Chapter 660: Cutting Salt, Cutting Cotton, Stirring Up Trouble

Great Ming's opening of the sea is a new policy insisted upon by the Great Ming Emperor Zhu Zhu Yijun, not included in Zhang Zhang Juzheng's new policy.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's new policy mainly focuses on dealing with internal contradictions, the Emperor's new policy mainly focuses on external pioneering—opening the sea, tax auditing, and external conquest. Wang Wang Chonggu's new policy mainly focuses on improving productivity through official factory group manufacturing and engineering corps. The Emperor Wanli Reform encompasses Zhang Zhang Juzheng's new policy, Zhu Zhu Yijun's new policy, and Wang Wang Chonggu's new policy.

Three carriages led Great Ming to struggle out of the quagmire. Of course, there are benefits, but there are also disadvantages.

For example, after Great Ming opened the sea, influential squires and bureaucrats discovered that things could actually be done this way! The nobles of the West have a kind of beauty that has not experienced the "Huang Chao passing through," which makes influential squires and bureaucrats extremely yearning.

The shadow that has shrouded this land of the Central Plains for thousands of years, family politics, is definitely not the credit of Huang Chao alone. He did lead people to fight for tens of thousands of li and physically buried the families in the ground to cover the coffin. But the power struggle of family politics actually began in the early Eastern Han Dynasty and continued until the appearance of the imperial examination system.

However, Huang Chao passing through is a landmark event, representing the complete end of family politics.

"The bones of the nobility are trampled upon the heavenly street, and the heads of the powerful are hung all over the garrison gates"—this is the final outcome of aristocratic politics.

The way the Western nobles live now is what the influential squires of Great Ming yearn for.

The West can openly have extramarital affairs, mistresses are as common as air, and illegitimate children can even succeed to the throne. In Great Ming, this is a problem of life style, and moral problems are also within the scope of assessment in Great Ming. For example, Wang Daokun was "staying overnight at a good family's house" when he arrived in Songjiang Prefecture, and could only take a concubine, achieving a romantic story, barely avoiding the storm;

The West can openly engage in political bribery. Gentlemen can actually bribe the English Parliament, condone annexation and enclosure, and sea pirates can also bribe to promote the issuance of privateering permits. But Great Ming cannot. Great Ming engages in corruption, even if it is a person in heaven, it will be liquidated. For example, the former Sichuan Governor Luo Yao was made into the self-metabolism of the Chu Party by Zhang Zhang Juzheng because of the corruption of 340,000 taels of silver;

The West can build large projects without anything. For example, Spanish shipyards still cannot imitate five-masted ocean-going ships today. It is not that Philip II doesn't want to; he wants to, but he knows that huge investments are all empty in the end, because taking silver and not doing things is the norm. But Great Ming cannot. The Jin Party is in full swing. Wang Wang Chonggu built the Great Wall in Xuanda, but did not repair it, and was almost killed by Zhang Zhang Juzheng.

Pouring meat into one hand and getting a layer of oil, and eating the meat directly without even the oil left, are two kinds of political ecology.

The unique relaxation of the West's political ecology is what the influential squires of Great Ming yearn for.

This is also the reason why the theory of absolute freedom can breed and spread widely, and even compete with the theory of limited freedom. The class of meat-eaters is always more inclined to the theory of absolute freedom, while the majority of poor laborers, of course, are inclined to the theory of limited freedom, using violence to limit the exploitation of the meat-eaters, so that the poor laborers can catch their breath and live like a person.

Some things, once grasped, are effective; if not grasped, it won't work.

On the twenty-fourth day of the second lunar month in the spring of the thirteenth year of Emperor Wanli, the ceremonial guard of the Great Ming Emperor Zhu Zhu Yijun finally arrived in Jiaozhou, less than thirty li away from Jiaozhou Bay.

Only when His Majesty climbed high and looked far away did Wang Wang Yie speak: "Since the ninth year of Emperor Wanli, all city walls in Jiaozhou, Laizhou Prefecture, Pingdu Prefecture, and other places have been demolished. Fifty-six coastal defense inspection offices were re-established in Jiacang Town, Xinyang Town, Nanlongwan Seaport, Guzhen, Rushan Village, Chishan Town, etc. Seventeen garrison battalion commander offices were re-established in Shijiu Village, Xiahe Village, Xiongya, Dashan Village, Haiyin, etc. Nine guard stations were re-established, including Lingshan Guard, Aoshan Guard, Dachong Guard, and Jinghai Guard."

"The coastal defense, with coastal defense inspection as the patrol and alarm, garrison battalion commander offices as the main inspection force, and various guards as the main military force, was completed in the twelfth year of Emperor Wanli. There are a total of 34,000 military inspection soldiers, enough to ensure the safety of the Shandong coast."

"Now there is no need for Yao Xu Guangqi to risk his life to protect the kelp of the fishermen."

Yao Xu Guangqi has a scary scar on his face, which was left when he protected the kelp of Shandong fishermen. Now it is no longer needed. The construction of Shandong's coastal defense is complete, and sea pirates have become an indicator.

Wang Wang Yie told His Majesty why the Shandong ground had the courage to demolish all the city walls. Besides the high walls built by the Great Ming navy in Japan, it was the restoration of Shandong's local defense forces.

Wang Wang Yie continued to bow and said: "The entire land coastal defense system was implemented by Governor Ling Ling Yunyi, who walked the coastline and communicated with General Qi Jiguang to finalize it. After Governor Ling went to Henan, the minister followed his tracks and completed it."

Ling Ling Yunyi walking the coastline was actually just going through the motions, a political gesture, mainly to stabilize people's hearts. If the Japanese pirates come after the city walls are demolished, what should be done?

The main work was done by the Five Classics Doctors who measured the hydrology. They measured each place clearly, sent them to the Capital Hall, and the Lecture Hall optimized them, finally determining the locations of these nine coastal guards, seventeen garrison battalion commander offices, and fifty-six coastal defense inspection offices.

"You have done very well, really very well." Zhu Zhu Yijun put down the telescope and said very affirmatively: "It is grand and open, yet skillful in strength; it is like an antelope hanging its horns, yet it can pull up mountains. It is subtle to the millimeter, truly ingenious."

Zhu Zhu Yijun's military talent is zero, but he still saw its ingenuity on the map. No matter how capable General Qi Jiguang is, no matter how high his military talent is, no matter how tight the defense he formulates is, if no one implements it, General Qi Jiguang in the capital can only let the defense plan stay on paper. But Ling Ling Yunyi and Wang Wang Yie realized it bit by bit.

Zhu Zhu Yijun deliberated for a while before speaking: "General Qi Jiguang has traveled all over the world, planned and set up strategies, and has made contributions. His contributions are to the country. He should be rewarded heavily. Shade one son as a thousand-household officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, as an exception. Add a python robe and a fighting bull robe, reward 100 silver, four sets of silk, and thirty bottles of national cellar wine."

"Ling Ling Yunyi and Wang Wang Yie have made contributions in implementation. Your actions are remarkable. Each will shade one son as a secretary in the Secretariat, and receive the salary of a first-rank official, as an exception. Add a python robe and a fighting bull robe, reward 100 silver, four sets of silk, and thirty bottles of national cellar wine."

"All other officials, craftsmen, and soldiers of all levels will be rewarded with ten silver."

"Show a little favor, no need to decline."

The Great Ming Emperor exploded with gold coins again. Great Ming is exploring a new road of urban construction. Demolishing city walls completely means that Great Ming must reject the enemy outside the country's gates. Otherwise, without the defense of city walls, there is no danger to defend. This means that the rolling trend of Great Ming's opening of the sea is already unstoppable. Even if there is a counterattack in the future, opening the sea can only continue.

This is the change in Great Ming after opening the sea, and it is also the embodiment of sunk costs. If you want to close the country, you have to cut the navy. Then how can the safety of the sea frontier be guaranteed? The city walls have already been demolished.

"We kowtow and thank the Emperor for his grace." Led by General Qi Jiguang, the local officials of Shandong kowtowed and thanked the Emperor for his grace. The Great Ming Emperor took out real gold and silver, which meant that His Majesty was really satisfied with the work in Shandong.

If you do a good job, you should be praised; if you do a bad job, you should be punished.

"No one objects?" Zhu Zhu Yijun was a little curious. Ling Ling Yunyi and Wang Wang Yie seemed to have never complained to the Emperor about the difficulties in the execution process. Was the establishment of Shandong's defense system supported by everyone?

Wang Wang Yie said with a strange expression: "Of course there are. The influential squires of Shandong asked Governor Ling, saying, 'Governor Ling, can't you be less tough, soften your attitude, listen to public opinion, and not be so urgent?' Governor Ling ignored them. Later, the minister arrived. The minister softened his attitude, but they were not happy instead and wanted to invite Governor Ling back."

"To tell the truth, the minister doesn't know what they want. The minister has already softened his attitude, but they are dissatisfied instead."

Wang Wang Yie's methods are not as direct, simple, and violent as Ling Ling Yunyi's, but soft knives always kill people without seeing blood. The painful period is too long. Compared to the confused Wang Wang Jiaping encountered by the influential squires of Guangdong and Guangxi, the influential squires of Shandong all miss Ling Ling Yunyi. At least Ling Ling Yunyi is open and aboveboard, bright and upright, and vigorous and resolute.

The monument erected by Wang Wang Yie really made the influential squires' scalps tingle.

"Actually, the minister and Governor Ling both know one thing. We are all flowing officials, all passers-by in Shandong, not locals, so we are not in the game, so we see it very clearly. The Mizhou Maritime Trade Office, Shandong, and even the entire Great Ming, only have this one chance. If we rush up, the Mizhou Maritime Trade Office will be in full swing, revitalizing the entire Shandong, and Great Ming will be reborn."

"If we can't rush up, that's it. If we are eliminated, history will not give us another chance."

This "we" includes Wang Wang Yie, Ling Ling Yunyi, Yin Yin Zhengmao, and all Great Ming people including the Great Ming Emperor. History will not give Great Ming another chance.

Contradictions rise and fall, that is stretching the timeline. But stretching the timeline to the present, the east wind of opening the sea has been blowing for so many years. If you miss it, you will only fall, fall, fall. There is no perfect method in the world. Ling Ling Yunyi kills people, Wang Wang Yie erects monuments, which certainly makes some people hate them to the bone, but Mizhou is rich, Shandong is rich, this is the result.

This is political determination and political responsibility. When you should be decisive, don't hesitate. Because of this or that thing, you pull the skin, pull back and forth, and in the end, you achieve nothing. When you should make a choice, you must make a choice.

Zhu Zhu Yijun climbed high and looked far away, looking at Jiaozhou City. The visibility of the air was not high. Zhu Zhu Yijun did not see the sea, but he saw endless workshops. Countless workshops were established around maritime trade. Roads extended in all directions, vehicles were endless. Although there were many people, everything seemed orderly.

Zhu Zhu Yijun saw Li Li Chengliang. This Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan went to visit a brothel again.

When Li Li Chengliang returned, Hence Hai Rui found Li Li Chengliang with great dissatisfaction and asked him to pay attention to the influence. After all, Li Li Chengliang was accompanying His Majesty south. People leave names when they pass, and geese leave sounds when they pass. Li Li Chengliang visiting a brothel, in the end, damages His Majesty's face.

"I'm not saying I don't pay. Look at what you're saying, as if I don't pay. Let me tell you, these courtesans from Japan are really hardworking. They set up a rope, stepped on it tightly, sat on it, and kept bouncing into the air, then did all kinds of movements, drawing bursts of cheers." Li Li Chengliang talked about the experience of visiting the brothel this time. This is a brand new experience.

In the largest brothel in Jiaozhou, there were seven ropes tied to the stage in the middle. A strong man lifted the flexible courtesan onto the rope. The rope had a certain elasticity, and the courtesan bounced into the air, doing all kinds of movements, which opened Li Li Chengliang's eyes.

"Does the Chief Censor Hai think how many courtesans are performing on these seven ropes?" Li Li Chengliang raised his eyebrows and asked with a smile.

"Seven?"

Li Li Chengliang waved his hands repeatedly and said: "No, no, let me tell you, it's twenty-eight. On each rope, there are four courtesans, and their movements are neat and uniform. They are truly skilled! Amazing, amazing!"

Now the competition in brothels is also very fierce. Without some talent, they can't attract customers at all. Because there is no one to manage them on the sea, the pleasure boats play relatively fiercely, while the brothels on the ground use all kinds of means to attract customers.

Competition is great, creativity is many, and talents are many.

Li Li Chengliang's meaning is also very clear. He did go to visit the brothel, but most of the time he was watching talents. At his age, he doesn't have so many worldly desires. This is a gesture. He doesn't have the virtue of being a king, so don't have any ideas about him, no matter who it is.

Hence Hai Rui understood. He pondered for a while before shaking his head and saying: "Then you must pay. You can't make a joke. When the time comes, the procuress in the brothel chases the money to the palace, which will really damage the dignity of the country."

"Understood, understood." Li Li Chengliang said with a smile: "Let me tell you, in this building, there are still fun things, for example..."

"Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan, play by yourself. I have something else to do." Hence Hai Rui interrupted Li Li Chengliang's words and chose to say goodbye directly. He was not interested in the talents in the brothel.

"See off Chief Censor Hai." Li Li Chengliang laughed and sent Hence Hai Rui away.

"Marquis, a letter from Liaodong." A retainer walked out of the shadows and sent a letter to Li Li Chengliang's hand.

The laughter on Li Li Chengliang's face faded away. After checking the wax seal, he read the letter and said with a solemn face: "Bathe and change clothes, go to see the Emperor."

There is a situation in Liaodong.

And at this time, Feng Bao was in the Yanyun Building, whispering something to His Majesty. What he said was that a letter from Liaodong had been sent to Li Li Chengliang's hand.

Li Li Chengliang left Liaodong, and all his activities were under the eyes of the Eastern Depot's secret agents. Feng Bao, of course, knew the matter of the letter from Liaodong clearly.

"No need to worry. The Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan grew up in Liaodong and made contributions in Liaodong. I believe he loves Liaodong more than I do." Zhu Zhu Yijun tapped his fingers on the table twice and chose to ignore it. This can also be considered a kind of trust. Li Li Chengliang has already left. If he wants to trip up the new Liaodong Regional Commander Wang Wang Rulong, he has the ability, but there is no benefit.

If he really wants to show that Liaodong can't work without him, then he shouldn't have left Liaodong on his own initiative. The Great Ming Emperor asked Li Li Chengliang to go back several times, but he chose to stay in the capital and accompany the southern tour.

Yanyun Building is an industry of the Great Ming Imperial Manor in Jiaozhou. Like Yanyun Building and Yanzheng Building, it is considered a chain restaurant. This large restaurant not only sells wine but also does other business. But when receiving the Emperor, naturally, it will not do those eye-sore businesses.

"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan requests an audience." A little eunuch hurried in and bowed.

"He arrived as soon as he was mentioned? Announce him." Zhu Zhu Yijun laughed. He laughed because he was happy that his trust was not misplaced. Li Li Chengliang had no intention of doing any small tricks behind the Emperor's back.

Li Li Chengliang came, and General Qi Jiguang also rushed over. After all, it was necessary to make a decision on the military affairs in Liaodong. He, the Grand General, still had to be present.

Wang Wang Rulong just arrived in Liaodong. Some people don't trust Wang Wang Rulong. After all, Wang Wang Rulong has never led them to victory. But Li Li Chengliang, as an old superior, having a situation reported to Li Li Chengliang is a kind of habit.

Wang Wang Rulong needs to prove himself. Give him a chance, and he needs to be useful himself.

"The minister pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be safe." Li Li Chengliang didn't talk nonsense, directly handed the letter to Feng Bao, and passed it to His Majesty.

"The King of Joseon, what great courage!" Zhu Zhu Yijun finished reading the letter, slapped the table, and stood up.

The King of Joseon, Li Yan and his son, played with the Emperor Wanli Emperor in history. They clearly asked Great Ming to send troops and agreed to move to Great Ming to join. The Emperor Wanli Emperor issued an edict to allow it. When the war ended, Li Yan played a trick of cicada shedding its shell, abdicated to his son, and said that what was said in the past did not count. Great Ming had just finished resisting Japan and aiding Joseon and was unable to accept it, so it was forced to accept this bitter fruit.

"Your Majesty, it is the minister's fault." Li Li Chengliang bowed again and said with tears in his eyes: "Your Majesty, the minister was in Liaodong and did not show both kindness and prestige, which made the small country despise my Great Ming. The minister deserves to die ten thousand times."

"Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan, has anyone ever said that your acting is really bad? You are crying without tears, which is a bit lacking in sincerity." Zhu Zhu Yijun waved his hand and said: "Get up and talk about business. Don't learn that set of cheap scholars, 'deserving to die ten thousand times'. You are not the one who is guilty."

Li Li Chengliang has the name of a local emperor in Liaodong and the reality of a local emperor. He doesn't need to act with anyone, so it's normal for his acting to be bad. It is the behavior of cheap scholars to force the blame for Joseon's lack of respect on Li Li Chengliang for not showing prestige to Joseon.

Consistent with General Qi Jiguang's judgment, the Joseon King's alliance with the Liaodong tribes succeeded, but this success is a bit ridiculous. It is an extremely loose alliance. Originally, according to Joseon's plan, it should be to pick someone to be the vanguard, attack Great Ming, and test Great Ming's reality.

But the alliance got stuck at this step and couldn't continue to push downward. No one is willing to be that vanguard. This is purely sending death. The tribes believe that Joseon started it, so Joseon should be the first to do it. But Joseon refused no matter what. Great Ming didn't attack it, so it used the excuse of having no name for the teacher to block it.

The Great Ming army is not easy to provoke. Everyone knows this. Before the rebellion, the slogan can be shouted loudly. Everyone can say it, but when it comes to reality, when it is time to practice, they start to pull the skin.

"Alliance? A plate of loose sand." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at the content in the letter. Even if he didn't have much military talent, he could see that this plate of loose sand had no possibility of success at all.

"It's just to strive for some chips and talk to Great Ming. If they really want to rebel, Joseon wouldn't dare. But using the name of rebellion to do some small actions, they still have the courage, and it's very big." Li Li Chengliang frowned and said: "Still have to order Wang Wang Rulong to be careful and guard. After all, Jilin is outside the Great Wall. If there is danger, it must be in Jilin."

"What does General Qi Jiguang think?"

Li Li Chengliang asked for General Qi Jiguang's opinion. Now the Liaodong Regional Commander is Wang Wang Rulong. Li Li Chengliang still asking about Liaodong affairs seems to be reaching too far.

"The Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan has been in Liaodong for a long time, and what he said is reasonable." General Qi Jiguang didn't say much about this matter, but adopted Li Li Chengliang's statement.

Fighting a war, winning is winning, losing is losing. Winning is the key. Distributing military merits after the fact is an internal contradiction. If you lose, you will all be in bad luck.

Great Ming is not easy to provoke, everyone knows. But the affairs of the barbarians, no one can say clearly. Sometimes, they have some decisions that are not very human-like, which really makes normal humans unable to understand, such as the decision of Mang Mang Yingli to attack Great Ming.

"Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan, visit fewer brothels, pay more attention to the situation in Liaodong, and have more letter exchanges with Wang Wang Rulong. Tell him some of Liaodong's experiences. War is always the winner takes all." Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at Li Li Chengliang and decided to let Li Li Chengliang give Wang Wang Rulong more suggestions. As for the question of whose person is whose person, that is discussed after winning. If you can't win, everything is pulling the calf.

"Your Majesty, the minister has an idea. Cut off the salt in the Liaodong market." Li Li Chengliang raised his eyebrows and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, without salt, there is no strength to fight. Wang Wang Rulong himself has experienced more than 50 battles of all sizes. Coupled with cutting off salt, the situation in Liaodong, the minister dare not say it is as stable as Mount Tai, but at least it is as solid as a golden soup."

"Oh?" Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at General Qi Jiguang. General Qi Jiguang was also surprised to look at Li Li Chengliang.

Li Li Chengliang said slightly awkwardly: "Unlike General Qi Jiguang's uprightness, the minister fights wars by any means necessary. Winning is good. As for how to win, the minister doesn't care. The minister usually starts cutting off salt half a year before doing it, catching private salt sellers. When it comes to fighting, they are weak and powerless."

"The minister only sees winning or losing in his eyes."

"Your Majesty, a general who doesn't want to win is definitely not a good general." General Qi Jiguang hurriedly found two sentences for Li Li Chengliang. Wanting to win, and using any means to win, is not an act of lacking great righteousness in military conflict.

"This trick of cutting off salt is wonderful!" Zhu Zhu Yijun said sincerely: "This trick of the Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan is very good."

Blame? Where is the blame? There is only praise.

Great lack of virtue? During the war, who discusses this with you? Future criticism is a matter of the future. If you lose the war, it is a complete loss.

According to the joint research of the Royal Academy of Sciences and the Dissection Academy, in the natural world, the animal world often has to fight for salt. Salt alkali land is salt alkali land, not edible salt. Eating it causes liver and kidney dysfunction, which is looking for death in the natural world.

The cowherd Xiong Xiong Tingbi once told Zhu Zhu Yijun that every time he grazed cattle, he had to water them, which was to prepare a bucket of water for the cattle, and specifically sprinkle a handful of salt in it. Sometimes, Xiong Xiong Tingbi would secretly drink a few bowls before giving it to the cattle.

Among the goods Great Ming sells to the grassland, there is a kind called licking bricks, which is made of various rice straw, silage, etc., and then salt is added to it. It is also one of the bulk commodities. Without salt, the livestock on the grassland will really die.

And because people have rich sweat glands, the demand for salt is greater. War is a violent exercise. Without salt, fighting? You can't even move.

Zhu Zhu Yijun has a deep understanding of this point. After he inspected the army, if he only drank water, he would become thirstier. Only by adding some salt and sugar would he not, and violent exercise easily causes dizziness and weakness in the limbs.

Jianzhou Jurchen, Haixi Jurchen, and Wild Jurchen all do not have the ability to independently manufacture salt. And because of the latitude, Joseon's salt-making ability is not enough for itself, let alone giving it to others.

This is the physical means to limit the combat effectiveness of the Eastern Barbarians, adding chips for the Great Ming army to defeat the enemy.

"Is there any other means? Marquis of Marquis Ningyuan, just say it. Jilin cannot have any accidents. Great Ming finally pioneered to Jilin. No matter who it is, they cannot destroy Great Ming's Wang Hua of Liaodong." Zhu Zhu Yijun began to discuss the situation in Liaodong with Li Li Chengliang.

For example, Liaodong has a defensive means of ice walls. It is not sprinkling water on the city walls, but making a not-too-high adobe wall and sprinkling water on it, which can basically ensure the safety of the camp. In winter, crossing this ice wall that is more than one person high is a huge challenge.

For example, cotton clothes. Liaodong, where the Liaodong Regional Military Commissioner is located, is a little better, but when it reaches Jilin, winter activities must use fur. But fur is not enough, so they can only settle for the second best. If it is really for punitive reduction of population, reduce the supply of cotton clothes in the market. After a winter, many barbarians can be frozen to death.

These small tricks look inconspicuous, but when accumulated, for the Eastern Barbarians, every thing is extremely fatal.

"The minister has another idea." Li Li Chengliang hesitated and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Joseon has the Western Party and the Eastern Party. The Western Party has main backbones such as Huang Yungu, Jin Ronggui, the Minister of the Secretariat, Shen Die, and the compiler Park Dongxian. The Western Party's position is to oppose the national policy of serving the great and interacting with neighbors, believing that the Japanese pirates will definitely not invade Joseon."

"And the Eastern Party is led by Li Jia Shanhai, Jin Cheng-yi, and others. The Eastern Party is based on the ancestral law of serving the great and interacting with neighbors, determining that the Japanese pirates will definitely invade Joseon, and everything must follow Great Ming's edicts. Last time, Your Majesty asked the Joseon King to go to the capital, and the Eastern Party kept clamoring for the Joseon King to go as soon as possible, which caused the Joseon King's dissatisfaction."

"Your Majesty, support the Western Party."

Zhu Zhu Yijun was stunned and asked suspiciously: "Wait? I hear what you mean, the Western Party is pro-Japan and anti-Ming, and the Eastern Party is pro-Ming and anti-Japan. Why support the Western Party?"

Li Li Chengliang's face turned cold, and he said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, some people in the Great Ming court have fantasies about Joseon, thinking that this Joseon King with the nine-chapter robe is respectful and is a filial son. This unrealistic fantasy is because of the existence of the pro-Ming Eastern Party. Only when the Eastern Party has no foundation and completely dies out can the ministers in my Great Ming court completely let go of unrealistic fantasies."

"The fierce beast revealed its belly, hiding its claws, fangs, and ambition."

"The matter of Joseon has never been about Joseon itself."

The Eastern Party in Joseon is constantly declining, which is related to the successive Joseon Kings deliberately pulling the bias.

Joseon's appearance seems to be a filial son, but in fact, it is not so filial. It is still more vigilant than respectful to Great Ming. The reason why it behaves like a filial son is just because it can get enough benefits from Great Ming.

"Your Majesty, during the Japanese chaos in the southeast, there were also many Joseon Hwarang among these Japanese pirates." General Qi Jiguang told His Majesty another thing he knew. The composition of sea pirates is not single. Great Ming's desperate people, Japanese pirates, red-haired barbarians, black barbarians, and Joseon Hwarang.

"Reasonable, then support the Western Party." Zhu Zhu Yijun pondered for a moment and agreed with Li Li Chengliang's plan. ===== CHAPTER 661 =====