Di Ming

Chapter 323 Two hundred years later, the Ming Dynasty envoys re-enter Heian-kyo!
The Seto Inland Sea is of vital importance to Japan, serving as the inland sea connecting Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku, and is considered the cradle of Japanese civilization.

The Seto Inland Sea is to Japan what the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers are to China.

The Seto Inland Sea facilitates travel between the three islands. Furthermore, this world-class fishing ground provides abundant seafood, allowing Japan, with its limited arable land and food shortages, to continue its prosperity and growth.

Zhu Yin, Xu Wei, and others were aboard an Atakebune. This was a unique Japanese main warship, with two decks, a displacement of 400 tons, and a full complement of more than 200 sailors.

The Japanese do have some tricks up their sleeves.

On a warship with a crew of over two hundred men, the division of labor was very detailed. In addition to the admiral, helmsman, oarsmen, sailors, archers, arquebusiers, gunners, melee fighters, and even two doctors.

But now, only the oarsmen and sailors remain to be lent to the mission.

The large cannons (artillery) that were equipped on it were also removed, as were the protective bamboo armor and wooden planks.

Although Hideyoshi had unified Japan and issued the "Order to Cease Piracy," the pirates in the Seto Inland Sea were not completely eradicated. For safety's sake, Zhu Yin and the others dared not be careless.

Looking at the Seto Inland Sea, which is over a hundred miles wide and nine hundred miles long, Zhu Yin couldn't help but feel a little envious.

China has a long coastline and many coastal provinces, but it lacks an inland sea. If China had an inland sea, it could greatly alleviate famine.

...

Two days later, a fleet flying the banner of Hachiman passed through the Noshima Strait. Zhu Yin turned east and saw a castle on an island: Noshima Castle.

Noshima Castle is a famous seaside castle in Japan because it not only guards the main east-west passage of the Seto Inland Sea, but also has a large shipyard.

Japan’s two largest and most important shipbuilding bases today are the Murakami Naval Shipyard in Nojima Castle and the Kuki Naval Shipyard in Ise Bay.

The Japanese army that invaded Korea mostly used ships manufactured in these two places.

Today, the two shipyards are still building new ships in a continuous stream.

At this time, the fleet was only a few miles away from Nengdao Sea City, and the noise of ship construction could be faintly heard.

Zhu Yin took out the telescope made in Daishan and clearly saw that in the huge shipyard in the coastal harbor, there were many newly launched ships, and the painters were painting them.

The warships included Atakebune with a displacement of several hundred tons and Sekibune with a displacement of over one hundred tons. There were also more Kohachi, which had a displacement of tens of tons, a crew of twenty, and were highly maneuverable; there were more than two hundred of them.

With so many new warships already launched, they can arm at least ten thousand naval personnel.

There were also large vessels used for transportation, such as the Kitamae-bune and Benzai-bune.

These brand-new ships were intended by Japan to replenish frontline losses and serve as backup vessels in case the war escalated; they were part of its strategic reserves.

According to Huya's intelligence, the shipyard now has enough new ships to transport 30,000 Japanese troops to Korea in one go.

These new ships would be needed if the large number of Japanese troops remaining in Japan were to reinforce Korea.

A cold smile crept onto Zhu Yin's lips.

Build it carefully, take your time.

...

Because the Seto Inland Sea is an inland sea, the wind is weak, and the terrain is complex with many islands, so the boat speed is relatively slow.

Along the way, we often saw Japanese fishermen in their boats, singing fishing songs:
"A fisherman goes out alone in his small boat to catch tuna, and his whereabouts are nowhere to be found, which makes me very worried."

"The village chief urges me to pay taxes, the lord urges me to pay them. The snow falls heavily on the boat, and I dare not return home without fish."

Despite the freezing weather and biting winds at sea, the fishermen are still working hard to catch fish.

Zhu Yin, hearing the fishermen's song, seemed lost in thought. He translated it for Xu Wei, who then said solemnly:
"My lord, this is like the giant rat in the Book of Wei, the seventh month in the Book of Bin, and the bustling hawk's feathers in the Book of Tang. The Japanese people are suffering greatly, and the taxes are heavy. How many more years can Toyotomi Hideyoshi fight this war?"

"If our lord were to attack Japan, he would be relieving the people from their suffering, and would be a saint."

...

The fleet continued its winding voyage, and three days later, they finally came upon a large island the size of a continent.

"My lord," Xu Wei approached Zhu Yin and whispered, "is that large island the Awaji Island you mentioned?"

Xu Wei had seen Zhu Yin's map of Japan and was already very familiar with Japanese geography. He guessed that the island should be Awaji Island, the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea.

Zhu Yin nodded and said, "Sir, you are very thoughtful. This is indeed Awaji Island. Its northern tip is only eight miles from the coast of Honshu, and its southern tip is less than three miles from Shikoku Island."

Xu Wei smiled mysteriously, "So, if a fleet is split in two, occupying the north and south straits respectively, the Seto Inland Sea can be locked down. Then, if the Japanese fleet in the Tsushima Strait wants to return to reinforce..."

Zhu Yin's eyes lit up. "What have you thought of, sir?"

Xu Wei's gaze was clear and calm. "Our main fleet will not blockade the North and South Straits of Awaji Island for now. After we seize Osaka Castle, we will go to Ise Bay to burn and plunder ships."

"Our fleet will then attack the Japanese shipyard on Nodo Island, thereby drawing the Japanese navy into pursuit."

"In this way, the Japanese navy in the Tsushima Strait will definitely take a shortcut, returning eastward to reinforce from the Seto Inland Sea..."

Zhu Yin immediately understood.

"Does the gentleman mean that once the Japanese navy enters the Seto Inland Sea and reaches the vicinity of Awaji Island, our two fleets will be able to blockade the North and South Straits?"

Xu Wei smiled and stroked his beard without saying a word.

Zhu Yin almost slammed his fist on the table in admiration. Xu Wei's tactical deception was truly insidious.

Moreover, it was an open conspiracy. The Japanese fleet had gone too far to bypass Kyushu Island; they would definitely return to reinforce via the Kanmon Strait.

If the Japanese army chooses the shortcut to return to reinforce, they will fall into Xu Wei's tactical deception.

When they arrived at Awaji Island, almost reaching Osaka, the Jinghai Navy fleet had just returned from the east and blocked the north and south straits of Awaji Island.

As a result, the Japanese reinforcement fleet was trapped in the Seto Inland Sea and unable to advance eastward.

In other words, they spent seven days traveling from the Tsushima Strait to Awaji Island, only to have it all for nothing and waste seven days!
Even more critically, the Japanese reinforcement fleet was left with only two options: either be forced into a decisive naval battle with the Jingtai Navy fleet.

They could either turn back and take the same route out of the Seto Inland Sea.

Both of these options were extremely disadvantageous for the Japanese fleet's return.

Although the Eight Flagship Fleet was small in number, its ships were well-equipped with powerful guns, its tactics were advanced, and it had secured advantageous positions in advance, allowing it to wait for the enemy to tire itself out. The Japanese fleet, which had come from afar, was forced to engage in a head-on battle with the Eight Flagship Navy, and was destined to suffer heavy losses.

If we don't choose to fight to the death, but instead take the back route out of the Seto Inland Sea, it will take even more time, and the round trip will take half a month!
Wasting so much time at sea and taking so many detours, the Japanese fleet would not only be exhausted, but would also be of no use in providing rescue.

In just half a month, what kind of mess will the Kansai and Kanto regions, lacking naval protection, be in?
"Sir, this move..." Zhu Yin didn't know what to say. "It's too vicious."

Zhu Yin could only describe Xu Wei's strategy as ruthless.

The original plan, while also quite ingenious, didn't include this particular tactic. Xu Wei's addition of this move elevated the entire tactical plan to a whole new level.

Xu Wei laughed and said, "Although our fleet only has a little over 10,000 men, it can at least hold its own against a Japanese fleet of 30,000. If the Japanese send too many reinforcements, they will have difficulty suppressing the Korean fleet; if they send too few, they will be no match for us. This time, we have them cornered. The naval battle is already decided; the key is on land!"

Zhu Yin nodded. Xu Wei was right. This time, the outcome at sea was no longer in doubt. With their plans in mind and their opponents caught off guard, the Japanese fleet would definitely suffer a great loss.

The Japanese army knew almost nothing about the Eight Banners Navy. Conversely, the Eight Banners Navy knew the Japanese navy very well and had been training specifically against it for a long time. How many men did the Japanese navy have? At most, only a little over 40,000.

They only had 40,000 warships for their navy.

The Korean navy had 10,000 men, while the Ming navy had 8,000 men fighting in Korea. The Japanese army had to leave half of them behind in order to ensure control of the Tsushima Strait.

Therefore, the Japanese navy that returned to reinforce numbered at most 20,000.

The result can be imagined.

But it's different on land!

Xu Wei added, "On land... we'll use five thousand native soldiers as the vanguard to fight tough battles. The Eight Banner soldiers are precious; every one they die is a loss. But these Luzon natives, we won't feel bad if they die."

Zhu Yin: “…”

Although Zhu Yin thought the same way, he never said it aloud.

...

After bypassing Awaji Island, Zhu Yin took the opportunity to observe it carefully with his binoculars, memorizing everything.

On the afternoon of the second day, after six days of sailing, the fleet finally arrived at Osaka Prefecture, the easternmost point of the Seto Inland Sea.

However, Osaka Castle is not located on the coast, but rather inland, about ten miles from the sea, and is connected to the Seto Inland Sea via the Yodo River.

So the fleet entered the mouth of the Dianchuan River and sailed upstream. After more than ten miles, they saw a majestic mountain city nestled against the mountains and by the water.

What a magnificent city!
Today, Osaka Castle is Japan's most prosperous commercial capital and the largest castle in Japan. Including the castle town, it has a population of 200,000 and all industries are thriving.

After Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle, he forcibly relocated merchants from Sakai to Osaka, creating the largest commercial city in the country. As a result, wealthy merchants flocked to the city, making it extremely luxurious. Hundreds of merchant ships came and went at Tempozan Port every day.

More importantly, Osaka Castle was also the capital of the samurai regime at that time.

Of course, Osaka Castle was also an important intelligence site for the Tiger Fang agents, and it was also the earliest intelligence site to be established.

According to Huya's intelligence, Osaka Castle has a triple defense system. The moat is over 20 zhang wide, the stone walls are 6 zhang high, and the castle tower is equipped with as many as 300 firing ports, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The city is garrisoned with 8,000 troops and has stockpiled 100,000 catties of gunpowder and 300,000 shi of grain, which can sustain a long-term siege.

Osaka Castle was connected not only to the Seto Inland Sea via the Yodo River, but also to Kyoto, which was 90 miles away, and Nara, which was 60 miles away, via the Yodo River.

The three famous cities are all within a hundred miles of each other.

As soon as the fleet docked, many people braved the snow to greet them at Osaka Castle, and an honor guard was sent from the castle gate to the Osaka dock.

They came to welcome Cha Cha, not the Ming Dynasty delegation.

Zhu Yin would not enter the city; he had no plans to stay in Osaka. His destination was Kyoto, Japan.

Chacha really wanted to invite Zhu Yin to visit Osaka Castle, but she couldn't reveal her relationship with Zhu Yin, so she had to give up.

She could only secretly write to a high-ranking official in Kyoto with whom she had a good relationship, asking him to treat Zhu Yin well.

After Chacha returned to Osaka Castle, the delegation's ships continued upstream towards Kyoto.

Along the way, we frequently encountered rice transport ships from Kyoto to Osaka, known as the "kitchen of the world," and heard the "Yodogawa boat songs" filled with the atmosphere of merchants.

It was unclear which wealthy merchant's ship it belonged to, but the faint sounds of Kabuki singing and Kyogen actors' exaggerated voices could be heard drifting from it.

Along the snow-covered banks, teahouses, taverns, brothels, theaters, and docks could be seen from time to time, seemingly unfazed by the cold and bustling with activity despite the severe chill.

In the low-lying houses along the riverbank, a quiet and fragile Japanese girl, like a paper doll, sits by the window gazing at the chilly river, like a silhouette.

A boy who aspired to be a samurai would leap and shout in the snow, wielding a wooden sword, building a snowman, and then beheading it with the sword.

A young woman washing clothes by the river, breaking the ice, spoke as if she were making a wish to the kappa (a mythical creature).

A man hunting in the snow on the riverbank and hillside, accompanied by his hunting dogs, mimics the "yoyo" of a deer with remarkable skill.

There are also shrine maidens holding a snow festival at the shore shrine, dressed in white kimonos and vermilion kimonos, with red headbands, shaking kagura bells, and gracefully dancing the kagura dance on the altar.

At lunchtime, smoke rose from the riverbank, drifting like light clouds dancing in the snow.

Looking at all this, Xu Wei suddenly said, "My lord, if the Japanese are really this peaceful and quiet, that's not bad."

"Who says Japan is a useless place? It's a fertile land overseas."

"Unfortunately, when war breaks out, everything perishes."

Xu Wei's words carried a hint of desolation.

Zhu Yin turned around and smiled, "Is your novel 'The Chronicles of Summer Gods' nearing completion?"

"Complete?" Xu Wei smiled upon hearing this. "It's still a bit short. It should be almost finished when I return from Japan."

"Let 'The Chronicles of Summer Gods' take care of all these random Japanese gods and spirits. 'The Chronicles of Summer Gods' will also explain their origins."

Zhu Yin nodded in agreement. Xu Wei was truly brilliant; this Shaoxing advisor was exceptionally talented, a born top-tier strategist.

This is someone who, given just a few reminders, can apply what they've learned to other situations and ultimately far exceed your expectations.

He actually intends to use Chinese mythology to explain and modify the origins of Japanese mythology through "The Chronicles of Summer Gods".

Even in mythology, China is the mother of Japan. This is a cultural project that undermines Japan's very foundation.

Once "Summer God Chronicles" becomes a huge hit after its publication and spreads for decades, many Japanese people will believe that even their souls originally belonged to China.

Osaka is only 90 miles from Kyoto. Although it was an inland river journey, we still arrived at Fushimi Port, south of Kyoto, the next day.

Guided by the Japanese rowers, the group disembarked, crossed the Uji Bridge built during the Heian period, and headed towards Heian-kyo (Kyoto).

This is a strategically important area in the capital region of Japan. Along the official road, one can see large, well-organized manors, which are the territories of the imperial family and court nobles.

Although it is Kyoto, the defenses here are not very strong, far less so than those at Nagoya and Osaka Castle.

The delegation changed horses and bypassed the newly built Fushimi Castle. Zhu Yin looked at Mount Amida in the distance and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

That Mount Amida is where Hideyoshi's tomb is located. After his death at Fushimi Castle, his tomb was very simple, a stark contrast to his extravagant life, truly "born like dew, gone like dew".

The delegation continued north, trudging through the snow, passing Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and finally came into view a magnificent and ancient castle.

Heian-kyo, the ancient capital of Japan!

The 400-person delegation had long attracted the attention of the nobles in the capital region. Although the delegation was carried out with the formalities of an envoy, patrolling Japanese troops still "escorted" them all the way to the city walls.

However, Zhu Yin only handed over the official document signed by Hideyoshi, and the gatekeeper quickly received them, allowing the delegation to enter the Luocheng Gate, where envoys were received, without any problems.

Nearly two hundred years after the fourth year of the Yongle reign, Ming Dynasty envoys have once again entered Heian-kyo!

(End of this chapter)