Iron Dynasty Chapter 800
Suwon City.
This was a city positioned two hundred li away, separated from Haigucheng by a flowing river.
Having completely surrendered during the conflict with Jinao, the city now served as Jinao's most northern stronghold within Gaoli.
At this moment, Jinao soldiers were a common sight, actively moving various supplies from the docks situated just outside the city's fortifications.
Moored at the docks were ships hailing from Jinao, and Edo Ichiaki, the Hatamoto of Suwon City, was occupied with examining newly arrived firearms from his homeland.
"Hatamoto, could this be what the British refer to as a Flintlock Rifle?" inquired Koizumi Junichi, a samurai.
Edo Ichiaki took hold of a Flintlock Rifle, lifting it to bear upon a distant point. He responded, "Indeed, this is the British Flintlock Rifle. Following Earl Keli's meeting with Shogun Yamada, an agreement was reached where he pledged to instruct our blacksmiths in the production of this firearm and even provided a ship laden with flint."
"The construction of this firearm appears quite intricate; it must be considerably more challenging to manufacture than a Matchlock Gun," Koizumi Junichi remarked, his fingers tracing the metallic components of the Flintlock Rifle.
"It is admittedly somewhat complex, but our blacksmiths are plentiful. So long as we have a supply of flint, fabricating these firearms poses no significant obstacle." Edo Ichiaki once more raised the Flintlock Rifle.
At that precise moment, a shot was discharged as he pulled the trigger, aimed at an elderly Gaoli man who was in the process of transporting goods.
The old man, due to the minimal distance, was struck directly in the chest. He let out a cry of pain before collapsing onto the ground.
The Gaoli laborers nearby trembled with apprehension at the sight. None dared to utter a sound, continuing their hurried work of moving the goods with frantic energy.
Laughter erupted from the Jinao soldiers witnessing the event. "These Gaoli people are truly feeble," Edo Ichiaki declared with disdain, "not a single genuine man among them."
"How could these Gaoli compare to our esteemed Yamato people? Even their demise would hardly tarnish Hatamoto's reputation," Koizumi Junichi offered in flattery.
Back in their homeland, the Daimyo placed immense trust in the Hatamoto who commanded their forces, with samurai serving beneath them. Edo Ichiaki was counted among the Hatamoto held in high regard by Shogun Yamada.
Furthermore, in this ongoing campaign in Gaoli, Edo Ichiaki had once again demonstrated his exceptional competence.
At times, he harbored a secret envy towards Edo Ichiaki, envisioning the day he too might achieve the rank of Hatamoto.
Gratified by Koizumi Junichi's praise, Edo Ichiaki simply let out a soft chuckle. He then stated, "How utterly dull. I genuinely fail to comprehend why the Shogun opted for peace with the Golden Horde. Had that not occurred, Gaoli would be entirely under our dominion, and perhaps even Youzhou, part of the Great Yu Kingdom, would be ours."
"Hatamoto speaks with absolute correctness. The Gaoli are no match for us, and the Great Yu populace consists of nothing but sickly individuals. A small contingent of our warriors could easily pillage an entire city. It is merely that I have heard whispers of the Great Yu Kingdom now possessing formidable firearms, and that Jiu Jing himself suffered defeat at the hands of the Great Yu Kingdom's army."
"Foolishness! How can a mere pirate like Jiu Jing be placed on the same level as us?" Edo Ichiaki's irritation flared suddenly.
As the two conversed, a Jinao soldier approached them. He announced, "Hatamoto, we have received intelligence that the Great Yu Kingdom has vanquished the Barbarians and has now taken control of Liaozhou."
"What?!" Edo Ichiaki instantly grasped the Jinao soldier's collar. "Repeat that statement!"
Aware of this Hatamoto's notoriously volatile temper, the Jinao soldier had no alternative but to reiterate the message precisely as it was received.
"So, that is the situation. If such is the case, it appears we are no longer obligated to uphold our pledge to the Golden Horde." Edo Ichiaki stroked his chin thoughtfully.
After a brief period of contemplation, he declared, "Dispatch this news immediately. This presents an ideal opportunity for us. Both the Great Yu Kingdom and the Golden Horde have sustained considerable losses; they will certainly lack the capacity to address matters concerning Gaoli."
"It is just that the Great Yu Kingdom's occupation of Haigucheng presents a minor complication. That region is already considered Great Yu territory, so if we intend to launch an assault, we will require a valid pretext," Koizumi Junichi expressed, a hint of concern in his voice.
Edo Ichiaki's brow furrowed. Much like the Great Yu Kingdom, Jinao occasionally found it necessary to establish a legitimate basis for engaging in warfare, although these justifications primarily served to bolster troop morale and encourage them to fight.
He responded, "This matter is easily resolved. Prepare a Gaoli individual forthwith and instruct them to impersonate one of our own. Should the Shogun choose to annex Gaoli, we can then leverage this Gaoli impersonator to fabricate a cause for conflict."
"Understood, Hatamoto," Koizumi Junichi affirmed with a nod of agreement.
Having issued his instructions, he then commissioned soldiers to hasten back with the news regarding the circumstances of the Great Yu Kingdom and the Golden Horde.
Four days subsequent to this, the dispatch reached the Daimyo's estate situated in Nagasaki, Jinao.
"The Golden Horde has forfeited two cities. What in the world is that fool Baiste doing?"
Beside Yamada Nobunaga stood a Briton, who had arrived in Jinao on the same vessel as Baiste. While Baiste was later assigned to the Golden Horde, this Briton remained to assist Yamada Nobunaga within Jinao.
Having witnessed firsthand the robust vessels and formidable cannons of the Britons, Yamada Nobunaga had grown to depend greatly on them. His sole focus was now on acquiring superior firearms from the British.
With such weaponry, he envisioned the conquest of Gaoli and even the vast Great Yu Kingdom, thus bringing his grand ambitions to fruition. To this end, he had carefully fabricated a narrative.
He declared amongst the ranks of Daimyo and samurai that the Yamato people carried a lineage purely descended from Huaxia, while the inhabitants of the Great Yu Kingdom had long since seen their original bloodline diluted by the currents of history.
Consequently, he argued, any act of slaughtering the people of the Great Yu Kingdom and reclaiming that territory was entirely justified.
This discourse resonated deeply with many of the other Daimyo and samurai. Their vision clouded by desires for land and riches, they yearned for a war that promised substantial territorial gains.
"Regardless of his schemes, our actions must be taken now," Yamada Nobunaga declared. "The foe of our foe is a friend we must court. I am confident the Golden Horde will consent to an alliance with us at this juncture."
During his campaign against Gaoli, he had already extended an offer of alliance to the Golden Horde, with the express purpose of confronting the Great Yu Kingdom. Based on his own encounters and the intelligence provided by the Britons, the Great Yu Kingdom undeniably represented his most significant threat.
Furthermore, fifteen years prior, he had personally executed an envoy dispatched by the Great Yu Kingdom, a deliberate act of humiliation that now fueled his heightened apprehension towards them.
As the Britons themselves had warned, the ascendance of the Great Yu Kingdom would inevitably lead Jinao to a perilous impasse.
Adjusting his formal coat, Daoman remarked, "This is indeed a prudent decision. The Golden Horde's previous overconfidence has hopefully given way to understanding: only through united efforts can the Great Yu Kingdom be overcome."
Yamada Nobunaga nodded, his gaze falling upon Daoman. A note of bewilderment colored his question, "I fail to comprehend the profound fear your British people harbor towards the Great Yu Kingdom."
Daoman paused. In truth, all of Europe lived in apprehension of the Great Yu Kingdom's potential rise. It was precisely this perceived gap in civilization that had enabled European powers to subjugate nearly the entire globe.
Now, the Great Yu Kingdom's burgeoning power bore an uncanny resemblance to Europe's own trajectory centuries ago. A chilling fear gripped them—the prospect of Great Yu warships one day patrolling their very own shores.