Chapter 809

Zhu Zhu Yijun placed the joint memorial from Wang Wang Chonggu and Wang Wang Jiaoping alongside Deng Deng Zilong's petition.

Wang Wang Chonggu addressed two issues: lack of confidence and effective measures; he was a worshipper of authority, and his analysis of lack of confidence was somewhat one-sided—he believed the emperor's imperial prestige should not be too rigid.

But Zhu Zhu Yijun knew well that the emperor's imperial prestige was not nearly so strong or resilient.

If the imperial treasury could not hoard large quantities of gold, then the Ming emperor could not casually issue paper currency.

The exploration by the Gold Pool Governorate compensated for the lack of confidence: at least the Ming's gold narrative could now be credibly told—the Gold Pool Governorate's expansion was proceeding smoothly, and vast amounts of gold would flow into Ming, thereby providing the most fundamental credit guarantee for issuing currency.

The emperor's credit was never infinite.

"The Gold Pool Governorate has performed excellently—thunder purges the Japanese spirit, loyal souls illuminate the sea frontier." Zhu Zhu Yijun issued his annotation; in Ming context, "Wō" meant overseas enemies, just like "Yi," "Rong," "Man," and "Di," originally denoting only geographic direction.

The Book of Rites, Wang Zhi, states: "To the east are the Yi, to the west the Rong, to the south the Man, to the north the Di."

"Wō" and "Wōkòu" broadly referred to maritime enemies; later, due to the Wō kingdom's pirates wreaking havoc, the term gradually became exclusive to the Wō people.

Zhu Zhu Yijun blacked out portions of the petition, erasing the crimes committed by the Gold Pool Governorate's colonizers—no official historical record would explicitly document them.

Only brief records would remain: "The governor led troops to expand territory; the barbarians resisted imperial civilization, and were thus subdued."

As for the scale of the Gold Pool Governorate's first colonial war, how many Ming troops were deployed, how prisoners were handled, and how the imperial sword was recovered—no credible records would ever exist again; no matter how future generations speculated, the blame would always fall on the emperor.

This was extremely common practice among all previous Central Plains dynasties: win with two characters, lose with several books.

"Your servant obeys the imperial decree." Feng Bao bowed in submission; even without the emperor's instruction or blacking-out, the Grand Secretariat would handle matters properly upon receiving the reply—who better than scholars at manipulating the Spring and Autumn Annals' subtle phrasing?

"The Trading House has many ways to make money; Wang Qian enforces the Nine Prohibitions yet permits short-selling—he's too hated. I must send him a Shēyuan. I fear he'll die before his father." After reading Wang Qian's petition, Zhu Zhu Yijun immediately sensed the danger.

Blocking someone's livelihood leads to the fastest death.

Toil endlessly through consolidation, farming, opening workshops, and production—how much can you really earn? Better to tell stories, paint grand pictures, then deliver those stories and pictures to the Trading House and sell them to every trader.

Zhu Zhu Yijun himself had once done exactly that.

When maritime trade profits were still uncertain, especially during the early days of the Five Overseas Trading Houses, the Trading House had already begun issuing ship certificates, spreading the cost of large ships and the risks of maritime trade across every trader.

But later developments proved the maritime trade story true—opening the seas yielded immense profits; this story and its grand picture became part of the emperor's credibility and authority.

The Nine Prohibitions were indeed extremely strict, but the fundamental logic of the world is that some people can do as they please—for instance, if the Ming emperor Zhu Zhu Yijun were to paint a new grand picture, needing funds and sending it to the Trading House for contributions, Wang Qian's Nine Prohibitions would have to yield.

And permitting short-selling meant those who wished to sell stories to the masses—including the emperor himself—could no longer easily profit; those who ate meat and could not easily make money would surely hate Wang Qian to the bone.

Zhu Zhu Yijun dispatched a Shēyuan to prevent Wang Qian from dying before Wang Wang Chonggu; the Shēyuan was responsible for tasting food and preserving a sample of every item consumed, sending it to the Dissection Institute to guard against slow poison.

Sending a Shēyuan further elevated Wang Qian's security level.

While the Ming emperor was immersed in reviewing memorials, on the Korean battlefield, Ming forces completed the final cleanup of the Ulsan front, driving all Japanese pirates entirely off the Korean coast.

This campaign proved far more difficult than Qi Qi Jiguang had anticipated: the Battle of Fushan lasted only three days, but the Battle of Ulsan dragged on for a full month, costing seventeen elite shock troops before all sixteen mountain fortresses of Ulsan were captured.

The resistance in Ulsan was exceptionally determined—a classic case of cornered beasts fighting desperately; after Ming seized Fushan, the Japanese in Ulsan, knowing defeat was inevitable, launched a final desperate resistance, yet were ultimately annihilated by Ming firearms, artillery, and fully armored heavy infantry.

Qi Qi Jiguang sat in his central command tent and, with deep emotion, said to Ling Ling Yunyi, Chen Lin, Li Li Rusong, Chen Chen Dacheng, Ma Jin, Ma Gui, Ma Lin, and Zu Su Chengxun: "Since the Korean War erupted suddenly at the end of Emperor Wanli 13, Ming forces have fought six major battles—at Pyeongyang, Kaesong, Incheon-Hanseong, Chungju, Fushan, and Ulsan—driving the Japanese pirates entirely into the sea. All victories owe to the valor and courage of you, my officers and soldiers."

"The Ulsan campaign has been fully accounted for. I shall petition His Majesty to recommend rewards for you all."

"Marshal Qi is impartial—treating kin and stranger equally, noble and common alike, recording every soldier's merit; rewards and punishments hang like a mirror, a standard for the entire army." Ling Ling Yunyi, as Director of Military Affairs, highly praised Qi Qi Jiguang's character.

Qi Qi Jiguang never favored or discriminated based on personal ties; he did not give special treatment to Ma Lin merely because he was Ma Fang's second son, nor did he divert the merits of ordinary soldiers to officers.

Zhao Ji, born in the Caihu Camp and exiled to Song Yingchang Prefecture for crimes, rose step by step through military

Zhao Ji hailed from Caihu Camp; once demoted to guard Song Yingchang Prefecture for a crime, he climbed the ranks through military merit, yet Qi Qi Jiguang never made things difficult for him due to his humble origins.

Indeed, by right, the military should show no favoritism toward kin or strangers, indulge no nobles, overlook no soldiers, deny no merit, deceive neither heaven nor earth, nor bend the law; yet few ever achieve this.

Indeed, in the military, by principle, one must show no favoritism, spare no nobles, conceal no soldier's merit, obscure no small achievement, deceive neither heaven nor earth, nor pervert the law—but few can achieve this.

This is precisely why the Great Ming army maintains strict discipline: laws are usually corrupted from the top down; those below have no power to break the rules.

"Does this mean we are to withdraw our troops and return to the capital?" Li Li Rusong asked, reluctant to let the moment end.

When it came to prying open turtle shells, Li Li Rusong simply could not compete with Zhao Ji; relying on his youth and ability to fight continuously for three hours in full armor, Zhao Ji had personally pried open sixty percent of the shells built by the Japanese!

In prying open turtle shells, Li Li Rusong could not outmatch Zhao Ji; this fellow, relying on his youth and ability to wear full armor and fight continuously for three hours, had pried open fully sixty percent of the Japanese turtle shells!

Ling Ling Yunyi said with a grave expression: "I fear General Qi's wishes will not be fulfilled; His Majesty has issued an edict ordering us to garrison the Fushan and Guangzhou areas to prevent Japanese counterattacks and prepare for an invasion of the Japanese homeland."

Ling Ling Yunyi said gravely: "We may not fulfill General Qi's wish. The Emperor has issued an edict ordering us to garrison Fushan and Guangzhou to prevent Japanese pirate counterattacks and prepare to invade the Japanese homeland."

The Ming court remains divided on whether to continue implementing the population reduction policy or to directly conquer and annihilate the Japanese homeland.

Continuing population reduction means constantly diminishing Japan's war potential through economic and cultural means.

For instance, allowing the Extreme Bliss Sect to spread unchecked in Japan, tightening the embargo list on Japanese goods, using Japanese banknotes to control their economy, undermining their consensus, and gradually reducing their population through the export of Japanese collaborators and Nanyang sisters.

The advantage of this method is cost savings: Great Ming need not expend much grain or funds to utterly eliminate the Japanese threat; the drawback is obvious: it takes too long, for wild grass is never fully burned, and when the spring breeze blows, it grows again.

The advantage of this approach is cost-saving: the Great Ming need not expend much grain or funds to utterly eliminate the Japanese threat and prevent it from ever endangering us again. The drawback is obvious: too much time passes; the wild grass is never fully burned, and when spring winds blow, it grows again.

The advantage of this method is that it cuts the weeds and digs up the roots, but the Great Ming's national and inner treasuries are already stretched thin due to heavy investment in education.

Qi Qi Jiguang frowned and said: "Japan currently has a population of eight million; an invasion requires at least sixty thousand elite troops, supported by eighty to one hundred twenty thousand border troops, plus at least three hundred thousand laborers to guarantee logistics; although Japan lacks strategic depth, it will still take three to five years."

Qi Qi Jiguang frowned deeply: "The Japanese country now has eight million souls. To invade, we must commit at least sixty thousand elite troops; these sixty thousand require eighty to one hundred twenty thousand border troops as support, and at least three hundred thousand laborers to guarantee logistics. Though the Japanese country lacks depth, it will still require at least three to five years."

The Emperor had promised that after enfeoffing Qi Qi Jiguang as Duke of Duke Fengguo, he would still allow him to lead troops into battle; as for the drama of having a yellow robe thrust upon one, that was no longer possible in Great Ming.

The Emperor once made a promise: after enfeoffing Qi Qi Jiguang as Duke Duke Fengguo, he still allowed Qi Qi Jiguang to lead troops into battle—regarding the matter of being draped in a yellow robe—

At that time, His Majesty promised that defeating the Japanese required Marshal Qi to lead the army; after assessing the situation, Qi Qi Jiguang told His Majesty: "When the Japanese are defeated, it need not be by my hand."

Being able to lead troops again and drive the Japanese pirates back to the sea was already more than enough satisfaction for Qi Qi Jiguang; since His Majesty's promise has been fulfilled, there is no need to interrupt Great Ming's march toward renewed greatness over this commitment.

The Emperor's original promise was that defeating the Japanese required General Qi to lead the campaign; after assessing the situation, Qi Qi Jiguang told the Emperor: "When the Japanese are defeated, it need not be by my hand."

Only when the old literati and Confucian scholars become a minority among the educated class will the Emperor Wanli Reform be considered truly successful, its achievements largely preserved, and Great Ming truly escape its destined fate of defeat and slow decay.

"Everyone in the army says Marshal Qi has become cautious after achieving fame and success; in my view, none of them understand Marshal Qi," Ling Ling Yunyi praised sincerely.

Only when the old literati and Confucian scholars became a minority could we truly say the Emperor Wanli Reforms had succeeded; only then could most of the reforms' achievements be preserved, and only then could we say the Great Ming had escaped its destined collapse and slow decay into ruin.

Their loyalty is to the Great Ming dynasty, to the myriad people of Great Ming, to His Majesty, and to themselves; the golden maxim "Unity of Knowledge and Action, Extending Innate Knowledge" is once again verified.

A person loyal to Great Ming will not place personal glory above the interests of Great Ming; Qi Qi Jiguang thought this, and he acted accordingly.

"Then let me be the villain," Ling Ling Yunyi said, laying out three silver coins and nine large Emperor Wanli Zhiyuan Tongbao copper coins. "These are silver coins and copper cash."

"The late Minister Wan once wrote in the 'Records of Foreign Nations: Volume on the Ancient Inca Kingdom': Controlling the mines can completely interrupt the evolution of local civilizations; if bronze weapons cannot even defeat iron ones, how much less can they contend with firearms."

Wan Wan Shihe's assertion regarding controlling mines was taken as truth by the Emperor and regarded as the ultimate standard; Ling Ling Yunyi, as a scholar, feeling slightly unconvinced by hearing the Emperor mention it daily, consulted the "Records of Foreign Nations."

"The late Minister Wan once wrote in the 'Records of Foreign Nations: The Inca Kingdom': Controlling the mines can utterly sever the evolution of local civilizations. Bronze weapons cannot defeat iron ones, let alone firearms."

Mineral veins are the bones and blood of heaven and earth; in the past, when Zhen Guan Zhong managed the mountains and seas, Qi became hegemon among the feudal lords; today, if we seal their veins and cut off their flow, the tools of all craftsmen will inevitably remain stuck at the bronze stage. Though the Zhou tripods are heavy, they will ultimately be broken by iron spears; though the Shang wine vessels are exquisite, they cannot withstand the plowing of iron plows.

In the past, when the King of Chu sealed the Cao Daye mines, the people of Grandmaster Yue sought iron from the sea; when Emperor Wu of Han monopolized salt and iron, the bows and arrows of the Xiongnu declined; today, if we sever their mineral veins, it is like cutting off the roots of the five grains. Even with the skill of Gongshu, how can one cast a plow without metal? Even with the techniques of Ou Ye, how can one temper a blade without ore?

Mineral veins are the bones and blood of heaven and earth. In ancient times, Zhen Guan Zhong monopolized mountains and seas, and Qi became hegemon among the lords; today, if we seal their veins and cut off their flow, all tools of artisans will remain confined to bronze. Though the Zhou ding is heavy, it will still be shattered by iron spears; though the Shang jue is exquisite, it cannot withstand the plow of iron.

In ancient times, the King of Chu sealed the Cao Daye mines, and the Grandmaster Yue sought iron from the sea; Emperor Wu of Han monopolized salt and iron, and the Xiongnu's bows and arrows weakened; today, if we sever the mineral veins, it is like cutting the roots of the five grains. Even with Gongshu's ingenuity, without metal, how can one cast a plow? Even with Ouye's techniques, without ore, how can one temper a blade?

Ling Ling Yunyi smiled and said: "To cut off their transformation for a thousand generations, we must not only assume an offensive posture but also recapture the Yamatai naval port, forcing the Japanese pirates to return to their homeland."

"It is indeed true that both the national and imperial treasuries of the Great Ming are empty; anyone who follows the court gazette knows the government lacks funds, yet this cannot dampen the enthusiasm of powerful coastal elites and wealthy families to contribute donations."

"If the court truly annihilates Japan, those powerful elites, great merchants, local dignitaries, and scholar-officials would willingly donate money and grain, earning commemorative steles even after death."

"We must force Japan to surrender ownership of its mines; with the Great Ming army stationed at their mineral veins, taking their silver and copper mines is tantamount to taking their future."

"It is true the Great Ming's state and imperial treasuries are empty; anyone who pays attention to the court bulletins knows the court truly has no money—but this cannot withstand the fervor of coastal powerful families and magnates donating generously."

"These words make sense; indeed, we still need scholars," Qi Qi Jiguang remarked with emotion. Scholars are indeed scholars; there is a reason why uneducated warriors are suppressed.

In the past, these scholars used such schemes only against the people of Great Ming, making life truly difficult for them, even tricking the Emperor in the nine-fold heavens into running in circles.

Now that these scholars have begun to use their intelligence against the barbarians, the barbarians are finding life difficult as well.

"Marshal Qi, your words of rebuke could be a bit more tactful; these words were not mine, but Minister Wan's," Ling Ling Yunyi said, clearing his throat lightly and gazing outside the great tent, remarking on how blue the sky was and how green the mountains.

These literati used to direct this cunning solely against the Great Ming people; the Great Ming people truly suffered—even the Emperor, seated high above the nine heavens, was made to dance at their whim.

"If Japan does not comply, we will fight until they surrender the mines; that makes things simple," Qi Qi Jiguang said, having understood the specific objective of this campaign.

"General Qi's words of rebuke could be softened a little; this wasn't my saying—it was Minister Wan's." Ling Ling Yunyi coughed lightly, gazing beyond the tent, marveling at how blue the sky was, how green the mountains.

In fact, he did not finish his sentence... In the eyes of the scholars, besides gold, silver, copper, and iron mines, Japan possesses another extremely important mineral resource: human mines.

After opening the seas, Great Ming exerted too much force; with territory too vast and manpower insufficient, people were needed everywhere: expressways needed building, canals needed digging, mines needed opening, and plantations needed laborers to clear wasteland; relying solely on black barbarians brought by Persian merchants was far from enough.

Since Great Ming has not yet completed land redistribution and the common people are unwilling to bear more children, human mines are necessary.

Japan is Great Ming's human mine; even if no one states it explicitly, this is a universal tacit understanding among the meat-eaters; laborers are already working on the construction sites of the eastern Zhejiang canal.

After opening the seas, the Great Ming exerted itself too forcefully, resulting in territory too vast and manpower too scarce—too many places needed people: highways to build, canals to dig, mines to open, plantations to clear with laborers; the black slaves brought by Persian merchants were utterly insufficient.

Until the Great Ming completes land redistribution and the people are unwilling to bear more children, we need human mines.

"Phase One: Issue orders to the Nagasaki Governor's Office to cooperate, send a proclamation to Japan, and create the appearance of a comprehensive Great Ming offensive from the sea, causing the Japanese Azuchi Shogunate and various Daimyo to focus their attention on the maritime front."

"During this period, coastal defense inspectors will deploy routinely to ascertain the Japanese troop deployments, city defenses, waterways, and fortifications at the Yamatai naval port."

"In the second phase, we seize maritime supremacy: the navy deploys to lure the enemy out, drawing the Japanese fleet away from their ports to crush their main force at sea, while simultaneously enforcing a total blockade to sever communications between the Yamato naval bases, Tsushima Island, and the Japanese mainland."

"Phase Three: After cutting off their logistics, the Nagasaki Governor's Office and the Osaka Bay Garrison Thousand-Household Office will assume offensive and marching postures, forcing the Japanese homeland to abandon support for the Yamatai naval port and Tsushima Island; meanwhile, our Great Ming navy and army will attack the Yamatai naval port, striving to capture it in one decisive blow."

"Phase Four: Within two days, the Engineer Battalion will restore the throughput capacity of the Yamatai naval port; within one month, the army will occupy the entire island of Tsushima and its affiliated islands, making Tsushima the springboard for Great Ming's annihilation of Japan."

"Phase Five: Focus primarily on harassment; in the name of annihilating the Japanese pirates, launch surprise attacks at multiple points along Japan's long coastline to create the illusion of a full-scale invasion, forcing Japan to seek peace and surrender control of all mineral resources."

"Phase Two: Seize maritime dominance. The navy deploys to lure the Japanese navy out of its harbor, defeat its primary sea-based interests on the open ocean, and simultaneously impose comprehensive naval suppression to sever communication between the Yamatai port, Tsushima Island, and the Japanese homeland."

"Phase Three: After cutting off their logistics, the Nagasaki Governor's Office and the Osaka Bay Garrison Battalion command an offensive posture, forcing the Japanese homeland to abandon support for Yamatai port and Tsushima Island. Meanwhile, our navy and army launch a full assault on Yamatai port, aiming to capture it in one decisive blow."

Li Li Rusong appeared slightly dazed, suddenly feeling the heavy burden on his shoulders; with Qi Qi Jiguang stepping back, could he, Li Li Rusong, truly carry the banner of the Great General? With the Great General's toothed flag handed to him, could he formulate such a perfect military deployment?

"Phase Five: Primarily harass, under the pretext of eliminating Japanese pirates, launch hit-and-run raids along the Japanese country's lengthy coastline, strike at multiple points, create the illusion of a full-scale invasion, and force the Japanese to sue for peace and surrender control of all mineral resources."

"If there are no objections, let us begin; we will proceed slowly, step by step, for we are in no rush; if absolutely necessary, we can ask the powerful gentry along the coast to donate a little more—not much, just enough for one year's military supplies," Qi Qi Jiguang said, seeing that the generals had no objections, and thus made specific deployments.

The generals inside the tent looked at each other, none speaking—it was Qi Qi Jiguang's most characteristic tactic, striking with such righteous force that they could not retaliate; even though they knew exactly what Qi Qi Jiguang intended, they could do nothing to stop him.

Li Li Rusong looked slightly dazed; suddenly he felt the weight on his shoulders. After Qi Qi Jiguang's retirement, could he, Li Li Rusong, truly carry the Grand General's banner? Could he, after receiving the Grand General's battle standard, devise such a comprehensive military strategy?

Li Li Rusong noticed that whenever Qi Qi Jiguang was not fighting, he never put down his books; in a sense, Qi Qi Jiguang was also a scholar.

"If everyone has no objections, let's begin—step by step, we're not in a hurry. If absolutely necessary, we can ask the coastal powerful elites to contribute a bit more—just enough to cover one year's military needs." Seeing no strong opposition from the generals, Qi Qi Jiguang laid out his specific deployment.

Doing intelligence work well is the prerequisite for winning battles; the sacrifices of the beacon tower sentinels and coastal patrol inspectors deserve the respect and honor of the entire Great Ming court.

Ling Ling Yunyi compiled Qi Qi Jiguang's plan into a memorial and composed a poem to accompany it, submitting it to His Majesty.

Long edicts spread might across the sea, calming its waves; the Japanese court watches in awe as emerald tides surge in shock.

Patrol boats scout the islands, mapping strongholds; fortified cities lock their keys with clarity.

Serpentine formations raise banners, crushing warships; dragon-like forces lock the sea, severing flying geese.

Feigned thunder drums shake the three islands; real strikes shatter the Yellow Dragon's ninefold gates.

Cloud ladders rise at night, arching like rainbows; iron cavalry charge at dawn, leveling the isles.

A thousand sails skim the shore, beacon fires blazing; a single surrender letter reveals...

... the mineral veins.

Emperor Zhu Zhu Yijun received the memorial and laughed: "What's this Ling Ling Bu Tang up to? Showing off as a scholar, thinking his poetry beats General Qi's? General Qi writes rustic verses, and Ling Ling Bu Tang fancies himself a literary master? If Ling Ling Bu Tang is so capable, why hasn't he taken the Yamatai naval port?"

Feng Bao hesitated, then whispered: "Your Majesty, could it be that Ling Ling Bu Tang is also a capable commander? He pacified the Japanese pirates in Fujian and quelled the Yao rebellion on Mount Luopang, thus establishing the three counties of Luoding."

"Ah, yes, that's true—Ling Ling Bu Tang can lead troops too. He has three thousand guest soldiers," Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile.

Ling Ling Yunyi's poem describes five phases of war—one line per phase.

Order the Viceroy's headquarters to project naval deterrence, forcing the Japanese regime to focus on coastal defense; coastal patrol inspectors must map harbor defenses and gather intelligence on waterways and passes; the navy lures and annihilates the enemy's main force, fully blockading land-sea communications; land and sea feints tie down the homeland, while combined naval-land assaults seize key strongholds; engineers rapidly repair port facilities while ground troops launch lightning strikes to fully control Tsushima Island.

Finally: a thousand sails skim the shore, beacon fires blazing; a single surrender letter reveals the mineral veins—multi-point raids create panic, forcing the Japanese to seek peace and cede mineral rights.

"Those who understand me are General Qi—he knows my plans and intentions. This strategy pleases me greatly," Zhu Zhu Yijun said, thoroughly satisfied with the frontline's planning.

The Great Ming army now occupies the Japanese mineral resources and is enforcing the extermination of the Japanese. Mining these resources requires consuming lives—many, many lives.

Especially in this era of low productivity: beside the rich silver mines of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru lay pits for discarding corpses; within decades, hundreds of thousands of miners were thrown into them.

The shutdown of the Beijing Western Hills Coal Bureau was due to the same reason: underground conditions are treacherous—collapses, floods, explosions occur constantly. Open-pit mining is far safer.

Zhu Zhu Yijun was Zhang Zhang Juzheng's student; he learned to go around.

To have the Beijing garrison directly overrun the Japanese, staining their hands with blood—never mind maintaining the carefully cultivated discipline, these soldiers are living men. When soldiers begin to doubt the justice of war, morale collapses.

But if we go around, the soldiers merely garrison and protect the mineral rights belonging to Great Ming—that is justice. Why dirty their hands with killing?

The merchants and Japanese compradors who manage mining—how they exploit the Japanese, how many Japanese die in the mines—none of this guilt falls on the soldiers. They are merely guarding the Emperor's mines.

Zhu Zhu Yijun continued: "When General Qi was in Beijing, he told me Sun Tzu said: 'Do not block a retreating army; encircle an enemy but leave an opening; do not press a desperate foe.' Mount Ulsan resisted fiercely, holding ten times longer than Fushan—that is the principle of 'do not press a desperate foe.'"

"The same applies to state affairs. If you offer no chance for peace, these Japanese Daimyo will unite entirely under Oda Nobunaga's banner and fight to the death. But if you change your approach, they will fracture into factions of war and peace."

"Master's trick of going around—sometimes, it's truly brilliant."

Zhu Zhu Yijun endorsed the memorials of Ling Ling Yunyi and Qi Qi Jiguang. He disliked meddling in military planning and chose to accept it entirely. Could he possibly understand warfare better than Qi Qi Jiguang?

Feng Bao considered and said: "General Deng Deng Zilong, the Marquis Shi Shi Longhou, said that even General Qi would be defeated at the Golden Pools. I find that hard to believe. The terrain is excellent, but battles are won by men—I don't think General Deng can win."

(Current status of the Golden Pools Viceroyalty: present-day Melbourne region, early exploration phase.)

"General Deng is also a formidable commander," Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile. The Golden Pools are indeed a naturally superb harbor, easily defensible—but so many factors determine victory or defeat.

The victor remains to be seen—it depends on who fights better.

"Bring me that petition from the powerful local elites," Zhu Zhu Yijun said, examining the memorial Feng Bao had retrieved. This memorial came from Songjiang Prefecture, urging the court to reopen the system of voluntary donations.

The court also planned to launch a second fundraising drive by year's end, collecting all funds at Tianjin Tanggugang in Tianjin Prefecture before April.

The meat-eaters of Great Ming did not, to halt the Emperor Wanli Reforms, choose to blow up the gunpowder stockpiled at Tianjin Tanggugang. At least they retained some rationality, avoiding deliberate crises in this war of national destiny.

"If Your Majesty is unwilling, we can still squeeze more from the inner treasury and state coffers," Feng Bao said, sensing the emperor's hesitation. Matters involving military authority must always be handled with caution.

"Then squeeze it out—no more donations," Zhu Zhu Yijun made his final decision. Initially, the court feared insufficient funds and hastily raised money; after all, the powerful elites had gained a sense of participation, strengthening social responsibility and cohesion.

But the state finances remained healthy. Further pressuring the powerful elites to donate might provoke resentment and opposition. These elites were most skilled at shifting burdens downward—continued pressure could lead to inflated prices and rents.

Most importantly, it would invite corruption and its spread. One instance might be accidental; two or three, and local officials would exploit the donation system to extort and embezzle, worsening bureaucratic decay—an outcome Zhu Zhu Yijun would not permit.

If we can squeeze it out, fine. If not, Zhu Zhu Yijun could tap into old silver reserves.

If all else fails, confiscate estates—there's always a way.

The Ministry of Rites drafted the "Edict of Pacifying the Japanese," requesting the Emperor's endorsement before proclamation. The Nagasaki Viceroyalty responded immediately: the navy began concentrating frequently at Nagasaki Port, while the Osaka Bay Garrison Battalion Command shut down all information channels to the Japanese capital, assuming a posture of full readiness.

The Ministry of Rites drafted the 'Edict of Pacifying the Japanese,' which the Emperor approved in red ink and proclaimed to the realm. In response, the Nagasaki Governor's Office mobilized: the navy began concentrating frequently at Nagasaki Harbor, and the Osaka Bay Garrison Battalion severed all information channels to the Japanese capital, fully preparing for war.

The Korean front had collapsed completely; no matter how glorified the battle reports became, they could no longer be concealed. Deserters fleeing back to the homeland spread tales of the terrifying might of the Great Ming's celestial troops, spreading widespread fear and unrest.

The panic over a full-scale Ming invasion severely undermined the authority of the Azuchi-Momoyama Shogunate, and even Oda Nobunaga's prestige grew precarious.

When a state loses credibility, suspicion takes root. The battle reports, repeatedly edited and sanitized, had become utterly distorted—every report claimed overwhelming victories, as if the Ming army suffered repeated defeats and the Japanese had won hands down.

Yet the frontlines had now spread to the Japanese homeland itself, pushing panic to its peak.

The more fearful people became, the more they sought psychological solace. The Sukyo Sect spread rapidly, escaping the Shogunate's control and surpassing native Buddhism to become the dominant religion.

And the Great Ming Emperor's Edict of Pacifying the Japanese, carried by merchants and Sukyo Sect followers, spread everywhere.

Great Ming's terms: the Japanese must cede all mineral rights as the price of defeat, in exchange for the Emperor's mercy.

And the Great Ming Emperor's edict on pacifying the Japanese pirates spread everywhere, carried by merchants and followers of the Japanese country's Bliss Sect.

Great Ming's demand was that the Japanese country surrender all ownership of its mines as the price of defeat, in exchange for the Emperor's wrath being quelled.