Nishiyama Castle of Toei Bungo Province, the capital of the Otomo clan of the wealthy clan of Kitakyushu, was originally the most prosperous city in Kitakyushu and even the entire island of Kyushu, because the Otomo clan sat on the guardian of the three kingdoms of Bungo, Chikugo, and Higo, and was the most powerful wealthy family in the entire Kyushu.

However, since the death of Otomo Yoshikan, the twentieth head of the Otomo clan, the wealthy families of the Three Kingdoms have had different hearts, and even the uncle of the current head of the family, Otomo Sorin, the guardian generation of Higo Kikuchi Yoshitake, has secretly colluded with the Ouchi clan, the strong enemy of the Otomo clan, with the intention of seizing the position of the head of the family.

At this time, the Otomo clan can be described as stormy, and the family may be ruined at any time, and the Xishan Castle at this time is also like the sunset Xishan, and the twilight is gloomy.

Fortunately, the contemporary head of the Otomo clan, Otomo Sorin, was quite strategic, gathered a group of brave generals, and won the support of Yoshioka Nagamasa, the old minister of the Otomo clan, which was able to stabilize the situation.

However, at this time, Higo Province was out of the control of the Otomo clan, and Otomo Sorin could only barely control the two countries of Bungo and Chikugo, and the Otomo clan had to face both a rebellion within the family and the threat of the Ryuzoji clan and the Shimazu clan, both of which were wealthy clans in Kyushu, and the situation was extremely difficult.

It was at this time that Xishan City welcomed a distinguished guest.

This guest of honor is none other than Wang Zhi, a famous maritime merchant in the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Zhi is not a small person in Dongying, don't look at him in front of Yang Cong, he looks like an ordinary maritime businessman, in Dongying, he is equivalent to a powerful existence, and his status is higher than that of Dongying.

Moreover, because his men and horses are unusually strong, and he has a powerful fleet and a large number of iron cannons, plus the grain, cloth and other scarce materials transported by the Ming Dynasty to Dongying are under his control, he can be said to be an existence that no one dares to provoke in Dongying.

There's no way, if anyone provokes him, he will definitely not do business with you, and Dongying's current grain production is not self-sufficient at all, and most of the princes have to rely on the grain he sells to maintain the food and drink of his subordinates, and if you provoke him, it's not looking for death!

Otomo Zonglin is a master who is good at making friends, and he naturally attaches great importance to Wang Zhi's arrival, he not only ran to the city gate to personally welcome people in, but also specially ordered someone to set up a "sumptuous" banquet for Wang Zhifeng.

Of course, in Dongying, the so-called sumptuous banquet is just ordinary chicken, duck and fish, and the great venison is quite high, and the amount of these dishes is quite small, basically a plate of dishes and a few chopsticks are finished, and the dishes on the table are just enough for two people to eat.

There is no way, Dongying's materials are already very scarce, coupled with the continuous war, it is considered good to be able to eat well in Dongying, as for the wine banquet, even if it is a prince, it can't put on any tricks.

Wang Zhi is naturally not uncommon with these things at all, this thing is far worse than the meals he usually eats, what is delicious, if he didn't have something to find this guy, he wouldn't even eat here.

At this time, he could only reluctantly pretend to be very honored, talking and laughing with Otomo Zonglin to enjoy this "rare" banquet.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors, Otomo Zonglin felt that he had exhausted the friendship of the landlord and gave Wang Zhi face, so he asked solemnly: "Ship Master Wang, I don't know what happened to me this time?" ”

He was really a little curious, because it was not yet time to deliver the goods, Wang Zhi was also a busy man, under normal circumstances, this guy didn't have time to go to the prince's territory to be a guest, most of the time this guy went back after handing over the goods at the port.

Hearing this, Wang Zhi smiled slightly: "Your Excellency, I don't know how the proximity is, how are things going in the Higo Kingdom?" ”

This guy can't even open a pot!

What else can the affairs of Higo Country be, his uncle Kikuchi Yoshitake has already enveloped all the heroes of Higo Country, and the power is very strong, and the heroes of Bungo Country and Chikugo Country on his side are still a little dissatisfied with him, the new daimyo, if he organizes people to crusade against Higo Country, it will definitely be more defeats and fewer victories.

He could only sigh helplessly: "This is a long story, it is rare for the owner of the ship to come as a guest today, so don't talk about these unhappy things." ”

Obviously, things are still a mess in Higo Country.

That's good, if you have the ability to solve the affairs of Higo Province alone, then the next thing is not easy to talk about.

Wang Zhi pretended to be a little embarrassed and said: "This, I didn't want to mention this matter to His Excellency, but my lord, that is, His Excellency the Ming Dynasty, is quite concerned about the affairs of the Feihou Kingdom, so I have to talk to His Excellency the Famous Lord." ”

When Dayou Zonglin heard this, he couldn't help but exclaim: "You, you are the retainer of the Great Ming Taishi!" ”

Many of Dongying's official structures were learned from the Ming Dynasty, and of course Dayou Zonglin knew what position this Taishi was, and it was an official who was bigger than the Taizheng Minister.

He already knew that this Wang Zhi had a tough backstage in Daming, otherwise, it would be impossible for this guy to control the trade between Daming and Dongying.

However, he didn't expect that this guy's backstage turned out to be Daming's Taishi!

It is impossible for Wang Zhi to publicize this kind of thing everywhere, after all, he has to take care of Yang Cong's official reputation, and the scholars of the Ming Cabinet actually raise pirate leaders, this kind of thing, even Yan Song does not dare to let people publicize it everywhere.

Therefore, his backstage is still a fan in Dongying.

Seeing this, Wang Zhi hurriedly pretended to be cautious and said: "Your Excellency, you just know it, don't you dare to say it everywhere, why does our family master pay attention to the affairs of the Higo Kingdom, you must know it too, right?" ”

Of course, Otomo Zonglin knew about this, because the Ming Dynasty sent troops to occupy the Hizen Kingdom's Hirado Domain, and the commander of the Ming army was the Ming Taishi.

As for the reason, it is because the Matsuura clan has been secretly supporting the Japanese raids along the coast of the Ming Dynasty.

Could he not know such a big thing?

The Hirado Domain is right on the border with Higo Province, and it is normal for the Taishi of the Ming Dynasty to pay attention to the affairs of Higo Province.

Otomo Zonglin nodded slightly and said: "I naturally know this, I don't know the matter of the Higo Country now, I don't know what your family master wants to know, if it's not something important, I can send someone to inquire." ”

He is unable to protect himself at this time, so naturally he will not care what Daming occupies the Hirado Domain, and the Matsuura clan also deserves it, for the sake of money, even such a terrifying existence as Daming dares to provoke, and if something happens, it is also to blame.

He originally thought that the Great Ming Taishi wanted to inquire about the strength of Higo Country so that he could make corresponding arrangements, but unexpectedly, Wang Zhi shook his head mysteriously and said: "Our family master doesn't want to know what the situation is in Higo Country, he just hopes that Higo Country, Hizen Country, and even the entire Kyushu can be controlled by a relatively friendly Daimyo, so that we don't have to worry about someone who will not be able to fight the idea of the Hirado Domain." Your Excellency, it is you who I recommend to our family master, you know what I mean, right? ”

Yes!

This means, the Great Ming Taishi hopes that he will dominate Kyushu!

He really didn't think about this problem, because he was a mud bodhisattva crossing the river at this time, and it was difficult to protect himself, and it was a question whether he could keep this bit of family business, so how could he think of dominating the entire Kyushu?

This may be the reason why the Great Ming Taishi hopes that he will unify Kyushu, because the other two Haoqiang Ryuzoji clan and the Shimazu clan in Kyushu are more ambitious lords, and if these two families are allowed to unify Kyushu, the Hirado clan may be in danger.