Daming talker

Chapter 755 Reshaping the International Order
Finally, after repeated consideration, Lin Tianshuai decided to lease ports from North Korea, although it would cost some costs to maintain these ports in the long term.

From a commercial perspective, due to North Korea’s poverty, if the ports are not used as smuggling transit points, the commercial benefits they can bring are not great, and maintaining several ports in the long term will probably result in losses.

But these ports have another value: they are located on the waterway between the north and Japan.

The navigation technology of this era was limited, and the safest route was still to sail closely along the coastline and islands.

Starting from Tianjin and Shandong in the north of the Ming Dynasty, you can first go to Liaodong, and then continue southwest along the coastline of Korea. After passing Korea and Tsushima Island, you can reach the western part of Kyushu Island, the Japanese mainland.

Western Kyushu was the territory of the doubly-appointed daimyo Konishi Yukinaga, who held a million-koku title, and was also the bridgehead for the Ming Dynasty to extend its influence into Japan.

Originally, this waterway spanning the three kingdoms was of no value, or no one had the ability to connect the three kingdoms, but it is hard to say what will happen in the future.

Friends who often browse politics know that any treaty between countries itself has no credibility, and the implementation of any unequal treaty requires the endorsement of force.

This is the reason why some heavenly soldiers were sent to escort Konishi Yukinaga back to western Kyushu to establish his fiefdom early on. It is also a deterrent to some extent.

In order to ensure the implementation of the Treaty of Busan in the future and the timely receipt of 400,000 taels of silver each year, the Ming Dynasty must ensure its ability to deploy military forces to Japan's homeland.

Against this background, the ports of Korea, located on the waterway between the elite northern border troops of the Ming Dynasty and the silver-rich Japan, took on additional value.

Through this war, the old international order in Northeast Asia has been shattered by Lin Tianshuai.

The situation of mutual isolation between countries was also broken by the Korean War.

Some people say that war is a catalyst for the progress of civilization, which does make sense.

If it were any other commander, due to the limitations of the times, war would be war and they would return home after fighting.

But the biggest advantage of a keyboard political time traveler like Lin Tianshuai is that he knows in which direction the war should be led and how to make war serve politics and economy.

Everything went according to plan after that. Every time Japan sent a batch of silver, Tianshuai would let a group of Japanese troops return home.

The last days of the war were not spectacular, but rather dull.

By the end of July, Lin Tianshuai sent away the last batch of Japanese troops and the general Tokugawa Ieyasu.

At this time, there were no more Japanese pirates on the territory of Korea, and the war in which the Ming Dynasty aided Korea was completely over.

Therefore, the Ming Dynasty soldiers prepared to return to the court. The troops led by Li Rusong, Ma Gui and Dong Yiyuan, who had entered Korea first, were old and tired at this time, so they were given priority to withdraw back to the country.

The Li Xu Corps and Chen Lin Navy, which only came to Korea to participate in the war this year, are temporarily responsible for the garrison affairs of Korean ports such as Incheon and Busan, as well as western Kyushu of Japan, waiting for subsequent rotation.

After sending Tokugawa Ieyasu away, Lin Tianshuai looked at the sea level for a long time, wondering what he was thinking.

Shen Weijing had already followed Konishi Yukinaga to western Kyushu, Japan, and Cui Wukui became Lin Tianshuai's main attendant.

"What is the Marshal thinking about?" Cui Wukui couldn't help but ask Lin Tianshuai who was staring at the sea in a daze.

Lin Tianshuai said leisurely: "I'm wondering, who will be in power in Japan in the future?

Toyotomi Hideyoshi only has a few years left to live. After Hideyoshi's death, his young son will only be a few years old, and Japan will definitely be in civil strife.

I wonder who will be able to seize the Japanese world in the end."

The main reason was that Lin Tianshuai was also very curious. He had messed up the situation in Japan. If there was another Battle of Kanehara in the future, who would win?

With Konishi Yukinaga, who is ten times fatter than the one in history, can the Eastern Army's Tokugawa Dainagon still win?

Cui Wukui flattered him and said, "The commander-in-chief has the whole world in his heart. He is really too worried. He even has to consider the affairs of Japan."

"Okay, let's not talk about Japan!" Lin Tianshuai put it aside for the moment, "Let's talk about North Korea first. If we want to lease a few ports, who should we talk to?"

In Lin Tianshuai's eyes, North Korea now has only two values: one is the minerals in the north, and the other is the ports on the west and south coasts.

Other things such as land, farmland, etc., cannot be said to be worthless, but they can also be said to be useless.

While Japan can pay hundreds of thousands of taels of silver as compensation every year, your Kingdom of Korea can only supply 80,000 shi of grain and fodder, which is the same amount of farmland along the Taihu Lake and Xujiang River in Wu County, Suzhou Prefecture.

Cui Wukui replied: "After the treaty with Japan was signed, the Heavenly Marshal released the king and his ministers of Joseon and returned to the royal capital, Seoul.

When Tianshuai returns home and passes through Seoul, he will discuss this with the Li Dynasty’s small court.”

Half a month later, Lin Tianshuai arrived in Seoul again and stayed at the Muhua Hall outside Donuimun, the western gate of Seoul.

The envoy in charge of receiving Lin Tianshuai was an old acquaintance, Li Dexin, the Minister of Personnel of the Joseon Kingdom. He was also one of the few high-ranking officials of the Joseon Kingdom who had dealt with Lin Tianshuai and was not hacked to death.

Lin Tianshuai said dissatisfiedly: "The last time I came to Seoul, I stayed at Xique Hotel, but this time I was only allowed to stay at Muhua Hotel?"

Li Dexin replied tiredly: "The three palaces in our capital were destroyed, so the West Palace has been converted into a separate palace. It is currently occupied by our king. It is really inconvenient to invite Tianshuai to move in." Lin Tianshuai said generously: "I am not a person who cares about ostentation, so it is fine for you to live in Muhua Pavilion.

I heard that several Ming Dynasty envoys who won the first place in the imperial examination lived here, so it is not an insult to me. "

Seeing that Lin Tianshuai was so easy to talk to this time, Li Dexin felt slightly relieved.

Then he heard Tian Shuai say: "But I don't mean to pick a fight. It's unreasonable that your king didn't come out to entertain the troops.

You must know that our heavenly soldiers have just helped your country defeat the Japanese pirates. For your Li Dynasty, this can be said to have turned the tide and rebuilt your country!

The attitude of the king of your country is so cold, which really makes the government troops feel disheartened! "

Li Dexin: “.”

Is your so-called restoration of kindness, Lin Tianshuai, to take away half of the northern territory? I heard that you also want to occupy a few ports?

As for other misdeeds such as the massacre of civil and military officials of the Kingdom of Korea, I won’t mention them. Even if I wanted to, I would not be able to write them in history books!

After Lin Tianshuai finished complaining, he said, "Forget it, I don't need a few words of thanks from your king and his ministers.

Let’s have someone who can make the decision come tomorrow to discuss the matter of leasing the port.”

Hearing this, Li Dexin quickly slipped away. The risk level of dealing with Tian Shuai was too damn high.

The next day, the current Prime Minister of North Korea, Zheng Che, came to Muhua Hall in person early in the morning to visit Lin Tianshuai.

This person had met Lin Tianshuai once before. He was also the most famous contemporary poet in Korea, and his works were known as the Li Sao of Korea.

While eating breakfast, Lin Tianshuai said to Zheng Che, "Why? Your country's small court has no one else, so they sent you, an old man, here?"

The position of the Prime Minister in the Joseon Dynasty is similar to that of the Prime Minister, and he is indeed the most suitable person to take the blame.

Zheng Che said angrily: "All the people of importance in my country are dead. I am not far from death at my age, so I am here!"

Yin Dusu of the Western Party was beaten to death on the Yalu River, Liu Chenglong, the leader of the Southern Party, was killed because of "rebellion" in Pyongyang, and Yin Zhuoran of the Northern Party was no longer trusted because of his "treason".

There are really not many people who can still take the blame.

Lin Tianshuai said tolerantly: "I won't make it difficult for you. I will just lease three ports. The specific demarcation is to be determined, and the Ming Dynasty will enjoy the right to station troops and exercise judicial power in the concession. If you agree, you can leave!"

Zheng Che asked again: "How much is the rent?"

Lin Tianshuai glared and scolded: "Your country actually still wants rent? One hundred taels per port per year, no more, if you don't want it, get out!"

Although an agreement on the concession of the port was finally reached, Tianshuai never felt the gratitude from his friendly countries in Seoul.

Lin Tianshuai, who had a bad experience, didn't want to stay any longer. After discussing the port leasing matters, he left cursing.

Heading north, after passing Kaesong and entering the territory of Lelang Duke, Lin Tianshuai finally felt the enthusiasm from his friendly countries.

This enthusiasm reached its peak in Pyongyang. When Marshal Lin Tian returned to Pyongyang at the end of August, thousands of people lined the city gate to welcome him!
This disaster-stricken city has gone through several generations of residents over the past year or so, including occupation by Japanese pirates, burning by heavenly fire, and rebellion by the eldest prince.

Thinking of this, Lin Tianshuai felt compassion and composed a poem: "By the city of Pyongyang, there are piles of bones from the battle. I also hear the beautiful women crying for the expedition to the east. I must now listen to the elegant music of Xining, and collect foreign songs to prepare the national style."

Although the newly enthroned Duke of Lelang in the Ming Dynasty is young, he is more considerate in etiquette than the King of Korea. He tries his best to make the guest feel at home and invites Tianshuai to stay in the Duke's Mansion.

Infected by this enthusiasm, Lin Tianshuai stayed in Pyongyang for more than ten days.

During this period, Lin Tianshuai inspected the Jizi Temple construction site and happily wrote an essay of several hundred words.

"How can the Ming Palace be so steep, shining with the morning light and bright in color? The solemn etiquette and the lapel are spread, the beginning of human culture. A reed sails across the sea, daring to leave the wilderness and leave alone. The Joseon Kingdom was established, only because of the disloyalty. Alas, the Han envoys revealed their sincerity and led the people to be more pious. It will be passed down forever and will not be forgotten."

The Jizi Temple is the current top priority project of Lelang State. It has a very grand scale and is expected to be completed by next year. It is worthy of Lin Tianshuai writing so many words about it.

After staying in Pyongyang for long enough, Lin Tianshuai was thinking about inspecting the mines in Gapsan County, Hamgyong Province, and then taking a long detour back home.

However, considering that it was not long before the end of the year and they were afraid that they would not be able to hold the prisoner surrender ceremony within the year, they gave up the idea of ​​taking a detour through Hamgyong Province.

In early September, Lin Tianshuai arrived in Yizhou, then crossed the Yalu River to Jiuliancheng and set foot on the Ming Dynasty mainland again.

It has been exactly eleven months since we crossed the river into North Korea in early October last year.

In fact, the actual fighting period was from October of the 20th year of Wanli to April of the 21st year of Wanli, which was only about seven months.

Compared with the original Korean War that dragged on for seven or eight years in history, Lin Tianshuai's efficiency was more than ten times higher.

(End of this chapter)