The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 679 Tsurumaru Castle

Tsurumaru Castle is different from many ancient castles in Japan. It has neither tall and solid city walls nor a castle tower that symbolizes power.

Some people call it "Pingcheng" and some people call it "Mountain City".

Tsurumaru Castle probably got its name because the top of the castle resembles a flying crane with its wings spread.

The Ming History: Ryukyu Biography records: "In the 40th year, Japan indeed invaded the country with 3,000 elite soldiers, abducted the king, removed the ancestral artifacts, and left with a large amount of loot."

In the 40th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, the Satsuma clan sent 3,000 troops to invade the Ryukyu Kingdom and attack its capital. King Shangning and a group of civil and military officials were captured by the Japanese pirates. The Satsuma clan burned, killed and looted in Ryukyu.

Yang Chongye, then the commander-in-chief of Zhejiang, reported to the Wanli Emperor about the annexation of Ryukyu:

"It was discovered that Japan had sent 3,000 troops into Ryukyu, captured the King of Zhongshan, and removed his ancestral artifacts."

When Zhu Yijun learned that Ryukyu had been destroyed, he did not respond at all as to whether Ryukyu would be restored or whether Prince Shangning would rescue it.

Afterwards, sporadic intelligence was passed back to the Ming Dynasty, but Emperor Wanli remained indifferent to the news of the Ryukyu invasion. The Ming Dynasty had no intention of rescuing its most loyal brother, simply acquiescing to the fact that the Ryukyu had been annexed, and did not even have the courage to question the Wokou pirates.

During the Ming Dynasty, a considerable number of Japanese pirates who ravaged the southeastern part of the country came from the Satsuma Domain.

The Satsuma Domain was located in the remote Kyushu region, where the people were tough and the Satsuma samurai were famous for their fighting ability, stubbornness and persistence.

The Satsuma Domain, which regarded itself as a crane, was full of martial virtues.

However, during the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu and his successors launched a literary inquisition. Even if the Satsuma clan folded its wings, it would be suspected by the Edo clan. How could it dare to spread its wings and fly high?

Before the construction of Tsurumaru Castle, the Shimazu family, who participated in the Western Army, had been defeated by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Battle of Sekigahara.

The original intention of building Tsurumaru Castle was not for military purposes (Shimazu was not so bold), but to show absolute obedience to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Therefore, the walls of Tsurumaru Castle were lower than those of other feudal domains and its fortifications were simpler.

In order to deal with the Toyotomi family, Tokugawa Ieyasu used the excuse of finding the eight characters "prosperity and happiness between the ruler and his subjects, and peace and prosperity for the country" from the inscription on the bell of Hoko-ji Temple, and used this as an excuse to launch the Battle of Osaka.

The crane shape on the top of "Tsurumaru Castle" implies defiance. If the shogunate deliberately makes trouble, the Shimazu family may not be able to escape disaster.

Everyone says that Tokugawa Ieyasu is a turtle, known for his "endurance". In fact, the Shimazu family is no less capable.

At that time, the commander of the Western Army, Ishida Mitsunari, was brutally suppressed in Kyoto, shocking the whole world. However, Shimazu Iehisa, who was full of martial virtue, chose to "endure".

Therefore, Tsurumaru Castle is also a "ninja castle".

After Tokugawa Iemitsu ascended the throne, he made the Western Expedition a top priority, relaxed the surveillance of the Satsuma Domain, allowed the Shimazu family to recruit troops, and upgraded the defenses of Kagoshima.

The current head of the Satsuma clan, Shimazu Mitsuhisa, was adopted as his heir by his father, Shimazu Tadatsune, at birth.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa stayed in Edo as a hostage since his youth.

In the 1637th year of Kan'ei (), the Shimabara Rebellion broke out. Because Shimazu Tadatsune was seriously ill and unable to lead the troops, Shimazu Mitsuhisa returned to Satsuma.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa had just returned to Kagoshima when his father died of illness. Following Shimazu Tadatsune's will, the elders elected Shimazu Mitsuhisa as the new lord of Satsuma.

In March of the 1638th year of Kan'ei (), when the shogunate army launched a general attack on Hara Castle where the rebels were entrenched, generals Yamada Arieta and Shinna Tadamasa under Shimazu Mitsuhisa participated in the attack and beheaded rebels.

The suppression of the Shimabara Rebellion demonstrated the Shimazu army's fierce combat power.

The shogunate's trust in the Shimazu family increased further.

In the 15th year of Kan'ei, Shimazu Mitsuhisa led Shimazu Tadaki (Shimazu Mitsuhisa's younger brother) and the elders Komatsu Huangmaru, Shimazu Hisayoshi, Shimazu Hisamoto, Shinna Hisaaki, Kiiri Hisahiro, Eiwa Hisamasa, Ise Sadaki and others to Edo to prepare to meet Tokugawa Iemitsu.

On May 13, Shimazu Mitsuhisa climbed the city wall and met with Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. He presented a tachi, two Hyuga horses, one thousand silver coins, and one hundred pieces of silk to express his gratitude.

According to custom, after the daimyo presented gifts, the shogun would usually give the daimyo his sword, folding fan, calligraphy and paintings and other items he carried with him as a return gift.

Tokugawa Iemitsu took the sword from the hand of the young man holding the sword beside him and handed it to Shimazu Mitsuhisa, saying:

"I, succeeding Tosho Daigongen (Tokugawa Ieyasu) and Daitokuin (Tokugawa Hidetada), command the lords of the world, and all are in awe. If you are not convinced, you can try this sword."

Tokugawa Iemitsu's words were sharp and provocative.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa had been a hostage in Edo since he was a child. He and Tokugawa Iemitsu had known each other for a long time, and their relationship was similar to that of Qin Shihuang and Gao Jianli.

Now that old friends meet, they are so threatening.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa was sweating profusely. He took the sword, held it in both hands, raised it above his head, and said with a stiff upper lip:
"The Shimazu family has received great favors from the shogunate and has served it respectfully and loyally, with no ulterior motives. If Mitsuhisa rebels, he will be killed and his family destroyed."

Tokugawa Iemitsu forced a smile and said to Shimazu Tadaki, Shimazu Hisayoshi, Shimazu Hisamoto, Komatsu Kawamaru, Kamata Masatoshi and others who had come with Shimazu Mitsuhisa to pay him an audience:
"Mr. Guangjiu is still young, and needs your support to continue the well-being of his family and country."

This happened more than ten years ago.

I still remember Shimazu Mitsuhisa vividly.

He was deeply impressed by the Shogun's ability to control people.

~~~~~~
"When will Koxinga's fleet arrive to aid Kagoshima?"

In the Shimazu family residence in Tsurumaru Castle, the head of the family, Shimazu Mitsuhisa, sat upright, with Shimazu Tadao, Shimazu Hisayoshi, Shimazu Hisamoto, Komatsu Komaru, Kamata Masatoshi and others sitting around him.

Several miles from the palace, the sound of cannons echoed across the waters of Kagoshima. Qi warships launched a fierce bombardment on Kagoshima's coastal defenses. The large-caliber naval guns roared angrily, like roaring steel beasts, repeatedly hurling iron balls weighing five to thirty kilograms onto the heads of the Shimazu troops.

From time to time, rockets rose from the decks of warships, flew over the coastline and fell into the city, exploding and burning in the densely populated urban areas.

The wooden houses were quickly set on fire, and thick smoke billowed in the city, making it look like the end of the world.

The fierce-tempered residents of Satsuma carried buckets to put out the fire while moving artillery shells to the position.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa listened quietly to the continuous sound of artillery outside, then looked up at his close ministers and confidants.

~~~

The head of the family's younger brother, Shimazu Tadao, was specifically responsible for dealing with the surrendered Ming generals. Part of the Ming army that fled from China to Japan stayed directly in Satsuma Domain, and the Shimazu family did not report to Edo.

Hearing his brother's question, he quickly replied:
"Zheng Sen will arrive by nightfall today. The Ming people are untrustworthy, especially those who have suffered a defeat. We cannot place all our hopes on them, including Zuo Liangyu, who has been missing for so long."

The retainer nodded in agreement, snorting in disdain.

It seemed as if Zuo Liangyu had become a joke, and it was inappropriate to mention this person in such a serious occasion.

As soon as Shimazu Tadao finished speaking, there was a rumbling sound on the sea, followed by a shrill whistle.

Suddenly, the entire mansion shook violently, and the whale oil lamp above fell to the ground.

earthquake?

The retainers and samurai ran outside.

The knowledgeable Komatsu Huangwan said loudly:

"Yamadie! This is the Tatar Qi cannon, a thirty-jin iron ball, it will bring down the country!"

Seeing everyone's pale faces, the elder quickly explained:

"I heard from the British that this cannon is not accurate and can't hit the palace."

Everyone's expression eased slightly.

Suddenly, there was a crackling sound of wooden boards breaking at the gate, and the warriors howled like ghosts and wolves.

Everyone in the room looked at each other.

Komatsu Huangwan said with some embarrassment: "Sometimes if you're lucky, the ricochet bullets can hurt people."

At this time, a flour worker came in, his whole body covered with yellow dust.

Shaking off the dust, he was discovered to be the warrior guarding the gate.

"The Tartars' artillery fire was too fierce. Half of the warriors guarding the gate were just killed."

All the retainers and generals were shocked.

Shimazu Mitsuhisa slammed the table and said loudly:

"Don't wait for Zheng Sen! Only those who save themselves can be saved by others!"

After saying this, he looked at the three generals: Shimazu Hisayoshi, Shimazu Hisamoto, and Kamata Masatoshi.

"I was careless at the time."

Shimazu Mitsuhisa showed a look of shame, waved his folding fan, gritted his teeth and said:
"I didn't expect the Tartars to have so many ships and artillery. They just started firing indiscriminately, using the Divine Fire Flying Crows, and also landing troops. I was still thinking of negotiating with them, but I was careless... The Tartars suddenly attacked me, a surprise attack. I ordered the defenders to open fire, intending to stop at a certain point and not actually attack them. I didn't expect the Tartars to have such a lack of martial ethics!"

Kamata Masato, a veteran who had participated in suppressing the Shimabara Rebellion, said in a deep voice:

"Since our artillery is no match for the Tartars, we should just let them into the city and engage in street fighting!"

Shimazu Hisayoshi and Shimazu Hisamoto echoed, "That's right. As long as we can hold the Tartars back, once Koxinga's reinforcements arrive, we can attack them from both inside and outside. We'll definitely have a chance of victory!"

Shimazu Mitsuhisa was very dissatisfied with the Qi army's lack of martial ethics.

But there was nothing he could do now.

Before the war, the Satsuma clan had tried its best. Shimazu Mitsuhisa wanted to send all the women of the clan to Southeast Asia to earn gold coins to buy red cannons.

However, Samo is only a small country after all, how can it fight against the Great Qi?
Besides, coastal artillery has no advantage over naval artillery.

What's more, the number of naval guns of the Qi army is more than ten times that of the Shimazu army.

It would be miraculous if we could win with such an artillery attack.

Shimazu looked around and saw that his subordinates were eager to fight, and a feeling of heroism suddenly arose in his heart.

"The defenders will immediately withdraw from the coastal artillery positions and allow the Tartars to land first. We will engage them in street fighting. Today, I will defend Tsurumaru Castle and fight the Tartars to the bitter end!"

(End of this chapter)