Zhao Jun continued his discussion, analyzing carefully, "Tsushima Island's unique geographical location. Once controlled, not only would we control Japan's lifeline, but we would also control trade between the Song, Gao, and Japan, as well as the route necessary for Japan to invade Korea from the north."
"Although the growing trade in the Iwami region did bring benefits to Japan, such as the influx of large quantities of handicrafts, as well as grain, ironware, tea, silk, porcelain, etc., which made the lives of Japanese high-ranking officials more comfortable, they had more on their minds."
"Their pursuit has always been to invade the mainland. Their most obvious ambition is the Korean Peninsula, and even the Central Plains is their target."
"If we take control of Tsushima Island, we'll directly cut off their vital link to the Korean Peninsula. Having their vital link controlled by someone else is definitely not a pleasant experience, so they'll definitely try every possible means to retake Tsushima Island."
"But the enemy is strong and we are weak, what should we do?"
"It's very simple. A lot of gold and silver mines have been discovered in Japan recently. Most of the minerals produced by these gold and silver mines have flowed into the Song Dynasty. This is definitely intolerable for them."
"So if I were a high-ranking official in Japan, I would definitely attack the local powerful families that control the mining areas and nationalize the minerals."
"Then use the money from these minerals to purchase various technologies and knowledge from the Song Dynasty. By the way, you can also secretly learn our system and carry out in-depth reforms."
"Japan has no shortage of sulfur anyway. Once they possess gunpowder technology, their national strength will be greatly enhanced. Then the Korean Peninsula will become their primary target, and they will gradually encroach on it, attempting to move from the island to the mainland."
This theory is indeed what Japan has wanted to do for thousands of years, and the battle in later generations and during the Tang Dynasty also proved this.
As a time traveler from later generations, Zhao Jun has never forgotten the country of Japan.
Therefore, he secretly conducted many investigations on this country over the years, and he found that Japan flattered the Tang Dynasty on the surface, but actually had evil intentions.
He found that Japan was always coveting the Korean Peninsula and even coveting the Chinese land.
The long and narrow island gave them an extreme sense of insecurity, and leaving the island became their lifelong hope.
"Well, Hanlong means that the existence of our Great Song has blocked their way north?"
Yan Shu understood what he meant.
"Yes."
Zhao Jun nodded and said, "Simply put, the battle between us and Japan is a battle of national destiny. If they want to come out, we will stand in their way. Therefore, the only way for us and them to fight to the death is to fight to the death."
"Hmm"
Everyone showed a solemn expression and nodded slightly.
"I just talked about Tsushima Island. Now let me talk about the second one, which is practical benefits."
Zhao Jun continued, "In addition to Tsushima Island, the Song Dynasty also controls a number of mineral resources in Japan. I marked these minerals and sent people to discover them. Although they are on their land, we paid a heavy price for them."
"We invested in the early stages, hired local people to mine, and exchanged interests with the local nobles. We used our Song Dynasty specialties in exchange for their minerals. We didn't rob them directly, which was already the most we could do."
"But the Japanese authorities certainly don't want their resources to be taken away by us, so they will definitely try every possible way to take them back."
"This is the second conflict of interest between us and them. Therefore, considering all these factors, as long as the Japanese authorities are not fools, they will definitely choose the method I just mentioned, that is, to flatter on the surface, but secretly seek mineral resources to strengthen themselves, and then covet North Korea's national policy."
"If my guess is correct, they are probably already sending people to our Great Song. We estimate that within two months at most, we might be able to see the Tang envoys who only appeared in the Tang Dynasty but have never been seen in our Great Song."
After he finished speaking, he reached for the teacup beside him and took a sip.
In fact, Zhao Jun didn’t say one more thing.
The reason why he took a roundabout approach and obtained the mining rights of the Iwami Silver Mine and the Sado Gold Mine from Japan instead of robbing them directly was because he found it difficult to rob them.
At that time, although the Song Dynasty was powerful, its military strength was weak and it was bullied by the Liao Dynasty and the Western Xia Dynasty. It was impossible to launch an expedition to Japan.
Even if we forcibly attack Japan at this time, it might be more trouble than gain.
So the correct approach should not be to grab, but to propose cooperation.
However, they were not cooperating with high-level Japanese officials, but with local powerful families in Japan.
Overthrowing the powerful has always been a traditional skill of the common people.
A small island country can be divided into dozens of countries, local powerful families emerge in an endless stream, and naturally there are endless rebellions.
For example, it is now the late period of the Fujiwara family's rule, and there have been rebellions such as the Nine-Year War and the Three-Year War, which are enough to prove that there were constant internal conflicts in Japan at that time.
Therefore, the best strategy is to take advantage of this contradiction to ensure the interests of the Song Dynasty, then divide Japan, and wait until the time is ripe to annex it.
"oh?"
Knowing that Japan might send people over in the near future, Fan Zhongyan asked, "What are you going to do, Hanlong?"
"Let it be as it is."
Zhao Jun smiled and said, "We won't give them anything they want. We'll just give them Confucian books and educate them severely."
"Why not give them gunpowder? Just like the Liao Dynasty, it would consume their national strength?"
Someone asked.
"We don't restrict the Liao Kingdom from developing firearms because they have to go through us to obtain their raw materials. We're indirectly making a fortune, while also dragging down their national strength. Their reserves are completely under our control, so there's no need to worry about them at all."
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