You have truly caused me great suffering!

August of the first year of Jianwu in the Great Jing Dynasty.

The city of Mingzhou was deserted as everyone flocked to it.

The imperial court transported hundreds of cartloads of silver, which were piled up like mountains.

Officials publicly counted and weighed the items.

Such a strange event naturally attracted countless onlookers.

After weighing for three days, they obtained one million taels of silver, which was then sealed and deposited into the government treasury.

The imperial court then issued an edict to issue the "Jinghuang Tongbao Certificates," with an initial issuance of 200 million strings of cash, corresponding to a reserve of 200 million taels of silver.

Denominations: 1 guan, 5 guan, 10 guan.

The credibility of the Great Song Treasure Notes had long since collapsed, but the credibility of the Great Jing Emperor, the endorsement of the military merit notes issued by the caravans, and the silver sealed up by the entire city were all still there.

This attracted the interest of many businessmen.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Shao ordered a stele to be erected at the Mingzhou harbor, with an inscription of only twelve simple characters:

Silver capital
The coupons are redeemable with silver.
Forgers
The inscription on this stele is unmistakably signed by the current emperor, which is tantamount to a promise from the Son of Heaven.

The banknotes are printed on Sichuan paper (paper made from mulberry bark) with added mulberry bark fibers, making them tough and resistant to counterfeiting.
Multi-color printing (red, blue, and black); stamped with the red seal of "Baoquan General Bureau" and the official seal of the supervisor; gold thread patterns are woven into the paper.

Each document is numbered, registered, and verified periodically.

Things were progressing much more smoothly than Chen Shao had imagined.

Because he himself was unaware of just how high his prestige as Emperor Jing was among the common people.

After the fleet sailed to Southeast Asia, he was regarded as a god by the merchants of Jiangnan.

The two million strings of tickets were quickly redeemed.

The tourist passes for Guangzhou and Quanzhou were all redeemed as soon as they were issued.

Many wealthy and powerful people even paid high prices to acquire these convenient tickets.

After all, as long as the credit is good enough, the savings on shipping costs and the risk of being robbed on the way make it all worthwhile, even if it means spending a little more money.

Despite this, Chen Shao did not rush to print more silver, but insisted on transporting back enough silver first.

This made the situation in Japan even more urgent.

In the house by Xuanwu Lake in Jinling, a gentle autumn breeze was blowing. Although it was already a bit chilly, both of them were sweating profusely.

Xiao Ting was only wearing a light blue undergarment, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes were filled with a bright and heroic spirit, as if she were thinking about something good.

Chen Shao kicked her, and Xiao Ting immediately used her fair and smooth feet to hook him. The two looked at each other and then became entangled again.

They were all very excited, and their way of celebrating was very much in the financial world.

After a while, the two of them were thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Chen Shao put on a coat and said, "That's good. All we have to do now is transport all that damned silver to Dajing!"

Feeling a bit cold, Madam Xiao quickly shrank under the covers, covering her snow-white body completely, and said in a soft, coquettish voice, "Let's send the troops!"

Chen Shao slapped the quilt in annoyance, "I am a man of one word—benevolence! I do not like to fight, and I have always preferred to win people over with virtue."

Xiao Ting pursed her lips, not daring to argue back.

She was actually very resentful. "You're the one who beats people up everywhere, but I always have to put up with it."

Xiao Ting is a business genius, but she doesn't understand politics very well. War is not a decision that can be made on a whim.

Some battles are unavoidable; you can't avoid fighting them!

Some battles are fought only after careful consideration and when the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Some battles, even before they've begun, are clearly quagmires to the experts, and even if you win, there will be endless troubles.

At this point, resorting to force is not an option.

Chen Shao, who won people over with virtue, didn't even wait until the next day. He sat on the edge of the bed with a smile and said to Xiao Ting, "I will immediately arrange for people to negotiate with the Ping family for the last time. If they still don't submit, I will replace them."

"Have the caravan prepare to set off for Japan immediately to begin searching for silver mines." Although there are silver mines all over Honko Island, Chen Shao only knew of the Iwami Silver Mine and specifically instructed, "Especially the Iwami Country in the San'in Road."

At its peak, Iwami Ginzan's annual production accounted for one-third of the global total.

And they've been digging for over four hundred years.

Xiao Ting looked at him suspiciously. Could this man really be prescient? Could he really be a dragon? The chosen one of heaven?
After all, he certainly hadn't been to Japan.

Considering his various unusual behaviors, Xiao Ting strongly suspected that this person was truly a dragon descended to earth.

Her eyes darted around, and she thought to herself, "Let's go there and try it out first. We'll see what happens if we actually dig it out!"
-
Relations between Japan and Ōkage were tense, especially after Toba replied to the letter.

After receiving the reply and feeling relieved, Emperor Toba remembered to send someone to investigate the strength of the Great Kage Kingdom.

You won't know the result until you check.
After centuries of decline, the Central Plains have risen again.

The territory has now been restored to the size of the Tang Dynasty, and the Jing army can truly be described as invincible.

At this time, nearly 30,000 troops were amassed in the port of Goryeo.
Bird Feather was quite frightened.

However, instead of receiving news of Jing's army descending from the sky and launching a massive attack, he received an envoy from the Great Jing.

When the eight hundred monks arrived, they not only brought gifts to Toba and other nobles, but also went to various places to spread and promote Buddhism.

Excited, Toba personally received the envoy from the Great Jing Dynasty.

Like everyone else, he was amazed by Zhao Ji's extraordinary appearance upon first meeting him.

I only felt that this person's appearance, speech, and demeanor were all extraordinary, and I thought he was a god.
Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) then displayed his calligraphy and painting skills, which earned him the title of deity.

Toba hosted him for several days in a row, while the monks had already begun their travels.

On this day, Toba hosted a banquet for the envoys of Jing Kingdom, and both sides took their seats.

Watching the court music and dance of Japan, Zhao Ji shook his head repeatedly.

When someone like him expressed his dissatisfaction, the people of Japan were not angry; on the contrary, they felt somewhat ashamed.

This effect is something Chen Shao himself couldn't achieve.

Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) once deceived Zhao Liangsi and Guo Yaoshi with his so-called "magnanimity," making them believe that he was some kind of divine emperor.

The Japanese, who lived in isolation, had never seen such people in their entire lives.

Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) then offered some pointers on their so-called "refined music."

It should be noted that just a few years earlier, Emperor Huizong of Song had established the "Dashengfu" in the Song Dynasty to reform music.

He truly understands.
The audience was immediately captivated by the story.

Footsteps sounded outside, and someone came in, knelt down and crawled to Toba's side, whispering a few words in his ear.

Bird Feather frowned immediately.

It turned out that a monk from Enryaku-ji Temple had come to advise him not to allow the monks of Daikei to travel freely.

These monks not only preach the Dharma, but wherever they go, they draw and paint, and they even dig around with shovels and other tools.

Not like a good guy.

The monks of Enryaku-ji Temple were saying they were giving advice, but in reality they were issuing orders. Although they were a temple, they were different from those in the Central Plains.

Yanlikuji Temple had many monk soldiers who frequently used "forced lawsuits" to coerce the imperial court and even went to the capital with swords.

Toba's father's catchphrase was, "The waters of the Kamo River, the suguro tournament, and the mountain monks (soldier monks of Mount Hiei) are the three things that are unsatisfactory in the world."

These monks have already traumatized him.

Emperor Huizong noticed his unusual behavior, but he didn't care at all. He remained seated with his eyes closed, patting his knees, immersed in the music.

Upon seeing this, Toba couldn't help but admire him even more. In truth, as long as there was no war, Zhao Ji was invincible. He had been suppressed to the extreme within the country, and now he was out enjoying himself to the fullest.

The women and maids around Toba looked at him with eyes that seemed to want to devour him.

In fact, it wasn't just the monks of Enryakuji Temple; many local gentry families also noticed that something was wrong with Monk Jing.

Foreign monks are naturally better at chanting scriptures, especially since these monks have undergone systematic training at monastic academies.

He was virtually invincible in debates, had an overwhelming affinity for the people, distributed food wherever he went, promoted Buddhism, and attracted the worship of Buddhist believers.

Moreover, he is physically strong, energetic, and possesses exceptional martial virtue.

Upon landing, they immediately formed teams of several dozen people, with horses provided by caravans, and began searching for minerals in various places.

Besides scriptures, he also carried armor, a broadsword, explosives, a crossbow, and flammable oil.

By this time, several local temples had been burned to ashes.

These compassionate monks immediately began performing rituals to help the deceased.

This service, which combines physical and Buddhist rituals for the deceased, has caused great dissatisfaction and panic among local monks.

They had initially thought that a master like Jianzhen had arrived, but now they realized that a group of demon lords had come.
-
Hyogozu, a port.

The ten-year-old Taira no Kiyomori looked extremely unwell.

He was surrounded by the Ping family's trusted men, who fawned over him at the port.

Many members of the Taira clan served as samurai in the north, acting as close guards to the emperor, demonstrating the high level of trust they enjoyed.

On their own territory, the Taira clan also trained a large number of samurai.

The Taira clan's navy primarily consisted of fast, small boats, serving both trade protection and piracy functions. They were known as the "Taira pirates" and were essentially early private naval forces.

This was originally an important force for them, but it was wiped out by the Great Jing Navy a few days ago at sea.

But they can't say it yet. You can't exactly say, "Those pirates are my subordinates, can you?"
As the giant ship approached the shore, Taira no Kiyomori, like everyone else, looked up in astonishment.

As Chen Shao said, "good-looking" is itself a kind of power.

When such a ship docks, it gives people a sense of invincibility, and you would feel guilty if you tried to destroy it.

As the deck was lowered, teams of people lined up and disembarked.

The leading general was fully armored and eight feet tall.

He glanced around and said with some dissatisfaction, "Why did they send a child!"

Taira no Kiyomori was extremely embarrassed and annoyed, but he did not retaliate.

He also knew that these people were not to be trifled with, and that the Ping family had already boarded the ship, so they would have to rely on them from now on.

He had no right to object to the path his own father had chosen for the family.

"Greetings, General Guo."

Guo Hao nodded when he heard that the "child" spoke Mandarin quite well, and said, "The port here still needs to be built, and it can't hold many troops at all."

"Oh, by the way, we ran into some pirates on the way, and only found out they were your men after we killed them. Be more careful in the future and don't make the same mistake again. Make sure you know in advance which of your men are yours."

Taira nods without saying a word.

Wu Qian, who was standing next to Guo Hao, was originally a river pirate from the Yellow River. He nodded and said, "At least sixty more ships are coming. I think we need to build three or five more ports like this."

"Are all ships this big?" Taira no Kiyomori asked.

Guo Hao and Wu Qian laughed heartily, "Where are we going to build sixty ships like this? But it's not exactly small."

Just as they were speaking, the men and horses on the ship had already landed.

Taira no Kiyomori stared wide-eyed at the cavalrymen lined up on the beach.

He finally understood why his father insisted on forming an alliance with Da Jing after returning home.
-
Kyoto.

Inside Emperor Toba's palace.

Heiji Tadashi touched the ground with his forehead and knelt down.

He was appointed as a junior lieutenant of the Left Guard at the age of 13 by virtue of his family's influence, and was in charge of the inspection of illegal activities to maintain the security of Kyoto for a long time.

After returning from his mission to the Jing Kingdom, he remained in Kyoto.

Beside him, Fujiwara no Tadashi was cursing angrily.

Emperor Toba also looked at him coldly.

This was simply because a large number of Jing Kingdom soldiers had appeared on his territory.

No matter how others scolded him, Taira no Tadamori remained silent, only repeatedly apologizing.

Toba hated him intensely when she saw him like this.

He felt betrayed because he actually trusted Taira no Tadamori very much.

His head was bowed low, covered in sweat; he himself didn't know if he would survive.

His decision to stay in Kyoto this time, instead of returning immediately after forming an alliance with Ōkage, was a well-considered one.

Because he didn't want to completely break ties with the Emperor Emeritus.

The imperial court already has powerful temples that threaten the imperial power with their monks and soldiers, and the Fujiwara clan that threatens the imperial power with the regent. Why can't the Taira clan also get involved with foreign aid?

Once I return to Taira's territory from Kyoto, it means that Kyoto has tacitly accepted my alliance with Kage.

The kneeling bird finally understood that Jing Kingdom hadn't been inactive; rather, it was that it hadn't realized their attack.

This was completely different from the retaliation he had imagined, with a massive army pressing in.

It seems I underestimated the emperor of Jing.

His retaliation wasn't violent, but it seemed all the more dangerous.

“In any case, we should fight a battle first, right?” Toba said, then looked at Fujiwara no Tadashi.

The latter nodded slightly.

This was a rare moment of consensus between Regent Fujiwara no Tadashi and Emperor Emeritus Toba. Taira no Tadamori, who was kneeling on the ground, was not afraid at all, but instead breathed a sigh of relief.

let's hit!

After I beat you, you'll know how powerful I am. Then I'll see if you still dare not let me go.

As someone who witnessed the military parade in Bianjing, he did not believe that the Japanese could defeat those troops.

As for the hardships I endured before that, they were all insignificant.

The Taira clan was not a major noble family, and the family's rise to power required bloodshed and sacrifice.

He was both happy and afraid of being chosen by Jing Chao.

The good news is that the Taira clan will gain an unprecedentedly powerful ally; the bad news is that this ally will become too powerful.

He didn't know if he would be able to get rid of it in the future, but Jing Chao didn't give him a choice.

If the Taira clan doesn't agree, they will definitely choose someone else, and the Taira clan's situation will only be worse.

In fact, Taira no Tadamori still had some feelings for both Emperor Toba and the elderly and unconscious Emperor Shirakawa.

After all, it was they who promoted him.

However, having witnessed the vast disparity in strength between the two sides, he felt despair whenever he thought of Jingchao.

That was an enemy that could never be defeated, no matter what.

If given the chance to fight to the death, Taira no Tadamori would be willing to fight to the death for the Imperial Family. (End of Chapter)