Chapter 652: Tagawa Matsu

"You know, my wife is a Japanese woman, so me becoming shogun wouldn't be so bad."

Hearing this, Zheng Zhihu's eyes suddenly lit up, and his face flushed with excitement.

He turned to look at Zheng Zhilong and asked in disbelief, "Big brother, you want to be shogun?"

"Why not?" Zheng Zhilong spread his hands and said, "Is there anyone more suitable than me? I'm a man of the Great Ming, with status and standing on Hirado Island. I can win their support. Why shouldn't I make some progress in that direction?"

"What's wrong with being shogun? As long as the Great Ming is willing to support me, it can definitely be done, and I believe the Great Ming will be willing to support me." Zheng Zhilong said with a smile, "When that day comes, our family will truly have soared to greatness."

Zheng Zhihu believed his brother's words. If they really could reach that point, it would indeed be soaring to greatness.

Though their family was already prosperous and their fleet was vast, everyone knew that drifting on the sea was like floating duckweed—without roots, it was easy for someone to destroy them.

But becoming a foreign shogun would be different—they would have people, money, territory, and the backing of the Great Ming court behind them. Perhaps one day, their family might even found a nation of their own.

Thinking of this, it was impossible not to get excited. Zheng Zhihu was thrilled, and looking at Zheng Zhilong, he asked, "Then big brother, what should I do?"

"Nothing at all." Zheng Zhilong shook his head and said, "All we need to do now is wait quietly and cooperate with the Great Ming officials to get things done. We'll talk about everything else later. This war hasn't even started yet—we shouldn't get too involved."

"Alright, I understand." Zheng Zhihu nodded and said, "Should we prepare some gifts for that eunuch? Isn't it said that eunuchs all love money?"

"We'll talk about it after this business is over." Zheng Zhilong shook his head and said.

Compared to the Ming army's side, Zheng Zhilong wasn't worried in the slightest. He wasn't afraid that failing this mission would mean death on Hirado Island, because that was simply impossible—he had the strength to escape this place.

Though overturning things might not be feasible, fleeing was no problem.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Matsuura Taro sat in his chair, looking at the subordinate before him and asking, "You say Zheng Zhilong has returned, and he's brought a Ming official with him?"

"Yes, Lord of the Domain." The subordinate quickly said, "The docks just sent word."

Matsuura Taro felt somewhat helpless. After a moment of silence, he said, "Say nothing, do nothing. Have people keep an eye on them, but don't tip them off. Understood?"

The subordinate hurriedly replied, "Understood."

He waved his hand, and after the subordinate left, Matsuura Taro sat down.

He too had some doubts, truly unable to figure out why Zheng Zhilong had brought Ming people here.

After all, things on his side weren't exactly clean—the wokou of those days were really his own people. Over the years, it had been trade, then fighting and stopping, stopping and fighting, always the same. But the Great Ming had never come to Japan, let alone to Hirado Island. This time, Zheng Zhilong bringing people back was certainly no ordinary visit.

Matsuura Taro wasn't too worried either. He was the lord of the Hirado Domain and didn't believe anyone could do anything to him on his own turf—even Zheng Zhilong.

Still, there was one concern: his relationship with Zheng Zhilong hadn't been all that good these past two years. As Zheng Zhilong grew more powerful, their points of conflict multiplied.

But Zheng Zhilong had been gradually shifting his operations away, and they had parted on reasonably good terms, with decent feelings between them. So Matsuura Taro didn't really believe Zheng Zhilong would do anything.

At this moment, Zheng Zhilong had finished his discussion with Zheng Zhihu and came to the rear courtyard, where he met his wife, Tagawa Matsu.

Seeing Zheng Zhilong walk back, Tagawa Matsu bowed slightly and said respectfully, "You're back."

Zheng Zhilong nodded, walked up to Tagawa Matsu, reached out to support her, looked her over from head to toe, and said, "You're looking well. Have you been living comfortably lately?"

"Fairly well." Tagawa Matsu nodded and said.

"Where's our son?" Zheng Zhilong asked.

"Practicing martial arts in the back." Tagawa Matsu said.

"Then let's go see him together." Zheng Zhilong nodded, took Tagawa Matsu's hand, and led her toward the back. The husband and wife went together to see their son.

Fang Zhenghua sat expressionless in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table.

"Master Eunuch, isn't it bad for us to just keep waiting like this?" A guard beside Fang Zhenghua said softly, "Shouldn't we do something? I keep feeling that Zheng Zhilong has ill intentions."

He turned to look at the guard, Zhang Zhao, who was only in his thirties. He was a man of the Imperial Guard Corps, assigned to Fang Zhenghua by Zhu Youxiao.

It was said that Zhang Zhao's men were quite famous within the Imperial Guard Corps, having carried out many missions. What kind of missions exactly, Fang Zhenghua didn't know, but they were certainly experts.

"No rush, no rush." Fang Zhenghua looked at Zhang Zhao and said with a smile, "So what if he has ill intentions? At worst he kills us—but what good would that do him?"

"People always act for some benefit; he won't do things that bring him nothing. Don't worry. Even if this mission fails, our safety won't be in jeopardy. Never mind the others—that Zheng Zhilong certainly won't let anything happen to us. So eat when we should eat, drink when we should drink."

"I can't do that." Zhang Zhao shook his head directly, his face resolute, and said, "Tonight I'll take some men out to investigate."

"Better not to tip them off." Fang Zhenghua said with some exasperation, "Once we tip them off, it will cause trouble for what comes later."

"But if I don't take a look, I'll have no peace of mind." Zhang Zhao said helplessly, "If something goes wrong, we won't be able to leave. I want to first feel out their guard situation and see where the ships are. If something unexpected happens, we can seize a ship and leave directly."

"No need." Fang Zhenghua said, "We'll just wait here. In the end, they'll send us off with full respect. Rest assured."

Seeing that Zhang Zhao was about to speak again, Fang Zhenghua's face sank, and he stared at him, saying, "Do as I say."

"But what if there's real danger? His Majesty ordered me to protect Your Lordship's safety." Zhang Zhao glared, seemingly unwilling to obey Fang Zhenghua, and continued stubbornly.

"For the Great Ming, I do not fear death." Fang Zhenghua was very exasperated. Though he dearly wanted to give Zhang Zhao a beating, he couldn't—this man wasn't under his authority.

If he actually dared to strike Zhang Zhao, the matter would become serious. So all he could do was persuade.

These stubborn types were truly hard to handle once they got an idea in their heads.

Zhang Zhao looked at Fang Zhenghua, craning his neck stubbornly, and continued, "But my mission is to protect Your Lordship's safety."

"Rest assured, I am very safe." Fang Zhenghua stared at Zhang Zhao and said, "If you keep talking like this, I'll have them send you back, and you won't need to stay by my side anymore."

Zhang Zhao's face instantly flushed red. Very helpless, he could only mutter sullenly, "This matter—when we return, I will definitely report it to my superiors."

"Fine," Fang Zhenghua immediately broke into a smile and said, "When the time comes, I'll go with you."

After the two finished their conversation, they didn't wait long before someone came to invite them.

The welcome banquet was ready, and Fang Zhenghua could go eat.

When they arrived at the front, there was a lavish spread of food and drink. Zheng Zhilong had even invited his wife Tagawa Matsu out to keep them company.

The meal was a pleasant one for both host and guests, with both sides steering the conversation toward a friendly atmosphere.

After the meal, Fang Zhenghua was escorted back.

After seeing him off, Zheng Zhilong accompanied his wife to the back.

Once the two sat down, Tagawa Matsu brought water to wash Zheng Zhilong's feet—something the two had done together for all these years.

"Is this Ming eunuch really that extraordinary?" Tagawa Matsu asked, looking up while massaging Zheng Zhilong's feet.

The Tagawa family counted as retainers of the Matsuura family and were also lords of Hirado Island.

Tagawa Matsu had grown up on Hirado Island. Her father died early, and she followed her mother in remarrying to a blacksmith from Fujian. Later, she married Zheng Zhilong.

Tian Chuansong had been sensible since childhood, and after growing up, she became even more perceptive, with remarkably accurate judgment about all matters.

Zheng Zhilong's attitude toward Fang Zheng Hua was something Tian Chuansong could clearly discern. After all, in recent years Zheng Zhilong's strength had surged dramatically—he hardly needed to show face to anyone anymore, and was even preparing to move away from Hirado Island to strike out on his own.

Under such circumstances, the fact that Zheng Zhilong was being so courteous to this eunuch of the Great Ming made Tian Chuansong naturally curious.

"A eunuch who is highly favored by the Great Ming Emperor," Zheng Zhilong said slowly. "He has the ear of the Great Ming Emperor. This time he has come here as the Great Ming Emperor's special envoy."

"To discuss what?" Tian Chuansong raised her head and looked at Zheng Zhilong as she asked.

"They want to attack Japan." Zheng Zhilong did not hide anything from his wife, saying directly: "The fleet has already arrived outside. If not for me, they would likely have already begun battle."

Tian Chuansong's hand trembled, and she instinctively gripped Zheng Zhilong's foot as she asked: "Is this true?"

"Of course it's true." Zheng Zhilong said with a bitter smile: "On the way, I encountered their fleet and was defeated, losing over sixty warships. I was also captured by them. If not for the fact that I am a man of the Great Ming, I fear my life would already be gone."

"Then what do they want you to do?" Tian Chuansong looked at Zheng Zhilong, a hint of fear in her voice as she asked: "Could it be they want you to be a guide? Or do they want you to coordinate with them from within?"

For Tian Chuansong, this place was her home, and Hirado belonged to her family. If Zheng Zhilong were to attack Hirado together with the people of the Great Ming, Tian Chuansong truly was not certain how she would choose.

Her expression was very serious, her gaze burning as she stared at Zheng Zhilong, hoping he could give her an answer.

Even the hands gripping Zheng Zhilong's feet had unconsciously begun to tighten.