Chapter 909

“Fight first, then negotiate for peace?”

The samurai all exclaimed in unison.

Yamada Nobunaga picked up the clear tea from the low table and took a sip. Savoring the elegant fragrance of the tea, after a long while, he explained, “If we don’t fight and then seek peace, the other daimyo will surely accuse me of cowardice. But if we fight and lose, they will have nothing to say. At that time, they will be able to clearly see the disparity in strength between Japan and the Great Yu Empire. Of course, if we win, there will be even less to worry about.”

After a pause, he continued, “As for seeking peace, it is a strategy of ‘sleeping on faggots and tasting gall’ (enduring hardship for a future goal). The Great Yu Empire’s navy is too vast. Our warships are no match for them. The land we live on is surrounded by the sea on all four sides. If we cannot engage in foreign trade, we will never be able to develop. Moreover, first there were the Dutch, then the British, and now the Great Yu Empire. All this indicates that we have already been left behind by them in terms of weaponry. If we do not strive for progress, the future outcome will be like Goryeo’s. If temporary humiliation can exchange for the Great Yu Empire’s full support in industrialization, it is still worthwhile. After all, decades ago, we still paid annual tribute to the Great Yu Empire.”

“Daimyo, I’m afraid the Great Yu Empire’s purpose this time is to annex us, unlike previous times of mere punishment. Ever since that Prince named Xiao Ming became Emperor, the Great Yu Empire has already changed drastically,” a samurai, about thirty years old, said worriedly.

Yamada Nobunaga looked at the samurai who spoke. This was his most trusted samurai, named Sato Hideyoshi, who had a flexible mind and a keen sense for schemes and tricks.

It was precisely with his assistance that he achieved his current status. Moreover, Sato Hideyoshi was originally from the Sato family, the eldest son of Lord Sato.

“Therefore, this time we must show our determination to perish with the Great Yu Empire. Unlike Goryeo, our firearms and population are several times larger than Goryeo’s. It won’t be that easy to completely conquer us!” Yamada Nobunaga said sternly.

“Yes!” The samurai all bowed their heads in unison.

…

Busan City. After a brief gathering with Ye Qingyun, Yue Yun did not linger in Busan City’s entertainment district but returned to his flagship, where he had his own resting quarters.

Glancing at the map, Yue Yun’s gaze lingered on Nagitsu Bay. This would be their first step in attacking Japan.

The next morning, he ordered his warships to move towards Nagitsu. A sea distance of four hundred li was merely a day’s journey for the warships.

At the same time, Yamada Nobunaga was also mobilizing his remaining Japanese warships. In fact, for the past few days, to preserve his remaining two hundred warships, he had ordered all his Atakabune (warships) to retreat into inland rivers for refuge, and also had cannons installed on them to deal with the Great Yu Empire.

Now that the news of the Great Yu Empire navy’s full-scale assault was confirmed, he could only, according to his plan, fight a desperate battle with his back to the wall. Having painstakingly risen to his current position, he did not want to be forced down by other daimyo just like that.

Besides the Atakabune, he also mobilized eighty thousand musketeers, two hundred teppo (matchlock guns), and eight thousand cavalry. As in the Goryeo war, this time he again conscripted soldiers from various daimyo, which also served his purpose.

In the tense atmosphere, Yue Yun’s fleet arrived at Nagitsu Bay at dusk that evening. He showed an inexplicable smile as he looked at the now empty pier.

As with countless fleet inspections, whenever they approached the outskirts of Nagitsu, it would be deserted. He knew very well that small Japanese boats were always patrolling the nearby waters.

These boats were small and fast. They simply could not be caught by sailing warships; only steamships could catch them. They had already sunk no less than ten small Japanese boats along the way.

However, they could not keep chasing these Japanese pirates disguised as fishermen. After all, attacking Nagitsu was their objective.

As the saying goes, “the monk may run, but the temple cannot.” The merchant ships at Nagitsu pier were gone, but the pier remained, and Nagitsu City remained.

“General, should we enter the inland river?” Liu Chen asked. Nagitsu was built by an inland river. One could directly bombard Nagitsu City through the inland river.

“We cannot take that risk. Firstly, Japanese warships might be hidden in the inland river. This inland river is narrow, and Japanese artillery can directly fire at the river surface. That would be troublesome.”

Before coming, Yue Yun had already made a plan. “Warfare is no longer fought the old way. Now, the most important thing is to land. You are to lead the soldiers ashore immediately and construct positions.”

With that, he picked up his telescope and looked at the pier. By this time, many Japanese soldiers had already rushed to the pier. Some of these Japanese soldiers carried matchlock guns, some carried flintlock guns, and there were even a few cannons resembling those of the Golden Tent Khanate.

“Prepare the cannons!”

Yue Yun said calmly. Army tactics were changing, and naval tactics were also changing simultaneously. Ever since the equipping of explosive shells, the navy now possessed the ability to conduct saturation bombardment on land.

After all, a single warship could carry up to a hundred cannons. Even one side could have about fifty cannons. Twenty or so warships firing simultaneously would mean thousands of cannons.

However, such high-density bombardment could only be described as extravagant. But Yue Yun felt no regret for the shells today, because he was certain he would find someone to pay for these shells.

Despite harboring hatred, he still did not forget his true duty.

“Send someone to deliver the treaty. Give them two days to reply, otherwise we will launch a full-scale war!” With all preparations complete, Yue Yun handed a pre-prepared treaty document to his adjutant on the flagship.

Soon after, a small boat was lowered. The soldier carrying the treaty document descended into the small boat and rowed towards the pier. Upon reaching the pier, the soldier handed the treaty to the Japanese general.

However, the Japanese general merely glanced at the treaty, then threw it to the soldier and drew his sword, threatening the messenger. Left with no choice, the soldier had to row back.

“General, what did you write that made the Japanese general so angry?” Liu Chen asked with interest.

“It’s simple. Have Japan admit defeat, cede territory, pay reparations, grant the Great Yu Empire most-favored-nation treatment, and compensate for war expenses of forty million taels of silver. Of course, this is just a rough estimate.”

Hearing this, Liu Chen smiled helplessly. This was practically identical to the treaty with Goryeo earlier.

“No wonder he’s so angry,” Liu Chen pursed his lips.

“They’ve been given a chance. If that’s the case, then we can only fight,” Yue Yun said excitedly. This treaty was indeed unequal, but Japan had never talked about equality with the Great Yu Empire. Japan’s current refusal to compromise was exactly what he wanted.

And this was also the Emperor’s intention. For an island nation like Japan, they had to have the ability to attack their homeland to curb them.

So, after a moment of contemplation, he finally shouted, “Fire!”

With a single command, the cannons on the six warships simultaneously opened fire on the pier. Over three hundred shells instantly covered the pier. Immediately, flames soared, and explosions were incessant.