Chapter 92 of 100

Chapter 92

16 min read3,892 words

Hua Shan Ligen's house is a typical Japanese garden, with its winding stream, exquisite corridor, pebbles, broken wood, and moss, all essential elements of a Japanese garden. Despite its small size, it is exquisitely detailed, reflecting the Japanese pursuit of perfect details.

Xiaole Tian strolled through the old garden of the Hua Shan family, occasionally stopping to admire the scenery. Whenever this happened, Hua Shan Ligen would quietly stand beside him, silent, afraid to disturb Xiaole Tian's contemplation.

"I apologize, I don't often see Japanese gardens, and I got a bit lost in thought. Please forgive me..."

"Not at all, not at all. If Mr. Xiao likes this residence, I am willing to offer it to you with both hands..." Hua Shan Ligen said respectfully.

Xiaole Tian smiled slightly but did not respond. He walked ahead, enjoying the hospitality afforded to a person from the superior country in a vassal state. Sadly, such hospitality would not last for many more years.

Although Xiaole Tian was not an official of the Qing Dynasty, his reputation had reached the point of being renowned in the capital. Such a scholar would be called a peerless national scholar in Japan.

This was a very high honor, one that even the emperor would respect. Coupled with the influence of Chinese civilization on Japanese culture over thousands of years, Xiaole Tian, as a commoner, still received the respect of many. The seat of honor at the kaiseki dinner was undoubtedly his.

Accompanying Xiaole Tian were only Shi Dakai and Xiang Shaolong, while Hua Shan Ligen was accompanied by only two important ministers, Yamamoto Sei and Takenaka Inoue. For a kaiseki dinner for six people, Hua Shan Ligen actually spent sixty kan of Japanese money, which was the highest standard of banquets in Japan at the time.

The king crab from Hokkaido, only the tender meat from the legs, the tiger prawn tempura fished from the deep sea, paired with plum wine, was a top-notch delicacy. Not to mention the various sashimi, which were as exquisite as paintings. This meal basically encompassed all the essences of Japanese cuisine.

This was a banquet not about eating. Everyone was accumulating emotions during the small talk, knowing that the upcoming confrontation would be very intense. No one dared to be careless, even the most wine-loving Yamamoto Sei only sipped sake in small sips.

After four or five courses and several types of Japanese wine, the old Hua Shan finally shifted the topic to serious matters.

"I have read Mr. Xiao's 'Journey to the West' many times. This book is now widely circulated in Japan. During the process of Western learning spreading to the East, few Eastern scholars can explain Western culture as thoroughly as you. Now, scholars in Japan consider 'Journey to the West' the first classic of Western learning. If Mr. Xiao is interested in visiting Japan, I believe you will receive even higher hospitality..."

"Ah? Is that true, Old Hua Shan? You want me to visit Japan? I always thought I was already on Japanese soil. Isn't this Japan...?" Xiaole Tian's sarcastic remarks made the three Japanese in the room lose face. Yamamoto Sei coldly snorted and slammed his sake cup on the wooden table.

Hua Shan Ligen, trying to hide his embarrassment, said, "Mr. Xiao is joking. This is Ryukyu, naturally under the jurisdiction of the Ryukyu king. We Japanese are just guests here. Perhaps the presence of our army has misled you. I must clarify that these troops were invited by the Ryukyu king. We are just here as guest troops to protect Ryukyu..."

"Ha ha ha, protect?" Xiaole Tian laughed arrogantly. "Yes, protect. You've been protecting for 250 years. When your ancestors brought 3,000 troops to Ryukyu, did anyone invite you? Two-thirds of the tax from Naha Port goes into your pockets, of course, you have to protect it well..."

"Now I'm here, do you think I'm not safe and want to protect me? Otherwise, why would those Japanese ronin come after me this morning? Old Hua Shan, I don't know where you get your confidence. Do you really think you're a wise general? Do you really think my 'Journey to the West' was written with my ass?"

At this point, Xiaole Tian pointed to his head and sneered, "This isn't tofu. Do you really think you can fool me with your petty tricks? Let's skip the empty formalities..."

Xiaole Tian's sarcasm made Hua Shan Ligen's face turn red and white. The actions of the morning, as Xiaole Tian had guessed, were arranged by him. It was just a probing move, but it was instantly seen through by Xiaole Tian.

In the end, the Japanese characteristic of thick-skinnedness came into play. Hua Shan Ligen, with just one cup of sake, had already recovered his composure. He stood up and invited Xiaole Tian to the back hall, "The alcohol is a bit strong. Would you like to enjoy the night view of Naha together?"

Hua Shan Ligen was placed in the Ryukyu Kingdom by the Shimazu family. The family head's expectations for him were not just to be a simple general but to be an excellent politician. For a politician, a thick skin is a very useless thing. Xiaole Tian's ridicule could make Yamamoto Sei angry, but it was ineffective for Hua Shan Ligen.

In the Hua Shan family's residence, there was a viewing pavilion in the back garden. It was a high and open place, the best spot to view the entire Naha. In Xiaole Tian's eyes, Naha Port was as beautiful as a fairyland.

The candlelight from the buildings wove a misty beauty in Naha City. In this era without electricity, the glaring incandescent lamps had not yet appeared, and the candlelight made human eyes very relaxed and comfortable. The candlelight outlined the contours of Naha Port, and even the sails of the merchant ships in the distant harbor could be faintly seen.

"Mr. Xiao, right in front of you is Shuri Castle, the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Surprised, aren't you?" In the direction Hua Shan Ligen pointed, Xiaole Tian saw the outline of a castle, but the firelight from the castle was not as bright as that of the merchant district in the port.

"Mr. Xiao, the Ryukyu Kingdom is already very declining. As a small island nation, it is difficult for it to maintain the dignity of a country. There are too few resources..."

"Everything in the world survives through comparison. For the Qing Dynasty, Japan is small, but for Ryukyu, Japan is large. In your 'Journey to the West,' you mentioned the law of the jungle more than once. The weak will be conquered by the strong, isn't that what you have always advocated?"

Hua Shan Ligen gradually found his negotiating rhythm and politely said to Xiaole Tian, "Of course, I know that the Ryukyu kings have always submitted to the mainland. Not only Ryukyu, but Japan also treats China with humility. But this does not prove anything. In the 250 years of history, has the mainland civilization ever sent a single soldier to Ryukyu?"

At this point, the conversation fell silent. Xiaole Tian was very depressed. He realized that once the Japanese began to face the law of the jungle, his sophistry suddenly became useless.

Indeed, the Ryukyu Kingdom is weak. In this era without the United Nations, the fate of the weak is to be conquered. You think the Japanese conquest of Ryukyu is immoral, but where is your military power? Why did the Qing and Ming dynasties not send a single soldier?

Hua Shan Ligen respectfully bowed 90 degrees to Xiaole Tian, "You are a peerless national scholar, and I am just an ignorant general. Please enlighten me. If China doesn't want the land, why can't we, the Japanese, have it? Should we give up Ryukyu just because the Confucian scholars shout a few moral slogans?"

At this point, Xiaole Tian had no reason to argue. It was better to speak plainly. He did not answer Hua Shan Ligen's question but went straight to the point, "The probing is over. I have already demonstrated my strength at the dock and on the hillside. How do you feel?"

Hua Shan Ligen nodded, "Very strong. Each of your soldiers is exceptionally strong, and we are ashamed. But, there are too few of you. If a real conflict occurs, you are not our match..."

"Oh! You seem very confident?" Hearing Xiaole Tian's counter-question, Hua Shan Ligen nodded, "Yes, I am very confident in our army and our navy. Even if you have dozens of American rifles, you cannot match my 3,000 elite troops. You have too few people..."

"Ha ha ha ha..." Xiaole Tian suddenly burst into laughter, "No wonder people say the Japanese are tactical geniuses but strategic fools. Indeed, your eyes can only see this small Naha Port..."

Xiaole Tian suddenly patted Hua Shan Ligen's shoulder, and the Japanese man instinctively shrank his shoulders.

"If I want to deal with you, I have many ways, and you won't even have a chance to fight back. You keep talking about Japan, do you really think you can represent Japan? Remember your identity, you only represent the Shimazu family, an ordinary daimyo..."

"Trying to play word games with me? You're dreaming... You secretly seized control of the Ryukyu Kingdom, you can fool the Tokugawa shogunate, but you can't fool me. How much wealth has your Shimazu family accumulated in these 200 years? Should I write a letter to the Tokugawa shogun in Edo?"

With just these words, Hua Shan Ligen's face turned pale. He was still bowing 90 degrees, but his face was already lifted. The next words made Hua Shan Ligen even more terrified.

"Are Satsuma and Choshu secretly plotting a military alliance? And Tosa and Hizen, do they also want to join in? Your slogan of 'Revere the Emperor and Expel the Barbarians' has lost its flavor. Now, are you thinking of military adventures? What about your Satsuma's Princess Atsu? What does she want by marrying into the Tokugawa family? Using beauty as a spy?"

At this moment, Xiaole Tian was like the boxing champion Muhammad Ali, dancing with butterfly steps, left hook, right hook, straight punch... making the small Shimazu family elder dizzy. He was not the most outstanding talent in Japan and could not withstand this.

"What? What... How do you know? Are you a human or a ghost..."

Xiaole Tian delivered a final, elegant blow, "You fool, the joint fleet of Britain, France, America, and the Netherlands bombarded Shimonoseki just a few months ago. Have you forgotten? The Tokugawa shogunate is now seething with hatred for you. How dare you talk to me! Bastard..."

With Xiaole Tian's angry curse, Hua Shan Ligen's legs gave out, and he fell to his knees on the wooden floor, sweat dripping from his forehead.

Xiaole Tian glanced at him, turned around, and walked away, "Lord Shi, Lord Long, let's go back to sleep. These fools are not worth our attention..."

"Mr. Xiao... What do you really want?" At this moment, Hua Shan Ligen mustered the courage to ask loudly.

Xiaole Tian did not look at him but gazed at the distant lights of Naha Port, "Want to know? The day after tomorrow at noon, I will arrange a Chinese meal at the Sakura Inn to return your hospitality. Then you will know what I want..." He then left the courtyard with Prince Wing and Lord Long, striding confidently.

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