1627 Rise of the South China Sea

After receiving the order, Masuyama Masato set out from Edo, hurriedly and slowly, and finally reached Kyushu successfully a few days later. In order to avoid being intercepted by a certain indifferent daimyo on the way, Masuyama Masato specially chose an inconspicuous merchant ship for this trip. There were no decorations related to the Tokugawa family on the ship.

However, he did not follow the official itinerary to visit the daimyo of several powerful feudal lords. Instead, he rushed straight to Sasebo Bay, hoping to meet Shi Diwen first.

According to the news that Yuta Ozaki brought back to Edo, Masuyama Masato knew that the sudden change in the situation in Kyushu was closely related to the Kaihan people. During this trip, he had to first understand Kaihan's position before proceeding. If we could first convince Shi Diwen to side with the shogunate, and then lobby various big names, we would be able to avoid many detours.

However, it was not Shi Diwen who met him at the Sasebo base, but Amakusa Shiro who had just returned from Nagasaki.

After meeting Shiro Amakusa, he announced bad news to him. Just two days ago, Shi Diwen had left the Sasebo base and returned to China.

This news greatly frustrated Masato Masuyama. Among the tasks he shouldered during this trip, the significance of meeting Shi Diwen may be more important than lobbying the feudal lords. With just two days difference, this trip might be in vain.

If Yuta Kozaki was in front of him at this time, Masuyama Masato would have wanted to draw his sword and kill him immediately. If this person had not been delayed for many days on his way back to Edo, he would have been able to meet Shi Diwen here in time. The situation in Kyushu There is no chance of saving.

But Shi Diwen was gone and it was too late. Even if we pursue him to Hangzhou immediately, the effectiveness of the negotiation will be greatly reduced, and the other party may even ignore the matter at all.

At the moment, we can only treat the dead horse as a living horse doctor and see if we can persuade Amakusa Shiro to contribute to stabilize the situation in Kyushu.

It's a pity that Masuyama Masatoshi didn't know that Amakusa Shiro had just gone to Nagasaki a few days ago to stand up for the Kumamoto clan, otherwise he would definitely not have such unrealistic ideas.

"Are you saying that the shogunate wants our country to come forward and persuade the Kyushu vassals to return to their original control areas, spit out all the annexed vassals, and return a batch of arms lost to the shogunate to their original owners?"

While repeating Masuyama Masatoshi's request, Amakusa Shiro shook his head repeatedly and said: "Master Masuyama, I think you have a big misunderstanding. The Kyushu region is obviously your country's territory, and the changes in the situation here are your country's. How can our country interfere in internal affairs?”

Masuyama Masato knew that the other party was deliberately teasing him, but now that he was under the eaves, he had to lower his head, so he had to force a smile and respond: "General Amakusa, your country has great influence in Kyushu, this is known to everyone. Famous names like Mune Yoshizhin and Shimazu Mitsuhisa are even more obedient to your country's advice. If your country is willing to come forward to persuade you, they may also be able to listen."

Amakusa Shiro shook his head repeatedly in denial and said: "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't talk nonsense. The exchanges between our country and the daimyo of Kyushu are only based on normal diplomatic relations. How can we obey our country's advice?"

Masuyama Masato was so angry that he was itching his teeth, but he was unwilling to give up this life-saving straw, so he had to express that the shogunate hoped that the Kyushu region would maintain a stable situation, and hoped that Haihan would uphold his benevolent heart and avoid the devastation of life caused by the war.

As a senior general in the Kaihan Army, Amakusa Shiro certainly knew the purpose of Shi Diwen's layout in Kyushu, so how could he be persuaded by Masuyama Masato. No matter how much the other party begged, he insisted that Haihan would not interfere in Japan's internal affairs.

Masato Masuyama had no choice but to do the next best thing and ask Amakusa Shiro for permission to sell another batch of arms to the shogunate.

Since there is no hope for peace, we can only prepare for war with all our strength.

However, Masato Masuyama learned a lesson this time and did not plan to complete the handover at the Sasebo base again. He hoped to move the transaction location to Osaka or Edo, and Haihan would be responsible for transporting it to the local area to avoid repeating the same mistake and being robbed on the way. Walk. Selling arms was one of Haihan's purposes in provoking Japan's civil war. No matter how dissatisfied the shogunate was with Haihan, it still had to buy arms from Haihan.

Of course Amakusa Shiro knew this very well. Now that the other party had spoken, if he didn't take advantage of the situation and kill him, he would be really sorry for his status.

"Master Zengshan, part of the batch of ready goods we prepared was sold to the shogunate, and the other part was divided up by several local daimyo. Now if you want to order more, you can only have it made by the arsenal in Sanya, and the delivery time will be long. I won’t be able to get it within a year or so.”

Seeing the bitter look on the other party's face, Amakusa Shiro changed his tone and said: "But, it's not that there is nothing we can do. Our country still has some inventory in Liaodong and the South China Sea, but we can find a way to sell it to the shogunate, and the delivery time can be faster. few."

Masuyama Masato hurriedly said: "Then I'll ask General Amakusa to arrange it as soon as possible!"

Amakusa Shiro said: "There is only one problem. The Executive Committee currently has no plans to continue selling arms to your country. To convince the Executive Committee, some expenses may be incurred."

Masuyama Masato said: "General Amakusa, you might as well give me a number and see if you can accept it."

Amakusa Shiro waved his hand and said: "You misunderstood. This is not because I want to take advantage of it, and I don't have the courage. What I mean is that the price of the next batch of arms will be higher than the previous transaction price."

Masato Masato suddenly realized that the real purpose was to raise prices.

When he was hesitating how to respond, Amakusa Shiro continued: "Master Masuyama, I must remind you that by the beginning of next spring, arms prices may continue to soar."

Masuyama Masato was startled when he heard this, and soon understood what Amakusa Shiro was referring to. If a war breaks out between Kyushu and the shogunate, both sides will definitely have to continue to purchase arms. Since Haihan is the exclusive supplier, won't the price go up?

This kind of "goodwill" reminder has only one purpose, which is to stop Masuyama Masato from wasting time bargaining. If you don’t make a purchase decision now, the price will only be higher the next time arms sales are opened.

Of course Masuyama Masato was very angry, but he didn't dare to show it on his face for fear of offending Amakusa Shiro.

Amakusa Shiro didn't push him, he knew that the other party had no choice at all.

The civil war is about to break out. If the shogunate does not want to suffer losses in terms of weapons and equipment, it can only buy and buy with eyes closed, and it must clean up Haihan's inventory as much as possible, otherwise it will flow into the hands of big names like Kyushu.

Masuyama gritted his teeth and agreed, but the gold and silver he brought with him on this trip was not even enough to pay the deposit. However, Amakusa Shiro said "magnanimously" that the shogunate could be given another month or two to raise funds, and then it would still be the same as before, with one hand paying and one hand delivering the goods.

Of course, due to the change of transaction location and the shogunate's need for Haihan to undertake the transportation, another amount of freight will have to be spent.