Chapter 1490: Civil and Military Strive for Profit

"Your Majesty, the post-war plan the various ministers previously deliberated is already quite comprehensive. The crucial part is simply making the Japanese carry it out and having the Great Han supervise. Therefore… this subject has the following suggestions…" Zhou Pu swallowed, then continued, "First, after the war, following the Goryeo precedent, establish a legation in Japan. A minister stationed in Japan, personally authorized by Your Majesty, shall be responsible for all diplomatic dealings with Japan and shall have the authority to oversee every aspect of Japanese affairs.

Second, on the foundation of replicating the Goryeo legation, expand the legation's establishment and scale, select capable officials to fill its ranks, and grant it full authority over the financial supervision of Japan. These officials may be dispatched to supervise mines and customs houses across Japan, estimate their revenues, and then place Japanese mines under the exclusive operation of specialized Japanese agencies. These agencies, in turn, must all have supervisory officials from the legation stationed within them, who may directly draw funds from their revenues to offset the indemnity payments. If this can be effectively implemented, this subject believes it is possible to make Japan hand over thirty million or even more in assets within twenty years."

"Interesting," the Emperor smiled slightly, seeing that this official specializing in Japanese affairs supported his view. "I see no fault with these two points. They can be implemented. Is there a third?"

Zhou Pu's heart suddenly tightened.

"Third, this subject believes the Japanese are cunning and treacherous. It will be difficult to completely prevent them from resorting to petty tricks. We can only guide them according to the circumstances, creating a situation where various Japanese factions are locked in irreconcilable conflict and must simultaneously rely on the Great Han court's support. Using Japanese to control Japanese—only then might we make them focus their energies primarily on internal strife, so they dare not deceive the court…"

"This point is also interesting," the Emperor nodded approvingly. "I also feel that after the war, Japan must remain fragmented. We cannot smash the shogunate only to let someone else unify Japan. To put it bluntly, if the shogunate truly collapses completely, who will maintain stability in Japan and make them peacefully pay us reparations!"

"This subject also believes so. The shogunate's power and prestige must be preserved to some extent." Zhou Pu bowed. "Since this expedition against Japan will raise the banner of upholding justice in its early stages and plans to use the Japanese imperial house as a figurehead, after the war the Japanese imperial house's power and prestige will inevitably far surpass what they were before. They may even acquire their own financial resources and troops. We can offer some support in this regard, allowing them to grow strong enough to counterbalance the shogunate, but we must not let them become too strong, lest they grow too powerful to control and instead become a shogunate possessing great righteous legitimacy, even harder to rein in…"

"Well said. We are fighting for the Great Han, not for the Japanese court. Zhou Pu, you truly understand the stakes!" The Emperor greatly approved of Zhou Pu's words, then deliberately looked at Zhao Song. "Zhao Song, you remember these words as well. Now that you are a great general commanding an army, you must not simply indulge in battle formations. You must learn to devise strategies. Winning is important, but what you do after winning is even more so. In the future, consult Zhou Pu often. He knows how to deal with those people."

"This subject shall certainly consult Lord Zhou frequently from now on." Zhao Song quickly agreed, then turned and cupped his hands slightly toward Zhou Pu. "Lord Zhou, please do not be stingy with your guidance when the time comes. As long as you and I cooperate wholeheartedly, why worry that the great enterprise will not succeed?"

"How could I presume to such honor… General, if you have any questions, simply ask. Zhou Pu will tell all he knows!" Zhou Pu hastily agreed with modesty.

Though outwardly modest, inwardly he was already overjoyed, because the Emperor had in this way established his relatively independent status in this expedition, as well as his authority to advise the commanding generals—after the campaign began, even Zhao Song, noble as an imperial kinsman, could not treat his words as mere wind past the ear, or it would be defying the sacred will. This arrangement would undoubtedly be an immense help to his future work.

"Having the Japanese court and the shogunate oppose and check each other is indeed a fine move, but having only those two locked in struggle is probably not enough. Do not forget, when two rivals contend, if one side stumbles, the other's power will surge…" After praising Zhou Pu a few times, the Emperor grew serious again. "Since we want them to check each other, large and small, we must see it through to the end—simply deny them any chance to turn the tables. Did you not say? Japan has many powerful clans that refuse to submit to the shogunate. This time we can make use of them, but we cannot use them without giving them benefits, can we? After the war, we can also prop up some powerful daimyo, letting them hold considerable strength in their hands. That way they can stand independent of both the shogunate and the Japanese court. Since they never held the shogunate in their eyes, they likely have little loyalty to the Japanese court either. Once they have power, they will answer to no one!"

With the Emperor's guidance, Zhou Pu more or less came back to his senses.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right! The Japanese fear power but do not cherish virtue. They have never possessed hearts of loyalty and righteousness, much less those powerful clans! Once we prop them up, they certainly will not follow the shogunate or the court. In that case, post-war Japan will be a tripartite balance of shogunate, court, and powerful clans. They will check and attack one another, forced to rely on our dynasty's mediation. Our dynasty can then stand above them and make them tear each other apart…"

"That is precisely the idea!" The Emperor laughed, then raised his head. "As long as we balance the power of these several factions and make them attack one another, your task becomes much easier! Selling out the country alone always comes with some hemming and hawing. But if we make several factions compete to sell out the country, they will surely sell actively, properly, and willingly!"

At the Emperor's words, besides Zhou Pu, the assembled ministers in the hall all laughed together. They were not merely currying favor with the Emperor, but genuinely felt this approach was extremely appropriate and hit the mark.

"Your Majesty devises strategies and decides victory from a thousand li away—truly beyond the reach of us subjects!" At this moment, the Prime Minister no longer voiced any dissent. "Zhou Pu, have you taken careful note of His Majesty's strategy? When you go to Japan in the future, you must carry it out thoroughly!"

"Your Majesty's insight spans ten thousand li. This subject… cannot hope to match it even whipping a horse…" Zhou Pu bowed in heartfelt submission. "This subject shall engrave Your Majesty's strategy firmly in mind and ensure that Japan henceforth remains forever a **** tributary state!"

Meanwhile, the clerks who had been silent all along also recorded the post-war terms just discussed by the Emperor and his key ministers. The future fate of a nation was thus decided in these fragmentary words. Small countries, in any era, can only be objects carved up at will by great powers. The price Japan would pay after this war was already separated from national annihilation by only the thinnest of lines.

Yet the flesh they carved away—they did not even have the chance to discuss its disposal. Those who could discuss how to dispose of it were only certain other people in this meeting.

Marshal Shi Manqiang was one of those qualified to discuss how to dispose of it, and he indeed intended to discuss it.

"Your Majesty, this subject believes that establishing administrative bodies to supervise Japanese industry and mining is imperative. However… the status of these bodies merits some deliberation." Just as the ministers were still lavishly praising the Emperor, Marshal Shi Manqiang, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke up. "The mission stationed in Japan must handle diplomatic dealings with Japan and also arbitrate disputes among Japan's major factions, managing political affairs. It is already burdened with countless duties. If it must simultaneously take charge of Japan's industrial and mining affairs, the responsibility is truly too onerous, and it would unavoidably… unavoidably invite suspicion of excessive concentration of power…"

The Marshal's suggestion made the Prime Minister and the other cabinet ministers pause slightly.

To be honest, no one had expected the Marshal to stand up at this moment and question the post-war arrangements, suggesting that the mission stationed in Japan would hold too much power.

Although the Marshal's suggestion did not seem entirely unreasonable on the surface, these were all men who had stood firm in the court for many years and naturally understood that court affairs could never be judged by appearances alone. The Marshal was originally a military man with little interest in meddling in cabinet affairs. Even if he had some opinion, he would not voice it openly at a court conference, lest it affect his relationship with the cabinet. That he spoke so directly today surely concealed some deeper intent.

"Marshal Shi's point is very sound. Japan lies isolated across the sea, its circumstances unique, so we cannot simply copy the Goryeo model for loose rein control. We must re-examine a specific framework. Moreover, although the mission stationed in Japan must hold authority, it is indeed inadvisable for it to manage every single matter, large or small, or oversights will inevitably occur." After first laying this groundwork and agreeing with the Marshal, the Prime Minister then cut off any room for him to press further. "This matter is indeed of great importance. The cabinet needs to deliberate at length. Everyone, after returning, let us discuss further and see how to distribute authority most securely, so as not to lose the mission's authority, nor the ****'s dignity."

Under normal circumstances, the Prime Minister going this far would have been enough. He had given face to the Marshal who was meddling in political affairs and agreed to adopt the Marshal's opinion. The Marshal should not continue criticizing cabinet affairs. However, today the Marshal did not intend to let the matter rest, because he indeed had other plans.

"Prime Minister, this matter is of grave consequence. It would be best to settle it here at the state affairs conference, lest disputes arise later in Japan." The Marshal shook his head and instead continued speaking. "Since the Prime Minister also agrees that the mission stationed in Japan should not hold excessive authority, we may consider handing the supervisory bodies for gold and silver mining to the garrison forces—after all, there will surely be some garrison troops across Japan by then! For one, this makes it convenient for each party to handle its own affairs. For another, if directly subordinated to the garrison, should any incident occur at the gold and silver mines, the garrison can immediately mobilize to suppress it, preventing the incident from spreading and harming mining revenues…"

There it was!

Both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister felt a jolt of alarm in their hearts and unconsciously exchanged a covert glance.

They had worried before that the military would likewise cast covetous eyes on Japan's gold and silver mines. They had not imagined these people would be so bold—not even waiting to make underhanded moves during the coming campaign, but openly raising it right in the state affairs conference.

In that instant, unbeknownst even to himself, a faint flicker of anger passed through the Prime Minister's heart.