I'm sure of the prosperous age of Kangxi and Qianlong!

Chapter 578 Tsushima County

Tsushima Island can also be said to be the Tsushima Fuchu Domain.

Historically, for a long time, this place was jointly managed by North Korea and Japan.

Because the geographical location here is so important, strangulating the throat of the Asahi Strait, the Japanese shogunate canonized it as the Tsushima Fuchu Domain, and also granted it independent trade privileges with North Korea outside the shogunate.

North Korea also used Tsushima Island as a hub for diplomatic trade with Japan, and conferred North Korean officials on it, and even gave many rewards to finance the finances of the Tsushima Island clan.

However, although Tsushima held official positions in both Korea and Japan, he always believed in his heart that he should be Japanese.

Moreover, the relationship between the Japanese shogunate and the Tsushima clan was quite complicated, and the shogunate did recognize the Tsushima clan as the lord of Japan. However, the lords of the Kyushu vassals collectively ostracized Duima Zongfan. Duima Zongfan tried to enter Kyushu many times, but was beaten back.

Pyongyang has not yet received the imperial edict from Nanjing to mobilize troops, but the navy has arrived at Tsushima Island first.

The current lord of Tsushima Island is named Zong Yiru. He just succeeded to the throne last year. Before that, because of his young age, his uncle Zongfang Xi was in charge.

However, since he was the temporary lord of the domain, his uncle did not do much, and the entire Tsushima Island was closed to trade with Japan earlier than in history due to North Korea. Coupled with the fact that the Ming Dynasty maritime merchants were madly monopolizing trade between Japan and Japan, Tsushima's finances were even more severe than before.

House seemingly endless rain!

Unfortunately, just last year, just after Muneyuru ascended the throne, a fire broke out in the domain of the domain, directly burning down Zhanyuan Castle where the domain hall was located.

Zongfangxi, who was living in seclusion behind the scenes, said: "The top priority is to raise funds to rebuild Tsukihara Castle. The domain's finances are insufficient, so we first borrow money from the retainers. The burning of Tsukihara Castle is not a good thing for them, and they will not refuse. . They also issued a frugal order to the vassal, and sent envoys to the Korean War House in Busan, Choryang, to see if they could negotiate with North Korea and restore trade between North Korea and Japan. Even if it could not be restored, they would still cry poverty with North Korea and ask for rewards and funding from the King of North Korea. "

Zong Yiru was just eighteen years old and did not have much experience. He nodded and said: "I will obey my uncle in everything. I will send an envoy to Busan by boat tomorrow."

Zongfangxi added: "After rebuilding Zhanyuan City, we still need to find ways to get in touch with Chinese merchants. It may be more difficult than imagined to restore trade with North Korea and Japan. If it really cannot be done, we will cooperate with Chinese merchants. The land in Zhanyuan Castle can be leased and loaned to them in exchange for their investment in the domain. This can also alleviate the debt within the domain. Now the output of silver mines in the domain has been greatly reduced, and there is no trade finance, so we must find a way to make up for it."

This is forced to do nothing. The so-called leasing land is no different from selling it directly.

On the side of the Japanese shogunate, Tsushima Fuchu Domain has a name of 100,000 koku, but the actual output within the domain is only 10,000 koku.

Because there is a shortage of people here, very much!

Even in later generations, the population here did not exceed 50,000. The current population has experienced a decline during the Zong Yizhen period, coupled with a significant reduction in trade and finance.

Not to mention supporting the people, even the retainers and samurai in the vassal area were so poor that they could only eat rice soaked in water.

Zong Fangxi was teaching and admonishing Zong Yiru when suddenly a warrior came in to report.

"Master Governor, there are warships from Ming Dynasty China docking!"

Zong Yiru was stunned when he heard this, but Zong Fangxi responded quickly, nodded and said: "Step back! The family governor and I already know."

After the warriors retreated, Zongfangxi said to the young Zongyiru: "The Chinese warship is coming. No matter what the reason is, as the governor of the Tsuima clan, you should go to greet it. But remember, you are not allowed to call yourself the lord of the Japanese shogunate. If you claim to be an official of North Korea, just be vague."

The two of them quickly left the feudal hall. After hearing the news, the rest of Tsushima Domain's retainers also headed to the port.

When they arrived at the port, they saw that the small port was surrounded by Ming warships. From a distance, they could see the huge and mighty warships, especially the huge gun barrels protruding from the sides of the warships.

Just one glance made these Tsushima feudal retainers and samurai who came to welcome him at the port shudder.

A group of Chinese envoys disembarked from the warship. The leader was Xu Yisheng, who had been to Ha Tien Town as an envoy a few years ago and successfully persuaded the commander-in-chief of Ha Tien Town, Ma Jiu, to surrender.

"My vassals, please pay homage to the angel."

Both Korea and Japan were vassal states of the Ming Dynasty. This statement can be described as ambiguous. However, Xu Yisheng had already understood the complex situation on Tsushima Island, which was no secret, not to mention that Zong Yiru and others still spoke Japanese.

Xu Yisheng smiled and said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be polite. His Majesty, the Ming Emperor, has issued an imperial edict to establish Tsushima County here. Your Excellency has lived on Tsushima Island for a long time and must be quite familiar with the civil affairs of the island. He can be the first Tsushima County Magistrate." "

As he spoke, he suddenly moved his body out of the way and a person came forward from behind: "Magistrate Zong, let me introduce to you. This is Li County Cheng who was sent by the imperial court to assist in the administration of Tsushima County. Is there anything you don't understand?" , Magistrate Zong can ask him as much as he wants."

"what?"

Zong Yiru was already a little confused. He glanced at his uncle Zong Fangxi blankly and saw that his uncle was also confused.

Xu Yisheng didn't care at all and said: "The formal appointments are in the imperial edict. You will go down immediately to bathe and change clothes. There is no need to fast and burn incense."

My dear, this is totally unacceptable.

Zong Yiru was completely at a loss as to what to do. Zong Fangxi came to his senses and said quickly: "Please let the envoy go into the city and take a rest."

It is said that when you enter the city, you can actually see ruins, dilapidated houses everywhere, and simple shacks throughout the city.

Xu Yisheng asked: "Has there been any fire here?"

Zong Yiru nodded: "The fire broke out suddenly last summer, and directly burned Zhanyuan Castle where the feudal hall is located to ruins."

Xu Yisheng was a little surprised: "Last summer? It's been so long, why can't it be repaired? It can't be because there is no money, right?"

Uncle Zong Yiru, Zong Fangxi and his nephew, as well as a group of accompanying Tsuima Fan retainers, all looked embarrassed and ashamed.

Xu Yisheng understood instantly: "It doesn't matter. Now that Tsushima County is our territory of the Ming Dynasty, it will naturally not be like before. This envoy will immediately go to Nanjing to request that we allocate money and food for Tsushima County to rebuild the city."

Hearing this, Zong Yiru was not too happy. Instead, he felt a little scared. These Chinese people didn't really intend to turn Tsushima Domain into Tsushima Prefecture!

But the problem is that the Chinese envoy came with warships and troops this time, and he had no right to oppose Ma Fan.

The envoys were temporarily accommodated, and Zong Yiru summoned his retainers for an emergency meeting on the pretext of bathing and changing clothes.

Zongfangxi asked: "China wants to turn Tsushima Island into Tsushima Prefecture. What should we do about this matter?"

Zong Yiru knelt down and sat aside, listening to the teachings.

The retainers looked at each other in confusion, and no one spoke.

There is really nothing to say. Tsushima's strength is too strong to challenge Kyushu. If China sends naval troops over, what can Tsushima do to resist it.

We can only seek external help, either North Korea or Japan. North Korea is completely the dog of the Ming Dynasty, and Japan is slightly better. But this is Tsushima. Even if the Japanese shogunate is willing to help, how can the shogunate's beggar navy defeat these Chinas? fleet.

Zong Fangxi wanted to hold a meeting to discuss countermeasures, but Daming arrived too quickly and too suddenly, giving Tsushima no time to react.

After dawdling like this for a long time, without discussing the reason, I finally decided to just lie down and die.

Xu Yisheng was invited out and the imperial edict was read out: "The emperor has been entrusted by heaven. The edict says: Today, the imperial court has established Tsuima County on Tsushima Island. The magistrate of Tsuima County can be served by the Tsuima Zong clan, and there is no need to choose another one. The prime minister and officials of Tsuima County, You should do your best to assist the county magistrate and protect the country and the people...I appreciate this!"

"I accept the order and thank you for your kindness."

Zong Yiru, the lord of the Tsushima domain who had been educated under Japanese Confucianism since childhood, became the magistrate of Tsushima in Ming Dynasty China.

Everything happened so suddenly!

(End of this chapter)