Treatise on Armament Technology

Divining the Enemy: Assessment of the Four Barbarians, Part 17

Attacking the coastal regions of Shandong would be as easy as lifting one's hand. Therefore, those who sought to suppress the Japanese original: wo (倭) did so not only out of a desire to protect a tributary state, but because the threat posed a massive danger to China itself.

Shi Xing, the Minister of War, accepted the proposals of Shen Weijing A rogue diplomat and adventurer who claimed he could resolve the war through negotiation and sent him to the Japanese camp to discuss terms of investiture and tribute. Shi Xing’s reasoning was that the reason the Japanese were ravaging China's borders was simply because they were denied mutual trade. He believed that diplomatic "bait"—the granting of titles and trade rights—could replace the need for armored soldiers. By granting them official titles, similar to the treatment of the northern nomads or the tribes of the west, the traditional ritual of "foreigners from the four directions coming to pay homage to the King" could be maintained. He saw no reason why this could not be done.

However, Shen Weijing exaggerated these claims to both sides. He went so far as to privately promise the Japanese that a Ming princess would be given in marriage to their leader A massive deception, as the Ming court had no intention of such a "humiliating" marriage alliance. Consequently, the negotiations reached a stalemate, as the conflicting demands of both parties could not be reconciled.

Meanwhile, the commander Song Yingchang pressed his forces toward Pyongyang. When the Japanese moved to engage in battle, he seized the advantage of the situation; his forces killed and captured a great many of the enemy. Following this victory, peace negotiations finally began to show some progress. When the Imperial Decree was proclaimed to the Japanese, they knelt in submission and obeyed the orders. They withdrew from Wangjing The "Royal Capital," modern-day Seoul and returned the captive Korean Prince and over a hundred members of the royal family and officials' households. However, critics at court argued that Song Yingchang was not suited for the ongoing responsibilities, so he was replaced by Gu Yangqian.