There was no such precedent in offering a island as the emperor's congratulations before, and it was not something that Cai Jin, a small official, could decide. However, Cai Jin's approach was beyond Zhou Xian's expectations, and to be honest, it was a bit of a generous voice.

A month later, Cai Jin announced on the birthday of Emperor Chongzhen that he would present Tonoshima to the Ming Dynasty as a gift. This island is located at the northern end of the Ryukyu Islands and is the second largest island in the Amami Islands. It was seized by King Shangqing a hundred years ago when the Ryukyu Shang clan dynasty was the most powerful.

In the eyes of most Ryukyu people, this island is not the inherent territory of Ryukyu. Moreover, King Shangning had already ceded Amami Island to Japan in the agreement that he had previously signed with Japan, and Tokuno Island, which was closest to the Japanese-controlled area, has become the island closest to the Japanese-controlled area. It and Amami Island are both located on the north side of the Miyako Strait. Even if they are not dedicated to the Ming Dynasty, they will definitely be captured by Japan in the future. Therefore, after following Zhou Xian's advice, Cai Jincai boldly pretended to be Shangxian and presented Tokuno Island to the Ming Dynasty. As long as the Ming Dynasty agreed to station troops there, if Japan wants to invade Ryukyu's land, it must first capture Tokuno Island where the Ming army is located.

Zhou Xian didn't care about Cai Jin's little thoughts. It is understandable that small countries have their own ways of survival, and it is understandable that they can do everything for their own country. Anyway, Zhou Xian just wanted a transit station for trade in Southeast Asia, and such a large island was the most suitable for his wishes.

As for the Kagoshima clan, although it is a Japanese vassal, it is not completely equivalent to Japan. The Tsushima clan and the shogun have always been in disagreement, but because of its strong strength, the general has always had to acquiesce to maintain independence. Tokugawa Iekimizuno would not go to war with the entire Ming Dynasty for the benefit of the Kagoshima clan, but would probably be very happy to see the decline of the Kagoshima clan.

Emperor Chongzhen was not very interested in this small island far away. He just persuaded him to accept it in his memorial, and said that he could promote the prestige of the Ming Dynasty to the surrounding small countries. In the end, he reluctantly agreed and asked Zhou Xian to send people to accept the island.

Later, Zhou Xian sent a thousand sailors and took twenty merchant ships to Ryukyu with Cai Jin and the envoys sent by the court to Ryukyu to enthrone Shangxian as Ryukyu King, and officially took over Dezhi Island according to the agreement.

This is equivalent to announcing to the Kagoshima clan that the Ming Dynasty formally interfered in Ryukyu affairs and began to expand overseas. This move not only aroused a fierce reaction from the Kagoshima clan, but also made the Netherlands a little wary of it. However, they did not dare to directly oppose the Ming Dynasty on the surface, but hired some pirates to plunder the Ming merchant ships to expel the Ming Dynasty.

Later, Zhou Xian and Zheng Zhilong cooperated to take Dezhi Island out as a common transit place for the two armies. For common interests, Denglai and Fujian sent troops to escort merchant ships. Suddenly, bloody storms were set off in this quiet sea area, and the battles continued, becoming a battlefield where huge profits and risks coexist.

Zhou Xian used this method to allow his navy soldiers to go through actual combat, and gradually built Dezhi Island into an overseas base belonging to the Ming Dynasty. Most importantly, the long-severed trade of Ryukyu was restored with the support of the Ming army, and the people were prosperous and fully supported the Ming Dynasty.

Later, Zhou Xian and Zheng Zhilong's fleet set out from Fujian to recover Taiwan, while the navy in Ryukyu used Ryukyu as a base to intercept reinforcements sent by the Netherlands. In this process, Ryukyu cooperated with all its strength and sacrificed a lot. In the end, the Ming Dynasty completely recaptured Taiwan and began to march into the Nanyang.

But these are all later stories.

The situation in front of him was that on the second day after Zhou Xian left Jinan, Cai Jin set out for the capital. Northern Zhili was in chaos. Zhou Xian sent 200 soldiers to escort him to Tianjin, and then took a boat to the capital from there. In addition to Cai Jin and his group, there were more than 20 generals under the captive Liu Zeqing and more than ten civil officials who were accompanied by him.

Luo Yangxing was stationed in Tianjin. Although he was dissatisfied with Zhou Xian, he did not dare to stop the team sent to the capital. He could only write this dissatisfaction in his memorials and slander Zhou Xian in various ways.

When dozens of prisoners were transported to the capital, the anxious Emperor Chongzhen finally had a chance to breathe. He ordered all the prisoners to be killed at the Caishikou in Ximen and publicly displayed for three days. Such a move was obviously to consolidate the hearts of the capital and let the people know that the world is still under his control.

Shortage of money, food, and army have been lacking. This situation has lasted for several months. If they are not given some confidence, the capital may face a general collapse. Therefore, although Liu Zeqing has not been eliminated and is not among these prisoners, Emperor Chongzhen still ordered that all these prisoners beheaded and displayed in public.

On this day, Emperor Chongzhen was in a good mood. He personally met Zhang Huai, the general who escorted these prisoners into the capital, and asked him about some relevant situations in Shandong.

Finally, Emperor Chongzhen ordered Wang Chengen to give him twenty taels of silver.

Zhang Huai knelt down and thanked him loudly, "The villain thanked Your Majesty. This time, the villain came from Jinan. The commander-in-chief once repeatedly told me that some things should be bypassed by the six ministries and handed them over to Your Majesty directly. Now this batch of things is temporarily stored in the commander-in-chief's mansion in the capital. Please send someone to receive them."

Emperor Chongzhen frowned and said, "What else do you have to bypass the six ministries? What did Zhou Xian want to do?"

Zhang Huai knelt down and said, "The Supervisor has no other intention. But this batch of things is obtained from the extermination of the rebel Liu Zeqing. Once it is handed over to the six ministries, it can only be confiscated to the Ministry of Revenue, which will not play a big role. If it is handed over to Your Majesty directly, it can temporarily solve your temporary difficulties. Moreover, soon it will be Your Majesty's Christmas, and the Supervisor also wants to celebrate Your Majesty's birthday."

Wang Chengen whispered from the side: "Emperor, this is the little intention of General Zhou. If you pass the Six Ministry and go directly to replenish the Ministry of Revenue, it will be difficult for you to take it out."

Emperor Chongzhen immediately understood and nodded gently.

Zhang Huai quickly handed over a copy and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, this is a list of goods, please check it."

Wang Chengen took it from Zhang Huai and handed it to Emperor Chongzhen.

As soon as Emperor Chongzhen opened it, he was stunned. It said that it was written on it, "Five thousand taels of gold, 200,000 taels of silver, twenty Ruyi, four golden Buddhas, other jade artifacts and gems." It was worth at least one million taels of silver.

Wang Chengen next to him looked at it and was a little dizzy. This was not a little bit of thought, it was simply spending a lot of money.

Emperor Chongzhen asked in a trembling tone: "All these?"
Chapter completed!