Di Ming

Chapter 58 Join forces
"Eh, thanks to Chichisama (Father), he chose Prince Hideyoshi."

Matsuura Tadanobu opened his folding fan, touched his chonmage hairstyle, and revealed an undisguised joy.

"Beting on Osaka Castle in advance to serve the Kanpaku is truly a brilliant move by the Matsuura family."

"So... now that the Shimazu clan is finished, the Matsuura clan will surely gain Hideyoshi's trust. I just wonder how much rice will that ruler bestow upon my family?"

Matsuura Tadanobu stood up, propped himself up on a stool, and paced back and forth in the room, the sound of his wooden clogs like drumbeats.

"Chichisama must be leading his troops north now to assist Prince Hideyoshi in conquering Kyushu."

"Then I should hurry back to China, so I can catch the right opportunity."

"Hey? While the Regent is still in Kyushu and hasn't returned to Osaka Castle, why not select a few beautiful young women from the Ming Dynasty and bring them back to present to Japan's new master?"

"Upon seeing the beautiful Ming Dynasty girl with bound feet, I'm sure His Excellency Kanpaku will see my feelings."

As Matsuura Tadanobu thought about this, he longed to meet Toyotomi Hideyoshi and receive praise from the man who ruled the land.

He seemed to see the unassuming yet incomparably noble Hideyoshi bestowing upon him a katana and saying:
"Matsuura Tadanobu, you truly live up to the reputation of a warrior of the divine kingdom. In the heart of the Ming Kingdom, you have occupied their islands, captured their women, and spread the prestige of your nation to foreign lands."

Matsuura Tadanobu was somewhat captivated, and slowly closed his folding fan, reciting:

"Bravely brave the waves, may the military fortune endure; three stars shine brightly, the spirit of war remains fragrant. Men gaze with tigers at the rising sun of the nation; children offer gifts to their homeland."

After finishing his recitation, Matsuura Tadanobu picked up the conch shell from his desk and began to play it.

When he was in a good mood, several women in kimonos, with loose wigs and strange masks, came out.

They danced gracefully to the monkey music and sang "Hikishi Goshi Uta" in Tang Dynasty style.

Matsuura Tadanobu felt extremely pleased with himself and very satisfied.

On a whim, she stood up, clapping along to the beat, waving her folding fan, and began to dance gracefully.

Although far from home and in a foreign land, being able to defile different beautiful young women from the Ming Dynasty every day, enjoying their innocent and sweet bodies, and possessing the same power of life and death as a feudal lord—life would truly be perfect.

Hehehe…

The subordinate waited until the music ended before coming in to report: "Lord Zhongxin, Li Dan has come to see you."

"Eh? Mr. Li?" Matsuura Tadanobu patted the hand stool. "Please invite him in."

"Hai!" The subordinate received the order and shuffled out.

Soon, a young scholar in his early twenties, dressed in a white robe, entered, sword in hand.

The scholar was tall and handsome, with a hint of anger on his face.

"Matsuura Shipowner!" The scholar in white sat down without hesitation. "Why do you break your promise?"

He pointed outside and asked, "Why are you still trafficking people? Haven't you trafficked enough Ming people over the years?"

"I promise to purchase enough raw silk, porcelain, medicinal herbs, and cotton cloth for you at a preferential price! With your wealth flowing in, why do you still need to sell Ming people into slavery?"

"Lord Li Dan," Matsuura Tadanobu said in more fluent Chinese, his tone no longer polite as he saw Li Dan's anger.

"Are you here to interrogate me? When did Lord Li Dan become a loyal subject and filial son of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Don't forget your identity, sir. You may appear to be a scholar from the Ming Dynasty, but you are ultimately a maritime merchant (pirate)."

“You even asked me to attack Xiangshan County and kill the Ming Dynasty magistrate.”

Li Dan's face darkened. "So what? That's precisely why I must stop you from trafficking Ming people."

"The Ming court abolished and re-established the Maritime Trade Office, only to abolish it again, and it has been more than twenty years since then, yet it has not been able to be restored. Why is that?"

"You really think we're afraid of you? It's because many people are unwilling. They're even more afraid of the sea opening than you are!"

"Zhu Wan was ruthless in his anti-corruption efforts, killing countless people, yet he also admitted that 'even a three-foot-tall child sees pirates as his benefactors and military families as his sworn enemies.'"

"Although the Ming court has opened the port at Yuegang in Zhangzhou, it is merely a drop in the ocean and a self-deception. Can goods from Jiangnan and Huguang really travel thousands of miles by land to reach Yuegang?"

"It's obvious that they don't want to open the sea, so the imperial court can only open a small opening in Yuegang to appease those who want to follow the right path."

"But Yuegang has been open for twenty years. How many of the merchants who wanted to follow the proper path are still around?" "In the end, it's still us unruly maritime merchants who thrive."

Matsuura Tadanobu: "What does this have to do with human trafficking? Our maritime merchants have been trafficking Ming people for two hundred years, and this business has continued to this day."

"This is just business. In my opinion, those Ming people are nothing more than goods and livestock. I apologize, I meant no offense."

“How can it not be related?” Li Dan’s face was gloomy. “There are too many missing people. If the court finds out that it is related to Zhoushan, those officials who advocate the recapture of Zhoushan will gain the upper hand.”

"If the Ming court were to employ a killing machine like Qi Jiguang, how could we possibly stay in Zhoushan?"

"You have several hundred men under your command, and I have several hundred men under my command, totaling only a little over a thousand. If the Ming court really takes this seriously, how can we possibly defend Zhoushan?"

"Without Zhoushan, it will be difficult to do business in the future."

"Besides, all my men are Ming people. They know you're selling Ming people, and they all advised me to end the cooperation. Aren't you slapping me in the face?"

Matsuura Tadanobu shook his head. "Mr. Li, how can the trade of human trafficking compare to silk? Why would I do such a thing?"

His smile was somewhat sinister. "Because this is the wish of all the domains in Kyushu! Even the wish of Lord Hideyoshi. Japan needs a large number of Ming Dynasty slaves, the more the better."

"Even if I don't make money, I will still fulfill my mission. Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Dan held up three fingers. "Thirty thousand taels, sell them all to me. When you get back, tell them that the Ming court's inspections are very strict, and it's become very difficult to trade slaves."

“I’m sorry, but I cannot agree.” Matsuura Tadanobu refused without hesitation. “These Ming slaves are to be presented to His Highness the Regent.”

“Mr. Li, I know what you’re thinking. You still don’t want them to be sold. After all, you are a wise man, and I understand your feelings.”

"Of course, if you grant me one request, I promise that starting next year, I will cease the sale of Ming slaves."

“I swear to Amaterasu Omikami that I will no longer engage in the trade of people from the Ming Dynasty starting from the sixteenth year of Tensho (1588).

Li Dan stared at him coldly, "Tell me what you think."

Matsuura Tadashi said, "I beg your help to eliminate Ding Huogen of Daishan Island! That Fire Monk is truly despicable and must be eliminated."

"This man was previously a subordinate of Qi Jiguang. Now he occupies Daishan Island, blocking my sea route back north. I have to go around him every time."

"Weren't you also hindered by him on Peach Blossom Island?"

"You have to go around that every time you sail to Japan, right?"

“We will join forces to destroy him, and all his wealth will be yours, but I want all the people on the island. And we swear that from the sixteenth year of the Tianzheng era onwards, we will no longer sell Ming slaves.”

Li Dan thought for a moment, and his gaze gradually hardened.

"Alright! Then kill him! You'd better keep your word."

Matsuura Tadanobu stood up and bowed deeply. "Mr. Lee, I'm counting on you!"

……

After Li Dan left, a warrior asked, "Lord Zhongxin, is Li Dan reliable? He is, after all, a Ming official; could he betray us?"

“No,” Matsuura Tadanobu shook his head. “His buyers are all Japanese, and they go to Hirado every few months. How could they possibly betray us?”

"If he offends us, his business in Japan will be over."

"Besides, Ding Huogen and he don't get along either."

Another samurai said, "Please arrange the rest, sir."

Matsuura Tadashi said, "The night after tomorrow, after we join forces with Li Dan to destroy Huo Toutuo, we will transport the Ming slaves back to their country."

"The lord has surely led his troops north now, leaving Hirado vulnerable. We must return to defend Hirado Castle temporarily. Go and prepare."

"Hi!"

After the two attendant samurai withdrew, Matsuura Tadanobu went into the inner chamber.

Pulling open the innermost door, one finds a well-built young girl dressed in traditional Zhuang clothing bound inside.

The young servant girl glared at Matsuura Tadanobu as soon as she saw him enter, her eyes like those of a wild and fierce little she-wolf!
(End of this chapter)