Not to mention the other imperial edicts, the one about the reward and recall of the army was quickly passed and sent to Korea. Putting aside the strange situation in the court, Song Yingchang was discussing the matter of stationing troops on Tsushima Island with the King of Korea, Li Zhi. Li Zhi did not seem to be very enthusiastic about this matter.
"Duke Song, it's not that I don't want to, but after the war, Korea's losses were too heavy. More than 600,000 soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded, and our national strength was greatly reduced. Under such circumstances, how can we still divide our troops to defend Tsushima Island? Under such circumstances, our troops simply cannot bear the responsibility, nor can we confront the Japanese pirates again! "
Li Zhi had a bitter expression on his face as he kept complaining: "Right now, the entire national treasury can't even find tens of thousands of taels of silver, and we can't even afford to pay the salaries of the ministers. If it weren't for the previous batch of treasures that can still be used, this King would have just taken it. How can I still be the King of Korea? The scene of devastation is everywhere, and there are many things waiting to be done. The Japanese pirates have only been here for less than a year, but they have caused our country to fall back a hundred years! Duke Song, can you tell His Majesty about the recent situation and provide some assistance? "
Song Yingchang couldn't help but want to roll his eyes. If you don't want to station troops, just say so. Now, not only do you not want to station troops, but you also want Daming's support. Isn't Daming's support enough?
"Your Majesty, this old man is not saying anything else, but in this war, Daming has done his best, right? Your country is in trouble, and Daming sent troops to help. The bloody battle against the Japanese pirates cost a lot of money, and most of it was Daming's own money and provisions. Am I right? "
Li Zhi drooped his head and nodded: "Yes, you are right, but …"
"What else is there but? Your country worships our country as its sovereign, and our country has helped your country in every possible way. You are the number one vassal state in our country, so what else is there for your country to be dissatisfied with? This time, if Daming did not send troops to help the Japanese invasion, Your Majesty, with your conscience, do you think Korea can be saved? "
Li Zhi's head drooped even more.
"I am well aware of these things. However, Duke Song, you are also well aware of the actual situation of my country. If my country had a solution, why would I need to do this? At present, our country has no more than fifty to sixty thousand soldiers, and most of them were converted from the Revolutionary Army. It's hard to say whether they are reliable or not, let alone going to war. It takes time to organize the Revolutionary Army and other things. You know these things as well. "
Song Yingchang said, "This … Oh right, Your Majesty, this old man remembers that Quanluo Path has a Water General called Lee Shunchen, right?"
Li Gui was taken aback and nodded. "Yes, there is."
"Then let that Yi Sun-sin move your naval base to Tsushima Island. From now on, he will be stationed there. I remember that not long after the war started, Admiral Xiao told this old man that this Yi Sun-sin was very good at leading troops into battle. The Wokou pirates had no way of defeating him at sea. As long as he is stationed at Tsushima Island, even if the Wokou pirates make a comeback, they will not be able to avoid Tsushima Island and attack North Korea. Even if you lose the war, you will be able to make early preparations, right? Tsushima Island is in the hands of the Japanese pirates. They can attack whenever they want. Your Majesty, don't forget this lesson. "
Hearing Song Yingchang's words, Li Gui was at a loss for words.
The control of Tsushima Island was of great significance to both North Korea and Japan. It meant that whoever controlled the island would be the first to attack the other. If done well, they could completely resist the enemy outside the country's gates and prevent the flames of war from burning within the country's borders. This was very important for any country. North Korea had failed to control Tsushima Island before, which was why they were defeated so thoroughly.
Now that Tsushima Island was under the control of the Ming Army, Lee Shunchen's navy was also stationed there. If Tsushima Island was directly incorporated into North Korea's system and handed over to Lee Shunchen, who was capable of fighting, to guard it, it might be of great benefit to North Korea.
After thinking about it, Li Gui found that he had no reason to refuse, but his eyes turned and he thought of another matter.
Song Yingchang did not keep the news and some of the contents of the peace talks between Xiao Ruxun and Japan secret from North Korea, so the North Koreans also knew some of the contents, such as the ceding of several islands and the Isami Kingdom. Sighing at the ferocity of the Celestial Empire, the North Koreans were also very envious of the compensation from the Japanese.
Li Gui, who was so poor that he was about to sell the palace treasury, heard from an unknown source that the Japanese were going to compensate the Daming with four million taels of silver. Li Gui immediately paid attention to the four million taels of silver. Of course, he did not dare to say how much he wanted, but while the Daming was eating meat, it was okay to give North Korea some soup, right? In any case, North Korea had provided some food, and Lee Shunchen had also made contributions to the Ming Army and defeated the Japanese pirates' navy. It was not too much to ask for compensation, right?
Previously, Li Gui did not dare to say it, but now, with no money in his hands, he did not care about face.
At this time, wanting face was equivalent to throwing away his life.
"Mr. Song, I will arrange the matter of the Tsushima Island. However, before this, I heard someone say that during the peace talks between the Daming and the Japanese, the Japanese gave a sum of money to the Daming."
As soon as this was said, Song Yingchang knew that Li Gui was interested in the money.
Regarding the compensation and the peace talks, Song Yingchang did not keep it a secret from North Korea. Because the battlefield had been separated from North Korea and belonged to the war between the Daming and Japan, there was no need for the North Koreans to participate in this matter. The North Koreans also licked their wounds and did not participate. However, they definitely knew some news, such as whether the Daming would ask for some benefits after beating the Japanese so badly.
The North Koreans certainly did not know the specific number. Except for the painting beside him, Song Yingchang did not mention it to anyone. It was absolutely confidential. However, the North Koreans knew that the Daming had received compensation from the Japanese. This was undoubtedly very tempting for the North Koreans, who were currently short of money. It was normal for them to have such thoughts. However, Song Yingchang thought to himself, What does this have to do with you?
"Indeed, the Japanese are arrogant and arrogant. They provoked a war. If they are not taught a lesson, I am afraid that they will not learn to be obedient. Therefore, Admiral Xiao taught them a little lesson and made them pay a sum of money to the Daming. This is considered letting them go. What about it? Is the King also interested in this? "
Seeing Song Yingchang's faint smile, Li Zhi's old face reddened. After struggling for a while, he still couldn't help but open his mouth and say, "Then how much silver did the Great Ming Dynasty receive? Also, is there any extra that can be given … used to support our country?"
After saying this sentence with difficulty, Li Gui felt that his degree of shame was about to go off the charts.
It was simply unheard of for the King of a country to ask for money in this way. However, Li Gui also knew that he had to do this. Since the start of the war, apart from the 20,000 taels of silver that Zhu Yijun rewarded him, Li Gui had no other income. Without the imperial court's financial income, Li Gui could do nothing, and North Korea was also struggling.
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