Chapter 1595: Secret Discussions and Schemes

"What Your Highness says is not wrong, but… we ministers also rely on our minds and courage to fight, not merely charging blindly like reckless fools. Otherwise, we wouldn't spend the heat of battle searching everywhere for weak points in the enemy's formation." Zeng Guang bowed his head and explained to the Crown Prince. "Indeed, our army's firearms are formidable, but the enemy's firearms are not as formidable as ours. The quantity and accuracy of their firearms are far inferior to ours. When our cavalry charges, the casualties they can inflict on our cavalry won't be too great. At the same time, even our own firelocks, though vastly improved compared to the former Ming era, still lack sufficient accuracy. If dispersed among the various infantry units, they still cannot stop our charge. Don't forget, today's cavalry was only one battalion, but when we fight enemy nations, we have thousands upon thousands of cavalry! This minister believes that with the training and valor of our cavalry, even if the enemy infantry stands firm in formation, we can still break through—not, as those who make snide remarks think, that cavalry can only stand aside. Furthermore, our cavalry moves extremely fast and can easily shift between different sectors of the battlefield, freely choosing where to engage. This is something infantry cannot match."

He spoke with great passion, single-mindedly wanting to make the Crown Prince understand that cavalry could still be used as a main force, and that the Great Han's cavalry could contend with any enemy army of the present day—including the Great Han's own infantry corps.

"I understand what you mean, and there is indeed some truth to it. However, even so, using cavalry to charge infantry formations head-on is still unwise." The Crown Prince pondered for a moment, then finally shook his head. "And, even if what you say is true, as firearms develop further in the future, with firepower growing ever denser and more powerful, eventually cavalry simply won't be usable in frontal assaults on the battlefield at all, correct?"

This question struck right at the heart of the matter. Zeng Guang was momentarily at a loss for words, but soon laughed. "Your Highness's words are also reasonable, but the development of firearms cannot be achieved overnight; it improves gradually. Such a scenario should be a matter of a very, very distant future. At the very least… this minister and the next few generations probably won't live to see it. As of now, this minister still believes cavalry remains extremely useful."

"Since cavalry's mobility is so swift, yet charging enemy formations grows ever more dangerous, could we not train some men to ride horses, but use them solely for mobility, and then dismount to form ranks and fight when they encounter the enemy? I've heard that the Jianzhou Jurchens back then had their infantry ride on horses and dismount to fight when they met the enemy, and they gave the Ming armies a very bloody time as well."

"Your Highness is truly gifted with extraordinary talent!" Before Zeng Guang could answer, Zhao Song, who had already come over, took up the conversation. "In fact, we in the Liaodong Army are already doing something similar."

"Hmm?" The Crown Prince looked at Zhao Song with some puzzlement. "You are already implementing this idea? I thought it was merely my own idle fancy…"

"Your Highness's thinking is very sound—how could it be called idle fancy!" Zhao Song laughed and shook his head. "In truth, this problem has been before our army for a long time. Although our army's skill with firearms is renowned throughout the land, for many years firearms have been leaking out through various channels, and there are also Westerners selling weapons everywhere. So now, when our army faces the enemy, the enemy's firearms are increasing, making our original tactics somewhat strained. We have been constantly researching new tactics to adapt to the new situation. The method Your Highness mentioned is one of them—since having cavalry charge enemy formations is becoming more and more costly, we might as well have infantry ride horses and maneuver together with them. This kind of cavalry is not equipped with sabers or close-combat weapons, only firelocks. They maneuver everywhere, and when they meet the enemy, they dismount, form ranks, and bombard them. This type of cavalry and the cavalry our army currently possesses can support each other, greatly benefiting our army in contending with forces that are widely equipped with firearms."

"If this idea is so good, why hasn't it been promoted throughout the entire army yet?" the Crown Prince asked, puzzled.

"That is because the situation is not yet urgent enough, and the equipment conditions are not yet ready." Zhao Song immediately explained to him. "At present, none of the enemies around the Great Han have the national strength to shake the Great Han's borders, so the situation has not become so pressing that we must make immediate changes. We can proceed slowly. Additionally, there are currently no suitable, handy weapons for this type of cavalry to use. Our army's firearms, whether firelocks or handguns, are all too cumbersome. Not only can they not be aimed and used on horseback, but even after dismounting, it is not convenient to immediately form ranks and engage the enemy. Therefore, we are now tasking the Research Academy with developing miniaturized handguns to serve as their equipment."

The Great Han placed great importance on military affairs, so the development of ordnance and weaponry naturally received extreme attention. Since the founding of the nation, the court had specially allocated funds to establish an institution specifically responsible for the improvement and research of military equipment—the Armaments Department—staffed by elite craftsmen and technicians drawn from years of accumulated talent in the former armaments factories. Under their efforts, the Great Han's firearms development had advanced rapidly over these years, overtaking the Westerners.

The army and navy also frequently submitted problems encountered while using weapons, along with desired improvements, to the Armaments Department for research and development. Sometimes weapons were custom-made for a specific branch or warship. This concept of cavalry also depended on improvements in weaponry.

What Zhao Song did not yet know was that this originally independent Armaments Department would in the future be placed under the jurisdiction of the Army Ministry, and the armaments factories currently belonging to the Ministry of Industry would also be transferred to the Army Ministry's management. In this way, the Armaments Department responsible for R&D and the armaments factories responsible for production would be integrated into a single department. The armaments factories could provide feedback and produce according to the Armaments Department's requirements, allowing every weapon improvement to be equipped to the units that needed it at the fastest possible speed.

"It seems military science is indeed vast and profound, in no way inferior to the literary arts…" After hearing Zhao Song's explanation, the Crown Prince could not help but sigh with emotion. "Just for a single idea, so much painstaking effort must be expended from top to bottom!"

"What one learns from books is ultimately shallow, Your Highness." Zhao Song was still smiling. "No matter how simple a problem seems, putting it into practice is still very difficult."

The Crown Prince had the feeling that Zhao Song was not merely talking about military affairs, but was using the opportunity to admonish him.

"What Brigade Commander Zhao says is very true, I understand." He smiled, then left the encampment together with Zhao Song.

After this session of on-the-ground observation, Hashimoto Sanemura was already full of confidence in the Great Han's army. He believed that since the Great Han possessed such strong soldiers and was going to commit the strength of the entire nation to deal with the shogunate, there naturally would be no mishap. The shogunate would certainly be defeated by them, and for the Imperial Court to have found the Great Han before being treated as an enemy by them was truly a rare stroke of luck.

After this, he also sought discussions with the Crown Prince several times, requesting permission to go to the Great Han's capital to have an audience with the Son of Heaven. After several delays, he was finally able to make the trip. However, the Crown Prince demanded that he first leave behind a letter, which he would send back to the Japanese Imperial Court.

Hashimoto Sanemura, who had originally had this intention, naturally agreed at once. He then wrote down all his experiences after leaving Japan, composing a thick letter which he left with the Crown Prince, and then boarded a ship bound for the Great Han.

After carefully reading it and confirming that the letter contained no problems, the Crown Prince also sent this letter aboard a merchant ship, along with a commendation decree, both addressed to the Nagasaki trading post.

Nagasaki and Busan were very close, so the next day they received the items brought by the messenger. Both Zhou Pu and Liu Jing were overjoyed.

Their joy was not merely because they had received a commendation from His Highness the Crown Prince; what delighted them even more was that the envoy of the Japanese Imperial Court had accepted the Great Han's approach, actively cooperated, and agreed to act as a go-between for them. This long letter he had written could naturally serve as a knock-on-the-door to establish contact with Kyoto.

"Is Your Excellency planning to go to Kyoto to meet with the Japanese Imperial Court?" Seeing his eager, ready-to-try expression, Liu Jing asked.

"Yes. Now that we have this item, we might as well go sooner. If we can quickly establish a line to Kyoto, it might prove greatly beneficial to us."

"Your Excellency's words are reasonable, but how does Your Excellency plan to go to Kyoto? If you go in your current capacity, it will inevitably arouse suspicion…" Liu Jing raised his own suggestion.

"Of course I cannot go swaggering in just like that. I plan to disguise myself, simply dressing up as someone from the Shimazu family." Zhou Pu immediately stated his plan. "Although the Shimazu family are outer-domain daimyo and are viewed with suspicion and jealousy by the shogunate, they are, after all, people within Japan and have always had dealings with Kyoto. I can take the opportunity of going to Kyoto together with their people to have an audience with their Imperial Court."

"Then has Your Excellency thought about how to make contact with their Imperial Court?" Liu Jing asked again. "Don't forget, in Kyoto, the shogunate has a dedicated institution to restrain the Imperial Court. It's not so easy to establish a line to them."

"Naturally, we can only rely on the Shimazu family again. Since they have entrenched themselves in Kyushu as daimyo for generations, they should naturally have some connections." Zhou Pu smiled. "Besides, since they are now aboard our pirate ship, it's only right that they put in some effort for us."

"The logic is correct, but… to be honest, this subordinate still feels it is somewhat inappropriate." Liu Jing seemed to still have something to say. "Relying solely on the Shimazu family is somewhat too dangerous. After all, the Shimazu family is a tree that catches the wind. Moreover… if we keep letting the Shimazu family earn all the merit, after the war, can we still rely on the Shimazu family alone to maintain control over Japan?"

"Lord Liu?" Zhou Pu looked at the other man probingly. Although he did not understand his specific meaning, Liu Jing's words did make sense. Whether from the perspective of the current situation or long-term considerations, if they could avoid relying on the Shimazu family alone, that would naturally be best. "It seems Your Lordship already has some ideas in mind? Then just tell me—is there any other good method? If there is, I will certainly adopt it gladly."

"It may not necessarily be a good idea, merely a suggestion." Liu Jing smiled. "When Your Excellency goes to Kyoto this time, you could rely on other people to find the Imperial Court. There are some people whose movements are far smaller and attract far less attention than the Shimazu family."

"I'm all ears." Zhou Pu immediately pressed for details.

"Although the Japanese Imperial Court has always been under the surveillance of shogunate organs, they are not watched every single moment. They even receive a surface level of respect, so things don't get out of hand. At the very least, their daily lives are free and unhindered." Liu Jing quietly explained his meaning to him. "Therefore, Your Excellency could try to find a path through merchants."

"Through merchants?" Zhou Pu did not catch on for a moment.

"Yes. Since their daily living quarters are not restricted, they can of course freely interact with merchants and purchase clothing and other items from outside." Liu Jing's face still wore a smile. "The shogunate also looks down on the Imperial Court, thinking they can only play the flute and strum the zither anyway and are utterly useless for anything else, so they simply don't bother to control them at all."

"Actually, the shogunate isn't wrong to think that way. Most of the court nobles are indeed utterly useless and don't need to be guarded against too heavily." Recalling the performance of that envoy Hashimoto Sanemura, Zhou Pu suddenly nodded with deep feeling. "In short, I understand Your Lordship's meaning. Since we've spoken to this point, Your Lordship probably already has a definite plan in mind, yes? Who exactly is this merchant that Your Lordship has in mind?"

"What qualifications does this subordinate have to speak of having someone in mind? I am merely offering Your Excellency a suggestion. As for whether to adopt it or not, that is entirely up to Your Excellency to decide." Liu Jing waved his hand, putting on an appearance of truly regarding himself only as a subordinate.

"Lord Liu is treating me like an outsider now. At present, we are in the same boat, sharing weal and woe, friends bound by life and death. If some major incident occurs, we might all be exterminated together by the shogunate. Even if by luck we achieve great success and everyone wins wealth and rank, we will probably still be working together in the future—how can we distinguish between superior and inferior! Today we received His Highness the Crown Prince's commendation, and it was not awarded to me alone. Without Your Lordship's coordination and planning from within, I'm afraid my efforts would have yielded half the result with twice the work… I must ask Your Lordship to continue looking after me."

"Your Excellency, please do not speak so! Serving the nation is our duty; how dare we claim merit for ourselves." Although Liu Jing's face wore an expression of alarm, after hearing Zhou Pu's solemn assurances, he was inwardly very pleased. "In fact, because our dynasty's export volume to Japan is extremely large, many merchants have taken note of the profits involved and have been trying through various means to establish contact with us, hoping to get a share of the pie. Therefore, if we want to find someone to help, it is not difficult. The Mitsui family, for instance, is one of them."

"The Mitsui family?" Zhou Pu furrowed his brow, searching his memory, but found no corresponding impression. "They are not sea merchants, are they? I haven't heard of them."

"They are not sea merchants, but they want to get involved, so they currently need something from us." Liu Jing answered with a mysterious expression.

Then, he explained the specific situation to Zhou Pu—the Mitsui family were merchants from Ise Province. Starting in the Warring States era, they had traded among the various daimyo, modestly building up some family assets, and then began to venture into the pawnshop and sake brewery businesses. Relying on the operation of these two trades, they had accumulated vast wealth over several generations, becoming renowned wealthy merchants in the region.

During the Warring States era, there were many such wealthy merchant families. They conducted business over generations, moving and trading within the domains of various daimyo, and many notable figures emerged among them. Because the daimyo everywhere needed them to sell goods and maintain the economy and military supplies within their territories, many of these merchants even received courteous treatment from top-ranking daimyo.

For example, the wealthy merchant Imai family of Sakai was one of them. This wealthy merchant family possessed immense wealth at the time and also held tremendous prestige among the daimyo in power. When Tokugawa Ieyasu and Date Masamune formed a marriage alliance, having his sixth son Tadateru marry Masamune's eldest daughter, it was arranged through the intermediary Imai Sokun—showing the influence these merchants had.

However, the good times did not last long. After the Tokugawa shogunate swept through Japan and seized control over the entire country, the situation began to change. In order to guard against and suppress these daimyo who harbored disloyal thoughts, the shogunate deliberately constrained the daimyo economically. As a result, the finances of the daimyo everywhere grew increasingly strained, and naturally, the profits from commercial dealings with them began to decline year by year. Under these circumstances, the Mitsui family began to seek other ways to make up for the losses.

Unsurprisingly, they set their sights on overseas trade, particularly wanting to participate in the now ever-expanding trade with China. When wealthy merchants act, they naturally carry a certain wealthy merchant's style. From the very start, they approached Liu Jing through officials they were on good terms with, and then presented a large sum of money, thus opening up a relationship with the Great Han.

However, although he was the highest-ranking Great Han official in Nagasaki, the trade between the two nations was not something Liu Jing alone could decide. He only verbally agreed to grant them some conveniences, and even so, the Mitsui family had already made some money from the trade between the two countries.

The Mitsui family hailed from Ise and naturally possessed considerable influence in the Kinki region, maintaining contacts with many court noble families in Kyoto. Moreover, as merchants, they inherently had far fewer inhibitions than the Shimazu family. If they could be used to establish contact with Kyoto, that would certainly be much better than Zhou Pu's plan.

"This Mitsui family sounds decent enough…" After hearing his explanation, Zhou Pu pondered for a moment. "However, merchants value profit over righteousness, and they only came to us for profit—they may not be willing to take risks that endanger their lives."

"Your Excellency is absolutely right. Merchants value profit, especially those who run pawnshops—they are ten times, a hundred times more cunning. Most Japanese are simple and straightforward, but a few of them are cunning to an astonishing degree. This Mitsui Takatoshi is one of them." Liu Jing did not oppose Zhou Pu's statement at all; on the contrary, he agreed completely. "Yet valuing profit has its advantages. As long as we lure them with gain, they will be willing to do anything. After all, right now they need something from us. We don't need to tell them the purpose of Your Excellency's trip to Kyoto; we only need to express this intention. Presumably, after weighing the pros and cons, they will agree to help us."

"That does make sense…" Zhou Pu nodded. "Very well, let's do it this way. Your Lordship, go now and negotiate with the Mitsui family. If it can be arranged, I will set out as soon as possible."

Then, he suddenly gave a bitter laugh.