Chapter 117: Ryukyu
The Ryukyu Islands, extending from Kyushu Island (and its affiliated islands) in southern Japan to the southwest for about 1,100 kilometers to the northeast of Taiwan, are the dividing line between the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea. The total land area is 3,090 square kilometers, including 55 large and small islands, divided into 3 larger island groups:
The Amami Island chain is in the north, the Ryukyu Islands are in the middle, and the Maejima Islands are in the south. Because of its special geographical location, Ryukyu serves as a transit point for trade in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, and the trade is developed, so it is known as the "Wang Guo Jin Liang".
The Ryukyu Kingdom exists on the Ryukyu Islands. In 1372, the Ryukyu countries became the vassal states of the Ming Dynasty of China. In 1429, the reunified Kingdom of Ryukyu still maintained suzerainty relations with China.
In 1609 (the 37th year of Ming Wanli and the 14th year of Keijo in Japan), the Tokugawa shogunate sent Satsuma clan to invade North Korea. The box is shipped away. He also captured more than a hundred people including King Sang Ning of Ryukyu to Kagoshima until September 19, 1611 (16th year of Keichang, Japan), and King Sang Ning was forced to sign the "Fifteen Articles" with the Satsuma Domain, admitting Satsuma clan's control of Ryukyu. At the same time, the five islands of Amami (that is, Kikai Island, Tokuno Island, Amami Oshima, Okinagabu Island, and Yoron Island) were placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Satsuma Domain before they were released and survived. In addition, Ryukyu was forced to send envoys to see the shogunate, a move called "Kamiedo." (The Japanese people like to call the capital of the country where the princes go to "Shang". For example, Shangluo in Japanese mainly means going to Kyoto, and the nickname of Kyoto is Luoyang (rakuyo), so it is called "Shangluo", and Edo was the capital of the shogunate at that time).
At that time, the ruler of the Japanese Kingdom was the Tokugawa Shogunate. In consideration of the special position of Ryukyu between tomorrow, the Edo Shogunate and Satsuma clan included Ryukyu in the Japanese-style Huayi order, but in terms of foreign relations, they had a strong influence on the existence of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Adopted a default attitude.
From the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1372), the Kingdom of Ryukyu has been using the Chinese reign name and pursuing the Chinese Zhengshuo. The official documents, diplomatic treaties, and official history of the Ryukyu Kingdom are all written in Chinese. Even the palace of its capital, Shurijo Castle, does not face south from the north, but faces the west, fully expressing its admiration for China.
...
When the Southeast Fleet appeared on the surface of Shuri, the capital of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, it shocked the people of Ryukyu!
They saw Hong Maofan’s splint ship with so many drum sails coming across the sea, and there were two large ships among them, which were powerful enough to destroy the country!
But when they saw the flags of the stars, the peaks and the sea, everyone was relieved. This is the Ming Ren fleet, the fleet that occupied the "Southeast Mansion" of Taiwan.
Before, how many gunboats of the Southeast Mansion Fleet passed through the Kingdom of Ryukyu, but they came and went in a hurry, only for supplies and rest, and left soon without communicating with Ryukyu.
Although they don’t wear a Mingguo outfit and don’t have a national flag, they are truly Mingren!
Seeing that the Ming people’s fleet is so powerful, some Ryukyu people couldn’t help but become active in their hearts. The prince still let the secret name Chang Shi Cai Lingfei say: "This is a good opportunity, or we can return my country to China!"
Chen Tianping nodded and said: "Also!"
At this time, the king of Ryukyu was King Shangfeng. He has been on the throne since 1621 and was the eighth generation king of the second Shang Dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Shang Rang is his second son. He is sixteen years old, gentle, young and intelligent. He is oriented towards China, but on the surface he respects the Japanese country. He is familiar with the languages of the Chinese and Japanese countries. He wears kimono and understands Japanese songs (an art of the Japanese country). He respects the Japanese people who are stationed in Ryukyu by the Satsuma clan of Japan. He was poorly monitored when he was young.
I didn't expect Shang to take the opportunity to develop anti-Japanese forces. Among them, the long history Cai Lingfei and the law secretary Ruan Yuanyuan were the backbone.
They are born anti-Japanese sect, there is no way, they have to oppose, because their ancestors are Ming people!
Ming Zhu Yuanzhang Hongwu "In the first month of the fifth year, Yang Zai, a traveler, was ordered to sue his country with the imperial edict of Jianyuan. Among them, the mountain king Chadu, the younger brother Qitai, etc. were sent to the dynasty and tribute." Since then, Ryukyu and China have established a long history. The tributary canonization of vassal relationship for more than five hundred years.
Soon afterwards, Zhu Yuanzhang, because of his pity for the Ryukyu people, yearned for China, but was frustrated by the waves of the sea. He specially gave the Fujianese 36 surnames who are good at boats to enter Ryukyu and use their sailing skills to pay tribute. Among the thirty-six surnames, the famous ones in Ryukyu are Liang, Cai, Mao, Zheng, Chen, Zeng, Ruan, Jin and other surnames.
Cai Lingfei and Ruan Yuanyuan are descendants of these 36 surnames!
The Japanese Satsuma clan invaded. To put it bluntly, it is the Japanese pirates. The Ryukyu Kingdom is a small place, and its military strength is weak. How can it be resisted! (The Japanese invaded Ryukyu in 1609. The Satsuma clan counted Ryukyu’s weapons and found that Ryukyu had only 500 bows, which were still light bows. Three hundred long spears and three hundred leather armors were even more powerful than those of the Ming Dynasty. The military is not as strong.)
The Japanese had to bow their heads under the sword, but Cai Lingfei and Ruan Yuanyuan were not convinced at all!
I am originally from the celestial dynasty, how can it be a Japanese!
Japanese people count as root hairs! Not as good as hair!
They paid great attention to all opportunities to overthrow the rule of the Satsuma clan. This time the Southeast Fleet was about to arrive, they saw an opportunity. However, Ruan Yuanyuan was worried and said: "I heard that the Southeast Mansion is a citizen outside the Minghua. He refuses to obey Wang Hua and has no sight of King Da Ming. He is really a pirate. I am afraid that I will get started, and if a wicked person is gone, a ruthless person will come again!"
Shangrang also has concerns.
Cai Lingfei laughed and said: "No matter how bad it is, it's worse than the non-Japanese!"
Shang Rang and Ruan Yuanyuan nodded and said yes, Cai Lingfei said, "I will immediately spread the news of the'Ming Ren'!"
...
The news spread throughout Shuri (the city is not very large) before the Southeast Fleet arrived, immediately disturbing the hearts of many people.
Almost all the Ryukyu people were delighted: "Mingjin is finally here!"
It turns out that there is a lot of gold and silver in the Wa country, and Ming is rich in materials and complements each other. There is a lot to do in shipping and foreign trade, and the Ryukyu Islands occupy a favorable position.
It is a very reliable route from Penghu, Taiwan, Ryukyu to the first line of the country, and there are island coordinates along the way, it is not easy to get lost, and you can anchor on the Ryukyu Islands to get supplies, especially water sources.
The Kingdom of Ryukyu obtained a large amount of supplies from China through its suzerainty relationship with China, and it has also developed into China's "general agent" for maritime foreign trade in a state of lockdown. Ryukyu ships travel between Naha and Fuzhou, north to Japan, North Korea, south to Annan, Luzon, Siam, Aceh, Java, Mantra, etc., spreading across the entire Nanyang archipelago. Ryukyu became rich from such "re-export trade."
The bulk of its overseas trade is the sale of Japanese silver, lacquerware, swords, screens and fans to China. UU Reading www. Uukanshu.com resells Chinese medicinal materials, porcelain, silk, and copper coins to Japan and North Korea, and sells rhino horn, hematoxylin, spice, tin, sugar, ivory, frankincense, and ambergris from Southeast Asia, India and the Arabian Peninsula. Sold to China, Japan, and North Korea.
It is not a false statement to be called "Wanguojinliang"!
The land of Ryukyu is barren, and agriculture is difficult to develop. Relying on re-export trade to obtain the necessary goods, one can imagine the importance of trade.
Previously, the Kingdom of Ryukyu was greatly facilitated by virtue of being a vassal state of Ming Dynasty! (Otherwise, people will recognize you as the boss!)
Fuzhou is the main trading port of Ryukyu in China. Ryukyu merchants trade a wide variety of goods in Fuzhou, including various handicrafts, medicines, spices, minerals, seafood, textiles and other rare goods. There are also people in Fuzhou who "sell the goods of the ball dealers." The goods that Ryukyu merchants took away from Fujian were mainly ceramics, lacquerware and silk.
The Joseon Dynasty also developed entrepot trade through Ryukyu to Southeast Asia, importing medicines, spices and pearls, tortoise shells, corals and other luxury goods from Southeast Asia. In Shurijo Castle (called Haipu in North Korea), the capital of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, there appeared Ryukyu trading ships dedicated to sailing to North Korea. Because they belonged to the vassals of the Ming Dynasty, they had very different sentiments, so their economic exchanges were dense.
The Satsuma clan controlled and cut off profits from foreign trade. The Ryukyu people suffered domestic and foreign difficulties, their quality of life plummeted, and even the royal family was embarrassed.
The folks generally eat sweet potatoes. Although the royal family can eat rice, they eat brown rice. . . It may not be enough, because the typhoon swept through, and many crops were allocated. If there is no foreign trade assistance, this is still the life of the royal family? !
Under such an environment, the Ryukyu people look forward to the Ming as they look forward to the stars and the moon, and finally they look forward to it!
And the Japanese people who reside in Shuri have a headache!
