Inside and outside the Chijian Pass tower, guards wearing black cloaks stood guard every three steps and every five steps, watching the tower vigilantly.

On the city wall, Zhao Hao and Mao Liyuan signed and sealed the two contracts respectively, and the Ming version of the "Treaty of Shimonoseki" officially came into effect.

Jin Ke put away a contract that belonged to his side. Mr. Zhao finally smiled and asked Maori Motonari: "Morri, do you think you will have the last laugh in the competition for the throne of this state?"

"Haha, my lord..." Mori Motonari spoke Chinese in a clear and fluent voice, much better than Otomo Sorin. "If I were 20 years younger, I would naturally say that I am the best. But now, the heroes are in their prime, and I am old. I can only hope that the children will do their best."

"No, you know very well that your grandson is not capable of this." Zhao Hao smiled faintly and said, "Although you rule over eleven countries, the person who will win in the end must be from the Kanto region."

Mori Motonari's face turned pale, as if the deepest worry in his heart had been touched. But he would never admit it in front of his retainers, otherwise the morale of the Mori family would be dispersed.

"It is enough for Lord Maori to conquer the eleven countries with just one city." Zhao Hao stood up and slowly put on his helmet. He smiled at Maori Motonari and said, "You should consider how to protect this family business instead of continuing to expand the territory in a risky way."

Mori Motonari's back, which he had tried hard to straighten, now became completely hunched, obviously having suffered a heavy blow.

It is said that one trick can conquer the world. What is Mr. Zhao best at? Using his own spear to attack his shield!

What he said to Mori Motonari was actually the instructions that Motonari left for his grandson before his death two years later. After assessing the situation, he knew that the Mori family had no hope of competing for "the world", so he told Terumoto, who succeeded him as the head of the family, to be content with everything he had and give up risky ways to expand his territory.

But the same words, when spoken by himself, are one thing, and when spoken by someone else, are another. When spoken by a Ming Dynasty person, it is even more devastating to the old man's confidence.

"Even the people of the Ming Dynasty know that the Mori family has no hope..." At this time, Mori Motonari's mind was full of "Even the people of the Ming Dynasty know that the Mori family has no hope..."

After Zhao Hao had gone downstairs, Mao Li Yuanjie came to his senses and hurriedly asked someone to help him come down, saying, "I have prepared a simple meal, please come and enjoy it, young master."

"It's too late." Zhao Hao naturally wouldn't say, "I dare not eat things of unknown origin." He just smiled and said, "Mr. Mao Li should also take people away quickly. In another quarter of an hour, the sky here will collapse and the earth will break apart."

After saying this, he left behind Mori Motonari who was trying hard to keep him and strode back to the flagship.

The Marines also marched in step and lined up in an orderly manner to board the ship.

Mao Li Yuanxian suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly said to his left and right: "Hurry up, get away from here!"

The retainers did not understand what was going on, but the words of the head of the family were like an imperial decree. They quickly helped Motonari onto the sedan chair and surrounded him as they trotted out of Akama Pass.

Before they had walked half a mile, they heard the rumbling of artillery fire behind them.

This time it was not a blank. Solid shells whizzed out from the warship and hit the tower of Chijianguan like hail.

How could this historic brick and stone tower withstand such close-range blasts? Soon the castle tower and turrets collapsed one after another, and several sections of the city wall were blown down.

When the cannon fire stopped, the city wall where the two parties had just signed the contract became a horrible ruin.

Maori Motonari looked at the scene with a pale face. This was the first time he had witnessed the power of a cannon. The people below were not lying. It was too terrible. It was really like the collapse of the heavens and the crack of the earth. It was beyond human power to resist...

"No matter how much it costs, we must learn to make cannons. Without cannons, don't even think about seeking revenge on the Ming people." Maori Motonari's head was buzzing, and he had only one thought in his mind.

After returning, Mao Liyuan fell seriously ill. It was unknown whether he was frightened by the cannon or by Zhao Hao's words. Of course, this is a story for later...

~~

Across the Kanmon Strait, Sorin stood at Moji Port and witnessed the destruction of Akama Pass with his own eyes, which made his slightly inflated mind completely humble again.

Father Louis, wearing a black robe and a cross, stood beside him. He looked at Zonglin with compassion and said, "Are you confused, hesitant, and afraid, pitiful, weak, and helpless? Come, throw yourself into the arms of the Lord, and the Lord will give you courage and make you strong."

"No, I'm fine." After a moment of stunned silence, Zonglin shook his head and said, "I defeated Mori Motonari and drove him out of Kyushu. Even the Treaty of Oita that I signed was many times better than his Treaty of Shimonoseki. How could I be pitiful? I have never felt so good."

After saying that, he changed the subject and said to the disappointed priest: "Of course, if the priest can help me get a cannon like the ones used by the people of the Ming Dynasty, I may consider leaving Buddha..."

At this time, Lao Wang still regarded himself as a great leader. After seeing the power of the Ming Dynasty artillery, he naturally wanted to get this kind of artifact.

"That's not difficult. The cannons of the Ming Dynasty were copied from those of Portugal." The priest was delighted to hear this and said with a smile, "The Bugalo Cannon Foundry in Macau has the best bronze cannons in the entire Far East. I will write a letter and ask the church to buy a few cannons for you and send them to you..."

As he spoke, he suddenly thought of the agreement with Zhao Hao, and his tone softened as he said, "Send it to Ryukyu, and you can send a ship there to get it, how about that?"

"It would be great if I could go." Zong Lin said with a wry smile: "The Treaty of Oita stipulates that my Otomo family will not go to sea. If I am caught by the Ming Dynasty, I will suffer the consequences."

"That's not going to work. We just agreed that merchant ships must return to Ryukyu." Father Louis thought for a moment with a bitter face and said, "How about this? I can hire a few cannon casting craftsmen from Bugalao for you, disguise them as the clergy's attendants, and send them to Usuki Castle?"

"This is better!" Otomo Sorin excitedly chanted Amitabha, God bless you.

The Japanese still haven't mastered the technology of large-scale copper casting, and can't even make a shield. If they could learn to cast cannons from the Westerners, wouldn't the Otomo family be so powerful? At that time, they would first kill Lord Mori and rob his daughter-in-law. Then they would kill Oda Nobunaga and rob Nohime. Oh, and there's also Osomatsu...

Seeing that Lao Wang was drooling, Father Louis couldn't help but reach out to wipe it for him, and then he boarded the boat to ask for an audience with Master Zhao.

~~

In the commander's living room of the stern deck of Ship 101, Zhao Hao was meeting with Shimai Soshiro and Sen no Rikyu, the representative of the Sakai City "Kaiheshu".

The Kaiheshu is similar to a city council, where 36 big businessmen are elected to democratically manage everything in this autonomous city. Sen no Rikyu is the chief of the Sakai Kaiheshu, and this time he followed Shimai to meet Zhao Hao, one reason being to pay the agreed amount, and the other hoping to reach further cooperation.

"The news of your great power in destroying the Mori navy has spread all over the Seto Inland Sea!" Sen no Rikyu said respectfully, "The navy of our Celestial Empire is truly invincible!"

"Haha, it's a pity that the Nojima and Injima families escaped." Young Master Zhao said calmly, "I have always been honest in doing business, so I will only take half of your money this time."

But if this guy dares to agree, Master Zhao will definitely turn hostile...

"No, no, you have completely wiped out the Kurejima navy and turned Nojima and Injima against each other. They can no longer pose a threat to us." What does Sen no Rikyu do? How could he make such a low-level mistake? "Two million taels of silver have been converted into gold and sent on a ship, which is parked outside the strait. Please send someone to check it later."

"Take half back." Zhao Hao waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "I will never change my words."

"Sir, although we are lowly merchants, we regard credit as our life." Sen no Rikyu remained unmoved and said, "How about this, the one million ryo is an extra contribution from Sakai City to the Celestial Empire Navy. Is that okay?"

"Hahaha! Very good!" Zhao Hao couldn't help but laugh. He liked dealing with businessmen for this reason. The big businessmen of this era were particularly clear-headed and upright, and were actually much better than those self-inflated dignitaries.

"How about this, I'll take the one million and use it as payment for the goods, how about that?" Zhao Hao said with a smile.

"What do you want to buy? Sakai Ichi will do my best to help you." Sen no Rikyu was also very happy. Intelligence told him that this Mr. Zhao made his fortune through business, so he guessed that this person would not discriminate against businessmen. Sure enough, he was right.

"Timber." Zhao Hao said in a deep voice, "I want oak, elm, and iron birch trees that are between 100 and 150 years old. I want as many as you can get. Elm is 10 taels of silver per tree, oak is 20 taels of silver per tree, and iron birch is 50 taels of silver per tree."

"Hey, Sakai City will definitely not let you down!" Sen no Rikyu hurriedly responded respectfully. Although such a century-old tree must only grow in deep mountains and old forests, the cost of felling and transportation is very high. So Mr. Zhao's offer is not too high, but it will definitely not make him lose money. This is enough to make Sen no Rikyu grateful.

Because in Japan, where the hierarchy is clear, the status of merchants is very low. Although the daimyo often ask for help from them for various needs, they are accustomed to defaulting on their debts and even regard robbing merchants as a legitimate way to make a fortune. It is really rare to find a noble like Mr. Zhao who is unwilling to rob and is willing to trade fairly.

"Okay, I believe you." Zhao Hao was indeed very friendly to the merchants in Sakai City. Usually at this time, he was greedy for their bodies. "Also, have you discussed the rules for the last incident?"

"We have discussed it. I am here on behalf of the Huihe people and all the merchants in Sakai City. We have unanimously decided to become your subjects." Sen no Rikyu leaned forward and said respectfully, "I beg you to accept my protection."

"Okay, I accept your offer." Zhao Hao nodded and said seriously, "From now on, Sakai City will be the Japanese subsidiary of our Jiangnan Group."