I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 630 A True Man Never Looks Back at the Flame
Lu Tan stood on the stern deck of the "Ningbo", looking at the Ganghwa Island gradually disappearing into the distance, with Wu Dui's voice echoing in his ears.

"Mr. Beishan, when you and I retire, the Clipper Ship will probably open a route to Genzhou. We can go to Genxunzhou together to see what the emperor said this blessed land bestowed by God on the Ming Dynasty is like."

"Good, Lord Huanzhou, they all say that there is honey and milk flowing everywhere. A stone picked up in your hand is gold or silver. Once the seeds are sown in the ground, they grow like crazy.

The emperor also said that the land there was as big as the entire Ming Dynasty and could accommodate hundreds of millions of Ming people. In the future, the people of the Ming Dynasty could have enough land to plant one-third of their crops, rest one-third, and use the remaining one-third for grazing cattle and sheep.

When the time comes, we old friends will invite each other to go and have a look. We old folks should also keep up with the new fashion and no longer just look at the world under our noses, we should also look at the world!"

Watching the continent merge into the sky and the sea, the vast mountains and rivers become a line. The blue sky is full of floating clouds, the blue waves are full of flying gulls, the white sails are lined up, the masts are lined up, hundreds of sailboats, forming a city, heading east.

Lu Tong's emotions were like a rolling wave, surging. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, and his right hand couldn't help but pat the handrail vigorously.

In the 1543nd year of Jiajing (), when he was years old, he inherited the position of Qianhu of Zhenhaiwei in Fujian by hereditary inheritance, and was later promoted to the position of Assistant Commander of Fujian.

In the 25th year of Jiajing, he witnessed the brutality of Japanese pirates and the rampant sea piracy, and resolutely joined the Zhejiang Governor Qiu Yagong (Zhu Wan), who was in charge of the Zhejiang and Fujian coastal defense affairs.

He led a large army by land and sea to attack the pirates' lair, Ningbo Shuangyu, and defeated the pirates. He captured alive Li Guangtou, Xu Liu, Yao Da, and the leaders of the pirates' lair Gu Liangyu, Zhu Lianggui, Liu Qi and others. A few bandit leaders, including Wang Zhi, fled in panic.

Later, Wang Zhi colluded with Japanese pirates, hired Portuguese, and invaded Shuangyu. He led his troops to defeat the Japanese pirates, Portuguese and the pirate coalition, and became famous for a while.

But the Zhejiang and Fujian families behind the pirates hated them to the core.

In the 28th year of the Jiajing reign, they instigated the censors Chen Jiude, Zhou Liang and others to impeach Qiu Yagong for "acting in an unjust manner and killing people to provoke trouble", and also impeached themselves and their colleague Ke Qiao and others for "being partisans and killing people arbitrarily and should be punished".

Qiu Yagong committed suicide in anger and was thrown into prison. In a panic, he thought he would surely die.

External enemies are not a concern; the concern lies within us.

The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty were never afraid of invading foreign enemies, but what knocked them down were the swords from behind.

In the 31st year of the Jiajing reign, Wang Rong, the Chief Censor, was the governor of Zhejiang. As there was no one available to defend against the Japanese pirates, he petitioned to pardon and appoint me.

After that, I followed the Minister of War Banzhou Gong (Zhang Jing) to continue to suppress the Japanese, but unfortunately, after only a few victories, history repeated itself. Under the party strife and infighting, Banzhou Gong was killed, and the situation in the southeast began to deteriorate again.

After that, Duke Ruzhen took over.

This man was not a good person. He was one of the accomplices in the unjust murder of Banzhou. Yu Dayou almost died in prison because of his attempt to pass the buck.

But Duke Ruzhen was indeed determined to eliminate the Japanese threat in the southeast.

Whether he wanted to achieve great things, leave his name in history, or for other reasons, Duke Ruzhen was indeed a man who got things done.

Perhaps joining the Yan Party was his last resort.

The Yan Party is powerful. If we don't join Yan Song's camp and rely on his power, it will be difficult to make any progress in suppressing the Japanese pirates.

In the 41st year of Jiajing, the Japanese invasion in Zhejiang was gradually eliminated, and the Japanese invasion in the southeast was mostly eliminated, but the evil wind blew in the court again.
Some people always do incredible things when they are about to achieve great success, making the success gained with the blood and lives of thousands of soldiers over the years vanish in an instant.

It was originally thought that Duke Ruzhen would follow in the footsteps of Duke Qiuya and Duke Banzhou, but no one expected that the emperor would suddenly appear as the prince of Prince Yu. While everyone was dazzled, the Coordination Office was established, which directly uprooted the southeastern sea merchants.

The southeastern anti-Japanese army led by Duke Ruzhen became the thug of Emperor Sejong in competing with southeastern merchants for overseas trade interests, and also transformed himself into a trusted minister of Emperor Sejong.

Things are unpredictable, and things developed in an unexpected direction. I followed my colleagues and thousands of soldiers and embarked on a magnificent and magnificent road.

Lu Tang looked at the rising sun in the east, watching the red sun dye the sea and sky into its color, so dazzling and beautiful.

When the red sun rises, its path shines brightly.

How lucky I am!

We can follow the emperor, create a new era unprecedented in history!
How lucky I am!
The gray-haired Lu Tong stood in the rustling sea breeze, facing the rising sun, and with tears in his eyes, he recited loudly: "How beautiful is my young China, which will never grow old! How strong are my young Chinese, who will never have borders!"

I am old, but the New Ming Dynasty is still young!
Then let me use the vast fire of East Japan to burn a brilliant road for the young New Ming Dynasty. Let me use the boundless fire of East Japan to make the vassal states around Ming Dynasty no longer dare to have evil ambitions!

Lu Tong led the Xuanwu Navy and the transport fleet carrying the Marines and rockets across Yuanjiao Island.

It was originally called Tamra Island, but was later changed to Fanghu Island.

Later, the South China Sea exploration fleet discovered a large island 3,000 miles east of Yandong Island. After four months of exploration along the coast, they still could not see its edge. It might be a rare large island.

The emperor named it Fanghu Island on the spur of the moment, and said that it and its affiliated islands would be collectively called Fangzhou.

The emperor’s words were spoken with sincerity, and Tamra Island had only been called Fanghu Island for a few years before it had to be renamed Yuanjiao Island.

However, this island has always been under the control of the navy. It is a place for the North Sea Navy and East Japanese merchant ships traveling to and from Korea to dock and rest. The island is a pasture where the Marines graze their fine horses.

Not many officials, common people, soldiers or civilians knew about it. No one cared whether it was called Tamra, Fanghu or Yuanjiao Island.

Lu Tong led the navy directly to Tsushima Island, now called Tsushima Island.

This was the front-line headquarters of the Ming Dynasty Beihai Navy's war against the Eastern Japanese, as well as the general agency of the Shaofujian for trade with Japan.

As soon as Lu Tong arrived in Tsingdao, he convened a meeting of officials from various places.

After reading the imperial edict, Lu Tan put it away and handed it to the adjutant beside him.

"I have read the Emperor's decree. Tell me how we should follow it!"

The navy officer said indignantly: "The Eastern Japanese thieves are fickle and unpredictable, and they really regard the dignity of the Ming Dynasty as nothing.

The Emperor's decree has arrived just in time, so we will naturally march forward bravely and severely punish the Japanese bandits!"

Lu Tong waved his hand and turned to ask the official of the agency: "Have all our people on the three islands of East Japan been withdrawn?"

"In reply to Marquis Runing, after the Jiegang incident, we immediately recalled the Ming merchants scattered everywhere. Now all the registered Ming merchants have returned to Tsushima and Awaji Island."

After that, the official of the agency asked hesitantly, "Marquis Runing, will we not do business with Dongwo in the future?"

Lu Tong stared at him and asked, "Doing business? Is business the only thing you care about? Where is the dignity of the Ming Dynasty? Where is the majesty of the emperor?"

The official of the agency quickly argued, "Marquis Runing, what I mean is that after severely punishing the Eastern Japanese, how will our agency deal with itself?"

Lu Tong laughed and said, "The Eastern Japanese have a lot of gold and silver, and that stuff can't be burned. You should prepare more thin-skinned coffins now. After the fire is over, when the Eastern Japanese have burned everything to ashes, you can sell the coffins to them and make some money."

Everyone looked at Lu Tong, especially the officials from the agency.

Marquis Runing, you are even more evil than those unscrupulous businessmen!

After staying in Tsushima for a day, Lu Tong led the navy to continue forward and arrived at Hakata Port.

The front camp had blocked the port of Hakata early on, and no ships were allowed to enter or leave. Some Japanese merchants from Hakata, relying on their familiar faces, came in small boats to inquire about the news, but they were beaten back without hesitation.

Hakata is an important port in the western part of eastern Japan.

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, it was the gateway connecting East Japan with the Korean Peninsula and the mainland, and was the departure point for envoys to the Sui, Tang, and Silla.

In the late Silla period, it was invaded by pirates (the Korean pirates during the Zhenguan period). During the Northern Song Dynasty, which was the Kamakura period of Eastern Japan, it became an important port for trade with the Song Dynasty.

After the establishment of the Kokucho Dynasty, which was also the Muromachi period in Eastern Japan, it became an important port for Tomo-Japan trade and Japan-Korea trade.

Currently, it is one of the only two ports in East Japan that can be completely preserved and operate normally, the other one being Jie Port.

However, at this time, Hakata Port was like Sakai Port, with few sea vessels, not even fishing boats.

They usually moored ships from the Ming Dynasty, and there were only a dozen small boats belonging to the Japanese, which were used for transportation and pilotage. Lu Tong looked at the densely packed houses in Hakata Bay, which was the Hakata Port and Minato-ku Town.

There was originally a castle belonging to the Mori family near Hakata Port, but it was shattered after several bombardments by the Ming Navy, so it was simply abandoned and the town under the castle became the Minato Ward.

Lu Tong was observing Hakata Port with a telescope, and behind him there were a dozen generals who were also observing with telescopes.

Take a good look at this, this may be the last sight of Hakata Port and Hakata Town.

Forty rocket launchers converted from Fukusen ships slowly sailed into Hakata Bay, escorted by frigates and cruisers, less than two kilometers from Hakata Port and about three kilometers from Hakata Town.

"The Emperor has said that Hakata Port will be given 10,000 rockets, with the port area and the town area getting 50-50, 5,000 each. This is fair and reasonable, so there won't be any disputes over who gets more and who gets less."

The generals next to him said silently in their hearts.

Coach Lu, we don’t have any opinions. Those who have opinions are in Bodo, but we won’t listen to their voices.

"Since there is no objection, send a signal to the launch fleet. The port area is centered on Warehouse No. 4, and the town is centered on the Mori family's garrison office. Fire freely."

"As ordered!"

Fifteen minutes after the signal was sent, the adjutant reported.

"Commander Lu, the launch fleet has sent a signal saying that they are on full alert and awaiting final orders!"

More than a dozen generals on the stern deck turned their heads and looked at Lu Tong.

Lu Tong didn't hesitate at all, "Fire!"

A minute later, three red flares flew quietly into the air, and then a sharp whistling sound came from the sea, one after another, as if some wind instrument was playing hard, making a piercing sound that pierced your heart.

Streams of black smoke rose into the sky, drawing black lines in the air and whistling towards Hakata Port.

Looking at this familiar scene, Lu Tong and everyone else remained silent, looking solemnly into the distance, watching balls of fire rising in the distance and black smoke rising into the sky, like poisonous black mushrooms rapidly blooming.

Black smoke lingered in the air, and the fireballs gradually connected into one piece, first in the east and west, then into a large piece, and finally, into a sea of ​​fire.

The port and the town were quickly engulfed by the raging fire. Heat and black clouds enveloped the Hakata Bay. Streams of black smoke still cut through the heat and black clouds and flew towards the port and town of Hakata.

Finally, Hakata Bay became a sea of ​​fire, and everything was swallowed up and disappeared.

"Report! Ten thousand rockets have been fired."

"The front team of the left camp will stay here to monitor, and the rest of the camps and teams will set sail."

"Follow the order!"

The Xuanwu Navy and its attached fleet quickly crossed the Shimonoseki Strait and entered the Suo Beach.

The navy turned south and headed straight for the Bungo Channel.

The navy did not take the Seto Inland Sea, which has narrow waterways, numerous islands and complex hydrology, but went directly around the southern tip of Shikoku Island, passed through Tosa Bay, took the Kii Channel, and rushed to the Ming navy base on Awaji Island.

Behind them, huge black smoke rose into the sky, covering the sky of Kyushu.

Three days later, the navy arrived at the Ming Navy base on Awaji Island, opposite which was Jie Port.

Jie Port is also called Sakai Port because it is located on the border of Settsu Province, Kawachi Province and Izumi Province. Because there is a port by the sea, merchants from the three places gathered here, and it became a commercial city.

In the past, it was just one of the ports and commercial ports in East Japan.

In the 43rd year of the Jiajing reign, Lu Tong began to bombard Hirado Port. The Ming navy successively bombarded various ports in East Japan and blocked the coastline. Jie Port became the only one of the three remaining ports. Located in the hinterland of Honshu, it had a superior geographical location and developed abnormally, quickly becoming the largest commercial port in East Japan.

The commercial port was controlled by the "Maintenance Association" of the Chamber of Commerce headed by Munehisa Imai, and became a unique "autonomous city".

After a night's rest, the navy set sail early in the morning. At a fishing village thirty miles north of Jiegang, landing ships converted from sand ships landed one after another.

After a busy day, a cavalry regiment and two infantry regiments of the Marine Corps successfully landed, covering the landing of 100 modified Army rocket launchers capable of launching naval rockets.

The cavalry regiment patrolled everywhere on their war horses, scaring the soldiers of the nearby lords so much that they only dared to watch from afar and did not dare to get close at all.

At this time, the people in East Japan were generally malnourished and short in stature due to hundreds of years of vegetarianism and food shortages.

The Sixth Heaven Demon King, Oda Nobunaga, was 1.6 meters tall and was known as a tall man.

Honda Tadakatsu, who was touted as the most powerful general in the Warring States Period, was only a little over 1.4 meters tall.

War horses were also very short. The tall and big horses in later movies and TV shows were all modified from European and Arabian horse breeds.

Portuguese missionaries recorded that at that time the lords of East Japan were fighting each other, and the few cavalrymen were like a group of monkeys riding on donkeys fighting each other.

To them, the elite cavalry of the Ming army were like heavenly soldiers and generals.

After resting on the shore for a night, the entire army set out early in the morning.

The cavalry regiment led the way, cruising on the left and right to provide support. The infantry regiment relied on vans and formed a queue to escort the rocket launcher, slowly heading towards Kyoto City a hundred miles away.

Since the whole army was advancing on horseback or in wagons, they were moving very fast and by dusk, they had traveled 40 kilometers. They set up camp to rest for the night and continued their advance the next morning.

Shortly after noon, the army marched to a distance of two kilometers from Kyoto City.

The entire Kyoto city was put on emergency alert, with the few defenders hiding in the city and every household shutting their doors. The nearby Nijo Castle was also closed, with the defenders nervously looking around, speculating on the intentions of the Ming army that had come ashore for the first time.

When they arrived at the location, the commander didn't say much. He gave an order and the cavalry regiment and infantry regiment deployed in a guard formation, with one hundred launch vehicles arranged in three rows.

A quad-launch vehicle can fire four missiles in sequence.

A batch of one hundred vehicles can launch four hundred rockets.

Twenty thousand missiles need to be launched in fifty batches. If we hurry, we can still get back before dark.

After preparations were made, the commander gave an order, three flares shot into the sky, and one hundred launch vehicles began firing rockets at Kyoto City.

Black smoke streaked across the sky, covering the palace with gunfire.

Four hundred, one thousand two hundred, five thousand.

At this time, flames could be seen everywhere in Kyoto, and the screams were carried by the wind, so shrill that the defenders of the nearby Nijo Castle felt their scalps tingling and their backs cold.

Ten thousand, fifteen thousand, twenty thousand.

The officers and men of the artillery regiment were like emotionless machines, faithfully carrying out their mission and firing all 20,000 rockets gifted by the emperor at Kyoto City.

The city of Kyoto had turned into a huge bonfire. The roaring sound of the flames drowned out all other sounds, including the screams that had just sounded like piercing steel needles.

It was like the grin of the god of death, making everything in the world pale in color and turn into a fiery red.

Finish work.

After firing 20,000 rockets, the artillery regiment packed up the launchers and turned around to leave. The cavalry and infantry regiments immediately changed into escort formations and headed back the way they came.

A true man never looks back at the flames and lets the city of Kyoto be devoured.

(End of this chapter)