webnovelfull Chapter 557 The Greedy Japanese Envoy
Chapter 557 The Greedy Japanese Envoy
Looking at the shifty-eyed Japanese envoys, Guan Xing wanted nothing more than to overturn the hot pot and give them a bath in the broth. But after thinking it over, he held back. If he killed those three, who would go back to Japan to mine for him?
We still need them for now, and it's not the time to act impulsively. We have to hold back.
It has to be said that Guan Xing's acting skills are far inferior to Liu Bei's. Although he didn't say anything, the observant Gu Tianchuan could still tell from his tone that Guan Xing was unfriendly to the three of them. He quickly smiled and said, "This humble servant greets General Guan. If there is anything you need, please feel free to give the order. This humble servant will go through fire and water and die without hesitation."
Guan Xing teased, "Wow, you've only been in the Han Dynasty for a few days and you've already learned so many idioms. You're learning pretty fast."
Dog Gutianchuan quickly smiled and said, "General, you flatter me. To be honest, I was sent to Liaodong to study by my uncle when I was fifteen, so I know a little Liaodong Mandarin."
The uncle he mentioned was Dog Kojihi, a powerful minister of the Dog Slave Kingdom. Therefore, Dog Kojihi was also from a noble family in Japan, and his knowledge was far beyond that of ordinary people.
Furthermore, Japan was already able to travel to and from the Han Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Guangwu. Over the years, maritime technology must have improved, making travel to and from the Han Dynasty even easier.
As the nephew of Goguchi, Goguchi had traveled between Liaodong and Japan many times with his uncle's support, and even stayed in Liaodong for two years. Therefore, he was not completely ignorant of the Han Dynasty.
But Guan Xing interpreted those words differently: "Damn Japanese devils, they're still in the Stone Age and they're already eyeing the Han Dynasty. They really haven't given up on their desire to destroy us."
Guan Xing's murderous intent intensified, but his smile grew even gentler. He said insincerely, "So that's how it is. I was wondering why. But forget the nonsense about going through fire and water. Even if I were down on my luck, I wouldn't need your help. Let's get straight to the point. What do you want from me?"
These words were somewhat insulting, but Dog Kotakawa dared not refute them and continued to smile obsequiously: "Your Majesty has mercifully bestowed upon us divine weapons, which is a godsend for Japan. However, these weapons are probably not enough. General Guan, could you please provide us with another batch of bows and crossbows?"
He had been to the military camp and watched the Han army train. He had witnessed the sturdiness of the Han army's armor and the sharpness of their bows and crossbows. Not only could those arrows shoot a hundred meters away, but they could also penetrate targets as thick as a finger. If they could penetrate targets, wouldn't they be able to penetrate the bodies of Yamatai soldiers as well?
He dared not count on armor; even if they brought it back, the Japanese wouldn't be able to wear it. But if they could acquire a batch of crossbows…
Guan Xing frowned and said, "Go on. I don't like rambling, so just state all your demands at once."
Dog Gutianchuan said with a smile, "Then I will accept your offer without being too polite. In the past two days, Lord Wang has taken me to many places. We have seen mountains and lakes, fertile fields and waterwheels, and we have also seen the busy figures of farmers. The farming tools that those farmers are using are all brand new ironware, and they are extremely sharp. General, do you think you could also provide us with a batch?"
"Furthermore, I would like to learn the farming techniques of the Han Dynasty. Japan is too poor. Many people have not been able to eat a full meal for several years. It is really pitiful. Please have pity on the people of Japan and teach us some farming techniques."
Guan Xing looked at Gougu Tianchuan with a hint of surprise. He hadn't realized that this guy was a man of great talent for governing the world. No wonder Gougu Zhibei had sent him as an envoy to the Han Dynasty.
Although what Gou Gutianchuan wanted was exactly what Guan Xing had already planned to give them, it still made him feel somewhat uncomfortable that Gou Gutianchuan brought it up himself.
Although Guan Xing had ill intentions, what he gave was genuinely beneficial to Japan. The fact that Gou Futakawa could see this and brought it up himself is enough to prove that this kid is a thoughtful and opinionated person, and cannot be kept alive.
Guan Xing said, "These things are not a problem for me, and it's not impossible for me to give them to you. I can even sell you the big ship you saw at the mouth of the Yangtze River. The problem is, what will you give in exchange? You can't expect me to give them to you for free, after all, my money doesn't grow on trees."
Upon hearing this, Gou Futianchuan's face fell. He had indeed wanted Guan Xing to give it away for free and had no intention of paying, but now it seemed that Guan Xing was not as concerned about face and easy to fool as Liu Bei. What should he do?
Should we just give up?
That won't do; he's determined to get the Han's weapons and farm tools.
In addition, we need to find a way to acquire those large ships of the Han navy that are comparable to islands. The sea is too rough, and we really can't do without large ships. The small boats of Japan can be capsized by a single wave. He almost drowned this time, and he doesn't want to experience the same thing a second time.
There's only one way to avoid swimming in the sea while clinging to a piece of wood again: get your hands on a giant ship like the one Big Man has that even the waves can't capsize.
But the giant ship is too expensive for me to afford, and Guan Xing won't give it to me. What should I do?
Dog-Furugawa smiled even more humbly and said, "General, Japan is really poor. Could you please be lenient and give us some?"
Guan Xing rebuked him unhappily, "Hasn't His Majesty already rewarded you? Isn't it too greedy to want more rewards?"
"Besides, I'm not His Majesty, so I have no reason to reward you. We're not related by blood or anything, so why should I give it to you for free? Don't you understand the principle of equal exchange?"
Dog Furutaka was speechless, but continued with a forced smile, "Then can't I just buy it with my own money? But Japan is really too poor."
Guan Xing interrupted, "Don't try to play the poor card with me. Your Japan is anything but poor. You can send thousands of catties of silver and hundreds of catties of gold to congratulate His Majesty on his ascension to the throne. How are you poor?"
“You, Japanese envoy, are much richer than me, spending a hundred catties of gold with a single gesture. In that case, let’s buy it with gold and silver. Anything you want is no problem, as long as the price is right, I can sell it to you.”
Dog Gutianchuan's face fell again. Those gold and silver were given to him by Wang Fu to save face for Liu Bei, not his own.
But he dared not tell Guan Xing this, because Wang Fu had sternly instructed him that the matter of silver and gold must be kept a secret from everyone, otherwise, if outsiders found out, His Majesty the Emperor would lose face.
The consequences of embarrassing His Majesty the Emperor are severe. At that time, not only will there be no reward, but even his dog, Furuta River, will lose his life.
Dog Kou Tagawa dared not disobey and had to keep his mouth shut, squinting his eyes and quickly figuring out where he could get gold and silver.
Guan Xing crossed his arms and couldn't help but laugh as he watched the dog, Gu Tianchuan, looking like he wanted to say something but didn't dare to.
Upon receiving the visit from the dog, Furutakawa, he immediately told Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang about the gold and silver mountains that Japan possessed.
Although Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang knew about the silver mines in Japan, they still faced a problem if they wanted to mine them: how could they know that Japan had gold and silver mines when neither of them had ever been there?
Faced with this question, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang could not explain it clearly unless they revealed Guan Xing's identity as a time traveler.
If they don't want to reveal Guan Xing's identity but still want to mine silver in Japan, they'll have to find another way.
Zhuge Liang's method was simple: secretly provide gold and silver to Gougu Tianchuan, and have him publicly present it to Liu Bei on the day of the coronation ceremony. Then, he would hand Gougu Tianchuan over to Guan Xing, who would then extort gold and silver from Gougu Tianchuan.
Xing knew this, but others saw it as a different matter.
From other people's perspectives, Guan Xing saw the Japanese envoy presenting gold and silver to Liu Bei. Guan Xing did not know that the gold and silver were secretly provided to Goufutakawa by Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. He thought that Goufutakawa had brought them from Japan. Therefore, he coveted the Japanese gold and silver and forced Goufutakawa to use the gold and silver to buy weapons.
What could Dog Kouta River do if he had no gold or silver but still wanted to buy weapons from the Han Dynasty? He had no choice but to return to his country to look for mines, and then naturally discovered the Iwami Silver Mine and other gold mines.
This can be considered an explanation for the discovery of gold and silver mines in Japan by the Han Dynasty. Although this explanation is full of loopholes, I believe few people would have the time to investigate it in depth.
When the Japanese silver mines were actually discovered, all the greedy gentry of the Han Dynasty would scramble to grab them, and no one would care how they were discovered.
Thinking of this, Guan Xing calmly smiled and said, "Buy or not? If you don't want to buy, turn left and don't waste this general's precious time."