Chapter 637 Her biological father, Li Wangguang.
The emperor died, the imperial family dwindled, and Heian-kyo was reduced to ruins.
The news spread like wildfire, accompanied by the smell of burning and the survivors' terrified descriptions, quickly reaching all four main islands of Japan.
After a brief period of shock and fear, what did the Japanese do?
It's an even more frenzied power struggle!
On the four major islands of Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Hokkaido, large and small powerful clans, local officials, and even some influential temple militias all raised their flags and declared autonomy.
They used to depend on Heian-kyo for support, but now they find that the sky above them has collapsed, and no one can rightfully restrain them anymore.
For a time, Japan was plunged into a more thorough and chaotic state of division than Da Long is now.
The various prefectures and counties were heavily fortified, and frequent attacks and annexations occurred between them, much like a replica of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in the Central Plains, only on a smaller scale and with more trivial and brutal struggles.
The source of all this chaos and the biggest beneficiary—Li Shiyue—did not stop his expansion after setting off that shocking fire in the East China Sea.
Emboldened by its great victory, the Zhenhai Army, based in Hyogo Prefecture, continued its eastward expansion like a black tide.
Without the unified command of Heian-kyo, the Japanese forces, fighting independently, were simply no match for the Zhenhai Navy, which possessed the "Thunder God Cannon" and strict discipline.
The basin where Heian-kyo is located, as well as the neighboring Osaka with its excellent port and Nara Prefecture with its ancient temple complex, fell into the control of the Zhenhai Army with almost no trouble for Li Shiyue.
(Now, Li Shiyue's territory, from light green to dark green, has been completely occupied by her.)
Li Shiyue's territory, like an ever-expanding monster, firmly occupies the most prosperous and central area in western Honshu Island.
To the east lay the various warring factions of Japan, embroiled in constant conflict and chaos.
To the west and south lie the long coastline and important shipping lanes under her control;
To the north lie the forces of other clans in Japan, which are currently beyond our control.
Her reign ushered in a new, relatively stable period.
For Li Shiyue, rebuilding order in the occupied territories was already a familiar task.
She doesn't even need much innovation; she can simply replicate the policies that were successfully implemented in Shimane and Hyogo prefectures in the newly occupied Heian-kyo, Osaka, and Nara.
First, there was the liquidation and plundering of the remaining value in the area.
The Zhenhai Army, like a comb, once again combed through these newly occupied territories.
Those old nobles and temples who survived the war and tried to hide their wealth were ruthlessly exposed, their property confiscated, and any who resisted were killed without exception.
Large amounts of gold and silver treasures were gathered, transported to the seaside, and loaded onto transport ships returning to Oshima Port.
This systematic plundering was not only to bolster their own strength, but also to fundamentally destroy the economic foundation of Japan's old ruling class.
Secondly, it is necessary to restore production, especially in basic infrastructure such as mining and people's livelihood.
There are also mines near Heian-kyo. Although they are not as rich in mineral resources as the Iwami Silver Mine and the Ikuno Silver Mine, they are still "small but still valuable".
At the same time, the restoration and expansion of Osaka Port and the repair of roads in the Nara area both require a large workforce.
Li Shiyue once again had notices posted all over the ruins of counties and villages—recruiting miners, laborers, and odd jobs, with meals provided and payment made in copper coins or rice on a daily basis.
For ordinary Japanese people struggling under the ravages of war and the exploitation by the Japanese nobility, this "job" that allowed them to survive and even have a little surplus was irresistibly attractive.
Although the army of "Lady Blue Sky" burned down Heian-kyo and killed the Emperor, hatred and fear seemed to become blurred in the face of survival.
More and more Japanese civilians, pale and emaciated, with mixed feelings, left their hiding places in the mountains or dilapidated villages and came to the construction site set up by the Zhenhai Army to register.
Li Shiyue strictly ordered that payment must be made "according to work" and that no deductions be allowed; those who violated the order would be severely punished.
This order, to some extent, eased the sharp conflict between the invaders and the invaded, and also won Li Shiyue a sliver of extremely fragile "recognition" from the grassroots people based on their practical interests.
Finally, there is the recovery and control of commerce.
Osaka Port was quickly cleared and expanded, becoming another important trade hub and military base under Li Shiyue's control, following Oshima Port.
The shipping routes to Jian'an, Dongmu, and Jiangnan have become busier.
Merchant ships from all over the world dock here to pay customs duties and trade goods.
In October, Li issued new commercial laws, stipulating uniform tax rates, cracking down on piracy and commercial fraud, and ensuring fairness and order in the market.
This order, against the backdrop of chaos in Japan, was particularly precious, attracting merchants from all directions, including some merchant ships from the southern part of Dalong.
Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly according to Li Shiyue's plan.
She now resides in a mansion that originally belonged to a minor nobleman and is very close to Osaka Port, where she deals with a deluge of political and military reports every day.
The taste of power is like a fine vintage wine, but she drinks it with an unusual calmness and vigilance.
She didn't want to end up like Liu Tan, who had been dead for several years, becoming a slave to power.
On what seemed like a peaceful afternoon, an unexpected piece of news shattered the tranquility of Li Shiyue's residence.
Sun Xiaoliu came to report in person, his voice carrying a distinctly strange tone: "General, there is a group of people outside the mansion who were originally retainers of the Fujiwara clan and they... they brought someone with them."
Li Shiyue looked up from a pile of documents about mine production, and frowned slightly at Sun Xiaoliu: "Who is he? Someone worth you coming here in person to report?"
Sun Xiaoliu hesitated for a moment, as if considering his words: "They claim... claim that what they brought is... the general's biological father, Li Wangguang."
As soon as Sun Xiaoliu finished speaking, the room fell silent instantly, with only the faint sound of waves outside the window and the shouts from the construction site in the distance.
The clerks and generals standing by instinctively held their breath, and the bolder ones even dared to secretly glance at Li Shiyue, who was sitting in the main seat.
Those who were timid immediately lowered their heads, as if doing so would avoid any trouble.
Upon hearing the news brought by Sun Xiaoliu, Li Shiyue's expression remained unchanged; she didn't even flinch.
She simply stared at Sun Xiaoliu quietly, her gaze deep, as if trying to penetrate him and see into the man outside the mansion who claimed to be her father.
Her biological father was Li Wangguang.
This name is as distant to her as a memory from a past life; if no one mentions it, she would completely forget it.
The man who disappeared into the dark sea after the Japanese pirates boarded the ship "Treading Waves" on the way from Higashimo to Sansan Port... Is he still alive?
Twenty years have passed, and he's still alive?
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