Great Ming Dynasty Wen Chao Gong

Chapter 108 The debate between war and peace

The emperor held the report letter sent by the King of North Korea for several days. After thinking about it, he decided to shelve the letter. However, the emperor had just made this determination and before he could relax for a few days, new troubles soon came because the battle report from Li Rusong arrived.

"Since the capture of Pyongyang, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has been working hard and sleeping day and night, thinking all the time about getting rid of the Japanese pirates. However, the North Korean monarch and ministers did not provide enough food and salary, and they also falsely passed on information to me. Fortunately, the Ministry of Public Security went out for reconnaissance, and the Japanese troops set up an ambush near Wangjing. His intentions were completely exposed."

"Although the Japanese army gathered in Wangjing, Joseon, our army launched a surprise attack on its granary. The Japanese army retreated due to lack of food. Liu Wei's troops traveled through mountains and rivers at starry night, cutting off the Japanese army's retreat. The Japanese army was frightened, so they retreated all the way to Busan, In Ulsan and other coastal areas, high walls and deep trenches were built to block our army..."

The emperor looked at Li Rusong's report with a complicated expression on his face.

"Chen Ju, please summon all the ministers from the cabinet and six ministries."

The ministers arrived, and the emperor circulated Li Rusong's battle report to the ministers. After the ministers circulated it, they returned it to the emperor.

"The report submitted by Li Rusong is very involved, so I have called you all together today to discuss the next step of the Korean War."

Ministers, you look at me and I look at you. In the end, everyone's eyes are still on the chief minister.

"Your Majesty, I believe that our great army of tomorrow has conquered Pyongyang and conquered Wangjing. We should tell the world to show the victory of our dynasty's martial arts." Chief Assistant Wang Jiaping said.

"This is natural. However, Li Rusong said in the report that North Korea's military supplies were insufficient and the army was short of food. He also said that the Japanese built a city on the seaside and it was difficult to break the city in a hurry. What do you think?" asked the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I believe that although our army has been engaged in consecutive battles and victories, our army is on an expedition, and it is difficult to replenish soldiers, food and fodder. Now that the Japanese army has been defeated, the Japanese army has become frightened and huddled on the seaside to build cities. They are also afraid of being blamed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi when they return home. . If we take this opportunity to negotiate peace with the Japanese, we can provide the Japanese with tribute conditions, follow the example of Emperor Seizu who made Yoshimitsu the king of Japan, and also canonize Hideyoshi Taira as the king of Japan. The two countries each stopped their troops and let the Japanese army After withdrawing from North Korea, our army can also return to North Korea." Cabinet minister Zhao Zhigao said.

"Shi Shangshu, what do you think?" The emperor did not directly answer Zhao Zhigao's words, but asked Shi Xing, the Minister of War.

"Your Majesty, what Mr. Zhao Ge said is not unreasonable. To seek profit thousands of miles away is a taboo for military strategists. The Japanese have now retreated to Busan. It is thousands of miles from Liao to Pu. The army is tired and diligent, and the ministers dare not discuss it lightly. . If the Japanese country is sincere in seeking peace, it is not impossible to agree. When the treasury is full and the troops are fully prepared, envoys can be sent to the Japanese country." Shi Xing replied.

The emperor was still unconvinced.

"Your Majesty, North Korea is separated from the capital by mountains and seas. I think it is too hasty to decide on war and peace now. The imperial court should send capable officials to North Korea to verify whether the Japanese country is sincere in peace talks, and it is better to send envoys to negotiate peace. . And now Li Rusong is quite dissatisfied with the Korean monarchs and ministers. The rights and wrongs must be verified clearly, and the general's heart cannot be chilled, nor the loyal and obedient vassal king's heart." said Wang Xijue, the second assistant to the cabinet.

"Now that the war situation in Korea is changing, we really need to send someone to verify it. Wang Aiqing's opinion is still acceptable. The cabinet can choose officials from among the hundreds of officials who are familiar with Korean and Japanese affairs, and prepare a list and report it to me. Others, dear Do you have any other comments?"

"Your Majesty, I think that now that North Korea has been newly defeated, the government is weak, and the country has no available soldiers. It is better for our country to send officials to serve in the Eighth Routes of North Korea to help North Korea restore its national strength, and also to enhance the friendship between our Ming Dynasty and Xian Dynasty. And my Ming Dynasty The navy stationed in the south is mobilized to Korea, and the road is tortuous and long. Can the southern navy carry the elite southern troops directly eastward to land in the Japanese country and attack their nests? In this way, the Japanese will be heartbroken, and the Korean campaign will be a success." Cabinet. The cabinet minister Zhang Wei said.

"Let's not mention the matter of dispatching officials for the time being, so as not to worry the king of Korea. Is it feasible to go to sea from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to destroy the nest? Can any of your beloved ministers also tell me?" the emperor asked. "Your Majesty, it is absolutely impossible to cross the sea from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. I am from Nanzhili, and I have heard the story of the Yuan Dynasty's conquest of the Japanese. At that time, the Yuan Dynasty sent a hundred thousand troops from Jiangsu and Zhejiang for the second time to conquer the Japanese. However, they could not conquer it for a long time. Encountered a typhoon, and the entire army was wiped out. Now is the summer and autumn season again, if our army encounters a typhoon again, what should we do?" said Gu Yangqian, the Minister of War.

"Then what does Mr. Gu think the war against the Japanese should be like?" the emperor asked.

"I believe that peace negotiation is the priority. At present, the imperial treasury does not have much savings, and there are many things going on around the world. It is not appropriate to use troops in North Korea for too long." Gu Yangqian said.

"Since all the ministers have different opinions, it is better to follow Wang Cifu's idea and send important officials to North Korea first, and then decide on the war and peace." The emperor said.

The ministers retired, and the emperor was a little tired. He stood up and stared at the globe, and began to turn the globe again.

"Chen Ju, I didn't expect that Li Rusong won such a big victory on the front line. Most of my ministers are still thinking about peace negotiations." The emperor said.

"All the ministers are also cautious in their opinions. If the Japanese country Toyotomi Hideyoshi is willing to withdraw from Korea, it will be a good thing for the Ming Dynasty, Korea, and the Japanese country." Chen Ju said.

"I'm afraid that the Japanese will not die. If our army withdraws and they come back, it will be even more endless. Wang Cifu's idea is safer. First, he will send important officials who are familiar with North Korea and Japan's domestic conditions to North Korea to conduct on-site inspections. This is the key I’m afraid it’s not that easy to find a member of staff.”

"Your Majesty, isn't Zhang Shidu such an important official?" Chen Ju reminded.

"Yes, Zhang Xiao is indeed suitable. He wrote the strategy for pacifying Japan very early. He also knows a lot about the inside story of Korea and Japan."

Ever since, not many days later, Zhang Xiao came to the imperial study room again.

"This is the battle report submitted by Li Rusong. I discussed it with the ministers two days ago. Most ministers want to take advantage of the end of these great victories to negotiate peace with the Japanese and then the two countries withdraw their troops. What do you think?" the emperor asked road.

Zhang Xiao had just finished reading the battle report carefully, and after listening to the emperor's words, he thought for a while before replying: "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. The Japanese are cunning and cunning, and they are afraid that they will not agree to withdraw from North Korea after peace talks. They Now we are sticking to Busan and Ulsan with the thought of making a comeback in the future. Even if a peace agreement is really negotiated, the peace agreement is not credible, because the Japanese always like to engage in undeclared wars and sneak attacks. Once our troops withdraw from Korea, the Japanese will definitely take advantage of the opportunity. Come back. Therefore, even if a peace agreement is reached, heavy troops must be stationed in Pyongyang and Wangjing in North Korea. We must not slack off for a moment, otherwise the results of the bloody battle of tens of thousands of our soldiers may be easily lost."

"During that discussion, Wang Cifu also proposed that he would like to send important officials from the court who are familiar with North Korea and Japanese affairs to North Korea to check the situation and contact them for peace talks if necessary. Later I thought that you would be more suitable. If the court finally decides to send you there Korea, are you willing?" the emperor asked.

"Ah?" Zhang Xiao was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer. Why suddenly, something happened to me out of nowhere again.

(End of this chapter)