Tanegashima is in full bloom in early April, and as far as the eye can see, it is lush and beautiful. Although Tanegashima has a gentle topography, the highest point of the island does not exceed 300 meters above the sea level, but most of the hills and highlands are at the northern end of the island, and the southern part is plain.

Therefore, rice is grown in the south, while wheat and imported sweet potatoes are grown in the north. At this time, it is the season of winter wheat ripening, and the wheat fields in the north are golden and bright, and the sea breeze blows through the fields, and the wheat waves are rolling in the fields, and this year is obviously another harvest season. The peasants passing by the wheat fields were all smiling.

They sometimes unconsciously looked in the direction of Nishinomote Port, and then folded their hands in their hearts and prayed in their hearts that these Tang people would be better able to stay. Since these Tang people came here last year, their income has not only risen, but they can also exchange cheap Tang goods from these Tang people, and it can be said that life is much better.

Most importantly, they were also hired to build Nishinomote Port and the island's water facilities, which was much better than the Kagoshima family who brought a large amount of taxes back to the mainland, making it impossible for the Tanegashima family on the island to build large public works. So just one winter, most of the farmers on Tanegashima had already accepted the rule of the Tang people.

However, Tanejima Tadashiki, the head of the Tanegashima family, doesn't see it that way, and he is extremely resentful of these Tang people who have violated his territory. It's just that he can stand at the head of the city and lead his retainers against these Tang people, but he can't force those peasants to pursue a better life.

When the Tang people first took shape in the fortress near Nishinomote Port, there were fewer and fewer farmers outside Tanegashima who were willing to pass on information to the samurai lords in the castle. Although Tanegashima has a reserve of five or six hundred people in the city that can eat food for half a year, no one in the city could have imagined that the Tang people could be stationed on the island for so long, and there was no sign of the family sending troops to rescue them.

After the winter, Tanegashima finally ran out of food in the castle, and hungry servants and soldiers began to flee out of the city at night, and Tanegashima Tadashitoki's retainers began to persuade the head of the house to consider surrendering. Although the young Tanegashima Tadashi still wanted to persevere, he looked at his mother and sisters, and fell into panic again.

However, it was also at this time that the Tang accompanied the envoy of the family to the outside of Tanegashima Castle, and to Tanegashima Tadashi's disappointment, the envoy did not come with an army to rescue Tanegashima, but asked him to open the castle and surrender to the Tang people. Losing his last hope, Tanegashima finally ordered Kaejo to surrender to the Tang people, leaving only about 200 people left in the castle.

Tanegashima Tadashi, who handed over the weapons, later learned that the Tang and the main family had reached an agreement, and the Tang people would provide a batch of weapons to the family, and Tanegashima would be handed over to the Tang people as collateral for control, and the tax on the island would be paid to the Tang people. Tanegashima and his family could move back to the mainland with the envoy, or accept the Tang people's employment to stay, but in that case, the family would not be able to provide him with any help.

Although Tanegashima Tadashi is young, his brain is not stupid, and he naturally knows that his family has abandoned the Tanegashima family. How could the poverty of the Satsuma domain raise a group of idlers? What's more, if you lose your territory and leave behind the samurai who are loyal to you, the Tanegashima family will no longer exist. Tanegashima Tadashi eventually chose to stay and manage Tanegashima's affairs for the Tang people.

When Xu Xinsu, the commander of the Tang Dynasty who was sitting on the island, met with Zhong, he only explained two things to him. The first is to stipulate that the tax will be set at the public four and the civil six in the future; The second is to pay the taxes that come up, 20% as his salary, 40% as the income of his samurai, 20% for office expenses, and finally 20% for the Tang people's public treasury in the West Table.

Although the Tang people collected 20% less tax, Tanegashima Tadashi and his samurai were slightly more treated, because the Tang people collected much less tax than the main family. This made the samurai, who were originally full of resentment, begin to accept the orders of the Tang people.

And in this season of preparing for the wheat harvest, Tanegashima Tadashi was summoned to Nishinomote Castle, and Xu Xinsu, who had returned from outside, asked him to receive a few guests. Tanegashima Tadashi was originally a little dissatisfied, thinking that this kind of thing only needs to be done by his retainers. It wasn't until he saw the guests who had disembarked from the boat that he began to get nervous.

The elder of the Mori family, Sadahara, and the head of the Shimazu family, Shimazu Iehisa, respectively boarded the port of Nishinomote Port surrounded by their own samurai. Fukuhara Sadayoshi stepped on the smooth concrete pavement under his feet, and couldn't help but say with some amazement: "With such a large and smooth stone, it really took a lot of effort for the Shimazu family to build this pier..."

Unlike Fukuhara Sadako's misunderstanding, Shimazu Iehisa knows very well that the pier in front of him is not his masterpiece. He was also surprised that the Tang people had built such a port in such a short period of time, so he instructed a warrior beside him: "Find an opportunity to ask Zhong how these Tang people built such a road." ”

The Tang Castle of Nishiomote was modeled after the Japanese way of fortification, dividing the city into two parts. A castle town inhabited by civilians, and a fortress garrisoned by the army. On a hillside inside the fortress, a castle tower was built, which had not yet been fully completed.

Because he had to receive the big names of the Mori and Shimazu families, and the wheat harvest was about to be completed, Xu Xinsu simply asked the craftsmen to stop and slightly decorate the second floor of the lower castle tower to receive guests.

Although this castle tower was not surprising to the eyes of Fukuhara Sadaha and Shimazu Iehisa, when they entered the second floor of the castle tower, they also realized that this castle tower was not as simple as it looked from the outside. At least the glass doors and windows used in the castle tower have made it impossible for them to underestimate the wealth of the Tang people too much.

As is customary for the Japanese, tatami mats were still laid on the second floor, and important representatives of the Mori and Shimadzu families entered the room, while their little surnames remained at the door. The transparent glass installed on the top half of the door reassured the samurai, and now they didn't have to worry about what would happen inside.

After sending the idlers out, Xu Xinsu, who was kneeling on the tatami mat, looked at Fukuhara Sadayoshi on the left, and then at Shimazu Iehisa and Shimazu Hisatsu on the right, and couldn't help but smile and said: "I didn't expect that even the lord of the domain came over today, and I will remember the sincerity of the Shimazu Domain." ”

The Shimazu family didn't say anything for a long time, but Shimazu Jiutong beside him was very dissatisfied and said: "Our Shimazu family has taken one-sixth of Shi Gao as a pledge, but the cannon promised by Lord Xu has not been delivered for a long time, I'm afraid this is not sincere, right?" Now that you have asked us to come and discuss important matters, I would like to ask your Excellency, what other important matter is more urgent than the matter of transporting arms? ”

Xu Xinsu straightened his waist and said without any reaction to Shimazu Jiutong's anger: "What is more important than arms is naturally money and food. Otherwise, the shogunate army will stay in Bizen and dare not go south, is it just a bluff? ”

Shimazu Jiutong was about to say something, but was stopped by Shimazu Iehisa, who asked Xu Xinsu: "Money and food are naturally important, otherwise my family and the Maori family will not support you to come forward to buy the grain in the hands of the southwestern feudal clans."

However, after all, it is the warriors who decide the war, otherwise the money and food accumulated will only be the greatest temptation in the eyes of the enemy. In addition, the summer harvest was approaching, and the new season of grain was about to ripen, and with this new grain, the shogunate no longer had to worry about food shortages.

Therefore, the cannons and canisters that you promised to sell us should be delivered as soon as possible. Otherwise, when the shogunate army goes south, who will you give your arms to? ”

Xu Xinsu glanced to the left, and saw that Fukuhara Sadayoshi was also nodding again and again, and couldn't help but think about it and said: "Actually, a batch of arms has already been transported to Tanegashima, and when the meeting is over, the two of you can bring this batch of arms back."

But before I do that, I would like to confirm one more thing, the Mori family and the Shimazu family, are you and the shogunate planning to confront each other, or are you planning to make peace? The Ming Dynasty will not continue to assist those who intend to submit to the shogunate. ”

Shimazu Hisatsu suddenly turned his gaze to Fukuhara Sadayoshi, and asked angrily, "Could it be that the Maori family is secretly colluding with the shogunate again?" ”

Fukuhara Sadayoshi immediately denied it, but instead accused the Shimazu family of beating up. Seeing the two sides arguing, Xu Xinsu observed for a long time, and finally interrupted them and said, "Okay, you guys stop for a while, and listen to me a few words first." ”

Fukuhara Sadayoshi and Shimazu Hisatsu closed their mouths, but they still looked at each other without avoidance, and Xu Xinsu continued: "Da Ming actually doesn't care, whether you are down or obey the shogunate. But the money we invest in you will not be allowed to go down the drain. I invite you here today in the hope that you will be able to show your attitude, either by swearing an alliance to the end or..."

Although Xu Xinsu kept his mouth shut, Fukuhara Sadayoshi and Shimazu Hisatsu both understood what he meant. If they don't write the letter of alliance, I'm afraid the Ming Dynasty will cut off their aid.

While Fukuhara Sadayoshi was still thinking about it, Shimazu Iehisa had already made a decision, "Okay, I am willing to write a letter in the name of the Shimazu clan." ”

Fukuhara Sadaha immediately reacted, if the Chinese let go now, the Maori family would not be able to resist the shogunate army at all, and they could not force the Shimazu family to honor the alliance, and in the end only the Maori family was changed. Fukuhara Sadayoshi, who had no way back, had to make the same vows.

Xu Xinsu saw that both parties were willing to conclude the closing document, so he clapped his hands lightly, and the tightly closed door next door was immediately opened, and an elderly samurai was guided out.

Shimazu Iehisa's eyes narrowed, but Fukuhara Sadayoshi opposite him called out the name of the samurai, "Miyakekakuzaemon-sama, why are you here?" ”

After Xu Xinsu beckoned Miyake Kakusuke to sit down, he introduced with a smile: "Miyake Kakuzaemon-sama is here on behalf of Kato Tadahiro, the lord of the Kumamoto Domain, and the Kumamoto Domain will also join this covenant, isn't that so, Saemon-sama?" ”

Hearing Xu Xinsu's question, Miyake Kakusuke's face stiffened a little, after all, it was not his intention to participate in this fallen alliance, but the intention of the head of the family, Tadahiro. Miyake Kakusuke, who is loyal to his family, can't disobey the will of the head of the family, so he has to appear here. After thinking for a long time, he finally nodded lightly and said, "The Kumamoto clan can't agree with the approach of the three generations of shoguns, and it is not to overthrow the rule of the Tokugawa family. ”

Miyake Kakusuke's answer made Fukuhara Sadayoshi and Shimazu Iehisa stunned, and they couldn't help but look at Xu Xinsu. Xu Xinsu said disapprovingly: "Our primary goal now is to bring down the shogunate in Edo, and as for who will rule Japan after the war, it will be said after the shogunate is overthrown." None of you three feudatories together may be an opponent of the shogunate, and it is a bit ridiculous to talk about post-war Japan now. Let's seek common ground while reserving differences, and first focus on the cause of the curtain down..."

The alliance lasted until dark, when the San Francisco and the Tokai Patrol Prefecture reached most of the cooperation projects of the Fallen Alliance. When Xu Xinsu arranged for the representatives of the three feudatories to go down to rest, Lin Guangxing, who rushed to Tanegashima, brought the Guangxing incident in Nagasaki, hoping that the East China Sea Patrol Office could help him rescue the crew.

comforted Lin Guangxing a few words, saying that he would send someone to inform the Chinese envoys in Edo, and after making representations to the shogunate, Xu Xinsu persuaded him to go down. Not long after Lin Guangxing left, Xu Xinsu's cronies asked him: "My lord, do you want to bring this matter up to the three feudatories at the next dinner?" ”

Xu Xinsu shook his head and said, "Why do you mention it?" Prepare a boat, send him back to the capital, and let him cry to the court. ”

When this cronie was wondering, Xu Xinsu had already continued: "Isn't this a good reason to start a war? If the people of Beijing had heard that the Japanese had seized dozens of Chinese sailors and were going to be executed just for transporting a missionary, the people would have supported us in doing something to Japan..."