"The Ainu will never be slaves!"

Hashita suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs, scaring the sniper in the dark so much that he almost opened fire...

Master Zhao was also startled and almost spilled tea on his robe.

Jin Xishan quickly explained that Hashita's grandfather and parents, who were also the two previous chieftains of the Eastern Ainu, were killed by the Kakizaki clan using the Hongmen Banquet method. That's why Hashita and the Eastern Ainu people would persevere in seeking revenge against the Japanese.

"But the current head of the Kakizaki clan, Ji Guang, is also a powerful figure. He changed the way of his father's generation who only focused on gaining merits and achievements, and adopted the method of winning over one faction and fighting against another, thus dividing the Ainu people." Jin Xishan finished translating and added a few personal opinions: "In my opinion, even if they sell them muskets, this Hashita is no match for the Japanese, unless he can unite with the Ainu people in the west to fight against the Japanese together."

"Yes. Just give it to him." Zhao Hao nodded. In fact, he didn't care who won or lost. But the Chamber of Commerce's fleet always had to cross the Tsugaru Strait to trade on the east side of the island. Not only would it take several more days to travel by water, but the risk of being attacked would also increase greatly.

Therefore, it is better to trade in the west, so that the Water Police Bureau can greatly reduce the pressure, and it can also improve efficiency and reduce freight costs.

But after listening to this, Hasheta said in frustration: "Those guys who only care about profit have long forgotten the hatred of a thousand years. Don't you know that once we are eliminated, they will not spare them."

Zhao Hao's expression changed when he heard this. This Hashita is quite smart. He even knows the principle of "the lips and the teeth are cold".

Well, you can cultivate it.

"That's easy. Just make it unprofitable for them." Young Master Zhao said calmly, "Didn't you say that the Ainu people in the west live a good life by trading with the Japanese? What if we cut off their trade?"

"Then their hard days will come." Hashita said bitterly, "They don't farm much anymore. They rely entirely on hunting furs of otters, minks, and foxes, picking wild delicacies, and digging medicinal herbs to sell to the Japanese in exchange for what they need."

After a pause, he continued, "It's the same with the Japanese people on the island. They made a fortune by monopolizing trade. If trade is cut off, they will definitely be very uncomfortable."

"Well, when the Marine Police Department has recruited more soldiers, we will find an excuse to block the Tsugaru Strait and help our Ainu friends." Young Master Zhao stood up and said to Sharp, the chief of the Marine Police Department of Zhenyuan Island, who was accompanying him, "Don't make them wait too long. Do you think it can be done in the first half of the year?"

"Make sure you complete the mission!" Sharp hurriedly stepped forward. In fact, he only had a hundred people under him, so how could he block them? However, only cadres who set their attitude first and raise difficulties later can have a future.

Before Hashita arrived, he had already seen the dozens of warships on the dock. Although he did not understand the navy, he could see that the small sampans of the Kakizaki family could not be a match for the Celestial Empire's navy.

Little did they know that this powerful fleet would turn back after showing off its might in the Tsugaru Strait...

But this was enough to arouse Hasheta's fighting spirit. He said excitedly that when he returned, he would do his best to persuade the Ainu people in the west to stop selling their souls and fight against the Japanese together!

"Good, you have great ambition. I have made you my friend!" Young Master Zhao clapped his hands in praise, and then instructed Jin Xishan: "Sell the armor and weapons to me at cost price this time, good Wutari! In addition, give him a hundred matchlock rifles as a gift from me!"

After hearing this, Hashita was so moved that he said he would always cherish this precious friendship. The Ainu people will never betray their friends.

Upon hearing this, Master Zhao was delighted and gave him two hundred thick-backed broadswords as a parting gift...

The foreigners that Hashita had seen before were either the brutal Japanese or the treacherous and stingy merchants of the Li Dynasty. He had never seen such a generous Celestial Empire. He finally established a glorious image of the Ming Dynasty in his mind.

~~

After Hasheta left with many thanks, Zhao Haofang told Jin Xishan and Sharp:

"The reason I want to meet this guy is because the situation on Ainu Island is not developing optimistically."

"What do you mean, sir?" The two men looked serious.

"Kakizaki Yoshihiro." Zhao Hao said in a deep voice: "This is a powerful character who has the ability to end the war on Ainu Island."

"Can he wipe out the Ainu?" the two asked in surprise.

"That's not the case." Young Master Zhao shook his head and said, "He is just a retainer of a daimyo. Regardless of his ability or status, he does not have the conditions to unify the Ainu Island by force. But because of this, he will use force prudently and use flexible tactics to achieve reconciliation with the Ainu people."

Don't think that reconciliation between the two tribes is impossible, because in this era when national consciousness has not yet awakened, it can be achieved as long as a strong man with sufficient skills appears. According to Mr. Zhao's pitiful memory of Ainu Island history, the current head of the Kakizaki clan, Kakizaki Yoshihiro, happens to be such a person.

This man changed the strategy of his fathers and grandfathers, using a stick in one hand and a carrot in the other, and finally subdued the Ainu people and signed the "Law on the Traffic of Foreign Merchant Ships" with them "generously". The law stipulated that the Kakizaki clan collected taxes from merchants traveling to and from the Tsugaru Strait and shared a portion with the eastern and western chiefs, which was called "barbarian service".

Kakizaki Yoshihiro only gave the Ainu some small profits, and the Ainu people put their hatred behind them. Not only did they no longer take hostile actions, but they even sent archers to follow him back to Dewa to participate in the war... Although this honeymoon period was short-lived, the Tokugawa shogunate resumed persecuting the Ainu people. But Mr. Zhao still had to do his best to prevent this situation from happening, otherwise the vital timber business would increase dramatically.

Since we don't have the ability to directly control Ainu Island, we can only learn Da Ying's trouble-making skills.

"I won't hide it from you. The next strategic move of the garrison is to move south. It is impossible to replenish the Marine Police Department in a short period of time. It is also impossible to maintain a fleet so far away. The cost is too high, and it will not increase much profit."

"Yes, both sides of the Tsugaru Strait, including Japan's Dewa and Mutsu, are tough nuts to crack with vast territory and sparse population and strong combat power. There is not much profit and it is difficult to chew. It is indeed not cost-effective to invest too much cost." Sharp said with great understanding.

"But we still have to do what we said. Otherwise, where will this young master's credibility be?" Zhao Hao raised his eyebrows again and said, "Before the trial fleet returns, it will cross the Tsugaru Strait once to show its muscles to the Japanese and Ainu. I will then order the main fleet to cruise to Zhenyuan Island in the future, and cooperate with you to intimidate with force. If necessary, you can bombard the city and destroy their navy!"

"Yes!" Sharp was relieved after hearing that, and said happily: "I usually keep a record of their accounts, and when the main fleet arrives, we will settle the accounts, which will be enough to control the situation in the Tsugaru Strait!"

"Very good, you have a good overall view." Young Master Zhao smiled approvingly, "What we want is to control the situation and ensure the stability of our timber business. As for whether the wood is sold to us by the Eastern Ainu, the Western Ainu, or the Japanese, it makes no difference."

"I see." Jin Xishan said with a look of enlightenment: "Sir, if you let the Japanese and the Western Ainu people join the timber trade, it will not only expand the scale of logging on the island and increase the supply of goods, but also prevent the timber supply from being cut off due to problems with one family. It will also prevent them from raising the price. It's really high!"

"Hahaha, stop playing dumb and flattering me. I don't believe you don't understand such a simple truth." Young Master Zhao scolded with a smile, "In short, the principle is to maintain a balance of power on the island and prevent one company from dominating. Only then can we trade freely with them. When we have time in the future, we will have an excuse to intervene in the disputes on the island!"

To put it bluntly, allowing the Japanese to occupy Ainu Island is not in the interests of the Jiangnan Group.

But at the same time, allowing the Ainu people to drive out the Japanese and monopolize Ainu Island is also not in the interests of Mr. Zhao and the Jiangnan Group.

Even the reconciliation between the Japanese and the Ainu was not in the interests of Mr. Zhao... If they were not fighting, why would they buy war materials at all costs? Selling wood at all costs? If the three families sat together and formed a price alliance to drive up the price of wood, Mr. Zhao would not be happy either.

Therefore, we must firmly support the Ainu people's national struggle, but also prevent their struggle from being too successful. This is a great test of Kim Hee-sun and Sharp's brains and skills. It is not easy to be a troublemaker.

There may be saints who sincerely help other nations to liberate, but there will never be interest groups who sincerely help other nations to liberate. When considering issues, any country or organization will only consider its own interests...

~~

The next day, the trial fleet launched an armed patrol in the Tsugaru Strait and conducted a large-scale live-fire exercise outside Matsumae Castle in Kakizaki Yoshihiro.

Kiyohiro had heard of this group of "demons shrouding Kyushu" a long time ago. With his status and strength, he was not even worthy of carrying shoes for the powerful people in Kyushu and the west, such as Otomo Sorin and Mori Motonari, so how could he dare to provoke the terrifying Celestial Empire fleet?

He was so scared that he quickly sent his son and the elders out to sea to "reward" them... Actually, it was protection money. Then, under the auspices of Mr. Zhao, he signed a friendly trade treaty with the Tamra Chamber of Commerce, allowing the other party's ships to trade in the territory of the Kakizaki clan, and granting a series of preferential treatments such as tax exemption, extraterritoriality, and security protection.

As expected, the truth was within the range of the cannons, and with a powerful fleet as a backing, it was easy to negotiate.

Then Master Zhao led the fleet on the return journey with satisfaction.

On the return voyage, they could no longer take the route along the coast of Japan, otherwise the powerful Kuroshio Current would make Master Zhao experience the pain of sailing against the current.

So the fleet had to change direction and head southwest. After sailing slowly for several days, they finally felt the ease of sailing with the current in the waters near the Korean Peninsula.

The southward compensatory current formed by the northward Kuroshio Current along the coast of the peninsula will send the fleet all the way back to Tamra.

p.s. I wish you all a happy Little New Year!