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

Chapter 692 Lin Che's Hidden Worries

The city of Nanjing was shrouded in joy.

The palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the red walls were hung with celebratory silks. The news of the conquest of Japan spread like a spring breeze to every corner of the Ming Dynasty, and everyone in the court was excited.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, the celebration banquet had lasted for a whole day. Civil and military officials toasted each other, their faces filled with the joy of victory. Zhu Yuanzhang sat high on the dragon throne, his eyes and eyebrows full of smiles. He raised the golden cup and said in a loud voice: "Everyone, drink this cup together! Japan has been pacified, and the silver mines are abundant. This is God's blessing on our Ming Dynasty!"

"God bless the Ming Dynasty!" All officials responded in unison, and the sound of wine bottles clinking could be heard continuously.

Amid the clinking of glasses, only the Minister of War Lin Che sat quietly at the table, the amber wine swaying in the glass, reflecting his slightly furrowed brows. He was about thirty-five years old, with a thin face, but a pair of eyes as sharp as an eagle. When everyone's attention was focused on the victory in front of them, his thoughts had drifted far away.

"Why doesn't Lord Lin drink?" asked the Minister of Rites Liu Ji, smiling, "Does he think the imperial wine is not mellow enough?"

Lin Che collected his thoughts, raised his glass and took a sip: "Master Liu, you are joking. It's just that I can't drink much, so I don't dare to drink too much."

When the banquet was over, the moon was already high in the sky. Lin Che did not go back home directly, but took a detour to the Ministry of War. The guard on duty saw him coming and saluted: "Sir, why are you still here to work so late?"

“There are some documents that need to be processed.” Lin Che responded calmly and walked straight to his study.

Under the candlelight, he unfolded a map of Japan and moved his finger slowly along the coastline. It had only been three months since the conquest of Japan, but there had been sporadic news of rebellion in various places. Although the scale was small, Lin Che knew that this was just the beginning. The Japanese people were tough and would never surrender easily.

"We must establish a long-term and effective control system," Lin Che muttered to himself, picking up the brush and writing quickly on the paper. The ink spread on the rice paper, outlining a grand strategic blueprint.

"A Strategy for Japan's Long-term Stability and Prosperity"—he wrote the title solemnly.

Outside the window, the night watch drum had already struck three times. Lin Che rubbed his aching neck, but had no intention of stopping writing. He listed three major strategies in detail: strengthening coastal defense, cultural assimilation, and economic integration. Each of them was further subdivided into dozens of specific measures.

"Build cities for defense, educate people for peace, and trade for prosperity." Lin Che's pen rustled on the paper, as if he could hear the future of the Ming Dynasty gradually taking shape in this sound.

When the sky in the east was turning pale, Lin Che finally put down his pen, blew away the ink, and carefully rolled up the thick memorial. His eyes were bloodshot, but they were shining with a determined light.

During the morning court session, the Fengtian Hall was solemn and dignified. After all the officials finished reporting, Zhu Yuanzhang looked around at the officials and asked, "Do you have anything else to report?"

Lin Che stepped out and presented the memorial with both hands: "I have this memorial."

Zhu Yuanzhang signaled the eunuch to fetch the memorial and read it carefully. As he read deeper, the emperor's expression changed from calm to surprise, and finally to praise. "Lord Lin, this is a brilliant plan!" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table and stood up, "Japan has just joined us, and we really need a long-term plan to consolidate our rule."

There was a lot of discussion in the court. The Minister of Finance Qian Li stepped forward to object: "Your Majesty, Japan has been pacified, why should we spend huge sums of money to build coastal defenses? Although the treasury is now full, we should not squander it like this."

"Mr. Qian, you are wrong." Lin Che responded neither servilely nor arrogantly, "The annual output of silver mines in Japan can reach 5 million taels, and the cost of coastal defense construction is only one tenth of that. This is a strategy of using a small amount to achieve a big gain."

The Minister of Works also raised doubts: "Building a city in Japan would be laborious and might provoke a civil uprising."

Lin Che was well prepared: "I suggest adopting the strategy of 'using Japan to control Japan'. Hire local craftsmen and pay them generously. This will not only reduce the burden on our army, but also win over the hearts of the Japanese people."

The debate lasted for a full hour. Lin Che responded to all the questions raised by the parties one by one, his words were sincere and powerful. He emphasized: "It is easy to conquer, but difficult to rule. If we cannot convince the Japanese people, today's victory will eventually turn into tomorrow's disaster."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded repeatedly. When the debate died down, the emperor stood up and his voice resounded through the hall like a bell: "I have made up my mind! I approve what Minister Lin said. From today, I will allocate 500,000 taels of silver to be used for the construction of Japan's coastal defense. I also order Lin Che to be in charge of Japan's affairs, and all departments must fully cooperate!" "I accept your order." Lin Che bowed deeply, but there was no joy in his heart. He knew that the real challenge had just begun.

After the court session, Lin Che was summoned to the Qianqing Palace alone. Zhu Yuanzhang had changed out of his court robes and was sitting behind his desk in casual clothes, looking more intimate than in the court.

"Please sit down, my dear minister." Zhu Yuanzhang pointed to the chair next to him, "I want to hear your true opinion on the situation in Japan."

After Lin Che thanked him for his honor, he said bluntly: "Your Majesty, Japan surrendered on the surface, but undercurrents are surging. According to secret reports, the former Japanese nobles are secretly communicating with each other, intending to restore their country."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "Is it true?"

"It is absolutely true." Lin Che nodded, "So I suggest taking three measures: First, build bastions in important places such as Nagasaki and Osaka and station elite troops there; second, select the children of Japanese nobles to study in the Imperial Academy and educate them; third, encourage Ming merchants to intermarry with Japan to promote blood fusion."

"Intermarriage?" Zhu Yuanzhang was slightly surprised. "Is this plan too much?"

"Your Majesty, Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty promoted intermarriage between the Xianbei and the Han people, which eventually led to the prosperity of the Northern Wei Dynasty." Lin Che quoted from the classics, "Blood is connected, so hearts are connected."

Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a long time, and suddenly asked: "Are you willing to go to Japan in person to supervise this matter?"

Lin Che was mentally prepared: "I am willing to go. But please allow me to bring two assistants with me, the Imperial College Director Zhou Wenbin, who is proficient in Japanese, and the Ministry of Works Director Zheng He, who is good at building cities."

"Okay." Zhu Yuanzhang agreed readily, "In addition, I will send the Jinyiwei to protect you secretly. The situation in Japan is complicated, my dear, please be careful."

Three days later, a large fleet set sail from Tianjin. Lin Che stood on the deck of the flagship, looking at the coastline that was gradually receding. The sea breeze blew his official robe.

Zhou Wenbin walked up to him, his young face full of excitement: "Sir, when we go to Japan, I will do my best to assist in the education work."

Lin Che nodded slightly: "Education is not a one-day job. We must let the Japanese understand that being a citizen of the Ming Dynasty is far more promising than being a Japanese noble."

At the same time, Zheng He, the director of the Ministry of Works, was discussing the city construction plan with the craftsmen. This 25-year-old technical genius had already sketched out a new type of coastal defense castle on paper.

"This bastion design can resist attacks from any direction," Zheng He explained excitedly. "The Japanese have never seen such a building before. It will surely frighten them of their resistance."

The fleet braved the wind and waves, and after seven days of sailing, it finally arrived at the port of Nagasaki in Japan. The port was already full of Ming flags, but Lin Che keenly noticed that behind the welcoming crowd, there were many Japanese people who cast hostile eyes at him.

In the Provisional Governor's Office in Nagasaki, the former Japanese daimyo Shimazu Tadatsune was forced to give up his mansion. The defeated nobleman was submissive on the surface, but his eyes were flickering.

“Lord Shimazu.” Lin Che greeted him in the Japanese language he had just learned. “From today on, you and I will work together to seek the welfare of the people of Japan.”

Shimazu Tadatsune bowed deeply and replied in stiff Chinese: "It's all up to you, my Lord."

At the welcoming banquet that night, Lin Che deliberately arranged for Ming officials to sit at the same table with Japanese nobles. After three rounds of drinks, he stood up and announced: "Your Majesty has ordered that ten schools will be built in Japan. All children of appropriate age, regardless of their status, can enroll. The outstanding ones can even go to Nanjing Imperial College for further study."

(End of this chapter)