For Daimyo Smugglers; It All Started with Silver (5)

     It might have been Shoni Tokihisa (?-1559) that sent the mission with 225 kilograms of silver in 1538.  However, his father, Sukemoto (1491-1536), was defeated by Ouchi Yoshitaka (1507-1551), and was cornered in killing himself in 1536 without the rescue corps from his main vassal, Ryuzoji Iekane (1454-1546).  And Tokihisa himself was in exile at the time, so it could have been Iekane who sent the mission, assuming Shoni’s name.  Iekane had been a vassal of the Shoni Clan, but had secret communication with Yoshitaka, and was overthrowing the Shoni Clan.  Or Hakata merchants just did their jobs in the middle of, or taking advantage of, the confusion.

     In April, 1542, Anshin, a priest who claimed to be an ambassador of the king of Japan, brought about 3 tons of silver to Joseon.  Was it possible?  As Iwami Silver Mine alone produced 38 tons of silver per year at its peak, 3 tons of silver was possible, but an ambassador of the king of Japan was not.  He was a false ambassador made up in Tsushima Island.