu! After just a few rounds of fighting, you're already throwing a tantrum?

"Not really! Not really!" Konishi Yukinaga jumped out again to smooth things over. "Ceding Kyushu Island is too serious. Even with the prestige of the Taiko, we dare not agree to it. The Marshal should not make things difficult for the Tokugawa Dainagon."

Lin Tailai said to Tokugawa Ieyasu: "Since you are determined not to cede it, let's make a compromise and let Konishi Yukinaga be the middleman."

Tokugawa Ieyasu didn't understand. What middleman?

Lin Tianshuai said: "My Great Ming doesn't need to take away the entire Kyushu Island, but the four provinces of Hizen, Higo, Chikuzen, and Chikugo in the western half of Kyushu Island must be given to Konishi Yukinaga!

Konishi Yukinaga is not only the daimyo lord of your country of Japan, but he also has to accept the enthronement of my Ming Dynasty.

With Konishi Yukinaga in charge of Western Kyushu, we in the Ming Dynasty can rest assured. This is my workaround."

This plan still shocked Tokugawa Ieyasu. Although Tokugawa Ieyasu was already numb from the shock today, he did not expect that Tianshuai could always come up with new ideas.

Tokugawa Ieyasu calculated in his mind that the height of Hizen Province is 320,000 stones, the height of Higo Province is 340,000 stones, the height of Chikuzen Province is 330,000 stones, and the height of Chikugo Province is 260,000 stones. The total is about 1.25 million stones!

If these four kingdoms were conferred upon one person, this person would immediately become a super daimyo among the top three in the country!

Although it was not as shocking as ceding Kyushu to the Ming Dynasty, it was also a huge shock to the domestic situation.

It may even affect the status of their Tokugawa family!
Although 1.25 million koku is only half of the koku of the Tokugawa family on the surface, it is well known that the strength of the daimyo of Kyushu is not only determined by the koku, but also by the income from maritime trade!
Thinking of this, Tokugawa Ieyasu looked at Konishi Yukinaga, only to see that Konishi Yukinaga was breathing rapidly and his face was flushed with excitement.

It is understandable that if Konishi Yukinaga could really get the territories of western Kyushu and Shikoku, he would leap from a small daimyo to the top figure in Japan.

At this point, Tokugawa Ieyasu could no longer fail to see that Konishi Yukinaga had definitely completely surrendered to Lin Tianshuai.

But the saddest thing is that even though I know this very well, I can’t expose it openly.

Because when facing the tough, arrogant and greedy Lin Tianshuai, Konishi Yukinaga is needed to "smooth things over" in the middle and act as a lubricant for communication between the two sides.

Thinking of this, Tokugawa Ieyasu was actually a little envious of Konishi Yukinaga. Just by clinging to the right person, he immediately achieved the success that he, Tokugawa Ieyasu, had to endure humiliation and work hard for decades.

At this point, Tokugawa Ieyasu could only calm down and reply, "This is a difficult matter. Large-scale changes in titles are too complicated."

Lin Tailai replied: "It's not complicated actually, I have already thought it out for you very considerately.

Hizen Province was mainly the territory of Naoshige KOBE, but both Naoshima and his son had died in battle in Hamheung Prefecture, so Hizen was no longer an ownerless land.

Higo Province itself was the fief of Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa. Kato Kiyomasa has been killed by me, so there is no issue of changing the fief of Higo Province.

Chikuzen Province is now the direct territory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Isn't it just a matter of a word from Toyotomi Hideyoshi to transfer it to Konishi Yukinaga?

As for Chikugo Province, it was mainly the fiefdom of Kobayakawa Takakage, Tachibana Muneshige and others.

Now that Tachibana Muneshige has been captured and Kobayakawa Takakage and his son are trapped in Kinkai Castle, how difficult would it be to change their titles?
If they don't want to agree, then there's no need to return home! Let Chikugo become a no-man's land!
So in short, it was a very simple and convenient thing to grant the four countries of Hizen, Higo, Chikuzen and Chikugo to Konishi Yukinaga.

I’ve removed most of the thorns and there are no complications at all.”

Tokugawa Ieyasu: “.”

Baka! Today was arranged very clearly from beginning to end!

It really came true what Lin Tianshuai said, he was not here to discuss anything, he just came to inform the results.

"I will tell Taiko." Tokugawa Ieyasu said this again.

So today's formal talks came to an end, and the two sides reached a preliminary "consensus".

On the way back to the headquarters of the Jinglüe Shogunate, Lin Tianshuai and other people attending the talks were very calm.

For the Ming Dynasty’s official army, “peace” is not an option. If negotiations fail, they can still fight, so there is nothing to think about.

Only Konishi Yukinaga seemed nervous and extremely restless.

He still couldn't help but ask Lin Tianshuai: "Will the Taige approve those conditions?"

Lin Tianshuai replied: "Three million taels of silver is not a lot, it is better to pay it in nine installments. Your country can afford it.

As long as Toyotomi Hideyoshi still has reason, he should not refuse compensation. As for whether he will break the contract in the future, it depends on the supervision. "

Konishi Yukinaga hurriedly said, "I'm not asking about the compensation of silver."

Lin Tianshuai seemed to suddenly understand, "You mean the condition that all four countries in Western Kyushu will be given to you?
How could I know whether Toyotomi Hideyoshi would agree? There is no precedent for this, so it is impossible to guess. "

Since Konishi Yukinaga completely surrendered to Tenshuai and regained his dreams, he has been very happy in the Shogunate.

Now that the realization of his dream has reached the most critical step, Konishi Yukinaga has fallen into a state of anxiety and fear.

Before coming to Korea, Konishi Yukinaga was only a daimyo with a salary of 140,000 shi, but now he has the opportunity to become a super daimyo with a salary of 1.25 million shi and own a good trading port!

If the dream of a million-koku daimyo comes true, the Japanese world will be ruled by Taiko, Tokugawa, and Konishi! As for the likes of Mori and Maeda, they will have to sit at the back!

Of course, all of this was bestowed by Tianshuai, who is our reborn parents.

"It doesn't matter if Toyotomi doesn't agree." Lin Tianshuai said to Konishi Yukinaga, "At worst, after we annihilate the enemy in Busan, we can land on Kyushu Island and escort you back to your country.

But no matter what, after you take charge of Western Kyushu, you must remember to recruit more soldiers from the Ming Dynasty and hire the Ming Dynasty's official troops to protect the territory. This is absolutely not allowed to change.

As for the local warriors of your country, you can keep at most 500 of them as the flag bearer guards."

Konishi Yukinaga nodded repeatedly: "Yes, I understand! Anyway, I will also accept the title conferred by the Ming Dynasty court, so please rest assured, Marshal Tian!"

As long as I can become a daimyo with a million koku who can influence the world and monopolize the trade, there is nothing I cannot agree to!

This is as far as I can go at the moment. We'll see what happens in the future.

There are too many uncertainties. For example, if the emperor becomes greedy after seeing that Japan has been able to pay huge amounts of silver as compensation for many years in a row, that would be another round of complications.

(End of this chapter)