The Ming Dynasty: A Modern Return, Building an Overseas Empire

Zhu Gaochi personally led a large army from outside the capital region of Japan.

After the battle with Ashikaga Yoshimochi, the Japanese army suffered heavy losses, and there was almost no resistance or defense all the way to the Kinai region.

In that battle, the Ming army officially gained control of Naniwa Bay and Awaji Island.

The passageway from Kii to this place was completely opened up, and the Japanese navy was almost wiped out.

Zhu Gaochi is currently leading his army towards Naniwa, the heart of Japan.

Naniwa is now the capital of Japan.

"What is Ashikaga Yoshimochi doing? He's not even making a hasty retreat; does he still think he can hold out and launch a counterattack?"

Inside the camp, Zhu Gaoxu complained with a look of confusion and impatience.

Ashikaga Yoshimochi is really out of touch with reality.

In the last battle, he deliberately let this person go, and now he has slowed down his march to give Ashikaga Yoshimochi more time to run.

But the person didn't make any move.

Zhu Gaoxu was quite worried for this person.

He didn't want to kill Ashikaga Yoshimochi at this time, but he always felt that this man was destined to die at his hands at this moment.

Sheng Jian, Wei Da, Qian Xun, Jin Rong, and the others below looked at each other, none of them daring to say a word.

Zhu Gaoxu glanced at them and gave up on expecting any advice from them.

They're all good at fighting, but when it comes to strategizing, they can figure it out themselves.

A short while later, Zhu Huan hurried over.

"Your Highness, in the previous battle, there was a prisoner named Hosokawa Ono. Do you remember him?"

"Hmm? Hosokawa Ono? The one who sent me gold and jewelry?"

Zhu Gaoxu didn't think of it for a moment, but then it suddenly dawned on him.

But then she frowned and looked at Zhu Huan with a puzzled expression.

"I remember this person. What's wrong?"

"I'm telling you, don't give him any special treatment. Deal with him as you see fit!"

Zhu Gaoxu thought that Zhu Huan was displeased because of this particular trait of Zhu Huan.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Huan shook his head and said, "Your Highness, it's not for those reasons."

"Isn't Your Highness worried about why Ashikaga Yoshimochi didn't escape? Perhaps this Hosokawa Ono can help Your Highness."

"Hmm? Tell me more."

Zhu Gaoxu became interested when this was mentioned.

Zhu Huan said softly, "Your Highness, since Hosokawa Ono is willing to surrender, I think we can let him go back to Ashikaga Yoshimochi's side."

Let Hosokawa Ono persuade Ashikaga Yoshimochi, so that the prince can achieve what he wants.

Now that the Hosokawa clan members are either captured or killed, Hosokawa Ono will return and reunite the Hosokawa clan, and Ashikaga Yoshimochi will surely give him an important position.

With this person by his side, the prince can accomplish whatever he desires through this person.

However, to prevent this person from getting away, I suggest that we select a few people to accompany him.

If this person dares to have any other intentions, we can deal with them on the spot!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu's eyes lit up.

He didn't really care about those who surrendered.

His current focus is on this plain and its surrounding area; he can't afford to pay attention to other places.

Conquering the entire Japanese kingdom would be a burden for him.

In this situation, even if someone surrenders, he will not accept it directly.

But now that Hosokawa Ono is doing this, the meaning is different.

Isn't this like having a pillow when you're sleepy?

Zhu Gaoxu did not hesitate and looked directly at Luo Li.

"Rolly, go down and work with Hosokawa Ono to finalize this matter. Also, assign a few more men to stay with him. Make sure Ashikaga Yoshimochi doesn't become suspicious!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

After Luo Li left, Zhu Gaoxu was in a great mood and looked at Zhu Huan.

"You've come at the right time; you now know the situation here."

This is a plain, and also a place with concentrated farmland, making it very suitable for living.

"Now we will begin relocating people from the Ming Dynasty here. At the same time, you should survey and register all the farmland here so that land can be allocated to the arriving people."

"Your Highness, I'm already working on it, but it will take some time."

If we start bringing people from the Ming Dynasty over now, we'll probably need to rebuild the city. In particular, before building the city, we'll need to set up resettlement points to ensure temporary accommodation for the people after they arrive.

Regarding supplies, my subordinates have already taken inventory; everything seized from Japan has been stored in the warehouse.

Another matter concerns the handling and resettlement of these prisoners and the original Japanese civilians. Your Highness is unsure how to deal with them. I humbly request your guidance.

Zhu Huan's expression turned solemn; the real focus was about to begin.

Relocating the people who were originally brought here means that all sorts of problems will arise later.

If a problem arises anywhere, it is extremely easy for people's morale to waver.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu showed no sign of seriousness; instead, he laughed.

"Zhu Huan, remember this and strictly follow my instructions!"

The original inhabitants and prisoners were all enslaved and divided into three classes.

The lowest class consists of people who do all kinds of manual labor, including building cities, repairing roads, quarrying, logging, and clearing land. These are the people who do all the heavy work that requires people to do, and they receive no compensation other than a fixed daily meal.

The middle class identifies with the Han Chinese as the dominant force and is willing to integrate. They can earn a certain amount of money through work or choose to do other manual labor, but there are still limitations. Moreover, once they have income, they must start paying taxes.

Those of superior quality are those who join the army.

This king will establish a slave army. All those who join will automatically have their families become middle-class slaves and will receive a certain amount of pay each month. Their families will receive better conditions, and the proportion of their earnings from work will increase. They will be able to work in various industries and will no longer be forced to do things like building cities or clearing land.

If a superior slave makes military achievements, has correct ideology, performs outstandingly, and his family members are also actively contributing to the Han and striving to integrate, he can be removed from the slave status, issued a new status, and enjoy the same treatment as Han people.

All slaves, regardless of any land, are prohibited from attending schools once they are established. Lower-ranking slaves are not allowed to receive medical care, are forbidden from marrying Han Chinese women, and must receive regular instruction in spoken Chinese.

Lower-class slaves were not allowed to marry, while middle-class slaves needed at least one Han Chinese as a guarantor and could register their marriage with the government.

There are no restrictions on marriage for upper-class slaves, but they may only marry one person.

Zhu Gaoxu's eyes flickered. It wasn't that he insisted on doing it this way, but rather that he believed it was the best method.

If no distinction is made, these people will inevitably be difficult to manage, and given the limited resources available today, we must prioritize the needs of the Han people he brought with him.

This, in turn, will cause dissatisfaction and resistance among the original Japanese people, leading them to start causing trouble.

In addition, if we want to develop vassal states, we need people to do these things.

Relying solely on the people trained is simply not enough; development will be extremely slow.

If the Japanese people here are treated the same as the Han people to do these things, the resources they bring are currently insufficient to supply them, which will also cause trouble.

More importantly, even if servants were to be recruited into the army, whether these people would actually risk their lives for the cause is another matter entirely.

If the equipment is distributed and the pressure is too great, what if these people rebel or cause trouble?

If he doesn't provide equipment, what use is such a large army to him?

There are far too many problems. The people here and the people they bring are bound to clash, and trouble is likely to break out.

In the end, you'll please neither side and lose the support of both.

There are still far too many problems, and Zhu Gaoxu himself simply doesn't want to treat the people here that way.

He knew all about those things back in modern times, and he was extremely angry about it.

Zhu Gaochi himself couldn't just let it go like that.

This system was something he had already conceived of in the Ming Dynasty, and he implemented it after arriving here.

The system of slavery could directly solve those problems.

He didn't force people to join the army; instead, he reduced everyone to the lowest level of slavery.

Anyone who resists will be killed with a clear conscience.

If they don't resist, then they should obediently build up his vassal state.

If you want to do better, then work hard to upgrade your slave status; he left a passage.

The purpose of establishing slave-to-military units was to force these people to fight tooth and nail to join and risk their lives to obtain what they wanted.

Under this system, the lower-class slaves would eventually disappear, and those who remained would naturally become subjects within the vassal state.

By then, the vassal states had developed, and these problems were all solved.

Zhu Gaochi believed himself to be very merciful, not wanting to go on a killing spree.

As for whether what has been said is comprehensive enough, Zhu Gaoxu doesn't know.

In any case, we can just keep improving it as it's implemented.