Raising chickens and pigs and digging for wild vegetables, the county magistrate's promotion wa

Chapter 797: Gambling one person's eternal reputation for the survival of Japan's front li

Gu Chengzhi felt mentally exhausted, utterly, utterly exhausted.

Even if you haven't read "The Art of War" or "The Thirty-Six Stratagems," or even if you haven't read any books on how to wage war, at least you should understand human nature, right?

Unfortunately, this so-called Japanese prince, Huai Liang, is quite something. He doesn't understand Yang Shaofeng, who came to attack, and he doesn't even understand his own underlings.

So, you don't know anything at all, how dare you let those Japanese pirates plunder the Ming Dynasty?

Just because you think the so-called divine wind can protect Japan?

Or is Japan simply a huge makeshift operation?

While internally ranting, Gu Chengzhi said coldly, "Your Highness may not have heard of Yang the Madman's reputation, but I had dealings with him during the Ming Dynasty and know his character."

"Well, calling him petty makes him seem more magnanimous."

"This man has always valued the distinction between Chinese and barbarians. Even if a beggar on the street is a person of the Ming Dynasty, he can treat that beggar as a human being."

"Although they will send people to arrest this beggar and use him as a laborer, he will still be paid his due wages."

"But if it's someone who isn't from the Ming Dynasty, they wouldn't even be considered human in his eyes. Even envoys or kings from countries like Goryeo and Annam would be considered uncivilized savages in his eyes."

"Many Japanese ronin plunder the Ming Dynasty. A few years ago, some were even hired by gentry in Jiangnan to kill him in Dengzhou Prefecture. How could he let such a deep-seated hatred go so easily?"

"He will not rest until he has taken a huge chunk of flesh from Japan in this attack."

"How could we possibly let Kikuchi Takemasa return with the news without offering any conditions?"

At this point, Gu Chengzhi changed the subject again, saying, "As for Kikuchi Takemasa... just now when he mentioned Yang the Madman, he hesitated several times, and when he left, he kept his head down. I'm afraid he already harbors rebellious thoughts."

Huai Liang was stunned again, and it took him a while to ask, "You just said that it's possible that Yang the Madman proposed a condition that only Tianhuang could agree to. What do you think that condition might be?"

Gu Chengzhi gently waved his feather fan and said, "There are only a few possibilities."

"First, punish those wandering warriors who have raided the Ming Dynasty."

"Given Yang's consistent nature, I'm afraid that if even one samurai has ever raided the Ming Dynasty, he would demand that Japan hand over ten, a hundred, or even a thousand samurai."

"He will definitely have these samurai killed in front of the Japanese civilians to intimidate them."

"Secondly, he will definitely demand the stationing of troops in Japan. The size of this station could be a hundred-household unit, a thousand-household unit, or even a garrison command."

"Thirdly, there are Japan's mineral resources."

"This man has always been arrogant and greedy. Since the divine wind failed to capsize his warship at sea, he will surely make exorbitant demands, asking Japan to hand over coal mines, iron mines, and even gold and silver mines."

"Fourth, the extraterritorial rights of Ming Dynasty merchants or commoners in Japan."

"There is a saying in Japan that noble people do not tread on lowly lands, and he also does not believe that Japan has the right to judge people from Ming."

"In fact, the vassal states of Goryeo, Siam, Annam, Champa, and Burma all signed similar treaties with the Ming Dynasty, stipulating that if any Ming merchants or citizens committed crimes in the vassal states, the vassal state governments had no right to handle the matter and had to report it to the Ming embassy for processing."

"Of course, the most important point is that Japan must pay tribute to the Ming emperor and even use the title 'Your Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming' on its official documents."

With each point Gu Chengzhi made, Huai Liang's face darkened further.

After Gu Chengzhi finished listing all five possibilities he had guessed, Huai Liang's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He sprang up like a raging mad dog, kicked over the small table in front of him, and roared, "Baka! Even if millions of Japanese citizens die, we will never agree to his conditions!"

Gu Chengzhi gently waved his feather fan again and said, "This is what I'm most worried about."

Huai Liang was slightly taken aback and asked, "What about it?"

Gu Chengzhi sighed softly and said, "I know that His Highness the Prince will definitely not sign such a humiliating treaty that would cede national sovereignty."

"But what about Takemasa Kikuchi?"

“Every country that pays tribute must have a ruler.”

“Using the title ‘Tianhuang’ without authorization would anger the Ming emperor, and then the position of the ruler of Japan would become vacant. If His Highness the Prince signs it, His Highness the Prince of Japan will become the King of Japan. If Kikuchi Takemasa dares to sign it, he may become the King of Japan.”

“That Yang the Madman has always been audacious and reckless, and the Ming Emperor and the Ming Crown Prince have great favor to him. It’s just a matter of deciding who will be the ruler of a vassal state like Japan. The Ming Emperor and the Ming Crown Prince will certainly not refuse his request.”

"so……"

Huai Liang became even angrier and shouted repeatedly, "Baka! Baka!"

Gu Chengzhi frowned slightly and continued, "The difficulty lies in the fact that Kikuchi Takemitsu made great contributions to the cause of the Emperor and protected His Highness the Prince as he retreated to Mitsui. If we take action against Kikuchi Takemasa without solid evidence, it would easily discourage many daimyo in the southern Japanese. Otherwise, I would never have allowed Kikuchi Takemasa to leave."

Huai Liang cursed "Baka!" again, then asked, panting heavily, "So tell me, what should we do now?"

Gu Chengzhi's eyes darted around, and while gently waving his feather fan, he said, "The only solution now is to gather all the daimyo of the southern Japanese in Mitsui to discuss important matters."

"Firstly, my son-in-law will keep pressing Kikuchi Takemasa for answers, forcing him to reveal Yang the Madman's plans."

"Secondly, if my son-in-law's guess comes true, His Highness the Prince will have to make a decision: whether to agree to Yang the Madman's demands or to prepare for the deaths of millions of citizens?"

Huai Liang shouted without hesitation, "Of course, this prince cannot agree to his request!"

Gu Chengzhi hummed in agreement, then sighed softly and said, "I guessed so too. Unfortunately, I fear that with millions of citizens shattered, there is no chance of recovery."

Huai Liang's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he stared intently at Gu Chengzhi and asked, "What do you mean?"

Gu Chengzhi smiled dismissively and countered, "According to Kikuchi Takemasa, the Ming army's artillery is incredibly powerful, invincible, and can even turn houses into a sea of ​​fire. May I ask Your Highness, even if millions of citizens were to perish, could they possibly withstand the Ming army's artillery?"

Huai Liang was stunned again, and after a long while, he said in a deep voice, "Does agreeing to his conditions give Japan a chance to turn things around?"

Gu Chengzhi gave a soft "hmm" and said, "Du Mu of the Tang Dynasty once wrote in 'Written at Wujiang Pavilion,' 'Victory and defeat are unpredictable in war, but a true man endures shame and humiliation. The young men of Jiangdong are talented and handsome, and it is not impossible for them to make a comeback.'"

"Further back, there is also the story of King Goujian of Yue enduring hardship and humiliation to achieve his goal."

"At present, the Ming Dynasty is powerful and its military is at its peak, so it is indeed not advisable to confront it directly."

"Only by risking one person's eternal reputation can we secure a glimmer of hope for Japan."

"I urge Your Highness to reconsider."