Huangming

Chapter 405 The vassal states submit, the wise general quells the chaos

The snow fell even more heavily in the valley of Dacheng Mountain, with snowflakes falling like goose feathers, trying to cover the mess on the ground, but they could not hide the bloodshed of the battlefield.

Limbs and severed arms are half-buried in the snow, and broken weapons are stuck diagonally in the frozen soil; such scenes are commonplace.

The Ming soldiers were clearing the battlefield in an orderly manner, their movements steady and efficient.

"Don't kill me! I just want to eat!"

An old refugee, dressed in tattered clothes, held a rusty dagger in both hands, his knees leaving two deep marks on the snow, his voice trembling with sobs.

The refugees around him followed suit, throwing their weapons on the ground and bowing their heads low.

They were just ordinary people forced to live by the oppressive government. They followed Park Hee only because of their desire to "get a share of the land." Now that they saw how powerful the Ming cavalry was, how could they dare to resist?
They understood better than anyone that surrender meant survival, while resistance meant death.

Although most of the Ming soldiers did not understand Korean, they could tell from their appearance that they were begging for mercy.

The Ming army only confiscated the weapons of the refugees who knelt and begged for mercy, but did not exterminate them.

Surrendered soldiers are a good thing; they can be used to do all sorts of hard jobs.

It's such a waste to kill them for nothing.

now.

To the east of where the Ming army was cleaning up the battlefield, there was a temporary tent.

That is where Lord Lingyang is now.

in the tent.

Li Zong leaned against the cold tent wall, the wound in his abdomen just bandaged with cloth strips.

His face was pale, his lips were cracked, and every movement aggravated his wounds, causing him to wince in pain.

Outside the account.

His soldiers were gradually gathering, numbering only a few hundred. Their armor was tattered, and they looked terrified, their former high spirits gone.

"Your Highness!"

The curtain was lifted, and Hong Ruifeng strode in, her clothes still covered in snowflakes.

He immediately noticed Li Zong's disheveled appearance, his eyes instantly reddened, his voice choked with sobs, and he quickly stepped forward, taking out a small bottle of wound medicine from his pocket, his hand trembling as he handed it over.

"It's my fault for being late, causing Your Highness so much suffering..."

Li Zong looked at him, forcing a smile, his voice hoarse: "You're not late."

He raised his hand to press on the wound, slowly sat up straighter, and a hint of relief at surviving the ordeal flashed in his eyes.

"As long as I am alive, and as long as the Ming Dynasty is willing to send troops, it is not too late."

He paused, then added a touch of ambition to his tone.

"With the help of the Ming cavalry, Pyongyang can be taken in ten days, and that foolish King Yi Hun should step down from the throne."

Hong Ruifeng's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

He lowered his head, his fingers gripping the hem of his robe tightly. After a moment of silence, he spoke with difficulty:
"Your Highness... In order to persuade the Ming Dynasty to send troops, I... I promised three conditions before I left."

"Three conditions?"

Li Zong paused for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively.

"It's just some grain and cloth. As long as we can take Pyongyang, we'll agree to any conditions..."

Before he could finish speaking, he caught a glimpse of Hong Ruifeng with her head down, not daring to look at him, and his heart sank.

What put Hong Ruifeng in such a predicament was definitely not as simple as grain, fodder, and cloth.

"What exactly are the conditions?"

Li Zong's voice instantly turned cold, and the pain from his wounds seemed to be suppressed by this unease.

Hong Ruifeng took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, raised her head, and said, word by word:

"Firstly, all Korean warships were placed under the control of the Tianjin Navy, and each year a Fujian-style ship was to be built and presented to the Ming Dynasty."

Secondly, the ports of Uiju and Busan were placed under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty's garrison, and Ming merchant ships traveling to and from Korea were exempt from customs duties.

Thirdly, the Ming Dynasty stationed troops in Pyongyang and Seoul, with logistics handled by Joseon, and was required to hand over three thousand warhorses annually…

With each point he made, Li Zong's face paled a little more.

After Hong Ruifeng finished speaking, he clenched his fist tightly, tearing open his wound and instantly soaking the cloth with blood. He was oblivious, only feeling a surge of resentment welling up inside him, his voice trembling:
How could the Ming Dynasty treat us like this?

He always regarded the Ming Dynasty as his "father country," and it was the Ming Dynasty that sent troops to save Korea from the Japanese invasion during the Imjin War.

Now that he has raised an army to quell the rebellion, he thought that the Ming Dynasty would help him as before, but he did not expect to be met with such harsh conditions.

With warships, ports, garrisons, and warhorses, they practically wanted to control North Korea's maritime defense, military power, and financial power!

“We regard the Ming Dynasty as our father, but why is this ‘father’ so harsh on me, his ‘son’?”

Li Zong leaned against the tent wall, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Dad, why don't you love your good son anymore?

How could you not love your good son!

A surge of anger welled up in Li Zong's heart, and his eyes almost spit fire.

But his anger was only momentary.

Lee Jong recalled the despair he felt when he was besieged by Park Hee, and the few hundred remaining soldiers under his command at this moment, and a sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart again.

He is not in a position to negotiate with the Ming Dynasty at all. Without the Ming Dynasty's support, he can hardly even save his life, let alone take Pyongyang.

Seeing his aggrieved look, Hong Ruifeng felt bad for him, but she still forced herself to persuade him:

"Your Highness, I had no choice... At that time, Park Hee's army was at the city gates, and Your Highness was trapped in the valley. If these conditions were not met, General Mao would not send troops!"

"Moreover... General Mao said that as long as Korea obeys, the Ming Dynasty will not only help you take Pyongyang, but also help you consolidate your throne. If the Jurchens dare to invade again in the future, the Ming Dynasty will also send troops to help you."

Li Zong remained silent.

The snow was still falling outside the tent, and the light from the oil lamp illuminated his pale face.

Hong Ruifeng is right, he has no other choice now.

If they wanted revenge, to seize the throne, and to prevent Joseon from being destroyed by the Jurchens or bandits, they had no choice but to rely on the Ming Dynasty, even if it came at such a heavy price.

"I see."

a long time.

Li Zong spoke slowly, his voice no longer filled with the previous grievances, but only with helpless compromise.

"Go and tell General Mao that North Korea has agreed to these three conditions."

But I have one request: after taking Pyongyang, the Ming Dynasty must help me eliminate the remaining forces of Yi Hun and help me secure my throne.

Upon hearing this, Hong Ruifeng felt relieved and quickly nodded, "I will go and report back immediately!"

With Li Zong's reply in her hand, Hong Ruifeng hurried through the camp and soon arrived at Mao Wenlong's central command tent.

After the announcement, they quickly entered the tent.

Inside the central command tent, the charcoal fire was burning brightly.

Mao Wenlong was sitting at his desk, wiping the sword at his waist with a fine cloth. The bloodstains on the blade had been wiped away, revealing a cold, sharp glint.

Hearing the rustling of the tent flap, he didn't even raise his head, only saying indifferently, "What did your master say?"

"My lord... has agreed to the three conditions proposed by the general."

Hong Ruifeng bowed respectfully, her voice tinged with caution.

"Your Highness has a request: after we take Pyongyang, I would like to ask the general to help us eliminate the remaining forces of Yi Hun and consolidate Your Highness's throne."

After all, these conditions can only be fulfilled if His Highness is in power.

As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Mao Wenlong's expression, afraid that the other party would refuse.

Mao Wenlong finally stopped wiping his sword, sheathed it with a clang, and looked up at Hong Ruifeng, a half-smile playing on his lips:

"Your master is quite sensible."

"However, you need to understand that the three conditions mentioned earlier were the price for our Great Ming to send troops to save him, but they did not include helping him to eliminate Li Hui's forces."

Yi Hun is still the nominal ruler of Joseon. Our Great Ming Dynasty is the Celestial Empire, and it is not appropriate for us to arbitrarily interfere in the internal affairs of our vassal states.

"What do you mean by that, General?"

Hong Ruifeng suddenly looked up, her face turning pale instantly, as the anxiety she had been suppressing surged up all at once.

“If Li Hui continues to be the king, he is already in cahoots with the Jurchens, and he will certainly not accept the conditions promised by Your Highness!”
"Then, how will we deliver on the general's demands for warships, ports, and warhorses?"

He was so anxious that beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. If Mao Wenlong refused to help get rid of Li Hui, even if His Highness took Pyongyang, he would not be able to secure his throne. Wouldn't the previous compromises have been in vain?
"Hahaha!!"

Mao Wenlong suddenly burst into laughter, looking at Hong Ruifeng's panicked appearance, his voice carrying a hint of mockery.

“Envoy, you are naive.”

He stood up, walked up to Hong Ruifeng, and looked down at him like a cat watching a mouse or a hunter observing its prey.

"Do you think Li Hui would dare to refuse the conditions I, Mao Wenlong, have set?"

He pointed with his finger in the direction outside the tent, his voice suddenly turning sharp:
“Look outside the tent. My two thousand Ming cavalry can crush Park Hee’s fifty thousand refugee army.”

The Tianjin Navy had dozens of warships, capable of blockading all ports in Korea.

"Don't even mention that Yi Hun was just a foolish and incompetent ruler. Even if all the ancestors of Joseon came back to life, they would have to obediently agree to my conditions!"

Hong Ruifeng was so intimidated by his aura that she took a half step back. Her lips moved, but she couldn't utter a single word.

He then realized that Mao Wenlong had never taken "supporting Li Zong" seriously from the beginning.

What the Ming Dynasty wanted was not a puppet king, but absolute control over Korea.

Regardless of who holds the throne of Korea, as long as the military strength of the Ming Dynasty remains, no one will dare to disobey Mao Wenlong's demands.

Looking at his distraught appearance, Mao Wenlong sneered inwardly.

He originally intended to support Yi Jong as a puppet ruler, using him to completely control the military and political affairs of North Korea.

After all, Li Zong needed something from the Ming Dynasty, making him easier to manipulate.

But His Majesty's secret edict was urgent, requiring the matter of Korea to be resolved within three months before heading south. How could there be time to clear obstacles for Yi Jong?
It would be better to let Yi Jong and Yi Hun remain in a stalemate:

If Li Zong wants to seize power, he has to rely on the Ming Dynasty.

Li Hui needed to keep his position, but he also had to appease the Ming Dynasty.

With the two factions checking and balancing each other, the Ming Dynasty could reap the benefits. Even if the Ming Dynasty withdrew its main force, Korea would not be able to cause any trouble.

and.

Mao Wenlong already has a general plan for the situation in North Korea after his departure.

One side occupies the area north of Pyongyang, namely Pyongan Province, Hamgyong Province, and Hwanghae Province.

One side occupies the area north of Pyeongjeon, which includes Chungcheong Province, Gangwon Province, Jeolla Province, and Gyeongsang Province.

As for Gyeonggi Province, where Seoul is located, whoever is capable of defeating Jeon Hwan will be able to occupy it.

Mao Wenlong did not help either side achieve a complete victory, but instead allowed them to weaken each other through mutual restraint, while the Ming Dynasty reaped the benefits.

Hong Ruifeng understood Mao Wenlong's thoughts, but could only remain silent.

This tactic of "using North Korea to destabilize North Korea" is ruthless yet effective, but when it comes to North Korea, it only leads to endless internal strife.

In Mao Wenlong's view, these methods are already the optimal solution.

Li Zong and Li Hui lacked the qualities of a great and capable ruler.

Given their abilities, these two are likely only good at fighting amongst themselves, and the internal strife in North Korea is unlikely to be contained anytime soon.

This will give him time to go south and then north to sort out the situation in North Korea.

but
What he was really worried about wasn't the two of them, but the refugees, especially Park Hee!

Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?

"Eliminate officials and gentry, and distribute land."

These slogans are more ruthless than the Jurchen knives!

The officials and gentry of Joseon were corrupt, and the people had long been dissatisfied. Park Hee was igniting the fire of public resentment. Once this fire spread, not to mention Yi Jong and Yi Hun, even the Ming Dynasty would have to expend a great deal of effort to put it out!
Think about this.

Mao Wenlong, seeing Hong Ruifeng's pained expression, offered her a sweet treat, saying:

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, as long as Lord Lingyang is sensible, I will help him stabilize the situation. Also, I will take care of Lord Lingyang as well."

"I will personally lead the army to pursue and annihilate him, and we must not allow him to have the opportunity to gather refugees again."

Hearing this, Hong Ruifeng breathed a slight sigh of relief.

But then an indescribable feeling of grievance and anger welled up in my heart.

Looking at Mao Wenlong's all-powerful demeanor, he finally couldn't help but speak up.

He poured out his grievances and Lingyang Jun's grievances to Mao Wenlong.

“General, the Ming Dynasty wasn’t like this before… During the Imjin War, the Ming Dynasty sent troops to rescue Korea and never thought of asking for these things…”

Back then, the Ming Dynasty was the protector of the "father's country," not the increasingly aggressive controller it is today.

Upon hearing this, Mao Wenlong chuckled softly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes:

"The Ming Dynasty of the past was certainly not like this."

"But now, His Majesty has ascended the throne, the Tianqi Dynasty has been established, and everything is different!"

He stared into Hong Ruifeng's eyes and said, word by word:

"Go with the flow, and your master will gain the throne, and you will gain wealth and honor."

"If one goes against the tide, forget about the throne and wealth; one might even be lucky to escape with death!"

So-called thunder and rain are all the emperor's grace.

In the past, the Ming Dynasty was a benevolent father to Korea.

But the Ming Dynasty now is like a strict father to Korea. Whether it's a strict or a kind father, you, as the son, have to obey.

Mao Wenlong's words were blunt and harsh, and Hong Ruifeng's face turned pale instantly. The rebuttal that was on the tip of her tongue was swallowed back.

Although Mao Wenlong's words were harsh, they were indeed the truth.

The Ming Dynasty of today is no longer the tolerant dynasty that Wanli Emperor was during his reign. The Tianqi Emperor's strength and Mao Wenlong's iron fist are heralding the arrival of a new era. Korea will either submit or be destroyed.

Seeing his distraught appearance, Mao Wenlong didn't press him further. He simply stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and softened his tone slightly:

"But don't worry, I won't go back on my word."

He pointed to the three places on the map, Ping'an Road.

“These three places will definitely belong to your master; Park Hee, I will also clean them up for you.”

He then added a sentence, changing the subject.

"I'm afraid I don't have the time to help you conquer the entire Korean Peninsula."

His Majesty has issued a secret edict summoning me to head south as soon as possible. The Dutch in the South China Sea are more important than the internal strife in Korea.

The rest of the journey is up to you to walk.

Mao Wenlong was thinking of ways to contain North Korea.

By transforming into Dai Ying and acting as a troublemaker, he will disrupt the peace of North Korea.

Meanwhile, Park Hee, still shaken, only wanted to escape.

Park Hee had been on the run for three days and three nights in the mountains and forests of Liaodong.

He wrapped his tattered armor tightly around himself and trudged through the knee-deep snow, making his way through the forest.

For the past three days, he hasn't dared to stop for a moment.

The sound of Ming cavalry hooves behind him seemed to echo in his ears; the slightest hesitation would mean certain death.

When he got hungry, he would take out a hard wheat bran cake from his pocket that was so hard it could break his teeth, and swallow it with snow water.

When thirsty, I would grab a handful of snow from the ground and stuff it into my mouth. The icy shards scraped my throat painfully, but I didn't care about the pain.

The accompanying refugee army, which initially numbered over a thousand, was chased and killed by the Ming army and swallowed by the wind and snow. In the end, only a little over a hundred remained, all of them pale and emaciated, with unfocused eyes, and could barely hold their weapons.

"Stop and rest... Your Majesty, I really can't walk anymore."

A young refugee's legs buckled, and he knelt down in the snow, his voice trembling with sobs.

"The Ming army definitely can't catch up. If we keep going, we'll all freeze and starve to death."

Park Hee turned around abruptly, her eyes bloodshot, but there was no trace of frustration, instead, she exuded an almost frenzied excitement.

He kicked the refugee and roared:

"Get up! Who told you to stop?"

He pointed to the hundred or so people behind him, his voice hoarse but powerful.

"The Ming Dynasty doesn't help us suffering people, but instead helps those officials and gentry who suck our blood!"
Once we conquer the entire territory of Korea, Korea will belong to us Koreans, and we will never again allow those Ming people to interfere!

These bold words scattered in the wind and snow, but did not stir up the slightest ripple.

The refugees behind him kept their heads down, and no one responded.

They followed Park Hee with the hope of "dividing the land," but now they can't even save their lives. The so-called "North Korea of ​​the North Koreans" is nothing but a mirage.

Seeing the deathly silence, the guard quickly stepped forward and cautiously asked:

"Your Majesty, we've been wandering in the mountains for so long, where... are we going next?"

"Back to Pyongyang!"

Park Hee practically gritted her teeth as she uttered those three words, her eyes suddenly hardening.

“Pyongyang is our foundation. As long as we hold Pyongyang, and send someone to contact Quan Huan to join forces against the Ming, we may be able to defeat those Ming troops!”

He was still having a sweet dream.

The refugee army is large in number and deeply supported by the common people. If he raises his arm and calls, he will surely be able to gather hundreds of thousands of people again.

The Ming army has at most 10,000 men. If we use human wave tactics, we can overwhelm the Ming army even if we have to overwhelm them!
More than a hundred people dared not object and could only follow Park Hee, trudging arduously toward Pyongyang.

The snow gradually subsided, and a faint ray of light appeared on the horizon. When the outline of Pyongyang came into view, hope instantly ignited in Park Hee's eyes.

His "King of Pyongyang" banner still flew on the city wall, and there seemed to be no trace of Ming troops at the city gate.

"Hurry! Speed ​​up! We'll be safe once we're in the city!"

Park Hee shouted excitedly and ran towards the city gate first. The refugees behind him seemed to have gained strength and rushed forward with him.

But when they were still a hundred feet away from the city gate, Park Hee suddenly stopped, her smile freezing instantly, replaced by disbelief and shock.

Although the soldiers guarding the city wall were dressed in the clothes of the refugee army, the weapons they carried were clearly the standard long spears commonly used by the Ming army!

More importantly, behind the battlements, one could faintly see the reflection of dark armor!
"Something's not right...something's not right!"

Park Hee suddenly realized what was happening, and her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand.

"Pyongyang... Pyongyang has been captured by the Ming army!"

The flags he saw earlier were simply bait deliberately left behind by the Ming army!

"Get out of here! Evacuate!"

Park Hee roared the order and turned to run back.

But it's too late.

"kill!"

A deafening shout suddenly rang out from all around, and densely packed Ming soldiers suddenly surged out from both sides of the previously empty snowfield.

These Ming soldiers, with their long spears like a forest and their bows nocked, instantly surrounded Park Hee's hundred-odd men.

The leading Ming army deputy general reined in his horse, his long sword pointing at Park Hee, his voice icy:
"Park, you think you can escape? This Pyongyang will be your final resting place!"

Park Hee looked at the Ming soldiers around him, his face ashen, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down in the snow.

He finally realized that he had fallen into Mao Wenlong's trap from the very beginning.

The Ming army had already captured Pyongyang, but deliberately did not change his flag, because they had calculated that he would return and set this trap to catch him like a turtle in a jar!

"Your Majesty, what should we do? We're surrounded!"

The guard shouted in a panic, his knife trembling.

Park Hee clenched her fists tightly, a hint of despair flashing in her eyes, yet she was unwilling to admit defeat.

He drew his long sword from his waist, pointed it at the Ming soldiers, and roared:
"Brothers, let's fight! Even if we die, we'll take a few Ming people down with us!"

But all that responded to him was the silence of the refugees and the cold laughter of the Ming army.

The refugees had long lost their will to fight. Seeing the overwhelming strength of the Ming army, they threw down their weapons, knelt on the ground, and cried out for mercy.

"Don't kill me! I surrender! I surrender!"

As Park Hee watched this scene, her last glimmer of hope was completely shattered.

He knew his end was near.

That dream of "eliminating officials and gentry and distributing land," that obsession with "a Korea for Koreans," ultimately became a mirage, dissipating in the wind and snow outside Pyongyang.

The Ming soldiers approached step by step, and Park Hee's long sword fell to the snow with a soft clang.

He gazed at the distant city of Pyongyang, his eyes filled with resentment, but he could only close them.

He chose to surrender.

Soon after.

Inside the main hall of the government office in Pyongyang.

Mao Wenlong sat upright in the main seat of the hall, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, fixed on Park Hee, who had been escorted in.

Park Hee was pinned to the ground by two Ming soldiers, his hands and feet chained together, making a clanging sound with every step he took.

His clothes were tattered and stained with snow and blood, and his left arm was still bleeding, but there was no pleading look on his face.

Only a pair of bloodshot eyes stared intently at Mao Wenlong in the hall, revealing resentment and indignation.

"You're incredibly audacious."

Mao Wenlong spoke first.

"You dare to raise the flag of rebellion in Korea and even want to be an enemy of my Great Ming Dynasty. Do you know your crime?"

Park Hee suddenly raised her head and struggled to get up, but was held down firmly by the soldiers.

He was panting heavily when he spoke in broken Chinese:
"General! Why are you helping those insects?"

"The lives of the North Korean people are unbearably miserable! There are corpses of the starving everywhere, yet officials and gentry are hoarding grain. Can't you see that?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Mao Wenlong's eyes.

He hadn't expected that this "leader of the refugees" would be able to speak Chinese.

But this surprise was quickly replaced by coldness; he gave a soft snort, his tone carrying undisguised indifference:
"The Koreans are not subjects of my Great Ming Dynasty. What do I care about their lives or deaths?"

"As for why I'm helping Yi Jong, it's simple. He can help me control Korea, can you?"

Mao Wenlong's words stunned him.

Immediately, as if grasping at a straw, Park Hee crawled forward two steps, the chains dragging harshly on the ground, her voice filled with a humble plea:
"Me too! I can be a dog for the Ming Dynasty!"

I'm willing to help the general take control of Korea!

"If you spare my life, General, I can make all those refugees obey you!"

The instinct for survival overwhelmed all dignity; at this moment, all he wanted was to live, even if it meant being a dog of the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover.

Serving as a dog for the Ming Dynasty is not shameful.

Even for them, North Koreans, it is a great honor!

Looking at his disheveled appearance, Mao Wenlong suddenly laughed, but the laughter didn't reach his eyes; instead, it revealed a hint of cruelty.

"You? You're a mad dog, I wouldn't dare use you."

He stood up, walked up to Park Hee, and looked down at him.

“You have ambition in your eyes, not obedience. Even if you submit to me now, you will surely devour your master in the future.”

"Besides, you're too dangerous."

They could even shout slogans like "Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?" and "Destroy the officials and gentry, and distribute the land."

"You can stir up the hearts and minds of the North Korean people; I'm afraid that even I won't be able to control you then."

Park Hee's face turned deathly pale instantly. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Mao Wenlong continued, his voice tinged with amusement.

“Li Zong and Li Hui are indeed incompetent and utterly worthless.”

"But it is precisely because they are incompetent that they are easy to control and will not cause me any trouble."

You're different. You have brains, ambition, and the ability to incite the people.

Keeping such a person around is a recipe for disaster.

Looking into Mao Wenlong's cold eyes, Park Hee finally realized that she had no way out from the very beginning.

"hehe!"

He suddenly let out two shrill, cold laughs, the sound echoing in the empty hall, carrying a hint of desperate madness:
"If you want to kill or behead me, please do as you please!"

He raised his head, his eyes blazing with renewed anger.

"But do you think killing me will solve everything?"

As long as the lives of the North Korean people remain difficult, rebellions will continue indefinitely!
No matter how powerful your Ming army is, it cannot suppress the hearts of the people of Joseon!

Mao Wenlong frowned, too lazy to waste any more words with him.

He turned and returned to his seat, waving his hand.

"Drag him out and behead him. Send his head to Li Zong."

"Yes!"

Two guards responded in unison, grabbed Park Hee, and dragged her out of the hall.

"Mao Wenlong! You will die a horrible death! The North Korean people will not let you get away with this!"

Park Hee struggled and roared, her curses fading into the distance until a piercing scream came from outside the hall, after which all was quiet.

Inside the lobby, the candlelight still flickered.

Mao Wenlong walked to the window, gazing at the dark night sky outside, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

He raised his hand and stroked the blade of his sword, feeling unusually calm.

In Korea, no matter if you are a powerful figure who can stir up the winds and clouds or an ambitious tyrant, as long as you block the path of the Ming Dynasty, as long as I don't want you to live, you can't even live for another second.

However, the matter of North Korea is far from over.

This is only the first step in taking control of North Korea; we'll have to see how things develop from here.

If things are about right, he should head south to deal with the Dutch.

ps:
7200 words!
Because of work-related social engagements today, I missed several hours of writing time.

To focus on writing, I turned down many social interactions and didn't even dare to date, for fear of wasting my time.

However, necessary work-related social engagements are unavoidable.

The extra chapter will be posted tomorrow.

But rest assured, my dear subjects.

I'll be writing until 3 or 4 AM tomorrow, and I'll be adding an extra chapter. I won't be delaying it again!
(End of this chapter)