Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The foundation of the empire in the southwest is becoming increasingly solid. Copper and silver are flowing like water, and tea and horses are like dragons. The discovery of mercury mines has further sharpened the empire's sword with a deadly edge.

However, when Xiao Chen's gaze shifted from the miasma of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to the vast blue waves of the southeastern sea, what he saw was not calm and tranquil.

Nanjing, as a secondary capital, was also a place where wealth gathered in Jiangnan.

Since Xiao Chen ascended the throne, although he has implemented reforms, his main focus has been on the northern border troops, the war in the northwest, and the management of the southwest. Control over the southeast coast, especially maritime trade, still largely relies on the old system—tax collection by the Maritime Trade Office, and the maintenance of superficial order by a few "maritime merchants" (who were actually powerful figures who were both merchants and pirates). Sporadic Japanese pirate raids were mostly dealt with by local garrisons, and were not eradicated.

But in the last six months, the situation has taken a sharp turn for the worse.

First, more than ten large-scale "Japanese pirate" attacks occurred in major trading ports such as Ningbo and Taizhou in Zhejiang Province, and Quanzhou and Zhangzhou in Fujian Province.

These Japanese pirates were no longer the scattered, looting groups of the past. Instead, they were organized in large numbers, numbering in the dozens or thousands, with a tight organization and cunning tactics. They specifically targeted merchant ships carrying tax silver from the Maritime Trade Office or those laden with silk and porcelain.

They not only looted property, but also began to target coastal garrisons, burn shipyards, kidnap craftsmen, and even besieged county towns at one point.

Even more disturbingly, according to secret reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Maritime Trade Office, the equipment of these Japanese pirates was significantly more sophisticated.

Many of them were equipped with fine Japanese swords and arquebuses, and their ships were larger and faster, clearly indicating a stable supply source and support behind them.

"Your Majesty, something is wrong."

The newly appointed commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Luo Sigong, presented a secret report with a grave expression: "According to the scattered confessions of the captured Japanese pirate leaders, and reports from our spies in Hirado (Nagasaki's outer port, which was a center of smuggling trade at the time), this large-scale invasion by the Japanese pirates is likely being manipulated by a powerful daimyo from Japan's Sengoku period!"

"Warring States period daimyo?"

Xiao Chen's eyes sharpened. He was well-versed in history and knew that Japan at this time was in the brutal "Warring States Period," with warlords (daimyo) fighting each other incessantly.

Some coastal daimyo, such as the Shimazu and Otomo clans of Kyushu, and the Ouchi and Mori clans of western Honshu, had long set their sights on the wealthy coastal areas of the Ming Dynasty in order to raise funds for their armies.

Supporting or even organizing Japanese pirate raids was an important means for them to acquire wealth and resources.

"Which one specifically?" Xiao Chen pressed.

"Currently, the most likely suspects seem to be the Tsu clan of Kyushu and the Mori clan of western Japan."

Luo Sigong replied, "The Shimazu clan dominates southern Kyushu, possesses a powerful navy, and has always coveted the profits from trade with the Ming Dynasty. The Mori clan controls western Honshu and maintains close ties with private merchants from the Ming Dynasty."

Reportedly, the two parties seem to have reached some kind of tacit agreement, with the two providing ships, weapons, and even some samurai as the core, and uniting with some major pirates along the coast, such as the remnants of Wang Zhi and the former subordinates of Xu Dong, to organize this new Japanese pirate force.

Their purpose is probably not just to plunder property...

"Go on."

"They seem to be intentionally cutting off our dynasty's maritime trade with Southeast Asia and the West."

Pointing to the nautical chart, Luo Sigong said, "The recent attacks have all occurred precisely on shipping routes where merchant ships gather or depart. Moreover, there are indications that they are attempting to establish outposts on some remote islands off the coast of Zhoushan, intending to blockade the southeastern coast in the long term!"

"Blockade maritime trade?"

Xiao Chen sneered, "It seems you're envious of the tax revenue from my Maritime Trade Office and the silver in the hands of those maritime merchants. You want to use pirate tactics to force me to submit, or simply snatch the initiative in maritime trade from my hands?"

"Your Majesty is wise."

Zhang Juzheng added with great concern, "Half of the taxes from the southeast come from maritime trade. If the sea routes are cut off, not only will customs duties plummet, but there will also be nowhere to sell the silk, porcelain, tea, and other products from Jiangnan, inevitably leading to market depression and widespread peasant uprisings. More importantly, many military supplies and materials required by Your Majesty's new laws need to be imported from Southeast Asia and the West. If these are cut off..."

"Moreover," Xiao Chen continued, his tone icy, "they kidnapped artisans and burned down shipyards, trying to sever the foundation of our shipbuilding industry! It seems this is no longer a simple pirate raid, but an organized and premeditated maritime invasion! The Japanese daimyo behind it has no small ambition!"

He stood up and walked to the huge "Complete Map of the World" in front of him, his gaze sweeping between the East China Sea and the Japanese archipelago.

"The threat of Japanese pirates existed in previous dynasties and has not been eradicated in this dynasty either. However, this time is different from the past."

Xiao Chen said slowly, "What was once a minor ailment has now become a deep-seated problem. Behind them are powerful vassal states from the chaotic Warring States period, their ambitions at their peak, filled with desperate outlaws. If we allow them to grow stronger, the southeastern half of the country will never have peace! Our nation's coastal borders will become someone else's backyard!"

"Luo Sigong!"

"Your subject is here!"

"Dispatch more elite personnel to infiltrate Japan, focusing on investigating Shimazu in Kyushu, the Mori clan in western Japan, and Hirado. I want to find out which groups are behind this, how strong their alliance is, where their supply lines are, and where their hideout is!"

"Zhang Juzheng!"

"Your subject is here!"

"Immediately, in my name, order the governors and generals of all southeastern provinces to be on high alert. If any Japanese pirates invade, they must resolutely fight back, without needing further instructions! For each enemy killed, a reward of ten taels of silver will be given! For each enemy ship destroyed, a reward of one hundred taels of silver will be given, and the official will be promoted one rank! Those who fear the enemy and fail to advance will be executed!"

"Furthermore," a cold glint flashed in Xiao Chen's eyes, "issue an edict to the eunuch in charge of the Jinling garrison, ordering him to investigate thoroughly how many of those so-called 'maritime merchants' in the southeast have any shady dealings with the Japanese pirates and those Japanese daimyo! Arrest every single one!"

"As you command!"

The order was transmitted to the southeast like thunder.

However, Xiao Chen knew that simply defending and investigating would only address the symptoms, not the root cause.

Japanese pirates came and went like the wind at sea.

The southeast coastline is long and difficult to defend against.

To defeat the Japanese pirates, a powerful naval force capable of taking the initiative is needed.

However, at present, the navy of the Great Xia is still at the level of the previous dynasty. The ships are old and the tactics are backward. It is mainly used for inland river and coastal defense. It is no match for the Japanese pirates who have been at sea for many years and have fast ships and powerful cannons.

"It's time to build a naval force that truly belongs to Great Xia."

Xiao Chen muttered to himself, a plan gradually taking shape in his mind. This power could not rely solely on the slow shipbuilding efforts of the imperial court; it was necessary to integrate the existing forces scattered among the people.

Those "maritime merchants" who were both merchants and pirates were difficult to control, but they were the group of people who were most familiar with the ocean and most proficient in maritime affairs in this era.

They might be a double-edged sword.

The key is how to grip the hilt of the sword.