I

Matsumae Akihiro just succeeded to the throne last year, but this year something like this happened, and his own territory became Chinese territory inexplicably.

He was confused about this.

The retainers of Matsumae Domain felt...very happy!

Hokkaido, a place where birds don't shit, has always been Japan's penal colony. For example, Hanazhanin Tadachō, who was exiled due to the Inokuma incident, was taken in by the Matsumae clan and is still a retainer of the Matsumae clan today.

To put it bluntly, Hokkaido is a "den of rebels"!

Matsumae Clan had no choice. Hokkaido was too poor and remote. If they didn't take in those political prisoners, they wouldn't even be able to recruit a few educated samurai. There is no problem of overpopulation of rogues here, because it is too poor and even rogues are not willing to come here.

There will naturally be a corresponding price to pay for recruiting political prisoners in batches.

The Matsumae clan has never been accepted by the orthodox daimyo, and relied on bribes to obtain the status of a hatato. Although they have built a city, the flag is not qualified to build a city. It is still called "Matsuzenkan" to the outside world, and they dare not say that there is a "Fukuyama Castle" here.

The daimyo's family should have lived in Edo, but the daimyo of the Matsumae clan was not even qualified to move to Edo.

"Sir, you are proficient in Sinology. Please change my name to a Chinese name for me." Matsumae Norihiro approached Tadashi of the Hanashan Academy.

Tadashi of Huashan Academy thought carefully and started writing: "The pronunciation of Song in the Tang Dynasty is Song. From now on, the family governor's surname will be Song. According to the pronunciation of the Tang Dynasty, Juguang can be changed to Juguang."

"Song Juguang, what a good name." Matsumae Norihiro was very satisfied.

To him, it doesn't matter if he changes his name or surname.

A few decades ago, his family still had the surname "Oyozaki". After being recognized by Tokugawa Ieyasu, in order to show that he was awesome, he changed his surname to "Matsumae", taking one character each from the Matsudaira clan and the Maeda clan.

Next, we all called him Song Juguang. Song Juguang asked curiously: "What Chinese name did you change for yourself?"

Huashanyuan Zhongchang smiled and said: "Huashan Zhongchang."

"Good name." Matsumae Norihiro immediately praised.

Tadachaka Hanashanyin is over seventy years old this year. Despite his kind-hearted appearance, he had a lot of fun when he was young.

At that time, there was an aristocratic kid in Kyoto named Inokuma Kyori, who was proficient in all kinds of music, chess, calligraphy and painting. He also had a killer hairstyle and became the dream lover of all women. A girl from a wealthy family in Kyoto was taught to sleep with pigs and bears.

This is nothing, InoKuma taught the children of Kyoto's rich and powerful people to play multiplayer games together. He also slept with the emperor's first love, his beloved concubine. After the emperor found out, he didn't dare to have an attack immediately.

As for Hanazhanin Tadachana, not only did he hang out with Inokuma Cuili, he also slept with the emperor's female officer and took the female officer with him to have group parties.

In the end, the commotion was too great, involving too many daimyo and wealthy businesswomen's wives. Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered a nationwide arrest, and Inokuma Kyori was eventually arrested and beheaded. Hanazhanin Tadanagi's father had energy, so he did not seek death, but was exiled to Hokkaido and became a retainer of Matsumae Domain.

This kind of promiscuous young man is regarded as a cultural person by the Matsumae clan, which shows how backward Hokkaido's culture and education are.

Song Juguang convened a meeting with his retainers, and the first thing he did was to ask everyone for their new names.

A middle-aged retainer came forward and said, "Master, my new name is Chang Yizhen."

"My new name is Jing Zhongzheng."

"My new name is..."

After listening to his self-introduction, Song Juguang nodded and said with a smile: "From now on, don't call me the owner or the governor of the house. I am the magistrate of Ezo County in Datong China. You should call me Magistrate Song."

The reason why these guys are happy is that except for their names and clothes, everything on the island remains the same, and the Nanjing court did not deprive them of their power.

Ezo Island is different from Tsushima Island. Although Tsushima Island has barren land, it is at least not that cold and not so far from mainland China. Therefore, Tsushima Island can engage in rapid immigration and deprive the island's daimyo and retainers of their power more quickly.

And what about Ezo Island?

No Japanese rogues are willing to come. If China wants to develop the islands, it may take tens or even hundreds of years.

Then temporarily restrict the rule, and first send officials who are willing to go to sea to build courts and schools on Ezo Island. Judiciary must be in the hands of the court, culture and education must not be left behind, and the Japanese and indigenous people are gradually taught to speak Chinese.

A Chinese warship was still anchored in the port, and Kong Chengliang, Dai Sheng's deputy, was thrown in to handle Ezo affairs.

After Song Juguang communicated with his retainers, he began to entertain Kong Chengliang grandly.

Fragrant white rice is a very grand meal. There was no rice produced on the island at this time, and it was all shipped by sea, so white rice was particularly valuable.

The dishes are all kinds of seafood, which may be strange to people in the mainland, but people on the island have long since eaten them.

Although Hua Zhongchang was "proficient" in Sinology, he could not speak Chinese at all. Fortunately, Kong Chengliang could speak Japanese. So at the banquet, a group of "Chinese" officials could only communicate in Japanese.

Song Juguang said: "Angel Rong Bing, this island is in dire need of goods. Now that it is the territory of the Celestial Empire, can we allow merchants to bring cotton cloth, rice, and salt?"

Kong Chengliang said: "The imperial court has never engaged in merchant trade. Ezo Island must have enough goods to attract those merchants. Doesn't the fleet of the Sihai Trading Company have to pass through Ezo Island when going to America?"

Song Juguang immediately complained: "The trading place of Shikai Trading Company is the Hakodate established by the Andō clan (Akita clan). Most of the goods are transported to the Dewa area, and only a very small amount of goods can stay on Ezo Island."

"Is there any other famous person setting up a box house on the island?" Kong Chengliang asked in surprise.

Song Juguang explained: "My family was originally a samurai of the Andō clan. Although we obtained the status of island owner from the shogunate, we have always been held hostage by the Andō clan. The specialties of Ezo Island can only be traded at the Andō clan's Hakodate. Sell ​​furs and fish to Anton at low prices, and then buy rice, cotton cloth and salt from Anton at high prices.”

Kong Chengliang said: "The Anton family's box house must be returned to the imperial court. From now on, you can trade directly with merchants."

"That's great!" Song Juguang and his retainers were overjoyed.

Kong Chengliang asked: "What are the specialties on the island?"

Song Juguang replied: "Fur, wood and fish."

"What kind of fur?" Kong Chengliang asked.

Song Juguang said: "It's mainly deer and foxes. There are pink foxes here, and fox skins sell well."

Kong Chengliang smiled and said: "That's enough. Deer skin and fox skin are both popular in China."

There is one more thing Song Juguang didn't say, there is a gold mine in Hokkaido. In the early days of the development of the Matsumae Domain, they relied on alluvial gold to solve financial problems, and also used alluvial gold to bribe Sakai Tadakichi to obtain banner treatment. However, there are less and less alluvial gold, and the technology for mining gold mines is insufficient. The real mines are there and have not yet been developed.

In addition, Hokkaido has the third largest gold mine in Japan, which is currently located in the territory of the Ainu people. It is estimated that it will take a hundred years to be discovered.

The Ainu people are very powerful. A few decades ago, the Japanese built twelve box houses on the island. After trading a small knife, a Japanese shopkeeper stabbed the Ainu man who bought the knife to death because he couldn't agree on the price.

This aroused the anger of the Ainu people, and ten of the twelve Japanese Hakodates were quickly captured.

The Matsumae clan rose to prominence during that war. They held their ground to repel the enemy's attack, gathered their strength to counterattack, and shot the Ainu leader dead. Relying on the prestige brought by the war, the Matsumae clan conquered the island's wealthy clans (colonial leaders) and then ruled the southern region of Ezo Island.

Today, the Japanese and Ainu people on the island are doing business and fighting at the same time. Fight when it’s time to fight, and continue trading after the war.

After appeasing the guys in front of him, Kong Chengliang found someone who could speak the native language and led a group of soldiers to the Ainu territory.

Ainu means Ezo, with different translations. In the Ming Dynasty, it was also called Kuyi and Kuye.

So, what are the historical celebrities of the Ezo tribe?

Of course it’s the cute and powerful Nakolulu and her eagle Mamahaha!

No more nonsense.

The leader of Ezo at this time was named Shamu Sheyun. Historically, in three years, he would lead the people of Ezo to revolt, but he was trapped and killed by the Matsumae clan and his head was cut off.

After Kong Chengliang led dozens of Datong troops into the territory of the Eni tribe, he quickly attracted the attention of the natives. What's more, their guide was still wearing a Japanese samurai uniform, and the local chief immediately surrounded him with the young men of the tribe.

The Datong army raised their muskets, and the Ezo people also raised their bows and arrows.

The guide stepped forward and explained: "This is the envoy sent by the Emperor of China. This land will be ruled by the Emperor of China from now on, including my master, the Master of Matsumae. We want to meet the leader of Ezo!"

The Yeyi people have twelve large tribes, similar to the tribal alliance system, and Shamousheyun was elected as the leader of the alliance.

Three days later, Shamousheyun came with his warriors.

He had never heard of China at all. In his opinion, the Matsumae clan was a very powerful enemy, and the Matsumae clan's backer, the Anton clan, must be number one in the world.

Where did China come from?

Therefore, Shamousheyun asked when they met: "Has China defeated the Matsumae clan?"

Kong Chengliang shook his head: "No."

Shamousheyun asked again: "Did China defeat the Anton clan?"

Kong Chengliang said: "We defeated the masters of the Matsumae clan and the Andong clan!"

Sha Mousheyun was stunned. The powerful Matsumae clan and Anton clan actually had other masters. And this big tribe called China actually defeated the masters of the Matsumae clan and the Andong clan!

Kong Chengliang simply took out the world map he carried with him, pointed at the map and said: "This is Ezo Island, this is Japan, and this is China. Of course, Ezo Island will also belong to China in the future."

Shamousheyun looked at Ezo Island, which was the size of a fingernail, and then at China, which was bigger than a palm. For a moment, he felt a sign of a collapse of his worldview.

After swallowing, Sha Mousheyun asked: "Will China seize our land?"

Kong Chengliang said: "The entire Ezo Island is Chinese territory. And the Ezo people are also Chinese people, and there is no need to rob your land."

"I'm asking, will you drive the Yeyi people away from the tribal territory?" Sha Mousheyun asked.

"No." Kong Chengliang shook his head.

Shamoucheyun asked again: "When trading goods, will you deceive us?"

Kong Chengliang said: "The emperor will send officials to establish courts. If the Matsumae family or Chinese merchants act oppressively when dealing with you, you can go to the court to file a complaint. The Chinese chief judge will uphold justice for you. Remember, if you are oppressed, you must Go to court to file a complaint, and you cannot raise troops to fight without authorization."

Shamousheyun asked: "What if the chief judge favors the Matsumae family?"

"Then let's fight. If things get big, His Majesty the Emperor will send someone to deal with it." Kong Chengliang said.

Sha Mosheyun nodded: "Then we have made an agreement. If we are bullied, we will go to the justice to argue. If the justice is unfair, we will lead the warriors and speak with bows and arrows!"

Kong Chengliang took out the canonization edict that he had prepared last year and said: "His Majesty, the Emperor of China, will confer upon you the title of General Ezo to rule all the Ezo tribes. You can change your name to Chinese and I will fill in your name."

"I don't know how. Please help me change it." Sha Mousheyun said.

Kong Chengliang didn't bother to think about it, so he named him "Shasheyun" based on his Ezo name.