Three days later.

Royal Palace.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Pang Yuhai quickly walked into the hall and came to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Your Majesty, Zhou Tong, Minister of Rites, is out seeking an audience. He is a missionary to the Japanese country and needs to report to Your Majesty."

Pang Yuhai bowed respectfully and said softly.

Upon hearing the words "Japanese mission", Zhu Yuanzhang's face instantly became gloomy, and he couldn't help but frown.

"Let him in."

After hesitating for a while, Zhu Yuanzhang responded in a deep voice.

Soon, the new Minister of Rites, Zhou Tong, walked quickly into the hall and bowed respectfully to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Weak minister Zhou Tong, please see Your Majesty!"

Since Fan Qian, the former Minister of Rites, was cleared of involvement in the Guo Heng case, Zhou Tong was promoted from Minister of Rites to the current Minister of Rites.

Because of the huge scale of the Guo Heng case, Zhu Yuanzhang has always been dissatisfied with the ministries involved in the case. Therefore, Zhou Tong has been walking on thin ice and being cautious in everything since he took office.

"Get up."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhou Tong, waved his hand and said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhou Tong agreed and stood up slowly.

"What's the report?"

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhou Tong and asked impatiently.

"Reporting to your Majesty, the Japanese envoy has arrived outside the capital city and is temporarily staying at the Kyoto Guard. They have sent a letter of greeting to your majesty, requesting an audience with your majesty, and hope that your majesty will make a decision."

As Zhou Tong spoke, he took out a greeting card from his sleeve and said respectfully.

Seeing this, Pang Yuhai quickly stepped forward, took the invitation, and sent it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Zhu Yuanzhang hesitated for a moment, then slowly took the invitation, glanced at it casually, and then threw it on the table.

He had no favorable impression of the Japanese mission, but his vision was to see the grand occasion of the coming of all nations to Korea, so he could not avoid it.

"Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Zhou Tong hesitated for a moment, then tentatively looked at Zhu Yuanzhang who had not responded for a long time and asked.

"I understand. You go back first and arrange the meeting hall. Then I will send someone with you to Kyoto Guard to greet the delegation."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Zhou Tong and said in a deep voice.

"According to the order!"

After hearing this, Zhou Tong finally breathed a sigh of relief, agreed, bowed respectfully, and slowly stepped back.

As Zhou Tong left, Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at the greeting note on the desk, and his expression became even more ugly.

"Your Majesty, calm down."

Pang Yuhai hesitated for a moment, poured a cup of tea, brought it to Zhu Yuanzhang respectfully, and said softly.

"Among the surrounding countries, the Japanese country is the one I dislike the most. If it wasn't forced by the situation, why should I give them a good look?"

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said in a deep voice.

"What your Majesty said is true, but since the envoy has arrived at Kyoto Guard, I'm afraid that Your Majesty has to leave, otherwise others will inevitably make assumptions."

Pang Yuhai nodded and said respectfully.

Zhu Yuanzhang clenched his fists and felt that what Pang Yuhai said made sense.

"Inform Jin Yiwei and go to Kyoto Guard with the Ministry of Etiquette to greet the delegation."

Zhu Yuanzhang paused and said in a deep voice.

"Yes, I will go and inform Han Jiang now."

Pang Yuhai agreed and slowly stepped back.

"Wait a moment!"

But before Pang Yuhai could exit the hall, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke again.

"His Majesty?"

Pang Yuhai stopped and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang doubtfully.

"It's not Han Jiang. I decided to send Hu Fei to convey my will and summon Hu Fei to the palace!"

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a moment and said in a deep voice.

"yes!"

Pang Yuhai was stunned for a moment, but he immediately agreed, and then quickly sent people to the Jinyi Guardhouse.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the chair and picked up the greeting card again, with a faint smile flashing at the corner of his mouth.

…

East Palace.

In the main hall.

Prince Zhu Biao and Korean Duke Li Shanchang were sitting opposite each other, playing chess.

"I heard that the latest Mahjong developed by Jiu'an Marquis has been very popular in the capital city recently. The New Year is approaching, and people always play mahjong in groups when they have nothing to do. It's very comfortable."

"But mahjong requires four people. Unlike backgammon, two people are enough. If you want to play a few games, you have to gather enough people."

Li Shanchang said with a smile while studying the chess game.

However, Zhu Biao did not respond. He held a chess piece in his hand and seemed to be distracted.

"His Royal Highness, is there something on your mind?"

Li Shanchang noticed Zhu Biao's expression, was stunned for a moment, and asked hesitantly.

"I heard that the Japanese delegation has arrived at Kyoto Guard and will enter the capital soon."

Zhu Biao came back to his senses, glanced at Li Shanchang, smiled helplessly, and said slowly.

After listening to Zhu Biao's words, Li Shanchang immediately understood what Zhu Biao was thinking.

"I have also heard that the Japanese delegation has arrived in Beijing. It seems that Your Majesty is unhappy again. Fortunately, they will leave in seven to ten days at most."

"In previous years, when they came to Beijing, they always offended a large number of people. I don't know how many people wanted them to leave the capital as soon as possible."

Li Shanchang shook his head and said with a wry smile.

"This year on the southeastern coast, Japanese pirates seem to be more rampant. In my father's heart, I must have turned a deaf ear to the Japanese and felt unhappy."

Zhu Biao nodded and agreed.

"The Japanese country has now been divided into the Northern and Southern Dynasties. I am afraid that among the Japanese pirates along the coast, there are many rogues from the Northern Dynasty among them, so the Southern Dynasty has always used various reasons to shirk it."

"Although Prince Huailiang of the Southern Dynasty has always advocated reconciliation with the Ming Dynasty, he has never done his best to control the Japanese pirates. This is why Your Majesty does not like the Japanese countries coming to the capital to pay tribute."

Li Shanchang hesitated for a moment and said thoughtfully.

"I'm afraid that this seemingly friendly relationship will one day be cut off by the rampant Japanese pirates. By then, I don't know what the result will be."

Zhu Biao nodded and said slowly.

"Your Highness, there is no need to worry. Even so, they living in the island country cannot pose a threat to our Ming Dynasty. I am afraid that they will only be harmed by then."

Li Shanchang glanced at Zhu Biao and patiently comforted him.

"I hope so."

Zhu Biao sighed and slowly lowered his voice as he spoke.

Li Shanchang didn't say anything else and started playing chess with Zhu Biao seriously.

...

Outside the palace gate.

Jinyi Health Center.

In the command post.

Hu Fei was sitting on a chair, looking at a summary of the construction status of almshouses across the country.

At this moment, footsteps came and Pei Jie appeared at the door.

"Master Commander, someone is coming from the palace."

Pei Jie bowed and said respectfully.

After hearing what Pei Jie said, Hu Fei raised his eyebrows and showed a trace of doubt.
To be continued...