The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 522: Death of the Shogun
"Has that stupid son of Nabeshima Tadanao sent back any news? Is Liu Zhaosun dead?"

"General, after the Saga clan landed in Busan, Korea, their advance northward was very smooth. However, according to your instructions, Lord Nabeshima deliberately slowed down the march, forcing the Koreans and the Qi army to fight to the death. The situation in Pyongyang is still unknown."

Kyoto, Tokugawa family headquarters, Nijo Castle.

The second shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, and his retainers walked along the corridor of Nijo Castle towards the rockery and pond in the backyard, followed by a group of fully armed hatamoto samurai.

The so-called "two" refers to the geographical location. Japan's Heian-kyo was built in imitation of China's Tang Dynasty capitals Chang'an and Luoyang. Like the structure of Chinese capitals, the city is divided into square-shaped neighborhoods.

The central axis of Heian-kyo is called Suzaku Street, just like Chang'an. The east-west avenues from north to south are called No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and up to No. 9, and Nijo Castle is located on the second street from the north.

Thick and tall stone walls and a wide moat.

Oda Nobunaga died in the Honnoji Incident due to the rebellion of his generals, which caused serious psychological trauma to the feudal lords.

The Tokugawa family was known for their prudence and they took great pains to build their own nest. After two generations of shoguns built it, Nijo Castle had become an extremely solid fortress.

Everyone came to the gate of Ninomaru, a magnificent golden archway.

It is named "Tang Gate" and draws on the architectural style of China's Tang Dynasty. The top is Tang style, but it incorporates Japanese characteristics.

The lintels and porches were covered in gold leaf with the imperial chrysanthemum crest, interspersed with depictions of lions and peonies, and hollow reliefs of pine trees and cranes, creating an extravagant and magnificent display, a testament to the power and status of the Tokugawa family.

After passing through the Tang Gate, you will see the Ninomaru Palace.

"Come in and have some tea. I'm tired."

The elderly and frail Tokugawa Hidetada said to the shogunate retainers.

Ninomaru Palace was where the shogun met guests and handled government affairs, and it was also where the shogun rested and relaxed.

It consists of six large compartments, namely, Enshi, Shikidai, Daihiroken, Sukakuken, Kuroshōin, and Hakushōin. There are intricately carved lattice windows between the rooms, and the interior decoration and detailed structure are extremely exquisite and luxurious, dotted with gorgeous decorative objects commensurate with the general's residence.

"When the previous Shogun was alive," Hidetada said to his men as they walked, "he taught me a lesson: to be patient when dealing with the enemy."

Yes, Tokugawa Ieyasu was patient enough that people called him a turtle.

There is a legend comparing the personalities of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu: What would the three do if the cuckoo did not sing?

Oda Nobunaga loved destruction, so he would kill the cuckoo; Toyotomi Hideyoshi was unscrupulous, so he would find ways to make the cuckoo sing; and Tokugawa Ieyasu, being shrewd and calculating, would wait patiently until the cuckoo sings on its own.

"But how long will we have to endure this? The lords of each feudal domain see this as an opportunity. They all see the Baoqi Eastern Expedition as a Mongol invasion of Japan and are determined to send troops to teach these ignorant barbarians a lesson. Of course, it's also for revenge."

"Revenge? Is Liu Zhaosun also seeking revenge?"

Hidetada thought of the Buddhist saying about revenge.

The various feudal lords in Kanto suffered heavy losses in the invasion of the Ming army. They had an irreconcilable feud with Baoqi. Now Liu Zhaosun attacked Korea and launched a war of annihilation. The King of Korea asked Japan for help. The Japanese believed that this was an opportunity for revenge and they could occupy Korea with justification.

"If we don't know the enemy's strength, what's the point of sending reinforcements to Korea if it's like last time? Have you forgotten how the Toyotomi clan was defeated?"

Regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi once made Tokugawa Ieyasu surrender. He completed the unification of the archipelago for the first time and ended Japan's long era of war that began with the Onin War.

However, the Toyotomi clan was greedy and turned their attention to their western neighbor, Korea. They gathered a large army to invade Korea, hoping to use Korea as a springboard, and even considered the issue of where to locate the capital after conquering the Ming Dynasty.

After the initial unstoppable advance and the capture of Seoul, the capital of Korea, and Pyongyang, the secondary capital, the Ming army came to reinforce Korea. A 40,000-strong army crossed the Yalu River and pushed the Japanese troops all the way to Busan.

As the situation on the battlefield gradually worsened, Hideyoshi's dream of conquering the world came to nothing and he eventually died of illness.

The Korean War caused Toyotomi Hideyoshi's power to plummet. Tokugawa Ieyasu, who did not participate in the Korean War and had been living in fear, eventually became the winner of the war through the Battle of Sekigahara.

The Toyotomi family's decline was largely due to the huge losses suffered on the Korean battlefield.

"North Korea should not increase its military strength; one thousand men are sufficient."

Tokugawa Hidetada ignored the dissuasion of the shogunate officials and insisted on sending only 1,000 elite soldiers from the Saga clan to reinforce Korea, and refused to send any more soldiers to Korea.

"I can't make the same mistake as Hideyoshi!"

Hidetada coughed violently, like a collapsing rock mountain, as if it would collapse at any time. The shogunate officials hurriedly called for the imperial physician (the head of the imperial physicians), and the white-haired and bald Ishikawa Yoshinobu brought him a cup of medicine that had been prepared long ago.

The Shogun smashed the medicine and shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Quack! Blood! I want blood!"

Hidetada grabbed the doctor's arm like a dying man grabbing at a straw.

"My time is coming to an end. Do you know how to use the immortality method of the monk Huiran Shiran? Quick!"

"Hui Ran has been a scourge to the world and has been dead for many years. General, please stop using these evil techniques!"

Ishikawa broke free from the general, terrified, picked up the medicine box, and fled with the demon boy.

·~~~~~~~
"My lord, it is now very clear that the thief Liu has threatened to attack Japan for revenge after destroying Korea." "Revenge?"

Tokugawa Hidetada put down the cherry blossom cup filled with the girl's blood, dragged his fat head, and stared blankly at the flickering candlelight on both sides of the tatami. He stood there like a statue for a long time, his eyes dull.

This is the general's time for meditation, and no one disturbs him.

The second generation shogun had this custom when his father, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was still alive.

After Ajiang's death, the general's brooding became more frequent, resembling some kind of (Alzheimer's?) condition.

"Liu Zhaosun, why are you so persistent? Why won't you let our country go?"

Hidetada was puzzled and scratched the bald spot in the middle of his scalp. Dandruff fluttered down like snowflakes, and the candlelight crackled.

"Such a long expedition would be more trouble than it's worth," the elder said, stepping forward and lowering his voice. "My Lord, I've heard that the traitor Liu has changed a lot in recent years. He's killed many people in Ming and Korea as well. He no longer boasts of his benevolence, righteousness, and loyalty."

The family elder started by talking about the "Land System of the Qi Dynasty" and described in detail to the general the system of Bao Qi, which abolished private land and private property, and all citizens were soldiers. Ordinary people could choose to join workshops, the army, and schools. It was said that in Bao Qi, children were free of charge for food and accommodation from the time they entered school until they became talented.

"They also established a considerable number of peasant soldiers to maintain order in various places and implemented a more stringent system of joint responsibility and baojia."

"Is it similar to Wei Yang's reforms in the Qin Dynasty?" The Shogun gasped for breath. The changes that took place in the Kaiyuan Army made him feel inexplicably frightened.

The knowledgeable patriarch replied cautiously, "We believe it's a system even more brutal and efficient than the Qin Dynasty. Tens of millions of people are tied to a single chariot, and no one under heaven is immune."

After hearing this, Hidetada sighed deeply and said, "He is indeed crazy."

The elder echoed, "Yes, Liu Zhaosun has changed a lot."

"The Tokugawa family has also changed a lot."

Tokugawa Hidetada's eyes gradually focused, and he reached out to grasp the samurai sword on the sword rack.

"After eight years of hardship and suffering, we now have stronger warriors, more powerful firearms, and a heart of revenge."

The Patriarch ignored the General's provocative gesture and continued:
"General, what you said makes sense. Right now, the traitor Liu has occupied several provinces of the Ming Empire. Even if we can conquer Korea through an expedition, it will be a spent force. Thinking of attacking Kyushu again is wishful thinking."

Tokugawa Hidetada nodded and expressed his agreement with the family elder.

"However, if we send reinforcements to North Korea, our country cannot afford too many troops, and too few will be useless. It's a troublesome matter."

"What on earth does Liu Zei want to do?"

Tokugawa Hidetada was in no mood to guess what the madman was trying to do.

The tragic war eight years ago came to his mind. Under the threat of Liu Zhaosun, he killed his beloved woman and signed the humiliating Treaty of Niuguan.

It's time to make Liu Zhaosun pay the price.

~~~~~~
The breathless Shogun, supported by the hatamoto samurai, came to the garden.

After more than eight years of rest and recuperation after years of war, Japan finally showed a scene of peace and prosperity, just like this imperial garden before us.

The Imperial Garden is grand and generous, tranquil and restrained. It is different from the elaborate construction of Chinese courtyards and the miniature abstraction of Zen temple courtyards.

Tokugawa Hidetada's eyes were filled with green. He walked through the broad lawn and dense bonsai pines, and behind him was a large pond. There were three pieces of land in the pond, symbolizing the turtle, crane and Penglai Island. There were small stone bridges between the three islands, which looked staggered and orderly.

"General, general!"

The elder's shouting broke the tranquility.

"Lord Nabeshima and his elite troops from the Saga clan encountered..."

"What happened?"

"The barbarian navy defeated them, and their entire army was annihilated. Pyongyang is also under siege by the barbarian army and could be taken at any moment."

When the aging Tokugawa Hidetada heard that the Kyushu reinforcements that had just landed in Busan were completely annihilated, he could not withstand such a blow and spurted blood on the spot. The waiters around him hurried forward to support the shogun.

"He's coming, he's coming, Liu Zhaosun is coming."

Hidetada's eyes showed extreme fear, and then he fell to the ground with his four legs facing the sky. Like his father Tokugawa Ieyasu, he died suddenly in the posture of a turtle, ending his tragic and pitiful life.

Three days later, the third shogun of the Tokugawa family officially succeeded to the throne. He was Hidetada's son Tokugawa Iemitsu.

During the reign of Tokugawa Iemitsu, Japan was gradually eroded by the Great Qi until it became part of the Qi territory.

Therefore, later generations said: Iemitsu Iemitsu, you ruined the Tokugawa family.

(End of this chapter)