The Wanli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was extremely rebellious

Chapter 409 Wanli Releases a Bunch of Traitors

The next morning at about noon, the sun rose, releasing great light.

Inside and outside the capital, in the streets and alleys, the flow of people began to gradually increase, and the number of large and small boats on the Beiyun River and Tonghui River also gradually increased.

The entire capital area became increasingly prosperous, and the unprecedented peace and prosperity of the Ming Dynasty seemed to be just around the corner.

At this time, Wanli also appeared in the imperial study on time to review important memorials.

He only had to deal with a dozen memorials a day. Not long after, he put down his pen, looked up and said in a loud voice: "Come, summon the Duke of Ying to come to the audience."

The "Ying" in "Duke of Ying" is the same as the "Ying" in "Duke of Dongying", but this is the duke conferred by the Ming Dynasty. The meaning is self-evident. If a Dongying person becomes a duke of the Ming Dynasty, it means that he has defected to the Ming Dynasty.

In order to protect his family business, Mori Terumoto chose to be a traitor without hesitation.

Wanli also reciprocated the favor by pretending to confer the title of Duke on this guy as a way of winning him over.

This Duke Ying is of no use in the Ming Dynasty. After all, this traitor is not a traitor of the Ming Dynasty but a traitor of Japan.

So, Wanli took the opportunity to send this guy back to Japan.

Maori Terumoto has been looking forward to this day.

When he heard that Wanli summoned him, he immediately rushed to the palace.

By now he had mastered the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty.

He was meticulous in observing the etiquette between the emperor and his subjects.

Wanli nodded slightly, then said solemnly: "Duke Ying, you can go back next month."

really!

Mao Li Terumoto suppressed his excitement and asked carefully, "Your Majesty, what should I do after I return?"

Well, good, promising.

Just be obedient. I like obedient people.

Wanli nodded slightly, and then explained in detail: "The situation now is a little different from what I originally thought. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is begging me to release the prisoners. I can just send all your men back openly.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi is currently conscripting men like crazy. When you go back, just follow his instructions and conscript men like crazy. I will provide you with weapons and equipment. Anyway, we have captured a lot this time, so if you don't have enough food, I can send it to you.

It would be best if you could expand your army to more than 100,000 this year. Next year, I will send back the troops that have defected to Tokugawa Ieyasu. By then, even if Tokugawa Ieyasu does not take action, I will find a way to make him do so.

If Tokugawa Ieyasu makes a move, you will immediately send troops to take over Northern Kyushu. You already control Buzen Province, so taking over Chikuzen and Hizen Provinces won't be a problem for the Mori clan, right?"

what?
Upon hearing this, Mao Li Terumoto was stunned.

Isn’t this nonsense?
If he took action, Toyotomi Hideyoshi would definitely turn against him. What else could he, a traitor, do?
If this continues, Japan will return to the chaotic Warring States period.

If he could take over Chikuzen and Hizen, other daimyo would surely take the opportunity to seize territory.

Oh, I see.

Maori Terumoto was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Your Majesty, do you mean to return Japan to the chaotic world of the Warring States Period?"

clever.

Later generations of Japan took advantage of the civil war in China to launch an invasion.

He also wanted to let the various princes of Japan fight each other first, so that it would be easier to destroy Japan.

Wanli nodded slightly and said, "Yes, if you take action as soon as Tokugawa Ieyasu takes action, then all three major forces in Japan will take action. Other powerful daimyos will definitely take the opportunity to expand their territory, and then the whole of Japan will be in chaos again.

Do you think it would be a big problem to take over Chikuzen and Hizen?"

This doesn't seem to be a big problem.

Maori Terumoto pondered, "Chikuzen Province was originally the territory that Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted to my uncle, Kobayakawa Takakage. Tachibana Muneshige and Takahashi Nobumasamoto also came from Chikuzen Province. If we go back together this time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi will most likely let my uncle take them and lead the troops to guard Chikuzen Province.

At that time, I will just need to go and take over Chikuzen Province. They will probably be able to recruit 20,000 to 30,000 troops for us.

As for Hizen Province, their troops, including young and strong men, have been almost all drafted. As long as His Majesty first detains generals from Hizen Province such as Naoshige Nabeshige, Matsuura Shinnobu, and Arima Harunobu, and their troops, Hizen Province will have almost no ability to resist. "

Yes, Kyushu was originally a small place with such a small population. Toyotomi Hideyoshi almost conscripted all the troops in Kyushu, and forced tens of thousands of able-bodied men to join the army.

At this time, there are probably not many able-bodied men left in Kyushu. What would Toyotomi Hideyoshi do?

Wanli pondered, "It's impossible that Toyotomi Hideyoshi didn't send people to guard Kyushu Island. If I send you back and have Kunisuke tell them that if they don't cede Kyushu Island, not a single Kyushu soldier will be allowed back to Japan, what do you think Toyotomi Hideyoshi will do?"
If I hold every soldier from Kyushu Island captive, then Kyushu Island can only muster a few tens of thousands of able-bodied men. These tens of thousands of men who have never been on the battlefield will definitely not be able to defend Kyushu Island. Who will he send to lead the troops to defend it?"

Who could Toyotomi Hideyoshi send to guard Kyushu Island at this time?

Almost all the capable generals and even daimyo of Japan were sent to invade Korea, and it seemed that only Maeda Toshiie was left in the mainland.

That guy's territory is still in the eastern part of Honshu, too far away from Kyushu. Moreover, Toyotomi Hideyoshi also has to use Maeda Toshiie to guard against Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Therefore, it is unlikely that Maeda Toshiie would lead his army to garrison Kyushu Island.

Could it be that Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself brought his own troops to guard the city?
This is even more impossible. Toyotomi Hideyoshi's territory is extremely large, and his own troops have to be used to guard his territory.

Maori Motonari thought about it carefully, then said with a strange look on his face: "Your Majesty, if you send someone to tell Toyotomi Hideyoshi that you want to hold the soldiers in Kyushu hostage, Toyotomi Hideyoshi will most likely ask me to send troops to guard Kitakyushu and even Higo Province.

Southern Kyushu is the territory of the Shimazu clan. The Shimazu clan can probably still mobilize some troops, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi is unlikely to send anyone else to garrison it."

In this case, it doesn't seem difficult to take over the entire Kyushu Island.

Upon hearing this, Wanli nodded slowly and said, "If that's the case, you should send most of your troops to Kyushu Island to garrison there, and at the same time, mobilize all the able-bodied men you can from Buzen, Chikuzen, Hizen, and even Higo.

When Tokugawa Ieyasu goes to war with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, you will order Kobayakawa Takakage to lead the army to attack southern Kyushu and seize the Shimazu clan's territory."

In this way, wouldn't the entire Kyushu Island belong to our Maori clan? Wouldn't the Maori clan become the true overlord of the Western Kingdom?
This was my grandfather’s dream, but I never expected it to come true.

Unfortunately, all of these eventually belonged to the Ming Dynasty.

Mao Li Terumoto nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli nodded slightly, then stared at him and said, "If Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi were to fight each other, then Toyotomi Hideyoshi would definitely not pay us compensation.

When the time comes, I will use this as an excuse to send troops to capture Kyushu Island. You must order Kobayakawa Takakage to pretend to be defeated and quickly retreat to Honshu.

If he dares to resist, I will not show any mercy, and I will destroy you, the Maori clan, too. Do you understand?"

Sure enough, all of these eventually belonged to the Ming Dynasty.

Mao Li Terumoto sighed secretly, then nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, as long as the Ming Dynasty launches an attack, I will immediately order my uncle to lead the army to retreat and will absolutely not offer any resistance."

That's good.

Wanli nodded slowly and said, "After your troops retreat to Honshu, you can act according to the situation. If Tokugawa Ieyasu has the upper hand, then you should ignore both sides and let them fight.

If Toyotomi Hideyoshi has the upper hand, then you can pretend to send troops to threaten him and disperse Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces."

Could Toyotomi Hideyoshi defeat Tokugawa Ieyasu?

This guy is good at playing dirty tricks. In a head-on confrontation, he has a nine-tenths chance of not being able to defeat Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Upon hearing this, Mao Li Terumoto nodded repeatedly and said, "I understand."

Wanli thought for a moment and then instructed, "When you return to the Ten Princes' Palace, gather all your generals and tell them that this invasion of Korea is the result of a traitor's covert support. Write a list for me, then pack up and prepare to return to Japan."

Now I can finally go back.

Mao Li Terumoto nodded repeatedly and said, "Okay, I will gather them and make a list when I get back."

This guy just went back like that.

Wanli directly ordered a thousand naval centipede ships to bring Mori Terumoto and more than 40,000 of his soldiers back to Japan and send them to Nagoya.

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi heard the news, he was surprised and happy.

He is really short of manpower at the moment, very short of it. There are not even many able-bodied men left on Kyushu Island.

He even had to stay here with Tokugawa Ieyasu and Maeda Toshiie to prevent the Ming army from launching a surprise attack.

Now that Mori Terumoto and his 40,000 to 50,000 men were released, he could finally escape.

He even brought Tokugawa Ieyasu and Maeda Toshiie to the dock to welcome them personally.

Upon seeing this, Mori Terumoto hurriedly stepped forward with his generals, bowed and saluted, pretending to be as respectful as before.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi nodded slightly, then couldn't help but ask curiously: "Taiyuan, why did the Ming Dynasty let you go back first?"

He did not suspect that Mori Terumoto had rebelled and become a traitor to the Ming Dynasty.

The key point is that he wants his trusted generals and men to be released as well.

What's the secret here?

Upon hearing this, Tokugawa Ieyasu couldn't help but reveal a hint of curiosity.

Li Yuansheng took the entire list away, so why did it come back only from the Maori clan instead of the daimyo and generals on his list?

Maori Terumoto had naturally prepared a reason to fool people. He said without hesitation: "Your Highness, the Emperor of Ming has a bad habit. This guy actually asked us to learn Ming Mandarin and Ming etiquette before letting us go back.

I just happen to have a strong interest in Tang Dynasty calligraphy, and I have read quite a few books from the Tang Dynasty. I have been able to speak Ming Dynasty official language for a long time, so it is very easy for me to learn some etiquette.

As a result, the Ming emperor thought I was the best student, so he released me."

Oh, that's what happened.

This Xiao Xifei also mentioned it.

The Ming emperor imprisoned all the captured daimyo and generals in the Ten Princes' Palace, saying that they would only be released after they learned Ming official language and Ming etiquette.

This guy is really lucky. He already knows the official language of the Ming Dynasty, so he doesn't need to learn it.

Just as Toyotomi Hideyoshi was thinking about what Konishi had said, Konishi suddenly came over quickly, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor of Ming has sent a message: If we don't cede Kyushu Island, none of the captured Kyushu soldiers, not even the young and strong ones, will be released."

what?
When Toyotomi Hideyoshi heard this, he was stunned.

There is no way he would cede Kyushu Island!

But if he doesn’t cede Kyushu Island, the Ming emperor will not release the soldiers on Kyushu Island. What should he do?

The soldiers from Jiuzhou account for most of the more than 400,000 troops this time. He must find a way to trick them back.

The question is, who will guard Kyushu before he is tricked back?
He can't always lead his troops to guard here.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was stunned for a long time before he said solemnly, "Terumoto, Kitakyushu depends on you. Please dispatch more troops to defend Chikuzen, Hizen, Buzen, and Higo provinces first. Is that a problem?"

As expected, if you really have no other choice, you can only hand over Kitakyushu to me to guard.

Upon hearing this, Maori Terumoto pretended to hesitate for a moment before nodding with an embarrassed look on his face, "Okay, Your Highness, I will do my best to defend Kitakyushu."

Things in this world are sometimes so absurd and bizarre.

In history, when the Zhejiang Party was in power, the traitor Shen Weijing, who collaborated with the enemy and sold out his country, unexpectedly became the envoy for negotiations between the Ming Dynasty and Japan!
At this time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was unable to mobilize any troops due to the conspiracy by Wanli, so he actually handed over the gateway to Japan, Kitakyushu, to the traitor Mori Terumoto to guard!

(End of this chapter)