Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

That place was already poor.

The area is mostly mountainous, with few local specialties.

Annual tribute from the area surrounding the capital and the Omoriyama region

In fact, it was less than a thousand taels of silver.

Since Da Ming likes it,

Then let's rent it out.

Anyway, other areas of Iwami Province,

We can take it back without bloodshed.

This is currently the most advantageous solution.

Back at Sifangguan,

The Japanese envoys began to discuss the matter.

Fujiwara Ienari said, "The Ming Dynasty only wants Iwami Castle and Mount Ōmori."

"Just give it to them."

"And it's only a lease; it's still Japanese territory,"

"It will not be a loss of face for the nation."

"Rent out Iwami Kunijo,"

“We can also build the capital city in other places.”

Oe Koreyuki asked with doubt, "What exactly is the Ming Dynasty's purpose?"

"They launched a military campaign across the sea, but only leased two plots of land,"

"It's a completely unprofitable business."

Taira no Tadamasa said, "My elder brother personally went to Iwami Castle to investigate."

"I've heard that the Ming emperor sought immortality,"

"Send the Onmyoji to Mount Omori to seek immortals."

"Perhaps the Ming Dynasty would lease Daqingshan even at a loss,"

"It's all for obtaining the elixir of immortality."

"That must be it. I heard they even killed the monks of Mount Omori."

The monk Yuanxin was quite alarmed by this.

In the event of missing information,

These messengers discussed it repeatedly.

Everyone agreed that the loan was negotiable.

Moreover, it is the best way to solve the problem.

On the Japanese side,

The two plots of land were leased out.

It's even more profitable than the annual tribute in the past.

Winter of the fourth year of the Hongwu reign.

The fourth year of Hongwu's reign, which was about to turn a new page

Nothing major seems to have happened.

Thus, the Ming Dynasty occupied Iwami Province.

And Yelü Dashi was defeated by the Jin army.

Even though the imperial court spent a lot of money and grain,

130,000 immigrants moved to Youzhou.

But the expenses were still very small compared to those of war.

After only one year of truce,

The national treasury gradually became fuller.

Much of the grain tax was not delivered to the capital.

Instead, they were stored in the Ever-Normal Granaries in various provinces.

Ships of grain departed from Shandong.

Passing through Tamna Island in Goryeo,

Then it was transferred to Tsushima Island and transported to Iwami Kunijo.

They were all private merchant ships.

As long as the grain is transported there...

You can then exchange them for salt or tea permits.

In fact, Zhao Yuan was encouraging maritime trade.

The northern shipping route for Sino-Japanese trade has been restarted.

Now businessmen are taking this path.

They were just helping the army transport food.

After gradually tasting the sweetness,

People will spontaneously set sail.

After all, as many as four thousand officials, soldiers, and craftsmen were sent out.

A large amount of supplies are needed every year.

Chapter 3239 Trade Among Powerful Clans

Besides transporting goods for government personnel,

They could also trade with local powerful clans in Japan.

Merchants in the Ming Dynasty could make money as long as they dared to take risks.

To address the merchants' concerns,

The Ming Dynasty navy also provided escort services twice.

This so-called escort,

They did not follow the merchant ships.

Instead, they headed straight for the pirate lairs in Japan and Korea.

Japan's Kyushu islands were rife with pirates.

Especially the surrounding islands of Nagasaki, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima.

These pirates had no fixed destination.

Sometimes they would go to the coast of Korea to rob people.

Sometimes they intercept Chinese merchant ships.

He even occasionally goes for a stroll in the Seto Inland Sea.

Emperor Shirakawa repeatedly sent troops to fight pirates.

Ying Xuan, Yang Yao, and other naval commanders under Zhong Xiang,

They have now all been transferred to the Ming Dynasty Navy.

Sailing around the western Sea of ​​Japan

They would beat up any non-Ming ships they encountered.

.....

In fact, the most convenient shipping route for trade between China and Japan is...

It is the Great Ocean Road, which crosses the ocean directly.

Between two points, a straight line is the shortest.

It usually takes ten days.

If everything goes smoothly, it will be even faster.

The fastest record of Chinese maritime merchants during the Tang Dynasty

It took three days and three nights to travel from Mingzhou (Ningbo) to Kobe.

The fastest record of Japanese envoys to Tang China

It took four days and three nights to travel from Kobe to Mingzhou.

But now there are two problems,

First, this route is the most dangerous.

A storm may occur;

Secondly, there were too many pirates in Japan.

Armed operations must be carried out periodically.

After the Ming Dynasty navy achieved success in suppressing pirates,

The biggest beneficiary among the people,

Actually, it was those Zhejiang maritime merchants.

When the Japanese delegation visited Kaifeng, Zhao Xiaozhong had already continued his advance without stopping.

Next target: Sado Island.

There is the Sado Gold Mine there.

Sado Gold Mine does not refer to any specific mine.

It is a collective term for fifty-five mines.

There are gold, silver and copper mines.

Sado Island during the Edo period

During the peak of mining

It produces 400 kilograms of gold and 40 tons of silver annually.

More than 50,000 people work in the mining industry on the island!

Similarly, Iwami Ginzan also has gold and copper mines.

Historically, after the gold and silver mines in Iwami Province were exhausted,

They continued to mine copper for many years.

In the spring of the fifth year of the Hongwu reign, the accumulated snow melted away.

An old prospecting craftsman from Fujian

Looking down at the vast expanse of silver mine caps,

The sight before me made me question the meaning of life.

"Are these all silver mines?"

Zhao Xiaozhong also had a blank expression.

The old craftsman nodded: "It's a silver mine."

Zhao Xiaozhong said incredulously, "We'll choose the nearest bay to land."