Chapter 309 Diplomatic Frustration
Li Zhichun never saw Li Zhirong's younger brother. Including the other Li Zhiguang, he relied on his father's reputation to do evil everywhere, but his ability may not be very good.
Li Zhichun didn't know how to expose his younger brother directly, so he said:
"I heard a lot about Sado Island this time. I heard that the Jin people also made meteor bombs, but they were not on the same level as the Song Dynasty meteor bombs. The Jin warships and pirates fought many times, and I heard that they returned in vain every time. The warships were robbed by pirates several times. The Jin people could not make meteor bombs themselves. We probably couldn't have too many fantasies. I think the Jin craftsmen could help us create any powerful meteor bombs. I think it would be very slim."
"How can you live up to the fullest ambitions of others? Maybe we can create a good meteor bullet!" Li Zhirong said with a strong voice.
"Brother Rong, today's naval battles are the most powerful ones. I heard that flying torpedoes are the most terrifying. When I went to Sado Island this time, I heard from the Japanese that it was the pirates who used flying torpedoes, so that the Japanese were hit by pirates. It is said that the flying torpedoes are extremely magical, moving like flying in the sea, hitting them wherever they point, and their power is amazing. No matter how big a ship is, after being hit by flying torpedoes, all the ships will be destroyed and killed." The magical power of the flying torpedoes may be unknown to many people, but they are very magical in Japan. Li Zhichun went to Sado Island and naturally heard of it.
It turns out that there is really a flying torpedo! There were actually rumors about flying torpedoes before, but the rumors were rumors after all. Now they are told from Li Zhichun, and the source of the news was the Japanese who were afraid of being hit by flying torpedoes. It seems that there is indeed a big killing weapon of flying torpedoes, and Li Zhirong's arrogance disappeared.
Seeing that Li Zhirong was not stubborn anymore, Li Zhichun turned his head and said to his father:
"My father, I heard the rumors of Japanese people that the backstage behind the pirates was the Song Dynasty. Even if it was not the Song Dynasty, at least Han Tuozhou could not be relieved of the suspicion. Even the Prince of Donghai and Xin Qiji might also participate. The Song Dynasty has gained a lot of benefits this time, and I am afraid that the next step will be to focus on our Goryeo."
"You mean that the so-called pirates of the Fu family are just a pawn of the Song people, or even an excuse? In this way, the Song people are bound to win Jeju Island." Of course, Li Yimin can control the Goryeo government affairs, so he can naturally think of this section.
“That might be the case.”
"Hmph! My dignified Goryeo is not as good as a Japanese barbarian. The Song people can call for thieves to bully the Japanese, but if they want to threaten me, Goryeo, then they are very wrong. Humph! Be his dream of Qingqiu!" Li Zhiguang spoke, and Li Zhiguang showed a disdainful look, and even said sarcastically: "The Japanese are all a bunch of corrupt bodies. Only those stupid people will sign the "Summer Treaty" that is powerless and humiliating."
Li Zhiguang has always been above his gaze. Li Yimin frowned and was very dissatisfied with his son's words. According to this kid, if he signed a similar treaty, wouldn't he have become a corrupt person?
Li Zhichun doesn't like this younger brother either. He is a typical playboy. He is very ambitious and talented, arrogant and domineering outside, and has done a lot of evil things. At that moment, Li Zhichun said:
"I also learned some other insider information on Sado Island. In fact, the Japanese are not necessarily at a loss. The Song people did not have to kill them all. For example, providing sweet potato seeds to Japan. The sweet potato is said to have a yield of seven or eight stones per mu. There are many mountains and few land in Japan. With this sweet potato, you can feed more people. There is another most affordable thing. I heard that the Song people sent a group of mining and smelting masters to help Japan dig silver mines and smelting gold and silver. The Japanese also confirmed that the Song people were superb in mining and smelting silver. It is said that since the Song people arrived in Japan, they could smelter more than 2,000 taels a day, and relying on the original Japanese silver mountains, they could smelter more than 700,000 taels a day, and a year was more than 700,000 taels. Even if the Japanese compensated the Song people for 500,000 taels a year, they could still get more than 200,000 taels a year. If the expenses were removed, at least 100,000 taels were extra for no reason. It can be seen that the Japanese actually did not suffer losses, but also took advantage."
"Is this really a matter?" Li Yimin heard that the Song people also helped the Japanese royal family and the Liankura shogunate to generate income. Well, the Song people took advantage but did not make the Japanese suffer. Is it true? In that case, it would not be a bad thing to sell the country. Li Yimin immediately became interested.
"It is said that a bunch of waste ore abandoned by the Japanese can smelter silver when they reach the hands of the Song people. The legendary stones turn into gold is just like this. In addition, the ability of the Song people to dig mines is said to be magical. The Japanese are very convinced by this. I have also proved this matter with the Song people, and this matter will definitely not be fake."
Li Zhichun’s statement is indeed true.
Historically, the Han people mastered the technique of silver refining techniques for soot blowing and silver refining very early, which is all the contribution of alchemists. Some say that the "soot blowing method" can be traced back to the Han Dynasty, and some say that it began in the Tang Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, and alchemy was popular. In addition to refining the immortal pill, it was the practice of "alchemy", among which the "soot blowing method" was the Taoist practice of "turning stones into gold" boasting by alchemists.
The so-called soot blowing method is actually a process of separating lead and silver. Given that the silver content of silver ore is generally very low, the key to silver refining technology is how to enrich silver. Since lead and silver are completely soluble and have a low melting point, alchemists in the Tang Dynasty added lead when refining silver to dissolve silver in lead and achieve silver enrichment. Then they blow air to oxidize lead, and lead is oxidized into "Mituan Monk", and some are blown away during the blowing, and most of them will melt (melting point 880c) and seep under the ash pool, while silver remains on the ash. This is how the "sow blowing method" separates silver.
In real history, the Japanese did not master the "smoke blowing method" until the Ming Dynasty, and they were introduced to Japan through North Korea. After the "smoke blowing method" was introduced to Japan, Japan's annual silver production suddenly increased by 40 tons.
In this time and space, the time traveler only introduced the "smoke blowing method" to Japan two or three hundred years ago (of course, the technology is still in the hands of the Song Dynasty craftsmen stationed in Japan). Therefore, in the eyes of the Japanese, a pile of stones in Shimi (Silver Mountain) can be turned into gold and silver when they reach the hands of the Song people. This is really a high-level smelting technique. Well, it is simply the legendary "turning stones into gold" magical skill.
The Japanese emperor in this time and space are actually very poor, and the shogunate is not rich, so time travelers have to make the idea of Japanese resources. This kind of gold-pulling technique that turns waste into treasure is a simple task. The Japanese emperor and the shogunate are both happy, so the "Summer Treaty" is actually a representative work of giving sweet dates a stick.
Li Zhichun went to Zado Island this time and felt that the strength of the Song Dynasty was growing rapidly. He really did not want to be an enemy of the Song Dynasty. On his return journey, he was fooled by Wen Yuan and Cai Jianwen. He felt that it was not impossible to reach a treaty with the Song Dynasty. He could even establish a special zone together. At least he could bargain with the Song people. Maybe he might not suffer any loss, and maybe he could get some benefits.
Of course, what Li Yimin thought about was not so simple. After all, Goryeo is different from Japan. Japan is surrounded by the sea, and the three islands of Japan are separated by the sea. Goryeo is a peninsula with a backing of the powerful Jin Kingdom, which is far from the end of its reach.
"You guys go down and let me think about it!"
Li Yimin always acts at will in the court, but now she is a little troubled. She paces up in the room and thinks:
"It is naturally very difficult to defend Jeju Island. If the Song people still let pirates harm Goryeo like they did when dealing with Japan, there is no need to consider aiding Jeju from sea, and there is no chance of winning. Obviously, there is no future for the confrontation. But if Dan Luo is just restored to Jeju like this, he will be really unwilling to accept it. At that time, the hat of selling the country will be worn on his head and his reputation will be damaged. Those opponents who are spying on authority may have to take the opportunity to attack. Compromising with the Song Dynasty may get some benefits from the Song Dynasty, but whether he can still be on the stage or enjoy these benefits is another matter."
Li Yimin was very confused. Is it a fight or a harmony? It seems that it is impossible to fight, but it is difficult to be harmonious!
Since it is a hot potato, Li Yimin simply adheres to the "strategy of dragging the word" and avoids Wen Yuan and Cai Jianwen.
After all, Wen Yuan and Cai Jianwen are not professional diplomats. One is a literary youth in the Song Dynasty and the other is a businessman. It must be said that they are still very accomplished in their professional fields. During their stay in Goryeo, the two of them are still remarkable in their professional fields.
For example, Wen Yuan was enthusiastically sought after by the Goryeo royal family and a civil servant. The princes and princesses of Goryeo were enthusiastic star-chasing families. In this era, Goryeo did not have its own writing, but was a common Chinese character. Therefore, Wen Yuan's novels were sought after in Goryeo as in the Song Dynasty. In addition, Wen Yuan was eloquent and responded appropriately in one Goryeo fan meeting after another. For example, in answering "punctuation" and "why should I write in vernacular Chinese" and other aspects, the explanation was funny, thus gaining higher praise.
After Cai Jianwen went to North Korea, he discovered many rare business opportunities. Since last year, "pirates" along the coast of North Korea have been rampant, goods from the Song Dynasty, especially the Kaohsiung Special Zone, could not be transported to Goryeo in time, which caused a shortage of fashionable goods in Goryeo. Taking advantage of this time to visit Goryeo, Cai Jianwen met a group of Goryeo merchants. Cai Jianwen secretly decided that once the diplomatic negotiations between the Song Dynasty and Goryeo are successful and the "pirates" disappear, he can start a trade with Goryeo with great fanfare.
Unfortunately, Wen Yuan and Cai Jianwen felt completely useless about this diplomatic mission.
With the advice of a group of dove-sected ministers, Goryeo Mingzong wanted to communicate with the Song Dynasty, but without Li Yimin's statement, the King of Goryeo could not advance this matter. It also shows that the Zong himself was a little depressed, after all, no one wanted to insult the ancestors of the Goryeo Dynasty. Therefore, the communication with the Song Dynasty on Jeju Island was just hanging, and there was no following.
When the clerk and Cai Jianwen came to Sakhalin Island to serve Mao Geng in depressedly, Mao Geng couldn't help but sigh that after all, they were not professional diplomatic, and this Li Yimin is really a stubborn stick! Such a difficult job cannot be achieved by these two people, so it is not surprising that diplomatic setbacks were caused this time. Well, there are many exiled governments in later generations who have been unable to restore the country for many years. Danluo's "Fu family" should also have enough patience.
Chapter completed!