The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 363 Toyotomi Hideyoshi pretends to seek peace
Japan sent envoys to request peace talks!
This was Toyotomi Hideyoshi preparing to play a dirty trick.

When Wanli received the news, he couldn't help but sneer.

It's not normal to stop fighting after a while.

Were the Japanese pirates who brought more than 100,000 or 200,000 horses to Korea, a vassal state, a joke?

Soldiers, the country's major events, the place of death and life, the way of survival, must be observed.

This is what is said at the beginning of "The Art of War".

Japan has always been learning from the Tang Dynasty, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi always talks about the Tang Dynasty. It is impossible that this guy has not learned "The Art of War".

This kind of thing can't be a joke.

Not to mention anything else, it took Japan more than half a year just to collect supplies, build forward bases, assemble troops, and march across the sea.

This investment is extremely large. The money and food consumed by more than 300,000 troops per month is estimated to be over one million taels.

If we add Nagoya Castle and so many warships, Toyotomi Hideyoshi probably spent tens of millions of taels on the preliminary preparations alone.

Is it possible that I stop fighting after a few hits and haven't made back my money?

The Japanese pirates in Japan are not peace-loving people.

They asked for peace talks but had no good intentions.

This has been proven by history.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi just wanted to play dirty tricks.

Let’s have some fun and see who’s more sinister!

Wanli agreed without hesitation.

However, he agreed and did not say when to talk.

Shen Weijing finally brought the Japanese envoy Xiao Xifei to the capital, but Wanli directly asked the Ministry of Rites to arrange for them to stay in the Siyi Pavilion. And then nothing happened. They were just hung there like washed clothes, and no one paid any attention to them at all.

Wanli was actually waiting for someone, and he was waiting for more than one person.

The first person he waited for was Yi Sun-sin.

Because Li Shunchen was commanding the army in Seongju and Geochang, he was not as fast as Shen Weijing and Xiaoxi.

Shen Weijing and Xiao Xifei had been here for several days before he hurriedly rushed over on a navy speedboat.

This time, Wanli chose a side hall specially used to receive court officials, so that he could stay far away.

After the emperor and his ministers exchanged greetings, Wanli asked solemnly, "How is the plague in Gyeongsang Province? Has it been brought under control?"

How do you say this?

Lee Sun-sin thought for a moment before cautiously saying, "Your Majesty, I'm not sure about other places. The areas outside Seongju and Geochang, which we control, should be plague-free. We have cured all the civilians who survived the plague, and they are very grateful to Your Majesty."

That's good.

The plague is so terrible that I dare not let you get close to it.

Wanli nodded slightly, then stared at him and said slowly: "Japan has sent an envoy to request peace talks. What do you think?"

What do I think?
What does His Majesty mean by this?
Li Sun-sin thought about it carefully, then said cautiously, "Your Majesty, does this peace talk mean they are withdrawing their troops and not fighting anymore?"

Few people could understand Toyotomi Hideyoshi's shady trick.

This has also been the case throughout history.

At that time, after more than 100,000 Japanese pirates fought two battles with 40,000 Ming troops, he requested peace talks.

What he meant seemed to be that he felt he could not defeat the Ming army and did not want to fight anymore.

The question is, why was there a second invasion?

He gave up the fight the first time he felt he couldn't win, but did he feel he could win the second time?

Is the victory or defeat on this battlefield based on his feelings?
Obviously, no.

If this guy feels he can't win, there won't be a second time.

It was obviously not normal to ask for peace talks during the first fight.

This guy is just trying to play dirty tricks.

Most people couldn't understand what he meant at all, not even Lee Sun-sin.

Wanli nodded slowly and said, "Yes, they just want to withdraw their troops."

Is there such a good thing?

There are more than 100,000 or 200,000 Japanese pirates. Are they going to withdraw after just two battles?
Is this a joke or is it serious?
Even Li Shunchen felt a little bit unbelievable.

According to common sense, with an army of more than 100,000 or 200,000, there would be at least 50,000 or 60,000 casualties, and only when they could no longer bear it would they request peace talks.

Where did this go?

The losses of his remaining soldiers and rebel forces were less than five or six thousand, and the losses of the Japanese pirates were estimated to be less than five or six thousand as well.

No fight now?
He said in disbelief, "Are they really going to withdraw?"

Wanli nodded slowly and said, "I think they will really retreat."

Did they recover the three capitals and eight provinces without any effort?
Li Shunchen still said in disbelief: "Your Majesty, I dare to ask, will they really retreat?" Why do you always ask this?
Wanli nodded decisively and said, "This shouldn't be fake. They will really retreat."

Really!
Upon hearing this, Li Sunchen was quite excited and said, "That's great."

As expected, you will definitely be fooled.

This kind of thing is an unexpected good thing for the vassal state of North Korea.

The Japanese pirates gathered more than 100,000 or 200,000 troops and came aggressively, almost occupying all of their three capitals and eight prefectures.

They almost lost their country.

As a result, after just two battles, they wanted to negotiate, stop fighting, and withdraw their troops!
Who would refuse such a good thing?

Fortunately, this guy is not the King of Korea, a vassal state.

Wanli continued to ask: "Think about it, what would happen if the Japanese pirates withdrew their troops?"

Then our whole country will definitely be jubilant.

Lee Sun-sin couldn't help but say excitedly, "If the Japanese pirates really withdraw, I'm sure the people will cry with joy."

You guys just believe that pie will fall from the sky.

This is also the simplest trick among scams. The scammer says he will give you what you want.

As a result, you were fooled.

Wanli shook his head slightly and sighed, "Don't you think about it? If the Japanese pirates withdraw, your king and those court officials will have to go back.

Do you know what will happen when they go back?

The Japanese pirates will definitely ask you Easterners to participate in the peace talks, or even deliberately ask you generals to take over the territory. Then, the Westerners will use this as an excuse to slander you for having secret dealings with the Japanese pirates.

And then, do you think there is more?
I can only save you from death, but what about the others? Do you know what will happen to Quan Li and those rebel leaders?
Now that your king and his courtiers have returned, will they allow the rebel army to continue to exist?
They would definitely confiscate the rebels' weapons and let them disband and go back to farming.

The next time the Japanese pirates come back, they will definitely kill the young and strong people who participated in the rebel army first.

As for you, you will probably be sent to a place that is easy to besiege. Most of the 100,000 or 200,000 Japanese pirates will probably come and surround you and annihilate you in one fell swoop."

This is really possible!

Westerners are pro-Japanese. Once they come to power, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Upon hearing this, Yi Sun-sin was shocked and asked, "Your Majesty, are you saying that the Japanese pirates are pretending to ask for peace?"

Fortunately, what you said makes sense.

Your king and his courtiers certainly can't make sense.

Wanli nodded slowly and said, "Yes, Toyotomi Hideyoshi is just pretending to ask for peace. His purpose is to use your internal strength to eliminate those of you who dare to resist the Japanese pirates.

Think about it, if he sends a large army to fight you from Xingzhou to Geochang, how many casualties will it take before he can annihilate you?"

Toyotomi Hideyoshi is so vicious!

Li Shunchen slowly shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I am not arrogant. I believe that the terrain from Xingzhou to Geochang is complicated. We are much more familiar with the terrain than the Japanese pirates. In addition, we have Geochang City as our support. It is unlikely that the Japanese pirates will want to encircle and annihilate us there.

We can use the familiar terrain to deal with them and even cut off their food supply.

If we really want to fight a decisive battle there, a few hundred thousand Japanese pirates will probably not be enough. Even if they mobilize all 200,000 Japanese pirates, we can still run to Jeolla Province. It is unlikely that they will encircle and annihilate us."

That's right.

Wanli spread his hands and said, "Think about it. Will Toyotomi Hideyoshi choose to mobilize an army of over 100, 200,000 or even over 300,000 to encircle you? Or will he pretend to withdraw his troops, let your king and his courtiers return, and then use the Westerners to deal with you?"

If I were Toyotomi Hideyoshi, I would also choose to pretend to withdraw my troops and then use Westerners to deal with those who dared to resist the Japanese pirates.

There is no need to think about it. Withdrawing troops means going back to rest and there will be no loss. With the help of pro-Japanese traitors, why should we risk losing tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of troops to encircle and suppress them?
Upon hearing this, Li Sun-sin nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand. Toyotomi Hideyoshi wants to kill someone with a borrowed knife!"

I'm glad you understand.

Wanli nodded slowly and said, "The fact that they're asking for peace proves that the situation is not favorable for them. We can't let them get away. If we don't kill the snake, we'll suffer the consequences. This time, we must destroy the Japanese pirates!"

Li Sun-sin nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand. This time we must destroy the Japanese pirates. Your Majesty, what should we do next?"

Next, continue to attack and rescue them.

Wanli gave detailed instructions: "You will have Quan Li lead the remaining 20,000 soldiers to garrison Geochang, and then have the various rebel armies march north to attack Cheongju. Use the same old method. When the Japanese pirate reinforcements arrive, you will flee. Then, you will attack other cities along the main north-south roads, leaving the Japanese pirates trapped and unable to extricate themselves."

Li Sun-sin bowed repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Any other questions?"

Do you mean I should go back quickly?
Upon hearing this, Li Shunchen said cautiously, "Your Majesty, my men are becoming more and more powerful, and the food is so delicious that many defeated soldiers and young and strong men have come here on their own initiative to join us in fighting the Japanese pirates.

However, we don't have enough food, supplies, weapons, and equipment. Could you please allocate more food, supplies, weapons, and equipment to us so that we can expand our forces?"

Do you still want to expand your team?

Okay, it can still be used when attacking the Japanese mainland.

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Wait a moment. When the navy ships return, I will order them to bring a large amount of food over. You can then expand your forces."

It really can expand the manpower!

Li Sun-sin bowed repeatedly and said, "I understand. Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

(End of this chapter)