There is no such thing as the Kangxi and Qianlong eras

Chapter 487 Negotiation
Oshima Kakeru.

Just a few days ago, the Han army captured Amami Oshima and slaughtered all the Satsuma Domain samurai on the island. Bloodstains that had not been cleaned up remained in various corners of the kaya.

Matsui Okawa, a veteran retainer who came to negotiate on behalf of the Satsuma Domain on the orders of his lord Shimazu Shigehiro, showed no dissatisfaction or fear whatsoever.

Upon entering the inner room of the temporary house, Matsui Taikawa bowed to Xu Mingyu, who was sitting upright.

Xu Mingyu couldn't help but get up from the stool. His impression of these Japanese people was even stranger. They were supposed to be here for wartime negotiations, but they were quite particular about etiquette.

This is actually quite normal. The Japanese have a long tradition of emphasizing etiquette, and its essence is not really about etiquette, but rather about Japan's unique and closed geographical environment.

Japan is an island nation, and in the early days when navigation technology was underdeveloped, it was almost a primitive society far removed from civilization.

Thus, when they come into contact with civilized society on the mainland, they will naturally feel inferior. In order to emphasize that they are in the same civilized world as the mainland, they will naturally create a bunch of messy etiquette.

For example, tea ceremony and flower arrangement are just about drinking tea and growing flowers, but they have created a lot of complicated etiquette. Tea and flowers have become mere embellishments to the etiquette.

The British across the ocean are similar; their highly regarded afternoon tea culture is essentially an emphasis on the fact that they are not barbarians from overseas, and that Britain also has its own etiquette and civilization.

Xu Mingyu also stood up to return the greeting, which was a way of showing respect for the negotiations, and the two sides immediately sat down to begin the talks.

After Matsui Taikawa sat down, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Japan is not yet in an era where everyone sits on stools. Nobles are generally not used to sitting on stools, and the stools here are rather high. He is short, and when he sits on the stool and is compared to Xu Mingyu, he looks like a little old man, which makes him appear less imposing.

The more Matsui Taikawa tried to project an imposing aura, the more he resembled a weakling with a fierce exterior but a cowardly exterior.

Although they were indeed the weaker party, the Satsuma Domain lost more than half of its naval forces in the Battle of Kasari Bay, and even the head of the clan, Shimazu Nariaki, was captured alive.

Matsui Taikawa believes that these actions are negotiation tactics employed by the Han Kingdom. From the bloodstains on the house to the stools on the ground, they are all aimed at diminishing the prestige of the Satsuma Domain.

It seems that today's negotiations have been somewhat disadvantageous for the Satsuma Domain!
Matsui Taikawa was experienced and knew that for the Satsuma Domain to take the initiative to negotiate in this situation was already a sign of weakness. Therefore, there was no need for further pleasantries; he went straight to the point: "Your Excellency, I am Matsui Taikawa, appointed by His Excellency Kazusa no Kami to be fully responsible for negotiating with Your Excellency!"

After listening to the translator's retelling, Xu Mingyu didn't ask what the rank of the governor was. He simply sat up straight and said, "I am Xu Mingyu, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial of the Great Han Dynasty. Since the Satsuma Domain has come, please convey my message to your shogunate. On behalf of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty, I wish to meet with your shogun!"

The translator relayed Xu Mingyu's words to Matsui Taikawa.

After hearing this, Matsui Taikawa first found Xu Mingyu's name difficult to pronounce, and then he was surprised to learn that the other party actually wanted to meet the Shogun.

Matsui Taikawa asked in surprise, "Your Excellency the Angel is actually going to the Shogunate?"

"I was supposed to go after dealing with Ryukyu, but why did your Satsuma Domain have to go looking for trouble!"

Xu Mingyu nodded, without explaining further: "Alright, let's get back to the main topic. First, let's talk about the issue of your Satsuma Domain. You should have already read the letter I sent you. Give me a definite answer on whether you can agree or not. I don't have time to waste arguing with you."

Matsui Taikawa did not answer immediately upon hearing this, but instead thought of the instructions his lord had given him before he set off.

Specifically, there are four points:
First, the Amami Islands could be given to the Han Kingdom, and even the samurai killed on the islands could be exempted from prosecution by the Satsuma Domain.

Secondly, the Satsuma Domain refused to pay reparations to the Han Kingdom for the war, and the Han Kingdom also demanded the return of the captured warships to the Satsuma Domain.

Third, the Han Kingdom must allow the Satsuma Domain to continue doing business in Ryukyu, and all trade exchanges must continue as before.

Fourth, the Han state must release their chief minister, Shimazu Nariaki.

The above four points are the bottom line that Shimazu Shigehiro can agree to. Beyond these bottom lines, Matsui Taikawa can negotiate however he wants.

Matsui Taikawa knew he couldn't gain any advantage in the negotiations; what he couldn't get on the battlefield, he was unlikely to get at the negotiating table either. So he simply laid out his lord's four bottom lines. Xu Mingyu, after hearing their conditions, was somewhat bewildered. Were these Japanese out of their minds?
Points one and four are barely acceptable, but what are points two and three even talking about?
If you're not even willing to pay war reparations, what the hell are you negotiating for? You've already lost the war and you still don't want to pay compensation. Are you betting that the Han army won't march on Kagoshima or something?
Moreover, not only were they unwilling to pay reparations, but they also wanted to return the captured warships to the Satsuma Domain without compensation, treating the Han army like suckers.

The third condition is that the Satsuma Domain be allowed to continue doing business in Ryukyu. This condition can certainly be agreed to, but what are the conditions?
You've come here to negotiate without offering any conditions?
Even points one and four are problematic in practice. Xu Mingyu did intend to release Shimazu Kiyoshi, but this was to be used as a political bargaining chip, and releasing him would definitely come at a considerable cost.

The first point seems to make sense, but who the hell taught you this tone? Why aren't you investigating? Shouldn't this be the kind of line the Han army should be saying?

The four bottom lines almost made Xu Mingyu laugh.

Xu Mingyu had no time for jokes with Matsui Taikawa and asked directly, "Is this the attitude of your Satsuma Domain? You won't pay reparations, and you want us to return your ships and that useless manure-making machine, Shimazu Nariaki."

Matsui Taikawa barely understood the implication of Xu Mingyu's words. Although somewhat helpless, he still said firmly, "These are the conditions that Lord Kazusa no Mamoru can accept. Otherwise, there's no point in discussing it."

"Then let's not talk about it!"

Xu Mingyu got up and left without looking back, adding before he left: "Three days later, the army of my Great Han will land on your Kagoshima. Without the navy, how will the Satsuma Domain resist the might of my Great Han?"

"I am very much looking forward to it!"

The last sentence was said with a smile.

Threat, naked threat!
If the Satsuma Domain retainers who had not participated in the Battle of Kasari Bay had come, they might have simply regarded it as a provocation and then run back to inform Shimazu Shigehiro, requesting that troops be sent again to fight the Han army.

But Matsui Taikawa had experienced the naval battle that day. The powerful artillery and warships of the Han army left a very deep impression on him, almost making him think that he was facing the Dutch fleet, or even a strengthened version of the Dutch fleet.

Unlike most Japanese nobles, Shimazu Shigehiro, the de facto ruler of the Satsuma Domain, enjoyed luxury but also highly valued Western Rangaku (Dutch studies).

In order to promote Rangaku (Dutch studies), he also spent a lot of money in the Satsuma Domain to build many Rangaku schools and acquire a lot of books and equipment related to Rangaku.

Because these things were too expensive, the Satsuma Domain's finances were burdened with mountains of debt by Shimazu Shigehiro. Even when trying to borrow money from other daimyo lords, they felt that Shimazu Shigehiro's work on Rangaku (Dutch studies) was not profitable, so they were unwilling to lend money to the Satsuma Domain.

Shimazu Shigeo was also shameless. In order to maintain his beloved Rangaku (Dutch studies) activities, he simply went to borrow money from street merchants at exorbitant interest rates.

This kind of lending behavior was very unpopular in the Japanese aristocratic samurai system. Even down-on-their-luck ronin rarely borrowed money from street vendors.

Shimazu Shigehiro is still alive and holds real power in the Satsuma Domain, but many of his retainers and samurai are privately dissatisfied with his practice of borrowing money from merchants, believing him to be a foolish and incompetent ruler.

However, Shimazu Shigeo's shameless personality gave Matsui Taikawa more room to maneuver.

Instead of storming off, he immediately stood up and asked Xu Mingyu to stay.

Xu Mingyu asked with a smile, "Is there anything else?"

Matsui Taikawa said, "Please, Your Excellency, explain what the Han Kingdom truly desires."

Xu Mingyu suppressed his smile and said seriously, "First, the Amami Islands are the eight northeastern islands of Ryukyu. Our Han Dynasty sent troops to recover them for Ryukyu, which is to restore order to the country."

Secondly, our Han army has incurred considerable expenses in this war. The Satsuma Domain must bear the military expenses and provisions for this war, and will also have to pay an additional sum of money and provisions.

Third, your clan head, Shimazu Nariaki, can be returned to you, but the Satsuma Domain must pay for his redemption.

Fourth, upon fulfilling the above three conditions, the Satsuma Domain may continue to participate in maritime trade in Ryukyu. His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty will grant your Satsuma Domain an additional trade license, allowing you to participate in Ryukyu maritime trade.

(End of this chapter)