Chapter 1369: School Water

The lunch was a seafood and terroir feast carefully prepared by Qiaoqiao.

Affected by the Kuroshio, the fishery resources in the Ryukyu area are very rich. Several speedboats that patrolled last night brought back a variety of seafood with trawl nets. The police picked out the best ones and presented them to Mr. Zhao. Then, under Qiaoqiao's skillful cooking, they were turned into tempting seafood delicacies such as fried conch with soy sauce, shrimp sashimi, steamed grouper, sea salt baked crab, and yellow croaker ball soup.

Together with the roasted rabbit and whole roasted lamb made from black rabbits and goats hunted by the police in the mountains, it made up a sumptuous meal.

The Zheng family father and son had seen and eaten it before, but they never thought that the chef of Master Zhao could cook common seafood and game into something so delicious that it would make people exclaim. They couldn't help but praise it again and again, saying that the chefs of the Ming Dynasty were extraordinary.

When Master Zhao told them that the one who cooked this table of delicacies was his fiancée, the father and son were flattered and felt more clearly how much Master Zhao valued them.

Moreover, Shang Hongde, who came to entertain the troops, was not invited to the banquet, which made Mr. Zhao's attitude towards closeness and distance even more obvious.

~~

During the dinner, in addition to winning over the father and son and reassuring them, Zhao Hao also explained to them some of the reasons so that the father and son could look at Ryukyu, as well as the relationship between Ryukyu and the Ming Dynasty and Japan from a higher standpoint.

Zhao Hao told them that Ryukyu was an important node on the Golden Route, but it had no strategic location to defend, so once Japan was unified, it would become a place they must take.

Of course, as long as Jiangnan Group exists, this kind of thing will not happen. But what if we look at it from a hundred years, two hundred years, or even longer? Will Jiangnan Group still exist? No one can say for sure.

Therefore, the best way is to make Ryukyu strong and immune to the poison of Japan, so that they can never conquer Ryukyu. Therefore, their and the Kume samurai's future responsibilities are to protect this place for the Ming Dynasty. In a few decades, Ryukyu will be turned upside down in all senses and truly integrated with the Ming Dynasty.

"Only if Ryukyu can establish a truly flesh-and-blood relationship with the Ming Dynasty, can the imperial court limit itself to being neighbors and not helping them in the future? If they just keep asking for things and only want to take advantage of the Ming Dynasty, there will definitely be a lot of noise in the court when something really happens and they need help." Young Master Zhao smiled as he carefully prepared the salt-baked crabs in front of him, "Perhaps the Emperor Taizu sent your ancestors to the east just to have a day like this."

The mission, blessed with the ancestral halo, suddenly became sacred.

Actually, it is ridiculous to say that Zhu Yuanzhang is interested in overseas territories, but isn't history shaped by need? Mr. Zhao now needs Zhu Yuanzhang to be interested in overseas territories, and he will become more and more interested... At least the Ming people overseas will think so.

"As for the reaction of the imperial court, you don't have to worry about it. I will take care of it." Young Master Zhao gave them another reassurance and said, "But to be on the safe side, the tribute will have to be stopped for a year. After a year, that is, this time next year, those Ryukyu natives will really be crying out to heaven and earth for help but no one will respond."

"Don't worry, sir. We are responsible for the tribute mission." Zheng Zhaozuo said hurriedly, "We will not let even a grain of sand get in."

"Okay, I believe you and your son." Zhao Hao raised his glass, toasted the father and son, and said, "We will be heading south soon, so we can only leave a few people to help you maintain order. In the future, we will need the concerted efforts of you and your son and all the fellow countrymen in Kume Village!"

"How dare you not fight to the death!" Zheng Zhaozuo and Zheng Chen excitedly raised their heads and drank it all in one gulp.

~~

Being inspired by Master Zhao... Oh no, the ideal father and son were full of energy. They left the big island that afternoon and went back to implement the 'Four Articles of Zhao'.

As for Shang Hongde, Zheng Zhaozuo revealed that he was the mastermind behind the pro-Japanese faction, so he was kept by Master Zhao to accompany his brother.

Zheng's father and son stood on the returning Ryukyu paddle boat, looking at the Amami Bay sparkling with golden light under the setting sun, both full of ambition.

Zheng Yu was even more excited and told his father that he had finally found his life goal after living for 30 years!

Zheng Zhaozuo laughed and said, "Before you came here, you had some complaints about your father, right?"

"It's because I'm short-sighted that I misunderstood that my father wanted to sell out his country for personal gain." Zheng Yu said awkwardly, "Who would have thought that Master Zhao actually really wanted to do good for Ryukyu instead of exploiting or enslaving it!"

"How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan?" Zheng Zhaozuo looked at his eldest son, whom he had high hopes for, and said, "Young Master Zhao has great ambitions. Although Ryukyu is important in the eyes of people like us, it is just a drop in the ocean in his eyes. So, my son, you should go out if you have the chance. You can't be a frog in a well all your life. That would be a waste of the opportunity God has given to the Zheng family!"

"It's father!" Zheng Yu nodded excitedly.

"Of course, we have to do the things that the young master has asked us to do first. We can't lose face, otherwise everything will be in vain!" Zheng Zhaozuo patted his son's shoulder, and his expression gradually became serious. "But don't be too happy too soon. The young master proposed these four points, and we are certainly excited. But there are definitely many people who don't think so. Are you ready?"

"Don't worry, father. I have made up my mind!" Zheng Yu quickly drew out his knife and cut off a flagpole. He said with a firm look, "Those who rebel will die!"

"Okay!" Zheng Zhaozuo was relieved to see that his son had completely changed his mindset.

~~

Young Master Zhao was still on the cape, leisurely enjoying the sea breeze with his two sisters.

The police officers on duty played football on the snow-white beach and swam in the clear sea. The sea breeze brought their laughter from time to time, which made Mr. Zhao very excited. He asked Sister Ma, "Did you bring the swimsuits I designed for you?"

"Yes, we did." Sister Ma said teasingly while playing the piano, "Are you really going to make us wear that kind of... let's call it clothes? Aren't you afraid that your subordinates will see it?"

"Then you might as well just die!" Qiaoqiao, who was carefully taking care of her hands, blushed when she heard this and said, "You are so wicked. You only know how to abuse us in various ways!"

"That's just ordinary bikini!" Young Master Zhao shouted, "I'll make you a bikini one day, so you know what it means to be revealing and transparent!"

"No, you can't wear it like that!" Sister Ma dismissed his idea and whispered, "If you really want to see it, I can wear it in the house and show it to you." Anyway, she has already worn various "weird clothes" such as secretary uniform and maid uniform, so it doesn't matter if she wears some school uniform.

"I don't want it!" Qiaoqiao covered her face. She didn't know what scene she was thinking about, and her body became as soft as noodles.

Mr. Zhao was about to persuade him when he saw Tang Baolu coming towards him excitedly.

He had no choice but to give up the idea of ​​women's liberation... at least the liberation of clothing, and returned to his serious appearance.

"Ahem, Secretary Ma, did the reconnaissance squadron that went to Jilong reply? I wonder if they managed to escape the typhoon?"

"Sir, I haven't received any news yet." Secretary Ma is naturally better at pretending.

"Uncle, don't worry. As soon as the Ryukyu Station received the carrier pigeon they released, it sent a speedboat to report to you immediately." Tang Baolu didn't know that he had disturbed someone's sexual desire, and he was still actively showing it off.

"Hmph..." Zhao Hao snorted coldly, glanced at him unhappily and said, "Sent away?"

"Hey, they're gone." Tang Baolu nodded and said with envy, "These two are really blessed. We worked so hard for so long, but they got the biggest benefit."

"How about you be the mayor of Daming? A father and son being mayors is also a good story." Young Master Zhao said with a smile.

"My nephew is still young, and I'd rather serve you." Tang Baolu shrank his neck, realizing that he came at the wrong time, and quickly said with a sweet smile: "Besides, only by staying with me can I gain experience, learn skills, and become a great man!"

“Hahahaha, you’re worthy of being your father’s son. You can bring the dead back to life with this mouth!” Zhao Hao was amused by him and calmed down. He kicked him on the butt and said, “I’ve taught you a lesson a long time ago. In this era of navigation, the most important thing is to maintain the best input-output ratio!”

"Our journey is too long, there are too many places to conquer, but our opponents give us too little time." Young Master Zhao felt the blood flowing back to his head, and then he stood up and opened his arms, embracing the boundless ocean in front of him and said:

"Fortunately, the Ming Dynasty's 200-year tribute system has provided us with great convenience. It allows us to control vassal states like Ryukyu at the lowest cost."

As he said this, he turned around, obviously seeing through Tang Baolu's little thoughts, and said: "I know that many people in the group dream of becoming the king and the emperor overseas. But now is the time for us to expand our territory. It is foolish to invest too much energy and manpower in such a place. We must always be stingy with our strength and use the best steel on the blade. Only in this way can we continue to overcome all obstacles and directly defeat the red-haired heads! By then..."

Just as Tang Baolu was hearing the important part, Mr. Zhao interrupted him.

"By then, you will know..."

~~

Meanwhile, Zheng and his son pushed the boat forward desperately, exhausting themselves by sailing several oared boats, and finally made it back to Naha Port within three days.

It was already dark when the boat docked, so the father and son returned to Kume Village first.

As soon as he returned to the village, Zheng Zhaozuo immediately ordered people to gather the heads of various families in the Holy Temple and informed them of the gains from this military reward.

The thirty-six clans were all very excited. How could they not be excited? If this was done, they would be the actual rulers of Ryukyu.

Of course, some people are also worried that the nobles will become desperate and do something stupid. If they are killed, it will be a fool.

"Don't worry, I've already thought about it on the way back." Zheng Zhaozuo said in a deep voice: "First, we must arm ourselves and protect ourselves. Then I will ask to see the Queen tomorrow morning. As long as she agrees to these four points, we will do it in her name, and there will be nothing to worry about."

After a pause, he continued, "Besides, the young master will soon lead his fleet to Naha Port and make it a permanent military port. Although he has made it clear that he will not interfere in Ryukyu's internal affairs, hundreds of warships gathered outside the city are our greatest reliance!"

After saying this, he swept his majestic eyes over the crowd and said, "But there is one thing, we must not let the young master look down on us! So we still have to rely on ourselves to get things done beautifully! If anyone holds me back, I guarantee that your family won't even have leftovers in the future! Do you understand?!"

"Understood!" All the bosses perked up and answered in unison.

At this time, the younger generation of the Zheng family brought up thirty-six wine bowls on a tray, and the heads of the thirty-six surnames each picked up one.

"For the Ming Dynasty, for Ryukyu, and for our future generations!" Zheng Zhaozuo held up the wine bowl and shouted to everyone, "Let's drink this bowl and go all out!"

"Cheers!" They drank it all in one gulp, and imitated Zheng Zhaozuo, throwing their wine bowls to the ground, and shouted with red faces:

“Let’s go for it!”

(End of this chapter)