Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 288 The people of the Ming Dynasty are truly despicable!

"Calm down? Shibata, how can I calm down?!"

Oda Nobunaga's face was contorted with rage, his short goatee twitching as he looked down at the short-statured Shibata Katsuie.

"What do those Ming people see us as? Little lambs to be plundered at will?"

You only realize the pain when it happens to you.

In the past, the Ming Dynasty was deeply troubled by Japanese pirates. Although the pirates were composed of a complex group, the Japanese were definitely the dominant force. In fact, many Japanese people regarded the smuggling and plundering by the pirates as a symbol of "bravery".

Many Japanese daimyo, while outwardly dealing with the situation, secretly condoned it in various ways. Wasn't this because the Wokou (Japanese pirates) could bring them extremely rich resources by plundering overseas?

But now the situation has completely reversed. The mighty Ming Dynasty has actually lowered itself to rob the starving Japanese barbarians!

It is simply the opposite of Tiangang!

"My lord." Shibata Katsuie's sleek white hair was styled in two neat buns on either side of his head. He squinted as he spoke, yet he appeared very energetic.

"In my humble opinion, this is a golden opportunity for the Oda clan. To miss this opportunity would be to miss the greatest chance to unify the world!"

Shibata Katsuie had followed Oda Nobunaga since childhood and could be considered a loyal old retainer of the Oda clan. Only he was qualified to discuss these matters in front of Oda Nobunaga.

Even so, Oda Nobunaga was still furious. He drew his katana from his waist and draped it over Shibata Katsuie's shoulder.

“If you cannot give me an answer, I will take your head.”

Shibata Katsuie, however, remained unfazed and spoke leisurely.

"Does my lord know that General Hashiba Chikuzen has been fighting in the western provinces for three whole months? Now the Mori clan's food supplies are almost exhausted. If anything goes wrong, my lord's plan will be in vain!"

Oda Nobunaga's expression changed instantly; his face turned deathly pale, and he stared like a demon.

"Do the Ming people dare to interfere in the disputes of my Japan?"

Shibata Katsuie smiled and said, "The Ming people are separated from Japan by the sea, and we are protected by the divine wind, so naturally we cannot interfere."

However, the Ming people have supplies, and the Mori family guards the harbor, which is already a convenient transportation route. If the Ming people are willing to help them transport supplies...

"What does my lord think the situation in Japan will become?"

"hateful!"

Oda Nobunaga gritted his teeth and slammed his katana down on the stone table at Shibata Katsuie's feet, sending sparks flying.

Shibata Katsuie, however, remained unfazed.

"I have recently received news that Uesugi Kagekatsu, Mori Terumoto of the western provinces, and Chōsokabe Motochika of the Shikoku provinces, seeing the power of my Oda clan, intend to form an alliance."

"In recent years, the Tiantai and Shingon schools of Buddhism have been stirring up trouble, becoming increasingly hostile towards us, and attempting to incite a rebellion among the people."

"Our supplies are becoming increasingly scarce, and we rely heavily on some of the silver mines under the Tokugawa and Sassa families. If the war continues like this, the manpower and financial resources will be greatly depleted."

"Going forward, the Hokuriku region needs to deal with the Uesugi, the western regions need to suppress the Mori, and the eastern regions need to guard against Tokugawa Ieyasu."

These words made Oda Nobunaga feel somewhat slumped; he pursed his lips tightly, his face as taut as a sugar-coated man.

He knew very well that Shibata's words were not an exaggeration at all; each of them represented a significant crisis for the Oda clan at present.

External threats are manageable, but the most frightening are internal threats, such as those from Tokugawa Ieyasu. Although he was an ally, we still had to be vigilant at all times.

The path to unifying the world is by no means easy.

Shibata Katsuie continued, “We lack support, and if we seek the help of the Portuguese, we will surely be resisted by the various samurai. But if we can seek the assistance of the Ming Dynasty, since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Japan has always been dependent on this celestial empire. Why can’t we do that now?”
With the ironware, porcelain, and silk fabrics abundant in the Ming Dynasty, and by exchanging silver for the necessary resources, what is there to fear in our great undertaking?

Clearly, Shibata Katsuie was far more strategic and insightful than the other generals.

But Oda Nobunaga couldn't get over that hurdle in his heart, and he said angrily.

"Should we swallow our anger? Do you think the Ming people will cooperate with us willingly? What if they betray us?"

“Betrayal?” Shibata Katsuie shook his head. “The arrogance of the Ming people means they will not cooperate with us; they only see trade with us as a reward.”

"My lord!" Shibata Katsuie's eyes turned serious. "You should understand that the important thing is not to completely gain the support of the Ming people, but to prevent them from completely siding with the Mori and Uesugi families!"

These words deeply touched Oda Nobunaga's heart. He let out a long breath, sheathed the samurai sword that had fallen to the ground, and slowly sat down on the stone bench. Looking at the blooming chrysanthemums in the courtyard, he fell into deep thought.

Shibata Katsuie pressed his advantage, kneeling on one knee and bowing.

"My lord, Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms period gained the world through forbearance. If we want to achieve great things, how can we act rashly?"

Oda Nobunaga's lips trembled. He was unwilling to admit it, but he knew all too well the gap between himself and the Ming Dynasty.

Although the Ming Dynasty could not conquer Japan, if it wanted to establish a power within Japan, almost no one could stop it.

Furthermore, the Japanese emperor had already lost his power nearly five hundred years ago, possessing only symbolic rights such as performing sacrifices and appointing honorary titles.

Japanese samurai did not possess the "great righteousness" described by Ming Dynasty literati.

If we're really talking about "righteousness," the words of the Ming Dynasty court, which are recognized and conferred titles, are even more effective than those of the Japanese emperor.

That is the reality; Japan is currently far behind the Ming Dynasty.

Some ambitions can only be buried.

As the autumn wind blows, the colorful chrysanthemums clustered together sway in the breeze, their petals fluttering in the air.

Oda Nobunaga reached out to try and catch the autumn wind made of petals, but he missed. In the end, when he opened his palm, he only managed to grab a dozen or so petals of various colors.

Finally, he sighed and said.

“Send a team of men with our gifts to the Ming Dynasty to visit the Lord Zhang Tongzhi they speak of.”

We must complete this trade with the utmost respect!

Upon hearing this, Shibata Katsuie was overjoyed and immediately lowered his head to say loudly.

"With your illustrious reputation so high, our great undertaking is assured!"

Oda Nobunaga, however, seemed somewhat worried. Looking at the chrysanthemums in the room, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Shibata, these chrysanthemums are indeed beautiful, but they only bloom for one season. Their beauty lasts only a month or two. When the winter winds come, they wither and die."

Shibata Katsuie paused for a moment, then quickly reminded him.

"My lord, these chrysanthemums will still bloom next year."

"Then it is no longer the original chrysanthemum."

Oda Nobunaga looked very sentimental, as if he saw himself in the chrysanthemum.

If he cannot press on with his momentum, then in this Warring States period, he will be like this chrysanthemum, waiting for the winter wind to come, and he will die without a burial place.

The Iwamiyama silver mine is controlled by the Mori family. If this extremely wealthy silver-producing area could be controlled by Oda Nobunaga, he would be even more confident in doing business with the Ming Dynasty.

The Takeda family also controlled silver mines throughout Kai Province, which was also a huge asset.

Unifying the "world" was not only a grand ambition, but also a business deal.

The victor gains glory and all the benefits, while the loser loses everything.

Oda Nobunaga slowly spoke: "I wonder when we will be able to unify Japan."

“My lord! This kind of thing is absolutely intolerable!” Inside a government office at Yuegang Wharf, Portuguese men dressed in linen shirts, tight-fitting breeches, and short boots argued with Deng Yu, the commander of a thousand households, sitting on the platform in broken Chinese.

A Portuguese man wearing a wide-brimmed felt hat bowed and said, "My esteemed sir, the order of Moon Harbor cannot be violated. Now a group of vicious criminals has appeared at sea. For our common good, we hope that you can send troops to help us."

Deng Yu sat in the hall, feeling his brow twitching.

The Portuguese spoke in a high-pitched voice, like a flock of parrots arguing with each other.

He rested one hand on the table, turned his gaze to the Japanese man kneeling and weeping in the corner, and asked curiously.

"Is that what you all think too?"

These Japanese merchants, lacking confidence, bowed and scraped repeatedly to Deng Yu.

"My lord, please do us justice! The sea pirates are truly ruthless; they constantly steal our supplies. If this continues, we will have no way to trade."

Another round of wailing and crying ensued. When Deng Yu thought about how Qi Jiguang had robbed these people, he found it somewhat amusing, but his face remained calm and composed.

He shook his head and said.

"Gentlemen, it is not that I do not wish to help you, but it is truly difficult for a wise ruler like myself. The Ming Dynasty is a country governed by rites and etiquette, and there is no reason to change the established rules."

At this point, Deng Yu also started shaking his head and swaying his body, imitating the way civil officials speak in a high-pitched voice.

"The imperial court has long issued a decree that no plank can go to sea. Apart from my Yuegang, is there any other place in the Ming Dynasty where the sea can be opened?"
I have been entrusted by His Majesty and the court to guard Zhangzhou Port and assist in the management of Yuegang Port. How could I easily go out to sea?
"These sea pirates have always existed. Why were you able to trade before, but now you can't?"

After hearing these official words, even Deng Yu himself felt secretly pleased.

The Japanese and Portuguese were dizzy from listening, and only with the help of the translator beside them could they barely understand what Deng Yu meant.

The Portuguese seemed to lack the willpower to argue, since these pirates had no impact on them.

But the Japanese merchants became anxious. One of them, named Sato Kaisuke, stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed.

"My lord! This matter is not so simple. In our opinion, those pirates are no ordinary pirates. Their ships are well-equipped and appear to be..."

He didn't dare say "Great Ming" aloud, but instead repeatedly cupped his hands in a pleading tone.

"My lord! If possible, please help us report this immediately. We will certainly offer a generous reward. Restoring peace to this waterway would also benefit Moonport and your country."

It seems that, in the eyes of these Japanese, the pirates who have recently risen to power at sea are more like those from the Ming Dynasty's navy, and who knows if they are just some people lining their own pockets.

Their complaint was not solely for their own sake, but also for the sake of the integrity of the Ming Dynasty's navy.

Why is this commander so stubbornly unenlightened?

Deng Yu found it somewhat amusing, but he put on a stern face, slammed his hand on the desk, and said angrily.

"You audacious Japanese! How dare you presume to comment on the military affairs of our Great Ming Dynasty? If you dare to utter such arrogant words again, I will drag you away and give you twenty lashes!"

Sato Kaisuke trembled slightly as he said, "Sir, we did indeed see that the ship was exactly the same as your country's ship—even in this harbor..."

He wanted to say that he had seen those ships from the best vantage point in the harbor more than once, and they were almost identical to the ones that had robbed him.

Judging from the current situation, it seems that the Ming people are no longer even willing to pretend?

Deng Yu glared at him, looking furious, and said angrily.

"You audacious madman! How dare you slander the Ming Dynasty navy? Would the Ming Dynasty navy become thieves? This is utterly absurd."

What evidence do you have to prove that this is a ship from our Great Ming Dynasty?

"But..." Sato Kaisuke wanted to argue, but he was intimidated by Deng Yu's gaze. He knew that if he continued, he would really suffer the consequences.

Sato Kaisuke gritted his teeth, and the pent-up frustration in his heart burst forth, making him almost cry.

The people of the Ming Dynasty were utterly shameless!
idiot!

What a bully!
Even though he held back, Deng Yu still had no intention of letting him go, and slammed his hand on the table and said.

"This man is arrogant! Guards! Drag this Japanese man away and give him twenty lashes as a warning to others!"

Two soldiers immediately rushed over and dragged Sato Kaisuke, who was terrified and collapsed like a rag doll, away.

The Japanese merchants fell silent, turning their pleading eyes to the Portuguese.

However, the Portuguese who received the money did not work hard. They all pretended to be sad, but did not do anything.

"Sir! You are being far too rough!"

"The Ming Dynasty is a civilized nation; please forgive the rudeness of these lowly people, sir."

"Let them pay some silver, sir, to have their punishment waived."

It looks like they're speaking up for the Japanese, but it actually sounds more like they're stirring up trouble.

The Japanese merchants only emerged from the garrison after paying a full five hundred taels of silver.

At that moment, Sato Kaisuke was sitting on the oxcart, being pushed forward.

By the time the Japanese merchants decided to forgive him with silver, poor Sato Kaisuke had already been beaten ten times, his buttocks were bruised and bleeding.

Sato Kaisuke looked like he was on the verge of death, but he was still cursing as he was pushed away.

At first, the Japanese merchants were terrified, fearing that Deng Yu would cause trouble again, so they stuffed a stinky foot-binding cloth into Sato Kaisuke's mouth.

After walking two miles, they found that Sato Kaisuke was on the verge of death, so they quickly pulled out the foot bindings.

Having finally regained some consciousness, Sato Kaisuke started cursing again.

"Despicable Ming Dynasty people! Baka!"

"My buttocks! My buttocks!"

“The shameless Ming people must have been that wicked official who stole our goods from us.”

Upon hearing this, the Japanese merchants exchanged glances, each seeing a look of helplessness in the other's eyes.

A Japanese merchant comforted him, saying, "Mr. Sato, please don't be angry anymore. The Ming Dynasty is a superior nation, and has always been extremely noble. It's natural for them to be a little arrogant. You can only blame yourselves for being Japanese."

"Yes, yes~ Sato-kun and the others should leave first and go do business elsewhere~"

"Sato-kun, you have to pay us back those five hundred taels of silver."

One of the Japanese merchants mentioned the thing he cared about most: a full five hundred taels of silver.

But Sato Kaisuke ignored him and said through gritted teeth.

"No way! I absolutely refuse to admit defeat! Those damned Ming people, I'm going back to gather more pirates and come back to rob them all!"

A Japanese merchant chuckled and shook his head: "Sato-kun, do you have any large Ming Dynasty ships? Their ships seem to have been improved, making them even faster than the Portuguese ships, and their firearms are even more powerful. Are you looking to die?"

The Japanese merchants were well aware of the strength of that "pirate" group. Even the Portuguese were wary of them, let alone the Japanese.

But Sato Kaisuke seemed unconvinced and waved his hand as he spoke.

"I must take revenge! Even if the Ming Dynasty's ships are powerful, we can seek help from Lord Mori. He will definitely help us!"

The other Japanese merchants shook their heads, all thinking that Sato Kaisuke was a madman.

(End of this chapter)