Chapter 430
Destroy their country!
After hearing what the envoy from the Northern Dynasty of Japan said, Zhu Ying's face showed no change in emotion.
"You mean to say that the Northern Dynasty of Japan wants to submit to the Ming Dynasty?" Zhu Ying emphasized the words spoken by the Northern Dynasty of Japan again.
The latter immediately replied, "Your Highness, that is indeed the case!"
"If you agree not to wage war against the Northern Court of Japan, then the entire Northern Court of Japan will bow down to His Highness the Crown Prince, and from then on, the Northern Court of Japan will be a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty!"
"To pay tribute to the Celestial Empire for generations to come!"
The envoy from the Northern Court of Japan spoke nervously to Zhu Yingsu.
just.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ying did not agree.
Do you know why I want to attack the Japanese islands?
Zhu Ying suddenly asked the kneeling envoy from the Northern Dynasty of Japan.
The latter naturally knew the reason, but at this moment, the Japanese envoy could only pretend not to know.
"Your Highness, I... am not aware of the matter."
Zhu Ying scoffed and then said, "Your Japanese Northern Dynasty is truly audacious, daring to send spies to infiltrate my Yingtian Prefecture and steal gunpowder and technology."
"Speak, who exactly orchestrated this?" Zhu Ying's words were extremely cold, sending chills down the spine of the envoy from the Northern Court of Japan.
The envoy from the Northern Court of Japan swallowed hard, kowtowing to Zhu Ying as he hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, I truly know nothing about this matter..."
"It is also possible that they are spies sent by the Southern Court of Japan. I urge Your Highness to investigate carefully."
Seeing that the envoy from the Northern Dynasty of Japan was still being stubborn, Zhu Ying gradually lost patience and said, "Since you don't admit it, then I have no choice but to send troops."
"I warn you, no one in the world dares to deceive me."
Faced with Zhu Ying's threat, the envoy from the Northern Court of Japan immediately said, "Your Highness, it was indeed His Majesty the Emperor's order to send spies to steal gunpowder."
"His Majesty the Emperor has been blinded by self-interest. I beg His Highness the Grand Prince to give the Northern Court of Japan another chance."
"From now on, the Northern Court of Japan will forever submit to the Ming Dynasty and will never dare to utter a word against it!"
After speaking, the envoy from the Northern Court of Japan frantically kowtowed to Zhu Ying, hoping to gain Zhu Ying's forgiveness in this way.
Zhu Ying didn't waste any more words with the envoy.
He stated the Ming Dynasty's demands without any emotion.
just.
These demands were completely unacceptable to the Northern Court of Japan.
"Since your Northern Court of Japan wants to submit to the Ming Dynasty and become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, I will give you a chance."
After Zhu Ying finished speaking, the Japanese envoy from the Northern Court, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly brightened up.
He immediately expressed his gratitude, saying, "This humble one thanks Your Highness, the Imperial Grandson. Long live Your Highness!"
"and many more."
Zhu Ying continued, "I haven't finished speaking yet."
"My request is simple: if your Northern Dynasty of Japan wants to live, then surrender your entire nation."
"Furthermore, Hou Xiaosong personally knelt down to pay his respects to me."
"In addition, the Northern Court of Japan disbanded all its troops, and the Ming army was stationed thereafter."
"If you agree to the above conditions, don't blame me for being impolite."
After Zhu Ying finished stating these conditions, the envoy from the Northern Court of Japan was completely dumbfounded.
If he agreed to Zhu Ying's conditions, it would be tantamount to handing over the entire Japanese island of Hokkien to the Ming Dynasty.
From then on, the entire Northern Court of Japan would be controlled by the Ming Dynasty, and Empress Komatsu of the Northern Court would become a complete puppet.
Such a demand was naturally unacceptable to the Northern Court of Japan.
"Your Highness, the request you have made is far too demanding."
"Please, Your Highness, show mercy..."
"The Northern Court of Japan only wants to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. As for other matters, I'm afraid they will find it difficult to accept."
The envoy from the Northern Court of Japan, steeling himself, spoke to Zhu Ying.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Ying revealed a disdainful look and said, "Your Northern Dynasty and Japanese islands are about to die, yet you still dare to negotiate with me."
After all,
Zhu Ying waved his hand.
The next second, the guards standing next to Zhu Ying understood immediately and rushed to the envoy from the Northern Dynasty of Japan. They grabbed his arms and threw him out of the tent!
to be frank.
Zhu Ying had no intention of negotiating with the Northern Court of Japan from the very beginning.
His main purpose in leading the Ming Dynasty navy here this time was to occupy the entire Japanese island by force!
"Feng Sheng!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Admiral Feng Sheng, standing beside Zhu Ying, immediately responded.
"Immediately send troops to attack the Northern Dynasty on the Japanese islands!"
"I will make the Northern Court of Japan, like this Southern Court, a living hell!"
"Your humble servant obeys!" Upon hearing that they were to attack the Northern Dynasty, Feng Sheng's expression was naturally one of extreme excitement.
"Leave 10,000 troops to guard the territory of the Southern Dynasty, and send the rest of the forces to attack the Northern Dynasty. In addition, the naval warships should also head north and bombard the entire coast of the Northern Dynasty on the Japanese islands!"
"I will make the entire Japanese islands part of the Ming Dynasty's territory!"
"From this day forward, this Japanese island will be the first overseas colony of the Ming Dynasty, and all Japanese people will be slaves for eternity!"
……
After Zhu Ying issued the order, the Ming Navy immediately launched its Northern Expedition plan.
this time.
The Ming navy split into two groups.
As the naval general, Feng Sheng personally led more than a hundred warships to the waters of the Northern Dynasty of Japan, and relied on the red cannons on the treasure ships to launch a frenzied attack on the coastline of the Northern Dynasty of Japan.
In addition, some troops went directly into the territory of the Northern Dynasty of Japan along the Southern Dynasty of Japan and cooperated with the navy to carry out massacres!
at the same time.
The envoy from the Northern Court of Japan returned to the imperial palace immediately and reported the information he had gathered to the emperor.
now.
Inside the palace, in the main hall.
All the officials of the Northern Court on the Japanese islands were focused on this Northern Court envoy.
Upon seeing the envoy arrive, Hou Xiaosong, who was sitting on the dragon throne, immediately asked, "Well? Have the generals of the Ming Dynasty agreed?"
The envoy immediately knelt on the ground and pleaded with Komatsu in a desperate tone, "Your Majesty the Emperor, I have failed..."
no doubt.
When the envoy uttered those words, an atmosphere of anxiety immediately filled the entire hall.
Emperor Go-Komatsu, the emperor of the Northern Court of Japan, asked incredulously, "Why? I was already planning to submit to the Ming Dynasty, so why does the Ming Dynasty disagree?"
The official then explained, "Your Majesty, do you know who led the Ming Dynasty navy here?"
"He is Zhu Ying, the grandson of the Ming emperor!"
When the envoy mentioned Zhu Ying's name, it was undoubtedly a blow to all the officials of the Northern Dynasty.
"Zhu Ying, the grandson of the Ming emperor? It seems we are truly doomed this time!"
"It is said that the reason why the Ming Dynasty became so powerful was precisely because of a series of national policies implemented by this imperial grandson!"
"In every battle personally led by this imperial grandson, the Ming Dynasty has never been defeated..."
"Yes, I have also heard of the illustrious reputation of the Ming Dynasty's grandson. He is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and can be said to be the biggest driving force behind the Ming Dynasty's prosperity!"
"I never expected that it was Zhu Ying who personally led the expedition. No wonder the Southern Dynasty was defeated so quickly!"
At this moment, Hou Xiaosong, who was sitting on the dragon throne, turned pale and his body trembled when he heard that it was Zhu Yingyu who was leading the expedition in person.
"What did this grandson of the Ming emperor say?" Hou Xiaosong asked the envoy official nervously.
"Your Majesty, the grandson of the Ming Emperor claims that if the Northern Court of Japan is to be spared from war, the entire country must submit. Furthermore, Your Majesty must personally kneel and pay homage to the grandson of the Ming Emperor."
"Furthermore, from this point on, the Northern Court of Japan will disband all its troops, and the Ming Dynasty will station troops within the Northern Court of Japan. Moreover, the Northern Court of Japan will be subject to the orders of the Ming Dynasty."
"In other words, from now on, the Northern Court of Japan will be under the control of the Ming Dynasty!" When the envoy official stated the conditions proposed by Zhu Ying, Go-Komatsu's feelings were mixed.
If he agrees to Zhu Ying's series of conditions, then he, as emperor, will be a figurehead, and the entire Northern Court of Japan will be completely controlled by the Ming Dynasty.
The entire Northern Court of Japan will become a puppet of the Ming Dynasty!
Such conditions were, of course, absolutely unacceptable to Komatsu.
"A scholar can be killed but not humiliated!"
Hou Xiaosong suddenly stood up from the dragon throne and said to the assembled officials, "The Ming Dynasty is really going too far! They actually want me to hand over the entire Northern Court of Japan!"
"I will absolutely not allow it!"
Originally, Go-Komatsu only wanted the Northern Court of Japan to become a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, merely paying tribute to the Ming. However, if he agreed to Zhu Ying's series of conditions, then the Northern Court of Japan would become part of the Ming Dynasty.
As the emperor, Go-Komatsu would naturally lose all power.
This is essentially no different from the fall of a country.
Therefore, neither Go-Komatsu nor the civil and military officials of the Northern Court of Japan could accept the conditions proposed by Zhu Ying.
"Things have come to this point, we have no choice but to go to war with the Ming Dynasty!"
In order to save his own life, Xiaosong had no choice but to issue the order to go to war with the Ming Dynasty.
Although Komatsu was well aware that the Northern Court of Japan would likely be defeated if war broke out with the Ming Dynasty, he had no choice but to do so in order to maintain his power!
……
a few days later.
Feng Sheng, the Grand Admiral of the Ming Dynasty Navy, had already led more than a hundred warships into the waters of the Northern Dynasty of Japan.
soon.
The naval commander of the Northern Court of Japan also led more than fifty warships out of the port to meet the enemy.
These fifty-odd warships comprised all the warships of the Northern Dynasty on the entire Japanese island of Wa (Japan). However, these warships were constructed entirely of wood and lacked both cannons and steam engines.
Its combat power was naturally incomparable to that of the Ming Dynasty's treasure ships.
At this moment, on the deck of the Ming Dynasty treasure ship.
Feng Sheng immediately reported the military situation to Zhu Ying.
"Your Highness, we have discovered approximately fifty warships from the Northern Dynasty of Japan in the waters ahead."
Zhu Ying's face showed no change in emotion. He knew very well that a mere fifty warships could not possibly stop the Ming navy.
"Destroy them." After Zhu Ying finished speaking, Feng Sheng immediately accepted the order and replied, "Your subordinate obeys!"
after that.
Feng Sheng immediately gave the order to fire.
For a while.
The red-coated cannons on the more than one hundred treasure ships all pointed their muzzles at the more than fifty Japanese warships from the Northern Dynasty in front of them.
at the same time.
Zhu Ying also summoned the phantom of the [Longevity Fruit Tree] once again!
soon.
The Ming navy officially launched its attack.
"Oh!"
"Oh!"
"Oh!"
The cannons on more than one hundred treasure ships fired at the warships of the Northern Dynasty on the Japanese islands almost simultaneously.
Countless cannonballs rained down as if from the sky, striking the Japanese warships with pinpoint accuracy.
Then... a violent explosion caused the warship to shatter into pieces!
It is no exaggeration to say that these fifty-odd Japanese warships from the Northern Dynasty were more likely to be attacked than to pose any threat to the Ming Dynasty's warships.
It took less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
All fifty-odd warships sank to the bottom, and the thousands of Japanese soldiers on board fell into the sea and became fish food.
after that.
Zhu Ying then issued the order to advance.
More than one hundred Ming warships began to sail towards the coast of the Northern Dynasty on the Japanese islands.
"emission!"
Zhu gave the order to fire again in a cold tone.
Ever since.
The red-clad cannons resumed their relentless bombardment.
For a while.
The entire coastline of the Northern Dynasty on the Japanese islands was once again turned into a living hell.
This was a comprehensive and indiscriminate bombing.
Both soldiers of the Northern Dynasty on the Japanese islands and civilians were attacked by the red-coated cannons.
Less than an hour.
The coastline of the northern Japanese islands was already stained with blood.
Simultaneously.
As far as the eye could see, there were only charred corpses of Japanese soldiers from the Northern Court.
High above, the phantom of the Longevity Fruit Tree was frantically absorbing the blood energy on the battlefield!
The Longevity Fruit is visibly growing rapidly!
……
Under simultaneous attacks from both land and sea, the Japanese islands of the Northern Dynasty were utterly powerless to resist.
The Ming army occupied all areas except the imperial palace in just one month.
even.
The massacres suffered by the Northern Court on the Japanese islands were far more severe than those suffered by the Southern Court.
this time.
Regardless of whether they were soldiers or civilians, men or women, young or old, all were treated equally by the Ming soldiers and became victims of their blades.
The entire Northern and Southern Dynasties were littered with corpses, devoid of any life.
even.
The air was filled with the smell of blood.
This is no longer just a massacre, but a one-sided genocide.
It didn't take long.
The Ming army eventually breached the palace of the Northern Dynasty on the Japanese islands.
After the palace gates were breached, the Ming soldiers began to burn, kill, and loot, turning the palace into scorched earth in an instant.
Inside the main hall.
Empress Komatsu, the ruler of the Northern Court of Japan, along with all the civil and military officials, were captured alive by the Ming soldiers.
It didn't take long.
Zhu Ying, accompanied by Feng Sheng and others, arrived at the main hall.
Upon seeing Zhu Ying arrive, Komatsu and the civil and military officials of the Northern Court of Japan dared not hesitate and knelt down before him.
He kept kowtowing and begging for mercy from Zhu Ying!
"Please spare my life, Your Highness! I was wrong. I shouldn't have sent people to steal gunpowder from the Celestial Empire, and I shouldn't have gone to war with the Ming Dynasty!"
After becoming a prisoner, Xiaosong lost all dignity. Upon seeing Zhu Ying arrive, he repeatedly knelt down and begged for mercy.
All he wants now is to survive.
However, Zhu Ying did not give him a chance.
"Kill them all!"
At Zhu Ying's command, Liu Lei, the commander of the royal guards, immediately sent men to drag Hou Xiaosong and all the civil and military officials outside the palace. Then, with a swift stroke of his sword, their heads fell to the ground.
...(End of chapter)