Wind Rises in North America 1625

Chapter 348 "Those barbarians who enter China, are the Chinese themselves"

On May 20th, the sky was high and the clouds were light, with a gentle sea breeze.

A group of colonization officials and residents of Lianshan Port gathered at the dock to bid farewell to Meng Shengxin and his entourage who were about to depart.

The four Fujian-style ships took turns coiling up their mooring lines, the rough hemp ropes rubbing against the hull and producing a low hum.

Huge white sails rose slowly in the sea breeze, like wings woven from clouds, heralding the start of a new voyage.

Qi Yongze, who had come all the way from Tamna Island, hugged Meng Shengxin tightly, patted him hard on the back, and said in a deep voice, "Instructor Meng, the road back to the mainland of Xinzhou will be arduous, please take care!"

Meng Shengxin smiled slightly, looking at the once somewhat naive naval cadet with a gratified expression. Now, he had become a mature and steady local official, and his heart was filled with emotion.

"Take good care of yourself! You must be very careful with matters concerning North Korea and avoid taking any risks. Safety is paramount." He earnestly instructed, "In ten years, our development speed has far exceeded our initial expectations. There is no need to take any more risky moves."

"Therefore, whether it is the development of the colony on Beiying Island or the implementation of strategies related to North Korea, it is advisable to proceed cautiously and slowly, avoid radical risks, and prioritize our own safety."

"I understand." Qi Yongze nodded and said, "When you return to Xinzhou, please give my regards to the brothers."

As he spoke, he took out several letters from his pocket and handed them to Meng Shengxin: "Here is our overall plan for the punitive military action we are about to launch against North Korea, as well as the construction and renovation plan for Tamna Island. Take these back to the mainland and submit them to the decision-making committee for review. There are also a few letters for old friends on the mainland, and for my... two children."

Meng Shengxin took the letter and handed it to his attendant.

At this moment, the ship's horn sounded, urging the last boarders to board and prepare for departure.

"Take care!" Meng Shengxin patted Qi Yongze on the shoulder one last time, then turned and strode onto the diving board.

At the dock, people waved goodbye as they saw him off.

The hired Tsushima Domain samurai bowed deeply according to etiquette, while the dozen or so armed guards stationed there saluted in unison. Some Korean immigrants who had stayed behind for various reasons couldn't help but sob quietly.

As the last gangplank was retracted, the Fujian-style ship slowly departed from the dock.

The bow broke through the churning sea, leaving a white wake as it sailed north toward that newly discovered land.

Qi Yongze stood there until the fleet became just a few black dots on the horizon, then he let out a long sigh and murmured to himself, "Take good care of yourself!"
-
The fleet sailed around the southwest of the Korean Peninsula and into the Sea of ​​Japan.

Three days later, as they passed near the Oki Islands, a remote island of Japan, several sailors washed the deck and then excitedly waved their arms toward the distant islands.

Although they knew that the distance was so great that even if someone on the island was watching the sea, they wouldn't be able to see their enthusiastic greeting.

However, sailors, feeling empty inside, often used this method to vent their fear and loneliness amidst the vastness of the sea.

Since there is land, there must be people on it. Even if they don't get any response, the sailors on the ship are not "lone warriors" in the sea.

"If we could capture these islands, we could provide a stable and reliable supply point for passing ships," a sailor shouted.

"You son of a bitch, you're short but you've got guts!" a burly sailor laughed and cursed. "These islands aren't far from Japan. If you try to take them, you'll probably just invite a Japanese counterattack."

"The Japanese navy shouldn't be that great, right?" the mocked sailor retorted defiantly. "As long as we're quick enough, we can seize these islands before the Japanese can react, then move a few cannons up there. Do you think the Japanese can take them back?"

"The Japanese navy isn't that great, but they have a lot of people! If the Japanese want to, they can send hundreds of small boats to surround you, and then send wave after wave of people to land on the island and keep attacking you. Can you withstand that?"

"As long as we have enough cannons, why should we be afraid of the Japanese overwhelming our numbers?"

"Pshaw! As if we'll be invincible just because we have cannons? The Ming army has so many firearms, yet they still got routed by the Jurchens!"

"..."

"Sir, do you think we can seize these islands?" Lieutenant Zhang Yuanping, an instructor at the Xinhua Navy's colonization team stationed on Beiying Island, was quite interested after listening to the sailors' debate.

"Oh, tell me, why do you want to occupy these small islands?" Meng Shengxin asked with a smile. "Could it be just to find a place for resupply at sea?"

“My lord, look…” Zhang Yuanping pointed to the small islands in sight, “These islands guard a vital passage in the Sea of ​​Japan. If we can control them, we can counterbalance Tsushima and Korea, and also threaten Japan.”

“Since it threatens Japan, how could they allow you to conquer it at will?” Meng Shengxin shook his head and said, “You should know that Japan is a large country with nearly 20 million people, and since Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan, it ended hundreds of years of warring states.”

"Do you think we can provoke such a country with our current strength? Not to mention, we've already had a military conflict on a few small islands right on their doorstep."

"Oh, what a pity." Zhang Yuanping sighed softly.

“Some things can’t be rushed.” Meng Shengxin felt that it was better not to dampen the enthusiasm of young people. “We are still in the development stage. Our population is small and our military is weak. We cannot rashly get involved in direct military conflicts with regional powers. We must continue to bide our time and accumulate strength.”

"This time, taking advantage of the Jurchen invasion of Korea, we have occupied Tamna Island, seized Kangnyeong County, and helped Donggang defend Cheolsan. We have reached the limit of our military projection and cannot create any more powerful enemies."

"Let's wait a few years. After we've fully digested the many benefits we've gained in this wave, and then solidified our foundation, those goals that were considered impossible will all be ours."

“Your Excellency’s wisdom is profound; I have learned much from your teachings,” Zhang Yuanping bowed. “I remember that these small islands previously belonged to the Horio clan of the Matsue Domain, but a few years ago, after the death of the domain lord Horio Tadahiro without an heir, they were taken over by the Tokugawa clan as Tenryo (i.e., territories directly under the shogunate) and directly managed by officials dispatched by the shogunate,” Meng Shengxin’s secretary, Tian Xiaodong, said softly.

"..." Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuanping immediately looked at him in surprise.

"Oh, what else do you know about this archipelago?" Meng Shengxin asked with a look of satisfaction.

"This archipelago was the most important fishing base of the shogunate, famous for its seaweed, abalone and other seafood. In addition to being sold at the Osaka fish market, a considerable portion of these products were paid as tribute to the shogunate," Tian Xiaodong explained in detail.

"However, the land on these small islands is relatively barren, and they mainly grow millet, barley and other miscellaneous grains and a small amount of rice. The vast majority of their food needs to be supplied locally. In addition, they also serve as a transit point for the Japan Sea route, with sporadic trade with the Hokuriku and San'in regions."

"The island was once used as a place of exile for the Japanese. It is said that a Japanese king (Emperor Toba) was exiled to the island. Therefore, I think the Tokugawa shogunate would not have treated these islands as ordinary territories. If they were invaded by foreign forces, the shogunate would have made a resolute response."

"I've learned a lot!" Zhang Yuanping bowed to him admiringly.

Just then, a commotion arose on one side of the deck.

The group turned to look and saw two sailors pulling at a man dressed in a North Korean official uniform. The man was slumped on the deck, crying out something in broken Chinese.

Meng Shengxin frowned and strode over: "What's going on?"

A sailor quickly explained, "Sir, this old man is a surrendered official from Tamna Island. After we brought him aboard, he kept muttering that we shouldn't have let him leave his homeland and that he always wanted to jump into the sea to commit suicide!"

The surrendered Korean official looked up, his eyes filled with despair: "Though Korea is weak, it is still our homeland! Are you leading us north to reduce us to barbarians?!"

"If that's the case, let me die here, while I'm still close to Korea, so my soul can find its way home!"

Meng Shengxin remained silent for a moment, then squatted down to meet the gaze of the surrendered official at eye level: "I don't know your esteemed position..."

"I am Kim Si-min, the governor of Jeju Island in Joseon..." the Joseon official who had surrendered answered, trembling.

“King Mu’s envoy,” Meng Shengxin said calmly, “do you know that your Joseon has already submitted to the Jurchens? If you remain in Joseon, you are no longer a subject of the Jurchens. Oh, no, the Jurchens have always regarded all the people they conquer as slaves. In other words, your millions of Joseon people are now slaves of the Jurchens!”

"..." Jin Shimin was stunned for a moment, his face showing sorrow. "But what good would going north do? The North Sea is desolate, a land of ice and snow, no different from the barbarians."

Zhang Yuanping sneered, "Barbarians? Hmph, Minister Jin, the 'barbarians' you speak of are the ones in your Korea who are doing their utmost to support the resistance against the barbarians, preventing more places from falling into the stench of the barbarians. As the ancients said, 'It is better for the Chinese to have no ruler than for the barbarians to have one!'"

"Our Xinzhou Huaxia has been expanding into the wilderness and pioneering civilization to establish a new foundation for Huaxia, not like your Korea, which, under the military attacks of the Jurchens, chose to live a life of ignominy, willingly becoming slaves of the Jurchens and ultimately degenerating into barbarians!"

Those who are considered barbarians and inhabitants of China are treated as Chinese; those who are considered barbarians and inhabitants of China are treated as barbarians!
You, a surrendered official, when our Xinhua attacked Jeju Island, neither organized military forces to resolutely resist nor sacrificed your life for the country, thus failing to be a loyal subject of the nation.

When Gwanghaegun issued a proclamation calling on all Korean soldiers and civilians to unite around him to resist the invaders and restore the country, you were unwilling to go and surrender, only caring about your own safety and reputation.

That would be one thing, but you're in Jeju Island, yet you refuse to cooperate with Xinhua and adopt a passive attitude.

Then, I can only 'exile' you to Beiying Island, where you will honestly reform your mind and body.

I never expected you to look down on Huawei as a barbarian?
Outrageous!

Kim Si-min fell silent after being rebuked like that.

Meng Shengxin raised his hand to stop Zhang Yuanping and said slowly, "Governor Jin, we are taking you north not to make you slaves, but to give all of you a new home. Although the North Sea is cold and the new island is remote, the land is fertile and can be a paradise."

"Although your Korea is ancient, it has been tainted by barbarian influences and is no longer the land of China!"

Kim Si-min stared at him blankly for a long time, then sighed, lowered his head, and said nothing more.
-
As night deepened, the Fujianese ship continued its northward voyage.

The dimly lit cabin was crammed with North Korean fishermen and farmers who had been forcibly relocated.

They clutched their bags tightly, their expressions still filled with fear.

"Father, where are we going?" A thin little boy tugged at his father's sleeve and asked the question again.

The man patted his head, suppressing his unease, and said, "We're going...to a new place."

“But they say there are many man-eating monsters and wild beasts there…” the boy’s voice trembled.

“Don’t listen to their nonsense…” an old man nearby sighed, “Those people are just teasing you.”

In the corner, a young woman sobbed softly, "Will we ever be able to go home?..."

The cabin was silent; no one answered.

Only the sound of waves lapping against the hull seemed to gently soothe and comfort the boat.

(End of this chapter)