Warring States Eagle

"What a beautiful view on the sea!" Zheng Liang was wearing a Ming Dynasty straight body presented by Wang Hai at the moment, standing on the deck of a refitted Ming Dynasty Haicang ship, admiring the beautiful scenery along the way.Behind him are Masara's three close attendants, Masao Kinoshita, Hidemasa Akemine, and Shigemasa Yoshida.The three of them were wearing the escorts of the Ming Dynasty, as if they were servants.

Why did Zheng Liang appear here?This started three days ago.On that day, Wang Hai came to seek help from the Luo family, and Zheng Liang took the opportunity to propose cooperation. Of course, Wang Hai couldn't wish for it, but he also pointed out that he still had a partner in the Ming Dynasty, and hoped that Zheng Liang could send people to accompany him to the Ming Dynasty, in order to continue to discuss cooperation.There is only one meaning, he is very much in favor of the participation of the Luo family, but he is only a small boss and needs the consent of the big boss.

Zheng Liang immediately said that he would go there in person.As soon as Zhengliang's decision was made, not only Wang Hai was surprised, but even the retainers of the Luo family strongly persuaded him, and Dongxiang Heiji came to persuade him every day.Zheng Liang had no choice but to use his three-inch tongue again to state the pros and cons to the retainers.

First of all, although the main family has become the number one powerhouse in the East Matsuura Peninsula, there is still a gap compared to Bodo, not to mention compared with a famous country, and to develop trade with the Ming Dynasty and obtain various materials from it. , is imperative; secondly, the situation around Luo's family is just in a stable state, which brings convenience for the head of the family to travel. As long as everyone does their jobs well according to Zhengliang's arrangement, then during the period when Zhengliang is away, there will be no worries. In the end, Zhengliang's trip this time could be as short as half a month, and as slow as a month, he could return. Time is still allowed. Besides, besides the head of the family, who else can speak Ming Mandarin fluently?

So, after some bargaining.All the retainers finally agreed to Zhengliang's trip.The price was that Zheng Liang had to return to the territory within one month, and at the same time he was followed by several bodyguards.Speaking of bodyguards.In fact, Hu Natong is the most suitable for this job in the current territory. According to the calculation of force value, Hu Natong has at least 80 force value. Unfortunately, he still has the important task of supervising the navy.So we can only let it go.Since Su Natong couldn't make the trip, he had to settle for the next best thing and choose Mingfeng Hidemasa and Yoshida Shigemasa, who were slightly lower in force for the time being, and these two were considered suitable candidates.However, Masao Kinoshita, who was basically seriously injured, learned about it.quit.Depressedly recuperating at home for a period of time, and being unable to fulfill his duties as a servant of the head of the family, he felt very uneasy in his heart, so he insisted on accompanying him, even kneeling outside the mansion to beg.In desperation, Zheng Liang had no choice but to agree.

After arranging everything in the territory, October 22, Tianwen Ninth Year.Zhengliang announced to the public that he would detour to Zhongxiao Temple near Yegao Village to pray for a good harvest in the coming year.Then quietly boarded Wang Hai's merchant ship docked in Banwu Bay under the escort of everyone. () So there was the scene of Zhengliang admiring the sea scenery just now.

"Hahaha, His Highness Zhengliang is really in a good mood" at this time.A loud laugh came from the other side of the deck.

Zheng Liang followed his reputation.It was the navigator of this ship, Song Wei.

"Brother Song Wei came out to give directions?" Zheng Liang replied.

"Hahaha, Your Highness Zheng Liang, these sailors don't need to lead the ship before they enter the depths of the sea," Song Wei said with a smile.

"Oh? If that's the case, isn't Brother Song Wei also out to enjoy the beautiful scenery?" Zheng Liang said.

"No. I'm here to pay homage to my brother who died in the nearby sea," Song Wei replied sadly.

"People have gone to the west, Brother Song Wei, please don't be too sad," Zheng Liang comforted.Thinking about what happened to this navigator Wang Hai "won over" from Wang Zhi could be described as extremely miserable.

His father is Song Suqing.

Who is Song Suqing?Song Suqing's original name was Zhu Jin.He learned to sing at an early age.Later, it was loved by Japanese merchants.Because his uncle Zhu Cheng did lacquerware business with Japanese businessman Tang Siwuro in 1496, but he couldn't deliver on time.So he sold him to Tang Siwulang to pay off the debt.Tang Sigoro brought Zhu Jin to Japan, changed his name to Song Suqing, and became a retainer of the Hosokawa clan, the head of the Muromachi shogunate, and engaged in trade activities with the Ming Dynasty.

Originally, Mingri trade was sent by the Muromachi shogunate to the Ming Dynasty in the name of "King Riben", but the general's power declined after the Onin Rebellion, and the power in Kinai was controlled by the Hosokawa family and the Ouchi family respectively. , Mingri trade fell into the hands of Hosokawa and Ouchi.The Hosokawa clan hijacked the shogun and formed an alliance with the Sakai merchants; the Ouchi clan formed an alliance with the Hakata merchants.Song Suqing supported the Hosokawa family.

In 1510, the Hosokawa clan and the Ouchi clan jointly dispatched a bright ship to the Ming Dynasty under the guise of "King of Japan Minamoto Yoshisumi", with Ryoan Katsura, who supported the Ouchi clan, as the envoy.At that time, the Ouchi clan sent two ships, and the Hosokawa clan sent one.However, Hosokawa Takakuni was not willing to be in a disadvantaged position in Ming Dynasty trade, and secretly dispatched Song Suqing to come to Ming Dynasty trade first, and presented a golden thousand taels to Liu Jin, a powerful eunuch, and received a flying fish suit, which was unprecedented.

In 1523, Ouchi Yoshiko sent a Ming ship to the Ming Dynasty again with Kendozong as the Gangsi.After learning of this, Hosokawa Takakuni also dispatched a bright ship to the Ming Dynasty with Luangang Ruizuo as the Tsuna and Song Suqing as the deputy envoy.The Ouchi family held the Kanhefu from the Zhengde period, while the Hosokawa family held the Koji period.Hosokawa's Kanhe Talisman is expired.

Song Suqing's Xichuan's fleet arrived at Ningbo's Shi Ship Division later than the Ouchi's fleet set up by Emperor Qian Daozong.However, Song Suqing had already secretly bribed Lai En, the eunuch of the Shibo Department, so the goods were inspected first instead.This aroused strong dissatisfaction among Qian Daozong.When Shibosi was entertaining guests in the guest hall, he let the envoy of the Hosokawa clan sit on the top of the envoy of the Ouchi clan, so Zong set up a rebellion in a rage, and led the fleet of the Ouchi clan to burn down the dispatched ship of the Hosokawa clan. The Ming ship attacked the guests' hall, Dongku and other places, killed Luangang Ruizuo, and Song Suqing fled to Shaoxing.Zong She also burned, killed and looted along the way. The Ming Dynasty officials went to suppress, but was defeated. Zong She killed Liu Jin, the commander of the Zhejiang capital who was going to suppress, kidnapped the commander Yuan Jing, and hijacked his ship and fled to sea.This is the famous Ningbo Rebellion.

Afterwards, Song Suqing was thrown into prison, and one of the ships set up by Qian Daozong encountered a storm at sea and drifted to North Korea.The Ming Dynasty sent them to Zhejiang to confront Song Suqing, and found that the Kanhe Talisman held by the Hosokawa family was false, so Song Suqing was sentenced to death.Other captured Ouchi fleet members were also sentenced to death.But before long they all died in prison.

After this incident happened, the Ming Dynasty abolished the post of Chief Superintendent of the Shibo Department and reduced the scale of trade with Japan, which led to a surge in the number of Japanese pirates.

After Song Suqing's death, as the two sons who stayed in Japan, Song Wei and Song Wei's elder brother were still taken care of by the Hosokawa family.It's a pity that the good times didn't last long. With the decline of the Hosokawa clan, the two brothers Song and Wei were also forced to leave their homes and wander around, and later even became pirates.Since they were young, they heard their father talking about the customs and characters of the Ming Dynasty. They had long wanted to see the beautiful scene of the Ming Dynasty, and became pirates waiting for the opportunity to cross the sea and come to the Ming Dynasty. This was the only way the two brothers could think of.The struggle of pirates is cruel. Before the two brothers could see the beauty of Daming, Song Wei's elder brother was injured in a conflict between pirates and fell into the sea and died.Song Wei, who was deeply saddened, was captured by his opponent before he had time to collect his brother's body and took him to a pirate ship as a slave.Later, he escaped in chaos during a pirate conflict. By chance, he drifted to the Ming Dynasty and was rescued by an old sailor of Wang Zhi’s fleet. After that, he lived on Wang Zhi’s fleet until the old sailor fell ill. Did not leave even after death.

This time, Wang Zhi planned to take refuge in a Japanese businessman. Song Wei really didn't want to be a lackey of Japan anymore, so under Wang Hai's persuasion, he resolutely joined Wang Hai and became the pilot of Wang Hai's merchant ship.

Today is Song Wei's brother's death day, and this place happened to be near the place where his brother fell into the sea that day.Now, Song Wei is planning to pay homage to his dead brother.He took out a few incense sticks, lit them and stuck them on the strings of the boat, then bowed his head and meditated for a while, then took out sake and sprinkled it on the sea.This is the general way of offering sacrifices to pirates.Keep everything simple, I only hope that the dead will not be lonely in the depths of the sea, and even send a glass of warm wine to drive away the chill of the seabed.

After Zheng Liang watched for a while, he quietly led everyone back to the cabin.At this time, I happened to meet Wang Hai who was about to come out to find Zheng Liang.

In a corner of the cabin, the two sat opposite each other.

"You mean you might meet pirates?" Zheng Liang said.

"Yes. This time, there is His Royal Highness Zhengliang in the boat, so I have no choice but to tell you frankly. This time, our route is to come out from Xuanjietan, go eastward along the sea, and then arrive at Ming Kingdom. Hangzhou Bay, dock from there and enter Shaoxing Mansion, that is our destination," Wang Hai said.

"Where did the pirates come from?" Zheng Liang was more concerned about this.After all, no one wants to meet pirates.

"Before entering Hangzhou Bay, we will pass through some small islands where pirates often appear," Wang Hai said. "If it goes well, we will pass there without any danger, otherwise we will have to live in peace."

Zheng Liang thought for a while, what Wang Hai said should be the waters near the Zhoushan Islands in the future, and there are indeed many small islands scattered there.Due to the lack of regulation, these places have become a paradise for pirates.

"Could it be that the Daming Navy doesn't care about it?" Zheng Liang asked.Calculating the time, those famous historical anti-Japanese celebrities are not in the top position yet.

"Hehehe, Your Highness. It's good enough for the Ming navy to ensure the stability of Hangzhou Bay," Wang Hai said, "They are more willing to charge fees for passing ships in Hangzhou Bay."

As soon as Zheng Liang heard it, he understood that it wasn't that the navy of the Ming Dynasty had no strength, but that they had no profit to make. They were too lazy to be exposed to the wind and rain.If they are too lazy to move, our ships will be in trouble.Of course, this cannot be blamed on the Navy of the Ming Dynasty. After all, the Ming Dynasty has implemented a policy of banning seas. (To be continued..)

s