The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 327 Waiting for the Barbarians

Yuan Chonghuan and Sun Chuanting's peace talks failed, and they hurried back to Kyushu Island. People in Kaiyuan were clamoring for war.

Go to war.

Only time travelers can understand the true face of European civilized people - as they claim to be - and the true strength of the bandits.

This group of people plundered from Africa to America, from Oceania to Asia. Countless ethnic groups were exterminated by them, and countless civilizations were reduced to dust under the colonial artillery fire.

Fortunately, there is no civilization and no gold wealth in Antarctica, otherwise the penguins on the ice sheet would also be colonized by them.

Ping Liaohou was not prepared to start a war with this group of bandits too early, even though they had already reached his doorstep.

Late at night, when everyone was asleep, he would hold Jin Yuji in his arms and mutter to himself, telling her the history that happened on the other side of the earth.

"Broken spears lay in the road, they tore their hair in grief, hammered their hands against the walls in despair, and mourned the loss and death of their heritage and their glorious city."

A hundred years ago, the Spaniard Pizarro led an expedition of 168 people into Peru. He captured Emperor Antahuallpa alive while surrounded by the Inca Empire army and eventually destroyed the Inca civilization.

Liu Zhaosun was convinced that the tragedy of the Inca Empire would not happen to him.

In the face of this group of cruel and crazy bandits, we must muster the courage to fight to the death. Only by hurting the bandits will they look upon the ancient Eastern ethnic group with an equal eye.

In order to delay the outbreak of war and make better preparations, Ping Liaohou did not give up his efforts for peace until the last moment.

After the negotiations between Yuan Chonghuan, Sun Chuanting and others broke down, he sent Roman and missionary Francis to Tsushima Island to continue negotiations with the British.

Kaiyuan made the concession of "sharing benefits equally", that is, allowing the four countries to trade freely in Japan's trading ports and enjoy the same rights and interests as Ming subjects.

Such an attitude is full of sincerity, but the more so, the less the other party appreciates it.

The French insisted that the Kaihara Army immediately withdraw from Kyushu, Tsushima Island and Iki Island, retreat to Busan, and restore the original order of the shogunate.

The Dutch said that it was necessary to launch a punitive action against the Ming Dynasty, and did not rule out the possibility of shelling a city on the eastern coast of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, the Spanish overseas governor back then (fifty years ago) had planned to recruit 5,000 mercenaries to conquer the Ming Dynasty.

Francis warned his fellow Europeans that withdrawing the Kaiyuan army from Kyushu would trigger a terrible war. The Kaiyuan army was no less powerful than the French dragoons.

If war breaks out, even God cannot protect them.

Representatives of the four chambers of commerce shrugged off this.

In fact, they have begun to dispatch mercenaries stationed in Southeast Asia from various countries to maintain order and justice in the Far East.

On February 24, the Four-Nation Chamber of Commerce officially declared war on the Ming Dynasty and issued a declaration of war.

The declaration of war was delivered to Kyushu by an Earl Knight.

In theory, the war between the two sides began when the declaration of war was issued.

This is in line with the European spirit of chivalry.

~~~
The official residence of the Fukuoka clan.

Ping Liaohou looked at Earl William, who was as strong as an ox and as wild as a beast, and asked Zheng Zhilong to translate the declaration of war brought by the earl.

Earl William held his head high, turned his nose up at Liu Zhaosun, and occasionally hummed.

"In order to punish the barbaric acts of pagans in the Far East, to maintain freedom, equality, fairness and justice, and to re-establish normal commercial order in Japan, the British East India Company and the Dutch East..."

As soon as Ping Liaohou heard the beginning, he asked Zheng Zhilong to stop.

He pointed at the unruly British man in front of him and said calmly:
"Earl William, you keep calling me a pagan and a barbarian. I want to know, who are you?"

Zheng Zhilong quickly translated it to William, who listened and said impatiently:
"I'm sorry, if there were no Europeans, the New World would still be ignorant and chaotic, abandoned by God. I think the same is true for Asia, you and the Japanese, it's the same..."

Ping Liaohou knew that the New World the British were talking about was North America.

"The Native Americans have existed for tens of thousands of years. They existed without you having to discover them. Your so-called discovery is to burn, kill, plunder, and slaughter women and children with guns, and then use God's mouth to forgive your heinous crimes? Your actions remind me of two idioms:

It is difficult to describe in words how devastating it is, like covering one's ears to steal a bell.

When Earl William heard that the pagans dared to slander God, he immediately flew into a rage. He completely disregarded his chivalrous image and slammed the table and shouted:
"It was our Queen who brought technology, culture, civilization, and the gift of God to the indigenous people. This is the essence of discovery!"

Liu Zhaosun drew out his goose-feather knife, and with a flash of the knife, William's left ear disappeared, and blood gushed out from the base of his ear.

"Go back to Europe! Just wait, I'll take the ship to Europe and discover the New World! I'll let you receive the Lord's grace!"

William raised his sword and prepared to fight back, but was held down by Pei Dahu and others. Liu Zhaosun waved his hand.

"Go back and tell those barbarians of yours that I will be waiting for you on Tsushima Island in three days to discover the New World!"

Ping Liaohou ordered the entire army to end its rest and prepare for a new battle. All ships of the Combined Fleet were to be sent to the battlefield. In addition, he urgently requisitioned 200 red seal ships from the Satsuma pirates. Most of the Fukufu ship red seal ships and Western ships anchored in Nagasaki Harbor were temporarily requisitioned by the Kaiyuan Navy.

In this era, there was actually not much difference between merchant ships and warships. When sailing on the vast ocean, ordinary Fuchuan red seal ships would become pirate ships if they were equipped with a skull flag.

The combined fleet, together with these converted merchant ships, barely made up two thousand ships, four times more than the four-nation fleet.

In addition, King Yi Jong of Joseon also sent 100 ships from Busan to assist in the battle, although the effect was not great.

Li Zong knew very well that if the Kaiwon army suffered a major defeat in Kyushu, the shogunate and the daimyo, including the red-haired barbarians, would cause trouble for Korea. The Japanese pirates might even land in Busan, which would be a replica of the Imjin War.

Ping Liaohou knew little about naval battles, so this time he only watched the battle from the front line. The Battle of Tsushima was commanded by Wu Aheng.

As a well-known hardliner in the Kaiyuan army, Wu Aheng had long wanted to fight the red-haired barbarians, and now the opportunity had come.

On February 25, after receiving accurate intelligence, the Kaiyuan Army learned that a mercenary force from Manila was about to arrive in the waters of Kagoshima.

It would certainly be inappropriate to let the red-haired barbarians transport troops over right under our noses.

So, on the 25th, the battle between the Kaiyuan Navy and Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands broke out ahead of schedule.

~~~~~
Ping Liaohou's central military camp was moved from Nagasaki to the flagship Feilong, and the fleet was anchored in the sea more than 20 miles west of Tsushima Island.

Jin Yuji rushed over with her husband, and Liu Zhaosun arranged her at the port of Fukuoka so that she could save her life in case of a loss in the naval battle.

Ping Liaohou called Kang Yinggan and asked him if he was the one behind the incident a few days ago.

Kang Yingqian immediately denied it, pointed his finger at the sky and swore an oath, saying that he had no idea that Zhang Yan was pregnant.

Lao Kang had a look of surprise on his face, as if he was completely unaware of this matter.

Of course Liu Zhaosun didn't believe it.

"Jin Yuji didn't give birth to a boy, and Madam Yang is nowhere in sight. If she gives birth, what will happen in the future? I remember I didn't touch her at all that night."

Ping Liaohou talked to himself, and his tone of voice was very much like that of a scumbag in later generations.

Kang Yingqian clapped his hands and laughed after hearing this.

"Hahaha! Marquis Ping Liao is the highest-ranking official in the country. Now you can understand the difficulties Emperor Shenzong faced in his struggle for the foundation of the country."

Liu Zhaosun glared at Kang Yingqian and shook his head helplessly:

"Could it be that Zhang Yan is really to be made..."

Kang Yingqian said seriously:

"Of course. As long as a baby boy is born successfully, the position of Queen will be secured. As the saying goes, the eldest son is the heir, not the legitimate heir. Speaking of which, Zhang Yan is naturally beautiful and cunning. She managed to fool Yang Hao and his daughter and seized the first opportunity. She's no worse than your two wives."

Liu Zhaosun was silent for a long time.

"How is she now?"

Kang Yingqian patted Ping Liaohou on the shoulder:

"Don't worry, I have already sent someone to make all the arrangements and found a secluded house for you to rest and take care of your baby."

"That's good, let's not talk about it anymore."

Liu Zhaosun has no time to worry about family matters now.

The lives and deaths of tens of thousands of people and the fate and future of Kaiyuan will once again be decided by themselves.

Now is not the time for personal matters, and other matters must not be allowed to influence decision-making.

"General Kang, tomorrow we will have a decisive battle with the Red-haired Barbarians. This battle will usher in eternal peace, and from now on you can be at ease as the governor of Kyushu."

Kang Yinggan curled his lips. Being a prefect in a remote and shabby place in Japan was far from what he had expected.

"I am not strong enough, Marquis Ping Liao, please seek help from someone else."

Liu Zhaosun smiled and said:
"You are only holding this position in part-time, a title in name only. The real officials are in charge, so don't worry. Once Japan is pacified, you will be allowed to return to the Ming Dynasty. You can choose from the southwest and southeast regions under the command of Military Supervisor Kang."

Kang Yingqian laughed heartily:
"Don't dare, just don't put me under house arrest again."

Liu Zhaosun laughed loudly.

The two of them reconciled as before.

(End of this chapter)