Chapter 128: One Word Is True

On the avenue leading from Ping'an Street to Shuri Castle, two towering colorful buildings were built on both sides of the street. They were decorated with red silk, jade and other items. There were four large gilt characters on the plaque of the colorful building, " Welcome to the army."

It was obvious that the guards temporarily took out the supplies from the warehouse that were used to welcome the canonized envoys and other imperial envoys for emergency purposes.

However, on the top of Shuri Castle, there were more than ten outer frames with a height of one person tied up with pine branches. The insides were written with red silk and gold powder. They were newly made by the craftsmen hired by the King of Ryukyu.

"The Keelung Army is spreading its power far and wide!"

"The Ryukyu Kingdom is deeply grateful!"

Along both sides of Ping'an Street, countless incense tables were set up, with incense burners, wine, fruits, and other items listed on them. There were even people in the city kneeling by the roadside with incense burners on their heads.

On some incense tables, in addition to the incense burner, there is also a dragon tablet enshrining the Ming Emperor. Behind the incense cases, Ryukyu nobles and officials are kneeling there in full robes and crowns, holding notebooks in their hands, and the family servants behind them are holding Drinks, meats and other food were prepared to welcome the arrival of Keelung’s army.

It was as if they regarded the soldiers of Keelung as the Ming army, and they were too respectful.

On the pier, Ryukyu King Shangren, dressed in Ming Dynasty crown robes, holding a jade gui and a white jade around his waist, knelt in front of the gangway of the Wan Sheng. Behind him, the prince, the prime minister and many officials lined up on both sides.

Behind these high-ranking officials kneeling at the pier, the King of Ryukyu's various ceremonial guards, butlers, flags, gongs, umbrellas, fans and other objects were arranged neatly on the road from the pier to Shuri Castle. The musicians in the colorful shed were playing and playing, and the music was instantly Melodious and melodious.

Yan Yi and Wang Chao temporarily acted as the tribute officers for both sides.

"kneel!"

"bye!"

Amid Yan Yi's loud praise, King Shangren of Ryukyu knelt down to Qin Hao on the Wansheng with strict etiquette.

After kneeling and kowtowing three times, Shang Ren raised the jade guide in his hand and chanted loudly.

"Your Majesty! King Shangren of Ryukyu. I would like to lead the officials and people of Ryukyu to welcome Mr. Qin Hao, the president of the Keelung Army, who is also in charge of money, food and civil affairs!"

"No gift!"

A clear, loud, slightly excited voice floated down the gangway as the sea breeze drifted down.

Because Zhang Hu killed two Japanese with one sword, he was not punished at all. Instead, he greatly gained face for the Keelung Army. He was regarded by everyone in the fleet as an act of showing off his power with his sword. Qin Hao specially gave him this opportunity to represent himself. , as a reward.

"Who do you want to worship?!"

"My lord, Ryukyu King Naohito."

"What's the matter here?"

"I'm here to welcome the general into the city."

"Get up!"

Although the question was asked knowingly, the etiquette still had to go. As the question and answer between Zhang Hu and King Shangyi ended, the civil and military personnel of the Ryukyu Kingdom stood up and lined up with the prince, preparing to follow Qin Hao and the Ryukyu King's car into the city.

Amidst the sound of fine music, Qin Haoshi suddenly appeared in front of the Shang family father and son and the ministers of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Behind him, dozens of officers were wearing armor and carrying swords at their waists, showing a majestic military appearance. In front of the officers and soldiers of Keelung Army, everyone in Ryukyu seemed to be overwhelmed again.

"Prince Shang, I have been in Keelung for a long time and am ignorant. I wonder when the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty gave His Highness the treatment of a crown?"

After taking a look at the crown robe worn by Ryukyu King Shangren, Qin Hao stabbed him with a smile on his face.

According to etiquette, the King of Ryukyu can only wear leather benhua clothes. You can't wear a crown robe, the kind with a five-clawed dragon. This is obviously a trespass on the part of the Shang family and his son.

You say that my clothing is arrogant, I think you, the general, also made it yourself!

Prince Shangyi muttered something in his heart, but did not dare to say anything.

Neither side is a force that abides by the regulations of the Ming Dynasty. Qin Hao is secretly self-reliant under the banner of Ming Dynasty, and the Ming Dynasty in Ryukyu is also self-protecting. Neither of them is noble.

But the problem lies in the unequal power between the two sides.

In addition, Wang Chao boasted about Shangyi last night, "The Keelung Army had thousands of warships, and even Zheng Zhilong, who was crossing the sea, was defeated by them, and the Shimazu family looked down upon him. Therefore, Shangyi no longer has any contempt in his heart. idea.

There is an old saying that goes well: to find a backer, you have to look for what you are most afraid of.

Taking a peek at the strong and powerful soldiers behind Qin Hao and extending to the gate of Shuri City, Shangyi felt more and more that it was extremely wise and correct to choose to join the Keelung Army.

If any of these soldiers are pulled out, they can serve as the flag bearer in the Shimazu family and the captain of the personal guard in Ryukyu.

There are also those giant cannons arrayed on the pier, with black muzzles opened more than ten steps apart. They are about to start firing. I am afraid that Shuri Castle will fall before the round of artillery fire is over. Thinking about it, It's chilling.

He stepped forward quickly with small steps, lifted up his broad sleeves, and bowed deeply to Qin Haoshen, who was having a lively conversation with King Shang Ren.

"I, the Crown Prince of Ryukyu, Shogi, would like to ask the general to board the carriage and enter the city with my father."

"That's fine! Just ask the prince to lead the way for us."

have to!

With Qin Hao's casual words, the prince became the leading official.

The general of Shuntian Camp brought Qin Hao's horse over. It was an Arabian horse that Zheng Zhilong had just sent. It had been trained to be the most suitable for riding.

The whole body is green and white, the hair color is like satin, the horse's hooves are as big as the mouth of a bowl, the ears can be flexibly rotated, and the hoofs made of fine steel occasionally emit a lovely yellow metallic flash in the sun with the horse's few small movements, crisp and clear. The sound is extremely pleasant.

The short mane and long tail of the horse were trimmed into a beautiful whip by the groom who raised it. The brand-new bridle, reins and other items all showed the horse's different identity.

"What a fine horse!"

All the common people and officials who saw the horse up close praised it secretly, and even the Ryukyu King and the Crown Prince beside him could not help swallowing their saliva.

"My master came to Ryukyu in a dangerous storm. He was a little unwell after the bumpy sea. Please ask the Prime Minister to control the mount for my master."

Duan Daxin's Fujian accent was like a thunder, exploding in the ears of the Prime Minister and many officials.

"What? Let me control the mount for him?

It sounds good, isn't it just leading the horse and putting the stirrups? This is the job of the groom, and you asked me, the Prime Minister, to do it!" The Prime Minister kept cursing in his heart.

"I think someone must have leaked that I advised the king not to welcome this guy that day, and this guy is here to take revenge! He intends to bully me in front of the country!"

Just as the prime minister was struggling, one hand suddenly grabbed the horse's bridle, and the other hand gently stroked the horse's cheek twice.

Wang Chao actually went to control the horse, and then he smiled at Duan Daxin on the other side.

"Please ask the general to get on the horse! Please ask the prince to get on the carriage!"

"Thank you, prime minister. Prince Shang, please get on the carriage."

"Oh! Good! That, Wang Chao, prime minister, you have to control the horse well, don't scare the general's tiger carriage."

Under the protection of Shuntian Camp, the carriage of Ryukyu King Shangyi followed closely behind Qin Hao's warhorse.

At the front of the team, the prince Shangyi held the staff as the leader.

"With one word from them, I am no longer the prime minister?!"

The vanguard of the team entered Shuri Castle, and many Ryukyu civil and military officials followed the team step by step, leaving only the former prime minister standing there blankly.

At this moment, he suddenly had the idea of ​​returning home to gather the family members, rushing into Shuri Castle, killing the Ryukyu King Shangyi and the arrogant Qin Hao together, and then establishing himself as king. Then he looked back at the Keelung soldiers on the top of the city who had taken over the defense of Shuri Castle since the day before, shook his head in self-mockery, and dispelled this unrealistic idea.

"Forget it, at least I am still a samurai of this Ryukyu. There are a lot of land and sugarcane plantations on each island. If I can't be the prime minister, I can still be a rich man. There is no need to fight against the stone with an egg."

Ryukyu is known as three provinces and thirty-six islands. In fact, as its geographical name, it belongs to the form of an archipelago chain. From the north to the south, more than 600 kilometers, it connects Shikoku Island, Honshu Island and Taiwan Island. The largest Ryukyu Island is only more than 1,000 square kilometers, and the second largest Amami Island is only more than 700 square kilometers.

It is under such terrain conditions that you can see the sugarcane leaves on the islands being blown in the wind from the tower of Shuri Castle, and there is a faint rustling sound.

It is now late May. In a few days, the sugarcane will reach the period of large-scale sugar production, and in another month it will be ready for harvesting.

At that time, a large number of sugarcanes are cut down by sugarcane farmers with knives, the heads and tails are removed, and bundled, and sent to Shuri Castle to trade rice and other daily necessities with merchants here.

"Since half a year ago, you sent a fleet to Ryukyu to exchange rice for sugarcane, one pound of sugarcane for half a pound of rice, which immediately made the people of Ryukyu no longer hungry and cold. Everyone in Ryukyu is grateful for your kindness!"

On the tower, Shangren, the king of Ryukyu, who accompanied Qin Hao to enjoy the scenery, flattered him like a tide. It was really difficult for him. I don't know how he came up with such a new flattery.

Since the powerful Japanese vassal Shimazu family forced sugarcane to be planted in Ryukyu, a large number of rice fields have been turned into sugarcane plantations. Young people can only plant sugarcane and no longer rice.

Every time the sugarcane harvest season comes, sugarcane farmers will exchange more than ten acres of land, nearly two thousand pieces of sugarcane weighing ten thousand pounds, for a year's rations and pocket money.

In order to be able to sit on the throne, Shangren has always been very concerned about the prices and trading conditions of sugarcane and rice in the country. He has to admit that the price given by Keelung is much fairer than the price of Shimazu family, which is almost robbery.

"Prince Shang, starting from this year, we should change the way we trade."

The change Qin Hao proposed was also very simple. Instead of directly trading rice and sugarcane, he found a compromise equivalent, Keelung paper money.

A newly developed paper money, produced in Hsinchu, should be strictly called Hsinchu paper money, not Keelung paper money.

The size of a palm, made of a special kind of bamboo from Taiwan Island, with denominations of one hundred, fifty, twenty, ten, five, and one yuan, completely imitating the regulations of later generations.

Qin Hao handed a set of paper money to the King of Ryukyu, hoping that it would be accepted and used on the Ryukyu Island.

What? !

King Shangren was shocked and angry. His son led the horse for him, and the Prime Minister said he would change it. I endured all these. Now he has to use paper to return my sugarcane. Isn't this asking for the lives of the people of Ryukyu?

Qin Hao looked at the unhappy Ryukyu King and knew that he could not accept it for a while. On the contrary, the prince Shangyi beside him was looking at the banknotes with great interest.

Seeing this, he did not mention it anymore, gave a set of banknotes to the prince, and then said: "The sugarcane here is the same price as the sugarcane in Keelung. I can also give you Tongbao or silver dollars. At the same time, I will open a few shops in Keelung. You can use Tongbao and silver dollars to buy everything you need in the rice shops, cloth shops, and silk shops in these shops."

Sugarcane exchanged for copper coins and silver dollars?

This seems to be about right. King Shangren nodded in tacit approval.

Prince Shangren had also seen Keelung Tongbao and silver coins. In terms of appearance and material, they were no less than the best Tongbao of this dynasty, Yongle Tongbao and Jiajing Tongbao. Using sugarcane all over the mountains and fields, it sounds like exchanging such money is much better than exchanging it for rice alone to fill the stomach.

With money and silver, you can send people to Zhejiang, Jiangnan, or even the capital of the Ming Dynasty to buy all kinds of good things that make people jealous.

"Not only these things used by ordinary people, but also all kinds of items needed for your daily life. You can buy them in the store."

As soon as these words came out, Wang Chao and others nodded in joy.

On the night when Qin Hao entered the city yesterday, Prince Shang hosted a banquet in the palace to entertain Qin Hao and his party.

Before the banquet began, Qin Hao, out of courtesy and future greater gains, ordered people to send greeting gifts to these upper-class figures of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The mirror given to Prince Shangren was a five-foot-long mirror, with a frame made of rosewood and gold, which looked extremely magnificent and perfect for dressing.

The mirror given to the Crown Prince Shangyi was a three-foot-long mirror, which was slightly smaller, but the two of them could lift it flexibly. What was even more amazing was that there was a bracket installed behind the mirror frame, which could be opened and placed on the ground or on the dressing table, so it was not a problem to use it for dressing up.

After all, dressing up was not a privilege for women in the 17th century, and men also had to dress up; even high heels in Europe were originally made to facilitate cavalry combat.

The mirrors given to Prime Minister Wang Chao and a group of nobles ranged from two feet to five inches in size, depending on their official positions.

This gift may not seem to be very presentable, but it was a great gift for the Ryukyu people who were seldom surprised. That night, the homes of the adults who received the mirrors were in chaos.

It didn't matter to the wives and daughters, but the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the first wife and the concubines could not share a mirror.

Therefore, the Ryukyu lords had to come to Lord Wang Chao the next day with scars on their faces, and begged him to buy a few more mirrors from the Keelung Army through connections.

Wang Chao naturally introduced the Qinhan Company and launched the first wave of advertising.

"I am willing to sell all my mining land, the few intersecting lands, and the sugarcane in the next few years to the Qinhan Company, as long as they can sell me the glass mirror!" The officials covered their faces and begged with pain and joy.

In addition to the so-called glass mirror, the cotton cloth woven with Guoxiama loom and cotton made almost the entire gentry crazy. They had never seen such delicate and soft cloth, even the Songjiang fine cloth bought from Songjiang Prefecture could not compare.

As for the price!

Of course, there is a pit!

The textile factory in Hsinchu has developed the Jenny spinning machine. Although compared with the steam engine, it is not at the same level as the small workshops of the same era. Coupled with the special textile technology, it is expected to be sought after.

In addition to cotton cloth, there is also linen made of ramie. In a tropical island like Ryukyu, owning a cool and breathable piece of clothing is like owning a hand-sewn piece of clothing from an international brand today, and it is also deeply loved by ordinary people.

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