Chapter 521 Is This Still Our Motherland?

The fleet entered the Sea of ​​Japan from Hokkaido and then passed through the northern waters of Honshu Island.

In the past year, Japan not only failed to form a strong anti-Ming alliance, but also the conflicts between the parties due to territory became more and more intense.

Japan was initially the East-West confrontation between the East Army and the West Army, and then there was an internal dispute in the Shogun's shogunate due to the position of the general. Now it has evolved into internal disputes between the East Army and the West Army.

Ise Shinkuro, the first daimyo after the start of the Warring States period, was ambitious. After successfully seizing Izu Province, he continued to expand his territory around him, becoming the most unstable factor in the east.

Unlike the traditional daimyo who was content with one corner, even though Ise Shinkuro is now over 60 years old, he still hasn't forgotten his oath to fight for the world when he was young.

That's why everyone thought that Ise Shinkuro was plotting against the neighboring Sagami Province, but he bought a ship from the Ming Dynasty and headed for Awa Province, which was in the same bay.

The situation in the west was also unstable, and a veritable overlord of the West appeared here.

The Ouchi clan did not stop expanding eastward after annexing Bizen Province. This year, they entered Tsukiyama Tomita Castle, defeated Amago Nobunaga, and took the entire Izumo Province.

Now all the forces of the Western Army have to be wary of the Ouchi clan, but they are afraid that the next target of the Ouchi clan will be themselves.

The Shogun's shogunate is still in a state of division. Although the shogun Ashikaga Yoshizai is a general with ambition and talent, the daimyo now needs a puppet shogun.

Moreover, Hosokawa Masamoto has always been wary of Ashikaga Yoshizai, so it is even more impossible to let Ashikaga Yoshizai take charge of the shogunate.

Japan originally had a tradition of worshipping the strong. Now their food is subject to the control of the Ming Dynasty, and naturally they have no capital to challenge the Ming Dynasty.

That's why more and more daimyo sent envoys to the East China Sea Governor's Office to cling to their thighs, but they all hope to get the protection of the East China Sea Governor's Office.

By December in the cold winter, everything on Honshu Island was gone.

Although agricultural production on Honshu Island was destroyed by the war, the mining industry is now in its golden age, and mining teams have appeared in many daimyo's territories.

The Iwami Silver Mine has an unparalleled reserve of silver and has become the golden egg for the Ouchi clan to make money.

After further negotiations, the Tokai Governor's Office took the initiative to give up the mining rights of the Iwami Silver Mine and was responsible for the sales channels of silver, but half of the silver mined by the Ouchi clan had to be given to the Tokai Governor's Office.

The atmosphere in the silver mine was becoming increasingly tense.

With the growing thirst for silver resources, especially the heavy reliance of the Ouchi clan's finances on silver mines, the Ouchi clan's desire to increase production has reached an unprecedented level.

They not only increased the exploitation of prisoners, but also put great pressure on the workers, requiring them to step up mining and processing of silver day and night.

In the silver mine cave, under the dim light, the workers were sweating as they mined silver ore.

After the silver ore was transported to the workshop outside, the silver refining master used the soot blowing method to purify the silver from the silver ore through multiple processes.

But the work here is not over yet. Now the Ming Dynasty does not allow silver to flow directly into the country, so they also need to process the produced silver ingots into silver jewelry.

"Who dares to be lazy, I will kill him directly!" The retainers of the Ouchi family faced the workers in the workshop and all turned into demons to intimidate them.

In order to survive and to have food and clothing, the workers' hands quickly carved exquisite patterns on the silver blocks.

Their eyes revealed fatigue and helplessness, but under the close supervision of the retainers and slaves of the Ouchi family, they had to continue their work.

Living in this era, they also had to accept their fate!

Although their daily work is very hard now, they can finally fill their stomachs and get wages, which is much better than the wandering life before.

Life here has long been on the right track. On the production line of silver jewelry, exquisite silver jewelry gradually takes shape, shining with an attractive luster.

"These are simply works of art!"

"What kind of works of art? I don't even want them!"

"We Japanese are surviving, while the Ming Dynasty is living!"

...

After being counted by the family soldiers, these silver ornaments were packed into wooden boxes and then handed over to the Donghai Governor's Office for sale to the Ming Dynasty.

In fact, many Japanese people don't look down on silver ornaments at all, but the market demand in the Ming Dynasty is so amazing that it is said that these silver ornaments will be snapped up as soon as they are sent to the capital of the Ming Dynasty.

That's right, they can look down on these silver ornaments, but they can't deny their economic value.

Puff!

Just as a batch of freshly baked silver ornaments were being loaded on a ship and prepared to be shipped to the Ming Dynasty, an old worker who was mining in a dark mine suddenly vomited blood and then fell down forever.

Mining was originally a high-labor operation, and these captives from Izumo were forced to work for a long time in a harsh environment, and they would be severely punished if they were a little lazy.

When their body functions exceed a certain load, they will fall down forever. This month alone, the number of miners who died in the mines has reached three digits.

"Either work hard or die. I, the Ouchi clan, do not keep useless people!" The retainers of the Ouchi clan did not show mercy, but warned others.

In order to get more silver mines, they increased production at all costs, even the lives of the captives seemed insignificant, and insisted on pushing up the output of the silver mines.

The reason why the Ouchi clan was so eager to increase the output of silver mines and silver jewelry was to prepare their own strength and then continue to expand eastward.

They knew that only with sufficient financial resources could they buy more food and weapons from the Ming Dynasty, so as to gain an advantage in future wars.

Therefore, the Ouchi clan now exploited workers and captives at all costs to ensure that the output of silver mines could meet their ambitions.

Everyone envied the glory of the Ouchi clan as the overlord of the West, but they did not know that they also worked very hard to exploit workers and captives to create a better situation.

In this era full of greed and ambition, the behavior of the Ouchi clan was just a microcosm, and some forces on Honshu Island also followed suit.

"Mine more silver at all costs!"

"What does war rely on? It's money, a lot of money!"

"No gold and silver mines? Isn't the Ming Dynasty short of women? Send them all over!"

...

They can choose not to cultivate the land, but if they don't mine gold and silver mines, then they can't exchange resources with the Ming Dynasty, and they will be at a disadvantage in the next war.

Of course, there are also some daimyo whose territories do not have gold or silver mines, but they were pleasantly surprised to find that they could exchange women for resources with the Ming Dynasty.

In the ninth year of Hongzhi, although Japan entered the Warring States Period as in the original history, this Warring States Period seemed a little different.

On the other hand, Zhao Zhongyi did not stop at Honshu Island and Kyushu Island. After completing a round of supplies at Sanji Island, he entered the Yellow Sea and slowly sailed towards Tianjin Port.

The Ming Navy now has the East China Sea flag, the South China Sea flag, the Indian Ocean flag, and the American flag that is being hoisted on Zhao Zhongyi's sailboat.

"My goodness, this is the American fleet!"

"I heard that it takes a year to travel back and forth!"

"These are all Chinese heroes! I don't know how many people they have supported with the precious seeds they brought back!"

...

When the merchant ships coming and going met Zhao Zhongyi's fleet, they all saluted and saluted the fleet returning from America on the deck.

Not to mention the situation on the American continent, the precious seeds brought back by the American fleet earlier have blossomed and borne fruit all over the country, resulting in enough food in people's homes now.

Although all this is due to the wise emperor, it is inseparable from the adventurous spirit of the members of the American fleet, so they have reason to thank this American fleet that sacrificed itself to travel back and forth between the two places.

In their hearts, the invincible East China Sea Fleet is the glory of their China, the steady and steady South China Sea Fleet is the protector of their China, the surprising Indian Ocean Fleet is the berserker of their China, and the American Fleet that crosses the ocean is the strongest adventurer of their China.

"They are saluting us!"

"We Chinese children should be of one mind!"

"Beautiful, strengthen my Ming Dynasty, I am proud of the people of Ming Dynasty!"

...

The soldiers on the fleet also felt the enthusiasm of their compatriots. At this moment, seeing the continuous emergence of Ming merchant ships, they suddenly felt that they had returned home.

They did not have the ambition of Su Can. Even if they were given the position of Inca emperor, they would rather become a soldier of this powerful empire.

Now they have completed their mission and returned, especially the cabin is full of furs, and they are welcomed by their compatriots, and they are also excited to return home in splendid clothes.

The East China Sea now belongs to the Governor's Office of the East China Sea of ​​the Ming Dynasty, and has been completely incorporated into the military control area of ​​the Ming Dynasty, so the fleet flying the American Navy flag is naturally unimpeded.

Zhao Zhongyi led the fleet into Bohai Port, and after seeing the bustling scene of Tianjin Port, it seemed like a lifetime ago.

Although they knew that the Ming Dynasty would definitely change in the years since they left, they couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the dock that had doubled in size.

After they landed, they were stunned when they entered the urban area of ​​Tianjin.

On the cement streets of Tianjin, human-powered hand-pulled carts are weaving and shuttle, becoming a unique landscape of this new city.

The drivers wore the same style of nylon buttoned clothes, and their sweat soaked their vests, but it did not reduce their enthusiasm for pulling carts.

These human-powered hand-pulled carts coming and going are like the pulse of this new city, shuttling through the streets and alleys, providing convenient transportation for the residents here.

It is worth mentioning that Tianjin has now broken the traditional sense of city wall boundaries and is showing a unique new urban style.

There is no wall here. Shops are lined up on both sides of the street, and various signs are shining, showing the prosperity and vitality of this city.

Traditional clothing was quite rare in the past. Instead, people wore nylon button clothes. This light and durable material is particularly practical in this vibrant city.

"My God, the changes are too big, right?"

"Isn't it? Is this still Tianjin?"

"The ancients are not deceiving me. A scholar should look at him with new eyes after three years of separation!"

...

Zhao Zhongyi and other soldiers saw the changes in Tianjin Port and Tianjin City, and looked at this completely unfamiliar city, and they couldn't help but sigh.

In just three years, they dared not recognize their own motherland.

In Tianjin, the human-powered handcarts and nylon button clothes that often come and go have become a beautiful landscape on the streets, complementing the temperament of this city.

But they still underestimated the changes in the Ming Dynasty, because this dynasty is ushering in a real take-off.

Although the first snow in December has arrived in Beijing, it cannot dispel the enthusiasm of Beijing residents.

It was a clear morning. When the first ray of sunlight shone on the earth, people had already stood on both sides of the rails, looking at the train station from afar.

In the modern train station, a steam locomotive with epoch-making significance was parked on the rails at this time, a big guy made of steel.

As the emperor arrived, the people here knelt to greet him.

Zhu Youtang, wearing a dragon robe, had a standard beard, and his imperial majesty was even greater. Looking at the familiar train in front of him, he also felt a sense of emotion.

Things went very smoothly. Although the Beijing-Tianjin Railway had not yet been built, the steam locomotive came out before the railway was built, and today would be the first trial run.

"Let's go!"

As Liu Jin shouted with his unique voice, the operators in the train immediately took action, and soon the steam locomotive started the gears of the era.

"Here it comes!"

"Is this the train?"

"It...it's really moving by itself, it's amazing!"

...

Ordinary people like Zhao Laosi came from all directions early in the morning. First, they heard the rumbling sound from the train station, and then accompanied by the sound of steam eruption, a huge train slowly came into people's sight.

Although they had heard about the magic of the train a long time ago, it was ultimately hearsay. Now they saw the train running on the railway with their own eyes, and their original inherent ideas were being smashed.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, how could they believe that there really existed a kind of car in the world that could run without relying on animal power and human power.

The steam train was officially launched.

The locomotive head looked like a face, and on its majestic body, a huge chimney was emitting billowing white smoke, as if announcing its arrival to the world.

The rhythmic clicking sound between the wheels and the rails was like an ancient movement, echoing in the hearts of all the people. On the body of the car, steam was lingering, intertwined with the morning mist.

At this moment, a group of high officials and nobles in the carriage looked out curiously as if they were dreaming.

Their faces were full of surprise, but they did not expect that the emperor's seemingly unreliable idea would come true. The 10 million silver dollars brought a new era of transportation. (End of this chapter)