"Gunmon, are you too lenient with the shogunate?"

As soon as he got out of Edo Bay, Nian Qianyao asked Yu Zhong. His booty in Nagasaki alone amounted to more than 200,000 taels of gold and more than 1,000,000 taels of silver, not counting the ones that Fan Yubin "hired" him and the valuable items he gave to Fan Yubin on "credit" at ......a low price. If you guess it this way, the foundation of the shogunate is definitely thicker. But Yu Zhong actually only asked the shogunate for 500,000 taels of gold in compensation, which was somewhat unexpected to him. If according to his mind, he holds the other party's capital in his hand, then he still opens his mouth? At least five million taels of gold would have to be eligible for status.

"Tolerance? You are mistaken! The reason why the shogunate is released is not because I am soft-hearted, but because the current shogunate really doesn't have much money, just by looking at what Tokugawa Tsunayoshi has done over the years. Don't you understand the principle of 'fishing in the dry water'? It is not in our interest to take down the shogunate now. …… What's more, if it's really urgent, the dog won't just jump over the wall. Yu Zhong said.

"Military Gate. This shogunate in Japan is equivalent to their regent, and if it falls, Japan will definitely be in chaos, and then we will not be able to profit from the chaos? "Nian Qianyao has always paid more attention to violence.

"Hehe, don't play stupid with me! How many troops do we have? If we could defeat Japan with only one or two thousand soldiers and horses, the shogunate would not have lasted to this day! Don't forget, there are more than 20 million people! …… Besides, what if it is defeated? Yes, you can indeed win for a while, but will the court let us continue to spend it here? In the end, it may only be civil strife in Japan, and one or more heroes will be played, and then you and I will not be as smooth sailing as we are today. Yu Zhong replied.

"Japan is going to be in chaos for a while, right?" Nian Qianyao said again.

"Yes, Japan is going to be in chaos for a while! However, to be honest, the shogunate's muscles and bones were not injured, but it was the western feudal clans that suffered a lot of losses from me, not only financially, but also in terms of troops! For example, the Maeda family, their Koyama Maru Castle was almost destroyed. Therefore, I estimate that it is very likely that the shogunate will graft its own losses onto the head of the feudal kingdom, and maybe even take the opportunity to abolish a few ......" Yu Zhong smiled.

"You mean, there's a good chance that the feudal kingdom will fight the shogunate?" Nian Qianyao asked.

"It's a bit unlikely. The shogunate had one-third of Japan's land population, and it was almost the richest region, and it had a lot of talent. In particular, the rules set by Tokugawa Ieyasu when he established the shogunate made it impossible for the feudal kingdom to have a decent castle, and the feudal soldiers under his command were far from being comparable to those of the shogunate. The Kanazawa Domain is the largest domain in Japan, but how big is their Oyama Maru Castle? Even Osaka, the second largest city in Japan, is only one-third the size of Edo! In addition, the Maeda family only has 30,000 or 40,000 feudal soldiers in their hands, which is still their total strength, not to mention the rest of the small feudal clans, some only have a few hundred soldiers! But what about the shogunate? It can recruit more than 150,000 soldiers and horses to conquer various places at any time, plus the Imperial Three Families, the Tokugawa clan alone can send more than 200,000 troops at any time, not counting the Ashigaru and those domains, Kanto domains, and Tokai domains that are already attached to the shogunate! It can be said that as long as the situation is not out of control, a few vassal states will never be the opponents of the shogunate! Therefore, I calculated that this time the strength of the shogunate will inevitably be bullish again, and the Kansai feudal lords will be suppressed! Yu Zhong said.

“…… Then what are you here for? Wouldn't it be just to expand the shogunate's power? Nian Qianyao asked.

"I'm here to retake Hokkaido. Also, find a way to cut Kyushu out of Japan! Yu Zhong replied.

"Kyushu? Are you going to fight the Satsuma Domain? Nian Qianyao hurriedly asked. The Kyushu feudal domains are divided into Chikuzen, Chikugo, Bunzen, Bungo, Hizen, Higo, Hyuga Domain, Tsushima Domain and Satsuma Domain, and the largest and strongest of them is this Satsuma Domain, and this guy is almost equivalent to half of Kyushu, but ......

"I hit? Ha ha...... Would you be willing? You've been staying in the Ryukyus all this time, are you just staring at me and hitting people in your mouth? Yu Zhongxiao asked.

"Junmen, you're laughing! ......" After listening to Yu Zhong's words, Nian Qianyao said with an impassive face.

"Who are you and what kind of personality are you? …… You may not know this yourself, but I know it! Yu Zhong glanced at Nian Qianyao, and said: "I will hand over the Korean sailors to you, and when the fight is over, you will hand over Tsushima Island to them." Also, I advise you not to think about eating alone! Inform Lan Li of this, how can you say that you, the general soldier of Taiwan, are also under his control, and it is not good to not support it. What's more, Lan Li is not a good person, if you know that you did a vote in Japan but didn't call him, it will definitely be over with you! …… As the saying goes: everyone is rich! Yu Zhong said again.

"Give Tsushima to North Korea? Didn't you just make a contract with the shogunate not to occupy Tsushima? Isn't this too inconsistent......" Nian Qianyao didn't seem to hear a certain sentence from Yu Zhong just now, and he didn't deny attacking Kyushu, but then asked.

"Immoral? Hah, we don't need to talk about this in detail, do we? …… Besides, I didn't have any plans with Japan to hold Tsushima. The Edo Treaty also does not say anything about Tsushima. Moreover, not occupying it does not mean that troops cannot be stationed there. As long as you are honest with the Tsushima Domain, can they still disagree? It's just that North Korea and Japan will have to pinch this Tsushima Island at that time! In any case, the Tsushima clan is also one of the more than 200 feudal states in Japan. …… As for the Satsuma Domain, it has always been a heart disease of the shogunate, since Tokugawa Ieyasu. …… There are many strong feudal clans in Kyushu, not to mention the Shimazu family of the Satsuma domain, but also the Nabeshima family of the Saga domain, the Hosokawa family of the Kumamoto domain, and the Kuroda family of the Fukuoka domain............ These feudal states are all headed by the Satsuma Domain, and if the Shogunate really wants to make a move against the Kansai Domain, the Satsuma Domain, as the leader of the Southwestern Domain, will definitely become a major obstacle for them, especially since the Satsuma Domain has not suffered any losses and is sound, and the Shogunate will definitely not be happy. Don't you see that when I was going to cut Tsushima Island, Ii Naoko's gang didn't do it, but when I cut Tanegashima and Yakushima, they just said that I should go to the Satsuma clan to talk, which made it clear that I would fight, what are we polite? And if you can really subdue the Satsuma Domain by then, Kyushu will almost be up to us. …… The Japanese have always only served those who can defeat them, and the shogunate has not shown much righteousness this time, so we want the Kyushu feudal domains to turn to us, and it should no longer be difficult for us to do so. At the very least, it should be possible to get them to listen to us more than to listen to the shogunate. As long as you gain a foothold there, 'socialize' with these vassal states a little more, and then let the Kyushu feudal domains request to be attached to the imperial court on their own, even if it can't be smooth, it shouldn't be too troublesome! Yu Zhong said in a voice.

“…… Can this be done? "As soon as he occupied Hokkaido, he continued to want to plot against other people's Kyushu, and Nian Qianyao felt that his behavior of burning Nagasaki seemed to be just a child playing with mud compared to Yu Zhong, and this is the real ruthlessness of the people.

"Whether this can be done or not depends on you! The imperial court will definitely not take the initiative to take in the Kyushu domains because of the face of those 'benevolence and righteousness', and then it will have to be done by the Fujian Navy Division closest to Kyushu, I estimate that the Admiral of the East China Sea Division will be yours in the future, although the North Sea Division can also go to Japan, but they will have to wait a few years for them to become large. If you want to leave a name in history and get promoted and make a fortune, you better think about what you should do. …… Few people in this world have remembered that the one who opens up the territory and spreads the prestige is the hero! The military generals of the imperial court are now in short supply, and the generals who have really fought must be valued. I think you should be able to know that, too. …… Also, don't underestimate Japan...... No matter how they say it, there are more than 20 million people, and the land is comparable to several provinces of ours! Yu Zhong stared at Nian Qianyao's eyes and said.

"The last general will be taught!" More than 20 million people, I will be the emperor of this soil? Nian Qianyao pondered the meaning of Yu Zhong's words, and his eyes rolled.

"The Japanese are one of the best soldiers! You should know that! In fact, since we have formed a naval division in the Qing Dynasty, we will definitely go to other places at that time, and when the time comes, we will use the Japanese soldiers as the vanguard, and our own losses will be much less! Yu Zhong said again.

"Yes!" Nian Qianyao looked at Yu Zhong and nodded noncommittally!

"I've said everything I need to say, and as for whether you want to fight or not, that's your own business. If you really want to fight, you don't need to worry about the shogunate, just invading the Ryukyus is enough for you to use as a reason for war. Don't forget to let Lan Li send troops together, in addition, you must also pay attention to the fact that things will be different after the fight, whether to use a quick move or a slow move, whether to attack a literary attack or a military attack, how not to stimulate the shogunate to turn around, it is best to think clearly! Yu Zhong suddenly stared at Nian Qianyao again and said.

“…… You have been thinking too much, and the last general will know what to do. Looking back at Yu Zhong's gaze, Nian Qianyao still just nodded. However, when Yu Zhong turned his head to look at the sea, his eyebrows couldn't help but jump slightly.

"I received 500,000 taels from the shogunate, and I exchanged 700,000 taels for 700,000 taels, and I got 530,000 taels before, and you still have more than 200,000 taels there, so that we have earned a total of nearly 2 million taels of gold. I'll give you another 100,000 taels, and you can take these by yourself, and I'll give you 1 million taels to the imperial court, which will be counted as the joint seizure of you and me! Yu Zhong said to Nian Qianyao again.

"Junmen, you only keep 600,000 taels for yourself? In fact...... Give the court 500,000 taels is about the same. Nian Qianyao hesitated.

"I know. The rule in the army has always been to stay big and sacrifice small! However, no matter how we say it this time, we will go to war without the permission of the imperial court, so if there is more blood, the ministers in the court will talk less gossip! …… One million taels of gold is equivalent to 12 million taels of silver, and I'm afraid that they will not only be tempted by the time. And as soon as I sprinkle gold in Beijing like this, I don't need you to say it, Lan Li may be in a hurry to find you to make a fortune by then! Yu Zhong said with a smile.

"Hmm!" Nian Qianyao nodded again. He couldn't think he could give away 500,000 taels of gold with his eyes open, that is, 6 million taels of silver...... He's not the kind of "generous" person.

……

After some conversation, Yu Zhong and Nian Qianyao broke up not long after. The Satsuma clan is not in a hurry to fight! Nian Qianyao first returned to Ryukyu with the spoils of war, and then he would send someone to inform Lan Li that although the Fujian sailors were no longer prosperous as before, they had still saved some things in the past two years, and it would not be a problem for Lan Li to bring another three or five thousand people over. The North Korean sailors were also forced to follow him...... With Nian Qianyao's means, I am afraid that this sailor will have to lose a lot at that time.

Yu Zhong turned back to Hokkaido. There, Yue Zhongqi and Murcha had already pressed Sakai Tadashi and the 50,000 Japanese troops back to the ruined Fukuyama Castle! …… The "crab leg" in Hokkaido is relatively wide, there are so many twenty or thirty miles, and it is difficult to defend with 5,000 people, so Yue Zhongqi first feinted defeat and retreated, and Murcha ordered people to cut off the Tsugaru Strait on the one hand, and then led the sailors to suddenly kill the Japanese army from the middle of the waist, and then retreated. Although Sakai Tadashi also has a lot of guys who dare to fight hard, he has also let people fight back desperately. However, in the face of heavy artillery fire and seemingly innumerable "grenades", this desperate act was nothing more than a death in vain...... Artillery, however, is known as the "god of war" precisely because of its intensive use. In front of the several warships sent by Murca, the shogunate's reinforcements could not find a way to break through the Tsugaru Strait, so they could only watch the 50,000-strong army get worse and worse from the sea, and finally they were so hungry that they didn't even bother to move. However, although the situation has reached this point, Yue Zhongqi and Murcha still have no intention of surrendering...... Because the orders given to them by Yu Zhong are so blocked, the Japanese are sometimes tougher, and hunger is one of the best ways to discourage their will.

The situation remained at a stalemate until Yu Zhong returned to Hokkaido, after which Sakai Tadashi first led his troops to surrender, and then rushed to commit suicide...... It is said that he is hungry! The remaining 30,000 or so troops of the shogunate and the feudal kingdom under his command were swallowed by Yu Zhong in one bite. Among these people, nobles and commoners, samurai, and ronin were kept separately, and then began to register the address of their hometown and the information of their family members. …… Nobles and wealthy people had to write letters asking their families to ransom them, while others were asked to inform their families to come to Hokkaido together. Of course, it's okay if you don't say yes, anyway, you'll just stay in Hokkaido alone!

And the unluckiest thing in the whole battle is Tsunesuke Matsumae!

This guy is dead!

Died at the hands of Tadanobu Sakai. At the time, no one expected that Tadanobu Sakai would act so quickly, and it was unexpectedly fast. Yu Zhong was not surrounded by this guy's army in Fukuyama Castle because he returned to Ishikari Port early, but Matsumae Hengsuke was different, this poor man didn't have time to escape in the city, and as a result, after the city was broken, the whole family was beheaded by Sakai Tadanobu. In other words, there was no Matsumae Domain anymore. This saves a lot of trouble.

……

"Junmen, what are we going to do?"

During this period of time, the soldiers of the Manchurian Navy Division were either enjoying the fight, or they were grabbing it happily, and their interest was a little high, so when Yu Zhong reconvened them, some people asked unsatisfied.

"Down? …… Next, you will give me a trip to the Kuril Islands to explore the seas! What do you think? Yu Zhong asked with a straight face.

"Hehe......" The person who asked the question laughed twice and stopped talking.

"Although we have taken advantage of a lot this time, this matter is not over yet. I'm going to have to tell the court about this. So......" Yu Zhong saw that the generals were no longer speaking casually, and continued: "I have decided to temporarily leave 10,000 troops and fifteen warships in Hokkaido, and hand them over to Yue Zhongqi and Murcha. On the one hand, we have to be stationed in charge, and on the other hand, we have to be responsible for guarding those prisoners, although this is only a trivial matter, but we can't be careless enough to let anyone take advantage of our loopholes. Did you hear that? ”

"Please rest assured, the two of us will never let you down!" Yue Zhongqi and Murcha heard Yu Zhong talk about themselves, and stood up and replied.

"Junmen, do you want these captives to be taken back to Vladivostok? Isn't Vladivostok Shipbuilding always saying that there is a shortage of manpower? Lu Buyi asked.

"It's an idea. But that would have to happen until the captives were almost all settled. Now there may be a lot of people among them who hate us, if we put it in the shipyard, then put a fire, it will not only be our own kung fu that will be delayed! Yu Zhong said.

"The Admiral understands." Lu Buyi replied.

"In fact, not only do these captives have to get back a part of Manchuria, but this time I will go back, I will have to pull another group of our own people from the mainland to Hokkaido, and in addition, not only must the imperial court send officials to govern, but also let them send some literati to be responsible for educating these Japanese! …… Books are the same, cars are on the same track, and mixed living and merging can completely change these people. Otherwise, these people will never be able to get along with us. Who knows if they'll stab us in the back in the future? …… If you take your troops to fight in the future, you should also pay attention to this, don't just think about the end of the battle, but also see if you will leave any mess for yourself, and how to completely solve these troubles! Tell you, cleaning up the mess is the real trouble, and it's best left to the enemy or potential enemy! Do you understand? Yu Zhong said again.

"The last general will understand!"

"Hmm!" Yu Zhong nodded.