Mukai Tadakatsu walked quickly towards the castle tower, feeling quite uneasy because he knew the reason for convening the assessment.
In the past month, the waters from western and southern Japan to the Ryukyu Islands have been stirred up by the Jeju Akito.
The vassals of Shikoku and Kyushu, as well as merchants from Osaka, Kyoto and other places have reported to the shogunate that the navy of the Jeju Akito collected maritime trade taxes. .
Even the Dutch and Spaniards came to complain that they were forcibly extorted and collected taxes by the Jeju Myungin Navy in these sea areas.
This kind of action by Jeju Akito is simply a humiliation to the shogunate.
You must know that these places are under the jurisdiction of the shogunate, at least in name.
After Mukai Tadakatsu heard about this, he immediately dispatched the newly formed Galen fleet to the western and southern parts of Kyushu to search for enemy ships.
So far, no news has been received.
Therefore, Mukai Tadakatsu is also prepared to accept the general's thunderous wrath this time.
After all, the general only really assumed power after Lord Hidetada passed away at the beginning of the year.
It was a time when he was very powerful.
Of course, what Jeju Akito did was intolerable.
Mukai Tadakatsu walked into the castle tower and saw that Tokugawa Iemitsu was sitting at the table, the treasure minister was majestic, and Yue took the lead in combing everything.
Since he took the power, he paid more attention to his appearance.
At the beginning, Ii Naotakaan sat in the first place.
The Minister of Gu Ming appointed by Tokugawa Hidetada when he passed away is now the eldest son of the Tokugawa family, occupying the position of chief patriarch.
Sakai Tadashi lived under him.
Although the old minister was old, his waist was straight and he was in good spirits.
Since Doi Toshiki's defeat at Xiaguan last time, he was fined and confiscated five thousand stone fiefdom.
The most important thing was that he lost his face and suffered a great blow.
Now his beard and hair are all white, which makes people look at him.
Inaba Masakatsu is the youngest senior officer here, but his face is extremely pale.
This is because he is tired.
As Iemitsu's most trusted subordinate, he has the most general duties, and his body is a little tired.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness."
Mukai Tadakatsu bowed to Iemitsu.
"No need."
Iemitsu waved his hand, "Just do it, I'll wait for you."
Mukai Tadakatsu hurriedly took the lower position.
He was the only one here who was not a veteran.
Of course, you have to keep your eyebrows down and your eyes wide open.
"Okay, Masakatsu, tell me."
Iemitsu motioned to Inaba Masakatsu.
"Your Highness the General, gentlemen, since more than a month ago, the Jeju people have sent out a large number of navy warships to patrol our western and southern Kyushu, and southern Shikoku to Ryukyu waters," Masakatsu Inaba looked at you.
Doi here has just returned from the fiefdom, and this is probably the first time he has heard of it.
"They were so bold that they boarded the ship for inspection and levied a tax of one-twentieth of the items they carried.
If they refused to deliver the goods, they would take the goods away or destroy them, killing and injuring people.
Their methods were extremely cruel and treated our Japanese people as For pigs and dogs."
Masakatsu Inaba said in a serious tone.
The Tokugawa family was as smooth as frost.
He was so angry that when he received the report, he smashed it for a long time.
He had just taken over the post of general a few months ago, and this happened, which was a slap in his face.
In the past two hundred years, Japan has been making demands for its surrounding areas.
It has been encroaching on North Korea, Ryukyu, and Ezo Territory step by step.
Ryukyu is about to be included in it, and it is only a matter of time before Ezo Territory is acquired.
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And without the help of the Ming Dynasty, North Korea would have perished long ago, which is the Ming Dynasty.
Japan was also evenly matched in Korea.
Although Japan suffered heavy losses, this was the most powerful empire in the East for thousands of years.
Japan would win if it was not defeated.
This is the glory of all Japan.
But after the appearance of this Jeju Akito, the situation reversed.
He first seized the western part of Ezo, and then defeated the shogunate navy on Iki Island.
This time he began to collect taxes from Japanese merchant ships.
It was really ridiculous.
This is a merchant ship under the Japanese shogunate.
They came to collect taxes and were extremely arrogant.
Doi Toshiki was surprised that the situation was like this.
He only returned to the fiefdom to recuperate for three months, and the situation changed so drastically.
"In addition, the Dutch, Spanish, and English also protested to us, saying that a lot of their merchant ships were robbed, and that our shogunate navy was unable to protect this sea area, causing them heavy losses.
We hope that we will reduce the damage.
Tax, please make up for the loss," Ii Naotaka continued.
The exchanges with Korea, the Netherlands, Spain, England, France, and Portugal are now under his rule, so these southern barbarians complain to him.
"If they think their losses are too great, they don't have to come to Nagasaki Sea Trade."
The veins on Iemitsu's face were exposed, and he stumbled a little in his mouth.
"How can they bear this?
Even if we don't compensate them, they will still hang on."
Sakai Tadashi said with a smile.
These southern barbarians sold soldiers, armor, artillery, Ming Dynasty silk, porcelain, and raw silk.
They brought back gold and silver and made a lot of money.
How could they leave?
"There are also about ten groups of Ming merchant ships who have also reported to our Nagasaki Administrative Office, and the Jeju Ming people have also collected taxes from them."
Masakatsu Inaba said.
"This is Akito who is used to fighting among himself, haha."
Iemitsu sneered.
This time he finally saw Akito fighting within himself, which made him feel relieved.
Mukai Tadakatsu was sweating profusely as he listened.
The words of the general and the elders pierced his heart.
There were so many omissions.
Why, it was because the navy was simply unable to protect the sea frontier.
"If I fail His Highness's trust, all my subordinates will die."
Mukai Tadakatsu kowtowed heavily.
"If you can get rid of these Akito even if you die, I will never be lenient."
Iemitsu said angrily, "I called you here just to ask you how the naval Galen ship is being built and whether it can go to sea to fight. " "Reporting to Your Highness, in the past two years, our navy has purchased ten Dutch warships that are ready for battle.
We also built sixteen of our own and are ready for battle.
Ten more have been launched, but they have not yet been fully trained. , and there are more than twenty ships under construction," Mukai Tadakatsu replied.
"Mukai Moshiyuki, let me ask you how you handled the warning when you received it."
Today's eldest boss, Ii Naotaka, asked politely.
"Master Binglaozhong, my subordinates received the alarm and sent out ten Galen ships two days later to search for the Akito warships, hoping to capture the culprit and offer him to the general."
Mukai Tadakatsu was extremely respectful.
At this time, Ii Naotaka is the minister of care, and he is even favored by Iemitsu.
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How can he not be afraid of him?
"In this case, if Akito's navy invades in large numbers, you may defeat the enemy head-on."
Ii Naotaka stared at Mukai Tadakatsu.
This matter is extremely important and affects the shogunate's countermeasures.
It must not be ignored.
"A decisive battle is definitely not feasible now," Mukai Tadakatsu gritted his teeth.
"In the last battle, Akira had fifty warships.
It is not a problem to build ten or twenty warships in the past few years.
Therefore, the number of our navy's warships is still the same.
Due to the disadvantage, my subordinates originally planned a decisive battle with the enemy the year after."
"Well, Mr.
Mukai is commendable for his loyalty and is worthy of the heavy responsibility."
Naotaka Ii looked at Mukai Tadakatsu for a long time, which made Mukai Tadakatsu break out in cold sweat, and then suddenly said this.
Let everyone be surprised, okay, you can't face the enemy, so you can be said to be worthy of reuse.
"What do Ii-sama say?"
Tokugawa Iemitsu is confident that he still has some vision.
Mukai Tadakatsu is slightly less talented than his father, but his loyalty is the same.
But how Naotaka Ii, who had not had much contact with Mukai, said these words made him curious.
"Haha, if Mukai Moshiro reluctantly goes to war in order to escape his responsibilities, then he is ignoring the general's great cause for the sake of his own ambition.
Under the criticism of everyone, he sticks to his heart, which shows that he has an extremely strong will and is loyal to His Highness the general.
This is disgraceful.
Reuse it."
Ii Naotaka said with a smile.
Tokugawa Iemitsu nodded in approval, "Well, the father of this minister who cares about life did not miss the mark.
He has great talents and outstanding vision."
Mukai Tadakatsu hurriedly said he did not dare.
"It's just that loyalty is not enough.
As a general of the shogunate, do you have any countermeasures?"
Ii Naotaka's face changed so quickly.
He had a smile on his face just now, but now his face is as sinking as water.
Peat, you smiling tiger, Mukai Tadakatsu cursed in his heart, but he did not dare to be vague, "General Bing, I have ordered the ten ships on patrol to be divided into five groups, and look for Mingren ships separately, and give them a head-on attack.
Beat."
"What are you doing with the remaining ten Galen ships?"
Tokugawa Iemitsu frowned.
"Your Highness, if the Ming Dynasty navy enters the inland sea, the navy can leave its warships to fight."
Mukai Tadakatsu kowtowed.
"Humph, I really hope that he will go to the Inland Sea, but I'm afraid they won't dare," Tokugawa Iemitsu said disdainfully.
It is difficult for large ships to travel in the narrow Seto Inland Sea.
"Send them all out to clean up our country." nearby waters.”
"As ordered, I will do it immediately."
Mukai Tadakatsu said.
"Master Mukai, if we are to engage in a full-scale decisive battle with Akito, how many more warships will our navy need?"
Masakatsu Inaba asked.
He now controls the money bag of the shogunate.
Yes, Ii Naotaka is the eldest brother now and has the most power in his hands, but in terms of his degree of confidant, he can surpass Ii Hachijou.
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However, it was precisely because of his wealth that he was anxious.
In order to build a large number of Galen battleships, at his suggestion, the general stopped building the Edo Nishi Maru and Uchimaru, and also stopped the construction of his favorite grandfather Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was also the most respected by the general.
The construction of the Sun Palace, the Sacrifice Palace.
Before his death, Hidetada lamented that he was very sorry that he had not seen the complete Edo Castle completed.
Some old ministers scolded Iemitsu for this, saying that he was unfilial, which made him feel heavy pressure.
Furthermore, now that his expenses are increasing day by day, he is struggling to support himself both mentally and physically.
He hopes to get rid of this huge burden as soon as possible.
Of course I hope that the more the better, Mukai Tadakatsu cursed.
After careful calculation, he probably had to have 80 ships anyway.
The current 40 ships are still not enough.
"Lord Inaba, I estimate that forty to fifty battleships will be needed to defeat the enemy in a decisive battle."
"Hiss."
Inaba Masakatsu took a breath, damn, I have worked hard for three years, and only half of it has passed.
He turned to Iemitsu, "Your Highness, it is okay to build another twenty sea ships, but my subordinates may not be able to do the rest.
Done.”
A sea-going ship costs 10,000 silver, but still needs 400,000.
Moreover, this is a ship, and there are also artillery, personnel expenses, and armor.
How can we handle a small settlement without a small settlement of 7 to 800,000 silver.
"There are still twenty ships to pay, let's work together to settle it.
Now defeating Akito is the top priority."
Of course Iemitsu knew how to be petty, but he was so stimulated by Akito that he lost all face.
He wanted to defeat Jeju even if he lost everything.
Mingren
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