Dazaifu is located in Chikuzen Province, Kyushu, Japan, on the east side of Hakata Port. As the "distant court of the Maharaja", it is called "one of the metropolises of the world".

It was built as a "Western Capital" to promote the prestige of the country. This was the birthplace of an international metropolis with frequent exchanges of foreign envoys and merchants, and a dazzling array of imported goods. Dazaifu was responsible for receiving foreign envoys and conducting trade. The envoys initially stayed at Tsukushikan (Korokan) on the Hakata Coast, and from there reached Dazaifu.

In the Dazaifu Government Office, the young two seniors, the Jinsai guardian of the Kamakura shogunate, the commander of the defense force of the Kyushu Defense, and the royal family such as Kikuchi To, Shimazu Hisao, and Otomo Sannai gathered together, all of them with solemn faces.

Since the 12th century, the samurai group of the Japanese state has risen to become increasingly involved in political struggles. In 1192 AD, Minamoto Yorito, the leader of the Japanese samurai group, was appointed as the general of the Seiyi and established the shogunate in Kamakura, Kanto, which was the Kamakura shogunate, and the Japanese government era ended and entered the samurai era for more than 600 years.

After Minamoto Yorito's death, Minamoto Yorito's father-in-law, Hojo Tokimasa, took real power and became the de facto ruler of the Kamakura shogunate as a "ruling power". Later, Hojo Yoshitoki and Hojo Yasutoki successively served as the rulers of the Kamakura shogunate. During the Kamakura shogunate period of the Hojo Taitoki, the emperor was completely reduced to a puppet, and the shogunate controlled the military and government of Japan.

In terms of diplomacy, the Kamakura shogunate continued the negative diplomacy of the Heian period, severing political ties with the dynasties of the mainland, except for some trade activities and Buddhist exchanges. Especially due to the death of Zhou An, the uncle of the Great Song Dynasty, and the severance of diplomatic relations with the Great Song Dynasty, Japan was basically in a state of seclusion.

In recent years, rumors of the Great Song Dynasty's use of troops against Japan have been boiling, and the Great Song Dynasty court has stationed a large army in the Goryeo Hepu Port across the sea from Hakata Port, and the sailors have entered and exited the Tsushima Strait, which is violent. The Japanese shogunate in Kamakura had to order the guardians of Kyushu and the land to strengthen the coastal defenses, and also ordered the imperial family stationed in Kamakura to return home, and the imperial family of Shikoku and China went west in turn to strengthen the garrison of Kyushu.

During the Kamakura Shogunate period, the shogun gave "imperial favor" to samurai chieftains known as the "imperial family", and these "imperial families" were required to swear allegiance to the shogun. The so-called "imperial grace" means that the shogun recognizes the ownership of the land of the "imperial family" and grants them new domains, appointing them to official positions such as "guardian" or "land chief". Correspondingly, the "Imperial Family" must obey the orders of the general, and when there is a war, they must send troops to fight.

Located in the Dazaifu Hall, the Imperial Family Shoji Shino, Kikuchi To, Shimazu Hisao, Otomo Sannai and others were appointed by the Kamakura Shogunate as "guardians" and "landheads" throughout Japan to resist the invasion of the Song army. Everyone sat on their knees, all with serious faces.

"Song Jun, it's menacing!"

On the low table in front of Shao Erzi Neng, there was a newspaper on it, and on it was the content of the Song army's military use against Japan.

"Yes! The ships of the Song army were strong and artillery, with hundreds of thousands of troops and thousands of steam ships, all of which were artillery, and it was indeed difficult to resist. ”

Half a month ago, the Song Army's naval divisions stationed at the port of Hepo in Goryeo attacked Tsushima Island in the Tsushima Strait. The Tsushima guardian Abidliu led more than 3,000 samurai to meet the battle, but they were outnumbered and killed, and only a few survived, rushing to Hakata to report the battle.

Ten days ago, the Song army landed on Iki Island. The guardian of Iki Island, Daihei Jinglong, led more than 2,000 imperial warriors to meet the enemy, but was slaughtered by the Song army.

At this point, the Song army occupied Tsushima and Iki Island, the two most important islands in the Japanese Strait.

Five days earlier, the Song army attacked the Matsuura Peninsula off the coast of Hizen, and more than 3,000 Japanese samurai in Matsuura were also defeated, killed or wounded. However, the Song army did not go deeper, but retreated.

"It seems that the Song army is going to use troops against Japan!"

Guardian Kikuchi has a gloomy face and a word of resentment.

"What are you afraid of, my country of Japan has more than 100,000 samurai in Chikuzen, and although the Song army is powerful, it is not so easy to go ashore to defeat my Japanese samurai!"

Satsuma guarded Shimazu Hisao, his face full of unconvinced.

The Japanese samurai of the Kamakura shogunate period despised the sluggish life of the domestic aristocracy and advocated the "bushido spirit" of "loyalty, righteousness, honesty, bravery, and perseverance". Dealing with the invasion of the Song army, Shimazu Hisao was not afraid.

"You see in the newspaper that the Song people said that they were going to destroy our Japan, and the tone was not small! I have 8 million people in Japan, and he wants to occupy our Japan with 100,000 Song people, wishful thinking! ”

Kikuchi said loudly, as if he was giving himself confidence.

"The Song army defeated the Tatar state, which shows that the power is extremely great! Since the severance of diplomatic relations with the Great Song Dynasty, there has been basically no overseas trade, and the port of Hakata has become much deserted. Now it's not easy to eat Champong rice. Without overseas trade, we would not have had a good time. ”

Sashi Kono, the royal family of Matsuura Island, frowned.

Matsuura Island is located next to the port of Hakata, and the island has little arable land, so it is sustained by overseas trade. The Great Song Dynasty ended trade with Japan, including Goryeo, Champong, and Nanyang countries, and their trade with Japan was also interrupted. Not only Matsuura Island, but also many places in Kyushu and Japan have been affected.

"Xingbian and Kosuke, these two fools! Hurt the whole of Japan! This pair of idiots! ”

The Nagasaki guardian was surprised by Lai Xiu, and said with a black face.

As soon as Lai Xiu finished speaking, Shimazu Hisao angrily retorted.

"Surprised, although Xingbian's father and son recklessly killed the uncle of the Song Dynasty, the emperor's request of the Song Dynasty was too much! If it were you, would you accept it? Yaga! ”

tied up the two perpetrators, Xingbian and Guangsuke, to the Great Song Dynasty and sentenced them to the Ming Dynasty;

The compensation is 2 million yuan, which will be transported to the Great Song Dynasty by itself;

Hakata Port and its surrounding 30 li, leased to the Great Song Dynasty for 50 years;

The Japanese market was completely open to the Great Song Dynasty, and the Great Song merchants were allowed to buy and sell freely in Japan.

If you don't agree to any of them, the two countries can only exchange arms!

Isn't this blatant bullying! It would be strange if the Hojo Yasutoki government could agree to these conditions!

Shimazu Hisao's anger was in his eyes, and he was surprised that Lai Xiu was no longer silent, and Shao Erzi Neng shook his head.

There is some truth in Lai Xiu's words. However, the Song people deceived people too much, and if they wanted to scare Japan by force, we could only fight a decisive battle with the Song army to the end. ”

Hakata Port and the surrounding thirty li, which were all his territory, leased to the Great Song Dynasty for 50 years, what did he eat and drink?

Surprised Lai Xiu hung his head and was silent, but Sashi Kono shook his head and continued:

"The Song army built ships and guns and captured Tsushima Island and Iki Island, which shows that their sailors are powerful. The Song army was able to defeat the Tatar army, which was dominated by cavalry, and the infantry battle could not be underestimated. Once the fight starts, I'm afraid it will be a vicious battle. Maybe it will be tragic then! ”

Over the years, the Song army has been fighting, and it was killed from the sea of blood in the mountain of corpses, and it was a battle of tens of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of people, with rich combat experience, and it can be said that it is brave and good at fighting.

On the other hand, Japan has been peaceful for a long time, and the last battle of 1,000 people in the Kamakura shogunate was probably 20 years ago.

With the Song Army's hundred battles against these rookies in Japan, it is really difficult for him to be optimistic.

"The Song army fought the sea and on the plains, but we have already built a long wall on the shore of Hakata Port, and it is difficult for the Song army to assemble on the shore. My Japanese samurai everyone sacrificed their lives and forgot to die, coupled with the right time, place and people, they will definitely be able to defeat the Song army! ”

Shimazu Hisao was impassioned, his face was full of red light, and he said loudly.

Since the Song army stationed troops on the other side of the Tsushima Strait, Hakata and even Kyushu have been in fear. However, for the Kamakura shogunate and the samurai of the imperial family under its rule, most of them were not afraid of the possible war, but looked forward to fighting the Song people.

"The general has arrived!"

Everyone was arguing fiercely, and the voice of the samurai outside the door sounded, and everyone stood up and bowed to the young military commander who came in.

"Meet the General!"

"Everyone, please!"

The young Kujo Yoritsura has a pale face, dark circles under his eyes, and his appearance is handsome.

A veteran behind him is none other than the envoy Xiyuan Temple Gongwang who once sent an envoy to the Great Song Dynasty, and according to his seniority, he is still his uncle.

As the fourth-generation general of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan, the 20-year-old Kujo Yoritsune rose from the power of his father in the court, the Japanese governor Kujo Taoist and the foreign minister of Kanto, Saionji Kokei, but due to the power struggle between the Kujo clan and the Saionji clan and the ruling Hojo Taishi of the Kamakura shogunate, the position of Kujo Yoritsune was somewhat unworthy of the name.

For example, the royal family in this hall, such as Shoji Zineng, Kikuchi To, Shimazu Hisao, Otomo Sannai and others, are all guardians and landowners appointed by the Kamakura shogunate ruling Hojo Taitoki, and their allegiance is also Hojo Taitoki, not him, the general of the expedition.

However, it can be speculated that his father and grandfather must have reached a reconciliation with Hojo Yasutoki, so he came to Kyushu to supervise the army and boost morale.

"Shaoer, Kikuchi, the Song army is coming, how is the defense of our army?"

Everyone knelt and sat down, and the nine sutras asked in order.

He, the general of the expedition, has no real power, and the battle still depends on the command of samurai leaders such as Shaoji Shineng and Kikuchi.

"Shogun, from south to north, Hizen, Chikuzen, Bunzen, and Nagato each have 20,000 troops, Dazaifu garrisoned 30,000 troops, more than 500 warships, and 10,000 sailors. A total of 120,000 soldiers were assembled in Kyushu, and everything was ready. ”

The young two can reply respectfully.

The Song army was menacing, and the warships and troops around Hakata Bay remained in the area around the north coast of Kyushu for a long time, responsible for the defense of the sea area. The shogunate's ruler, Hojo Taitokimune, also replaced the protection of Kyushu and several other countries (Chikugo, Hizen, Higo, Shubo, Nagato, Iwami, Hakuage, Echizen, and Noto) with his own cronies, so that they could go up and down and be unanimous to the outside world.

"Shogun, the shogunate issued a "prayer order for the surrender of foreign countries" to the temples, and about 30,000 of the 120,000 troops currently participating in the war are young monks from various temples and shrines. ”

Kikuchi followed suit.

"It's better to drag it to the shore for a decisive battle! The warships of the Song people were tall and sturdy, and the artillery was powerful, and our Japanese warships were too small. If only I could take advantage of the wind and waves. ”

Kujo Yoritsune said worriedly.

The Song army was stationed on the other side of the strait for several years, and they were also inseparable. The Song Army Naval Division in Hepu alone had more than 300 warships, and all of them were steamships of more than 1,000 materials, all of which were behemoths.

Japan's warships of about 500 materials did not have artillery on them, and naval battles really made him lack confidence.

"General, the Song army relied on the fact that there were many people in the country, and the soldiers were strong and strong, and they bullied me and Japan too much. Although the Song army has tall warships, they are not familiar with the terrain of Japan, as long as they dare to go ashore, I, the Japanese samurai, will definitely kill them without leaving a piece of armor! ”

Shimazu Hisao was impassioned and said loudly.

"General, the stone wall built by our army along the coast of Hakata, which stretches for 50 miles, is 2 meters high and 3 meters wide, and can defend against the attack of the Song army. Even if the Song army landed on the shore, it would be difficult to spread out the formation, and our army could shoot and kill calmly. ”

Kikuchi was respectful on his face, and secretly disdainful in his heart.

Sending such a cowardly general is really an extra move.

"The Song army is powerful, everything must be prepared!"

Kujo Raisyo nodded, his expression perked up a lot.

"Generals, don't worry, just fight with your heart. The Hojo consul had sent 60,000 cavalry to Kyushu with 60,000 cavalry, and when the time came, he repelled the Song army. Go down and get ready. ”

When the young and second capital can Kikuchi and other generals hear this, they are all excited. 、

60,000 elite cavalry in the Kwantung region will definitely make the Song army fart and pee.

A group of royal generals retreated. Kujou Lai Jing frowned, looked at the Xiyuan Temple Gongwang on the side, and said hesitantly.

"Uncle, you say, can I, Japan, defeat the Song army?"

"Whether the shogunate can defeat the Song army, no one knows. However, the instructions of the imperial court must not be forgotten. ”

Xiyuan Temple Gongwang was meaningful, and whispered.