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Lin Efeng approached Hendrik, the director of the Dutch business curator, and after chatting for a while, he asked, "Does the curator know the news that China sent troops to Kagoshima?"

Hendrick nodded: "I heard."

"If China and Japan go to war, what will the Netherlands do?" Lin Efeng asked bluntly.

Hendrick said: "I will send someone to Batavia immediately, and the Governor-General will certainly help Japan."

Lin Efeng asked again: "How many warships can the Netherlands produce?"

Hendrick said ambiguously: "It's hard to say, it all depends on how the governor arranges. Of course, if Japan cuts off trade with China,

Presumably, His Excellency the Governor-General will do his best to support Japan. "

Saying it is tantamount to not saying it, but it is instigating China and Japan to go to war.

Even if the Netherlands sends troops, it will take at least three to five months for the fleet to arrive in Japan.During this period, has Japan been exhausted?

Lin Efeng returned to Edo, reported the situation truthfully, and said: "The Netherlands wants to monopolize the trade between China and Japan, and is eager for a war between China and Japan. However, the Netherlands probably will not send troops, or wait until the war is almost over, and then wait and see the situation to make a decision. "

"Not one of these Xifan red-haired ghosts can be trusted!" Tokugawa Iemitsu was very angry.

Lin Efeng also said: "Many Chinese maritime merchants are the agents of the wealthy merchants in Sandu, and I hope that the general will proceed with caution."

Tokugawa Iemitsu said: "The attitude of the merchants doesn't matter. If you find an opportunity to kill a few, you can not only steal the property and get the goods, but also scare the rest of the wealthy merchants. Throw a few more bones out, and the merchants will fight themselves."

"Yes." Lin Efeng did not refute.

It is difficult for Tokugawa Iemitsu to make a decision at this moment, and it is the Satsuma and Hirado domains who are causing trouble.If he forcibly gathers troops to fight, he will offend merchants and other feudal lords.After all, Satsuma and Hirado feudal lords have been monopolizing the profits of sea trade, and have not distributed them to other feudal lords.

Oh, the profits are monopolized by the two of you, so let us help if something goes wrong?We can't get a penny of benefits, and we have to pay for food and money to work hard.

But if Tokugawa Iemitsu just sit idly by and allow Satsuma and Hirado to be attacked, the other feudal lords will think again: This shogun is so useless, he dare not send troops to rescue him after being beaten up, he is simply a samurai. shame!

Fighting or not fighting is not good for Tokugawa Iemitsu, and will cause a lot of trouble.

"Call samurai from all over the world to discuss!" Tokugawa Iemitsu was about to kick the ball away.

It's simple to convene feudal lords from all over the world.

Because the feudal lords all over the country lived in Edo for one year, and then returned to the territory for another year.When the feudal lord returns to the territory, the eldest son must be in Edo, and the eldest son can also hold meetings.

A group of feudal lords or eldest sons soon gathered in the shogunate.

Tokugawa Iemitsu explained the cause and effect clearly, and then said: "It is war or peace, and the relationship is important. I respect everyone's opinions. Come, bring paper and pen! Those who are willing to send troops, draw circles on the paper; those who do not want to send troops, Just put a cross on the paper."

Soon, the result will be announced.

Except for Satsuma and Hirado, only three other clans were willing to send troops, and the rest of the feudal lords all planned to watch the fun.

Whoever helps is a fool, who is willing to do things that are not beneficial?

Tokugawa Iemitsu nodded and said: "This is a decision made by all the samurai families. Since this is the case, I respect everyone. The Hirado and Satsuma feudal clans provoked Tang without authorization and did not obey the orders of the shogunate. The governors of these two families should be replaced. Do it alone, and let them apologize."

Chapter 635 [Siege]

Sakurajima, camp.

Li Dingguo felt a little irritated. He had besieged Tsurumaru City for almost a month, but no reinforcements came to rescue him.

The tactics of besieging the city and fighting for aid have completely become a joke.

The shogunate did not intend to gather troops to rescue the Satsuma domain, and the small lords within the Satsuma domain did not intend to send troops to rescue their governor.Originally sending troops to Japan, but now sending troops to Tsurumaru Castle, it cannot even be said to be fighting the entire Satsuma Domain.

Apart from the fear of angering China, all parties held back their troops for another very important reason, that is, the military discipline of the Datong Army is really good.

There was no burning, killing, looting, or looting of shops, just besieging Tsurumaru Castle.

This made Mitsuhisa Shimadzu's brothers very happy, and they wished that the Datong Army would break through the city as soon as possible. Not only would they have the opportunity to succeed the family governor, but they could also receive the complete Tsurumaru Castle and the castle town.

Thirty miles east of Tsurumaru Castle, there is also Kirishima Jingu, the legendary place where the grandson descended.

The grandson of Tianzhao is the grandson of Amaterasu, the eight-foot Qiong Gouyu, the eight-foot mirror and the Kusanagi sword, who were brought down from the sky by this grandson.

Such an important shrine, the Datong army didn't even touch it—mainly because they were too lazy to climb the mountain.

This approach also made the Japanese shogunate and various princes feel the strong goodwill of the Chinese army.

Since the shrine is not to be demolished, since the shrine is not to be burned, killed and looted, then the siege will be siege, just change the lord of the Satsuma domain.

"My lord, don't worry," Miyazaki Shiro said. "The princes of the Satsuma domain have been frightened and dare not lead the rescue. We can attack the city with all our strength. If the general cares about the casualties, I am willing to call the civilians to help. As long as the general gives more Some food, at least thousands of people are willing to die for the general!"

Guitou 48 said: "Even if you fill it with the flesh and blood of ordinary people, you can fill up the stone wall outside the city!"

Hearing the heartfelt words of these two wild warriors, Li Dingguo felt a little nonsense.Obviously they brought their own troops to kill them, but the local people are willing to help attack the city, and they can make them desperate if they are given some food.

Since there is no way to call for help, there is no need to delay.

Li Dingguo said to the two: "You go to recruit three thousand people as soldiers, each of you can eat enough every day, and you can get an extra five catties of rice. In addition, the porridge shed that helps the poor will no longer give porridge from today."

Miyazaki Shiro said: "My lord, please promise that after the Tsurumaru castle is captured, the Shimadzu family governor must be executed, otherwise the people will not dare to apply for the attack."

"Yes." Li Dingguo smiled.

Miyazaki Shiro and Kitou 48 did not immediately go to conscription, but took wild samurai to spread the news: Mitsuhisa Shimadzu heard that the people had traded with Tang Bing, and was already furious, and decided to liquidate after the war, and all those who had sold things to Tang Bing to be executed.

A few days later, rumors were flying all over the sky, and the people around Tsurumaru City were panicked.

Because of such outrageous rumors, the Japanese feudal lords can really do it.In order to suppress the uprising of the people, even after the insurgents surrendered, they would kill them all, including the old and weak, women and children.

On the one hand, he can eat enough every day, and he can receive an extra five catties of rice; on the other hand, Mitsuhisa Shimadzu may take revenge afterwards.Under the dual effects of temptation and fear, more than 2000 civilians actually joined the army to help the Chinese army attack Tsurumaru Castle.

Inside Tsurumaru Castle.

Shimadzu Tadaro, Shimadzu Hisaichi and others are having a meeting to conspire, discussing how to tie up the family governor Kaesong and surrender.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.

Taduro Shimadzu looked terrified, pulled out his samurai sword and went out to check, but saw Hisamitsu Shimadzu leading troops to kill him.

"Brother, what are you doing?" Shimadzu Tadaro asked.

Shimadzu Hisamitsu sneered: "Are you going to fight against the enemy? I already knew that you have great ambitions!"

Shimadzu Tadaro said: "Brother, you misunderstood, we are discussing how to defend the city."

"Hiding in the house to discuss?" Shimadzu Hisamitsu shouted, "Kill them both, and I will forget about your crimes!"

The Tokugawa shogunate gathered feudal lords from all over the country to live in Edo.

The feudal lords from all over the country also forced samurai groups and industrial and commercial people to live in the castle town.

Therefore, although there were only more than 2000 troops in Tsurumaru Castle, there were hundreds of samurai who withdrew in.At this moment, there are more than 20 samurai plotting rebellion in the room, and Shimadzu Hisamitsu led troops to block him.

The warriors looked at each other, and at first they couldn't bear the threat of the house governor. Hearing that they could think about their crimes, they quickly made a subconscious choice.

"Qiangqiang!"

Pulling out the samurai swords one after another, he rushed towards Shimadzu Tadaro and Shimadzu Hisunichi, chopping them into mud with random knives.

Then he turned around and knelt down, and kowtowed to Mitsuhisa Shimadzu: "I pay my respects to the governor of the family, the thieves have been executed!"

"Get up." Shimadzu Mitsuhisa said calmly, as if everything was under control.

"Tang soldiers attacked the city!"

At this moment, a retainer rushed over in panic, and Mitsuhisa Shimadzu's expression finally changed.

Mitsuhisa Shimadzu raised his samurai sword: "Warrior of the Satsuma Domain, follow me to defend Tsurumaru Castle!"

"Boom boom boom!"

More than 2000 local civilians, led by more than 20 wild samurai, armed with a variety of simple weapons, climbed the mountain from the front and attacked the outer stone wall of Tsurumaru Castle.

At the same time, the artillery of China's navy and army also fired long-distance upwards towards the stone wall—the hit rate was very low, and the destructive power was also small.

The city defense guns of Tsurumaru Castle were also unable to bombard the siege troops.Because the mountain wall is too steep, as long as the attacking party gets close, they can enter the blind spot of the city defense artillery.

The soldiers of the Satsuma domain were firing arrows crazily, occasionally accompanied by the sound of firecrackers.

"Run away!"

The first wave of offensive by wild warriors and civilians was defeated after only ten minutes. The team of more than 2000 people, with less than [-] casualties, was shot by the archers of Satsuma, turned and fled.

Miyazaki Shiro fled to the foot of the mountain with the rout, and finally roared: "Don't run away, don't run away! General Li has been so kind to us, he has enough to eat every day, and he can receive five catties of rice every day. We should swear allegiance to the death. General!"

Guitou 48 said: "Shimadzu Mitsuhisa exploited us. Who can eat enough to farm? They will starve to death in case of natural disasters. I escaped today. When Tang Bing leaves, we will all be executed by Shimadzu Mitsuhisa!"

"Rush back with me!" Miyazaki Shiro turned around and rushed up the mountain with a knife in his hand.

"Come on!"

The wild samurai were so excited that they put life and death aside.Don't talk about repaying favors, they just want to make meritorious service, and maybe they can use this to join the Datong Army.

Has been with the Datong army, who the hell wants to go back to be a wild warrior?

At this moment, Shimadzu Hisamitsu, who personally led troops to defend Ishigaki, received a message from his retainers: "There are Tang soldiers on both sides and behind!"

But it is the most vulnerable front, handed over to a group of miscellaneous soldiers.

On the other three sides that were more difficult to attack, Datong soldiers quietly climbed the mountain and launched a fierce attack.

Because of the different terrain, the surrounding stone walls of Tsurumaru Castle are four or five meters high in some places, and only two or three meters high in some places.

Zhu Dafu led his soldiers to attack the north. They only had simple siege ladders, and there were not many of them. After all, they climbed up from the cliff.

Fortunately, the number of defenders is also small. There are three inner and outer city walls plus a stone wall. There are only more than 2000 soldiers defending the huge place.One-third of the defenders were still attracted by the motley troops in the front, and the defenses on the other three stone walls leaked like a sieve.

The section of stone wall that Zhu Dafu attacked had only a few dozen defenders.

"Mmmm... into his mother!"

A shower of arrows shot towards Zhu Dafu who was at the front, and two arrows stuck in his cotton armor instantly.The wobbly looks terrible, but in fact only the flesh was injured, the real injury was the arrow in the face.

Zhu Dafu was disfigured, an arrow shot into his cheek below the cheekbone, knocking out one of his big teeth.

Pulling out the arrow from his face and tearing off a piece of flesh, Zhu Dafu started to climb with his shield up.

"Bang bang bang!"

There was a gunshot, and seven Datong soldiers fell to the ground. Here are the iron gunners of the Shimadzu family.

Zhu Dafu was also shot in the shoulder at close range, and fell down the wooden ladder in pain, knocking down several friendly soldiers who were climbing behind.

Another wave of Datong troops nearby began to enter the city, and the number of defenders was too small to defend against it at all.

Relying on Zhu Dafu to attract the firepower, Li Tang took advantage of the loophole and led a battalion intact to the stone wall.

"Shoot, shoot!"

The Datong army raised their guns to output a meal, then loaded their bayonets, or picked up their spears, and rushed towards the remaining enemy troops.

"woo woo woo woo"

Shimadzu Mitsuhisa ordered the horn to be blown, and he wanted to shrink his defense.The perimeter of the outer stone wall is too large, and more than 2000 soldiers cannot defend it at all. It is more conducive to defense to withdraw from the outer city wall.

The whole Tsurumaru Castle is composed of Honmaru, Nimaru, Demaru and Ishigaki.

Four defenses, enough to fight slowly.

"Onboard, onboard!"

With the retreat of the Satsuma garrison and the Datong army successfully occupying the stone wall, the motley army composed of civilians suddenly cheered.

Li Dingguo did not continue to attack, but stabilized the stone wall he had just occupied, and counted the casualties of this battle by the way.

The wild samurai killed 2 people and injured 13 people; civilians killed 93 people and injured 587 people.

Among the soldiers of the Datong Army, 9 were killed and 21 were injured, all of whom were killed by muskets.

Mitsuhisa Shimadzu was also counting the casualties. Because many soldiers did not retreat in time, they were chased and killed by the Datong army who boarded the stone wall. The loss of the Satsuma garrison reached 438.The so-called loss means that they failed to withdraw and were either killed or captured.

Seeing that the Datong Army commanded civilians, reinforced the fortifications at the stone wall, and even built internal forts, Mitsuhisa Shimadzu suddenly became angry and roared: "Fire and kill them!

The city walls of Demaru also have forts, and the firepower of the Satsuma domain is extremely powerful.

In other words, Satsuma, who has been playing sea trade for a long time, has a large number of guns and artillery.

"Boom boom boom!"

The civilians who were strengthening the fortifications were soon defeated by artillery in several places.

Li Dingguo had a headache again. He had successfully climbed up the mountain and occupied the stone wall, but how to fight the next three walls?

Of course, the builders of Tsurumaru Castle couldn't be stupid, and it would always be more advantageous for the defenders.In Ishigaki and Demaru's artillery bombardment, the direction of Ishigaki can only be beaten, and there is no fire support at the foot of the mountain.

This is a mountain city. Although it is not as dangerous as Diaoyu City, Li Dingguo also understands the mood of Mengge Khan back then.