Ming Dynasty: He was ordered to give lectures in prison, but Lao Zhu eavesdropped and made people nu

Chapter 691: Ming Dynasty Strikes Back at Japanese Pirates
In the spring of the 23rd year of Hongwu, the city of Jinling was shrouded in a solemn and murderous atmosphere. Thirteen urgent memorials were delivered to Beijing from the southeast coast, each stained with sea salt and blood - the threat of Japanese pirates had reached the point where they had to be eliminated.

Inside the Fengtian Hall, Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the last memorial on the dragon table. The sound was so loud that even the smoke from the bronze crane incense burner in the corner of the hall trembled.

"How arrogant!" The emperor's voice was like thunder rolling through the palace, "How dare the Japanese invaders repeatedly invade the sea borders of the Ming Dynasty!"

The civil and military officials on the steps were silent. Li Chang, the Minister of War, stole a glance and saw Zhu Yuanzhang's face was livid, his eyes, which had seen countless battlefields, were now burning with chilling anger. The veins on his clenched fists under his dragon robe were bulging, as if he was about to draw the Emperor's Sword and lead his army to the east.

"Your Majesty, please calm down." Prime Minister Hu Weiyong stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Although the Japanese pirates are vicious, they are only a minor problem. I think we should strengthen the coastal defense and order the coastal garrisons to take strict precautions."

"Precautions?" Zhu Yuanzhang interrupted with a sneer, "Since I ascended the throne, I have been on guard for twenty-three years! What is the result?" He stood up suddenly, and his dragon sleeves brought a gust of wind, "Last month, Taizhou was attacked, and more than a thousand people were killed and injured. Three days ago, Ningbo reported that the Japanese pirates actually broke into the county government and killed our court officials!"

The palace was dead silent. Li Chang felt his back soaked with cold sweat. He knew the emperor was right - the Japanese pirates had become more and more rampant in recent years, from harassing merchant ships at first to attacking cities and territories now. What was even more terrifying was that there seemed to be the shadow of the Japanese daimyo behind them.

Zhu Yuanzhang walked down the steps slowly, the sound of his boots hitting the gold bricks echoing in the hall. He stopped in front of Li Chang and said, "Lord Li, what do you think?"

Li Chang took a deep breath. He knew that the answer at this moment might affect the lives of millions of people. "Your Majesty, I think we should take two approaches at the same time. On the one hand, we should send envoys to negotiate sternly, and on the other hand, we should prepare the army for war."

The emperor's eyes sparkled: "Tell me in detail."

"Although Japan has paid tribute, it actually has ulterior motives. I suggest that we use courtesy first and then force, and send an envoy to solemnly declare our position. If they still indulge the Japanese pirates, then," Li Chang paused, "then we should use thunder and lightning to eliminate the trouble forever."

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned to the eunuch standing beside him and said, "Call Zheng He."

Soon, a burly young general strode into the hall. Although he was only 28 years old, Zheng He had already won the emperor's trust for his contributions to the pacification of Yunnan. He saluted and waited for the emperor's edict.

"Zheng He, if I order you to lead the navy to the east, how many warships and soldiers will you need?"

Zheng He thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, if we only want to wipe out the Japanese pirates, two hundred warships and thirty thousand elite soldiers will be enough. If we want to intimidate Japan," he raised his head, his eyes flashing with confidence, "we will need five hundred warships, eighty thousand troops, and a firearms battalion."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his lips slightly, turned back to the throne, and slapped the armrest: "Yes!"

After the court session, Zhu Yuanzhang secretly summoned Li Chang and Zheng He to the Qianqing Palace. Under the candlelight, the three of them discussed in a low voice around a map of the East China Sea.

"My dear Minister Li, do you have any idea about the selection of the diplomatic envoys?" Zhu Yuanzhang tapped the location of Japan on the map.

Li Chang had already prepared: "I recommend Zhang Qian, the Minister of Rites. He is fluent in Japanese and has been to Ryukyu three times. He is familiar with the sea routes. He is also very courageous. Two years ago, the Siamese envoy was rude, and he refuted him on the spot to protect the state system."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "I remember this person. Okay, let's choose him." Then he turned to Zheng He and asked, "How long will it take for the navy to prepare?"

Zheng He's eyes were bright. "Your Majesty, within three months, I can gather the elite naval forces from Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Guangzhou. Twenty new fire dragon boats have also been completed, and each boat can carry eight magic cannons."

The emperor's eyes flashed with satisfaction, but then he said solemnly: "Remember, the delegation goes first. If Japan is willing to severely punish the leader of the bandits and hand over the murderer, then the war can be stopped. Otherwise," his eyes flashed with a cold light, "let the water of the East China Sea dye the Japanese island red!"

The next morning, when Zhang Qian received the imperial edict in his palace, he almost dropped the teacup in his hand. Although he was fluent in Japanese, he had never set foot on the Japanese mainland - a barbaric land where swords were spoken.

"Sir Zhang, His Majesty has ordered that you come to the palace immediately to see him," the eunuch delivering the order said in a low voice.

Two hours later, Zhang Qian knelt on the golden bricks of the Qianqing Palace with his forehead pressed against the ground. He could feel Zhu Yuanzhang's sharp eyes examining him.

"Zhang Aiqing, raise your head."

Zhang Qian looked up as he was told, only to see that the emperor had changed out of his court robes and into a plain, dragon-patterned casual attire, but he was still imposing without getting angry. "Do you know why I chose you?"

"I am a stupid minister."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly laughed: "Because you dare to speak. Three years ago, the Siamese envoy insulted our Ming Dynasty, and you were the only one in the court who fought back on the spot. This time when I go to Japan, it is this courage that I want."

Zhang Qian was shocked and kowtowed: "I will definitely live up to your trust!"

"Remember," Zhu Yuanzhang's voice suddenly turned cold, "I will give you three months. If Japan refuses to give an explanation," he handed over a secret decree, "open this."

Zhang Qian took it with both hands and felt that the thin envelope was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Three months later, thousands of ships set sail from Fuzhou Port.

Li Chang personally saw Zhang Qian off. The delegation included thirty civil and military officials, twenty interpreters, and three hundred guards, traveling on five treasure ships. Before leaving, Li Chang pulled Zhang Qian aside and said, "Master Zhang, Admiral Zheng's navy has secretly assembled in Zhoushan. If we see red fireworks, it will be a signal to take action."

Zhang Qian held the secret decree in his sleeve tightly and nodded solemnly.

The days at sea were long and boring. When the coastline of Japan finally came into view, Zhang Qian felt uneasy - there were dozens of warships parked densely at the port, and the flags on the ships were clearly the family crests of several daimyo.

"Sir, something is not right." Deputy Envoy Wang Jun whispered, "The Japanese seem to be on guard."

Zhang Qian forced himself to remain calm: "Enter the port as planned. Remember, we are envoys from the Ming Dynasty, representing the majesty of the Celestial Empire."

However, things were worse than expected. As soon as they got off the boat, they were surrounded by fully armed samurai. A general in gorgeous armor arrogantly announced: "The general has ordered that the Ming envoys must unload their weapons and walk to Kyoto!"

Zhang Qian was furious: "How dare you! I am the imperial envoy of the Ming Emperor, how dare you be so rude!"

The general sneered and suddenly drew his sword from its sheath. With a flash of cold light, he cut off the Ming flag of the delegation: "This is our answer!"

That night, Zhang Qian, who was under house arrest in the post house, finally opened the secret decree. Under the candlelight, there were only three words written in red ink: "Kill without mercy".

He took out the signal fireworks hidden close to his body and lit them in the yard. A red light shot up into the sky, exploding into a brilliant spark in the night sky.

On the sea a hundred miles away, Zheng He, standing on the flagship ship, saw the signal and his eyes flashed: "Send the order! All troops attack!"

Five hundred warships raised their sails at the same time, and rushed towards the coast of Japan like a giant dragon. The twenty fire dragon ships in the front opened fire first, and the divine machine guns spewed out flames, tearing a gap in the Japanese defense line.

At dawn, the Ming army's vanguard had already established a position on the beach. Zheng He, wearing a mountain-patterned armor and holding a command flag, commanded his troops to advance steadily. Although the Japanese warriors were brave, their charge became suicide in front of the Ming army's tight array of firearms.

"Report—the enemy has been defeated on the left wing!"

"Report - the right wing has occupied the high ground!"

Zheng He did not dare to be careless despite the frequent reports of victory. He knew that the Japanese were best at night attacks and ambushes. Sure enough, when dusk fell, countless black shadows emerged from the mountains and forests, led by the Japanese general who cut off the envoy's flag during the day.

(End of this chapter)