Chapter 2705
For most people, the more power they have, the more they fear losing it. As a ruler, changing the status quo means taking great risks, and Zong Yizhen is no exception.
The special position in the trade between Korea and Japan was the foundation of the Tsuima clan. This was the governing concept taught by the words and deeds of the So clan for generations. Soyoshi had been struggling with this for the first half of his life, but his situation was much more difficult than that of his predecessors. Although he racked his brains and adopted various methods, he still could not prevent Tsushima from going downhill. In the Asahi-Japanese trade share continues to decline.
The pressure from the Busan government and the Haihan Mission has undoubtedly accelerated this trend. Now there are not many options in front of Zong Yizhen. To be precise, there are only two options: cooperation or not.
If you choose to bear it hard, you will have to face trade sanctions jointly implemented by North Korea and Haihan, and Ma Fan will suffer an extremely serious economic blow. If this still fails to make Tsushima surrender, sanctions may be further escalated, because the other party has not ruled out the possibility of using military means. Once that step is reached, Tsushima has lost everything.
If they choose to cooperate, Tsushima must first give up various privileges in trade between Japan and Japan. This is tantamount to handing over the food to others, and the risk is as high as going to war directly. Therefore, although the Haihan mission tried its best to persuade Zong Yizhen to take a long-term view and join the Haihan-led trading system, he was still full of doubts about whether this way out was feasible.
Zong Yizhen tried hard to conceal his emotions, but under the constant persuasion of the Haihan delegation, hesitation appeared in his words involuntarily. But when it came to the future and destiny of the Sou clan and Tsushima, he still refused to let go, trying to gain more favorable conditions for himself.
At the end of the day's negotiations, the two parties did not reach an agreement and could only agree to continue the next day. When saying goodbye, Shi Chengwu reminded Zong Yizhen that the Haihan mission could only stay in Tsushima for one more day at most. If a result acceptable to both sides is not obtained tomorrow, the negotiation can only be terminated and the follow-up Tsushima will no longer be consulted on development.
This may be a kind reminder, but Zong Yizhen prefers to understand it as some kind of implicit threat. Haihan had repeatedly emphasized the consequences of the breakdown of negotiations countless times throughout the day, so how could he not know.
Zong Yizhen stood high in the castle, silently watching the carriages driven by these visitors drive out of Jinshi City, all the way to the seaside pier, and then transfer to their warships to leave Asu Bay. Everything looks peaceful, just like the countless outsiders who have visited here over the past few decades, coming and going. But Zong Yizhen knew very well that the situation this time was completely different from the past, and the results of Ma Fan's future success or failure may be known today or tomorrow.
"What do you think will happen tomorrow? Will Zong Yi really relent?" Returning to the conference room on the Zhoushan, Shi Chengwu summoned everyone to summarize the results of today's negotiations, and Tao Hongfang was the first to ask.
Tao Hongfang's job is as an official of the Ministry of Commerce. Regarding commercial and trade matters, he is naturally the leader of the mission. In this negotiation with Tsushima, Tao Hongfang is also the protagonist. If he can convince Zong Yizhen to accept Haihan's arrangement, it will naturally save a lot of unnecessary trouble. After all, with the trade war, if you kill one thousand enemies, you will inevitably kill eight hundred. There is no need to take such measures unless it is a last resort.
Tao Hongfang was quite confident: "Zong Yizhen will definitely choose to obey."
Shi Chengwu raised his eyebrows and said, "Are you so sure?" "First of all, Zong Yi is really a smart man who knows what is important." Tao Hongfang explained: "He has a certain understanding of our country's strength and style of doing things. He knows that we are really capable of destroying Tsushima, so he will not think that our tough solution is just an intimidation. ”
"Secondly, we have provided Tsushima with an alternative to destruction. Even if the prospect is not so certain, it is still better than having nothing. People, as long as they have a way out, their attitudes will always soften. What's more, we provide This path is not an easy one, and as long as Tsuima Fan is willing to devote himself to it, there is no chance that it will become a bright road.”
Shi Chengwu said: "What if Zongyi really can't figure it out and we both die together?"
Tao Hongfang said: "The Zong family is not only a ruler, but also a businessman. The reason why their family can obtain a special trading status is by repeatedly jumping between Japan and Korea. Weigh the pros and cons and then become a mere wallflower. , This is their nature and tradition. It doesn't matter what position they have. The only thing that needs to be considered is their interests! Who can guarantee the interests of Ma Fan? No, only our country can do this? At one point, Zong Yizhen’s only choice is to hug our thighs, and he can’t hesitate, because there is only one day left for him.”
Shi Chengwu said: "Listening to what you said, Zong Yizhen actually doesn't need to postpone it until tomorrow."
Tao Hongfang said: "I think so too. But I think there may not be a consensus within Ma Fan so quickly. After all, giving up the past business model will affect the interests of many people, and some people will definitely stand up to oppose it. If it takes just one night It is not enough for Zong Yizhen to solve the internal problems, which only shows that his control over his own family is very limited and he is not qualified to be our partner.”
Shi Chengwu said: "Having said that, we must be prepared for both. If Ma Fan still refuses to cooperate, then punishment must be imposed."
Tao Hongfang nodded and said: "This is natural. If Zong forgets the lesson of the Hirado Domain, then we can only turn Zong into a lesson for future generations."
Zhu Zian was secretly shocked when he heard this. These young and powerful officials had already decided on Ma Fan's future in just a few words. If this middleman who has long monopolized trade between Japan and Japan refuses to cooperate, Asu Bay will soon turn from a trading port into a fishing village, and Haihan will not even need to use force during this period. Such a method is something Zhu Zian has never heard of before.
But for Tao Hongfang, the Ministry of Commerce has to deal with a large number of overseas trade conflicts like this every year, and the situation with Ma Fan is far from difficult. Mobilizing the fleet to demonstrate outside Asu Bay is just on the way to Japan. Just do it. In his opinion, there was no need to use the threat of force at all. As long as he explained the seriousness of the consequences to the other party, it would be enough to force Tsushima to submit.
(End of chapter)