Tsushima Island is composed of two parts of the north and south of Shangma and Xiama, and the narrow place in the middle is connected by Asamoyama Mountain and Taipingshan Mountain, the bay west of the two mountains is called Asaki Bay, and the bay to the east is called Miura Bay, until the 20th century, the north and south islands are connected, until 1900, out of the need for war preparedness (Russo-Japanese War), a canal was dug in the south of Asamoyama Mountain and north of Taipingshan, which is known as "Wanguan Seto" in history, and since then the north and south have been separated, and Asamo Bay and Miura Bay have begun to connect. (For specific topography, please refer to the Panama Canal)

The four islands mentioned by Hideho, including Perari Island, also include Chidori Island, Biwa Island, and Mijima. These four islands are located to the west of Asamoyama Mountain, and are the important towns that hold Asamosu Bay, but because the main castle of the Tsushima clan is located in the Jinshi Castle further south, and the Wanguan Seto has not yet been opened, the strategic position here is not so significant, and because of this, Soyoshi Tomochi decided to agree to Hideho's request, but after all, it is his family's territory, and the specific purpose still needs to be asked.

"Your Highness can use it, but forgive me for being presumptuous, can you tell me one or two of your intentions, and if you go back, you can have an explanation with your family." Zong Yizhi cautiously probed.

"Ahh Xiubao slapped his head suddenly, bared his teeth and grinned: "In addition to these four islands, I also want to borrow Qianmao and Taiping Ershan for use." ”

"I'm afraid that's not right, right?" Zong Yizhi's face was embarrassed, "These two mountains are the only land passage connecting the two islands in the north and south, if they are handed over to you, it will be very difficult for the family to manage Shangma in the future." ”

"No, it's a mountainous area, and the Busan army has been patrolling for almost two years, and I haven't found a few people going back and forth from there to the two islands, and even your retainers are coming and going by boat, so it can be seen that this place is not so important, but if Your Excellency doesn't agree, I won't force it, but don't mention the matter of trade with North Korea." Xiubao said lightly.

Zong Yizhi knew that if the weather was fine, he would be able to see Tsushima Island in Busan, but from Hidebo's words, he heard another meaning.

"The Busan Army is cruising in North Korea, how can they pay attention to the whereabouts of their own retainers, isn't it surveillance?" Zong Yizhi felt a little uneasy.

"I forgot to tell you, in order to prevent the invasion of the North Korean navy, I asked Taiko for instructions two years ago, and the waters around Tsushima were also included in the defense circle of Sacheon, but I have been patrolling the open sea, and you have not found it. Xiubao's tone was still calm, and he didn't seem to see this incident as an infringement on the Zong family.

"Sacheon Defense Circle?!" Zong Yizhi couldn't help but widen his eyes, and said in a tone of disbelief: "Don't you think this is an invasion of the family? ”

"Then you can go to Taige and sue me." Xiubao stood up abruptly and turned his head to leave.

Seeing this, Zong Yizhi hurriedly stepped forward, and said with a smile on his face: "It's a humble, Your Highness, don't be angry, there is still a discussion on this matter." ”

"Discuss?" Xiubao turned around, looked at Zong Yizhi with disdain, and said coldly: "What to discuss, if you don't want to, I can communicate with the Goto family..."

"Your Highness!" Zong Yizhi exclaimed, and then there was a burst of loss: "As long as you can participate in trade with North Korea, everything will be done as you say." ”

"That's good," Hideho nodded, said "send-off" to Aoki Kuju (Hidebo's close attendant), and went straight back to the inner room.

After this meeting, Ogasawara Tadakiyoshi (Ogasawara Takakiyoshi's sister-in-law), who was in charge of the 20,000 troops left behind in Korea, and Fukushima Masaki (Fukushima Takayoshi's brother), who was in charge of the remaining defense of Busan, recruited nearly 20,000 peasants (mainly Japanese who were farming in Korea) according to Hidebo's wishes, first built Asakusa Castle on Asakusa Mountain, then built Chidoriga Suizuki on Chidorijima Island to the west, and finally dug the "Manseki Seto" without the consent of the Sone. He forcibly took possession of Kuroshima and Okinoshima outside Miura Bay and built Miura Water Village, but the entire project was not fully completed until October of the following year.

Knowing that Hideho had exchanged several small islands for trade rights with Korea, Fujido Takatora couldn't help but wonder a little and made a special trip back to Gotoyama from the northern castle (located in Mino, the residence where Hideyoshi rewarded Takatora).

"The lord spends so much money and manpower to run a few small islands, I don't know what to do?" In his opinion, after the occupation of Busan, Tsushima would not have much strategic significance, and instead of spending his energy on this desert island, it would be more practical to increase the Korean frontier.

"Gao Hu, have you ever heard of an idiom called 'planning for a rainy day'?" Xiubao asked rhetorically.

Fujitang Gaohu nodded, indicating that he had heard of it, "But what does the lord want to guard against?" ”

"To the east of Tsushima is the Mori family's Nagato Shubo, to the southeast is the Kuroda family's Chikuzen, and to the southeast is the Hizen family of the Ryuzoji family (Nabeshima family), so have you overlooked such an important strategic location?"

In just a few words, Hideho suddenly realized that Fujido Takatora was ignorant, and the minister only valued the role of the island in the war against Korea, and ignored its significance to the western country, but listen to what you mean, do you want to use it as a base to spy on the daimyo of the western country?" ”

"So it's 'taking precautions', don't you look at the calm and peaceful now, that's because Taige is alive, once Taige is gone? Will the ambitious daimyo Kuroda and Mori still be content with the status quo? It is worth it to be able to put a nail in their back, even if it costs a little money. ”

But Fujitang Gaohu is still a little worried: "A small city, two water villages, there is more than enough surveillance but not enough containment, right?" ”

Xiubao couldn't help laughing: "Is the 20,000 troops stationed in North Korea vegetarian?" Except for a small number of Western soldiers (mainly 800 people from the Shimazu family Tsukikagejima, and 1,000 people from the Maori family stationed on Zhenjima), the vast majority of them are from our Toyotomi department, and now they are self-reliant, and they don't need to supply their own family at all, and the excess income can also supplement their own family, as far as the current situation is concerned, not to mention 20,000, even 40,000 can afford to raise, and there are tens of thousands of pioneer farmers there, if there is a war, they will all be peasant soldiers when they pick up bamboo guns, and the 40,000 army can reach the Kyushu coast from Busan through Wanguan Seto in only half a day. At that time, are you still afraid that you won't be able to contain the group of careerists in the western country? ”

"No wonder the lord had to keep his military presence in North Korea in the first place, it turned out to be for today." Fujido Gaohu was greatly moved, and he didn't expect that after two years of training, Xiubao's ability had been improved again, and even he, the old man of the pen family, couldn't keep up with his rhythm.

"You think highly of me, the reason why the army was stationed in Korea was just to provide security for the farmers who went to Korea to farm and the merchant ships that passed by, and as for the matter of containing the daimyo of the Western Kingdom, it was suddenly remembered when Zong Yizhi visited." Hideho is also realistic, admitting that he has not reached the strategic heights expected by Fujido Takatora.

"Even so, you have already made your subordinates sigh at themselves." Gao Hu said humbly.

At this moment, Aoki Hisaju suddenly ran into the main hall in a panic, and without waiting for Hideho to ask, he gasped and stammered: "My lord, the young assistant of the Ministry of Governance has come to say that His Royal Highness Taiko seems to be out of order, and urgently summons you to Fushimi!" ”