The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 896: Nagasaki Trip
Nagasaki is no longer the charming and bustling port where hundreds of boats compete for the current.

Half a century ago, the various groups of people who used to be active here have long since disappeared. Yes, the warriors, farmers, merchants, singers and thieves have almost all disappeared.

The desolate and deserted streets, the lush forests, and the elk and gray wolves that shuttle through the port create a doomsday picture after humans have left.

Thanks to the efforts of Emperor Guangde and his successor, Empress Tianshou, this city, which once had the largest port in Japan, has now become a veritable national forest park.

Hot springs and forests are scattered around the outskirts of the city, wild animals can be seen everywhere, the climate is cool, and the air is as fresh as in a tropical rainforest.

In the hot months of June and July, Emperor Jingyan and his queen Mary arrived at Nagasaki Port by cruise ship and began their short honeymoon.

Long before Liu Fan ascended the throne, Nagasaki National Forest Park had become the first choice for Qi people to travel on vacation.

It is said that during the winter tourist peak season every year, this place can receive more than 20,000 tourists from all over Da Qi every day.

As early as when he was a child, Liu Fan had heard people in the palace talk about the scenic spots here, such as the mangrove park, the Gulf military base (the Japanese warship sunk by the Qi navy), and the ones that the little emperor was most interested in were the ruins of the evil monk on the unknown volcano and the tomb of the former commander Yuan Chonghuan left in Nagasaki.

After all, these are the things closest to the ruler of Tianxin City.

When the cruise ship arrived at Nagasaki Port, the Governor-General of Japan and the Nagasaki Bugyo were already waiting on the shore to welcome the emperor of the suzerain country. Also arriving were the Eighth Army Corps and two naval task forces stationed in Nagasaki.

What surprised Liu Fan was that these people could show up at the dock on time. What made him even more puzzled was that the seemingly barren Nagasaki could have so many warships and soldiers stationed there.

"Military spending must be huge, right?" Mary asked her husband in awkward Chinese.

Liu Fan blurted out: "Fifty million Qi Yuan a year, not including food and coal supplies."

Mary opened her mouth in surprise and was speechless. Only then did she finally understand that the parade in Tianxin City cursing the emperor for his warmongering was not groundless.

In a panic, Mary shouted in English: "It costs too much, too much, almost one-fifth of Britain's military expenditure."

If you want to maintain Japan's loyalty to Tenshin City, you must pay this price.

So Liu Fan told Mary that 50 million was the minimum. If it was reduced any further, the soldiers stationed here might mutiny.

"So," Emperor Jing Yan concluded, "the bigger the business, the greater the losses and expenses."

Emperor Jingyan ordered his guards to land first. After ensuring there was no danger, he and Ma Li, escorted by the guards, supported each other as they boarded the sampan and finally, carefully, stepped onto the island. Upon landing, Liu Fan whispered to the queen that because previous emperors of the Great Qi Dynasty had been so brutal, Taizu had reportedly implemented a "Japanese Elimination Plan," and that at least two million Japanese had perished at his hands, if not eight hundred thousand.

Mary opened her eyes wide in surprise and kept saying, "Oh, God, may the Virgin Mary forgive these cruel people."

While Liu Fan was exchanging greetings with the officials, he nodded to Mary and said, "Yes, our Emperor Taizu was a cruel man."

Emperor Jingyan took the initiative to talk with representatives of the army and navy, and extended his most sincere greetings to the officers and soldiers of the Nagasaki troops.

Liu Fan held the hands of several officers and listened carefully to what they said. Unfortunately, the officers were all from the south, and they spoke very fast with a strong accent.

Several people shook the emperor's hands one by one and talked for a long time, everyone was very excited.

Unfortunately, in the end, Liu Fan only heard a few words: "We must continue to support the suppression of pacifists, arrest those who should be arrested, and kill those who should be killed."

But this is enough. The rulers of the empire need to know the views of the garrisons in various places on the war, which will help them formulate the next strategy towards Europe.

"Hearing about war from a soldier is like hearing about gambling from a gambler."

Mary used a not very appropriate metaphor to warn the emperor not to do meaningless things. Although it was obscure and difficult to understand, Liu Fan still heard it clearly.

He lowered his voice and said, "A soldier's duty is not just to fight. I want to hear more of their inner thoughts."

Mary looked around and thought, "Isn't it cruel to suddenly make a group of people live in a foreign country and cut off all their external contacts? God!"

According to the observations of the accompanying officials, Nagasaki was the same as it was thirty years ago, with no changes. Of course, other places in Japan were almost the same.

Time seems to have stopped here.

Communications in Nagasaki were sporadic, and there were no airships. According to the peace treaty previously signed with Qi, Dejima could only accommodate merchant ships from the Netherlands, Britain, and Qi, and could only engage in some basic international trade, selling samurai swords, whale oil, copper ore, deerskin, etc. in exchange for expensive industrial products from the mother country.

Since the outbreak of the European war, British and Dutch merchant ships have left one after another. This port, which has been deserted due to the sanctions imposed by the Emperor of Qi, has become even more depressed.

(End of this chapter)