Chapter 3538
This strange condition proposed by Haihan is indeed difficult to understand from Tokugawa Ietsuna's perspective.
Armistice negotiations with the Kyushu rebels are not part of Tokugawa Ietsuna's plans, at least for now. He believed that since it had been decided to resolve Kyushu's problem by means of war, it would be impossible to brake halfway - unless the other side voluntarily surrendered and admitted defeat.
However, Tokugawa Ietsuna knew that Kaihan's actions were always very purposeful, and there must be some reason for him to propose such a condition, so he couldn't help but be a little worried about whether there might be some conspiracy, so he asked his subordinates about this. What do you think?
Most people present believed that Haihan was trying to create some mystery and set some inexplicable conditions to add obstacles to the shogunate's arms purchase.
Only Tadayoshi Sakai, who had gone to Sasebo for negotiations, and Masato Masuyama, who had been dealing with senior officials of Kaihan for many years, agreed that the conditions imposed by Kaihan were trying to prolong the war so that he would not be involved in the war. Ended shortly.
After the meeting, Tokugawa Ietsuna specially stayed with these two people to conduct a more in-depth discussion of the conditions proposed by Haihan.
Tokugawa Ietsuna said: "Tell me, what are the benefits of prolonging the war to Haihan? If the war continues, won't we be able to sell more arms? There is no need to go to such trouble. Even if there is no war, we will still do it. Buy arms from them!”
Sakai Tadayoshi said: "Judging from my contact with the Haihan people some time ago, they are actually not that enthusiastic about selling arms. Otherwise, all restrictions could be lifted, and more arms would definitely be sold than currently. ”
Tokugawa Ietsuna said impatiently: "Sakai-sama, what exactly do you want to say?"
Sakai Tadayoshi said: "General, with all due respect, I think the real purpose of the Haihan people's move is actually to continue the battlefield for a long time. As for selling arms... I have an idea, I don't know whether to talk about it or not."
Tokugawa Ietsuna said: "Speak!"
Sakai Tadayoshi said: "I think the main purpose of Haihan selling these arms to the Kyushu rebels and us at the same time is to increase the intensity of the war. Not only do they want to make money from us through this transaction, but they also want to kill more of us. , to weaken our country’s national power through war.”
Tokugawa Ietsuna took a breath of cold air when he heard this. The idea mentioned by Sakai Tadaki was indeed something he had never thought of before.
"Do you have evidence?" Tokugawa Ietsuna asked.
Sakai Tadaki shook his head, but looked at Masato Masuyama: "Master Masuyama, do you have a similar view to me?"
Masuyama Masatoshi said: "Judging from the known information, Haihan had instigated the Kyushu feudal lords to break away from the shogunate a few years ago. I think arms sales are just another means to accompany it. The goal is to create the Kyushu feudal lords." The conflict with the shogunate led to the outbreak of war."
"I think the purpose that Mr. Sakai just mentioned makes sense, but there is no evidence to confirm this. Unless... they also put forward the same conditions to the Kyushu rebels!"
Masato Masuyama has dealt with Haihan more often, and his understanding of Haihan's senior management is definitely better than Sakai Tadayoshi, but he has always been unwilling to think in that direction. It wasn't until Sakai Tadakiyoshi raised the idea that Kaihan intentionally wanted to create killings through war that Masato Masuyama felt a sudden realization.
To confirm this conjecture, Masuyama Masatoshi believed that he could not get the answer from the Haihan people. However, if the Kyushu Allied Forces received the same treatment from the Haihan people, it would seem to support Sakai Tadakiyoshi's point of view.
If you want to know the answer, you have to use high-level spies lurking in Kyushu to inquire about the information. However, only a very small number of high-level personnel must have specific information about this kind of thing, and the inside story is not so easy to find out. Tokugawa Ietsuna closed his eyes and thought for a while before issuing an order, announcing that the matter was over and that there would be no further investigation into the conjecture they had just raised.
This decision surprised the two of them. They originally thought that after they issued a warning, Tokugawa Ietsuna would try to find out the truth, and then take effective countermeasures to thwart the Haihan people's conspiracy.
But I never thought that the result of Tokugawa Ietsuna's consideration would be to ban the matter. But before they could ask, Tokugawa Ietsuna already gave the answer.
"Even if we find out the true purpose of the Haihan people as you said, so what? Can we use this as an excuse to bargain with the Haihan people? Can we take the initiative to cut off trade with the Haihan people? Can we no longer ask the Haihan people Buy arms? ”
"Think about it, which of these can we do?"
Tokugawa Ietsuna looked at the two of them, as if waiting for their answer.
Sakai Tadaki and Masuyama Masatoshi did not say anything, because they also realized that none of the things Tokugawa Ietsuna said could be achieved. If they want to win this war, they have to rely on the military supplies provided by Haihan.
Tokugawa Ietsuna continued: "If all the soldiers and horses know this news, what effect do you think it will have? Is it a boost in morale, or is it a panic?"
"Since we can buy arms from Haihan, it means that their support for the Kyushu rebels is not wholehearted. If more people can die to achieve the final victory, then the Kyushu rebels cannot outlast us! ”
"So don't think about what Haihan is planning to do, and focus on dealing with the enemy in front of you. No matter what Haihan's real purpose is, we must win this war first. Only after we win can we discuss with Haihan. Qualification, if you lose, everything will be over!”
After all, Tokugawa Ietsuna was the head of the shogunate, and his perspective on considering issues was still different from that of his subordinates.
For him, completing the counter-insurgency war and stabilizing the rule of the shogunate is the top priority at the moment. As for the deaths and money required in the process, these losses are not that important in his opinion.
Kaihan is now able to control the shogunate with the arms trade, raising prices, delaying delivery, and proposing various tricky conditions. Tokugawa Ietsuna believes that this is all because of the existence of the Kyushu rebels as a competitor.
As long as the shogunate eliminates the Kyushu rebels, Haihan's only trading partner in Japan will be the shogunate. Without vicious competition, this business will definitely have to be changed.
After Tokugawa Ietsuna figured out the priorities and how to deal with the current war situation, he naturally had an idea.
Kyushu divided its forces to attack various ports behind the shogunate's army. They all adopted a hit-and-run method. It was obviously a tactic that avoided the real and focused on harassment. Although this caused some trouble to the shogunate, it also showed that Kyushu was actually trying to avoid a direct decisive battle with the shogunate's army.
It seems that the strength advantage of the shogunate army has not been fully utilized so far. Instead, they have engaged in fuel tactics on the other side of the strait, wasting several days in vain.
Tokugawa Ietsuna decided to adjust his previous tactics and use another method to break through the opponent's defense.