Chapter 1002: We Are a Sage Sovereign, and We Keep a Very Low Profile (Seeking Subscriptions)

"This subject spreads Your Majesty's imperial might across the four seas and stations victorious troops in the Eastern Sea. Congratulations!"

"Our Emperor's civil accomplishments and martial virtue grace the eastern ocean; beyond the four seas, all becomes royal land."

"Your Majesty has shattered the western caitiffs in the Eastern Sea, exterminated the Satsuma bandits in the Three Islands (the Three Islands is an alternate name for Japan), pacified the pirate lairs of the Wa, and spread awe and virtue across the Pacific Ocean — truly worthy to be called the greatest sovereign-ruler of all ages!"

After breakfast he arrived at the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, and the moment he stepped through the door, Zhu Cilang heard the earnest assessment of him from the senior ministers of the two offices! Every word and every phrase was true insight and sound judgment!

It seemed that today's Great Ming truly had a wise sovereign above and loyal ministers below — a clear-sighted ruler and worthy subjects, sovereign and ministers of one mind. This restoration was indeed no accident!

Zhu Cilang was grinning from ear to ear as well. After settling himself on the imperial throne, he said with a smile to the assembled worthy ministers who spoke the truth: "My lords, do not remain standing. Sit, and let us discuss the Dao — sit, and let us discuss the world!"

"We subjects thank Your Majesty for the seats."

The great ministers all took their seats with beaming faces. They had already received word of the great victory in the naval battle of Kagoshima, and they were all old ministers who had followed Emperor Zhu for many years. All of them had opened their eyes and looked at the globe; they knew the earth was round, and they knew that across the Pacific lay a vast expanse of territory comparable to the Divine Continent (Asia), called the New World of the Americas. It looked very tempting.

And Japan in the Eastern Sea was the springboard for entering the New World of the Americas. As for the western barbarians of Spain, they had stolen that portion of American land which had belonged to China since ancient times — truly detestable.

After the great victory in the naval battle of Kagoshima, the Kingdom of Spain should be powerless to block the Celestial Dynasty's eastward advance, and the Kingdom of Japan could only obediently serve as a springboard.

Moreover, Luzon Island, which had been stolen by the Kingdom of Spain around the Wanli era, should now be recoverable as well!

The territory of Great Ming, it seemed, was about to expand greatly once more!

Seeing the ministers all unable to hide their delight, Emperor Zhu smiled and asked: "My lords all know the situation of the great victory in the naval battle of Kagoshima? Then let us discuss — what should our next step be?"

"Your Majesty, this old subject believes that in eradicating evil one must be thorough! Although the western caitiffs' fleet has suffered a crushing defeat, two or three thousand of their sailors have swum ashore and joined forces with the Wa pirate Shimazu clan. The Shimazu clan has been the leaders of the Wa pirates for generations; they committed countless evils during the Joseon campaign of old. The Shenzong Emperor wished to send celestial troops to strike directly at their lair, but unfortunately the Bozhou Rebellion broke out at just that moment, and the expedition could not proceed. Now that our dynasty's navy dominates the Pacific and has already reached the very doorstep of the Wa pirate Shimazu, why not press our advantage, break down the door, and annihilate the Shimazu clan?"

The first to stand and call for war was Chief Grand Secretary Lu Zhenfei. He felt that Japan was very far away, and a trip there was not easy, so it would be better to get more done while at it and conveniently wipe out the Shimazu family.

"Your Majesty, the struggle between the Tokugawa and Toyotomi factions has flared up again within Japan. The Shimazu are the backbone of the Toyotomi side, so there is no need for us to waste troops and funds. If we simply cut off the western caitiffs' outside support, the Tokugawa shogunate can destroy the Shimazu on its own."

The one opposing the destruction of the Shimazu was Zheng Zhilong. He was a Japan expert and knew that Japan was a quagmire, full of samurai who did not properly farm the land — though of course, there was not that much land to farm in the first place. With Great Ming's current national strength, flattening the Shimazu family's castles and killing several thousand or even ten thousand in the Satsuma domain would not be difficult.

But ruling Kyushu Island over the long term would be far too troublesome — and it would lose money!

"Your Majesty, the Tokugawa shogunate is now wholeheartedly submitting to the Celestial Dynasty," Zheng Zhilong continued. "Our dynasty need only sit back and reap the benefits; there is no need to expand the campaign against Japan. The court's military strength should turn south instead — first, to rescue Siam; second, to recover Luzon."

The Zheng family had close ties with the Tokugawa shogunate, so maintaining the Tokugawa shogunate was most advantageous to the Zheng family. And another matter advantageous to the Zheng family was opening up the Southern Seas!

The Southern Seas offered four great interests: spices, rice, timber, and trade. Of these, spices belonged exclusively to the Dutch; the rice interest belonged to Siam, Ca Mau, Jinghai, and Annam; the timber interest belonged mainly to Siam and Ca Mau; and the trade interest was divided among England, the Netherlands, the Zheng family, Portugal, Spain, and other parties.

Zheng Zhilong felt the current situation was excellent. Great Ming — oh, that is, his family — should take a bit more. At the very least, they should swallow up Spain's entire share!

So he urged Emperor Zhu to advance on Luzon. After all, Luzon already had a "Success Bay"; taking the next step and seizing the entire Manila Bay would not be too difficult, would it?

Zhu Cilang chuckled and gave no indication either way.

"Your Majesty," Wu Sanfu, military advisor of the Grand Marshal's Office, spoke up, "Sichuan and Yunnan are still in the hands of the roving bandits. The people of Sichuan and Yunnan still live in dire misery, craning their necks in longing for the royal army!"

What? The common people of Sichuan and Yunnan are all living in dire misery? Emperor Zhu thought to himself: Did the people of Sichuan and Yunnan say this, or are you, Wu Sanfu, speaking on their behalf? We are no fatuous ruler; We must investigate clearly before making any decision.

"Your Majesty," said Li Ruolian, Minister of the Ministry of War, "this subject believes the great threat to the realm has always been in the north, not the south; on land, not at sea. The eastern expedition should be concluded swiftly. The next step can be to seize Kagoshima Castle to overawe the Wa pirates, and then we should withdraw our troops while victorious and shift our forces eastward!"

Indeed — Dodo was still waiting to die! His current state of lingering between life and death was no long-term solution!

Zhu Cilang smiled, still giving no indication either way.

Qian Qianyi, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, understood Zhu Cilang well enough. He knew the reason the Emperor had not expressed a position was that he had not yet heard words that suited his own mind.

And Emperor Zhu's thoughts, most likely, were on the New World, were they not?

"Your Majesty," Qian Qianyi said, "this subject believes the New World in the east is a land chosen by Heaven for kingship and hegemony. If our dynasty wishes to endure for ten thousand generations and dominate the four seas, we should seize territory in the New World as quickly as possible. And to cross the great ocean eastward, we must use Japan as a springboard!"

Not bad! Zhu Cilang smiled. Old Qian had made great progress!

Qian Qianyi watched Emperor Zhu's lips curl and felt he had found the right line. So he continued: "This old subject believes our dynasty should press our advantage in one surge, subdue Japan, make them abandon their presumptuous title, change their emperor to a king, submit to the Celestial Dynasty, and strictly observe the rites of a vassal state!"

Press our advantage in one surge? How exactly does one "surge"?

Zhu Cilang thought to himself: One cannot expect too much from Old Qian. Better to see what Luo Dagong has to say!

Luo Dagong was the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in charge of exchanges with foreign countries and vassal states, including foreign trade.

"Your Majesty," Luo Dagong now also rose to speak, "this subject believes the victory in the naval battle of Kagoshima is not the end of the campaign against the Satsuma Wa pirates and Spain, but the beginning of a prolonged conflict. How to respond to the situation after the great victory at Kagoshima must be considered carefully and comprehensively. The key point of such consideration is whether the Eight-Nation Alliance needs to be maintained; how relations with the Tokugawa shogunate should be repositioned; and whether the split between the two factions within Japan should be preserved."

Zhu Cilang had finally heard a suggestion that suited his mind better, so he cleared his throat and began to speak: "Since ancient times, an arrogant army is certain to be defeated. The victory in Kagoshima Bay is certainly cause for rejoicing, but we must guard against arrogance and impatience!

By no means should we think that after the great victory at Kagoshima, our Great Ming is invincible under heaven! The victory in the naval battle of Kagoshima certainly demonstrated the strength of our army and navy, but it was also the result of the combined efforts of Ming, England, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, and other nations.

We must not now forget the contributions of others and imagine that Great Ming alone can recover the lands of the American Protectorate!"

The meaning of these words was: keep a low profile! When you have not yet won, keep a low profile; after you have won, keep an even lower profile!

Emperor Zhu paused. "First, for now we will not consider expanding the war on Luzon Island. We will continue to control and develop Success Bay.

Because Luzon Island touches the nerves of the Dutch East India Company, and it is also a prize that the British East India Company and the French wish to lay their hands on. If we take Manila, the suspense will turn into resentment!

Second, for now we will not consider seizing Kagoshima Castle. We need to keep the Shimazu family around; we need to let the Tokugawa family suffer a bit before they will let us handle them as we please. If we help the Tokugawa fight all their battles for them, how can we force them to become a loyal vassal state of Great Ming?

Third, the operation to rescue Siam may begin, but there is no need for a large-scale rescue, because We are still expecting King Narai to come to court!

Finally, it is time to let England, France, the Netherlands, and Portugal all have a taste of something sweet!"

(End of Chapter)