The Khan of Mobei was captured and brought to Shun Tian Fu. This achievement alone was enough for the civil officials to write extensively about. Even those who had frequently spoken disrespectfully of the Emperor in the past could not do so now. The current Emperor was truly like the Three Kings reborn, an ancient sage returned, a reincarnation of Taizu and Chengzu. He seemed to do nothing at home, yet could strategize from within his command center and achieve victory a thousand miles away.
This was a major event, so Shun Tian and the surrounding cities already knew the cause and outcome of this campaign. The process was not important; all that mattered was that the Khan came here not of his own volition.
The common people began to artistically embellish the campaign against the Eastern Royal Court. Father Bafanji, who had just been met by Matteo Ricci near Shun Tian, and Kobayakawa Takakage, among others, were instantly stunned by this news.
"Two of the three Tatar tribes, which have been difficult to eradicate from the northern borders of the Ming Dynasty for two hundred years, were destroyed in a single battle?"
When the Mongols split into three tribes, the Oirats were the most well-known. This was because Emperor Yingzong personally led an expedition and had his head nearly lost, being captured by Esen and taken back as a student. This event was known throughout the East, as it was too significant and "shocking."
In the fourteenth year of Jingtai, Esen attempted to rebuild the Yuan Dynasty and sought recognition from the Ming Dynasty. He even exchanged jade for imperial items of the Yuan Dynasty, such as gilded nine-dragon silk of imperial yellow and purple, yellow and red brocade clothing, and gold ewers and bowls. This request was sternly rejected by the Ming Dynasty.
However, the Oirats' moment of glory ended there. Esen was eventually betrayed by his own subjects and died tragically.
Subsequently, the Tatars returned, killed various Oirat tribes, and the Oirats gradually weakened, withdrew from the northern grasslands, and began migrating further west.
After that, the Tatars also split into three tribes.
"The Eastern Royal Court, the Mobei grasslands, two Khans, one dead, one captured?"
Kobayakawa Takakage felt exhilarated... and terrified. He thought how fortunate it was that he had come here and not chosen to go to the Xuanwei Division in Old Port, Luzon. Given the current frenzied momentum of the Ming Dynasty, they might have sailed thousands of miles to skin him alive.
"I heard that our country is preparing to retake the South China Sea and re-establish the Old Port Xuanwei Division."
"Indeed, I also heard that the Southern Dharma Sect has sent a letter of allegiance, expressing their willingness to contribute to the court and not to stand aside from the world."
People were talking everywhere on the streets and alleys. Recent events were piling up, with big news spreading day after day, and newspapers scattered all over the streets.
"What is this?"
Kobayakawa Takakage found it strange. Japan at this time did not have newspapers. The Ming Dynasty had always had the official "Di Chao" (邸钞). Newspapers originated in the Northern Song Dynasty, but were then called "Xiao Bao" (小报) and were not official publications. Despite repeated prohibitions by the court, reporters made a living selling them. The news they carried covered everything from heaven and earth, the court and the world, to the three religions and all peoples.
As for the Ming Dynasty's "Di Chao," it primarily reported on current political issues and was mostly circulated among officials, becoming an official newspaper. However, in the eighth year of Wanli, newspapers emerged among the populace, and the "Xiao Bao," which had disappeared for three hundred years after the Song Dynasty, reappeared on the historical stage.
"If there are treacherous plots, they should not be exposed to the public. If they are spread, what kind of governance is this? If border defenses are urgent, and the rumors on this paper are exaggerated, shaking people's morale, wouldn't it ruin important matters? Why not prohibit it?" m..oΓg
Kobayakawa Takakage held the newspaper, his face full of confusion. The Minister of Rites, who was receiving them, said, "This was already said in the eighteenth year of Wanli. However, how can民间报纸 (minjian baozhi - folk newspapers) shake the foundation of the nation? Let them be."
"A single word from the Son of Heaven can cause the nation to collapse, while the words of ordinary people are merely idle talk over tea and after meals."
The officials paid no attention to these small newspapers, as the current nation was incomparable to the previous one. Even if someone intended to use these newspapers to incite rebellion... such things had happened before!
Kobayakawa Takakage was dumbfounded to learn that the White Lotus Society had openly used the Beijing printing factory to print rebellious stickers.
They dared to take on such a capital offense?
Oh, so it was the Emperor who accepted it, then there was no problem!
Kobayakawa Takakage was deeply shocked by the pragmatic spirit of doing business for money, and even more shocked and confused by the White Lotus Society's peculiar behavior. You cry rebellion while sending money to the imperial printing factory, and the imperial printing factory even offers free delivery to your door...
For a moment, he didn't know who was looking down on whom.
"Then... the court's talk of rectifying the South China Sea... is it not just random rumors from these folk newspapers, but is it actually true? Such a major action, how can it be known to the common people? If it causes a lot of trouble there, won't it require great effort to resolve?"
"No trouble, no trouble. To rectify the south, the court will only send a symbolic number of people."
The Minister of Rites waved his hand as if completely indifferent, not mentioning any further details. This gave the impression that the court was completely unconcerned about the situation in the South China Sea, which made Kobayakawa Takakage uneasy.
When they arrived at the Catholic Church, Bafanji said to Kobayakawa Takakage, "Japan does not have these kinds of publications. I wanted to establish them in Japan back then, but it was terminated due to Hideyoshi Toyotomi's massacre. You have not seen this kind of political system, so it is perfectly normal for you to find the Ming Dynasty's reactions strange."
"Do not think that because the common people can discuss national affairs, the country's actions can be concealed through these newspapers. Just like this campaign against the Eastern Royal Court, Matteo Ricci told me that at least a month ago, rumors about rectifying the South China Sea had already spread in the capital. However, the court did not send troops to the South China Sea, nor did they go to the Old Port Xuanwei Division, nor did they sail to Luzon. Instead, they directly dispatched troops to the Eastern Royal Court..."
"If the Tatars had spies in the capital, the news they would gather would be that the Ming Dynasty was going to attack the South China Sea, not that they were going north to the Eastern Royal Court, which was entrenched in Liaodong..."
A single remark awakened the dreamer. The indifferent behavior of the Minister of Rites was precisely a manifestation of wisdom. Because it was taken to the extreme, you could not predict what he would do next.
The widespread rumors from small newspapers did not interfere with the Ming Dynasty's decision-making; instead, they interfered with the decision-making of the Ming Dynasty's opponents.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
...
In the Forbidden City, Emperor Wanli, after arranging for Namudai Chechen Khan, heard about the arrival of Japanese defectors. Matteo Ricci had handled this matter very well, which earned him a look of approval from Emperor Wanli. He then instructed Tian Yi to arrange a meeting date.
"I still have something to attend to."