You have truly caused me great suffering!

Fujiwara no Tadashi sat inside the wooden house.

Opposite him, Toba sat upright.

He no longer drinks heavily or indulges in excessive sexual activity. His face is still somewhat ashen, and it will take time for his energy and spirit to recover.

People who frequently indulge in sexual activity know that pleasure is fleeting, but recovery can take two or three days.

Fujiwara no Tadashi did not offer any advice this time, which may have been the most united the Regent and the Emperor had ever been.

Although Fujiwara no Tadashi had just killed a geisha in Toba's arms not long ago.

But she's dead, so be it; after all, she was just a courtesan.

Nobody really cares about her.

The audacity of this act lies in the fact that it was committed in Toba's arms, which is already an act of insubordination.

After the events in Tsukushi Province, whether Fujiwara no Tadashi admitted it or not, even in his own heart, the intimidation posed by the imperial lineage was diminished.

Fujiwara no Tadashi said in a low voice, "The matter is already very clear. From the moment Ogami's ships docked, Japan has never been at peace!"

"They claim to be here for trade and to make friends, but in reality, they are using various means and under various pretexts to sow chaos in Japan."

Toba nodded. He also hated Emperor Jing, Chen Shao, to the extreme at this moment, but there was nothing he could do.

The current strength of the Great Jing is so overwhelming that there is absolutely no chance of resistance or victory.

If they had sent a large army to attack from the beginning, we could have relied on the terrain of Japan to keep them bogged down in a protracted war.

But by this time, they had already successfully divided Japan.

With Iwami and Tsukushi becoming independent, the imperial court was powerless to do anything about it, and the frontline battles resulted in another major defeat.

Not to mention the riots by displaced people.

If we were to engage in a chaotic battle with them now, Jingjun would be surrounded and attacked by the mob without Jingjun even having to lift a finger.

However, if they do not resist, it will not be long before Japan is destroyed, and they will die without a burial place, or become a small country trapped near Kyoto like other independent forces.

This is clearly not what either of them wanted to see.

In fact, the alliance between these two is exactly what Chen Shaogang was most worried about.

If the two of them had joined forces back then, it would have been really difficult to deal with them.

However, by then, it was already too late. It was like the baby had died and the mother was already dead; even if the two of them had only an intention to unite, and were truly inseparable and cooperative, it wouldn't make a difference.

Heaven has already given you a volcanic eruption, which is already quite a favor, but Jing Jun then achieved a record even more frightening than a volcanic eruption.

Human strength surpasses the might of heaven; what explosive combat power this is! There is absolutely no suspense on the battlefield.

Toba raised his head slightly, closed his eyes, and recalled a year ago when he was still very confident in refusing to submit to the Great Kage, and even sent a letter to the government stating that Japan had never bowed down to the Central Plains.

At this moment, the troops of Da Jing were already at his throat. He clenched his fist and said, "Although Da Jing has clearly invaded, we must also see one fact clearly: Da Jing's actions have not aroused the hostility of the entire East Japan. The Jing army has not massacred, and has even been very restrained, keeping its soldiers in the barracks and providing relief to refugees."

"If everyone doesn't see him as an enemy, they won't join me in fighting him. With our current strength, we're simply not enough."

Fujiwara Tadashi sighed. Toba was right; it was exactly what he had thought.

Fujiwara no Tadashi detested stupid people; his son had just been killed by him a few days ago because of his stupidity.

"I foresee that the Ping clan will soon establish themselves as independent. Your Majesty, do not forget that it was the Ping clan that brought Jingren here."

The Taira clan was indeed one of the earliest Japanese forces to secretly collude with the Great Jing Dynasty. Moreover, their territory had many good ports, and as early as the Song Dynasty, the Taira clan frequently traded with Song merchants, thus accumulating a considerable amount of wealth.

Bingjindu was also the earliest port where Jingjun was stationed.

After Tsukushi and Iwami provinces became independent, it's impossible that the Taira clan didn't react. The reason they haven't rebelled yet is probably because they are negotiating with the Kageto.

After all, the Taira clan is not like the Iwami clan; they have considerable power and naturally hope to gain more benefits.

"No strategy will work now; the only way to turn the tide is to defeat the enemy on the battlefield. Attacking the Jing army would be tantamount to suicide, so the only ones we can fight are the mobs."

With the example of Tsukushi Province before us, if we rashly go there and encounter the Kage army attacking again, the last vestige of the Emperor's lineage will be completely destroyed.

Only the mob had no fixed territory, and theoretically they should be relatively easier to defeat.

The two nodded together, knowing that this was the only way.

If Japan loses the fight against the mob, then no one can save Japan.

We could only watch helplessly as it disintegrated, becoming a series of weak nations, constantly warring and attacking each other, with no chance of ever rising again.

In fact, Chen Shao overestimated them. He still felt that they would definitely interfere with Ishimi's establishment of the country, and even expected that they would send troops to quell the rebellion.

To this end, he even prepared to wage a war near Iwami Province to completely destroy Toba's confidence.

Little did they know that these two had never intended to interfere in Iwami Province from the beginning. It was simply too remote; even marching there would be a major problem.

Chen Shao had never been to Japan; his impression of the island nation was still based on its appearance in later generations.

Little did they know that at that time, the roads in Japan were all impassable mountain paths.

To put it bluntly, it was just a loose, barbaric alliance with a mere sovereign ruler.

Of course, if Chen Shao were to actually take a trip to Japan at that time, he would probably drool with envy.

Although the area is barren, it is rich in timber, gold, silver, and sulfur; all resources are of high quality.

There is also the hardworking and dedicated people, like oxen and horses.

In fact, there were many artisans on the island at this time, especially swordsmiths (Bizen and Yamashiro schools), lacquerware craftsmen (Echizen lacquerware), and weavers (Hakata weaving). This was because the noble lords were unreasonable and had extremely high demands, which forced them to become highly skilled.
-
Inside the Funing Hall in the Imperial City of Beijing, the civil and military officials and nobles of the Great Jing Dynasty were also studying Japan.

Since troops have been dispatched, this is a matter of national importance and requires careful consideration.

Even when a lion is hunting a rabbit, one must be careful, because once troops are deployed, there are no small matters.

War is a matter of vital importance to the state.

For the first time ever, the civil officials did not object to opening up new battlefields, something that would have been impossible in the previous dynasty.

The reason for this change is that the imperial court is now so wealthy that they don't need to put in the effort to raise military funds.

First and foremost, they avoided taking responsibility.
Secondly, most of the civil officials now have businesses in commerce. By fully opening up Japan and gaining access to a vast market, they can all reap the benefits.

The Ministry of War formulated a comprehensive strategy to deal with a possible counterattack from Japan. On the large table in the middle was a large map, drawn by Chen Shao himself, which he had specially commissioned to be supplemented and polished by the monks who had been to Japan, and to fill in any gaps.

The locations suitable for docking and capable of serving as deep-water ports have all been marked.

It is no exaggeration to say that Okage and his men now have a better understanding of the terrain of Japan than Toba and his men.

Having been isolated on the island for too long, it was like sitting in a well and looking at the sky. Once the country's doors were opened, it simply couldn't keep up with the pace of the Jing Kingdom.

This applies to all forces in the world.

Even a powerful nation like the Central Plains remained backward and ignorant after being enslaved and blockaded by the Manchus for over a century.

Although the Song Dynasty's record in foreign wars has been somewhat poor in recent years, it has indeed been actively engaging with the outside world, and the fighting in the Northwest has been particularly intense.

Countries that have external enemies and are also open are usually not too bad; they have a bottom line because they need to ensure their own survival.

So, while the Song Dynasty may seem weak, the Northern Song Dynasty was actually destroyed because there were too many extraordinary people involved. Not only did they open the city gates and engage in open battle, but Emperor Qinzong also went off to negotiate with others.

Even so, Zhao Gou was able to maintain his footing after fleeing to Jiangnan. The system and structure remained intact. Although the Jingkang Incident was humiliating and tragic, the situation was actually much better than at the end of the Ming Dynasty.

Island nations are different. They can build whatever they want behind closed doors. Outside is the vast ocean, and inside is a group of people who have been brainwashed and misled by Buddhist temples to the point that they can be bullied at will.

In this situation, their lower limit is ridiculously low.

Upon returning from Goryeo, Li Yanqi was facing so many high-ranking officials for the first time, all of whom were of the highest rank in the court.
Not to mention him, even his direct superior, Qu Duan, would have to sit at the very bottom.

Therefore, he was very nervous and excited. After clearing his throat, he said to the ministers sitting around him, "According to our intelligence, the mountain roads in Izumo are narrow and full of streams and valleys, and floods are common during the rainy season. If we travel through here, we must be careful of ambushes. However, their military strength is very weak, and their combat power is only 20 points."

This is more than double the amount of ten. This rhetoric also reveals the overseas military's disregard for the Japanese forces.

They were people who had fought their way up from the Song-Jin battlefields, and they valued strength the most. They had a deep-seated contempt for the Japanese army.

"Commander Qu plans to deploy both land and naval forces for the attack. There are two six-masted treasure ships to transport troops, as well as firearms and weapons. There are also three pontoon warships equipped with waterwheels, and ten fast boats and scout boats to prevent harassment tactics by the Japanese at sea."

After conquering Izumo Province, we plan to forcibly conscript local Japanese laborers to work with Goryeo laborers in constructing fortresses as a long-term solution. Officials from the Ministry of Works' Construction Department will accompany the army to oversee this matter. A Goryeo garrison commander will also accompany the army to gather intelligence on the situation in the Japanese islands and report back to the court.

Japan had never suffered a large-scale invasion before, and the reasons for this can be summarized as follows:
Isolated overseas, far away and difficult to conquer, and with no profit to be made.

They have now discovered that the region possesses vast gold and silver mines, and its naval transport capabilities are excellent, with a large number of troops stationed in Goryeo.

You can even finish the fight and then come back.

Chen Shao chuckled and said, "It's right to make thorough preparations. Last time, when Tsukushi Kingdom declared independence, they sent a large army to attack. This time, if Iwami Kingdom is able to establish itself smoothly, then our arrangements will probably be unnecessary."

Li Yanqi had already spoken with His Majesty beforehand, and Chen Shao had specially taught him a set of rhetoric to prevent domestic ministers from opposing the use of force.

Upon hearing His Majesty's message, Li Yanqi quickly said, "Your Majesty, there is currently a riot in Japan. If Japan does not send troops to attack Iwami Province, we can also use the pretext of protecting Jing Shang from riots to send troops to Izumo Province to establish a camp."

“We can provoke them a little. If the Japanese dare to fight back, we can take the opportunity to slaughter Izumo and then choose a weaker country to support and establish a new one.”

Chen Shao frowned. "Why did you blurt out what I told you in private?"

Fortunately, the other ministers cooperated and pretended not to hear. Only Li Yanqi was puzzled. What was wrong with His Majesty and the others?
This was all agreed upon.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat awkward, Chen Shao finally spoke: "The people of Japan have suffered greatly. For so many years, they have been far from the Central Plains, exploited like dogs and sheep by those powerful figures. This time, the Great Jing is sending troops not only for the sake of justice but also for the sake of righteousness."

"I think Qu Duan's use of troops this time is 'swift and decisive, yet compassionate,' which is excellent."

The officials echoed his sentiments, including orthodox scholars like Li Tangchen and Zhang Xiaochun, who all agreed without objection.

Korea and Japan, these two small countries, cannot compare with Central Asia and Europe in terms of land area alone.

But the potential of these two places is really huge. First of all, they are more or less influenced by the culture of the Central Plains.

Goods from the Central Plains were better suited to the local soil, so it was essentially dumping.

Moreover, they don't produce much grain; they have many mountains and little arable land, so grain can be used to control the situation.

Both of these territories can indeed be used to control food supplies. However, Goryeo is not Goguryeo and does not have the stable agricultural industry and fertile land of Liaodong.

Now, Chen Shao has used his methods to deal a fatal blow to the domestic agriculture caused by the large grain merchants of Jingzhou.

They hardly farm anymore; they're mostly raising horses, weaving cloth, and making paper and ink.
A people who have territory and know how to farm are a greater threat than a nomadic people.

Because nomadic peoples rise and fall quickly, they cannot sustain themselves for hundreds of years;

Agricultural states, with their own civilizations, expand steadily. Once they lose control, it takes years to regain it, just like Jiaozhi in later times.

Later history proved that even the traditionally submissive Goryeo had always wanted to expand into the Liaodong region. It wasn't until the Ming Dynasty, after being thoroughly thwarted by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, that the Joseon Dynasty of Korea realized it could not compete with the Central Plains dynasties.

Now Chen Shao has gone even further than Zhu Yuanzhang, and he even has a legitimate reason: I'll let you open a trade market and live a good life with me. Is that right?
I helped you quell Li Ziqian's rebellion and stationed troops there, all for your own good. You have to admit that.

Japan was luckier than Korea, as it was separated by the ocean, and the Central Plains dynasties were never able to control it.

This region is prone to natural disasters and has many mountains. Once they become powerful, they will definitely think about expansion.

During the Tang Dynasty, Japan was still a primitive tribal alliance, yet it wanted to invade Silla.

The Great Jing Dynasty is now incredibly powerful, and there are no deadly enemies outside. The opportunity is just right. Chen Shao knows that his chance to completely eliminate this hidden danger has already arrived.

If we don't kill it this time, our descendants might still be annoyed by it in the future.

Toba and Fujiwara thought that by not provoking Okage and carefully avoiding his sharp edge, they could avoid a fatal blow.

In fact, they have been closed off from the world for too long and can't keep up with the pace of the game.

As Zhao Da had said long ago, "How can I allow others to snore beside my bed?" Emperor Jing was clearly more aggressive than Emperor Taizu of Song, as evidenced by his association with Jiaozhi (Vietnam).

In the past, it was fine that we were not neighbors, but now the merchant ships of Dajing sail everywhere, and the vast sea is as flat as land.

We're practically neighbors, separated only by a narrow strip of water. How could I not take care of you?

Li Yanqi was ordered to come and report first, and he was extremely pleased to see that no one in the court objected.

For them, the greatest fear is that the military merits they have earned will slip away.

The soldiers were happy to fight and were excited about every battle. Although the military achievements were not as great as when they destroyed the Jin dynasty, it was still better than not fighting at all.

As for the island nation of Japan, the rugged roads, dense forests, and numerous mountains and streams are not major problems.

Jing Jun forged roads through mountains and built bridges over rivers, overcoming all difficulties to fight the war. (End of Chapter)