For several days after that, Zhu Mo's sense of foreboding grew stronger. To facilitate handling official business, he moved his yamen to the opposite side of the Ci Ren Ci, almost sharing office space with Zhang Juzheng's men.
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Summarizing the progress from all sides, over these twenty-plus days, the chattel slaves had essentially been fully released. Although their former masters were extremely dissatisfied, with Yin Zhengmao and Dong Fen having met their ends and their bodies still cold, their lingering influence instilled fear. Furthermore, Xu Jie also sent a letter to advise his family, leading them to release their household slaves. This move was in line with public sentiment and did not encounter much resistance. However, the integration of chattel slaves into the large workshops did not go smoothly.
Xu Xuemo, a subordinate of Zhang Juzheng, was in charge of this matter. This person was impatient and handled things hastily, further complicating the situation. Zhu Mo wanted to advise Zhang Juzheng to replace him several times, but as he was his disciple, it was difficult to speak up.
On this day, outside the Ci Ren Ci, after a discussion, Zhu Mo felt immensely frustrated. The initial statistics showed that a total of 160,000 people were released in the first batch, settled in over thirty salt fields, more than twenty official kilns, and over eighty large workshops. As for the large workshops, since they had been shut down for half a year, they temporarily did not need additional manpower. Zhang Juzheng compromised, promising that the Directorate of Weaving could purchase silk at a unified price, with a ten percent increase per bolt, which then expedited the commencement of work. However, after more than ten days of work, many of these chattel slaves did not know how to operate the machinery, leading to further adjustments. Workshop owners like Xu Yang complained, and Zhang Juzheng used both persuasion and coercion to barely suppress the situation. By then, the sky was already darkening. After a day of commotion, everyone went for a walk by the lake.
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Zhu Mo pulled Zhang Juzheng aside and subtly revealed that the Japanese pirates were mobilizing on a large scale. He then recounted his experiences at Lì Gǎng, wanting to gauge the Qingliu Society's perspective. Their emotional bond had grown much closer after the crisis involving Gao Gong. Although they were thousands of miles apart at the time, their tacit cooperation felt extraordinary even in retrospect. Ultimately, both of them held an unshakeable resolve to reform and save the Great Ming. Zhu Mo believed that Zhang Juzheng would surely see the underlying dangers.
Zhang Juzheng listened intently. When the conversation turned to Lì Gǎng also trading in women and children, his expression suddenly changed, though he said nothing. Upon hearing that each market had a turnover of one million taels, he sighed, "Zixuan, I never imagined there would be so much! Calculated, even our Directorate of Weaving wouldn't reach this figure in a year... This is too terrifying... On one hand, advanced ships and cannons, on the other, horrifying profits. No wonder the Japanese pirates can never be wiped out... If this continues, all our industries will be working for them for nothing..."
"Yes, yes," Zhu Mo nodded continuously and said, "It's more than that, Taiyue brother. I learned from merchants that the southern provinces of Joseon, Kyushu in Japan, and Ryukyu's Okinawa are effectively countries within countries... Take Kyushu for instance, the current few daimyo, such as Ōtomo Sōrin, have long since converted to Western religions. Not only are their firearms formidable, but ronin from the north are also flocking to them. In a few years, they will have a strong momentum to unify Japan. If the daimyo of Kyushu unify Japan, they will be close to the Westerners and not of the same culture as our Great Ming..."
Zhang Juzheng, always concerned about the nation, immediately understood Zhu Mo's meaning. He hadn't mentioned the Great Ming, but weren't the coastal barracks, water villages, and merchant islands of the Great Ming also countries within countries? If Japan had Ōtomo Sōrin, didn't the Yan Shifan on this side also exist? With such immense financial resources, over years, they could surpass a country. Coupled with Portuguese firearms, what difficulty would there be in dominating the East Sea? In fact, even destroying several countries would be entirely within their capabilities... He had anticipated the cross-border influence to be very strong, but had never considered such an internal political evolution. If given more time, the situation would become irreversible, and perhaps even the Great Ming would be overthrown by them. He couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "To be honest, Zixuan, I sent people from the Ministry of War to inspect Wang Zhi's Shuangyu Island back then... I was thinking then how to convert these profits into national gains. Wang Zhi also had this idea at the time, but later events changed drastically, and no one could have predicted that Wang Zhi would be lured and killed by the Yan faction... Looking back now, although the idea was good, it was not feasible. If these Japanese pirates are not eliminated, it will always be an outflow of profit, and over the years, the enemy will grow stronger while we grow weaker! Zixuan, I think we need to make this clear to the court and ask Elder Xu and others to send envoys. We should visit Joseon, Japan, and Ryukyu, and it would be best to contact their people to jointly suppress the pirates. What do you think?"
Zhu Mo was waiting for this and said with a smile, "That would be best, of course! Since returning from Lì Gǎng, I have been thinking about this. Only by nations working together can the Japanese pirates be thoroughly annihilated." He said this to lay a groundwork, so if he were accused of colluding with the Japanese pirates later, he would have no way to clear his name. Recalling his words now, he was also quite astonished: Could it be that Wang Zhi truly intended to control all sea merchants and serve the Great Ming? If that were the case, this person would indeed be a heroic figure. And Governor Wang Bengu's act of luring and killing him would then be understandable.
...
At the same time. Hirado, Japan.
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Ōtomo Sōrin, the daimyo of Bungo Province; Ōmura Sumitada, the daimyo of Hizen Province; the wealthy merchant Konishi Ryūza, and his retainers, along with Wang Zhi's adopted son Mao Lie and friend Xie He, stood on the shores of Nagasaki Port, gazing at the vast fleet setting sail. The sky was overcast, and the wind was blowing fiercely. One hundred and twenty ships, like a dark cloud, gradually moved away.
Mao Lie, having traveled extensively, finally brought about today's situation and couldn't help but sigh emotionally. He said in Japanese, "My Lords, we cannot rely on the Yan family. Only by forcing them will these Ming people exert themselves. With so many warriors setting forth, and our alliance with pirates Zhang Lian, Zhang Wei, Xu Zhaoguang, Wu Ping, and others, we will surely relieve the siege of Taizhou Guard, kill Hu Zongxian and Qi Jiguang, and avenge my father."
Ōtomo Sōrin now controlled six provinces of Kyushu and was full of ambition. Ronin from all regions flocked to him. Since he had converted to Western religions, the Portuguese provided substantial support for firearms, and his current strength was second to none. However, he had no ambition to head to the capital, but rather to change Japan starting from Kyushu. Upon issuing the recruitment order, over three thousand ronin arrived within a month, more than a month earlier than expected. Following Mao Lie's strategy, he made maintaining maritime supremacy his main objective, while also using the slogan of "Gekokujō" (subordination of the lower to the higher) to support the retainers and samurai of the northern domains in overthrowing their rulers, thereby establishing de facto rule over the islands. This strategy was much more brilliant than the previous ambition to conquer Kyoto and also garnered Western support, opening up another path for Japan.
At this very moment, he anticipated that this sudden campaign would achieve remarkable results and couldn't help but feel pleased with himself, saying with a smile, "Shipmaster Haifeng, the intelligence you provided is very useful... Your esteemed father was also a friend of mine, and he often spoke of the internal affairs of the Ming Dynasty. Now, Zhu Mo's reforms are indeed a great threat to us... But eradicating him is not that simple. We still need the assistance of the Ming Dynasty's Guanbai Yan Song. Therefore, I will have to trouble Shipmaster to go to Ryukyu again to meet with Mr. Chen Dong and also to convey my gifts and apologies..."
Mao Lie bowed and said, "As Lord Sōrin commands, I will set sail immediately."
"Hmm,"
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Ōtomo Sōrin then said, "Shipmaster Haifeng, you must understand that Lord Yan Song is still someone all sea merchants rely on. Only when the Ming Dynasty is sorted out can we truly win..."
"Hmm, hmm,"
"I understand."
Mao Lie bowed deeply. Ōmura Sumitada and Konishi Ryūza nodded in agreement, feeling that Ōtomo Sōrin was indeed different from daimyo of previous generations. This plan opened up unprecedented prospects and possessed the power of transformation, not only unifying the four islands but also controlling various countries. It was truly a superior move. The three Japanese then offered a prayer according to Shinto military rites before departing.
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