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Chapter 1341: Bloody Battle of Panama City 5
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a free lunch in the world, and Tokugawa Iemitsu must have understood this truth. However, he knew that the daimyo were not telling the truth and might be up to something in private, but he did not refuse. After much delay, he finally agreed.

With the rise of the Ming Empire, it was bound to have more or less influence on neighboring countries, which were gradually attracted and integrated into them. They can be divided into several categories according to different degrees.

The first category includes the Philippines, Annan, the Western Regions, Mongolia and other places, which were the most affected. They were directly unaffected and were incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty as a whole.

The second category includes Cambodia, Ayutthaya, Korea, Brunei, Colombo and other places, which officially became vassal states of the Ming Dynasty and were subject to military protection by the Ming Empire. At the same time, they assumed due responsibilities and obligations, but no matter what, the regime was preserved.

The third category is called overseas territories, including the South African Governorate, the Hawaiian Islands Military Region, and the Thanlyin Military Region. They are far away from the mainland, but they are included in the territory of the Ming Dynasty. To put it bluntly, they are enclaves.

The fourth category is represented by Japan, Bukhara, Kazakhstan, the Spice Islands and the countries of the Strait of Malacca. On the surface, they are still independent countries, and it seems that they do not need to consult the Ming Empire for any decision. In fact, there are not many things they can really make their own decisions. Most of them have to look at the face of the Ming Empire first.

When it came to training new troops and promoting military reforms, the Tokugawa shogunate was under tremendous pressure from the Ming Empire. Otherwise, it would not have been successful even after a hundred years relying solely on the joint signatures of dozens of feudal lords.

Just look at their surnames and you will understand how reluctant Tokugawa Iemitsu was when he had to approve it.

Sou of Tsushima Domain, Shimazu clan of Satsuma Domain, Kuroda clan of Fukuoka Domain, Hosokawa clan of Kumamoto Domain, Nabeshima clan of Saga Domain, Haesuga clan of Tokushima Domain, Yamauchi clan of Kochi Domain, Date clan of Uwajima Domain, Mori clan of Choshu Domain, Asano clan of Hiroshima Domain, Ikeda clan of Tottori Domain...

These main initiators all came from Kyushu, Shikoku and Kansai regions. More than 80% of them were outsiders, with a small number of hereditary daimyo mixed in, but not a single direct daimyo.

Fortunately, the funds for building the new army were raised by these daimyo. Otherwise, Tokugawa Iemitsu would never agree to ask the shogunate to pay powerful neighbors to train military forces for potential political opponents.

In fact, Tokugawa Iemitsu did not suffer any loss, because with the establishment of the Marine Corps, the Ming Navy would also help Japan to build and train a fleet, the control of which was completely in the hands of the shogunate, with its home port located in Hyogo-tsu Port in Settsu Province, and it would be changed into Tenryo and directly governed by the shogunate.

Iemitsu Tokugawa probably thought: At present, the Ming Dynasty is invincible, so it is still a good deal to exchange a fleet for a new army. The Ming Empire's navy is sharp, and Japan does need to improve its naval combat effectiveness.

Because of this idea, the navy and the land army also had different ways of recruiting new soldiers. Most of the navy's soldiers came from the descendants of hereditary daimyo retainers and family generals in Kinki, Kansai, Kyushu, Shikoku, etc., and there were also a small number of Ming Dynasty children. The land army was just the opposite, with Ming Dynasty children from outside the Ming Dynasty accounting for an absolute majority.

But no matter how the Japanese allocated the proportion of soldiers, the Ming Empire seemed to be the one who suffered the loss. They trained the army for nothing, provided the corresponding weapons, equipment and ships, but in the end, they seemed to get nothing except a little goodwill. If a conflict arose between the two countries, I am afraid they would not even get a word of thanks.

Anyone who thinks so has been tricked by Emperor Jingyang. Helping Japan train a new army is a big pit in itself. As long as the shogunate agrees, it will be equivalent to being fooled no matter what form it takes.

The principle is very simple. As the ancients said, "He who keeps company with the good becomes good, and he who keeps company with the bad becomes bad!" Since we are going to learn advanced military concepts and techniques, we naturally cannot exclude the military officials of the Ming Dynasty. As long as these people go there and become instructors, the soldiers will have no choice and will inevitably be affected to some extent. It is not just military concepts, but every bit of it is comprehensive.

Wouldn't that backfire and end up shooting oneself in the foot, wasting a lot of manpower and financial resources only to produce a bunch of ungrateful people?
Hong Tao is still relatively optimistic about this issue, because there are many vivid examples in later generations to prove that no one can escape unscathed once you jump into a big pit.

This is what the Western powers did in the late Qing Dynasty. They spread their ideas among the new army of the Qing government by selling weapons and sending instructors. As a result, it was these new soldiers who were influenced by Western ideas that overthrew the Qing emperor.

Japan is even worse. From the Meiji Restoration to the end of World War II, it fully accepted Western ideas many times. While becoming an Asian power, it also identified with Europe ideologically.

At present, the military and economic strength of the Ming Empire is enough to dominate Asia, and as a result, its technology, culture, and beliefs have also become advanced. It is human nature to admire the strong, and the Japanese are particularly obvious in this regard.

Hong Tao's long-term diplomatic policy towards Japan is to open up the closed policy of the Japanese shogunate through military exchanges, and then to subtly infiltrate Japan in many aspects such as science and technology, culture, belief and ideology.

In fact, they have already achieved short-term benefits by using visible and tangible benefits to create conflicts between the Tokugawa shogunate and local daimyo. Some conflicts can be reconciled, while some cannot. Over time, cracks will form, and when the cracks become larger, they will become conflicts.

The cracks were already seen in the selection of soldiers for the Land Guards and the Navy. The outer daimyo in Kyushu, Shikoku, and Kansai regions tried to influence and control military power by having their own children join the new army. The shogunate and hereditary daimyo thought and did the same.

In a sense, there are already signs of military confrontation between the Japanese shogunate and some daimyo. As time goes by, the new army will grow stronger, and the seedlings will grow with it.

The two Japanese New Army officers who were talking were: Mukuhara Taigei from the Mukuhara family, the elder family of the So clan of the Tsushima domain, and Kabayama Karuha, the descendant of the elder family of the Shimazu clan of the Satsuma domain.

The family elders were the main assistants of the feudal lords, and usually stayed with them for many generations. The intention of sending them to join the new army was naturally to give the two feudal lords more say in the new army. These two young men lived up to expectations and served as officers in the new army.

"Hiss... huh... wow, it's produced in the Ming Dynasty. The aroma is not very mellow but it has a unique flavor. It is said that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty likes this kind of cigar the most. He said it is strong and one cigar can last for two or three hours."

Karayama Qingyu took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He immediately tasted the origin of the cigar and connected it to the smoking habits of a celebrity, which became easy to remember.

"...Ahem...I still prefer the Enniao brand!" Mukuhara Taigei also took a deep breath, and when he was about to spit it out, he was caught in a gust of sea breeze and choked and coughed. When he heard his companion mention the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, his face turned pale.

(End of this chapter)