"What Your Highness said is not bad, but... I also rely on my mind and bravely fighting. I am not just reckless men who rush hard, otherwise I would not look for weak spots in the military formation everywhere during the fierce battle." Zeng Guang lowered his head and explained to the prince, "Yes, our army's firearms are powerful, but the enemy's firearms are not as powerful as us. The number and accuracy of their firearms are far inferior to ours. When our cavalry charges, they will not cause much damage to our cavalry. At the same time, even our army's firearms have made great progress compared with the previous Ming Dynasty.

, but the accuracy is still not enough. If it is scattered among various armies, it will not be able to stop our impact. Don’t forget that there is only one battalion of cavalry today, but when fighting against the enemy country, we have thousands of cavalry! I think that with the training and courage of our cavalry, even if the infantry is on high gear, it can break through, rather than just standing aside as those who say sarcastic thought. In addition, our cavalry is very fast and can easily move between various areas on the battlefield. We can freely choose the battlefield, which is something that the infantry can’t do.”

He was very excited and wanted the prince to understand that the cavalry could still be used as the main force, and the Han Dynasty could compete with any enemy team today, including the Han Dynasty's own infantry legion.

"I understand what you mean, there is indeed some truth. However, even so, it is still unwise to use cavalry to attack the infantry formation head-on." The prince pondered for a moment, and finally shook his head, "And even if what you said is true, as the firearm develops in the future, the firepower will become more and more dense and the power will become stronger and stronger, and the cavalry will not be able to use it head-only on the battlefield, right?"

This question was pointed at the critical point, Zeng Guang was speechless, but he soon laughed. "Your Highness's words are reasonable, but the development of firearms cannot be achieved overnight, but gradually improved. This situation should be a long time later. At least... I am afraid that these generations of people will not see it. Anyway, I think cavalry is still very useful until now."

"Since the cavalry's maneuver is very fast and it is becoming more and more dangerous to attack the enemy's military formation, can we train some people to ride horses, but it is only used for maneuvering, and then when we encounter the enemy, we get off the horse and fight? I heard that the Jianzhou Jurchens were riding on horseback and then they would get off the battle when they encounter the enemy, which made the Ming army very miserable."

"Your Highness is really talented!" Before Zeng Guang could answer, Zhao Song, who had already rushed over, took over the conversation, "In fact, our Liaodong Army is already doing similar things."

"Hmm?" The prince looked at Zhao Song with some confusion, "Are you already doing this according to this idea? I thought this was just my fantasy..."

"Your Highness's thoughts are very reasonable. How can it be called a fantasy!" Zhao Song smiled and shook his head, "In fact, this question has been in front of our army for a long time. Although our army is well-known in the world, firearms have been outflowing through various means for many years, and Westerners are selling weapons everywhere. So now when our army faces the enemy, there are more and more firearms in the enemy, so the original tactics are a bit difficult. We have been studying new tactics.

, in order to adapt to the new situation. For example, the prince said that one of them is to make the cavalry charge against the enemy's army more and more deteriorating, so just let the infantry ride and follow them to maneuver. This kind of cavalry is not equipped with sabers and melee weapons, but only equipped with muskets. It moves everywhere. When the enemy is received, it dismounts and straits to bombard the enemy. This kind of cavalry and the cavalry that our army now have can assist each other, which is greatly conducive to the competition between our army and the army generally equipped with firearms."

"Since this idea is so good, why isn't it promoted throughout the army now?" the prince asked strangely.

"That's because the situation is not urgent enough, and the equipment conditions are not ready." Zhao Song immediately explained to him, "The enemy around the Han Dynasty does not have the national strength to shake the frontier of the Han Dynasty, so the situation is not urgent and must be improved immediately and can move slowly. In addition, there are no suitable weapons suitable for this kind of cavalry. Our army's firearms, both muskets and handguns, are too bulky. Not to mention that they cannot be aimed at and used immediately, even if they dismount, it is not convenient to line up to catch the enemy immediately. So now we are instructing the research institute to develop miniaturized handguns as their equipment."

The Han Dynasty attached great importance to military affairs, so the development of military weapons naturally attracted great attention. Since its founding, the court has allocated funds to establish an organization called the Ordnance Department, which is responsible for the improvement and development of military weapons. It has drawn elite technicians and technicians accumulated over the years from the original ordnance factory to enrich it. With their efforts, the Han Dynasty's firearms have developed very rapidly over the years, and have surpassed the Westerners.

The army and the navy often submit all the problems they encounter when using weapons and the improvements they hope to make to the Weapons Department for research and development. Sometimes they customize weapons specifically for a certain type of troops or warships. The idea of ​​this cavalry also depends on the improvement of weapons.

Zhao Song didn't know that this originally independent weapon department would be classified as the Army Department in the future. Then, the ordnance factory, which originally belonged to the Ministry of Industry, would be classified as the Ministry of Industry, and the Ordnance Factory responsible for research and development and the Ordnance Factory responsible for production would be integrated into a department. The Ordnance Factory can provide feedback and production according to the requirements of the Ordnance Department, so that every weapon improvement can be installed into the required troops as quickly as possible.

"It seems that military is indeed profound and profound, no less than literature..." After hearing Zhao Song's explanation, the prince couldn't help but sigh, "Just just for an idea, he actually has to put in so much effort!"

"I feel that it is shallow on paper, Your Highness." Zhao Song still smiled, "No matter how simple the problem seems, it is still difficult to implement it in practice."

The prince always felt that Zhao Song was not just talking about military affairs, but was taking the opportunity to persuade him.

"I understand what the lectern said." He smiled, and then left the camp with Zhao Song.

After such a field observation, Hashimoto Mimura was already full of confidence in the Han army. He believed that since the Han Dynasty had such a strong army and wanted to devote the country to discuss the shogunate, there would naturally be no mistakes. The shogunate would definitely be defeated by them, and it was a rare lucky thing that the court could find the Han Dynasty before being regarded as an enemy by them.

After that, he also talked to the prince several times and asked the other party to allow him to go to the capital of the Han Dynasty to meet the emperor. After several delays, he finally made a move. However, the prince asked him to leave a letter first, which he wanted to send back to the Japanese court.

Hashimoto Mimura, who had this plan, naturally agreed immediately, and then wrote down all his experiences after leaving Japan, wrote a thick letter to the prince, and then took a boat to the big man.

After reading carefully and confirming that the letter was not a problem, the prince also sent the letter to the merchant ship, attached a commendation order, and sent it to the Nagasaki Merchant Hall.

Nagasaki and Busan were very close, so they soon received something from the messenger the next day, and Zhou Pu and Liu Jing were both overjoyed.

What they were happy about was not just the commendation from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but what made them even more happy was that the envoys of the Japanese court had accepted the practices of the Han Dynasty and actively cooperated to agree to thread needles for them. The long letter he wrote could naturally be used as a stepping stone to contact Kyoto.

"Sir, are you planning to go to Kyoto for a while?" Liu Jing asked, looking at his eagerness to try.

"Yes. Since you already have this thing, it's better to go early. If you can get online with Kyoto soon, it might be of great benefit to us."

"Your opinion is reasonable, but how do you plan to go to Kyoto? If you go to Kyoto as you are now, it will inevitably cause doubts..." Liu Jing put forward his own suggestions...

"Of course, I can't just swagger. I plan to disguise myself as a Shimazu family." Zhou Pu immediately expressed his plans. "Although the Shimazu family is a foreign vassal daimyo and is hated by the shogunate, they are always from Japan and have always had contacts with Kyoto. I can take advantage of the opportunity to go to Kyoto with their people to meet their court."

"Have you thought about how to contact their court?" Liu Jing asked again, "Don't forget that in Kyoto, the shogunate has a special agency to restrain the court, and it is not so easy to get online with them."

"Now, we can only rely on the Shimazu family. Since they have occupied Kyushu and become daimyo for several generations, they should have some ideas." Zhou Pu smiled, "Besides, since they have already boarded our pirate ship, it is natural to do some efforts for us."

"It's true that the reason is, but... to be honest, the subordinate still thinks it's a bit inappropriate." Liu Jing still seems to have something to say, "It's too dangerous to rely on the Shimazu family alone. After all, the Shimazu family is also a big hit. And... If the Shimazu family has always made contributions, can we rely on the Shimazu family to maintain control over Japan after the war?"

"Mr. Liu?" Zhou Pu looked at the other party inquiry. Although he didn't understand his specific meaning, Liu Jing's words still make sense. Whether from the current situation or the long-term perspective, if you can not rely on the Shimazu family, it would be the best. "Mr. seems to have some ideas in your mind, right? Then just tell me, there is no other good way. If there is, I will definitely use it happily."

"It may not be a good idea, it's just a suggestion." Liu Jing smiled, "This time, I can rely on other people to find the imperial court. Some people are much less informed than Shimazu's family and are not much more noticeable."

"I would like to hear the details." Zhou Pu immediately asked.

"Although the Japanese court has always been monitored by the shogunate authorities, there are not people guarding it all the time. They even have superficial respect and will not mess around. At least their daily lives are free and unhindered." Liu Jing whispered to him, "So, adults can try to find a way through merchants."

"Through the businessman?" Zhou Pu did not react at once.

"Yes, since they are not restricted in daily residences, they can of course be free to interact with merchants and buy clothes and other items from outside," Liu Jing still had a smile on his face. "The shogunate also looked down on the court. He thought they could only play the flute and drum and squeak anyway, and nothing else was useful, so he just ignored it."

"Actually, it's okay to think so. Most of the ministers and ministers in the court are useless and don't have to be too cautious." After thinking of the performance of the envoy Hashimoto Mimura, Zhou Pu suddenly nodded with deep emotion, "Anyway, I already understand what the lord meant. Since I have said this, I'm afraid that I've already made a decision in my heart? Who is this businessman I want?"

"Where is the right person to say what he wants? It's just a suggestion to the adults. As for whether to adopt it or not, it depends entirely on the adults' decision." Liu Jing waved his hand, as if he really just regarded himself as a subordinate.

"Mr. Liu is out of the blue. Now we are working together, and we are friends of life and death. If something big happens, maybe everyone will be killed by the shogunate. Even if the success is done by luck and everyone is in a wealthy place, they may still work together in the future. How can we distinguish between the superiors? Today we have received the award from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and it is not awarded to me alone. If there is no support from the host, I am afraid I will be half the result with twice the effort... Please continue to take care of me."

"Sir, don't say that! It's our duty to serve the country. How dare we take credit for it?" Although Liu Jing looked panicked on the surface, he was very happy after Zhou Pu's promise. "In fact, because our country's exports to Japan are huge, many merchants have taken advantage of the interests and have always wanted to interact with us through various means in order to get a piece of the pie. Therefore, it is not difficult if you want to find someone to help. For example, the Mitsui family is one of them."

"Mijing family?" Zhou Pu frowned and searched through his mind, but found no similar impression. "Are they not marshals? I have never heard of it."

"They are not maritime merchants, but they want to participate, so now they have something to ask for us." Liu Jing replied mysteriously.

Then, he explained the specific situation to Zhou Pu. The Mitsui family was a businessman from Ise. During the Warring States Period, he began to do business among various daimyos, and made some money in small places. Then he began to get involved in the pawn shops and wine house industries. Relying on the operation of these two industries, he accumulated a lot of wealth among generations and became a famous local luxury businessman.

During the Warring States Period, there were many such wealthy merchant families. They had been doing business for several generations and traveled within the ruling areas of various daimyos, and many well-known figures appeared among them. Because daimyos from all over the country needed them to sell supplies and maintain the economy and arms in their territory, many of these merchants even received the courtesy of top daimyos.

For example, the Imai family in Sakai City was one of them. This Imai company had great wealth at that time and had a huge reputation in real power. Tokugawa Ieyasu and Ita Masatozo married his sixth son Tadashi to marry his eldest daughter. It was introduced by Soka Imai, which shows the influence of these merchants.

However, the good times did not last long. After the Tokugawa shogunate swept Japan and seized the rule of the entire country, the situation began to change. In order to prevent and suppress these daimyos from all over the country, the shogunate intended to suppress daimyos economically. Therefore, the economy of daimyos in various places became increasingly difficult, and their business transactions with them naturally began to decline year by year. Under this situation, the Mitsui family began to seek other ways to make up for the losses.

As expected, they focused on overseas trade, especially in the increasingly large trade with China. When doing business, they would naturally bring a little bit of the momentum of the wealthy businessman. From the beginning, they approached Liu Jing through the officials they had known each other and gave him a lot of money, which opened up the relationship with the Han Dynasty.

However, although he was the highest official of the Han Dynasty in Nagasaki, the trade between the two countries was not something that Liu Jing could only decide. He just verbally agreed to give the other party some convenience. Even so, the Mitsui family had already made some money in the trade between the two countries.

The Mitsui family was born in Ise and naturally had a considerable influence in the Kinki region. They had contacts with many noble families in Kyoto. As businessmen, they drank less than Shimazu family. If they could contact Kyoto with the help of them, it would of course be much better than Zhou Pu's plan.

"It sounds like the Mitsui family is pretty good..." Zhou Pu pondered for a moment after hearing his explanation, "However, merchants value profit over righteousness, and they came to us just for the sake of interests, so they may not be willing to bear the risk that endangers their lives."

"The adults said it very well. Merchants value profit, especially those who open pawn shops, are even more ten times more cunning. Most Japanese people are straightforward, but a few of them are amazingly cunning. This Mitsui Takatsu is one of them." Liu Jing did not object to Zhou Pu's statement at all, but agreed very much. "However, there are benefits to value profit. As long as we tempt them, they are willing to do anything. After all, they have something to ask us now. We don't need to tell them that adults want to go to Kyoto, just say this intention. I think they will agree to us after weighing the pros and cons."

"This makes sense..." Zhou Pu nodded, "Okay, let's do it like this. Sir, let's talk to the people from the Mitsui family now. If it can be done, I will set off as soon as possible."
Chapter completed!