Two Zhuin ships and two Guan ships sailed slowly along the coast.
The temperature during the day in autumn was still very hot, and the breeze blowing from the south even carried heat, and it felt very comfortable on people's faces.
Lewen novels, The old Shiota Qingxi of the Matsumae clan was drinking tea and basking in the sun on the deck.
It was very comfortable.
Regarding this exploration of Nishi Ezo Land, Shiota thought it was an easy job.
As early as more than ten years ago, the Matsumae family has been continuously exploring the Nishi-Ezo Territory, established commercial relations with the local area, and also stationed some personnel.
A few months ago, the Edo Castle Shogun sent a letter, ordering the Matsumae Domain to draw a map of the Ezo Territory and present it.
The Shogun's order cannot be disobeyed.
The Matsumae Domain Governor, Matsumae Kimihiro, ordered Shiota Keiki, who managed the transport shipyard, to be fully responsible for this.
Of course Yantian Qingxi obeyed his orders.
It is said that this visit was just to inform the local merchants to cooperate with the feudal lord's investigators and sell food and groceries.
It was enough to send a subordinate samurai to take a look.
However, due to General Tokugawa Iemitsu's order, Shiota did not dare to be careless and made a trip north in person.
The ship carried 20 inspection personnel from the execution office, including six petty officials and more than ten guards.
He planned to only survey near Otaru in the winter, and next year he would send out several ships and more than a hundred people to conduct a comprehensive survey and mapping.
Yantian, who had been to Otaru once, knew that he had no more than two days' flight to reach Otaru.
After leaving his people to unload the goods, Yantian planned to return.
The Yi people's territory is neither safe nor comfortable.
He came in person to express Matsumae's serious attitude and had no intention of being trapped in the snowy Ezo land in winter.
Yan Tian Qingxi, who was in his early forties and had been bored for a long time, stood up, unfolded his folding fan and waved it slowly.
Looking at the faint land in the distance.
A long sigh.
"It's a great river and mountain, but it's such a pity."
With this order from the shogunate, the Lord of the Matsumae Domain, Kohiro Matsumae, and other family elders all understood that the Tokugawa shogunate was eyeing the Western Ezo Territory.
After decades of exploration, Kazuto already knew that there were large plains in the west and central part of the Ezo Territory.
For Japan, a country with a large population and a small land, this is the nearest resettlement place in Honshu.
Just moving the small entrance to open up forest land and open roads will cost millions of taels of silver.
What's more, there were many barbaric Ainu people who resisted.
In short, the price was too high.
Over the past hundred years, the Kazuto people have only established the Matsumae domain and dozens of castles in the south and southeast.
However, the shogunate can first set the Ezo land as a direct territory until Edo Castle is completely built and there is a surplus of food and salary. open up.
Obviously, the Matsumae Domain's attempt to annex the entire Ezo Territory was shattered.
Yan Tian looked at the two Guan ships that were rowing their oars to follow the Zhuyin ship he was riding on.
He shook his head and said, "Too slow."
"It is indeed too slow, sir.
Without them, the fleet would have reached Otaru ten days ago."
The subordinate samurai Inada Xingji replied with a smile.
"There is no way, the Zhuyin Ship still relies on their protection."
Yantian said helplessly.
As a warship, the rectangular Kanfune is still very effective in offshore waters.
It is surrounded by thick wooden guards and has a gun emplacement and armor in the middle.
Human-powered oars also have its advantages in short-distance sprints.
"Sir, there is a big ship in the distance."
The faint shout of the sailor watching suddenly came from the observation deck.
Shiota frowned slightly.
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He understood that the sailors would not regard the Kazuto Ainu fishing boat as a threat, and they must have discovered something.
"Sound the horn, alert."
A long horn sounded from the observation tower, and the two Guan ships accelerated towards the front of the team to set up a defense line.
While drinking tea, the other party's mast appeared in front of him.
Yantian understood the sailor's intention to call the police at a glance.
This was a sail type he had never seen before.
It was a thin and low ship.
Compared with the soft sail, which was much larger than the hull, Two towering masts.
The opponent walked briskly and approached to a distance of three miles.
Yantian took a closer look at the large Chinese character Zhao flying on the opponent's mast.
Yantian immediately ordered preparations for war.
He had never heard of a Miao character named Zhao in Japan.
Only Akira people could do this.
Miao, and since more than a hundred years ago, the Ming Dynasty and Japan have become mortal enemies.
Amidst the rapid sound of the horn, the two Guan ships quickly paddled close to the enemy ship.
The big-barreled gunners on the ship hurriedly loaded the gunpowder and cannons.
However, the enemy ship did not give them a chance to fire the cannon, and it turned back briskly.
Yantian frowned as he watched the enemy ship move away in a large arc under the water.
Guan Chuan behind him tried his best to paddle in pursuit, but he could only watch helplessly as the enemy ship went further and further away.
Fast, extremely fast, this is the biggest feeling this weird ship brings to Yantian.
Several ships heard the laughter and curses of their sailors and gunners.
They were certainly qualified to laugh at their opponents who did not dare to take over and flee.
Yan Tian didn't smile.
Not only did Yan Tian frown, he shook his folding fan lightly.
Inada Xingji knew that the master was encountering a problem, so he didn't say anything and just stood aside quietly.
Yantian didn't like the feeling in the clouds and mist very much.
The enemy ship came and retreated quickly, making it look like a sentinel ship, although its tonnage was not much smaller than the Zhuyin ship he was riding.
Perhaps, the enemy is ahead, and as Matsumae Domain's shipping officer, Shiota has no way to avoid it.
He can only explore forward.
This is his duty as a Matsumae samurai.
Lan San stood on the back deck and used binoculars to once again look at the cut diamond flag flying on the opponent's mast and an orange salt field flag.
As the boatswain, Lan San wanted to confirm again.
The Matsumae family's fleet spent the night in peace.
At the beginning of noon the next day, another alarm came.
This time the sailors on the lookout discovered several large ships, and four Matsumae family ships were on alert.
With the help of his attendants, Yantian Qingxi put on red clothes, but his skinny figure could hardly be called powerful even if he was wearing armor.
The ashigaru on the ship were wearing bamboo armor, and the gunners were busy loading large canisters.
When the opponent's fleet approached several miles away, everyone in the Matsumae clan, including Shiota, watched in stunned silence as the three giant gray-black ships slowly approached.
Yantian recognized the shapes of the ships that came this time.
They were all large Nanman sailing ships, with huge gray-black hulls, towering masts, and huge fluttering soft sails.
However, flying on the masts was the huge Chinese character Zhao. .
Two of the smaller warships were more than twice as long as Yantian's Zhuyin ship, and the largest one was more than three times as long.
This is Mingren's warship.
When did Mingren have such a huge Nanman ship?
And why are you here.
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These are all questions that Yan Tian cannot answer.
First, it was the low, strange sea-going ship that sailed towards the Matsumae family fleet.
"Sir, do you want to fire the cannon?"
Inada Xingji asked from the side.
"No, wait a minute."
Yantian had seen the power of Nanman artillery in Nagasaki.
Although Yantian was not worried about the melee combat power of Akito's ship, he was afraid of the power of the enemy's heavy artillery.
The clipper ship approached without hesitation and reached less than half a mile.
A voice in Japanese shouted from the ship, "Peace talks, peace talks."
Yantian nodded in agreement.
Inada Xingji shouted to get on the boat to reply.
The two ships approached quickly, then lowered their sails and moved closer.
The armored ships on both sides were fully armed and on alert.
Yantian saw that the opponent's armor was all dark iron armor, and they had iron cannons, spears and swords in their hands, and the formation was neat.
The first two people boarded the Zhuyin Ship.
"I am a Ming man from Luzon, who is the leader?"
A strong Ming man wearing iron armor said with his sword.
A short man next to him interpreted in Japanese.
Yantian looked at this short man.
Judging from his proficiency in Japanese, he was a genuine Japanese.
"I am the Shipping Officer of Matsumae Domain.
Yantian is celebrating, who is coming?"
Yantian straightened his thin body.
"We are from the Ming Dynasty in Luzon.
When we come here to open up, we, the commander, want to meet you."
The Ming general said with his hands in hand.
"I also want to meet you, the commander-in-chief, but why don't we meet on our ship."
Yantian Qingxi said in a feigned arrogance.
After all, the momentum of the discussion is completely different whose boat you go on.
General Ming smiled disdainfully, turned around and gestured to the ship.
A long horn sounded from the ship.
The gun windows of a smaller Galenic ship behind were opened, "Boom, boom," the artillery fire on both sides fired one after another.
More than ten water columns rose from the sea a few miles away, startling the nearby seabirds to fly and scream, breaking the tranquility of the sea.
"I hope you will come with me, sir."
General Ming said with his hands in hand.
"You bastard, how dare you be rude to your Excellency."
Inada Xingji drew his sword with great anger.
For a while, both sides were on guard with armor and weapons, iron cannons, and firecrackers.
"Stop, put down your weapons."
Yantian shouted loudly.
Yantian's men put down their weapons one by one, and Akito on the opposite side also put down his weapons.
"Okay, sir, let me go for a while."
Yantian didn't think the other party had any malicious intentions.
Just relying on the other party's heavy artillery could cause a big loss to his side.
There was really no need to risk getting close to the conversation, and Yantian also wanted to know the other party's intentions.
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As for whose ship to negotiate, it depends on whose fist is bigger.
Now it seems that the opponent's fist is bigger.
At this time, the tolerant personality of the Japanese dominates the salt field.
Yantian handed over the bow of the ship and boarded the enemy ship with Inada Xingji and two guards.
The clipper ship broke away from the Zhuyin Ship, and under Lan San's order, it swung the rudder and headed towards the largest Galen warship.
After Lan San took the lead of the ship, he looked curiously at the four Kazuto warriors in armor.
This was the first time Lan San had seen armored Kazuto warriors.
Lan San, who was less than twenty, still retained the curiosity of a young man. nature.
Yantian also paid close attention to observing the armor on the other side's ship.
Most of the opponents wearing armor were tall and stout, and were dwarfed by Kazuto's thinner figure.
He saw a few people wearing armor and holding weapons surrounding him, and many of them had fierce eyes.
Well, these Akito were very fierce and willing to fight, unlike the more docile Akito he saw in Nagasaki.
Yantian thought to himself.
When approaching the largest Nanman ship, Yantian was impressed by its hugeness.
This was the largest Nanman ship he had ever seen.
After relying on help, the four people boarded the giant ship, and dozens of armored Ming soldiers surrounded them.
"Hand over your weapons."
A Ming soldier said.
Daotian Xinger looked at Yantian, and Yantian nodded.
Several people handed over their swords and ribs.
Several people walked towards the bow of the ship under the leadership of two Ming soldiers.
"My lord, bring me here with the commander."
The Ming army reported outside the bow cabin.
"Let them in," a rough voice said.
Several people followed the visitor into the large cabin.
I saw a young black-faced general sitting behind the case.
This man was dressed in silver Nanman uniforms, his hair was tied up in a square scarf, and he looked at several people with bright eyes.
Standing next to him were two wise generals, one tall and one short, wearing southern barbarian uniforms.
A man of Ming Dynasty dressed as a scribe stood in front of the case.
"I, the Matsumae Domain Shipping Company, are responsible for the Yantian celebration, and I have met you, sir."
Yantian bowed and saluted.
"No need to be polite."
Zhao Lie stood up and returned the greeting.
Zhao Lie received the report from the sentinel ship and knew that the Heren warship had arrived, so he brought three of the five Galen warships anchored in Fangmao Port, the Wei Qing, the Peng Yue, and the Zhou Yafu to meet him.
After Zhao Lie stood up, Yantian found that Zhao Lie's tall and sturdy figure was extremely powerful in the relatively low cabin.
He couldn't help feeling ashamed and straightened his body unconsciously
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