Chapter 2734

Like the previous stops, Zhu Zian continued to participate in the diplomatic activities of the mission during its stay in Edo as a clerk. However, he could clearly feel that his status as a member of the Ming Dynasty royal family was not easy to use in Japan. Even if the other party

When they found out that he was a descendant of the Zhu family, they didn't seem to show any surprise or respect like the Koreans did.

Of course, this is not surprising. After all, one is a traditional vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, while the other is an enemy country with a history of many wars. The two have very different views and attitudes towards the Ming Dynasty. I believe the Japanese will

It is tempting to interpret Zhu Zian's status in the Haihan mission as a symbol of the decline of the Ming Dynasty, and an opponent who has fallen into decline is certainly not worthy of their awe and respect.

However, in this way, Zhu Zian was able to focus more on the game process between the two parties and observe how the Haihan Mission achieved their goals step by step.

Compared with North Korea, the Japanese shogunate was obviously not that easy to deal with. Even though the head of the shogunate was just a sickly young man, it did not succumb to pressure from Haihan. The setbacks the mission encountered in the restoration of Ryukyu had never happened before.

Zhu Zian wanted to see how these young officials would solve the current difficulties.

But what made him slightly disappointed was that after a meeting and discussion within the mission, it was quickly decided to put aside the restoration of Ryukyu in advance and let Amakusa Shiro of Sasebo follow up, and focus on other issues at the moment. In comparison

Regarding trade issues that are closely related to Haihan's interests, the future and destiny of the Ryukyu Kingdom are obviously not that important, and it doesn't matter even if it is delayed for a while.

Besides, there is no representative of the Ryukyu Kingdom in the mission, and little is known about the negotiation process with the shogunate. Even if the ideal result is not achieved in a short period of time, the Ryukyu Kingdom still has to be grateful to Haihan. Because at this time, apart from Haihan,

In addition, no one will stand up for them anymore. If they want to get rid of the control of Satsuma Domain, Kaihan is the only life-saving straw.

What makes Zhu Zian a little puzzled is that since Haihan has powerful military force and has built a military base in Japan, why doesn't he simply use military means to force the shogunate to submit? Instead, he spends time and energy using diplomatic means, but the purpose is not

I just want the shogunate to make some concessions on trade rules.

As usual, after he raised these questions, he quickly received a response from Shi Chengwu.

"The cost of using military means is too high and can only be used as a minimum measure. The differences between us and the shogunate are far from life-and-death. To be precise, the current situation is that cooperation outweighs differences. This is how both sides can

The fundamental reason for sitting together and negotiating." Shi Chengwu patiently explained to him.

Zhu Zian continued to ask: "Since you want to cooperate with the shogunate, why do you still try to create a force that can confront the shogunate? Is this the same strategy used by Haihan in North Korea?"

Shicheng Budo: "It's similar, but the specific strategies are still very different. The resistance we encounter here is much greater than that of North Korea. Our parents told us that this country is extremely aggressive. If it is not suppressed, it will become a henchman sooner or later.

A serious problem. So our strategy is to let Japan continue to internally consume, so that they will not have extra energy and resources to focus on external expansion, and we can also take this opportunity to gain greater influence here."

Zhu Zian said: "Then why not simply send out a large number of troops to destroy the country and then merge it into the territory of Haihan?"

Shicheng Budao: "It is beyond our reach and we are powerless. Taking over the traditional territory of the Central Plains Dynasty is our country's top priority at the moment. Overseas barbarians like Japan are not worthy of our country's concentrated army to attack. Besides, we are gradually controlling their economy and finance through trade.

Slowly penetrating into the political and cultural fields, indirect rule can also be achieved in the future."

Zhu Zian said: "But it may take thirty to fifty years to see the effect of this. By the time our generation gets old, we may not be able to realize the scenario you mentioned."

Shi Chengwu said: "What's the harm? If we could go back thirty years, who would have thought that our country, Haihan, would be the world today, and who could really predict what it would be like thirty years from now.

?Maybe in more than ten years, our country's national strength will be a hundred times stronger than it is now, and we can flatten Japan with just a finger, so there will be no need to wait slowly."

Shi Chengwu was undoubtedly very optimistic about Haihan's future prospects, but after Zhu Zian heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little unhappy. Thirty years ago, it was during the Qi Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, who could have imagined that the Ming Dynasty had come to an end. Soon,

It will be replaced by an unknown emerging force.

In less than thirty years since the founding of Haihan, it had already seized the Ming Dynasty and become the leading power in the region. With such a rate of development, it is indeed difficult to imagine what the scene will be like thirty years from now.

To the same question, Zhu Zian got a somewhat different answer from Tao Hongfang.

"It's very simple, because Japan is not worth it." Tao Hongfang's analysis perspective is different from Shi Chengwu: "The only valuable resource here is the population, but our country has conquered the mainland and has countless resources that cannot be used.

With an exhausted population, why is there any need to focus on this small area? Whether it is garrisoning or trading, there is only one purpose, which is to lock its development space from the outside. You may think that using diplomacy to achieve your goals is time-consuming and laborious.

, but this is precisely the most efficient approach. Even if one day we have to use war as a last resort, the ones fighting here will not be the Haihan Army."

Tao Hongfang had little interest in Japan, but the ideological imprint left by his father's education made him very clear about what attitude he should take towards this country. On this point, the attitude of all officials in the mission must be the same

of.

As an official in charge of commercial and trade affairs, Tao Hongfang is more accustomed to weighing the pros and cons of something from an economic perspective. Therefore, in his view, the starting point of Haihan's strategy against Japan is very simple, which is to use the most cost-effective means to achieve it.

Gradual control of all areas of Japan, including war.

After Zhu Zian heard this, he already understood that the real purpose of the mission's visit to Japan was not to reach some trade agreements or to help small countries like Ryukyu break away from the control of the Satsuma Domain. Everything was to weaken Japan as the ultimate goal. Even if

If the Japanese shogunate did not issue the stupid and ridiculous order to lock down the country on its own, Haihan would try to close the country for them, adding a few big locks by the way.
Chapter completed!