Ch.240Temuge (5)

When the Ulus was resting near Hiroshima, in Kure City.

The Shogun returned to Miyako after gathering his defeated troops.

When he returned, all the nobles in Miyako exchanged worried glances.

“To think even the Shogun was defeated…”

“And they say Lord Yoshitsune has betrayed us.”

“That’s impossible…!”

The Shogun’s mind was troubled as he heard the nobles’ murmuring.

Because this defeat was not just a simple loss.

It signified the division of the Minamoto clan and the collapse of the bakufu.

This meant his political influence would disappear, so as an experienced politician, he had no choice but to devise a way to prevent this.

“Making a peace treaty with Oshu domain is impossible.”

The relationship between the bakufu and Oshu domain was like oil and water.

However, that didn’t mean there was absolutely no solution.

“There is the option of surrendering the Shogun position, but…”

Yoritomo held his tongue.

The reason he could return to Miyako after being defeated by the Mongol army was because he was the Shogun.

If he hadn’t been the Shogun, there was a high possibility that his subordinate Onanushi would have rebelled or joined the Oshu army.

Of course, even now, many were leaving the bakufu’s command to join them.

However, if Yoritomo completely relinquished his position as Shogun, he would lose all power to protect himself.

This meant he could be eliminated without a trace.

“I’m caught between a rock and a hard place.”

Yoritomo was alive, but had become worse than dead.

At this rate, he was destined to die by the spears and swords of the Oshu army.

“Then… all that’s left is the Song Dynasty.”

He was unaware that the Song Dynasty and the Mongols had made a secret agreement.

So he thought that if he asked for help from the Song Dynasty, which had granted him the position of General Zheng, a path to survival would open.

“You there.”

“You called, General?”

“Yes. Go to the Song Dynasty and request their help.”

“The Song Dynasty, sir?”

“Yes. No matter how powerful the Mongols are, they cannot compare to the Song Dynasty.”

Yoritomo believed the Song Dynasty could defeat the Mongols.

This was because the Song Dynasty was a Chinese civilization that had maintained hegemony in the East for a long time.

As a result, the Song Dynasty held absolute superiority in economics, culture, and technology.

Yoritomo believed that if such a Song Dynasty helped them, it would be enough to stop the Mongols, who were merely barbarians with superior military power.

Of course, this was just Yoritomo’s misconception.

The Mongols were already gradually surpassing the Song Dynasty’s national power.

Additionally, due to their secret agreement with the Mongols, the Song Dynasty had no justification to save Yoritomo.

Therefore, the bakufu’s chances of survival were very low.

But from Yoritomo’s position, the Song Dynasty’s help was the last lifeline for the bakufu’s survival.

So he had to grasp it by any means necessary.

* * *

Emperor Xiaozong of the Song Dynasty was troubled by the envoy from Japan.

This was because Yuan Leicao, who held the position of General Zheng that he had granted, was requesting help.

“I earnestly request that your great nation help the bakufu.”

“…I understand. For now, go back and rest.”

At the Emperor’s words, the Japanese envoy prostrated himself on the floor.

His sudden action couldn’t help but surprise the surrounding officials.

“The bakufu is in grave danger. If you don’t send reinforcements right now, I will take my life here.”

The Japanese envoy was desperate.

He had taken out a small knife from somewhere and was pointing it at his own neck.

Seeing this, Emperor Xiaozong couldn’t help but show reluctance.

“I will send reinforcements to the bakufu. Now withdraw.”

“Is… is that true?”

“Yes. I will gather troops and send them soon, so go back.”

“Th-thank you! Thank you! Long live the Emperor of the Great Song! Long live the Emperor of the Great Song! Long live the Emperor of the Great Song!”

With that, the Japanese envoy gave three cheers and left the hall.

As soon as he left, Emperor Xiaozong frowned tiredly and called for the Chancellor.

“Chancellor.”

“I await your command, Your Majesty.”

“Make sure that man doesn’t do anything strange.”

“I will obey your command.”

The Chancellor bowed at the Emperor’s words.

In truth, Emperor Xiaozong had no reason to grant the Japanese envoy’s request.

To be precise, he didn’t have the capacity to grant it.

This was because the Jin Dynasty’s counterattack was not to be taken lightly.

“How is the front line against the Jin Dynasty?”

“The Jin Emperor is personally commanding the front line, so their momentum is formidable.”

The Minister of War stepped forward and answered.

“But should it take this long?”

The Minister of War could say nothing in response to the Emperor’s rebuke.

Although the Jin Dynasty was a military power, they had lost most of their territory to the Mongols.

As a result, they were like a toothless tiger, but it was frustrating that they couldn’t defeat them.

There were several reasons for this.

First, the counterattack of Jin Emperor Shizong was not to be underestimated.

As he was one of the most outstanding rulers in the Jin Dynasty, he quickly restored internal affairs despite losing territory to the Mongols.

Based on this, he was personally commanding the front line and blocking the Song Dynasty’s offensive, so there was no way to overcome him.

Second was the weakness of the Song Dynasty’s army.

The Song Dynasty had excellent economy, culture, and technology, but their combat power was not good.

Of course, it wasn’t that the Song Dynasty’s combat power was completely weak.

However, it wasn’t enough to stop military powers like the Jin Dynasty or the Mongols.

For these two reasons, the Song Dynasty couldn’t completely end the war to recover their ancestral lands.

As a result, they also wanted to avoid an all-out war with the Mongols.

“That aside, we should at least pretend to help our tributary state, Japan.”

As the Son of Heaven, it was unthinkable to ignore a tributary state’s request for support.

Therefore, they had to at least pretend to help. Otherwise, many tributary states following the Song Dynasty would surely doubt the Song Dynasty’s hegemony.

Especially at a time when the Mongols were claiming the Mandate of Heaven and trying to create a new order, such diplomatic issues could only have a significant impact on the Song Dynasty’s prestige.

Moreover, the Song Dynasty was a country of Confucianism.

If the Emperor refused the request of the bakufu, a tributary state, there was a high possibility that the foundation of Confucianism, which was the basis of the Song Dynasty’s rule, would be shaken.

Finally, if the Mongols completely occupied Japan, the gap between the two countries would likely widen further.

Although Japan was a backward region, it was difficult to completely ignore the resources and talents that came from that region.

Above all, if the Mongols devoured Japan and grew larger, their next target would inevitably be the Song Dynasty.

“I understand, Your Majesty. I will immediately mobilize the navy to support the Japanese army.”

The Emperor nodded at the Minister of War’s words.

Then, the Chancellor standing right next to him spoke to the Emperor with a worried expression.

“Your Majesty, I apologize for saying this, but the Great Song promised not to intervene in the problems caused by the Mongols in Japan. If we break this promise, there is a high possibility that the Mongols will diplomatically protest against our country.”

“But we have no choice. If we don’t help Japan, the Mandate of Heaven will be shaken, and at the same time, we will no longer be able to contain the rise of the Mongols.”

The Chancellor could say nothing to this.

There was nothing wrong with the Emperor’s words.

“Besides, even if we send troops, we have no intention of fighting the Mongols. We will simply propose mediation as the suzerain state to end the war between the two countries for the sake of reconciliation.”

The Song Dynasty had no intention of intervening in the war.

So they planned to force the Mongols and Japan to make peace.

If the Mongols did not follow this proposal and showed a willingness to go to war, the Mongols would have no choice but to comply.

This was because the Mongols currently lacked the capacity to defend against a Song Dynasty attack due to their war with Japan.

Of course, the Song Dynasty was also held back by the Jin Dynasty, but the possibility of the Mongols knowing this was very low.

“That seems like a good proposal, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor nodded at the Chancellor’s words.

And he was about to continue speaking to the Minister of War.

At that moment, a palace guard urgently approached and informed a eunuch of something.

Surprised, the eunuch looked at the Emperor.

“What is it that surprises you so?”

“Th-that is…”

“The civil and military officials are gathered in the hall to discuss state affairs, so speak without worry.”

With the Emperor’s permission, the eunuch swallowed hard.

Then, after bowing, he reported to the Emperor.

“The Mongol Pirates who withdrew from the islands are plundering our coastal areas.”

“What?!”

The Emperor was considerably surprised.

At Japan’s request, the Song Dynasty and the Mongols had made a treaty.

According to that treaty, the Mongols promised to withdraw the Mongol Pirates operating in Japan,

and in return, the Song Dynasty agreed not to intervene in the issues between the Mongols and Japan.

They thought the Mongol Pirates had disappeared.

But they hadn’t disappeared; instead, they were plundering the Song Dynasty’s coastline.

“Why are they plundering our coastline!”

“Th-that is… I-I don’t really…”

“Immediately send an envoy to the Mongols. We must tell them to withdraw their forces!”

“And the order you gave earlier…”

The Minister of War hesitantly advised the Emperor.

The Emperor responded with an incredulous expression.

“How can we send soldiers to save the islands when our coastline is being plundered?”

The Emperor’s words were accurate.

The Minister of War knew this well.

Nevertheless, he asked this question only out of concern that they could no longer support Japan due to the Mongol Pirates plundering the coastline.

However, knowing that mentioning this fact would incur the Emperor’s wrath, he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

“For now, we will try to resolve this through dialogue with the Mongols.”

Everyone nodded at the Emperor’s words.

However, the possibility of the Mongols complying with the Song Dynasty’s demands was very low.

From the Mongol Pirates’ perspective, there was no reason to give up the Song Dynasty’s land, which flowed with milk and honey.