The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 665: The Third Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu

General Brown judged that the Tokugawa shogunate might have known about the tragedy in Manila and used it to threaten the East India Company to send troops to help conquer the Tatars.

Only in this way could the Nagasaki Bugyo find the Liverpool merchants and discuss with the British the responsibilities that the East India Company needed to bear during the Western Expedition to China.

Britain had just repelled the Dutch and established a foothold in the Philippines, but had not yet started to make a fortune when it encountered trade sanctions from the Tatars.

Under the policy of isolationism of the Tatarstan, trade between Manila and China and Korea plummeted, trade revenue was halved, and the British Empire's business in the Far East was in jeopardy.

The only hope to turn the situation around lies in this group of Japanese monkeys.

If the third Shogun could defeat the Tatars in the next westward expedition, occupy Korea and even Liaodong (or at least force Tatars to sign a treaty conducive to fair trade), the situation in the Far East would be greatly improved.

The Liverpool businessman left Dejima with John Wick Brown, preparing to go to the prosperous Nagasaki next door to "have some fun" first.

Dejima is an artificial island in the shape of a fan, surrounded by high walls.

It takes three hundred steps to go around the island, and about eighty steps to go through the middle.

Like many places in Northern Europe, this artificial island was built on piles sunk into the water.

When Vic Brown first arrived here, thanks to his Royal Navy acumen, he quickly became familiar with the overall structure of the island.

There are about twenty-five rooftops on the island, with numbered warehouses owned by Japanese merchants; a translators' association; and a hospital and clinic.

There are four warehouses, including "Peony", "Peony", "Thorn" and "Pine", which are filled with goods shipped from Manila.

General Brown stayed at the Pinewood Warehouse on his first night in Nagasaki after arriving from Manila.

The pinewood warehouse was filled with cannon barrels and musket barrels, and it was a real arsenal.

Over the years, the shogunate has been purchasing cannons and muskets from Manila. The Japanese first bought them with silver, then exchanged them for samurai swords and sulfur, and now they have begun to cast their own cannons.

The two men walked along the busy streets of Nagasaki with their entourage.

The porters came and went, ignoring the group of blond-haired, blue-eyed Europeans.

The Liverpool businessman lit his cigar and puffed out smoke.
"General Brown, a hundred years ago, our predecessor, the Spanish Governor-General stationed in the Philippines, wrote to King Philip II, saying that if he were given 4,000 well-trained Spanish soldiers, he could conquer the Ming Dynasty, starting from the south. Now we have 3,000 mercenaries and 200,000 Japanese monkeys. What do you think the probability of success is?"

"It's a pity that the Spanish Armada was defeated by the Royal Navy, and Philip II had no intention of continuing his Far East campaign, otherwise they would have landed in China."

Vic Brown didn't listen to the rosacea businessman's chatter; his attention was drawn to a group of tall coolies on the dock.

Those people were obviously taller than the other Japanese around them.

With iron chains on their hands and feet and whipped by warriors, they walked up the steep sampan and carried bags of grain onto the ship.

General Brown turned to look at the Liverpool businessman and said, "Sir, the 200,000 monkeys you mentioned just now include these people?"

Colen shook his head and put down his cigar.

"Of course not. These are the Tatar civilians captured from China by the various feudal lords. The women and children who were also captured have been executed. The men were left behind to do hard labor. Working at the docks is only a small portion of them, and the majority were sent to the mines."

Brown muttered something under his nose.

Seeing his companion's gentlemanly demeanor, Colen continued:
"The two countries have an incomprehensible blood feud. They have been killing each other since the Sui (Tang) Dynasty. The most recent one was more than ten years ago. As outsiders, we just have to watch the show. Of course, we can occasionally applaud them from the audience and provide them with more artillery."

Vic Brown interrupted the merchant and said seriously, "As far as I know, the Tatars' artillery is no worse than ours. Didn't you witness their strength fifteen years ago?"

Kelun recalled the distant past, his rosacea turned even redder, and he uttered a few words between his teeth:
"There's an old Chinese saying that goes, 'For an upright and conscientious person to seek revenge, even 3,600 days is not too late.'"

"Besides, it's been more than ten years now. I heard people say that these ten years have been the decade of decline for the Tatars."

"You know quite a few Chinese proverbs."

General Brown shrugged. "Sir Collen, the mercenaries stationed in Manila are ready to launch an expedition against the Tatars at any time."

"However, I believe it's necessary to personally discuss the details of this battle with the Shogun. We undoubtedly need more allies to join us in this crusade against the Tatar tyranny. Tokugawa Iemitsu's three-pronged attack plan is riddled with flaws. Any first-year officer from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst would be more professional than him!"

Colen whispered, "Sir, in Japan, the Shogun is the equivalent of the Emperor. You can't just see him whenever you want. You need to make an appointment. I need to remind you that it's best not to mention the Shogun's name casually, otherwise, these monkeys will chop off your head."

"Then let the Nagasaki Bugyo act as an intermediary and convey the message to the Shogun on our behalf."

"The Nagasaki magistrate is busy preparing food and horses."

The war may break out at the turn of winter and spring in the fourth year of Guangde.

Fifty years ago, the Imjin War in Korea also began in February when cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

"General, we still have a year to prepare. In order to let the Japanese monkeys know that the British Empire is the maker of the Eastern order, we need to recruit more soldiers and have them trained according to the standards of the Royal Military Academy..."

A direct meeting with the Shogun was now impossible.

Colen decided to take Vic Brown to visit the Nagasaki Bugyo first.

~~~~
The second Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, always showed a strong interest in conquering Qi and ruling China.

Tokugawa Iemitsu's confidence mainly came from the victory fifteen years ago and the noble bloodline flowing in his body.

Fifteen years ago, the shogunate army was invincible until it completely drove the Ming forces out of Japan and finally beheaded Yuan Chonghuan, the Tatar emperor's trusted minister.

In Tokugawa Iemitsu's view, from any perspective, the Kyushu Expulsion War fifteen years ago was a major victory for the Tokugawa shogunate.

Its glory even surpasses the Yuan-Japan War three hundred years ago.

Three hundred years ago, the Kamakura shogunate defeated the Tatars by relying on the divine wind.

Three hundred years later, the Tokugawa Shogunate defeated the Tatarstan by relying on its own strength.

During the reign of Tokugawa Iemitsu, Japan abolished the humiliating Treaty of Uguseki, drove out the Tatar forces, repeatedly launched attacks on the various feudal domains in Kyushu, and plundered Shandong and other places.

In the eyes of the Japanese people, Tokugawa Iemitsu was not a king who maintained the status quo, but a king who restored the country.

Iemitsu was decisive and resolute in his actions.

When Tokugawa Hidetada was alive, he declared, "I was born to be a shogun."

At the age of 29, at his father's funeral, he openly challenged Tatarstan:

"When I rule Japan, I will take Liu Zhaosun's head, flatten the Kyushu of Tangtu (China), and avenge my father!"

This is not something a king who only wants to maintain the status quo can say.

Iemitsu was a very competent shogun. Everything he did (reform the shogunate, suppress the Shimabara Rebellion, etc.) was clearly done for the sake of the shogunate, his family, and Japan.

A woman named Awan, after inheriting the position of head of the temple, came to see Iemitsu in the name of Keikoin.

It was the first time that Iemitsu saw such a beautiful woman, and his heart, which had been dormant for many years, became hot again.

Iemitsu fell in love with Awan at first sight and forced her to return to secular life and stay in Edo, and entered the Ooku as a concubine.

Rumor has it that Awan looks very similar to Tokugawa Hidetada's wife Ae, and both have the magical power of a fox to bring charms to the human world.

This seductive woman laid the groundwork for Tokugawa Iemitsu's final tragedy.

(End of this chapter)