Toyotomi Hideyoshi was not clear about the situation at the frontline, but he could at least understand the logistics. Even if food and fodder could be supplied from North Korea, the iron cannons and bullets still had to be produced and transported in North Korea. The domestic resources were getting increasingly tight, and the voices of the people were getting louder and louder. Some of the daimyo's warnings were getting more and more urgent. This was not something that Toyotomi Hideyoshi could deliberately ignore.
He was also thinking about the next step. At least fighting a war required food and weapons. This was inevitable.
At this time, the letter from Ukito Hideyoshi's family arrived. This made Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was repeatedly wavering between his confidence and the actual situation, instantly firm up his trust in himself. This also made him lose his last chance to wake up from his dream.
Overjoyed, he immediately wrote letters to the daimyo's to show off his achievements in defeating the Ming Army. Then he wrote to Ukito Hideyoshi's family, asking him to propose seven conditions to the Ming Army and hand them over to President Konishi to negotiate. They could not agree to any of the conditions.
The seven conditions were: first, to welcome the Princess of the Ming Emperor as the Empress of Japan; second, to develop the Kanto trade; third, the military officials of the two countries must swear an eternal alliance; fourth, the capital and four roads must be returned to North Korea, and the other four roads must be ceded to Japan; fifth, North Korea must send the first prince to Japan as a hostage; sixth, the second prince and other North Korean officials must be returned; seventh, the ministers of North Korea must swear never to betray Japan.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi said with great confidence that he would not allow the Ming Army to surrender if they did not agree to any of the conditions. This time, they would not take their territory for the sake of their honesty. If they offended them again, they would fight until they ceded their territory!
When Ukito Hideyoshi received this letter, he almost cried. This was no longer the scope of a peace negotiation. This was forcing the "defeated" Daming to sign an alliance. What's more, President Konishi, whose life and death were unknown, was going to negotiate, and the Princess of the Ming Emperor was going to be the Empress of Japan … Ukito Hideyoshi originally only wanted a dignified opportunity to withdraw the army. After the army returned to Japan, it was established. Toyotomi Hideyoshi could only swallow this bitter fruit and not this situation.
The senior officials of the Japanese Army who saw this letter looked at each other in shock. they had no idea that the bitter fruit they had sown little by little had grown so big that they could not swallow it at all. Not to mention that President Konishi was probably already dead. Where could they find another "President Konishi" to "negotiate"?
The top brass of the Pusan Imperial Army fell into a state of collective confusion.
This letter was enough for the scouts of the Imperial Bodyguard in Japan to gather and accept the mission. Zhou Qi remembered Xiao Ruxun's special request, so he personally led his men to Japan's Satsuma Domain to look for Xu Yi. With the help of the local Chinese who were trapped in Japan, they managed to find Xu Yi, who was treated as a VIP by the Shimazu Clan.
This was a story to be told later, so let's not talk about it for now.
The daimyo of Dongguo received Toyotomi Hideyoshi's boasting letter. When they opened it, they saw that the situation at the frontline was very good. The Ming Army had been defeated and was begging for peace! This letter made the daimyo of Dongguo, who knew the inside story, speechless. After a while, Tokugawa Ieyasu analyzed that this must be an excuse for the Western daimyo to withdraw their troops, but he did not know what else Toyotomi Hideyoshi was up to.
As expected, Tokugawa Ieyasu was right. Soon, the news of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's "Daming Japan's Seven Rules" spread throughout Nagoya, greatly comforting the people of Nagoya and allowing Toyotomi Hideyoshi to further immerse himself in this wonderful feeling. However, it made other daimyo who were clear-headed begin to question Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mental state.
No matter how prideful he was, he should have noticed that something was wrong by now, right? Making such a request under such circumstances, was Toyotomi Hideyoshi crazy?
Everyone who realized the seriousness of the problem stared at Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tokugawa Ieyasu, who also realized the seriousness of the problem, narrowed his eyes. His gloomy eyes made people shudder.
"In the next few days, let's find a reason to visit Taige!"
Tokugawa Ieyasu needed to use his own eyes to judge and see things clearly. If he could confirm the truth of this matter, then he would slap himself hard and then kill Toyotomi Hideyoshi. If he could not be sure, then he would slap himself hard and continue to be Toyotomi Hideyoshi's dog.
How could a madman be in charge of the Million Stones Daimyo? What's more, this madman was joking with the life and death of the entire Country of Japan! If this request was really given to the Ming Army by someone who did not know the gravity of the situation, then what awaited them would be the full blow of the Big Boss Empire. This was not something that the fragile Country of Japan could withstand.
Tokugawa Ieyasu moved very quickly. He brought a few daimyo of Dongguo and some precious gifts to visit Toyotomi Hideyoshi. They came under the banner of congratulating Toyotomi Hideyoshi for defeating the Ming Army and winning the war. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was overjoyed. He expressed his appreciation for Tokugawa Ieyasu and the others' "sensible" behavior and held a banquet to entertain them.
At the banquet, Tokugawa Ieyasu carefully asked Toyotomi Hideyoshi, "Since the war has been won, should we make some requests to the Ming Army?"
Toyotomi Hideyoshi laughed and said, "Of course, I asked the Ming Emperor to give his daughter to the Mikado to be the Empress. This is considered giving him face. The two families are related by marriage. This way, we can fundamentally prevent the Ming Army from rebelling against us."
Tokugawa Ieyasu was silent for a moment, then he asked Toyotomi Hideyoshi, "Then what should we ask of North Korea? Should we ask North Korea to cede territory and pay compensation? "
Toyotomi Hideyoshi nodded and proudly replied to Tokugawa Ieyasu, saying that North Korea should cede the four southern provinces to Japan and use them as a springboard for Japan to attack the mainland.
Tokugawa Ieyasu quickly asked why not all of them. Toyotomi Hideyoshi laughed at Tokugawa Ieyasu's shortsightedness. He said that if North Korea was completely annexed, it would greatly provoke the Ming Army. The warriors were too tired from the war and needed to rest. They should first take down the four southern provinces. After the warriors had rested, they could directly attack the four northern provinces. Wouldn't that be a piece of cake?
Tokugawa Ieyasu was silent.
Then, another daimyo asked Toyotomi Hideyoshi, "What if North Korea is not satisfied with this agreement and pretends to surrender before joining forces with the Ming Army to take back their land?"
Toyotomi Hideyoshi sneered again and explained, "I also made North Korea swear never to betray Japan. This is to prevent this condition. If North Korea swears and attacks the four southern provinces again, it will give us a good reason to continue attacking. This condition is to give us an excuse to send troops again. Without an excuse, even I can't send troops. That's why I have to create an excuse. You guys are so stupid!"
As Toyotomi Hideyoshi explained, he did not forget to mock the low intelligence of these Dongguo daimyo. Although they were indeed a little angry, the Dongguo daimyo felt that Tokugawa Ieyasu's worries were not unreasonable.
Then, Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued to talk about his mainland strategy. He invited the Emperor to move to Beijing, and he lived in Ningbo, annexed the entire Ming Country, and conquered the whole world. The Dongguo daimyo clapped and praised him with smiles, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi laughed even more happily.
At the end of the banquet, the guests and the host were all happy, and everyone left happily.
Back at his residence, looking at the room full of Dongguo daimyo with different expressions, Tokugawa Ieyasu said with a gloomy face, "Now the situation is very clear. Once the matter in North Korea is exposed, the Prime Minister will definitely ask us to send troops. He will definitely go to North Korea personally without listening to any advice. When that time comes, what are you going to do? Let me make it clear first, I will not send troops. What about you? "
"No."
"No."
"Absolutely not."
"Seconded …"
… …
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