The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 667: Anger

Vic Brown avoided meeting the captivating eyes of the monkey-eating eagle.

He turned his head to the side, and saw the white-haired and bearded Lord Fengxing closing his eyes to rest.

Noticing that the British were staring at him, Maba Rishige opened his eyes, a fatherly smile on his wrinkled old face.

"Mr. Brown, don't go back to the island for lunch. Stay at the magistrate's office and eat tempura."

Brown's throat moved as he prepared his words. He said in a firm tone:

"Thank you very much for your hospitality today, Lord Fengxing. After drinking your tea, I feel refreshed, as if I were back in my hometown, Marston Moor, enjoying the spring breeze. It is my honor to meet Master Chunshen. I will not have lunch at Fengxing's place."

As Brown spoke, he stood up and said goodbye to the Nagasaki Bugyo.

"...Regarding the battle plan for the westward expedition to China, there are obviously still some loopholes. The combination of cavalry and infantry, the deployment of ships, and the dispatch of troops from Manila require detailed discussions with the Shogun. Many details need to be repeatedly confirmed. Details determine success or failure. I need to go to Edo. Delivering 20,000 soldiers and supplies from the Philippines to southern China is a difficult task."

The Liverpool businessman coughed lightly and tugged at the sleeve of Brown's uniform.

The Japanese were silent, the air suddenly became quiet, and a group of staff pointed at the British officers.

Ma Changli put away his fatherly smile and said sternly:
"Uncle Ma is very happy that you came to meet him and gave him a precious gift. However, I don't like the tone of your voice just now."

The translator, Mizu, looked as if he had been hit by frost, and his expression became gloomy. He translated the anger of the Lord Fengxing to the British word for word.

“Uncle Ma?”

Wick Brown was not prepared at all for the sudden appearance of Uncle Ma. He had the impression that Japanese people were stereotyped and indifferent. Baba Toshishige's affectionate address made the British officer a little overwhelmed.

Uncle Ma patiently explained to the British officer:

"The current third Shogun is the grandson of Gonteru-no-Omikami. He came to power at the age of twenty-two and transformed a dilapidated and declining Japan into a great nation with 400,000 soldiers, maintaining its supremacy over China. He is a wise and powerful ruler, a rare sage ruler. All matters, big and small, of the various domains are decided by him... Even the daimyo of each domain had to make advance reservations to visit Edo for sankin-kin. It's impossible to meet them whenever you want! The supplies and food you mentioned just now strike me as an insult to the shogunate. Are you trying to blackmail Gonteru-no-Omikami's grandson?"

Seibei straightened his back, his hand on the scabbard, like a tiger ready to pounce and chop down the reckless foreigners at any time.

Seeing this, the Liverpool merchant hurried forward to explain, "Your Excellency, please calm down. General Brown has just arrived in Japan and knows very little about its customs and etiquette. His words, though crude, were all for Japan's benefit. We hope this expedition will be a safe one. We Europeans have a saying that lovers' quarrels are part of love."

Vic thought to himself that the executive director had lived in the East for more than ten years and knew a lot of proverbs. When he returned to Europe, he could write novels like Don Quixote.

It is a bit shocking to compare the British Empire and Japan to a lover relationship.

Vic Brown was unwilling to gamble with his men, and as an Imperial officer he would not be intimidated by Japanese intimidation.

He responded sharply, insisting on going to Edo to meet the Shogun.

"Sir, the Far East is incomplete without the East India Company. I need to be responsible to London. I also need to be responsible for the lives of the mercenaries in Manila. Any reckless military action will be disastrous."

Nagasaki Bugyo looked directly at the British, his throat moving slightly, his anger evident without any intimidation, as if he was about to let out a low roar in the next second.

The two sides were on the verge of a fight and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Master Chunshen put down the exquisite teacup and suddenly came between the two of them, his eyes like swords:
"I will return to Edo tomorrow to pray at Asakusa Shrine. General Brown is a guest of Gonteru-no-Omikami and insists on going to Edo. Lord Bugyo, please do not try to keep him."

Ma Changli nodded emphatically, suppressing his anger and having to give face to Master Chunshen.

"Since the mage trusts them, what else can I, an old man on his deathbed, say? You can see through souls, so please do as you please."
Nanjing Forbidden City, Fengtian Hall.

The retired emperor Liu Zhaosun, dressed in a Taoist robe and holding a whisk, waved gently.

"Get up, no need to be polite."

Jiang Liuer Li Zicheng, who was about to kowtow, was given a seat by the emperor.

The palace maid Amber brought freshly brewed hot tea, and the two felt a little awkward when they took the teacups.

"I have watched you two grow up. After Lin Yu's death, Wu Xiao was disheartened. The only heroes left in the Imperial Guards are you guys."

"Your Majesty is overly complimentary."

After Lin Yu's death, the temperaments of these two younger generations have obviously matured a lot.

The Japanese pirates are finally here to seek death. The Minoyi Guards sent back news from Tsushima Island. The shogunate is ready to take action. The number of cargo ships from various domains to the port of Nagasaki has suddenly increased by more than three times than usual...

Tokugawa Iemitsu, like his grandfather Tokugawa Kamison, believed in being as still as a mountain. But now that the mountain is moving, it is about to collapse.

"I have no choice but to launch the Eastern Expedition ahead of schedule. Although the various armies are not fully prepared, this expedition is enough to destroy Edo."

The retired emperor looked calm and composed, as if he was describing the process of destroying an ant nest.

"The various armies have begun to assemble towards Liaodong. In addition, Fujian and Zhejiang have also been defended. The latest hot air balloons and airships will be used in Japan. Everything is ready, only the east wind is needed."

The high priest nodded approvingly, impressed by the double meaning of "everything is ready except for the east wind".

The east wind here is not only a metaphor, but also a real east wind.

The easterly winds seen across Japan are somehow related to the lethal effects of incendiary bombs dropped from hot air balloons.

"I heard that Tokugawa Iemitsu also likes to eat tempura. I can give him a teppanyaki grill."

Flames appeared in the sky, the city pond was boiling, and the Japanese pirates in wooden clogs rushed to jump into the hot water.

"However, I'm still a little worried about North Korea in the east. Puppets are redundant. The remaining four provinces should be directly turned into provinces of Da Qi."

"so·····"

The retired emperor raised his Buddhist whisk and pointed at the map of Korea on the desk.

"You will go to Seoul immediately. The First Corps will also go. I want to hear as soon as possible about the King of Korea leading his people to surrender and voluntarily submit to the Great Qi."

"If Li Zong is not respectable, then find a way to make him respectable. I have tolerated this fence-sitter for a long time."

The two guards nodded solemnly.

The retired emperor waved his whisk and slowly retreated into his Taoist temple.

"A great war is coming, blood will be shed, and many people will die this year."

(End of this chapter)